Article stacking machine

Claim 1

A machine for automatically stacking a plurality of articles comprising: a pair of horizontally spaced vertically extending conveyors each comprising a pair of spaced closed loop chains forming a continuous path and constructed of a plurality of flexibly interconnected lengths, upper and lower horizontally extending shafts each having a pair of pinion gears in driving engagement with said chains, a plurality of spaced hinges having one leaf of each hinge secured to one of said chains and the other leaf thereof free to move relative to said securing leaf through an arc greater than 90* , a plurality of article supporting members extending between said chains and secured to the free leaves of a pair of corresponding horizontally aligned hinges on said chains, and stop means secured to the fixed leaf of said hinge for retaining said free leaf and attached article supporting member in a horizontal position during at least a portion of the downward flight of said conveyors; means for continuously moving said conveyors simultaneously at the same velocity; means for supporting a stack base member between said conveyors at the lower portion thereof; means for feeding said articles one at a time to a position above said conveyors; mean for receiving said articles one at a time from said feeding means and for lowering said articles onto said conveyors such that said vertically extending conveyors continuously move said articles toward said stack base member; means for automatically removing said stack base member from between said conveyors when a stack of desired height haS been formed thereon and for simultaneously positioning an empty stack base member between said conveyors in place thereof while said vertically extending conveyors continuously receive said articles and continuously move said articles toward said stack base member; means for positioning said article supporting members in a horizontal position at the upper portion of said downward flight of said conveyors; a leg member integral with and extending from said article supporting members, and wherein said positioning means comprises at least one member affixed to said upper shaft for engagement with said leg members.