Patent ID: 8220229

Claim:
An item handling and stacking system adapted to receive at least one item from an infeed system presented an infeed height, the item handling and stacking system comprising: a frame defining a generally vertical column of space; a layer assembly platform for receiving at least one item to build a layer, the layer assembly platform disposed within the vertical column of space operable between a first position and a second position within the vertical column, the layer assembly platform defining a selectively adjustable assembly platform layer-build height and further operable to receive at least one item at the assembly platform layer-build height, the assembly platform layer-build height being intermediate to the first and second positions, and the layer assembly platform further adapted to independently and selectively reciprocate vertically in the vertical column of space, the layer assembly platform further comprising an apron operable from a first closed position to a second open position, and a compaction mechanism comprising a first x-direction arm and a second, oppositely disposed x-direction arm, and a first y-direction barrier arranged generally perpendicular to the first x-direction arm and cooperating with both arms to define a generally rectilinear space; a pallet-build position disposed within the vertical column of space and positioned under the layer assembly platform; a pick-and-place robot disposed adjacent to the vertical column of space, the robot adapted to transfer the at least one item from the infeed system at the infeed height to a predetermined position on the layer assembly platform at the assembly platform layer-build height; and a stretch wrapping device comprising means for automatic wrap start and wrap cut after wrapping completion, a turntable positioned in the vertical column of space and adapted to selectively rotate, and a wrap dispensing system adjacent to the turntable, the dispensing system being operable to concurrently wrap a plurality of item layers within the vertical column while at least one item is being transferred from the infeed system to the layer assembly platform.