US3712487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for stacking flat surface-like objects
Assignee: Ferag AG
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Filing: 1971-02-19
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1991-02-19
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed an apparatus for stacking substantially flat surface-like objects, particularly paper products, comprising at least one worm-like conveying element driven to rotate about its longitudinal axis and extending between an infeed station and a delivery station for the objects. According to an important aspect of the invention, the conveyor element is constructed as a spiral or screw surface traveling about a cylindrical hollow compartment.
Inventors
- 👤 J Eberle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:26
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/38; B65H29/42; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/19; B65H2701/1932
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
An apparatus for stacking flat objects, especially paper products, comprising at least one worm-like conveying element driven to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, an infeed station for the objects, a delivery station for the objects, said conveying element extending between said infeed station and said delivery station, said conveying element being in the form of a helicoid surface which extends about a cylindrical hollow space, a slide track disposed opposite said infeed station and extending lengthwise adjacent said conveying element, said slide track extending along the entire length of said conveying element and serving to guide the objects which are to be stacked, an impact rail arranged in said hollow space and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conveying element, said impact rail and said slide track serving to guIde two side edges of the objects which are to be stacked, a driven conveyor means mounted on said slide track for movement transversely to said conveyor elements, and said driven conveyor means serving to direct the incoming objects against said impact rail.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
An apparatus for stacking flat objects, especially paper products, comprising at least one worm-like conveying element driven to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, an infeed station for the objects, a delivery station for the objects, said conveying element extending between said infeed station and said delivery station, said conveying element being in the form of a helicoid surface which extends about a cylindrical hollow space, a slide track disposed opposite said infeed station and extending lengthwise adjacent said conveying element, said slide track extending along the entire length of said conveying element and serving to guide the objects which are to be stacked, an impact rail arranged in said hollow space and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conveying element, said impact rail and said slide track serving to guIde two side edges of the objects which are to be stacked, a driven conveyor means mounted on said slide track for movement transversely to said conveyor elements, and said driven conveyor means serving to direct the incoming objects against said impact rail.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus for stacking flat objects, especially paper products, comprising a first worm-like conveying element driven to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, an infeed station for the objects, a delivery station for the objects, said first conveying element extending between said infeed station and said delivery station, said first conveying element being in the form of a helicoid surface which extends about a cylindrical hollow space, a slide track disposed opposite said infeed station and extending lengthwise adjacent said conveying element, said slide track extending along the entire length of said first conveying element and serving to guide the objects which are to be stacked, a second worm-like conveying element driven to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, one of said conveying elements being left-handed and the other of said conveying elements being right-handed, said second conveying element being in the form of a helicoid surface which extends about a cylindrical hollow surface, an impact rail arranged in each hollow space and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the associated conveying element, both of said impact rails serving to guide two oppositely situated side edges of the objects which are to be stacked, a driven conveyor means mounted on said slide track for movement transversely to said conveying elements, and said driven conveyor means serving to direct the incoming objects against one of said impact rails.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus for stacking flat objects, especially paper products, comprising a first worm-like conveying element driven to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, an infeed station for the objects, a delivery station for the objects, said first conveying element extending between said infeed station and said delivery station, said first conveying element being in the form of a helicoid surface which extends about a cylindrical hollow space, a slide track disposed opposite said infeed station and extending lengthwise adjacent said conveying element, said slide track extending along the entire length of said first conveying element and serving to guide the objects which are to be stacked, a second worm-like conveying element driven to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, one of said conveying elements being left-handed and the other of said conveying elements being right-handed, said second conveying element being in the form of a helicoid surface which extends about a cylindrical hollow surface, an impact rail arranged in each hollow space and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the associated conveying element, both of said impact rails serving to guide two oppositely situated side edges of the objects which are to be stacked, a driven conveyor means mounted on said slide track for movement transversely to said conveying elements, and said driven conveyor means serving to direct the incoming objects against one of said impact rails.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the pitch of the last winding of each of said conveying elements located at the region of said delivery station is less than the pitch of the remaining windings of said spiral surface defining said conveying elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the last winding of said conveying element approximately over the last 270* sector thereof possesses a pitch amounting to about 0* so as to provide a substantially flat supporting surface at the top of the conveying elements while they are rotating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the last winding of each of said conveying elements over the approximate last 270* sector of each has a pitch of about 0*, and the remaining portion of each of the last windings over the approximate first 90* sector of each has a greater pitch than the pitch of the remaining windings of said conveying elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the side of said spiral surface of each of said conveying elements which is effective for the conveying action is provided with a coating formed of a dry lubricant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2, further including an object blocking mechanism for controlling infeed of the objects to be stacked provided for said infeed station, said infeed station including a slide track leading to the operable zone of said conveying elements, and means for synchronously driving said object blocking mechanism with each of said conveying elements so that during each revolution of said conveying elements said slide track leading to the operable zone of said conveying element is briefly unblocked permitting an object to be released onto said conveying elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the pitch of the last winding of said conveying element located at the region of said delivery station is less than the pitch of the remaining windings of said spiral surface defining said conveying element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the last winding of said conveying element approximately over the last 270* sector thereof possesses a pitch amounting to about 0* so as to provide a substantially flat stack supporting surface at the top of the conveying element while it is rotating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the last winding of said conveying element over the last approximate 270* sector thereof has a pitch of about 0*, and the remaining sector of the last winding over the approximate first 90* thereof has a greater pitch than the pitch of the remaining windings of said conveying element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the side of said spiral surface of said conveying element which is effective for the conveying action is provided with a coating formed of a dry lubricant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including an object blocking mechanism for controlling infeed of the objects to be stacked provided for said infeed station, said infeed station including a slide track leading to the operable zone of said conveying element, and means for synchronously driving said object blocking mechanism with said conveying element so that during each revolution of said conveying element said slide track leading to the operable zone of said conveying element is briefly unblocked permitting an object to be released onto said conveying element.
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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 |