Automated warehouse systems, assemblies, apparatuses, and methods for assembling mixed pallets and facilitating order picking
AssigneeNewteq Holding B.V.
InventorHans Eil
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure is directed to automated warehouse facilities that are configured to assemble mixed pallets. The warehouse facilities can include one or more layer handling devices that are configured to remove layers from pallets in a delayering operational mode, and to add layers to pallets in a palletizing operation mode. The warehouse facilities also may include one or more item retrieval devices that are configured to retrieve individual items from storage racks. The warehouse facilities can include other automated devices as well.
Claims20
A layer handling device configured to manipulate a layer of a pallet, comprising:
- a vacuum chamber;
- a grabbing portion situated inside the vacuum chamber and configured to remove a layer comprising a plurality of items from a pallet that is received beneath the grabbing portion;
- and
- a tray shift system that includes a sliding platform configured to transition between a first position beneath the vacuum chamber and a second position adjacent to an automated conveyor, wherein:
- grabbed
- in response to the grabbing portion removing the layer from the pallet, the tray shift system transitions the sliding platform to the first position and situates a tray beneath the vacuum chamber, wherein, in the first position, the tray and sliding platform are positioned between the layer removed by the grabbing portion and a remainder of the pallet from which the layer was removed;
- and
- in response to the layer being placed on the tray, the tray shift system transitions the sliding platform to the second position for transferring the tray with the layer to an automated conveyor.
A layer handling device configured to manipulate a layer of a pallet, comprising:
- a vacuum chamber;
- a grabbing portion situated inside the vacuum chamber and configured to grab a layer that is situated beneath the grabbing portion, wherein the layer comprises a plurality of items;
- and
- a tray shift system, wherein:
- the tray shift system includes a sliding platform configured to transition between a first position and a second position;
- in the first position, the sliding platform is situated beneath the vacuum chamber;
- in the first position, the tray and sliding platform are positioned between the layer grabbed by the grabbing portion and a remainder of the pallet;
- in the second position, the sliding platform is situated adjacent to an automated conveyor;
- and
- the sliding platform is configured to support a tray and enables the tray to be transitioned between the first position and the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.