US3915316A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Counting and stacking apparatus
Assignee: EL CHICO CORP
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Filing: 1972-07-28
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1992-07-28
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for counting and stacking substantially flat articles, such, particularly, as food articles of the nature of Mexican tortillas, which includes a first belt type feed conveyor, a second belt type stacking conveyor intermeshing with a vertically movable stacking rack or fork, and a take-away conveyor. The articles are sequentially fed from a conventional conveyor from apparatus such as an oven to the feed conveyor beneath a counting switch. Each article is discharged from the feed conveyor in a stacked relationship to the stacking conveyor against the stacking rack. When the desired number of articles are stacked on the stacking conveyor against the rack, the rack rapidly retracts downwardly releasing the stack for discharge to the take-away conveyor. Between the time of discharge of each stack and the arrival of the first article for forming the next stack, the stacking rack returns upwardly to intermeshed relationship with the stacking conveyor for forming and holding the next stack.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Johnny B Pomara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:26
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B35/00; B65B35/30; B65B35/50; A; A21; A21C; A21C15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
Apparatus for counting and stacking a plurality of substantially flat articles comprising: a feed conveyor for sequentially receiving and introducing said articles into said apparatus; a stacking conveyor at the discharge end of said feed conveyor for sequentially receiving said articles from said feed conveyor and arranging said articles in a stacked relationship thereon, said stacking conveyor comprising longitudinally spaced end rollers and a plurality of substantially parallel, laterally spaced belts running on said end rollers; and a stacking fork comprising a plurality of substantially vertical tines arranged in a semicircular configuration and a horizontal rod secured on each of said tines projecting toward said feed conveyor, said rods defining a stack support platform above said stacking conveyor at an upper stacking position, said tines and said rods being disposed in intermeshing relationship with said stacking conveyor belts and vertically movable between said upper article stacking position at which said tines project above said stacking conveyor belts for intercepting said articles and said rods are disposed above said stacking conveyor belts for holding said articles in a stacked relationship above said belts until a predetermined number of said articles are formed in a stack on said horizontal rods, and said stacking fork being movable to a lower position at which said horizontal rods are below said belts and the upper ends of said tines are no higher than said belts for releasing said stack for discharge from said stacking conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
Apparatus for counting and stacking a plurality of substantially flat articles comprising: a feed conveyor for sequentially receiving and introducing said articles into said apparatus; a stacking conveyor at the discharge end of said feed conveyor for sequentially receiving said articles from said feed conveyor and arranging said articles in a stacked relationship thereon, said stacking conveyor comprising longitudinally spaced end rollers and a plurality of substantially parallel, laterally spaced belts running on said end rollers; and a stacking fork comprising a plurality of substantially vertical tines arranged in a semicircular configuration and a horizontal rod secured on each of said tines projecting toward said feed conveyor, said rods defining a stack support platform above said stacking conveyor at an upper stacking position, said tines and said rods being disposed in intermeshing relationship with said stacking conveyor belts and vertically movable between said upper article stacking position at which said tines project above said stacking conveyor belts for intercepting said articles and said rods are disposed above said stacking conveyor belts for holding said articles in a stacked relationship above said belts until a predetermined number of said articles are formed in a stack on said horizontal rods, and said stacking fork being movable to a lower position at which said horizontal rods are below said belts and the upper ends of said tines are no higher than said belts for releasing said stack for discharge from said stacking conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including counting means operatively associated with said feed conveyor for counting each of said articles as said article is moved along said feed conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said feed conveyor comprises longitudinally spaced end rollers and a plurality of laterally spaced substantially parallel belts and said counting means includes a sensor member disposed in intermeshing relationship with said belts of said feed conveyor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for counting and stacking a plurality of substantially flat articles comprising: input slide means; a feed conveyor positioned substantially horizontally at the discharge end of said input slide means and comprising a plurality of laterally spaced, substantially parallel belts running on longitudinally spaced end rollers; a counting switch supported over said feed conveyor and having a sensor positioned to be engaged by each article supplied to and moved along said feed conveyor; a stacking conveyor positioned horizontally at the discharge end of said feed conveyor, said stacking conveyor having a plurality of laterally spaced, substantially parallel belts running on longitudinally spaced end rollers; a stacking fork positioned in intermeshing relationship with said belts of said stacking conveyor spaced from the discharge end of said feed conveyor and having substantially vertical tines and horizontal support rods movable between an upper stacking position at which said tines and said rods project above said belts of Said stacking conveyor and a lower stack release position at which said tines and rods are lower than the top article supporting portions of said belts of said stacking conveyor, said tines being arranged along a substantially circular arc for engaging and holding circular flat articles; and a take-away conveyor horizontally positioned at the discharge end of said stacking conveyor for sequentially receiving stacks of articles of predetermined number arranged by said stacking fork on said stacking conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for counting and stacking a plurality of substantially flat articles comprising: input slide means; a feed conveyor positioned substantially horizontally at the discharge end of said input slide means and comprising a plurality of laterally spaced, substantially parallel belts running on longitudinally spaced end rollers; a counting switch supported over said feed conveyor and having a sensor positioned to be engaged by each article supplied to and moved along said feed conveyor; a stacking conveyor positioned horizontally at the discharge end of said feed conveyor, said stacking conveyor having a plurality of laterally spaced, substantially parallel belts running on longitudinally spaced end rollers; a stacking fork positioned in intermeshing relationship with said belts of said stacking conveyor spaced from the discharge end of said feed conveyor and having substantially vertical tines and horizontal support rods movable between an upper stacking position at which said tines and said rods project above said belts of Said stacking conveyor and a lower stack release position at which said tines and rods are lower than the top article supporting portions of said belts of said stacking conveyor, said tines being arranged along a substantially circular arc for engaging and holding circular flat articles; and a take-away conveyor horizontally positioned at the discharge end of said stacking conveyor for sequentially receiving stacks of articles of predetermined number arranged by said stacking fork on said stacking conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said stacking fork is supported from and operated by a substantially vertical cylinder assembly adapted to retract and extend for raising and lowering said stacking fork between stacking end discharge positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said feed conveyor operates at a higher rate than said stacking conveyor and said stacking conveyor operates at a higher rate than said take-away conveyor.
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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) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |