Packing station and method for automated loading of piece goods on a load carrier including subsequent foil wrapping

Abstract

An automated packing station for automated loading of load carriers with piece goods and for automated wrapping a stack with a foil, comprising: a fixedly arranged packing robot; and a rotational-arm winding device arranged adjacent to the packing robot and comprising a frame which is adapted to absorb forces which occur during the wrapping of the stack with the foil, and to forward the forces to an environment of the packing station.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a continuation application of the co-pending international patent application WO 2011 / 141556 A2 (PCT / EP2011 / 057713) filed on May 12, 2011 and claiming priority of the German patent application DE 10 2010 020 998.2 filed on May 12, 2010, which are incorporated fully herewith by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to an automated packing station as well as a method for automated loading of load carriers with piece goods forming, in a loaded state of the load carrier, a stack thereon, and for automated wrapping the stack with a foil.RELATED PRIOR ART[0003]Winding devices (wrappers) have been used long since in the field of order picking. Substantially there are three types of winding systems which can be divided roughly into semi-automated and fully-automated systems. Typification happens substantially dependent on performance.[0004]A first type of winding machines can wrap up to 35 load carriers (Euro-pool pallets,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]This object is solved by an automated packing station for automated loading of load carriers with piece goods which, in a loaded state of the load carrier, form a stack thereon, and for automated wrapping the stack with a foil, comprising: a fixedly arranged packing robot which loads the load carrier at a fixedly predefined packing position with piece goods, which are fed to the packing robot preferably via a piece-good conveyor, and which packing robot acts during the loading within an action space, which has to be free from other objects) for not disrupting automated loading movements of the packing robot and a rotational-arm winding device arranged adjacent to the packing robot and comprising a frame which is adapted to absorb forces which occur during the wrapping of the stack with the foil, and to forward the forces to an environment of the packing station and on which frame a driven rotational arm is mounted rotationally such that a winding head which is connected rotatably to the rotational arm and can be adjusted vertically on a rotational mast rotates on a circular path in a height-adjustable manner around the stack which rests at the fixedly predefined packing position after the loading is completed; wherein the rotational-arm winding device is supported movably between a rest position outside of the action space and a winding position within the action space. According to another aspect of the invention an automated packing station for automated loading of load carriers with piece goods which, in a loaded state of the load carrier, form a stack thereon, and for automated wrapping the stack with a foil, comprises: a fixedly arranged packing robot serving a fixedly predefined packing position, which is configured to load the load carrier at the fixedly predefined packing position with the piece goods, and which packing robot has an environment and an action space in which the packing robot acts during the loading, wherein the action space is free from other objects in order not to disrupt automated loading movements of the packing robot; and a rotational-arm winding device comprising a driven rotational arm, a rotational mast and a winding head and being arranged adjacent to the packing robot and comprising a frame which is adapted to absorb forces which occur during the wrapping of the stack with the foil and to forward the forces to the environment of the packing station and on which frame the driven rotational arm is supported rotatably such that the winding head, which is connected rotatably to the rotational arm and can be adjusted vertically on the rotational mast, rotates on a circular path in a height-adjustable manner around the stack which rests at the fixedly predefined packing position after the loading is completed; and a load-carrier conveyor for conveying empty or partially packed ones of the load carriers to the fixedly predefined packing position and for conveying the load carriers, holding wrapped stacks, away from the fixedly predefined packing position; wherein the rotational-arm winding device is supported movably between a rest position outside of the action space and a winding position within the action space, and wherein the frame is arranged stationary relative to the packing robot and comprises a stationary main mast and a pivotal arm which is supported rotatably on the stationary main mast, the stationary main mast having one leg, wherein the rotational arm is supported rotatably in the pivotal arm, wherein the pivotal arm is pivotable from a first position outside of the action space to a second position within the action space.

[0015]A movably supported rotational-arm winding device is provided beside the fixedly arranged packing robot, which winding device comprises preferably only one standing leg and is movable from a rest position outside the action space of the packing robot into a winding position within the action space of the packing robot, in order to avoid moving the load carrier after successful loading with the piece goods for the purpose of wrapping. While the packing robot loads the load carrier and forms the stack of piece goods thereon, the rotational-arm winding device is outside the action space of the packing robot. In this manner it is ensured that the packing robot has sufficient space for loading the load carrier without colliding with the winding device. If the packing robot has completed the stack formation, the packing robot is returned to its own rest position for providing space for the winding device. The rotational-arm winding device is then moved into the action space so that the rotational arm can rotate around the loaded load carrier with the winding head thereof. However, the loaded load carrier remains, during these processes, always at one and the same location, i.e. the load carrier is not moved. In this manner the present invention achieves both the automated performance of the packing process and the wrapping process without risking the integrity of the stack of piece goods.

[0016]In this case, the rotational-arm winding device of the present invention is sized and configured such that the winding head is as close as possible to the stack during the wrapping process. The closer the winding is relative to the stack, the smaller the deflections of the winding head are, which are caused by build-up during the wrapping process. This in turn reduces the need of space of the winding device. The winding device and the packing robot can then be arranged adjacent to each other in a closest space. The closer the packing robot is positioned to the winding device, the shorter the times are which are required for bringing the winding device into the action space of the packing robot. This is one reason for an increased throughput and the increased performance of the packing station of the present invention.

Problems solved by technology

The closer the winding is relative to the stack, the smaller the deflections of the winding head are, which are caused by build-up during the wrapping process.

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