Method and arrangement for loading newspaper bundles on a pallet

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of moving said transfer device carrying a row of said third plurality of bundles over the pallet prior to depositing the row of bundles.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of moving said pallet horizontally under the said transfer device flap prior to depositing the row of bundles.

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of depositing at least one row of a fourth plurality of bundles on top of said third plurality of bundles previously deposited on said pallet.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of moving the transfer device flap in a vertical direction relative to the pallet prior to depositing any row of bundles thereon.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising the step of moving said pallet in a vertical direction relative to the transfer device flap as the height of a loaded pallet increases.

Claim 8

An arrangement for loading a first plurality of newspaper bundles on a loading pallet, each of said bundles including a second plurality of loosely stacked newspapers, each of said newspapers having a spine initially oriented in a common direction, said arrangement comprising: a turntable having a substantially horizontal top surface; first means for selectively rotating said turntable about a vertical axis thereof in either horizontal direction to one of four positions spaced 90* from each other; second means for supporting at least two sides of said bundle, said supporting means being positioned above said turntable and engaging said bundle prior to the rotation of said turntable by said first means, thereby to prevent skewing of said loosely stacked newspapers during said rotation, said support means releasing said bundles when said first means ceases to rotate said turntable; third means for conveying each of said first plurality of bundles in serial manner onto said turntable prior to rotation thereof; and a device for simultaneously transferring a row of a third plurality of rotated bundles onto a loading pallet, said transfer device including a rotatable shaft; a flap of generally rectangular shape having a first pair of opposed ends and a second pair of opposed sides formed thereof, the dimensions of each of said second pair of sides being greater than the length of said bundle row, a first side of said being rigidly affixed to said rotatable shaft; fourth means for pivoting said flap through a substantially semicircular arc above a horizontal plane through the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said fourth means adapted to maintain a top surface of said flap in an essentially horizontal plane prior to the initiation of a pivoting motion; a gripping device attached to said first side of said flap, said gripping device being movable between a position partly enclosing an entire row of bundles positioned upon said flap and an open position at right angles to said enclosing position, said gripping device in the enclosing position firmly clamping an enclosed edge of said entire row of bundles; fifth means for conveying said third plurality of rotated bundles onto said flap in a serial manner to form said row of bundles; and sixth means for carrying said pallet.

Claim 9

An arrangement for loading a first plurality of newspaper bundles on a loading pallet, each of said bundles including a second plurality of loosely stacked newspapers, each of said newspapers having a spine initially oriented in a common direction, said arrangement comprising: a turntable having a substantially horizontal top surface; first means for selectively rotating said turntable about a vertical axis thereof in either horizontal direction to one of four positions spaced 90* from each other; second means for supporting at least two sides of said bundle, said supporting means being positioned above said turntable and engaging said bundle prior to the rotation of said turntable by said first means, thereby to prevent skewing of said loosely stacked newspapers during said rotation, said support means releasing said bundles when said first means ceases to rotate said turntable; third means for conveying each of said first plurality of bundles in serial manner onto said turntable prior to rotation thereof; and a device for simultaneously transferring a row of a third plurality of rotated bundles onto a loading pallet, said transfer device including a rotatable shaft; a flap of generally rectangular shape having a first pair of opposed ends and a second pair of opposed sides formed thereof, the dimensions of each of said second pair of sides being greater than the length of said bundle row, a first side of said being rigidly affixed to said rotatable shaft; fourth means for pivoting said flap through a substantially semicircular arc above a horizontal plane through the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said fourth means adapted to maintain a top surface of said flap in an essentially horizontal plane prior to the initiation of a pivoting motion; a gripping device attached to said first side of said flap, said gripping device being movable between a position partly enclosing an entire row of bundles positioned upon said flap and an open position at right angles to said enclosing position, said gripping device in the enclosing position firmly clamping an enclosed edge of said entire row of bundles; fifth means for conveying said third plurality of rotated bundles onto said flap in a serial manner to form said row of bundles; and sixth means for carrying said pallet.

Claim 10

An arrangement as defined in claim 7, further comprising seventh means for disengaging said pivoting flap from said driving mechanism during the latter part of the rotation of said pivoting flap about said shaft, whereby said shaft performs a free falling motion.

Claim 11

An arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein at least one of said transfer device and said pallet carrying device further comprise eighth means for causing movement of one of said devices relative to the other of said devices in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said pallet being situated below the position occupied by said pivoting flap at the end of the rotation of said pivoting flap about said shaft.

Claim 12

An arrangement as defined in claim 7, further comprising ninth means for moving at least one of said transfer device and said pallet in a vertical direction relative to the other of said devices, with said pallet being situated below the position occupied by said pivoting flap at the end of the rotation of said pivoting flap about said shaft.