Apparatus for forming loose packets of flat workpieces

Claim 2

Apparatus for forming packets of predetermined numbers of superposed flat workpieces from a row of such workpieces arriving in succession from a workpiece forming apparatus, comprising a movable first belt conveyor located downstream of the forming apparatus operating at a slower conveying speed than the arrival speed of said workpieces to transform the row of workpieces to a flow of workpieces in overlapping formation, brake means downstream from said forming apparatus adjacent the first belt conveyor effective to engage the workpieces and cause same temporarily to build up and interrupt the flow of the overlapping formation each time the predetermined number of workpieces for a packet has been reached, and two packeting stations spaced from one another downstream of the first conveyor each including an abutment means, and means for moving the position of the first belt conveyor relative to the packeting stations so that the overlapping flow is directly alternately to one said station and the other.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the packeting stations are superposed at a vertical spacing from one another and the first conveyor and the brake means are pivotable.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 further including a pivoting drive means for pivoting the second conveyor rapidly through the vertical spacing between the packeting stations, means for controlling said pivoting drive means, and follow-up drive means for pivoting first conveyor in conformity with the growth of a packet, and wherein the packeting stations are disposed at respectively fixed locAtions.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conveyor comprises two belt conveyor means disposed one upstream of the other and capable of operating at conveying speeds different from each other, the said brake means being disposed adjacent the said upstream belt conveyor means.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the belt conveyor means are independently driven.

Claim 7

Apparatus for forming packets of predetermined numbers of superposed flat workpieces from a row of such workpieces arriving in succession from a workpiece forming apparatus, comprising a first belt conveyor means located downstream of the forming apparatus and operating at a slower conveying speed than the arrival speed of said workpieces to transform the row of successive workpieces arriving from said forming apparatus to a flow of workpieces in overlapping formation, brake means downstream of said forming apparatus adjacent the first conveyor means effective to engage the workpieces and cause said workpieces temporarily to build up and interrupt the flow of the overlapping formation each time a predetermined number of workpieces for a packet has been reached, a vertically movable packeting station downstream of the first conveyor means including an abutment means, and means for removing successive completed packets from the packeting station, an auxiliary stacking surface movable toward and away from a position below the downstream end of the first conveyor means provided adjacent the packeting station, drive means for said auxiliary surface to move said auxiliary surface over the packeting station during said interruption in the flow of the overlapping formation and cause said workpieces to remain on said auxiliary stacking surface until a complete packet has been entirely removed from the packeting station.

Claim 8

Apparatus for forming packets of predetermined numbers of superposed flat workpieces from a row of such workpieces arriving in succession from a workpiece forming apparatus, comprising a first belt conveyor means located downstream of the forming apparatus and operating at a slower conveying speed than the arrival speed of said workpieces to transform the row of successive workpieces arriving from said forming apparatus to a flow of workpieces in overlapping formation, brake means downstream of said forming apparatus adjacent the first conveyor means effective to engage the workpieces and cause said workpieces temporarily to build up and interrupt the flow of the overlapping formation each time a predetermined number of workpieces for a packet has been reached, a vertically movable packeting station downstream of the first conveyor means including an abutment means, and means for removing successive completed packets from the packeting station, an auxiliary stacking surface movable toward and away from a position below the downstream end of the first conveyor means provided adjacent the packeting station, drive means for said auxiliary surface to move said auxiliary surface over the packeting station during said interruption in the flow of the overlapping formation and cause said workpieces to remain on said auxiliary stacking surface until a complete packet has been entirely removed from the packeting station.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the auxiliary surface is formed by a rake.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first conveyor comprises two belt conveyor means disposed one downstream of the other and the said downstream conveyor means comprise a plurality of spaced parallel belts passing over separate rollers, the rake and operating means therefor being disposed beneath the conveying runs of the belts and the rake having prongs engaging between the separate rollers.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6, further including means for controlling the operation of said auxiliary stacking surface and said moveable packeting station in response to the number of workpieces arriving from said forming apparatus.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said brake means comprises: a supporting roll adjacent said first belt conveyor and driven thereby engaging the workpieces being transported by said first belt conveyor; guide rolls pivotally mounted to engage said supporting roll and be frictionally driven thereby; belts adjacent said first belt conveyor connecting said guide rolls; and second brake means for stopping said supporting roll and said guide rolls thereby stopping the feed of workpieces disposed between said supporting roll and said guide rolls, and allowing a build-up of workpieces between said first belt conveyor and said belts.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 6, further including a second conveyor means conveying workpieces arriving from said workpiece forming apparatus to said first conveyor means.

Claim 14

Apparatus for forming packets of predetermined numbers of superposed flat workpieces from a plurality of such workpieces arriving in successive fashion from a workpiece forming apparatus comprising: at least two spaced apart packeting stations downstream of the forming apparatus, each selectively receiving workpieces and each including an abutment means; a moveable frame means adapted to move into a position adjacent each of said spaced apart packeting stations; a first conveyor means on said moveable frame means conveying the workpieces arriving from said workpiece forming apparatus to said packeting stations, said first Conveyor means operating at a slower conveying speed than said workpieces are arriving from said workpiece forming apparatus to transform the flow of workpieces from the successive fashion into an overlapping fashion; brake means mounted on said moveable frame means adjacent said first conveyor means operative to engage and temporarily interrupt the flow of overlapping workpieces being conveyed on said first conveyor means to form a temporary packet of said workpieces; frame moving means for moving said frame means from adjacent one packeting station to adjacent another; control means responsive to the number of workpieces arriving from the workpiece forming apparatus controlling said brake means and said frame moving means causing said brake means to become operative each time a predetermined number of workpieces has arrived from said workpiece forming apparatus and to operate said frame moving means to move said moveable frame from adjacent one packeting station to adjacent another; and actuating means actuated while said moveable frame means is moving causing said brake means to disengage from said workpieces whereby the flow of said overlapping workpieces on said first conveyor means is resumed.

Claim 15

Apparatus for forming packets of predetermined numbers of superposed flat workpieces from a plurality of such workpieces arriving in successive fashion from a workpiece forming apparatus comprising: at least two spaced apart packeting stations downstream of the forming apparatus, each selectively receiving workpieces and each including an abutment means; a moveable frame means adapted to move into a position adjacent each of said spaced apart packeting stations; a first conveyor means on said moveable frame means conveying the workpieces arriving from said workpiece forming apparatus to said packeting stations, said first Conveyor means operating at a slower conveying speed than said workpieces are arriving from said workpiece forming apparatus to transform the flow of workpieces from the successive fashion into an overlapping fashion; brake means mounted on said moveable frame means adjacent said first conveyor means operative to engage and temporarily interrupt the flow of overlapping workpieces being conveyed on said first conveyor means to form a temporary packet of said workpieces; frame moving means for moving said frame means from adjacent one packeting station to adjacent another; control means responsive to the number of workpieces arriving from the workpiece forming apparatus controlling said brake means and said frame moving means causing said brake means to become operative each time a predetermined number of workpieces has arrived from said workpiece forming apparatus and to operate said frame moving means to move said moveable frame from adjacent one packeting station to adjacent another; and actuating means actuated while said moveable frame means is moving causing said brake means to disengage from said workpieces whereby the flow of said overlapping workpieces on said first conveyor means is resumed.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12, further including a second conveyor means conveying workpieces arriving from said workpiece forming apparatus to said first conveyor means.