System and method for order packing
First Claim
1. A system for order packing comprising:
- a pack supply for supplying preformed packs, the packs containing a plurality of articles, the pack supply including, a plurality of groups configured to hold a selected type of preformed pack, and at least one depalletizer, the preformed packs being removed from one of the plurality of groups by the depalletizer;
an article supply for supplying a plurality of types of individual articles;
a packaging subsystem for packaging the individual articles into packs;
a palletizer for palletizing the packs of articles from both the pack supply and from the packaging subsystem, the packs from the packaging subsystem and from the pack supply being placeable on a same pallet by the palletizer; and
a conveyor system for transporting the articles from the article supply to the packaging subsystem, to transport the packs from the packaging subsystem to the palletizer, and to transport the packs from the pack supply to the palletizer.
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Abstract
A system and method for order packing forms a mixed pallet or a mixed multi-pack. In this system, a first embodiment utilizes a high volume module, a low volume module, a sorting and packing module, a prepackage module and a mixed palletizer module for picking, sorting, packaging and palletizing articles. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a bulk load can be fed via a carrousel to a bank of elevators. A transfer device will load different levels of the elevators which can then be moved adjacent a discharge conveyor. A lane is provided in this discharge conveyor for each of the elevators in the bank of elevators. The different levels of the elevators are positioned adjacent the lanes and can discharge articles onto the conveyor in order to form groups of the same or different types of articles. Many different types of articles including beverage containers such as cans, bottles or beverage boxes can use this system. A pallet is formed from the same or different sized package and different varieties of articles can be placed within a single package.
86 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for order packing comprising:
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a pack supply for supplying preformed packs, the packs containing a plurality of articles, the pack supply including, a plurality of groups configured to hold a selected type of preformed pack, and at least one depalletizer, the preformed packs being removed from one of the plurality of groups by the depalletizer;
an article supply for supplying a plurality of types of individual articles;
a packaging subsystem for packaging the individual articles into packs;
a palletizer for palletizing the packs of articles from both the pack supply and from the packaging subsystem, the packs from the packaging subsystem and from the pack supply being placeable on a same pallet by the palletizer; and
a conveyor system for transporting the articles from the article supply to the packaging subsystem, to transport the packs from the packaging subsystem to the palletizer, and to transport the packs from the pack supply to the palletizer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for order packing, comprising:
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supplying at least one first type of individual article to a conveyor system at a first substantially continuous rate;
supplying at least one second type of individual article to the conveyor system at a second substantially continuous rate, the second substantially continuous rate being greater than the first substantially continuous rate;
transporting the individual articles on the conveyor system to a packaging subsystem;
packaging the individual articles in the packaging subsystem into packs, each pack having a plurality of articles;
providing a pack supply separate from the packaging subsystem;
conveying the packs of articles from the pack supply, from the packaging subsystem, and from the plurality of wrappers to a palletizer; and
palletizing the packs of articles on a pallet with a palletizer, the packs from the packaging subsystem and from the pack supply being placeable on a same pallet by the palletizer. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for forming packages of beverage containers having different types of beverage containers in each package, the system comprising:
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a low volume module structured and arranged to supply at least one first type of beverage container at a first rate not exceeding a first maximum rate, and a high volume module structured and arranged to supply at least one second type of beverage container at a second rate not exceeding a second maximum rate, the second maximum rate being greater than the first maximum rate;
a conveyor system for feeding the first and second types of the beverage containers received from the low volume module and the high volume module;
a packaging subsystem for packaging the first and second types of beverage containers fed by the conveyor system into a same package; and
means for discharging packages from the packaging subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for forming packages of beverage containers having different types of beverage containers in each package, the method comprising:
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supplying at least one first type of beverage container to a conveyor system at a first substantially continuous rate;
supplying at least one second type of beverage container to the conveyor system at a second substantially continuous rate, the second substantially continuous rate being greater than the first substantially continuous rate;
feeding the first and second types of the beverage containers to a packaging subsystem;
packaging the first and second types of the beverage containers into a same package in the packaging subsystem; and
discharging packages from the packaging subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for order packing comprising:
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a pack supply configured to supply preformed packs, the packs containing a plurality of articles;
an article supply configured to supply a plurality of types of individual articles;
a packaging subsystem configured to package the individual articles into packs, at least one of the packs including different types of the individual articles;
a palletizer configured to palletize the packs of articles from both the pack supply and from the packaging subsystem, packs from the packaging subsystem and from the pack supply being placeable on a same pallet by the palletizer; and
a conveyor system configured to transport the articles from the article supply to the packaging subsystem, to transport the packs from the packaging subsystem to the palletizer, and to transport the packs from the pack supply to the palletizer, wherein the packaging subsystem includes a plurality of wrappers configured to wrap the individual articles into containers, the conveyor system interconnecting the plurality of wrappers. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for order packing comprising the steps of:
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supplying a plurality of types of individual articles to a conveyor system;
transporting the individual articles on the conveyor system to a packaging subsystem;
packaging the individual articles in the packaging subsystem into packs, each pack having a plurality of articles, and at least one of the packs having different types of the individual articles;
providing a pack supply separate from the packaging subsystem;
conveying the packs of articles from the pack supply and from the packaging subsystem to a palletizer; and
palletizing the packs of articles on a pallet with a palletizer, packs from the packaging subsystem and from the pack supply being placeable on a same pallet by the palletizer, wherein said packaging includes packaging the individual articles into different sized packages, the different sized packages having a different number of individual articles therein. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for order packing comprising:
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a pack supply for supplying preformed packs, the packs containing a plurality of articles;
an article supply for supplying a plurality of types of individual articles;
a packaging subsystem for packaging the individual articles into packs;
a palletizer for palletizing the packs of articles from both the pack supply and from the packaging subsystem, the packs from the packaging subsystem and from the pack supply being placeable on a same pallet by the palletizer; and
a conveyor system for transporting the articles from the article supply to the packaging subsystem, to transport the packs from the packaging subsystem to the palletizer, and to transport the packs from the pack supply to the palletizer, wherein the packaging subsystem comprises a plurality of wrappers for wrapping the individual articles into a container, the conveyor system interconnecting the plurality of wrappers. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. The system for order packing as recited in 34, claim wherein the depalletizer comprises a gantry depalletizer, the gantry depalletizer including means for gripping at least one preformed pack from one of the groups.
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36. A system for forming packages of beverage containers having different types of beverage containers in each package, the system comprising:
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a supply of individual beverage containers;
a packaging subsystem for packaging different types of beverage containers fed by the conveyor system into a same package;
a conveyor system for feeding a plurality of types of the beverage containers from the supply to the packaging subsystem;
means for discharging packages from the packaging subsystem; and
a palletizer for palletizing beverage containers fed from the means for discharging, wherein the supply provides a different amount of space for groups of beverage containers depending upon a priority of the beverage containers in a particular group.
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37. A system for forming packages of beverage containers having different types of beverage containers in each package, the system comprising:
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a supply of individual beverage containers;
a packaging subsystem for packaging different types of beverage containers fed by the conveyor system into a same package, the packaging subsystem structured and arranged to package the beverage containers into different sized packages, the different sized packages having a different number of individual beverage containers therein;
a conveyor system for feeding a plurality of types of the beverage containers from the supply to the packaging subsystem;
means for discharging packages from the packaging subsystem; and
a palletizer for palletizing the packages including the different sized packages, the different sized packages being placeable on a same pallet by the palletizer, wherein the packaging subsystem comprises a plurality of wrappers for wrapping the individual beverage containers into the package, each of the wrappers wrapping one size of package and one type of package, the conveyor system interconnecting the plurality of wrappers. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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Specification