Abstract: A gripper mechanism for a palletizer apparatus is configured to receive articles from an associated infeed conveyor in any one of a plurality of orientations of the gripper mechanism relative to the infeed conveyor. In a preferred embodiment, the gripper mechanism is configured to receive articles through any one of four sides of the mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting objects conveyed by a conveyor line comprises a conveyor line (2) at which the objects (3) are sorted, a plurality of gripping means (4) of the objects (3) that operate at the portion of the conveyor line (2). The gripping means (4), on command and selectively, pick up the objects present on the portion of the conveyor line (2) and transfer them onto supports (5) disposed in temporary staying areas, selected for forming stacks of objects (3) homogeneous with each other. Lifting and conveyor means (6) are provided for lifting, on command, single objects or stacks of objects (3) which are resting on supports (5) in selected temporary staying areas and for conveying them onto an evacuation line.

Abstract: An apparatus for a forming bundle composed of at least one layer of printed products includes a lift, wherein an area above the lift constitutes a holding space to accommodate the at least one layer. The lift is adapted to lower the at least one layer. A control unit is connected to control movement of the lift. A thickness determining device is coupled to the control unit and arranged to determine a thickness of the at least one layer. The lift is controlled to be lowered corresponding to a previously determined thickness of a layer to accommodate a following layer of a bundle or to accommodate a layer of a following bundle.

Abstract: A stacking device for print products that includes a table to receive the print products such that the print products form a stack. The device also includes at least two ejector elements arrangeable against the stack to push the stack in an ejection direction away from the table. The stacking devices further includes at least two drive elements operatively connected, respectively, with the at least two ejector elements so that the at least two ejector elements move independent of one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming stacks of flat objects 12, in particular printed products, comprises a compartment 10 which is mounted for selective rotation about a vertical axis and whose compartment space 10? is bounded on two mutually opposite sides by bounding elements 68, 72. In the ejection direction A, the compartment is bounded by upstream guide elements 66 and downstream guide elements 70. The flat objects 12 are fed to the compartment 10 from above and come to lie in a stack formed on the compartment base 28. The upstream guide elements 66 and downstream guide elements 70 can be moved independently of one another in order, firstly, to permit the ejection of the stack formed and, secondly, to permit the stacked objects 12 to be held firmly during the rotation of the compartment 10.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for separating, folding, stacking and transporting a continuous web that allows stacks of web that are relatively large (four-feet-high or more) to be generated at high speed directly beneath the folding mechanism and to be transferred as complete, discrete stacks to downstream locations and stack utilization devices without interrupting the ongoing, upstream stack-folding and stack-formation process. A zigzag folded web passes by a pair of opposing front and rear compression plate assemblies, with fingers that are extended to selectively project into the folding area, onto a stack supported by a vertically moving supporting mechanism. The supporting mechanism cycles between an ever-lower position in which upper, loose pages of the folded web pass by plate fingers (when retracted) and an upper position in which the stack engages and presses upwardly against the now-extended plate fingers to compress the stack.

Abstract: In an apparatus for transferring products from a first conveying line to a second line conveying line operated stepwise in a feeding direction and particularly for feeding a boxing machine a plurality of compartments are aligned along the feeding direction. Each compartment has a bottom and a pair of lateral boards. The compartments receive products released by a manipulator and taken from the first conveying line. An actuator rotates the compartments from a loading configuration for receiving the products, to an overturned configuration, in which the compartments face corresponding, dwelling seats of the second, feeding line. A holding element closes the upper part of the compartments, moving from the loading configuration up to the overturned configuration. A pusher moves into the compartments in the overturned configuration, to push the products into the facing seats of the second, feeding line.

Abstract: An automated reciprocal stacking assembly for stacking thin, narrow, continuous sheets of stock material. The automated reciprocal stacking assembly has a stationary outer frame, a laterally reciprocating inner frame, a vertically moveable carriage, a reciprocating distribution head, a base member, a pair of sheet retaining arms, a rotating platform for supporting a pallet and a conveyor belt. The reciprocating distribution head comprises a pair of feeding belts that are driven by a positive timing belt. The continuous sheet of stock material is supplied to the reciprocating distribution head by the conveyor through a large opening between the feeding belts of the reciprocating distribution head. The oppositely moving feeder belts force the stock material out of the reciprocating distribution head and onto a pallet.

Abstract: An anti-scatter grid for radiography includes a plurality of generally radiation absorbing elements and a plurality of generally non-radiation absorbing elements in which the generally non-radiation absorbing elements include a plurality of voids. Desirably, the non-radiation absorbing elements include an epoxy or polymeric material and a plurality of hollow microspheres. Disclosed is also an apparatus for forming an anti-scatter grid in which the apparatus includes a pivoting arm and surface for use in aligning a plurality of spaced-apart generally radiation absorbing elements relative to a radiation source.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for stacking unpacked processed cheese slices. Single stacks consisting of a plurality of superimposed processed cheese slices are continuously supplied by a transportation device to a first turning station. At the first turning station, the single stacks are individually rotated through 90° in the direction of transportation. These rotated single stacks subsequently are supplied to a second turning station. At the second turning station, two or more single stacks are arranged behind one another in a row and then are rotated together through 90° in the direction of transportation. Thus, the two or more single stacks come to rest on top of one another and form a multiple stack of processed cheese slices.

Abstract: A pallet positioner includes a support frame that consists of a main upright structure with a pair of spaced, parallel outriggers extending horizontally at ground level. The distal ends of the outriggers are connected by a low-profile ramp. The upright structure includes a pair of vertical guide masts rigidly mounted on a horizontal base bracing the proximal ends of the outriggers. A pneumatically and hydraulically controlled, or electrically and hydraulically controlled, cantilevered carrier with a rotatable platform is mounted for vertical motion along the vertical guide masts. When the carrier travels downward, the carrier stops automatically at a level above the outriggers and must be manually restarted. A braking system under the platform prevents rotation thereof at ground level.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a conveyor (2) for feeding paper sheets into a cassette (4) in a stacker (2). The conveyor (2) can be switched between two positions such that successive documents are separated from one another by a lateral shift. The cassette (4) is lowered in the stacker (3) as the stack builds up. After the stack is completed the cassette (4) is turned by 180°, removed from the stacker (3) and inserted into a sorter (6). The sorter (6) picks up the documents one by one and pushes them onto a conveyor (7) which transports them to a finishing machine (8).

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for receiving folded cartons of non-uniform thickness from a conventional gluing device, stacking those cartons into stacks of a predefined number, and rotating successive stacks 180° from each other in order to compensate for the uneven or non-uniform thickness of each folded carton. The apparatus further serves to drop two or more stacks of the folded cartons from a stack building station into a slug building area and then, once a slug of a desired size is built, tilting the slug until the plane of each folded carton is vertically oriented (i.e., the slug lies horizontally). The apparatus then automatically loads the slug into a shipping box.