Systems and Methods for PALLETIZING AND DEPALLETIZING

A gripper for palletizing and/or depalletizing containers using a robot, the gripper comprising:

• a support structure;
• a blade that is reversibly adjustable relative to the support structure in a pass-beneath direction in order to support at least one container in a support direction transverse to the pass-beneath direction;
• and
• at least one of:
• a) a punch arrangement having a first punch which is reversibly adjustable relative to the support structure in the support direction in order to push a first side edge of the at least one container counter to the support direction,
• b) a suction device arrangement having a first suction device which is reversibly adjustable in a first feed direction transverse to the support direction, and configured to suction a first suction side of the at least one container in a direction transverse to the support direction, or
• c) a side jaw arrangement, comprising:
• a first side jaw which is reversibly adjustable relative to the support structure in a first covering direction in order to at least partially extend over a first side surface of the at least one container in the first covering direction, and
• a second side jaw which is reversibly adjustable relative to the support structure in a second covering direction transverse to the first covering direction in order to at least partially extend over a second side surface of the at least one container adjacent to the first side surface in the second covering direction.