Disclosed is a supply device for supplying cutouts to a machine from an inventory configured in several adjacent stacks of cutouts; the device includes a manipulator to transfer, by batch, the cutouts from the inventory to the machine. This device further includes a pressing unit to compress at least one stack that is adjacent to the one from which the manipulator removes cutouts. Also disclosed is a corresponding method.

Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets are disclosed for fully- and/or partly automated handling of goods. For example, the disclosure provides improvements in storage and retrieval of containers in systems such as order processing systems.

Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets are disclosed for fully- and/or partly automated handling of goods. For example, the disclosure provides improvements in storage and retrieval of containers in systems such as order processing systems.

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes at least one bracket and at least one vibrator. The at least one bracket is configured to be mounted to a pallet adjacent to a stack of panels disposed on the pallet. The at least one vibrator is attached to the at least one bracket and configured to induce vibration on the stack of panels to disrupt an adhesive bond between adjacent panels in the stack of panels.

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes at least one bracket and at least one vibrator. The at least one bracket is configured to be mounted to a pallet adjacent to a stack of panels disposed on the pallet. The at least one vibrator is attached to the at least one bracket and configured to induce vibration on the stack of panels to disrupt an adhesive bond between adjacent panels in the stack of panels.

A device and method for temporarily storing stacks of piece goods which are provided in a clocked manner at a transfer point integrated in the device or adjacent to the device of a system for producing food products, in particular chocolate products, comprising: one or more storage points, a delivery point, a transport apparatus for moving the stacks of piece goods in the direction of transport; and a manipulator by means of which the transfer point, the delivery point as well as the storage points arranged therebetween can be approached; wherein at least one piece of goods of a stack of piece goods, preferably a plurality of piece goods of a stack of piece goods, can be transferred at once to the delivery point by the manipulator; wherein the stacks of piece goods can be separated at the delivery point and fed to a downstream section of the system; and wherein the flow of stacks of piece goods provided at the transfer point can be decoupled from the downstream section of the system by successively occupying the storage points.

A material processing system includes: an offsetter configured to receive a stack of material and including a lifting bar configured to lift a portion of the stack of material; and a processing station operably connected to the offsetter. A method of processing a material includes: loading a stack of material on an offsetter, the stack of material including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion positioned above the second portion and separated from the second portion by at least one cross tie, the stack of material including a first end and a second end distal from the first end; lifting the second portion away from the first portion by a lifting bar of the offsetter pushing upward on the second end; and removing the cross tie.

A material processing system includes: an offsetter configured to receive a stack of material and including a lifting bar configured to lift a portion of the stack of material; and a processing station operably connected to the offsetter. A method of processing a material includes: loading a stack of material on an offsetter, the stack of material including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion positioned above the second portion and separated from the second portion by at least one cross tie, the stack of material including a first end and a second end distal from the first end; lifting the second portion away from the first portion by a lifting bar of the offsetter pushing upward on the second end; and removing the cross tie.

A system for loading elongated members, such as metal tubes and bars, onto a conveyor for later processing features an elevator, pusher arms, a support surface provided at a predetermined height, and gripper arms. The elevator acts to lift a topmost layer of the members, which are typically arranged in a stack thereon, to a predetermined height so that the pusher arms may transfer the members forming the topmost layer onto the support surface at this height. The pusher arms push these members across the support surface by engaging the member farthest from the support surface until the respective elongated member passes over a distal side of the support surface and onto the gripper arms arranged at a height of this side. The gripper arms lower that member to an unloading location below the support surface where an empty support cradle of the conveyor is arranged for receiving same.

A layer destacking system, for destacking a layer from a stacked layer pallet load, including a layer seating platform configured so as to seat the destacked layer on the layer seating platform, a slip sheet detection sensor arranged to sense a slip sheet in contact with the seated destacked layer, a slip sheet pickup removal mechanism, and a controller that receives a signal from the slip sheet detection sensor identifying presence of the slip sheet. The controller is operably connected to the slip sheet pickup removal mechanism so as to actuate the slip sheet pickup removal mechanism effecting discharge of the slip sheet off the layer seating platform.