Apparatus for forming and conveying stacks of flat workpieces

Claim 2

Apparatus for forming and conveying stacks of flat workpieces, where the workpieces arriving on a supply conveyor are successively deposited in superposed relation on an intermittently driven stacking conveyor against a stop to form a stack, the stop being displaceable to free the stack after completion and allow it to be moved by the stacking conveyor to a discharge conveyor, comprising means to progressively lower the stacking conveyor during stack formation so that the uppermost workpiece of the growing stack will alwyas be at a substantially constant level slightly below the upstream end of the supply conveyor and means to raise the stacking conveyer as the completed stack is being discharged, sensor means positioned above the stacking conveyor at substantially the same height as the upstream end of the supply conveyor, which upon sensing an incorrectly depositeD workpiece on the stack, actuates immediate lowering of the stacking conveyor to a lower limiting position and starting of the stacking conveyor for removal of the stack containing the incorrectly deposited workpiece to the discharge conveyor, with the downstream end of the discharge conveyor being lowerable together with the stacking conveyor.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge conveyor is a belt conveyor comprising at least one endless belt passing over guide rollers mounted on a shaft at each end of the discharge conveyor, said discharge conveyor being pivotable about the shaft at its downstream end, and displaceable at its upstream end between a first limiting position in operative communication with a processing machine for the workpieces and a second limiting position in operative communication with a depositing table.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the stop is displaceable simultaneously with lowering of the stacking conveyor to its said lower limiting position.

Claim 5

Apparatus for forming and conveying stacks of flat workpieces, where workpieces arriving on a supply conveyor are successively deposited in superposed relation on an intermittently driven stacking conveyor against a stop to form a stack, the stop being displaceable to free the stack after completion and allow it to be moved by the stacking conveyor to a connected discharge conveyor, comprising a stacking conveyor mounted on a reciprocating frame means said stacking conveyor being lowered progressively below said supply conveyor during stack formation so that the uppermost workpiece of the growing stack will always be at a substantially constant level slightly below the upstream end of the supply conveyor, means to raise the stacking conveyor to its original position before workpieces were deposited on the stacking conveyor and to start the conveyor in motion to discharge the stack onto the discharge conveyor, sensor means positioned above the stacking conveyor at substantially the same height as the upstream end of the supply conveyor, which, upon contact with an incorrectly deposited workpiece on the stack, actuates immediate lowering of the stacking conveyor to a lower limiting position and starting of the stacking conveyor for removal of the incorrectly stacked stack to the discharge conveyor, the downstream end of the discharge conveyor being lowerable together with the stacking conveyor.

Claim 6

Apparatus for forming and conveying stacks of flat workpieces, where workpieces arriving on a supply conveyor are successively deposited in superposed relation on an intermittently driven stacking conveyor against a stop to form a stack, the stop being displaceable to free the stack after completion and allow it to be moved by the stacking conveyor to a connected discharge conveyor, comprising a stacking conveyor mounted on a reciprocating frame means said stacking conveyor being lowered progressively below said supply conveyor during stack formation so that the uppermost workpiece of the growing stack will always be at a substantially constant level slightly below the upstream end of the supply conveyor, means to raise the stacking conveyor to its original position before workpieces were deposited on the stacking conveyor and to start the conveyor in motion to discharge the stack onto the discharge conveyor, sensor means positioned above the stacking conveyor at substantially the same height as the upstream end of the supply conveyor, which, upon contact with an incorrectly deposited workpiece on the stack, actuates immediate lowering of the stacking conveyor to a lower limiting position and starting of the stacking conveyor for removal of the incorrectly stacked stack to the discharge conveyor, the downstream end of the discharge conveyor being lowerable together with the stacking conveyor.