MACHINE FOR DEPALLETISING A MULTI-LAYER LOAD

• US 20120222536A1
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bortolin Kemo S.P.A.
• Original Assignee: Bortolin Kemo S.P.A.
• Inventors: Sain, Marino
• Application Number:
  US13/508,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20120222536A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/743
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 69/00 Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 69/0033 by cutting B65B69/0008-B65B69/0025 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/667 Tool carrier or guide affixed to work during cutting

Abstract

A machine for depalletising a multi-layer load (C) comprises a first station (100) for unstacking a multi-layer load (C) wrapped in a packing film (P), which first station (100) comprises an area (101) for housing a multi-layer load (C) enveloped in a wrapping film (P), a guide (102) arranged about the area (101) and at least partly surrounding the load (C) arranged in the area (101), a carriage (103) mobile along the guide (102) and supporting a circular blade (107) for realising a horizontal cut in the packing film (P) of the load (C). The carriage (103) further supports an electric motor (108) destined to activate the circular blade (107), and a rechargeable battery (113) for supplying the electric motor (108).

Claims

1. A machine for depalletising a multi-layer load (C), comprising a first station (100) for unstacking a multi-layer load (C) wrapped in a packing film (P), the first station (100) comprising:

a first housing area (101) for a multi-layer load (C) enveloped in a wrapping film (P);

a guide (102) arranged about the first housing area (101) and at least partly surrounding the load (C) arranged in the first housing area (101);

a carriage (103) mobile along the guide (102);

a circular blade (107) mounted on the carriage (103) and facing towards the first housing area (101) for the load (C), for realising a cut in the packing film (P) of the load (C);

characterized in that it further comprises an electric motor (108), mounted on the carriage (103) and destined to activate the circular blade (107), and a battery (113), also mounted on the carriage (103) for supplying the electric motor (108).

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the battery (113) is rechargeable and wherein the machine further comprises a recharging station, preferably arranged along the guide (102) and destined to interact electrically with the battery (113) in order to recharge the battery (113) at least when the carriage (103) is at a predetermined position along the guide (102).

3. The machine of claim 2, wherein the machine exhibits a rest station, preferably arranged along the guide (102) and in which the carriage (103) is arranged during non-operative stages of the circular blade (107), the recharging station coinciding with the rest station.

4. The machine of claim 1, comprising movement means (105, 106) of the carriage (103) along the guide (102) and at least a sensor (111) for detecting a resistant action acting on the circular blade (107) during the cutting of the packing (P);

the machine further comprising a control panel (112) which acts at least on the movement means (105, 106) of the carriage (103) in order to halt advancing of the carriage (103) along the guide (102) when the resistant action detected by the sensor (111) exceeds a predetermined threshold.

5. The machine of claim 4, further comprising wireless communicating means between the sensor (111) and the control panel (112) in order to transmit a signal emitted by the sensor (111) to the control panel (112), which signal is preferably representative of the resistant action detected by the sensor (111).

6. The machine of claim 1, comprising:

a support arm (100), hinged to a connection component (114) associated to the carriage (103), which supports at an end thereof the circular blade (107), the support arm (110) preferably facing oppositely to an operative advancement direction (Z) of the carriage (103) along the guide (102), and elastic thrust means, acting between the carriage (103) and the support arm (110) to distance the support arm (100) with respect to the carriage (103) such as to keep the circular blade (107) pressed towards the load (C).

7. The machine of claim 6, comprising movement means (105, 106) of the carriage (103) along the guide (102) and at least a sensor (111) for detecting a resistant action acting on the circular blade (107) during the cutting of the packing (P);

the machine further comprising a control panel (112) which acts at least on the movement means (105, 106) of the carriage (103) in order to halt advancing of the carriage (103) along the guide (102) when the resistant action detected by the sensor (111) exceeds a predetermined threshold, and wherein the sensor (111) is destined to detect an angle of inclination between the support arm (110) and the carriage (103) and to send the signal to the control panel (112) when the angle falls below a predetermined threshold.

8. The machine of claim 1, further comprising, downstream of the first housing station (100) for unstacking the multilayer load (C), a second station (200) for removing the packing film (P) from single layers (S) obtained from unstacking the multilayer load (C), the second station (200) comprising:

a second housing area (201) for a layer (S) of the load (C) at least laterally enveloped by a closed annular strip (SP) of wrapping film (P);

cutting means (203), arranged adjacent to the second housing area (201) for cutting the closed annular strip (SP) such as to open the strip (SP);

automated collecting means (205) arranged adjacent to the second housing area (201) and preferably at an opposite side thereof with respect to the cutting means (203), for gripping the strip (SP) when opened and expelling the said opened strip (SP) from the second housing area (201).

9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the automated collecting means (205) comprise:

a hooking element (206) for engaging the second housing area (201), for inserting in an external peripheral profile of the annular strip (SP) of wrapping film (P) of the layer (S);

an expelling device (212) arranged externally of the second housing area (201) for intercepting the strip (SP) of wrapping film (P) and distancing the strip (SP) from the second housing area (200), preferably by sending the strip (SP) to a collecting container;

wherein the hooking element (206) is mobile between a first position, in which it is arranged in the second housing area (201) in order to insert in the external peripheral profile of the strip (SP) of wrapping material (P), and a second position, in which the hooking element (206) is located at the expeller device (212) such that in passing between the first position and the second position the hooking element (206) intercepts a portion of the strip (SP) and draws it towards the expeller device (212).

10. The machine of claim 9, wherein the hooking element (206) exhibits a prevalent development direction which is substantially perpendicular to a rest surface (202) of the second housing area (201) and is mobile with respect to the rest surface (202) between a raised position from the rest surface (202), in which it enables a layer (S) of the load (C) to be applied theron, and a lowered position towards the rest surface (202), in which it is arranged internally of the external peripheral profile of the strip (SP) of wrapping film (P) of the layer (S).

11. The machine of claim 9, wherein the expeller device (212) comprises a pair of rollers (213), at least one of which is mobile in nearing and distancing with respect to the other roller between a distanced position, suitable for passage of the hooking element (206) between the rollers (213), and a neared position, in which the rollers (213) are closed in order to grip between them a portion of the strip (SP) of film (P);

at least one of the rollers (213) being motorized in order to automatically expel the strip (SP) of wrapping film (P).