DE20120699U1 - palletizing - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Palletizing device

The invention relates to a palletizing device with the features in the preamble of the main claim.

From EP-1 073 598 B1 and from practice, palletizing devices are known that comprise one palletizing device or a maximum of two palletizing devices. The palletizing devices are equipped with gripping devices with which they handle the palletized goods, intermediate layers in the form of cardboard bases or films and a lid or stabilizing frame and stack them one after the other on a base part that is usually provided elsewhere to form the finished pallet.

A bottle system is known from WO 00/69760 which has a bottle transfer device with a movable gripping device on the input side, which is equipped with several gripping elements for transferring bottles fed in series onto one or more movable intermediate carriers. The bottles are fed from a single connected blow molding machine via one or more conveyor lines. On the output side, a conventional palletizer is connected to the bottle system, which uses a single robot to carry out all palletizing processes including preparation, layer construction and completion of the pallet at a single palletizing station.

DE 200 15 199 U1 shows a similar bottle system with a conventional palletizer with a single palletizing station and a combination device for all three functions.

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- 1a -

DE 41 18 640 C2 also discloses a simple palletizer in the form of an articulated arm robot that stacks individually fed packages in one or two conveyor rows onto two parallel palletizing stations. However, the preparation, layering and completion of the pallet take place at the same location and with the same device. In addition, no intermediate layers are inserted between the package layers.

DE 196 26 826 deals with a combination palletizer in which all functions are carried out in one place. In addition to its lifting head for palletizing the boxes, the palletizer should also have a gripper for empty pallet bases.

The literature reference brochure: "Palletizing display trays", CIMCORP GmbH, Korb, shows a palletizer in which the preparation, layering and completion of the pallet takes place at different points. However, this palletizing device is only partially mechanical and automatic. The completion of the pallet and the placement of the lid as well as the folding of the slip-on bases in the foot and lid area are done manually. In addition, no intermediate layers are placed when the layers are formed. The palletized goods are also mixed here because the palletizing device has an interchangeable gripper for sugar cartons and syrup bottles, which are obviously provided in pallets of one type and then put together in different compositions to form new shipping pallets.

The object of the present invention is to demonstrate a better and more powerful palletizing device. 35

The invention solves this problem with the features in the main claim.

- 1b -

The palletizing device according to the invention has three separate palletizing devices with different individual functions for building the pallet. This separation of functions allows the palletizing devices to work with optimal performance and speed. The performance is higher than with previously known palletizing devices. This is particularly advantageous in conjunction with high-performance palletizing material feeders. It is possible to achieve the palletizing performance with a single palletizing device, which means significantly reduced construction, space and investment costs compared to the state of the art.

A further increase in performance is possible if the various functions in the construction of the pallet are distributed across several spatially separate palletizing stations and, in particular, across several such palletizing station pairs. This means that, for example, the pallet preparation with the provision of the base part and an intermediate layer can be carried out separately from the actual palletizing function and the stacking of the various palletized goods layers with the inserted intermediate layers. The stacking process for the palletized goods layers can therefore run without interruption. Furthermore, the completion of the stacked pallet with the placement of a lid or stabilizing frame and any packaging or strapping can also take place at another location, which may be the same palletizing station as for the pallet preparation. With this approach, the actual stacking processes for the palletized goods layers and the preparation and completion processes are carried out spatially separately and with different process cycles, which allows optimization of the individual processes and functions.

By dividing the palletizing processes into different palletizing stations, another problem can be solved. The pallets, which are initially stacked loosely, can only be moved and transported slowly due to their relative instability. This conveying process takes a relatively long time, which can limit the speed gains from using three palletizing devices in a single-station solution. This limitation can be removed by arranging several pairs of spatially separated palletizing stations in parallel. In addition to the times for preparing and completing the pallet, the transport time can also be separated from the work cycle of layer construction. The stacking processes for the palletized goods layers and

- 3 the intermediate layers can continue running without interruption.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention is illustrated by way of example and schematically in the drawings. In detail:

Figure 1: a top view of a

Palletizing device,

Figure 2: an enlarged view of the arrangement

of Figure 1 and
10

Figure 3: a fully packed pallet in

schematic side view.

Figure 1 shows a palletizing device (1) which serves to construct pallets (26) as shown in more detail in Figure 3.

These pallets (26) consist of a base part (27) made of plastic, wood or the like, on which the subsequent layers are stacked. On the base part there is an intermediate layer (28), which can consist of cardboard, plastic or other suitable materials. On the intermediate layer (28) there is a palletized goods layer (30), which in the example shown is a bottle layer. On this, intermediate layers (28) and palletized goods layers (30) are stacked in alternating order. A further intermediate layer (28) is placed on the top palletized goods layer (30) and a lid (29) is arranged on this, which can be, for example, a surrounding stabilizing frame made of wood, plastic or the like. The lid (29) can alternatively be a slip-on base or other suitable construction. The top and bottom intermediate layers (28) can be omitted if necessary. At the end, the fully packed pallet (26) can be surrounded by packaging (31). These can be stabilizing bands,

a film packaging, e.g. a shrink film or similar other packaging. The packaging can be attached inside or outside the palletizing device (1). In the embodiment shown, the packaging takes place outside the palletizing device (1) in a downstream packaging unit (not shown).

The palletizing device (1) comprises three palletizing devices (8,9,10) which have different individual functions for building the pallet. The palletizing devices (8,9,10) are arranged at at least two spatially separate palletizing stations (16,17,18,19). The preparation and completion of the pallet (26) as well as the layer construction with the stacking of the palletized goods layers (30) take place at different locations. In the embodiment shown, there are four palletizing stations (16,17,18,19) which are arranged in two parallel pairs of palletizing stations (16,18 and 17,19) connected to one another by two pallet conveyors (23).

In the embodiment shown, the palletizing device (1) is divided into two palletizing units (6, 7) arranged next to one another, which are connected to one another by the pallet conveyors (23). The palletizing devices (8, 9, 10) are also divided into the two palletizing units (6, 7).

The first palletizing unit (6), which in the embodiment shown is connected to a provision (2) for the palletized goods (30) described below, contains two palletizing devices (8, 9) and two palletizing platforms (16, 17) on which the palletized goods layers

(30) and the intermediate layers (28) are stacked on top of each other. The two paper-making areas (16,17) are arranged closely next to each other and are supported by both

Palletizing devices (8,9) are used. A supply (21) for intermediate layers (28) is arranged on the outside next to one of the palletizing stations (16). On the opposite side, next to the other palletizing station (17), there is the supply (2) for the palletized goods (30).

The second palletizing unit (7) contains the third palletizing device (10) and two palletizing stations (18, 19) that are also close together and on which the aforementioned preparation and completion processes take place. The two palletizing stations (18, 19) are connected by the aforementioned pallet conveyors (23) to the respective associated palletizing station (16, 17) for layer construction. In the second palletizing unit (7), next to the one upper palletizing station (18), there is a supply (22) for lids or stabilizing frames (29). Next to the other lower palletizing station (19), there is a supply (20) for base parts (27) and a supply (21) for intermediate layers (28).

The supplies or storage locations (20, 21, 22) can be designed as magazines for accommodating one or more stacks of base parts (27), intermediate layers (28) and lids (28). They are connected to parts conveyors (24), which in turn are connected to larger storage locations via a cross or shunting conveyor (25) or one or more other conveyors. This allows the storage locations to be quickly supplied with new material. The pallet conveyors (23) can also be connected to one another via the cross conveyor or shunting conveyor (25) and connected to a common, uniform output line (32).

The palletizing devices (8,9,10) are designed in the embodiment shown as two-axis robots, each consisting of a portal-like frame (11) and a trolley-like

Travel unit (12). The travel units (12) each have a gripping device (13,14,15) which is attached to the frame of the travel unit (12) so that it can be raised and lowered and which is adapted to the part to be gripped. In the first palletizing unit (6), the travel units (12) of the two robots (8,9) are arranged on a common frame (11) and can move back and forth across the row of palletizing stations (16,17) and the supply (21) as well as the preparation (2). The upper robot (9) has a gripping device (14) which is adapted to intermediate layers (28) and can remove these from the supply (21) and place them on the palletizing station (16,17). The other lower robot (8) has a gripping device (13) for the palletized goods (30), which preferably grips the entire palletized goods layer at the supply (2) and transfers them to the palletizing station (16,17) in one go. The two robots (8,9) serve both palletizing stations (16,17) and work alternately.

The robot (10) on the second palletizing unit (7) is designed in a similar way with its own frame (11), a travel unit and a gripping device (15). The gripping device (15) is designed as a multifunctional gripper that can grip base parts (27) as well as intermediate layers (28) and lids (29), transport them and place them on the palletizing stations (18, 19). The robot (10) is decoupled from the stacking cycle of the robots (8, 9) in the first palletizing unit (6) and can be slower because a relatively long time is available for preparing the base part (27) with the intermediate layer (28) placed on it on the one hand and for completing the stacked pallet with the placement of the lid (29) and any intermediate layer (28).

The provision (2) for the palletized goods (30), which are preferably already assembled in one layer, can be designed in any way. In the embodiment shown, the palletized goods (30) consist of bottles, in particular plastic or glass bottles. These are fed from a bottle producer (not shown) via a feed conveyor (5) to a transfer device (3), which grasps the bottles provided in one or more parallel rows with an appropriate gripping device, moves them to the side and transfers them to one or more trays or intermediate carriers (4), whereby the complete palletizable bottle layer is formed on the trays (4). The transfer device (3) can, for example, have a structural design as in EP-I 073 598 Bl or WO 00/69760.

In the preferred embodiment, a tray (4) is arranged on both sides of the transversely movable transfer unit (3), which can be moved from the takeover position on the transfer unit (3) to the provision position (2) on the first palletizing unit (6) by means of a suitable longitudinal conveyor, e.g. a shuttle. The trays (4) are alternately loaded and brought to the provision position (2). This enables uninterrupted feeding of palletized material layers (30).

To form a pallet (26), the robot (10) first places a base part (27) at one of the two palletizing stations (18,19) and places an intermediate layer on top of it.

(28). The base part (27) is then brought via the pallet conveyor (23) to the connected palletizing station (16,17) in the first palletizing unit (6). Here, the robots (8,9) alternately stack palletizing material layers (30) and intermediate layers (28) on top of each other. As soon as the stack is finished, the almost finished pallet (26) is returned to the connected palletizing station on the same pallet conveyor (23).

(18,19) in the second palletizing unit (7), where the robot (10) then places the lid (22) and, if necessary, an intermediate layer (28) on top. This uppermost intermediate layer (28) can alternatively also be placed in the palletizing unit (6). The now completed pallet (26) is removed from the second pallet unit (7) and transported to the output line (32) via the pallet conveyor (23) and, if necessary, the shunting conveyor (25). The palletizing cycle can then begin again with the provision of a base part (27) and an intermediate layer (28) in the second palletizing unit (7).

By arranging the palletizing stations (16,17,18,19) in two pairs, overlapping palletizing cycles can be carried out. As Figure 1 shows, a pallet is being built up at the upper palletizing station (16) in the first palletizing unit (6), with the upper robot (9) depositing an intermediate layer (28) while the lower robot (8) is already bringing a palletizing layer (30) from the supply (2). The connected second palletizing station (18) is empty in this case, which is illustrated by the dashed representation of a base part.
25

During this palletizing cycle, an intermediate layer (28) is placed on the already positioned base part (27) at the other palletizing station (19) in the second palletizing unit (7) on the robot (10). The corresponding palletizing station (17) in the first palletizing unit (6) is currently empty. As soon as the base part (27) is fully loaded, it is brought to the palletizing station (17) and is ready for the stacking process there, which can begin immediately when the pallet stack is ready at the other palletizing station (16) and is on the pallet conveyor.

(23) is transported away. The change during the stacking process from one palletizing station to the other (16,17) can

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without delay. There is sufficient time available for the removal of the stacked and still unstable pallet (26) on the pallet conveyor (23), so that the conveying speed can be adjusted to the pallet instability and kept low. There is also sufficient time for the subsequent completion of the pallet with the lid support and the subsequent removal of the provisionally finished pallet (26) and the preparation of a new pallet. The cycle times during the stacking process or the so-called layer build-up at the palletizing stations (16, 17) in the first palletizing unit (6) are adjusted to the cycle and transport times at the other palletizing stations (18, 19) in the second palletizing unit (7), so that preferably there is no interruption at least in the first palletizing unit (6).

Modifications to the embodiment shown are possible in various ways. Instead of the two-axis robots shown, the palletizing devices (8, 9, 10) can have any other structural design and, for example, be designed as six-axis articulated arm robots.

In principle, three palletizing devices can work on one palletizing station in the corresponding functional sequence. Furthermore, more than two separate palletizing units (6,7) can be present.

A further increase in performance is possible if there are more than two pairs of palletizing stations (16,17,18,19) lying next to each other on each palletizing unit (6,7), e.g. three, four or more pairs. If necessary, several pallets can be set up simultaneously on different palletizing stations (16,17) in the first palletizing unit (6). One of the available palletizing stations is kept ready for the pallet change, while the remaining palletizing stations are used for simultaneous pallet change.

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Stacking takes place at different stacking progress levels. For example, with four pairs, stacking takes place simultaneously at three palletizing stations, while a pallet change takes place at one palletizing station. As soon as a stack is finished, the pallet is moved out and a new stack is formed at the same time at the palletizing station that has been kept free. As soon as the next stack is finished shortly afterwards, the palletizing station that was emptied shortly before is again filled with a base part and an intermediate layer. Such mixed operation results in a significantly higher performance capacity of the palletizing device.

In a further modification, a smaller number of palletizing stations (18, 19) can be provided in the second palletizing unit (7) for preparing and completing the pallet, which are connected to the palletizing stations (16, 17) in the first palletizing unit (6) via one or more intermediate shunting conveyors with optional occupancy. By decoupling the palletizing units (6, 7) via intermediate conveyors or shunting conveyors, the performance of the units can be coordinated even better and more finely.
25

The palletizing device (1) shown is suitable for any type of palletized goods (30). In addition to the bottles shown, these can also be cans, packages or similar other objects. They can also be fed to the supply (2) in a way other than that described. If necessary, the layering and assembly of the individual palletized goods can also take place at the supply (2).

- 12 REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

1 palletizing device

2 Provision of pallet goods 3 Transfer

4 Tray, intermediate carrier

5 Feed conveyor, bottle feed

6 Palletizing unit

7 Palletizing unit

8 Palletizer, robot

9 Palletizer, robot

10 Palletizer, Robot

11 Frame

12 Traversing unit

13 Gripping device for palletized goods, bottle position

14 Gripping device for intermediate layers

15 Gripping device for base and lid

16 palletizing stations for layer construction

17 Palletizing station for layer construction

18 Palletizing station for preparation/completion

19 Palletizing station for preparation/completion

20 stock base

21 Stock Intermediate layer

22 Storage lid

23 pallet conveyors

24 parts conveyors

25 shunting conveyors

26 pallets

27 Base part

28 Intermediate layer

29 Lid, stabilizing frame

30 Palletized goods, bottle position

31 Packaging, tape, film

32 Output line 35

Claims (10)

1. Palletizing device, consisting of at least one palletizing device, characterized in that the palletizing device ( 1 ) has three separate palletizing devices ( 8 , 9 , 10 ) with individual functions for constructing the pallet from a base part ( 27 ), several layers of palletized goods ( 30 ), intermediate layers ( 28 ) and a cover ( 29 ). 2. Palletizing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the palletizing devices ( 8 , 9 , 10 ) are arranged at at least two spatially separate palletizing stations ( 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ), wherein the preparation, the layer construction and the completion of the pallet ( 26 ) take place at different locations. 3. Palletizing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the palletizing device ( 1 ) has four or more palletizing stations ( 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ) which are arranged in two or more pairs, wherein a pallet conveyor ( 23 ) is arranged between the paired palletizing stations (16, 18, and 17, 19). 4. Palletizing device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the palletizing devices ( 8 , 9 , 10 ) are designed as multi-axis robots, preferably as 2-axis robots with a portal-like frame ( 11 ), a travel unit ( 12 ) running thereon and a gripping device ( 13 , 14 , 15 ) that can be raised and lowered. 5. Palletizing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the palletizing device ( 1 ) has two spatially separate palletizing units ( 6 , 7 ), wherein in the first palletizing unit ( 6 ) two palletizing stations ( 16 , 17 ) and two palletizing devices ( 8 , 9 ) for the layer construction from palletized goods ( 30 ) and intermediate layers ( 28 ) are arranged and the second palletizing unit ( 7 ) has two palletizing stations ( 18 , 19 ) and a palletizing device ( 10 ) for the preparation and completion of the pallet ( 26 ). 6. Palletizing device according to claim 5, characterized in that in the first palletizing unit ( 6 ) the palletizing devices ( 8 , 9 ) have a common frame ( 11 ). 7. Palletizing device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that in the first palletizing unit ( 6 ) next to the two closely adjacent palletizing stations ( 16 , 17 ) on both sides a provision ( 2 ) for palletized goods ( 30 ) in layer form and a supply ( 21 ) for intermediate layers ( 28 ) are arranged. 8. Palletizing device according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that in the second palletizing unit ( 6 ) next to the two closely adjacent palletizing stations ( 18 , 19 ) on both sides a supply for base parts ( 20 ), a supply ( 22 ) for lids ( 29 ) and a supply ( 21 ) for intermediate layers ( 28 ) are arranged. 9. Palletizing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the palletizing device has pallet conveyors ( 23 ), parts conveyors ( 24 ) and at least one shunting conveyor ( 25 ). 10. Palletizing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the provision ( 2 ) for the palletized goods ( 30 ) in layer form has a converter ( 3 ) for the palletized goods ( 30 ) fed individually or in series by at least one conveyor ( 5 ) and one or more trays ( 4 ) for the formation and arrangement of layers of palletized goods for collection.