SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DENESTING RECEPTACLES FROM A STACK

Abstract

A system for denesting associated receptacles from a stack, such as a stack of trays, cups or other receptacles is provided, the system including: a pair of bottom supports for holding the stack of receptacles from the bottom of the stack, a first pair of cam discs for at least guiding the pair of bottom supports, a pair of side supports for supporting the stack of receptacles from the sides of the stack, a second pair of cam discs for at least guiding the pair of side supports, a pair of separators for separating a lowermost receptacle from the stack of receptacles and for guiding the lowermost receptable downwards away from the stack, a third pair of cam discs for at least guiding the pair of separators, and a pair of main drive shafts. A method for denesting a stack of receptacles is also provided.

Claims

1. A system for denesting associated receptacles from a stack, such as a stack of trays, cups or other receptacles, the system comprising: a pair of bottom supports for supporting the stack of receptacles from the bottom of the stack; a first pair of cam discs for at least guiding the pair of bottom supports; a pair of side supports for supporting the stack of receptacles from the sides of the stack; a second pair of cam discs for at least guiding the pair of side supports; a pair of separators for separating a lowermost receptacle from the stack of receptacles and for guiding the lowermost receptable downwards away from the stack; a third pair of cam discs for at least guiding the pair of separators; and a pair of main drive shafts.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system can take at least two positions: a first position, wherein the stack of receptacles is held by the pair of bottom supports, and wherein the pair of separators is withdrawn from the stack of receptacles; and a second position, wherein the stack of receptacles is held by at least the pair of side supports, and wherein the pair of separators is engaging with the lowermost receptacle from the stack of receptacles.

3. The system according to claim 2, the denesting system in use is configured for sequentially altering between the first position and the second position.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pair of main drive shafts is configured to drive at least: the pair of bottom supports; the pair of side supports; and the pair of separators.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pair of separators is configured to separate the lowermost receptacle from the stack of receptacles by providing an opposing clamping force at the lowermost receptacle from the stack.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the separators comprise a spring, and/or the side supports comprise a spring.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pair of separators is configured for guiding the lowermost receptacle in a downwards direction away from the stack of receptacles.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the separators are opposingly arranged.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pair of side supports are configured for providing an opposing clamping force on the sides of the stack of receptacles for holding the stack when the pair of bottom supports are withdrawn and not holding the stack.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pair of side supports comprises at least a rubber portion, such as a surface made of rubber material, or wherein the pair of side supports are made of rubber material.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pair of side supports comprises at least an indented portion, such as a surface with indentations.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first cam disc and/or second cam disc and/or third cam disk is configured for one way rotation around the center axis of the cam discs.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and/or third cam disc(s) is configured for operating at a constant speed, and/or the first, second and/or third cam disc(s) is configured for operating at a constant sequence.

14. A method for denesting a stack of receptacles, such as a stack of trays, cups or other receptacles, with a denesting system according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: providing a stack of receptacles, holding the stack of receptacles by a pair of bottom supports, moving a pair of side supports towards the stack of receptacles, withdrawing the bottom supports away from the stack, the removement is provided by rotation of a first pair of cam discs, holding the stack of respectables by the pair of side supports, wherein the holding is provided by an opposing clamping force at the sides of the stack of receptacles, moving a pair of separators towards the lowermost receptacle in the stack of receptacles, providing an opposing clamping force by the pair of separators on the lowermost receptacle of the stack of receptacles, moving at least a part of the pair of separators in a downwards direction while providing the pressure on the lowermost receptacle, denesting the lowermost receptacle from the stack, releasing the denested receptacle from the pressure of the separators by moving the pair of separators away from receptacle, moving the pair of bottom supports towards the bottom of the stack of receptacles for catching and holding the stack, withdrawing the side supports from the stack of receptacles, dropping down the stack of receptacles and gripping the stack of receptacles by the bottom supports, wherein the steps of the method can be executed in any order and/or executed simultaneously.

15. The method for denesting according to claim 14, wherein during the method at least two positions appear: a first position, wherein the stack of receptacles is held only by the pair of bottom supports, thereby is only held by force from the bottom of the stack; and a second position, wherein the stack of receptacles is held only by at least the pair of side supports, and wherein the pair of separators is separating the lowermost receptacle from the stack of receptacles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0125] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0126] FIG. 1 illustrates a 3D drawing of embodiments of the system from the above;

[0127] FIG. 2 illustrates a 3D drawing of embodiments of the system from the side;

[0128] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of a denesting system in a first position;

[0129] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of a denesting system in a second position; and

[0130] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section of separating means during separation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0131] Exemplary examples will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this regard, the present examples may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the examples are merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects.

[0132] Throughout the specification, when an element is referred to as being connected to another element, the element is directly connected to the other element, electrically connected, fluidic connected or communicatively connected to the other element with one or more intervening elements interposed there between.

[0133] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the terms comprises, comprising, includes and/or including when used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0134] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the conventional art to which embodiments of the invention pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined in the present specification.

[0135] FIG. 1 illustrates a 3D drawing of embodiments of the system 100 from the above. In embodiments, the system is a denesting system for denesting associated receptacles R from a stack S, such as a stack of trays, cups or other receptacles, embodiments of the system comprising: [0136] A pair of bottom support means 300 for supporting the stack S of receptacles R from the bottom of the stack. The bottom support means 300 are only partly visible in FIG. 1. [0137] A first pair of cam discs (not shown) for at least guiding the pair of bottom support means 300. [0138] A pair of side support means 400 for supporting the stack S of receptacles R from the sides of the stack. In FIG. 1, two pairs of side support means 400 are illustrated. [0139] A second pair of cam discs for at least guiding the pair of side support means 400. [0140] A pair of separator means 500 for separating a lowermost receptacle LR from the stack S of receptacles R and for guiding the lowermost receptable downwards away from the stack. The separator means 500 are not visible in FIG. 1 (see FIG. 3-5). [0141] A third pair of cam disc for at least guiding the pair of separator means 400. [0142] A pair of main drive shafts 500, wherein the pair of main drive shafts is adapted to drive at least: [0143] The pair of bottom support means 200. [0144] The pair of side support means 300. [0145] The pair of separator means 400.

[0146] Furthermore, in FIG. 1 each drive shaft of the pair of drive shafts is coupled to: [0147] one of the bottom support means 200 in the pair of bottom support means, [0148] one of the first cam disc 250 in the pair of first cam discs, [0149] one of the side support means 300 in the pair of side support means, [0150] one of the second cam disc in the pair of second cam discs, [0151] one of the separator means 400 in the pair of separator means, and [0152] one of the third cam disc in the pair of third cam discs.

[0153] Moreover, in FIG. 1 is illustrated a pair of main drive shaft 500 being coupled to each other via a coupling structure.

[0154] FIG. 2 illustrates a 3D drawing of embodiments of the system from the side. In embodiments, the system illustrated in FIG. 2 corresponds to the system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. In embodiments, the system is adapted to perform a method for denesting a stack S of receptacles R, such as a stack of trays, cups or other receptacles, wherein embodiments of the method comprises several steps: [0155] providing a stack S of receptacles R, [0156] holding the stack of receptacles by a pair of bottom support means 200, [0157] moving a pair of side support means 300 towards the stack of receptacles, [0158] withdrawing the bottom support means 200 away from the stack, desirably the removement is provided by rotation of a pair of cam discs 250, [0159] holding the stack S of respectables R by the pair of side support means 300, wherein the holding is provided by an opposing clamping force at the sides of the stack S of receptacles R, [0160] moving a pair of separator means 400 towards the lowermost receptacle LR in the stack of receptacles, [0161] providing an opposing clamping force by the pair of separator means 400 on the lowermost receptacle LR of the stack of receptacles, [0162] moving at least a part of the pair of separator means 400 in a downwards direction while providing the pressure on the lowermost receptacle LR, [0163] denesting the lowermost receptacle from the stack S, [0164] releasing the denested receptacle from the pressure of the separator means 400 by moving the pair of separator means away from receptacle, [0165] moving the pair of bottom support means 200 towards the bottom of the stack of receptacles for catching and holding the stack S, [0166] withdrawing the side support means 300 from the stack of receptacles, [0167] dropping down the stack of receptacles and gripping the stack of receptacles by the bottom support means 200,
wherein the steps of embodiments of the method can be executed in any order and/or executed simultaneously.

[0168] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of a denesting system 100 in a first position FP. In embodiments, the system can take at least two positions.

[0169] FIG. 3 illustrate the first position FP, wherein the stack of receptacles is held by the pair of bottom support means 200, and wherein the pair of separator means is withdrawn from the stack of receptacles.

[0170] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of a denesting system in a second position SP. In embodiments, the system can take at least two positions.

[0171] FIG. 4 illustrates the second position SP, wherein the stack of receptacles is held by at least the pair of side support means 300, and wherein the pair of separator means 400 is engaging with the lowermost receptacle LR from the stack S of receptacles R.

[0172] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section of separating means 400 during separation.

[0173] Within embodiments of the invention, the pair of separator means are opposingly arranged. The pair of separator means is adapted to separate the lowermost receptacle from the stack of receptacles by providing an opposing clamping force at the lowermost receptacle LR from the stack.

[0174] Furthermore, the pair of separator means 400 is adapted for guiding the lowermost receptacle LR in a downwards direction away from the stack of receptacle.

[0175] In FIG. 5, the pair of separator means 400 is a pair of at least substantially horizontal protruding rods comprising an engagement portion in the protruding end of the rod, wherein the engagement portion in the protruding end of the rod has a spherical shape.

[0176] Moreover, FIG. 5 illustrates that the separator means comprise a spring 470 for regulating the force provided on the receptacles by the separator means 400.

[0177] Also illustrated is the pair of side support means 300 being adapted for providing an opposing clamping force on the sides of the stack of receptacles for holding the stack when the pair of bottom support means 200 are withdrawn and not holding the stack.

[0178] In FIG. 5, the pair of side support means comprises a rubber portion 380, such as a surface of rubber.

[0179] However, it should be understood that within the invention, other embodiments of the side supports means 400 are also desired, such as an embodiment wherein the pair of side support means 400 comprises at least an intended portion.

[0180] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of 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.

[0181] 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.

LIST OF FIGURE REFERENCES

[0182] System for denesting (100) [0183] Bottom support means (200) [0184] First pair of cam discs (250) [0185] Pair of side support means (300) [0186] Second pair [0187] Spring (370) [0188] Rubber portion (380) [0189] Pair of separator means (400) [0190] Third pair of cam discs [0191] Spring (470) [0192] Pair of main drive shafts (500) [0193] First position (1P) [0194] Second position (2P) [0195] Stack (S) [0196] Receptacles (R) [0197] Lowermost receptacle (LR)