US3866765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet stacking and pile separating apparatus and method
Assignee: Baldwin Technology Corp
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Filing: 1973-10-11
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1993-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A sheet stacking and pile separating apparatus and method, wherein a conveyor supports and moves sheets in an imbricated stream relation and onto a stacking platform. A stop strips the sheets from their stream relation and stacks them on the platform. A sheet combined separator and stack displacer member is disposed adjacent the stream and moves into the stack to divide the stack into an end pile which is subsequently moved off the stack. A counter is disposed adjacent the stream for counting the sheets, and control members and switches are utilized for moving the separator member into the stack when a certain number of sheets have been accounted for and constitute the end pile to be separated. A retainer or stripper member is disposed adjacent the stack for holding the remainder of the stack when the end pile is removed, and the end pile is placed onto a transfer conveyor. The separator member is under the control of a cylinder and piston assembly which moves the separator into the stack and which withdraws the separator member and the end pile from the remainder of the stack, as mentioned.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter J Stobb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/12; B65H29/001; B65H33/00; B65H33/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus comprising a conveyor for supporting sheets in a horizontal orientation and an imbricated relation and moving said sheets in a stream relation in the direction of the imbrication, a stop disposed at the downstream end of the stream in the path of movement of said sheets for stripping said sheets from their stream relation and causing them to form a stack of said sheets, a stack platform disposed adjacent said stop for receiving and supporting said stack, a combined separator and stack displacer member movably mounted directly above the stream and being movable along with said stream for movement of said member into said stack in the direction of movement of the stream of sheets and thereby separating the end of said stack into an end pile of said sheets, and a powered member connected to said combined separator and stack displacer member for displacing said end pile from the remainder of said stack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus comprising a conveyor for supporting sheets in a horizontal orientation and an imbricated relation and moving said sheets in a stream relation in the direction of the imbrication, a stop disposed at the downstream end of the stream in the path of movement of said sheets for stripping said sheets from their stream relation and causing them to form a stack of said sheets, a stack platform disposed adjacent said stop for receiving and supporting said stack, a combined separator and stack displacer member movably mounted directly above the stream and being movable along with said stream for movement of said member into said stack in the direction of movement of the stream of sheets and thereby separating the end of said stack into an end pile of said sheets, and a powered member connected to said combined separator and stack displacer member for displacing said end pile from the remainder of said stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said combined separator and stack displacer member includes a pointed nose portion in contact with the stream for riding on said stream and into said stack, said combined separator and stack displacer member and said powered member being articularly mounted for positioning said combined separator and stack displacer member on said stream and for movement of the latter said member in the direction of the growth of said stack.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said powered member is a cylinder and piston assembly articularly connected to said combined separator and stack displacer member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including power controls operatively connected to said powered member for synchronizing the movement of said combined separator and stack displacer member into said stack according to the quantity of said sheets moving into said stack, for defining a selected quantity of said sheets in said end pile.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a movable transfer support disposed adjacent said stack for receiving said end pile, and power controls operatively connected to said powered member for moving said combined separator and stack displacer member and said end pile to said transfer support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said transfer support has an opening therein and provides support surfaces for said sheet pile on opposite sides of said opening, and said combined separator and stack displacer separator member is of a width less than that of said opening for movement of the latter said member through said opening in the depositing of said end pile on said support surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said movable transfer support includes spaced-apart conveyor belts for moving said end pile away from the remainder of said stack.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said powered member is a cylinder and piston assembly pivotally mounted directly above said stream of sheets for pivotal movement in accordance with the growth of said stack, and said power controls including a switch mounted adjacent said assembly and having a trip member engageable with said assembLy when said assembly pivots to a selected position, said switch being operatively connected with said assembly for controlling the operation of said assembly when tripped by the pivotal action of said assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including two spaced-apart brush rollers rotatably disposed at the entrance of said stream to said stack for moving the edges of said sheets in said stack away from said stream to form an opening for the insertion of said combined separator and stack displacer member into said stack, and said combined separator and stack displacer member being of a width less than the dimension of the spacing between said rollers for movement of the latter said member between said rollers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a sheet counter disposed adjacent said stream for counting the sheets moving in said stream, and trippable controls operatively associated with said powered member to actuate said powered member and move said combined separator and stack displacer member relative to said stack, said counter and said trippable controls being operatively connected together for operatively tripping said trippable controls in accordance with the number of said sheets counted by said counter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said counter and said separator member are disposed in contact with said sheets in said stream, and said combined separator and stack displacer member includes a pointed end for movement with said stream into said stack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
136 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said powered member is a cylinder and piston assembly, a fluid valve operatively connected with said assembly for actuation of the latter, a first switch operatively connected with said valve for controlling the latter in the insertion of said combined separator and stack displacer member into said stack, a second switch operatively connected with said valve for controlling the latter while said combined separator and stack displacer member is in said stack, and a third switch operatively connected with said valve for controlling the latter for the movement of said combined separator and stack displacer member and said end pile away from the remainder of said stack, and connectors extending between all said switches to have all said switches interconnected with each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said third switch is a trippable switch disposed adjacent said assembly in the path of movement of said assembly to be actuated by movement of said assembly in the growth of the stack.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including controls operatively connected with said powered member for actuating the latter and thereby inserting said combined separator and stack displacer member into said stack, said controls including a timing member for operation of said powered member in accordance with the speed of movement of said stream.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a stripper member disposed adjacent said stack for engaging said remainder of said stack when said end pile is being removed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for performing the steps of stacking sheets and then separating an end pile of the sheets from the stack, comprising means for supporting and moving sheets in an imbricated relation of a horizontally disposed stream of said sheets and with the trailing edge of the said sheets which are on top of the stream being spaced from the trailing edge of the said sheets which are on the bottom of the stream and with the said top sheets being in the forward direction of stream movement, means for stripping said sheets off their stream relation and forming said sheets into a stack, means for dividing said stack to form an end pile of said sheets, and means for pOsitioning said dividing means on the top of said stream in contact with said stream between said trailing edges and subsequently inserting said dividing means into said stack along with the movement of said stream into said stack to define said end pile and subsequently moving said dividing means and said end pile away from the remainder of said stack.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for performing the steps of stacking sheets and then separating an end pile of the sheets from the stack, comprising means for supporting and moving sheets in an imbricated relation of a horizontally disposed stream of said sheets and with the trailing edge of the said sheets which are on top of the stream being spaced from the trailing edge of the said sheets which are on the bottom of the stream and with the said top sheets being in the forward direction of stream movement, means for stripping said sheets off their stream relation and forming said sheets into a stack, means for dividing said stack to form an end pile of said sheets, and means for pOsitioning said dividing means on the top of said stream in contact with said stream between said trailing edges and subsequently inserting said dividing means into said stack along with the movement of said stream into said stack to define said end pile and subsequently moving said dividing means and said end pile away from the remainder of said stack.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
142 words
A sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus comprising a conveyor for supporting sheets in a horizontal orientation and an imbricated relation and moving said sheets in a stream relation in the direction of the imbrication, a stop disposed at the downstream end of the stream in the path of movement of said sheets for stripping said sheets from their stream relation and causing them to form a stack of said sheets, a stack platform disposed adjacent said stop for receiving and supporting said stack, a combined separator and stack displacer member movably mounted adjacent said stack for insertion into said stack of sheets and thereby separating the end of said stack into an end pile of said sheets, and a powered member connected to said combined separator and stack displacer member for displacing said end pile from the remainder of said stack.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
142 words
A sheet stacker and pile separator apparatus comprising a conveyor for supporting sheets in a horizontal orientation and an imbricated relation and moving said sheets in a stream relation in the direction of the imbrication, a stop disposed at the downstream end of the stream in the path of movement of said sheets for stripping said sheets from their stream relation and causing them to form a stack of said sheets, a stack platform disposed adjacent said stop for receiving and supporting said stack, a combined separator and stack displacer member movably mounted adjacent said stack for insertion into said stack of sheets and thereby separating the end of said stack into an end pile of said sheets, and a powered member connected to said combined separator and stack displacer member for displacing said end pile from the remainder of said stack.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of stacking sheets and then separating an end pile from the stack, comprising the steps of supporting and moving sheets in an imbricated relation of a horizontally disposed stream of said sheets, stopping said sheets in their stream movement and forming a stack of said sheets, positioning a stack divider directly on top of said stream at a location adjacent said stack, moving said divider into said stack along with the movement of said sheets into said stack to define an end pile of said sheets in said stack, and removing said divider from said stack to remove said end pile.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of stacking sheets and then separating an end pile from the stack, comprising the steps of supporting and moving sheets in an imbricated relation of a horizontally disposed stream of said sheets, stopping said sheets in their stream movement and forming a stack of said sheets, positioning a stack divider directly on top of said stream at a location adjacent said stack, moving said divider into said stack along with the movement of said sheets into said stack to define an end pile of said sheets in said stack, and removing said divider from said stack to remove said end pile.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of stacking sheets and then separating an end pile from the stack as claimed in claim 18, including the step of counting said sheets with a counter means before moving said divider into said stack, to define a selected number of said sheets in said end pile.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of stacking sheets and then separating an end pile from the stack as claimed in claim 18, including the step of restraining the remainder of said stack relative to said end pile while said divider and said end pile are being removed from said stack.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of stacking sheets and then separating an end pile from the stack as claimed in claim 18, including the step of moving the edges of the said sheets in said stack away from the said sheets in said stream and providing an opening for the movement of said divider into said stack.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of stacking sheets and then separating an end pile from the stack as claimed in claim 18, including the step of retaining said divider in said stack until said stack is increased in size, and the step of sliding said end pile off said stack and onto a moving support for moving said end pile away from the remainder of said stack.
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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) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |