# US 7,607,883 B2 · Palletizing machine pusher with raised return rail

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- Number: US 7,607,883 B2
- Document ID: US7607883B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/524,119
- Filed: 2006-09-20
- Published: 2007-03-29
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2005-09-21
- Inventors: Sadao Yagi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607883B2

## CPC

- B65G 57/22: in layers each of predetermined arrangement
- B65G 57/035: {with a stepwise downward movement of the stack}
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)

## Abstract

An improved palletizing machine (10) includes a frame (12), a pallet plate (16) for supporting pallets (18), and a pallet raising and lowering mechanism (20). A pusher bar assembly (26) includes at least one raised return rail (44) to facilitate return of a pusher bar (28) to a start position (68). An extendable object positioning wheel (104) on a conveyor (119) feeding objects (24) to an object receiver (22) of the machine (10) facilitates pivoting of objects (24) between positions as the objects (24) impact the wheel (104). A stripper sheet positioning assembly (80) positions and removes a stripper sheet (82) from on top of the pallet (18) or layer (118) of objects (24) to prevent pushed objects (24) from catching upon edges of objects (24) in a layer (116) already on the pallet.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A palletizing machine (10) for positioning objects (24) onto a pallet (18), the machine (10) comprising:
a. a frame (12) having a pallet plate (16) secured between posts (14A, 14B, 14C, 14D) of the frame (12) for supporting the pallet (18), the frame including raising and lowering means (20) for selectively raising and lowering the pallet (18) within the frame (12);
b. an object receiver (22) secured to the frame for receiving objects (24);
c. a pusher bar assembly (26) secured to the frame (12) adjacent the object receiver (22), the pusher bar assembly (26) including;
i. a pusher bar (28) for pushing objects (24) from the object receiver (22) onto the pallet (18) supported by the pallet plate (16);
ii. at least one first pusher strut (30) secured between a first end (31) of the pusher bar (28) and a pusher bar drive means (32) secured to the frame (12) for moving the pusher bar (28) from adjacent the object receiver (22) over the pallet plate (16) and back to adjacent the object receiver (22); and,
iii. at least one raised return rail (44) secured to the frame (12) adjacent the object receiver (22) and configured so that the pusher bar (28) passes under the at least one raised return rail (44) as the pusher drive means (32) moves the pusher bar (28) and objects (24) contacting the pusher bar (28) from adjacent the object receiver (22) over the pallet plate (16), and so that the pusher bar (28) passes along the at least one raised return rail (44) as the pusher drive means (32) moves the pusher bar (28) from over the pallet plate (16) back to adjacent the object receiver (22); and,
iv. wherein the at least one raised return rail (44) includes an override segment (56) upon which the pusher bar (28) passes, and an override segment distance (60) defined between the override segment (56) and the object receiver (22) being sufficient to permit the pusher bar (28) to pass over the objects (24) upon the object receiver (22) as the pusher bar (28) is returned by the pusher drive means (32) to adjacent the object receiver (22); and,
d. a stripper sheet positioning assembly means (80) for selectively passing a stripper sheet (82) parallel to a plane defined by the pallet (18) adjacent the object receiver (22) for facilitating sliding of objects (24) over the pallet plate (16), the stripper sheet positioning means (80) including;
i. a first dead weight (86) extending between the frame posts (14D, 14A);
ii. a second dead weight (90) extending between the frame posts (14C, 14D);
iii. a stripper sheet drive axle (92) extending between the frame posts (14D, 14A) adjacent the object receiver (22);
iv. the stripper sheet (82) being secured between the first and second dead weights (86, 90); and,
v. a stripper sheet drive means (96) secured to the stripper sheet drive axle (92) for selectively positioning the stripper sheet (82) between a first position parallel to a plane defined by the pallet plate (16) and a second position away from the first position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The palletizing machine of claim 1, wherein the object receiver (22) further comprises;
a. an object transfer segment (100) and an adjacent pallet feed segment (102) wherein the pusher bar (28) is adjacent the pallet feed segment (102) for pushing objects from the pallet feed segment (102) onto the pallet (18);
b. an object positioning wheel (104) secured between rollers (106) of the object receiver (22) within the object transfer segment (100) so that the positioning wheel (104) is positioned on either side of a roller (106) mid-line defined to run parallel to an axis of travel of the objects (24) upon the object transfer segment (100) of the object receiver (22) and mid-way between opposed sides of the object transfer segment (100) of the object receiver (22), the object positioning wheel (104) including positioning wheel raising and lowering means (108) to selectively raise and lower the wheel (104) above and below a plane defined by top surfaces of the rollers (106), the wheel (104) configured to contact a side of an object (24) traveling along the object receiver (22) to interrupt travel of a side of the object (24) contacting the object positioning wheel (104) so an opposed side of the object (24) continues along the rollers (106) of the object transfer segment (100) to pivot the object (24) from a first position into a second position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The palletizing machine (10) of claim 2, wherein the object transfer segment (100) further comprises adjustable object guide rails (115A, 115B) secured adjacent and extending above sides of the object transfer segment (100), and positioned upstream of the object positioning wheel (104), the adjustable guide rails (115A, 115E) being configured with narrowing entries to guide the objects (24) passing along the object transfer segment (100) toward the object positioning wheel (104) so that the first off-center side (110) of the objects (24) are positioned to contact the object wheel (104).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The palletizing machine of claim 1 wherein the at least one raised return rail (44) includes a one-way strut guide means (50) for guiding the pusher strut (30) to ride along the rail (44) as the strut (30) moves toward the object receiver (22), and rides under the rail (44) as the strut (30) moves away from the object receiver (22).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The palletizing machine of claim 1, wherein the raised return rail (44) defines a first raised return rail entry (62) secured adjacent the object receiver (22), wherein an entry distance (66) between the raised return rail entry (62) and the object receiver (22) is sufficient to permit the pusher bar (28) to move along the object receiver (22) unimpeded by the entry (62).

### Claim 6

A palletizing machine (10) for positioning objects (24) onto a pallet (18), the machine (10) comprising:
a. a frame (12) having a pallet plate (16) secured between posts (14A, 14, 14C, 14D) of the frame (12) for supporting the pallet (18), the frame including raising and lowering means (20) for selectively raising and lowering the pallet (18) within the frame (12);
b. an object receiver (22) secured to the frame for receiving objects (22);
c. a stripper sheet positioning assembly means (80) for selectively passing a stripper sheet (82) parallel to a plane defined by the pallet (18) adjacent the object receiver (22) for facilitating sliding of objects (24) over the pallet plate (16), the stripper sheet positioning assembly positioning means (80) including;
i. a first dead weight (86) extending between the frame posts (14D, 14A)
ii. a second dead weight (90) extending between the frame posts (14C, 140);
iii. a stripper sheet drive axle (92) extending between the frame posts (14D, 14A) adjacent the object receiver (22);
iv. the stripper sheet (82) being secured between the first and second dead weights (86, 90); and,
v. a stripper sheet drive means (96) secured to the stripper sheet drive axle (92) for selectively positioning the stripper sheet (82) between a first position parallel to a plane defined by the pallet plate (16) and a second position away from the first Position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The palletizing machine of claim 6, wherein the object receiver (22) further comprises;
a. an object transfer segment (100) and an adjacent pallet feed segment (102) wherein a pusher bar (28) is adjacent the pallet feed segment (102) for pushing objects from the pallet feed segment (102) onto the pallet (18);
b. an object positioning wheel (104) secured between rollers (106) of the object receiver (22) within the object transfer segment (100) so that the positioning wheel (104) is positioned on either side of a roller (106) mid-line defined to run parallel to an axis of travel of the objects (24) upon the object transfer segment (100) of the object receiver (22) and mid-way between opposed sides of the object transfer segment (100) of the object receiver (22), the object positioning wheel (104) including positioning wheel raising and lowering means (108) to selectively raise and lower the wheel (104) above and below a plane defined by top surfaces of the rollers (106), the wheel (104) configured to contact a side of an object (24) traveling along the object receiver (22) to interrupt travel of a side of the object (24) contacting the object positioning wheel (104) so an opposed side of the object (24) continues along the rollers (106) of the object transfer segment (100) to pivot the object (24) from a first position into a second position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The palletizing machine (10) of claim 7, wherein the object transfer segment (100) further comprises adjustable object guide rails (115A, 115B) secured adjacent and extending above sides of the object transfer segment (100), and positioned upstream of the object positioning wheel (104), the adjustable guide rails (115A, 115B) being configured with narrowing entries to guide the objects (24) passing along the object transfer segment (100) toward the object positioning wheel (104) so that the first off-center side (110) of the objects (24) are positioned to contact the object wheel (104).