Method and apparatus for stacking blocks to form a pallet having predetermined spaces therein

摘要

Apparatus for automatic packaging of products such as concrete blocks in pallets formed by stacking layers of the blocks including a fixed table having supports along its sides and a moveable carriage disposed above the table on guide rails. The carriage is slideable having a translatory movement along the rails and carries gripping members for holding and releasing the blocks so as to move the blocks to form reserved spaces in the pallet for the tongs of a pallet handling device. The reserved spaces are formed in a given layer of the blocks in the pallet by causing the gripping members to hold and release the blocks in cooperation with detection and spacing devices for forming a given number of reserved spaces in the desired layer of blocks. The reserved spaces are created in a layer of blocks during the continuous movement of the carriage in the same direction.