Device for stabilizing a pallet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9550637-B2
Application number	US-201414266915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2014
Priority date	May 1, 2013
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

A device for palletizing a plurality of articles and for stabilizing selected ones of the plurality of articles is provided. The device includes at least one load stabilizer and at least one stabilizer applier. The at least one load stabilizer includes a stabilizer sheet and an adhesive layer coupled with the stabilizer sheet. The at least one stabilizer applier receives the at least one load stabilizer and applies the adhesive layer to a select potential shift point of a palletized load.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for palletizing a plurality of articles and for stabilizing selected ones of the plurality of articles, the device comprising:
an upper level for receiving the plurality of articles;
an elevator movable within an elevator shaft, wherein the elevator is configured to receive a pallet and the plurality of articles; at least one door movable to stack the plurality of articles from the upper level onto the pallet in a palletized load; and
a stabilizer applier assembly attached to a side of the elevator shaft in a lower level below the at least one door, the stabilizer applier assembly comprising:
at least one feeder configured to feed at least one load stabilizer, the at least one load stabilizer comprising an adhesive layer; and
at least one stabilizer applier configured to receive the at least one load stabilizer, wherein the at least one stabilizer applier is configured to apply the adhesive layer of the at least one load stabilizer to a top surface of at least two articles of the plurality of articles of the palletized load.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein each load stabilizer comprises the respective adhesive layer coupled with the respective stabilizer sheet.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein each load stabilizer comprises the respective stabilizer sheet, the respective adhesive layer and a liner releasably coupled with the respective adhesive layer.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of load stabilizers are coupled with an elongated liner.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one feeder is configured to peel the elongated liner away from each respective load stabilizer prior to applying the respective load stabilizer to the palletized load.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the at least one feeder comprises a feed roll configured to store the elongated liner with the plurality of load stabilizers coupled thereto.

7. The device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one feeder comprises a peel bar, wherein the elongated liner is disposed around the peel bar so that as the elongated liner is advanced around the peel bar each respective load stabilizer is peeled away from the elongated liner.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one feeder comprises a drive pulley operable to advance the elongated liner around the peel bar, and to store the elongated liner after load stabilizers have been removed from the elongated liner.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein each respective load stabilizer is coupled to at least one liner and wherein the at least one stabilizer applier is configured to receive each respective load stabilizer after each respective load stabilizer has been substantially removed from the at least one liner.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one stabilizer applier comprises a vacuum pad to maintain the position of each respective load stabilizer the at least one stabilizer applier has received.

11. The device of claim 1 , comprising extendable arms operable to move the at least one stabilizer applier relative to the palletized load.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one stabilizer applier is configured to apply each respective load stabilizer to a current top surface of the palletized load received on the elevator beneath the at least one door.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one load stabilizer comprises a liner releasably coupled with the adhesive layer.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the liner comprises an elongated strip configured to receive a plurality of load stabilizers.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stabilizer applier is configured to apply the at least one load stabilizer to a side surface of the at least two articles in addition to the top surface.

16. A method for operating a device for palletizing a plurality of articles and for stabilizing selected ones of the plurality of articles, the method comprising:
aligning the plurality of articles into a layer of articles on at least one door on an upper level of a palletizer;
stacking the layer of articles onto a pallet received on an elevator in an elevator shaft of a lower level of the palletizer to provide a palletized load by opening the at least one door; and
actuating a stabilizer applier assembly attached to a side of the elevator shaft in the lower level below the at least one door to adhere a load stabilizer to a top surface of at least two articles of the plurality of articles of the palletized load;

wherein the at least one stabilizer applier is configured to apply the at least one load stabilizer to a top surface of the at least two articles.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one stabilizer comprises a releasable liner, and wherein actuating the stabilizer applier comprises peeling the releasable liner from the load stabilizer prior to adhering the one load stabilizer to the palletized load.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein actuating the stabilizer applier comprises applying adhesive to the at least two articles and applying a load stabilizer to the at least two articles.

Assignees

• Intelligrated Headquarters Llc

Inventors

• Dinello Anthony V

Classifications

• B65D71/0085

  Packaging elements adhered to the articles, e.g. a carton sheet (adhesive tapes B65D63/1009) · CPC title

• B65D79/02

  Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport ({B65D79/005 takes precedence } ; measuring devices G01) · CPC title

• F16B11/006

  by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48) · CPC title

• B65G57/005 Primary

  by using insertions or spacers between the stacked layers · CPC title

• B65B11/025

  by webs revolving around stationary articles · CPC title