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[January 2003]
Stacker Minimises Labour and Maximises Efficiency
To reduce the labour intensive task of moving and storing pallets in the bulk solids handling environment, an automatic Pallet Stacker has just been developed by Flexicon (Europe) Ltd, to enable the stacking of up to 10 pallets.
The unit is designed for stacking pallets measuring 100cm x 80cm, but can be designed for any size pallet and is sited adjacent to any bulk bag discharge system. Incoming FIBCs are placed on the pallet stacker's roller conveyor by forklift truck and then attached to a crane hoist for positioning into the bulk bag discharge frame leaving the pallet on the conveyor.
When activated from the control panel, a sensor detects the pallet then automatically activates the roller conveyor, driven by a 0.75kW geared drive motor, to position the pallet within the storage area of the stacker. When positioned appropriately, a second sensor de-activates the conveyor, bringing the pallet to rest.
Subsequent pallets are then stacked from beneath as two hydraulically controlled grabbers on each sidewall of the storage area raise those already parked to allow the next incoming pallet to be positioned at the bottom.
When the maximum 10 pallets have been stored, a third, uppermost sensor detects that the stacker is full and reverses all pallets to the end of the roller conveyor until the sensor that starts the process also stops the conveyor, accurately positioning all 10 pallets for collection by forklift truck for removal.
ENDS