Open type stacking device

Claim 2

A stacking device, which automatically stacks materials such as letters, postcards or the like sequentially transported thereto by transporting means, comprising: transporting means having a terminal portion; a V-shape channel formed of two walls arranged so that the weight of the stacked materials therein is proportionally distributed on said two walls, said V-shape channel including a first portion disposed opposite to said terminal portion of said transporting means so as to receive and stack materials transported thereto by said transporting means and a second portion from which stacked materials may be removed; a plurality of conveyor means provided between said first and second portions to intermittently convey the stacked materials from said first portion to said second portion, said plurality of conveyor means being positioned in the respective planes of said two walls forming said V-shape channel; and means for guiding material initially received from said terminal portion of said transporting means into said first portion of said V-shape channel so that the opposite surfaces of the received material are positioned perpendicular to the planes of said two walls of said V-shape channel.

Claim 3

The stacking device of claim 1, in which each of said plurality of conveyor means is a conveyor belt driven intermittently.

Claim 4

The stacking device of claim 1, in which each of said plurality of conveyor means is a rotatable spiral shaft driven intermittently.

Claim 5

The stacking device of claim 1, in which said two walls of said V-shape channel intersect each other at an angle of approximately 90*, and said plurality of conveyor means are arranged in intersecting planes having an angle of intersection of 90*.

Claim 6

The stacking device of claim 1, in which said transporting means comprises: two conveyor belts for transporting materials and for delivering said transported materials into said first portion of said V-shape channel, said two conveyor belts being arranged in substantially parallel relation so that said transported materials are interposed therebetween; a plurality of roller means provided for each of said two conveyor belts for driving said conveyor belts, one of said plurality of roller means being disposed in said first portion and in parallel relation with one of said two walls of said V-shape channel so that material initially received from said two conveyor belts is delivered to obliquely abut said guide means and material subsequently received from said two conveyor belts is delivered to obliquely abut already stacked material thereby being guided into said first portion of said V-shape channel.

Claim 7

The stacking device of claim 1, in which said means for guiding is composed of one block plate which is slidable through said first portion of said V-shape channel, said plurality of conveyor means and said second portion of said V-shape channel.

Claim 8

The stacking device of claim 1, in which said first and second portions are formed of unitary construction having a communicating portion therebetween, said communicating portion including said conveyor means therein.

Claim 9

A stacking device for automatically stacking pieces of mail such as letters, postcards and the like sequentially transported thereto, comprising: displaceable transporting means for delivering pieces of mail; first and second angularly disposed walls forming a channel for the passage of stacked pieces of mail therethrough; said channel being substantially V-shaped and having a receiving portion positioned proximately of said displaceable transporting means for receiving delivered pieces of mail, a removal portion from which stacked pieces of mail are removed and an intermediate portion for transmitting stacked pieces of mail from saiD receiving portion to said removal portion; conveyor means disposed in said intermediate portion of said channel; slidable guide means positioned in said receiving portion of said channel for guiding initially received pieces of mail into a predetermined disposition in said receiving portion, such that a stack of pieces of mail is formed in said receiving portion wherein each piece of mail in said stack includes adjacent edges in abutting relationship with said first and second angularly disposed walls and each piece of mail is substantially perpendicular to each of said first and second walls; said slidable guide means being adapted to slide through said receiving and removal portions of said channel; and actuating means for sensing when the stack of pieces of mail in said receiving portion exceeds a predetermined size and for actuating said conveyor means to transmit stacked pieces of mail from said receiving portion to said removal portion such that said actuating means deactuates said conveyor means when said stack of pieces of mail in said receiving portion is reduced below said predetermined size.

Claim 10

A stacking device for automatically stacking pieces of mail such as letters, postcards and the like sequentially transported thereto, comprising: displaceable transporting means for delivering pieces of mail; first and second angularly disposed walls forming a channel for the passage of stacked pieces of mail therethrough; said channel being substantially V-shaped and having a receiving portion positioned proximately of said displaceable transporting means for receiving delivered pieces of mail, a removal portion from which stacked pieces of mail are removed and an intermediate portion for transmitting stacked pieces of mail from saiD receiving portion to said removal portion; conveyor means disposed in said intermediate portion of said channel; slidable guide means positioned in said receiving portion of said channel for guiding initially received pieces of mail into a predetermined disposition in said receiving portion, such that a stack of pieces of mail is formed in said receiving portion wherein each piece of mail in said stack includes adjacent edges in abutting relationship with said first and second angularly disposed walls and each piece of mail is substantially perpendicular to each of said first and second walls; said slidable guide means being adapted to slide through said receiving and removal portions of said channel; and actuating means for sensing when the stack of pieces of mail in said receiving portion exceeds a predetermined size and for actuating said conveyor means to transmit stacked pieces of mail from said receiving portion to said removal portion such that said actuating means deactuates said conveyor means when said stack of pieces of mail in said receiving portion is reduced below said predetermined size.

Claim 11

The stacking device of claim 8 wherein said displaceable transporting means comprises conveyor belt means supported by a displaceable support member, said displaceable support member being subject to a first force exerted thereon in a manner tending to align said displaceable support member in a first normal position and to a second force exerted thereon in a manner tending to oppose said first force and to cause a displacement of said displaceable support member; said second force being derived from said stack of pieces of mail formed in said receiving portion of said channel such that said displaceable member is displaced when said receiving portion is substantially occupied by said stack of pieces of mail.

Claim 12

The stacking device of claim 9 wherein said actuating means comprises switch means disposed in proximate relation to said displaceable support member and adapted to close when said displaceable support member is displaced into contacting relationship therewith; said switch means having closeable contacts electrically connected in series with means for driving said conveyor means.

Claim 13

The stacking device of claim 10 wherein said conveyor means comprises first and second conveyor belts disposed in apertures in said first and second angularly disposed walls, respectively; said first and second conveyor belts being driven by driving means when said closeable contacts of said switch means are closed.

Claim 14

The stacking device of claim 10 wherein said conveyor means comprises first and second rotatable shafts disposed in apertures in said first and second angularly disposed walls, respectively; said first and second rotatable shafts being rotated by driving means when said closeable contacts of said switch means are closed.

Claim 15

The stacking device of claim 10 wherein said first and second angularly disposed walls define an angle of approximately 90* therebetween.