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).

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 present invention relates to a stacker module for a folder-gluer machine, the stacker module being located downstream of a transfer module in a direction of transportation of the folder-gluer machine and configured to receive folding boxes from a conveyor in the transfer module. The stacker module comprises a loading surface configured to receive a plurality of folding boxes in order to form a stack and to descend vertically as the number of folding boxes on the loading surface increases, and a linearly movable ejector configured to eject the stack from the loading surface. A front abutment guide configured to move between an abutment and a clearing position to retain and release the stack.

A glove stacking apparatus for forming a stack of gloves for packing into a box comprises a packing recess for receiving gloves to be stacked and for containing the stack as the stack is being formed, and a glove placement means for moving and depositing gloves at the recess one of top of another for forming the stack of gloves. The recess has a pair of opposite side edges. A movable floor within the recess is lowered as the stack of gloves grows whereby the stack of gloves continues to be retained within the recess as gloves are added to the stack. The glove placement means is arranged to deposit gloves with a portion of each glove overlapping alternately one or the other of the opposite side edges of the recess as subsequent gloves are deposited. The apparatus also comprises a pair of movable flaps adjacent the opposite side edges of the recess for folding alternately inwards towards the recess the portions of that gloves that overlap alternately one or another of the opposite side edges of the recess.

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.

An example pallet auto box with robot palletizer includes a conveyor to move a pallet into a loading area adjacent a robot for loading bags onto the pallet. The example pallet auto box with robot palletizer also includes an auto box having at least one wall, and in an example four walls, that can be raised and lowered. The at least one wall is raised as the robot stacks bags onto the pallet to maintain a border around the edge of the pallet for the bags to be stacked on the pallet. At least one wall opens as a door or gate after the pallet has been loaded with bags so that the loaded pallet can be moved out of the loading area and a next pallet moved into the loading area. The at least one wall is lowered again for stacking bags onto the next pallet.

A palletizing installation comprising two palletizing devices (10, 20) and a linear common feed conveyor (1). Each palletizing device has a stationary mounted shutter device (22) and a pallet lifter (26). A stationary mounted row formation platform (28) is present to form thereon a row of products, which platform has a lateral side that extends adjacent a lateral side of the common feed conveyor. Each palletizing device comprises a product row transfer mechanism (30) that is adapted to slide a row of products from the row formation platform onto the layer formation surface of the shutter device in closed state. The installation further comprises a product ejector system and one or more product ejector devices (41) which are adapted to eject a product from the common feed conveyor such that the product moves onto a selected product location of said at least two row formation platforms.

The present invention relates to a stacker module (28) for a folder-gluer machine (1). The stacker module comprises a loading surface (90) configured to receive a plurality of folding boxes and to descend vertically as the number of folding boxes on the loading surface increases, and a linearly movable ejector (76) configured to be moved from a retracted position (RP) to an extended position (DP). The stacker further comprises an upper guide (110), configured to move between a clearing position (CP) which is vertically distant from the upper surface of the stack, and a guiding position (GP), in which the upper guide is located closer to the upper surface of the stack, and wherein the upper guide is in the guiding position when the ejector is moved from the retracted position to the evacuation position.

A device for handling a pallet includes a pallet through-opening, through which a pallet can be vertically moved while oriented horizontally. The pallet through-opening has in particular at least one extension, which is more than 1200 mm wide and 1200 mm deep, and at least one sidewall, which are each arranged along an associated side of the pallet through-opening. At least one of the sidewalls is detachable or movable.

Garbage disposal apparatus (100) for receiving trays comprises a tray receiving means (200), a tray manipulating means (300), a receptacle for garbage disposal (400) and a tray storing means (500), assembled in a way that when garbage disposal apparatus (100) is in operation, the tray receiving means (200) receives a tray (110) which is transported to the tray manipulating means (300) which removes garbage from the tray (110) in the receptacle for garbage disposal (400) and afterwards the tray (110) is stored in the tray storing means (500). Here is disclosed a garbage disposal system (800) which comprises at least one garbage disposal apparatus (100) as described, at least one horizontal tunnel (810), at least one vertical tunnel (820) and at least one tray collecting means (830), arranged so that tray collecting means (830) travels within the horizontal tunnel (810) and is collecting trays (110) from the garbage disposal apparatus (100).