A load former includes a frame, a loading zone bounded on a first end by a stop wall having a stop surface lying in a plane and a rear wall at a rear side of the frame, and a cookie sheet slidably supported by the frame for travel along a path perpendicular to the plane. The path includes portions on first and second sides of the plane, and a portion of the cookie sheet in the second portion of the path defines a bottom of the loading zone. A platform extends over the first portion of the path, and a top wall is vertically spaced from the platform to define a storage space between the top wall and the platform. The storage space has a front opening so that it is accessible from the front of the load former.

A load former includes a frame, a loading zone bounded on a first end by a stop wall having a stop surface lying in a plane and a rear wall at a rear side of the frame, and a cookie sheet slidably supported by the frame for travel along a path perpendicular to the plane. The path includes portions on first and second sides of the plane, and a portion of the cookie sheet in the second portion of the path defines a bottom of the loading zone. A platform extends over the first portion of the path, and a top wall is vertically spaced from the platform to define a storage space between the top wall and the platform. The storage space has a front opening so that it is accessible from the front of the load former.

A method of palletizing non-uniform objects comprises using shuttle robots controlled by a monitoring and control system (190) to control trolleys, each of which carries an object, from a feed point (101) to a palletizing station (140) via a device (120) for determining the morphologies of the objects so as to characterize the outside shapes of all of the objects forming a batch before the start of the operation of stowing the objects on the pallet, so as to calculate a stowage plan that optimizes stowage of the batch on a pallet (150).

A method of palletizing non-uniform objects comprises using shuttle robots controlled by a monitoring and control system (190) to control trolleys, each of which carries an object, from a feed point (101) to a palletizing station (140) via a device (120) for determining the morphologies of the objects so as to characterize the outside shapes of all of the objects forming a batch before the start of the operation of stowing the objects on the pallet, so as to calculate a stowage plan that optimizes stowage of the batch on a pallet (150).

The invention relates to a method for stacking of filled sacks (20) to a pallet-free sack stacking (10) comprising the following: Performing of a first layer (L1) from at least two rows of filled sacks (20), Performing of at least one further layer (L2) from at least two rows of filled sacks (20) on top of the first layer (L1), Covering of the completed sack stacking (10) with at least a stabilized cover (30). The first layer (L1) or the last layer (L9) of the sack stacking with at least two elevating recesses (40) are performed for an elevation with a forklift and between two layers (L8, L9) a mechanically stiffened intermediate space (50) is realized with a floor space (52) which extends between both neighboring layers (L8, L9) and at least a lateral flap (54) which extends along the lateral side (22) of the sacks (20) of one of both neighboring layers (L8, L9) and transverse to the elevating recesses (40).

The invention relates to a method for stacking of filled sacks (20) to a pallet-free sack stacking (10) comprising the following: Performing of a first layer (L1) from at least two rows of filled sacks (20), Performing of at least one further layer (L2) from at least two rows of filled sacks (20) on top of the first layer (L1), Covering of the completed sack stacking (10) with at least a stabilized cover (30). The first layer (L1) or the last layer (L9) of the sack stacking with at least two elevating recesses (40) are performed for an elevation with a forklift and between two layers (L8, L9) a mechanically stiffened intermediate space (50) is realized with a floor space (52) which extends between both neighboring layers (L8, L9) and at least a lateral flap (54) which extends along the lateral side (22) of the sacks (20) of one of both neighboring layers (L8, L9) and transverse to the elevating recesses (40).

A board stacking system for stacking board layers into a stack, and associated method are provided. The board stacking system includes a board stacking apparatus adapted to arrange board layers into the stack. The board stacking apparatus having a stack holder comprising an adjustable stacking area for supporting the stack, the stacking area having a length defined between a front edge and a back edge. The board stacking apparatus further having one or more stacking arms operable to receive board layers from a board dispensing mechanism and sequentially arrange the board layers onto the forming stack. The board stacking system further includes a scanner positioned and configured for measuring a width of the board layers and transfer the information to the stack holder to allow adjustment of the length of the stacking area to substantially correspond to the width of the previously measured board layer.

A method including filling an internal passage of an additively manufactured (AM) article with a state change fluid, causing the state change fluid to change from a first state having a first viscosity to a second state that is either solid or has a second viscosity that is higher than the first viscosity within the internal passage, causing the state change fluid to change back from the second state to the first state, removing residual powder from the additively manufactured article by flushing the state change fluid from the internal passage, measuring electrical impedance of a piezoelectric wafer connected to the additively manufactured article, and determining that more than a threshold amount of residual powder remains within the AM article based on the measured electrical impendence of the additively manufactured article being outside of a selected range from an expected impendence value.

This disclosure is directed to automated warehouse facilities that are configured to assemble mixed pallets. The warehouse facilities can include one or more layer handling devices that are configured to remove layers from pallets in a delayering operational mode, and to add layers to pallets in a palletizing operation mode. The warehouse facilities also may include one or more item retrieval devices that are configured to retrieve individual items from storage racks. The warehouse facilities can include other automated devices as well.

This disclosure is directed to automated warehouse facilities that are configured to assemble mixed pallets. The warehouse facilities can include one or more layer handling devices that are configured to remove layers from pallets in a delayering operational mode, and to add layers to pallets in a palletizing operation mode. The warehouse facilities also may include one or more item retrieval devices that are configured to retrieve individual items from storage racks. The warehouse facilities can include other automated devices as well.