Method and equipment for palletizing and depalletizing can-tops

Claim 5

Apparatus for loading thin flat objects available as an axially aligned row of indeterminate length in at least one object delivery channel onto grid frames having a plurality of pockets and palletizing said grid frames comprising, in combination: a first pallet receiving area adapted to receive a first pallet supporting a plurality of stacked empty grid frames; a grid frame cross transfer conveyor longitudinally adjacent said first pallet receiving area having a single grid frame receiving area, a string transfer area and a single grid frame off loading area, transversely adjacent one another; a first grid frame transfer means adapted to remove one of said empty grid frames from said first pallet and position said empty grid frame on said grid frame cross transfer conveyor in said single grid frame receiving area; string transfer means adapted to engage a string of said axially aligned objects of predetermined length in one of said channels, remove said string of objects from said channel, deposit said string of objects in one of said pockets located in a string loading position in a grid frame located in said string transfer area and disengage said string of objects; drive means adapted to transversely advance said grid frame cross transfer conveyor actuated by said string transfer means disengaging said string of objects; sensing means adapted to sense the presence or absence of an adjacent empty string pocket in said grid frame located in said string transfer area; stop said drive means such that said adjacent empty string pocket is positioned in said string loading position in the presence of an adjacent empty string pocket; and, cause said drive means to advance said grid frame located in said string transfer area into said single grid frame off-loading area in the absence of an adjacent empty string pocket; second grid frame transfer means adapted to engage said single grid frame in said single grid frame off-loading area and deposit said grid frame on a stack of filled grid frames on a second pallet in a second pallet receiving area longitudinally adjacent said grid frame off-loading area and transversely adjacent said first pallet receiving area; and, said first pallet receiving area being connected to said second pallet receiving area by a pallet cross transfer conveyor parallel to said grid frame cross transfer conveyor adapted to convey empty pallets to said second pallet receiving area.

Claim 6

Apparatus for loading thin flat objects available as an axially aligned row of indeterminate length in at least one object delivery channel onto grid frames having a plurality of pockets and palletizing said grid frames comprising, in combination: a first pallet receiving area adapted to receive a first pallet supporting a plurality of stacked empty grid frames; a grid frame cross transfer conveyor longitudinally adjacent said first pallet receiving area having a single grid frame receiving area, a string transfer area and a single grid frame off loading area, transversely adjacent one another; a first grid frame transfer means adapted to remove one of said empty grid frames from said first pallet and position said empty grid frame on said grid frame cross transfer conveyor in said single grid frame receiving area; string transfer means adapted to engage a string of said axially aligned objects of predetermined length in one of said channels, remove said string of objects from said channel, deposit said string of objects in one of said pockets located in a string loading position in a grid frame located in said string transfer area and disengage said string of objects; drive means adapted to transversely advance said grid frame cross transfer conveyor actuated by said string transfer means disengaging said string of objects; sensing means adapted to sense the presence or absence of an adjacent empty string pocket in said grid frame located in said string transfer area; stop said drive means such that said adjacent empty string pocket is positioned in said string loading position in the presence of an adjacent empty string pocket; and, cause said drive means to advance said grid frame located in said string transfer area into said single grid frame off-loading area in the absence of an adjacent empty string pocket; second grid frame transfer means adapted to engage said single grid frame in said single grid frame off-loading area and deposit said grid frame on a stack of filled grid frames on a second pallet in a second pallet receiving area longitudinally adjacent said grid frame off-loading area and transversely adjacent said first pallet receiving area; and, said first pallet receiving area being connected to said second pallet receiving area by a pallet cross transfer conveyor parallel to said grid frame cross transfer conveyor adapted to convey empty pallets to said second pallet receiving area.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first pallet receiving area is connected by a first pallet conveyor to a first pallet parking area and said second pallet receiving area is connected by a second pallet conveyor to a second pallet parking area.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first pallet conveyor is parallel to said second pallet conveyor and said first and second pallet conveyors are perpendicular to said pallet cross transfer conveyor.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said grid frames each comprise two parallel rectangular side members having upper surfaces and lower surfaces interconnected by a plurality of cross members perpendicular to said side members defining V-shaped pockets, said side members having centering projections disposed at selected locations on said side member upper surface and centering apertures at selected locations in said side member lower surfaces.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first grid frame transfer means and said second grid frame transfer means are comprised of lift frames suspended by cloth suspension element from overhead lift trolleys.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said lift trolleys further comprise electric drive motors and drive reversing means for raising and lowering said grid frames.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said lift frames comprise a frame and pawls supported on said frame, said pawls adapted to engage lifting apertures in said grid frames.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said grid frame cross transfer conveyor is a roller chain conveyor, said conveyor having stubs extending from one side thereof such stubs being spaced along said conveyor a distance, one from the next identical to the distance between the centers of adjacent pockets in said grid frames, said stubs coacting with said sensing means.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said stubs are positioned on said conveyor only in positions corresponding to positions to be occupied by grid frames.

Claim 15

Apparatus for unloading thin flat objects from grid frames having a plurality of pockets containing said objects and palletizing said grid frames comprising, in combination: (a) a first pallet receiving area adapted to receive a first pallet supporting a plurality of stacked full grid frames; (b) a grid frame cross transfer conveyor longitudinally adjacent said first pallet receiving area having a single grid frame receiving area, a string transfer area and a single grid frame off-loading area; (c) first grid frame transfer means adapted to remove one of said full grid frames from said first pallet and position said full grid frame on said grid frame cross transfer conveyor in said single grid frame receiving area; (d) string transfer means adapted to engage a string of said objects in one of said pockets located in a string unloading position, remove said string of objects, deposit said string of objects in a channel and disengage said string of objects; (e) drive means adapted to advance said grid frame cross transfer conveyor actuated by said string transfer means disengaging said string of objects; (f) sensing means adapted to sense the presence or absence of an adjacent full pocket in said grid frame located in said string transfer area; stop said drive means such that said adjacent full pocket is positioned in said string unloading position in the presence of an adjacent full pocket; and cause said drive means to advance said grid frame located in said string transfer area into said single grid frame off loading area in the absence of an adjacent full pocket; (g) second grid frame transfer means adapted to engage said single grid frame in said single grid frame off-loading area and deposit said grid frame on a stack of empty grid frames on a second pallet in a second pallet receiving area longitudinally adjacent said grid frame off-loading area and transversely adjacent said first pallet receiving area; and, (h) said first pallet receiving area being connected to said second pallet receiving area by a pallet cross transfer conveyor parallel to said grid frame cross transfer conveyor adapted to convey empty pallets to said second pallet receiving area.

Claim 16

Apparatus for unloading thin flat objects from grid frames having a plurality of pockets containing said objects and palletizing said grid frames comprising, in combination: (a) a first pallet receiving area adapted to receive a first pallet supporting a plurality of stacked full grid frames; (b) a grid frame cross transfer conveyor longitudinally adjacent said first pallet receiving area having a single grid frame receiving area, a string transfer area and a single grid frame off-loading area; (c) first grid frame transfer means adapted to remove one of said full grid frames from said first pallet and position said full grid frame on said grid frame cross transfer conveyor in said single grid frame receiving area; (d) string transfer means adapted to engage a string of said objects in one of said pockets located in a string unloading position, remove said string of objects, deposit said string of objects in a channel and disengage said string of objects; (e) drive means adapted to advance said grid frame cross transfer conveyor actuated by said string transfer means disengaging said string of objects; (f) sensing means adapted to sense the presence or absence of an adjacent full pocket in said grid frame located in said string transfer area; stop said drive means such that said adjacent full pocket is positioned in said string unloading position in the presence of an adjacent full pocket; and cause said drive means to advance said grid frame located in said string transfer area into said single grid frame off loading area in the absence of an adjacent full pocket; (g) second grid frame transfer means adapted to engage said single grid frame in said single grid frame off-loading area and deposit said grid frame on a stack of empty grid frames on a second pallet in a second pallet receiving area longitudinally adjacent said grid frame off-loading area and transversely adjacent said first pallet receiving area; and, (h) said first pallet receiving area being connected to said second pallet receiving area by a pallet cross transfer conveyor parallel to said grid frame cross transfer conveyor adapted to convey empty pallets to said second pallet receiving area.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said grid frame cross transfer conveyor is a roller chain conveyor, said conveyor having stubs extending from one side thereof, such stubs being spaced along said conveyor a distance, one from the next, identical to the distance between the centers of adjacent pocket in said grid frames, stubs coacting with said sensing means.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said stubs are positioned on said conveyor only in positions corresponding to positions to be occupied by grid frames.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said first pallet receiving area is connected by a first pallet conveyor to a first pallet parking area and said second pallet receiving area is connected by a second pallet conveyor to a second pallet parking area.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said pallet cross transfer conveyor is a raisable double chain conveyor.

Claim 21

Apparatus for loading thin flat objects available as an axially aligned row of indeterminate length in at least one object delivery channel onto grid frames having a plurality of pockets and palletizing said grid frames comprising, in combination: a first pallet receiving area adapted to receive a first pallet supporting a plurality of stacked empty grid frames; a grid frame cross transfer conveyor having a single grid frame receiving area, a string transfer area and a single grid frame off loading area; a first grid frame transfer means adapted to remove one of said empty grid frames from said first pallet and position said empty grid frame on said cross transfer conveyor in said single grid frame receiving area; string transfer means adapted to engage a string of said axially aligned objects of predetermined length in one of said channels, remove said string of objects from said channel, deposit said string of objects in one of said pockets located in a string loading position in a grid frame located in said string transfer area and disengage said string of objects; drive means actuated by said string transfer means disengaging said string of objects advancing said cross transfer conveyor; sensing means sensing the presence or absence of an adjacent empty string pocket in said grid frame located in said string transfer area; stopping said drive means such that said adjacent empty string pocket is positioned in said string loading position in the presence of an adjacent empty string pocket; and, causing said drive means to advance said grid frame located in said string transfer area into said single grid frame off loading area in the absence of an adjacent empty string pocket; second grid frame transfer means engaging said single grid frame in said single grid frame off loading area and depositing said grid frame on a stack of filled grid frames on a second pallet in a second pallet receiving area; and said first grid frame transfer means and said second grid frame transfer means are comprised of lift frames suspended by cloth suspension element from overhead lift trolleys, said lift trolleys further comprise electric drive motors and drive reversing means for raising and lowering said grid frames, and said lift frames comprise a frame and pawls supported on said frame, said pawls adapted to engage lifting apertures in said grid frames and pneumatic resetting means acting through an eccentric wheel and control rods disengaging said pawls from said grid frame lifting apertures.

Claim 22

Apparatus for loading thin flat objects available as an axially aligned row of indeterminate length in at least one object delivery channel onto grid frames having a plurality of pockets and palletizing said grid frames comprising, in combination: a first pallet receiving area adapted to receive a first pallet supporting a plurality of stacked empty grid frames; a grid frame cross transfer conveyor having a single grid frame receiving area, a string transfer area and a single grid frame off loading area; a first grid frame transfer means adapted to remove one of said empty grid frames from said first pallet and position said empty grid frame on said cross transfer conveyor in said single grid frame receiving area; string transfer means adapted to engage a string of said axially aligned objects of predetermined length in one of said channels, remove said string of objects from said channel, deposit said string of objects in one of said pockets located in a string loading position in a grid frame located in said string transfer area and disengage said string of objects; drive means actuated by said string transfer means disengaging said string of objects advancing said cross transfer conveyor; sensing means sensing the presence or absence of an adjacent empty string pocket in said grid frame located in said string transfer area; stopping said drive means such that said adjacent empty string pocket is positioned in said string loading position in the presence of an adjacent empty string pocket; and, causing said drive means to advance said grid frame located in said string transfer area into said single grid frame off loading area in the absence of an adjacent empty string pocket; second grid frame transfer means engaging said single grid frame in said single grid frame off loading area and depositing said grid frame on a stack of filled grid frames on a second pallet in a second pallet receiving area; and said first grid frame transfer means and said second grid frame transfer means are comprised of lift frames suspended by cloth suspension element from overhead lift trolleys, said lift trolleys further comprise electric drive motors and drive reversing means for raising and lowering said grid frames, and said lift frames comprise a frame and pawls supported on said frame, said pawls adapted to engage lifting apertures in said grid frames and pneumatic resetting means acting through an eccentric wheel and control rods disengaging said pawls from said grid frame lifting apertures.

Claim 23

Apparatus for loading thin flat objects available as an axially aligned row of indeterminate length in at least one object delivery channel onto grid frames having a plurality of pockets and palletizing said grid frames comprising, in combination: a first pallet receiving area adapted to receive a first pallet supporting a plurality of stacked empty grid frames; a grid frame cross transfer conveyor having a single grid frame receiving area, a string transfer area and a single grid frame off loading area; a first grid frame transfer means adapted to remove one of said empty grid frames from said first pallet and position said empty grid frame on said cross transfer conveyor in said single grid frame receiving area; string transfer means adapted to engage a string of said axially aligned objects of predetermined length in one of said channels, remove said string of objects from said channel, deposit said string of objects in one of said pockets located in a string loading position in a grid frame located in said string transfer area and disengage said string of objects; said string transfer means comprising a loading beam having an object transfer strip at its lower end adapted to engage a string of said objects and carry said objects to said string loading position; and, top knives supported in frames above each of said channels, said top knives dividing said row of objects into strings of predetermined length for engagement by said transfer strip, said top knives being actuated by operation of a limit switch; drive means actuated by said string transfer means disengaging said string of objects advancing said cross transfer conveyor; sensing means sensing the presence or absence of an adjacent empty string pocket in said grid frame located in said string transfer area; stopping said drive means such that said adjacent empty string pocket is positioned in said string loading position in the presence of an adjacent empty string pocket; and, causing said drive means to advance said grid frame located in said string transfer area into said single grid frame off loading area in the absence of an adjacent empty string pocket; second grid frame transfer means engaging said single grid frame in said single grid frame off loading area and depositing said grid frame on a stack of filled grid frames on a second pallet in a second pallet receiving area.

Claim 24

Apparatus for loading thin flat objects available as an axially aligned row of indeterminate length in at least one object delivery channel onto grid frames having a plurality of pockets and palletizing said grid frames comprising, in combination: a first pallet receiving area adapted to receive a first pallet supporting a plurality of stacked empty grid frames; a grid frame cross transfer conveyor having a single grid frame receiving area, a string transfer area and a single grid frame off loading area; a first grid frame transfer means adapted to remove one of said empty grid frames from said first pallet and position said empty grid frame on said cross transfer conveyor in said single grid frame receiving area; string transfer means adapted to engage a string of said axially aligned objects of predetermined length in one of said channels, remove said string of objects from said channel, deposit said string of objects in one of said pockets located in a string loading position in a grid frame located in said string transfer area and disengage said string of objects; said string transfer means comprising a loading beam having an object transfer strip at its lower end adapted to engage a string of said objects and carry said objects to said string loading position; and, top knives supported in frames above each of said channels, said top knives dividing said row of objects into strings of predetermined length for engagement by said transfer strip, said top knives being actuated by operation of a limit switch; drive means actuated by said string transfer means disengaging said string of objects advancing said cross transfer conveyor; sensing means sensing the presence or absence of an adjacent empty string pocket in said grid frame located in said string transfer area; stopping said drive means such that said adjacent empty string pocket is positioned in said string loading position in the presence of an adjacent empty string pocket; and, causing said drive means to advance said grid frame located in said string transfer area into said single grid frame off loading area in the absence of an adjacent empty string pocket; second grid frame transfer means engaging said single grid frame in said single grid frame off loading area and depositing said grid frame on a stack of filled grid frames on a second pallet in a second pallet receiving area.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said string transfer means further comprises two side knives slidably mounted on a clearance bar at the end of each said channel, said side knives engaging said strings of predetermined length separated by said top knives and moving said strings to pick off positions.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein there is provided at least two object delivery channels and said loading beam is controlled by a double stroke pneumatic cylinder.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said string transfer means further comprises pneumatic cylinders at both ends of said string loading position engaging a loaded string prior to disengagement of said object transfer strip and disengaging said string after said transfer strip is disengaged.