Abstract: An apparatus for palletizing unit loads including an input roller conveyor, a guide displaceable between the driven rollers of the input roller conveyor and having a plurality of stirrup-shaped elements liftable above and sinkable below the upper surface level of the rollers and having a stepped upper surface with at least two unit load supporting surfaces, a stacker located adjacent to and sidewise of the input roller conveyor, and a sliding device for shifting a unit load layer formed in the waiting area of the input roller conveyor onto the stacker; with the method of palletizing unit loads with the use of the palletizing apparatus including sequentially lifting rows of unit loads with stepped support surfaces of the stirrup-shaped element above the upper surface level of the input roller conveyor and displacing the lifted rows into the waiting area, and lowering the guide so that the unit load support surfaces are located beneath an upper surface level of the waiting area, whereby the first and second row

Abstract: Apparatus for the production of a packaged unit completely enclosed by a heat shrinkable foil where the unit is made up of a plurality of layers of items of the same general shape stacked one layer on another with a final layer being inset relative to the subjection layers forming inset spaces for receiving support members of a lifting device in the final package condition of the unit. Initially, a shrinkable foil is placed over the stack and is shrunk onto it. Next, the stack is inverted so that the final layer is located at the bottom. The apparatus reduces the space requirement for producing the packaged unit with the stack being moved as little as possible and increasing production output. The tool for shaping the foil on the stack are combined with at least one of the foil applying unit and a frame of the shrinkage unit and with the conveying device for the stack.

Abstract: An arrangement for sliding and shrinking a hood of shrinking foil over and onto a stack formed by a number of packaging objects. The arrangement includes a vertically movable frame with shrinking devices provided in the upper region of the frame and gripping elements for grasping and pulling down the lower edge of the shrinking foil. A lifting device arranged centrically underneath the stack serves to raise the stack from a conveying device which transports the stack into and out of the arrangement according to the invention. The lifting device raises the stack so that the lower edge of the hood of shrinking foil can be shrunk onto the stack up to the region of the conveying device. Subsequently, the lifting device is lowered. The vertical distance between the gripping elements and the shrinking devices is adjustable.

Abstract: A device for gripping, lifting and releasing a member, such as a package or individual article, used in automatic handling apparatus where two gripping arms are pivotally mounted so that they can be pivoted into and out of gripping relation with a member. The device can grip the member and place it carefully on a surface where it is surrounded laterally by similar members. In the placing operation the member gripped and the laterally surrounding members are not deformed. The gripping arms are pivoted at one end and grip the member at the other. The pivoted ends of the gripping arms can be moved away from or toward one another while being pivoted for effecting gripping or releasing of the member.

Abstract: Conveyor belt of rubber or rubber-like elastomeric synthetic materials with strength members embedded in the belt and arranged in mutually spaced apart relationship while extending parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the belt, whereby the strength members are generally distributed in groups over the width of the belt at predetermined intervals. The strength members can be in the form of wires, cables, ropes and the like, while the conveyor belt includes carrier elements such as cups, baffle plates, rakes or scrapers, or pusher dogs, and the like.