Method for undressing a pallet and related apparatus
A method for undressing a pallet of products arranged in layers on a base, the pallet being coated with a protective film for retaining and protecting the products with the film adapted to cover the upper surface and the side surface of the pallet, includes separating the protective film into two segments each having an upper flap of an upper portion of film at the upper surface of the pallet and a lower flap of a side portion of film at the side surface of the pallet. The method also includes making the two segments by performing near the base a first cut extending in a substantially horizontal direction along the side surface and at least a second cut extending in a substantially vertical direction along two sides opposite each other of the side surface and a third cut extending on the upper surface of the pallet.
1 . Method for undressing a pallet of products arranged in layers on a base, said pallet being coated with a protective film for retaining and protecting the products the film being configured to cover an upper surface and a side surface of the pallet up to the base, the method comprising:
cutting said protective film into at least two segments each comprising an upper flap of an upper portion of film at the upper surface of the pallet, and a lower flap of a side portion of film at the side surface of the pallet and
moving away said at least two segments from the upper surface of the pallet and from the side surface of the pallet;
wherein cutting said protective film into said at least two segments is carried out before moving away said at least two segments and comprises:
cutting a first cut and a second cut at said side surface;
at least one horizontal cut at said upper surface; and
cutting a lower cut near or proximate to the base, said lower cut extending in a substantially horizontal direction along each side of the side surface and wherein at least one of said first cut or said second cut intersects said lower cut, wherein cutting said lower cut comprises:
cutting a first portion and a second portion of said lower cut, respectively on two successive side faces of the side surface,
rotating the pallet around a vertical symmetry axis thereof, after cutting the first portion and the second portion of said lower cut, and
cutting a third portion and a fourth portion of said lower cut, respectively on two remaining successive side faces of the side surface, after rotating the pallet
wherein said first cut and second cut are horizontally spaced apart from each other on said side surface and vertically extend up to said upper surface so as to end or start at respective opposite ends of said horizontal cut.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first cut and second cut are cut on the side surface in diametrically opposite positions, with respect to a vertical symmetry axis of the pallet.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first cut and said second cut are in continuity with the respective ends of said horizontal cut.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the horizontal cut comprises:
a first upper section and second upper section extending up to the center of the upper surface and starting, respectively, from opposite side faces of said side surface.
5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein said first upper section and second upper section are cut in continuity with the first cut and second-cut, respectively.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first cut intersects the first portion or the second portion of said lower cut, and wherein the second cut intersects the third portion or the fourth portion of said lower cut.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein moving away said at least two segments is carried out by a withdrawal device installed on an anthropomorphic robot.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
performing a centering step of the pallet with respect to a vertical symmetry axis thereof, before moving away said at least two segments.
9 . Method for undressing a pallet of products arranged in layers on a base, said pallet being coated with a protective film for retaining and protecting the products the film being configured to cover an upper surface and a side surface of the pallet up to the base, the method comprising:
cutting said protective film into at least two segments each comprising an upper flap of an upper portion of film at the upper surface of the pallet, and a lower flap of a side portion of film at the side surface of the pallet,
moving away said at least two segments from the upper surface of the pallet and from the side surface of the pallet;
wherein cutting said protective film into said at least two segments is carried out before moving away said at least two segments and comprises:
cutting a first cut and a second cut at said side surface; and
at least one horizontal cut at said upper surface;
wherein the method further comprises:
rotating the pallet around a vertical symmetry axis thereof, after cutting said first cut and before cutting said second cut.
10 . Apparatus for undressing a pallet of products arranged in layers on a base, said pallet being coated with a protective film for retaining and protecting the products, the film being configured to cover an upper surface and a side surface of the pallet at least up to the base, wherein said apparatus comprises:
a cutting device for performing the cutting of the protective film said cutting device being configured to cut:
a first cut and a second cut at said side surface and
at least one horizontal cut at said upper surface so as to cut said protective film into at least two segments, each comprising an upper flap of an upper portion of film, at said upper surface, and a lower flap of a side portion of film, at said side surface;
a withdrawal device for moving away said at least two segments, after cutting said protective film into said at least two segments; and
transfer and/or support means configured to position the pallet in a work area and wherein said transfer and/or support means comprise a rotating device configured to rotate the pallet around a vertical symmetry axis thereof, when the pallet is positioned at said work area,
wherein said first cut and second cut are horizontally spaced apart from each other on said side surface and vertically extend up to said upper surface so as to end or start at respective opposite ends of said horizontal cut.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said withdrawal device is installed on a first anthropomorphic robot.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said cutting device is installed on a second anthropomorphic robot.
13 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said withdrawal device is installed on said second anthropomorphic robot.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a centering device configured to perform a centering step on said pallet with respect to a vertical symmetry axis thereof.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the cutting device comprises:
a blade, and
adaptation elements supporting the blade and configured to adapt the blade to the shape of the pallet.
16 . The apparatus, according to claim 10 , wherein the cutting device comprises:
a blade, and
a protective element configured to be interposed between the products and the protective film during cutting, so as to retain said protective film proximate the blade.
17 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the protective element is in a fixed position with respect to the blade and is configured such that the blade is embedded in the thickness of said protective element, without protruding therefrom.