公开(公告)号：US11292624B1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-05

申请号：US16593505

申请日：2019-10-04

Applicant: Douglas Machine Inc.

Inventor： Aaron M. Frederick ,  Travis John Bakker ,  Robert Allan Danner, Jr. ,  Christopher Todd Davis ,  Richard W. Lukanen, Jr.

IPC: B65B7/20 ,  B25J15/00

Abstract: A robotic end of arm tool to effectuate loaded case closure is provided. The tool includes a loaded case flap folding assembly to effectuate folding of flaps extending from a first case panel of a loaded case and, advantageously, loaded case squaring assemblies. The folding assembly includes flap engaging elements, a linkage and an actuator, the flap engaging elements operatively united with the linkage, the linkage actuatable via the actuator in furtherance of causing the flap engaging elements to engage the flaps extending from the first case panel. Flap engaging elements include a first flap engaging element for engagement with a first flap extending from the first case panel of the loaded case, and second and third flap engaging elements for engagement with second and third flaps opposingly extending from the first case panel, each of the second and third flaps adjacent the first flap.

公开(公告)号：US11505341B1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-22

申请号：US16593288

申请日：2019-10-04

Applicant: Douglas Machine Inc.

Inventor： Robert Allan Danner, Jr. ,  Christopher Todd Davis ,  Aaron M. Frederick ,  Richard W. Lukanen, Jr. ,  David L. Anderson

IPC: B65B5/02 ,  B65B5/10 ,  B65B7/20

Abstract: A robotic case packer is provided. The packer includes a case conveying apparatus, a case set up station, a case loading station, downstream of the case set up station, and a loaded case closure station, downstream of the case loading station, the case conveying apparatus receiving and conveying a case blank for case set up, case loading and loaded case closure operations, a process flow path as to case operations delimited by the case conveying apparatus. The case set up station, characterized by a case set up robot operable in a process flow path direction, secures a case blank from a source of case blanks and transfers the blank to the case conveying apparatus. The case loading station, characterized by a case loading robot operable across the process flow path direction, transfers an article group for case loading into a set up case conveyed by the case conveying apparatus. The case closure station, characterized by a loaded case closure robot operable in the process flow path direction, effectuates a compressed sealed closure of a loaded case conveyed by the case conveying apparatus.

公开(公告)号：US11072141B1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-27

申请号：US15927588

申请日：2018-03-21

Applicant: Douglas Machine Inc.

Inventor： Aaron M. Frederick ,  Grady J. Ries ,  Richard W. Lukanen, Jr. ,  Christopher Todd Davis

IPC: B31B50/00 ,  B31B50/06 ,  B31B50/26 ,  B31B50/58 ,  B31B100/00

Abstract: A case setup apparatus is generally provided. The apparatus is characterized by a robotic arm and a case engaging apparatus carried by the robotic arm. The case engaging apparatus is characterized by a picker arm assembly for picking a case blank from a source of case blanks, and a rack arm assembly for attaching to a picked case blank. The picker arm assembly is fixedly supported within the case engaging apparatus and the rack arm assembly is pivotably supported, relative to the picker arm assembly, within the case engaging apparatus. A flap folding subassembly is provided and translatably supported within the case engaging apparatus for reversible travel parallel to the picker arm assembly. The subassembly includes flap engaging members, a flap engaging member of the flap engaging members being forwardly extendable to disassociate adjacent flaps of a case blank in advance of folding a flap by the flap engaging members.