Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting the chimbs of cylindrical articles such as kegs or drums comprises means for rotating a keg about its cylindrical axis and sensing means arranged to engage the chimb of the keg and to sense displacement of the chimb from a predetermined position. In the preferred embodiment, a lower sensing unit 18 has two actuating arms 132 and 232 pivoted about horizontal axes. Each arm has at one end a roller (136,236) which engages the chimb 302 of a keg 300 under the resilient bias of a spring (154,254). At the other end the arm has a steel plate (138,238) moving over a proximity sensor (152,252). Deformation of chimb 302 at any point in its circumference causes the plate on one or other arm to move away from the proximity sensor which gives an appropriate signal to electrical control circuitry of the apparatus. An upper sensing unit 20 is provided so that the upper and lower chimbs of a keg can be inspected simultaneously.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking layers of loads, e.g. on a pallet, comprises a stacking carriage and a transfer carriage each independently movable vertically on a main frame, so that the transfer carriage can receive each layer of loads at a low level and raise the layer to the level of the stacking carriage, the layer being then transferred to a stripping apron on the stacking carriage and deposited onto the stack of loads. The apparatus can be modified to act as a de-stacker for removing layers of loads successively from a stack, or to enable the apparatus to be operated selectively as a stacker or de-stacker.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring discrete loads to or from a pallet, comprising pallet infeed means for moving a pallet to a loading station, first and second load conveying means adapted to move numbers of discrete loads to or from respective first and second loading positions arranged on opposite sides of the loading station, load transfer means adapted to transfer loads simultaneously between each load conveying means at its loading position and a pallet at the loading station, and pallet discharge means for discharging the pallet from the apparatus. Two forms of the apparatus are described, one for loading cylindrical articles, such as kegs, on to a pallet, the other for removing such articles from a loaded pallet.