A process of manipulating a closable carton with lid panels extending from walls of the carton and tabs received in slots formed in the lid panels to secure the lid panels to close the carton. The process has a step of moving a folding element transverse to each wall from which a lid extends to move the one or more lids into a position which closes the carton. The process has a step of lifting the closed carton past a non-return support and into engagement with another carton to provide a stack of closed cartons supported by the non-return support. The process has a step of the support then releasing a stack of closed cartons to a conveyor.

Lifting machinery is often unable to securely hold onto stacked crates and this presents a safety hazard. The invention may be embodied by a crate lifter 1 comprising a support mast 3, a carriage 8 engaged with the mast and rollers 6, 7 that enable the lifter to be moved. The carriage has clamps 9 that move laterally to grip one or more crates 2 so that they can be moved by the carriage up and down the mast. The carriage has a keeper 14 arranged to swing in response to the clamps 9 engaging the crate 2, or the lowest crate to be moved if there is more than one, to bring a ledge 14b of the keeper 14 into engagement with that crate to prevent it dropping free from the carriage.

A system for forming horizontally stacked groups of containers includes an infeed screw set, an orienting screw set, and a grouping mechanism. Containers are presented to the infeed screw in a vertical orientation, and are progressed from the infeed screw set to the orienting screw set via a transitioning pocket defined by overlapping pockets of the infeed and orienting screw sets. As containers are progressed through the orienting screw the containers are rotated via a series of orienting pockets to a horizontal orientation and progressed via a series of nesting pockets to form a series of horizontally nested containers. The series is discharged to a grouping mechanism which separates a predefined number of containers from the series to form a horizontally stacked group, which is outfed from the stacking system.

Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets are disclosed for fully- and/or partly automated handling of goods. For example, the disclosure provides improvements in storage and retrieval of containers in systems such as order processing systems.

A transportation system for stacking/carrying of containers including a panel, which has a stacking unit positioned on the panel and including a first body in which the containers are stacked; a transport element for transferring the container onto the panel by means of a first displacing member and including a base on which the container is placed; a second displacing member for transferring the container positioned on the base into the first body; a gripping arm that holds the transferred container; a third displacing member that moves the gripping arm; and a locking arm which has a flexible member that holds the container; a transport unit positioned on the panel; a displacing mechanism; a transport arm which is associated with the movable plate and which lifts the containers; and a support shaft having a fixing arm.

A stacker includes a base and a vertical structure supported by the base. A lift unit includes a support surface for engaging and lifting a tray from a stack of trays. The lift unit is mounted to the vertical structure and movable vertically relative to the vertical structure. A lifting mechanism selectively raises and lowers the lift unit relative to the vertical structure. The support surface may be formed on first and second projections configured to engage first and second handle openings of a tray. The stacker facilitates several stacking/destacking methods for more easily converting a stack of trays at a first height to a stack of trays at a second height. For example, the first height may be more convenient or appropriate for use in a bakery, while the second height may be more efficient for loading in a truck.

A stacker includes a base and a vertical structure supported by the base. A lift unit includes a support surface for engaging and lifting a tray from a stack of trays. The lift unit is mounted to the vertical structure and movable vertically relative to the vertical structure. A lifting mechanism selectively raises and lowers the lift unit relative to the vertical structure. The support surface may be formed on first and second projections configured to engage first and second handle openings of a tray. The stacker facilitates several stacking/destacking methods for more easily converting a stack of trays at a first height to a stack of trays at a second height. For example, the first height may be more convenient or appropriate for use in a bakery, while the second height may be more efficient for loading in a truck.

The invention relates to a holding device (1) for a container stack (200) which is stored and removed from below and to a storage system (100) for container stacks (200) which are stored and removed from below. The holding device (1) for a container stack (200) which is stored and removed from below has a holding hook (2) which comprises a support arm (3) that can be pivoted about a pivot axis (5) between a holding position for holding a container stack (200) and a removal position for removing a container (201) of the container stack (200). The holding device also has a trigger arm (4) which is rotationally fixed relative to the support arm (3). An instability balancing position is provided between the holding position and the removal position. The holding device (1) further comprises a restoring element (7) which is designed to push the support arm (3) to the holding position or to push the support arm (3) to the removal position when the support arm (3) is being pivoted.

The equipment and method for moving containers herein proposed consists in a new concept for moving containers in port terminals based on the stacking of containers from the bottom to the top. Such stacking occurs by using a lifting system specifically designed for such purpose and by supporting the containers stack on fixed elevated support at a determined height from the ground.

The equipment and method for moving containers herein proposed consists in a new concept for moving containers in port terminals based on the stacking of containers from the bottom to the top. Such stacking occurs by using a lifting system specifically designed for such purpose and by supporting the containers stack on fixed elevated support at a determined height from the ground.