Method for loading and unloading a pallet and corresponding palletizer

A method for unloading a pallet, comprising the steps of:

• completely raising a first pallet in one step from a second plane up to a first plane prior to providing a second packed pallet,
• removing packages from the first pallet disposed in the first plane,
• providing the second packed pallet below the first pallet in a second plane,
• transporting the first pallet away:
• providing a pelletizer head movable in both horizontal and vertical planes, and adjusting said palletizer head to selectively remove packages from either the first pallet or the second pallet, and wherein during the removal step the selected pallet is in one of the first plane or the second plane.

A palletizer used for placing packages, in particular bottle crates, single-use packages or the like, on a pallet or removing them from a pallet, the packages being placed on and removed from said pallet in particular in the form of layers, and comprising a loading station, a pallet providing station, the loading station and the pallet providing station being implemented and adapted to one another in such a way that, for a certain period of time, a fully packed first pallet is disposed in the loading station on a plane one of below an empty or only partially packed second pallet;

• wherein the pallet providing station comprises a first vertically adjustable arm, which is preferably movable along a perpendicular guide means and which is used for transporting a pallet from the pallet providing station to the loading station or vice versa;
• wherein the first vertically adjustable arm is additionally implemented such that it is also adapted to be at least one of swiveled or moved translationally, at least in the horizontal plane;
• and
• the palletizer further comprising a packet providing station having at least a second vertically adjustable arm for providing the packages on a pallet in the loading station.