Apparatus and method for palletizing bundles of sheets

Claim 2

Apparatus for palletizing bundles of sheets, comprising a pallet, a gripper for engaging a bundle of sheets, an overhead endless conveyor on which said gripper is mounted and including a vertical section for elevating said bundle of sheets from a first position and including a horizontal section for moving said bundle of sheets to a second position vertically above said pallet, said conveyor sections being continuous relative to each other for movement between said first position and said second position, an electric drive operatively connected with said overhead endless conveyor for powering said overhead endless conveyor, electric elements at said first position and at said second position and being electrically interconnected with said electric drive for controlling the operation of said electric drive in the movement of said bundle of sheets, said gripper includes a powered elevator for lowering said bundle of sheets at said second position and independent of the movement by said endless conveyor, and an additional electric element operatively connected with said elevator for powering said elevator at said first position to raise said bundle of sheets prior to the raising by said conveyor.

Claim 3

The apparatus for palletizing bundles of sheets, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said endless conveyor includes two movably supported and spaced apart endless lines, and said gripper is articularly connected to said lines and disposed therebetween.

Claim 4

The apparatus for palletizing bundles of sheets, as claimed in claim 2, including rotatably mounted supports on which said lines are trained for movement therepast.

Claim 5

The apparatus for palletizing bundles of sheets, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lines on said supports form a right angle shape in the side elevational view thereof.

Claim 6

The apparatus for palletizing bundles of sheets, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lines are two independent and parallel chains, and said rotatably mounted supports are sprockets.

Claim 7

The apparatus for palletizing bundles of sheets, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric elements include a photocell for positioning said bundle of sheets on said pallet.

Claim 8

The apparatus for palletizing bundles of sheets, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said gripper includes a powered elevator for lowering said bundles of sheets at said second position and independent of the movement by said endless conveyor.

Claim 9

The apparatus for palletizing bundles of sheets, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electric elements include a photocell for positioning said bundle of sheets on said pallet.

Claim 10

Apparatus for palletizing bundles of sheets from a first position and into a second position adjacent said first position, comprising a pallet disposed at said second position, an overhead endless conveyor including means for engaging a bundle of sheets and including a vertical section for elevating said bundle of sheets from the first position and to an elevation directly above said first position and said conveyor including a horizontal section extending at said elevation and only to one side of said vertical section and directly vertically over said second position for moving said bundle of sheets to the second position and vertically above said pallet, said conveyor sections being at right angles and continuous relative to each other for movement between said first position and said second position, an electric drive operatively connected with said overhead endless conveyor for powering said overhead endless conveyor, electric elements adjacent said first position and adjacent said second position and being electrically interconnected with said electric drive for controlling the operation of said electric drive in the movement of said bundle of sheets, a vertically powered elevator mounted on said endless conveyor and interposed between said endless conveyor and the first said means engaging said bundle of sheets for vertically moving said bundle of sheets independent of said endless conveyor and at both said first position and said second position, and power controls connected with said powered elevator for vertically moving said powered elevator.

Claim 11

Apparatus for palletizing bundles of sheets from a first position and into a second position adjacent said first position, comprising a pallet disposed at said second position, an overhead endless conveyor including means for engaging a bundle of sheets and including a vertical section for elevating said bundle of sheets from the first position and to an elevation directly above said first position and said conveyor including a horizontal section extending at said elevation and only to one side of said vertical section and directly vertically over said second position for moving said bundle of sheets to the second position and vertically above said pallet, said conveyor sections being at right angles and continuous relative to each other for movement between said first position and said second position, an electric drive operatively connected with said overhead endless conveyor for powering said overhead endless conveyor, electric elements adjacent said first position and adjacent said second position and being electrically interconnected with said electric drive for controlling the operation of said electric drive in the movement of said bundle of sheets, a vertically powered elevator mounted on said endless conveyor and interposed between said endless conveyor and the first said means engaging said bundle of sheets for vertically moving said bundle of sheets independent of said endless conveyor and at both said first position and said second position, and power controls connected with said powered elevator for vertically moving said powered elevator.

Claim 14

The method of stacking bundles of sheets from a pickup station and onto a pallet and with an overhead crane system, as claimed in claim 10, including the step of lowering said pallet the height of the bundles after one layer of the bundles exists on said pallet in side-by-side position.

Claim 15

The method of stacking bundles of sheets from a pickup station and onto a pallet and with an overhead crane system, as claimed in claim 10, including the step of gripping each bundle of sheets only at their opposite ends and leave the opposite sides clear.

Claim 16

The method of stacking bundles of sheets from a pickup station and onto a pallet and with an overhead crane system, as claimed in claim 10, including the step of photoelectrically sensing the positions of the bundles on said pallet for guidance of said powered clamp.