# US 8,539,739 B2 · Method of palletizing items > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,739 B2 - Document ID: US8539739B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/549,872 - Filed: 2012-07-16 - Published: 2012-11-29 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-01 - Assignees: Top Tier, LLC - Applicants: Cary M. Pierson; Stephen L. Heston - Inventors: Cary M. Pierson; Stephen L. Heston - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539739B2 ## CPC - B65G 57/245: {with a stepwise downward movement of the stack} - B65B 11/045: {by rotating platforms supporting the articles} - B65B 35/50: Stacking one article, or group of articles, upon another before packaging - B65G 47/086: {cubiform articles} - B65G 61/00: Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for - 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) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract The present invention relates to compact palletizers that include a stretch-wrap operation as the pallet is built. A four-sided compaction mechanism compresses the rough-built load to the final pallet size and then the entire layer is released to the pallet. Individual items or group of items are picked and placed onto a layer support device in a loose orientation. The loose orientation enables a much faster palletizing operation because the robotic arm that pick-and-places the item, the items, or the row of items, can travel much faster as it does not have to precisely locate the item, items, or row of items. During the time that a layer is being loosely constructed on the layer support device concurrent wrapping can occur. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for palletizing a plurality of items from an infeed system using a hybrid palletizer and item handling system wherein plural items are arranged into rows of items and plural rows of items define a layer of items, the method comprising: a) presenting the plurality of items at an infeed system first height; b) using a pick and place robot, transferring at least one item but less than the number of items required to build a row by sliding the at least one item from the plurality of items to a predetermined position on a layer assembly platform having an apron, the layer assembly platform being positioned at an assembly-platform layer-build height within a vertical column; c) using the pick and place robot to transfer additional items from the plurality of items by sliding said additional items to respective predetermined positions on the layer assembly platform to build a first layer; d) vertically positioning the layer assembly platform from the assembly-platform layer-build height to a built-layer deposit height; e) opening the apron and depositing the first layer at the built-layer deposit height; f) building a subsequent layer of items on the layer assembly platform according to steps b) and c); and g) concurrently stretch wrapping the first layer while the subsequent layer is being built. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: building the first layer concurrent with building a second layer, said second layer comprising at least one item from the plurality of items on the layer assembly platform wherein the pick and place robot transfers each respective item to a predetermined position on the layer assembly platform by sliding and not lifting said items; and opening the apron to thereby simultaneously deposit both the first layer and second layers at the built-layer deposit height. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 in which the pick and place robot transfers said at least one item from the plurality of items as positioned on the infeed system to the predetermined position on the layer assembly platform without lifting said at least one item, wherein the pick and place robot rotates said at least one item so that said at least one item is oriented on the layer assembly platform in a rotational orientation that is different from the orientation of said one rotated item when it was positioned on the infeed system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: using the pick and place robot to transfer a first plurality of items to predetermined rough-build positions on the apron of the layer assembly platform; conditioning the first plurality of items from the rough-build positions to a final build position to thereby define the first layer; and depositing the first layer at the built-layer deposit height. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing at least one roller curtain floor to enable selective operation of the apron to deposit the first layer at the built-layer deposit height. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing at least one rigid apron panel to enable selective operation of the apron to deposit the first layer at the built-layer deposit height.