Abstract: A roll chucking apparatus is disclosed. The roll defines opposed side openings. The roll chucking apparatus includes a platform from supporting the roll. Lift structures vertically adjust the platform. Sensing structures sense an increase or decrease in the platform load upon the attempted initial insertion of opposed chucking pins into the opposed side openings. The lift structures vertically moves the platform and the roll until correct vertical alignment with the chucking pins occurs.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for use on and carried by a powered vehicle for laying out and taking up a long length, wide width flexible sheeting material as may be used to cover a sanitary landfill site, the apparatus having a framework adapted for mounting engagement on the vehicle and characterized by a pair of transversely extending arms which carry a journalled arbor assembly between them. The arbor assembly is powered for rotational motion and is controlled by an operator in a manner to either load a flexible sheeting material onto a mandrel of the arbor assembly or off-load flexible sheeting material from the mandrel as the vehicle travels over a ground surface area.

Abstract: Apparatus for fabricating discrete segments of cushioned web material for use as dunnage. The apparatus includes a mobile supply cart having at least one substantially horizontal support arm for receiving the hollow core of rolled web material. The apparatus also includes a separate driven rugation device with feed rollers for directing multiple plies of the web material in overlying, contacting relationship along a single path of travel. The separate cart and rugation device may be removably interconnected for lateral alignment. Driven interdigitized texturing rolls downstream of the feed rollers emboss a raised pattern on the web material, and a plurality of separating rollers downstream from the texturing rolls separate the plies of web material and direct them in divergent paths of travel. Combining rolls recombine the plies of textured web material such that the embossed areas of each ply do not directly overlie each other but are offset, creating void areas between the adjacent plies.

Abstract: Procedure and apparatus for the handling of loads using jaws pressed against the sides of the load. In the procedure of the invention, the slippage between the load and the jaws is measured and the compressive force of the jaws is adjusted on the basis of the slippage. The slippage is measured at least during a preliminary lifting performed before the load is lifted or at the beginning of the lifting operation. During the preliminary lifting the load can be lifted at an essentially lower speed than during the main lifting operation. The compressive force is increased during the preliminary lifting from a predetermined precompression value to at least a value at which the slipping ceases.

Abstract: A method and device for storing paper rolls in a storage area where the rolls are delivered and stored one above the other in recumbent fashion, and from where they are retrieved for further processing. The storage device includes a separate transport carriage for moving the paper rolls from a storing device into corridors in the storage shelving and back from storage to the storing device. To obviate the need for pallets, the paper rolls are stored in a recumbent position on a carrier surface which, supported on each side by a high supporting wall forming part of the running track of the transport carriage, adapts to the form of the circumference of the paper roll thereby allowing easily handling of the paper rolls.

Abstract: An improved system for making packages includes one or more packaging machines, a storage device for storing film rolls and a transporting device for transporting these film rolls to the packaging machines for loading. The packaging machines are of a type having a cantilevered film-supporting shaft for holding a film roll and sealers for longitudinally sealing overlapped side edges of a film pulled out of a film roll supported by the film-supporting shaft and horizontally sealing tubularly formed film to make bags. The film-supporting shaft extends in the forward-backward direction of the machine such that, when a plurality of these machines are arranged in a mutually side-by-side relationship, their film-supporting shafts are also in a side-by-side relationship and can be easily approached from one direction. The storage device may store the film rolls horizontally or vertically. The transporting device may be a forklift.

Abstract: A sod harvesting apparatus is provided a means for locomotion, a means for cutting sod into strips and curling it into rolls, and means for stacking the sod rolls onto an awaiting pallet. The apparatus includes a frame which supports orthogonal axes. A conveyor assembly is mounted on the x-axis, and transports sod rolls placed thereon to a mechanical hand unit. The x-axis provides the conveyor assembly with one-dimensional translation with respect to the frame. The mechanical hand unit, which is attached to the conveyor assembly, is capable of one-dimensional translation along the x-axis with respect to the conveyor assembly. The mechanical hand unit is rotatably mounted onto the x-axis so that it can place a sod roll in any desired orientation onto the pallet. The mechanical hand unit lifts the sod roll off the conveyor assembly and transports the roll to an awaiting pallet. The pallet is supported by a z-axis assembly, which is comprised of a plurality of forks and a lift mechanism.

Abstract: Infeed apparatus for multi-level delivery of convolutely wound logs which includes a plurality of log supporting wheels rigidly mounted on a cross shaft with each of the wheels having a periphery interrupted by a plurality circumferentially spaced inwardly extending pockets, alternate of the pockets being constructed for upper level delivery and the remaining for lower level delivery, each of the pockets having a trailing rear wall extending radially outward and a forwardly extending flat wall, the lower level pockets additionally having a generally radially extending forward, leading wall.

Abstract: A specially constructed pallet jack is used for transporting a heavy roll of paper having a central hollow core. The pallet jack includes a frame with elongated arms having first and second ends, with a first set of wheels mounted at the second end of the arms, and a second set of wheels mounted near the first end of the arms. A jack is provided for jacking up the first ends of the arms so that they are spaced from the wheels. Between the arms is a cradle having first and second ends with three obtuse angle-connected planar surfaces extending between the first and second ends. The first end of the cradle is pivotally mounted to the first ends of the arms, and the cradle is biased to a roll-receiving position by a gas spring. When a roll is rolled into the cradle, it pivots, dampened by shock absorbers to a roll-capture position in which the roll cannot spontaneously roll out of the cradle. A strap passes from the cradle through the core of the roll to positively hold it in place.

Abstract: A round hay bale dispenser connectable to the conventional three-point hitch of a tractor and having a pair of spaced longitudinally extending arms movable simultaneously laterally relative to each other for accommodating a round hay bale therebetween. A freely rotatable wheel is mounted on the free or outer end of each arm and engages the outer peripheral surface of the bale. The tractor pulls the arms causing the bale to roll as it traverses the ground while the wheels engage the outer surface of the bale causing the hay to fall from the bale in chunks rather than layers.

Abstract: A web roll transferring apparatus consisting of a roll stand, a couple of bogies which run on the rails disposed on each side of the roll stand and a turntable disposed in a roll transferring station locating in front of the roll stand so as to be rotatable horizontally; transference of a web roll being designed to be carried out between the turntable and the bogies stopping at the predetermined positions provided on each side of the turntable; characterized in that at least one jack disposed beneath the turntable, which can be operated by a fluid pressure and the like so as to tilt the turntable to one of the bogies or to the side opposite to the roll stand to a predetermined angle, and that jacks for tilting the bogies toward the turntable may be disposed at the positions by the turntable where the bogies are to stop.

Abstract: For the transport of blank stacks (22) to a packaging machine, there are re-usable cassettes (21) which have chambers (23) for receiving a multiplicity of blank stacks (22). The cassettes (21) are filled with the blank stacks (22) in a paper factory and are emptied in the region of the packaging machine. The cassettes (21) are designed so that several emptied cassettes (21) can be nested in one another and returned as a space-saving unit to the paper factory. Furthermore, the cassettes (21) are designed so that they can be transported by overhead conveyors and supported on downwardly directed carrier arms (49) which include horizontally directed carrier spars (50) having a step-shaped configuration (60, 62, 64) which also accommodates different sizes of material reels associated with the packaging machine.

Abstract: A supply yarn fitting device and a reserving section are provided in a supply section, and either the supply yarn fitting device is constituted such that it can fit supply yarns such as packages from a plurality of reserving locations or the reserving section is constituted as a supply yarn reserving device having a function of supplementing supply yarns to a reserving location in response to operation of the supply yarn fitting device so that supply yarns may be supplied automatically onto a transport passage in the yarn supply section.

Abstract: An apparatus for laying large rolls of turf, including a conveyor mounted on a frame for supporting a large roll of turf. The frame is supported by ground engaging wheels and includes a motor for imparting rotational movement to the ground engaging wheels for moving the frame and laying the turf. The rotation of the ground engaging wheels imparts movement to the conveyor to unwind the roll of turf such that the outer end of the roll of turf is guided from the rear of the conveyor to the ground. Hydraulic systems are included for raising and lowering the conveyor and for independently moving the conveyor to unwind additional turf.

Abstract: A conveyor for large cylindrical bodies such as paper rolls, includes an elongate track defined by a channel member and a beam mounted within the channel member. The beam defines a pair of rolling surfaces upon which a short length carriage runs longitudinally of the beam. The carriage has an upper surface for receiving the roll and transporting the roll in a direction longitudinal of the axis of the roll. The carriage is pulled longitudinally of the track by a cable driven by an air motor positioned at one end of the track. A portion of the track can be lowered for an initial raised position in which the carriage is above the side edges of the track to a lower position so the roll can be simply rolled onto the carriage. The lower position is achieved by deflating an elongate air bag inside the channel and underneath the beam. A second carriage can be positioned on the track for transporting the roll from a used position to a discharge position.

Abstract: A package replacing apparatus capable of running along a creel having a plurality of pegs comprising a fitting unit for putting packages on the pegs and a pull-off unit for pulling off bobbins from the pegs, wherein the fitting unit includes a plurality of package support members which are supported by sleeves vertically movable and rotatably put on a vertically movable rod and the pull-off unit includes a plurality of robot hands provided at the corresponding position to the pegs.

Abstract: A forage feed out machine, the machine comprising; a cradle with a series of transverse rollers extending across and forming a base for a bale; the cradle being mounted on a chassis and wheels such that it is pivotable backward and forward by hand; at least one of the rollers being ground driven. The width and the height of the cradle is such that a range of different sized bales, preferably round, can be loaded and fed out by the machine. A main roller which feeds out the feed has a ridge along its surface, this ridge providing a means for intermittently feeding out forage material in discrete clumps from the periphery of the bale. The ridge acts as a blade or paddle which removes the feed from the periphery of the bale and also initially raises and moves the bale.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus is used to sequentially move rolls of material having cores from a loading station to an unwinding station and to sequentially move empty roll cores from the unwinding station. The apparatus includes a generally H-shaped transfer frame having spindle assemblies at opposite ends of the transfer frame. When spindle assemblies at one end of the frame have engaged the core of a first roll at the loading station, the frame is pivoted about the central axes of the spindle assemblies while the first roll remains stationary at the loading station. This pivotal movement moves an empty core along an arcuate path from the unwinding station to a position above the stationary first roll at the loading station. The first roll is then moved from the loading station to the unwinding station. The spindle assemblies have wheels which roll along rails during movement of the first roll from the loading station to the unwinding station.

Abstract: A yarn package supply and empty bobbin removing apparatus for a warper creel, for removing empty bobbins from a plurality of pegs of a creel and putting yarn packages on the pegs, which includes a yarn package transfer frame having a shape resembling the letter H and supported so as to be located opposite to the pegs. The yarn package transfer frame is provided with holding devices arranged in two rows separated from each other by a distance corresponding to the distance between the adjacent rows of pegs.

Abstract: Merchandise protector apparatus in conjunction with a lift truck of the type having a horizontal ram is used to enter the core of a coil of steel or like material and move the coil. The apparatus includes a contact wall mounted generally vertically at a right angle to the ram near but in front of its base, such that the edge of the coil, which coil is not aligned with the ram, will first contact a surface pad on the contact wall. The contact wall is mounted with shock absorbers such as springs for absorbing energy of contact and telescoping mechanisms for allowing the contact wall to move rearward and a roller on the top surface of the ram which transfers vertical loading to the ram. The apparatus serves to prevent dents in the coil edges and turn the coil to align it with the ram.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bobbin sorting and batch transfer apparatus which can collect a predetermined number of bobbins from vertically stacked storage racks each of which has a discharge port. A carriage is provided on which there are mounted one or more guide elements including vertical guides which can be juxtaposed proximate to the discharge ports. A chain drive bearing rollers is arranged to form holding bins or compartments which can be advanced in a planetary motion along the various guides. The rollers are spaced from the vertical guides to maintain the bobbins in equilibrium by arranging same to roll against the vertical guides, the rollers urging the bobbins to move through a closed loop path which can position any holding bin or compartment into proximate opposition to any discharge port in a given column of racks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying a plurality of packages. A pivotable support rod having a tubular form defines a hollow inner diameter. The support rod receives packages from a doffing truck and supports the packages in a vertical orientation. A hanger is vertically lowered toward the support rod. The hanger includes package holding pawls located at the ends of longitudinal posts. A longitudinal guide member is centrally located among the posts and extends at least to the holding pawls. The guide member defines an outer diameter that is smaller than the hollow inner diameter of the support rod. The guide member is insertable into the hollow inner diameter of the support rod when the hanger is vertically lowered toward the support rod.

Abstract: A package transfer apparatus comprising flappers which are juxtaposed at a travel start position of a package changing robot having attaching arms for supporting and attaching bobbin ends of packages to pegs of a creel, and are circulated while putting thereon packages supplied from a package supply section, and a tilting mechanism for tilting the flappers to transfer the package to the attaching arms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transporting a stack of rolled-up turf sods, whereby the rolled-up sods are stacked on top of one another in several layers. Each layer comprises a few rows of rolled-up sods, located side by side, whereby each row consists of a few rolled-up sods, being in line, and the longitudinal axes of the rolled-up sods in the one layer extend transversely to the longitudinal axes of the rolled-up sods in a layer located under and/or above said layer. The stack of rolled-up sods, in order to be transported, is carried by a fork having a number of teeth, whereby the rolled-up sods of the lowermost layer are directly supported by the teeth extending parallel to the longitudinal axes of the rolled-up sods of the lowermost layer, such that each rolled-up sod of the lowermost layer is supported by two teeth located side by side.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting cargo comprising an enclosed van having a floor, a platform assembly for positioning on the floor of the van and bearing a load of cargo, the platform assembly being preferably in the form of a dollie which can be easily moved across the floor of the van and a stop which is secured to the floor of the van and engageable with the platform assembly to limit movement of the platform assembly in at least one direction along the floor of the van.

Abstract: A roll conveyance device for conveying rolls and attaching or detaching the rolls in a roll applying apparatus includes guide pillars, and a roll rest having a plane on which a plurality of the rolls are positioned. The roll rest is movably supported by the guide pillars and has two mutually divisible sections so that the roll rest is foldable. A roll rest moving device vertically moves the roll rest.

Abstract: An improved corrugating roll unit exchanging apparatus for a single facer is disclosed. Guide rails directed in an axial direction of corrugating rolls are disposed horizontally above a single-facer. One end of a beam is supported so as to be movable along the guide rails, and the other end thereof is supported by posts which are horizontally movable in the axial direction of the corrugating rolls. A suspending device for suspending a corrugating roll unit is held by the beam. Preferably, the beam is supported by the guide rails via drive wheels. Further preferably, the posts are formed in a gate shape, and the lower ends of the posts are supported by driven wheels adapted to roll along a pair of parallel rail tracks.

Abstract: An automated apparatus and method for winding and doffing a roll of knitted cloth from a circular knitting machine is disclosed. The apparatus includes a winding roller for winding knitted cloth produced on the knitting machine. A universal joint pivotably connects one end of the winding roller to one support arm. The other end of the winding roller is removably supported by an opposing support arm. After a roll of knitted cloth is wound, the other end of the winding roller is moved to an unloading, doffing position by swinging the free end of the winding roller using the universal joint as a fulcrum. At this position, the roll of knitted cloth is inclined downwardly and one end is placed on a receiver tray. The cloth roll is then pushed from the winding roller onto the receiver tray. The receiver tray is moved and the other end of the winding roller is moved back to the home position.

Abstract: A reel-change device for feeding high-performance packaging machines with web-like packaging material wound to form reels (11, 11a, 12), wherein one of two working journals (13, 14) is resupplied with a ("full") reel (11a), while the other working journal carries the working reel (12) which is feeding the packaging machine. The new reels (11a) are extracted from a reel stock (18) by means of a transport arm (21) with a transport journal (22) and are pivoted to one side or the other in order to be brought into a position equiaxial with the one working journal which has been emptied (13, 14). When there is correct alignment, the reel (11a) is pushed onto the empty working journal (13, 14). For this purpose, the transport art (21) is pivotable and can be shifted axis-parallel relative to the working journals (13, 14).

Abstract: A turf handling machine includes a chassis and a turf carrying apparatus mounted to the chassis for carrying a roll of turf. The roll of turf having an axial width and a circumferential surface. The chassis is mounted to two continuous driving tracks. The driving tracks normally drive the chassis in a forward direction over a ground surface upon which the turf is to be laid at a driving speed. A turf conveying apparatus is positioned on the chassis below the turf carrying apparatus. The turf conveying apparatus is arranged to contact a substantial portion of the circumferential surface of the roll of turf so as to cause the roll to be unwound and conveying the turf toward the ground surface behind the driving tracks when driven. The conveying of the turf is automatically synchronized with the driving speed so that the turf is laid at the driving speed.

Abstract: For the conveying and storing of paper rolls in a lying position in a high ay racking store and for removing them from the same, the high bay racking store (10) is provided with a plurality of shelf compartments disposed in rows above each other and in side-by-side arrangement, to which the individual paper rolls are supplied by means of relocation cars (50) and a paper roll trolley (70) mounted on the latter and traveling transversely to the longitudinal direction of the relocation car, in which the paper roll trolley (70) is moved with the paper roll in a raised position into the shelf compartment between paper roll supports (80) extending in the longitudinal direction of the shelf, the paper roll being subsequently deposited on said support.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing conical yarn bobbins, particularly in relation to withdrawing them from a conveyor belt which receives and moves said conical bobbins after they have been doffed and discharged from the units of a bobbin producing textile machine, and depositing them in an ordered arrangement on a peg trolley.

Abstract: A transport device serves for the delivery of a plurality of tubes wound with textile material to form laps, between a lap forming machine and a lap processing machine, by means of a transport truck. The transport truck possesses a tiltable receiver in which repose the laps. Viewed in the lengthwise direction of the laps, the latter are arranged behind and coaxially with respect to one another at a predetermined mutual spacing. With prior art devices, a number of manual operations are required to accomplish the exchange of laps and empty tubes. In particular, the empty tubes must be manually removed and intermediately stored at the lap processing machine before they can be manually placed upon the transport truck following mounting of the full laps.

Abstract: A cloth roller replacement system for at least one weaving machine, includes an actuating system for removing a full cloth roller from the machine and then installing an empty cloth roller in its place. The system further includes an instrument for measuring a fabric take-up quantity of the machine, a device for presetting a timing for preparation, and a controller for preliminarily making the actuating system ready for replacement at the preset timing for preparation, and then controlling the actuating system to perform the cloth roller replacement without stopping the machine.

Abstract: A bale shredder is provided with a loading fork along a side of the shredder that will lift a first bale from the ground and move it into the shredder. The loading fork includes a support platform portion that is used for lifting and supporting a second bale with a first bale remaining in the bale shredding chamber, so that both bales can be transported to a location for shredding. The fork is operated by a single hydraulic cylinder that will tilt the bale into a position on a main support platform, and which has a slide plate that moves the bale closer to the chamber when the fork is tilted upwardly a sufficient amount. Further upward tilting causes the bale to tumble into the bale chamber for shredding.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing a plurality of rolls includes a frame having a top and a base end forming a plurality of vertical stock spaces, each having an adjacent elevating passage. Brackets are disposed in each stock space for storing rolls in a vertically stacked, horizontally oriented disposition. A rail is disposed along the top of the frame, and a pickup flatcar runs on the rail. A carrier is operatively connected to the pickup flatcar and is movable up and down the elevating passages to pick-up and store rolls individually in the stock spaces.

Abstract: A handling vehicle is used for the interchanging or replacement of printed product reels and empty reel cores. The vehicle body has a substantially U-shaped frame in plan. On the frame is a structure (1), into which is integrated a working module (35) with a vertically adjustable manipulating device (4). This working module is movable at right angles to the vehicle body (2) and is arranged in the central area of the vehicle body. Longitudinally spaced from the working module (35) is a laterally movable gripping arm (12) fixed to the structure (1) on the vehicle body (2). The working module (35) is used for the handling and transportation of printing product reels (8) and the gripping arm (12) for handling and transporting empty reel cores (50).

Abstract: Process for feeding paper rolls for supplying web-fed rotary presses with paper rolls and for disposing of remnants from web-fed rotary presses, comprising a control system, which stores data on the location and the type of all paper rolls and disposal containers at any point in time. The system is designed to be so redundant such that partially manual or completely manual operation is possible in the case of failure of one or several components, as a result of which printing of the jeopardized publication is possible even in case of emergency, and the safety and ergonomic aspects are also not neglected even in an emergency situation.

Abstract: The conveying system uses a movable trolley containing vertically spaced support surfaces, each of which has parallel tracks for receiving peg trays. The trolley is movable onto a transferring conveyor, for example, at the end of a ring spinning machine. The transfer station has conveyors for conveying rows of peg trays onto and from the trolley.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically loading and unloading adhesive tape cores on adhesive tape roll making machines comprises a bearing structure provided with sliding horizontal guides thereon corresponding trolleys are slidably driven, which support comb elements adapted to respectively transfer adhesive tape cores from a magazine to a cutting and rewinding machine and formed adhesive tape rolls from this machine to an adhesive roll ejecting device, the bearing structure being moreover provided with movable fork arms which are driven to transfer mandrel element supporting cores to the adhesive tape making machine and remove from this machine mandrel elements thereon formed adhesive tape rolls are arranged.

Abstract: Newsprint roll handling apparatus for a reelroom having a row of reelstands each equipped with spindles adapted to coaxially engage and rotate a cylindrical newsprint roll on a reelstand axis. The apparatus comprises storage racks installed in the reelroom and providing superimposed horizontal rows of storage bins adjacent to the reelstands and extending perpendicular to the reelstand axes, each storage bin being adapted to hold an individual newsprint roll positioned with its axis extending substantially parallel to the reelstand axes.

Abstract: An unrolling device for cylindrical hay bales spikes the bale on its axis and pulls it along the ground to unroll it, when the device is pulled by a pickup truck, tractor, or the like. It comprises a transverse crossbar, two arms hinged at their ends to respective ends of the crossbar, and spikes insertable through the arm ends. The arms may swing out from the bar to a right angle; when both are swung out they lie parallel to one another. The spikes fit through the arm ends to protrude inwardly in the same plane as the plane formed by the crossbar and arms. Thus when set up for use the device has the general shape of a serif capital letter C. In use, the arms are set out on either side of a bale and the spikes are inserted through the arm ends to penetrate the hay bale on its axes. The device is pulled by chains on the crossbar to unroll the bale. When not in use, the device folds into a compact linear shape; the spikes are removed and the arms are folded down.

Abstract: An elevatable and tiltable loader bucket is provided with a large hay bale spear attachment with the attachment and the loader bucket including coacting structure removably supporting the attachment from the bucket in a manner such that the operator of a prime mover from the bucket is supported may advance toward, pick up and support the attachment from the bucket against accidental dislodgement therefrom and thereafter reposition the attachment back upon the ground and disengage the bucket therefrom, all without the operator of the prime mover dismounting from the operators position thereof.

Abstract: A device for lifting, transporting and unwinding spirally wound cylindrical bales of hay utilizes a spear post mounted upon a grapple framework pivotably attached to the bucket of a front-end loader. A drive motor, interactive with the spear post, permits controlled positive unwinding of a bale supported upon the spear post.

Abstract: A procedure to avoid permanent flattening of the roundness of paper rolls. The procedure involves a transport carriage provided with two rotatable supporting shafts and the rolls being rotated through one or more predetermined angles at predetermined intervals of time and then stored further in such new rotational position.

Abstract: A bobbin conveying system includes an automatic travelling car for conveyance of spinning and empty bobbins, a station for carrying out a spinning bobbin to the automatic travelling car and carrying in an empty bobbin from the car, and a station for carrying in a spinning bobbin from the automatic travelling car and carrying out an empty bobbin to the car, the spinning and empty bobbins carrying-in and -out operations being performed simultaneously at both the stations.

Abstract: Apparatus to facilitate the handling of large rolls of paper stock or similar material consisting of two clamping fixtures adapted to be mounted on the tines of a forklift truck and a shaft that passes through the center of large rolls of paper stock or similar material and is also passed through the clamping fixtures, the apparatus facilitating handling of the rolls by the forklift truck. Each of the clamping fixtures includes a sleeve conforming to the profile of a fork tine, a clamping bracket affixed to the sleeve, and a bottom lock bolt for securing the sleeve to a fork tine at an adjustable position on the fork tine.

Abstract: Heavy articles such as metal coils are transferred to and from storage locations in a storage area by a system of tracks and carriages including non-powered carriages which transport the articles directly and self-propelled carriages which move perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the non-powered carriages. The non-powered carriages are moved off and onto the self-propelled carriages by feeders carried by the self-propelled carriages. In one form of the invention, the above-mentioned self-propelled carriages are transferred to and from tracks in a parallel track array by an additional self-propelled carriage movable along a track extending perpendicular to the tracks of the parallel track array.

Abstract: A carriage for the transportation of a cable reel, comprising two parallel support elements (2, 3) which form a space between them for a reel (6) and are displaceable with respect to each other in the transverse direction (B) of the support elements, and reel supports (10) mounted on the support elements for the reel. In order to transport the reels with their central axes (A) transversely to the driving direction of the carriage so that the axes of the reels are positioned, irrespective of the size of the reels, at a constant distance from a fixed reference point (12) in the carriage, the support elements are provided with vertically displaceable carrier wheels (7) and with displacing wheels (9), the axes (C) of which extend in the longitudinal direction of the support elements. When the support elements are lowered, the displacing wheels contact the underlying surface (11) only after the reel has made contact with the surface and the reel supports have released the reel.

Abstract: The invention involves a method of and apparatus for transferring rolls of various sizes from a roll delivery vehicle to a spindle of a reel stand. A transfer table with articulated arms lifts the roll off of the vehicle and aligns the roll both in the vertical and horizontal directions so that the longitudinal axis of the roll coincides with the axis of the spindle. A unique clam shell linkage of the articulated arms allows the transfer table to handle different diameter rolls and position the different diameter rolls on spindles of different heights.