Patent ID: 8539739

Claim:
A method for palletizing a plurality of items from an infeed system using a hybrid palletizer and item handling system wherein plural items are arranged into rows of items and plural rows of items define a layer of items, the method comprising: a) presenting the plurality of items at an infeed system first height; b) using a pick and place robot, transferring at least one item but less than the number of items required to build a row by sliding the at least one item from the plurality of items to a predetermined position on a layer assembly platform having an apron, the layer assembly platform being positioned at an assembly-platform layer-build height within a vertical column; c) using the pick and place robot to transfer additional items from the plurality of items by sliding said additional items to respective predetermined positions on the layer assembly platform to build a first layer; d) vertically positioning the layer assembly platform from the assembly-platform layer-build height to a built-layer deposit height; e) opening the apron and depositing the first layer at the built-layer deposit height; f) building a subsequent layer of items on the layer assembly platform according to steps b) and c); and g) concurrently stretch wrapping the first layer while the subsequent layer is being built.