Apparatus for handling layers of palletized goods

Abstract

An apparatus for handling layers of palletized goods is described, comprising a vertically displaceable lift head with a mainly horizontal suction face which is substantially adjusted in size for a pallet, for example an EU pallet. The head has a large number of downward open suction chambers arranged for being moved downward against the upper side of an upper layer of individually or groupwise packed goods on a pallet. Individual valves are connected with a vacuum source preferably integrated in the lift head, with individual valves between the suction chambers and the vacuum source being ball valves with spherical valve bodies interacting with round valve openings with preferably spherical valve seats. The valve openings are arranged for being automatically actuated to shut off the ball valves if an associated suction chamber is not blocked downwardly by contacting the upper side of the goods at the uppermost pallet layer. The lift head along the outer sides of the suction face preferably comprises means for exerting an inwardly directed pressure on at least the lower part of the outer sides of the goods of the upper pallet layer. The invention by simple measures mechanizes layered destacking of individual goods from a pallet and subsequent reformation of new pallets with layers of individual goods.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.