Apparatus and transporting unit for conveying injection-molded articles away from an injection molding machine

A transporting apparatus for moving items to or from an injection molding machine, comprising

• (a) a plurality of transporting units each including a transporting pallet and a selected number of pallets removably accommodated on said transporting pallet;
• each said transporting pallet including pallet guides for individually supporting the selected number of pallets and carrier elements including means for coupling thereto a selected number of superposed pallet guides dependent upon height dimensions of the selected number of pallets;
• (b) a charging station;
• (c) charging means for loading the pallets in the charging station with the articles produced by the injection molding machine;
• the articles being comprised in the items;
• (d) a pallet tower spaced from the charging station for storing a plurality of pallets;
• said pallet tower including frame elements forming a frame;
• (e) an elevator for receiving pallets from said pallet tower and pallets from said charging station;
• said elevator being vertically freely movable during loading of the pallets in the charging station;
• said elevator including means for accommodating at least two of said transport units above one another;
• (f) means transferring pallets from said pallet tower and said charging station to said elevator;
• and
• (g) conveying means for moving the transporting pallets between the elevator and the charging station for transferring pallets from said elevator to said charging station and for transferring pallets from the charging station to said elevator.