Multi-level tray loader
AssigneeDematic Corp.
InventorsJared Hills, Dean Leek, Matthew Bair, Nolan R. Pilarz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are provided for loading trays with articles using a first tray conveyor on which empty trays are delivered and an article conveyor on which articles are delivered to be transferred onto empty trays. The trays include a frame with a peripheral raised edge and a base having at least one aperture and a transport plate for the articles, the transport trays being positioned on the base of the frame. A lifting apparatus is provided for the transport plate of the tray at a height that is about equal to the height of the article conveyor, such as about 10 millimeters (10 mm) or less to reduce or eliminate drop forces as articles as transferred from the article conveyor onto the tray.
Claims14
A tray loading system for loading articles onto trays in a material handling conveyor system, said tray loading system comprising:
- a first tray conveyor having a conveyor surface and being operable to transport a material handling transport tray in a conveyor direction for loading, wherein said material handling transport tray comprises:
- a frame having a peripheral raised edge and a base having at least one aperture;
- and
- a transport plate with a transport surface for supporting articles, wherein said transport plate is supportable on said base of said frame for transport and is moveable relative to said raised edge and said base of said frame;
- a transfer bed adjacent and downstream of said first tray conveyor and having a transport surface configured to receive said material handling transport tray from said first tray conveyor;
- an article conveyor adjacent said transfer bed and said first tray conveyor, said article conveyor having a conveyor surface and being operable to transport an article in the conveyor direction and to transfer the article from said conveyor surface of said article conveyor onto said transport surface of said material handling transport tray when supported at a portion of said transfer bed;
- a second tray conveyor downstream of said transfer bed having a conveying surface and being operable to transport said material handling transport tray in the conveyor direction away from said transfer bed;
- said transfer bed operable to position said material handling transport tray in a receiving position wherein said transport plate of said material handling transport tray is at or above said raised edge of said frame of said material handling transport tray and such that said transport surface of said transport plate is substantially parallel with said conveyor surface of said article conveyor;
- and
- said transfer bed operable to position said material handling transport tray in a transport position wherein said transport plate of said material handling transport tray is supported on said base of said frame.
A tray loading system for loading articles onto trays in a material handling conveyor system, said tray loading system comprising:
- a first tray conveyor operable to transport a material handling transport tray in a conveyor direction for loading, said material handling transport tray comprising:
- a frame having a peripheral raised edge and a base having at least one aperture;
- and
- a transport plate with a transport surface for supporting articles, wherein the transport plate is supportable on said base of said frame for transport and is moveable relative to said raised edge and said base of said frame;
- a transfer bed downstream of said first tray conveyor and configured to receive said material handling transport tray from said first tray conveyor;
- an article conveyor upstream of said transfer bed and superjacent to said first tray conveyor, said article conveyor operable to transport an article in the conveyor direction and to transfer the article from the conveyor surface of said article conveyor onto the transport surface of the material handling transport tray when supported at a portion of said transfer bed;
- and
- a second tray conveyor downstream of said transfer bed and operable to transport said material handling transport tray in the conveyor direction away from said transfer bed;
- said transfer bed operable to position the tray in a substantially level orientation wherein the transport plate of the material handling transport tray is at or above the raised edge of the frame of the material handling transport tray and such that the transport surface of the transport plate is substantially parallel with the conveyor surface of said article conveyor;
- and
- said transfer bed operable to position the material handling transport tray such that the transport plate of the material handling transport tray is substantially parallel to a conveyor surface of the downstream said second tray conveyor that is operable to transport the material handling transport tray from said transfer bed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.