Patent ID: 6290448
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An apparatus supported on a surface for handling cartons (29, 30) which are delivered on parallel carton tracks (31, 32, 33) to a pallet station and set down on pallets (11) by means of a pallet device (10), wherein:a) the cartons (29, 30) are delivered on three of said parallel carton tracks (31, 32, 33), and said pallet device has a base elevated above said surface;b) the cartons (29, 30) are set down on the pallets (11) by the pallet device (10) according to a programmable packing arrangement in a region of three pallet locations (12, 13, 14);c) each of the three pallet locations (12, 13, 14) is associated with one of three loading conveyers (15, 16, 17) for loaded pallets (11);d) the loading conveyers (15, 16, 17) are positioned symmetrically to the pallet device (10) in such a manner that a middle one (16) of said three conveyers is positioned centrally to the pallet device (10), and each of the other two of said three conveyers (15, 17) is positioned on either side of the middle conveyor with equal spacing to the middle conveyer (16); ande) wherein layer pallets (37), with a stock of intermediate layers (35), are delivered to the pallet device (10) on an auxiliary track (38) located below the pallet device base, so that one of said layer pallets (37) at a time is moved, on the auxiliary track (38) below the pallet device (10), to an auxiliary platform (34) which is arranged in line with the middle conveyer (16), and in a vertically different plane, for loaded pallets (11) in front of the pallet device (10).