Machine for automatically loading pallets

Claim 1

Machine for automatic transfer of objects especially packages of books, from a line or point of arrival or of production to loading pallets and for placing said objects in the best or preferred way on the pallets or else for transferring said objects from the pallets to lines or points of further processing or use, comprising a grab for picking up and setting down the objects especially packages of books, controlled by an electronic control panel directly from a computer to take up any position in space in relation to the objects and the pallets, characterized in that the grab is provided with horizontal blades mounted for axial translation through a horizontal slit passing from one side to the other of a support located at the lower extremity of a vertical arm, the blades moving through the slit from the rear face to the front face of the arm to pick up the object and moving through the slit from the front face to the rear face of the arm to release the object, the blades being enclosed in an annular sheath of flexible material, the ends of which are attached to the front and rear sides respectively of the arm above the slit, such that the blade slide through the slit within the sheath and the sheath lies between the blades and the object, rearward movement of the blades resulting in release of the object onto a receiving surface without friction between the objects, the blades and the sheath.