Height-Adjustable Grouping Station for Palletizing Stroke Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current palletizing devices face inefficiencies in stacking and aligning cargo layers on pallets, particularly in adjusting heights and maintaining stability, leading to increased movement times and potential errors in positioning.

Innovation Solution

A palletizing device with a height-adjustable grouping station and loading device, featuring a transport device with multiple sub-areas that can adjust height and inclination, and a transfer unit with a crossbar for precise positioning and reduced stroke length, allowing for efficient adaptation to changing stack heights and improved alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the loading device uses a fixed-height grouping station, then the device structure is simpler, but the stroke length increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grouping station is made height-adjustable through a support structure with adjustable support height, allowing the station to dynamically adapt to different stack heights. This dynamic adjustment reduces the stroke length of the loading device and increases throughput while maintaining operational flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the grouping station height is adjusted frequently, then the adaptability to different stack heights improves, but the adjustment time and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to stack heightsVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The manual or mechanical height adjustment process is replaced with an automated control system that receives signals from a control device. This automation simplifies operation by eliminating manual adjustment steps while maintaining the ability to adapt to different stack heights through automated control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If the loading device has a longer stroke to accommodate fixed-height limitations, then the device structure is simpler, but the movement time increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement efficiencyVSAvoidmovement time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By making the grouping station height-adjustable, the system dynamically optimizes the starting height for each loading operation. This reduces the stroke length required for the loading device, thereby reducing movement time and improving overall productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4446260A1Palletizing device and method for stacking and/or palletizing palletizable piece goods
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 KRONES AG
  • EP4446260A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4446260A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4446260A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention relates to a palletizing device (20) for layers of individual items (31) and a method for stacking and/or palletizing palletizable layers of individual items (31). The palletizing device (20) comprises a grouping station (11), a loading station (22), and a storage location (23). The grouping station is configured to form a palletizable layer of individual items (31) from a plurality of individual items. The grouping station (11) comprises a transport device (21) with a transport surface for the individual items. The loading station (22) is configured to receive complete layers of individual items (31) from the grouping station (11) and to deposit the complete layers of individual items (31) at a storage position (25) at the storage location (23). The grouping station (11) is configured to be height-adjustable, at least in part; in particular, the transport device (21) of the grouping station (11) is configured to be height-adjustable, at least in part.