System and method for installing a protective covering onto a stack of work pieces

Abstract

A system and method for installing a protective covering onto at least one substantially entire side portion of a stack of products. The system includes an apparatus for automatically, and preferably continuously, robotically moving, positioning and fastening a protective covering to at least one side portion of a stack of products. The side portions of the stack of products can vary in dimensions. The protective covering can also protect a top portion of the stack of products. The stack of products can include stacks of plywood, particleboard, OSB, lumber or other bundles of predetermined sizes.

1 . A method for installing a protective covering onto at least substantially one side portion of a stack of products, which comprises: 
 providing a stack of products having a plurality of side portions;    providing at least one protective covering capable of substantially covering at least one side portion of said stack of products;    automatically and robotically moving and positioning said protective covering against at least one side portion of said stack of products; and    automatically fastening said protective covering so that said protective covering is installed onto a side of said stack of products.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising automatically and continuously providing a next stack of products for installing a protective covering.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically fastening said protective covering comprises robotically fastening said protective covering.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of automatically and robotically moving and positioning said protective covering comprises the use of a robotic moving and positioning mechanism.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of robotically fastening said protective covering comprises the use of a robotic fastening mechanism.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said side portions of said stack of products can comprise a plurality of dimensions and the protective covering can be installed onto any of said side portions.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of side portions of said stack of products are overlayed by the protective covering without substantially moving or rotating said stack of products.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stack of products comprises a stack of lignocellulosic products.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fastening step comprises stapling.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically moving and positioning said protective covering against the side portion of said stack of products includes the use of electronic positioning devices.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein protective coverings are installed on at least a pair of opposite sides of said stack of products.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said robotic mechanism is supported at a location above the stack of products.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the products comprise either one of plywood, particleboard, OSB, lumber stacks or bundles of a predetermined size.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the robotic mechanism includes a pickup device for holding the protective covering during the steps of automatically moving and positioning each said protective covering, and automatically fastening each said protective covering.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each said protective covering is installed so as to also bendably wrap about the outer edges of the stack of products.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each said protective covering is installed so as to also bendably wrap about the top of the stack of products.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said protective covering is fabricated of a non-film-like material.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said protective covering is fabricated of a stiff, bendable material.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said robotic mechanism lifts said protective covering and then moves and positions it against the sides of the stack of products, without moving or rotating the stack of products.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said protective covering comprises a bendable covering.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein indicia are imprinted onto said protective coverings by a printing device connected to said robotic mechanism.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising preventing injury to a human operator by providing a safety barrier around the area where the protective covering is being positioned and fastened.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the safety barrier includes: 
 an opening for providing a stack of products; and    an opening for delivering a stack of products after said protective covering is installed.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the safety barrier further includes an opening for providing the said at least one protective covering to the apparatus.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the safety barrier further includes at least one access door equipped with a safety interlock that engages when the at least one access door is opened.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the openings for providing and delivering said stack of products are safety monitored.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the opening for providing said at least one protective covering is safety monitored.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the safety barrier is a perimeter guard fence.  
   
   
       29 . A system for installing a protective covering onto at least one substantially entire side portion of a stack of products, which comprises: 
 at least one protective covering capable of substantially covering at least one side portion of said stack of products; and    an apparatus for automatically and robotically moving and positioning said protective covering against at least one side portion of said stack of products, and for automatically and continuously fastening each said protective covering so that it is installed onto a side of said stack of products.    
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , the apparatus further including automatically and continuously providing a next stack of products for installing a protective covering.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the apparatus for automatically fastening said protective covering comprises an apparatus for robotically fastening said protective covering.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the apparatus for automatically moving and positioning said protective covering comprises a robotic mechanism.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the apparatus for automatically fastening said protective covering comprises a robotic mechanism.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the robotic mechanism comprises a robotic arm.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the robotic mechanism comprises a robotic arm.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein said protective covering comprises a cardboard-containing covering.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said side portions of said stack of products can comprise a plurality of dimensions.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein a plurality of side portions of said stack of products are overlayed by the protective coverings.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the stack of products comprises a stack of lignocellulosic products.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said fastening step comprises stapling.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the apparatus for automatically moving and positioning said protective covering against the side portion of said stack of products includes an electronic positioning device.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said robotic mechanism is supported at a location above the stack of products.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein said robotic mechanism is supported at a location above the stack of products.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the products comprise plywood or particleboard.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 29 , which further includes a first device to interconnect the apparatus and the protective covering during the automatic moving and positioning of each said protective covering, and second device for fastening said protective covering to said stack of products.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein each said protective covering is installed so as to wrap about the outer edges of the stack of products.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein each said protective covering is installed so as to wrap about the top of the stack of products.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said protective covering is fabricated of a non-film material.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said protective covering is fabricated of a stiff, bendable material.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said apparatus lifts said protective covering and then moves and positions it against the said of the stack of products.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 29 , which further includes a printing device connected to said robotic mechanism for imprinting indicia onto each said protective covering.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 29 , further comprising a safety barrier surrounding the apparatus.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the safety barrier includes: 
 an opening for delivering a stack of products to the apparatus; and    an opening for receiving a stack of products from the apparatus.    
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the safety barrier further includes an opening for delivering a protective covering to the apparatus.  
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the safety barrier further includes an opening for delivering fasteners to the apparatus.  
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the safety barrier further includes at least one access door for providing a human operator access to the apparatus.  
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one access door is equipped with a safety interlock.  
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the safety interlock engages when the at least one access door is opened and the safety interlock stops the apparatus.  
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the openings for delivering and receiving a stack of products are safety monitored.  
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the opening for delivering a protective covering is safety monitored.  
   
   
       61 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the safety barrier is a perimeter guard fence.  
   
   
       62 . A method for installing a protective covering onto at least substantially one side portion of a stack of products, which comprises: 
 providing a stack of products having a plurality of side portions;    providing at least one protective covering capable of substantially covering at least one side portion of said stack of products;    automatically and robotically moving and positioning each said protective covering against at least one side portion of said stack of products; and    automatically and robotically fastening each said protective covering so that it is installed onto a side of said stack of products,    wherein said side portions of said stack of products can comprise a plurality of dimensions and the protective covering can be installed onto any of said side portions.    
   
   
       63 . An apparatus comprising a machine-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to: 
 provide a stack of products having a plurality of side portions;    provide at least one protective covering capable of substantially covering at least one side portion of the stack of products;    position each protective covering against at least one side portion of the stack of products; and    fasten each protective covering so that it is installed onto a side of the stack of products.    
   
   
       64 . An apparatus according to  claim 63  comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to overlay a plurality of side portions of the stack of products without substantially moving or rotating the stack of products.  
   
   
       65 . An apparatus according to  claim 63  further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to staple the protective covering to the stack of products.  
   
   
       66 . An apparatus according to  claim 63  comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to install protective coverings on at least a pair of opposite sides of the stack of products.  
   
   
       67 . An apparatus according to  claim 63  comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to bendably install the protective covering around edges of the stack of products.