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US 11,332,326 B2Granted
Palletizer apparatus having improved gripper mechanism
AssigneeBarry-Wehmiller Company
InventorsPeter A. Klaassen, Willem Zegers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gripper mechanism for a palletizer apparatus is configured to receive articles from an associated infeed conveyor in any one of a plurality of orientations of the gripper mechanism relative to the infeed conveyor. In a preferred embodiment, the gripper mechanism is configured to receive articles through any one of four sides of the mechanism.
Claims8
A gripper mechanism (100) for a palletizer apparatus (10), said gripper mechanism (100) comprising:
- a support frame (102) positioned in said palletizer apparatus (10) for movement along an X-axis and a Y-axis;
- a rotary drive (104) for rotatably driving said support frame (102),
- first, second, third and fourth gripper members (106) mounted on said support frame (102) for movement between closed and opened positions, wherein adjacent pairs of said gripper members (106) define four different infeed openings, each for receiving articles (A) to be palletized from an associated infeed conveyor (12) configured to advance articles (A) into each of the infeed openings;
- and
- at least one actuator (109) for moving said gripper members (106) to said open positions to permit an article (A) received on said gripper members (106) to be released by gravity onto an associated pallet after said rotary drive (104) rotatably positions said support frame (102), said gripper members (106) thereafter being moved to said closed positions, said gripper mechanism (100) thereafter configured to receive another one of said articles (A) between adjacent ones of said gripper members (106) without said rotary drive (102) rotating said gripper mechanism (100).
2 more elements
A gripper mechanism (100) for a palletizer apparatus (12), said gripper mechanism (100) comprising:
- a support frame (102) positioned in said palletizer apparatus (12) for movement along an X-axis and a Y-axis;
- a pair of gripper members (106) mounted on said support frame (102) for movement between closed and opened positions, wherein said gripper members (106) define a pair of spaced, opposite infeed openings for receiving articles (A) to be palletized from an associated infeed conveyor (12);
- and
- at least one actuator (109) for moving said gripper members (106) between opened and closed positions, so that in said closed position said gripper mechanism (100) can receive one of said articles (A) in either one of said openings from more than one side of said gripper mechanism (100), and in said opened position an article received in said gripper mechanism (100) can be discharged by gravity from said gripper mechanism (100) onto an associated pallet.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.