US3669448A — Sheet feeding and stacking apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 344 words

Apparatus for stacking a series of sheet-like articles selectively into two or more groups spaced along a given path to and over which the articles are fed in spaced-apart relation comprising in combination, 1. two or more stacking bins spaced apart along, and located below, said path to receive said articles; 2. support means for supporting said articles in a flatwise condition as they are moved along said path and selectively diverting them into alternate ones of said stacking bins, and including a. substantially flat, stationary tables spaced apart along said path and whose top surfaces define said path; b. a diverter located ahead of each stacking bin and in the spaCe between two adjacent tables and arranged to move between an inoperative position, wherein it spans the gap between two adjacent tables and forms a part of said path, and an operative position, wherein it is inclined downwardly from said path to divert an article moving along said path into a stacking bin immediately adjacent thereto; c. means for selectively moving each of said diverters between their inoperative and operative positions; 3. means for positively engaging and moving the articles individually throughout said entire path when said diverters are in their inoperative positions and until the trailing edge of a diverted article passes the trailing edge of the stacking bin to which it is diverted when one of said diverters is moved to its operative position, and including a. a plurality of pusher fingers; b. means for moving said pusher fingers in succession behind, and in substantially perpendicular relation to, the trailing edge of successive articles as they enter said path and moving them along said path to push the article across said support means; and c. means for successively lowering and raising said pusher fingers relative to the article engaged thereby as they approach and reach, respectively, a stacking bin to maintain said pusher fingers in pushing engagement with said article up to the time it is deposited in said stacking bin or is moved along said path across said stacking bin.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 344 words

Apparatus for stacking a series of sheet-like articles selectively into two or more groups spaced along a given path to and over which the articles are fed in spaced-apart relation comprising in combination, 1. two or more stacking bins spaced apart along, and located below, said path to receive said articles; 2. support means for supporting said articles in a flatwise condition as they are moved along said path and selectively diverting them into alternate ones of said stacking bins, and including a. substantially flat, stationary tables spaced apart along said path and whose top surfaces define said path; b. a diverter located ahead of each stacking bin and in the spaCe between two adjacent tables and arranged to move between an inoperative position, wherein it spans the gap between two adjacent tables and forms a part of said path, and an operative position, wherein it is inclined downwardly from said path to divert an article moving along said path into a stacking bin immediately adjacent thereto; c. means for selectively moving each of said diverters between their inoperative and operative positions; 3. means for positively engaging and moving the articles individually throughout said entire path when said diverters are in their inoperative positions and until the trailing edge of a diverted article passes the trailing edge of the stacking bin to which it is diverted when one of said diverters is moved to its operative position, and including a. a plurality of pusher fingers; b. means for moving said pusher fingers in succession behind, and in substantially perpendicular relation to, the trailing edge of successive articles as they enter said path and moving them along said path to push the article across said support means; and c. means for successively lowering and raising said pusher fingers relative to the article engaged thereby as they approach and reach, respectively, a stacking bin to maintain said pusher fingers in pushing engagement with said article up to the time it is deposited in said stacking bin or is moved along said path across said stacking bin.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 130 words

support means for supporting said articles in a flatwise condition as they are moved along said path and selectively diverting them into alternate ones of said stacking bins, and including a. substantially flat, stationary tables spaced apart along said path and whose top surfaces define said path; b. a diverter located ahead of each stacking bin and in the spaCe between two adjacent tables and arranged to move between an inoperative position, wherein it spans the gap between two adjacent tables and forms a part of said path, and an operative position, wherein it is inclined downwardly from said path to divert an article moving along said path into a stacking bin immediately adjacent thereto; c. means for selectively moving each of said diverters between their inoperative and operative positions;

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 130 words

support means for supporting said articles in a flatwise condition as they are moved along said path and selectively diverting them into alternate ones of said stacking bins, and including a. substantially flat, stationary tables spaced apart along said path and whose top surfaces define said path; b. a diverter located ahead of each stacking bin and in the spaCe between two adjacent tables and arranged to move between an inoperative position, wherein it spans the gap between two adjacent tables and forms a part of said path, and an operative position, wherein it is inclined downwardly from said path to divert an article moving along said path into a stacking bin immediately adjacent thereto; c. means for selectively moving each of said diverters between their inoperative and operative positions;

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 168 words

Stacking apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said pusher fingers comprises a driven endless conveyor one reach of which is above and substantially parallel to said path and moves in an article-feeding direction relative to said path; means for maintaining said pusher fingers in spaced relation along said conveyor so that as said pusher fingers enter and pass along said one reach of the endless conveyor successive ones thereof move in succession in behind the trailing edge of successive articles as they enter said path and push the articles along said path, and wherein said means for successively lowering and raising said pusher fingers comprises guide means in said one reach of the conveyor for directing that portion of the conveyor approaching a stacking bin downward in a direction substantially parallel to the diverter when in its operative position and quickly raising said conveyor at the point in said one reach where a pushing finger reaches the trailing edge of a stacking bin.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 129 words

support means for supporting said articles in a flatwise condition as they are moved along said path and selectively diverting them into alternate ones of said stacking bins, and including a. substantially flat, stationary tables spaced apart along said path and whose top surfaces define said path; b. a diverter located ahead of each stacking bin in the space between two adjacent tables and arranged to move between an inoperative position, wherein it spans the gap between two spaced tables and forms a part of said path, and an operative position, wherein it is inclined downwardly from said path to divert an article moving along said path into a stacking bin immediately adjacent thereto; c. means for selectively moving each of said diverters between their inoperative and operative positions;

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 129 words

support means for supporting said articles in a flatwise condition as they are moved along said path and selectively diverting them into alternate ones of said stacking bins, and including a. substantially flat, stationary tables spaced apart along said path and whose top surfaces define said path; b. a diverter located ahead of each stacking bin in the space between two adjacent tables and arranged to move between an inoperative position, wherein it spans the gap between two spaced tables and forms a part of said path, and an operative position, wherein it is inclined downwardly from said path to divert an article moving along said path into a stacking bin immediately adjacent thereto; c. means for selectively moving each of said diverters between their inoperative and operative positions;

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 128 words

means for supporting said articles in a flatwise condition as they are moved along said path and selectively diverting them into alternate ones of said stacking bins, and including a. substantially flat, stationary tables spaced along said path and whose top surfaces define said path; b. a diverter located ahead of each stacking bin and in the space between two adjacent tables and arranged to move between an inoperative position, wherein it spans the gap between two adjacent tables and forms a part of said path, and an operative position, wherein it is inclined downwardly from said path to divert an article moving along said path into a stacking bin immediately adjacent thereto, c. means for selectively moving each of said diverters between its inoperative and operative positions,

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 128 words

means for supporting said articles in a flatwise condition as they are moved along said path and selectively diverting them into alternate ones of said stacking bins, and including a. substantially flat, stationary tables spaced along said path and whose top surfaces define said path; b. a diverter located ahead of each stacking bin and in the space between two adjacent tables and arranged to move between an inoperative position, wherein it spans the gap between two adjacent tables and forms a part of said path, and an operative position, wherein it is inclined downwardly from said path to divert an article moving along said path into a stacking bin immediately adjacent thereto, c. means for selectively moving each of said diverters between its inoperative and operative positions,

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 147 words

support means for sUpporting said articles in a flatwise condition as they are moved along said path and selectively diverting them into alternate ones of said stacking bins, and including a. substantially flat, stationary tables spaced apart along said path and whose top surfaces define said path, b. a diverter located ahead of each bin and in the space between two adjacent tables and arranged to move between an inoperative position, wherein it spans the gap between two spaced tables and forms a part of said path, and an operative position, wherein it is inclined downwardly from said path to divert an article moving along said path into a stacking bin immediately adjacent thereto and support said article while it is being diverted and until it is directly above said stacking bin; c. means for selectively moving each of said diverters between their inoperative and operative positions;

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 147 words

support means for sUpporting said articles in a flatwise condition as they are moved along said path and selectively diverting them into alternate ones of said stacking bins, and including a. substantially flat, stationary tables spaced apart along said path and whose top surfaces define said path, b. a diverter located ahead of each bin and in the space between two adjacent tables and arranged to move between an inoperative position, wherein it spans the gap between two spaced tables and forms a part of said path, and an operative position, wherein it is inclined downwardly from said path to divert an article moving along said path into a stacking bin immediately adjacent thereto and support said article while it is being diverted and until it is directly above said stacking bin; c. means for selectively moving each of said diverters between their inoperative and operative positions;

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 54 words

means for positively engaging and moving the articles individually throughout their entire path when said diverters are in their inoperative position and until the trailing edge of a diverted article passes the trailing edge of the stacking bin to which it is diverted when one of said diverters is moved to its operative position;

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 54 words

means for positively engaging and moving the articles individually throughout their entire path when said diverters are in their inoperative position and until the trailing edge of a diverted article passes the trailing edge of the stacking bin to which it is diverted when one of said diverters is moved to its operative position;

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 54 words

means for positively engaging and moving the articles individually throughout said entire path when said diverters are in their inoperative position and until the trailing edge of a diverted article passed the trailing edge of the stacking bin to which it is diverted when one of said diverters is moved to its operative position;

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 54 words

means for positively engaging and moving the articles individually throughout said entire path when said diverters are in their inoperative position and until the trailing edge of a diverted article passed the trailing edge of the stacking bin to which it is diverted when one of said diverters is moved to its operative position;

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 55 words

means for positively engaging and moving the articles individually throughout said entire path when said diverters are in their inoperative position and until the trailing edge of a diverted article passes the trailing edge of the stacking bin to which it is diverted when one of said diverters is moved to its operative position; and

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 55 words

means for positively engaging and moving the articles individually throughout said entire path when said diverters are in their inoperative position and until the trailing edge of a diverted article passes the trailing edge of the stacking bin to which it is diverted when one of said diverters is moved to its operative position; and

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 192 words

Stacking apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for mounting said pusher fingers along said conveyor comprises a plurality of rods rotatably mounted at spaced points along said conveyor with their axis extending transversely of and substantially parallel to said path, one or more of said pusher fingers fixed to each rod to extend substantially at right angles to the axis thereof, a cam follower fixed to and extending at right angles from each of said rods, and an endless stationary cam path substantially concentric to said endless conveyor and engaged by a portion of said cam follower to rotatably position said rods so that the pusher fingers connected thereto remain at substantially right angles to, and project away from, the conveyor throughout the path of travel of said conveyor, that portion of said cam path controlling the pivotal movement of said rods as they move along said one reach of the conveyor so shaped that it maintains said pusher fingers substantially perpendicular to an article engaged thereby as the pusher fingers move up and down relative to an engaged article as dictated by said guide means for the conveyor.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 161 words

means for positively engaging and moving the articles individually throughout said entire path when said diverters are in their inoperative positions and until the trailing edge of a diverted article passes the trailing edge of the stacking bin to which it is diverted when one of said diverters is moved to its operative position, and including a. a plurality of pusher fingers; b. means for moving said pusher fingers in succession behind, and in substantially perpendicular relation to, the trailing edge of successive articles as they enter said path and moving them along said path to push the article across said support means; and c. means for successively lowering and raising said pusher fingers relative to the article engaged thereby as they approach and reach, respectively, a stacking bin to maintain said pusher fingers in pushing engagement with said article up to the time it is deposited in said stacking bin or is moved along said path across said stacking bin.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 161 words

means for positively engaging and moving the articles individually throughout said entire path when said diverters are in their inoperative positions and until the trailing edge of a diverted article passes the trailing edge of the stacking bin to which it is diverted when one of said diverters is moved to its operative position, and including a. a plurality of pusher fingers; b. means for moving said pusher fingers in succession behind, and in substantially perpendicular relation to, the trailing edge of successive articles as they enter said path and moving them along said path to push the article across said support means; and c. means for successively lowering and raising said pusher fingers relative to the article engaged thereby as they approach and reach, respectively, a stacking bin to maintain said pusher fingers in pushing engagement with said article up to the time it is deposited in said stacking bin or is moved along said path across said stacking bin.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

A stacking apparatus as defined in claim 3, including article hold-down means connected with said rods for engaging the top of an article to hold it down as it is being pushed along said path by said fingers.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 172 words

article-supporting means associated with at least one of said stacking bins and movable in synchronism with the article moving means between an operative position, wherein it will horizontally support an article fed into said bin from the time the leading edge of the article enters the bin until the trailing edge enters the bin, and an inoperative position, wherein it moves from beneath an article fed into the bin to allow the article to drop down into the bin in a substantially horizontal condition; said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of blades symmetrically arranged to rotate about a vertical axis beyond the leading edge of the associated bin and in a plane immediately below the path of an article entering said bin, each of said blades providing an arcuate, substantially horizontal support surface for an article entering said bin from the time it enters the bin and until its trailing edge enters the bin at which time it passes from beneath the article to allow it to drop into the bin.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 172 words

article-supporting means associated with at least one of said stacking bins and movable in synchronism with the article moving means between an operative position, wherein it will horizontally support an article fed into said bin from the time the leading edge of the article enters the bin until the trailing edge enters the bin, and an inoperative position, wherein it moves from beneath an article fed into the bin to allow the article to drop down into the bin in a substantially horizontal condition; said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of blades symmetrically arranged to rotate about a vertical axis beyond the leading edge of the associated bin and in a plane immediately below the path of an article entering said bin, each of said blades providing an arcuate, substantially horizontal support surface for an article entering said bin from the time it enters the bin and until its trailing edge enters the bin at which time it passes from beneath the article to allow it to drop into the bin.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 48 words

a spindle extending upwardly from the bottom of at least one of said stacking bins of a shape and size to pass through the aperture in the limp end portion of said articles as they are dropped into said bin to control the stacking of said articles; and

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 48 words

a spindle extending upwardly from the bottom of at least one of said stacking bins of a shape and size to pass through the aperture in the limp end portion of said articles as they are dropped into said bin to control the stacking of said articles; and

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 43 words

at least one of said stacking bins having a spindle extending vertically upward from the bottom thereof of a shape and size to pass through the aperture in said articles as they are dropped into said bin to control the stacking thereof; and

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 43 words

at least one of said stacking bins having a spindle extending vertically upward from the bottom thereof of a shape and size to pass through the aperture in said articles as they are dropped into said bin to control the stacking thereof; and

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 60 words

means located between the top of said stacking bins and the top of said spindle for collecting a plurality of said articles and supporting them in flatwise stacked relation with the aperture thereon in vertical alignment with the top of said spindle and then dropping them as a group to facilitate directing the aperture in said articles over said spindle.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 60 words

means located between the top of said stacking bins and the top of said spindle for collecting a plurality of said articles and supporting them in flatwise stacked relation with the aperture thereon in vertical alignment with the top of said spindle and then dropping them as a group to facilitate directing the aperture in said articles over said spindle.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 88 words

end portion supporting means above said spindle movable between an operative position, wherein it will horizontally support the end portion of an article fed into the bin until the trailing edge enters the bin, and the aperture in the end portion of the article is in vertical alignment with said spindle, and an inoperative position, wherein it moves from beneath the end portion of the article to allow it to drop into the bin in a substantially horizontal condition so that the aperture therein will engage said spindle.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 88 words

end portion supporting means above said spindle movable between an operative position, wherein it will horizontally support the end portion of an article fed into the bin until the trailing edge enters the bin, and the aperture in the end portion of the article is in vertical alignment with said spindle, and an inoperative position, wherein it moves from beneath the end portion of the article to allow it to drop into the bin in a substantially horizontal condition so that the aperture therein will engage said spindle.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 112 words

A stacking apparatus as defined in claim 1, including an article-supporting member associated with at least one of said stacking bins and movable in synchronism with tHe movement of said pusher fingers between an operative position, wherein it will provide a substantially horizontal support for an article fed into said bin from the time the leading edge of the article enters the bin and engages said article supporting member until the trailing edge of the article enters the bin, and an inoperative position, wherein it moves from beneath an article fed into the bin and supported thereby to allow the article to drop down into the bin in a substantially horizontal condition.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 99 words

A stacking apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said article-supporting means comprises a disc rotatable about a vertical axis beyond the leading edge of the bin it is associated with and in a plane immediately below the path of entrance of an article entering said bin, said disc cut away to provide at least one arcuate horizontal support surface for an article entering said bin from the time it enters the bin and until its trailing edge enters the bin and at which time it passes from beneath the article to allow it to drop into the bin.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus for stacking a series of sheet-like articles selectively into two or more groups spaced along a given path to and over which the articles are fed in spaced-apart relation comprising in combination,

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus for stacking a series of sheet-like articles selectively into two or more groups spaced along a given path to and over which the articles are fed in spaced-apart relation comprising in combination,

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 34 words

A stacking apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which the leading portion of each blade is bent to form a descending spiral beneath which the article freed from the preceding blade must fall.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 211 words

A stacking apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said sheet-like articles to be stacked vary in density lengthwise thereof and include an end portion which is quite limp in the lengthwise direction and is not supported by said artiCle-supporting means; and including an end portion supporting means movable between an operative position, wherein it will horizontally support the end portion of an article fed into said bin from the time the leading end thereof enters the bin until the trailing edge enters the bin, and an inoperative position, wherein it moves from beneath the end portion of an article fed into the bin to allow it to drop into the bin in a substantially horizontal condition; and means for moving said end portion supporting means between its operative and inoperative positions in synchronism with the movement of said article supporting means between its operative and inoperative positions so that said end portion will be supported in substantially the same plane as the remainder of the article as the article is fed into a bin and will be released at the same time as the remainder of the article is released by said article-supporting means to cause the entire article to drop down into the bin in a substantially horizontal condition.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 62 words

Apparatus for stacking a series of sheet-like articles selectively into two or more groups spaced along a given path to and over which the articles are fed in spaced-apart relation, said sheet-like articles varying in density lengthwise thereof and including an end portion which is quite limp in the lengthwise direction and which portion is provided with an aperture, comprising in combination

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 62 words

Apparatus for stacking a series of sheet-like articles selectively into two or more groups spaced along a given path to and over which the articles are fed in spaced-apart relation, said sheet-like articles varying in density lengthwise thereof and including an end portion which is quite limp in the lengthwise direction and which portion is provided with an aperture, comprising in combination

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 58 words

Apparatus for stacking a series of sheet-like articles, which vary in density lengthwise thereof and include an end portion which is quite limp in the lengthwise direction and is provided with an aperture, selectively into two or more groups spaced along a given path to and over which the articles are fed in spaced-apart relation comprising in combination,

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 58 words

Apparatus for stacking a series of sheet-like articles, which vary in density lengthwise thereof and include an end portion which is quite limp in the lengthwise direction and is provided with an aperture, selectively into two or more groups spaced along a given path to and over which the articles are fed in spaced-apart relation comprising in combination,

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 83 words

A stacking apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said article collecting means comprises blade members movable relative to opposite walls of said bin between an operative position, wherein they extend into the bin to engage the underside of an article fed into the bin and limit its fall into the bin, and an inoperative position, wherein they are withdrawn from said bin to release any articles supported thereby; and means for simultaneously moving said blade members between their inoperative and operative positions.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-06-13	1975-12-13	1976-06-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-06-13	1979-12-13	1980-06-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-06-13	1983-12-13	1984-06-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Sheet feeding and stacking apparatus

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