A stick distributing unit and corresponding method for laying spacer sticks over a board layer is provided. The unit includes a frame defining a stick-receiving area for receiving sticks and a hold-and-release mechanism configured to dispense each stick one-by-one. The hold-and-release mechanism includes a lower holding member selectively operable to hold and release a bottommost stick, and an upper holding member selectively operable to hold and release a penultimate stick. The unit also includes a controller configured to operate the lower and upper holding members to release the bottommost stick from the stick-receiving area and knock on the penultimate stick. The unit further has a stick-laying mechanism configured to receive and lay the released bottommost stick over the board layer.

A stick distributing unit and corresponding method for laying spacer sticks over a board layer is provided. The unit includes a frame defining a stick-receiving area for receiving sticks and a hold-and-release mechanism configured to dispense each stick one-by-one. The hold-and-release mechanism includes a lower holding member selectively operable to hold and release a bottommost stick, and an upper holding member selectively operable to hold and release a penultimate stick. The unit also includes a controller configured to operate the lower and upper holding members to release the bottommost stick from the stick-receiving area and knock on the penultimate stick. The unit further has a stick-laying mechanism configured to receive and lay the released bottommost stick over the board layer.

A cable reel for holding a cable wound thereon that includes a cylindrical drum having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end spaced from the first end. The cable reel also includes a first flange that is coupled to the first end of the cylindrical drum and a second flange that is coupled to the second end of the cylindrical drum. The cable reel further includes a spacer that extends axially outward from the first flange. The spacer is configured to support the reel with the first flange spaced above a support surface when the longitudinal axis of the reel is in a substantially vertical orientation and with the reel being supported on the support surface by the spacer.

A cable reel for holding a cable wound thereon that includes a cylindrical drum having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end spaced from the first end. The cable reel also includes a first flange that is coupled to the first end of the cylindrical drum and a second flange that is coupled to the second end of the cylindrical drum. The cable reel further includes a spacer that extends axially outward from the first flange. The spacer is configured to support the reel with the first flange spaced above a support surface when the longitudinal axis of the reel is in a substantially vertical orientation and with the reel being supported on the support surface by the spacer.

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 stick distributing unit and corresponding method for laying spacer sticks over a board layer is provided. The unit includes a frame defining a stick-receiving area for receiving sticks and a hold-and-release mechanism configured to dispense each stick one-by-one. The hold-and-release mechanism includes a lower holding member selectively operable to hold and release a bottommost stick, and an upper holding member selectively operable to hold and release a penultimate stick. The unit also includes a controller configured to operate the lower and upper holding members to release the bottommost stick from the stick-receiving area and knock on the penultimate stick. The unit further has a stick-laying mechanism configured to receive and lay the released bottommost stick over the board layer.

A stick distributing unit and corresponding method for laying spacer sticks over a board layer is provided. The unit includes a frame defining a stick-receiving area for receiving sticks and a hold-and-release mechanism configured to dispense each stick one-by-one. The hold-and-release mechanism includes a lower holding member selectively operable to hold and release a bottommost stick, and an upper holding member selectively operable to hold and release a penultimate stick. The unit also includes a controller configured to operate the lower and upper holding members to release the bottommost stick from the stick-receiving area and knock on the penultimate stick. The unit further has a stick-laying mechanism configured to receive and lay the released bottommost stick over the board layer.

A case manipulator receives cases from an infeed conveyer and manipulates individual cases or groups of cases and transfers the manipulated cases to a row accumulator platform in a desired and pre-determined orientation and positioned on the accumulator platform to a desired and pre-determined location. The manipulation of individual cases, or groups of cases, is continued in a sequential operation until a complete row is formed on the accumulator platform according to a pre-determined build menu. The case manipulator includes a swing plate pivotal on a first axis and a paddle arm that is attached to the swing plate and pivotal on a second axis that is transverse to the first axis. The invention allows the palletizer to have the next case in a row transferred from the infeed conveyer to the row-build staging area while the case manipulator is operating on an already-delivered case.

A case manipulator receives cases from an infeed conveyer and manipulates individual cases or groups of cases and transfers the manipulated cases to a row accumulator platform in a desired and pre-determined orientation and positioned on the accumulator platform to a desired and pre-determined location. The manipulation of individual cases, or groups of cases, is continued in a sequential operation until a complete row is formed on the accumulator platform according to a pre-determined build menu. The case manipulator includes a swing plate pivotal on a first axis and a paddle arm that is attached to the swing plate and pivotal on a second axis that is transverse to the first axis. The invention allows the palletizer to have the next case in a row transferred from the infeed conveyer to the row-build staging area while the case manipulator is operating on an already-delivered case.

A gripping device for being suspended from a load handling device for lifting and moving containers stacked in stacks in a grid storage structure including a plurality of tracks arranged in a grid pattern above the stacks of containers. The gripping device including a frame and at least one gripping assembly mounted on the frame. The gripping assembly including at least two grippers, each gripper being configured to engage a container located below the frame. Each gripper is movable between a gripping position for gripping the container and a release position for releasing the container. The gripping device further including a single linear actuator coupled to the at least two grippers by a linkage assembly such that actuation of the single linear actuator drives the at least two grippers substantially simultaneously between the gripping and release positions.