Method for handling packages in a beverage bottling plant, a method for unstacking packages in a container filling plant, a method for stacking packages in a container filling plant, and arrangements for accomplishing the methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9302858-B2
Application number	US-70204310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2010
Priority date	Aug 6, 2007
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A method for handling packages in a beverage bottling plant, a method for unstacking packages in a container filling plant, a method for stacking packages in a container filling plant, and arrangements for accomplishing the methods. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A package handling method comprising:
inserting at least one inner support arm of a package handling device between two vertical stacks of packages, such that said inner support arm supports side and bottom surfaces of an inner portion of each of two packages, one on each of said two stacks;
inserting each of at least two outer support arms of said package handling device adjacent a corresponding one of said two stacks, such that said outer support arms support side and bottom surfaces of an outer portion of each of said two packages; and
lifting said two packages simultaneously, using said support arms, either off of said two stacks or off of corresponding stack transport platforms, and then depositing said two packages simultaneously onto a section of a package handling machine.

2. The package handling method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of lifting said two packages comprises one of: lifting solely said two packages, and lifting said two packages and at least one package stacked on each of said two packages.

3. The package handling method according to claim 2 , wherein said step of inserting each of said at least two outer support arms comprises centering and retaining said two packages, substantially free of transverse forces, by advancing said at least two outer support arms in the direction of said inner support arm.

4. The package handling method according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one inner support arm comprises at least a portion with a cross section that corresponds to an inverted T or substantially to an inverted T.

5. The package handling method according to claim 4 , wherein each of said outer support arms comprises at least a portion with an angular or L-shaped cross section.

6. The package handling method according to claim 5 , wherein:
said stack transport platforms comprise wheels or rollers; and
said package handling machine comprises positioning means configured to accurately position said stack transport platforms and/or said stacks of packages on said stack transport platforms.

7. The package handling method according to claim 6 , wherein:
each of said two vertical stacks of packages comprises at least two vertical stacks disposed next to one another on one of said stack transport platforms, and said step of lifting said two packages comprises lifting, using said support arms, a package layer comprising at least four packages; and
said step of depositing comprises depositing said packages onto a transport table, and said method further comprising transferring said packages from said transport table to at least one conveyor.

8. The package handling method according to claim 7 , wherein each of said packages comprises:
at least one tray comprising cardboard or paperboard; and
a plurality of containers, such as beverage bottles, positioned on said at least one tray.

9. A package handling method comprising:
inserting at least one inner support arm of a package handling device between two packages, each package containing at least one item therein, such that said inner support arm supports side and bottom surfaces of an inner portion of each of said two packages;
inserting each of at least two outer support arms of said package handling device adjacent a corresponding one of said two packages, such that said outer support arms support side and bottom surfaces of an outer portion of each of said two packages; and
lifting said two packages simultaneously, using said support arms, off of a package support, and then depositing said two packages simultaneously, one each on either two stacks of packages or on corresponding stack transport platforms.

10. The package handling method according to claim 9 , wherein said step of lifting said two packages comprises one of: lifting solely said two packages, and lifting said two packages and at least one package stacked on each of said two packages.

11. The package handling method according to claim 10 , wherein said step of inserting each of said at least two outer support arms comprises centering and retaining said two packages, substantially free of transverse forces, by advancing said at least two outer support arms in the direction of said inner support arm.

12. The package handling method according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one inner support arm comprises at least a portion with a cross section that corresponds to an inverted T or substantially to an inverted T.

13. The package handling method according to claim 12 , wherein each of said outer support arms comprises at least a portion with an angular or L-shaped cross section.

14. The package handling method according to claim 13 , wherein said step of lifting said two packages comprises lifting, using said support arms, a package layer comprising at least four packages.

15. The package handling method according to claim 14 , wherein each of said packages comprises:
at least one tray comprising cardboard or paperboard; and
a plurality of containers, such as beverage bottles, positioned on said at least one tray.

16. A package handling device comprising:
at least one inner support arm configured to be inserted between two vertical stacks of packages, each package being configured to contain at least one item therein, and to support side and bottom surfaces of an inner portion of each of two packages;
at least two outer support arms configured to be inserted adjacent a corresponding one of the two vertical stacks of packages, and to support side and bottom surfaces of an outer portion of each of two packages; and
said support arms being configured to simultaneously lift two packages, one from each of the two vertical stacks of packages, and then deposit the two packages simultaneously onto one of: another section of a package handling machine, two stacks of packages, and corresponding stack transport platforms.

17. The package handling device according to claim 16 , wherein said at least two outer support arms are configured to be advanced in the direction of said inner support arm to center and retain packages.

18. The package handling device according to claim 17 , wherein said at least one inner support arm comprises at least a portion with a cross section that corresponds to an inverted T or substantially to an inverted T.

19. The package handling device according to claim 18 , wherein each of said outer support arms comprises at least a portion with an angular or L-shaped cross section.

20. The package handling device according to claim 19 , wherein said package handling device comprises positioning means configured to accurately position stack transport platforms and/or stacks of packages on stack transport platforms.

Assignees

• Junghans Joachim
• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Junghans Joachim

Classifications

• B65G57/20

  three-dimensional [3D], e.g. cubiform or cylindrical · CPC title

• B65G57/03 Primary

  from above · CPC title

• B65G61/00

  Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B65G59/023

  by means insertable between the stacked articles or layers · CPC title