US3732991A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stacking machine
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1970-04-24
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1990-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A stacking maching including an infeed conveyor, a cross-feed conveyor angularly disposed with respect to the infeed conveyor, and a turning section at the junction of the infeed conveyor and the corss-feed conveyor for selectively turning articles passing from the infeed conveyor to the cross-feed conveyor for sidewise or endwise movement along the cross-feed conveyor. A rake mechanism removes the articles from the cross-feed conveyor onto a selectively extendible apron assembly adjacent the cross-feed conveyor, which selectively moves the articles into an elevator shaft. A compression and release assembly engages and retains the articles on the apron assembly within the elevator shaft while the apron assembly is retracted from under the articles thus held. The compression and release assembly then releases the article in the elevator shaft and allows them to drop onto a pallet held within the elevator shaft by a vertically movable elevator. The elevator lowers the pallet and articles for receipt of more articles from the apron assembly. After a pre-determined number of layers of articles have been placed on the pallet, the elevator lowers and discharges the loaded pallet from the machine, receives an empty pallet thereon and riases the same for the receipt of articles thereon. The operation of the machine is controlled by a punched tape control mechanism. The control mechanism is actuated by a sensing means which electrically counts the number of articles moving into the machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Gal G Von
- 👤 L Hutchinson
- 👤 O Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:09
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G57/00; B65G57/02; B65G57/03; B65G57/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/106; Y10S414/116
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
439 words
In a stacking machine, a first continuously operating conveyor for feeding successive articles along a first predetermined path, a second continuously operating conveyor angularly disposed with respect to said first conveyor for receiving from said first conveyor successive articles and for moving said articles away from one side of said first conveyor, means associated with said first conveyor and said second conveyor for turning selected articles through a predetermined angular movement in response to said articles being transferred from said first conveyor to said second conveyor so as to selectively dispose the articles for movement endwise and sidewise along said second conveyor, said means for turning said selected articles through said angular movement including pivot means located adjacent the junction of said first conveyor and said second conveyor and further including skate roller means selectively adjustable between an upper extended position and a lower retracted position operatively associated with said second conveyor whereby said articles can be transferred from said first conveyor onto said skate roller means when said skate roller means is in said upper extended position to prevent an article from being turned and whereby an article is rotated around said pivot means to effect said predetermined angular movement of said article and when said skate roller means is in said lower adjusted position, a rake mechanism for discharging articles sidewise from said second conveyor, an apron assembly disposed adjacent to one side of said second conveyor for receiving articles discharged from said second conveyor, said apron assembly constructed and arranged for selected extension from said second conveyor while still providing support adjacent said second conveyor for receiving articles from said second conveyor, and means for extending and retracting said apron assembly with respect to said second conveyor in response to the number of articles deposited on said apron assembly from said second conveyor, said apron assembly including an apron skid plate selectively disposed adjacent the side of said second conveyor when said apron assembly is retracted for receiving articles discharged from said second conveyor and a plurality of rolls disposed parallel to each other and connected to said skid plate so that said rolls are successively disposed adjacent the side of said second conveyor as said apron assembly is extended to move said apron skid plate away from the side of said second conveyor, said rolls constructed and arranged for free rotation in a first direction so that articles discharged from the side of said second conveyor will move toward said skid plate but are precluded from moving in a second direction so as to preclude movement of articles discharged therefrom back toward said second conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
439 words
In a stacking machine, a first continuously operating conveyor for feeding successive articles along a first predetermined path, a second continuously operating conveyor angularly disposed with respect to said first conveyor for receiving from said first conveyor successive articles and for moving said articles away from one side of said first conveyor, means associated with said first conveyor and said second conveyor for turning selected articles through a predetermined angular movement in response to said articles being transferred from said first conveyor to said second conveyor so as to selectively dispose the articles for movement endwise and sidewise along said second conveyor, said means for turning said selected articles through said angular movement including pivot means located adjacent the junction of said first conveyor and said second conveyor and further including skate roller means selectively adjustable between an upper extended position and a lower retracted position operatively associated with said second conveyor whereby said articles can be transferred from said first conveyor onto said skate roller means when said skate roller means is in said upper extended position to prevent an article from being turned and whereby an article is rotated around said pivot means to effect said predetermined angular movement of said article and when said skate roller means is in said lower adjusted position, a rake mechanism for discharging articles sidewise from said second conveyor, an apron assembly disposed adjacent to one side of said second conveyor for receiving articles discharged from said second conveyor, said apron assembly constructed and arranged for selected extension from said second conveyor while still providing support adjacent said second conveyor for receiving articles from said second conveyor, and means for extending and retracting said apron assembly with respect to said second conveyor in response to the number of articles deposited on said apron assembly from said second conveyor, said apron assembly including an apron skid plate selectively disposed adjacent the side of said second conveyor when said apron assembly is retracted for receiving articles discharged from said second conveyor and a plurality of rolls disposed parallel to each other and connected to said skid plate so that said rolls are successively disposed adjacent the side of said second conveyor as said apron assembly is extended to move said apron skid plate away from the side of said second conveyor, said rolls constructed and arranged for free rotation in a first direction so that articles discharged from the side of said second conveyor will move toward said skid plate but are precluded from moving in a second direction so as to preclude movement of articles discharged therefrom back toward said second conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The structure defined in claim 1, including means for compressing a plurality of rows of articles together to form a layer after a predetermined number of articles have been received on said apron assembly and means for withdrawing said apron assembly from beneath said articles for lowering said articles onto a platform disposed therebelow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure defined in claim 1, including an elevator for disposing a platform below said apron assembly, and means for raising and progressively lowering said elevator.
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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) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |