Patent ID: 7393176

Claim:
A handling unit ( 1 ) for palletizing, characterised by comprising: a support ( 2 ) for coupling to manipulator means; a framework ( 3 ) associated with said support ( 2 ) and defining an aperture; a pair of parallel opposing slide rails ( 5 ) fixed to said framework ( 3 ); at least one flexible sliding panel ( 7 ) slidable along said rails ( 5 ) between an extended position in which the panel extends over said aperture to enable the panel to support articles to be palletized, and a retracted position in which the panel opens said aperture to enable said articles to fall through said aperture; drive means ( 18 , 19 ) for oscillating said panel ( 7 ) along said rails ( 5 ) between said extended position and said retracted position wherein said rails have a first longitudinal section that extends along two opposing circular arc portions and a second longitudinal section that extends along two opposing horizontally linear portions, said sliding panel ( 7 ) occupying only the first section of the rails extending along the two circular arc portions when slid into the retracted position.