Counter ejector

Claim 2

Apparatus for accumulating a stack of sheets such as folded boxes comprising an elevator having a surface on which sheets may accumulate to form a stack, a first conveyor means for feeding sheets to said elevator, circuitry including fluid means for sequentially causing the elevator to descend in discrete increments correlated with the number of sheets fed to the elevator, second conveyor means for receiving a stack from said elevator, pusher means for transferring a stack from said elevator to said second conveyor means, a backstop facing said first conveyor means, and means above said elevator to apply a downwards compressive force to a stack while a stack is on the elevator.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a parallelogram linkage for supporting said elevator, said fluid means including a fluid cylinder coupled to said linkage.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fluid means includes a hydraulic cylinder coupled to said elevator for controlling the descent of said elevator and a pneumatic cylinder coupled to said elevator for causing the elevator to ascend.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for applying a compressive force includes a blower for directing a blast of air toward the elevator.

Claim 6

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a plurality of fingers mounted for reciprocaTion from an inactive position to an active position, said fingers being above the elevator for temporarily supporting incoming sheets when the fingers are in their active position, means for moving and guiding the fingers along an upwardly inclined plane when the fingers are moved from their inactive to their active position, and means for pivoting the fingers from an inclined position to a horizontal position when the fingers are in their active position.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said fingers are hollow and connected to a source of pressurized air associated with said circuitry, said fingers having discharge ports on a surface thereof for discharging air toward said elevator.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a vertically adjustable means for engaging and maintaining a compression force on a stack while the stack is supported by said second conveyor means.

Claim 9

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said circuitry includes means for counting sheets fed to the elevator and a valve for sequentially permitting the escape of a predetermined volume of fluid whereby said elevator descends in predetermined increments.

Claim 10

Apparatus for accumulating a stack of sheets such as folded boxes comprising an elevator having a surface on which sheets may accumulate to form a stack, a first conveyor means for feeding sheets to said elevator, circuitry including means for sequentially causing the elevator to descend in discrete incremental distances correlated with the number of sheets fed to the elevator, second conveyor means for receiving a stack from said elevator, pusher means for transferring the stack from said elevator to said second conveyor means, a backstop facing said first conveyor means, means to apply a downward compressive force to a stack while a stack is on the elevator including a plurality of fingers selectively movable from a retracted position to an extended position, said fingers overlying the elevator in their extended position and being hollow, and said fingers having a plurality of discharge ports for directing pressurized air downwardly toward the elevator when said fingers are in their extended position.

Claim 11

Apparatus for accumulating a stack of sheets such as folded boxes comprising an elevator having a surface on which sheets may accumulate to form a stack, a first conveyor means for feeding sheets to said elevator, circuitry including means for sequentially causing the elevator to descend in discrete incremental distances correlated with the number of sheets fed to the elevator, second conveyor means for receiving a stack from said elevator, pusher means for transferring the stack from said elevator to said second conveyor means, a backstop facing said first conveyor means, means to apply a downward compressive force to a stack while a stack is on the elevator including a plurality of fingers selectively movable from a retracted position to an extended position, said fingers overlying the elevator in their extended position and being hollow, and said fingers having a plurality of discharge ports for directing pressurized air downwardly toward the elevator when said fingers are in their extended position.

Claim 12

In a counter ejector for forming a stack of paper-board folded boxes comprising an elevator, a first frame supporting said elevator, means adjacent one side of the elevator for delivering sheets to the elevator, a backstop adjacent an opposite side of said elevator, a plurality of fingers selectively movable from a retracted inoperative position to an extended position wherein the fingers are over the elevator, a second frame mounted for movement toward and away from said first frame, said backstop and said fingers being supported by said second frame, circuitry including a hydraulic cylinder supporting said elevator and for causing the elevator to descend in discrete increments correlated to delivery of boxes to said elevator, said circuitry including valve means for permitting escape of a predetermined volume of hydraulic fluid from a lower end of said cylinder and means for repetitively cycling said valve means, and means for transferring the stack from said elevator at a discharge position of the elevator.

Claim 13

In a counter ejector for forming a stack of paper-board folded boxes comprising an elevator, a first frame supporting said elevator, means adjacent one side of the elevator for delivering sheets to the elevator, a backstop adjacent an opposite side of said elevator, a plurality of fingers selectively movable from a retracted inoperative position to an extended position wherein the fingers are over the elevator, a second frame mounted for movement toward and away from said first frame, said backstop and said fingers being supported by said second frame, circuitry including a hydraulic cylinder supporting said elevator and for causing the elevator to descend in discrete increments correlated to delivery of boxes to said elevator, said circuitry including valve means for permitting escape of a predetermined volume of hydraulic fluid from a lower end of said cylinder and means for repetitively cycling said valve means, and means for transferring the stack from said elevator at a discharge position of the elevator.

Claim 14

In a counter ejector in accordance with claim 10 wherein said fingers are hollow, said circuitry including means for introducing pressurzied air into said fingers when the fingers are in their extended position only, and said fingers having air discharge ports on their lower surface thereof.

Claim 15

In a counter ejector in accordance with claim 10 wherein said circuitry includes a pneumatic cylinder for moving said elevator in an upward direction.

Claim 16

In a counter ejector in accordance with claim 10 including a parallelogram linkage extending between a frame and said elevator for supporting said elevator.

Claim 17

Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said valve means includes a cam actuated valve.

Claim 18

In a counter ejector in accordance with claim 10 wherein said valve means inclUdes a solenoid actuated valve coupled to a counter for counting boxes delivered by said conveyor means to said elevator.

Claim 19

In a counter ejector in accordance with claim 10 including a blower supported by a frame above the elevation at which said delivery means delivers boxes to said elevator.

Claim 20

In a counter ejector for forming a stack of paper-board folded boxes comprising an elevator, means for delivering sheets to said elevator, circuitry including a hydraulic cylinder supporting said elevator and for causing the elevator to descend in increments correlated to delivery of boxes to said elevator, said circuitry including valve means for permitting escape of a predetermined volume of hydraulic fluid from said cylinder and means for repetitively cycling said valve means, means for transferring the stack from said elevator at a discharge position of the elevator, said elevator being defined by a plurality of spaced parallel horizontally disposed surfaces, a discharge conveyor positioned to receive a stack from the elevator in a discharge position of the elevator, said conveyor having spaced parallel portions adapted to mesh with the spaced surfaces on the elevator.

Claim 21

In a counter ejector for forming a stack of paper-board folded boxes comprising an elevator, means for delivering sheets to said elevator, circuitry including a hydraulic cylinder supporting said elevator and for causing the elevator to descend in increments correlated to delivery of boxes to said elevator, said circuitry including valve means for permitting escape of a predetermined volume of hydraulic fluid from said cylinder and means for repetitively cycling said valve means, means for transferring the stack from said elevator at a discharge position of the elevator, said elevator being defined by a plurality of spaced parallel horizontally disposed surfaces, a discharge conveyor positioned to receive a stack from the elevator in a discharge position of the elevator, said conveyor having spaced parallel portions adapted to mesh with the spaced surfaces on the elevator.

Claim 22

Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said fingers extend between portions of the backstop and in their extended position temporarily support incoming sheets while a stack is being transferred from the elevator to said second conveyor means.

Claim 23

Apparatus for accumulating a stack of sheets such as folded paperboard boxes comprising an elevator, first conveyor means for feeding sheets to the elevator, means for causing the elevator to descend as a stack of sheets accumulates on said elevator, a blower above the elevator for directing air toward the elevator to apply a compressive force to a stack on the elevator, finger means movable from a retracted position to an extended position, said finger means in its extended position being below the elevation of said blower and over said elevator, said finger means having discharge ports for directing pressurized air toward the elevator when said finger means is in its extended position.

Claim 24

Apparatus for accumulating a stack of sheets such as folded paperboard boxes comprising an elevator, first conveyor means for feeding sheets to the elevator, means for causing the elevator to descend as a stack of sheets accumulates on said elevator, a blower above the elevator for directing air toward the elevator to apply a compressive force to a stack on the elevator, finger means movable from a retracted position to an extended position, said finger means in its extended position being below the elevation of said blower and over said elevator, said finger means having discharge ports for directing pressurized air toward the elevator when said finger means is in its extended position.