Automatic bundle loading apparatus and method

Carts for use in a system for automatically loading said carts including a platform arranged above a loading position for receiving a cart therebeneath;

• said platform having a delivery opening whereby a cart in the loading position has an upper end thereof aligned with said openings;
• split platform means comprising first and second platform sections movable between a first position closing said opening for receiving the bundles thereon and a second position for unsealing said opening;
• stop means on opposite parallel sides of said opening for limiting movement of objects on said platform sections as they are moved to said second position whereby objects on said platform sections are caused to fall downwardly through said openings;
• means for delivering and arranging bundles upon said platform sections when in said first position;
• said cart being comprised of a platform;
• caster assemblies mounted upon the underside of said platform for rollingly moving said platform upon a supporting surface;
• a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from said platform for enclosing said platform;
• said cart having an open upper end defined by the upper ends of said sidewalls;
• at least one of said sidewalls being provided with a plurality of elongated spaced vertically aligned insertion slots adapted to receive a fork-like platform having a plurality of spaced parallel tines and being movable between a first position wherein said tines are inserted into respective ones of said insertion slots and a second position wherein said tines are withdrawn from said cart;
• and
• means for moving said platform downwardly through a predetermined distance responsive to bundles being dropped upon said fork-like platform through said delivery opening.

Apparatus for automatically loading a cart comprised of a platform surrounded by sidewalls and having an open top, at least one of said sidewalls having a plurality of vertically aligned elongated clearance slots;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a loading station for receiving and positioning said cart;
• means for receiving bundles to be loaded into said cart;
• conveyor means adjacent said receiving means for conveying the bundles received from said receiving means to a location a predetermiend height above an open end of said cart at said loading station;
• a platform assembly for receiving bundles form said conveyor means;
• said platform assembly being comprised of a plurality of sections;
• means for selectively advancing bundles along said sections including means to halt advancing of bundles on each section responsive to detection of a bundle on said section;
• pusher means responsive to a presence of bundles upon predetermined ones of said sections for pushing said bundles in a transverse direction onto a split platform means;
• said split platform means comprising first and second platform sections movable between a closed position wherein adjacent edges of said platform sections are in close proximity and an open position wherein said sections are moved apart to define a gap region between said split platform sections;
• said gap region being positioned immediately above the open end of said cart;
• and
• means responsive to delivery of bundles by said pusher means upon said split platform assembly for moving said split platform sections apart whereupon the bundles resting thereon are dropped through said gap region toward said cart;
• said cart being comprised of:
• caster assemblies mounted upon an underside of said platform for rollingly moving said platform upon a supporting surface;
• a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from said platform for enclosing said platform;
• said cart having an open upper end defined by the upper ends of said sidewalls;
• at least one of said sidewalls being provided with a plurality of elongated spaced vertically aligned insertion slots adapted to receive a fork-like platform having a plurality of spaced parallel tines and being movable between a first position wherein said tines are inserted into respective ones of said insertion slots and a second position wherein said tines are withdrawn from said cart;
• and
• means for moving said platform downwardly through a predetermined distance responsive to bundles being dropped upon said fork-like platform through said delivery opening.