Panel packaging system

• US 5,024,045 A
• Filed: 05/17/1990
• Issued: 06/18/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CertainTeed Corp. (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: CertainTeed Corp. (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Hart, Colin, Lotsch, Charles F., McCree, Charles D., Fluent, Stewart L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coan, James F.
• Application Number:
  US07/524,546
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 53/462, 53/443, 53/531, 53/544, 53/143, 53/207, 53/209, 53/244, 53/252, 53/251, 53/250, 53/249
• US Class Current: 53/443
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/101 by gravity B65B5/12 and B65B5/108 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/26 by closing hinged lids

Abstract

A vinyl siding panel package system is disclosed that prefolds corrugated paper blanks and then forms panel containers that are packed with a pre-specified number of panels. The panel packer receives a plurality of panels from a panel extrusion operator, re-orients panels into desired combinations and packs each combination, up to the limit, in a waiting container. The loaded container is sent to a container closing operation whereby the lid is sealed around the container body, and the container is weighed. A palletizer transports a loaded container from the closer to a waiting pallet.

Claims

1. A method for sequentially receiving extruded vinyl panels, re-orienting selected panels, combining panels pairs and packing the pairs in a waiting container, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first panel in a horizontal orientation;

(b) transposing said first panel to a first orientation and depositing said first panel on an adjacent and movable surface;

(c) receiving a second panel in a horizontal orientation;

(d) transposing said second panel to a second orientation and depositing said second panel in a pre-determined position adjacent said first panel to form a combination therewith;

(e) moving the combination of said first and second panels into a container; and

(f) repeating steps a through e until a predetermined number of panel combinations have been moved into said container.

2. A method of packaging extruded vinyl panels in a container, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first panel in a horizontal orientation;

(b) transposing said first panel to a first orientation and depositing said first panel on an adjacent and movable surface;

(c) receiving a second panel in a horizontal orientation;

(d) transposing said second panel to a second orientation and depositing said second panel in a pre-determined position adjacent said first panel to form a panel pair combination therewith;

(e) moving the panel pair combination into a pre-folded and formed container; and

(f) repeating steps a through e until a pre-determined number of panel pair combinations have been moved into said pre-folded and formed container.