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 railroad tie stacker arrangement includes means for conveying ties to a tie accumulation deck to form a layer of parallel ties, means for conveying the layer of parallel ties onto a stack accumulation lift, and means for lowering the stack accumulation lift as each successive layer of ties is deposited onto the lift.

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 card elevating/lowering device for use with cards may include a card storage part in which the cards are stacked and accommodated, and an elevating/lowering mechanism by which the cards accommodated in the card storage part are elevated and lowered. The elevating/lowering mechanism may be provided with a placing table on which the cards accommodated in the card storage part are placed and an urging member which urges the placing table in an upper direction, and a spring constant of the urging member may be substantially equal to a weight per unit thickness of the card.

Abstract: A method for forming bundles from stackable objects includes supplying the stackable objects with a first conveying apparatus from above to a shaft of a stacking device to form bundles of the stackable objects inside the shaft of the stacking device. The bundles are transported from a lower section of the shaft of the stacking device with a second conveying apparatus.

Abstract: A cart includes a projecting load receiving platform mounted on a slide frame in turn mounted for vertical movement on a main frame. A spring mechanism urges the slide frame and platform to an elevated position so that objects may be stacked on the platform without placing them on the floor. As the weight of the stack on the platform increases the platform starts to descend until the cart is full. Conversely as items are removed from the top of the stack the platform elevates so the operator doesn't have to pick up an object from the floor. The spring mechanism uses a plurality of air springs each with a different load rating and operating in a cascading fashion. A pivoting weight operated latch holds the platform in its bottom position until released by a kick plate.

Abstract: An input device delivers objects one at a time to a transfer station next to a conveyor extending in a transport direction. A cassette defines an upwardly open stack well shaped to receive the objects and has a floor. The cassette is held in an upstream stack-forming position underneath the input device while the input device drops the objects one at a time into the well, and the floor of the cassette is stepped downward each time an object is dropped into the well by a distance generally equal to a vertical height of the object. When a predetermined number of the objects has been dropped into the well, the cassette is displaced downstream out of the upstream stack-forming position synchronously with the conveyor at the transport speed while the stack of objects in the well is pushed transversely of the direction out of the well into the conveyor.

Abstract: A device for forming stacks of sheet products, in particular of paper products, may include the paper products being supplied in an input stream by a feed conveyor to a transfer section. The device may also include at least two set-down tables each including a set-down surface for receiving stacks of the supplied paper products. The set-down tables may move along a circuit-like table-circulating path and may be flexible at least in some segments to conform to shapes of curvatures located in at least some parts and subregions of the table-circulating path. As a result, it is possible for the set-down tables to be guided into the curvatures with a leading front side edge of each of the set-down tables being a leading edge in a circulating direction of the set-down tables. The stacks of stacked paper products may then be transported away from a delivery section by a removal conveyor.

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 lens stocking apparatus capable of stocking a plurality of lenses, which has a first stage, on which a plurality of trays respectively accommodating lenses are mountable, for transferring a tray, a vertically movable second stage, on which a plurality of trays respectively accommodating lenses are mountable by being vertically stacked, for receiving a tray, a tray movement unit that has a holding portion, which is adapted to hold a tray, and that is configured to move a tray from the first stage to the second stage, and a guide unit adapted to guide a position of at least a topmost one of trays mounted on the second stage.

Abstract: A method of determining pallet layers for placement by a material handling system robot can include identifying cases for inclusion in a pallet and identifying case dimension information for the cases. Using the case dimension information, the cases can be classified into at least one group, wherein each group is defined by a height range such that cases classified within a group have a height within the height range associated with that group. Cases of one of the groups can be assigned to locations within a pallet layer, wherein the pallet layer has an area within a predefined area range.

Abstract: A load change safety system in which a sheet stacker having a stacking deck formed with a discharge end discharges sheet material onto and builds a sheet stack on a conveying sheet stack removal system formed with a receiving means. A variable pinch point gap is formed by relative motion between the discharge end of the stacking deck and the receiving means of the conveying sheet material removal system. The safety system includes redundant means selectively preventing a decrease in the variable pinch point gap. The redundant means of the safety system preferably includes an electro-optical light guard means operably connected to the redundant means with one or more redirections of light beams to create a light guard perimeter guarding portions of the stacker and sheet removal system to guard against access to the pinch point.

Abstract: A load change safety system in which a sheet stacker having a stacking deck formed with a discharge end discharges sheet material onto and builds a sheet stack on a conveying sheet stack removal system formed with a receiving means. A variable pinch point gap is formed by relative motion between the discharge end of the stacking deck and the receiving means of the conveying sheet material removal system. The safety system includes redundant means selectively preventing a decrease in the variable pinch point gap. The redundant means of the safety system preferably includes an electro-optical light guard means operably connected to the redundant means with one or more redirections of light beams to create a light guard perimeter guarding portions of the stacker and sheet removal system to guard against access to the pinch point.

Abstract: A lens stocking apparatus for stocking lenses includes: a first stage and a second stage, each of which can stack lens accommodating trays in a vertical direction; vertical movement mechanism portions which move the first and second stages in the vertical direction, respectively; and a tray transferring unit which transfers the trays from the first stage to the second stage. The tray transferring unit includes right and left hands for holding the tray which can independently move in a transverse direction. When the tray is transferred from the first stage to the second stage, the tray transferring unit moves the right and left hands in a approaching direction to hold the tray, moves the right and left hands in a direction from the first stage to the second stage to transfer the tray, and moves the first and second hands in a departing direction to releases the tray.

Abstract: A method of determining pallet layers for placement by a material handling system robot can include identifying cases for inclusion in a pallet and identifying case dimension information for the cases. Using the case dimension information, the cases can be classified into at least one group, wherein each group is defined by a height range such that cases classified within a group have a height within the height range associated with that group. Cases of one of the groups can be assigned to locations within a pallet layer, wherein the pallet layer has an area within a predefined area range.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a stacker for a tray feeder including: a plurality of frames for forming an outer portion of the stacker; an elevator capable of moving upwardly and downwardly and positioned at a side of an auxiliary frame of the plurality of frames; a driving means for driving the elevator; and a magazine for receiving the tray plates and mounted to the elevator. According to the present invention, the tray plate on which the electronic parts is positioned is precisely mounted by the magazine having the alignment bars due to operation of the stacker, and safely transferred to a predetermined position, to improve productivity and reliability.

Abstract: A material delivery system is disclosed which is particularly useful for filtered environments, such as clean rooms, minienvironments, or the like. One aspect of this particular material delivery system is that movement of an elevator is automatically controlled (i.e., no operator input), and more preferably is accomplished by monitoring for the presence of containers at multiple vertical positions. Another aspect of this particular material delivery system is that its elevator may be installed on and removed from a main housing of the material delivery system without requiring any tools. Yet another aspect of this particular material delivery system is that containers need not be unloaded from the material delivery system prior to removing its elevator, such as for replacement/maintenance purposes.

Abstract: A pallet positioner includes a support frame that consists of a main upright structure with a pair of spaced, parallel outriggers extending horizontally at ground level. The distal ends of the outriggers are connected by a flat, low-profile ramp. The upright structure includes a pair of vertical guide masts rigidly mounted on a horizontal base bracing the proximal ends of the outriggers. A cantilevered carrier with a rotatable platform is mounted laterally for vertical motion along the vertical guide masts. A pneumatic bellows and an air reservoir in the base are adapted to raise and provide self-leveling to the platform. Two hydraulic cylinders provide dampening and a stabilizing effect. The flow of hydraulic fluid in the cylinders is used to control the motion of the carrier. A braking system under the platform prevents its rotation at ground level.

Abstract: An adjustable sliding assembly. The sliding assembly includes an article sliding surface, the sliding surface having a proximal end pivotally connectable to a work surface and a free distal end; and a support member pivotally connected to the sliding surface between a midpoint of the sliding surface and the distal end of the sliding surface, the support member selectively holding the sliding surface in one of a plurality of inclinations and being actuated to progressively adjust the height of the distal end of the sliding surface in correspondence to the plurality of inclinations. Also disclosed are methods of stacking articles using the sliding assembly.

Abstract: A method of converting at least one strip of flexible material 12 into at least one stack of folded members 46. The method includes the step of conveying a number of festoons 20 formed from a strip of flexible material 12. The method is characterized by the step of depositing the respective festoons 20 into a stack of folded members 46. In the preferred method, the step of depositing the respective festoons 20 into a stack of folded members 46 can be characterized further by the steps of: (i) laying an initial flap 36 of flexible material 12 on a stacking surface 24; (ii) creating a first folded member 44 by placing a first festoon 42 on the initial flap 36 of flexible material 12; and (iii) creating additional folded members by placing each festoon upon a preceding festoon.