Palletizing System and Method of Palletizing

Abstract

The invention relates to a palletizing system, comprising: a frame extending in an upright direction, an input configured to feed products, a forming device configured to form a layer of products, a palletizing device configured to place the layer of products onto a pallet, and a lift, configured to transport the layer of products along the upright extending frame from a level of the forming device to a level of the palletizing device, wherein the forming device and the palletizing device are arranged one directly above the other. It further relates to a method of palletizing, comprising the steps of feeding products to a forming device arranged on a first level; forming a layer of products by the forming device; transporting the layer of products to a second level; placing the layer of products onto a pallet by a palletizing device that is arranged at said second level; wherein the forming device and the palletizing device are arranged one directly above the other.

Claims

1. Palletizing system, comprising: a frame extending in an upright direction; an input configured to feed products in a feed direction; a forming device configured to form a layer of products; a palletizing device configured to place the layer of products onto a pallet; and a lift, configured to transport the layer of products formed by the forming device along the upright extending frame from a level of the forming device to a level of the palletizing device, wherein the forming device and the palletizing device are arranged one directly above the other.

2. The palletizing system according to claim 1, wherein the level of the palletizing device is at a higher level than the level of the forming device.

3. The palletizing system according to claim 2, wherein the palletizing device is arranged directly above the forming device.

4. The palletizing system according to claim 1, further comprising an output configured to output the pallet loaded with at least one layer of products, wherein: said output is arranged relative to the lift on the same side as the input; and the output direction is directed transverse or opposite to the feed direction.

5. The palletizing system according to claim 1, further comprising a pallet support configured to support the pallet during loading thereof.

6. The palletizing system according to claim 5, wherein: the palletizing device is height adjustable relative to the frame; and the pallet support is fixed in height relative to the frame.

7. The palletizing system according to claim 5, wherein: the palletizing device is fixed in height relative to the frame; and the pallet support is height adjustable relative to the frame.

8. The palletizing system according to claim 6, wherein the frame extends between a first operator level at the level of the forming device and a second operator level at the level of the palletizing device.

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. A method of palletizing, comprising the steps of: feeding products to a forming device arranged on a first level; forming a layer of products by the forming device; transporting the layer of products to a second level; and placing the layer of products onto a pallet by a palletizing device that is arranged at said second level; wherein the forming device and the palletizing device are arranged one directly above the other.

12. (canceled)

13. The palletizing system according to claim 7, wherein the frame extends between a first operator level at the level of the forming device and a second operator level at the level of the palletizing device.

14. The palletizing system according to claim 7, comprising a further operator level intermediate the level of the forming device and the level of the palletizing device.

15. The palletizing system according to claim 8, comprising a further operator level intermediate the level of the forming device and the level of the palletizing device.

16. The method according to claim 11, comprising the step of using a palletizing system comprising: a frame extending in an upright direction; an input configured to feed products in a feed direction; a forming device configured to form a layer of products; a palletizing device configured to place the layer of products onto a pallet; and a lift, configured to transport the layer of products formed by the forming device along the upright extending frame from a level of the forming device to a level of the palletizing device, wherein the forming device and the palletizing device are arranged one directly above the other.

17. The palletizing system according to claim 4, further comprising a pallet support configured to support the pallet during loading thereof.

18. The palletizing system according to claim 17, wherein: the palletizing device is fixed in height relative to the frame; and the pallet support is height adjustable relative to the frame.

19. The palletizing system according to claim 18, wherein said further operator level is arranged at or near a level of the output.

20. A palletizing system, comprising: a frame extending in an upright direction; an input configured to feed products in a feed direction; a forming device configured to form a layer of products; a palletizing device configured to place the layer of products onto a pallet; and a lift, configured to transport the layer of products formed by the forming device along the upright extending frame from a level of the forming device to a level of the palletizing device, wherein the forming device and the palletizing device are arranged one directly above the other, wherein the palletizing device is arranged directly above the forming device, further comprising an output configured to output the pallet loaded with at least one layer of products, wherein: said output is arranged relative to the lift on the same side as the input; and the output direction is directed transverse or opposite to the feed direction.

21. The palletizing system according to claim 20, further comprising a pallet support configured to support the pallet during loading thereof.

22. The palletizing system according to claim 21, wherein the frame extends between a first operator level at the level of the forming device and a second operator level at the level of the palletizing device.

23. The palletizing system according to claim 22, comprising a further operator level intermediate the level of the forming device and the level of the palletizing device.

Description

[0033] FIGS. 1A and 1B are side views of a palletizing system according to a first preferred embodiment, in two successive operating states;

[0034] FIG. 2 is a side view of a palletizing system according to a second preferred embodiment;

[0035] FIG. 3 is a side view of a palletizing system according to a third preferred embodiment; and

[0036] FIG. 4 is a side view of a palletizing system according to a fourth preferred embodiment.

[0037] Like parts are numbered alike in the figures related to the different embodiments. The first embodiment will now be described in detail, and only the main differences of the further embodiments are discussed for FIGS. 2-4.

[0038] The palletizing system 1 comprises a frame 2 that extends in an upright direction, and an input 3 configured to feed products 4 in a feed direction F. The palletizing system further comprises a forming device 5 configured to form a layer 6 of products 4, a palletizing device 7 configured to place the layer 6 of products 4 onto a pallet 8 and a lift 9. This lift 9 is configured to transport the layer 6 of products 4 formed by the forming device 5 along the upright extending frame 2 from a level of the forming device 5 to a level of the palletizing device 7. Lift 9 comprises a carrier 10 to support and transport the products 4.

[0039] It is remarked that the layer 6 may be a single row, or multiple rows, of products 4. In practice, layers 6 will normally comprise multiple rows of products 4, wherein the products 4 are positioned in a pre-determined pattern taking into account a pre-determined position and orientation for each product 4 to obtain an optimized loading of a pallet 8.

[0040] The palletizing system 1 further comprises a pallet support 12 configured to support the pallet 8 during loading thereof. In FIG. 1A, the input 3 feeds products 4 in the feed direction F toward the forming device 5. This forming device 5 is configured to position and orientate the products 4 relative to each other in a desired pattern, and thereby build a layer 6 of products 4. This layer 6 that has been formed by the forming device 5 is then moved onto the carrier 10 of the lift 9, and said lift 9 successively transports the layer 6 of products 4 along the upright extending frame 2 towards the level of the palletizing device 7, where the layer 6 is taken over by the palletizing device 7 before it is placed onto the pallet 8. In FIG. 1A, a pallet 8 supported on the pallet support 12 is finished and ready to be transported away via output 11. This transporting away of a loaded pallet 8 and positioning a new empty pallet 8 ready to be loaded with further products 4 takes time, and is a critical step in the palletizing process. The lift 9 proposes by the present invention is however not only functional to obtain a small footprint, but moreover contributes to the palletizing system 1 as a whole by functioning as a buffer. This is especially advantageous during exchange of pallets 8, but may also be effectively used to improve the efficiency and versatility of the palletizing system 1 during normal use. After all, the forming device 5 or the palletizing device 7 may, for maintenance, due to a malfunction, or simply because of a difference in capacity, temporarily not be able to meet the speed of the other device 5, 7. In such cases, the lift 9 may function as a buffer and prevent a total standstill.

[0041] FIG. 1B shows the most critical step of an exchange of pallets 8, and illustrates how the forming device 5 may already form and store a new layer 6 of products 4, while both the lift 9 and the palletizing device 7 may hold two further layers 6 of products. Thus, during an exchange of pallets 8, already three layers 6 of products that are to be placed on the next pallet 8 may be prepared by the palletizing system 1.

[0042] The footprint of the palletizing system 1 in the building is minimized if the forming device 5 and the palletizing device 7 are arranged one directly above the other. This allows the palletizing system 1 to be arranged inside buildings having multiple stories or floors. Rather than the forming device 5 and the palletizing device 7 being arranged on the same floor and requiring a large footprint, the required space is now obtained in the height direction. Oftentimes it is not possible to extend a footprint of an existing building. In such cases the palletizing system 1 according to the invention may allow an increase in palletizing capacity without requiring a larger building.

[0043] The advantage of an optimized ratio between palletizing capacity and required footprint in the building is obtained independent of the order of the forming device 5 and the palletizing device 7. In view of other aspects, such as logistics, it is however preferred that the level of the palletizing device 7 is at a higher level than the level of the forming device 5. A minimal footprint is obtained if the palletizing device 7 is arranged directly above the forming device 5.

[0044] The palletizing system 1 further comprises an output 11 configured to output a pallet 8 loaded with at least one layer 6 of products 4. The output 11 is preferably arranged relative to the lift 9 on the same side as the input 3, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2 and 4. In that case, the output direction θ is directed transverse or opposite to the feed direction F. All embodiments shown in the FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2 and 4 show an output direction θ that is opposite to the feed direction F, which provides the further advantage that the input 3 and output 11 may also be arranged one above the other, further contributing to a possible reduction in footprint of the whole logistic system upstream and downstream of the palletizing system 2.

[0045] In FIG. 3, showing an embodiment outside the scope of the present invention, the palletizing system 1 comprises a forming device 5 and a palletizing device 7 that are arranged on opposite sides relative to the lift 9, but still at different levels. In this configuration, the forming device 5 and the palletizing device 7 are arranged in-line and consequently the total footprint in the building is not optimized as will be obtained when the forming device and the palletizing device are arranged one directly above the other. The FIG. 3 embodiment may however still benefit from the advantages that each of the forming device 5 and the palletizing device 7 are arranged on independent levels that may be optimized for the specific purpose, also offering ample space around the respective devices 5, 7.

[0046] The palletizing system 1 may be embodied as different categories. According to a first category, the palletizing device 7 is height adjustable relative to the frame 9, and the pallet support 12 is fixed in height relative to the frame 9. This category has been described in the introduction as the “low level infeed” category, and is the subject of the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2. The pallet support 12 may be formed by a conveyor that also defines the output 11.

[0047] The palletizing device 7 according to the first category may comprise an upright palletizer frame 13 and a lying palletizer sub frame 14. The lying palletizer sub frame 14 is height adjustable relative to the upright palletizer frame 13 and relative to the frame 9 of the palletizing system 1. In this way, the lying palletizer sub frame 14 may move a distance corresponding to a height of one layer upward after a layer 6 of products 4 has been places onto the pallet 8. Once a new, empty pallet 8 is provided, the lying palletizer sub frame 14 moves downward to start all over again.

[0048] According to a second category, the palletizing device 7 is fixed in height relative to the frame 9, and the pallet support 12 is height adjustable relative to the frame 9. This category has been described in the introduction as the “high level infeed” category, and is the subject of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4. It is remarked that a palletizing device 1 according to this second high level infeed category may have similar configurations as the first low level infeed category. Also for this second category, an in-line configuration according to FIG. 3 and a different type of lift 9 according to FIGS. 1A and 1B may be applied.

[0049] The palletizing device 7 according to the second category comprises an upright palletizer frame 13, but now the pallet support 12 is height adjustable relative to the upright palletizer frame 13, and consequently also relative to the frame 9 of the palletizing system 1. The pallet support 12 moves the pallet 8 a distance corresponding to a height of one layer downward after a layer 6 of products 4 has been places onto the pallet 8.

[0050] For both the first and the second category, the frame 9 preferably extends between a first operator level at the level of the forming device 5 and a second operator level at the level of the palletizing device 7.

[0051] For the second category, the palletizing system 1 may comprise a further operator level intermediate the level of the forming device 5 and the level of the palletizing device 7. Said further operator level is preferably arranged at or near a level of the output 11.

[0052] The invention further relates to a method of palletizing, i.e. placing products 4 onto a pallet 8, said method comprising the steps of: [0053] feeding products 4 to a forming device 5 arranged on a first level; [0054] forming a layer 6 of products 4 by a forming device 5; [0055] transporting the layer 6 of products 4 to a second level; and [0056] placing the layer 6 of products 4 onto a pallet 8 by a palletizing device 7 that is arranged at said second level.

[0057] According to a preferred embodiment, said method comprises the step of using a palletizing system 1 according to the invention.

[0058] Although they show preferred embodiments of the invention, the above described embodiments are intended only to illustrate the invention and not to limit in any way the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that where features mentioned in the appended claims are followed by reference signs, such signs are included solely for the purpose of enhancing the intelligibility of the claims and are in no way limiting on the scope of the claims. Furthermore, it is particularly noted that the skilled person can combine technical measures of the different embodiments. The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the following claims.