Glossary · Packaging and intralogistics
Depalletizer
Also known as: Depalletizing machine
German: Depalettierer
In packaging and intralogistics, a depalletizer is a machine that removes products, cases or containers layer by layer or unit by unit from a pallet and feeds them onto a conveyor.
- Intralogistics
In one sentence
A depalletizer removes products or cases from pallets, layer by layer or one by one, and feeds them into the production line.
Example
At the start of the bottling line, the depalletizer sweeps layers of empty glass bottles off the pallet and removes the tier sheets.
How it applies
- Engineering: Layer depalletizers use sweep or clamp heads; robotic depalletizers pick single cases, often guided by Machine vision to handle mixed or shifted loads. Tier sheets and empty pallets must be removed as well.
- Safety: Depalletizers lift and lower heavy layers, so falling loads and crushing under the lifting device are central hazards. Access to the pallet station is typically protected by guards and presence-sensing devices. EN 415-4 covers palletizers and depalletizers.
- Operation: Pallet quality and load stability strongly influence reliability. Instructions should state what pallets and loads the machine accepts.
- Documentation: Define the accepted load patterns and pallet types, the procedure for clearing fallen products and the safe entry into the pallet station.
Depalletizer vs. palletizer
The Palletizer builds pallet loads at the end of a line; the depalletizer takes them apart at the start of a line. Robotic cells can do both.