Container depalletizing apparatus

Abstract

Lift mechanism adapted to receive a pallet containing a plurality of tiers of containers thereon and move said pallet vertically approximately the height of a tier of containers to be depalletized whereby a sweep arm engages the tier of containers between parallel, spaced apart guide rails and a removable restraining arm engages the tier of containers on the opposite side to substantially encircle the tier and urge it on to a conveyor belt. As the tier of containers is urged on to the conveyor belt the restraining arm is removed just prior to the mingling of the tier of containers with containers already present on the conveyor belt.

I claim: 
     
       1. Container depalletizing apparatus comprising: a. lift mechanism for receiving a pallet therein having a plurality of tiers of containers stacked thereon and moving the pallet vertically approximately the height of a tier of containers to be depalletized;   b. conveying means operatively mounted adjacent the lift mechanism for receiving tiers of containers from pallets positioned in said lift mechanism and conveying them to a desired location;   c. sweep means mounted adjacent said lift mechanism for engaging at least a rear side of the tier of containers to be depalletized and urging said tier of containers onto said conveying means;   d. container restraining means having a tier engaging position for engaging the leading containers of the uppermost tier .Iadd.and pushing said containers in the tier tightly together toward said sweep means .Iaddend.and a disengaged position; and   e. means connecting said restraining means to said sweep means for movement of said restraining means with said .[.seep.]. .Iadd.sweep .Iaddend.means to prevent tipping of individual containers in said tier.   
     
     
       2. Container depalletizing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the conveying means includes an endless belt type conveyor. 
     
     
       3. Container depalletizing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including magnetic means positioned below and in juxtaposition to the endless belt type conveyor for maintaining containers formed of magnetic material positioned thereon in an upright position. 
     
     
       4. Container depalletizing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sweep means includes an elongated member and means mounting said elongated member for horizontal movement between a pair of spaced apart guide members so the tier of containers to be depalletized is contained on three sides. 
     
     
       5. Container depalletizing apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the restraining means includes an arm that engages the tier of containers to be depalletized along the side not engaged by the elongated member and guide member so that the sweep means and the restraining means substantially encircle the tier of containers. 
     
     
       6. Container depalletizing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including a relatively thick layer of resilient material on the portion of the arm adjacent the tier of containers. 
     
     
       7. Container depalletizing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for removing the restraining means from engagement with the tier of containers before the tier of containers is completely removed from the pallet. 
     
     
       8. Container depalletizing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including means mounting the arm on means mounting the elongated member for horizontal movement therewith. 
     
     
       9. Container depalletizing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having in addition means associated with the lift mechanism and the sweep means to prevent operation of the lift mechanism until the sweep means is in a normal position. 
     
     
       10. Container depalletizing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having in addition means associated with the sweep means and the restraining means to prevent operation of the sweep means until the restraining means is in the tier engaging position.