Abstract: A robotic pallet includes a plurality of composable posts, each of the plurality of composable posts having a processor and a memory. The plurality of composable posts are selectively arranged and interconnected to form the robotic pallet, with one or more locks positioned on the robotic pallet, to releasably securable to a product pallet. In some versions, the robotic pallet is supported by a platform which may be formed by composable posts, and may include a number of robotic manipulation arms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for testing a perfume, comprising a housing, a test member able to be at least partially inserted into the housing so as to be impregnated with the perfume, a dispensing device for dispensing the perfume on the test member, a sensor for detecting the presence of the test member, an actuator for actuating the dispensing device, and a processing unit which controls the actuator in order to trigger the dispensing during extraction of the test member.

Abstract: A patient-supporting apparatus includes a lifting apparatus. The lifting apparatus includes an upper part, a lower part, and a lifting linkage. The lifting linkage connects the upper part to the lower part and has at least one scissors-form sub-linkage having a central articulation. A point of rotation of the central articulation is arranged in a displaceable manner such that the upper part may be tilted in a transverse direction.

Abstract: A material handling system comprising one or more sub-systems and one or more sensing panels is provided. Each sensing panel may determine whether a mode control token is within a vicinity of the respective sensing panel. When the mode control token is within the vicinity of the respective sensing panel, the sensing panel may generate a signal, and when the mode is outside of the vicinity of the respective sensing panel, the generation of the signal is halted. The material handling system may further include a processor that enables at least one of the one or more sub-systems of the material handling system in response to the generated signal and disables each of the one or more sub-systems of the material handling system in response to a halting of the generation of the signal.

Abstract: A material handling system comprising one or more sub-systems and one or more sensing panels is provided. Each sensing panel may determine whether a mode control token is within a vicinity of the respective sensing panel. When the mode control token is within the vicinity of the respective sensing panel, the sensing panel may generate a signal, and when the mode is outside of the vicinity of the respective sensing panel, the generation of the signal is halted. The material handling system may further include a processor that enables at least one of the one or more sub-systems of the material handling system in response to the generated signal and disables each of the one or more sub-systems of the material handling system in response to a halting of the generation of the signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that allow items to be placed on a stack of items in a manner that minimizes interference with the existing stack. Further, a method and apparatus are disclosed for stacking items such that marking of the items is minimized while the item is stacked. In some embodiments, the method and apparatus may include employing a plurality of forks, where a first fork in the plurality includes a belt that rotates at least partially within a tapered housing of the fork. In some embodiments, the plurality of forks is vertically movable, and the method and apparatus may include a squaring mechanism that is separate from the plurality of forks. The overall throughput of the method and apparatus may be increased by employing this independent squaring mechanism.

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 sheet stacking and pallet loading system configured to stack sheets of material on a first pallet while holding a second pallet in a staging position above the first pallet. The system can include an elevator for supporting the first pallet in a loading position while the sheets are stacked on the first pallet. After a sufficient quantity of sheets has been stacked thereon, the elevator can lower the first pallet from its loading position. The second pallet can then be lowered from its staging position such that the sheets can be stacked thereon. The system can further include extendable pallet supports which can be extended to support the second pallet while the first pallet is being lowered by the elevator. The pallet loading system can further include a pallet-grasping assembly having, first, a frame movable along a track and, second, one or more end-effectors movable relative to the frame for engaging a pallet.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking veneer sheets is provided, said apparatus comprising conveyor means for delivering veneer sheets to a stacking point and means for placing veneer sheets on a stack to be formed. The conveyor means comprise a first and a second conveyor element disposed on opposite sides of a veneer sheet, said first and/or second conveyor element being provided with magnet elements arranged for cooperation with a conveyor element present on the opposite side, such that the veneer sheet to be fed in between the conveyor elements is pressed with a desired force between the conveyor elements and is movable thereby to a stacking point, which is provided with stopper means for stopping the veneer sheet and with means for releasing the veneer sheet from between the conveyor elements to enable its placement on a stack to be formed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compact palletizers that include a stretch-wrap operation as the pallet is built. A four-sided compaction mechanism compresses the rough-built load to the final pallet size and then the entire layer is released to the pallet. Individual items or group of items are picked and placed onto a layer support device in a loose orientation. The loose orientation enables a much faster palletizing operation because the robotic arm that pick-and-places the item, the items, or the row of items, can travel much faster as it does not have to precisely locate the item, items, or row of items. During the time that a layer is being loosely constructed on the layer support device concurrent wrapping can occur.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compact palletizers that include a stretch-wrap operation as the pallet is built. Specifically, the present invention uses a robot to place items from a fixed infeed elevation either above or, alternatively, below the height of the finished load. A four-sided compression mechanism compresses the rough-built load to the final pallet size and then the entire layer is released to the pallet. Individual items or group of items are picked and placed onto a layer support device in a loose orientation. The loose orientation enables a much faster palletizing operation because the robotic arm that pick-and-places the item, the items, or the row of items, can travel much faster as it does not have to precisely locate the item, items, or row of items. During the time that a layer is being loosely constructed on the layer support device concurrent wrapping can occur.

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 grabber for automatically grabbing and placing packing units of different dimensions and configurations includes a frame with a support, a hold-down device and a stripper attached to the frame. The support supports a bottom portion of a respective packing unit, and is generally horizontally movable with respect to the frame. The hold-down device is downwardly movable toward the support to clamp the respective packing unit between the support and the hold-down device. The stripper is disposed above the support and is generally horizontally movable. The respective packing unit is substantially immobilized by the hold-down device and the stripper as the support is retracted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for automated, continuous singling of loose sheet material, by the steps of feeding a stack of loose sheet material to be singled located on a first feeding element from a deposit position to a position in which the uppermost sheet of the stack can be grasped by the singling unit, sheet-by-sheet singling of the fed stack by the singling unit, the stack being fed by the feeding element such that the particular uppermost sheet of the stack can be grasped by the singling unit, feeding a further stack of loose sheet material to be fed located on a second feeding element from the deposit position to a position in which the uppermost sheet of the stack to be fed is located below the first feeding element, and uniting the stack to be singled and the fed stack by drawing the first feeding element out of the feeding path.

Abstract: In one representative example an underlayment stickering stacker includes a carriage/fork device configured to move a course of material with underlaid sticks from a course forming station to a hoist device, thereby forming the stack of material. The stacker also includes a rake-off device configured to facilitate removal of the course of material from the carriage/fork device. The stacker also includes a regenerative actuator configured to provide regenerative braking power to one of the hoist device, the carriage/fork device and the rake-off device.

Abstract: A high-speed stacker preferably includes dual stacking arms configured to operate complementary to one another. Most preferably, an electronic control system is provided to enable precise control over the speed and positioning of the stacker arms in both horizontal and vertical orientations. Linear motion devices (such as hydraulic cylinders, screw drive linear actuators, or other devices) can be used to position the arms horizontally and vertically in response to instructions from the electronic control system. In operation, the electronic control system preferably controls the speed and ramping of the stacker arms to repeatedly move courses of material from a feed system to a stacking area at a rapid rate with little maintenance. The high-speed stacker can also be configured to operate fewer than all of the stacker arms to facilitate faster stacking of smaller courses of material.

Abstract: A robotic palletizing system is provided for receiving objects from a conveyor and loading the objects on a pallet using a robot having an articulated arm assembly. A lift station is located below the robot and includes a lift assembly that is operable to raise an object in a lift area of the lift station to a pick position from which the robot can grasp the object. When the lift is raising an object, a barrier is raised to prevent any other objects from moving into the lift area. A sensor is operable to detect objects moving into the lift area and a sensor bank is operable to detect the presence and size of any objects in the lift area.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for stacking flat products, in particular, folding boxes, comprising a stack shaft for receiving the flat products which comprises an inlet opening opposite to an impinging surface, and is provided with guiding element disposed in side flanks, which guide the flat products in the form of a stack, wherein each side flank comprises a transport means for upward and downward vertical movement of a tray which projects into the stack shaft and which carries the flat products.

Abstract: A loader picks up a workpiece from a container, and delivers it to a workstation downstream. An unloader receives the workpiece from the workstation upstream and puts it into a container. In the loader and the unloader respectively, a first stacker and a second stacker, for holding containers in stacked manner, are placed in parallel along direction Y. A table working as a container moving mechanism moves an extracted container along direction Y. A first container transfer mechanism extracts a container from the containers stacked in the first stacker and delivers it to the container moving mechanism. A second container transfer mechanism receives the container from the moving mechanism, and stacks it in the second stacker. A transfer-head working as a workpiece transfer mechanism picks up the workpiece from the container on the table, moves it along direction X, and delivers it to the workstation downstream.

Abstract: A high-speed stacker preferably includes dual stacking arms configured to operate complementary to one another. Most preferably, an electronic control system is provided to enable precise control over the speed and positioning of the stacker arms in both horizontal and vertical orientations. Linear motion devices (such as hydraulic cylinders, screw drive linear actuators, or other devices) can be used to position the arms horizontally and vertically in response to instructions from the electronic control system. In operation, the electronic control system preferably controls the speed and ramping of the stacker arms to repeatedly move courses of material from a feed system to a stacking area at a rapid rate with little maintenance. The high-speed stacker can also be configured to operate fewer than all of the stacker arms to facilitate faster stacking of smaller courses of material.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking incoming items includes a receiving mechanism for receiving incoming items, a stacking mechanism for receiving items from the receiving mechanism and stacking the items in a stacking area, a buffering mechanism for receiving incoming items when the stacking mechanism is full, and a stack unloading mechanism. Methods of operation include receiving an item in an item receiving mechanism, moving the item receiving mechanism to track the motion of a stacking mechanism, transferring the item from the receiving mechanism to the stacking mechanism, stacking the item in a stacking area, and unloading the stacking area when the stacking area is full of items.

Abstract: A high-speed stacker preferably includes dual stacking arms configured to operate complementary to one another. Most preferably, an electronic control system is provided to enable precise control over the speed and positioning of the stacker arms in both horizontal and vertical orientations. Linear motion devices (such as hydraulic cylinders, screw drive linear actuators, or other devices) can be used to position the arms horizontally and vertically in response to instructions from the electronic control system. In operation, the electronic control system preferably controls the speed and ramping of the stacker arms to repeatedly move courses of material from a feed system to a stacking area at a rapid rate with little maintenance. The high-speed stacker can also be configured to operate fewer than all of the stacker arms to facilitate faster stacking of smaller courses of material.

Abstract: A device for handling stacking or removing articles from a stack, has a stacking wheel located between the lifting elements for stacks and a conveyor. When the stacking wheel turns, depending on the direction of its rotation, an article is moved from the conveyor onto the stack in the lifting direction. The stacking wheel bears pairs of holding plates distributed around its periphery; on them swivelling fingers are supported. The swivelling fingers are pressed by springs into their action position in which they project over the facing surfaces of the holding plates and fit into receiving openings of the articles when articles are moved by the stacking wheel. Control plates are assigned to the stacking wheel and engage with their ramp edges the concave, downwardly pointing surface of the swivelling fingers to swivel them into their readiness position which does not project to the inside over the holding plates.

Abstract: The conveyor system (11) is used for transferring rows or large cycles (66) of sheet stacks (12) from the stacking station (20) of a paper converting machine, e.g. a small format cross-cutter to several parallel-running discharge conveyor belts (24, 25). For this purpose grippers or tongs (48) are provided, which are guided on gripper supports (39) and which can draw the stacks (12) from stacking station (20) via conveyor belts (24, 25). For each stacking position (21) there are two grippers (48, 48a), which in each case alternatively grip and transfer a stack, whilst the other gripper performs the return movement and passes into its waiting position upstream of the stacking station.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring an article onto a pallet is situated between conveyor sections. The apparatus includes a pusher mechanism arranged to push the article from a location at or adjacent to the first conveyor section toward a pallet disposed on the second conveyor section. An extension fork assembly is provided between the pusher mechanism and the pallet. The extension fork assembly defines a stationary transfer surface over which the article travels on its path toward the pallet. The assembly also includes a plurality of extension forks that are extended over the pallet. The article is pushed onto the extension forks until the article is situate over the pallet. The extension forks are then retracted while the article is held in position over the pallet by the pusher mechanism. When the forks are completely retracted the article is safely sitting directly on the pallet.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing out spacer sticks on a board stack (1) comprises a feeder device (5) for the individual discharge of spacer sticks (3). The feeder device (5) is placed in association with one short end of the stack (1). Further, the apparatus has a conveyor device which is located above the stack (1) for conveying spacer sticks (3) from the feeder device (5) to positions over the stack (1). At least those parts of the conveyor device which are located under the spacer sticks (3) are disposed to be movable in the lateral direction between advancement positions over the stack (1) and release positions outside the stack. As a result, the spacer sticks (3) are movable from position over the stack (1) to positions where they rest on the stack (1). A method for placing spacer sticks on a board stack is also disclosed.

Abstract: An anti-inertia stacker for stacking products and especially suited for products which are prone to dislodgment on or from a substrate during processing movement is provided. The anti-inertia stacker comprises a traveling pallet which is mounted for movement. The traveling pallet receives a product or product laden substrate from a conveyor while traveling at substantially the same speed as the conveyor. The traveling pallet includes a moveable conveying surface. The conveying surface, moving in the direction opposite to the direction of travel of the product or product laden substrate, decelerates the received item. The product or product laden substrate can then be stacked.

Abstract: A finishing device having a sheet guiding and buffering mechanism located in the space between a sheet transporting assembly and a finishing platform. The mechanism has two parallel retractable arms having a slight curvature along their length. Sheets dispensed seriatim from the transport assembly onto the arms conform to the curvature of the arms. In a normal mode, the arms are retracted for each sheet delivered thereto and the individual sheets drop onto platform to form a set of stacked sheets. When the last sheet of a set is dropped, the mechanism changes to a buffering mode and the arms collect and hold the first few sheets of the next set. Once the previous set has been finished and ejected from the platform, the arms are retracted and the sheets collected are dropped, and the mechanism is changed to the normal cycle for the remainder of the subsequent set.

Abstract: A method of picking up stacks (3) of blanks by means of a gripping device (1) having a gripper (13, 14, 15) hinged to a frame (11) and equipped with a first gripping member (15) having a free end (P); and actuating means (30, 41; 24, 25) for opening and closing the gripper (13, 14, 15); the method providing for pressing the free end (P) on a support (F) on which a stack (3) for pickup rests, and feeding the free end (P) along the support (F) and beneath the stack (3) while pressing the free end (P) against the support (F).

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking a predetermined number of X-ray films has a sheet member holding device disposed above a stacking position for temporarily holding at least a first X-ray film, and an actuating device for displacing the sheet member holding device from the stacking position to drop the X-ray film held by the sheet member holding device into the stacking position. The apparatus is capable of stacking a plurality of X-ray films highly accurately and efficiently in the stacking position while avoiding damage to the X-ray films.

Abstract: A drop-box mechanism or system is disposed adjacent to an article conveyor and atop a flat mail storage tub and comprises a platen movable between first and second chambers at which the open top of the storage tub is respectively uncovered and covered. When the platen uncovers the storage tub, deflecting fingers move downwardly so as to cover the platen tracks and the space defined between the bottom of the drop-box mechanism and the open top of the storage tub so as to prevent flat mail articles from becoming jammed within the tracks or from being inadvertently discharged through the space defined between the bottom of the drop-box mechanism and the open top of the storage tub. In this manner, the predetermined conveyed order of articles is preserved so as to facilitate sequence address delivery of the articles to recipients.

Abstract: Conveyor assembly for packagings, comprising a substantially horizontally conveying conveyor. Situated near the delivery end of the conveyor is a bearing plate, which when the pack moves onto it moves further substantially at the same speed as the conveyor into an accommodation in which the pack has to be placed. When the pack is entirely clear of the conveyor, the bearing plate is moved back so fast that the pack, through its inertia and through its speed of displacement, does not move back and comes to a standstill, so that it is subsequently received in the accommodation.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a cart loading machine that provides for improved operating efficiencies, and includes a cart loading station, an infeed conveyor, a pattern forming area, a carrier sheet and wiping mechanism, and a fork loading apparatus. The cart loading station includes a framework defining a cart loading position and a cart waiting position. With the carrier in its extended position having carried a fully formed pattern to the cart loading position, a wiping mechanism is extended from beneath the carrier plate to contact the bundles as they sit on the carrier so that when the carrier moves back to its retracted position, the bundles are blocked and stripped therefrom. The wiping mechanism is then retracted below the carrier to permit the loading of a subsequent pattern of bundles thereon. This wiping mechanism eliminates the need for an overhanging blocking mechanism thereby permitting more efficient loader design and easier access to the pattern forming and bundle stripping areas.

Abstract: The fork assembly for lumber stackers includes a plurality of mechanized arms. Each mechanized arm includes a biasing assembly that provides a movable carrying surface onto the arm upper surface Such movable carrying surface is for example in the form of an endless belt, that biases an object deposited onto the arm towards a distal end thereof. The fork assembly according to the present invention prevents smaller pieces of lumber to rise when the fork assembly is retracted above a lumber stacker elevator during deposition of the lumber from the fork assembly to the elevator's platform. The present invention further allows creating stack of lumbers having different configurations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for discharging sheets from a starwheel assembly and creating stacks of a desired number of sheets without interrupting the rotation of the starwheel assembly. The present invention separates sheets such that one separated sheet completes a stack and the other separated sheet is supported by a separator to begin a new stack. The completed stack is preferably transported away from the starwheel assembly by a conveyor as the new stack supports additional sheets that are discharged from the starwheel assembly. The new stack will preferably move away from the starwheel assembly to provide clearance for the accumulation of additionally discharged sheets. The apparatus can allow for cyclical repetition of the separation of sheets, the stacking of sheets, and the transportation of stacks such that continual rotation of the starwheel assembly is not interrupted.

Abstract: A delivery station for a converting press for paper or cardboard sheets having a transverse roller located downstream from the delivery area of a blanking station, and a movable carriage downstream from the roller. The carriage receives a plurality of bars that form a non-stop delivery rack. The carriage is guided for motion in the longitudinal direction by a transporting device. The transporting device, the transverse roller and the carriage are mounted on a vertically movable frame suspended on opposite sides by chains ran by a power source through a transmission shaft. The vertical run of the delivery rack is adjustable between a high position and a low position, the low position being determined by the length of the lower blanking tool joggers of the blanking station.

Abstract: In a station for forming stacks of layers of articles, a horizontal supporting surface has a window for allowing a layer to pass freely therethrough. First pushing bars drive the layers along the support surface. A stationary descending ramp starts from the initial part of the window and extends downstream. A horizontal lower surface is situated after the ramp and under a horizontal upper surface, and forms a part of the support surface situated downstream of the window. An additional conveyor is associated to the window to restore cyclically a continuity in the support surface in the region of the window for the odd layers, and consequently to direct each odd layer toward the upper surface, and to allow the even layers to pass cyclically through the window. The even layers are consequently directed, due to gravity, onto the ramp. Second pushing bars move each even layer to the ramp and convey the even layer to the lower surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for stacking at least two sheets, an apparatus comprising a vertically movable stacking platform and an intermediate support member with a width advantageously essentially equal to that of a stacking platform. The intermediate support member is adapted movable into a position above the stacking platform or above a stack of at least one sheet placed on the platform and over which intermediate support member the next sheet or sheet substack is brought and which intermediate support member is then retracted from between the overlying sheets, whereby the sheets are simultaneously aligned against a back gage. The intermediate support member is made from a flexible multilayer material having at least one layer made from a material having a substantially high tear resistance.

Abstract: On a lifter table (23) a pallet (2) is first deposited in a lower position and then following lifting of this table (23) the pallet (2) is precisely aligned by suitable apparatus (40). Thereafter reams of paper are deposited on the pallet (2) by a conveyor (50) and the topmost reams in each case precisely aligned relative to the pallet (2) by the same apparatus (40) in each case such that their edge faces are located set back relative to those of the pallet (2). Thereby precisely congruent stacks are achieved in fast operation.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for receiving and assembling sheets in a binding station at which thermal binding strips are automatically supplied to the side edges of the assembled sets, the sheet receiving trays at the binding station are laterally moved apart to allow a set of assembled bound or unbound sheets to gravitate to a stapling station at which an assembled set of sheets may be stapled together, and the trays forming the stapling station are moved laterally apart to allow the stapled set to gravitate to a stacker tray which is allowed to move downwardly as progressive sets are deposited on the stacker tray and the stacker tray is moved upwardly to a set receiving position following removal of finished sets.

Abstract: An item layer assembly apparatus for continuously receiving items from an infeed conveyor, forming an item layer from a plurality of items, and loading the item layer onto a pallet is provided. The item a layer assembly apparatus comprises an item receiving area surface for continuously receiving the items from the infeed conveyor. At least one side plate area surface is adjacent and substantially horizontally planar to the item receiving area surface for receiving the items from the item receiving area surface. A item layer forming plate receives the items from each of the side plate area surfaces with the item layer forming plate positioned substantially under the item receiving area surface. A mechanism associated with the item layer forming plate forms a substantially rectilinear package layer wherein the item layer forming plate deposits the item layer onto the pallet.

Abstract: A robotic palletizing apparatus includes a conveyor and retractable product support having a support surface controllably extending beyond one end of the conveyor to support the bottom of an article beyond the conveyor end and retracting from the extended position such that the article supported thereon falls substantially flat from its otherwise supported condition.

Abstract: A sticker transfer mechanism for a lumber stacker has a swing-away transfer arm for transferring stickers from a sticker conveyor to pans on stacking forks. An arm segment is pivotally mounted to a base section to form the swing-away transfer arm. The pivotal mounting of the arm segment permits the arm segment to pivot when encountering an obstruction.

Abstract: A Method of stacking product directly from a conveyor, comprising the steps of conveying a product toward the end of a conveyor; supporting a leading edge of the produce as the leading edge exists the conveyor; releasing the leading edge and a following edge of the product with such timing as to cause the product to fall substantially flat onto a platform; and articulating the conveyor, whereby product is stacked in a pattern.