Patent ID: 7584589
Filing Date: 2009-09-08
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A robotic case-packing system for concurrently accumulating a plurality of different product ensembles and sequentially packing cases thereof, comprising: (a) a plurality of product conveyer lines, each of which is adapted to separately convey distinct products to segregated transfer points, the product conveyer lines being configured such that each product conveyer line is provided with a unique transfer point, the product conveyer lines being further constructed and adapted to accumulate the different product ensembles at their transfer points; (b) a case-packer with a packing section as well as multiple magazines for receiving different case-blanks and an in-feed conveyer with a feed point, the case-packer being characterized in that it is adapted to controllably select and provide different case-blanks to the packing section of the case-packer; (c) a shuttle conveyer movable to a plurality of locations, the shuttle conveyer being adapted to provide different product ensembles from the unique transfer point of each production conveyer line to the feed point of the in-feed conveyer of the case-packer; and (d) a controller for operating the shuttle conveyer and case-packer; whereby the case-packing system is operable to accumulate different products concurrently and sequentially supply a predetermined number of like product units to the case-packer such that case-packing system is capable of maintaining substantially continuous operation at a production rate higher than an accumulation rate of any individual production conveyer line of the system.