Palletizing apparatus

Apparatus for stacking items on a pallet in layers each comprising a plurality of the items, said apparatus comprising:

• an air table having a forward and a rearward end;
• a conveyor for delivering items to the air table over the rearward end of the table for arranging items in a layer on the table, said conveyor having an exit end over which items are delivered to the table;
• means supporting the table movable relative to the conveyor between an advanced position wherein the table extends forward from the exit end of the conveyor with the rearward end of the table adjacent the exit end of the conveyor, and a retracted position wherein the table is below the conveyor;
• means for moving the table supporting means and the table between said positions;
• means pivotally mounting the table on said table supporting means for swinging of the table on a generally horizontal transverse axis relative to said supporting means when the table is in its said advanced position between a raised position inclined upwardly toward said exit end of the conveyor for receiving items from the conveyor with the rearward end of the table positioned for relatively smooth passage of the items from the conveyor on to the table, items delivered on to the table sliding down on the table in the directon toward its forward end and accumulating in a layer on the table, and a lowered position wherein the table is below the conveyor for the retraction of said table supporting means and said table below the conveyor;
• means for effecting pivotal movement of the table to its raised position when in its advanced position for receiving items from the conveyor and pivotal movement of the table to its lowered position when in its advanced position for withdrawing the table from under the layer of items thereon by moving the table, so lowered, from its advanced to its retracted position;
• and
• means for holding a pallet and layers of items stacked thereon below the advanced position of the table supporting means and the table, a first layer of items which is arranged on the table being deposited on a pallet held by the pallet holding means when the table is withdrawn and each successive layer being deposited on the preceding layer on the pallet when the table is withdrawn;
• the air table comprising a shallow hollow box having a top, bottom, sides and ends;
• means for supplying air to the table accommodating the movement of the table along with its said supporting means between said advanced and retracted positions, and also accommodating the pivoting of the table on its said axis;
• the top of the table having holes for exit of air for airflotation of items for anti-friction sliding thereof on the table;
• and
• means for controlling air distribution in the table for lower flow from the holes toward the forward end of the table than from the holes toward the rearward end of the table.

Apparatus for stacking items on a pallet in layers each comprising a plurality of the items, said apparatus comprising:

• an air table having a forward and a rearward end;
• a conveyor for delivering items to the air table over the rearward end of the table for arranging in a layer on the table, said conveyor having an exit end over which items are delivered to the table;
• means supporting the table movable relative to the conveyor between an advanced position wherein the table extends forward from the exit end of the conveyor with the rearward end of the table adjacent the exit end of the conveyor, and a retracted position wherein the table is below the conveyor;
• means for moving the table supporting means and the table between said positions;
• means mounting the table on said table supporting means with the table overlying said supporting means and for movement of the table relative to the supporting means when the table is in its said advanced position between a raised position inclined upwardly toward said exit end of the conveyor for receiving items from the conveyor with the rearward end of the table positioned for relatively smooth passage of the items from the conveyor on to the table, items delivered on to the table sliding down on the table in the directon toward its forward end and accumulating in a layer on the table, and a lowered position wherein the table is below the conveyor for the retraction of said table supporting means and said table below the conveyor;
• means for effecting movement of the table to its raised position when in its advanced position for receiving items from the conveyor and movement of the table to its lowered position when in its advanced position for withdrawing the table from under the layer of items thereon by moving the table, so lowered, from its advanced to its retracted position;
• means for holding a pallet and layers of items stacked thereon below the advanced position of the table supporting means and the table, a first layer of items which is arranged on the table being deposited on a pallet held by the pallet holding means when the table is withdrawn and each successive layer being deposited on the preceding layer on the pallet when the table is withdrawn;
• said pallet holding means comprising an elevator movable upwardly from a lowered position and back down to its lowered position;
• means for holding a supply of pallets below the conveyor and below the retracted position of the table supporting means and the table;
• means for delivering a pallet from the supply to the elevator when the elevator is in its lowered position;
• and
• said table supporting means when in its advanced position overlying the elevator and positioned for engagement of the bottom thereof by the top layer of items on a pallet on the elevator when the elevator is raised and acting as a compression member for compression of the layers of items on the pallet on the elevator.