A stack lifting assembly for incrementally lifting stacks of flats loaded typically with produce to an unloading device and system. The assembly is configured to receive stacks of flats full of produce such as berries, and to lift the stacks to an unloader. The stack of flats is lifted allowing for the top flat to be removed and dumped, with the remaining stack of flats lifted and the process repeated. The stack lifting assembly has a frame, with two counter rotating belts that have flat support tabs that engage the bottom flat in a stack of flats, and lift the entire stack of flats. The dumping operation is allowed to proceed continuously, with no pauses to load stacks of flats. Throughput and safety are greatly improved.

A plant for forming compound pallet units having a plurality of master pallet units, and an automatic robotic apparatus having a de-stacking robot configured for removing product layers from tops of master pallet units positioned in a de-stacking area and for placing add-on product layers on top of the master pallet unit positioned in a stacking station, so as to form in the stacking station a compound pallet unit having a height greater than a height of the master pallet unit.

The invention relates to a dispenser for transferring layers of goods from a pallet onto a receiving surface and then down a discharge conveyor. The dispenser incorporates a vertically movable platform capable of bringing a first tier of goods in alignment with a rotary table. Sweeper arm moves the goods on to the table as it rotates. Goods accumulate on the rotary table and then become guided down a discharge conveyor for further processing.

A de-palletizing system comprises a three-dimensional scanner; a robotic arm; and a control unit connected to the three-dimensional scanner and the robotic arm. The three-dimensional scanner takes a picture of a top layer of a pallet and transmits picture data to the control unit. The control unit is configured to receive the picture data from the three-dimensional scanner, process the picture data to create a depth map of the individual products and determine locations of individual products, and control the robotic arm to move a product grouping from a pick up location to a product drop off location.

A de-palletizing system comprises a three-dimensional scanner; a robotic arm; and a control unit connected to the three-dimensional scanner and the robotic arm. The three-dimensional scanner takes a picture of a top layer of a pallet and transmits picture data to the control unit. The control unit is configured to receive the picture data from the three-dimensional scanner, process the picture data to create a depth map of the individual products and determine locations of individual products, and control the robotic arm to move a product grouping from a pick up location to a product drop off location.

A material handling apparatus for selecting and removing items from a bundle such as stacked pieces of lumber boards is provided. Systems containing such apparatuses and methods for selecting and removing items from a bundle also are provided. The items are arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows in the bundle; and ejector assemblies are used to individually remove the items. Other suitable items include, for example, wood, rolls, tubes, pipes, rods, packages, containers, bags, cases, cartons, and boxes.

A material handling apparatus for selecting and removing items from a bundle such as stacked pieces of lumber boards is provided. Systems containing such apparatuses and methods for selecting and removing items from a bundle also are provided. The items are arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows in the bundle; and ejector assemblies are used to individually remove the items. Other suitable items include, for example, wood, rolls, tubes, pipes, rods, packages, containers, bags, cases, cartons, and boxes.

An automated system for de-stacking a plurality of stacked objects, the automated system comprising a lift assembly and a grabber assembly. The lift assembly comprises a tower, and a number of electric motors. The tower is configured to rotate about a vertically-extending axis. One of the electric motors is configured to rotate the tower. Another one of the electric motors is configured to raise and lower the grabber assembly. The grabber assembly is configured to move with the tower as the tower rotates and comprises a claw and an electric motor. The claw is configured to grasp the objects individually. The electric motor of the grabber assembly is configured to actuate the claw. The first, second, and third electric motors are configured to operate in a refrigerated environment.

An automated system for de-stacking a plurality of stacked objects, the automated system comprising a lift assembly and a grabber assembly. The lift assembly comprises a tower, and a number of electric motors. The tower is configured to rotate about a vertically-extending axis. One of the electric motors is configured to rotate the tower. Another one of the electric motors is configured to raise and lower the grabber assembly. The grabber assembly is configured to move with the tower as the tower rotates and comprises a claw and an electric motor. The claw is configured to grasp the objects individually. The electric motor of the grabber assembly is configured to actuate the claw. The first, second, and third electric motors are configured to operate in a refrigerated environment.

A pallet building apparatus for automatically building a pallet load of pallet load article units onto a pallet support including a frame defining a pallet building base, at least one articulated robot to transport and place the pallet load article units, a controller to control articulated robot motion and effect therewith a pallet load build, at least one three-dimensional, time of flight, camera to generate three-dimensional imaging of the pallet support and pallet load build, wherein the controller registers, from the three-dimensional camera, real time three-dimensional imaging data embodying different corresponding three-dimensional images of the pallet support and pallet load build, to determine, in real time, from the corresponding real time three-dimensional imaging data, a pallet support variance or article unit variance and generate in real time an articulated robot motion signal, the articulated robot motion signal being generated real time so as to be performed real time by the at least one articulated robot between placement of at least one pallet load article unit and a serially consecutive pallet load article unit enabling substantially continuous building of the pallet load build.