Abstract: An apparatus for removing cylindrical articles such as kegs from a pallet on which the articles lie on their sides in a plurality of rows, has a pusher member which moves behind each row of articles in turn and pushes the row from the pallet to an adjacent discharge conveyor. The pusher member is suspended from a carriage that is movable horizontally in a sub-frame. The sub-frame is pivoted so that the pusher member can be raised to enable it to clear the remaining rows of articles on the pallet when it is moved back to its initial position after pushing one row of articles from the pallet. A pallet conveyor extending beneath and at right angles to the discharge conveyor moves the pallet after each row of articles has been removed so as to position the next row of articles for engagement by the pusher member.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading cylindrical articles, such as kegs, onto a pallet so that the articles lie on their sides in a plurality of rows, has an assembly station at which rows of the articles are assembled at a level higher than the surface of a pallet at an adjacent loading station. A ramp extends from the assembly station to a pallet at the unloading station. A pusher mechanism pushes each row of articles at the assembly station onto the ramp so that the articles roll down the ramp under their own weight onto the pallet. A transfer member engages each row of articles on the ramp and controls the movement of the articles down the ramp. The transfer member is suspended from a carriage that is movable above the ramp. The carriage is movable vertically to enable it to engage each row, in turn, of articles pushed onto the ramp.

Abstract: A de-palletizer for removing articles such as kegs or drums from a pallet utilizes a conveyor to move the pallets, one at a time, to an unloading station where a mechanism pushes the articles from the pallet on to a discharge table. The unloaded pallet is removed from the unloading station before another loaded pallet is moved into that station. To enable the articles to be easily pushed off the pallet, a tilting mechanism causes the articles to tilt on edge as the articles are pushed toward the discharge table, with the articles tilting away from the discharge table. The tilting mechanism is mounted on a reciprocating carriage carrying a pusher plate. When the carriage moves toward the discharge table, articles on the pallet are pushed by the plate toward that table. To cause the articles to tilt away from the table, the pusher plate has a protruding bar that engages the lower portion of the articles.

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.