Palletizer

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for arranging a row of bundles, preferably tied or untied bundles of folded or unfolded corrugated boxes or blanks, into stacks which include a plurality of layers of one or more bundles. The apparatus includes a feeding conveyor for feeding a row of bundles to a loading conveyor. A worker is stationed at the loading conveyor and functions to arrange the bundles into a layer on the loading conveyor. The loading conveyor then operates to transfer the layer of bundles to a transfer station on a vertical conveyor. Alternatively, the worker can arrange the bundles directly at the transfer station. The vertical conveyor includes a plurality of carrier plates which each operate to lift a layer of bundles from the transfer station and transfer it to a delivery station on the other side of the vertical conveyor. Each carrier plate includes a plurality of pushers so that the next carrier plate operates to push the layer of bundles from the delivery station onto a stripping conveyor which pushes the layer against a striker plate located above a downstacker. A stripping conveyor surrounds the downstacker and includes at least one opening therein through which the layer of bundles is deposited onto a movable platform of the downstacker or is deposited onto a layer of bundles which was previously deposited on the movable platform. The platform is incrementally actuated downwardly each time another layer of bundles is deposited thereon to form a stack of the desired height. The movable platform is then actuated downwardly to its discharge position, and the formed stack is then discharged from the downstacker, and straps are applied thereto. Actuating means are also provided for supplying control signals to the loading conveyor and the vertical conveyor to stop their operation while the platform is being lowered toward its discharge position and being returned to its uppermost position to receive the next layer of bundles.