Palletizer system with centralized palletizing patterns
AssigneeToyota Automated Logistics Americas, LLC
InventorsColin Shipley, Geoff Schreiber, Kenneth David Naumann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A palletizing system includes one or more palletizers. A database is configured to maintain a stacking pattern library containing multiple stacking patterns for the palletizers. A computer is operatively connected to the database. The computer is configured to automatically select a stacking pattern for a selected one of the palletizers. In other words, the computer is configured to change the stacking pattern of one of the palletizers without changing the other palletizers. The database is configured to maintain unique palletizer identifiers used for identifying individual palletizers to promote expandability.
Claims22
A system, comprising:
- a first palletizer configured to palletize a first set of first items having a first size;
- a second palletizer configured to palletize a second set of second items having a second size that is different from the first size;
- a database configured to maintain a stacking pattern library containing multiple stacking patterns for the palletizers;
- wherein the database is configured to store the stacking patterns in the library as non-dimensional data;
- a computer operatively connected to the database;
- wherein the computer is configured to change receive first stacking requirements information for the first palletizer;
- wherein the computer is configured to receive second stacking requirements information for the second palletizer;
- wherein the computer is configured to select the same stacking pattern for the first palletizer and the other second palletizer based on the first stacking requirements information and the second stacking requirements information;
- and
- wherein the first palletizer and the second palletizer are configured to palletize using the same stacking pattern.
A method, comprising:
- receiving a first request for a first palletizer at a database;
- storing stacking patterns in the database as non-dimensional data;
- wherein the non-dimensional data represents relative characteristics of palletized items rather than absolute units of measure;
- selecting a first stacking pattern from the database based on the first request;
- sending the first stacking pattern from the database to the first palletizer;
- palletizing at the first palletizer using the first stacking pattern;
- receiving a second request for a second palletizer at the database;
- selecting a second stacking pattern from the database based on the second request;
- sending the second stacking pattern from the database to the second palletizer;
- palletizing at the second palletizer using the second stacking pattern;
- wherein the first stacking pattern and the second stacking pattern are the same;
- and
- wherein the palletizing at the second palletizer includes palletizing objects with a different size than at the first palletizer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.