Stack forming method and apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship from a non-uniform stack, the apparatus comprising: an elongated support structure; first and second longitudinally movable stack engaging means carried by the support structure; means for moving the first and second stack engaging means in the same direction along the support structure between a receiving position, wherein the first and second stack engaging means are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a non-uniform stack, and a stack-formed position spaced from the receiving position; the moving means being adapted to move the first and second stack engaging means at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging means converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack and the stack engaging means move toward the stack-formed position; and conveyor means having a generally horizontal upper article conveying run upon which the non-uniform stacks may be received, the conveyor means being carried by the support structure and being movable longitudinally in the same direction as the first and second stack engaging means, and the conveyor means being for moving the articles at a speed greater than the speed of either of the first and second stack engaging means and for urging the articles up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship from a non-uniform stack, the apparatus comprising: an elongated support structure; first and second longitudinally movable stack engaging means carried by the support structure; means for moving the first and second stack engaging means in the same direction along the support structure between a receiving position, wherein the first and second stack engaging means are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a non-uniform stack, and a stack-formed position spaced from the receiving position; the moving means being adapted to move the first and second stack engaging means at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging means converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack and the stack engaging means move toward the stack-formed position; and conveyor means having a generally horizontal upper article conveying run upon which the non-uniform stacks may be received, the conveyor means being carried by the support structure and being movable longitudinally in the same direction as the first and second stack engaging means, and the conveyor means being for moving the articles at a speed greater than the speed of either of the first and second stack engaging means and for urging the articles up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging means.

Claim 4

An apparatus for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship from a non-uniform stack, the apparatus comprising: an elongated support structure; first and second longitudinally movable stack engaging means carried by the support structure; means for moving the first and second stack engaging means in the same direction along the support structure between a receiving position, wherein the first and second stack engaging means are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a non-uniform stack, and a stack-formed position spaced from the receiving position; the moving means being adapted to move the first and second stack engaging means at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging means converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack and the stack engaging means move toward the stack-formed position; conveyor means for moving the stack at a speed greater than the forwardmost stack engaging means and for urging the stack up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging means; side engaging means carried by the support structure and positioned to engage opposite sides of the stack to aid in forming the uniform stack as the stack and the stack engaging means move toward the stack-formed position; and the side engaging means includes at least a pair of side rails which converge in the direction of movement of the stack and, at a selected position, are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the uniform stack.

Claim 5

An apparatus for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship from a non-uniform stack, the apparatus comprising: an elongated support structure; first and second longitudinally movable stack engaging means carried by the support structure; means for moving the first and second stack engaging means in the same direction along the support structure between a receiving position, wherein the first and second stack engaging means are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a non-uniform stack, and a stack-formed position spaced from the receiving position; the moving means being adapted to move the first and second stack engaging means at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging means converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack and the stack engaging means move toward the stack-formed position; conveyor means for moving the stack at a speed greater than the forwardmost stack engaging means and for urging the stack up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging means; side engaging means carried by the support structure and positioned to engage opposite sides of the stack to aid in forming the uniform stack as the stack and the stack engaging means move toward the stack-formed position; and the side engaging means includes at least a pair of side rails which converge in the direction of movement of the stack and, at a selected position, are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the uniform stack.

Claim 6

An apparatus for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship from a non-uniform stack, the apparatus comprising: an elongated support structure; first and second longitudinally movable stack engaging means carried by the support structure; means for moving the first and second stack engaging means in the same direction along the support structure between a receiving position, wherein the first and second stack engaging means are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a non-uniform stack, and a stack-formed position spaced from the receiving position; the moving means being adapted to move the first and second stack engaging means at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging means converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack and the stack engaging means move toward the stack-formed position; side engaging means carried by the support structure and positioned to engage opposite sides of the stack to aid in forming the uniform stack as the stack and the stack engaging means move toward the stack-formed position; the side engaging means includes at least a pair of side rails which converge in the direction of movement of the stack and, at a selected position, are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the uniform stack; and means to exert a downward containment force against the top of a stack at the selected position where the side engaging rails are spaced apart less than the width of the uniform stack.

Claim 7

An apparatus for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship from a non-uniform stack, the apparatus comprising: an elongated support structure; first and second longitudinally movable stack engaging means carried by the support structure; means for moving the first and second stack engaging means in the same direction along the support structure between a receiving position, wherein the first and second stack engaging means are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a non-uniform stack, and a stack-formed position spaced from the receiving position; the moving means being adapted to move the first and second stack engaging means at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging means converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack and the stack engaging means move toward the stack-formed position; side engaging means carried by the support structure and positioned to engage opposite sides of the stack to aid in forming the uniform stack as the stack and the stack engaging means move toward the stack-formed position; the side engaging means includes at least a pair of side rails which converge in the direction of movement of the stack and, at a selected position, are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the uniform stack; and means to exert a downward containment force against the top of a stack at the selected position where the side engaging rails are spaced apart less than the width of the uniform stack.

Claim 11

An apparatus for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of sausage slices which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the apparatus comprising: elongated support means; a line of equally spaced first stack engaging members carried by the support means; a line of equally spaced second stack engaging members carried by the support means and adjacent and parallel to the line of first stack engaging members, the space between adjacent second stack engaging members being greater than the space between adjacent first stack engaging members, and the first and second stack engaging members being generally alternately located along the support means; means for driving the first and second stack engaging members in the same direction between a receiving position, where adjacent of the first and second stack engaging members are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a non-uniform stack, and a stack-formed position spaced from the receiving position; the driving means being adapted to drive the first and second stack engaging members at sufficiently different speeds that each of the adjacent first and second stack engaging members converge to engage and form the slices into substantial vertical alignment as the stack engaging members move toward the stack-formed position; and conveyor means carried by the support means and parallel to the lines of first and second stack engaging members, the conveyor means being positioned to underlie and receive stacks deposited at the receiving position, and means for driving the conveyor means in the same direction and faster than the first and second stack engaging member, said driving means also being for urging the stacks up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging member.

Claim 12

An apparatus for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of sausage slices which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the apparatus comprising: elongated support means; a line of equally spaced first stack engaging members carried by the support means; a line of equally spaced second stack engaging members carried by the support means and adjacent and parallel to the line of first stack engaging members, the space between adjacent second stack engaging members being greater than the space between adjacent first stack engaging members, and the first and second stack engaging members being generally alternately located along the support means; means for driving the first and second stack engaging members in the same direction between a receiving position, where adjacent of the first and second stack engaging members are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a non-uniform stack, and a stack-formed position spaced from the receiving position; the driving means being adapted to drive the first and second stack engaging members at sufficiently different speeds that each of the adjacent first and second stack engaging members converge to engage and form the slices into substantial vertical alignment as the stack engaging members move toward the stack-formed position; and conveyor means carried by the support means and parallel to the lines of first and second stack engaging members, the conveyor means being positioned to underlie and receive stacks deposited at the receiving position, and means for driving the conveyor means in the same direction and faster than the first and second stack engaging member, said driving means also being for urging the stacks up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging member.

Claim 13

An apparatus for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of sausage slices which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the apparatus comprising: elongated support means; a line of equally spaced first stack engaging members carried by the support means; a line of equally spaced second stack engaging members carried by the support means and adjacent and parallel to the line of first stack engaging members, the space between adjacent second stack engaging members being greater than the space between adjacent first stack engaging members, and the first and second stack engaging members being generally alternately located along the support means; means for driving the first and second stack engaging members in the same direction between a receiving position, where adjacent of the first and second stack engaging members are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a non-uniform stack and a stack-formed position spaced from the receiving position; the driving means being adapted to drive the first and second stack engaging members at sufficiently different speeds that each of the adjacent first and second stack engaging members converge to engage and form the slices into substantial vertical alignment as the stack engaging members move toward the stack-formed position; and means to downwardly engage the top of a stack as the stack moves to the stack-formed position.

Claim 14

An apparatus for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of sausage slices which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the apparatus comprising: elongated support means; a line of equally spaced first stack engaging members carried by the support means; a line of equally spaced second stack engaging members carried by the support means and adjacent and parallel to the line of first stack engaging members, the space between adjacent second stack engaging members being greater than the space between adjacent first stack engaging members, and the first and second stack engaging members being generally alternately located along the support means; means for driving the first and second stack engaging members in the same direction between a receiving position, where adjacent of the first and second stack engaging members are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a non-uniform stack and a stack-formed position spaced from the receiving position; the driving means being adapted to drive the first and second stack engaging members at sufficiently different speeds that each of the adjacent first and second stack engaging members converge to engage and form the slices into substantial vertical alignment as the stack engaging members move toward the stack-formed position; and means to downwardly engage the top of a stack as the stack moves to the stack-formed position.

Claim 16

An apparatus for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of sausage slices which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the apparatus comprising: conveyor means carried by the support means and movable at a continuous selected speed for transporting stacks of sausage slices between a receiving position, where stacks are deposited onto the conveyor means, and a stack-formed position spaced from the receiving position; a plurality of first and second stack engaging members spaced alternately along the conveyor means and movable parallel to the conveyor means, each pair of adjacent first and second stack engaging members defining a stack engaging set, the first stack engaging member of each set being disposed to engage a forward side portion of a stack moving along the conveyor means, and the second stack engaging member of each set being disposed to engage a rearward side portion of the same stack; means for moving the first and second stack engaging members in the same direction as the conveyor means between the receiving position and the stack-formed position, the first stack engaging members being equally spaced along the conveyor means and the second stack engaging members being equally spaced along the conveyor means by a distance greater than the first stack engaging members, the moving means being adapted to move the second stack engaging members at a faster speed than the first stack engaging members such that the first and second members of each set are spaced sufficiently far apart to receive a non-uniform stack at the receiving position, and converge to engage the slices and form a substantially vertically aligned uniform stack as the stack moves toward the stack-formed position; the moving means includes means for moving the first and second stack engaging members in an intermittent motion, stopping the first and second stack engaging members adjacent the receiving position for receiving the stack of sausage slices between each adjacent pair of the first and second stack engaging members; and the conveyor means being for moving the stack of sausage slices at a speed greater than the speed of the forwardmost stack engaging member and for urging the stack of sausage slices up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging member.

Claim 17

An apparatus for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of sausage slices which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the apparatus comprising: conveyor means carried by the support means and movable at a continuous selected speed for transporting stacks of sausage slices between a receiving position, where stacks are deposited onto the conveyor means, and a stack-formed position spaced from the receiving position; a plurality of first and second stack engaging members spaced alternately along the conveyor means and movable parallel to the conveyor means, each pair of adjacent first and second stack engaging members defining a stack engaging set, the first stack engaging member of each set being disposed to engage a forward side portion of a stack moving along the conveyor means, and the second stack engaging member of each set being disposed to engage a rearward side portion of the same stack; means for moving the first and second stack engaging members in the same direction as the conveyor means between the receiving position and the stack-formed position, the first stack engaging members being equally spaced along the conveyor means and the second stack engaging members being equally spaced along the conveyor means by a distance greater than the first stack engaging members, the moving means being adapted to move the second stack engaging members at a faster speed than the first stack engaging members such that the first and second members of each set are spaced sufficiently far apart to receive a non-uniform stack at the receiving position, and converge to engage the slices and form a substantially vertically aligned uniform stack as the stack moves toward the stack-formed position; the moving means includes means for moving the first and second stack engaging members in an intermittent motion, stopping the first and second stack engaging members adjacent the receiving position for receiving the stack of sausage slices between each adjacent pair of the first and second stack engaging members; and the conveyor means being for moving the stack of sausage slices at a speed greater than the speed of the forwardmost stack engaging member and for urging the stack of sausage slices up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging member.

Claim 18

A method for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the method comprising: positioning a non-uniform stack of flat articles between at least a pair of spaced stack engaging members which are longitudinally movable in the same direction between a receiving position for receiving a non-uniform stack and a stack-formed position; moving the stack engaging members in the same longitudinal direction between the receiving position and the stack-formed position at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging members converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack moves toward the stack-formed position; and positioning the stack on an underlying conveyor for continuously urging the stack in the same direction as the stack engaging members move, said urging step including moving the stack at a speed greater than that of the stack engaging members in order to urge the stack up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging members.

Claim 19

A method for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the method comprising: positioning a non-uniform stack of flat articles between at least a pair of spaced stack engaging members which are longitudinally movable in the same direction between a receiving position for receiving a non-uniform stack and a stack-formed position; moving the stack engaging members in the same longitudinal direction between the receiving position and the stack-formed position at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging members converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack moves toward the stack-formed position; and positioning the stack on an underlying conveyor for continuously urging the stack in the same direction as the stack engaging members move, said urging step including moving the stack at a speed greater than that of the stack engaging members in order to urge the stack up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging members.

Claim 21

A method for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the method comprising; positioning a non-uniform stack of flat articles between at least a pair of spaced stack engaging members which are longitudinally movable in the same direction between a receiving position for receiving a non-uniform stack and a stack-formed position; moving the stack engaging members in the same longitudinal direction between the receiving position and the stack-formed position at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging members converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack moves toward the stack-formed position; positioning the stack on an underlying conveyor for continuously urging the stack in the same direction that the stack engaging members move, said urging step including moving the stack at a speed greater than the forwardmost stack engaging member in order to urge the stack up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging members; and compressing the stack laterally to aid in forming the substantially aligned and uniform stack.

Claim 22

A method for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the method comprising; positioning a non-uniform stack of flat articles between at least a pair of spaced stack engaging members which are longitudinally movable in the same direction between a receiving position for receiving a non-uniform stack and a stack-formed position; moving the stack engaging members in the same longitudinal direction between the receiving position and the stack-formed position at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging members converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack moves toward the stack-formed position; positioning the stack on an underlying conveyor for continuously urging the stack in the same direction that the stack engaging members move, said urging step including moving the stack at a speed greater than the forwardmost stack engaging member in order to urge the stack up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging members; and compressing the stack laterally to aid in forming the substantially aligned and uniform stack.

Claim 23

A method for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the method comprising: positioning a non-uniform stack of flat articles between at least a pair of spaced stack engaging members which are longitudinally movable in the same direction between a receiving position for receiving a non-uniform stack and a stack-formed position; moving the stack engaging members in the same longitudinal direction between the receiving position and the stack-formed position at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging members converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack moves toward the stack-formed position; compressing the stack laterally to aid in forming the substantially aligned and uniform stack; and applying a downward containment force to the stack at substantially the same time as the stack is compressed laterally.

Claim 24

A method for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the method comprising: positioning a non-uniform stack of flat articles between at least a pair of spaced stack engaging members which are longitudinally movable in the same direction between a receiving position for receiving a non-uniform stack and a stack-formed position; moving the stack engaging members in the same longitudinal direction between the receiving position and the stack-formed position at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging members converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack moves toward the stack-formed position; compressing the stack laterally to aid in forming the substantially aligned and uniform stack; and applying a downward containment force to the stack at substantially the same time as the stack is compressed laterally.

Claim 28

A method for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the method comprising: positioning a non-uniform stack of flat articles between at least a pair of spaced stack engaging members which are longitudinally movable in the same direction between a receiving position for receiving a non-uniform stack and a stack-formed position; moving the stack engaging members in the same longitudinal direction between the receiving position and the stack-formed position at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging members converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack moves toward the stack-formed position; positioning the stack on an underlying conveyor for continuously urging the stack in the same direction as the stack engaging members, said urging step including moving the stack at a speed greater than that of the forwardmost stack engaging member in order to urge the stack up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging member; and moving the stack engaging members in an intermittent motion between the receiving and stack-formed positions.

Claim 29

A method for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles which are in at least partial overlapping relationship, the method comprising: positioning a non-uniform stack of flat articles between at least a pair of spaced stack engaging members which are longitudinally movable in the same direction between a receiving position for receiving a non-uniform stack and a stack-formed position; moving the stack engaging members in the same longitudinal direction between the receiving position and the stack-formed position at sufficiently different speeds that the stack engaging members converge to engage and form the articles into substantial vertical alignment as the stack moves toward the stack-formed position; positioning the stack on an underlying conveyor for continuously urging the stack in the same direction as the stack engaging members, said urging step including moving the stack at a speed greater than that of the forwardmost stack engaging member in order to urge the stack up to and against the forwardmost stack engaging member; and moving the stack engaging members in an intermittent motion between the receiving and stack-formed positions.