ROBOTIZED TRANSPORT AND TRANSFER SYSTEM

• US 20130174521A1
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Premier Tech Technologies Ltd. (Gestion Bernard Bélanger Ltée)
• Original Assignee: Eric Viel, Etienne Giasson, Vital Levesque
• Inventors: Viel, ric, Lvesque, Vital, Giasson, tienne
• Granted Patent: US 9,452,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/469
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0093 co-operating with conveyor means
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/00 Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/465 for bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/59 vertically movable B65B43/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/07 Sewing or stitching
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/02 Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/06 by collapsing mouth portion, e.g. to form a single flap
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/905 Control arrangements

Abstract

A system and a method for maintaining, transferring and transporting a flexible package. The system includes a manipulating system, preferably a five axis robot, for transferring and displacing the flexible package and a lift-assist platform positioned within a reach of the manipulating system for transporting the package and for supporting a weight of the flexible package. The system may be used more specifically for the transport and transfer of upright flexible packages. The system simplifies the tool supported by the robot, thus allowing use of a smaller robot.

Claims

1. A system for transferring and transporting a flexible package, the system comprising:

a multi-axis robot for transferring and displacing the flexible package between a first position and a second position; and

a lift-assist platform for transporting the flexible package, said lift-assist platform substantially supporting a weight of the flexible package, said lift-assist platform comprising a displacing system for displacing and supporting the flexible package upright between the first and second positions, the platform being positioned within reach of the multi-axis robot.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the multi-axis robot maintains the flexible package between the first position and the second position.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a single central controller for synchronizing motion of the multi-axis robot and the lift-assist platform.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the multi-axis robot is a five axis robot.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the multi-axis robot comprises a gripper continuously maintaining a shape of at least a portion of a top of the flexible package between the first and second positions.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a semi-automatic bagger proximate the first position for filling the upright flexible package and shaping a top portion of the package; and

a closing system positioned proximate the second position for closing the package received from the multi-axis robot.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the displacing system is a conveyor system.

8. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a single central controller for synchronizing motion of the multi-axis robot and the lift-assist platform.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the multi-axis robot comprises a gripper continuously maintaining a shape or at least a portion of a top of the flexible package between the first and second positions.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a semi-automatic bagger proximate the first position for filling the upright flexible package and shaping a top portion of the package; and

a closing system positioned proximate the second position for closing the package received from the multi-axis robot.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the displacing system is a conveyor system.

12. A method for transferring and transporting a flexible package, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a system comprising;

a multi-axis robot for transferring and displacing the flexible package between a first position and a second position;

a lift-assist platform for transporting the flexible package, said lift-assist platform substantially supporting a weight of the flexible package, said lift-assist platform comprising a displacing system for displacing and supporting the flexible package upright between the first and second positions, the platform being positioned within reach of the multi-axis robot;

a semi-automatic bagger proximate the first position for filling the upright flexible package; and

a closing system positioned proximate the second position;

b) filling the flexible package with a substance, using the semi-automatic bagger;

c) bringing together sidewalls of a top of the filled flexible package in a package-closing configuration with the semi-automatic bagger;

d) raising the lift-assist platform to substantially support the weight of the filled flexible package;

e) grasping and maintaining a shape of the top of the filled flexible package in said package-closing configuration with the multi-axis robot;

f) releasing the filled flexible package from the semi-automatic bagger;

g) displacing the filled flexible package towards an inlet of the closing system, through synchronized motion of the multi-axis robot and the lift-assist platform, the displacing system of the lift-assist platform displacing the flexible package laterally towards the closing system;

h) aligning the top of the flexible package with the inlet of the closing system; and

i) transferring the flexible package from the multi-axis robot to the closing system.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the multi-axis robot maintains the flexible package between the first position and the second position.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising a single central controller for synchronizing motion of the multi-axis robot and the lift-assist platform.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the multi-axis robot is a five axis robot.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the multi-axis robot comprises a gripper continuously maintaining a shape of at least a portion of a top of the flexible package between the first and second positions.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the displacing system is a conveyor system.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising a single central controller for synchronizing motion of the multi-axis robot and the lift-assist platform.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the multi-axis robot comprises a gripper continuously maintaining a shape of at least a portion of a top of the flexible package between the first and second positions.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the displacing system is a conveyor system.