Separation and transfer of vertical container stack - has pneumatically operated clamp and stop collar

摘要

A vertical stack of boxes (1) which contain ceramic objects is separated after firing and then transferred onto a belt conveyor (7). Whilst a pneumatic clamp cylinder assembly (10, 14, 18) retains the stack (1) with the help of two vertical rails (2), a second cylinder forces the lowest box loose so that it falls onto the belt conveyor. A second pair of pneumatic cylinders (6, 21) now moves a stop collar beneath the stack. The clamp cylinder is then retracted so that the entire stack is able to settle on the stop collar (6). At that point, the procedure is repeated for the removal of the next box.