Board positioning system and method
AssigneePalletec, LLC
InventorsMark Wayne Chevalier, Kent Carlyle Johnson, Ryan Michael McCarthy, John Jordan Vukelich, Bernard Claydean Hancock, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Automated assembly of a pallet includes advancement of a subject board from a source location to a queue position. The subject board is moved from the queue position to a fastening position by a positioner. Advancement of the subject board occurs while the positioner is in motion between the queue position and the fastening position.
Claims22
A board positioning system (BPS) for use with a pallet assembly system, comprising:
- a first hopper for holding boards to be fastened to a pallet under assembly;
- and
- a first positioner movable under the first hopper between a retracted position and an extended position, the first positioner arranged to move a subject board from a queue position to a fastening position, wherein the fastening position is aligned with a fastening actuator operable to fasten the subject board to the pallet under assembly;
- wherein the first hopper is operative to advance the subject board at the queue position while the first positioner is in motion between the queue position and the fastening position and before the first positioner movably engages with the subject board;
- wherein the queue position is on a surface of the first positioner;
- and
- wherein the first positioner, when at the queue position, is operative to movably engage with the subject board and to initiate movement of the subject board to the fastening position.
A board positioning system (BPS) for use with a pallet assembly system, comprising:
- a first hopper for holding boards to be fastened to a pallet under assembly;
- a first positioner movable under the first hopper between a retracted position and an extended position, the first positioner arranged to move a subject board from a queue position to a fastening position, wherein the fastening position is aligned with a fastening actuator operable to fasten the subject board to the pallet under assembly;
- wherein the first hopper includes a gate mechanism arranged to advance the subject board at the queue position while the first positioner is in motion between the queue position and the fastening position and before the first positioner movably engages with the subject board;
- wherein the first positioner, when at the queue position, is to movably engage with the subject board and to initiate movement of the subject board to the fastening position;
- and
- wherein the BPS further includes a sensor and a controller configured to monitor a positional movement condition of the subject board during advancement of the subject board at the queue position, and to permit initiation of the movement the subject board to the fastening position only in response to the positional movement condition meeting movement criteria.
A machine-implemented method for automatically assembling a pallet, the method comprising:
- placing a subject board from a source location to a queue position;
- moving the subject board from the queue position to a fastening position by a positioner, wherein at the fastening position the subject board is fastened to a pallet under assembly;
- wherein placing the subject board occurs while the positioner is in motion between the queue position and the fastening position;
- and
- wherein the queue position is on a surface of the positioner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.