US4027580A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pad stacker
Assignee: Leucadia Inc
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Filing: 1975-11-21
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Granted: 1977-06-07
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Expires: 1995-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for stacking in precise alignment relatively large, flat, lightweight and flexible objects such as low density felted, fiber pads are disclosed. The disclosed method comprises the steps of feeding the pads towards the stack, rotating the leading edge of a pad to be stacked approximately 180° to place the leading edge of the pad at the top of the stack in a position reversed top-bottom due to the rotation, and causing the remaining portion of the pad to follow in the position reversal along the top of the stack. The disclosed apparatus comprises at least one wheel with clips thereon for receiving and securing the leading edge of the pad, means such as an electric motor for rotating the wheel, means such as a slotted planar guide for disengaging the leading edge of the pad from the at least one wheel in precise alignment at the top of the stack as the at least one wheel rotates through the slots, and means such as air pressure directed against the pad remainder to cause it to take its place along the top of the stack. More than one pad may be stacked simultaneously according to the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 George Holger Sundin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:19
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H31/00; B65H31/30; B65H31/3054; B65H29/00; B65H29/001; B65H29/02; B65H29/06; B65H29/38; B65H29/40; B65H31/04; B65H31/08; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/30; B65H2301/33; B65H2301/333; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/44; B65H2301/446; B65H2301/4461; B65H2404/00; B65H2404/20; B65H2404/26; B65H2404/269; B65H2404/2693; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/102; Y10S414/103; Y10S414/104; Y10S414/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for stacking flexible pads of low density fibrous materials in at least one aligned stack, which comprises the steps of: a. receiving and securing the leading edge of at least one pad to be stacked above said at least one stack near one end thereof; b. rotating said leading edge approximately 180° reversing the relative positioning of the top and bottom of the leading edge and forming a belly in said pad; c. holding said reverse positioned leading edge at the top of said at least one stack against an index indexing at the said one end thereof; d. directing an air stream into the said belly thereby assisting the portion of the pad trailing said leading edge to reverse its upper and lower positions along and on said at least one stack; and e. terminating the holding of said leading edge.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for stacking flexible pads of low density fibrous materials in at least one aligned stack, which comprises the steps of: a. receiving and securing the leading edge of at least one pad to be stacked above said at least one stack near one end thereof; b. rotating said leading edge approximately 180° reversing the relative positioning of the top and bottom of the leading edge and forming a belly in said pad; c. holding said reverse positioned leading edge at the top of said at least one stack against an index indexing at the said one end thereof; d. directing an air stream into the said belly thereby assisting the portion of the pad trailing said leading edge to reverse its upper and lower positions along and on said at least one stack; and e. terminating the holding of said leading edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of automatically moving completed stacks of predetermined size away from said index.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method according to claim 1, wherein the pads are stacked one at a time into a single stack.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pads are simultaneously stacked into a single stack.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pads are simultaneously stacked into a plurality of stacks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method according to claim 5, wherein the pads of each stack are of the same size.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
Method according to claim 5, wherein the pads of at least two stacks are of different size.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
Method according to claim 1, wherein said step of holding said leading edge further comprises: a. engaging said leading edge between a wheel and a spring; b. rotating said wheel and spring; and c. camming said spring against the upper pad on said stack whereby additional holding force is applied to said leading edge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for stacking flexible pads of low density fibrous materials in at least one aligned stack, which comprises: a. receiving means for receiving and securing the leading edge of at least one pad to be stacked above said at least one stack near one end thereof; b. rotating means for rotating said leading edge approximately 180° reversing the relative positioning of its top and bottom; c. an index; d. means for placing said leading edge against said index; e. means for temporarily holding said leading edge against said index; and f. air jet means for assisting the portion of the pad trailing said leading edge to reverse its upper and lower positions along and on said at least one stack.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for stacking flexible pads of low density fibrous materials in at least one aligned stack, which comprises: a. receiving means for receiving and securing the leading edge of at least one pad to be stacked above said at least one stack near one end thereof; b. rotating means for rotating said leading edge approximately 180° reversing the relative positioning of its top and bottom; c. an index; d. means for placing said leading edge against said index; e. means for temporarily holding said leading edge against said index; and f. air jet means for assisting the portion of the pad trailing said leading edge to reverse its upper and lower positions along and on said at least one stack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising removing means for automatically moving a completed stack of predetermined size away from said discharging means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the predetermined size is established by pad count.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the predetermined size is established by stack height.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said rotating means comprises at least one rotatably mounted member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said temporary holding means comprises spring means positioned on said at least one rotatably mounted member operative to receive and releasably secure said leading edge on and to said at least one rotatably mounted member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said at least one rotatably mounted member comprises a wheel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said spring means comprises a V-shaped clip associated with each of said at least one rotatably mounted member formed by a surface of said at least one rotatably mounted member and a flexible member secured at one end thereof thereon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said flexible member is arcuate and curved to form a portion of said V-shaped clip.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the opposite end of said flexible member is further curved than the remainder of said arcuate flexible member in a direction away from said surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said index comprises a fixed member having a planar surface positioned to contact at least a portion of said leading edge after it is rotated approximately 180°.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said index comprises a fixed member having a planar surface positioned to contact at least a portion of said leading edge after it is rotated approximately 180°.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said fixed member further comprises at least one slot to permit passage of said spring means therethrough when said rotatably mounted member is rotated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising feed means for feeding said at least one pad towards said receiving means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising means for vertically moving said at least one stack to maintain the top thereof approximately level with the bottom of said at least one slot.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising at least one table for stacking pads thereon and a device operative to vertically move said at least one stack and table.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising automatic height means to automatically move said at least one stack away when said at least one stack reaches a predetermined height.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 further comprising automatic height means to automatically move said at least one stack away when said at least one stack reaches a predetermined height.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said automatic height means comprises photo-electric means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said automatic height means comprises photo-electric means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising automatic counting means to count the number of pads being stacked in said at least one stack.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising automatic counting means to count the number of pads being stacked in said at least one stack.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 29 further comprising removing means cooperating with said counting means for automatically moving a completed stack of predetermined number away.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising removing means cooperating with said counting means for automatically moving a completed stack of predetermined number away.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said opposite end is adapted to camming against the surface of said at least one stack whereby said leading edge is temporarily squeezed between said flexible member and said rotatably mounted member.
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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) | 1980-06-06 | 1980-12-06 | 1981-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-06 | 1984-12-06 | 1985-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-06 | 1988-12-06 | 1989-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |