AU7618798A

AU7618798A - Improvements to palletising systems

Info

Publication number: AU7618798A
Application number: AU76187/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Richard Keith Mcneall
Original assignee: McNeall Industrial Technologies Pty Ltd
Current assignee: McNeall Industrial Technologies Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1997-07-15
Filing date: 1998-07-15
Publication date: 1999-01-28
Also published as: AUPO792597A0

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD

PATENT

Name of Applicant: MCNEALL INDUSTRIALTECHNOLOGIES PTY LIMITED Actual Inventor: RICHARD KEITH MCNEALL Address for Service: Chrysiliou Moore Martin CMVC Centre 143 Sydney Road Fairlight Sydney NSW 2094 Invention Title: Improvements To Palletising Systems The following'statement is a full description~of this invention, including th e best method of performing it known to melus-.

c:.M1901.damla c:\windowsetemp\8071.doc IMPROVEMENTS TO. PALETISlG

SYSTEMS

Technical Field This invention relates to systems for palletisig artiie. Pa t ietisin g sstei: operate to take a feed of products-frm.nhe o more conveyor outputs from a packaging or manufacturing faciiiy, iack -prodcts, ohtopallets Examples include layer pailetises of various kinds robot palletiers, and the type disclosed in the appicant's specification No. AU 467.1/91.

r'.

The present invention is particularly concerned with systems which employ multiple palletising stations, with empty pallets dispensed automatically for fo placement into palletising stations for loading once a preceding pallet is loaded.

Such a system is shown in Figure 1. Pallet dispenser 12 dispenses empty pallets, which are carried by conveyor 15 to each of three palletisirg stations 21,22,:23.

Once an empty pallet is located adjacent the desired station, it is transferred via a second conveyor 24 to the station, from which it is lifted and loaded. Each station is fed with product by a respective conveyor 16. When the pallet 14 currently being loaded in each station is completed, it is removed by conveyor or fork truck (not shown) and an empty pallet is driven into the station 21. Usually the second conveyor 24 passes through the station to a third conveyor (not shown) which runs parallel to the conveyor 15, but on the other side of the palletising stations.

20 Such an arrangement requires a highly complex system to transfer the pallets from one conveyor to the other.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide an effective muitiple palletising stations system of reduced complexity. However, the invention does have use with a single palletising station.

Summary of Invention Accordingly, in one broad form the present invention comprises a palletising system having: at :east one palletising station, each of which palletises articles onto S a pallet in the respective palletising station; a conveyor for conveying pallets adjacent to the station or stations, the conveyor exterding to one side of the palletising station or stations; i :r :t i; ,4r- c:\windows\temp\8071.doc and moving means for moving an empty palletfrom the conveyor Sand laterally moving it to the palletising station or one of the stations and for returning a loaded pallet to the conveyor; The moving means may comprise a body for at least moving transversely between the conveyor and the station or stations, and lift means mounted on the body for at least lifting a pallet off the conveyor.

The palletiser may have a palletising head which moves vertically, in which case -no vertical movement of the pallet in the palletising station or stations is necessary. Aitematively, the palletising head may not move vertically, in which case lift means for moving the pallet to different working levels is required.

Preferably, the moving means also comprises a lift means for raising the pallet to one or more working levels. Alternatively, the lift means may be separate from the -ving means.

Preferably, the moving means comprises a vertically movable fork mounted on wheels for horizontal movement. The horizontal movement may be only substantially perpendicular to the conveyor or it may also be substantially parallel to the conveyor.

Preferably, each palletising station has its own associated moving means, although a single moving means may be shared between multiple palletising 20 stations. In the latter case movement parallel to the conveyor is necessary.

The key advantage of this arrangement is that a single conveyor is utilised for supply and removal of pallets and so floor space required is reduced. Two separate conveyors or access from both sides of the palletiser are not required.

Further, access to the palletiser to remove jammed boxes, or for maintenance, is improved. The extent of perimeter safety fencing is also reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings Non-limiting embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a conventional.arrangement; Figure 2 is an end elevation view of one embodiment of the present invention; c:\windows\temp\8071.doc Figure 3 is aside elevation view of the embodiment of Fig 2.

Figure 4 shows a chain drive mechanism suitable for usewith the figure 2 and 3 embodiment.

Figure 5 shows a ram drive mechanism suitable for use with the figure 2 and 3 embodiment.

Figure 6 shows a first alternative transfer/lift mechanism capable of serving multiple palletising stations.

Figures 7 and 8 show a second alternative transfer/lift mechanism capable of serving multiple palletising stations.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a conveyor 30 carries empty pallets from a pallet dispenser (not shown), to each of three palletising stations 31, 32, 33. Each palletising station has a second conveyor 34 which delivers articles to be palletised.A horizontally moving gripper head 36 transfers each article 38 from S. 15 the conveyor to a pallet 40 in the station, or onto a previously loaded layer of articles 42. In this embodiment a single gripper services all three palletising stations, but if desired each station may have its wn dedicated gripper.

Each palletising station has a transfer/lift mechanism 44 which comprises a wheeled fork lift.

The fork lift comprises a wheeled base 46 and two lift arms 48 mounted on a S' vertical lift mechanism 50. The fork lift is movable between a first position, indicated at 52a, in which the base 46 passes beneath the conveyor 30 with the arms 48 above the conveyor 30 and a second position, indicated at 52b, where the base is below the gripper. These shall be referred to as the load/unload position, and the palletising position respectively. Movement between the loadlunload and palletising positions is preferably achieved by use of suitably hydraulic rams, chain drives, etc. although manual movement could be utilised.

The means for moving the fork lift horizontally is not shown in figures 1 to 3.

Assuming the fork lift is inthe palletising position with no pallet, an empty pallet is dispensed onto the conveyor 30 and moved to be adjacent the respective palletising station. The lift arms 48 are raised so as to enable to pass into the -jp-ai~n~Rlp---a?-NRw;* rJ -~sl~Ls~nae c:\windowstemp\8071.dc pallet and the fork lift is then moved horizontally to the load/unload position, with the lift arms 48 inside the empty pallet.

The lift arms 48 are raised to lift the pallet off the conveyor and the fork lift then returns to the palletising position. In the embodiment shown, an empty pallet is first raised to the maximum height; this rising may be a continuation of the lifting off from the conveyor and may occur simultaneously with the horizontal movement of the fork lift.

The palletiser commences palletising, with the lift arms sequentially lowered as each layer of articles is placed on the pallet until the pallet is fully loaded. In Fig 3, palletising station 31 is picking up an empty pallet, station 32 is in the process of loading a pallat whilst station 33 is returning a loaded pallet to the conveyor, as described below.

When a pallet is fully loaded, the fork lift moves horizontally to the load/unload position. The pallet is at a level where its base is above the conveyor 30. The lift arms 48 are lowered to place the pallet on the conveyor and the fork lift then returns to the palletising position. The conveyor may then remove the loaded pallet and supply an empty pallet to the respective station, where upon the sequence starts again.

It will be appreciated, whilst loading the pallet, that its base may be lowered to below the conveyor height; once loaded, the gripper may be moved to one side to pick up an article for the next pallet, so allowing the fork lift to raise the pallet to be returned to the conveyor. Alternatively, the pallet base may be at or above the conveyor loading level when fully loaded, so allowing a simple horizontal motion before being lowered a small amount onto the conveyor.

The present system allows use of a single conveyor to both supply and remove pallets whilst doing away with complex transfer conveyors.

Whilst the embodiment described utilises a single device for the horizontal transfer and height adjustment whilst loading it will be appreciated that a separate lift mechanism may be used with the palletisers. Use of a roller conveyor allows the base of the pallet to be engaged by a horizontal transfer mechanism with vertical lift arms on the palletiser station supporting the pallet whilst being loaded.

Loading each pallet takes a substantial time compared to the steps of transferring the pallets from and to the conveyor. Thus, this would allow use of a single c:windows\temp\8071 .doc transfer mechanism to service all the palletising stations; of course movement parallel to the conveyor 30 of the transfer mechanism would be required.

Figure 4 shows a chain drive mechanism for the transfer/lift mechanism 44. This comprises a chain or belt 60 running between a cog or toothed wheel 62 mounted on or in the palletising station and a cog or tooth wheel 64 mounted on or near to conveyor 30. The chain or belt 60 is attached to transfer/lift mechanism 44 so that by rotating one or both of cogs 62, 64 the transfer/lift mechanism is caused to move transversely between the conveyor 30 and palletising station.

Figure 5 shows a ram drive mechanism for the transfer/lift mechanism 44. This o1 comprises a hydraulic or pneumatic ram 70 mounted between the transfer/lift mechanism 44 and a support 72. For convenience the support 72 may comprise part of the palletising station or part of the conveyor. The ram 70 is a double acting ram so is capable of both:pushing-and pulling the transferilift mechanism between the palletising station and the conveyor 30. As an alternative to a single double acting ram, two single acting rams may be utilised to move the transfer/lift mechanism 44, one on either side.

Figure 6 shows a transfer/lift mechahism 44 intended to serve more than one palletising station. The transfer/lift mechanism 44 includes wheels 80 aligned for movement transverse to the conveyor 30 and wheels 82 aligned for movement parallel to the conveyor 30. The wheels 82 are mounted on thebody of the mechanism 44 by lift means 84 so tha they may be selectively raised and lowered. In the lowered positions the wheels 82 liffthe mechanism 44 upwards so Sthat wheels 80 are raised from the ground, thereby allowing movement parallel to the conveyor.

Figure 7 schematically shows another transfer mechanism 90 for serving multiple palletising stations 92, 94, 96 and 98. The mechanism 90 includes tracks 100, 102 which run parallel to conveyor A lift head 104 is mounted on the tracks 100, 102. The lift head includes a first body 106 for movement along the tracks 100, 102 and a second body 108 mounted on the first body 106 for movement transverse to the tracks 100, 102.

The second body 108 includes means for raising a pallet 110 from.the conveyor and transferring the pallet to lift arms 112 of each palletising station and vice Versa. The ((ft armis 112 support the pallet 110 in the respective palletising station and allow the lift head 104 to service other pafetising stations. The lift arms 112 may move vertically to raise the pallet to different working heights.

cftwndaos1ternpM7.do It will be appreci ated that many modifications and vari6,lons may be. made to the.

embodiment described herein by those skilled in t['&awh ou atigfo the spirit or scope of the invention.

6

Claims

1. A palletising system including: at least one palletising station, each of which palletises articles onto a pallet in the respective palletising station; a conveyor means for conveying both empty and loaded pallets adjacent to the station or stations, the conveyor extending to one side of the palletising station or stations; and at least one moving means for moving an empty pallet from the conveyor and laterally moving it to the palletising station or one of the stations and for returning loaded pallets to the conveyor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the or each moving means includes a body for moving at least transversely between the conveyor means and the palletising station or stations.

3. The systembfclaim 1 wherein the or each moving means includes lift.means for moving a pallet, when in a palletising station, to one or more working levels.

4. The system bf claim 1:wherein the or each palletising station includes support means for supporting a pallet at one or more working levels and said moving means -ransfefs pallets to and from respective support means.

5. The syste oclIaim 1 wherein the or each moving means includes lift means -for moving a pallet, when in a palletising station, to one or more working levels, said lift means lowering the palletto a different working level as successive layers of articles are loaded onto. the pallet.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the or each moving means includes a body for moving at least transversely between the conveyor means and the palletising station or stations and lift means mounted on the body for supporting a pallet.

7. The -sysiem of claim I wherein the or each moving means includes lift means a- i i la!d' y mounted on the lift means for supporting a pallet and for moving S ransversely between the conveyormeans. and thpalletising station or stations. 7 i UC---C e:Va8071au.doc

8. The system of claim I having a plurality of palletising stations arranged in a line along side the conveying means.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein each palletising station has an associated moving means for moving pallets between the conveyor and the respective palletising station- The system of claim 8 wherein there is a single moving means for moving pallets between multiple palletising stations.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the or each moving means includes a body which slides between the conveyor means and the palletising station or stations.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the or each moving means includes a body which rolls on wheels or rollers between the conveyor means and the palletising station or stations.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the or each moving means includes a first set of wheels or rollers for movement transversely of the conveyor means and a second set for movement parallel to the conveyor means.

14. The system of claim 1 including drive means for moving the or each moving means, the drive means including hydraulic ram means or chain and cog 'means interconnecting the moving means with the palletising station and/or the conveyor means.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the or each moving means includes a first body adapted for movement transversely of the conveyor means and a second body mounted on the first body for movement along the first body parallel to the conveyor means.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the or each moving means includes a first body adapted for movement parallel of the conveyor means and a second body mounted on the first body for movement along the first body transversely to the conveyor means.

17. The system of claim 3 wherein the lift means includes a fork lift having at least one tine and the pallet is cantilevered on said at least one tine.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein there are two tines for supporting the pallet. i l *UIT*lT-I -I e:UtVa 71au.doc

19. A palletising system including: at least one palletising station, each of which palletises articles onto a pallet in the respective palletising station; a conveyor means for conveying both empty and loaded pallets adjacent to the station or stations, the conveyor extending to one side of the palletising station or stations; and at least one moving means for moving an empty pallet from the conveyor and laterally moving it to the palletising station or one of the stations and for returning loaded pallets to the conveyor; the or each said moving means including a body for moving at least transversely between the conveyor and the palletising stations or stations and a lift means mounted on the body for supporting a pallet at multiple working levels when in a palletising station and for moving said pallet to differentworking levels as successive layers of articles are loaded onto said pallet. The system of claim 19 having a plurality of palletising stations arranged in a 'line along side the conveying means.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein each palletising station has an associated moving means for moving pallets betweenthe conveyor and the respective palletising station.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the body.slides between the conveyor means and the palletising station or stations.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the body rolls on wheels or rollers between the conveyor means and the palletising station or stations.

24. The system of claim 19 Wherein the or each moving means includes a first set of wheels or rollers for movement transversely of the conveyor means and a secjnd set for movement parallel to the:conveyor means. The Iyste clai 19 inluding drvmeans for mving the or each moving ean e re ans includig hydrauic am means or chain and cog means interconnectinge movig mean the station and/or the conveyor mens. e:la\807lau.doc

26. The system of claim 19 wherein the lift means includes a fork lift having at least one tine and the pallet is cantilevered on said at least one tine.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein there are two tines for supporting the pallet.

28. A palletising system including: at least two palletising stations, each of which palletises articles onto a pallet in the respective palletising station; a conveyor means for conveying both empty and loaded pallets adjacent to the stations, the conveyor extending to one side of the palletising stations; and at least one moving means for moving an empty pallet from the conveyor and laterally moving it to the palletising stations and for *returning loaded pallets to the conveyor.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the or each moving means includes a body for moving at least transversely between the conveyor means and the palletising stations. The system of claim 28 wherein the or each moving means includes lift means for moving a pallet, when in a palletising station, to one or more Sworking levels.

31. The system of claim 28 wherein the or each palletising station includes support means for supporting a pallet at one or more working levels and said moving means transfers pallets to and from respective support means.

32. The system of claim 28 wherein the or each moving means includes lift Smeans for moving a pallet, when in a palletising station, to one or more working levels, said lift means lowering the pallet to a different working level as successive layers of articles are loaded onto the pallet.

33. The system of claim 28 wherein the or each moving means includes a body for moving at least transversely between the conveyor means and the palletising stations and lift means mounted on the body for supporting a pallet.

34. The system of claim 28 wherein the or each moving means includes lift means and a body mounted on the lift means for supporting a pallet and for e:Ua\8071au.doc moving at least transversely between the conveyor means and the palletising stations. The system of claim 28 wherein each palletising station has an associated moving means for moving pallets between the conveyor and the respective palletising station.

36. The system of claim 28 wherein there is a single moving means for moving pailets between all said at least two palletising stations.

37. The system of claim 28 wherein the or each moving means includes a body which slides between the conveyor means and the palletising stations. 10 38. The system of claim 28 wherein the or each moving means includes a body which rolls on wheels or rollers between the conveyor means and the palletising stations.

39. The system of claim 28 wherein the or each moving means includes a first set of wheels or rollers for movement transversely of the conveyor means and a second set for movement parallel to the conveyor means.

40. The system of claim 28 including drive means for moving the or each moving means, the drive means including hydraulic ram means or chain and cog means interconnecting the moving means with the palletising station and/or the corneyor means. 2o 41. The system of claim 28 wherein the or each moving means includes a first body adapted for movement transversely of the conveyor means and a second body mounted on the first body for movement along the first body parallel to the conveyor means.

42. The system of claim 28 wherein the oreach moving means includes a first body adapted for movement parallel of the conveyor means and a second body mounted on the first body for movement along the first body transversely to the conveyor means.

43. The system of claim 30 wherein the lift means includes a fork lift having at least one tine and the pallet is cantilevered on said at least one tine.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein there are two tines for supporting the pallet. e:!aN.8O71au.doc A palletising system, substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 15th July, 1998 McNEALL INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES PTY LIMITED by its Patent Attorneys CHRYSILIOU MOORE MARTIN