Automated de-stacking system and method

An automated system for de-stacking a plurality of stacked objects, the automated system comprising:

• a lift assembly comprising:
• a tower configured to rotate about a vertically-extending axis;
• a first electric motor drivably connected to the tower and configured to rotate the tower;
• and
• a second electric motor for a grabber assembly raising and lowering;
• a grabber assembly configured to move with the tower as the tower rotates and configured to be raised and lowered via the second electric motor, the grabber assembly comprising:
• a claw configured to grasp the objects individually;
• and
• a third electric motor drivably connected to the claw and configured to actuate the claw,
• the second electric motor being drivably connected to the grabber assembly and configured to raise and lower the grabber assembly,
• the first, second, and third electric motors being configured to operate in a refrigerated environment;
• the grabber assembly being a first grabber assembly, the claw being a first claw, the automated system further comprising a second grabber assembly opposite the first grabber assembly, the second grabber assembly being configured to move with the tower as the tower rotates and comprising:
• a second claw configured to grasp the objects individually;
• and
• a fifth electric motor drivably connected to the second claw and configured to activate the claw,
• the lift assembly further comprising a sixth electric motor drivably connected to the second grabber assembly and configured to raise and lower the second grabber assembly independently from the first grabber assembly.

An automated system for de-stacking a plurality of stacked objects, the automated system comprising:

• a lift assembly comprising:
• a tower configured to rotate about a vertically-extending axis;
• a first electric motor drivably connected to the tower and configured to rotate the tower;
• and
• a second electric motor for a grabber assembly raising and lowering;
• and
• a grabber assembly configured to move with the tower as the tower rotates and configured to be raised and lowered via the second electric motor, the grabber assembly comprising:
• a claw configured to grasp the objects individually;
• and
• a third electric motor drivably connected to the claw and configured to actuate the claw,
• the second electric motor being drivably connected to the grabber assembly and configured to raise and lower the grabber assembly;
• a conveyor positioned near the tower, the conveyor comprising:
• a belt configured to receive the stacked objects from the claw;
• and
• a fourth electric motor drivably connected to the belt to advance the belt;
• and
• a control system including a controller configured to activate the first, second, third, and fourth electric motors so that actuation of the belt is linked to operation of the lift assembly,
• the conveyor further comprising a catch configured to reorient the objects after the objects have been placed on the belt.

A method of de-stacking a plurality of stacked objects, the method comprising steps of:

• lowering a grabber assembly toward one of the plurality of stacked objects via a first electric motor;
• actuating a claw of the grabber assembly via a second electric motor so the claw grasps the one of the plurality of stacked objects;
• raising the grabber assembly and hence raising the grasped object via the first electric motor;
• rotating a tower including the grabber assembly to move the grabber assembly and hence the grasped object via a third electric motor;
• lowering the grabber assembly and hence lowering the grasped object via the first electric motor toward a conveyor;
• actuating the claw of the grabber assembly via the second electric motor so the claw releases the grasped object;
• and
• actuating the conveyor via a fourth electric motor once the claw has released the grasped object to move the released object along the conveyor,
• the first, second, third, and fourth electric motors being configured to operate in a refrigerated environment.