Abstract: A modular manufacturing system for wrapping and bundling or case packing rolled product. The modular manufacturing system includes a first end and a second end, a first module comprising a first piece of equipment, a second module comprising a second piece of equipment, and a third module comprising a third piece of equipment. The first piece of equipment comprises a wrapper. The second piece of equipment comprises a bundler. The third piece of equipment comprises a case closer. The first, second, and third modules are three of a plurality of additional modules arranged in a series configuration for metered product flow of the rolled product from the first end to the second end.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a clamp assembly having a clamping zone configured to circumscribe, at least in part, a pallet load received, at least in part, in the clamping zone. The apparatus also includes a pallet receiving assembly having a pallet-receiving zone configured to receive, at least in part, a pallet supporting the pallet load, and, the pallet-receiving zone having a vertical height dimensioned marginally higher than the vertical height of the pallet.

Abstract: A last-in, first-out bottom-loading, bottom-deloading vertical storage and retrieval system comprising a raising and lowering means such as a jack or a leveraged arm, a frame with a pawl or pawls for supporting a tray, a plurality of trays, and a deloading means for disengaging the pawl or pawls that support a tray in the frame. A method of manufacture of the same.

Abstract: A sheet stack loader includes a loading table to support a first folded sheet bundle, an elevator to lift the first folded sheet bundle from the loading table, and a conveyer to convey a second folded sheet bundle into a space between the loading table and the first folded sheet bundle, wherein the space is created by the elevator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tray handler for stacking and de-stacking ophthalmic prescription trays. The tray handler includes a plurality of spaced clamp assemblies defining a stack area along a conveyor, a lift plate, and first and second actuators. The lift plate is operably disposed within the stack area. The first actuator is operably associated with the clamp assemblies, which are inwardly and outwardly moveable relative the lift plate upon actuation of the first actuator. The second actuator is operably associated with the lift plate, which is vertically moveable within the stack area upon actuation of the second actuator. A controller is in communication with the first and second actuators and controls actuation thereof. A method of handling ophthalmic prescription trays is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tray handler for stacking and de-stacking ophthalmic prescription trays. The tray handler includes a plurality of spaced clamp assemblies defining a stack area along a conveyor, a lift plate, and first and second actuators. The lift plate is operably disposed within the stack area. The first actuator is operably associated with the clamp assemblies, which are inwardly and outwardly moveable relative the lift plate upon actuation of the first actuator. The second actuator is operably associated with the lift plate, which is vertically moveable within the stack area upon actuation of the second actuator. A controller is in communication with the first and second actuators and controls actuation thereof. A method of handling ophthalmic prescription trays is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for stacking flat products, in particular, folding boxes, comprising a lower and upper transport unit, wherein the flat products are transported between the transport units in the direction of a stack shaft, each transport unit comprising at least one conveyor belt, wherein the position of the front end, facing the stack shaft, of at least one conveyor belt can be adjusted and changed.

Abstract: System and apparatus for automatically stacking trays involve receiving trays on a receiving platform, detecting the arrival of the tray on the platform, and synchronously displacing the tray to a moveable tray cart located in a tray stacking area of a stacking tower. An automated tray sliding mechanism displaces the tray to the stacking area upon detection of the tray at the receiving platform. Trays displaced in the stacking area of a lower section of a stacking tower form a tray stack. A stack elevator of the tower engages and elevates the tray stack providing a space beneath the stack allowing the next incoming tray to be displaced into the stacking area and assume the provided space beneath the tray stack, the incoming tray thereby assuming the lowermost position in the tray stack. Trays are added to the lowermost position in the stack until the stack height reaches a predetermined height and is removed from the stacking area.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming and unloading a completed stack of articles. An assembly station includes a rotatable turret from which at least one stacker arm projects. The turret rotates to each of a number of article loading positions to sequentially load articles onto the arm in a desired order. The turret is then advanced to allow the articles to be concurrently unloaded from the stacker arm at an unloading position. In an automated disc drive manufacturing environment, the articles comprise respective numbers of magnetic recording discs and intervening disc spacers which are arranged into a disc/spacer stack as the stacker arm is advanced to a number of disc feeder and spacer feeder stations. The completed disc/spacer stack is then unloaded onto a spindle motor hub. Additional arms preferably project from the turret so that, as the turret rotates, multiple stacks are simultaneously formed and sequentially unloaded.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stacking column for storing goods on top of each other or next to each other on pawls (1) which rotate about a rotational axis (2) from an idle position into a working position. The respective successive pawls (1) are mutually coupled by means of at least one link plate (9). In order to reduce the gap or pitch (T) between adjacent pawls (1), the at least one link plate (9) is angular, elbowed or arc-shaped.

Abstract: A memory storage disk handling system includes a housing, an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks, a servo motor with a cam arm. The servo motor rotates to pivot the cam arm, which cams against the elevator pin to lift the elevator pin.

Abstract: A Tray input-output module, comprising a power unit, a clamp unit and a support unit, is capable of automatically retrieving a tray from a transport device and automatically delivering a tray to a transport device for facilitating automation in chip sorter operation, reducing manual work and raising productivity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking first and second loaded pallets includes a pallet stacker that defines a stationary stacking location. A first loaded pallet is conveyed to the stationary stacking location. In preferred form, plural sensors check the first loaded pallet for preferred load height and preferred load integrity. A pallet carriage vertically adjustable at the stationary stacking location then engages the first loaded pallet and moves it to a temporary holding position. A second loaded pallet is conveyed into vertical registration with the first loaded pallet. The plural sensors also check the second loaded pallet for preferred load height and preferred load integrity. The first loaded pallet is then vertically adjusted into stable stacked relation with the second loaded pallet, and the pallet carriage disengages the first loaded pallet. The first and second loaded pallets, in stable stacked relation to each other, thereafter are discharged from the stationary stacking location.

Abstract: A lifting method and device. A first lifting device lifts a multi-layer stack of articles from a lower position upwardly to a raised position at which the uppermost layer is at a desired level for removal of articles. The first lifting device continues to move the stack upwardly in increments for subsequent removal of articles in subsequent layers at the desired level. A second lifting device engages the bottom of the stack at locations different from the areas engaged by the first lifting device for continuing upward movement of the stack for positioning the remaining layers at the desired level for the removal of articles therefrom. The first lifting device is then movable downwardly to receive a new stack and the second lifting means is foldable to a retracted position and movable to a position below the new stack.

Abstract: For handling elongate and flat workpieces flowing in a manufacturing line, two arrangements are disclosed, one being an arrangement including a workpiece posture changing device which changes the posture of each workpiece at the time when the workpiece is transmitted from a first conveyer to a second conveyer, and the other being an arrangement for bundling the workpiece flowing in the manufacturing line.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for a thermoforming machine with a guide bar for a slider of a pivot arm which can be swung between positions along the pivot arm to pick up containers or covers and to deliver stacks of the containers in horizontal orientation to a receiving plate or conveyor. In another position of the guide bar, the pivot arm delivers the stacks of articles to the receiving table or conveyor in upright columns.

Abstract: A method for forming vertical stacks of documents and then conveying the stacks serially along a conveyor to further processing stations. The stacks are rapidly ejected onto a conveyor which is driven at a relatively slow delivery speed, and to avoid longitudinal shingling of the stacks caused by their rapid ejection onto the conveyor, and to correct any lateral misalignment of each stack, there is provided a pair of rotatably mounted resilient guide rolls along respective opposite sides of the conveyor for rotation about vertical axes. The rolls are spaced apart a distance such that the rolls resiliently engage the opposite sides of the stacks as they pass therebetween. Also, the guide rolls are rotated at an initial peripheral speed which closely approximates the speed of the advancing stacks when the stacks engage the two guide rolls, which serves to square the stacks.

Abstract: A stacking column for storing articles comprises a plurality of ratchet elements each having a carrying arm and a control arm. The plurality of ratchet elements are arranged successively in one plane such that the carrying arms of each ratchet element are arranged in one vertically extending plane and the control arm of each ratchet element is arranged in a laterally offset manner relative to the carrying arm of the same ratchet element between any two successive ratchet elements. The control arms of the ratchet elements are also arranged in a laterally alternating manner relative to the one vertically extending plane.

Abstract: A memory storage disk handling system includes a housing, an elevator pin mounted on the housing for lifting disks, a servo motor with a cam arm. The servo motor rotates to pivot the cam arm, which cams against the elevator pin to lift the elevator pin.