Material or article handling – Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into – within,... – Stack forming apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-22
2001-05-22
Fischetti, Joseph A. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into, within,...
Stack forming apparatus
C414S799000, C414S794500, C198S415000, C198S588000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234744
ABSTRACT:
SPECIFICATION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the field of product palletizing.
2. Background of the Invention
Immediately after manufacture or before shipping of products, the products are often transferred in boxes, bags, cartons, or the like on conveyor belts. Such packaged, conveyed products must be removed from the conveyor
7
for further packaging and shipping. Frequently, such products must be palletized.
Robots and human labor have been long used to remove products from conveyors to place them on pallets on other shipping platforms. The movement of robots and labors is often slower than the speed of which the conveyor is capable and adds complexity and expense to the packaging process. As a result, the conveyor must be slowed or more resources must be added for palletizing.
It has long been desired to develop a mechanism to deliver products directly from a conveyor to pallets or other bulk shipping containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is provided in this disclosure a robotic palletize apparatus comprising an articulating conveyor having first and second ends; a pivot located at the first end of the articulating conveyor; a product support located at the second end of the articulating convey; a robot in articulating communication with the articulating conveyor; and a delivery sensor in communication with the product support. The articulating conveyor may further comprise a product orientor. The product orientor may comprise an orienting conveyor. The orienting conveyor may be arched. The product support may comprise a tongue extender. The second end of the articulating conveyor may be angled relative to a gravitational plane. The tongue extender may comprise a tongue and pneumatic cylinder. The apparatus may comprise a product sensor. A feed conveyor may be in proximal communication with the first end of the articulating conveyor. The apparatus may comprise a stop.
There is provided also in this disclosure a method of stacking product directly from a conveyor, comprising the steps of conveying a product toward the end of a conveyor; supporting a leading edge of the product as the leading edge exits the conveyor; releasing the leading edge and a following edge of the product with such timing as to cause the product to fall substantially flat onto a platform; and articulating the conveyor, whereby product is stacked in a pattern. The platform may be a pallet and a robot may articulate the conveyor. The supporting step may comprise extending a tongue and the releasing step may comprise retracting the tongue. The method may comprise the step of sensing the location of the product relative to the location of an end ofthe conveyor. The method may comprise the step of sensing the location of the product relative to the location of the tongue. The method may comprise the step of orienting the product.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1208802 (1916-12-01), Lienau et al.
patent: 3241692 (1966-03-01), Johnson
patent: 3257005 (1966-06-01), Annable et al.
patent: 3257015 (1966-06-01), Annable et al.
patent: 3294257 (1966-12-01), Davies et al.
patent: 3651963 (1972-03-01), McWilliams
patent: 3866741 (1975-02-01), Carbon et al.
patent: 3959951 (1976-06-01), Paules
patent: 4002249 (1977-01-01), Shinomiya et al.
patent: 4699262 (1987-10-01), Nakano et al.
patent: 4807739 (1989-02-01), Wolf et al.
patent: 5046603 (1991-09-01), Odenthal
patent: 5098254 (1992-03-01), Becicka et al.
patent: 5383760 (1995-01-01), Cawley et al.
patent: 5518103 (1996-05-01), Achelpohl et al.
patent: 5596865 (1997-01-01), Krämer
patent: 5685416 (1997-11-01), Bonnet
patent: 5820335 (1998-10-01), Croteau et al.
patent: 5857672 (1999-01-01), Fowler et al.
patent: 5997238 (1999-12-01), Garrard et al.
patent: 0647325 (1962-10-01), None
patent: 128791 (1960-08-01), None
Fischetti Joseph A.
Fulbright & Jaworski
Sage Automation, Inc.
LandOfFree
Robotic palletizing system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Robotic palletizing system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Robotic palletizing system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2483262