A machine for vertical transportation of goods from a packing line onto a pallet. The machine includes a vertically movable lifting device provided on a horizontally travelling wagon, the device being provided with lifting forks for receiving and lowering the pieces of packages. Counterweights are provided on the travelling wagon, the counterweights being connected to the lifting device by wires. The counterweights are heavier than the lifting device but the weight thereof is less than the total weight of the lifting device and the thereon loaded pieces of packages. The transmission comprises an endless loop, which is fixedly mounted to the lifting device, which is driven by a motor. During a cycle of operations the pieces of packages are fed from a packing line out onto the lifting forks of the machine until they abut a start impulse switch that starts the motor. Due to the weight of goods, the lifting forks are lowered until they are stopped by the pallet. Then the motor pulls the travelling wagon backwardly. In a rear position, the motor is reversed by a switch. Then, the lifting device provided with the lifting forks is drawn upwardly by the counterweights until it reaches a mechanical stop. The motor continues to be in operation and pulls the travelling wagon forwardly until it reaches a terminal position switch that stops the cycle of operations. The cycle of operations is repeated until the pallet has been loaded up to a desired level.

A stacker crane for use in storehouses where piece loads are kept on racks, comprising a frame adapted for moving horizontally across the racks and carrying columns arranged at the side ends of the racks, at a certain distance from them, said columns supporting a handler which is capable of moving along the columns and is intended for stacking loads in the racks. The stacker crane has a device for rearranging the piece loads on the handler, the device being installed in guides which are mounted on the frame parallel with the crosshead of the handler and which are practically of the same length as the crosshead, the load-carrying elements of the stacker crane being adapted for receiving the piece load from load-supporting platforms of the handler and capable of moving relative to said guides. The device is capable of rearranging the loads on the grab in compliance with a preset program for accumulating a lot of loads which improves utilization of the surface area of the handler.

A plurality of subsidiary transport paths are disposed crossing a main transport path, for transferring a workpiece. A stocker is disposed at each cross point between the main transport path and each of the subsidiary transport paths. The stocker transfers the workpiece to and from the main transport path and a corresponding subsidiary transport path and temporarily stocks the workpiece. A plurality of processing apparatuses are disposed corresponding to each of the subsidiary transport paths. The processing apparatus receives the workpiece transported on a corresponding subsidiary transport path, processes it, and returns it to the corresponding subsidiary transport path. An efficient transport as a whole can be realized.

In a commissioning process, variable lines are produced from articles of a variable supply of goods wherein each line consists of a selected number of groups consisting of a variable number of articles of the same type. A dispenser arrangement with a dispenser (D.sub.xyz) with an inlet matrix (SE) and an outlet matrix (SA) and buffers (P) between the matrices is used. Articles assembled into transport units with auxiliary packaging and/or transport material are supplied to the dispenser arrangement. The articles are individualized from the transport units of goods, the individual articles are fed through the inlet matrix into the buffers and transported in the buffers to the outlet matrix. From the outlet matrix articles are removed to collect lines of a predetermined combination and the collected articles are assembled to form line units using auxiliary packaging and/or transport material. The auxiliary packaging and/or transport material is supplied from the individualization step to the line assembly step. The dispenser (D.sub.xyz) is an assembly of x times y buffers having a capacity z. If at the inlet (SE) in each of the buffers always the same product is introduced, then in each plane from SE to SA the "profile" is the same and the buffer is ungrouped. However, as soon as the product type at the inlet SE changes, then the particular buffer is grouped, its capacity is subdivided into different capacities Z.sub.partial and there is a profile within the dispenser. It therefore becomes possible to always operate the dispenser with its maximum variety, which greatly increases the commissioning throughput.

An apparatus for presenting components stored in stackable trays, and removing empty trays having a base member having an input and an output portion; a discharge area; a shuttle member which removes empty storage trays and places them in the discharge area.