US 12,006,168 B2 · Palletizer-depalletizer system for distribution facilities

Abstract

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage array of storage locations for case units. An in-out case conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting case units to and from the storage array, and an in-out loaded pallet conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting loaded pallets towards and away from the storage array. A palletizer-depalletizer cell includes a bi-directional pallet transport system with more than one independently driven pallet transports, each with a different pallet holder independently movable relative to a cell frame. Placement of case units commissioning a pallet layer loading a pallet, and removal of case units decommissioning a pallet layer unloading another pallet are both effected at the common pallet layer interface at a predetermined level of the cell frame. The pallet transports independently index a first and a second of the different pallet holders, each independently holding the pallet loading at the common pallet layer interface.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An automated storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage array of storage locations for case units, each storage location of which is arranged for storage of at least one case unit at each storage location;
an out case conveyor, in communication with the storage array, configured so as to transport the case units to the storage array effecting infeed of the case units into the storage array;
an in loaded pallet conveyor, connected to the storage array, and configured so as to transport loaded pallets in an input direction towards the storage array;
and
a depalletizer cell connected to and disposed between the out case conveyor and the in loaded pallet conveyor, the depalletizer cell having a cell frame and a lift;
wherein the cell frame defines an elevated robotic pallet layer interface located over the in loaded pallet conveyor, the in loaded pallet conveyor being communicably coupled by the lift to the elevated robotic pallet layer interface so that removal of mixed case units decommissioning a mixed case pallet layer unloading a mixed case pallet indexed by the lift is effected with the elevated robotic pallet layer interface over the in loaded pallet conveyor.

3 more elements

A method for infeeding mixed case pallets in an automated storage and retrieval system comprising:

providing a storage array of storage locations for case units, each storage location of which is arranged for storage of at least one case unit at each storage location;
effecting infeed of the case units into the storage array with an out case conveyor, in communication with the storage array, for transporting the case units to the storage array;
providing an in loaded pallet conveyor, connected to the storage array, for transporting loaded pallets in an input direction towards the storage array;
providing a depalletizer cell connected to and disposed between the out case conveyor and the in loaded pallet conveyor, the depalletizer cell having a cell frame and a lift defining an elevated robotic pallet layer interface;
and
effecting, with the elevated robotic pallet layer interface communicably coupled to and located over the in loaded pallet conveyor, removal of mixed case units decommissioning a mixed case pallet layer unloading a mixed case pallet indexed by the lift.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Palletizer-depalletizer system for distribution facilities

Life of this patent

Palletizer-depalletizer system for distribution facilities

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20