US3752043A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stack forming apparatus
Assignee: Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
•
Filing: 1971-06-01
•
Granted: 1973-08-14
•
Expires: 1991-06-01
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for forming stacks of individual articles from a continuous stream of such articles has a first conveying means for positively conveying flat articles at a predetermined constant speed along a first conveying path. A second conveying means is arranged for positively conveying articles received from the first conveying means along a second conveying path. The inlet of the second conveying means is spaced from the outlet of the first conveying means a distance greater than the length of an individual article. An abutment surface is arranged to extend in the direction of the second conveying path, the first and second conveying paths being arranged at an angle Alpha with respect to one another. The vertex of angle Alpha is on the abutment surface and is arranged adjacent to the input of the second conveying means. Means are provided for selectively moving the articles along the second conveying means at a first predetermined speed and a second predetermined speed less than the first speed. Means are provided for monitoring the stream of articles and sensing the thickness of a stack for rapidly switching the means for selectively moving from the first speed to the second speed when a predetermined stack thickness has been reached. This results in articles at the input of the second conveying means overlapping one another and producing a gap in the stream of articles. Means are provided for receiving articles from the second conveying means for forming a stack and for rapidly moving a stack of articles when a predetermined thickness has been reached for the stack.
Inventors
- 👤 H Rapparlie
- 👤 G Burkardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:43
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/66; B07; B07C; B07C1/00; B07C1/02; B07C1/04; B65H33/00; B65H33/12; B65H33/16; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/42; B65H2301/422; B65H2301/4226; B65H2301/42264
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
282 words
Apparatus for forming stacks of flat articles that are consecutively delivered from a continuous stream of such articles to a stacking location, with a majority of the articles being delivered as separate articles with no overlapping between adjacent articles, comprising, in combination: a. a first conveying means for positively conveying flat articles at a predetermined constant speed along a first conveying path and having an outlet; b. a second conveying means for positively conveying articles received from said first conveying means along a second conveying path and having an inlet spaced from the outlet of said first conveying means by a distance greater than the length of an individual articles; c. an abutment surface arranged to extend in the direction of said second conveying path, the first and second conveying paths being arranged at an acute angle Alpha with respect to one another, the vertex of angle Alpha being on said abutment surface and adjacent the input of said second conveying means; d. means for selectively moving articles along said second conveying path at a first predetermined speed and a second predetermined speed less than the first speed; e. means for monitoring the stream of articles and sensing the thickness of a stack for switching said means for selectively moving from the first speed to the second speed when a predetermined stack thickness has been reached so that temporarily articles overlap one another at the input of said second conveying means and a gap is produced in the stream of articles; and f. means for receiving articles from said second conveying means for forming a stack and for rapidly moving a stack of articles when a predetermined stack thickness has been reached.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
282 words
Apparatus for forming stacks of flat articles that are consecutively delivered from a continuous stream of such articles to a stacking location, with a majority of the articles being delivered as separate articles with no overlapping between adjacent articles, comprising, in combination: a. a first conveying means for positively conveying flat articles at a predetermined constant speed along a first conveying path and having an outlet; b. a second conveying means for positively conveying articles received from said first conveying means along a second conveying path and having an inlet spaced from the outlet of said first conveying means by a distance greater than the length of an individual articles; c. an abutment surface arranged to extend in the direction of said second conveying path, the first and second conveying paths being arranged at an acute angle Alpha with respect to one another, the vertex of angle Alpha being on said abutment surface and adjacent the input of said second conveying means; d. means for selectively moving articles along said second conveying path at a first predetermined speed and a second predetermined speed less than the first speed; e. means for monitoring the stream of articles and sensing the thickness of a stack for switching said means for selectively moving from the first speed to the second speed when a predetermined stack thickness has been reached so that temporarily articles overlap one another at the input of said second conveying means and a gap is produced in the stream of articles; and f. means for receiving articles from said second conveying means for forming a stack and for rapidly moving a stack of articles when a predetermined stack thickness has been reached.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second conveying means has a conveyor belt which forms said abutment surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said first conveying means has a conveyor belt arranged on a side of the first conveying path facing away from said abutment surface, which conveyor belt extends forward into the vicinity of the inlet of said second conveying means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the stacks of articles received from said second conveying means are formed on the side of the second conveying path defined by the conveyor belt forming said abutment surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, further including a third conveying means for positively conveying flat articles at a predetermined constant speed along a third conveying path, said third conveying means being arranged to receive articles from said second conveying means and discharge articles on the means for forming a stack.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said second conveying means has an outlet and said third conveying means has an inlet spaced from the outlet of said second conveying means by a distance greater than the length of an individual article.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said third conveying means has means for guiding arranged between the outlet of said second conveying means and the inlet of said third conveying means and defining a passage having a spacing greater than the thickness of the stream of overlapping articles received from said second conveying means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein after a stack is moved when a predetermined thickness has been reAched for the stack, said means for selectively moving articles gradually switches from the second speed to the first speed, and at least a portion of the overlapping articles in the second conveying path are displaced from their overlapping position by said third conveying means and are individually discharged therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein after a stack has been moved when a predetermined thickness has been reached for the stack, said means for selectively moving said articles is rapidly switched from the second speed to the first speed so that the overlapping articles in the second conveying path are moved together and are discharged from said second conveying means in overlapping arrangement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, further including a third conveying means for positively conveying flat articles received from said second conveying means at a predetermined constant speed along a third conveying path and discharging the articles onto the means for forming a stack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the outlet of said first conveying means has means for curving the articles about their longitudinal axes before they abut on said abutment surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the first, second, and third conveying means each have two endless belts arranged to grip articles between them for positively conveying the articles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-13 | 1977-02-12 | 1977-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-13 | 1981-02-12 | 1981-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-13 | 1985-02-12 | 1985-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |