A stacking system for aligning and stacking stamped sheet metal parts is provided. The stacking system includes a frame configured to coordinate a plurality of sub-systems including a parts catcher, receiving head including a plurality of alignment cylinders, and a set of elevating tables on a shuttle platform. Parts are received by the catcher from a conveyor belt and transported to a receiving head for alignment to a targeted position. After the formed part is aligned to the stack, the lift table is lowered such that space is available for another part to be aligned. After a predetermined number of formed parts has been stacked, a table shuttle will slide the lift table to an unloading position accessible by a fork truck.

A stacking system for aligning and stacking stamped sheet metal parts is provided. The stacking system includes a frame configured to coordinate a plurality of sub-systems including a parts catcher, receiving head including a plurality of alignment cylinders, and a set of elevating tables on a shuttle platform. Parts are received by the catcher from a conveyor belt and transported to a receiving head for alignment to a targeted position. After the formed part is aligned to the stack, the lift table is lowered such that space is available for another part to be aligned. After a predetermined number of formed parts has been stacked, a table shuttle will slide the lift table to an unloading position accessible by a fork truck.

A method and an apparatus are provided for the grouped arrangement, orientation and packaging of stacked food products like patty stacks. The method includes feeding a food product by a first feed belt in the direction of a first X-axis, and then ejecting the food product onto a second feed belt to form stacked food products. The method also includes transporting the stacked food products by the second feed belt along a Y-axis generally perpendicular to the X-axis and in the direction of an orientation mask which is arranged above the second feed belt. The stacked food products are oriented by contacting the orientation mask. The oriented food products may therefore be grouped together in oriented rows for packaging when further moved along the Y-axis by the second feed belt. The method and apparatus enable rapid orienting of various types of food products that are typically stacked and packaged.

A method and an apparatus are provided for the grouped arrangement, orientation and packaging of stacked food products like patty stacks. The method includes feeding a food product by a first feed belt in the direction of a first X-axis, and then ejecting the food product onto a second feed belt to form stacked food products. The method also includes transporting the stacked food products by the second feed belt along a Y-axis generally perpendicular to the X-axis and in the direction of an orientation mask which is arranged above the second feed belt. The stacked food products are oriented by contacting the orientation mask. The oriented food products may therefore be grouped together in oriented rows for packaging when further moved along the Y-axis by the second feed belt. The method and apparatus enable rapid orienting of various types of food products that are typically stacked and packaged.

The invention provides a delivery system and layered stacking device for paper packages. The layered stacking device comprises a upper layer mechanism, a lower layer mechanism, and a pushing mechanism. The upper layer mechanism protrudes to an outlet of a delivery device to receive at least two paper packages. The paper packages will be stacked and neatly arranged on the upper layer mechanism. When the lower layer mechanism is raised to a first height and therefore close to the outlet, the upper layer mechanism will be withdrawn from the outlet of the delivery device, thereby the lower layer mechanism will receive the stacked paper packages that are dropped from the upper layer mechanism. Afterwards, when the lower layer mechanism is fallen to a second height, the pushing mechanism will push the stacked paper packages on the lower layer mechanism to a feeding device next the lower layer mechanism.

The invention provides a delivery system and layered stacking device for paper packages. The layered stacking device comprises a upper layer mechanism, a lower layer mechanism, and a pushing mechanism. The upper layer mechanism protrudes to an outlet of a delivery device to receive at least two paper packages. The paper packages will be stacked and neatly arranged on the upper layer mechanism. When the lower layer mechanism is raised to a first height and therefore close to the outlet, the upper layer mechanism will be withdrawn from the outlet of the delivery device, thereby the lower layer mechanism will receive the stacked paper packages that are dropped from the upper layer mechanism. Afterwards, when the lower layer mechanism is fallen to a second height, the pushing mechanism will push the stacked paper packages on the lower layer mechanism to a feeding device next the lower layer mechanism.

Embodiments of a system and a method for determining an edge hardness value for a cementitious board can be used to effectively determine the hardness of the board after it has been made and dried at a predetermined location, such as, at a stacking station, for example. An actuator assembly can manipulate a punch such that the punch is inserted into one of the edges of one of the cementitious boards in the stacker in a controlled manner. A force gauge can be associated with the punch to measure the resistance force exerted by the cementitious board in response to the punch being inserted into its edge. The measured resistance force can be used to determine the edge hardness value.

Embodiments of a system and a method for determining an edge hardness value for a cementitious board can be used to effectively determine the hardness of the board after it has been made and dried at a predetermined location, such as, at a stacking station, for example. An actuator assembly can manipulate a punch such that the punch is inserted into one of the edges of one of the cementitious boards in the stacker in a controlled manner. A force gauge can be associated with the punch to measure the resistance force exerted by the cementitious board in response to the punch being inserted into its edge. The measured resistance force can be used to determine the edge hardness value.

A first leading end plate and a first rear end plate are provided at an upper part of a rotary table. When a conductor piece contacts the first leading end plate, a first contact detection sensor detects a contact of the conductor piece, and transmits a contact detection signal to a storage control unit. Upon receiving the contact detection signal, the storage control unit drives an air supply device for a predetermined period to spray air toward the conductor piece from a first air nozzle. The air spray brings the conductor piece into a tilted state with the rear end thereof moved downward. Even when the conductor piece contacts the first leading end plate and rebounds, the rear end thereof contacts an inner wall surface of the first rear end plate, thereby preventing the rear end of the conductor piece from getting over the first rear end plate.

A device for handling objects includes an unloading head, onto which the objects can be transported and from which the objects can be unloaded by an operator. A lifting apparatus is connected to the unloading head. The height of the unloading head can be adjusted by way of the lifting apparatus and a sensing apparatus that can be activated and the height of the unloading head can be adjusted. In order to achieve a throughput increase in the handling of objects, the sensing apparatus is arranged in such a way that the sensing apparatus can be triggered by the operator by way of an object that is located on the unloading head.