Youssef Y Hennes

US Patent:

6264422, Jul 24, 2001

Filed:

Jan 21, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/234589

Inventors:

Youssef Y. Hennes - Littleton CO
Wojciech Karpala - Lakewood CO
Thomas R. Stem - Broomfield CO
Jerry Williams - Broomfield CO

Assignee:

Zygot Automation Inc. - Englewood CO

International Classification:

B65G 5703
B65H 2900

US Classification:

4147927

Abstract:

An item layer assembly apparatus for continuously receiving items from an infeed conveyor, forming an item layer from a plurality of items, and loading the item layer onto a pallet is provided. The item a layer assembly apparatus comprises an item receiving area surface for continuously receiving the items from the infeed conveyor. At least one side plate area surface is adjacent and substantially horizontally planar to the item receiving area surface for receiving the items from the item receiving area surface. A item layer forming plate receives the items from each of the side plate area surfaces with the item layer forming plate positioned substantially under the item receiving area surface. A mechanism associated with the item layer forming plate forms a substantially rectilinear package layer wherein the item layer forming plate deposits the item layer onto the pallet.