Method and apparatus for picking up packaged sheet

A method of picking up a ream of packaged sheets of a desired kind from a plurality of reams of one or more kinds stacked on one of a plurality of cells in an automated warehouse and loading the picked-up ream on a pallet, the cells constituting a plurality of vertically spaced groups of horizontally extending racks, said method comprising the steps of:

• locating a suction pick-up device having a picking, gripping and pulling mechanism and a discharging and stacking mechanism, at a position adjacent to said one of said cells by moving the pick-up device at least one of horizontally and vertically;
• locating the pallet at a prescribed position;
• positioning the pick up device over the ream of packaged sheets to be picked-up;
• and
• operating the suction pick-up device to pick-up by suction the ream of packaged sheets of the desired kind from said plurality of reams stacked on a respective one of cells, said operating step including operating said picking, gripping and pulling mechanism to pick upwards and grip the stacked ream by suction to pull the stacked ream, and operating said discharging and stacking mechanism to withdraw the ream and discharge and stack the ream on said pallet.