Patent ID: 11873164
Assignee: NEWTEQ HOLDING B.V.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 17:
18. A layer handling device configured in a palletizing operational mode, comprising:
a vacuum chamber comprising an enclosure and at least one downward facing aperture;
a grabbing portion configured to retract inside the vacuum chamber enclosure via the aperture and configured to grab and remove a layer of items from a tray;
a vacuum system that includes one or more vacuum plates situated near a bottom surface of the grabbing portion, the vacuum system being configured to provide a first vacuum extending between the layer of items and the vacuum plate in order to facilitate a suctioning function on the layer of items;
a clamping system connected to the grabbing portion, the clamping system comprising a plurality of pusher plates that are configured to retract inside the vacuum chamber enclosure via the aperture and are configured to physically engage the layer of items around its perimeter; and
an air pump system configured to provide a second vacuum when the grabbing portion and the pusher plates are retracted inside the vacuum chamber enclosure, the second vacuum extending between the pusher plates and the vacuum chamber enclosure and extending between an area above the one or more vacuum plates and the vacuum chamber enclosure.