Article handling apparatus

Claim 1

An article-handling and transfer apparatus operable between a pick-up station located at one elevation and a receiving station located at a lower elevation, said apparatus comprising a transfer mechanism movable between the pickup and receiving stations to engage and transfer a group of articles, which are accumulated in a generally circular array at said pick-up station, to said receiving station while arranged in said generally circular array; means for vertically moving said transfer mechanism; a container at said receiving station; said container being of circular form to receive a group of said articles arranged in said generally circular array and being of sufficient depth to hold a plurality of layers of said grouped articles; and control means sequentially operable during vertical movement of said transfer mechanism for successively arresting movement of said transfer mechanism at pre-set appropriate levels in said container to create the plurality of layers of grouped articles, said control means incorporating switches arranged at heights adjustable to correspond with the depth of each layer and connected to produce the successive arrests of the transfer member as the number of layers of grouped articles increases; the controlled successive arrests of said transfer mechanism serving to prevent damage, such as bending in the case of cans, to the articles.