Palletizing machine

Abstract

A palletizing machine for stacking rows of articles in layers on a pallet, includes an entry station for accummulating a row of articles, an intermediate support for receiving from the entry station a sufficient number of rows of articles to constitute a layer of articles on the pallet, and a pallet support vertically movable in a main framework of the machine to position the upper level of a pallet or partially loaded pallet just below the level of the intermediate support so that a layer of articles accumulated thereon can be readily tranferred to the pallet. To facilitate the handling of articles such as piles of books, both the entry station and the intermediate support are provided with roller beds. Furthermore, the intermediate support is formed as a carriage moving between the entry station and above the pallet and has a comb-like receiving section which can be positioned beneath a row of articles lifted off the entry station roller bed by a lifting device of the machine; subsequent lowering of the lifting device depositing the lifted row onto the carriage. Transfer of the rows from the carriage onto the pallet is effected by preventing movement of these rows with the carriage as it moved away from above the pallet.