Improvements relating to de- and re-crating machines

摘要

A de- and re-crating machine is disclosed which includes a drive arrangement comprising a crank plate (16) including a crank arm (17) and which in use is mounted in the frame of said machine for rotation about a fixed axis; a coupler arm (21) pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to said crank arm; a rocker arm (26) one end of which is pivotally connected to one end of said coupler arm and the other end of which in use is mounted for pivotal movement to a fixed point on the frame of said machine; a link arm (19) one end of which is pivotally mounted at the end of said crank arm; and a translating bar (23) the outboard end of which is adapted to carry means for supporting a plurality of containers and the inboard end of which is pivotally connected to that end of said coupler arm remote from the pivotal connection between the coupler arm and the rocker arm, and the translating bar also being pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends to one end of said link arm, the arrangement being such that rotation of said crank plate causes the crank arm, rocker arm, coupler arm and link arm to co-operate to cause the translating bar to move in a predetermined path while maintaining the translating bar in a fixed orientation.