Material or article handling – Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into – within,... – Stack forming apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-21
2001-07-24
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into, within,...
Stack forming apparatus
C414S791600, C414S794200, C414S794300, C414S793400, C414S802000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264422
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an item handling apparatus and method for assembling items onto a pallet in a layer, and, more particularly it relates to an item handling apparatus and method for uninterrupted, continuous, loading and stacking of layers of items onto a pallet in a multi-tiered stack.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various automated palletizers have heretofore been developed for stacking solid material items, such as bags, packages, boxes, bales, rocks, and other like objects on to pallets or other supports. Generally, in the prior and current art, items, for example bags, are conveyed to the palletizer from a moving infeed conveyor. Once at the palletizer they are usually oriented at a loading area to form a single layer of bags in a desired pattern. Once the layer is formed in the desired pattern, it is then usually squared and transferred to stripper or draw plates which are separable for depositing the layer of bags onto a pallet or other support which is located below the strip plates, and which is usually elevated, for example on a pallet elevator. However, the moving infeed conveyor for loading and stacking layers of items at the loading area is interrupted and discontinuous due to the current methods and mechanisms for transferring the items from the infeed conveyor, and for orienting and squaring them. The elevated pallet is then lowered in increments by the pallet elevator as the bags are continuously stacked in layers, often of alternating patterns for stability, until a full pallet load is obtained.
Attempts have been made in the past to improve automated palletizers. But even in those instances, the flow of the items has not been made continuous.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an item handling palletizer apparatus and method for uninterrupted, continuous, loading and stacking of layers of items from an infeed conveyer onto a pallet or other support in a multi-tiered stack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the of the present invention to provide an item handling palletizer apparatus and method for uninterrupted, continuous, loading and stacking of layers of items from an infeed conveyer onto a pallet or other support in a multi-tiered stack.
The present invention is an item layer assembly apparatus for receiving items from an infeed conveyor, forming an item layer from a plurality of items, and loading the item layer onto a pallet or other support. The item layer assembly apparatus comprises an item receiving area surface for continuously receiving items from the moving infeed conveyor. At least one side plate area surface, but preferably two or more, is adjacent and substantially horizontally planar to the item receiving area surface for continuously receiving the items from the item receiving area surface. A layer forming plate intermittently receives the items from the one or more side plate area surfaces, the layer forming plate being positioned directly below, or below and adjacent to the item receiving area surface. A mechanism associated with the layer forming plate is provided to form a substantially rectilinear item layer, after which the layer forming plate deposits the formed item layer onto a pallet or other support.
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the item receiving area surface includes a plurality of rollers. Preferably, the item layer assembly apparatus further comprises a rotatable belt member between each pair of rollers with the rotatable belt positioned to make contact with the items to move the items to one of the side plate area surfaces, although alternatively, a pusher mechanism may be used to move the items to one of the side plate area surfaces.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are two side plate area surfaces, and each of the side plate area surfaces receives a partial item layer, although alternatively, each of the side plate area surfaces may receive a compete item layer.
In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the item layer assembly apparatus further comprises a first side plate area surface and a second side plate area surface. Preferably, each of the side plate area surfaces includes a conveyor system, although alternatively, each of the side plate area surfaces may include a roller assembly, or any other conveying mechanism.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the item layer assembly apparatus further comprises a pivot mechanism on each of the side plate area surfaces for moving one side of each of the side plates adjacent the layer forming plate, although alternatively, the item layer assembly apparatus further comprises a mechanism for lowering each side plate area surface substantially horizontally planar to the layer forming plate.
In still yet another embodiment of the present invention, the layer forming plate includes an art known first plate and a second plate. Preferably, the first plate and the second plate are retractable for depositing the item layer on the pallet or other support.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the item layer assembly apparatus further comprises a pallet elevator system for raising the pallet to a position adjacent to and below the layer forming plate, although alternatively, the item layer assembly apparatus further comprises a mechanism for lowering the layer forming plate to a position adjacent to and above the pallet or other support, and then raising the layer forming plate to receive the items from each of the raised side plate area surfaces.
In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the item layer assembly apparatus further comprises a programmable controller for controlling the operation of the item layer assembly apparatus.
The present invention further includes a preferred method for continuously receiving items from an infeed conveyor, forming an item layer from a plurality of items, and loading the item layer onto a pallet or other support. The method comprises continuously receiving the items on a layer forming conveyor from the infeed conveyor, transferring the items from the layer forming conveyor to at least one side area surface, transferring the items from the side area surface to a layer forming plate, forming a substantially rectilinear item layer, and depositing the item layer on a pallet or other support.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises pivoting one side of the side area surfaces to move the side adjacent the layer forming plate, although alternatively, the method further comprises lowering the side area surface substantially horizontally planar to the layer forming plate.
In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises retracting the layer forming plate in order to deposit the item layer on the pallet or other support.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises raising the pallet to a position adjacent to and below the layer forming plate, although alternatively, the method further comprises lowering the layer forming plate above and adjacent the pallet or other support, and raising the layer forming plate to receive the items from each of the side plate area surface.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, showing the contemplated novel construction, combination, and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiments to the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2796179 (1957-06-01), Van Vleck
patent: 2813638 (1957-11-01), Miller, Jr.
patent: 2875907 (1959-03-01), Locke et al.
patent: 3164080 (1965-01-01), Miller, Jr.
patent: 3700127 (1972-10-01), Kurk et al.
pat
Hennes Youssef Y.
Karpala Wojciech
Stem Thomas R.
Williams Jerry
Margolis Donald W.
Olszewski Robert P.
Tracy Emery L.
Tran Thuy V.
Zygot Automation Inc.
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