PALLETIZER

Abstract: Palletizing device comprising at least one pair of clamps (1, 1') whereof at least one clamp part may be moved on a track (4) in a movable frame (2) being connected to a movable slide guide (9). The pair of clamps (1, 1') comprises preferably rotatable end pieces (7). It is preferred that the palletizing device comprises 4 pairs of clamps. One use for the palletizing device is when handling sheets/stacks of paper, and the palletizing device may also be used for depalletizing.

Description: PAL ETIZER The present invention concerns a device for the loading and unloading of goods, especially sheets/laves/signature stacks on pallets. It is previously known several types of loading devices for goods on pallets, so-called palletizers, but none of these are known to have the possibility for individual handling of the stacks of goods on the pallets or any possibility to remove the goods from such pallets, so-called depalletizing, after the goods have been placed on the pallet. The present invention concerns thus such a device, a so- called palletizer machine, where each item on the pallet may be handled individually as well as depalletized by one and the same device. To achieve such a handling possibility the palletizer according to the invention is constructed as shown in the attached figure, where there is shown a preferred embodiment of such a palletizer being especially suited for the handling of paper stacks, and where it is shown that the device is assembled from individually operated clamp pairs 1, 1' , whereof one or the other clamp part may be stationary or movable or both may be movable, and which preferably are pneumatically, hydraulically or mechanically operated, and which are moved linearily in one direction in the horizontal plane on rails 2 or corresponding tracks, and in the transverse direction to this horizontal plane with pistons 3 which may be moved out or in by corresponding tracks 4 whereon the clamps are mounted. For motion in the horizontal plane the above mentioned operating devices are mounted on vertical leading tracks 5, said tracks being e.g. operated mechanically, magnetically or electrically. Between the clamps 1, 1' there is shown a held stack of sheets 6. At the end of the clamps 1,1' there are situated clamp end- pieces 7. These end-pieces 7 may be rotated in the vertical plane so that the stack of sheets 6 being held between the clamps, may be rotated to any angle, preferably 90° or 180° relative to the original position. This rotation is also performed by rotating parts (not shown) being present inside the clamps 1, 1' and being connected to the end pieces 7. The palletizer being shown in the figure is illustrated in connection with a tilting table 8 of a per se known type, where the end positions of the tilting table has been shown in outline. On such a tilting table it is usual to position a number of sheet stacks, e.g. 4, and the palletizer according to the invention is accordingly equipped with a corresponding number of clamps for handling a corresponding number of stacks. It is thus possible to equip the palletizing machine according to the inventon with at least one, and preferably four, clamps whereof each clamp may be rotated individually as indicated above. In connection with such a tilting table 8 the leading tracks 5 are connected with a frame/slide track 9 for correctly situating the tracks 2 over the tilting table. To transport the sheet stack(s) 6 from a position over the tilting table to another place for storage, e.g. a pallet (not shown) , the frame 9 is moved parallell to an edge of the tilting table 8 on tracks 10. For locating the clamps 1, l 1 correctly relatively to the stack 6, the tilting table 8 and the loading pallet, the device is equipped per se known indicating devices, and is being positioned by using a PLS-system, puls counters and photocells being known in the art per se. By equipping the palletizing machine with clamps of the type previously disclosed it is possible to both handle each stack of sheets individually, rotate the stack of sheets about an axis, as well as use the palletizing machine for depalletizing stacks of sheets or other articles by mainly using the above disclosed function in reverse. Such a palletizing machine as is disclosed above may also t fit into a larger system for handling goods in store, ) wherein each item in the store has been given a certain position to which the palletizing machine according to the invention may respond, and wherein each item may be handled by using the suitable clamps in the palletizer.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. Palletizing device comprising a movable frame with a slide guiding system (9) for at least one rail (2) with at least one pair of clamps (1,1') and per se known guiding devices for the positioning of the frame, the rail(s) and the clamp(s) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the clamps (1,1') may be moved individually on the rail (2) and may be compressed individually by using a connected compressing device (3,4). 2. Palletizing device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the compressing device comprises a piston (3) and guiding rails (4) for guiding at least one clamp in the pair of clamps (1,1'). 3. Palletizing device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the piston (3) is pneumatic. 4. Palletizing device according to claim 1 - 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the pair of clamps (1,1') comprises rotatable end pieces (7). 5. Palletizing device according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it comprises 4 pairs of clamps . 6. Use of a palletizing device according to any of the previous claims for depalletizing articles in a storage.

Inventors: ROESTE KOLBJOERN, ROESTE, KOLBJOERN
Applicants: NORLITO MASKIN AS, NORLITO MASKIN A/S
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65H31
IPC codes: B65G61