Apparatus and method for placing corner protectors of different heights on palletized

Apparatus for placing corner protectors upon corner regions of a load to be wrapped, comprising:

• a single wrapping station for supporting loads to be wrapped;
• a plurality of corner protector magazines divided into two groups of corner protector magazines and housing corner protectors having two different height dimensions for placement upon corner regions of loads supported upon said single wrapping station;
• and
• a plurality of corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assembly means divided into two groups of corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assembly means and respectively operatively associated with said two groups of said corner protector magazines for picking up and transferring corner protectors, having a first height dimension, by a first one of said two groups of said corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assembly means from a first one of said two groups of said corner protector magazines so as to place said corner protectors, having said first height dimension, upon corner regions of a first load supported upon said single wrapping station and requiring corner protectors having said first height dimension, while a second one of said two groups of said corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assembly means, operatively associated with a second one of said two groups of said corner protector magazines housing corner protectors having a second height dimension, remains idle, and for picking up and transferring corner protectors, having a second height dimension, by said second one of said two groups of said corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assembly means from said second one of said two groups of said corner protector magazines so as to place said corner protectors, having said second height dimension, upon corner regions of a second load supported upon said single wrapping station and requiring corner protectors having said second height dimension, while said first one of said two groups of said corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assembly means, operatively associated with said first one of said two groups of said corner protector magazines housing corner protectors having said first height dimension, remains idle.

A method of placing corner protectors upon corner regions of a load to be wrapped, comprising the steps of:

• providing a single wrapping station for supporting loads to be wrapped;
• dividing a plurality of corner protector magazines into two groups of corner protector magazines and respectively depositing corner protectors having two different height dimensions, for placement upon corner regions of loads supported upon said single wrapping station, within said two groups of corner protector magazines;
• dividing a plurality of corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assemblies, respectively operatively associated with said two groups of said corner protector magazines, into two groups of corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assemblies;
• and
• selectively activating a first one of said two groups of said corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assemblies so as to pick up and transfer corner protectors, having a first height dimension, from a first one of said two groups of said corner protector magazines so as to place said corner protectors, having said first height dimension, upon corner regions of a first load supported upon said single wrapping station and requiring corner protectors having said first height dimension, while a second one of said two groups of said corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assembly means, operatively associated with a second one of said two groups of said corner protector magazines housing corner protectors having a second height dimension, remains idle, and alternatively selectively activating a second one of said two groups of said corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assemblies so as to pick up and transfer corner protectors, having a second height dimension, from said second one of said two groups of said corner protector magazines so as to place said corner protectors, having said second height dimension, upon corner regions of a second load supported upon said single wrapping station and requiring corner protectors having said second height dimension, while said first one of said two groups of said corner protector pick-up arm and transfer assemblies, operatively associated with said first one of said two groups of said corner protector magazines housing corner protectors having said first height dimension, remains idle.