US 11,939,100 B2
Case unpacking system and method
Phillip Schaafsma, Byron Center, MI (US); Robert Clarkson, Byron Center, MI (US); Garrett Smith, Byron Center, MI (US); Travis Kempton, Byron Center, MI (US); Christopher Anten, Byron Center, MI (US); and Zachary Nickels, Byron Center, MI (US)
Assigned to DLN Integrated Systems, Inc., Byron Center, MI (US)
Filed by DLN Integrated Systems, Inc., Byron Center, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/077,497.
Application 18/077,497 is a continuation of application No. 17/086,877, filed on Nov. 2, 2020, granted, now 11,560,249.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/929,333, filed on Nov. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0101113 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65B 69/00 (2006.01); B65B 43/52 (2006.01); B65G 47/52 (2006.01); B65G 47/91 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 69/0033 (2013.01) [B65B 43/52 (2013.01); B65G 47/52 (2013.01); B65G 47/91 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A product unpacking system comprising:
a plurality of cases, each case configured as a polygonal prism having a plurality of sides including at least a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, and a bottom disposed between the plurality of sides, wherein each of the plurality of sides has a side dimension that extends between a side top and a side bottom, each of the cases containing one or more products therein that are disposed in a void defined between the bottom and the plurality of sides;
a work surface positioned at a first height, the work surface configured to receive the plurality of cases thereon;
a cutter positioned at or adjacent to the work surface and having an adjustable cutter height selected based on a location of a predetermined cut line on the respective case, wherein the cutter is configured to cut the first side, the second side, and the third side of the case along the predetermined cut line when the case is positioned adjacent to or at the cutter and moved with a case movement device with respect to the cutter, and and wherein the predetermined cut line is disposed closer to the respective side bottom than to the respective side top;
a product container positioned at an unload position adjacent to the work surface, wherein the unload position is disposed at a second height lower than the first height; and
the case movement device configured to transition the respective case between the plurality of cases, the work surface, and the unload position over the product container.