The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 08, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 06, 2008
Thomas I. Stafford, Iii, Roswell, GA (US);
Benjamin C. Fordham, Savannah, GA (US);
Richard S. Schneider, Brewerton, NY (US);
Thomas I. Stafford, III, Roswell, GA (US);
Benjamin C. Fordham, Savannah, GA (US);
Richard S. Schneider, Brewerton, NY (US);
Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP, Atlanta, GA (US);
Abstract
A case packing system concurrently accumulates a plurality of different product ensembles and sequentially packs cases thereof, generally by way of (a) concurrently accumulating a plurality of different product ensembles utilizing a plurality of product conveyer lines, each of which is adapted to separately convey distinct products to one or more transfer points; (b) sequentially transferring different accumulated product ensembles from the conveyer lines to a case-packer, the case-packer including a packing section as well as multiple magazines for receiving different case-blanks; (c) controlling transfer of the product ensembles to the case-packer and selection of the appropriate case-blank. Preferably, substantially continuous operation of the case-packer at a production rate higher than an accumulation rate of any individual product conveyer is maintained. A preferred construction employs a 4-axis robotic arm to select KDF cases and shuttle conveyers to transfer product from the conveyers to the case-packer.