IL31935A - Semi-automatic palletising device - Google Patents

Description

SEMI-AUTOMATIC PALLETISING DEVICE 31935/3 This invention relates to a semi-automatic pallet loading device for load units, such as packages or containers, for example filled sacks.

The loading of filled sakks may be performed manually, the filled sacks being lifted and carried on the back of shoulders by workmen to the point of loading. Not only is this a labour-consuming operation, but it also gives rise to accidents and muscular strain with consequent loss of man hours due to employees being under medical care.

Increasing mechanisation in the form of increased use of conveyors and the advent of fork lift trucks with palletisation of loads has led to a more effective utilisation of labour in the handling of packaged goods, but has still necessitated the manual transfer of the filled package in order to build up the load on the pallet. JThe risk of accidental muscular strain is still associated with the operation, and the repetitive nature of the operation involving, as it does, very limited movement and constant application has made the job unattractive.

As a consequence of this, and in a further effort to economise in manpower, automatic pallet loaders have been evolved which claim to effect the placing of load units on a pallet entirely automatically.

Experience has shown that they are more suited to handling regularly shaped load units, e. g. cardboard containers, and not so conveniently suited to handling irregularly shaped load units, for example filled sacks of material. In this latter respect, fully automatic pallet loaders have not fulfilled their task completely satisfactorily, nor do they completely dispense with labour.

According to the invention there is provided a semi-automatic pallet loading device which comprises an aerated layer-forming (as hereinbefore defined) for the formation thereupon of a component layer of the pallet load, the component layer comprising one or more load units, such as packages or containers, for example filled sacks, an aerated retractable stripping table, means for transferring said component layer from said layer-forming table to said stripping table comprising an endless chain-driven transferring bar adapted to be stopped by switch means when it has transferred the component layer 31935/3 stripping table, round under the edge of the layer-forming table and up round the opposite edge thereof in preparation for pushing the next component layer from the layer-forming table onto the stripping table, a lifting and lowering device adapted to support a pallet substantially directly below said stripping table when the latter is in its unretracted position, stripping means adapted to transfer said component layer onto said pallet from said stripping table by restraining the layer while the stripping table is being retracted from its position above the support pallet.

According to the present invention there is further provided a semi-automatic pallet loading device which comprises an aerated layer-forming table (as hereinafter defined) for the formation thereupon of a component layer of the pallet load, the component layer comprising one or more load units, such as packages or containers, for example filled sacks, an aerated retractable stripping-table, means for transferring said component layer from said layer forming table to said stripping table, a lifting and lowering device adapted to support a pallet substantially directly below said stripping table when the latter is in its unretracted position, stripping means adapted to transfer said component layer onto said pallet from said stripping table by restraining the layer while the stripping table is being retracted from its position above the supprted pallet. If desired, means may be provided for conveyeing said loaded pallet from the support to a point of transfer.

As used herein, the word "aerated" applied to the above-mentioned stripping and layer-forming tables defines the said tables as comprising perforated load bearing surfaces, the undersides of which are connected to one or more suppM-es of air under pressure which, as it escapes upwardly through said performations, at least partially supports the weight of the load units on the tables* The load units can thus be very readily moved and arranged in any desired formation upon the tables with the minimum of effort. Additionally, the load -bearing surfaces of the stripping and layer-forming tables are preferably made as smooth as possible, for example by making them from very smooth metals, e. g. stainless steel, or by covering them with very smooth covering materials, or by coating them with low-friction coating substances, e. g. polytetrafluoroethylene. eompriooo ono or moro korb*ohapod puohoro (preferably pnoumatioaHy " operated) which push the oomponoat layo aorooa tho la or" forming -table onto tho (Stripping table, — However; any oohvoniont moano fey- puehing or pulling the component layer across-the layor- forming table-— onto tho otripping table may be employed.

The above-mentioned stripping means adapted to transfer the component layer onto the pallet from the stripping table conveniently comprises a stripping plate located above the stripping table and extending at right angles to its direction of retraction, so that as the stripping table is retracted the stripping plate bears against one side of the component layer, thereby preventing movement thereof during retraction of the stripping table. Tho otripping plate may if desired >·.<=> p Ho giifh »Vifa» i t may hp mm>Pfl though la shrtnt tnrmnnn, Γι .ι m. .i ι ι ι^ιΐ ri 4 to 6 inches, sufficient to assist the transfer of the oomponont layer- from tho otripping table to the pallet— The movement may be effected may be activated by the' retraction of the otripping t able.

The above-mentioned liftin arid lowering device for supporting the pallet is conveniently operated hydraulically by an elevating pump and lowering valves, the: weight of the pallet causing it to lower itself by displacing hydraulic fluid. The primary function of the lifting and lowering device is to lift the empty pallet so close to the underside of the stripping table that the component layer falls the shortest possible distance when the stripping table is retracted so as to cause minimum disturbance of the shape or formation of the layer.

For each subsequent layer to be stripped off the stripping taMe, the lifting and lowering device must naturally support the pallet in a slightly lower position in order to leave room for the new layer.

If desired the liftin and lowering device may be so arranged that it may be operated in horizontally reciprocating fashion to allow the device to handle pallets of greater area than the area of the layer- forming table or stripping table, for example, twice the area. One layer of load units may be deposited on one half of the pallet, the lifting and lowering device moved sideways so that the other half of the - - 31935/3 ^ pallet Is brought under the stripping table and another layer deposited on the pallet beside the layer previously deposited.

Subsequentipallet layers may then be built up in similar fashion.

The main advantage of this device is that the load units may be moved with a minimum of effort in any desired direction on the layer-forming table without requiring rollers or belts or other similar mechanism to assist the operator in forming the component layer. In addition the pattern of formation of the load units in the component layer may be altered at will without mechanical adjustment being required to the device, A particular embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the drawings accompanying the specification, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pallet loading device according to the invention, and ehows the aerated layer forming table, the serated retractable stripping table, the stripping plate, the powered lifting and lowering device and the pallet conveying^ system.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1 and shows the aerated layer-forming table, the aerated retractable stripping table, the stripping plate, the powered lifting/lowering device and the pallet conveying system.

Figure 3 is a view along the line I -I of Fig. 1, or along the line Π-Π of Fig. 2, and illustrates principally the mode of operation of the powered lifting/lowering device and the pallet conveying system.

Fig. 4 is a three-dimensional view showing the aerated layer-forming table, the aerated retractable stripping table in its closed or unretracted position, the stripping plate, the powered lifting/lowering device partially raised, the endless chain-driven transferring bar, the pallet conveying system, and the means of aeration of the said aerated layer-forming table and said aerated retractable stripping table.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the layer-forming table with the endless chain-driven transferring bar.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the layer-forming table with the endless chain-driven transferring bar.

The semi-automatic pallet loading device illustrated in 31935/2 closed or unretracted position the said stripping table abuts the fixed layer-forming table (1) (as shown in Fig. 4), a powered lifting an endless chain-driven lowering device (3), a pallet conveying system (4), -a pair of kerb" shaped transferring bar (A) . . . pushers (5) op rated by pneumatic rams, a first aligning device (6) operated by pneumatic rams as hereinafter described, and a load stripping plate (7). A side guide piece (8) (shown in Fig. 4) on the side of the tables 0>, 2) opposite to the aligning device (6) is adjustable in the horizontal ahd/or vertical planes to enable the device to handle load units of different sizes. ' 1 In operation, the load units, which are brought to the layer- forming table (1) by any convenient means e. ^ by an air cushion conveyor (Θ) and feed belt (10) (shown in Fig. 4) are assembled manually into a component layer of the required pattern on the layer forming endless chain-driven table (1). The component layer is then transferred by the pneumatically™ transferring bar (A) , opcratod put-hero (5 across the aerated surface of the layer- formmg table (1) to the aerated stripping table (2). As a consequence, the load is aligned at right angles to the direction of travel of the pushers (5).

The layer is also aligned at right angles to the direction of travel of the aligning device (6) and at the same time is compressed into more compact formation by means of the aligning device (6) which is conveniently operated by twd short pneumatic rams (11) as shown in Fig. 4. The stripping table (2) is then retracted by any convenient means, for example, pneumatically or by means of a linear electric motor, to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the component layer meanwhile being held stationary by the load stripping plate (7) which abuts thereagainst and which may be adjustable in the horizontal ahd/or vertical planes to enable it to cope with layers of different dimensions. The load units drop onto a pallet (12) supported on the extended lifting/ lowering device (3), retaining substantially their same compact component layer formation.

Immediately the complete component layer has dropped onto the pallet (12), the powered lifting/ lowerin device (3) is automatically lowered until the loaded component layer is clear of a sensing device, for example an ultrasonic or photo electric sensing device (not shown), whe the downward movement automatically stops. This operation is automatically , followed by the closure of the stripping table (1) to the position shown in Fig. 4. Conveniently, the load units are further aligned by a second aligning device comprising rollersswhich are situated on either side of the pallet, parallel to the abutting edges of the layer-forming table and stripping table, and which serve to ensure the regularity of the component layer on the pallet by adjusting any overhanging load unit into alignment.

The sequence of operations described above is repeated until the required number of component layers has been deposited on the pallet (12). When this point has been reached, the lifting/lowering device (3) lowers the pallet (12) on to the pallet conveying system (4) which is automatically actuated so as to move the loaded pallet (12) from its position directly under the closed stripping table (2) and at the same time to move another unloaded pallet into position directly above the powered lifting/lowering device (3). The lifting/ lowering device (3) is automatically actuated upon the arrival of the new, unloaded pallet and raises it to the required position immediately below the closed stripping table (2).

The adjacent edges of the layer forming table (1) and , stripping table (2) may be substantially perpendicular, but if desired, the upper surface of the stripping table may be cut away so that its said adjacent edge slopes downwardly towards the layer- forming table, the adjacent edge of which is cut away at a complementary angle so that the two edges abut when the stripping table is in its closed or unretracted position: the downward slope of the said adjacent edge of the stripping table eases the transfer of the component layers from the stripping table on to the pallet.

It will be appreciated that a device according to the invention could be operated without a separate layer- forming table (1) and that the component layer could be formed upon the stripping table (2) while it is in its unretracted position, but, for reasons of safety and increased throughput, it is preferred to use a separate full- sized layer forming table (1). It will also be appreciated that the layer forming table (1) need not be fixed but could equally be retractable in the opposite sense from the stripping table (2), so that while the latter is being retracted 31935/2 for the purpose of stripping the component layer therefrom, the former is being retracted to a layer forming position, whereafter both tables may be simultaneously advanced to the closed position shown in Fig; 4. It will be further appreciated that, provided the load units are sufficiently light, it may be possible to form two or more component layers and to transfer them as one unit from the layer forming table to the stripping table and, thence, to the pallet.

Fig. 4 also illustrates, in self-explanatory fashion, a blower (13) and pipe connections (14) for supplying air under pressure to the undersides of the aerated tables (1) and (2), a blower (15) and pipe connections (16) for supplying air under pressure to the air cushion conveyor (fl)f rams (17) for actuating the- puahoro (5), a ram (18) for retracting and advancing the stripping table (1), and mechanism (19), comprising for example ah elevating pump and lowering valves for hydraulicaEy lifting and lowering, respectively, the lifting/ lowering device (3).

Another embodiment of the invention incorporates overhead compacting means to enable the device to handle load units, for example, filled sacks, of greater length: breadth ratio than normal. Handling of filled sacks of this nature leads to the formation of a component layer which is not compact and, unless some means is provided to obviate transferring bar (A) the difficulty, the operation of the/pushora (6) and aligning device (6) ■wi ll result in an uneven layer. This difficulty may be overcome by the use of an overhead compacting device (not shown) which may comprise arms or jets of air which hold the bags in place while the aligning device (6) operates. The said arms or jets are conveniently situated above the stripping table and are disposed in such a manner that they act on the outer load units in a manne such as to tend to force them outwards against the action of the aligning device (6) but not with sufficient strength to overcome the latter' s action.

A further ombodiment of the invontion inoorporatoo an endless crhain"driven pushing device (not shown) fee transfer the -aonapoaent layer from the layer- orming table <B) to tho stripping 31935/2 The endless ohaim- driven pushing device table (3) instead of using the pneumatic porno (17). — he mechanism (A) is so designed that, in operation, a transferring bar/ (not shown) pushes the component layer from layer-forming table (1) to stripping table (2) and is stopped by the actuation of a limit switc ?^ The stripping table (2) retracts t6 effect transfer of the component layer on to the pallet (12). The lifting/ lowering device (3) then operates to lower the pallet (12) until the component layer is clear of the sensing device at which point the chain-driven mechanism is automatically actuated and drives the transferring bar round under the edge of the layer forming table (1), which abuts the layer stripping table (2) when in the closed position, and continues its travel under the layer forming table (1) and comes up round the opposite edge in preparation for pushing the next component layer on to the stripping table (2).

Yet another embodiment of the invention incorporates means for downwardly compacting each component layer on the pallet (12).

Such means comprises a force acting downwardly on the top of the load to compress the component layer downwards upon the pallet (12), for example, an overhead compacting plate (not shown) which operates after the component layer has been deposited on the pallet and while the stripping table (2) is in the retracted position, and compresses the component layer thus correcting any misaligned load unit. Alternatively, the means for compacting the component layer on the pallet (12) may comprise a force acting upwards to compress the component layer against the bottom of the unretracted stripping table, for example, by means of the lifting/ lowering device (3). If desired, the bottom surface of stripping table (2) may be perforated, thus enabling air from the air supply to the table to escape downwardly through the perforations, forming a cushion of air between the bottom of the table and the component layer being compressed against it and thereby facilitating retraction of the stripping table. It will be appreciated that this last embodiment, in its two alternative forms, is more particularly suitable for handling load units such as filled sacks or irregular load 31935/2 units such as bales.

Although not described in detail herein, the device also includes switching means for starting, stopping and controlling the movement of the lifting/ lowering device (3) and the pallet conveying system (4) in synchronism with or responsive to the retracting and/ or advancing of the stripping table (2) and/ or the loading of the pallet (12). The device is preferably further provided with, the means for substantially stabilising the drop of the powered lifting/ lowering device (3).

The rate of drop of the lifting/ lowering device is normally controlled by a single solenoid operated hydraulic valve. Due, however, to the geometry of the lifting and lowering device, and possibly also to the load on the lift, the rate of lowering is uneven, the ratio of rate of drop of the first drop to the rate of drop of the last drop being of the order 4:1, the greatest variation in the rate of drop' occurring in the first two layers.

This reduces the throughput of the device and a means of stabilising the rate of drop has been provided which is controlled by selector relays to operate three electro hydraulic valves SV1, SV2 and S V3 («e4 for the first layer, two valves SV1 and SV2 for the second layer and one valve SV1 for the third and subsequent layers.

The effect of this is to speed up the rate of drop of the first and second layers. The selector system utilises, three relays Rj, 2 and Rg oh own) and operates in the following manner.

When the lifting and lowering device reactjef the upper limit of its travel, Rj and R3 energise. Contacts on Sr^- render SV2 and SV3 valve circuits operative in preparation for the first drop, and when the stripping table (2) reaches the outer limit of travel and the layer of bags drops on to the pallet (12), a fourth relay R4 (not shown) energises, thus completing the circuit to SV1, SV2 and SV3. The lifting and lowering device lowers until the layer of bags is clear of the photo cell beams, whereupon the three solenoid valves de-energise and l is also de- energised and isolated.

, When the stripping table reaches its outer limit of travel after the second layer of bags has been deposited on the pallet (12), relay R2 energises and relay Rg de-energises. A contact on R2 renders the SV$ valve circuit operative, and relay R4 energises to complete 2 the circuit to SV1 and SV$. The lifting and lowering device lowers until the layer of bags is clear of the photo cell beams, whereupon valves 2 SV1 and SV# de-energise and R2 also de-energises. The selector system is then isolated until the next time the lifting and lowering device is raised to its upper limit.

On the third and subsequent layers, when relay ^ energises, only valve SV1 operates. By this stabilising means the ratio of rate of drop of the fastest dropping layer to rate of drop of the slowest dropping layer is reduced from approximately 4: 1 to approximately 1. 5:1.

It will be appreciated that this stabilising means could be used with any hydraulically operated lifting /lowering device, in an application other than in this semi-automatic pallet loading device.

The device is fitted with safety devices designed to eliminate accidental injury to personnel. Among such devices are safety plates (20) which fill the space between the conveyor chains, resting on spring loaded switches (not shown). In the event of an operator being caught in the conveyor chain, the pressure of his body on the plate activates the switches and completely inactivates the entire device electrically and pneumatically.

The device may be so designed as to enable it to handle pallets of different dimensions, the alteration of the mechanism to change from one size to another being effected quickly and easily.

The device is comparatively less expensive to construct, and, in comparison with other pallet loading devices, is relatively trouble- ¾£ee in operation. It does not require the complicated electrical; circuitry which is a feature of other available pallet loading devices, nor does it suffer from the wear and tear due to the fast acceleration and deceleration of certain other pallet loading devices. It also permits the pattern of formation of the component layer to be altered without any mechanical adjustment or alteration being required. Its design and method of construction enable it to handle filled sacks, e. g. polythene sacks, with minimum danger of damage to the sacks.

Claims (29)

31935/3

1. A semi- automatic pallet loading device which comprises an aerated layer-forming table (as hereinbefore defined) for the formation thereupon of a component layer of the pallet load, the component layer comprising one or more load units, such as packages or containers, for example filled sacks, an aerated re tract-abb stripping table, means for transferring said component layer from said layer-forming table to said stripping table comprising chain-driven transferring bar adapted to be stopped by switch means when it has transferred the component layer from the layer- forming table to the stripping table, and adapted to be driven above said layer-forming table and, upon retraction of the stripping table, round under the edge of the layer- forming table and up round the opposite edge thereof in preparation for pushing the next component layer from the layer-forming table onto the stripping table, a lifting and lowering device adapted to support a pallet substantially directly below said stripping table when the latter is in its unretracted position, stripping means adapted to transfer said component layer onto said pallet from said stripping table by restraining the layer while the stripping table is being retracted from its position above the support pallet.

2. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in claim 1, including means for automatically lowering said lowering and lifting device, immediately a complete component layer of lead units has dropped onto the pallet, until said loaded component layer is clear of a sensing device, and for thereupon stopping said lowering movement and for closing said stripping table to its unretracted position and where the said endless chain-driven transfer ring bar is adapted to be automatically restarted when said lifting and lowering device has lowered the pallet until the component layer thereon is clear of the sensing device.

3. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in Claim 1 including means for conveying the loaded pallet from the support to a point of transfer. 31935/3

4. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 or 2, wherein said stripping means is adjustable in the vertical and/or horizontal planes to enable it to cope with layers of different dimensions.

5. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lifting and lowering device for supporting the pallet is elevated by an elevating pump and lowered by its own weight displacing hydraulic fluid,

6. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said lif ting and lowering device is so arranged that it may be operated in horizontally reciprocating fashion to allow the device to handle pallets of greater area than the area of the layer- forming table or stripping table, for example, twice the area.

7. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in Claim 6, wherein, after one layer of load units has been deposited on one half of the pallet, said lifting and lowering device is adapted to be moved sideways so that the other half of the pallet is brought under the stripping table and another layer deposited on the pallet beside the layer previously deposited.

8. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, including a first aligning device adapted to align the load along its face in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of said means for transferring the component layer from the layer-forming table to thestripping table. Θ. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in

Claim 8, wherein said first aligning device comprises at least one kerb-shaped pusher. 31935/3

10. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said kerb-shaped pusher is pneumatically operated, for example by one or more pneumatic rams.

11. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10, including a side guide piece on that side of the layer- farming table and stripping table opposite to said first aligning device, said side guide piece being adjustable in the horizontal and/ or vertical planed to enable the device to handle load units of different sizes.

12. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11 including a second aligning device adapted to ensure the regularity of the component layer on the pallet by adjusting any overhanging load unit into alignment, said second aligning device comprising rollers which are situated on either side of the pallet, parallel to the abutting edges of the layer-forming table and stripping table.

13. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the upper surface of the stripping table is cut away so that its adjacent edge slopes downwardly towards the layer- forming table, the adjacent edge of which is cut away at a complementary angle so that the two edges abut when the stripping table is in its closed or unretracted position.

14. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the layer-forming table is adapted to be retracted in the opposite sense from the stripping table, so that while the latter is being retracted for the purpose of stripping the component layer therefrom, the former is being retracted to ailayer- forming position, whereafter both tables are simultaneously advanced to the closed position.

15. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 14, including overhead compacting means adapted to hold the load units in place on the stripping table while said first aligning device operates. 31935/3 J

16. A semi- utomatic pallet loading device as claimed in Claim 15, wherein said overhead compacting means comprises arms or jets of air located above the stripping table, and disposed to act on the load units so as to tend to force them outwards against the action of said first aligning device but insufficiently strongly to overcome said action.

17. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including means for compacting each component layer on the pallet.

18. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said compacting means comprises an overhead compacting plate adapted to operate downwardly after the component layer has been deposited on the pallet and while the stripping table is in the retracted position.

19. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said compacting means comprises an upwardly directed force, preferably actuated by said lifting and lowering device, adapted to compress the component layer against the bottom of the unretracted stripping table.

20. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in Claim 25, wherein the bottom of the stripping table is perforated.

21. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 20, wherein said lifting and lowering device is adapted to lower the fully-loaded pallet onto said pallet- conveying means, and means for automatically actuating said pallet- conveying means so as to move said fully-loaded pallet from its lowered position under the stripping table and simultaneously moving an unloaded pallet into a position directly above said lowered lifting/lowering device.

22. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in Claim 21, 31935/3

23. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 22, including switching means for starting, stopping and controlling the movement of the lifting and lowering device and the pallet conveying means in synchronism with or responsive to the retracting and/ or advancing of the stripping table and/ or the loading of the pallet.

24. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including means for stabilising the drop of said lifting and lowering device, said stabilising means being adapted to speed up the drop of said lifting and lowering device for the first component layer as compared with the drop for the second component layer, and to speed up the drop of the second component layer as compared with the drop for the third and subsequent component layers.

25. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in Claim 24, wherein said stabilising means comprises selector relays adapted to operate a number of solenoid valves (for example three) for the first component layer, a smaller number of solenoid valves (for example two) for the second component layer, and a still smaller number of solenoid valves (for example one) for the third and subsequent layers, the said solenoid valves being adapted to control the flow in a hydraulic circuit which controls the drop of the lifting and lowering device.

26. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in Claim 25, wherein said relays energise all said valves when said lifting and lowering device reaches the upper limit of its travel and the stripping table is fully retracted so that the lifting and lowering device drops at its fastest rate when the pallet is loaded with its first component layer, all Said valves being de-energised when said first component layer is clear of said sensing device.

27. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in Claim 25, wherein said relays energise all but one of said valves when the stripping table is again fully retracted and said pallet is loaded with its second component layer, said valves being de-energised when said second component layer is clear of said sensing device. 31935/3

28. A semi-automatic pallet loading device as claimed in Claim 27, wherein said relays energise all but two of said valves when the stripping table is again fully retracted and said pallet is loaded with its third or subsequent layer, said valve or valves being de -energised when said third or subsequent component layer is lear of said sensing device.

29. A semi-automatic pallet loading device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification. S. HOROWITZ & CO, Agents for the Applicants