Device for layered stacking a support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9862556-B2
Application number	US-201314412378-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2013
Priority date	Jul 6, 2012
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A device for automatically stacking packages on an intermediate plate in a predetermined spatial arrangement for forming a stack, comprising at least one feed conveyor which arranges the individual packages in a predetermined order; a lifting and lowering unit for lifting and lowering the intermediate plate; a sliding plate and a pusher, in order to transport the packages in the Z-direction to the predetermined position in the stack, and with the intermediate plate comprising two partially displaceable plates.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Device for automatically stacking packages on a support in a predetermined spatial arrangement to form a stack, comprising:
at least one feeding conveyor which provides singulated packages in a predetermined sequence;
a lifting and lowering unit for lifting and lowering a support, which is arranged in a stacking location, in the Y-direction;
a displacement device which adjoins an output end of the feeding conveyor and receives packages from the feeding conveyor and transports the same to the predetermined position in the stack;
wherein the displacement device comprises:
a positioning conveyor which adjoins the output end of the feeding conveyor and is arranged horizontally and along a side of the stacking location, in order to position the packages in the X-direction, with the positioning conveyor configured to receive packages from the feeding conveyor, and
at least one sliding plate and a pusher, in order to transport the packages from the positioning conveyor in the Z-direction to the predetermined position in the stack,

a first intermediate plate and a second intermediate plate, said first intermediate plate and said second intermediate configured to be selectively provided at the level of the positioning conveyor above the support that is to be loaded in the stacking location;
wherein the at least one sliding plate is movable horizontally and along the side of the stacking location and transversely thereto, in order to receive the packages from the positioning conveyor at the X-direction position when the packages are pushed by the pusher from a transport surface of the positioning conveyor onto the sliding plate with a front of the sliding plate extending from underneath the transport surface to receive the packages and to position the packages in the Z-direction in the stacking location, and wherein the at least one sliding plate is separate and independent from the positioning conveyor whereby the sliding plate is extendable in the Z-direction without moving in the X-direction while the positioning conveyor is simultaneously moveable in the X-direction, and wherein the first intermediate plate is positionable at the level of the positioning conveyor and movable in the X-direction approximately horizontally between a first stacking position and a first release position, and wherein the second intermediate plate is selectively height adjustable and separate from the first intermediate plate and is positionable at the level of the positioning conveyor and is movable in the Z-direction approximately horizontally between a second stacking position and a second release position, whereby the stack may be formed on either the first intermediate plate or the second intermediate plate prior to placement of the stack on the support by displacement of the first intermediate plate in the X-direction or displacement of the second intermediate plate in the Z-direction.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first intermediate plate is divided into two parts.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each part is configured to be displaceable away from each other in the X-direction.

4. Device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first intermediate plate is configured to be height-adjustable.

5. Device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first intermediate plate is configured to be height-adjustable.

6. Device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stacking location is provided with lateral and rear stabilisation walls.

7. Device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the lateral and rear stabilisation walls are height-adjustable and/or movable in the X and Z directions.

8. Device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first intermediate plate is configured to be height-adjustable.

9. Device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a carrier.

10. Device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the carrier comprises a pallet.

11. Device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein only the second intermediate plate may be selectively used to place the stack on the support when the support includes opposed sidewalls spaced apart from each other in the X-direction.

12. Device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when neither the first intermediate plate nor the second intermediate plate are provided at the level of the positioning conveyor above the support, which is to be loaded, the at least one sliding plate is operable to place packages on the support.

13. Device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning conveyor comprises a transfer cart, and wherein said transport cart includes said transport surface.

14. Method for automatically stacking packages on a support in a predetermined spatial arrangement to form a stack, comprising the steps of:
receiving the packages from a feeding conveyor;
displacing the packages to the predetermined position in the stack by positioning the packages in the X-direction via a positioning conveyor and positioning the packages in the Z-direction via at least one sliding plate that is extendable in the Z-direction;
lifting and lowering the support arranged in a stacking location;
providing both a first intermediate plate and a second intermediate plate; and
positioning the packages on either the first intermediate plate or the second intermediate plate from which the stack is removed after completion for placement on the support, and wherein the first intermediate plate is positionable at the level of the positioning conveyor and is movable in the X-direction approximately horizontally between a first stacking position and a first release position, and wherein the second intermediate plate is selectively height adjustable and separate from the first intermediate plate and is positionable at the level of the positioning conveyor and is movable in the Z-direction approximately horizontally between a second stacking position and a second release position, whereby the stack may be formed on either the first intermediate plate or the second intermediate plate prior to placement of the stack on the support by displacement of the first intermediate plate in the X-direction or displacement of the second intermediate plate in the Z-direction.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first intermediate plate is divided into two parts.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein each part is configured to be displaceable away from each other in the X-direction.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said positioning conveyor is moveable in the X-direction and the at least one sliding plate is extendable in the Z-direction, and wherein the at least one sliding plate is separate and independent from the positioning conveyor whereby the sliding plate is extendable in the Z-direction without moving in the X-direction while the positioning conveyor is simultaneously moveable in the X-direction.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the positioning conveyor includes a transport surface, and wherein said displacing the packages to the predetermined position in the stack further comprises extending a front of the sliding plate from underneath the transport surface and pushing packages from the transport surface onto the sliding plate.

Assignees

• Dematic Gmbh

Inventors

• Cavelius Jörg

Classifications

• B65G2203/0233

  Position of the article · CPC title

• B65G57/22

  in layers each of predetermined arrangement · CPC title

• B65G57/245

  with a stepwise downward movement of the stack · CPC title

• B65G57/06

  Gates for releasing articles · CPC title

• B65G47/642

  in a horizontal plane · CPC title