Abstract: An apparatus suitable for both loading and unloading a round body, for example a tire, relative to a stationary shelf comprises, for loading, a body locating member defining a contact surface which confines in fixed location the round body between same and a shelf edge of the stationary shelf and a body lifting arrangement on which the body locating member is movable carried so as to displace the locating member upwardly relative to the shelf edge. For unloading the apparatus comprises an unloading arm defining a body contact surface that is displaceable in movement arranged perpendicular to a rotational axis of the body from a location outside a shelf storage space defined vertically above the shelf where the body is received when on the shelf, to the shelf storage space so as to displace the body off the shelf.

Abstract: A book case processing portion of a book production line forms a combination with a device for the removal of at least one book case from a stream of book cases conveyed in a main conveying direction along the book case processing portion of the book production line. The device includes a deposit tray that is extendible into the stream to remove the at least one book case from the stream of book cases.

Abstract: A device for moving containers or other objects relative to a surface such as a pallet includes a frame and a pin matrix movably attached to the frame. The pin matrix includes an array of pins and is housed in a plate having apertures for receiving the pins. The device further includes a pair of tracks that movably support the pin matrix. A method for moving containers or other objects relative to a surface includes the steps of moving the pin matrix over the objects, lowering the pin matrix, securing the objects within the pin matrix, moving the pin matrix and the objects relative to the surface, and raising the pin matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for stacking plate-shaped bodies, comprising the following features: a) a plate-shaped body (2) is conveyed by a conveying device (3) to the region of the push comb (7); b) the push comb (7) pushes the plate-shaped body (2) onto a surface that consists of the front tablet comb (6) and the rear tablet comb (5); c) the retaining comb (8) prevents a return movement of the plate-shaped body when the front tablet comb (6) and the rear tablet comb (5) move apart from one another and controls the falling motion of the plate-shaped body (2) onto the plate stack. The invention also relates to an associated method and a machine-readable support provided with the program code for carrying out said method.

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: 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: An apparatus and method for transferring sod slabs in an unrolled condition including a retractable bed for allowing a sod slab to fall under the influence of gravity from one sod bed to another sod bed with a further sod bed to allow a sod pickup mechanism to place and remove sod slabs thereon from different directions.

Abstract: Sticker handling apparatus include an actuating assembly that operatively supports one or more sticker support brackets. The actuating assembly includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The first actuator is configured to impart motion to the sticker support bracket in a first dimension and the second actuator is configured to impart motion to the sticker support bracket in a second dimension different from the first dimension. The actuating assembly can thus be selectively actuated to move the one or more sticker support brackets in a manner such that one or more stickers are contacted and lifted by respective sticker support brackets and moved from a sticker in-feed conveyor to respective sticker trays supported on respective fork arms with no substantial rotation of the one or more sticker support brackets.

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: A lumber stacking apparatus 10 is described for forming a stack 12 of layers 14 of boards with stickers placed transversely between the layers. The apparatus 10 has a reciprocating arm structure 50 for successively picking up layers from an elevated surface and moving the layers over to a stacking station where the layers are stripped from the arm structure 50 as the arm structure 50 is retracted. The arm structure 50 has lifting arms 56 with open channels 64 formed therein to receive the stickers 16. A sticker distribution conveyor 160 extends along the rear of the apparatus to distribute stickers to spaced sticker stations 164 corresponding to the lifting arms 56. A sticker transfer conveyor 170 has a sticker removal subassembly 172 for engaging rear ends of the stickers at the sticker stations 164 and pushing the stickers lengthwise toward the open arm channels 64.

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: Lumber stacking apparatus which include sticker placing apparatus provide means of automatically placing stickers in a sticker tray and of removing stickers from a sticker tray. Lumber placing apparatus includes an actuating assembly that can be actuated to move a sticker support bracket that is operatively supported thereby in a substantially vertical direction and in a substantially horizontal direction during transferal, by the sticker support bracket, of a sticker from a sticker in-feed conveyor to a sticker tray.

Abstract: Lumber stacking apparatus which include sticker placing apparatus provide means of automatically placing stickers in a sticker tray and of removing stickers from a sticker tray. Lumber placing apparatus includes an actuating assembly that can be actuated to move a sticker support bracket that is operatively supported thereby in a substantially vertical direction and in a substantially horizontal direction during transferal, by the sticker support bracket, of a sticker from a sticker in-feed conveyor to a sticker tray.

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: A lumber stacking apparatus 10 is described for forming a stack 12 of layers 14 of boards with stickers placed transversely between the layers. The apparatus 10 has a reciprocating arm structure 50 for successively picking up layers from an elevated surface and moving the layers over to a stacking station where the layers are stripped from the arm structure 50 as the arm structure 50 is retracted. The arm structure 50 has lifting arms 56 with open channels 64 formed therein to receive the stickers 16. A sticker distribution conveyor 160 extends along the rear of the apparatus to distribute stickers to spaced sticker stations 164 corresponding to the lifting arms 56. A sticker transfer conveyor 170 has a sticker removal subassembly 172 for engaging rear ends of the stickers at the sticker stations 164 and pushing the stickers lengthwise toward the open arm channels 64.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring rows of side-by-side elongated members from a conveyor to a stacking platform to form bundles. A plurality of parallel stacker arms are displaceable in a direction parallel to the conveying of the elongated members, between a retracted position, and a stacking position, wherein the stacker arms are positioned above the stacking platform for disposing rows of elongated members thereon. A ramp is displaceable between an inclined position and a horizontal position, for guiding the pivoting of the stacker arms about carriages, such that stacker arms moving from the retracted portion to the stacking position are pivoted upward to pick up a row of elongated members from the conveyor portion, and that stackers arms moving from the stacking position to the retracted position are kept generally horizontal, so as to encompass the rows of elongated members conveyed on the conveyor portion. A slat positioner is also disclosed.

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 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.