Appeal No. 2003-0204 Page 8
Application No. 09/096,123
receiving such objects; means, such as a host computer or a programmable controller
for the robot used in the apparatus, for storing and providing information on the order of
such objects in the series to be provided; means, such as an assembly table with
vacuum elements for holding the case, for locating such cases for insertion of such
objects; programmable robot means, responsive to the means for storing and providing,
for selecting a type of case from the first source, the selected case being appropriate for
the order of such objects in the series and placing such type of case at said means for
locating; means for inserting such objects into such type of case; and means for closing
such type of case following such inserting. The robot may be used to insert such
objects, or they may be inserted by a separate mechanism.
The apparatus of DePoint's invention may further comprise means, such as a
stacker elevator, for accumulating a plurality of such objects in arrays for insertion into
such type of case. Typically, such cases are collapsed when selected from the first
source; the means for locating locates such collapsed cases for erection prior to
insertion of such objects and the programmable robot means erects such case at the
means for locating. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of DePoint's invention
also comprises a second source of dunnage inserts for such cases to accommodate
different types of such objects; and means for holding such dunnage inserts in
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