Types of Palletiser
Manual Palletizer
Conventional Palletizer (Stripper Plate)
Robotic Palletizer (Pick and Place)
Conventional Palletizer
Key components:
Infeed conveyor
Case turner (if case rotation is required)
Row forming conveyor with integrated pusher
Layer forming table with stripper plate and layer-squaring device
Elevator that lifts full layers of products
Pallet dispensers
Slip/Tier sheet dispensers
Full load pallet discharge conveyor
Types of Conventional Palletizer:
Low level Palletizer - Pallets remain at floor level throughout the process of
loading
A low-level palletizer starts with products being conveyed and rotated as
required by the pallet pattern. The cases then hit an end stop and back up
against one another to form a row. This row is pushed onto a layer-
forming table.
Rows are continually built in this manner until an entire layer is formed on
the layer-forming table. The layer-forming table then raises or lowers to
the correct height, and a stripper plate underneath the layer of products
retracts gently depositing products onto a pallet. Layers are continuously
deposited in this manner until a fully-loaded pallet is formed. The
completed pallet is then discharged, an empty pallet is dispensed into the
same location, and the process repeats
High Level Palletizer - The pallet is elevated to build multiple layers of product
It operates in a similar manner to a low-level palletizer, except instead of raising
and lowering full layers of cases and depositing them onto a pallet, the case
layers remain stationary and the pallet is raised and lowered as required. High-
level palletizers also allow products to be formed into layers at much higher
speeds than low-level palletizers.
Advantages of Conventional Palletizers:
Easier to troubleshoot, support, and operate without special training
A single unit can handle up to 2 -3 SKUs simultaneously
Typically will cost less than a robotic palletizer with a single or dual infeed.
Up to 15 cases/min for low-level palletizers
Up to 150 cases/min for high-level palletizers
Palletizes cases, bags, and other cube-shaped products
Robotic Palletizer
Advantages of Robotic Palletizers:
Typically takes up less space
Can adapt easier to accommodating different pallet patterns and product
types
Can handle up to 1000 kg (2,200 lbs)
Can handle many different product types, including cases, bags, pails,
bottles, batteries, cubes of scrap metal, and plastic containers
Can simultaneously handle multiple infeeds of different SKUs
A single articulated arm can typically handle up to 4 different SKUs. If the
articulated arm attached to a moving track or a gantry style robot is
utilized, 8 to 12 SKUs can be handled simultaneously by a single robot.
This of course depends on important criteria, such as pallet stacking
patterns and case rates.
Price can sometimes be less, especially when looking at four or more
simultaneous infeeds.
Palletizing rates can vary anywhere from 8 to 30 cases/min for a single
robot depending on stacking patterns, requirements, and if the robot is
picking a single product, rows of product, or full layer of products.
Mixed case palletizing is possible
Palletizer Design Considerations
Product is palletized
Bag
Carton
Case
Any other options
Construction of the case/ carton/ bag is by
Corrugated
Plastic
Any other material
Size of the Pallet
Conveyor Line speed
Product per Minute
No of Products per Layer
No of Layers per Pallet
Types of Pallet
GMA (Grocery Manufacturers of America) Pallet
Double Face Pallet
Single Face Pallet or Skid
Euro Pallet
Double face Plywood
Plywood skid
Slip sheet
Chep Pallet
Spec: Pallet width x Pallet Length x Pallet Height and
Pallet Weight
Add on:
Automatic stretch wrapping
Place sheets between layers
PLC Preference
Stacking Pattern
