Device for retrieving containers such as storage bins.

摘要

1. A device for retrieving containers and driving them horizontally along a handling platform, comprising at least one endless flexible member (2) actuated horizontally by several pinions mounted on the platform and driven by a motor, the said flexible member (2) being equipped with at least two fingers (9a, 9b) designed to interact with receiving means (10) provided on the two front sides (5) of a container (1), one of the fingers (9a) acting by pull and the other (9b) by thrust on said container (1), characterized in that the two fingers (9a, 9b) occupy, transversely to the longitudinal axis of said flexible member (2), an identical position in that the course oi the flexible member is defined by two groups each of three pinions (3a, 3b, 3c) and (4a, 4b, 4c) interacting with said flexible member (2), the pinions of each group, taken in pairs (3a, 3b), (3b, 3c) and (4a, 4b), (4b, 4c), being aligned along an axis which is neither parallel to the front faces (5) of the containers (1), nor parallel to the direction (6) in which said containers are driven, the axes of alignment of the pinions converging towards the central portion of the platform, and in that the flexible member (2) interacts with the intermediate pinions (3b, 4b) by means of its outer face (8) and with the pinions closest to each other (3c, 4c) by means of its inner face (7), in such a way that the section of the flexible member between each intermediate pinion (3b, 4b) and the pinion adjacent thereto (3c, 4c) is perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the container, so that, starting from a first storage position of the container (1) the pulling finger (9a) stops driving the container momentarily to allow engagement of the thrusting finger (9b) inside the other receiving means (16) of the container, driving of the container (1) then continuing with the aid of the two fingers (9a, 9b), and so that at another given point in the course of the flexible member (2) the thrusting finger (9b) momentarily stops driving the container (1) so as to allow disengagement of the pulling finger (9a) from its receiving means (10), the thrusting finger (9b) then driving the container (1) alone to another storage position, where it in turn disengages from its receiving means (16).