WO2016199063A1 - High speed robotized palletizing island and relative palletizing process - Google Patents

High speed robotized palletizing island and relative palletizing process Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2016199063A1
WO2016199063A1 PCT/IB2016/053404 IB2016053404W WO2016199063A1 WO 2016199063 A1 WO2016199063 A1 WO 2016199063A1 IB 2016053404 W IB2016053404 W IB 2016053404W WO 2016199063 A1 WO2016199063 A1 WO 2016199063A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
layer
inter
pallet
palletizing
forming
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2016/053404
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Emanuele Gatteschi
Original Assignee
Ocme S.R.L.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ocme S.R.L. filed Critical Ocme S.R.L.
Publication of WO2016199063A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016199063A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G57/00—Stacking of articles
    • B65G57/005—Stacking of articles by using insertions or spacers between the stacked layers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G57/00—Stacking of articles
    • B65G57/02—Stacking of articles by adding to the top of the stack
    • B65G57/16—Stacking of articles of particular shape
    • B65G57/20—Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical
    • B65G57/22—Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical in layers each of predetermined arrangement
    • B65G57/24—Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical in layers each of predetermined arrangement the layers being transferred as a whole, e.g. on pallets

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a high-speed robotized palletizing island and to a relative palletizing process.
  • - layer-forming module which has the function of forming the layer that must be palletized and that is made of bundles, cartons, etc.;
  • inter-layer sheets depositing unit in which the inter-layer sheet is deposited onto the pallet, between the layers of the pallet and on the upper part of the pallet formed;
  • the speed of the entire robotized palletizing island is limited by the slowest speed of the single modules or units described above.
  • a limit to the speed essentially consists of the palletizing unit, the cycle of which, namely the time for carrying out a work cycle for the formation of a pallet, is dictated by different times, such as: - gripping time;
  • the palletizing unit it is also necessary to take into account a time needed to deposit the inter-layer sheets between the layers, and a time to deposit an inter-layer sheet on top of the pallet, which in general for low and medium-speed islands are masked by the main robot times.
  • a time necessary for evacuating the finished pallet and a time for the entry of the next empty pallet are also recorded. These times are also masked by the main robot times in low and medium-speed islands.
  • Another purpose of the present invention is to make a high-speed robotized palletizing island and a relative palletizing process capable of also improving the efficiency of the other modules or units of the island, and in particular of the inter-layer sheets depositing unit.
  • figure 2 is an enlarged detail of figure 1 ;
  • FIGS. 4-6 schematically show the sequence of the steps of the starting transient of the palletizing process according to the invention
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 schematically show the sequence of steps of the palletizing process according to the invention .
  • a high-speed robotized palletizing island is shown, wholly indicated with 100.
  • the palletizing island 100 comprises a layer- forming module 10, a palletizing unit 20, an inter- layer sheets 30 depositing unit, a pallet treatment module 40 and a wrapping unit 50.
  • the layer formation module 10 comprises bundle handling robots 12 for handling the bundles on a succession of conveyor belts, or mats 13.
  • Two different pick-up stations 21A and 21B of the layer 11 formed by a part of the two robots for picking up the layer 22A and 22B, for example of the gripper type, are arranged in series with respect to each other on a single exit conveyor 14 of the layer-forming module 10.
  • Each of the layer pick-up robots 22A and 22B picks up a layer 11 in turn, respectively from the pick-up station 21A and 21B dedicated thereto and deposits it onto an empty pallet 41 and/or one pallet under formation 42 respectively in one of the two forming areas 23A and 23B of the palletizing unit 20 dedicated thereto .
  • At least one first accumulation area during formation 23' is arranged between the two forming areas of the pallet 23A and 23B.
  • a first 23' and a second 23' ' accumulation areas during formation are provided.
  • the forming areas 23A and 23B and the accumulation areas during formation 23' and 23' ' are arranged in series with respect to each other along a feeding direction of the pallet under formation, shown with the arrow F in the figures.
  • the inter-layer sheets depositing unit 30 comprises two robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B, which each picks up an inter-layer sheet 31 from a respective pallet of inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B and deposit it in the palletizing unit 20, in particular onto the empty pallet 41 and/or onto the pallet under formation 42 and/or onto the finished pallet 43, in the respective forming area 23A and 23B.
  • the robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B are shown as an example both in the pick-up position of the inter-layer sheet 31 on the pallet of inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B and in the depositing position of the inter-layer sheet 31 in the corresponding forming area 23A and 23B.
  • the empty pallets 41 are selected, in order to transfer the suitable ones towards the palletizing unit 20 and the discarded ones towards a store 44.
  • the complete pallets 43 are wrapped and transferred in a pick-up area 51.
  • a second embodiment of the palletizing island 100' comprises the same elements described for the first embodiment 100 except for the inter-layer sheets depositing unit 30', which comprises, in addition to what already described, first means 34 for transferring the emptied pallets of inter-layer sheets between the work areas of the robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B and the accumulation areas during formation 23' and 23'' of the palletizing unit 20, as well as further means 35 for transferring the new and/or empty pallets of inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B between the work areas of the robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B and waiting areas 36A and 36B.
  • the further transfer means 35 preferably comprise two conveyors arranged on two parallel planes laid one upon the other, not shown. In this case, the waiting areas 36A and 36B can be equipped with a lifting platform, not shown.
  • the palletizing process in the island 100' provides that when the pallets of the inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B are emptied, instead of being replaced manually, they are unloaded in the accumulation areas during formation 23' and 23' ' , previously left free by the pallets under formation 42, are stored and discarded along the feeding direction of the pallet under formation F in a discard position 123 arranged downstream of the palletizing unit 20, namely downstream of the second forming area 23B.
  • the new pallets of inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B will be automatically transferred from the waiting areas 36A and 36B to the work areas of the robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B through the further transfer means 35.
  • the normal palletizing cycle will have to follow a modified scheme that will be followed by a specific transient in order to go back to normal operating conditions.
  • a second operating mode provides that when the pallets of inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B are emptied, the same are transferred to the waiting areas 36A and 36B through the conveyor arranged on the lower plane of the transfer means 35.
  • the conveyor arranged on the upper plane of the transfer means 35 transfers the new pallets of inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B from the waiting areas 36A and 36B to the work areas of the robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B.
  • the production capacity is in particular increased by providing for two layer pick-up robots 22A and 22B in the palletizing unit 20 and two corresponding robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B in the inter-layer sheets depositing unit 30, as well as by providing that these robots operate on the two distinct pallet forming areas 23A and 23B, without ever crossing each other.
  • the accumulation areas during formation 23' and 23' ' also contribute to the increase in productivity.
  • the second accumulation area during formation 23' ' immediately upstream of the second forming area 23B allows half a pallet under formation 42 to be transferred in the second forming area 23B in the shortest time possible after the unloading of the finished pallet 43.
  • the first accumulation area during formation 23' is used in collaboration with the other accumulation area during formation 23' ' for automatically unloading the empty pallets for inter- layer sheets 32A and 32B in reduced times in the second embodiment of the island 100' .
  • the first accumulation area during formation 23' under normal operating conditions constitutes a transit area and can possibly be used as accumulation for half a pallet under formation 42, in the case of temporary stopping or slowing down of the second layer pick-up robot 22B or of unloading from the palletizing unit in the feeding direction F.
  • the high-speed palletizing process in the robotized palletizing island is carried out after a starting transient, schematically shown in figures 4-6.
  • Figures 7 and 8 schematically show a work cycle of the palletizing process under normal operating conditions.
  • the finished pallet 43 comprises a total of four layers 11, two of which 11A are deposited by the first layer pick ⁇ up robot 22A and two of which 11B are deposited by the second layer pick-up robot 22B.
  • the palletizing cycle under normal operating conditions starts with two half pallets 42, provided with an inter-layer sheet 31A at their top positioned in the second forming area 23B and in the second accumulation area during formation 23' ' and provides depositing in succession a layer 11B onto a half pallet 42 covered by the inter-layer sheet 31A in the second forming area 23B and a layer 11A on an empty pallet 41 covered by the inter-layer sheet 31A in the first forming area 23A; it then proceeds with depositing in succession inter-layer sheets 31 and layers 11 in the second and in the first forming areas 23B and 23A until a finished pallet 43 covered by an inter-layer sheet 31B in the second forming area 23B and half a pallet 42 covered by an inter-layer sheet 31A in the first forming area 23A are respectively obtained (figure 7) .
  • the finished pallet 43 is unloaded from the palletizing unit 20 in the feeding direction F and transferred to the pallet wrapping and transfer module 50; the half pallet 42 that is waiting in the second accumulation area during formation 23' ' is transferred in the second forming area 23B and the half pallet formed in the first forming area 23A goes into the second accumulation area during formation 23' ' , passing through the first accumulation area during formation 23' . Then a new palletizing cycle starts according to what is described and shown.
  • a further advantage is given by the presence of two pick-up stations downstream of the layer formation area, instead of only one. Besides making the operation of the two robots for picking up the layer safer, which do not risk to hinder one another, this solution gives working continuity to the layer-forming module in the case in which the times of the operations in the palletizing unit were greater than the layer formation time in the first pick up station. In this case, the layer composed and formed in the first position would be rested in the second position and then picked up afterwards .
  • the high-speed robotized palletizing island thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the invention; moreover, all of the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.
  • the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever according to the technical needs.

Abstract

In a high-speed robotized palletizing island, comprising a layer-forming module (10), a robot palletizing unit (20) and an inter-layer sheets depositing unit (30, 30' ), the layer-forming module (10) comprises two pick-up stations (21A and 21B), arranged in series with respect to each other on a single exit conveyor (14), for picking up a layer (11) formed by respective layer pick-up robots (22A, 22B) of the palletizing unit (20); the palletizing unit (20) comprises a first and a second pallet forming areas (23A, 23B), arranged in series with respect to each other along a feeding direction (F); the inter-layer sheets depositing unit (30, 30') comprises two robots for inter-layer sheets (33A, 33B), each suitable for picking up an inter-layer sheet (31) from a respective pallet of inter-layer sheets (32A, 32B) and for depositing it in the palletizing unit (20), wherein each of the layer pick-up robots (22A, 22B) is arranged to pick up in a dedicated manner a layer (11) from only one of the pick- up stations (21A, 21B) and to deposit such a layer (11) in one of the forming areas (23A, 23B) and wherein each of the robots for inter-layer sheets (33A, 33B) is arranged to pick up an inter-layer sheet (31) in a dedicated manner from one of the two pallets of inter-layer sheets (32A, 32B) and to deposit such an inter-layer sheet (32) in one of the forming areas (23A, 23B), the first half of the pallet under formation (42) being formed in the first forming area (23A) and the second half of the pallet under formation (42) being formed in the second forming area (23B). A relative high-speed palletizing process also forms the subject-matter of the present invention.

Description

HIGH-SPEED ROBOTIZED PALLETIZING ISLAND AND RELATIVE PALLETIZING PROCESS
The present invention refers to a high-speed robotized palletizing island and to a relative palletizing process.
In robotized palletizing islands essentially the following areas can be identified, the function of which is specific and dedicated to precise purposes:
- layer-forming module, which has the function of forming the layer that must be palletized and that is made of bundles, cartons, etc.;
- robot palletizing unit, in which the depositing of the layers onto the pallet is carried out;
- inter-layer sheets depositing unit, in which the inter-layer sheet is deposited onto the pallet, between the layers of the pallet and on the upper part of the pallet formed;
- pallet treatment module, in which the pallets are selected, the integrity thereof is checked and the suitable pallets pass to palletization, whereas the discarded ones are stacked outside the island;
- pallet wrapping and transfer module, in which the complete pallets of products are wrapped and transferred to the pick-up area.
The speed of the entire robotized palletizing island is limited by the slowest speed of the single modules or units described above.
A limit to the speed essentially consists of the palletizing unit, the cycle of which, namely the time for carrying out a work cycle for the formation of a pallet, is dictated by different times, such as: - gripping time;
- layer transfer time;
- approach time to the pallet;
- gripper opening time on the pallet;
- gripper withdrawal time from the pallet under formation;
- gripping transfer time towards the layer formation area .
In the palletizing unit it is also necessary to take into account a time needed to deposit the inter-layer sheets between the layers, and a time to deposit an inter-layer sheet on top of the pallet, which in general for low and medium-speed islands are masked by the main robot times.
In the palletizing unit, a time necessary for evacuating the finished pallet and a time for the entry of the next empty pallet are also recorded. These times are also masked by the main robot times in low and medium-speed islands.
The purpose of the present invention is to make a high-speed robotized palletizing island and a relative palletizing process, which allow the speed limits of the palletizing unit to be overcome.
Another purpose of the present invention is to make a high-speed robotized palletizing island and a relative palletizing process capable of also improving the efficiency of the other modules or units of the island, and in particular of the inter-layer sheets depositing unit.
Another purpose of the present invention is to make a high-speed robotized palletizing island and a relative palletizing process that is particularly simple and functional.
These purposes according to the present invention are accomplished by making a high-speed robotized palletizing island and a relative palletizing process as outlined in the independent claims.
Further characteristics are provided for in the dependent claims.
The characteristics and advantages of a high-speed robotized palletizing island and of a relative process according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:
figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a robotized palletizing island, according to the invention;
figure 2 is an enlarged detail of figure 1 ;
figure 3 is a plan view of an enlarged detail of a second embodiment of a robotized palletizing island, according to the invention;
figures 4-6 schematically show the sequence of the steps of the starting transient of the palletizing process according to the invention;
figures 7 and 8 schematically show the sequence of steps of the palletizing process according to the invention .
With reference to the figures, a high-speed robotized palletizing island is shown, wholly indicated with 100.
The palletizing island 100 comprises a layer- forming module 10, a palletizing unit 20, an inter- layer sheets 30 depositing unit, a pallet treatment module 40 and a wrapping unit 50.
Layers 11 of products that must be palletized are formed in the layer-forming module 10. According to known ways, the layer formation module 10 comprises bundle handling robots 12 for handling the bundles on a succession of conveyor belts, or mats 13.
Two different pick-up stations 21A and 21B of the layer 11 formed by a part of the two robots for picking up the layer 22A and 22B, for example of the gripper type, are arranged in series with respect to each other on a single exit conveyor 14 of the layer-forming module 10. Each of the layer pick-up robots 22A and 22B, according to normal operating conditions, picks up a layer 11 in turn, respectively from the pick-up station 21A and 21B dedicated thereto and deposits it onto an empty pallet 41 and/or one pallet under formation 42 respectively in one of the two forming areas 23A and 23B of the palletizing unit 20 dedicated thereto .
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one first accumulation area during formation 23' is arranged between the two forming areas of the pallet 23A and 23B. Preferably, a first 23' and a second 23' ' accumulation areas during formation are provided.
The forming areas 23A and 23B and the accumulation areas during formation 23' and 23' ' are arranged in series with respect to each other along a feeding direction of the pallet under formation, shown with the arrow F in the figures.
The inter-layer sheets depositing unit 30 comprises two robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B, which each picks up an inter-layer sheet 31 from a respective pallet of inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B and deposit it in the palletizing unit 20, in particular onto the empty pallet 41 and/or onto the pallet under formation 42 and/or onto the finished pallet 43, in the respective forming area 23A and 23B. In the figures, the robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B are shown as an example both in the pick-up position of the inter-layer sheet 31 on the pallet of inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B and in the depositing position of the inter-layer sheet 31 in the corresponding forming area 23A and 23B.
In the pallet treatment module 40, the empty pallets 41 are selected, in order to transfer the suitable ones towards the palletizing unit 20 and the discarded ones towards a store 44.
In the pallet wrapping and transfer module 50, the complete pallets 43 are wrapped and transferred in a pick-up area 51.
A second embodiment of the palletizing island 100' comprises the same elements described for the first embodiment 100 except for the inter-layer sheets depositing unit 30', which comprises, in addition to what already described, first means 34 for transferring the emptied pallets of inter-layer sheets between the work areas of the robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B and the accumulation areas during formation 23' and 23'' of the palletizing unit 20, as well as further means 35 for transferring the new and/or empty pallets of inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B between the work areas of the robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B and waiting areas 36A and 36B. The further transfer means 35 preferably comprise two conveyors arranged on two parallel planes laid one upon the other, not shown. In this case, the waiting areas 36A and 36B can be equipped with a lifting platform, not shown.
The palletizing process in the island 100' , according to a first operating mode, provides that when the pallets of the inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B are emptied, instead of being replaced manually, they are unloaded in the accumulation areas during formation 23' and 23' ' , previously left free by the pallets under formation 42, are stored and discarded along the feeding direction of the pallet under formation F in a discard position 123 arranged downstream of the palletizing unit 20, namely downstream of the second forming area 23B. The new pallets of inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B will be automatically transferred from the waiting areas 36A and 36B to the work areas of the robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B through the further transfer means 35. In this case, the normal palletizing cycle will have to follow a modified scheme that will be followed by a specific transient in order to go back to normal operating conditions.
Contrarily, a second operating mode provides that when the pallets of inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B are emptied, the same are transferred to the waiting areas 36A and 36B through the conveyor arranged on the lower plane of the transfer means 35. At the same time, the conveyor arranged on the upper plane of the transfer means 35 transfers the new pallets of inter-layer sheets 32A and 32B from the waiting areas 36A and 36B to the work areas of the robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B. According to the invention, the production capacity is in particular increased by providing for two layer pick-up robots 22A and 22B in the palletizing unit 20 and two corresponding robots for inter-layer sheets 33A and 33B in the inter-layer sheets depositing unit 30, as well as by providing that these robots operate on the two distinct pallet forming areas 23A and 23B, without ever crossing each other.
In fact, if the pallet forming area were not splitted, there would be a risk of over-occupation of area on the pallet due to the time to approach the pallet, to open the gripper on the pallet, to withdraw the gripper from the pallet under formation, to lay inter-layer sheet onto the pallet and to transfer the pallet.
The accumulation areas during formation 23' and 23' ' , if present, also contribute to the increase in productivity. In fact, in particular the second accumulation area during formation 23' ' , immediately upstream of the second forming area 23B allows half a pallet under formation 42 to be transferred in the second forming area 23B in the shortest time possible after the unloading of the finished pallet 43.
The first accumulation area during formation 23', not directly involved in the palletization step through the robots, is used in collaboration with the other accumulation area during formation 23' ' for automatically unloading the empty pallets for inter- layer sheets 32A and 32B in reduced times in the second embodiment of the island 100' . Differently, in the island 100 according to the first embodiment the first accumulation area during formation 23' under normal operating conditions constitutes a transit area and can possibly be used as accumulation for half a pallet under formation 42, in the case of temporary stopping or slowing down of the second layer pick-up robot 22B or of unloading from the palletizing unit in the feeding direction F.
The high-speed palletizing process in the robotized palletizing island is carried out after a starting transient, schematically shown in figures 4-6.
Figures 7 and 8, on the other hand, schematically show a work cycle of the palletizing process under normal operating conditions.
For the sake of ease of representation, in the figures relative to the schematization of the process, reference numeral 11A indicates the layers deposited by the first layer pick-up robot 22A and reference numeral 11B indicates the layers deposited by the second layer pick-up robot 22B. Similarly, reference numeral 31A indicates the inter-layer sheets deposited by the first robot for inter-layer sheets 33A and reference numeral 31B indicates inter-layer sheets deposited by the second robot for inter-layer sheets 33B.
The figures show the particular case in which the finished pallet 43 comprises a total of four layers 11, two of which 11A are deposited by the first layer pick¬ up robot 22A and two of which 11B are deposited by the second layer pick-up robot 22B.
In the starting transient of the high-speed palletizing process, in the robotized palletizing island, two half pallets 42 are formed, which are provided with an inter-layer sheet 31 on the last layer 11. Such two half pallets 42 are for example formed, one in succession to the other, on an empty pallet 41 in the sole first forming area 23A through the alternate depositing of inter-layer sheets 31 and layers 11A carried out by the first layer pick-up robot 22A and by the first robot for inter-layer sheets 33A and thus respectively directed in the second accumulation area during formation 23' ' and in the second forming area 23B.
The palletizing cycle under normal operating conditions starts with two half pallets 42, provided with an inter-layer sheet 31A at their top positioned in the second forming area 23B and in the second accumulation area during formation 23' ' and provides depositing in succession a layer 11B onto a half pallet 42 covered by the inter-layer sheet 31A in the second forming area 23B and a layer 11A on an empty pallet 41 covered by the inter-layer sheet 31A in the first forming area 23A; it then proceeds with depositing in succession inter-layer sheets 31 and layers 11 in the second and in the first forming areas 23B and 23A until a finished pallet 43 covered by an inter-layer sheet 31B in the second forming area 23B and half a pallet 42 covered by an inter-layer sheet 31A in the first forming area 23A are respectively obtained (figure 7) .
The finished pallet 43 is unloaded from the palletizing unit 20 in the feeding direction F and transferred to the pallet wrapping and transfer module 50; the half pallet 42 that is waiting in the second accumulation area during formation 23' ' is transferred in the second forming area 23B and the half pallet formed in the first forming area 23A goes into the second accumulation area during formation 23' ' , passing through the first accumulation area during formation 23' . Then a new palletizing cycle starts according to what is described and shown.
According to the invention, in order to increase productivity, every time the operations end in a formation area 23A or 23B or in an accumulation area during formation 23' or 23' ' , it the same is cleared in the shortest delay in order to be immediately used for the following palletization step.
Moreover, the simultaneous use of two different forming areas 23A and 23B, in which only half a pallet is formed allows making the layer pick-up robot of one formation area and the robot for inter-layer sheets of the other formation area work simultaneously.
According to a simplified solution, not shown, in the absence of the accumulation areas during formation 23' and 23' ' , in the starting transient, half a pallet 42 is formed in the first forming area 23A and directly transferred in the second forming area 23B in order to start the palletizing cycle.
The fact that in each of the forming areas only half a pallet is formed assures numerous advantages deriving from the fact that each of the robots for inter-layer sheets will never have to deposit two inter-layer sheets onto the pallet under formation in sequence but just one. Moreover, the pallet transfer time will never be of two pallets but always of only one .
A further advantage is given by the presence of two pick-up stations downstream of the layer formation area, instead of only one. Besides making the operation of the two robots for picking up the layer safer, which do not risk to hinder one another, this solution gives working continuity to the layer-forming module in the case in which the times of the operations in the palletizing unit were greater than the layer formation time in the first pick up station. In this case, the layer composed and formed in the first position would be rested in the second position and then picked up afterwards .
The high-speed robotized palletizing island thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the invention; moreover, all of the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever according to the technical needs.

Claims

1) High-speed robotized palletizing island comprising a layer-forming module (10), a robot palletizing unit (20) and an inter-layer sheets depositing unit (30, 30'), characterized
in that said layer-forming module (10) comprises two pick-up stations (21A and 21B) , arranged in series with respect to each other on a single exit conveyor (14), for picking up a layer (11) formed by respective layer pick-up robots (22A, 22B) of said palletizing unit (20) ,
in that said palletizing unit (20) comprises a first and a second pallet forming areas (23A, 23B) , arranged in series with respect to each other along a feeding direction (F) of a pallet under formation (42),
and in that said inter-layer sheets depositing unit (30, 30') comprises two robots for inter-layer sheets (33A, 33B) , each suitable for picking up an inter-layer sheet (31) from a respective pallet of inter-layer sheets (32A, 32B) and for depositing it in said palletizing unit (20) ,
wherein each of said layer pick-up robots (22A, 22B) is arranged to pick up, in operation, a layer (11) from only one of said two pick-up stations (21A, 21B) dedicated thereto and to deposit said layer (11) in one of said forming areas (23A, 23B) dedicated thereto and wherein each of said robots for inter-layer sheets (33A, 33B) is arranged to pick up, in operation, an inter-layer sheet (31) from only one of said two pallets of inter-layer sheets (32A, 32B) dedicated thereto and to deposit said inter-layer sheet (32) in one of said forming areas (23A, 23B) dedicated thereto, the first half of the pallet under formation (42) being formed in said first forming area (23A) and the second half of the pallet under formation (42) being formed in said second forming area (23B) .
2) Palletizing island according to claim 1, characterized in that between said two pallet forming areas (23A, 23B) at least one first accumulation area during formation (23' ) is arranged in series with said areas (23A, 23B) in the feeding direction (F) .
3) Palletizing island according to claim 2, characterized in that between said two pallet forming areas (23A, 23B) a first (23' ) and a second (23' ' ) accumulation areas during formation are arranged in series with said areas (23A, 23B) in the feeding direction (F) .
4) Palletizing island according to claim 3, characterized in that said inter-layer sheets depositing unit (30') comprises first means (34) for transferring emptied inter-layer sheet pallets (32A, 32B) in said first and said second accumulation areas during formation (23' , 23' ' ) of said palletizing unit (20) and/or further means (35) for transferring new and/or emptied inter-layer sheet pallets (32A, 32B) between the work area of said robots for inter-layer sheets (33A, 33B) and waiting areas (36A, 36B) .
5) High-speed palletizing process in a palletizing island according to any preceding claims, characterized in that a work cycle provides for depositing in succession
- a layer (11) onto half a pallet (42), covered by an inter-layer sheet (31) previously formed in said first forming area (23A) , in said second forming area (23B) ; - a layer (11) onto an empty pallet (41), covered by an inter-layer sheet (31), in said first forming area (23A) ,
thereafter proceeding depositing in succession inter- layer sheets (31) and layers (11) in the second (23B) and in the first (23A) forming areas until obtaining a finished pallet (43) covered by an inter-layer sheet (31) in the second forming area (23B) and half a pallet under formation (42) covered by an inter-layer sheet (31) in the first forming area (23A) respectively, wherein said finished pallet (43) is then unloaded from said palletizing unit (20) in the feeding direction (F) and said half pallet under formation (42) is transferred from said first forming station (23A) towards said second forming area (23B) .
6) Process according to claim 5, characterized in that half a pallet under formation (42) awaits in said second accumulation area during formation (23' ' ) during the formation of the second half of the pallet in order to obtain said finished pallet (43) in said second forming area (23B) and during the formation of the first half of a pallet under formation (42) in said first forming area (23A) .
7) Process according to claim 6, characterized in that, along with said unloading of said finished pallet
(43) from said palletizing unit (20), said half pallet (42) formed in said first forming station (23A) is transferred from said first forming station (23A) to said second accumulation area during formation (23'') and in that said half pallet under formation (42) that was awaiting in said second accumulation area during formation (23' ' ) is transferred in said second forming area (23B) .
8) Process according to claim 7, characterized in that said half pallet (42) formed in said first forming station (23A) is transferred to said second accumulation area during formation (23' ' ) passing through said first accumulation area during formation (23' ) .
9) Process according to claim 8, characterized in that a palletizing cycle starts with two half pallets under formation (42), provided with an inter-layer sheet (31) at their top, respectively positioned in the second forming area (23B) and in the second accumulation area during formation (23' ' ) .
10) Process according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that emptied pallets of inter-layer sheets (32A, 32B) are unloaded in said accumulation stations during formation (23', 23''), then stored and unloaded along the feeding direction (F) of the pallet under formation (42) in a discard position (123) arranged downstream of the second forming area (23B) .
PCT/IB2016/053404 2015-06-10 2016-06-09 High speed robotized palletizing island and relative palletizing process WO2016199063A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITUB20151154 2015-06-10
IT102015000022354 2015-06-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2016199063A1 true WO2016199063A1 (en) 2016-12-15

Family

ID=54150550

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2016/053404 WO2016199063A1 (en) 2015-06-10 2016-06-09 High speed robotized palletizing island and relative palletizing process

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2016199063A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019097155A1 (en) 2017-11-16 2019-05-23 Cermex Newtec Robotised palletisation device provided with a separator store

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000071448A1 (en) * 1999-05-20 2000-11-30 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Sa A method of transferring individual objects to a pallet-loaded unit
EP1072542A1 (en) * 1999-07-23 2001-01-31 Krupp Drauz Ingenieurbetrieb GmbH Pile-up system for sheet metal forming presses
US20040071539A1 (en) * 2002-07-03 2004-04-15 Anater Raymond J. Automated container management system
EP1657191A1 (en) * 2004-11-12 2006-05-17 Bema s.r.l. A process and plant for palletizing deformable and unstable containers
US20060182545A1 (en) * 2005-01-14 2006-08-17 Ray Christopher A Vertically staggered pallet stacking assembly line and method

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000071448A1 (en) * 1999-05-20 2000-11-30 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Sa A method of transferring individual objects to a pallet-loaded unit
EP1072542A1 (en) * 1999-07-23 2001-01-31 Krupp Drauz Ingenieurbetrieb GmbH Pile-up system for sheet metal forming presses
US20040071539A1 (en) * 2002-07-03 2004-04-15 Anater Raymond J. Automated container management system
EP1657191A1 (en) * 2004-11-12 2006-05-17 Bema s.r.l. A process and plant for palletizing deformable and unstable containers
US20060182545A1 (en) * 2005-01-14 2006-08-17 Ray Christopher A Vertically staggered pallet stacking assembly line and method

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
OCME S.R.L.: "OCME - Robot palletiser for Fonti di Vinadio", 30 May 2008 (2008-05-30), pages 1, XP054976365, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idNys6QM6xk&index=3> [retrieved on 20160208] *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019097155A1 (en) 2017-11-16 2019-05-23 Cermex Newtec Robotised palletisation device provided with a separator store

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8147177B2 (en) Apparatus and method for economically forming layers of packing units
US10882702B2 (en) Method and apparatus for handling piece goods moved in at least two parallel rows
AU2012257735B2 (en) Method for storing and/or order-picking product units
US8833545B2 (en) Method and device of handling packages
US10442638B2 (en) Method and apparatus for conveying articles, piece goods and/or bundles within at least two conveying path sections
US9604792B2 (en) Device for transferring products from a feeder conveyor belt to a discharge conveyor belt using grippers, and method for operating the device
US7690884B2 (en) Finger and disk for separating plate-shaped objects, particularly battery plates
US9475660B2 (en) Palletizer for corrugated bundles
MX2011007595A (en) Palletizer machine and method of palletizing.
US9969565B1 (en) Pick and place apparatus for orientation and hole healing application
US3834298A (en) Brick unloader-stacker apparatus
CN110431095A (en) For being layered the production of the product batches of stacking
CN110799435A (en) Method and device for handling piece goods, goods and/or multi-piece goods
US11383865B2 (en) Food conveyor and packaging systems and methods
WO2018064259A1 (en) Case manipulator apparatus and method for use with an inline palletizing system
CN109071124B (en) Method and device for handling piece goods moving in sequence
EP2837586B1 (en) Palletising apparatus and method
EP3248915A1 (en) Apparatus for sorting objects
WO2016199063A1 (en) High speed robotized palletizing island and relative palletizing process
EP2174869B1 (en) Method and apparatus for rapidly filling trays with individual products
CN110654587B (en) Method and stacking device for stacking articles and/or piece goods
CN111094155B (en) Method and device for processing articles moving in at least one row in sequence
US11939172B2 (en) Method for operating a supply device, and supply device
CN212221317U (en) Stereoscopic warehouse with article sorting device at top
RU2758733C1 (en) Sorting method and sorting device for sorting plate products, preferably blanks of glass sheets, method and device for obtaining blanks of glass sheets using sorting device of this type

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 16745814

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 16745814

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1