Turntable system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11597544-B2
Application number	US-202217573101-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2022
Priority date	Jan 11, 2021
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

Several embodiments of turntable systems for loaded pallets are disclosed. In some embodiments, a first ramp leads up to the turntable and a second ramp leads down from the turntable on the opposite side. In other embodiments, at least two turntables are positioned adjacent one another, optionally with a bridge surface connecting them so that a pallet lift can be driven from one turntable to the other to place one pallet on one turntable and another pallet on the other turntable according to a method disclosed herein. A validation system without a turntable includes a plurality of cameras about a periphery of a platform weight sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A turntable system comprising:
a first turntable capable of supporting a loaded pallet;
a second turntable capable of supporting a loaded pallet, the second turntable adjacent the first turntable;
a flat support surface between the first turntable and the second turntable, wherein the support surface is substantially flush with an upper surface of the first turntable and an upper surface of the second turntable, wherein upper surfaces of the first turntable, the second turntable and the support surface are elevated relative to a surrounding floor, wherein the first turntable and the support surface are capable of supporting a walkie-rider driven thereacross; and
a ramp leading up to the first turntable, wherein the ramp is an inclined surface leading up to the first turntable.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a first camera directed toward the first turntable and a second camera directed toward the second turntable.

3. The system of claim 1 further including a stretch wrapper dispenser adjacent the first turntable wherein the stretch wrapper dispenser is configured to dispense stretch wrap onto a loaded pallet while being supported and rotated on the first turntable.

4. The system of claim 1 further including an overhead gantry.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the overhead gantry extends between the first turntable and the second turntable.

6. The system of claim 4 further including a first stretch wrapper dispenser adjacent the first turntable and a first camera directed toward the first turntable, wherein the first turntable is between the first stretch wrapper dispenser and the first camera, wherein the first stretch wrapper dispenser is configured to dispense stretch wrap onto a loaded pallet while being supported and rotated on the first turntable.

7. The turntable system of claim 1 wherein the first turntable includes a weight sensor and the first turntable includes a hard stop preventing damage to the weight sensor by limiting vertical displacement of a first support surface of the first turntable.

8. A turntable system comprising:
a first turntable capable of supporting a loaded pallet;
a second turntable capable of supporting a loaded pallet, the second turntable adjacent the first turntable;
a support surface between the first turntable and the second turntable, wherein the support surface is substantially flush with an upper surface of the first turntable and an upper surface of the second turntable;
a ramp leading up to the first turntable;
an overhead gantry extending between the first turntable and the second turntable; and
at least one light mounted to the overhead gantry.

9. A turntable system comprising:
a first turntable capable of supporting a loaded pallet;
a second turntable capable of supporting a loaded pallet, the second turntable adjacent the first turntable;
a support surface between the first turntable and the second turntable, wherein the support surface is substantially flush with an upper surface of the first turntable and an upper surface of the second turntable;
a ramp leading up to the first turntable;
a first stretch wrapper dispenser adjacent the first turntable, wherein the first stretch wrapper dispenser is configured to dispense stretch wrap onto a loaded pallet while being supported and rotated on the first turntable;
a first camera directed toward the first turntable, wherein the first turntable is between the first stretch wrapper dispenser and the first camera; and
an overhead gantry including a horizontal portion extending between the first turntable and the second turntable and a vertical support supporting the horizontal portion, wherein the first camera is mounted to the vertical support.

10. The system of claim 9 further including a second stretch wrapper dispenser adjacent the second turntable and a second camera directed toward the second turntable, wherein the second turntable is between the second stretch wrapper dispenser and the second camera.

11. A turntable system comprising:
a turntable including a table support suspended on a frame;
a weight sensor configured to measure weight on the table support; and
a hard stop preventing damage to the weight sensor by limiting vertical movement of the table support relative to the frame, such that the turntable is capable of supporting a loaded walkie-rider thereon.

12. The turntable system of claim 11 further including:
a first inclined surface leading up to the turntable; and
a second inclined surface leading down from the turntable.

13. The turntable system of claim 12 further including at least one camera positioned adjacent the turntable.

14. The turntable system of claim 12 further including a stretch wrapper dispenser mounted adjacent the turntable.

15. The turntable system of claim 11 wherein the weight sensor is a load cell.

16. The turntable system of claim 11 wherein the weight sensor is a plurality of load cells suspending the table support on the frame and wherein the hard stop is configured to be contacted by the table support to prevent overloading the plurality of load cells.

17. The turntable system of claim 16 wherein the hard stop is mounted to the frame.

18. The turntable system of claim 17 wherein the hard stop is one of a plurality of hard stops each configured to be contacted by the table support to prevent overloading the plurality of load cells.

19. The turntable system of claim 18 further including at least one camera positioned adjacent the turntable.

20. The turntable system of claim 19 further including a stretch wrapper dispenser mounted adjacent the turntable.

21. A turntable system comprising:
a first turntable capable of supporting a loaded pallet;
a second turntable capable of supporting a loaded pallet, the second turntable adjacent the first turntable;
a support surface between the first turntable and the second turntable, wherein the support surface is substantially flush with an upper surface of the first turntable and an upper surface of the second turntable, wherein the support surface is capable of supporting a walkie-rider thereon; and
a ramp leading up to the first turntable.

Assignees

• Rehrig Pacific Co

Inventors

• Jackson Peter Douglas
• Martin Jr Robert Lee
• Miller Jason Crawford
• Alshmmasi Hisham Khalid A
• Foster Derick
• Thyer Daniel James
• Kalinowski Dane Gin Mun
• Popovits Ii Joseph E
• Corless Justin

Classifications

• B65G69/26

  Rotatable platforms · CPC title

• B65B57/10

  responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged · CPC title

• B65B11/045 Primary

  by rotating platforms supporting the articles · CPC title

• B65G2203/046

  RFID · CPC title

• B65G57/00

  Stacking of articles (B65G60/00 takes precedence; feeding, piling or stacking sheets B65H) · CPC title