Patent · US Expired

System and method for order packing

US5996316A · kind A · utility

89Cited by
29References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 25, 1997
Grant dateDec 7, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 25, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G2209/08
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for order packing forms a mixed pallet or a mixed multi-pack. In this system, a first embodiment utilizes a high volume module, a low volume module, a sorting and packing module, a prepackage module and a mixed palletizer module for picking, sorting, packaging and palletizing articles. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a bulk load can be fed via a carrousel to a bank of elevators. A transfer device will load different levels of the elevators which can then be moved adjacent a discharge conveyor. A lane is provided in this discharge conveyor for each of the elevators in the bank of elevators. The different levels of the elevators are positioned adjacent the lanes and can discharge articles onto the conveyor in order to form groups of the same or different types of articles. Many different types of articles including beverage containers such as cans, bottles or beverage boxes can use this system. A pallet is formed from the same or different sized package and different varieties of articles can be placed within a single package.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.