Compact Palletizer with Movable Apron and Puller Bar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional palletizers occupy more space, making it difficult to accommodate multiple machines in a given area, as they are larger in size.
Innovation Solution
A compact palletizer design incorporating a plate apron and apron conveyor that can move vertically and horizontally, combined with a puller bar for layer formation and backstop functions, to efficiently stack items on a pallet while also delivering empty pallets to the stack build area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional palletizer design is used, then reliable item layering and stacking operations are achieved, but the machine occupies excessive floor space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the layer build area functions (plate apron and apron conveyor) into a single integrated assembly that performs both item receipt and layer formation. This merging of functions reduces the overall machine footprint while maintaining all necessary operational capabilities for reliable palletizing
Solution Approach 2:
The apron carriage assembly serves multiple functions: it builds layers, positions them for stacking, and can deliver empty pallets to the stack build area. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated mechanisms for each task, thereby reducing floor space occupation without compromising operational reliability
2Area of stationary object
If compact palletizer design is implemented, then floor space is reduced, but the complexity of vertical and horizontal positioning mechanisms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The layer build area is designed with dynamic positioning capabilities, allowing it to move vertically and horizontally to different positions. This dynamic adaptability enables a compact design that can reconfigure space as needed, reducing the overall footprint while maintaining the ability to perform all layering and stacking operations reliably
3Device complexity
If multi-functional components are used, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning precision for layer building may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is segmented into distinct vertical and horizontal movement components, each dedicated to a specific directional adjustment. This segmentation allows the multi-functional apron carriage to achieve precise positioning in both dimensions independently, maintaining layer building precision while reducing overall device complexity through functional integration
Data Source
AI summary
A compact palletizer combines a plate apron and an apron conveyor as a layer build area positionable both vertically and horizontally to implement receipt and organization of items as layers and to stack item layers on a pallet. A puller bar serves to pull item rows into layers in a layer building operation and to act as a backstop in delivering an item layer onto a stack of items. An apron serves to also deliver empty pallets to a stack build area.