Variable array can palletizer

Claim 1

Apparatus for transferring a plurality of articles from a receiving station to a stacking platform to form on the platform a preselected array of articles, comprising a transfer carriage shiftable in a substantially horizontal path between positions overlying said station and said platform, subcarriage mounted on said carriage for vertical shifting relative thereto, subcarriage shifting means for shifting said subcarriage between raised and lowered positions, a pair of carriers, each mounted on said subcarriage for shifting in a substantially horizontal path relative to said subcarriage, carrier shifting means for selectively shifting said carriers, including first powered positioning means operatively interconnecting said subcarriage and one of said carriers for producing selected shifting therebetween, and second powered positioning means operatively interconnecting said one carrier and an adjacent carrier for producing selected shifting therebetween a pair of article-gripping devices, each device including a powered assembly mounted on an associated carrier for substantially vertical displacement relative thereto to accommodate downward travel of said carrier with respect to said device when the device initially contacts an article to be transferred, and gripping members operatively connected to said assembly for movement, under the control of the associate assembly, between gripping and release positions, sensing means operatively associated with at least one of said assemblies for sensing such downward travel of said carrier with respect to said device, and control means operatively connecting said sensing means with said subcarriage shifting means and said powered assemblies, for controlling shifting of said subcarriage toward its lowered position and movement of said gripping members between their gripping and release positions, upon such sensing occurring.