Development of a scale prototype palletizing automated device

Without a turning mechanism in the palletiser, there would be no difference in the orientation of boxes in each layer. Being able to rotate certain boxes by 90 degrees means different layer orientations can be created, giving the final box structure on the pallet much higher stability.

 

Like the conveyor belt, the bump turner was designed with simplicity in mind. The bump turner is essentially an ‘obstacle’ in the path of the box which forces it to rotate on impact. It was designed and built using recycle parts acquired from the laboratory in the university.

 

When the box is not needing reoriented, the bump turner is disengaged. For the purposes of the prototype, this was designed as a simple case of loosening a bolt, and turning the bump turner out of the path of the box. In an industrial case, this would be automated with a linear actuator or pneumatics for example.