US3640407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for handling books
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1969-06-17
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Granted: 1972-02-08
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Expires: 1989-06-17
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus whereby books delivered on-edge, spine-up, as by a building-in machine, are alternately tipped in opposite directions on a continuously operating belt conveyor, funneled into alignment and then stacked with the spine joints of adjacent books at opposite sides of the stack and offset to prevent crushing thereof. The progressively formed stacks are progressively lowered on a photocell-controlled elevator, jogged, and then removed to a delivery conveyor while the building of the succeeding stack is begun on an auxiliary retractable platform for subsequent transfer to the elevator.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank J Anastasio
- 👤 Clinton F Brundage
- 👤 Clarence P Strakosch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:18
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G57/00; B65G57/02; B65G57/08; B65G57/081; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/102; Y10S414/103; Y10S414/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for stacking books which comprises means for feeding longitudinally a plurality of similar books in succession generally along a path and for disposing the books flat in first lateral positions with successive books substantially offset laterally in opposite directions from the longitudinal center line of such path, means for moving one set of alternate books, as the books travel longitudinally, laterally toward the other set of alternate books so that the books lie in second lateral positions wherein there is decreased lateral offset between successive books, and means for discharging the books in such second lateral positions into an at least generally vertical stack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for stacking books which comprises means for feeding longitudinally a plurality of similar books in succession generally along a path and for disposing the books flat in first lateral positions with successive books substantially offset laterally in opposite directions from the longitudinal center line of such path, means for moving one set of alternate books, as the books travel longitudinally, laterally toward the other set of alternate books so that the books lie in second lateral positions wherein there is decreased lateral offset between successive books, and means for discharging the books in such second lateral positions into an at least generally vertical stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said one set of alternate books laterally toward the other set of books comprises guide means engaged by said one set of books and moving them progressively laterally inwardly toward the other set of books as the books travel longitudinally.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said one set of alternate books laterally toward the other set of books comprises means for moving alternate books as they travel longitudinally laterally inwardly in opposite directions toward the longitudinal center line of said path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1, comprising means for initially disposing the books on edge in end-to-end alignment along said path of travel, and wherein the means for disposing the books in said first lateral positions comprises means for tipping successive books in opposite directions about their lower edges as they travel longitudinally along said path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 4, comprising means for detecting the approach of each book toward the tipping means, and means actuated by the detecting means controlling the tipping means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for moving said one set of alternate books laterally toward the other set of books comprises guide means on each side of said path, each guide means being engaged by the respective set of books and progressively moving them laterally inwardly toward the center line of said path as the books travel longitudinally.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for tipping successive books in opposite directions from their initial on-edge positions comprises a member movable laterally of said path, and means for reciprocating said member so that it engages opposite sides of the upper portion of successive books as the books travel therepast.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1 wherein the books have back covers and caseboards connected by spine joints to the back covers, the books in their initial on-edge position have their back covers disposed uppermost, the books in said first lateral positions thereof have the spine joints of the sets of alternate books disposed laterally outwardly, and wherein the means for moving one set of alternate books laterally toward the other set of alternate books is so constructed and arranged that the outer free edges of the caseboards of each book in said second lateral position thereof falls somewhat short of overlying the spine joints of each adjacent book in the stack.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1 comprising means for stopping the longitudinal forward travel of books in their second lateral position and sequentially adding them to the top of said stack by dropping them onto the stack after their forward travel has been stopped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 9, comprising means for retaining the bottom book of the stack at a first, upper fixed level while continuing to pile books on the top of such stack, and means for subsequently progressively lowering the bottom of the stack while piling additional books on the top of the stack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 10 comprising means for terminating the lowering of the bottom book in the stack at a second, lower fixed level, means for pressing the opposite sides of the thus lowered stack laterally inwardly toward each other to a point at which the alternate books lie in third lateral positions in which the alternate books in one set thereof are slightly offset laterally from the books in the other set thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 10 wherein the books have back covers and caseboards connected by spine joints to the back covers, the back covers of the books in both sets of alternate books lie laterally outwardly of the free edges of the caseboards of the contiguous books in the stack, and comprising means for terminating the lowering of the bottom book in the stack at a second, lower fixed level, and means for thereafter pressing the backs of the books on opposite sides of the thus lowered stack laterally inwardly toward each other to a point at which the outer free edges of the caseboards of each book fall slightly short of overlying the spine joints of each contiguous book in the stack.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 9 wherein the book feeding means feeds them continuously forwardly until they are stopped to be dropped onto the top of the first recited stack, including means for retaining the bottom book of the first stack at a first, upper fixed level that comprises at least one separator blade which supports the first stack while books are continually piled on the top of the first stack, means comprising an elevator located below the separator blade for lowering a previously formed second stack of books disposed below the first stack to a lowered position wherein the lowest book of the second stack lies at a second, lower fixed level, and means for discharging the thus lowered second stack of books from beneath the first stack, thereafter raising the elevator to a position close to and below the separator blade, and retracting the separator blade to transfer the first stack of books to the elevator where they form the lower portion of a subsequent second stack.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 13, comprising means for moving the books in the second stack endwise against stop means so as to end align the books in the second stack in a longitudinal direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 14 wherein the means for end aligning the books in the second stack is so constructed and arranged that such end alignment takes place while the second stack is moving to its lowered position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 13, comprising means for pressing the opposed side edges of the books in the second stack laterally inwardly toward each other to a point at which the alternate books lie in third lateral positions in which the alternate books in one set thereof are slightly offset laterally outwardly from the books in the other set thereof, so as to align the laterally outer edges of the books in the respective sets thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 16, wherein the means for edge aligning the sets of books in the sEcond stack is so constructed and arranged that such edge alignment takes place as the second stack is moving to its lowered position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 17 comprising means for end aligning the books in said second stack while such second stack is moving to its lowered position including means for pressing the forward ends of the books against retractable stop means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 18 wherein the means for end aligning the books in the second stack and the means for edge aligning the sets of books are so constructed and arranged that such two aligning operations take place in quick succession.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
126 words
Book stacking apparatus comprising laterally retractible platform means, an elevator below said platform means, means for feeding books to form a preliminary stack on said platform means and thereafter to form a complete stack on said elevator, means for counting the books so fed, means responsive to said counting means for retracting said platform means to transfer the preliminary stack to the elevator, means successively responsive to the stack level and to said counting means for moving the elevator to its lowermost position, means responsive to the counting means for end jogging the book stack on the elevator, means responsive to the end jogging means for side jogging the book stack, and means responsive to said side jogging means for removing said stack from the elevator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
126 words
Book stacking apparatus comprising laterally retractible platform means, an elevator below said platform means, means for feeding books to form a preliminary stack on said platform means and thereafter to form a complete stack on said elevator, means for counting the books so fed, means responsive to said counting means for retracting said platform means to transfer the preliminary stack to the elevator, means successively responsive to the stack level and to said counting means for moving the elevator to its lowermost position, means responsive to the counting means for end jogging the book stack on the elevator, means responsive to the end jogging means for side jogging the book stack, and means responsive to said side jogging means for removing said stack from the elevator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2602554A
Cited
US3477591A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |