US3785256A — Panel counting, collecting and gating apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 222 words

Thin sheet material panel stacking and transfer apparatus comprising: a. panel delivery means providing a substantially continuous supply of serially aligned thin sheet material panels; b. counting means for discerning the delivery of a discrete number of said panels and marking the event by emission of an actuation signal; c. stacking means for accumulating a stack comprising said discrete number of panels in face-to-face and leading edge juxtaposition at a stacking station; d. stack removal conveyance means for removing a stack of said panels from said stacking station; and, e. stack transfer means for transferring the leading end of an accumulated stack from said stacking station to said removal conveyance means, said transfer means comprising a first roller having a substantially full circle peripherial surface and a second roller having a partial circle peripherial surface, said second roller peripherial surface also comprising a notched portion therein, said notched portion having an abutment surface for receiving and aligning leading edge portions of said panels to cumulatively form a stack leading end, said first and second rollers being relatively aligned to nip said stack leading end between said first roller peripherial surface and the circular portion of said second roller peripherial surface upon rotation of said second roller partial circle through a common radial plane between the axes of said first and second rollers.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 222 words

Thin sheet material panel stacking and transfer apparatus comprising: a. panel delivery means providing a substantially continuous supply of serially aligned thin sheet material panels; b. counting means for discerning the delivery of a discrete number of said panels and marking the event by emission of an actuation signal; c. stacking means for accumulating a stack comprising said discrete number of panels in face-to-face and leading edge juxtaposition at a stacking station; d. stack removal conveyance means for removing a stack of said panels from said stacking station; and, e. stack transfer means for transferring the leading end of an accumulated stack from said stacking station to said removal conveyance means, said transfer means comprising a first roller having a substantially full circle peripherial surface and a second roller having a partial circle peripherial surface, said second roller peripherial surface also comprising a notched portion therein, said notched portion having an abutment surface for receiving and aligning leading edge portions of said panels to cumulatively form a stack leading end, said first and second rollers being relatively aligned to nip said stack leading end between said first roller peripherial surface and the circular portion of said second roller peripherial surface upon rotation of said second roller partial circle through a common radial plane between the axes of said first and second rollers.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 104 words

Apparatus as described by claim 1 wherein said panel delivery portion comprises a first panel transfer plane and said stacking means comprises a second panel transfer plane, said first and second transfer planes intersecting at an obtuse included angle, the length of said stacking station between said transfer means abutment surface and the point of said transfer plane intersection being less than the length of said panels whereby trailing end portions of accumulated stationary panels project beyond said point of intersection and each panel added to said stack is inserted at the interface between said second transfer plane and the previously added panel face.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

Apparatus as described by claim 1 wherein said first roller is operated in substantially continuous rotation.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as described by claim 3 wherein rotational power delivered to said transfer means is intermittently transmitted by selectively engaged single revolution clutch means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

Apparatus as described by claim 4 wherein engagement of said single revolution clutch means is prompted by said counting means actuation signal.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 137 words

In combination with delivery means providing a substantially continuous series supply of thin sheet material panels; counting means for discerning the delivery of a discrete number of said panels; a stacking station for accumulating a stack of said discrete number of panels in face-to-face juxtaposition; stack removal means for conveying said stack from the proximity of said stacking station; and cooperative roLl nip propulsion means for depositing said stack with said stack removal means; the improvement comprising: at least one roll of said nip cooperative provided with depressed relief to the circumferential periphery thereof whereby said stack may be drawn between said depressed relief portion and another roll of said nip cooperative, when said one roll is stationary, said depressed relief forming an abutment surface to align the leading edges of said panels during said stack accumulation.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 137 words

In combination with delivery means providing a substantially continuous series supply of thin sheet material panels; counting means for discerning the delivery of a discrete number of said panels; a stacking station for accumulating a stack of said discrete number of panels in face-to-face juxtaposition; stack removal means for conveying said stack from the proximity of said stacking station; and cooperative roLl nip propulsion means for depositing said stack with said stack removal means; the improvement comprising: at least one roll of said nip cooperative provided with depressed relief to the circumferential periphery thereof whereby said stack may be drawn between said depressed relief portion and another roll of said nip cooperative, when said one roll is stationary, said depressed relief forming an abutment surface to align the leading edges of said panels during said stack accumulation.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 93 words

The combination as described by claim 6 wherein said delivery means comprises a first panel transfer plane and said stacking station comprises a second panel transfer plane, said first and second panel transfer planes intersecting at an obtuse angle, said stacking station having a length dimension extending along said second panel plane between said one roll abutment surface to a point beyond said first and second transfer plane intersection whereby each panel added to an accumulating stack is inserted at the interface between said second transfer plane and the previously added panel face.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The combination as described by claim 7 wherein said other roll of said nip cooperative is continuously rotating.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

The combination as described by claim 8 wherein rotational power delivered to said one roll of said nip cooperative is intermittently transmitted by selectively engaged single revolution clutch means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The combination as described by claim 9 wherein engagement of said single revolution clutch means is prompted by a signal emitted by said counting means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-01-14	1977-07-16	1978-01-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-01-14	1981-07-16	1982-01-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-01-14	1985-07-16	1986-01-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Panel counting, collecting and gating apparatus

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag