A method for taking up and setting down a package-shaped article having a vertical surface with a bottom edge by means of an apparatus including a receiving table having a top surface and first and second opposite ends, the receiving table comprising:
- at the top surface of the receiving table, an article transporting device to transport the package-shaped article between the first and second opposite ends of said receiving table, and means for lifting the package-shaped article, comprising at least one roller arranged at one or more of the first and second opposite ends of the receiving table and a second drive for actuating the lifting means, the apparatus also including a first drive for horizontal displacement of the receiving table in directions perpendicular to the first and second opposite ends,
- the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning the receiving table in front of a package-shaped article to be taken up, with the at least one roller of the lifting means facing an opposed vertical surface of the package-shaped article to be taken up;
- displacing the receiving table horizontally in a first direction toward the package-shaped article to be taken up at a first predetermined velocity, in a manner to cause the at least one roller of the lifting means to move toward a contact with the opposed vertical surface of the package-shaped article to be taken up,
- decreasing the velocity of horizontal displacement of the receiving table in the first direction from said first predetermined velocity to a second predetermined velocity, before said lifting means comes into contact with said vertical surface,
- actuating the second drive to cause the at least one roller of the lifting means during contact of said lifting means with said vertical surface to exert a vertically directed force on the vertical surface;
- and,
- when the bottom edge of the package-shaped article is lifted above the top surface of the receiving table, continuing horizontal displacement of the receiving table in the first direction at an increased third predetermined velocity that is greater than the second predetermined velocity, and simultaneously operating the article transporting device at the third predetermined velocity in a second direction, opposite to the first direction of displacement of the receiving table;
- whereby the package-shaped article remains stationary relative to an original position, with the receiving table moving thereunder,
- said method further comprising the steps of:
- displacing the receiving table in a horizontal direction across a travel surface toward a set-down location, while maintaining the article transporting device stationary relative to the top surface of the receiving table,
- upon arrival of the receiving table at the set-down location, actuating the article transporting device to displace the package-shaped article disposed thereupon, the velocity of the article transporting device relative to the top surface being substantially the same as but in an opposite direction to the velocity of the receiving table relative to the travel surface,
- whereby the package-shaped article remains horizontally stationary relative to the set-down location and the receiving table moves away thereunder.