A stacking apparatus provided with a flexible conveyor plate (20), a clamp mechanism (25) for holding a sheet-shaped member carried on the conveyor plate (20) against the conveyor plate (20), and an adjustment mechanism able to adjust the degree of curvature of the conveyor plate (20). When stacking a new sheet-shaped member (1) carried on the conveyor plate (20) onto already stacked sheet-shaped members (1), the adjustment mechanism makes the conveyor plate (20) deform from a flat state to a curved state to make the new sheet-shaped member (1) carried on the conveyor plate (20) deform from a flat state to a curved state.

A palletizing elevator is provided that lowers gradually a pallet thereon from an upper level as it is filled with products, and by providing an empty pallet infeed system that moves empty pallets towards the palletizing elevator simultaneously to the palletizing of products thereon. The empty pallet infeed system includes an empty pallet elevator for raising empty pallets to the upper level and a conveying system between the empty pallet elevator and the palletizing elevator for moving the empty pallets of from the empty pallet elevator at the upper level to the palletizing elevator while a pallet is moved by the palletizing elevator during its filling.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage array of storage locations for case units. An in-out case conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting case units to and from the storage array, and an in-out loaded pallet conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting loaded pallets towards and away from the storage array. A palletizer-depalletizer cell includes a bi-directional pallet transport system with more than one independently driven pallet transports, each with a different pallet holder independently movable relative to a cell frame. Placement of case units commissioning a pallet layer loading a pallet, and removal of case units decommissioning a pallet layer unloading another pallet are both effected at the common pallet layer interface at a predetermined level of the cell frame. The pallet transports independently index a first and a second of the different pallet holders, each independently holding the pallet loading at the common pallet layer interface.

A sod harvester with an increased sod harvesting rate obtainable through a reduction in the time for completion of a sod handling cycle with the reduction in time obtained through changes in the interactions of transfer mechanisms within the sod harvester.

A palletizing elevator is provided that lowers gradually a pallet thereon from an upper level as it is filled with products, and by providing an empty pallet infeed system that moves empty pallets towards the palletizing elevator simultaneously to the palletizing of products thereon. The empty pallet infeed system includes an empty pallet elevator for raising empty pallets to the upper level and a conveying system between the empty pallet elevator and the palletizing elevator for moving the empty pallets of from the empty pallet elevator at the upper level to the palletizing elevator while a pallet is moved by the palletizing elevator during its filling.

Techniques for product-stacking and case-packing are particularly adapted for product that is packaged in envelopes or flexibly-sided containers. Such products include may different types, such as foodstuffs, books, boxed goods, etc. In an example, a product-stacking and case-packing system may include a product-stacking assembly and a case-packing assembly. In the example, the product-stacking assembly may be configured with a plurality of pairs of flights, each pair of flights programmed to move according to operation of an associated pair servo motors, and programmed to receive and down-stack incoming product items into groups. In the example, the case-packing assembly may include a robotic arm and end-of-arm tool configured to grasp one or more groups of stacked product items, when pushed from the product-stacking assembly, and place each group of stacked product items in a case (e.g., a cardboard box).

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for a tote stacker machine. A tote stacker system may include a first conveyor belt, a sensor to determine an orientation of a first tote on the first conveyor belt, an end effector that moves in a lateral direction between a first position aligned with the first conveyor belt and a second position, and an elevator that is aligned with the second position and that includes a first track and a second track. The elevator may receive the first tote from the end effector and may down stack the first tote with a second tote. The tote stacker system may include a second conveyor belt at least partially positioned between the first track and the second track of the elevator, and the second conveyor may move the first tote and second tote away from the elevator.

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.

An apparatus for loading a cargo space includes a conveyor and a stacker for stacking goods in the cargo space. The stacker is before the conveyor. In addition, a buffer conveyor is between the stacker and the conveyor to permit the uninterrupted operation of the stacker. A transfer conveyor is between the buffer conveyor and the conveyor for moving a stack from the buffer conveyor to the conveyor.

An apparatus for transferring and/or stacking products, the apparatus including a frame, a bar conveyor associated with the frame, the bar conveyor having a plurality of flight bars that are independently driven by a plurality of independent drivetrains, a lifting device having a lifting plate, the lifting device being located within the bar conveyor, and at least one pusher.