US5269646A — Process and installation for the rearrangement of…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 226 words

A system for handling articles of different types comprising: a) a plurality of depalletising stations (10 to 12); b) means for removing a layer of articles (42) from a pallet, said removing means associated with each of the plurality of depalletising stations; c) a plurality of band conveying means (17 to 19), each of the plurality of conveying means comprising a plurality of conveying bands (43-46); d) a plurality of sort conveying means (20-22, 23-25, 26-28), each of the plurality of sort conveying means being parallel to one another; e) a plurality of sort stores (29 to 37), each of the plurality of sort stores being parallel to one another; f) at least one group-forming station (13 to 16); and g) group conveying means (38 to 41) for transporting articles (42) from the sort conveying means (20 to 28) to the at least one group forming station (13 to 16); wherein each of the plurality of depalletising stations has associated therewith one of said band conveying means, each band conveying means has associated therewith a subset of said plurality of sort conveying means, the band conveying means conveying an article removed from the pallet by the removing means to one of the plurality of sort conveying means in the associated subset, and each sort conveying means has associated therewith a sort store for temporarily holding articles.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 226 words

A system for handling articles of different types comprising: a) a plurality of depalletising stations (10 to 12); b) means for removing a layer of articles (42) from a pallet, said removing means associated with each of the plurality of depalletising stations; c) a plurality of band conveying means (17 to 19), each of the plurality of conveying means comprising a plurality of conveying bands (43-46); d) a plurality of sort conveying means (20-22, 23-25, 26-28), each of the plurality of sort conveying means being parallel to one another; e) a plurality of sort stores (29 to 37), each of the plurality of sort stores being parallel to one another; f) at least one group-forming station (13 to 16); and g) group conveying means (38 to 41) for transporting articles (42) from the sort conveying means (20 to 28) to the at least one group forming station (13 to 16); wherein each of the plurality of depalletising stations has associated therewith one of said band conveying means, each band conveying means has associated therewith a subset of said plurality of sort conveying means, the band conveying means conveying an article removed from the pallet by the removing means to one of the plurality of sort conveying means in the associated subset, and each sort conveying means has associated therewith a sort store for temporarily holding articles.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system according to claim 1, characterized in that each band conveying means comprises as many conveying bands (43 to 46) arranged parallel to one another as there are rows of articles (42) within a pallet layer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 70 words

The system according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the plurality of conveying bands (43 to 46) can be driven at a different conveying speed from that of the others, in such a way that the depalletised articles (42) received by the plurality of conveying bands (43 to 46) can be conveyed, without articles (42) transported on mutually adjacent conveying bands (43 to 46) colliding with one another.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 80 words

The system according to claim 3, characterized in that the plurality of conveying bands (43 to 46), at one of the ends thereof, are arranged together between two lateral guides (48, 49) which are located in a conveying region and which are mutually spaced apart by a distance that is reduced continuously, along a direction in which articles are conveyed on the plurality of conveying bands, to a distance that is substantially equal to the width of the articles (42).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 67 words

The system according to claim 4, characterized in that adjacent the lateral guides (48, 49) there is a number, corresponding to the number of sorts of articles to be depalletised in a depalletising station (10 to 12), of sort conveying means (20 to 22, 23 to 25, 26 to 28) which adjoin a end region of the lateral guides (48, 49) via a multiple conveyor switch (50).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system according to claim 5, characterized in that at each depalletising station (10 to 12) there is a slide (47) for pushing a pallet layer onto an associated band conveying means (17-19).

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system according to claim 1, characterized in that each sort store (29 to 37) comprises a stacker (71, 72), a conveying-zone portion (20a) of said sort conveying means forming a bottom-most run-through portion of the stacker and extending beyond the sort store (29 to 37).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 60 words

The system according to claim 7, characterized in that the stacker consists of two oppositely movable rotary mechanisms (71) with drivers (72) which receive the articles (42) and move them to a higher plane and when, as required, the drivers are moved in an opposite direction, deposit articles (42) onto said conveying-zone portion (20a) of the sort conveying means (20).

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 70 words

The system according to claim 1, characterized in that there are a plurality of group conveying means (38 to 41) and a plurality of group-forming stations, and in that each of said group conveying means (38 to 41) are associated with a subset of said plurality of sort stores (29 to 37), there being as many group conveying means (38 to 41) as there are group-forming stations (13 to 16).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system according to claim 9, characterized in that each of the plurality of group conveying means (38 to 41) are arranged one above another.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system according to claim 10, characterized in that each sort conveying means (20 to 28) is connectable to each of the group conveying means (38 to 41) via a conveyor switch (55 to 63).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 72 words

The system according to claim 9, characterized in that each group-forming station (13 to 16) has a first conveyor track (68) for feeding group bases (66) and a second conveyor track for feeding articles (42) from the plurality of group conveying means (38 to 41) into respective working regions of a lifting and pivoting unit (75) for the bases (66) and of a lifting and pivoting unit (63) for the articles (42).

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 52 words

The system according to claim 12, characterized in that all the group-forming stations (13 to 16) are adjacent a common first conveyor track (68), from which extends, to each group-forming station (13 to 16), a branch-off conveyor (67) which is guided into the working region of the lifting and pivoting unit (75).

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system according to claim 13, characterized in that the first conveyor track (68) is a roller track.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system according to claim 14, characterized in that the branch-off conveyors (67) are belt-drive conveyors.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 159 words

A process of using a system to handle articles of different types, the system including a plurality of depalletising stations (10, 11, 12), each of the plurality of depalletising stations having associated therewith a plurality of sort conveyors (20-22, 23-25, 26-28), the conveyor switch directing an article transported from the depalletising station to one of the plurality of sort conveyors, and each sort conveyor having associated therewith a sort store (29-37) for temporarily holding articles, the process comprising the steps of: a) successively feeding pallets each containing a single type of article to the depalletising stations; b) at the depalletising stations, removing layers of articles from the pallets and transporting the articles to said conveyor switch; c) conveying the articles on the sort conveyors to the sort stores so that each sort store contains a single type of article; and d) discharging articles from the sort stores and combining the discharge articles into groups containing different types of articles.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 159 words

A process of using a system to handle articles of different types, the system including a plurality of depalletising stations (10, 11, 12), each of the plurality of depalletising stations having associated therewith a plurality of sort conveyors (20-22, 23-25, 26-28), the conveyor switch directing an article transported from the depalletising station to one of the plurality of sort conveyors, and each sort conveyor having associated therewith a sort store (29-37) for temporarily holding articles, the process comprising the steps of: a) successively feeding pallets each containing a single type of article to the depalletising stations; b) at the depalletising stations, removing layers of articles from the pallets and transporting the articles to said conveyor switch; c) conveying the articles on the sort conveyors to the sort stores so that each sort store contains a single type of article; and d) discharging articles from the sort stores and combining the discharge articles into groups containing different types of articles.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 58 words

The process according to claim 16, wherein the system further includes at least one group-forming station (13, 14, 15, 16) associated with the sort stores (29 to 37); further comprising the step of feeding articles discharged from the sort stores to at least one group-forming station (13, 14, 15, 16) to form groups of articles of different types.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 132 words

The process according to claim 17, wherein the system further includes a plurality of multiple-band conveyors (17, 18, 19), each of said plurality of multiple-band conveyors being located between a respective depalletising station (10, 11, 12) and the conveyor switch (50) associated with said respective depalletising station, further comprising the steps of: a) combining articles of a single type on one of said plurality of multiple-band conveyors to form a single conveying stream of articles issuing from a depalletising station associated with said one of said plurality of multiple-band conveyors; and b) feeding the stream of articles of a single type to one of said plurality of sort stores (29 to 37) via one of said plurality of sort conveyors which is associated with said one of said plurality of sort stores.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 41 words

The process according to claim 18, wherein each multiple-band conveyor has a plurality of conveying bands (43-46); comprising the step of delivering the articles of each row of a pallet layer, during depalletisation, to a conveying band associated with each row.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

The process according to claim 19, comprising operating each of the plurality of conveying bands associated with a row of articles in the pallet layer at different respective conveying speeds.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

The process according to claim 20, comprising operating the plurality of conveying bands at respective conveying speeds so that the articles of different rows of a pallet layer are transported on an associated conveying band without colliding with one another.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 61 words

The process according to claim 21, wherein the system includes guides; comprising conveying the articles on the conveying bands past the guides so that the articles are shifted on the conveying bands transversely relative to a direction in which the articles are conveyed on the conveying bands in order to combine the articles so that they form the single conveying stream.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process according to claim 21, comprising depalletising the articles in a raised state.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 47 words

The process according to claim 21, wherein each sort store has a stop at one end; comprising feeding articles into the sort stores and abutting the articles against the stops, raising articles already located inside the sort stores and subsequently feeding additional articles into the sort stores.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 36 words

The process according to claim 17, wherein the system includes a plurality of group-forming stations; comprising releasing articles from the sort stores in an amount and sequence required to fulfil operations performed at the group-forming stations.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process according to claim 25, comprising feeding bases to the group-forming stations.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process according to claim 26, comprising elevating, pivoting and subsequently depositing articles on the bases.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 17 words

The process according to claim 27, comprising palletising groups of articles which are supported on respective bases.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 143 words

A system for handling articles of different types comprising: a) a plurality of depalletising stations including means for removing layers of articles from pallets; b) a plurality of multiple-band conveyors for conveying articles from the depalletising stations; c) a plurality of sort conveyors; d) a plurality of conveyor switches, each of the plurality of conveyor switches being located between a respective multiple band conveyor and said plurality of sort conveyors; and e) a plurality of sort stores; wherein each of the plurality of depalletising stations has associated therewith a multiple-band conveyor and a conveyor switch, each conveyor switch has associated therewith a plurality of sort conveyors, the conveyor switch directing an article, transported by the multiple-band conveyor, from the depalletising station to one of the plurality of sort conveyors, and each sort conveyor has associated therewith a sort store for temporarily holding articles.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 143 words

A system for handling articles of different types comprising: a) a plurality of depalletising stations including means for removing layers of articles from pallets; b) a plurality of multiple-band conveyors for conveying articles from the depalletising stations; c) a plurality of sort conveyors; d) a plurality of conveyor switches, each of the plurality of conveyor switches being located between a respective multiple band conveyor and said plurality of sort conveyors; and e) a plurality of sort stores; wherein each of the plurality of depalletising stations has associated therewith a multiple-band conveyor and a conveyor switch, each conveyor switch has associated therewith a plurality of sort conveyors, the conveyor switch directing an article, transported by the multiple-band conveyor, from the depalletising station to one of the plurality of sort conveyors, and each sort conveyor has associated therewith a sort store for temporarily holding articles.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system according to claim 29, wherein each sort store has a horizontal conveying-zone portion (20a).

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 59 words

The system according to claim 30, further comprising: a plurality of group conveyors (38-41); and a plurality of transfer conveyors (20b), each transfer conveyor (20b) being associated with a respective one of said plurality of sort stores for transferring the articles from the respective one of said plurality of sort stores to one of said plurality of group conveyors.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system according to claim 31, further comprising a plurality of conveyor switches (54-62) for connecting each transfer conveyor (20b) to one of the plurality of group conveyors (38-41).

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 73 words

The system according to claim 31, wherein: each of said plurality of group conveyors (38-41) are horizontal and are disposed one above another; and each of said plurality of transfer conveyors (20b) have one end which is vertically pivotable into a position adjacent one of said plurality of conveyor switches (54-62) at a time, each of said plurality of conveyor switches (54-62) being associated with a respective one of the group conveyors (39-41).

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system according to claim 31, further comprising a group-forming station (13-16) located adjacent each of said plurality of group conveyors (39-41).

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 56 words

The system according to claim 29, further comprising: a) a plurality of group-forming stations (13 to 16); and b) group conveying means (38 to 41), located adjacent said group-forming station, for conveying the articles to be formed into a group, from the sort stores (29 to 37) to said plurality of group-forming stations (13 to 16).

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 89 words

The system according to claim 35, further comprising a plurality of sort conveying means (20b) which correspond in number to said plurality of sort conveyors (20 to 28), each of said plurality of sort conveying means being associated with one of said plurality of sort stores (29 to 37), and wherein said plurality of sort conveying means are connectable to different ones of the group conveying means (38 to 41) via conveyor switches (54 to 62) located between said plurality of sort conveying means and said group conveying means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-12-13	1997-06-14	1997-12-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-12-13	2001-06-14	2001-12-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-12-13	2005-06-14	2005-12-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Process and installation for the rearrangement of articles palletised according to sorts to form groups of specific sort composition

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