Abstract: Container depalletization systems and methods may include various example depalletizing stations including a frame and a plurality of fork assemblies. For example, the frame may receive a stack of containers, and the plurality of fork assemblies may engage, lift, lower, and release layers of containers from the stack of containers to downstream stations or processes. In addition, the example depalletizing stations may include transfer elevator assemblies that may receive layers of containers from the plurality of fork assemblies and transfer the layers of containers to downstream stations or processes. Further, the example depalletizing stations may include movable frames that may move between a first position, at which layers of containers may be engaged and lifted by the plurality of fork assemblies, and a second position, at which layers of containers may be lowered and released by the plurality of fork assemblies and transferred to downstream stations or processes.

Abstract: A method for casting prefabricated concrete products with a circulation line casting process, where casting molds with fresh cast concrete products are moved for curing in a curing area, where the casting molds with the concrete products are stacked to form stacks of plurality of casting molds in the curing area, wherein the stacks of casting molds in the curing area are formed by lifting the casting molds forming the stack from the lowest casting mold of the stack, inserting a new casting mold below the lifted stack, and lowering the lifted stack on top of the inserted new casting mold. The invention also relates to a lifting and stacking apparatus utilizing the method, and to a circulation line casting apparatus equipped with such a lifting and stacking apparatus.

Abstract: Biomass may become an important source of combustible fuel in the future. For biomass, such as switchgrass, to be economically viable as a fuel, the processes required to take the plant material from a green, growing plant in the field to an energy dense package must be efficient. A self-propelled bale picking truck simplifies and speeds bale collecting, stacking, and staging for loading onto a truck for transport over the road.

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: A tray holding apparatus includes a holding section, a separation section, a lifting/lowering section, and a control section. The holding section holds a stack of trays. The separation section separates the lowermost tray from the stack. The lifting/lowering section moves upward or downward between a predetermined place below the stack and this stack, thereby undergoing a first movement in which the separated tray is moved to the predetermined position and a second movement in which the tray in the predetermined place is moved to the stack. The control section controls the operations of the separation section and the lifting/lowering section.

Abstract: A container filling plant having a device for stacking product groups or sets, and a device for stacking product groups or sets in a container filling plant, and a device for stacking product groups or sets. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for a conveyor system raises a two-dimensionally arrayed layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor system and stacks the raised layer of objects on a subsequent layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor system. The apparatus then dispenses the stacked layers of objects from the apparatus, whereby the stacked layers of objects can be received by a palletizer for loading on a pallet in a more time efficient manner.

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. A pair of pallet lift carriages are vertically adjustable at the stationary stacking location to selectively engage the first loaded pallet and raise it to a temporary holding position. A second loaded pallet is conveyed into vertical registration with the first loaded pallet. The first loaded pallet is then vertically adjusted into stable stacked relation with the second loaded pallet, and the pallet lift carriages disengage 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: An unstacker device for unstacking flat objects comprises a motor-driven feed magazine controlled so as to move flat objects in a stack and on edge facing an unstacking head provided with a motor-driven drive having a perforated belt and a suction chamber, which motor driven drive is actuated so as to separate a current first object from the stack and so as to eject it in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the stack of flat objects is moved, in which device the motor-driven drive is actuated and stopped each time a current object is unstacked, and the stack of flat objects is straightened up in the magazine in response to detection of signals delivered by a plurality of sensors disposed in the unstacking head.

Abstract: A system for stacking and/or unstacking stackable units in a units-handling installation, wherein the system comprises a frame carrying holding means for taking a stackable unit at a time from a stack of units and remove the units, one at a time, from the stack, and for taking units provided at the system to stack them into a stack of units, and conveyor means for receiving units to be stacked and delivering unstacked units out of the system.

Abstract: A system for bundling long ferrous products comprises a roller table for delivering the products longitudinally to a receiving station. A cradle is spaced laterally from the receiving station and is constructed and arranged to receive and accumulate the products in bundle form. A stacker is positioned between the receiving station and the cradle, and a pre-stacker is positioned between the stacker and the receiving station. A transport system laterally advances products from the receiving station to the pre-stacker, and the pre-stacker operates in concert with the transport system to pre-stack multiple layers of the products into sub-bundles and to transfer the sub-bundles to the stacker, which then operates to deposit the sub-bundles in the cradle.

Abstract: A magazine loader for automatically loading stacks of cartons onto a magazine of a mass feeder for supplying cartons to a packaging machine, includes a loader in which stacks of cartons are received and held, and a carriage on which the loader is pivotally mounted. The cartons are received loaded in the loader, after which the loader is pivoted from a loading position to a stacking position. The loader is then moved along a feeder conveyor for the packaging machine toward a magazine or supply of previously stacked cartons, until the stack of cartons is received and stacked against the previously loaded cartons to maintain a supply of cartons for feeding into the packaging machine.

Abstract: A system and method for stacking and storing a plurality of trays includes a stacker system and a buffer system. The stacker system includes a component, e.g., a platform, which moves a tray between a raised position and a lowered position. The buffer system includes a plurality of opposing projections for capturing the tray when the component is in the raised position.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for loading vehicle bodies in which assembled vehicle bodies are continuously made available from a production process for loading and are prepared for the loading. Several different stations of the loading arrangement are mutually coordinated and monitored by a control unit. A drive operated fork lift is utilized to handle empty cargo carriers and to stack a pair of vehicle body loaded cargo carriers to form a loading unit which is subsequently transferred to a transport train freight car.

Abstract: An arrangement for an optional forming of stacks of multiple products conveyed successively along a conveying path, and/or for changing the sequence of products conveyed successively along the conveying path. The arrangement includes a conveying device having conveying sections for transporting the products in a conveying direction. At least one up and down movable lifting element is disposed on at least one side of the conveying device and picks up the products from an underside of the products along the conveying path from the conveying device and subsequently deposits them again. The lifting element is disposed at a right angle to the conveying direction and is displaceable below a support surface of the conveying device.

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: Apparatus for for stacking papermaking pulp bales is disclosed, comprising two sets of lifting forks, which are directed towards each other for lifting bales, and a conveyor for inserting a new bale beneath the lifted bales. The lifting forks are horizontally movable between an advanced active lifting position and an inactive retracted position and have forward portions with a continuously decreasing thickness. The drive means for the lifting forks comprise a motor and a freewheel clutch for lifting and lowering the lifting forks, so that the lowering movement for both sets of lifting forks is automatically and individually adapted to their pulling-out movement when they rest on the underlying bale, although the speed of the drive motors which operate in a synchronized manner need not be controlled.

Abstract: A bale stacker for stacking papermaking pulp bales, comprising two sets of lifting forks (17-19; 20-22), which are directed to each other for together lifting bales, and a conveying means (12, 13) for inserting a new bale (14) beneath the lifted bales. The lifting forks are horizontally movable between advanced active lifting position and inactive retracted position and have forward portions (23) with continuously decreasing thickness. The drive means for the lifting forks comprise a motor (37) and a freewheel clutch for lifting and lowering the lifting forks, so that the lowering movement for both sets of lifting forks automatically and individually are adapted to their pulling-out movement when they rest on the underlying bale, although the speed of the drive motors (37) of the drive means which operate synchronized need not be controlled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for automated removal of shipping containers from a trailer and the automatic return of the emptied shipping containers to a trailer after the cargo has been removed from the container.

Abstract: An elevator ice tray storage apparatus includes a storage bin and an elevator platform assembly overlying the bottom of the storage bin. The assembly includes a base member which slides on the bottom of the storage bin, and a platform for elevating an ice tray into a first elevated storage position. A handle and guides are provided for facilitating the manipulation of the elevator assembly. Rollers are provided at the back end of the platform for rolling against the back end wall of the storage bin as the elevator assembly elevates an ice tray. One or more elevated storage positions are provided, each having hinged flaps that rotate out of the way to allow a tray to pass by as it is being elevated and which rotate back to a flat repose position, on which side edges of a tray are lowered to rest.

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 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.