Pallet Handling
AssigneeSystem Logistics S.P.A.
InventorsMatthew H. Roberts, Ray B. Briggs, Jackie E. King
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
PA system (20) for removing pallets (22) from carriers (24) may include an infeed conveyor (30) configured for conveying carriers with pallets, a pallet takeaway conveyor (34) configured for conveying pallets, and a removal conveyor (32) between the infeed conveyor and the pallet takeaway conveyor. The removal conveyor is configured for removing the pallets from the carrier, the removal conveyor driven in synchronicity with the infeed conveyor so as to remove the pallets with continuous motion.
Claims26
A system for removing pallets from carriers comprising:
- an infeed conveyor configured for conveying carriers with pallets on the carriers;
- a pallet takeaway conveyor configured for conveying pallets;
- and
- a removal conveyor between the infeed conveyor and the pallet takeaway conveyor configured for removing the pallets from the carriers and transferring the pallets to the pallet takeaway conveyor, the removal conveyor driven in synchronicity with at least a portion of the infeed conveyor so as to remove the pallets with continuous motion.
A conveyor for removing a pallet from a carrier, the pallet having a bottom side defining two spaced-apart grooves, the conveyor comprising:
- a frame;
- a first belt mounted on the frame;
- a second belt mounted on the frame;
- the first and second belts each having a width sized to fit within a respective one of the grooves, the first and second belts each driven along paths including a lifting portion, the lifting portions extending parallel to each other and spaced apart so that the lifting portions can simultaneously fit within the grooves;
- and
- a drive for driving the first and second belts so as to support the pallet on the first and second belts and remove it from the carrier.
A method of removing pallets from carriers including:
- transporting pallets atop carriers on a first conveyor driven at a first speed;
- removing the pallets from the carriers using a using a removal conveyor driven at a speed substantially the same as the speed of at least a portion of the first conveyor;
- and
- transferring the pallets from the removal conveyor to a load takeaway conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.