Abstract: This invention pertains to handling of material on a supporting surface, preferably a pallet (74). It is addressed especially to the handling of material in pallet loads. The invention provides material handling systems and methods for placing material on a supporting surface by a palletizer (10) and removing it from that supporting surface by a depalletizer (210); and wherein the common element necessary to make the system function resides in the use of a special spacing sheet under each layer (178) of material in the load. Supporting members include spacing sheets (161) and (166) having novel characteristics in their top and bottom surfaces, and novel tacky spacing sheets (300) which are lightly and temporarily bonded to the underlying layer or pallet.

Abstract: For the rearrangement of articles of different sorts, which are deposited according to sorts on pallets, to form groups of articles of a plurality of sorts, each deposited on a base, pallets of the different sorts of articles are depalletised continuously in layers by delivering the depalletised articles to individual conveyors, whence the articles are transferred to a sort-conveyor intended for the particular sort of article and with an associated sort store and are intermediately stored in the latter (that is to say, according to sorts). Subsequently, the intermediately stored articles are discharged from the sort stores by the respective associated sort-conveyor in the number and sequence required for forming a group, and are fed to at least one group-forming station and in this are deposited on a base in the desired arrangement within the group to be formed.

Abstract: A box latch and prop rod is provided for a tiltable cargo box of a utility vehicle. The single rod is fixedly mounted on the vehicle, and slidably movable between a first position where it supports the box in its tilted orientation, and a second position where it locks the box to the vehicle frame for transport or operation. The rod includes a biasing mounting that urges its latching structure towards engagement with a compatible latching structure carried on the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically counting and stacking articles, comprising: a conveyor for conveying a plurality of articles to at least one fixed stack position; and at least one stacking mechanism, the stacking mechanism comprising: an article carriage peripherally disposed about the fixed stack position, the carriage extending substantially perpendicular to the fixed stack position, wherein the carriage has at least one stacking dog for engaging and suspending articles above the fixed stack position; an article pusher located below the fixed stack position, the pusher capable of projecting an article positioned at the fixed stack position at a distance effective to engage the article with the stacking dogs and suspend the article therefrom; an article pullback mechanism positioned upstream of the article pusher for retaining subsequently conveyed articles in a queued relation; and a counter for counting articles suspended above the fixed stack position.

Abstract: In a device for stacking and unstacking containers provided with grasping holes and more particularly for the loading and unloading of palettes with such containers, such as bottle crates and the like, comprising a gripper member having grippers adapted to be brought in and out of engagement with the holes to pick up and deposit such container and which is mounted on a gripping carriage able to be driven on a turnover area for such crates between a pickup site and a depositing site of same, there is the improvement that the grippers for picking up and depositing the containers are arranged, and adapted to be vertically moved, to pickup and deposit the containers while simultaneously performing a pivoting motion in relation to the gripping member which is stationarily arranged in relation to the gripper carriage. This design has the advantage that operation of the grippers on the fly is possible and accordingly the handling rate of the arrangement is enhanced.

Abstract: An automatic stick laying apparatus designed to successively position spacing sticks on stacks of lumber for spacing the lumber in stacked tiers. In a preferred embodiment the stick laying apparatus includes a fixed frame designed for positioning over the lumber, a spacing stick accumulator mounted on the fixed frame and a carriage assembly attached to the fixed frame in vertically movable relationship. The accumulator includes a pair of spaced, horizontal accumulator chains fitted with accumulator chain cleats located above spaced drop gates for receiving and deploying the spacing sticks in a continuous loop. The carriage assembly is fitted with parallel chain channels supporting horizontal positioner chains having positioner chain cleats for receiving the spacing sticks from the accumulator through the drop gates and positioning the spacing sticks over respective layers of lumber.

Abstract: An automated palletizer is described for stacking bagged materials, comprising a support frame including an indexing area, a pallet magazine and a pallet lift assembly located in close, proximal, sequential relationship to each other.

Abstract: A feeding device for down hole tubulars includes a frame which defines a support surface. First and second stops are arranged to reciprocate in stop guides between an upper position, in which the stops interrupt movement of a tubular, and a lower position in which the stops allow movement of the tubular. The stop guides are moveable relative to one another to adjust the separation between the stops as appropriate for tubulars of different diameters. A tilting actuator arm cycles the stops between upper and lower positions to control the feeding of tubulars along the support surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container conveyor for conveying a container to a container inspecting station. The container has a flanged portion surrounding its opening. The conveyor includes a rotary disc having a plurality of holders arranged around its circumference for holding the containers. The holders include a driving roller and a pair of rotation rollers. The rollers contact the container to provide a three-point connection with the flanged portion of the container. Each roller has a recessed portion formed about its periphery. The recessed portions engage the flanged portion of the container to nip the container.

Abstract: This invention pertains to handling of material on a supporting surface, preferably a pallet 74. It is addressed especially to the handling of thin-sectioned sheet material such as loose newspaper and magazine products in pallet loads. The invention provides material handling system and method for placing the material on a supporting surface by means of a palletizer 10 and removing it from that supporting surface by means of a depalletizer 180; and wherein the common element necessary to make the system function resides in the use of a special supporting member under each layer 178 of material in the load. Supporting members include spacing sheets 166 having novel characteristics in their top and bottom surfaces and novel pallets 216 having novel characteristics in their top surfaces.

Abstract: A device for use in placing surface mount components upon PCBs having article gripping elements carried by a support. The article gripping elements are movable between an upper position and a lower position for engaging and gripping surface mount components. The article gripping elements are dependent from a vertical flexible shaft so that the elements may become inclined upon contacting with a surface mount component so that a correct engagement and gripping action takes place. A seat is provided upon the support to ensure correct orientation of the elements upon their return to the upper position.

Abstract: A device for use in placing surface mount components upon PCBs having article gripping elements carried by a support. The article gripping elements are movable between an upper position and a lower position for engaging and gripping the surface mount component. In the lower position, the article gripping elements are freely orientable relative to a vertical axis and the elements and support coact as the elements are being raised to correct the orientation of the elements to that desired.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting grassland bales comprises a pair of open-ended cradle structures (42, 44) each of which is pivotally mounted on each of two opposite sides of a trailer (10). The cradles can be lowered from an inboard stowed position into an inverted position by pivoting the cradles relative to the trailer so that the cradles are lowered to collect a load. The cradles can lift the load into a stowed position by being raised inboard of the trailer.

Abstract: A collector cart includes a body having an open rear end closed by a canopy pivotally connected to the body adjacent their front ends. A tow bar, which has the body pivotally connected thereto, has a support, which has caster wheels connected thereto for support, for the body. The tow bar has a quick hook-up requiring no tools at its forward end for connection to a hitch on a riding lawn mower. When the cart is to be dumped, a first handle is rotated by an operator, who remains on the mower, to initially cause pivoting of a rear portion of a frame of the canopy, which includes a cover on the frame, relative to the body and the remainder of the canopy frame to unlock the rear portion of the canopy from the rear of the body. After unlocking is accomplished, a second handle, which is pivotally mounted on the body and has a portion engaging the tow bar to prevent pivoting of the body, is rotated by the operator to disengage its engaging portion from the tow bar.

Abstract: A transfer system includes an air table, and a linear motor cooperating with the air table to float and move a pallet. The transfer system is designed to allow for a small radius of curvature for each turning section of the air table. Ball valves of the air table are openable upon contact with a pallet to apply air under pressure to a pallet. A linear motor is adapted to move the floating pallet, and guides are provided to guide the moving floating pallet. The pallet includes a pallet body made of a light material, and an external load part made of metal. The external load part has a lower surface projecting slightly from the lower surface of the pallet body. Guides are mounted to the outer periphery of the pallet body. A linear motor secondary conductor is mounted to the lower surface of the pallet body.

Abstract: An automatic stick laying apparatus which is designed to successively position spacing sticks on stacks of lumber for spacing the lumber. In a preferred embodiment the stick laying apparatus includes a fixed frame positioned over stacked tiers of lumber and a carriage assembly mounted on the fixed frame in vertically sliding relationship and fitted with parallel chain channels supporting positioner chains having chain cleats for receiving spacing sticks and positioning the spacing sticks over the respective layers of lumber. Multiple diverter assemblies are positioned in spaced relationship between the chain channels for sequentially displacing the spacing sticks from the spaced chain cleats and depositing the spacing sticks in selectively spaced relationship on the underlying tiers of stacked lumber.

Abstract: A material handling system employs a sheet separator capable of handling sheets of varied thickness and flexibility and a positioner which repetitively positions sheets relative to a pressing unit in a fixed location. A sheet stacker receives and stacks the processed sheets at a rate of up to five sheets per minute.

Abstract: A code break mechanism preferably employed in a stacker apparatus. The stacker apparatus has a support housing, a deck fixably mounted to and supported by the housing, a registration wall fixably mounted to the housing and extending generally perpendicular to the deck. A deflector plate is pivotally mounted in an opening in the registration wall. A rotary solenoid in communication with a linkage train causes the deflector plate to be selectively positionable from a first position coplanar with the registration wall to a second position pivotally displaced from the registration wall.

Abstract: A wheel-lift mechanism is disclosed which incorporates a unique torque limiting structure. A drive is transmitted to a first shaft, which is in turn transmitted to a second shaft. The second shaft drives a reel for raising and lowering a flexible lift member and an attached wheel hub from beneath a vehicle. The torque limiting structure consists of an outer drive member which has an inner periphery including a plurality of ears which are received within notches in an inner driven member. The first shaft rotates the outer drive member and the inner driven member in turn rotates the second shaft. Should the relative torque transmitted from the first shaft to the second shaft exceed a predetermined limit, the ears deform the notch radially inwardly and the outer drive member slips relative to the inner driven member. Nodes are positioned radially outwardly of the notches on each circumferential side. A space is formed radially inwardly of the notch in the inner driven member.

Abstract: A machine for creating a batch of blanks out of a pile of blanks and for removing the batch of blanks from the pile consists of a fixed stop positioned along one surface of the blanks, a jogging device disposed opposite the fixed stop, a movable stop positioned in a line with the fixed stop, a separating device arranged adjacent the fixed stop for engaging an upper surface of the pile to raise the pile to create a free space, a conveyor insert movable from a position outside of the pile into the free space for transferring the blanks raised by the separator out of the pile as a batch of blanks.