Abstract: Articles, moving along a delivery path, are counted by directing a stream of pressurized air toward one major surface of the passing articles, the direction of the air stream being transverse to the direction of travel. Sensors arranged about the air stream detect the acoustic signal which varies with changes in the profile of the passing articles, exemplified by signatures. The detected acoustic signal is divided into a plurality of frequency ranges which, in one preferred emboidment, are averaged to reduce the effect of noise which may be present in only limited ones of the frequency bands. The averaged signals are then compared against thresholds to determine the instantaneous state of the articles, exemplified by a signature stream, to generate count signals.

Abstract: A self-adaptive stacker comprising infeed and stacking sections whose movement is coordinated to provide interception of the signature stream. A microprocessor utilizes a signal, representative of the infeed conveyor speed, together with a signal from a signature counter, to track the movement of each signature and thereby its arrival at the intercept position. Low armature inertia motors drive the three axes, (stacking section, the turntable, and the ejectors) to provide rapid starting, acceleration, deceleration, and stopping at selected positions. These motors are controlled to interact in real-time in order to adapt the three axes to the rate of the incoming signatures. The movement of the signature carriers is altered, when necessary, due to speed changes of the signature stream.

Abstract: A self-adaptive stacker comprising infeed and stacking sections whose movement is coordinated to provide interception of the signature stream. The infeed conveyor section "Vees" the incoming signature stream through the use of rollers of different diameters mounted upon straight, spaced, parallel shafts.

Abstract: A vehicle including a receiver for tracking signals generated by a wire for directing the vehicle to follow the wire which loops between loading and unloading positions. Sensors detect the vehicle for moving a swingable member to a first position and locking the member to cradle the load on the vehicle. Drivewheel assemblies arranged along one longitudinal side of the vehicle are rotatable to steer the vehicle and to move the wheels to a position to move the vehicle sidewise for delivering the load to a utilization device at the unloading location. The side of the vehicle opposite the side of the drive wheel assemblies is provided with caster assemblies enabling the side of the caster assemblies to be of a significantly reduced height relative to the opposite side thereof to permit the load to be dispensed and enable the vehicle to be withdrawn from beneath the load when the lifted swingable member is lowered.