Object discharge mechanism

An object loading device effective for storing a plurality of stacks of objects and discharging a bottommost object of each of said plurality of stacks of objects onto an object conveyor, comprising a plurality of object discharge devices, each of said plurality of object discharge devices further including:

• a bottom platform on which said bottommost object of said each of said plurality of stacks of objects rests;
• said bottom platform having a longitudinal slot;
• a discharge port at an end of said bottom platform;
• means for pushing said one of said bottommost objects along said bottom platform through said discharge port from a first position at a bottom of said one of said stacks to a second position at least partially outside said one of said object discharge device;
• an object lifter movably mounted at a lower rear portion of said each one of said plurality of object discharge devices on an opposite end of said bottom platform from said discharge port;
• said object lifter movable between a retracted position, whereat said object lifter does not contact any of said objects, and an advanced position whereat said object lifter supports a next bottommost object of said each of said plurality of stacks of objects;
• and
• means for moving said object lifter between said retracted position and said advanced position.

An object loading device for storing a plurality of stack of objects and discharging a bottommost object of each of said plurality of stack of objects onto an object conveyer, comprising a plurality of object discharge devices,

• each of said plurality of object discharge devices further including:
• a bottom platform on which said bottommost object of said each of said plurality of stacks of objects rests;
• said bottom platform having a longitudinal slot;
• a discharge port at an end of said bottom platform;
• means for pushing said on of said bottommost objects along said bottom platform through said discharge port from a first position at a bottom of said one of said stacks to a second position at least partially outside said one of said object discharge devices;
• an object lifter movably mounted at a lower rear portion of said each one of said plurality of object discharge devices on an opposite end of said bottom platform from said discharge port;
• said object lifter includes an inclined surface, said inclined surface supporting said next bottommost object when said object lifter is in said raised position;
• said object lifter movable between a retracted position, whereat said object lifter does not contact any of said objects, and a raised position whereat said object lifter supports a next bottommost object of said each of said plurality of stacks of objects:
• and
• means for moving said object lifter between said retracted position and said advanced position.