Abstract: Material handling equipment includes an in-feed conveyor having a sweep arm for traversing across the in-feed conveyor to thus sweep off the conveyor units of material disposed thereon. The sweep arm includes a brush, having bristles extending downwardly into spaces between the carrying elements of the conveyor, whereby thin-section materials on the conveyor are engaged by the bristles and swept off the conveyor. The sweep arm can optionally also sweep the materials onto and across the in-feed station of a palletizer positioned adjacent the in-feed conveyor. The in-feed station can have channels in its upper surface, extending in the direction of sweep of the sweep arm.

Abstract: Palletizers and methods of palletizing are disclosed. The palletizers are adapted to receive and arrange units of material and to concurrently fabricate first and second layers therefrom; or to place them in layers at either of first and second delivery support areas; or both. A plurality of layer forming stations can be vertically spaced, horizontally spaced, or both. Plural load forming stations can be horizontally spaced, vertically spaced, or both. Pallets can be sequenced into the load forming stations when empty or partially empty; and can be sequenced out of the load forming stations when empty, partially empty, or full. A given layer may be a hybrid layer comprised of the sum of partial layers fabricated separately. In some embodiments, the transfer apparatus can transfer layers to more than one of more than one load forming stations.

Abstract: Palletizing apparatus of the invention comprises a load forming station, a device for placing a layer on a pallet, devices for forming and placing a cap on the layer, and devices for applying restraint to formed edge panels of the cap. A formable cap sheet is received into the palletizing system as a flat sheet, and leaves the palletizing system as a formed cap on a load layer. The resulting pallet loads are preferably stretch wrapped. Methods of operating the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel spacing sheet is used in place of a conventional tie sheet in layered material loads, such as pallet loads. The spacing sheet generally comprises a plurality of spaced apart surface elements and intervening channels, on its top surface, which generally facilitate handling of the material on the sheet. The channels especially facilitate removal of material from the spacing sheet. The spacing sheets are generally thicker than a conventional paper tie sheet while being thinner than a conventional pallet.

Abstract: This invention pertains to handling of material on a supporting surface, preferably a pallet (74). It is addressed especially to the handling of material in pallet loads. The invention provides material handling systems and methods for placing material on a supporting surface by a palletizer (10) and removing it from that supporting surface by a depalletizer (210); and wherein the common element necessary to make the system function resides in the use of a special spacing sheet under each layer (178) of material in the load. Supporting members include spacing sheets (161) and (166) having novel characteristics in their top and bottom surfaces, and novel tacky spacing sheets (300) which are lightly and temporarily bonded to the underlying layer or pallet.

Abstract: Material handling apparatus and methods, especially for use with loose stacks of paper and the like in pallets. The invention includes depalletizing apparatus, distributing apparatus, and hopper loading apparatus; and material handling apparatus for transporting material between the depalletizing apparatus, the distributing apparatus, and the hopper loading apparatus. The depalletizing operation includes lateral sliding of layers of a pallet load onto a removal conveyor and then away from the pallet. Significant advantages are achieved by using a special spacing sheet in the pallet load instead of slip sheets and tie sheets. Fingers on the pusher extend below individual layers of the load and into the channels in a spacing sheet, effecting the removal of even the bottom layer of papers in a stack. Similar use of fingers and channels applies to operation of the hopper loader and its control of the bottom papers in the stack.

Abstract: Material handling apparatus and methods, especially for use with loose stacks of paper and the like in pallets. The invention includes depalletizing apparatus, distributing apparatus, and hopper loading apparatus; and material handling apparatus for transporting material between the depalletizing apparatus, the distributing apparatus, and the hopper loading apparatus. The depalletizing operation includes lateral sliding of layers of a pallet load onto a removal conveyor and then away from the pallet. Significant advantages are achieved by using a special spacing sheet in the pallet load instead of slip sheets and tie sheets. Fingers on the pusher extend below individual layers of the load and into the channels in a spacing sheet, effecting the removal of even the bottom layer of papers in a stack. Similar use of fingers and channels applies to operation of the hopper loader and its control of the bottom papers in the stack.