Loading pattern generating system and loading device

A loading device comprising:

• input means for inputting loading pattern generating conditions;
• said loading pattern generating conditions including at least size of a pallet, a size of a product to be loaded on said pallet, data relating to a loading device for loading products on said pallet, and a target capacity to load products on a pallet;
• a candidate pattern registration means in which a plurality of candidate patterns to load products on said pallet are registered;
• calculation means for preparing a loading pattern for controlling said loading device corresponding to said loading pattern generating conditions inputted by said input means, on the basis of said candidate patterns registered in said candidate pattern registration means, and which performs capacity calculation to find loading capacity of said loading pattern, and which finds such a loading pattern that said loading capacity fulfills said target capacity;
• output means for outputting said loading pattern calculated by said calculation means;
• and
• a loading machine for loading products on a pallet on the basis of said loading pattern.

A loading device comprising:

• input means for inputting loading pattern generating conditions;
• said loading pattern generating conditions including at least size of a pallet, a size of a product to be loaded on said pallet, data relating to a loading device for loading products on said pallet, and a target capacity to load products on said pallet;
• a candidate pattern registration means in which a plurality of candidate patterns to load products on said pallet are registered;
• calculation means for preparing a loading pattern for controlling said loading device corresponding to said loading pattern generating conditions inputted by said input means, on the basis of said candidate patterns registered in said candidate pattern registration means, and which performs capacity calculation to find loading capacity of said loading pattern, and which finds such a loading pattern that said loading capacity fulfills said target capacity;
• said calculation means including means for performing a torque calculation to find a torque necessary for said loading device in said prepared loading pattern, and finds such a loading pattern that said torque is within a specified torque of said loading device and said loading capacity fulfills said target capacity;
• output means for outputting said loading pattern calculated by said calculation means;
• and
• a loading machine for loading products on a pallet on the basis of said output loading pattern.

A loading pattern generating system, said system being of a type using a controllable hand for loading a plurality of a product onto a pallet, comprising:

• a candidate pattern registration means;
• said candidate pattern registration means including a plurality of candidate patterns for loading said product onto said pallet;
• input means for inputting setting which include at least some of a target capacity, a pallet size, a product size, a type of palletizer and a size of a said hand;
• means for comparing a result of ones of said plurality of candidate patterns to find a one of said candidate patterns that satisfies said settings;
• means for calculating whether a torque imposed on said palletizer by a candidate pattern exceeds a maximum permitted torque;
• means for outputting a candidate pattern which satisfies both said settings and which does not exceed said maximum permitted torque;
• and
• when the conditions in the preceding clause are not satisfied, said means for comparing proceeds to a next candidate pattern to repeat the comparison and calculation.