Lifting methods, assemblies and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9950907-B2
Application number	US-201314049414-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2013
Priority date	Oct 9, 2013
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

An assembly, method and system for lifting a package defining an internal aperture. The lifting assembly has an elongate handle configured for attachment to a vacuum lift system, and a lifting tool. The lifting tool has a connecting end configured to attach the lifting tool to the distal end of the handle and a lifting end insertable into the aperture of the package. The lifting end can define an internal chamber. A pin or spindle of a package processing apparatus is insertable into the internal chamber so that the lifting tool can place the package on the spindle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lifting assembly, for lifting a package with a vacuum lift system and placing the package in a predetermined location, wherein the package defines an aperture extending into the package and the vacuum lift system has a lift unit, a control valve and a vacuum pump, the lifting assembly comprising:
an elongated handle having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central column extending along a handle longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end of the handle, wherein the proximal end of the handle is fixedly attached to a distal end of a lift unit of a vacuum lift system, wherein the lift unit is in sealed communication with a vacuum pump of the vacuum lift system, and wherein the distal end of the handle is coupled to a control valve of the vacuum lift system that selectively controls an amount of suction created by the vacuum lift system to selectively adjust the lifting assembly to a desired height;
a lifting tool having a central portion extending along a lifting tool longitudinal axis between a connecting end and a lifting end, wherein the connecting end is coupled to a portion of the handle and the lifting end of the lifting tool extends horizontally away from the handle and wherein the lifting tool longitudinal axis is substantially normal to the handle longitudinal axis; and
wherein the lifting end of the lifting tool is insertable into an aperture defined in the package, wherein the amount of suction is selectively adjusted by the control valve to selectively adjust the lift assembly to a desired height; and wherein the lift unit does not transfer suction to the package.

2. The lifting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle longitudinal axis and the lifting tool longitudinal axis are substantially coplanar.

3. The lifting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lifting tool longitudinal axis is at an acute angle relative to the handle longitudinal axis.

4. The lifting assembly of claim 3 , wherein the handle longitudinal axis and the lifting tool longitudinal axis are substantially coplanar.

5. The lifting assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the lifting tool is cylindrical in shape.

6. The lifting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lifting tool has an outer diameter that is less than a diameter of the aperture of the package.

7. The lifting assembly of claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the lifting end of the lifting tool is chamfered.

8. The lifting assembly of claim 6 , wherein the lifting tool comprises a lifting arm that extends from the lifting end towards the connecting end of the lifting tool along the lifting tool longitudinal axis, wherein the lifting arm is substantially cylindrical in shape, and wherein the lifting arm is a substantially solid bar.

9. The lifting assembly of claim 6 , wherein the lifting tool comprises a tubular lifting tool that extends from the lifting end towards the connecting end of the lifting tool along the lifting tool longitudinal axis, wherein the lifting end of tubular lifting tool comprises at least one sidewall and a cover plate defining an internal chamber.

10. The lifting assembly of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined location on which the package is to be placed comprises a spindle, and wherein an inner diameter of the at least one sidewall is greater than the diameter of the spindle.

11. The lifting assembly of claim 9 , wherein the cover plate fixedly attaches a connecting end of the tubular lifting tool to the lifting end.

12. The lifting assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the handle comprises an attachment sleeve, wherein the attachment sleeve is configured to couple the handle to the at least one lifting tool.

13. The lifting assembly of claim 12 , wherein a bore is defined in a portion of the attachment sleeve, and wherein the bore is sized to matingly engage at least a portion of the connecting end of the at least one lifting tool.

14. The lifting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the control valve is spaced from the lift unit of the vacuum lift system by a length of the handle.

15. The lifting assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a connector member on the proximal end of the handle, wherein the connector member is configured to fixedly attach the lift unit to the handle, and wherein when viewed from a side elevational view, the handle longitudinal axis is offset laterally a predetermined distance from a center of the connector member.

16. A system for lifting and placing in a predetermined location a package defining an aperture that extends into the package, the system comprising:
a vacuum lift system comprising:
a vacuum pump configured for creating a vacuum force;
a lift unit having a lift proximal end in sealed fluid communication with the vacuum pump and a lift distal end in sealed fluid communication with the lift proximal end, wherein the lift unit is configured to convert the vacuum force from the vacuum pump to a lifting force on a lifting assembly, wherein the lift unit does not transfer suction to the package, and wherein the lifting assembly is fixedly attached to the lift distal end; and
a control valve configured to selectively control an amount of suction created by the vacuum lift system to selectively adjust the lifting assembly to a desired height; and wherein the lifting assembly comprises:
an elongated handle having a central column extending along a handle longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end of the handle, wherein the proximal end of the handle is fixedly attached to the distal end of the lift unit of the vacuum lift system, and wherein the distal end of the handle is coupled to the control valve of the vacuum lift system; and
a lifting tool, having central portion extending along a lifting tool longitudinal axis between a connecting end and a lifting end, wherein the connecting end is coupled to a portion of the handle and the lifting end of the lifting tool extends away from the handle, and wherein a lifting end of the lifting tool has an outer diameter that is less than a diameter of the aperture of the package, wherein the lifting end of the lifting tool is insertable into the aperture defined in the package, and wherein the lifting tool has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the lifting tool is substantially normal to the handle longitudinal axis.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the handle longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of the at least one lifting tool are substantially coplanar.

18. A method for lifting a package, wherein the package defines an aperture extending into the package, the method comprising:
fixedly attaching a proximal end of a handle having a central column extending along the handle longitudinal axis between a proximal end of the handle and a distal end of the handle to a distal end of a lift unit;
attaching the control valve to a portion of the distal end of the handle;
fixedly attaching a connecting end of a lifting tool to a portion of the handle, wherein a lifting end of the at least one lifting tool has an outer diameter that is less than a diameter of the aperture of the package;
activating the vacuum pump to create a vacuum force;
positioning the lift unit adjacent the package;
adjusting the vacuum force with the control valve so that the lifting end of the lifting tool is axially aligned with the aperture of the package;
inserting at least a portion of the lifting tool into the aperture; and
adjusting the control valve so that the lifting tool lifts the package to a desired height, wherein t

Assignees

• Shaw Ind Group Inc
• Columbia Insurance Co

Inventors

• Moore Wes
• Russell Charles H

Classifications

• B66C1/0256

  Operating and control devices · CPC title

• B66C13/20

  for non-electric drives (transmitting control pulses B66C13/40) · CPC title

• B66C1/66 Primary

  for engaging holes, recesses, or abutments on articles specially provided for facilitating handling thereof · CPC title