Returnable Crate Loader
AssigneeDelkor Systems, Inc.
InventorChristopher Notsch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, apparatus and method are presented for loading product containers into a crate wherein the crate is a reusable crate having four sides, which may be distorted bowed or bent relative to a nominal position. The system has a conveyer to convey the crate to an actuation assembly. The actuation assembly then actuates the crate from into contact with a bracing assembly. The bracing assembly has four bracing members, each of which has at least one bracing block engaged thereto. Each bracing block has a grasping portion which contacts and bias against one of the four sides of the crate when the crate is actuated into engagement with the bracing assembly so as to reposition the sides of the crate to be in the nominal position.
Claims11
A system for loading product containers into a crate wherein the crate is a reusable crate having four sides, the system comprising:
- a conveyer, the conveyer constructed and arranged to convey the crate to an actuation assembly;
- the actuation assembly constructed and arranged to actuate the crate and bracing assembly into engagement with one another;
- the bracing assembly comprising:
- four bracing members, a first pair of the four bracing members being positioned in parallel opposition to one another, each of the first pair of bracing members having at least one bracing block engaged thereto, each bracing block having a grasping portion, the grasping portion having an outside surface and an inside surface, the inside surface constructed and arranged to contact and bias against one of the four sides of the crate when the crate is actuated into engagement with the bracing assembly.
A bracing apparatus for bracing each of the four sides of a reusable crate, such that the crate defines a crate opening of a nominal size and shape when the crate is engaged by the bracing assembly, the assembly comprising:
- four bracing members, each bracing member having at least one bracing block engaged thereto, each bracing block having a grasping portion, the grasping portion having an outside surface and an inside surface, the inside surface constructed and arranged to contact and bias against one of the four sides of the crate when the crate is engaged by the bracing assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.