Device and method for automatically removing a film wrapping from palletized stacks of products

A device for removing a film wrapping from palletized stacks of products, said device comprising:

• a cutting head, wherein the cutting head comprises a cutter for cutting through the film, wherein the cutter is disposed between at least two opposing contacts and is set back with respect to a film contact plane formed by the opposing contacts in order to form a cutting recess, and a vacuum unit to generate suction between the at least two opposing contacts to suck a region of the film wrapping to be cut locally into the cutting recess and into contact with the cutter, wherein the contacts comprise a pair of spaced apart rollers disposed laterally on either side of the cutter with respect to a cutting direction of the cutting head;
• a pallet place for an arrangement of a pallet correspondingly wrapped with film;
• and
• a support arm moveable by a motorized drive;
• wherein the cutting head is disposed at one end of the support arm, and wherein the support arm is configured to travel under operation of a controller such that the cutting head maintains contact with the film via the two opposing contacts while the vacuum unit sucks the film into the cutting recess and into contact with the cutter during cutting, and further comprising a sensor configured to operably communicate with the controller for monitoring a force of the cutting head against a surface of the film for use in maintaining the cutting head in contact with the film during cutting, wherein the cutting head further comprises a housing, and wherein the cutter is disposed within the housing and the rollers are fastened to the housing.