US3884368A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Panel destacker
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-04-23
•
Granted: 1975-05-20
•
Expires: 1993-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A panel destacking apparatus includes a base for supporting a stack of panels in alignment with a reciprocating panel gripping head movable between a panel gripping position for removing the outermost panel from the stack to a panel releasing position remote therefrom. The head is supported by suitable guide means and driven by a compressible linkage coupling the head to a drive mechanism such that as the thickness of the stack of panels varies with the successive removal of panels, the compressible interconnecting link between the head and drive means automatically compensates for the varying thickness of the stack.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Ballard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:06
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/08; B65H3/0808; B65H3/0816
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A panel destacking machine comprising: means for supporting a stack of panels; a destacker head including means for gripping the outermost panel of said stack of panels; means guidably supporting said destacker head for reciprocating movement toward and away from said stack of panels; and drive means for reciprocating said destacker head toward and away from said stack of panels, said drive means including a drive motor, an output drive shaft coupled to said drive motor, a crank arm coupled to said drive shaft to be rotated thereby, and a compressible link rotatably coupled to an end of said crank arm remote from its coupling to said drive shaft, and an opposite end of said linkage is pivotally coupled to said destacker head such that as the thickness of the stack of panels varies, the length of travel of said destacker head varies to compensate for the varying thickness of said stack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A panel destacking machine comprising: means for supporting a stack of panels; a destacker head including means for gripping the outermost panel of said stack of panels; means guidably supporting said destacker head for reciprocating movement toward and away from said stack of panels; and drive means for reciprocating said destacker head toward and away from said stack of panels, said drive means including a drive motor, an output drive shaft coupled to said drive motor, a crank arm coupled to said drive shaft to be rotated thereby, and a compressible link rotatably coupled to an end of said crank arm remote from its coupling to said drive shaft, and an opposite end of said linkage is pivotally coupled to said destacker head such that as the thickness of the stack of panels varies, the length of travel of said destacker head varies to compensate for the varying thickness of said stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said compressible link comprises a cylinder with a movable piston rod having a stroke corresponding to the maximum height of the stack of panels employed with said destacking machine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said cylinder is a two-way pneumatic cylinder having air ports on opposite ends of the body thereof which are open to atmospheric pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said destacker head includes at least one guide post extending therefrom and wherein said supporting means includes a sleeve receiving said guide post to permit said destacker head to reciprocate in a controlled path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The machine as defined in claim 4 and further including feed means for receiving a panel from said gripping means and transferring said panel from said machine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 5 and further including control means for sequentially actuating said drive means and said feed means to sequentially destack panels from said stack of panels and transfer said panels from said machine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a machine including a reciprocating element movable toward and away from a work piece and including a frame including means for gripping a work piece, and drive means for providing motive power for said reciprocating element wherein said machine further includes feed means for receiving said work piece from said gripping means and transferring said work piece from said machine, the improvement comprising: a compressible linkage coupling said drive means to said reciprocating element to accommodate different relative positioning of said work piece with respect to said reciprocating element wherein said compressible linkage comprises a cylinder having a body and a piston movable into and out of said body wherein one enD of said cylinder is coupled to said drive means and the opposite end of said cylinder is coupled to said frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a machine including a reciprocating element movable toward and away from a work piece and including a frame including means for gripping a work piece, and drive means for providing motive power for said reciprocating element wherein said machine further includes feed means for receiving said work piece from said gripping means and transferring said work piece from said machine, the improvement comprising: a compressible linkage coupling said drive means to said reciprocating element to accommodate different relative positioning of said work piece with respect to said reciprocating element wherein said compressible linkage comprises a cylinder having a body and a piston movable into and out of said body wherein one enD of said cylinder is coupled to said drive means and the opposite end of said cylinder is coupled to said frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said drive means includes a rotatable crank arm pivotally coupled at one end to an end of said cylinder and fixedly coupled at a remote end to a rotating drive shaft whereby the rotating motion of said drive shaft is converted to lineal reciprocal motion of said frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said frame includes a sleeve and wherein said reciprocating element includes at least one guide post extending through said sleeve to permit said reciprocating element to reciprocate in a controlled path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2361176A
Cited
US3586191A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |