US3710532A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for stacking articles
Assignee: Lockley Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1971-08-02
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Granted: 1973-01-16
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Expires: 1991-08-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and a method for stacking materials, such as articles and separator sheets, include a platen movable between a sheet pickup position and an article pickup position. Means is provided to move the platen between the sheet pickup position and the article pickup position. A separator sheet pickup means is mounted on the platen for picking up at least one separator sheet from a supply of separator sheets upon actuation thereof. The apparatus also includes an article pickup means on the platen for picking up at least one article from an array of articles upon actuation thereof. The platen is operable to support in a stacked array both the articles and separator sheets simultaneously. When simultaneously supporting the articles and separator sheets, the platen is moved to an unloading position where the articles and separator sheets are simultaneously released from the platen onto a pallet.
Inventors
- 👤 N Smilek
- 👤 J Lockley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:22
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B35/00; B65B35/30; B65B35/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A stacking mechanism for stacking articles and separator sheets comprising a platen movable between an article pickup position, a separator sheet pickup position, and an unloading position, means for moving said platen between said positions, said platen having means thereon for picking up separator sheets at said separator sheet pickup position and articles at said article pickup position and for supporting the articles and separator sheets thereon in a stacked array, and means for releasing said stacked array at the unloading station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A stacking mechanism for stacking articles and separator sheets comprising a platen movable between an article pickup position, a separator sheet pickup position, and an unloading position, means for moving said platen between said positions, said platen having means thereon for picking up separator sheets at said separator sheet pickup position and articles at said article pickup position and for supporting the articles and separator sheets thereon in a stacked array, and means for releasing said stacked array at the unloading station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A stacking mechanism as defined in claim 1 and further including means supporting said platen for vertical movement to pick up articles and separator sheets and to deposit said stacked array.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A stacking mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said platen includes a platelike member which presses and thereby smooths a separator sheet prior to pickup thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A stacking mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said article pickup means includes means for creating a magnetic field having sufficient strength to pick up articles on said platen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
A stacking mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said platen includes a member against which said one article is attracted by said magnetic field thereon, and means for moving said member relative to said means for creating said magnetic field between a first position wherein said one article is a first predetermined distance from said means for creating said magnetic field whereby the article is picked up and a second position wherein said one article is a second predetermined distance from said means for creating a magnetic field wherein the article is released.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
113 words
A stacking mechanism for stacking articles and separator sheets comprising a platen pivotal between a sheet pickup position and an article pickup position, means supporting said platen for said pivotal movement between said positions, a separator sheet pickup means on said platen for picking up at least one separator sheet from a supply of separator sheets upon actuation thereof when said platen is in the separator sheet pickup position, article pickup means on said platen for picking up at least one article from an array of articles when said platen is in said article pickup position, means for effecting unloading of said platen, and means operable to pivot said platen between said positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
113 words
A stacking mechanism for stacking articles and separator sheets comprising a platen pivotal between a sheet pickup position and an article pickup position, means supporting said platen for said pivotal movement between said positions, a separator sheet pickup means on said platen for picking up at least one separator sheet from a supply of separator sheets upon actuation thereof when said platen is in the separator sheet pickup position, article pickup means on said platen for picking up at least one article from an array of articles when said platen is in said article pickup position, means for effecting unloading of said platen, and means operable to pivot said platen between said positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A stacking mechanism for stacking articles and separator sheets as defined in claim 6 further including means for moving said platen to press and thereby smooth a separator sheet before picking up said separator sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A stacking mechanism for stacking articles and separator sheets as defined in claim 6 wherein said separator sheet pickup means includes means for connecting a source of vacuum to a pickup surface of said platen, said separator sheet pickup means being actuated to pick up a separator sheet upon a vacuum being applied to the pickup surface of the platen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A stacking mechanism for stacking articles and separator sheets as defined in claim 6 wherein said article pickup means includes means for creating a magnetic field having sufficient strength to pick up articles on said platen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
A stacking mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein said platen includes a member against which said one article is attracted by said magnetic field thereon, and means for moving said member relative to said means for creating said magnetic field between a first position wherein said one article is a first predetermined distance from said means for creating said magnetic field whereby the article is picked up and a second position wherein said one article is a second predetermined distance from said means for creating a magnetic field wherein the article is released.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A stacking mechanism for stacking articles and separator sheets as defined in claim 6 wherein said article pickup means includes means for connecting a source of vacuum to said platen for picking up said one article so that said one article is supported on said platen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A stacking mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said article pickup means and said separator sheet pickup means are located on the platen so as to support the separator sheet and articles thereon in a stacked array, and said platen has an unloading position at which the separator sheet and articles are unloaded therefrom.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for alternately stacking articles and separator sheets comPrising the steps of moving a platen to a separator sheet pickup position, picking up a separator sheet with the platen, moving the platen to an article pickup position, picking up at least one article from an array of articles with the platen, supporting the article and separator sheet in a stacked array by the platen, moving the platen to an unloading position while supporting the article and separator sheet in the stacked array, and releasing the stacked array supported by the platen at the unloading position.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for alternately stacking articles and separator sheets comPrising the steps of moving a platen to a separator sheet pickup position, picking up a separator sheet with the platen, moving the platen to an article pickup position, picking up at least one article from an array of articles with the platen, supporting the article and separator sheet in a stacked array by the platen, moving the platen to an unloading position while supporting the article and separator sheet in the stacked array, and releasing the stacked array supported by the platen at the unloading position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for alternately stacking articles and separator sheets as defined in claim 13 wherein the separator sheet is picked up by the platen before any article is picked up thereby.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for alternately stacking articles and separator sheets as defined in claim 13 which includes the step of exerting pressure between the platen and the separator sheet to smooth the separator sheet before the step of picking up the separator sheet with the platen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-16 | 1976-07-17 | 1977-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-16 | 1980-07-17 | 1981-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-16 | 1984-07-17 | 1985-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |