A handling unit (1) for palletizing, 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 (5) slidable along said rails (5) between an extended position in which it completely closes said aperture to enable it to support articles to be palletized, and a retracted position in which it opens said aperture to enable said articles to fall through said aperture; drive means (18, 19) for sliding said panel (7) along said rails (5).
A method for the quick palletization of objects (100), comprising the steps of: arranging objects (100) to be palletized organized on a collection plane (400); loading said objects (100) onto a flexible support plane (31) suitable for advancing in the direction of transfer of the objects (100) in a position substantially coplanar to the collection plane (400) and in continuation of it, so that the support plane (31) receives said objects without sliding; transferring said objects (100) from the support plane (31) to a flexible moving plane (21) that can slide coplanar to the support plane (31) so as to replace the latter (31) below the objects (100) whilst they remain stationary, in which the transfer takes place by synchronously activating the harmonious sliding of the support plane (31) and transfer plane (21) arranged in contact with each other in continuation of one another; taking the transfer plane (21) with the objects (100) on top above a pallet; making the transfer plane (21) slide under the objects (100), kept stationary, to transfer them onto the pallet.
