Bulk palletizer system
AssigneeKaufman Engineered Systems
InventorsJonathan D. Parker, Aaron J. Peper, Brian D. Macleod
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This machine is a cell for bulk palletizing a load such as the packaging of containers (bottles). The machine comprises a tier building system, a bulk load and dunnage supply systems. The cell also includes a programmable robot with cantilevered arm including an effector for transferring pallets, tiers of bulk product, tier sheets and top frames to the load build area. The effector includes an inverted drawer, suction means, pallet gripper means and top frame grippers for doing the transferring.
Claims30
An apparatus for bulk palletizing a load comprising:
- a tier building system;
- a pallet station;
- a tier sheet station;
- a load build area;
- a top frame station;
- a dunnage supply line;
- and
- a programmable robot, including a single means for transferring pallets, tiers of bulk product, tier sheets and top frames to the load build area wherein the programmable, robot includes a microprocessor and software configured to build a bulk load by sequentially feeding a pallet, a tier of bulk product, a tier sheet, a tier of bulk product and a top frame as necessary to the load building area.
An apparatus for bulk palletizing containers comprising a tier building area, a programmable robot with cantilevered arm with end-of-arm tool, a tier sheet station, a pallet station, a top frame station, and a finished product discharge line, wherein the end-of-arm tool incorporates the full tier pickup, tier sheet pickup, pallet pickup and top frame pickup and wherein the single robot performs all functions in sequence.
A process for bulk palletizing a load comprising the steps of sequentially:
- placing a pallet in a load building area;
- alternatively placing a tier sheet and a tier of bulk product on the pallet;
- stacking alternate layers of the tiers and tier sheets on the pallet in load build area;
- stacking a top frame on the load;
- and
- carrying out the steps with a single programmable robot including a microprocessor and software configured to build a bulk load by sequentially feeding a pallet, a tier of bulk product, a tier sheet, a tier of bulk product and a top frame as necessary to a load building area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.