A stacker includes a base and a vertical structure supported by the base. A lift unit includes a support surface for engaging and lifting a tray from a stack of trays. The lift unit is mounted to the vertical structure and movable vertically relative to the vertical structure. A lifting mechanism selectively raises and lowers the lift unit relative to the vertical structure. The support surface may be formed on first and second projections configured to engage first and second handle openings of a tray. The stacker facilitates several stacking/destacking methods for more easily converting a stack of trays at a first height to a stack of trays at a second height. For example, the first height may be more convenient or appropriate for use in a bakery, while the second height may be more efficient for loading in a truck.

An apparatus includes a pallet dispensing system, including a movable frame being configured to movably hold, at least in part, a pallet stack between a pallet-storage position and a pallet-dispensation position. The movable frame is also configured to hold the pallet stack relative to a pallet transporter in such a way that the pallet transporter is permitted to vertically lift, at least in part, the pallet stack as the movable frame is provided, at least in part, with vertical-lift assistance through stored potential energy.

Various embodiments of flanged containers that can be stacked in a nested relationship are disclosed so as to provide uniform spacing between the containers to facilitate reliable denesting thereof. The flanges and/or sidewalls of the containers may be provided with features that facilitate alignment and uniform spacing of the nested containers so that a denesting apparatus can reliably denest the containers. Other containers include sidewalls divided into two sections that serve to stabilize stacked container.

An autoloading shingle feeder that singulates an associated stack of media into associated individual articles. The autoloading shingle feeder includes a housing including a base, at least one loading belt with a loading surface that defines a horizontally extending loading plane. The autoloading shingle feeder also includes at least one feeding belt that is distinct from the at least one loading belt and includes a feeding surface that defines a feeding plane. The autoloading shingle feeder also includes a carriage assembly that limits vertical movement of the associated individual article when the associated individual article moves from the at least one loading belt to the at least one feeding belt. The carriage assembly includes at least one separator plate including a pressure portion that linearly extends in the loading direction for direct sliding contact with the associated individual article.

The equipment and method for moving containers herein proposed consists in a new concept for moving containers in port terminals based on the stacking of containers from the bottom to the top. Such stacking occurs by using a lifting system specifically designed for such purpose and by supporting the containers stack on fixed elevated support at a determined height from the ground.

A multi-stack pallet dispensing apparatus is for dispensing in-line pallet stacks relative to a pallet transporter. The multi-stack pallet dispensing apparatus includes a movable frame configured to movably hold, at least in part, in-line pallet stacks between a pallet-storage position and a pallet-dispensation position. The movable frame is also configured to hold the in-line pallet stacks relative to the pallet transporter. This is done in such a way that the pallet transporter is permitted to vertically lift, at least in part, the in-line pallet stacks as the movable frame is provided, at least in part, with vertical-lift assistance through stored potential energy.

A decorator assembly includes a cup holder assembly, a cup transfer assembly, and a decorator mandrel turret assembly. The cup holder assembly is structured to hold a number of cups in a nested, bottom leading configuration. The cup transfer assembly is structured to move cups from said cup holder assembly to a decorator mandrel turret assembly. The decorator mandrel turret assembly is structured to rotatably support a number of cups.

A device for supplying lids to a can seamer includes a destacking screw for conveying lids that are fed in via a lid feed, for transferring the correctly separated lids to a downstream transport and/or treatment device, and for interrupting the supply of the lids to the downstream transport and/or treatment device in the event of an interruption of production. Methods for supplying lids to a can seamer are also provided.

Support unit, constituting part of a denesting apparatus, said support unit supporting a stack (2) of trays, cups or other receptacles (10) to be denested in the denesting apparatus, such that trays, cups or other receptacles (10) are dispensed one by one from a lower part of the stack (2), where said support unit comprises two vertical guides arranged in close proximity to the stack on opposing sides of said stack, and where on each vertical guide two or more engagement pads (12, 13; 14, 15) are provided, which engagement pads are suitable to simultaneously contact a plurality of edges of the trays, cups or other receptacles (10) to be denested, in a sequential manner, such that at least one engagement pad on either side is in contact with a plurality of edges of the trays, cups or other receptacles to be denested at a time

An apparatus is provided for separating individual bowls from a stack of bowls for receiving foodstuffs. The apparatus includes a machine frame for fixing components of the apparatus, a holding device for holding the stack, a separating device for separating individual bowls from the stack, having a separating element, and a drive device. The holding device has at least one bottom carrier element that is mounted in the region of a bottom of a lowermost bowl of the stack moveably by the device such that it temporarily carries the bowl from below and can be moved away from the region of the bottom of the lowermost bowl so that the lowermost bowl can be separated from the stack in a downward direction while the stack remains in the holding device. In addition, a corresponding method is provided of separating a bowl from a stack of bowls for receiving foodstuffs.