Abstract: A fluid conveyor effects movement of articles, such as cans, along a predetermined path adjacent to a thin deck plate. The thin deck plate has fluid distribution areas formed therein with each fluid distribution area having an aperture formed therein, after which a flat tab section is formed that is inclined with respect to the remainder of the plate. Each tab section therefore has an aperture therein through which fluid from a fluid supply unit is injected under pressure into the article path adjacent to the plate in a direction and angle determined by the orientation of the tab sections to effect movement of articles along the article path. Each tab section has a portion integral with the remainder of the plate and side and end edge portions unattached to the remainder of the plate but sufficiently contiguous thereto to prevent passage of air between the edge portions and the remainder of the plate.

Abstract: Device and method are disclosed for palletizing unstable articles such as containers. Articles, such as glass or plastic bottles, are conveyed in single file to an accumulating area, with the containers at the accumulating area being formed into a pattern, preferably in nested relationship. A conveyor system is provided to urge articles from the accumulating area to, and partially through, a sweep area, and a movable retainer unit having retractable plungers is provided to control the movement of articles from the accumulating area by groups to the sweep area with the sweep area having a positioner unit thereat that includes a plurality of movable sweep arms adjacent ones of which are utilized to engage the first and last rows of each group of articles to capture each group therebetween and thereafter conduct each group of articles through the sweep area to a pallet loading area where each group is successively deposited as a layer on a pallet.

Abstract: A conveying system is disclosed for conveying unstable articles having a neck ring. Unstable articles, such as plastic bottles having a neck ring, or flange, are conveyed in single file along plural paths each of which is established by dual guides vertically spaced from one another a distance just sufficient to receive the neck rings of the articles therebetween, with the articles being urged in the downstream direction along each path by air acting solely on the top portion of the articles above the neck rings.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that utilizes a fluid (normally air) to effect nested alignment of articles such as cans to be used to package beverages and the like. A conveying section provides articles in a mass flow to an aligning section having spaced guides therein forming guideways through which articles are fluid driven downstream toward a staging section. The guides have a first portion extending parallel to the direction of intended article flow through the device and all guides except center guides have a second portion that extends downstream from the first portion at an angle with respect to the first portion to effect alignment of the articles in nested relationship at the staging section. Different groups of guides of the first portion extend upstream different distances to facilitate passage of articles into the guideways, and an embodiment is disclosed that is particularly useful in aligning undecorated cans.

Abstract: Article diverting and storage system and method utilizing a thru-flow palletizer/depalletizer. Articles on an article conveyor are diverted from the article conveyor at a first location and moved along a first path toward a discharge end where a sweep unit of a palletizer/depalletizer urges and leads the diverted articles onto a pallet by groups for storage. When the stored articles are later needed, the articles are urged and led from the pallet by groups by the sweep unit and a retainer unit of the palletizer/depalletizer and moved along a second path separate from the first path to a second location of the article conveyor downstream from the first location where the articles are inserted onto the article conveyor. The system and method are particularly useful for storing cans diverted from a high speed can production and/or handling line, and for later supplying stored cans, when needed, to the line.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that utilizes a fluid (normally air) to effect nested alignment of articles having a circular cross-section (such as cans used to package beverages and the like). A conveying section that includes a dead plate and a fluid conveyor provides articles in a mass flow to an aligning section having guides therein spaced a sufficient distance to form guideways through which articles are fluid driven in single file toward a discharge end having an adjacently positioned staging section that also includes a fluid conveyor. The guides, other than a center guide, have first and second portions that are angled with respect to one another, and fluid injected into the sections through apertures in a base plate providing section bottoms urges the articles into a plurality of adjacent rows of aligned articles at the staging section with the articles of each adjacent row offset from one another to effect nesting of the articles.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for moving articles, such as cans, by groups, or tiers, from a pallet to an adjoining surface, such as a belt conveyor. A pair of sweep arms of a sweep unit move about a closed loop path to alternately engage the trailing portion of groups of articles when at a pallet sweep area to urge each group from the pallet. A pivotable retainer arm of a retainer unit, mounted on a reciprocating carriage moved by a driver following a closed loop path, engages the leading portion of the group of articles to be then moved from the pallet and thereafter leads the group from the pallet.

Abstract: Device and method are disclosed for repeatedly forming a predetermined arrangement of conveyed articles. Cylindrical articles, such as cans, are accumulated on a conveying unit at an accumulating area, the articles at the accumulating area being normally in a pattern, such as being in nested relationship. A stop unit is provided to repeatedly allow preselected numbers of articles to pass from the accumulating area on the conveying unit into a sweep area having a sweep unit including sweep arms each of which is utilized to alternately lead and push articles by group through the sweep area to a receiving area, such as a palletizer. The conveying, stop and sweep units are controlled to cause coordinated movement therebetween, the conveying and sweep units being operated at various speeds as each group of articles passes the stop unit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating formation of moving cylindrical articles, such as thin walled cans, into single file. The apparatus includes a plurality of diverting arms within a single filing area formed between two plate members having apertures formed therein so that air expelled through the apertures causes movement of conveyed articles not then in single file toward a peripheral guide member and movement of articles then in single file adjacent to the guide member in a direction through the single lining area substantially parallel to the guide member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for promoting preselected article orientation by elimination of unoccupied spaces in an assemblage of articles at a staging area, and, more particularly for precisely grouping cans prior to palletization thereof. The apparatus has opposite side walls, at least one of which is movable relative to the other, adjacent to a transfer surface for alternately expanding and contracting the area allotted to article staging, while the articles are being assembled to thereby cause articles to occupy unoccupied spaces and thereby enhance quantity reliability of articles within a given area.

Abstract: A material positioning and securing apparatus and process is disclosed that is particularly useful in association with a device for spirally wrapping palletized units at a wrapping station with a stretchable netting material to form a secure package. A disposable elongated material engaging member, formed from reasonably stiff and yet deformable material, is placed adjacent one side of units on a pallet at the wrapping station with the material engaging member having protruding portions oriented to extend in a direction away from the surface of the units for engagement with the netting material as the netting material is wrapped around the units.

Abstract: A material positioning and securing apparatus and method is disclosed that is particularly useful in association with a device for spirally wrapping palletized units at a wrapping station with a stretchable netting material to form a secure package. A disposable elongated material engaging member, formed from reasonably stiff and yet deformable material, is placed adjacent one side of units on a pallet at the wrapping station with the material engaging member having protruding portions oriented to extend in a direction away from the surface of the units for engagement with the netting material as the netting material is wrapped around the units.

Abstract: A material positioning and securing apparatus and method is disclosed that is particularly useful in association with a device for spirally wrapping palletized units at a wrapping station with a stretchable netting material to form a secure package. A disposable elongated material engaging member, formed from reasonably stiff and yet deformable material, is placed adjacent one side of units on a pallet at the wrapping station with the material engaging member having protruding portions oriented to extend in a direction away from the surface of the units for engagement with the netting material as the netting material is wrapped around the units.

Abstract: A device, apparatus and method for distribution at a utilization area of fluid maintained adjacent thereto under pressure to thereby effect movement of articles at the utilization area are disclosed. The device includes a thin plate having a plurality of spaced passageways extending therethrough, which passageways extend substantially normal and open to the opposite surfaces of the plate, with at least a portion of the passageways opening into one of the surfaces at different ones of a plurality of spaced displacement therein, whereby the configuration of the displacements and the size and position of the openings therein determine the volume and direction of fluid distributed in the utilization area. The device is particularly useful in an apparatus wherein the device forms the upper surface of an air containment chamber for containment of air under pressure, and wherein articles are moved thereby adjacent to the upper surface, for example in an air table, air conveyor, article single filer, or the like.

Abstract: A sheet transfer device and method are disclosed for transferring sheets from a sheet stack to a utilization area such as a can pallet. A base unit causes pivoting of a beam about a moveable pivot point so that a sheet picked up from the sheet stack is moved upwardly for a substantial distance and then pivoted to a point above a can pallet, after which the sheet is moved downwardly and deposited on the upwardly extending tops of a horizontal layer of cans on the can pallet. Suction is supplied through a plurality of cups brought into engagement with the top sheet of a sheet stack to lift the top sheet from the stack, with the suction being terminated when the sheet is deposited on the can pallet to thereby release the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for transit of articles between a transfer surface and an adjacent separator sheet is disclosed with the apparatus having a selectively positionable and extendable bridge for providing a transitional surface between the transfer surface and the sheet and for overlapping a portion of the sheet adjacent to the transfer surface when in a first position, and for providing a clearance for placement and positioning of the sheet when in a second position.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for relative movement between stacked articles and a reference surface upon which the articles are stacked. Some, or all, independently movable layers, or tiers, of the stack of articles are received by a suspending device that includes a partial enclosure connected with a high pressure air pump capable of reducing the fluid pressure to establish a pressure differential within the partial enclosure. The partial enclosure has flexible sealing strips extending from, and coextensive with, the bottom edge of movable sections of the partial enclosure, and the sealing strips are positioned adjacent to the lowest tier to be acted upon by the suspending device.

Abstract: A disposable elongated material engaging member, formed from reasonably stiff and yet deformable material, is placed adjacent one side of units on a pallet at a wrapping station with the material engaging member having protruding portions oriented to extend in a direction away from the surface of the units for engagement with the netting material as the netting material is wrapped around the units. A forming and feeder mechanism, receiving a continuous supply of the reasonably stiff material, forms the material engaging member into the desired configuration and shape, and then dispenses the thus formed member into the wrapping station where the formed member is severed from the continuous supply by the forming and feeder mechanism after the formed material at the wrapping station has been contacted by a plurality of wrapped layers of the netting material.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for palletizing articles delivered by an accumulator belt onto a pallet in transverse rows of alternating orientation, with the first and last transverse rows of each tier of articles on the pallet being of the same orientation, such palletization being accomplished by engaging and lifting the transverse row of an appropriate orientation which immediately follows the last transverse row of a first tier, loading a second tier of articles with the transverse row immediately following the lifted transverse row forming the first transverse row of such tier, reforming the lifted transverse row into a transverse row of the appropriate orientation by side shifting, and inserting the reformed lifted transverse row as the initial transverse row of a third tier of articles.