Stacking device

Claim 1

A device to be arranged at the outlet of a bag-shaping machine for allowing the formation of a bag stack and the removal of the formed bag stack, said device comprising and endless conveying belt on which the bags are stacked, belt control means to impart to said belt an intermittent movement through, a bag stack measuring device, a stop extending cross-wise to the belt movement direction and against which the bag stack is formed, and stop control means synchronized with the belt control means for imparting to the stop an alternating motion so as to release the formed bag stack and allow the removal thereof by said belt, bearing means so arranged as to bear on the upper side of the bag stack when said stack is formed, and when said stop control means releases the formed bag stack, bearing control means being provided to impart to said bearing means an alternating motion to move same towards and away from said upper side, said bearing means being so arranged that the part thereof engaging the bag stack upper side moves with the same linear speed as the endless belt and along the same direction as said belt to prevent spreading of the bag stack on said belt.

Claim 2

A device to be arranged at the outlet of a bag-shaping machine for allowing the formation of a bag stack and the removal of the formed bag stack, said device comprising and endless conveying belt on which the bags are stacked, belt control means to impart to said belt an intermittent movement through, a bag stack measuring device, a stop extending cross-wise to the belt movement direction and against which the bag stack is formed, and stop control means synchronized with the belt control means for imparting to the stop an alternating motion so as to release the formed bag stack and allow the removal thereof by said belt, bearing means so arranged as to bear on the upper side of the bag stack when said stack is formed, and when said stop control means releases the formed bag stack, bearing control means being provided to impart to said bearing means an alternating motion to move same towards and away from said upper side, said bearing means being so arranged that the part thereof engaging the bag stack upper side moves with the same linear speed as the endless belt and along the same direction as said belt to prevent spreading of the bag stack on said belt.

Claim 9

A device to be arranged at the outlet of a bag-shaping machine for allowing the formation of a bag stack and the removal of the formed bag stack, said device comprising: an endless conveying belt on which the bags are stacked; belt control means to impart to said belt an intermittent movement through; a bag stack measuring device a stop extending cross-wise to the belt movement direction and against which the bag stack is formed; stop control means synchronized with the belt control means for imparting to the stop an alternating motion so as to release the formed bag stack and allow the removal thereof by said belt; bearing means so arranged as to bear on the upper side of the bag stack when said stack is formed and when said stop control means releases the formed bag stack; bearing control means provided to impart to said bearing means an alternating motion to move same towards and away from said upper side, said bearing means being so arranged that the part thereof engaging the bag stack upper side moves with the same linear speed as the endless belt and along the same direction as said belt to prevent spreading of the bag stack on said belt, said stop control means and said bearing control means being synchronized and comprising a single driving member and being so arranged that the bearing means bear on the bag stack upper side when the stop retaining the stack has been completely separated from the endless belt and has released the bag stack.

Claim 10

A device to be arranged at the outlet of a bag-shaping machine for allowing the formation of a bag stack and the removal of the formed bag stack, said device comprising: an endless conveying belt on which the bags are stacked; belt control means to impart to said belt an intermittent movement through; a bag stack measuring device a stop extending cross-wise to the belt movement direction and against which the bag stack is formed; stop control means synchronized with the belt control means for imparting to the stop an alternating motion so as to release the formed bag stack and allow the removal thereof by said belt; bearing means so arranged as to bear on the upper side of the bag stack when said stack is formed and when said stop control means releases the formed bag stack; bearing control means provided to impart to said bearing means an alternating motion to move same towards and away from said upper side, said bearing means being so arranged that the part thereof engaging the bag stack upper side moves with the same linear speed as the endless belt and along the same direction as said belt to prevent spreading of the bag stack on said belt, said stop control means and said bearing control means being synchronized and comprising a single driving member and being so arranged that the bearing means bear on the bag stack upper side when the stop retaining the stack has been completely separated from the endless belt and has released the bag stack.

Claim 11

A device to be arranged at the outlet of a bag-shaping machine for allowing the formation of a bag stack and the removal of the formed bag stack, said device comprising: an endless conveying belt on which the bags are stacked, said belt being looped over a driven cylinder; belt control means to impart to said belt an intermittent movement through a bag stack measuring device; a stop extending cross-wise to the belt movement direction and against which the bag stack is formed; stop control means synchronized with the belt control means for imparting to the stop an alternating motion so as to release the formed bag stack and allow the removal thereof by said belt; bearing means including a freely rotating cylinder disposed parallel to and transverse to said belt and arranged to bear on the upper side of the bag stack when said stack is formed and when said stop control means releases the formed bag stack; bearing control means being provided to impart to said bearing means an alternating motion to move same towards and away from said upper side; second control means to positively drive the bearing means so that the freely rotating cylinder engaging the bag stack upper side moves with the same linear speed as the endless conveying belt and in the same direction as said belt to prevent spreading of the bag stack on said belt, endless conveying said second control means comprising at least one belt in parallel relationship with the said endless conveying belt and driven by said driven cylinder, said one belt being so arranged as to have a portion thereof extending in the path of the freely rotating cylinder when the latter moves to bear on the bag stack, said freely rotating cylinder being driven by friction by said one belt when said endless conveying belt is operated to move the formed bag stack.

Claim 12

A device to be arranged at the outlet of a bag-shaping machine for allowing the formation of a bag stack and the removal of the formed bag stack, said device comprising: an endless conveying belt on which the bags are stacked, said belt being looped over a driven cylinder; belt control means to impart to said belt an intermittent movement through a bag stack measuring device; a stop extending cross-wise to the belt movement direction and against which the bag stack is formed; stop control means synchronized with the belt control means for imparting to the stop an alternating motion so as to release the formed bag stack and allow the removal thereof by said belt; bearing means including a freely rotating cylinder disposed parallel to and transverse to said belt and arranged to bear on the upper side of the bag stack when said stack is formed and when said stop control means releases the formed bag stack; bearing control means being provided to impart to said bearing means an alternating motion to move same towards and away from said upper side; second control means to positively drive the bearing means so that the freely rotating cylinder engaging the bag stack upper side moves with the same linear speed as the endless conveying belt and in the same direction as said belt to prevent spreading of the bag stack on said belt, endless conveying said second control means comprising at least one belt in parallel relationship with the said endless conveying belt and driven by said driven cylinder, said one belt being so arranged as to have a portion thereof extending in the path of the freely rotating cylinder when the latter moves to bear on the bag stack, said freely rotating cylinder being driven by friction by said one belt when said endless conveying belt is operated to move the formed bag stack.

Claim 13

A device to be arranged at the outlet of a bag-shaping machine for allowing the formation Of a bag stack and the removal of the formed bag stack, said device comprising: an endless conveying belt on which the bags are stacked; belt control means to impart to said belt an intermittent movement through a bag stack measuring device; a stop supported by two parallel first uprights and extending cross-wise to the belt movement direction and against which the bag stack is formed; guides for guiding the uprights for movement along paths coinciding with their axes; a facing rack carried by each of said guides; stop control means synchronized with the belt control means for imparting to the stop an alternating motion so as to release the formed bag stack and allow the removal thereof by said belt; bearing means including two parallel second uprights supporting a freely rotating cylinder which is disposed parallel to and transverse to said belt and arranged to bear on the upper side of the bag stack when said stack is formed and when said stop control means releases the formed bag stack, said bearing means further including guides for guiding the uprights to move along paths coinciding with their axes; a facing rack carried by each of said last-named guides; pinion means associated with all said facing racks for moving said first and second uprights in opposite directions; stop control means being provided to impart to said bearing means an alternating motion to move same towards and away from said upper side; second control means to positively move the bearing means so that the freely rotatable cylinder engaging the bag stack upper side moves with the same linear speed as the endless conveying belt and in the same direction as said belt to prevent spreading of the bag stack on said belt.

Claim 14

A device to be arranged at the outlet of a bag-shaping machine for allowing the formation Of a bag stack and the removal of the formed bag stack, said device comprising: an endless conveying belt on which the bags are stacked; belt control means to impart to said belt an intermittent movement through a bag stack measuring device; a stop supported by two parallel first uprights and extending cross-wise to the belt movement direction and against which the bag stack is formed; guides for guiding the uprights for movement along paths coinciding with their axes; a facing rack carried by each of said guides; stop control means synchronized with the belt control means for imparting to the stop an alternating motion so as to release the formed bag stack and allow the removal thereof by said belt; bearing means including two parallel second uprights supporting a freely rotating cylinder which is disposed parallel to and transverse to said belt and arranged to bear on the upper side of the bag stack when said stack is formed and when said stop control means releases the formed bag stack, said bearing means further including guides for guiding the uprights to move along paths coinciding with their axes; a facing rack carried by each of said last-named guides; pinion means associated with all said facing racks for moving said first and second uprights in opposite directions; stop control means being provided to impart to said bearing means an alternating motion to move same towards and away from said upper side; second control means to positively move the bearing means so that the freely rotatable cylinder engaging the bag stack upper side moves with the same linear speed as the endless conveying belt and in the same direction as said belt to prevent spreading of the bag stack on said belt.

Claim 16

A device to be arranged at the outlet of a bag-shaping machine for allowing the formation of a bag stack and the removal of the formed bag stack, said device comprising: an endless conveying belt on which the bags are stacked, control means to impart to said belt an intermittent movement through a bag stack measuring device; a stop extending cross-wise to the belt movement direction and against which the bag stack is formed; stop control means synchronized with the belt control means for imparting to the stop an alternating motion so as to release the formed bag stack and allow the removal thereof by said belt; bearing means including a freely rotating cylinder disposed parallel to and transverse to said belt and arranged to bear on the upper side of the bag stack when said stack is formed, when said stop control means releases the formed bag stacks; bearing control means being provided to impart to said bearing means an alternating motion to move same towards and away from said upper side; second control means to positively drive the bearing means so that the freely rotating cylinder engaging the bag stack upper side moves with the same linear speed as the endless conveying belt and in the same direction as said endless conveying belt to prevent spreading of the bag stack on said belt; and auxiliary cylinders associated with said freely rotating cylinder, the total number of cylinders being equal to the number less one of the bag stacks to be stacked on said conveying belt, said cylinders being in parallel relationship, located at the same level and regularly spaced from one another in such a way that each cylinder may bear on the corresponding stack upper side substantially in the same location on said side; and means to operate the auxiliary cylinders in such a way that the movements thereof are identical and simultaneous with the movements of the freely rotating cylinder.

Claim 17

A device to be arranged at the outlet of a bag-shaping machine for allowing the formation of a bag stack and the removal of the formed bag stack, said device comprising: an endless conveying belt on which the bags are stacked, control means to impart to said belt an intermittent movement through a bag stack measuring device; a stop extending cross-wise to the belt movement direction and against which the bag stack is formed; stop control means synchronized with the belt control means for imparting to the stop an alternating motion so as to release the formed bag stack and allow the removal thereof by said belt; bearing means including a freely rotating cylinder disposed parallel to and transverse to said belt and arranged to bear on the upper side of the bag stack when said stack is formed, when said stop control means releases the formed bag stacks; bearing control means being provided to impart to said bearing means an alternating motion to move same towards and away from said upper side; second control means to positively drive the bearing means so that the freely rotating cylinder engaging the bag stack upper side moves with the same linear speed as the endless conveying belt and in the same direction as said endless conveying belt to prevent spreading of the bag stack on said belt; and auxiliary cylinders associated with said freely rotating cylinder, the total number of cylinders being equal to the number less one of the bag stacks to be stacked on said conveying belt, said cylinders being in parallel relationship, located at the same level and regularly spaced from one another in such a way that each cylinder may bear on the corresponding stack upper side substantially in the same location on said side; and means to operate the auxiliary cylinders in such a way that the movements thereof are identical and simultaneous with the movements of the freely rotating cylinder.

Claim 19

A device to be arranged at the outlet of a bag-shaping machine for allowing the formation of a bag stack and the removal of the formed bag stack, said device comprising a conveyor on which the bags are stacked, conveyor control means to impart to said conveyor an intermittent movement through a bag stack measuring device, a stop extending cross-wise to the conveyor movement direction and against which the bag stack is formed, and stop control means synchronized with the conveyor control means for imparting to the stop an alternating motion so as to release the formed bag stack and allow the removal thereof by said conveyor, bearing measn so arranged as to bear on the upper side of the bag stack when said stack is formed and when said stop control means releases the formed bag stack, bearing control means being provided to impart to said bearing means an alternating motion to move said bearing means towards and away from said upper side of said bag stack, said bearing means being so arranged that the part thereof engaging the upper side of the bag stack moves with the same speed as the conveyor and along the same direction of movement as the conveyor to prevent spreading of the bag stack on the conveyor.

Claim 20

A device to be arranged at the outlet of a bag-shaping machine for allowing the formation of a bag stack and the removal of the formed bag stack, said device comprising a conveyor on which the bags are stacked, conveyor control means to impart to said conveyor an intermittent movement through a bag stack measuring device, a stop extending cross-wise to the conveyor movement direction and against which the bag stack is formed, and stop control means synchronized with the conveyor control means for imparting to the stop an alternating motion so as to release the formed bag stack and allow the removal thereof by said conveyor, bearing measn so arranged as to bear on the upper side of the bag stack when said stack is formed and when said stop control means releases the formed bag stack, bearing control means being provided to impart to said bearing means an alternating motion to move said bearing means towards and away from said upper side of said bag stack, said bearing means being so arranged that the part thereof engaging the upper side of the bag stack moves with the same speed as the conveyor and along the same direction of movement as the conveyor to prevent spreading of the bag stack on the conveyor.