US 5,372,472 AGranted

Palletizer and palletizing methods

AssigneeKinetic Robotics Inc.

InventorsErnest P. Winski, David R. Rastall

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Abstract

Palletizers and methods of palletizing are disclosed. The palletizers are adapted to receive and arrange units of material and to concurrently fabricate first and second layers therefrom; or to place them in layers at either of first and second delivery support areas; or both. A plurality of layer forming stations can be vertically spaced, horizontally spaced, or both. Plural load forming stations can be horizontally spaced, vertically spaced, or both. Pallets can be sequenced into the load forming stations when empty or partially empty; and can be sequenced out of the load forming stations when empty, partially empty, or full. A given layer may be a hybrid layer comprised of the sum of partial layers fabricated separately. In some embodiments, the transfer apparatus can transfer layers to more than one of more than one load forming stations. In some embodiments, rows of units of material are advanced transversely onto and across an in-feed conveyor to thereby define, on the in-feed conveyor, the full width of the layer being formed.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of forming material loads in material handling apparatus, said material handling apparatus comprising a load support component, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving and supporting a first pallet in said load support component at a first load forming station;
(b) receiving a first load layer, from a first layer forming station, in said load support component, in a first transfer operation, by use of a transfer component;
(c) in a second transfer operation, separate from said first transfer operation, receiving a second load layer from a second layer forming station, in said load support component, by use of said transfer component;
said first load layer being supported by a first layer support surface, said second load layer being supported by a second layer support surface different from said first layer support surface,
(d) forming said first load layer in a first layer forming station by receiving a first set of units of material, when not yet formed into a load layer, at said first layer forming station, and arranging said first set of units of material into said first load layer;
(e) forming said second load layer in a second layer forming station by receiving a second set of units of material, when not yet formed into a load layer, at said second layer forming station, and arranging said second set of units of material into said second load layer,
whereby said first load layer as received in said load support component corresponds substantially to said first load layer as formed in said first layer forming station, and second load layer as received in said load support component corresponds substantially to said second load layer as formed in said second layer forming station.

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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.