Toptier Inc.

Integrated Systems

Cary Michael Pierson

Stephen L Heston

Nathaniel T Schenk

A stretch wrapping apparatus is adapted for use with an automated palletizing machine to securely stabilize loads prepared by the palletizing machine. The stretch wrapping machine works with a rotatable turntable on which the palletized load is placed. A stretch wrapping head feeds pre-stretched wrapping film toward the rotating load and air jets blow the tail of the film onto the load. Relative rotational movement is created between the wrapping head and the load and the free end of the film is unsupported by any mechanical structure and is directed toward the load only with air from the jets. The film attaches to an outer surface the load and the wrapping head moves vertically so that the load is helically wrapped. Film is dispensed at a rate to provide payout of film that is consistent with the demand as each load corner transitions through its relative distance change from the dispensing point based on calculations intervals. A sensor detects changes in the optical character of the film&#x2014;defects&#x2014;to determine an out of bounds condition such as a film break. A film cutter arm assembly uses a hot wire and press rolls to cut the film when the load is wrapped.

Stretch wrapping apparatus and method

An infeed apparatus includes an item manipulator that orients items such as cases in a desired orientation as determined by a build menu, and a row build apparatus that is synchronized with the manipulator to space items pursuant to the build menu. The manipulator uses a pusher to push items across a friction belt to thereby orient the items, and includes sensors for determining when an item is in an incorrect orientation. The row build receives items from the pusher and is selectively advanced to locate items in a desired relative orientation so that rows of items are built correctly.

Item infeed apparatus and method for a palletizer system

Item infeed apparatus and method for a palletizer

A stretch wrapping apparatus for use with an automated palletizing machine to securely stabilize loads. A stretch wrapping head feeds pre-stretched wrapping film toward the rotating load and air jets blow the tail of the film onto the load. Relative rotational movement is created between the wrapping head and the load and the free end of the film is unsupported by any mechanical structure and is directed toward the load only with air from the jets. The film attaches to an outer surface the load. Film is dispensed at a rate to provide payout of film that is consistent with the demand as each load corner transitions through its relative distance change from the dispensing point based on calculations intervals. A sensor detects changes in the optical character of the film to determine an out of bounds condition such as a film break.

A chain drive system for a bi-parting slatted floor in a drive system relies upon two continuous loops of chain, one on each side of the slatted floor that move in opposite directions beneath the slats are arranged side-by-side in the same horizontal plane, at the same level. A single drive motor drives both loops of chain. With the operative portions of the chain sections between drive and idler shafts arranged side-by-side in the same horizontal plane, the vertical amount of space occupied by the chains is significantly decreased compared to the vertically stacked chains of the prior art. This allows the underlying surface onto which items are deposited to be moved vertically upward next to the lower surface of the slatted floor.

Chain drive system for bi-parting slatted floor

The present invention relates to compact palletizers that include a stretch-wrap operation as the pallet is built. A four-sided compaction mechanism compresses the rough-built load to the final pallet size and then the entire layer is released to the pallet. Individual items or group of items are picked and placed onto a layer support device in a loose orientation. The loose orientation enables a much faster palletizing operation because the robotic arm that pick-and-places the item, the items, or the row of items, can travel much faster as it does not have to precisely locate the item, items, or row of items. During the time that a layer is being loosely constructed on the layer support device concurrent wrapping can occur.

Method of palletizing items

In an item-handling device, a layer head includes an item layer building platform defining an item receiving plane, the layer building platform being vertically positionable. A puller bar mounts to the layer head and moves in relation thereto within a plane above the item-receiving plane. The puller bar is positionable between a retracted position above the layer building platform and an extended position offset from the layer building platform.

Palletizer puller bar

Hybrid palletizer

The present invention relates to compact palletizers that include a stretch-wrap operation as the pallet is built. Specifically, the present invention uses a robot to place items from a fixed infeed elevation either above or, alternatively, below the height of the finished load. A four-sided compression mechanism compresses the rough-built load to the final pallet size and then the entire layer is released to the pallet. Individual items or group of items are picked and placed onto a layer support device in a loose orientation. The loose orientation enables a much faster palletizing operation because the robotic arm that pick-and-places the item, the items, or the row of items, can travel much faster as it does not have to precisely locate the item, items, or row of items. During the time that a layer is being loosely constructed on the layer support device concurrent wrapping can occur.

A compact palletizer combines a plate apron and an apron conveyor as a layer build area positionable both vertically and horizontally to implement receipt and organization of items as layers and to stack item layers on a pallet. A puller bar serves to pull item rows into layers in a layer building operation and to act as a backstop in delivering an item layer onto a stack of items. An apron serves to also deliver empty pallets to a stack build area.

Compact palletizer

A load balancing arm is shown and described as having improved control including a programmable control element and electronic air regulation to provide precise and controllable lifting force on a load. The disclosed load balancing arm responds to slight operator applied force to aid in movement of the load in overcoming system hysteresis, friction and load inertia without requiring the operator to apply a sufficiently large magnitude force to overcome such counteracting forces in the system. The disclosed load balancing arm further includes automatic load weight detection sensors for accommodating variation in load weights while applying a lifting force to the load which substantially equals the weight of the load. This allows the operator to move the load freely throughout a work space.

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Milwaukie, OR, United States of America

Cary Michael Pierson