US3712186A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for forming stacks of a preselected number of blanks
Assignee: Beazer East Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-28
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1990-12-28
Abstract
Abstract A method of and apparatus for forming a stack of corrugated paperboard blanks of preselected number comprising the steps of depositing such blanks sequentially into a first hopper forming a stack thereof; advancing a group of blanks of preselected number from the bottom of the stack and advancing the same into a second hopper; raising the group in the second hopper a sufficient distance to permit entry of a second group of blanks being advanced from the first hopper beneath the raised group in the second hopper; continuing this sequence until a final stack of blanks of preselected number is formed in the second hopper; then removing the final stack of blanks from the second hopper; and thereafter forming another final stack of blanks in the second hopper in the same manner. The apparatus for performing the method includes a first hopper with a first advancing conveyor on the bottom thereof; a gate for preventing advancement of the blanks in the hopper and to define a throat with the conveyor; a squaring assembly for squaring the blanks against the gate; the conveyor including advancing fingers for periodically removing a group of a preselected number of blanks from the bottom of the stack; a second hopper having an upstanding pivotable gate assembly for preventing advancement of the blanks in the second hopper; a second conveyor forming the bottom of the second hopper on which are secured lifting fingers for periodically raising the group of blanks in the second hopper to permit entry of another group of blanks from the first hopper beneath the raised group in the second hopper; and means for pivoting the pivotable gate assembly to permit the second conveyor to remove the final stack of blanks in the second hopper.
Inventors
- 👤 A Lulie
- 👤 P Harper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:36
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H31/00; B65H31/34; B65H33/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of forming a final stack of blanks of preselected number comprising the steps of: depositing individual blanks sequentially into a first hopper thereby forming a first stack of such blanks therein; advancing a second stack of blanks of preselected number from the bottom of said first stack into a second hopper downstream from said first hopper; raising said second stack of blanks in said second hopper a sufficient distance to permit entry of a consecutive second stack of blanks advancing from said first hopper beneath the second stack of blanks then in said second hopper; continuing the foregoing steps until said final stack of blanks of preselected number is formed in said second hopper; and thereafter removing said final stack of blanks of preselected number from said second hopper.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of forming a final stack of blanks of preselected number comprising the steps of: depositing individual blanks sequentially into a first hopper thereby forming a first stack of such blanks therein; advancing a second stack of blanks of preselected number from the bottom of said first stack into a second hopper downstream from said first hopper; raising said second stack of blanks in said second hopper a sufficient distance to permit entry of a consecutive second stack of blanks advancing from said first hopper beneath the second stack of blanks then in said second hopper; continuing the foregoing steps until said final stack of blanks of preselected number is formed in said second hopper; and thereafter removing said final stack of blanks of preselected number from said second hopper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of counting the number of said second stacks of blanks advancing from said first hopper and removing said final stack when it contains a preselected number of said second stacks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of squaring said first stack of blanks in said first hopper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein raising said second stack of blanks in said second hopper comprises lifting the trailing edge of said second stack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of holding down said final stack during the formation thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of holding down said second stacks of blanks advancing from said first hopper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of maintaining the height of said first stack in said first hopper within predetermined limits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of stopping the formation of said final stack automatically in response to a jam in said second hopper.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of forming a final stack of blanks of preselected number comprising the steps of: feeding individual blanks sequentially onto a first conveyor; intercepting the flow of said blanks along said first conveyor for forming a first stack of blanks thereon; periodically advancing a second stack of blanks from the bottom of said first stack to a second conveyor downstream from said first conveyor; intercepting the advancement of said second stack along said second conveyor; lifting the trailing edge of said second stack on said second conveyor to define a space between said second stack and said second conveyor; advancing another said second stack of blanks from said first stack into said space for forming said final stack of blanks on said second conveyor consisting of said second stacks; and thereafter removing said final stack from said second conveyor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of forming a final stack of blanks of preselected number comprising the steps of: feeding individual blanks sequentially onto a first conveyor; intercepting the flow of said blanks along said first conveyor for forming a first stack of blanks thereon; periodically advancing a second stack of blanks from the bottom of said first stack to a second conveyor downstream from said first conveyor; intercepting the advancement of said second stack along said second conveyor; lifting the trailing edge of said second stack on said second conveyor to define a space between said second stack and said second conveyor; advancing another said second stack of blanks from said first stack into said space for forming said final stack of blanks on said second conveyor consisting of said second stacks; and thereafter removing said final stack from said second conveyor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9 further including the steps of counting the number of said second stacks formed on said second conveyor and discharging said final stack therefrom when it contains a preselected number of said blanks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9 wherein periodically advancing a second stack of blanks comprises periodically advancing a second stack consisting of five blanks from the bottom of said first stack.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for forming a final stack of blanks of preselected number, comprising: a first hopper means for receiving individual blanks sequentially deposited therein for forming a first stack of such blanks; advancing means for advancing a second stack of said blanks from the bottom of said first stack into a second hopper means downstream from said first hopper means; lifting means for raising said second stack of blanks in said second hopper means a sufficient distance to permit entry of a consecutive second stack of blanks advancing from said first hopper means beneath the second stack of blanks in said second hopper means to form said final stack; and discharge means for removing said final stack from said second hopper means, said discharge means being operable in response to said final stack attaining a preselected number of said second stacks of blanks consecutively entering said second hopper means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for forming a final stack of blanks of preselected number, comprising: a first hopper means for receiving individual blanks sequentially deposited therein for forming a first stack of such blanks; advancing means for advancing a second stack of said blanks from the bottom of said first stack into a second hopper means downstream from said first hopper means; lifting means for raising said second stack of blanks in said second hopper means a sufficient distance to permit entry of a consecutive second stack of blanks advancing from said first hopper means beneath the second stack of blanks in said second hopper means to form said final stack; and discharge means for removing said final stack from said second hopper means, said discharge means being operable in response to said final stack attaining a preselected number of said second stacks of blanks consecutively entering said second hopper means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further including squaring means for squaring said blanks in said first hopper means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further including counting means for counting the number of said second stacks of blanks advancing into said second hopper means, said discharge means operative in response to said counting means attaining a preselected number corresponding to the number of blanks in said final stack.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said lifting means is operative for lifting the trailing edge of said second stack of blanks in said second hopper.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further including holddown means for holding down said final stack during the formation thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further including intermediate holddown means for holding down consecutive ones of said second stacks of blanks advancing to said second hopper means from said first hopper means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further including height control means for maintaining the height of said first stack in said first hopper means within predetermined limits.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further including antijam means operative in response to a jam of said second stacks of blanks in said second hopper means for automatically stopping the formation of said final stack.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said first hopper means comprises: first conveyor means for supporting said first stack of said blanks; gate means adjacent the leading edge of said first stack; squaring means adjacent the trailing edge of said first stack for urging the blanks in said hopper against said gate means for squaring said blanks; and first side guide means adjacent the sides of said first stack for maintainIng lateral alignment thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said advancing means comprises: at least one advancing finger means attached to said first conveyor means and having an upright portion engageable with the trailing edge of a selected number of said blanks in said first stack for forming said second stacks of blanks during advancement of said finger means beneath said first stack in said first hopper means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said second hopper means comprises: second conveyor means for supporting said final stack; said discharge means including a pivotable gate means for intercepting the flow of said second stacks of blanks along said second conveyor means; first holddown means adjacent the trailing edge of said final stack for holding down the uppermost one of said second stacks of blanks advancing from said first hopper means; and second side guide means adjacent the sides of said final stack for maintaining lateral alignment thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said lifting means comprises: at least one lifting finger means attached to said second conveyor means and having a surface for lifting the trailing edge of the lowest of said second stack of blanks in said final stack to a height greater than the height of a second stack of blanks advancing from said first hopper means to permit entry thereof beneath said final stack, said surface being inclined from the trailing edge of said final stack upwardly toward said first hopper means for gradually lifting said lowest second stack of blanks.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said discharge means comprises: a second conveyor means for supporting said final stack; pivotable gate means for intercepting the flow of said second stacks of blanks advancing into said second hopper means; and control means operable in response to said final stack attaining a preselected number of blanks for pivoting said pivotable gate means to a substantially horizontal position, whereby said second conveyor means removes said final stack from said second hopper means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said squaring means comprises: a pivotable squaring plate means adjacent the trailing edge of said first stack for urging the blanks in said first hopper means against a gate means adjacent the leading edge of said first stack; and drive means for reciprocally pivoting said squaring plate means against said trailing edge.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said counting means comprises: an electrical limit switch means located along the path of advance of said second stacks of blanks from said first hopper means to said second hopper means operable in response to the advance of said second stacks of blanks along said path for supplying a signal to said discharge means corresponding to the number of said second stacks passing said switch means for operating said discharge means when a preselected number of said second stacks have been counted.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said holddown means comprises: a third conveyor means extending along the top of said second hopper means for exerting a vertically yielding holddown pressure against the top of said final stack during the formation thereof to prevent tilting of said final stack.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said intermediate holddown means comprises: a flexible band means extending along the path of advance of said second stacks of blanks between said first hopper means and said second hopper means for maintaining the height of said second stacks of blanks during advancement thereof from said first hopper means to said second hopper means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
117 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said height control means comprises: a first light sensitive control means for sensing the top of said first stack in said first hopper means at a maximum desired height; and a second light sensitive control means for sensing the toP of said first stack in said first hopper means at a minimum desired height, said first control means operative upon energization for increasing the speed of said advancing means for reducing the height of said first stack in said first hopper means, and said second control means operative upon energization for decreasing the speed of said advancing means for increasing the height of said first stack in said first hopper means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said antijam means comprises: a light sensitive control means for sensing the position of said discharge means and operative upon failure of said discharge means being in a predetermined position to stop operation of said discharge means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |