Abstract: Apparatus and methods for automatically conforming a bottom support surface in a pick and place palletizer to the width of items such as cases that are supported on the surface are described. The invention defines an improved apparatus and method for automatically adjusting the width of a row support surface to conform to undersized items or items having a width when an item side is against the apron backstop that is less than the apron depth relative to the backstop.

Abstract: The present invention extends to a conveyor system that allows the spacing between slabs on a conveyor to be controlled. Because the spacing can be controlled, a single stacking head can be used to pick up and stack multiple slabs at the same time. In this manner, a harvesting machine employing the conveyor system of the present invention can utilize a single stacking head while still harvesting sod at least as quickly as harvesting machines employing multiple stacking heads.

Abstract: For the dispatch-ready packing of, in particular, cigarette packs or cigarette bundle packs (12), a device is provided, in which the box packer (14) and the palleting station (29) are combined, in order to introduce the bundle packs (12) into boxes (10) and to deposit the latter on pallets (11). The structurally combined units form an overall device which can be operated jointly.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a platform (10) to receive a load (12) to be loaded onto a pallet (14), a pallet shelf (16) for supporting a pallet (14) below the platform (10), means for retracting the platform (10) from an extended position to a retracted position, and an abutment surface (20) for abutting the load (12) loaded on the platform (10) as the platform (10) is retracted, whereby the load (12) is allowed to drop onto a pallet (16) supported on the pallet shelf (16). The platform (10) is in the form of a sliding shutter and retraction of the platform (10) follows a non-linear path (22). The platform (10) comprises an upper support surface (66) having a plurality of apertures (68) therethrough. Freely rotatable members (70a, 70b) are mounted in the apertures (68) each having a surface of rotation which intersects the plane of the support surface (66).

Abstract: Collection assembly for collecting and stacking articles. The articles are first moved adjacent to one another with the aid of positioning elements. The positioning elements comprise the conveyor belt that extends obliquely with respect to the distribution conveyor and that can be moved over the distribution conveyor to a greater or lesser extent. After bringing the articles into a row on a discharge plate, these are stacked, optionally via a buffer plate, on a lift plate and after the stack has been compressed to some extent this stack is slid into the box in such a way that the products concerned are placed vertically in the box.

Abstract: The invention relates to a levelling bar for coking ovens, for levelling the cones of discharged coal which form under the filling holes of the oven chamber during the filling process. The levelling bar consists of two cheeks, such as plates (1), which extend essentially over the entire length of the ranged at a distance from each other depending on the width of the oven chamber, and parallel to each other. They are also interconnected and are essentially vertical. The levelling bar also has transversal coal carriers (2) which are arranged in the intermediate space delimited by the cheeks (1) at a mutual distance, one behind the other and which only extend over part of the cross-sectional surface of the levelling bar formed between he cheeks (1). The height (3) of the coal carriers (2), which take up the entire interval between the cheeks, is less than the height (H) of the cheeks (1) and the cheek form a gas channel (6) above the coal carriers (2) which is essentially free of built-in components.

Abstract: A sod-collecting apparatus, comprising a collecting platform for supporting juxtaposed rows of coiled sods, a feed conveyor for feeding coiled sods, and a conveyor belt downstream of the feed conveyor, the conveyor belt extending along the collecting platform, wherein the feed conveyor and the conveyor belt are arranged for displacing the coiled sods on the conveyor belt along the collecting platform in a direction parallel to an axial body axis of coiled sods located on the conveyor belt, with a positioning structure for stopping each individual sod on the conveyor belt in at least one predetermined position along the collecting platform.