Abstract: A printer includes: a conveyor that performs a forward-conveyance operation for conveying a printing medium downstream in a conveying direction and a backward-conveyance operation for conveying the printing medium upstream in the conveying direction; a printing device; a roller provided downstream of the conveyor in the conveying direction; an opposed member opposed to the roller; a moving mechanism that moves a moving member, which is one of the roller and the opposed member, between (i) a first position at which the printing medium is nipped between the moving member and the other of the roller and the opposed member and (ii) a second position at which the moving member is separated from the printing medium; and a controller that executes a first conveyor-backward-conveyance processing for controlling the conveyor to perform the backward-conveyance operation in a state in which the moving member is located at the second position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for sorting veneer sheets. The system comprises: an assembly section; a reject section; a feeding section arranged between the assembly section and the reject section; at least one detection device configured to scan a top surface of a topmost veneer sheet of a stack of veneer sheets to provide a plurality of successive scan lines images; at least two parallel transfer devices; and a control system.

Abstract: A rack for holding a portion of a thrust reverser. The rack may include a base and a supporting frame disposed perpendicularly with the base. The base and the supporting frame may include a hinge at each location where the base and the supporting frame are coupled together. The rack may also include two supporting poles parallel to the supporting frame. The two supporting poles may be designed such that the portion of the thrust reverser may be mounted onto the two supporting poles.

Abstract: A rack for holding a portion of a thrust reverser. The rack may include a base and a supporting frame disposed perpendicularly with the base. The base and the supporting frame may include a hinge at each location where the base and the supporting frame are coupled together. The rack may also include two supporting poles parallel to the supporting frame. The two supporting poles may be designed such that the portion of the thrust reverser may be mounted onto the two supporting poles.

Abstract: An automated teller machine comprises a main body including a customer service unit where a medium is inserted and taken out and a deposit/withdrawal unit where a medium is separated and stacked, and a tray configured to transfer the medium while reciprocating between the deposit/withdrawal unit and the customer service unit. The tray includes a tray body that is movable between the customer service unit and the deposit/withdrawal unit, a clamping plate provided at the tray body to be vertically movable to clamp the medium inserted into the tray body, and a clamping lever configured to move the clamping plate upward so that a medium stacking space into which the medium is inserted is generated in the tray body.

Abstract: A gripping member for gripping a layer of products includes an upper closed wall, a suction plane associated on the lower side of the upper wall, mechanical gripping elements, a lower safety support plane, movable between an open position of disengagement from the gripping area and a closed position at least partially in engagement with the gripping area, and a telescopic chamber, open only toward the bottom. The telescopic chamber is fastenable around the product layer and is connectable to means for generating depression or vacuum, for pneumatically lifting the product layer by means of depression. The telescopic chamber includes a peripheral continuous gripping ring arranged at the periphery of the upper wall and consists of four angular elements and at least four plate-like side elements, which are slidably arranged with respect to the angular elements. The upper wall has adjustable plane dimensions.

Abstract: A paper sheet conveyance device includes a plurality of conveyance members and conveys a paper sheet while performing temporary stop of conveying and then restart of conveying. Two paper sheets sequential in a conveyance direction stop together in a state of the temporary stop, driving a first transfer member to which a preceding first paper sheet that is one of the two paper sheets is opposed and a second conveyance member to which a following second paper sheet that is the other paper sheet is opposed is stopped and restarted synchronously for the temporary stop and the restart. A stop position information acquisition unit acquires information on a position on the conveyance path at which the second paper sheet stops in the state of the temporary stop, and a timing for stopping the conveying after the conveying is restarted is controlled according to the acquired information.

Abstract: A method and associated security apparatus for providing security to an automatic teller machine (ATM) having a cash capture device in a presenter area of the ATM. The cash capture device is detected by a proximity detector in the security apparatus in the ATM. A detecting signal is generated by the proximity detector in response to the cash capture device being detected. The detecting signal is received by control circuitry in the security apparatus and in response, the control circuitry causes a dispensing shutter of the ATM to remain in an open position. Each proximity detector is electrically connected to the control circuitry. The dispensing shutter in the open position is configured, in an absence of the cash capture device in the ATM, to dispense paper currency processed and stored in the presenter area of the ATM. security apparatus includes the proximity detector and the control circuitry.

Abstract: There is provided a substrate transfer antechamber mechanism for a compact manufacturing apparatus that produces various types of devices in small volume using a small-diameter processing substrate at low cost. A container placement table, on which a wafer transfer container housing a semiconductor wafer is placed, is provided on an upper surface of an apparatus antechamber for a compact semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, and the apparatus antechamber includes therein a wafer elevating mechanism and a horizontal transfer mechanism. The wafer elevating mechanism moves down while holding from below a delivery bottom of the wafer transfer container, on which the semiconductor wafer remains placed, to transfer the semiconductor wafer into the apparatus antechamber. The horizontal transfer mechanism transfers the semiconductor wafer into a processing chamber using a transfer arm that receives the semiconductor wafer from the delivery bottom and extends.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for moving loose-piece articles positioned on a slipsheet. A vacuum head is moved into proximity with the loose-piece articles positioned on a slipsheet. A vacuum is created which causes the slipsheet, and the loose-piece articles positioned thereon, to be drawn toward a surface of the vacuum head and maintained in such position as the vacuum head transports the slipsheet and the loose-piece articles positioned thereon.

Abstract: A rack for holding a portion of a thrust reverser. The rack may include a base and a supporting frame disposed perpendicularly with the base. The base and the supporting frame may include a hinge at each location where the base and the supporting frame are coupled together. The rack may also include two supporting poles parallel to the supporting frame. The two supporting poles may be designed such that the portion of the thrust reverser may be mounted onto the two supporting poles.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a feeding unit which feeds a printing sheet stacked on a stacking unit, a conveyance unit which conveys the fed printing sheet, a printing unit which prints the conveyed printing sheet, and a control unit which controls conveyance of printing sheets so that a trailing edge of a preceding sheet and a leading edge of a succeeding sheet overlap each other, wherein based on an ink amount to be applied to an area of a predetermined range from at least one of the leading edge of the succeeding sheet and the trailing edge of the preceding sheet, the control unit decides an overlapping amount of an area where the trailing edge of the preceding sheet and the leading edge of the succeeding sheet overlap each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an output unit, a pair of output rotary bodies, and a controller. A sheet having an image formed thereon is discharged to the output unit. When plural sheets are sequentially discharged to the output unit, the controller controls overlapping output operation to, with a trailing end portion of a preceding sheet of the plural sheets being held by the pair of output rotary bodies, feed a subsequent sheet of the sheets to between the pair of output rotary bodies to overlap a leading end portion of the subsequent sheet with the trailing end portion of the preceding sheet. With the leading end portion of the subsequent sheet overlapped with the trailing end portion of the preceding sheet, the controller controls the pair of output rotary bodies to rotate to discharge the preceding sheet to the output unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming bundles of printed products includes a lift element that moves vertically inside a holding area. The printed products are deposited on the lift element when the lift element is in an upper position. The lift moves the deposited printed products downward into the holding area so that the printed products are in position to subsequently be compressed into a bundle by pressing the printed products with an upward movement against a pressing element. The lift transports the compressed bundle to a lower position in the holding area where the lift element moves out of the holding area to a position in which the bundle is released to drop onto a support element. The lift element thereafter is moveable from the lower position to the upper position for the depositing of additional printed products. An ejection element conveys the compressed bundle out of the holding area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated aerating and handling a sub stack of a stack of rectangular paper sheets where the sub stack is gripped near or at opposed corners of a common edge of the sub stack by means of two robotic grippers (A, B) having two opposed gripping fingers (A1, A2, B1, B2), lifting and rotating the corners in mutually opposite first directions such that the work stack achieves an upwards concave form, gripping the corners by the robotic grippers (A, B), and rotating the grippers in second directions opposite to the first directions such that the upper sheet of the sub stack has a curvature smaller than the bottom sheet of the sub stack, preferably a substantially plane form.

Abstract: A product group stacking arrangement having a conveying arrangement that can continuously move in a substantially horizontal transport direction, and having a gripping and lifting device for gripping and lifting product groups. In operation, the gripping and lifting device grips a first product group being moved by the conveying arrangement at a stacking position, and then raises the first product group substantially solely in a vertical direction away from the conveying arrangement, and then lowers the first product group substantially solely in the vertical direction onto a subsequent, second product group being continuously moved by the conveying arrangement through the stacking position.

Abstract: A method and loading system for order-picking articles in the form of individual articles and/or pack units, in which requested articles are packed, in accordance with the orders, onto destination load carriers and despatched. The requested articles (2) which are to be order-picked, in at least one order-picking station (4), are arranged and/or stacked in the pattern of the destination load carrier (3) on requested and transportable auxiliary load carriers (6), each provided for an order or part of an order. The auxiliary load carrier (6) together with a quantity of articles, provided as layers and/or stacks, to be conveyed to a loading station (5) is automatically transferred as a unit onto a placed-in-position destination load carrier (3) supplied, wherein preferably rolling containers and pallets are used as the destination load carriers.

Abstract: A method and device for evaluating currency bills using a strapping unit that allows a currency evaluating device to automatically strap stacks of currency bills. Currency bills are placed in an input receptacle and an evaluating unit processes each currency bill one at a time. The currency bills are then transported to a plurality of output receptacles. A stack moving mechanism transports a stack of currency bills, which contains a predetermined number of currency bills, from each of the plurality of output receptacles to the strapping unit or a strapping position. Each stack of currency bills is strapped using strapping material.

Abstract: A counter ejector of cardboard sheet box-making machine is disclosed. A front contact plate contacting cardboard sheets is movable in a feed direction. A spanker is disposed to face the front contact plate in the feed direction, and contacts the back edge portion of the cardboard sheet, aligning the sheet edge portions. Ledges separate cardboard sheets loaded between front contact plate and the spanker, forming a batch of a predetermined number of sheets. A transfer conveyor transfers batches in a transfer direction, which is the same direction as the feed direction. An elevator is furnished with a table, and carries batches from the height at which the front contact plate and the spanker are disposed to the height at which the transfer conveyor is disposed. The table is moved by the same amount and in the same movement direction as the movement of the front contact plate.

Abstract: A device and process for processing flat articles such as pieces of paper by utilizing a stream of under-shingled flat articles and generating a gap at predetermined intervals. The under-shingling process incorporates an accelerating and decelerating portion wherein each flat article is accelerated and then decelerated while a tail portion of the article is lifted such that the next flat article can slide underneath to establish an under-shingled stream.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for stacking objects on a transport carrier. The apparatus is provided with a forming platform, a loading platform on which a transport carrier to be loaded, such as a pallet or a roller container, can be placed, and a gripper which is movable between the forming platform and the loading platform. The gripper comprises a support frame which is provided with at least one row of parallel forks, which forks comprise an upright to which a horizontal beam is attached at a distance beneath the support frame, wherein the beams can be moved backward and forward in their longitudinal direction, wherein each fork is individually adjustable vis-à-vis the support frame. The forks are independently adjustable vis-à-vis the support frame.

Abstract: A counter ejector is configured to receive a sheet-shaped corrugated board box forwarded from an upstream side by the hopper and to eject the sheet-shaped corrugated board box in units of batch. The counter ejector includes a front stop defining a hopper for stopping the sheet-shaped corrugated board box forwarded from the upstream side; an elevator including a mount that receives the sheet-shaped corrugated board box falling after hitting the front stop; a ledge activated when the number of sheet-shaped corrugated board box forming a stack piled on the mount reaches a predetermined number for receiving a sheet-shaped corrugated board box that is to form a next stack; a support ledge disposed under a front of the hopper for receiving the stack formed on the ledge; and a position setting mechanism that variably sets a vertical position of the support ledge.

Abstract: Biomass may become an important source of combustible fuel in the future. For biomass, such as switchgrass, to be economically viable as a fuel, the processes required to take the plant material from a green, growing plant in the field to an energy dense package must be efficient. A self-propelled bale picking truck simplifies and speeds bale collecting, stacking, and staging for loading onto a truck for transport over the road.

Abstract: A conveyor system for assembling and stacking sliced food products is provided. The conveyor system includes an assembly area, wherein groups of a predetermined quantity of sliced food products travel from a slicer on a conveyor and are deposited on discrete carrier sheets on a downstream conveyor. The assembly area is configured to delay advancement of the carrier sheets on the downstream conveyor until a group of the predetermined quantity is formed. The slicer is configured to calculate the number of slices in each group and determine whether a group is complete. A stacking area of the conveyor system includes a nose conveyor that extends and retracts to deposit each carrier sheet onto a pair of initial supports. The initial supports reciprocate away from each other in opposing directions to drop the carrier sheet onto a subsequent level, with the initial supports reciprocating each time a carrier sheet is deposited thereon.

Abstract: A stacking machine for stacking flat items including a first stacking table which descends from a position higher than the infeed end to a stacking position, the separation of a constant flow of flat items in consecutive bundles occurring with this movement, and on which table flat items received from an infeed end are subsequently stacked to form bundles, connected to first displacement means which displace it between a stacking position in which the first stacking table receives flat items and an unloading position in which the bundles are transferred to the unloading means; a second stacking table which descends from a position higher than the infeed end to a stacking position, the separation of a constant flow of flat items in consecutive bundles occurring with this movement, and on which table flat items received from the infeed end are subsequently stacked to form bundles, connected to second displacement means which displace it between a stacking position in which the second stacking table receives fla

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet conveying path; a sheet entrance unit provided in the sheet conveying path; a sheet discharge unit provided in a location separated from the sheet entrance unit by a predetermined distance; a driving unit that drives the sheet entrance unit and the sheet discharge unit; a sheet guide unit that guides sheets and is provided between the sheet entrance unit and the sheet discharge unit to allow the sheets passing through the sheet entrance unit to be sequentially stacked; and a sheet buffer device that is configured such that the stacked sheets pass through the sheet discharge unit while the stacked sheets are loaded on a step with each leading end of the stacked sheets being separated with a predetermined interval.

Abstract: A device and process for processing flat articles such as pieces of paper by utilizing a stream of under-shingled flat articles and generating a gap at predetermined intervals. The under-shingling process incorporates an accelerating and decelerating portion wherein each flat article is accelerated and then decelerated while a tail portion of the article is lifted such that the next flat article can slide underneath to establish an under-shingled stream.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, in part, to a method of transporting rolls of a fibrous material. The method comprises providing a V-shaped conveying mechanism, stacking a plurality of the rolls of the fibrous material on the V-shaped conveying mechanism, and transporting the plurality of the rolls of the fibrous material between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: The invention describes a device for forming stacks of bags, preferably bags of paper, which are individually supplied, comprising: at least a first transport device with which individual bags are taken up, a collection point to which the bags are fed by the transport device and in which a stack of bags can be produced, a release device with which the bags are released from the transport device and dropped at the collection point, At least one separation device is provided which can be inserted into or above the stack at the collection point to divide the stack into a first and a second stack.

Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus is provided with: an apparatus main body that performs processing for a sheet; a sheet stacker on which a sheet transported from the apparatus main body is stacked in a first state where the sheet stacker is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, and that is downwardly movable; and a moving-down unit that moves the sheet stacker down. The sheet stacker is provided so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body, and so as to change posture from the first state to a second state where the sheet stacker is less inclined relative to the first state.

Abstract: A method for management of first in, first out stores is provided. The method includes producing parts at a primary process. The parts are processed at a secondary process. A storage region is provided that includes at least one store lane pair including a first store lane and a second store lane. The first store lane includes a pick side, a drop side and a plurality of receiving volumes extending from the pick side to the drop side. The second store lane includes a pick side, a drop side and a plurality of receiving volumes extending from the pick side to the drop side. The receiving volumes of the first store lane are filled with the parts in the order they are produced at the primary process in a first in, first out fashion from the pick side of the first store lane to the drop side of the first store lane using an automated guided vehicle sized and configured to pass through each of the plurality of receiving volumes.

Abstract: This is a lifting mechanism especially suited to move a stack of paper to a height so that it is easier to remove or work with. The lifting mechanism has as a bottom portion a tilting platform that receives and holds a paper stack and its support. This tilting platform will be tilted in a front down position prior to and during loading of the paper stack thereon, and will automatically tilt down at its back portion when stack loaded. This is because the fulcrum of the tilting platform is located nearer the front sections of the platform than it is to the back section of the platform. When the weight of the paper stack acts upon the tilting platform, it will force the platform down at its back portion.

Abstract: In a sheet stacking apparatus, a sheet stacking unit stacks sheets conveyed by a sheet conveyance device. Three sheet extraction portions allow to selectively extract the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit from one of three directions including the downstream side of the sheet conveyance direction and two directions perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. A plurality of first detection sensors are provided in at least two of the three sheet extraction portions to detect an object that enters the sheet stacking unit. A second detection sensor detects the moving direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit. A control device stops the operation of the sheet conveyance device when the first detection sensor detects the object, and disables the detection operation of the first detection sensor corresponding to the moving direction of the sheets when the second detection sensor detects the moving direction of the sheets.

Abstract: An infeed station has a stack feeder and a first and second chamber, which can each receive stacks from the stack feeder. The stacks can be conveyed in the chambers and can be transferred to a stack gripper with the conveyors assigned to the first chamber and the second chamber. First centering units serve to center the stacks in the first chamber, and second centering units serve to center the stacks in the second chamber. Third conveyors are arranged between the first and second conveyors. The first and second centering units can be shifted relative to each other so that the third conveyors are positioned in the first or second chamber, and the chamber with the third conveyors is much wider than the other chamber. The infeed station can be changed between double infeed with parallel processing of two stacks and single infeed with processing of only one stack of relatively great width at a time.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a processing tray configured to stack a sheet to be processed, a sheet overlap unit configured to allow a sheet fed while the sheet to be processed is stacked on the processing tray, to be overlaid and made to wait, first and second bundle conveyance rollers configured to convey the sheet to the processing tray from the sheet overlap unit, and a sheet processing apparatus control unit configured to control an overlap operation in the sheet overlap unit, wherein the sheet processing apparatus control unit determines, based on sheet information relating to the sheet fed to the sheet overlap unit, whether a sheet to be then fed is overlaid on the sheet fed to the sheet overlap unit.

Abstract: A sorting machine for sorting mailpieces such as letters and flats, said machine having at least one row of sorting outlets (3) and a trolley for handling the mailpieces as a stack outside the sorting outlets. The trolley is mounted to slide on the machine along said row of sorting outlets and carries a deck that is substantially horizontal and that is mounted to move in rotation relative to the trolley (8) about a vertical axis so as to take up at least two angular positions that are offset from each other by 90 degrees.

Abstract: The sheets are supplied interfolded by two folding rollers, on a table on which they are piled up forming a stack. When the stack achieves a predetermined height a first plurality of separators and a second plurality of separators, arranged for all the length of the stack and from opposite sides are inserted into the stack to provide the disengagement of the stack already formed from a stack being formed, leaving between them of a wing of sheet hanging. The stack formed is then withdrawn quickly from the stack being formed by means of a table, which translates vertically, and is subject to a blow of air for stretching a possible last sheet. Then, the stack formed is left on a longitudinal conveyor belt located underneath. At the same time, a sheet stretching board moves under the stack of interfolded sheets, for all its length, for provisional support thereof and for stretching completely the wing hanging from the stack being formed with a portion of wing that exceeds sheet stretching board.

Abstract: The invention relates to a collecting and conveying device for stacks of sheet layers, comprising a feed conveyor (1) for the sheet layers, —a collecting station (3) in which stacks (4) are formed by the layers of sheets, —a removal conveyor (7) for removing the completed stacks (4), and—a transfer unit for moving the stacks from the collecting station to the removal conveyor (7), wherein the collecting station comprises a series of support elements (6) and a series of delimiting and shaking elements (8), wherein the transfer unit comprises a series of sliding elements (10), wherein in each case a sliding element (10) together with a support element (6) and a delimiting and shaking element (8) can be adjusted transversely.

Abstract: A method for loading a pallet, including placing packages in layers on a first pallet disposed in a first pallet disposed in a first plane, providing a second pallet above the packed first pallet in a second plane, and transporting the packed first pallet away. Also, a method for unloading for unloading a pallet, including removing packages, particularly bottle crates, in layers from a first pallet disposed in a first plane, providing a second packed pallet below the first pallet in a second plane, and transporting the first pallet away. Also, a corresponding palletizer for loading or unloading a pallet in layers.

Abstract: Stacker carts for stacking media, printing apparatuses, and methods of stacking media on stacker carts are disclosed. An embodiment of the stacker carts includes a stacking surface including a first end and an opposite second end, the stacking surface sloping downwardly from the first end toward the second end; and a resiliently-biased stop at the second end of the stacking surface, the stop including at least one contact surface defining a height of the stop above the second end of the stacking surface. When the contact surface is in contact with a first surface, a height of the stop (i) decreases as the stacker cart is moved toward the first surface, and (ii) increases as the stacker cart is moved away from the first surface.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for a conveyor system raises a two-dimensionally arrayed layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor system and stacks the raised layer of objects on a subsequent layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor system. The apparatus then dispenses the stacked layers of objects from the apparatus, whereby the stacked layers of objects can be received by a palletizer for loading on a pallet in a more time efficient manner.

Abstract: A method and device for evaluating currency bills using a strapping unit that allows a currency evaluating device to automatically strap stacks of currency bills. Currency bills are placed in an input receptacle and an evaluating unit processes each currency bill one at a time. The currency bills are then transported to a plurality of output receptacles within a strapping unit. A stack moving mechanism transports a stack of currency bills, which contains a predetermined number of currency bills, from each of the plurality of output receptacles to the strapping unit or a strapping position. Each stack of currency bills is strapped using strapping material.

Abstract: A conveying and stacking apparatus for stacking items or substrates carrying items received from an infeed conveyor is provided. The stacker has a housing and at least one movable platform upon which the item or substrate with one or more items located thereon is placed. An overhead loading belt assembly which includes at least one belt assembly positioned to travel over at least a portion of the infeed conveyor adjacent to the at least one moveable platform and the at least one moveable platform is provided. The at least one belt assembly carries the item or the substrate with the items located thereon to a stacking position on the at least one platform.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus and method of multi-layer stacking of objects of different sizes on a support to form a stacked support includes providing a support handler. A support is elevated with the support handler and objects of different sizes and shapes are stacked on the support to form a stacked support. A stacked support is removed and an empty support supplied with the support handler. A placeholder is provided above the support handler. The placeholder has a first mode for receiving objects on the placeholder. The placeholder has a second mode for providing access to a support on the support handler. The placeholder is put in the first mode while the support handler removes a stacked support and supplies an empty support. The placeholder is put in the second mode when the support handler is elevating a support being stacked with articles.

Abstract: A stacking device for print products that includes a table to receive the print products such that the print products form a stack. The device also includes at least two ejector elements arrangeable against the stack to push the stack in an ejection direction away from the table. The stacking devices further includes at least two drive elements operatively connected, respectively, with the at least two ejector elements so that the at least two ejector elements move independent of one another.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printer and a stacking system to receive and stack tags. The stacking system includes a tag stacker and a removable tag-receiving tray to facilitate transferring a stack of tags from the tag stacker to the place where the tags are to be used. A method of handling tags involves the provision of at least first and second removable trays wherein a first tray with a stack of tags can be replaced by an empty second tray so that the stacking of additional tags can recommence without waiting for the first tray to be emptied.

Abstract: A mail stack unloading device for use in a mail stacker to unload a stack of mail pieces in the mail stacker. The mail stacker has a pair of stack supports, located at a small angle from a vertical line, for supporting the mail stack as the mail pieces enter the mail stacker along a stacking path when the stack supports are in a stacking position. The stacker also has a platform or tongue connected to the stack supports such that the platform is positioned beneath the mail stack below the stacking path. During unloading, the platform is caused to move upward beyond the stacking path in order to engage with the stack, allowing the stack to be lifted. Then the stack supports are caused to forward beyond the vertical line in order to tip the lifted stack into a container.

Abstract: An automated build-by-layer rainbow pallet system comprises a layer build track and a layer build cart that carries a layer build robot and a number of positions for building rainbow pallets, for storing emptied supply pallets, and for storing empty half-pallets. On the rail-sides are dozens or hundreds of supply pallet conveyors for pallets of products to be picked-from when building the rainbow pallets. These are placed on one or both sides of the layer build track. The layer build robot can position itself in front of the appropriate supply pallet conveyor for picking. Once in position, half or full layers can be picked from the supply pallets and positioned over the target rainbow pallet to be built. The process of picking and building layers as the layer build cart repositions in front of the appropriate supply pallet conveyor is repeated until all of the on-board rainbow pallets have been built.

Abstract: The intermediate storage device (18) for taking stacks (14) of flat products (16) from a supplying device (10) connected upstream, for storing the stacks (14) in a temporary manner and for the subsequent delivery of the stacks (14) to a stack processing device (20) connected downstream, has at least one conveying means (36) with an upper run (34), which is displaceable in a conveying direction (T) and on which, for conveying the stack (14), a bottommost flat product (16u) of the stack (14) rests at least in a partial manner. The intermediate storage device (18) has, in addition, a control device (68), which generates a signal for controlling a conveying speed of the conveying means (36).

Abstract: A method and system for converting mail between trays in a multiple pass mail sorting system using a plurality of different tray types. Mail from a first type of tray is unloaded and stacked along with mail from other trays to form a large stack. The large stack of mail is then broken down into smaller stacks which are transferred to one of several outputs where the mail is loaded into different types of trays.