Patent ID: 8714904

Claim:
An apparatus for handling an array of objects, the apparatus comprising: a horizontal support having a flat and horizontal upper face defining and extending in a predetermined upstream-to-downstream conveyor direction underneath an accumulation region to a downstream end of the accumulation region; a flexible transport web overlying the support, the array of objects standing on the transport web and pressing same down against the support; a frame at the accumulation region for gathering the objects at the downstream end into a group having a plurality of rows transverse to the conveyor direction; a transport element formed as a blind of an array of transverse slats, having an end edge, and shiftable atop the transport web upstream away from the downstream end in the conveyor direction between a ready position with the end edge spaced from the group standing on the transport web and a pickup position underlying the entire group, the transport element being shiftable upstream in the conveyor direction away from the downstream end and on top of the transport web between the ready position and the pickup position; and a lifting element underneath the transport web and coupled for joint movement in the conveyor direction with the transport element such that on upstream movement of the transport element in the conveyor direction away from the downstream end from the ready position to the pickup position the transport web is raised immediately upstream in the conveyor direction of the end edge of the transport element to raise downstream edges of the objects and the transport element is engageable between the objects in the group and the transport web, whereby the transport element can slide underneath the objects in the group, the transport element being raisable in the pickup position to raise the group of objects up off the transport web.