US 5,138,817 A · Method of and system for creating a uniform log of strapped bundles

Abstract

The system comprises at least one conveyor for carrying the bundles with equipment for checking bundle integrity and verifying correct addresses. Equipment can be included to remove unacceptable bundles and to divert each bundle to the predetermined conveyor and align the bundles properly. The bundles are rotated and held in position until a uniformed, and/or predetermined dimension log is achieved and then moved into position for strapping the log, identifying it and attaching the label. Conveyors are used to place each log in position to be palletized in conjunction with other logs. The logs can be rotated to create cross stacking of the logs and equipment can be used to raise or lower each layer of the logs. When the complete pallet is created an address and information label is prepared and attached. The method comprises the control of a number of pieces of equipment by means of a programmable system control designed to maintain the sequential integrity of the output, that is the preparation of bundles of variable height into logs of uniform width, height and predetermined length into palletized loads onto which the sequentially produced logs produce a pallet on which the sequence of the logs is maintained. Pallet content, configuration and sequence is captured as printed and electronic records are prepared for internal and external use and reprocessing.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of creating a log of uniform width and breadth and of a substantially predetermined length, said log being formed from a multiple number of strapped bundles each containing a variable number of sequentially collected substantially flat items arranged in side-by-side fashion so that the width and breadth of the bundle becomes the width and breadth of the log and with the thickness of the bundle varying as a function of the number of items and the thickness of the items, said method including the steps of:

moving the bundles in sequence along a conveyor whereby the bundles are oriented on the conveyor so that the items in the bundles are substantially aligned one atop the other;
determining the thickness of each bundle as it is conveyed;
rotating each bundle at a turning location and moving the rotated bundle upon a surface of a bundle collection means whereby the items of the bundles delivered to the collection means are all arranged in side-by-side fashion along the collection means and the items are aligned transverse to the surface of the collection means;
measuring the length of the log being formed on the collection means;
determining by means of stored predetermined tolerances relating to the desired log length and the measured log length when the correct combination of bundles have been combined to complete a log;
tying together the bundles making up the completed log;
and
moving the tied log unit to a predetermined output location for subsequent delivery.

5 more elements

A system for creating a uniform log of strapped bundles, for use in the distribution of publications and the like, comprising:

at least one conveyor means for receiving and conveying a bundle of publications;
said conveyor having a rotating base;
measuring means for identifying one dimension of said bundle;
tipping means for tipping bundles delivered to said tipping means by said conveyor into a desired position and maintaining the bundles in said desired position;
accumulating means for accumulating bundles tipped by said tipping means to form a log;
strapping means for placing a strap around the log;
labelling means for identifying said strapped log;
and
means for delivering said strapped log to a location for subsequent handling.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of and system for creating a uniform log of strapped bundles

Life of this patent

Method of and system for creating a uniform log of strapped bundles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20