Pile preparation unit with pile turner

Abstract

Provided is a pile preparation unit for changing a pallet support of a pile of sheets with a first end and a second end where the pallet has a support side supporting the pile of sheets at the first end. The pile preparation unit may include a rotation unit configured with an infeed opening for receiving a pallet with a pile of sheets, the rotation unit configured with a rotating structure to rotate a lift unit about a rotational axis. The lift unit is configured with a lift structure fixed to the rotating structure and has a lift plate movable along the lift structure to engage with the second end of the pile of sheets and to move and position the pile of sheets transverse, relative to the rotational axis, providing a portal for changing a pallet.

Claims

1. A pile preparation unit for changing a pallet support of a pile of sheets with a first end and a second end, wherein the pallet has a support side supporting the pile of sheets at the first end, the pile preparation unit comprising: a rotation unit configured with an infeed opening for receiving a pallet with a pile of sheets, the rotation unit configured with a rotating structure to rotate a lift unit about a rotational axis, wherein the rotating structure comprises a cylindrical body supporting the lift unit, wherein the cylindrical body is supported on two sets of rollers adapted for rotating the cylindrical body; wherein the lift unit comprises a first lift plate and a second lift plate, each configured to move and position in the lift structure to engage to the respective first end and second end of the pile of sheets; wherein the lift unit is configured with a lift structure fixed to the rotating structure and has the second lift plate movable along the lift structure to engage with the second end of the pile of sheets and to move and position the pile of sheets transverse, relative to the rotational axis providing a portal for changing a pallet, wherein the rotation unit comprises a first conveyor configured as the first lift plate configured to rotate with the rotating structure, wherein the pile preparation unit is further configured with a pallet change module including a pallet portal with movable pallet engagement forks for engaging with a pallet for extraction from and insertion into a portal formed in an upper section of the rotation unit, wherein the pallet change module is at least one of: adapted for exchanging a first pallet with a second pallet, wherein the pallet change module includes a first pallet portal with movable first pallet engagement forks arranged to extend to an extraction position in the rotation unit; and a second pallet portal with movable second pallet engagement forks arranged to extend to a delivery position in the rotation unit; wherein the first pallet portal and the second pallet portal are vertically separated; and wherein the lift unit is configured to move and position the respective lift plate for the respective pallet end of the pile of sheets to be positioned at the respective extraction position and delivery position, and adapted for supporting the second end of the pile of sheets on the same pallet, wherein the lift unit includes a second conveyor configured as a second lift plate, wherein the pallet engagement forks are inserted in a feed direction parallel to the rotational axis for extraction of the pallet from the first end and for delivery of the same pallet to the second end of the pile of sheets after rotation of the rotating structure.

2. The pile preparation unit according to claim 1, wherein the pallet change module is arranged on side of the rotation unit and to extend the pallet engagement, the first or second or both pallet engagement into the rotation unit from a transverse direction to the rotational axis.

3. The pile preparation unit according to claim 2, further comprising a pallet loading unit arranged on the opposite side of the pallet change module and fixed to the rotation unit, the pallet loading unit configured to engage with and support a second pallet during rotation of the rotating unit and configured to release the second pallet on the second pallet engagement.

4. The pile preparation unit according to claim 1 further comprising a pallet loading unit configured with a pallet loading arm connectable to the rotation unit and configured to engage with and support a pallet during rotation of the rotating unit and configured to release the pallet when up-side down.

5. A method of changing a pallet support of a pile of sheets with a first end and a second end where the pallet has a support side supporting the pile of sheets at the first end, the method comprising acts of: positioning the pallet supporting the pile of sheets on a first conveyor in a rotation unit; engaging a second conveyor with the second end of the pile of sheets; rotating the first and second conveyors upside down using the rotation unit; releasing the first conveyor from the first end of the pile of sheets; extracting the pallet from the first end of the pile of sheets along a feed direction parallel to a rotational axis; engaging the first conveyor with the first end of the pile of sheets; rotating the first and second conveyors downside up using the rotation unit; releasing the second conveyor from the second end of the pile of sheets; inserting the same pallet on the second end of the pile of sheets along the feed direction; engaging the second conveyor with the second end of the pile of sheets; rotating the first and second conveyors upside down using the rotation unit; ejecting the pallet supporting the pile of sheets from the second conveyor.

6. A method of changing a pallet support of a pile of sheets with a first end and second end where the pallet has a support side supporting the pile of sheets at the first end, where the changing is from a first pallet to a second pallet, the method comprising acts of: positioning the pallet, supporting the pile of sheets on a first rotation unit; engaging a lift plate arranged to move in a lift unit with the second end of the pile of sheets; rotating the first pallet with the pile of sheets upside down using the rotation unit; releasing the first conveyor from the first end of the pile of sheets by moving or lowering the lift plate, creating a portal for extraction and insertion of a pallet; aligning the first pallet to an extraction position by moving the lift plate; extracting the first pallet from the first end of the pile of sheets using first pallet engagement forks operated in a first pallet portal at the extraction position; aligning the second end of the pile of sheets to an insertion position or delivery position by moving the lift plate; inserting the second pallet to the second end of the pile of sheets using second pallet engagement forks operated in a second pallet portal at the insertion position or delivery position; engaging the second pallet with the first conveyor by moving the lift plate; rotating the second pallet with the pile of sheets downside up using the rotation unit; attaching a second pallet of the second type on the outside of the rotation unit; rotating the attached second pallet in the same rotation movement; and releasing the second pallet to the second pallet portal, wherein the first pallet portal and the second pallet portal are vertically separated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a pile preparation unit;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the extraction of a pallet;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates the extraction of a pallet;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the extraction of a pallet;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates the extraction of a pallet;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates the extraction of a pallet;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates the extraction of a pallet;

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates the extraction of a pallet;

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates the insertion of a pallet;

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates the insertion of a pallet;

(12) FIG. 11 illustrates the insertion of a pallet;

(13) FIG. 12 illustrates the insertion of a pallet;

(14) FIG. 13 illustrates the insertion of a pallet;

(15) FIG. 14 illustrates the insertion of a pallet;

(16) FIG. 15 illustrates the insertion of a pallet;

(17) FIG. 16 illustrates the insertion of a pallet;

(18) FIG. 17 illustrates a pile preparation unit with another embodiment of a pallet change module;

(19) FIG. 18 illustrates a pile preparation unit with another embodiment of a pallet change module;

(20) FIG. 19 illustrates the extraction and insertion of a pallet;

(21) FIG. 20 illustrates the extraction and insertion of a pallet;

(22) FIG. 21 illustrates the extraction and insertion of a pallet;

(23) FIG. 22 illustrates the extraction and insertion of a pallet;

(24) FIG. 23 illustrates the extraction and insertion of a pallet;

(25) FIG. 24 illustrates a different view of the pallet change module;

(26) FIG. 25 illustrates a different view of the pallet change module;

(27) FIG. 26 illustrates a pallet of a type for processing;

(28) FIG. 27 illustrates a method of changing support of a pallet;

(29) FIG. 28 illustrates a method of changing a first pallet with a second pallet; and

(30) FIG. 29 illustrates aspects of a method for loading a pallet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(31) FIG. 1 discloses a pile preparation unit 100 for changing a pallet 140 support of a pile of sheets 130. The pile of sheets having a first end 131 and second end 132 and the pallet 140 has a support side 150 supporting the pile of sheets 130 at the first end 131.

(32) The pile of sheets 130 and the pallets 140 is feed in a feed direction 125. The pallets 140 are removed in the feed direction 125

(33) The pile preparation unit 100 has a rotation unit 300 configured with two infeed openings 120 for receiving a pallet 140 with a pile of sheets 130. The rotation unit 300 is configured with a rotating structure 302 to rotate a lift unit 500 about a rotational axis 304.

(34) The lift unit 500 is configured with a lift structure 510 fixed to the rotating structure 302 and having a lift plate 520 movable along the lift structure 510 to engage with the second end 112 of the pile of sheets 130 and to move and position the pile of sheets 130 transverse relatively to the rotational axis 302 providing a portal 630 for changing a pallet 140. This portal 630 is also referred to as a pallet portal 640.

(35) The rotation unit 300 comprises a first conveyor 401 configured to rotate with the rotation structure 300. The first conveyor 401 may act as a first lift plate 521, which in this embodiment rotates with the rotation unit 300. The lift unit 500 comprises a second conveyor 522 configured as a second lift plate 522. In this embodiment the second lift plate 522 may move in the lift unit 300 and thus rotate when the lift unit is rotated by the rotation unit 300.

(36) A portal 630 or pallet portal 640 is created when there is an open space between the first end 131 of the pile of sheets 130 and the first lift plate 521 or when there is an open space between the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130 and the second lift plate 522.

(37) In one embodiment one or both of the first and second lift plates 521, 522 is a conveyor 400.

(38) In one embodiment the first lift plate 521 is a first conveyor 401 that rotates with the rotation unit 300.

(39) In another embodiment the first plate 521 is a first conveyer 401 that is in the lift unit 500 and thus rotates with the lift unit 500.

(40) FIGS. 2 to 8 illustrate the extraction 650 of a pallet 140. The extraction 650 is done in seven steps.

(41) In FIG. 2 discloses a pile preparation unit 100 for changing a pallet 140 support of a pile of sheets 130. The pile of sheets 130 has been feed into the pile preparation unit 100.

(42) In FIG. 3 the second lift plate 522 clamps down onto the second end 132 of the pile of sheets.

(43) In FIG. 4 the rotation unit 300 rotates the pile of sheets 130 around a rotational axis 320. Hence the pile of sheets 130 is upside/down compared to preceding figures.

(44) In FIG. 5 pallet engagement means or pallet engagement 610 is inserted in the feed direction 125 for engagement with the pallet 140.

(45) In FIG. 6 the pallet engagement means or pallet engagement 610 has been inserted into the pile preparation unit 100 and the pallet engagement means or pallet engagement 610 has engaged with the pallet 140.

(46) FIG. 7 discloses the extraction of the pallet 140.

(47) In a step between FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 the first lift unit 131 clamps down onto the first end 131 of the pile of sheets 130.

(48) In FIG. 8 the rotation unit 300 has rotated the pile of sheets 130 around a rotational axis 320. Hence the pile of sheets 130 is in the same position as in FIG. 1, but without a pallet 140.

(49) FIGS. 9 to 16 illustrate the insertion 652 of a pallet 140.

(50) In FIG. 9 a pallet 140 is inserted into the pile preparation unit 100 by a pallet change module 600 using pallet engagement means or pallet engagement 610.

(51) In FIG. 10 the pallet engagement means or pallet engagement 610 moves the pallet 140 down onto the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130.

(52) In FIG. 11 the pallet engagement means or pallet engagement 610 extracts leaving the pallet 140 on the second end 132 of the pile of sheets.

(53) In FIG. 12 the extraction of the pallet engagement means or pallet engagement 610 is completed.

(54) FIG. 13 the second lift plate 522 is moved downwards onto the backside of the pallet 140.

(55) In FIG. 14 the rotation unit 300 rotates the pile of sheets 130 around a rotational axis 320. Hence the pile of sheets 130 is upside/down compared to FIGS. 9-13.

(56) In FIG. 15 second lift plate 522 is moved downwards, so the pile of sheets 130 can be removed.

(57) In one embodiment the removal of the pile of sheets is done by a conveyor 400.

(58) In another embodiment the removal of the pile of sheets is done by a forklift.

(59) FIG. 16 is FIG. 15 from a different angle.

(60) In FIGS. 2 to 16 the pile of sheets 130 is flipped so that the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130 is supported by the support side 150 of the pallet 140.

(61) In another embodiment one or both lift plates 520 are conveyors 400.

(62) In another embodiment none of the lift plates 520 are conveyors 400.

(63) In another embodiment the pallet 140 is removed without adding a new pallet 140.

(64) In another embodiment only one pallet 140 is used.

(65) In another embodiment the pile of sheets 130 has no pallet 140 before insertion into the pile preparation unit 100 and a pallet 140 is added to either the first end 131 and second end 132 or both.

(66) In another embodiment the pile of sheets 130 has no pallet 140 and the pile of sheets 130 is flipped.

(67) In another embodiment a pallet 140 is placed on both the first end 131 and the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130.

(68) FIGS. 17 to 18 illustrate a pile preparation unit with another embodiment of a pallet change module.

(69) FIG. 17 discloses a pile preparation unit 100 for changing a pallet 140 support of a pile of sheets 130. The pile of sheets having a first end 131 and second end 132 and the pallet 140 has a support side 150 supporting the pile of sheets 130 at the first end 131.

(70) The pile preparation unit 100 has a rotation unit 300 configured with two infeed openings 120 for receiving a pallet 140 with a pile of sheets 130. The rotation unit 300 is configured with a rotating structure 302 to rotate a lift unit 500 about a rotational axis 304.

(71) The pile preparation unit 100 has a pallet change module 600. The pallet change module 600 has a first pallet portal 641 with movable first pallet engagement means or first pallet engagement 611 arranged to extend to an extraction position 660 in the rotation unit 300 and a second pallet portal 642 with movable second pallet engagement means or second pallet engagement 612 arranged to extend to a delivery position 662 in the rotation unit 300 the first and second pallet portal 641, 642 vertically separated.

(72) The extraction position 660 and delivery position 662 is not shown in FIG. 17.

(73) The pile preparation unit 100 has a lift unit 500. The lift unit 500 is configured to move and position the lift plate 520 for the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130 to be positioned at the respective extraction position 660 and delivery position 662.

(74) The pallets 140 are feed in the feed direction 125.

(75) FIG. 18 discloses the pallet loading unit 620 with pallet loading arms 622.

(76) FIGS. 19 to 23 illustrate extraction and insertion of a pallet.

(77) FIG. 19 discloses a top view of the pile preparation unit 100 also shown in FIG. 17.

(78) In FIG. 20 the pile of sheets 130 have been rotated by the rotation unit 300 around a rotational axis 320. During the rotation the pallet loading unit 620 delivers a second pallet 142 for the second pallet engagement means or engagement 612.

(79) In FIG. 21 the lift unit 500 moves the pile of sheets 130 a bit downwards by lowering of the second lift plate 522. The first pallet 141 is placed in the first pallet portal 641 and the first pallet 141 is therefore at the extraction position 660.

(80) The second pallet 141 is placed at the second pallet engagement means or engagement 612, which is vertically at the same height as the second pallet portal 642; thus the second pallet is at the delivery position 662

(81) In FIG. 22 the second engagement means or engagement 612 moves the second pallet 142 into the second pallet portal 642 to deliver the second pallet 142.

(82) In FIG. 23 the first pallet 141 has been removed by the first pallet engagement means or engagement 611.

(83) The rotation unit 300 may then rotate the pile of sheets 130 around a rotational axis 320. The pile of sheets 130 would then be in the initial position shown in FIG. 19, but with a different pallet 140.

(84) The pile of sheets 130 can then be removed from the pile preparation unit 100.

(85) In one embodiment the removal of the pile of sheets is done by a conveyor 400.

(86) In another embodiment the removal of the pile of sheets is done by a truck.

(87) In FIGS. 19 to 23 the pallet 140 of the pile of sheets 130 is changed from a first pallet 141 to a second pallet 142.

(88) In another embodiment the pallet 140 is changed while flipping the pile of sheets 130.

(89) In another embodiment one or both lift plates 520 are conveyors 400.

(90) In another embodiment none of the lift plates 520 are conveyors 400.

(91) In another embodiment the pallet 140 is removed without adding a new pallet 140.

(92) In another embodiment only one pallet 140 is used.

(93) In another embodiment the pile of sheets 130 has no pallet 140 before insertion into the pile preparation unit 100 is added to either the first end 131 and second end 132 or both.

(94) In another embodiment the pile of sheets 130 has no pallet 140 and the pile of sheets 130 is flipped.

(95) In another embodiment a pallet 140 is placed on both the first end 131 and the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130.

(96) FIGS. 24 to 25 illustrate a different angle of the pallet change module.

(97) FIG. 26 illustrates a pallet. The pallet is a process pallet having a face with linear recesses. The pallet engagement means or engagement may be spears or rods complementary arranged to engage with the recesses in the pallet.

(98) FIG. 27 illustrates a method 700 of changing a pallet 140 support of a pile of sheets 130 with a first end 131 and a second end 132 where the pallet 140 has a support side 150 supporting the pile of sheets 130 at the first end 131. The method comprises of a series of acts.

(99) There may be an act of positioning 710 the pallet 140 supporting the pile of sheets 130 on a first conveyor 401 in a rotation unit 300.

(100) There may be an act of engaging 720 a second conveyor 402 with the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130.

(101) There may be an act of rotating 730 the first and second conveyors 401, 402 upside down using the rotation unit 300.

(102) There may be an act of releasing 740 the first conveyor 400 from the first end 131 of the pile of sheets 130.

(103) There may be an act of extracting 750 the pallet 140 from the first end 131 of the pile of sheets 131.

(104) There may be an act of engaging 720 the first conveyor 401 with the first end 131 of the pile of sheets 130.

(105) There may be an act of rotating 730 the first and second conveyors 401, 402 downside-up using the rotation unit 300. This act may be without the pallet 140.

(106) There may be an act of releasing 740 the second conveyor 402 from the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130.

(107) There may be an act of inserting 760 the same pallet 140 or another pallet 140 on the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130.

(108) There may be an act of engaging 720 the second conveyor 402 with the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130.

(109) There may be an act of rotating 730 the first and second conveyors 401, 402 upside down using the rotation unit 300. This act may be with the pallet 140.

(110) There may be an act of ejecting 770 the pallet 140 supporting the pile of sheets 130 from the second conveyor 402.

(111) FIG. 28 illustrates a method 700 of changing a pallet 140 support of a pile of sheets 130 with a first end 132 and second end 134 where the pallet 140 has a support side 150 supporting the pile of sheets 130 at the first end 131, where the changing is from a first pallet 141 to a second pallet 142. The method comprises of a series of acts.

(112) There may be an act of positioning 710 the pallet 140, supporting the pile of sheets 130 on a first conveyor 401 in a rotation unit 300.

(113) There may be an act of engaging 720 a lift plate 520 is arranged to move in a lift unit 500 with the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130.

(114) There may be an act of rotating 730 the first pallet 141 with the pile of sheets 130 upside down using the rotation unit 300.

(115) There may be an act of releasing 740 the first conveyor 401 from the first end 131 of the pile of sheets 140 by moving or lowering the lift plate 520, creating a portal 630 for extraction and insertion of a pallet 140.

(116) There may be an act of aligning 780 the first pallet 141 to an extraction position 660 by moving the lift plate 520.

(117) There may be an act of extracting 750 the first pallet 141 from the first end 132 of the pile of sheets 130 using the first pallet engagement means or engagement 610 operated in the first pallet portal 641 at the extraction position 660.

(118) There may be an act of aligning 780 the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130 to an insertion position 662 or delivery position by moving the lift plate 520.

(119) There may be an act of inserting 760 the second pallet 142 to the second end 132 of the pile of sheets 130 using the second pallet engagement means or engagement 612 operated in the second pallet portal 642 at the insertion position 662 or delivery position.

(120) There may be an act of engaging 720 the second pallet 142 with the first conveyor 401 by moving the lift plate 520.

(121) There may be an act of rotating 730 the second pallet 142 with the pile of sheets 130 downside up using the rotation unit 300.

(122) There may be further acts for loading a pallet from a pallet storage and onto or into the pallet change module.

(123) The act of loading may comprise one or more of the following acts.

(124) There may be an act of attaching 790 a second pallet 142 of the second type 160 on the outside of the rotation unit 300.

(125) There may be an act of rotating 730 the attached second pallet 142 in the same rotation movement.

(126) There may be an act of releasing 740 the second pallet 142 to the second pallet portal 642.

(127) Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

(128) For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements. The mention of a “unit” or a “module” does not preclude the use of more than one unit or module.

(129) TABLE-US-00001 Item Reference Number Pile preparation unit 100 Infeed opening 120 Feed direction 125 Pile of sheets 130 First end 131 Second end 132 Pallet 140 First pallet 141 Second pallet 142 Support side 150 Pallet end 152 Rotation unit 300 Rotating structure 310 Rotational axis 320 Conveyor 400 First conveyor 401 Second conveyor 402 Lift unit 500 Lift structure 510 Lift plate 520 First lift plate 521 Second lift plate 522 Pallet change module 600 Pallet engagement means or pallet engagement 610 First pallet engagement means or first pallet 611 engagement Second pallet engagement means or second 612 pallet engagement Pallet loading unit 620 Pallet loading arm 622 Portal 630 Pallet portal 640 First pallet portal 641 Second pallet portal 642 Extraction 650 Insertion 652 Extraction position 660 Insertion/Delivery position 662 Method 700 Positioning 710 Engaging 720 Rotating 730 Releasing 740 Extracting 750 Inserting 760 Ejecting 770 Aligning 780 Attaching 790