Tote Handling Conveyor

Pack Air Inc.’s primary business is conveyor systems. One of our projects required a Tote Stacker and De-Stacker that would handle up to 22 totes per minute. 

Empty totes, are fed into and out of a Stacker/De-stacker with motor-driven roller conveyor (MDR). Totes entering the system are transferred onto a small automated high-friction modular belt conveyor to stop the totes with high accuracy for stacking or de-stacking.  The key to achieving the high throughput rate is the Servo Driven Rack and Pinion Drive technology from our successful Vertical Diverter.  

Once a tote is positioned inside, it is clamped by a dog device to lift or lower the tote in the Stacker/De-stacker.  Secondary dog clamping devices are integrated above to hold the stack of totes while the clamp below performs the function of stacking or de-stacking.

To help guide the totes in the Stacker/De-stacker, vertical guide rails were installed near each corner of the tote.  The two guide rails on the Stacker discharge and De-stacker infeed are built with quick acting gates to allow the full stack to discharge or enter the system.  

The machine structure also serves as mounting for sheet metal and polycarbonate barrier panels, and a pair of light curtains protect the full stack height openings. Integrated controls and HMIs allow the operator to change the stacking speed or the number of totes to be stacked from 1 to 8 if they choose to do so.