METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STACKED PACKAGES

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for handling stacked packages (3) paricularly for distributive purposes. According to the method, pallets (2) of stacked packages (3) containing essentially one product are unloaded and arranged on to similar pallets (2) to form stacked packages (3) at least some of them containing different products. Unloading is done from warehouse tracks (4), each warehouse track (4) having packages containing essentially one product, on to at least one first transport track (6) in a stackwise manner and on to at least one second transport track (10) as single packages. The packages (3) are transferred via said transport tracks (6, 10) to a packing section where composite pallets are formed. Unloading at the end of each warehouse track (4) is accomplished by a gripping and transferring action performed on one or two adjacent vertical sides of one or two packages (3) in the stack for transferring on to at least the first transport track (6).

Description: Method and apparatus for handling stacked packages The invention relates to a method for handling stacked packages like cases of beverage or corresponding, in particular for distributive purposes, wherein pallets of stacked packages containing essentially one product are unloaded and arranged on to similar pallets to form stacked packages at least some of them containing different products and wherein unloading is done from warehouse tracks, each warehouse track having packages containing essentially one product and at least some warehouse tracks having packages containing different products, on to at least one transport track in a stackwise manner and/or as single packages, the packages being transferred via said at least one transport track to a packing section where said stacked packages containing different products are arranged to form composite pallets. The procedure described above is known and is in common use particularly in food industry like brewing industry and bakery industry. In manufacturing processes, cases like those of beverage which all contain one product and which are stored in several stacks on pallets are brought into the warehouse sited near the plant. On the other hand, retail dealers need composite pallets which contain packages according to the shopkeeper's order and which contain at least partly products which are different from each other. Collecting of different products on to the composite pallet is done in the warehouse and then the composite pallet may contain one or more stacks containing the same product and possibly one or more stacks containing packages of different products like cases of different beverages. Therefore, it is a question of a large integrated operation comprising the production control of the manufacturing plant according to the present volume of orders for the composite pallets on one hand and in particular forming of the composite pallets on the other hand. When the assortment diversifies there will be an increasing need for warehouse space as well for the control of the warehouse activities. In the present methods, pallets containing one product are unloaded on to the warehouse tracks. Therefore, each warehouse track comprises one row of stacks which has been formed by unloading the stacks on the first end of the warehouse track on to said warehouse track and then unloading of the packages is done from the other end of the warehouse track on to at least one transport track. The drawback in the prior art is the fact that pallets must be unloaded on to the warehouse tracks where the packages are in stacks in one row. This brings about one extra operation which decreases the warehouse throughput, increases the need for space and brings about problems in the warehouse control since one has to control simultaneously both the feeding of the stacks on to the warehouse tracks and the unloading of the packages from the warehouse tracks on to the transport tracks. The object of this invention is to upgrade the state of art in the field and remove the drawbacks mentioned above and thereby simplify, speed up and make the warehouse operations more reliable. In order to attain this object the method according to the invention is mainly characterized in that - packages are arranged on to the warehouse tracks in stacks on pallets and that unloading at the end of each warehouse track is accomplished by a gripping and transferring action performed on one or two adjacent vertical sides and/or an element like an opening, in connection therewith, of at least one package in each stack coming to the handling stage from the pallet directly on to at least one said transport track. The above solution brings about several benefits. It is quite obvious that the control of the warehouse tracks becomes notably simple because pallets of stacked packages coming into the warehouse contain essentially one product only. These pallets can directly be transferred on to at least one warehouse track, which is specifically intended for this product and where the pallet is arranged to proceed towards the end of the warehouse track where, according to one embodiment of the invention, the packages are transferred either on to the first transport track as a stack wherefore at least one of the stacks on the pallet is collectively transferred on to said first transport track or, in case the stack is going to be used as single packages intended for the second transport track, the stack is preferably transferred to the intermediate storage. In the intermediate storage the stack is unloaded into single packages, which move on to said second transport track. It is obvious that the method according to the invention can be varied within the limits of the basic idea of the invention. Beneficial embodiments of the invention are presented in the ensuing claims. The invention also relates to an apparatus for handling stacked packages. The apparatus is mainly of the kind as defined in the ingress part of the claim relating to the apparatus. The main characteristics of said apparatus are set forth in the novelty part of said claim. The invention is further illustrated in the following description with reference to the enclosed drawings of the exemplary embodiment. In the drawings Figure 1 shows a side view of the apparatus for utilizing the method according to the invention wherein point A represents the section A-A in Figure 1 and Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Figure 1 seen from above. The main parts of the apparatus in the drawings are: A feed conveyor 1 for moving stacked packages 3 on pallets 2 (eight stacks each having seven packages in the embodiment of the figures, two side by side and three in succession in the direction of the movement) near to the warehouse tracks 4. There is a means (not shown) in connection with the feed conveyor 1 for transferring the pallet 2 near to the warehouse track 4 along with its packages 3 on to the warehouse track 4. There are several parallel warehouse tracks 4 in the warehouse utilizing the method and the feed conveyor 1 is disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the warehouse tracks so that it is capable of feeding each warehouse track 4 with pallets having stacked packages mounted thereon. The parallel tracks are meant for different products. An obvious arrangement for products with high consumption is such that two or more warehouse tracks have pallets containing the same product. At the opposite end, relative to the feed conveyor 1, there is an unloading unit 5, a first transport track 6, being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the warehouse tracks 4, and an intermediate storage 7, wherefrom the packages unloaded from the stacks by means of an unloading device 8 are transferred as single packages on to a second transport track 10, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the warehouse tracks 4, by means of an intermediate conveyor 9, which is oblique and is situated parallel with and above the warehouse track 4. Empty pallets 2 are transferred through an opening 11, between the warehouse track 4 and the first transport track 6 and the main frame 12 of the intermediate storage 7, on to a transfer track 13 which lies perpendicular to the warehouse track 4 and by which they are moved into the packing section (not shown) . It may be obvious to a specialist in the field that the unloading unit 5 can be moved in the perpendicular direction relative to the warehouse tracks 4 always to the vicinity of that warehouse track which is to be unloaded. It may be obvious, respectively, that packages 3 and pallets can be transferred from each warehouse track 4 on to the transport tracks 6 and 10 and on to the transfer track 13 of the pallets. The transport tracks 6 and 10 and the transfer track 13 are connected with the packing section and so the packages which come from different warehouse tracks can be arranged on to pallets to form composite pallets. As to their technical solutions reference can be made to publications in the field, for example patent publications, where several applicable solutions can be found. The pallets 2 on the warehouse tracks 4 move forwards, for instance on rollers, to the unloading unit 5. The transfer can be realized for instance using an oblique track construction or using a separate pushing unit (not shown) in connection with the warehouse track 4. The unloading unit 5 comprises a transfer carriage 15 or corresponding moving on a first horizontal guide system 14 which is parallel with the longitudinal direction of the warehouse track 4, the transfer carriage 15 being in turn arranged to move on a second horizontal guide system 16 which is perpendicular to the first horizontal guide system 14. A vertical shaft 17 or corresponding is attached to the transfer carriage 15, the shaft 17 allowing vertical movement relative to the transfer carriage 15. In its lowest position the shaft 17 extends over to the lowest package of the stack. The vertical shaft 17 is provided with extending gripping means 18 (point A), which particularly in cases of beverage can grip the openings and/or extensions on the vertical side of the cases. It is obvious that the gripping means can be formed according to the specific type of packages being handled in each warehouse. For instance a suction gripping device can substitute the extending gripping means 18. In the embodiment of figure 1 and point A, the gripping means have been arranged at the package of each stack whereby the gripping action effects collectively on each package in the stack. The gripping means can be disposed on the vertical shaft 17 by means of the body part 19 whose disposition can be adjusted at least in the vertical direction depending on the type of package and thereby adjust the position of the gripping means relative to the vertical shaft 17 corresponding the type of the packages. When a stack is collectively transferred on to either the first transport track 6 or to the intermediate storage 7 the vertical shaft 17 is transferred on the guide systems 14 and 16 using the transfer carriage 15 next to the stack (or part of it) in question and is transferred into connection with the stack so that the gripping means 18 move into close connection with the stack of cases of beverage for instance into the carrying openings on the lateral sides of the cases. The subsequent lifting of the vertical shaft 17 brings the gripping means 18 into connection with the edges of said openings and there will be a lifting force acting on the stack and as lifting proceeds the stack is lifted above the horizontal plane of the first transport track 6 and the transfer carriage is moved along the guide system 14 on top of the first transport track 6 on to which the stack is lowered and the vertical shaft is moved downwards so that the gripping means 18 can be taken out the carrying openings by means of moving the transfer carriage 15 along the guides 16. The transfer carriage 15 can then be moved along said guides 14 and 16 to the next stack. Said next stack can be either the stack adjacent to the previously lifted one on the pallet 2 and then there is no need to move the pallet 2 forwards on the warehouse track 4. If the row of stacks, being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the warehouse track 4 and being located at the unloading unit 5, is removed the pallet 2 is moved forward on the warehouse track 4 so that a new row comes to the handling location just below the unloading unit 5. If it is desired to move the stack to the intermediate storage 7, the first transport track 6 will be passed from above and the stack will be moved on to a supporting stand 22 in the intermediate storage 7, the supporting stand 22 being arranged to be moved vertically on the vertical guides 20 of the main frame 12. The end of the vertical guides 20, above the supporting stand 22, are provided with an unloading device 8 which for instance by a pushing device 21 pushes the topmost package 3 in the intermediate storage 7 on to an oblique intermediate conveyor 9, the package 3 on the supporting stand 22 being lifted beside the unloading device 8. It is obvious that it is possible in one go to grip a desired number of packages in the stack by means of the gripping means 18 and therefore the apparatus can be used in several ways. It is equally obvious that in the method of the invention that both the free sides of the stacks, which are not against other stacks, are available for the gripping action necessary for the movements. Said vertical sides are therefore connected to each other via a corner. Generally in the method, it is not possible use gripping action based on squeezing of two opposite sides. The simplest transfer is the parallel transfer and then the most preferential point for gripping is the vertical side which is parallel with the transfer movement (the longitudinal direction of the warehouse track) and/or an element connected therewith like an extension and/or an opening. In addition to or instead of this one can, and in some cases particularly when the transfer movement is combined with a rotation round the vertical axis during the transfer motion, also use as the point for gripping the first vertical side facing the direction of the motion and being perpendicular to the direction of the warehouse track and/or an element in connection therewith like an extension and/or an opening. Especially the cases used in brewing and in bakery industry are so designed, since they are normally handled manually by carrying, that they are provided with openings for carrying and additional extending elements for strengthening like flanges in the edges. It is possible to utilize these elements in many different ways in technical applications of the method and the apparatus of the invention. Unloading of the stack from the intermediate storage 7 can also be accomplished by means of a picking device, which always picks the topmost package and transfers it on to the intermediate conveyor 9 or directly to the second transport track 10. In this case the supporting stand 22 and its vertical movements are not necessarily needed.

Claims: Claims 1. Method for handling stacked packages like cases of beverage or corresponding, in particular for distributive purposes, wherein pallets (2) of stacked packages (3) containing essentially one product are unloaded and arranged on to similar pallets (2) to form stacked packages (3) at least some of them containing different products and wherein unloading is done from warehouse tracks (4), each warehouse track (4) having packages containing essentially one product and at least some warehouse tracks (4) having packages containing different products, on to at least one transport track (6, 10) in a stackwise manner and/or as single packages, the packages (3) being transferred via said at least one transport track (6, 10) to a packing section where said stacked packages (3) containing different products are arranged to form composite pallets characterized in that packages (3) are arranged on to the warehouse tracks (4) in stacks on pallets (2) and that - unloading at the end of each warehouse track (4) is accomplished by a gripping and transferring action performed on one or two adjacent vertical sides and/or an element like a opening, in connection therewith, of at least one package (3) in each stack coming to the handling stage from the pallet (2) directly on to at least one said transport track (6, 10). 2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the transferring action is carried out as a parallel transfer to at least one package (3) and that at least one package (3) is gripped on the vertical side parallel to the transfer. 3. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the warehouse tracks (4) are arranged on a lower level than the first transport track (6) and its main frame (12) and that a horizontal opening (11) is arranged between the warehouse track (4) and the first transport track (6) and its main frame (12) whereupon the unloaded pallets (2) on the warehouse tracks (4) are transferred to said opening (11) as unloading proceeds and are removed from the warehouse track (4) through said opening preferably on to a transfer track (13). 4. Method according to claims 1-3 characterized in that the main frame (12) of the first transport track is provided with an intermediate storage (7) whereto the packages are transferred in stacks from the warehouse track (4) and that unloading of the intermediate storage (7) into single packages is arranged to be carried out from the upper part of the intermediate storage (7) . 5. Method according to claim 4 characterized in that unloading of the intermediate storage (7) is arranged to be carried out by lifting the stack in the intermediate storage upwards on its supporting stand (22) or corresponding whereupon an unloading device (8) is disposed close to the stack by means of which, at any given time, the topmost package in the stack is transferred on to another transport track (10). 6. Method according to claims 4 and 5 characterized in that the other transport track (10) is disposed over the warehouse tracks (4), being essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the warehouse tracks (4), and that single packages coming from the unloading device (8) are transferred to another transport track (10) using an intermediate conveyor (9), being essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the warehouse track (4) . 7. Apparatus for handling stacked packages like cases of beverage or corresponding, in particular for distributive purposes, the apparatus comprising two or more parallel warehouse tracks (4) on to which packages like cases of beverage stored in stacks are fed, - an unloading unit (5) at the end that is opposite to the feed end of the warehouse track (4) for transferring stacks from the warehouse track (4) on to at least one transfer track (6) in order to be moved to the packing section for forming composite pallets characterized in that the warehouse tracks (4) are arranged to receive pallets (2) having stacked packages (3) and that the unloading unit (5) comprises means (14-19) for gripping one or two adjacent vertical sides and/or an element like a opening, being connected thereto, of at least one package (3) in the stack in handling turn for imparting the force for transferring at least one package (3) directly from the pallet (2). 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 characterized in that means (14-19) comprise a transfer carriage (15) or corresponding which is arranged to be movable on at least one horizontal guide system (14, 16) or corresponding and that the transfer carriage (15) comprises a vertical shaft (17) or corresponding arranged to move in vertical direction relative to the transfer carriage (15) and that the vertical shaft (17) or corresponding is provided with at least one gripping means (18) for gripping either one vertical side of at least one package (3) or two adjacent vertical sides of at least one package (3). 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 characterized in that the end portion of the warehouse track (4) is provided with a horizontal opening (11) through which the empty pallets (2), that have been unloaded in the unloading unit (5) , are arranged to be removed from the warehouse track (4) preferably on to the transfer track (13). 10. Apparatus according to claim 7 and 9 characterized in that the main frame (12) disposed above the opening (11) and arranged to serve as the support for the first transport track (6) , is provided with an intermediate storage (7) on to which at least one stack from the pallet (2) on the warehouse track (4) is arranged to be moved using the unloading unit (5) whereupon a supporting pallet (22) or corresponding, being arranged to be vertically movable relative to the main frame (12), is connected to said main frame (12), said supporting pallet (22) having on its above an unloading device (8) for directly or indirectly transferring the uppermost package (3) of the stack in the intermediate storage on to another transport track (10).

Inventors: BAECKSTROEM PEHR, KOHTANEN TAPANI, LYSTILAE JUHANI, BAECKSTROEM, PEHR, KOHTANEN, TAPANI, LYSTILAE, JUHANI
Applicants: ONNINEN OY
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B65G60
IPC codes: B65G59