Abstract: An alignment compensation system for use with parallel linear bearings which isolates the linear motion system load or carriage plate from alignment errors in the system. Spherical bearings are mounted in bearing blocks, each spherical bearing having a support shaft therethrough to support a plate connected to a carriage or load plate. One of the bearings shafts is free to laterally float within its bearing block, thus providing for compensation of lateral misalignment of the linear bearing track. The other spherical bearing is held fixed within its bearing block. The linear system load or carriage plate is mounted on the spherical bearing shafts, thus isolating the carriage plate from alignment errors in the linear motion system.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for arranging a plurality of containers into desired patterns and palletizing the containers onto pallets. The apparatus has an infeed conveyor and an orienting unit having a receiving end and a moveable discharge end. The orienting unit includes a pair of side-by-side orienting conveyor belts which have independent speed controls. A container on the pair of orienting conveyor belts can be rotated by controlling the differential speed of the pair of belts. The receiving end of the orienting unit is pivotably connected to a fixed stanchion so as to permit the discharge end of the orienting unit to rotate in a horizontal plane. The orienting unit is also constructed so that its length may be lengthened or shortened to discharge the container at any location on a pattern forming table. A pusher bar transfers a layer of containers from the forming table onto an adjacent surface. The adjacent surface is horizontally slid from beneath the layer of cartons onto a pallet.

Abstract: A robot for depalletizing open top boxes having a product from a pallet, removing the box from the product, unloading the product onto a magazine conveying surface and picking up slip sheets.