Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus for assembling products such as bagged particulate material, into a multi-tiered stack upon a pallet, is designed to substantially eliminate relative movement between the articles and article supporting surfaces of the apparatus during the stacking operation. The articles are arranged into a tier upon an air table and then transferred to an elevator consisting of spaced parallel rollers. The elevator is then raised to a location above a set of retractable tines which are then projected beneath the elevator into the spaces between the rollers to receive the tier of articles as the elevator is lowered. The elevator then brings a second tier of articles to a location just below the extended tines which are then retracted to drop the tier supported on the tines onto the tier supported on the elevator, which is then raised above the tines. The tines are then reinserted beneath the elevator to receive the two stacked tiers and this cycle is repeated until the stack is complete. The tines each have a flexible belt trained across their upper surfaces so that the belt is between the tine and the article. Upon retraction of the tine from beneath the articles the belt slips with respect to the tine so there is no relative motion between the belt and engaged surface of the article as the tine is retracted.

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First Claim