Patent ID: 7416379

Claim:
A palletizing machine ( 1 ) having an interlacing device ( 10 , 10 ′) for palletizing elongated cylindrical products ( 2 ), the palletizing machine ( 1 ) comprising: at least one upright palletizing gantry ( 3 ), at least one carrier ( 4 ) being supported by and vertically slidable along the at least one upright palletizing gantry ( 3 ), and at least one gripping device ( 5 ) being supported by and horizontally slidable along the at least one carrier ( 4 ) to transfer the elongated cylindrical products ( 2 ) from a storage ramp ( 6 ) to a transport pallet ( 7 ); the interlacing device ( 10 , 10 ′) is separate from the palletizing machine ( 1 ) and comprises at least one interlacing gantry ( 11 , 11 ′), which comprises at least one interlacing guide ( 20 , 20 ′) for supplying an interlacing material ( 12 ′) from at least one spool ( 12 ); at least two upright posts having top ends and bottom ends, the top ends of the at least two upright posts are interconnected by a cross-beam, which generally extends parallel to and along at least a portion of a length of the elongated cylindrical products ( 2 ) when palletized, the cross-beam having a greater length than the length of the elongated cylindrical products ( 2 ), the bottom ends of the at least two upright posts each have at least one guide which is received and slidably supported by one of at least two fixed guide pathways, which extend substantially perpendicular to the cross-beam for facilitating movement of the cross-beam substantially normal to the at least two fixed guide pathways and the at least one carrier ( 4 ) of the palletizing machine ( 1 ), the interlacing device ( 10 , 10 ′) also comprises a drive mechanism, which is separate from the operation of the palletizing machine ( 1 ), the drive mechanism is connected to the interlacing gantry ( 11 , 11 ′) for displacing the interlacing gantry ( 11 , 11 ′) inside the palletizing machine ( 1 ), vertically below the gripping device ( 5 ), and relative to the two fixed guide pathways, between at least two alternate end positions so as to displace the at least one interlacing guide ( 20 , 20 ′) in at least one interlacing plane (P), that is essentially perpendicular to the palletized products ( 2 ), alternately from one side to another side of the transport pallet ( 7 ).