Pallet loading and unloading apparatus

Claim 1

IN ARTICLE LOADING AND UNLOADING APPARATUS THE COMBINATION: OF MEANS TO SUPPORT A LAYER OF ARTICLES IN A PREDETERMINED PATTERN AT A FIRST STATION; OTHER MEANS TO RECEIVE THE LAYER OF ARTICLES AT A SECOND STATION; AND A LIFTING AND CONVEYING UNIT OPERABLE TO COMPACT AND TRANSPORT THE LAYER OF ARTICLES FROM SAID FIRST STATION TO SAID SECOND STATION, SAID UNIT COMPRISING A RIGID TOP WALL, DEPENDING FIXED SIDE WALLS ADAPTED TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY SURROUND THE LAYER OF ARTICLES IN SPACED RELATION ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF THE ARTICLE LAYER, BLOWER MEANS ON SAID TOP WALL HAVING AN INLET COMMUNICATING WITH THE SPACE ENCLOSED BY SAID SIDE WALLS, AN OUTLET REMOTE FROM SAID ENCLOSED SPACE, SAID BLOWER MEANS PRODUCING A REDUCTION OF ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE IN SAID ENCLOSED SPACE ABOVE THE LAYER OF ARTICLES, RESILIENT MEANS OPERABLY CARRIED BY SAID SIDE WALLS AND MOVABLE TO FIRST POSITIONS ENGAGING A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE PERIPHERY OF THE LAYER OF ARTICLES TO FORM A SUBSTANTIAL SEAL ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF AND CONCURRENTLY COMPACT THE ARTICLES IN SAID LAYER, SAID RESILIENT MEANS BEING MOVABLE TO SECOND POSITIONS RELEASING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PERIPHERY OF THE LAYER OF ARTICLES, AND FLUID PRESSURE SUPPLY MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID RESILIENT MEANS TO CAUSE MOVEMENT THEREOF BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS.