Reciprocating placer system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9238558-B2
Application number	US-201314022847-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2013
Priority date	Sep 12, 2012
Publication date	Jan 19, 2016
Grant date	Jan 19, 2016

Abstract

A reciprocating placer system for selectively picking and placing articles includes a picking assembly that is moveable between one or more magazines in which the articles are each received and stored in a stacked configuration. The picking assembly can include a series of vacuum cups for engaging and selectively picking articles from one or more magazines and thereafter depositing the selected articles on a conveyor or within a receptacle. A drive system controls the transverse movement of the picking assembly with respect to the one or more magazines in order to control the movement of the picking assembly between the one or more magazines and for adjusting the position of the picking assembly, with a selected article engaged thereby, with respect to the conveyor or receptacle on which the article is to be deposited.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A reciprocating placer system for feeding articles comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of magazines mounted along the frame, each adapted to receive a stack of articles therein, wherein the articles comprise varying types, configurations or sizes;
a picking assembly adjacent the plurality of magazines and movable along a path of travel laterally across the frame into positions aligned with each of the stacks of articles received in each of the plurality of magazines for engaging selected articles of the stacks of articles received within the plurality of magazines, the picking assembly further being pivotable toward and away from the magazines for picking and removing the selected articles from the plurality of magazines and placing each of the selected articles in a receptacle or conveyor flight;
a drive system for adjusting the lateral movement of the picking assembly; and
a control system controlling lateral movement of the picking assembly by the drive system for selectively positioning in alignment with each magazine of the plurality of magazines, and for controlling pivoting movement of the picking assembly toward and away from the stacks of articles received within the plurality of magazines for engaging and picking each selected article from its stack of articles received within each of the plurality of magazines and placing of each selected article into the receptacle or conveyor flight,
wherein the control system moves the picking assembly into different positions aligned with each of the plurality of magazines to pick a series of articles of particular types, configurations, or sizes from the magazines in sequence for placement of the articles within the receptacle or conveyor flight.

2. The reciprocating placer system of claim 1 , wherein the picking assembly comprises a vacuum cup assembly having a series of vacuum cups mounted on a carriage, the carriage being linked to the lateral drive system for moving the carriage along a laterally extending path of travel with respect to the magazines.

3. The reciprocating placer system of claim 2 , wherein the lateral drive system comprises a reversible drive motor that drives a laterally movable carriage in transverse directions with respect to the magazines, and a pivoting support arm extending between the laterally movable carriage and the carriage of the vacuum cup assembly, wherein as the laterally movable carriage is moved, the vacuum cup assembly is caused to move laterally between its positions for picking selected articles from the stacks of articles received within the magazines, while further being permitted to pivot longitudinally toward and away from the magazines.

4. The reciprocating placer system of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive applicator mounted adjacent the path of travel of the picking assembly in a position for applying an adhesive material to selected articles removed from the plurality of magazines.

5. The reciprocating placer system of claim 1 , further comprising a printer adjacent the path of travel of the picking assembly for applying printing to the articles.

6. The reciprocating placer system of claim 1 , further comprising a scanner adjacent the path of travel of the picking assembly for scanning an indicia applied to the articles removed from the magazines.

7. The reciprocating placer system of claim 1 , wherein the control system controls the lateral and pivoting movement of the picking assembly to selectively pick the selected articles from the stacks of articles received within each of the plurality of magazines according to a predefined sequence.

8. The reciprocating placer system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of magazines comprise at least one clip mounted to a proximal end of each magazine of the plurality of magazines for engaging and bearing against a front surface of a foremost article in the stacks of articles received within the plurality of magazines.

9. The reciprocating placer system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more feedback devices communicating with the control system and positioned along the frame for tracking of articles as they are picked and removed from the magazines and placed in the receptacle or conveyor flight.

10. A reciprocating placer system comprising:
a frame;
a series of magazines mounted along the frame and each adapted to receive a stack of articles therein;
a picking assembly located adjacent the series of magazines and movable along a path of travel laterally across the frame into a position aligned with the stack of articles received within at least one magazine of the series of magazines, the picking assembly further being movable toward and away from the at least one magazine for picking and removing selected articles from the stack of articles received within the at least one magazine, and comprising a vacuum cup assembly having a series of vacuum cups mounted on a carriage;
a lateral drive system for moving the carriage along a laterally extending path of travel with respect to the at least one magazine so as to move the picking assembly into its position aligned with the stack of articles;
a pivot assembly including a pivoting frame having a series of laterally extending guide rails along which the carriage of the vacuum cup assembly is supported and is movable laterally along its extending path of travel, and a pivoting drive system for controlling pivoting movement of the pivot assembly and the vacuum cup assembly toward and away from the at least one magazine for picking and removing the selected articles therefrom; and
a control system for controlling lateral movement of the picking assembly by the lateral drive system, and for controlling pivoting movement of the picking assembly by the pivoting drive system toward and away from the at least one magazine for selectively engaging and picking articles from the at least one magazine.

11. A reciprocating placer system for selectively feeding articles comprising:
a frame;
a series of magazines, each including a series of guides adjustably mounted in spaced series across the frame, wherein each of the magazines can be adjusted to receive articles of varying types, configurations and/or sizes;
a picking assembly movable laterally across the frame along a path of travel adjacent the magazines into positions aligned with stacks of articles received within each of the magazines for engaging selected articles from the stacks of articles received within the magazines, the picking assembly further being movable toward and away from the magazines for picking and removing the selected articles from the stacks of articles received within the magazines;
a drive system for adjusting the lateral movement of the picking assembly; and
a control system for controlling lateral movement of the picking assembly by the lateral drive system, and for controlling movement of the picking assembly toward and away from the magazines for selectively engaging, picking and placing a series of varying type, configuration and/or size articles from the magazines in accordance with a predefined sequence.

12. The reciprocating placer system of claim 11 , further comprising adjustable front and rear supports on which the guides of the magazines are mounted, wherein the front and rear supports are adjustable vertically with respect to the frame and wherein the guides are adjustable laterally along the front and rear supports to receive articles of a predetermined type, configuration and/or size.

13. A method of selectively picking and placing a series of articles from multiple magazines, comprising:
selectively moving a picking assembly along a path of tra

Assignees

• Graphic Packaging Int Inc

Inventors

• Houck Jeremy
• Ziegler Kelly

Classifications

• B65H2701/1764

  Cut-out, single-layer, e.g. flat blanks for boxes · CPC title

• B65G59/00 Primary

  De-stacking of articles (B65G60/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65H3/0816

  separating from the top of pile · CPC title

• B65H3/44 Primary

  Simultaneously, alternately, or selectively separating articles from two or more piles · CPC title

• B65H3/36

  by separators moved in special paths, e.g. enclosing an area · CPC title