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.

Provided is a dual lumber stacker assembly having two stackers constructed to remove lumber from a conveyor and stack the lumber. The arms are moved forward and aft by associated crank drives. The arms are moved upwards and downwards by associated cam drives. Also provided is a method stacking lumber using the dual lumber stacker.

A system for stacking and packaging a plurality of discrete products of different sizes is provided. The system includes a stacking system having a movable lift plate, a slide plate assembly, an adjustable stop plate, and adjustable sidewalls. Layers of articles are introduced into a stack area, and movement of the lift plate and the slide plate assembly are coordinated to stack products in layers on the lift plate. The stacking system includes an adjustment assembly that allows adjustment of the position of the stop plate and/or the sidewalls relative to a frame such that the stacking system can be quickly and efficiently configured for use with layers of articles that have different depths and/or widths. In another aspect, the stacking system cooperates with a tipping system that rolls or tips stacked product to facilitate further processing or use of the product package.

The present invention relates to an assembly including a pallet lift with which a pallet is displaceable in height direction, a palletizing device which is arranged close to the upper side of the pallet lift and with which objects are arrangeable on a pallet supported by the pallet lift, a first support surface arranged at a first distance under the palletizing device such that at least a part of the upper side of the palletizing device is accessible to an operator standing on the first support surface; and a second support surface arranged at a second distance under the first support surface such that at least a part of the underside of the palletizing device is accessible to an operator standing on the second support surface.

An apparatus for sorting objects conveyed by a conveyor line comprises a conveyor line (2) at which the objects (3) are sorted, a plurality of gripping means (4) of the objects (3) that operate at the portion of the conveyor line (2). The gripping means (4), on command and selectively, pick up the objects present on the portion of the conveyor line (2) and transfer them onto supports (5) disposed in temporary staying areas, selected for forming stacks of objects (3) homogeneous with each other. Lifting and conveyor means (6) are provided for lifting, on command, single objects or stacks of objects (3) which are resting on supports (5) in selected temporary staying areas and for conveying them onto an evacuation line.

The invention relates to an apparatus for stacking battery plates comprising a delivery conveyor for supplying battery plates sequentially along a delivery path. The delivery conveyor includes a plurality of spaced apart plate carriers each configured to support at least one battery plate in use, the plate carriers defining a series of gaps between adjacent plate carriers, wherein each gap is larger than the battery plate. The apparatus further includes a stop mechanism, configured to selectively intercept the delivery path at a plurality of indexed stop positions without impeding the delivery conveyor; wherein when the stop mechanism intercepts the delivery path at a selected one of the stop positions in use, it interrupts the movement of the battery plates on the delivery conveyor causing the battery plate(s) to move off the respective plate carrier and pass through the subsequent gap of the conveyor. The apparatus also includes a plate stacking mechanism for receiving battery plates as they are moved off the delivery conveyor by the stop mechanism.

A taco stacking apparatus comprises a conveyor assembly for moving taco shells along a predefined pathway. A stacking receptacle defines a channel for receiving taco shells transferred from the conveyor assembly. A stacking receptacle actuator lowers the stacking receptacle as additional taco shells are added to a stack of taco shells. A plunger assembly transfers a taco shell from the conveyor assembly to the stacking receptacle. A dispensing assembly removes the stack of taco shells from the stacking receptacle.

A method and device for stacking layers of goods (2) is based on a stacking device (1) that includes a handling mechanism (15) which handles, laterally moves, and stacks loose slip-on receptacles (3). The loose slip-on receptacles (3) are open on the bottom, accommodate a layer of goods (2) in the interior (11) thereof, and carry the layer of goods (2) along as the receptacles (3) are slidingly conveyed. An upward-facing bottom (7) of the slip-on receptacles (3) forms the supporting surface (8) for the subsequent layer of goods (2).

A palletizing system capable of conserving space in an area for buffer conveyors. The palletizing system includes a supply conveyor for conveying a first type of article and a second type of article, a type detection sensor for detecting the type of the article, a first buffer conveyor for conveying the first type of article, a second buffer conveyor for conveying the second type of article, which is disposed above the first buffer conveyor, a sorting robot which places the first type of article on the first buffer conveyor and which places the second type of article on the second buffer conveyor, and a loading robot which removes articles from the first buffer conveyor and the second buffer conveyor, to load the articles on a pallet.

An apparatus for reorienting and/or stacking products includes a frame and a telescopic infeed associated with the frame. The telescopic infeed has a receiving end and a transfer end. The transfer end is disposed at a first elevation and moveable in a machine direction and in a reverse machine direction. The telescopic infeed advances one or more products in the machine direction; and a landing surface receives the one or more products. The landing surface is disposed in a landing region proximate to the transfer end and at a second elevation. The first elevation is higher than the second elevation. A deflector is operatively engageable with the transfer end, such that the deflector is capable of deflecting a leading end of at least one of the one of more products.