# US 9,039,345 B2 · Layer formation table and process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,345 B2 - Document ID: US9039345B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/294,371 - Filed: 2014-06-03 - Published: 2015-02-05 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2007-01-31 - Applicants: Kaufman Engineered Systems - Inventors: Jonathan D. Parker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039345B2 ## CPC - B65G 47/32: Applications of transfer devices {(such devices per se B65G47/74)} - B65G 47/53: between conveyors which cross one another - B65G 47/8815: {Reciprocating stop, moving up or down in the path of the article} - B65G 57/03: from above - B65B 21/06: Forming groups of bottles - B65G 2201/0244: Bottles - Y10T 74/20305: Robotic arm - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An apparatus for transferring articles is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a layer formation table. The apparatus also includes means for supplying articles to the layer formation table. At least one row of the articles is formed at a first end of the layer formation table. The apparatus also includes a programmable robot including an end of arm tool for transferring the at least one row of the articles towards a second end of the layer formation table. The programmable robot is configured to form a plurality of rows of articles on the layer formation table. Each of the rows comprises a plurality of articles in side by side contact creating a void between adjacent articles in each of the rows. The programmable robot is configured to nest the articles of one of the rows in the voids of an adjacent row. The end of arm tool includes a multiplicity of guides which form lanes. The rows of articles fill the lanes. The end of arm tool includes clamping tools which lock the individual rows of articles between the guides. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for transferring articles comprising: a layer formation table; a conveyor for supplying the articles to said layer formation table wherein at least one row of the articles is formed at a first end of said layer formation table; a programmable robot including an end of arm tool for transferring the at least one row of the articles towards a second end of said layer formation table; wherein said programmable robot is configured to form a plurality of rows of the articles on said layer formation table wherein each of the rows comprises a plurality of the articles in side by side contact creating a void between adjacent articles in each of the rows; wherein said programmable robot is configured to nest the articles of one of the rows in the voids of an adjacent row while the articles are supported from respective bottoms of the articles; wherein said end of arm tool includes a multiplicity of guides which form lanes wherein the rows of the articles fill said lanes; and wherein said end of arm tool further comprises clamping tools which lock the individual rows of the articles between the guides. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said end of arm tool further comprises: at least one cylinder that actuates said clamping tools. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said programmable robot is configured to build a tier of the articles on said layer formation table. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said programmable robot and said guides of said end of arm tool sweep the at least one row of the articles from said first end of said layer formation table towards said second end of said layer formation table. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the articles are further defined as bulk product. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the articles are further defined as containers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the articles are further defined as bottles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the articles are further defined as cans. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the articles are further defined as a case of product. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the articles are further defined as cases of product. ### Claim 11 A method of transferring articles comprising: supplying the articles to a layer formation table wherein at least one row of the articles is formed at a first end of the layer formation table; transferring the at least one row of the articles towards a second end of the layer formation table with an end of arm tool mounted on a programmable robot; forming a plurality of rows of the articles on the layer formation table with the programmable robot wherein each of the rows comprises a plurality of the articles in side by side contact creating a void between adjacent articles in each of the rows; nesting the articles of one of the rows in the voids of an adjacent row with the programmable robot; filling lanes formed by a multiplicity of guides of the end of arm tool with rows of the articles; and locking the rows of the articles in the guides with a clamping tool. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of: building a tier of the articles on the layer formation table with the programmable robot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of: sweeping the at least one row of the articles from the first end of the layer formation table towards the second end of the layer formation table with guides of the end of arm tool of the programmable robot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of: actuating the clamping tools with at least one cylinder. ### Claim 15 An apparatus for transferring articles comprising: a layer formation table; a conveyor for supplying the articles to said layer formation table wherein at least one row of the articles is formed at a first end of said layer formation table; a programmable robot including an end of arm tool for transferring the at least one row of the articles towards a second end of said layer formation table; wherein said programmable robot is configured to form a plurality of rows of the articles on said layer formation table wherein each of the rows comprises a plurality of the articles in side by side contact creating a void between adjacent articles in each of the rows; wherein said programmable robot is configured to nest the articles of one of the rows in the voids of an adjacent row while the articles are supported from respective bottoms of the articles; wherein said programmable robot is configured to build a tier of the articles on said layer formation table; wherein said end of arm tool includes a multiplicity of guides which form lanes wherein the at least one row of the articles fill said lanes; wherein said end of arm tool further comprises clamping tools which lock the rows of the articles between the guides; and wherein said programmable robot and said guides of said end of arm tool sweep the at least one row of the articles from said first end of said layer formation table towards said second end of said layer formation table. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said end of arm tool further comprises: at least one cylinder that actuates said clamping tools. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said multiplicity of guides is further defined as including five guides defining four lanes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the articles are further defined as containers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the containers are further defined as bottles. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said programmable robot is further defined as configurable to push cases of the articles.