J&l Group International, LLC

Thermoguard Equipment, Inc.

Alliance Machine Systems International, LLC

J & L Development, Inc.

Curtis A Roth

Craig H Gendreau

Kevin P Brown

Lynn E Vershum

Michael Hugh Harrington

Marius D Batrin

Arnoldus Kox

David Shill

Chad Faith

Michael G Harrington

Lynne E Vershum

Techniques that palletize bundles at high-speed. A robotic controller includes a vision system that determines a location and orientation of incoming bundles, a tracking system that communicates between the controller and a conveyor, and a robot that coordinates its movement with the bundles. The tracking system identifies the location and orientation of each bundle, informs the controller, and causes the robot to track its location and orientation with incoming bundles. The controller receives information on the location and orientation of each bundle. The controller instructs the robot to move in coordination with each incoming bundle, instructs the robot where and at what orientation to pick up the bundle, and instructs the robot how to move the bundle to a tier-and-stacking position. The controller can instruct the robot how to pick up each bundle on the fly as the bundle moves into range on the incoming conveyor.

Palletizer for corrugated bundles

A method and apparatus are disclosed that allow items to be placed on a stack of items in a manner that minimizes interference with the existing stack. Further, a method and apparatus are disclosed for stacking items such that marking of the items is minimized while the item is stacked. In some embodiments, the method and apparatus may include employing a plurality of forks, where a first fork in the plurality includes a belt that rotates at least partially within a tapered housing of the fork. In some embodiments, the plurality of forks is vertically movable, and the method and apparatus may include a squaring mechanism that is separate from the plurality of forks. The overall throughput of the method and apparatus may be increased by employing this independent squaring mechanism.

Apparatus and method for stacking items

Techniques for automatically setting trim removal or stacking device arms. One point on a trim arm (such as an end) is attached to a transverse rail, along which that end moves, and provides an anchor point to which the trim arm can be angled. An automated device anchors that end of the trim arm, and locks it in place at a position designated by an operator. A skew adjustment pin couples to a second point on the trim arm, so that adjusting the position of the adjustment pin skews the trim arm's angle. An automated device anchors that second point of the trim arm, and locks it in place at a angle designated by an operator. A control system electronically measures the location of the first anchor point, and directs positioning devices to move trim arms, skew them, and lock or unlock those settings.

Trim arm adjustment assembly automated setting

An apparatus for stacking sheet material that may include a trim section and a stacking section, the stacking section being downstream the trim section for receiving the blanks of sheet material, forming bundles each having a plurality of blanks, and transferring the bundles downstream. The apparatus may further include a plurality of longitudinal positioning systems for independently longitudinally positioning a plurality of components in at least one of upstream or downstream directions so as to create an operator access space. In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include an incline conveyor section downstream the trim section and upstream the stacking section, and the trim section may have a takeaway conveyor for conveying the plurality of blanks of sheet material to the incline conveyor. In certain embodiments, the plurality of longitudinal positioning systems can individually longitudinally position at least two of the takeaway conveyor, the incline conveyor, or the stacking apparatus.

Apparatus and method for stacking corrugated sheet material

Sheet deceleration apparatus and methods for decelerating a sheet of material for use in a sheet stacking or other application. The deceleration apparatus includes a rotatable cam nip, rotatable about a first axis and provided on one side of the travel path, such that the sheet of material can pass by the cam nip. The cam nip includes a lobe end, such that when the lobe end is away from the travel path, the sheet of material can pass substantially unimpeded past the cam nip, and when the lobe end is near the travel path, the sheet of material is nipped by the cam nip decelerating the sheet of material from the first speed to a second speed.

Sheet deceleration apparatus and method

A system for conveying sheets of corrugated paperboard material or other materials. The system includes a processing module configured for transferring the material in a conveying direction, the processing module having a first nip point. A conveyor is positioned downstream of the processing module and also configured for transferring the material in the conveying direction. The conveyor includes a first support roller and second support roller having a first conveyor belt wound therearound, with the belt defining a deflector section extending from the first support roller to the second support roller. Similar to the processing module, the conveyor includes a second nip point. An adjustment drive can be operatively associated with either or both of the first and second support rollers and configured to adjust the position of the second nip point in or counter to the delivery direction.

System and method for varying a nip point

The present disclosure includes an apparatus for feeding a stack of sheet stock in blocks. The apparatus includes a backstop, a block pusher plate, and at least one sensor for determining a height differential between the stack at generally near a lead edge of the stack and the stack at generally near a trail edge of the stack. The apparatus automatically adjusts for warp in the sheet stock. The present disclosure further includes a method comprising obtaining a first measurement at generally near a lead edge side of the stack, obtaining a second measurement at generally near a trail edge side of the stack, comparing the first and second measurements, and pushing the portion of sheet stock from the stack with a block pusher plate when the second measurement is within a predetermined tolerance of the first measurement.

Automatic warp compensation

A sheet deceleration apparatus includes a pair of rotatable rollers, being rotatable about first and second axes, the rollers positioned on opposite sides of the travel path. At least one of the rollers is moveable relative to the other to nip the sheet between the rollers to reduce the travel speed of the sheet. A vacuum conveyor is further provided along the travel path subsequent the pair of rollers to control delivery of the sheet to a stacking hopper. A third rotatable roller, or similar apparatus, may be included in some embodiments, for pushing the sheet of material away from the vacuum conveyor at the appropriate time.

Sheet deceleration apparatus and method with kicker

An apparatus and method for decelerating a sheet of material for use in a sheet stacking or other application. The apparatus includes a pair of rollers moveable toward and away from one another to nip the sheet traveling between them. The method includes delivering a sheet between a pair of rollers and moving the rollers toward one another to nip, and thus decelerate, the speed of the sheet.

A bottom sheet inserter is described in which a conveyor is provided on a frame that defines a path for a load. The conveyor is operable to move the load in a forward direction along the path. A bottom sheet insertion station is situated between first and second conveyor flights which support and move a load in a forward direction. A bottom sheet feeder is operable to feed a bottom sheet through the bottom sheet insertion station and under the load as the load moves from the first flight and onto the second flight.

Bottom sheet inserter

A pneumatic sheet material hold-down conveyor system is described in which a frame mounts conveyor having a movable working flight. A first manifold with a support surface movably supports the working flight. Air intake openings are formed through the support surface, connected to a vacuum source for producing suction against the sheet material to draw the sheet material against the working flight. A second manifold is also provided on the frame, with a discharge surface extending along and in spaced relation to the working flight. Air discharge openings formed through the discharge surface is directed toward the working flight. A positive air pressure source is connected to the second manifold and is configured to pressurize the second manifold such that pressurized air is delivered through the air discharge openings toward the working flight and against the sheet material to push the sheet material against the working flight. A flat sheet positioned on the working flight between the first and second manifolds is thereby held against the working flight by positive air pressure on one side and negative air pressure on an opposite side. Thus secured, the sheet material may be moved by the working flight and be folded by the forming mandrel. A forming mandrel is provided on the frame and extends along the working flight to engage and progressively fold sheet material moving along the working flight.

Pneumatic sheet material hold down conveyor system

A counter-ejector and feeder for receiving flexible boxes delivered at a prescribed infeed rate in end-to-end relation along a plane, and a counter-ejector machine, for stacking the boxes in discrete bundles for discharge. The machine includes a general framework mounting a shingling conveyor that provides a working flight leading from an infeed end to a discharge end. The shingling conveyor is positioned with an infeed end below the delivery plane and leads angularly upwardly to a counter-ejector discharge. A driver operates the shingling conveyor to move the working flight at a selected speed less than the delivery rate of boxes to the shingling conveyor. The working flight of the shingling conveyor is inclined upwardly to a counter-ejector discharge end where shingled boxes are fed to a counter-ejector. Successive stacks of boxes are formed by the counter-ejector which includes structure for stacking and maintaining the boxes in a compressed condition. Boxes delivered from the infeed plane are deposited onto the shingling conveyor in a shingled, overlapping configuration, transported at said selected speed to the counter-ejector where counted numbers of the boxes are stacked and discharged.

Counter-ejector and box feed machine

A stacked sheet handling machine 11 includes a top sheet hold down apparatus 10 that prevents trailing sheets from following individual blocks of sheets separated from an upright stack supported on an elevator conveyor 15. A pusher plate 20 is moved laterally of a sheet stack 14 to engage a side 22 of the stack and push a sheet block 21 laterally from the stack and onto the discharge conveyor 17. A top sheet hold down is provided along the sheet block separator to securely hold the top sheet through provision of a hold down traction arrangement 38. Two forms of the hold down traction arrangement are disclosed, both being operated to move a friction surface against the top surface of the sheet 19 to hold the sheet stationary as the block is moved towards the discharge conveyor 17.

Growing community of inventors

Post Falls, ID, United States of America

Curtis A Roth