Importance

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Abstract

In an automatic loading system and method wheeled carts receive five or six layers of newspaper bundles of four to six bundles per layer. A waist-high conveyor and an inclined ramp conveyor move bundles to a roller platform of independently operated roller sections selectively halted upon receipt of a bundle. When the desired number of bundles have been delivered to the roller platform, a pusher laterally moves the bundles to a split roller platform. A second group of bundles are delivered to the roller platform and the split roller platform. The sections of the split roller platform are then abruptly pulled apart causing the bundles to drop upon a fork-like platform extending into one side of a cart receiving the bundles. The pusher is retracted to the start position and the fork-like platform is lowered to receive the next layer of bundles in a like manner. Once the cart is filled with the desired number of layers, the fork-like platform is withdrawn from the cart, the cart is advanced to a take-off location and the next cart is indexed to the receiving location, being guided thereto along guide rails. Each cart comprises a platform rolling upon casters and having an open top defined by four sides which form a cage-like structure. One side has lockable double doors to facilitate bundle removal. Cart sizes are desired to make efficient use of the truck cargo space receiving the carts.

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First Claim