PALLET CAR CENTER

Description

Title Self-centering pallet SELF-CENTERING PALLET TECHNICAL SECTOR OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a self-centering pallet. In particular, the present invention relates to a self-centering pallet for supporting, transporting and organizing articles having a lateral surface with a circular cross-section. STATE OF THE ART Some self-centering pallets are known of the type comprising a lower support plate and an upper guide plate which are substantially horizontal and parallel to each other, in which the upper guide plate is provided with at least three guide slots, which are uniformly distributed around a substantially vertical longitudinal axis of the upper guide plate, and have a curvilinear shape. The self-centering pallet also comprises a plurality of cranks, which are equal in number to the number of guide slots, are uniformly distributed around the longitudinal axis of the upper guide plate, and are hinged to the lower support plate to rotate around respective fulcrum axes parallel to the longitudinal axis itself. Each crank supports, at one of its free ends, a retaining rod, which extends upwards from the crank parallel to the longitudinal axis of the upper guide plate, and slidably engages a relative guide slot. The self-centering pallet further comprises an intermediate drive plate mounted between the cranks and the upper guide plate for rotation, relative to the upper guide plate and the lower support plate, about the longitudinal axis of the upper guide plate. The intermediate drive plate has a plurality of additional guide slots, which are equal in number to the number of containment rods, and are uniformly distributed around the longitudinal axis of the upper guide plate. Each additional guide slot has a rectilinear shape and is engaged in a sliding manner by a relative containment rod. In use, the movement of at least one crank around its fulcrum axis and of its containment rod along its guide slot in the upper guide plate causes the rotation of the intermediate transmission plate around the aforementioned longitudinal axis and the advancement of the remaining containment rods along their guide slots in the upper guide plate. The containment rods are moved in unison with each other along their respective guide slots so as to define a containment pocket with variable diameter configured to receive and correctly position on the upper guide plate at least one product, normally a stack of overlapping products, presenting a circular mating surface with the containment rods themselves. Retaining rods are arranged on the outside of the products when the mating surface of the products is an external surface of the products, and extend into and through the products when the mating surface of the products is an internal surface of the products. Typically, the self-centering pallet is mounted on a feed conveyor, such as a belt conveyor or a rotating drum, configured to support a plurality of self-centering pallets and move them through a pick station to allow a transfer robot to pick each product at the pick station. The known self-centering pallets of the type described above have some drawbacks mainly due to the fact that the presence of a single containment pocket gives the self-centering pallet a relatively limited storage capacity. OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aim of the present invention is to create a self-centering pallet that is free from the drawbacks described above and that is simple and economical to implement. According to the present invention, a self-centering pallet is made as claimed in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example of its implementation, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are two schematic perspective views, with parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the self-centering pallet of the present invention illustrated in two different operating positions; Figure 3 is a schematic plan view, with parts removed for clarity, of the self-centering pallet of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a schematic side view, with parts removed for clarity, of the self-centering pallet of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a detail of the self-centering pallet of Figures 1 and 2; Figures 6, 7, and 8 are three schematic plan views, with parts removed for clarity, of the detail in Figure 5 illustrated in three different operating modes; Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a detail of Figure 5; and Figure 10 is a schematic plan view, with parts removed for clarity, of the detail of Figure 9. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION With reference to figures 1, 2, and 3, 1 indicates, as a whole, a self-centering pallet comprising an upper guide plate 2 and a lower support plate 3 that are substantially horizontal and parallel to each other. The same numbers and reference letters in the figures identify the same elements or components with the same function. In this description, the term "second component" does not imply the presence of a first component. These terms are used as labels for clarity and should not be construed as restrictive. The elements and features illustrated in the various preferred embodiments, including the drawings, may be combined with each other without departing from the scope of protection of this application as described below. The plate 2 has a longitudinal axis 4 that is substantially vertical and perpendicular to the plates 2 and 3, and is provided with at least three guide slots 5, which are uniformly distributed around the axis 4, are obtained through the plate 2 parallel to the axis 4, and have a curvilinear shape, in particular the shape of a circular sector, with centers of curvature distributed along a circumference coaxial to the axis 4 itself. As illustrated in figures 4, 9, and 10, the plate 3 supports a plurality of cranks 6, which are equal in number to the number of slots 5, extend between the plates 2 and 3, and are hinged to the plate 3 to rotate, with respect to the plate 3 itself, around respective fulcrum axes 7 parallel to each other and to the axis 4. The 7 axes are uniformly distributed around axis 4, in particular along a circumference coaxial to axis 4 itself. Each crank 6 supports a movable containment rod 8, which extends upwards from the crank 6 parallel to the axes 4 and 7, slidably engages a related slot 5, and protrudes upwards from the plate 2. The self-centering pallet 1 further comprises, for each rod 8, a respective pair of fixed containment rods 9, which are distributed on the periphery of the plates 2 and 3, extend through the plate 2 parallel to the axis 4, and are connected, in particular screwed, in the plate 3. Each rod 8 and the relative pair of rods 9 define a containment pocket 10 configured to receive at least one product 11, in particular a stack of products 11 superimposed on each other, having a circular-shaped coupling surface 12. In the case illustrated in figures 6, 7, and 8, the mating surface 12 is an external surface of the products 11 and the rods 8 and 9 of the pockets 10 are arranged on the outside of the products 11 themselves. According to a variant not illustrated, the mating surface 12 is an internal surface of the products 11 and the rods 8 and 9 of the pockets 10 are arranged inside the products 11 and extend through the products 11 themselves. Each slot 5 also has an internal free end 13 facing the axis 4 and an external free end 14 arranged between the rods 9 of the relative pocket 10. Plate 2 has, for each pocket 10, three respective holes 15 for the passage of the relevant rods 9, and plate 3 has, for each pocket 10, three respective seats 16 for the connection of the relevant rods 9 with plate 3 itself. At least one rod 9 of each pocket 10, in this case both rods 9 of each pocket 10, is releasably connected to the plate 3 so as to be selectively mounted through the relevant holes 15 and the relevant seats 16 according to the diameter of the mating surface 12 of the relevant products 11 (figures 6, 7, and 8). The self-centering pallet 1 also comprises an intermediate transmission plate 17, which extends between the plate 2 and the cranks 6, and is rotatably coupled to the plates 2 and 3 to rotate, relative to the plates 2 and 3 themselves and in ways that will be better illustrated below, around the axis 4. The plate 17 is a lobe plate comprising a plurality of limit-travel lobes 18, which are equal in number to the number of pockets 10, protrude outward from the plate 17, and each extend between the rods 9 of two adjacent pockets 10. Following the rotation of the plate 17 around the axis 4, each lobe 18 is configured to come into contact with the rods 9 of each adjacent pocket 10. The plate 17 is provided with a plurality of guide slots 19, which are equal in number to the number of slots 5 and rods 8, and are uniformly distributed around the axis 4. Each slot 19 has a rectilinear shape, does not extend through the axis 4, and is slidably engaged by a relative rod 8. In use, the manual movement of a rod 8 along the relative slot 5 by the personnel in charge allows the plate 17 to: rotate around axis 4; advance the remaining rods 8 along the relative slots 5; and move the rods 8 in unison into contact with the relative products 11. According to a variant not illustrated, the plate 17 is moved around the axis 4 by means of a drive motor so as to advance the rods 8 in unison along the relative slots 5 and into contact with the relative products 11. According to a further variant not illustrated, the plate 17 is eliminated and each crank 6 is moved around its relative fulcrum axis 7 independently of the other cranks 6, for example by means of a relative drive motor, so as to selectively control the diameter of the pockets 10 and to house inside the pockets 10 products 11 with mating surfaces 12 having different diameters. In relation to the above, it is important to point out that: the self-centering pallet 1 is generally mounted on a feed conveyor (not shown), for example a belt conveyor or a rotating drum, configured to support a plurality of self-centering pallets 1 and move them through a pick station (not shown) so as to allow a transfer robot (not shown) to pick up each product 11 at the pick station (not shown) itself; and the feed conveyor (not shown) is provided, for each self-centering pallet 1, with a respective rotating platform configured to rotate the self-centering pallet 1 and advance each containment pocket 10 through the pick station (not shown) so as to allow the transfer robot (not shown) to pick up all the products 11 arranged on each self-centering pallet 1 at a single pick station (not shown). Although the invention described above refers specifically to a very specific embodiment, it is not to be considered limited to that embodiment, as its scope includes all those variations, modifications or simplifications covered by the attached claims, such as for example a different number of movable rods (and therefore a different number of fixed rods), or a different centering mechanism. The self-centering pallet 1 has some advantages mainly deriving from the fact that the presence of the containment pockets 10 gives the self-centering pallet 1 a relatively high storage capacity.

Claims

1 .- Self-centering pallet comprising an upper guide plate (2) provided with at least three guide slots (5) distributed around a longitudinal axis (4) of the upper guide plate (2) perpendicular to the upper guide plate (2) itself; and a movable containment rod (8) slidably engaged in each guide slot (5) parallel to said longitudinal axis (4); and characterised in that it also comprises, for each movable containment rod (8), a respective pair of fixed containment rods (9), which are mounted along the periphery of the upper guide plate (2), and define, together with the relative movable containment rod (8), a containment pocket (10) configured to receive and house at least one product (11), in particular a product (11) having a circular coupling surface (12) with the containment pocket (10) itself. 2 .- Self-centering pallet according to claim 1, wherein the upper guide plate (2) has, for each containment pocket (10), at least three respective passage holes (15) configured to receive the relative fixed containment rods (9); at least one fixed containment rod (9) of each containment pocket (10) being selectively releasably mountable through two passage holes (15) of the upper guide plate (2) depending on the format of the product (11). 3.- Self-centering pallet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each guide slot (5) has a curvilinear shape, in particular the shape of a circular sector, and also has an internal free end (13) facing said longitudinal axis (4) and an external free end (14) arranged between the relative fixed containment rods (9). 4.- Self-centering pallet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the movable containment rods (8) are movable independently from each other along the relative guide slots (5). 5.- Self-centering pallet according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the movable containment rods (8) are movable in unison with each other along the relative guide slots (5). 6 .- Self-centering pallet according to any of the preceding claims and further comprising a lower support plate (3); the fixed containment rods (9) extending through the upper guide plate (2) and being axially locked on the lower support plate (3). 7 .- Self-centering pallet according to claim 6 and comprising, for each movable containment rod (8), a respective crank (6) hinged to the lower support plate (3) to rotate around a fulcrum axis (7) parallel to said longitudinal axis (4); each movable containment rod (8) protruding upwards from the relative crank (6). 8 .- Self-centering pallet according to claim 7, wherein the fulcrum axes (7) of the cranks (6) are uniformly distributed around said longitudinal axis (4). 9 .- Self-centering pallet according to any of the preceding claims and further comprising an intermediate transmission plate (17) mounted below the upper guide plate (2) to rotate around said longitudinal axis (4). 10.- Self-centering pallet according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate transmission plate (17) is provided, for each movable containment rod (8), with a respective further guide slot (19) engaged in a sliding manner by the movable containment rod (8) itself. 11 .- Self-centering pallet according to claim 10, wherein each further guide slot (19) has a rectilinear shape, and does not extend across said longitudinal axis (4). 12 .- Self-centering pallet according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the intermediate transmission plate (17) is provided with a plurality of limit-stroke lobes (18) equal in number to the number of containment pockets (10); each limit-stroke lobe (18) protruding outwards from the intermediate transmission plate (17) between the fixed containment rods (9) of two adjacent containment pockets (10). 13 .- Self-centering pallet according to any of claims 9 to 12 when dependent on claim 7 or 8, wherein the intermediate transmission plate (17) is mounted between the lower support plate (3) and the upper guide plate (2), in particular between the cranks (6) and the upper guide plate (2).