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.

A sod harvester stacking head can include a base that couples to a stacking head supporting mechanism of a sod harvester and a frame that couples to the base via crankshaft assemblies that are configured to allow the frame to rotate through 360 degrees during each stacking operation. Accordingly, a motor that controls the rotation of the crankshaft assemblies can be driven a single time during each stacking operation thereby enhancing the efficiency of the sod harvester. The crankshaft assemblies can also be configured so that the crankshafts are in a vertical orientation while the stacking head travels in a lateral direction such that the load is centered on the rotational axis of the stacking head. A stacking conveyor could similarly be configured with a base and a frame that are coupled via crankshaft assemblies to thereby allow the stacking conveyor to be lifted using 360 degrees of rotation.

A sod harvester stacking head can include a base that couples to a stacking head supporting mechanism of a sod harvester and a frame that couples to the base via crankshaft assemblies that are configured to allow the frame to rotate through 360 degrees during each stacking operation. Accordingly, a motor that controls the rotation of the crankshaft assemblies can be driven a single time during each stacking operation thereby enhancing the efficiency of the sod harvester. The crankshaft assemblies can also be configured so that the crankshafts are in a vertical orientation while the stacking head travels in a lateral direction such that the load is centered on the rotational axis of the stacking head. A stacking conveyor could similarly be configured with a base and a frame that are coupled via crankshaft assemblies to thereby allow the stacking conveyor to be lifted using 360 degrees of rotation.

A sheet stacking system includes a main conveyor configured to carry sheets in a downstream direction, an accumulator section downstream of the main conveyor configured to receive the sheets from the main conveyor, at least one tamping plate in the accumulator section, and at least one linear motor connected to the at least one tamping plate. The at least one linear motor is configured to move the at least one tamping plate back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction to tamp a stack of the sheets in the accumulator section.

The present invention is directed to a method of loading workpieces using a piler conveyor P including a first conveyor which sequentially conveys the workpieces by continuous operation at a first speed, a second conveyor which magnetically attracts, on a lower surface, the workpieces passed from the first conveyor for sequential conveyance by intermittent operation, and a loading frame where the workpieces are placed, the method including a first step S1 of gradually accelerating the second conveyor to the second speed, a second step S2 of operating the second conveyor at the second speed and passing the workpieces 1 from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, a third step S3 of gradually decelerating the second conveyor from the second speed for operation, and a fourth step S4 of stopping the second conveyor and causing the second conveyor to lose a magnetic force and dropping a workpiece 1 positioned above the loading frame onto the loading frame 30, wherein the first speed and the second speed are set at an equal constant speed.

The present invention is directed to a method of loading workpieces using a piler conveyor P including a first conveyor which sequentially conveys the workpieces by continuous operation at a first speed, a second conveyor which magnetically attracts, on a lower surface, the workpieces passed from the first conveyor for sequential conveyance by intermittent operation, and a loading frame where the workpieces are placed, the method including a first step S1 of gradually accelerating the second conveyor to the second speed, a second step S2 of operating the second conveyor at the second speed and passing the workpieces 1 from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, a third step S3 of gradually decelerating the second conveyor from the second speed for operation, and a fourth step S4 of stopping the second conveyor and causing the second conveyor to lose a magnetic force and dropping a workpiece 1 positioned above the loading frame onto the loading frame 30, wherein the first speed and the second speed are set at an equal constant speed.

Some manufacturing processes include forming stacks of manufactured objects for handling and/or processing. While some such manufactured objects are consistent in thickness, other are more irregular. Some manufactured objects are generally flat, but are also generally thicker along one edge. When objects having these characteristics are stacked, the cumulative effect of such inconsistent thickness results in an unbalanced stack. The disclosed apparatus and method utilize a novel rotating stacker that rotates the stack of manufactured objects as each new object is added to the stack, thereby distributing the thickness inconsistency of individual objects throughout the stack, producing a more uniform stack without manual intervention.

Some manufacturing processes include forming stacks of manufactured objects for handling and/or processing. While some such manufactured objects are consistent in thickness, other are more irregular. Some manufactured objects are generally flat, but are also generally thicker along one edge. When objects having these characteristics are stacked, the cumulative effect of such inconsistent thickness results in an unbalanced stack. The disclosed apparatus and method utilize a novel rotating stacker that rotates the stack of manufactured objects as each new object is added to the stack, thereby distributing the thickness inconsistency of individual objects throughout the stack, producing a more uniform stack without manual intervention.

The object of the invention refers to a universal automated stacking device comprising a pre-stacking table (1) and a claw (2) such that the pre-stacking table (1) comprises at least one support assembly (13) and at least one side centering device (14) attached to a chassis (12), and the claw (2) comprising at least one pair of pliers (3) attached to a frame (7), the at least one support assembly (13) being attached to at least one chassis guide (12) with capacity of displacing over the guides (20, 21), and the at least one pair of pliers (3) being fixed to the frame (7) via an arm (4) which is attached to a crossbar (5) with capacity of displacing over a rail (6) of the frame (7), and each arm (4) being attached to a slide (8) of the crossbar (5) with capacity of displacing through the slide (8).

The object of the invention refers to a universal automated stacking device comprising a pre-stacking table (1) and a claw (2) such that the pre-stacking table (1) comprises at least one support assembly (13) and at least one side centering device (14) attached to a chassis (12), and the claw (2) comprising at least one pair of pliers (3) attached to a frame (7), the at least one support assembly (13) being attached to at least one chassis guide (12) with capacity of displacing over the guides (20, 21), and the at least one pair of pliers (3) being fixed to the frame (7) via an arm (4) which is attached to a crossbar (5) with capacity of displacing over a rail (6) of the frame (7), and each arm (4) being attached to a slide (8) of the crossbar (5) with capacity of displacing through the slide (8).