EP1647495A1 - Pallet and its manufacturing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The pallet has a parallelepipedic load (1) constituted of products assembled by an assembling unit. Rigid parallelepipedic lifting units (2) are fixed integrally under the load, parallel to the width of the load. The units (2) are disposed at equal intervals, forming two inlet sides, allowing a power lift truck to insert its gripping forks below the lower part of the load between the units. An independent claim is also included for a system for manufacturing a pallet for load package.

Description

The present invention relates to a pallet of charge conditioning intended to be handled, the manufacturing system for manufacturing the pallet.

It is known in the prior art wooden pallet systems on which are placed heavy loads to handle. These wooden pallets are of parallelepipedal shape and comprise wooden bars assembled to each other by elements such as nails or staples. These pallet systems to be straddled by a lift truck are heavy, difficult to handle and recycle and expensive to manage during their successive uses.

It is also known, from US 3,940,101, a pallet provided with support bars fixed under the underside of the load. These bars consist of elongate cardboard strips in a horizontal direction. This type of structure is lighter but remains relatively dense.

The object of the present invention is to overcome certain disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a light load conditioning pallet that is easy to handle and recyclable. The system of the present invention enables a reduction in the cost of packaging and load conditioning components.

This object is achieved by a pallet for conditioning a load, comprising a load consisting of products assembled by an assembly element, the load being of parallelepipedal shape and of homogeneous weight distribution, and elements of elevation of the load. made of rigid and parallelepipedal material and secured integrally under the load, parallel to one of the dimensions of the load, characterized in that the load raising elements are arranged at suitable intervals and provide at least two input faces, allowing to a forklift inserting its forks under the load below between the elevating elements to handle the load, rigid cardboard tubes being contiguous and vertically placed in the elevating elements to form in particular a lateral contact surface can be torn by one end of the gripping forks.

Thus, thanks to the invention it is advantageously allowed to raise a load with resistant elements in the vertical direction (axis of the tubes) while being light load and less resistance in the horizontal direction.

According to another feature, a load raising element is composed of three parts, a first part being a parallelepipedal honeycomb structure comprising the cardboard tubes of predefined length, fixed to each other, the ends of the tubes are covered by the other two parts which are two cardboard-like flat supports or sheet of same size on the surface of the honeycomb structure, all forming a rigid elevation element, one of the two flat supports being fixed under load.

In another feature, the thickness of the cardboard tubes and cardboard supports is determined to support the load.

According to another feature, the honeycomb parallelepipedic structure has physical characteristics making it possible, with the end of each of the gripping forks of a forklift, to drill two holes in said structure, each of which makes it possible to receive one of the gripping forks of a forklift, without loss of strength characteristics around these holes.

According to another feature, the elevation elements are cleats of length close to one of the dimensions of the load, fixed under the load parallel to this dimension of the load and at suitable intervals providing under both longitudinal sides of the load of the load. entrances so that a forklift can insert its forks between the cleats.

According to another feature, the elevation elements are cubic studs fixed in an aligned manner under the load and forming longitudinal and transverse complementary rows under the load, each row having the studs aligned and spaced appropriately to the adjacent studs of the adjacent ranks. , the fixed studs proposing under each face of the load inputs for a forklift can insert its gripping forks between the rows formed by the pads.

According to another feature, the assembly element of the products forming the load is a surrounding packaging and now the products of the load assembled into a parallelepiped block.

In another feature, the assembly member of the products forming the load is a cardboard box containing said products.

According to another particularity, the elements of elevation of the load propose a single input face instead of said two input faces.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing system of the load lifting device.

• un magasin d'entrée de stockage de barres parallélépipédiques en forme de nid d'abeille fabriquées en carton,
• un poste de distribution permettant la distribution d'une barre provenant du magasin d'entrée à chaque cycle de fonctionnement de la machine,
• un poste de coupe de la barre provenant du poste de distribution, formant les dimensions des éléments d'élévation d'une charge, le poste de coupe étant associé à un élément de dépôt du produit de fixation sur l'élément d'élévation,
• un poste de plaquage des éléments d'élévation provenant du poste de coupe,
• un poste de transfert amont au poste de plaquage amenant une charge sans élément d'élévation ou une charge à ne pas pourvoir avec des éléments d'élévation,
• un poste de transfert aval au poste de plaquage évacuant la charge montée ou non sur des éléments d'élévation,
• un système informatique relié aux éléments de détection et aux éléments actionnables des différents éléments composant la machine de fabrication.

This object is achieved by a pallet manufacturing system characterized in that it comprises:

• a honeycomb-shaped parallelepipedic bar storage input magazine made of cardboard,
• a dispensing station for dispensing a bar from the input magazine each cycle of operation of the machine,
• a cutting station of the bar coming from the dispensing station, forming the dimensions of the lifting elements of a load, the cutting station being associated with a deposition element of the fixing product on the lifting element,
• a plating station for elevation elements coming from the cutting station,
• an upstream transfer station at the plating station bringing a load without elevation element or a load not to be provided with elevation elements,
• a transfer station downstream to the plating station discharging the load mounted or not on elevation elements,
• a computer system connected to the detection elements and to the actuatable elements of the various elements making up the manufacturing machine.

According to another feature, the input magazine comprises a first horizontal transfer element carrying a parallelepipedal block consisting of substantially identical parallelepipedal bar rows, each row comprising several bars mounted on each other, a vertical stop disposed laterally to the first transfer path for referencing one of the lateral ends of the parallelepiped block, the first transfer member wedging the first row of bars against a second vertical transfer element transferring the first row of bars to the distribution station .

According to another feature, the input magazine comprises a detection element disposed near the second transfer element of the input magazine for detecting the presence of a row of bars.

According to another feature, the first transfer element comprises accumulation conveyors placed horizontally and spaced from each other in a suitable manner allowing a forklift to insert its gripper forks in the intervals to load the input magazine.

According to another particularity, the bar distribution station comprises an open cavity of dimension identical to the dimension of a row of bars and having under the cavity an actuable element for holding the first bar of the row of bars, an actuatable element locking the second bar in the cavity, the locking element allowing the holding member of the first bar to withdraw to lower said first bar on the cutting station, the dispensing station comprising a detection element the presence of a bar placed near the actuatable element for holding a bar.

According to another feature, the cutting station comprises a transfer element receiving a bar of the dispensing station, a gripping element of the bar on the transfer element, a cutting element of a predefined length of the bar conveyed by the transfer element, a deposition element of the fixing product placed downstream of the cutting element to glue the upper face of the cut bar, the transfer element bringing the cut bar and glued to the plating station of the elevation elements.

According to another feature, the predefined length is adapted to avoid or at least minimize the loss of bar length during cutting.

According to another feature, the plating station of the elevating elements comprises at least one roller supporting the cut and glued bar, the roller being lifted by an actuatable element of the jack type to pressure plating the bar cut and glued under the load.

According to another particularity, the upstream transfer station at the plating station comprises a conveying element driven by an actuable mechanism, an encoder detecting the displacement of the conveying element, at least one element of identification of the load to obtain the characteristics thereof, a first detection element placed at the end of the conveyor to identify the beginning or the end of the load, a second element for detecting the movement of the load on the upstream transfer station, an actuatable element of elevation transfer station to raise the load to be plated by the plating station on the underside of the load cut and glued bars.

According to another feature, the downstream transfer station at the plating station comprises a conveying element driven by an actuating mechanism for evacuating the loads provided with the elevating elements and a detection element placed at the end of the conveying element. to detect a load at the end of the conveying element.

• la figure 1 représente la palette de conditionnement de charge selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention ;
• les figures 2A et 2B représentent les éléments d'élévation d'une charge selon plusieurs modes de réalisation de la présente invention ;
• les figures 3A et 3B représentent une vue de dessous représentative de différentes dispositions des éléments d'élévation fixés sous la charge ;
• la figure 4 représente une vue en perspective du système de fabrication de la palette de conditionnement de charge selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention ;
• les figures 5A et 5B représentent deux vues de face de la partie de distribution de barres d'élévation du système de fabrication d'une palette de conditionnement de charge selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention ;
• la figure 5C représente une vue de dessus du poste de coupe selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention ;
• les figures 6A à 6C représentent trois vues de face du poste de transfert amont, du poste de plaquage et du poste de transfert aval selon un mode de réalisation et illustrant trois positions du système de fabrication de la présente invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the description below, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Fig. 1 shows the charge conditioning pallet according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• Figures 2A and 2B show the elevation elements of a load according to several embodiments of the present invention;
• Figs. 3A and 3B show a bottom view representative of various arrangements of elevation members attached under the load;
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the manufacturing system of the load conditioning pallet according to one embodiment of the present invention;
• Figs. 5A and 5B show two front views of the elevation distribution portion of the manufacturing system of a load conditioning pallet according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 5C shows a top view of the cutting station according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIGS. 6A-6C show three front views of the upstream transfer station, the plating station and the downstream transfer station according to one embodiment and illustrating three positions of the manufacturing system of the present invention.

The conditioning pallet will be described in relation to FIGS. 1 to 3B.

Figure 1 of the present invention shows a load conditioning pallet. This pallet comprises a load (1) of parallelepipedal shape raised by elevation elements (2). The load consists of products assembled by an assembly element. The products are assembled so that the weight distribution of the load is homogeneous. The assembly element of the products between them can be a plastic film surrounding the products placed at the periphery of the load. The assembly element can also be a set of strapping surrounding the load and now the products between them. The assembly element can also be a parallelepiped-shaped cardboard box that can hold the products.

The elevation elements (2) are of parallelepipedal shape and rigidly made. The elevators are secured integrally under the load, generally parallel to the width of the load and arranged at equal intervals, providing at least two input faces, allowing a forklift to insert its gripper forks underneath. the load between the elevation elements to handle the load. Alternatively, the two input faces can be replaced by a single input face. The width of the elevation elements is a function of the characteristics of the load to be handled such as the mass of the load and the handling means of forklift or pallet truck type. The minimum height of an elevation element is defined to allow the passage of the forks of a handling truck, for example a height of 100 mm. The position of the elevating elements under load depends on the handling means, the number of gripping sides, which can be two sides or four gripping sides, as well as the rigidity of the product.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, an elevation element (2) of the load (1) is composed of three parts (20, 21, 22). The first main part (21) is a honeycomb parallelepipedic structure consisting of a plurality of identical tubes (210) of rigid cardboard of predefined length, joined and fixed to each other to form a parallelepipedal assembly. The term "tube" should be understood to mean any elongate hollow member, with a section retaining substantially constant dimensions, having a closed (or substantially closed) side surface. These tubes (210) shown in Figure 2B are of hexagonal surface section but may be of any other form for a good maintenance of the elevating element (2). The other two parts (20, 22) of the elevating element are flat cardboard type supports or rigid sheets covering both sides of the nest structure bee (21) represented by the ends of the tubes (210) and are attached to said faces. A first portion said upper portion (20) is fixed integrally below the load (1). As opposed to the upper part, the second part (22) is called the lower part. These two parts (20, 22) are of identical surface size to the surface of the faces of the honeycomb structure (21). The three parts (20, 21, 22) assembled form a rigid elevation element. Thus, the rigid cardboard tubes (210) of the honeycomb structure (21) placed vertically under the load (1) provide a mechanical strength especially in the axis of the tubes (210). The thickness of the cardboard tubes and cardboard supports is determined to support the load. The parallelepiped honeycomb structure can be modified on its edge by the ends of the gripping forks of a forklift making two holes in said structure by pressing against it, each of these holes thus allowing to accommodate one of Forks for gripping a forklift. The honeycomb has physical characteristics allowing it to be perforated by the end of the forks without loss of strength characteristics around the holes. The honeycomb tears and peels under the footprint of the fork end, thus creating a hole, or a suitable passage to the need for gripping. Note that it is not planned to reuse the pallet after transport to the user of the product it has allowed to transfer.

With reference to FIG. 3A, the elevation elements (2) may be rectangular cleats of length close to the width (or the length, in the direction of conveying) of the load (1) and fixed under the load (1) parallel to the width (or length) of the load (1) and at suitable intervals, for example equal. These cleats provide under two side faces opposite the load (1) inputs for a forklift can insert its forks between the cleats. The load conditioning pallets (1) having elevation brackets comprise two gripping sides.

According to another embodiment, with reference to FIG. 3B, the elevation elements (2) are parallelepipedal studs fixed in an aligned manner under the load (1) and form longitudinal and transverse complementary rows under the load (1). ). Each row comprises the pads aligned and spaced appropriately to the adjacent pads of the neighboring rows. The fixed studs provide under each face of the load (1) inputs for a forklift can insert its forks gripping between the rows formed by the pads. The load conditioning pallets having elevation pads comprise four gripping sides.

According to another embodiment, the packaging pallet may comprise a flat rigid cardboard tray situated between the load (1) and the elevation elements (2). The load (1), the tray and the lifting elements (2) are fixed together, for example, by means of a biodegradable water glue. The plate is of surface size close to the contact face of the load (1).

The manufacturing system of the pallet conditioning a load will now be described in relation to Figures 4 to 6C.

• un magasin d'entrée (3) de stockage de barres. Les barres stockées sont parallélépipédiques, en forme de nid d'abeille, fabriquées en carton et vont devenir, après traitement, des éléments d'élévation à fixer sous la charge,
• un poste de distribution (4) permettant la distribution d'une barre, provenant du magasin d'entrée (3) et dirigée ensuite vers un poste de coupe (5),
• le poste de coupe (5) permettant de former un ou des éléments d'élévation d'une charge à partir d'une barre et de positionner sur une barre de l'élément d'élévation, par exemple, une colle,
• un poste de plaquage (6) des éléments d'élévation enduits de colle et qui proviennent du poste de coupe (5),
• un poste de transfert amont (7) au poste de plaquage (6) amenant une charge sans élément d'élévation ou une charge à ne pas pourvoir avec des éléments d'élévation,
• un poste de transfert aval (8) au poste de plaquage (6) récupérant la charge montée ou non sur des éléments d'élévation,
• un système informatique (non représenté) relié aux éléments de détection (non représentés) et aux actionneurs (non représentés) des différents éléments composant le système de fabrication.

Figure 4 shows a load conditioning pallet manufacturing system. This manufacturing system comprises:

• an input store (3) bar storage. The stored bars are parallelepipedic, in the form of a honeycomb, made of cardboard and will become, after treatment, elevation elements to be fixed under the load,
• a dispensing station (4) for dispensing a bar, coming from the input magazine (3) and then directed to a cutting station (5),
• the cutting station (5) for forming one or more lifting elements of a load from a bar and positioning on a bar of the elevating element, for example, an adhesive,
• a plating station (6) for elevating elements coated with glue and coming from the cutting station (5),
• an upstream transfer station (7) at the plating station (6) causing a load without elevation element or a load not to be provided with elevation elements,
• a downstream transfer station (8) at the plating station (6) recovering the load mounted or not on elevation elements,
• a computer system (not shown) connected to the detection elements (not shown) and to the actuators (not shown) of the various elements making up the manufacturing system.

Referring to FIG. 4, the input magazine (3) comprises a first horizontal transfer element (30) on which is placed a parallelepiped block (9) of identical bars brought, for example, by a handler on a zone loading located at the entrance of the store. The parallelepiped block consists of several rows of bars (90), each row (90) having several bars juxtaposed one on the other. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first transfer element (30) is a belt accumulator conveyor: in our example of FIG. 4, the conveyor comprises three strips (30a, 30b, 30c). The strips (30a, 30b, 30c) are horizontally and appropriately spaced from each other, preferably equidistant, allowing a forklift to insert its forks into the gaps for loading a block of bars (9). on the loading area of the entrance store. The first transfer member may be of any other form and composition, for example, a single conveyor belt. The first transfer element (30) will, by action of a motor controlled by the computer system, bring the previously loaded bar block to the store entrance, against a second vertical transfer member (32) located at the outlet of the store. A first row of bars is thus contiguous to the second transfer element (32). A sensor element (33) placed near the second transfer element (32) informs the computer system of the presence of a row of bars against the second transfer member (32). The computer system will send a shutdown command to the engine of the first transfer element (30). If after a certain time the sensor element (33) does not detect a row of bars contiguous to the second transfer element (32), the computer system warns, by a signaling element (not shown), an operator of the need to supply in rows of bars the manufacturing system. A lateral and vertical flat abutment (31) is placed on one of the lateral sides of the first transfer element (30) and makes it possible to refer to one of the lateral ends of the parallelepiped block when the block of bars is displaced by the first transfer member (31) to the second transfer member (32).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, upstream of the input magazine can be arranged a loading station (not shown). This loading station includes a storage platform for supplying a block of bars. This platform may comprise a motorized accumulator conveyor-type conveyor element comprising an end stop. A sensing element placed at the end of the loading platform and near the input store informs the computer system of a bar supply launch. The loading station may include a supply and block preparation area placed upstream of the storage platform. The supply area may receive a block of bars carried by a lift roller or any other mode of transport. This supply area allows an operator to prepare the loaded block of bars by removing the transport links for example. The passage from the supply zone to the storage platform is made by moving the block on omnidirectional rollers.

The second transfer element (32) of the input magazine (3) shown in FIG. 4 can be a belt conveyor comprising two stops allowing the transfer by stroke of a row of bars to the dispensing station (4). . This conveyor belt separates the row contiguous to said conveyor block bar (9) by transferring said row (90) in a rectangular opening (40) of dimension close to the dimension of a lateral end of a row of bars (90). This rectangular opening (40) is the entrance to a rectangular cavity (41) of the dispensing station (4). The rectangular cavity (41) has three sidewalls (42, 43, 44) and is dimensionally equal to the size of a row of bars (90). Referring to Figures 5A and 5B, the dispensing station (4) has under the cavity an actuable holding member (45) of the first lower bar (91) of the row of bars (90). This guillotine-type holding element (45) comprises an actuable element, for example a mechanical or pneumatic jack (450), extended by a horizontal plate (451) placed at rest under the first lower bar (91) of the row (90). ). This plate makes it possible to maintain the lower face of the row (90) when the row passes from the input magazine (3) to the dispensing station (4). The actuatable element of the holding member is set in motion by an actuating mechanism, for example, a motor or a pneumatic valve connected and controlled by the computer system. The dispensing station (4) has an actuatable locking element (46) positioned above the actuatable holding element (45) and opposite the second lower bar (92) of the row (90). ) located in the cavity. This locking element (46) comprises an actuable element of the mechanical or pneumatic jack type (460) extended by a vertical plate (461). The actuable element of the locking element (46) is moved by an actuating mechanism, for example, a motor or a pneumatic valve connected and controlled by the computer system. The actuatable locking member (46) is in the rest-in position to pass the row of bars (90) from the input magazine (3). The locking member (46) is in the extended position to clamp the second lower bar (92) of the row (90) between the vertical plate (461) of the locking member (46) and a longitudinal projecting wall of the cavity lying opposite the vertical plate (461). Thus the holding member (45) of the first lower bar (91) retracts to lower said first lower bar (91) on the cutting station (5). The dispensing station (4) also comprises an element for detecting the presence of a bar (47), placed near the actuable element for holding (45) a bar and connected to the computer system. As soon as the detection element (47) detects a bar placed on the holding element (45), it informs the computer system which will control the locking of the second lower bar (92) by the actuating mechanism of the actuatable locking element (46). As soon as the detection element (47) no longer detects the presence of a bar on the holding element (45) and as soon as the holding element (45) is in the rest position, the computer system is informed and controls the loosening of the locking member (46) of the second lower bar (92). Said bar (92) then slides on the holding member (45) and drives the other upper bars of the row (90). The second lower bar (92) then becomes the first lower bar. If the sensing element (47) does not detect the presence of a bar and the locking element is in the input position (46), then there is no bar in the cavity ( 41) of the distribution station (4). The computer system then controls the supply of a row of bars from the input store (3) to the cavity (41) of the dispensing station (4). According to a first embodiment, the horizontal plate (451) of the holding element (45) and the vertical plate (461) of the locking element (46) can be of great length making it possible to act on a large part of the length of the row of bars. According to another embodiment, the dispensing station may comprise a plurality of holding elements and a plurality of locking elements comprising plates of small length also for acting on the entire length of the row of bars.

Figures 5a, 5b, 5c show the cutting station (5) according to one embodiment of the present invention. The cutting station (5) has a linear transfer element (50) on which is deposited a bar from the dispensing station (4). This linear transfer element (50) may comprise a transfer belt positioned between two rollers actuated by an actuating mechanism, for example a motor associated with an encoder. A clamping element (51) is fixed on the transfer member (50). This gripping element (51) makes it possible to tighten the bar on the transfer element (50). The gripping element (51) comprises an actuable element (510) of the mechanical or pneumatic jack type extended by a vertical plate (511), the actuatable element (510) and the vertical plate (511) being arranged on one side of the width of the transfer belt (50). A second vertical plate (512) is attached to the opposite side of the transfer belt (50) facing the first vertical plate (511). The bar is held tight between the two vertical plates (511, 512) once arrived on the transfer belt (50). The gripping element (51) is preferably located near the end of the bar which is not presented first to the cutting element (52) of the cutting station (5). The actuating mechanism of the transfer member (50) is controlled by the computer system to bring a predefined bar length in front of a cutting element (52) of the cutting station (5). This bar length is detected, for example, as a function of the encoder measurements of the transfer member and a sensing element in the vicinity of the cutting element (52) of the cutting station (5). The detection element of the cutting station (5) detects the first end of the bar and informs the computer system that will control the progress of the motor according to the encoder measurements. Once the length to be cut is placed in the cutting zone, opposite the cutting element (52), it is actuated and cuts the bar to form an elevating element. The cutting element (52) may consist of a toothed blade guided and driven by an actuatable element of the pneumatic or mechanical cylinder type, the actuatable element being connected and controlled by the computer system. The length of bar to be cut can be variable and depend on the load to be raised. A more detailed explanation of the choice of bar length to be cut is described in the rest of the text. The cutting station may comprise a deposition element of the fixing product (53) of the upper face of the elevation element which has just been cut. This deposition element of the fixing product (53) is disposed downstream of the cutting element (52). The deposition element of the fixing product (53) may comprise at least a nozzle distributing glue on the upper face of the elevating element, the nozzle being above the elevating element. At least one detection element placed near the nozzle and connected to the computer system makes it possible to verify that the adhesive has been deposited. According to other embodiments, the deposition element of the fixing product may comprise a plurality of glue dispensing nozzles, each nozzle being associated with a detector element verifying the deposition of the glue on the elevation element. After being cut and glued, the elevating element is brought by the linear transfer element (50) of the cutting station (5) to the plating station (6) for placing the elevation element at the desired location under load. The remainder of the bar, placed on the conveyor belt (50) of the cutting station, is then placed in the cutting zone at a determined length and measured to be cut and form another elevation element. Once the computer system is informed by a detector, for example the detector is located on the cutting area, that there is no bar on the transfer belt, the computer system controls the actuatable element of maintaining (45) the bar distribution station (4) to provide a bar at the cutting station (5). A measuring system is associated with the cutting element on the cutting station to define a length of batten adapted to avoid any loss of bar length (fall), or at least to minimize this loss. According to an embodiment comprising elevation elements having a shape of elevation pad, the linear transfer element of the cutting station can comprise a positioning element of the lifting studs, of the jack type, positioned in end of the linear transfer element and before the plating station. This positioning element makes it possible to place the lifting studs on the plating station, in a row, the studs being separated at regular intervals. Other types of pad placement elements and / or batten can be envisaged.

Figures 6A, 6B and 6C show the plating station (6) of an elevating element (2) under a load (1). This plating station (6) is arranged between the upstream transfer station (7) bringing a load (1) without elevation element (2) and the downstream transfer station (8) discharging the load (1) raised by elevation elements (2). The plating station (6) comprises at least one roller (60) supporting the cut and glued elevation element (2) to be placed under the load supplied by the upstream transfer station (7). The roller is moved upwards or downwards by an actuable element (61) of the mechanical or pneumatic jack type placed under the roller. This actuable element (61) is connected and controlled by the computer system. The roller (60) associated with the actuatable element (61) is in the lower position to receive the elevation element (2) cut and glued from the cutting station (5), see Figure 6B. The roller (60) is mounted by the actuatable element (61) to press under the load (1) with the lifting element (2), see Figure 6C. According to another embodiment, the plating station may comprise several rollers mounted and lowered by one or more element (s) operable (s).

The upstream transfer station (7) placed before the plating station (6) comprises a conveying element (70) bringing a load without elevation element to the plating station (6). The conveyor element (70) of the transfer station may comprise a plurality of rollers (700) actuated by an actuating mechanism, for example a motor, which motor can be associated with an encoder both connected to the computer system of the machine. manufacturing system. According to another embodiment the conveyor may be different, for example, a belt conveyor always powered by a motor. The conveying element of the transfer station (7) is mounted or lowered by at least one actuable element (71) of the mechanical, pneumatic or electric cylinder type. According to a preferred embodiment, the actuatable element (71) for raising the descent of the conveying element (70) of the upstream transfer station (7) comprises four trapezoidal electric screw jacks which can ensure a rise in loads for a height. elevation elements, for example 100 mm. In the down position, see Figure 6A, the upstream transfer station (7) brings to the plating station (6) a load (1) which is not to be provided with elevation elements (2). The load (1) thus passes from the upstream transfer station (7) to the substation downstream transfer (8) through the plating station (6). In the up position, see FIGS. 6B and 6C, the upstream transfer station (7) brings to the plating station (6) a load (1) to be provided with elevation elements (2). This load (1) is raised by the actuatable element (71) of the upstream transfer station (7) for pressing the elevating elements (2) under the load (1) by the plating station (6) and then discharging the raised load (1) to the downstream transfer station (8). The upstream transfer station also comprises a sensor element (72) connected to the computer system and positioned at the end of the conveying element (70) near the plating station (6) to detect the start or the end of a load (1) and identify the location of the first elevation element (2) to be applied. The sensor element (72) also allows, associated with the encoder of the conveying element (70), to measure the actual length of the load (1). The transfer station has a scanning detection element (73) connected to the computer system and scanning the width of the conveying element (70) to locate the load across the width of the conveying element (70). This information makes it possible to correctly position the elevation element (2) under the load (1) by the linear transfer element (50) of the cutting station (5). According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upstream transfer station (7) comprises at least one optical, magnetic or video reading element (74), for example a barcode reader, making it possible to read a label stuck on the load and providing for example, the information of length and width of the load (1). This reading element (74) is connected to the computer system of the manufacturing system. This information read on the label of the load (1) allows the computer system to control the length to be cut of one of the bars to form elevators to be placed under the load (1) and also to control the progress the conveying element (70) of the upstream transfer station (7) for placing the elevating elements as indicated on the load label (1). This reading system (74) makes it possible to manufacture packaging pallets on demand.

The downstream transfer station (8) placed after the plating station (6) comprises a conveying element (80) discharging a load (1) provided or not with elevating elements passing through the plating station (6). The conveyor element (80) of the transfer station (8) may comprise a plurality of rollers (800) actuated by an actuating mechanism, for example a motor, connected and controlled by the computer system of the manufacturing system. According to another embodiment, the conveying element may be different, for example, a belt conveyor always actuated by an actuating mechanism. The downstream transfer station (8) comprises near the end of the conveying element (80) a sensor element (81) connected to the computer system and informing it of the arrival of a load (1) to the end of the conveyor to stop the conveying element (80).

The computer system (not shown) is connected to all the detection elements of the various stations of the manufacturing system. The computer system is also connected and controls all the actuatable elements of the various stations of the manufacturing system. The computer system is controlled by automation software with different modes of operation. The computer system may also include a touch screen serving as a human machine interface to allow the operator to be informed and to take into account the parameters thereof. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the computer system operates according to a main operating mode as a function of the reading of the label placed on the load and providing information on the dimensions of the load and on the type of conditioning means. to apply to the load. Either the label indicates that the load is not to be filled with elevation elements, in this case the transfer of the load on the upstream transfer station (7) takes place without mounting the upstream transfer station (7). ) and the load travels the manufacturing system without action thereof. Either the label indicates that the load is provided with elements of elevation, cleats or studs, the characteristics of which are identified during the reading by comparison between the information provided on the label and the information provided by the computer system management software. The lengths and widths are thus known by reading the label and the number of cleats or pads to be applied under the load. The cutting of each bar by the cutting station (5) is calculated according to the different information, labels and software, so that there is no rest bar that can not be applied under the load. As soon as the load brought by the upstream transfer station (7) is above the elevation element previously cut and glued by the cutting station (5) and placed on the plating station (6), the operable member of the cutting station mounts the platen roller (s) to apply the elevating element under the load. Depending on the number of elevation elements to be under load, the supply of elevation elements is automatically realized by a flow management performed in masked time compared to the transfer of the load on the upstream transfer stations and downstream. The information relating to the supplies of bars, glue blocks, operational hazards will be visualized by signaling elements such as, for example, by display on the touch screen and warning lights or other warning systems.

The computer system proposes automatic operation of the manufacturing system in the case of concordances between the data measured by the detection element at the end of the transfer station and the coder associated with the transfer element of the upstream transfer station and the data. read on the label. The computer system provides semi-automatic operation in the case of mismatch. The operator is then informed by a signaling element to intervene. The computer system will then propose operating solutions based on the type of nonconformity between measurements and readings.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, protective elements such as housings are installed on the actuatable elements such as cylinders, to prevent any accident of a user.

It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention allows embodiments in many other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Therefore, the present embodiments should be considered by way of illustration, but may be modified within the scope defined by the scope of the appended claims, and the invention should not be limited to the details given above.

Claims (19)

Pallet for conditioning a load, comprising a load (1) consisting of products assembled by an assembly element, the load (1) being of parallelepipedal shape and of homogeneous weight distribution, and elevation elements (2) load made of rigid and parallelepipedic material and fixed integrally under the load (1), parallel to one of the dimensions of the load, characterized in that the elevation elements (2) of the load are arranged at suitable intervals and propose at least two input faces, allowing a forklift to insert its gripper forks under the load (1) between the elevation elements (2) to handle the load (2), cardboard tubes rigid being contiguous and placed vertically in the elevation elements (2) to form in particular a lateral contact surface that can be torn by one end of the prehensio forks not. Load conditioning pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that a load raising element (2) is composed of three parts (20, 21, 22), a first part (21) being a structure parallelepiped honeycomb comprising the tubes (210) of cardboard of predefined length, fixed to each other, the ends of the tubes (210) are covered by the other two parts (20, 22) which are two flat supports type board or sheet of same size surface to the surface of the honeycomb structure, all forming a rigid elevation element (2), one of the two flat supports (20) being fixed under the load (1). Load conditioning pallet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the thickness of the cardboard tubes (210) and cardboard supports (20, 22) is determined to support the load. Pallet for conditioning a load according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the honeycomb parallelepipedic structure has physical characteristics making it possible to achieve, with the end of each of the gripping forks of a forklift, two holes in said structure, each to accommodate one of the gripping forks of a forklift, without loss of strength characteristics around these holes. Load pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the elevating elements (2) are cleats of length close to one of the dimensions of the load (1), fixed under the load (1) in parallel. at this dimension of the load (1) and at suitable intervals providing, under the two longitudinal faces of the load (1), entries for a forklift truck to be able to insert its gripping forks between the cleats. Load pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the elevation elements (2) are cubic studs which are aligned in the load (1) and form longitudinal and transverse complementary rows under the load ( 1), each row comprising the studs aligned and appropriately spaced apart from the adjacent studs of the neighboring rows, the fixed studs providing, under each face of the load (1), entries for a forklift to be able to insert its gripping forks between the rows formed by the studs. Load conditioning pallet according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connecting element of the products forming the load (1) is a surrounding packaging and maintaining the load products assembled in a parallelepiped block. A load conditioning pallet according to claim 7, characterized in that the assembly element of the products forming the load (1) is a cardboard box containing said products. Load conditioning pallet according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lifting elements (2) of the load have a single inlet face. Packaging pallet manufacturing system, characterized in that it comprises: - An input store (3) for storage of honeycomb-shaped parallelepiped bars (90) made of cardboard, - a dispensing station (4) for dispensing a bar (90) from the input magazine (3) at each operating cycle of the manufacturing system, - a cutting station (5) of the bar (90) coming from the distribution station (4), forming the dimensions of the elevation elements (2) of a load (1), the cutting station being associated with a deposition element of the fixing product, a plating station (6) of elevation elements (2) coming from the cutting station (5), - an upstream transfer station (7) at the plating station (6) bringing a load (1) without elevation element or a load not to be filled with elevation elements, - a transfer station downstream (8) to the plating station (6) discharging the load (1) mounted or not on elevation elements (2), a computer system connected to the detection elements and to the actuatable elements of the various elements making up the manufacturing system. Packaging pallet manufacturing system according to claim 10, characterized in that the input magazine (3) comprises a first horizontal transfer element (30) carrying a parallelepiped block (9) consisting of rows of parallelepipedic bars (90). substantially identical, each row having a plurality of bars (90) mounted on each other, a vertical stop (31) laterally disposed to the first transfer member (30) for referencing one of the lateral ends of the block (9) parallelepipedal, the first transfer member wedging the first row of bars (90) against a second vertical transfer member (32) transferring the first row of bars (90) to the dispensing station (4). Packaging pallet manufacturing system according to claim 11, characterized in that the input magazine (3) comprises a detection element (33) arranged near the second transfer element (32) of the input magazine (3). ) for detecting the presence of a row of bars (90). Packaging pallet manufacturing system according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the first transfer element (30) comprises accumulation conveyors (30a, 30b, 30c) placed horizontally and spaced from each other in a suitable manner allowing a forklift to insert its forks into the intervals to load the input magazine (3). Packaging pallet manufacturing system according to claim 10 to 13, characterized in that the bar distribution station (4) comprises an open cavity (40) of dimension close to the dimension of a row of bars (90) and having under the cavity (60) an operable holding member (45) of the first bar (91) of the row of bars (90), an actuatable blocking member (46) of the second bar (92) in the cavity ( 40), the locking member (46) allowing the holding member (45) of the first bar (91) to retract to lower said first bar (91) to the cutting station (5), the dispensing station (4) comprising a bar-detecting element placed near the actuable element for holding (45) a bar. Packaging pallet manufacturing system according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the cutting station (5) comprises a transfer element (50) receiving a bar of the dispensing station (4), a gripping element ( 51) of the bar on the transfer member (50), a cutting element (52) of a predefined length of the bar fed by the transfer member (50) and forming after cutting a elevating element (2), a fastener deposition element (53) downstream of the cutting element (52) for gluing the upper face of the cut bar, the transfer element (50) causing the bar cut and glued to the plating station (6) of the elevation elements (2). Packaging pallet manufacturing system according to claim 15, characterized in that the predefined length is adapted to avoid or at least minimize the loss of bar length during cutting. Packaging pallet manufacturing system according to one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the plating station (6) of the lifting elements (2) comprises at least one roller (60) supporting the cut and glued bar, the roller (60) being lifted by an actuatable element (61) of the jack type to pressure press the bar cut and glued under the load (1). Packaging pallet manufacturing system according to one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that the upstream transfer station (7) at the plating station (6) comprises a conveying element (70) driven by an actuable mechanism, an encoder detecting the displacement of the conveying element (70), at least one identification element (74) of the load (1) to obtain the characteristics thereof, a first detection element (72) placed at the end of the conveyor for identifying the beginning or the end of the load (1), a second sensing element (73) for moving the load (1) over the width of the upstream transfer station (7), an actuatable element (71) of elevation of the transfer station (7) to raise the load (1) to be plated by the plating station (6) on the underside of the load (1) cut and glued bars. Packaging pallet manufacturing system according to one of claims 10 to 18, characterized in that the downstream transfer station (8) at the plating station (6) comprises a conveying element (80) driven by an actuating mechanism for evacuate loads (1) with or without lifting elements (2) and a detecting element (81) at the end of the conveying element (80) for detecting a load (1) at the end of the conveying element (80). ).

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