Depalletizing machine

Apparatus comprising:

• a depalletizing machine operative to separate containers from a pallet upon which the containers are operatively supported,
• wherein prior to separation the containers are arranged in a plurality of vertically aligned layers each of which layers comprises a plurality of containers positioned in side-by-side relation, and a respective dunnage sheet separates each layer from an immediately adjacent layer,
• the machine including
• a pallet hoist, wherein the pallet hoist is selectively operative to selectively vertically position the pallet,
• a take away conveyor, wherein the take away conveyor is configured to receive containers removed from operative supported connection with the pallet,
• at least one selectively horizontally movable sweep bar, wherein the at least one sweep bar is operative to horizontally move a layer of containers relative to a supporting immediately underlying dunnage sheet, wherein the containers in the layer are engageable with the take away conveyor,
• a pick head, wherein the pick head
• is selectively vertically movable in overlying relation of the pallet hoist,
• includes at least one grab member configured to releasably hold a dunnage sheet in engagement with the pick head,
• a dunnage tray, wherein the dunnage tray
• is configured to hold a plurality of dunnage sheets in a dunnage storage area, and
• is selectively horizontally movable between a first position in which the dunnage tray is in vertically overlying relation of the pallet hoist and a second position in which the dunnage tray is not in vertically overlying relation of the pallet hoist,
• wherein the dunnage storage area of the dunnage tray is bounded horizontally by a front wall, a back wall at a pair of sidewalls, and is bounded vertically downward by a subframe,
• wherein the subframe is selectively movable between an upward position in which the subframe closes a lower side of the dunnage storage area, and a downward position in which an opening extends vertically between the front wall and the subframe,
• at least one controller, wherein the controller is in operative connection with each of
• the pallet hoist,
• the at least one sweep bar,
• the take away conveyor,
• the pick head, and
• the dunnage tray,
• wherein the at least one controller is operative to cause
• the at least one grab member of the pick head to engage a dunnage sheet overlying a top layer of containers that are in operatively supported connection with the pallet,
• the pick head to move the engaged dunnage sheet vertically away from the top layer,
• the dunnage tray to move horizontally wherein the dunnage storage area is in underlying relation of the engaged dunnage sheet,
• the at least one grab member of the pick head to release the dunnage sheet into the dunnage storage area, and
• the at least one sweep bar to cause the top layer containers to be moved horizontally into engagement with the take away conveyor,
• the pick head, the at least one sweep bar, the dunnage tray and the pallet hoist to operate to cause each layer of containers below the top layer to be sequentially moved into engagement with the take away conveyor and each dunnage sheet to be engaged with the pick head and released into the dunnage storage area while the subframe is in the upward position,
• and thereafter
• the dunnage storage tray to move horizontally into overlying relation of the pallet,
• the subframe to be moved from the upward position to the downward position,
• with the subframe in the downward position, the dunnage sheets in the dunnage storage area to be moved horizontally through the opening into operatively supported relation with the pallet, and
• the pallet hoist to then vertically lower the pallet with the dunnage sheets in operatively supported relation therewith.

Apparatus comprising:

• a depalletizing machine operative to separate containers from a pallet upon which the containers are operatively supported,
• wherein prior to separation the containers are arranged in a plurality of vertically aligned layers each of which layers comprises a plurality of containers positioned in side-by-side relation, and a respective dunnage sheet separates each layer from an immediately adjacent layer,
• the machine including
• a pallet hoist, wherein the pallet hoist is selectively operative to selectively vertically position the pallet,
• a take away conveyor, wherein the take away conveyor is configured to receive containers removed from operative supported connection with the pallet,
• at least one selectively horizontally movable sweep bar, wherein the at least one sweep bar is operative to horizontally move a layer of containers relative to a supporting immediately underlying dunnage sheet, wherein the containers in the layer are engageable with the take away conveyor,
• a pick head, wherein the pick head
• is selectively vertically movable while in overlying relation of the pallet hoist and horizontally movable,
• includes at least one grab member configured to releasably hold a dunnage sheet in engagement with the pick head,
• a dunnage tray, wherein the dunnage tray
• is configured to hold a plurality of dunnage sheets in a dunnage storage area, and
• is selectively horizontally movable between a first position in which the dunnage tray is in vertically overlying relation of the pallet hoist and a second position in which the dunnage tray is not in vertically overlying relation of the pallet hoist,
• a sheet leveler, wherein the sheet leveler
• is positioned horizontally intermediate of the pallet hoist and the take away conveyor,
• is selectively operative to vertically position a horizontal edge portion of the immediately underlying dunnage sheet from which the top layer of containers is moved by the at least one sweep bar, wherein the horizontal edge portion comprises an edge portion of the dunnage sheet immediately horizontally adjacent to the take away conveyor,
• includes a plurality of horizontally and vertically movable fingers, wherein each of the plurality of movable fingers
• extends horizontally and in contacting underlying relation of the horizontal edge portion when in a vertically upward position, and
• does not extend in underlying relation of the horizontal edge portion when in a vertically downward position,
• at least one controller, wherein the controller is in operative connection with each of
• the pallet hoist,
• the sheet leveler,
• the at least one sweep bar,
• the take away conveyor,
• the pick head, and
• the dunnage tray,
• wherein the at least one controller is operative to cause
• the at least one grab member of the pick head to engage a dunnage sheet overlying a top layer of containers that are in operatively supported connection with the pallet,
• while the at least one grab member is engaged with the dunnage sheet,
• the pick head to move vertically to cause the engaged dunnage sheet to be disposed vertically away from the top layer,
• the dunnage tray and the pick head to each move horizontally wherein the dunnage storage area is in underlying relation of the engaged dunnage sheet, and
• the at least one grab member of the pick head to release the dunnage sheet into the dunnage storage area,
• the sheet leveler to move the plurality of fingers from the downward position to the upward position, wherein the fingers engage and selectively vertically position the horizontal edge portion prior to the at least one sweep bar causing the top layer containers to be moved horizontally, and
• the at least one sweep bar to cause the top layer containers to be moved horizontally into engagement with the take away conveyor.

Apparatus comprising:

• a depalletizing machine operative to separate containers from a pallet upon which the containers are operatively supported,
• wherein prior to separation the containers are arranged in a plurality of vertically aligned layers each of which layers comprises a plurality of containers positioned in side-by-side relation, and a respective dunnage sheet separates each layer from an immediately adjacent layer,
• the machine including
• a pallet hoist, wherein the pallet hoist is selectively operative to selectively vertically position the pallet,
• a take away conveyor, wherein the take away conveyor is configured to receive containers removed from operative supported connection with the pallet,
• a pair of selectively horizontally movable sweep bars, wherein each of the sweep bars is operative to horizontally move a respective top layer of containers relative to a respective supporting immediately underlying dunnage sheet, wherein through such movement the containers in the top layer are engageable with the take away conveyor,
• a pick head, wherein the pick head
• is selectively vertically movable while in overlying relation of the pallet hoist and horizontally movable,
• includes at least one grab member configured to releasably hold a dunnage sheet in engagement with the pick head,
• a dunnage tray, wherein the dunnage tray
• is configured to hold a plurality of dunnage sheets in a dunnage storage area, and
• is selectively horizontally movable between a first position in which the dunnage tray is in vertically overlying relation of the pallet hoist and a second position in which the dunnage tray is not in vertically overlying relation of the pallet hoist,
• two pairs of independently movable sweep bar drive chains,
• wherein each sweep bar drive chain extends in parallel relation to the top layer of containers,
• wherein each sweep bar drive chain of a respective pair is
• positioned on an opposed horizontal side of the pick head and the dunnage tray from the other sweep bar drive chain of the respective pair, and
• continuously horizontally disposed away from each of the pick head and the dunnage tray,
• wherein each respective sweep bar
• is in operatively attached connection with only one respective pair of sweep bar drive chains, and
• extends horizontally intermediate of the sweep bar drive chains of the respective pair,
• at least one controller, wherein the controller is in operative connection with each of
• the pallet hoist,
• each respective pair of sweep bar drive chains,
• the take away conveyor,
• the pick head, and
• the dunnage tray,
• wherein the at least one controller is operative to cause
• the at least one grab member of the pick head to engage a dunnage sheet overlying a top layer of containers that are in operatively supported connection with the pallet,
• while the at least one grab member is engaged with the dunnage sheet,
• the pick head to move vertically to cause the engaged dunnage sheet to be disposed vertically away from the top layer,
• the dunnage tray and the pick head to each move horizontally wherein the dunnage storage area is in underlying relation of the engaged dunnage sheet, and
• the at least one grab member of the pick head to release the dunnage sheet into the dunnage storage area,
• each respective pair of sweep bar drive chains and the respective sweep bar operatively connected thereto, to move independently of the other respective pair of sweep bar drive chains and the other respective sweep bar operatively connected thereto, and
• each respective sweep bar to independently cause a respective top layer of containers to be moved horizontally into engagement with the take away conveyor.