Abstract: An apparatus for depalletizing a loaded pallet comprised of (n) vertically stacked article arrays, each article array separated from an adjacent article array by a dunnage layer, the loaded pallet including a top article array vertically supporting a top dunnage layer. The apparatus is adapted to remove all article arrays from the loaded pallet and to deposit all collected dunnage layers onto the empty pallet.

Abstract: A sliding layer gripping device includes an anthropomorphic robot and a gripping head mounted on the robot for picking a first layer of products of a pallet. The gripping head includes a main frame, an upper compaction unit and an intermediate translation plane. The frame is connected to the intermediate translation plane and to the upper compaction unit with two pairs of linear translation guides arranged parallel to each other on the inner side of the sides of the main frame. A pair of belts moved by a brushless motor controlled by the robot is arranged between the main frame and the upper compaction unit for relative sliding of the main frame and the upper compaction unit with respect to the intermediate translation plane. The intermediate translation plane has a loading side of the layer opposite to an unloading side of the layer.

Abstract: A robotic gantry system, end-effector for a robotic gantry system and method of transporting products using a robotic gantry system is provided. The end-effector includes a movable floor that can be positioned below picked products to prevent products from being dropped during transport. The movable floor also permits selecting individual rows of products from a given layer of products of a product stack. The end-effector may include a vacuum assembly for vacuum adhering to the products. The method permits selection of varying portions of a stack of products with the end-effector and protecting the selected portions of products using the movable floor.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge adapted to be used with a sensor-dispensing instrument comprises a housing, test sensors, a mechanical mechanism and moveable seals. The housing forms at least one opening therethrough. The test sensors are stacked in the housing. The test sensors are adapted to assist in testing at least one analyte. The mechanical mechanism is adapted to urge the test sensors in a first direction. One of the test sensors is positioned for ejection from the cartridge. The moveable seals is adapted to be in a closed position that seals the at least one opening so as to provide a substantially moisture-proof and a substantially air-tight cartridge, and one of the moveable seals is adapted to be in an open position that allows one of the test sensors to be moved therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention is a cardboard sheet batch division device for dividing batches, disposed on the downstream side of a batch-forming device for separating loaded cardboard sheets and forming batches of a predetermined sheet count. The cardboard sheet batch division device for dividing batches comprises: a transfer conveyor for transferring batches formed by the batch-forming device in a predetermined transfer direction; and batch division means furnished with two separating members respectively contacting the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of a batch on the transfer conveyor, for dividing the batch into two sub-batches, upper and lower, by moving the two separating members relative to one another in a direction parallel to the predetermined transfer direction.

Abstract: A device for moving containers or other objects relative to a surface such as a pallet includes a frame and a pin matrix movably attached to the frame. The pin matrix includes an array of pins and is housed in a plate having apertures for receiving the pins. The device further includes a pair of tracks that movably support the pin matrix. A method for moving containers or other objects relative to a surface includes the steps of moving the pin matrix over the objects, lowering the pin matrix, securing the objects within the pin matrix, moving the pin matrix and the objects relative to the surface, and raising the pin matrix.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for prefeeding corrugated boards to a box finishing machine wherein a stack of rectangular boards are moved to a first conveyor with the long dimension of the boards extending transverse to the direction of movement of said first conveyor. The stack is then rotated to place the long dimension of the boards in alignment with the direction of movement of said first conveyor, and then moving the rotated stack to a second conveyor for feeding to a box finishing machine with the long dimension of the boards in alignment with the direction or path of movement of the boards through the box finishing machine. The stack is transferred to the first conveyor from an elevator which contains a supply of boards larger than the stack. Three different types of apparatus are disclosed for rotating the stack. One is a plurality of conveyor belts whose speeds may be varied to rotate the boards. Another is a turntable with a set of belt conveyors and a set of rollers.

Abstract: A stacked substrate separation loading apparatus includes: a stacked substrate holding holder configured to hold a stacked glass substrate; a cassette configured to load each sheet of glass substrates separated from the stacked glass substrate; a liquid tank in which the stacked substrate holding holder and the cassette are inserted in liquid; a stacked substrate drive unit configured to drive the stacked substrate holding holder; a stacked substrate positioning unit which positions a height position of the uppermost sheet of the stacked glass substrate; a cassette drive unit configured to drive the cassette; a substrate sliding mechanism configured to push out and separate the glass substrates which are the top sheets of the stacked glass substrate; and a cassette position control unit configured to control the cassette drive unit so that a height position of a loading position of the cassette becomes a height position of the glass substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring panels from a stack of generally upstanding panels to a lying position on a receiving surface. The apparatus comprises a pulling device having a tool end adapted to be releasably connected to a surface of a panel of the stack in a contacting position. The pulling device is actuatable to displace the tool end to the contacting position. An actuator member operatively supports the pulling device so as to displace the pulling device away from the panel, to pull the panel away from the stack by actuation of the actuator member to create a gap between the panel and the stack. A pushing device has a portion adapted to be inserted in the gap in a pushing position. The pushing device is operatively supported by the actuator member, whereby the pushing device in the pushing position pushes the panel away from the stack.

Abstract: A method and device for transferring packets, whereby two parallel, superimposed rows of packets are fed in a horizontal direction to a first transfer station, and the lead packets in the two rows are then conveyed in a vertical direction from the first transfer station to a second transfer station, where the lead packets are parted in the vertical direction; at this point, the parted lead packets are transferred in the horizontal direction to a heat-shrink unit having two parallel, superimposed, substantially horizontal channels, each of which is engaged by a respective row of packets.

Abstract: An order merging system includes two first case guides with a pair of twisted lanes. The case guides are downwardly sloped and guide a product case along in each case guide. Two raisable guides are connected downstream of the case guides and are in communication with them. Two other case guides in communication with the raisable guides, which are lowered to allow the product cases from the first case guides to merge onto the other case guides.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a plate feeder and a method of supplying plates. The plate feeder supplies plates on an as-needed basis and includes a holding structure for holding a plate. A proximity sensor detects whether a plate is held by the holding structure. A control system is connected to the proximity sensor to receive a plate absent signal therefrom. When the control system receives a plate absent signal, the control system commands a pusher to move a plate into an ejection area and then commands a blade with a non-linear front edge to engage a rear edge of the plate and push the plate from the ejection area to the holding structure, where the plate is available for use by a technician.

Abstract: A device for automatically discharging ingots from a stack of ingots is disclosed that includes a frame, a lift device positioned within the frame, a platform rotatably coupled to the lift device, and a discharge mechanism coupled to the frame. The automatic ingot discharging device of the present invention is utilized to reduce the time and labor required to move ingots from one location to another in a casting facility, and thus, increase the production efficiency for manufacturing cast objects.

Abstract: A pickup device for stacks of blanks arranged in at least one layer on a substantially horizontal separating sheet, wherein a fork, movable in a given pickup direction to and from the separating sheet to successively pick up the stacks by sliding in contact with the separating sheet, has a skid hinged to a free end of the fork; the skid sliding in contact with the separating sheet, and oscillating, with respect to the fork, about a substantially horizontal axis crosswise to the pickup direction.

Abstract: A system for continuously packaging or sorting fragile articles having varying thicknesses in a stack includes a plurality of proportional shifters coupled to each of a plurality of stripping devices in an article infeed assembly. Each proportional shifter has an article gauge for measuring the height of a stack having a set or desired number of fragile articles, such as crackers or cookies. An article stripping device may be quickly and accurately adjusted in-process to measure the thickness of a set number of stacked articles contained in a given batch coming from an article infeed. The article gauge provides a measure of the height of a stack of a set number of articles sampled from an article infeed. The stack height is equivalent to the height of the stack of articles stripped by the strip feeder.

Abstract: A method for dismantling a stack (1) of flat objects (2, 3) piece by piece, in which the top object (2) of the stack (1) is moved in its plane, gripped at its freed edge and removed from the stack (1). The top object (2) is moved against a stop (5), at least in the region of one of its corners (2b), by a movable separating element (6, 6′) and, as a result of further movement, is bent in such a way that it escapes from the stop (5) and is moved out of the stack (1). The invention further relates to an apparatus for dismantling a stack (1) of flat objects (2, 3) piece by piece.

Abstract: A material table 39 supporting materials W is provided so as to be able to move between a plate material taking-in/out area 11 and material wait area 13, and when the material table 39 is positioned in the plate material taking-in/out area 11, the material table 39 is positioned in a lower position adjacent to an upper end portion of a slat conveyor 33.

Abstract: An improved prefeeder assembly (10) for receiving a stack (28) of blanks and for inverting and passing the inverted blanks to processing equipment, the prefeeder assembly (10) having a rotator frame (12) which is positonable in an upright load entry position and an inverted bundle discharge position. A rotator infeed conveyor (70) is supported by the rotator frame (12) to receive and support a stack while a lift platform assembly (44) is also supported by the rotator frame (12) to clamp the stack (28) onto the rotator conveyor (70). A backstop and pusher assembly (14) is also supported on the rotator frame (12) and includes a moveable backstop (90) and a pusher member (24) for discharging a selective height of the stack.

Abstract: The feeding method concerns the transfer of panels (2) from the top of a vertical stack (17) to a loading table (4) on a panel saw machine. The panels (2) are pushed by mobile horizontal pushers (7) from the stack (17) until they arrive at an infeed device (8) which conveys the panels (2) to the loading table (4). The pushers (7) and the vertical stack (17) perform relative movements controlled by control means (70), so as to allow the pushers (7) to transfer from the stack (17) one or more panels (2), depending on the extent (h) of the relative translation. The infeed device (8) comprises at least two pairs of rollers, each pair comprising a motor-driven roller and an idler roller. The center distance of a pair of rollers may be adjusted by adjusting the idler roller.

Abstract: A system and method for transporting and reorienting one or more items is provided. The system includes a first transport apparatus that can transport and reorient an item from a loading location to a first unloading location. For example, a first carder is movably secured to a frame of the first transport apparatus such that it can move at least about 180 degrees about the frame to the first unloading location. Moreover, the first carrier can also move about 90 degrees to a first transfer location. At the first transfer location, the items contained within the first carrier can, in some instances, also be pushed to a second carrier at a second transfer location. The second carrier is movably secured to a frame of a second transport apparatus such that it can move at least about 90 degrees to a second unloading location. The reoriented item(s) can be unloaded from a carrier at the first or second unloading locations.

Abstract: A method and unit for transferring blanks on a packing machine, whereby stacks of blanks are transferred from a platform, on which the blanks are arranged in stacks, to a store wherein the blanks are packed successively and seamlessly along a path for supply to a pickup station of the packing machine; transfer of the stacks from the platform to the store including forming, at a loading station and by means of two gripping devices for gripping the stacks, a group of blanks defined by stacks superimposed and aligned in a container, feeding the container and the group along a path to an unloading station at the store, and transferring the group of blanks from the container to the store.

Abstract: An apparatus for individually dispensing printed articles such as newspapers comprises a housing and a movable table in the housing for carrying in readiness a stack of printed articles on the table. A removal device permits access to a printed article in respect of which payment has been made and a feed pushes a respective printed article out of the apparatus. An actuator is provided for activating the feed. A drive displaces the table by a desired travel length to the article-removal position, under the control of sensing and control device for controlling the travel length of the table. A braking and stopping means is operable to stop and release the drive in the operating cycle of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sequentially heat treating small parts processes the parts individually through a heat treatment process at a predetermined rate, so that each part is heat treated for a predetermined time and all parts are heat treated equally. A plurality of parts on pallets are arranged in a vertical stack in a heat treatment furnace, and parts are sequentially removed and inserted at the ends of the stack at predetermined intervals so that each part progresses from one end of the stack to the other. A vertical guide holds a plurality of parts in a vertical stack. The parts are sequentially removed and inserted at the ends of the stack so that each part progresses from one end of the stack to the other. The stack is lifted to facilitate removing and inserting parts by a slide having movable jaws for gripping and releasing a pallet.