PALLETIZER WITH BOX LAYER PREPARATION
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a palletizer including a device (24) for preparing and prestacking layers of boxes, said device consisting of: a vertically moveable table (25); two tables (26, 26′) forming a noria and capable of alternately taking the place of said table (25) and of depositing another layer of boxes onto the layer standing by on said table (25); a means for calibrating each layer of boxes according to the palletization scheme. The table (25) and the table (26, 26′) are used to perform the operation of calibrating the layers of boxes by moving said boxes against an abutment (40) which, in an inoperative position, acts as a slider bed between the table (25) and the palletization table (7). The table (26, 26′) consists of rollers (30) which are mounted on one-way bearings.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1-9. -9. (canceled)
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10. A Palletizer comprising, on a same general chassis:
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a preparation zone for preparing layers of boxes, which preparation zone comprises; a first conveyor for conveying boxes, a group or row-preparation station for preparing groups or rows of boxes, a layer-preparation station for preparing each layer of boxes, a palletization zone for an actual palletization which comprises a palletization station and a deposit table, pushers for moving said boxes and layer(s) of boxes from said preparation zone towards said palletization zone and, a second conveyor which conveys empty pallets to said palletization station, the palletizer further comprising, at said layer-preparation station; a main table which is vertically moveable from a high position for preparing a first layer of boxes to a low position standing by for another layer of boxes, which main table is constituted by a motorized endless belt, which is used for setting the boxes in motion and pressing the boxes against a retractable transverse abutment, in order to calibrate said layer of boxes, in a longitudinal direction of circulation of said boxes on said main table, lateral cleats cooperating with said retractable transverse abutment for calibrating said layer of boxes at said layer-preparation station, at least two interim tables each capable of taking the place of said main table when said main table is in said low position with at least one layer of boxes, which interim tables are horizontally moveable, guided between an operative position of occupation of a window left free by said main table, in order to receive groups or rows of boxes and allow a new layer of boxes to be formed, and an inoperative position which said interim tables reach by being retracted and separated from said new layer of boxes, which is deposited on said layer of boxes present on said main table by gravity alone, as an interim table which is in operation is retracted, said pushers comprising a first pusher which moves groups or rows of boxes between said group- or row-preparation station and said layer-preparation station, and a second pusher which moves the layer or layers of boxes between said layer-preparation station and said palletization station. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for prestacking several layers of boxes in order to delay an operation of palletizing said several layers on a palletizer constituted, on a same general chassis by:
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a preparation zone for preparing layers of boxes, which preparation zone comprises; a first conveyor for conveying boxes, a group or row-preparation station for preparing groups or rows of boxes, a layer-preparation station for preparing each layer of boxes, a palletization zone for an actual palletization which comprises a palletization station and a deposit table, pushers for moving said boxes and layer(s) of boxes from said preparation zone towards said palletization zone and, a second conveyor which conveys empty pallets to said palletization station, the palletizer further comprising, at said layer-preparation station; a main table which is vertically moveable from a high position for preparing a first layer of boxes to a low position standing by for another layer of boxes, which main table is constituted by a motorized endless belt, which is used for setting the boxes in motion and pressing the boxes against a retractable transverse abutment, in order to calibrate said layer of boxes, in a longitudinal direction of circulation of said boxes on said main table, lateral cleats cooperating with said retractable transverse abutment for calibrating said layer of boxes at said layer-preparation station, at least two interim tables each capable of taking the place of said main table when said main table is in said low position with at least one layer of boxes, which interim tables are horizontally moveable, guided between an operative position of occupation of a window left free by said main table, in order to receive groups or rows of boxes and allow a new layer of boxes to be formed, and an inoperative position which said interim tables reach by being retracted and separated from said new layer of boxes, which is deposited on said layer of boxes present on said main table by gravity alone, as an interim table which is in operation is retracted, said pushers comprising a first pusher which moves groups or rows of boxes between said group- or row-preparation station and said layer-preparation station, and a second pusher which moves the layer or layers of boxes between said layer-preparation station and said palletization station, the method comprising; preparing a layer of boxes on said main table from a previously formed group of boxes; calibrating said layer of boxes according to a palletization scheme and putting said layer of boxes into the format of a receiving pallet, on said main table; vertically retracting said main table, by a height substantially greater than the thickness of said layer of boxes; installing an interim table in the space left free by said main table; conveying a new group of boxes onto said interim table and calibrating said new group of boxes in the same way as said layer of boxes and vertical to said layer of boxes; retracting said interim table keeping a corresponding new layer of boxes framed in order to deposit said new layer of boxes directly on said layer of boxes which is arranged on said main table, at a lower level; once there is no longer any need for delay, returning said main table to the level of said deposit table, with different superimposed layers of boxes surimposed on said main table; and
,transferring said superimposed layers of boxes to said palletization station in order to deposit them on said pallet. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification