System and method for automated handling of elastically compressible articles

A system for automated handling of at least one elastically compressible article, comprising:

• at least an article stripping unit for stripping off the article from a production line;
• at least an article conveying unit for conveying said article from said article stripping unit, wherein said article conveying unit is connected adjacent to the article stripping unit;
• at least an article counting and stacking unit for counting and stacking a plurality of elastically compressible articles received from the article conveying unit, wherein said article counting and stacking unit is connected adjacent to the article conveying unit, and comprises a temporary article storage bin and a pressing element configured to compact the elastically compressible articles within the bin;
• at least an article transferring unit for transferring stacked elastically compressible articles received from the article counting and stacking unit, wherein said article transferring unit is connected adjacent to the article counting and stacking unit;
• and
• at least an article packaging unit for packaging the stacked elastically compressible articles received from the article transferring unit, wherein said article packaging unit is connected adjacent to the article transferring unit;
• wherein the article conveying unit comprises a first conveying element comprising at least one conveyor belt and at least a second conveying element configured to grip or clip the elastically compressible article for transfer to the article counting and stacking unit, and
• wherein the article stripping unit, the article conveying unit, the article counting and stacking unit, the article transferring unit, and the article packaging unit are accommodated as a unified system.

A system for automated handling of at least one elastically compressible article, comprising:

• at least an article stripping unit for stripping off the article from production line;
• at least an article conveying unit for conveying said article from said article stripping unit, wherein said article conveying unit is connected adjacent to the article stripping unit;
• at least an article counting and stacking unit for counting and stacking a plurality of elastically compressible articles received from the article conveying unit, wherein said article counting and stacking unit is connected adjacent to the article conveying unit;
• and
• at least an article transferring unit for transferring stacked elastically compressible articles received from the article counting and stacking unit to a subsequent station or unit, wherein said article transferring unit is connected adjacent to the article counting and stacking unit;
• wherein the article transferring unit comprises an intermediate elevatable tray configured to receive the stacked elastically compressible articles from the article counting and stacking unit and to descend in a controlled manner to transfer the stacked elastically compressible articles, thereby functioning as a drop-prevention mechanism or an anti-gravitational means.

A method for automated handling of at least one elastically compressible article comprising:

• i. conveying at least an elastically compressible article to a stripping unit;
• ii. conveying the elastically compressible article from the stripping unit to a conveying unit;
• iii. conveying the elastically compressible article from the conveying unit to a counting and stacking unit;
• iv. counting and stacking a plurality of elastically compressible articles;
• v. conveying the stacked elastically compressible articles from the counting and stacking unit to an article transferring unit, wherein the article transferring unit comprises an intermediate elevatable tray that descends in a controlled manner to receive and transfer the stacked elastically compressible articles as a drop-prevention mechanism or anti-gravitational means;
• vi. conveying the stacked elastically compressible articles from the article transferring unit to an article packaging unit;
• wherein said method further comprising packaging the stacked elastically compressible articles after conveying the stacked elastically compressible articles from the article transferring unit to an article packaging unit, wherein the method is carried out continuously in a sequence of i to vi.

A method for automated handling of at least one elastically compressible article comprising:

• i. conveying at least an elastically compressible article to a stripping unit;
• ii. conveying the elastically compressible article from a stripping unit to a conveying unit;
• iii. conveying the elastically compressible article from the conveying unit to a counting and stacking unit;
• iv. counting and stacking a plurality of elastically compressible articles;
• v. conveying the stacked elastically compressible articles from the counting and stacking unit to an article transferring unit;
• wherein conveying the stacked elastically compressible articles from the counting and stacking unit to an article transferring unit comprising the following:
• a. elevating at least an intermediate elevatable tray of the article transferring unit to engage with at least a temporary article storage bin's gate of the counting and stacking unit;
• and
• b. releasing the articles onto the elevatable tray by the opening of the temporary article storage bin's gate;
• wherein the opening of the bin's gate is not obstructed by the engagement of the elevatable tray through at least an anti-obstruction means, allowing the stacked articles to be rested onto the elevatable tray.