Palletizing Apparatus with Vertically Adjustable Support Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing palletizing facilities face limitations in palletizing capacity due to the time-consuming vertical movement of transfer stations and the inefficiency in transferring article layers to the correct depositing location, which restricts the overall performance of the machine.
Innovation Solution
A palletizing apparatus with at least two conveyor line sections, each equipped with handling, grouping, and transfer stations, converging into a central loading station with vertically adjustable support surfaces, utilizing a lifting column for independent movement of support surfaces and enabling efficient stacking and palletizing of article layers, piece good layers, and bundle layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single conveyor line with transfer station is used, then the structure is simpler, but the palletizing capacity is limited due to time-consuming vertical movements
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple independent conveyor line sections (first, second, and third sections), each capable of independently conveying article layers to the loading station. This segmentation allows parallel operation of multiple conveyor lines, increasing overall palletizing capacity while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple conveyor line sections are merged to share a common loading station with vertically adjustable support surfaces. This merging allows the system to benefit from multiple input sources (increasing productivity) while using a shared resource (loading station) to control device complexity
2Productivity
If vertical movement of transfer station is used to deposit layers, then the loading position can be adjusted, but the process becomes time-consuming and limits performance
Solution Approach 1:
The loading station is equipped with vertically adjustable support surfaces that can be positioned in advance at the required height before article layers need to be deposited. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for time-consuming vertical movements during the actual stacking process, thereby increasing stacking speed and reducing time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The loading station features dynamically adjustable vertical position through vertically movable support surfaces. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to different stacking requirements without mechanical reconfiguration, maintaining high productivity while minimizing time loss through efficient vertical positioning
3Productivity
If multiple conveyor line sections converge to a common loading station, then palletizing capacity increases, but the coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The common loading station is designed as a universal interface that can receive article layers from multiple different conveyor line sections. This multi-functional loading station handles inputs from various sources using the same depositing mechanism, increasing palletizing capacity while avoiding the need for multiple specialized loading stations that would increase coordination complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a palletizing apparatus (10) and a method for conveying articles (16), piece goods, and/or bundles (18) and/or palletizable article layers, piece good layers, and/or bundle layers (20) with at least two conveyor line sections (12, 14), each in a particular conveying direction (28, 29). Each conveyor line sections include consecutive handling stations, grouping stations, and/or transfer stations (32, 33, 40, 44, 48, 50), which lead to a central loading station (24), where the article layers, piece good layers, and/or bundle layers (20) are stacked on top of each other and/or palletized in a common loading place (25). The loading station (24) is located between at least two vertically adjustable support surfaces and/or conveying surfaces (52). The common loading place (25) is supplied with article layers, piece good layers, and/or bundle layers (20).