Code break mechanism for stacking apparatus

Claim 2

A combination for collecting delivered articles, comprising: a power stacker having a support housing, a deck fixably mounted to and supported by said housing, a registration wall fixably mounted to said housing and extending generally perpendicular to said deck, a stack wall slidably mounted to said housing at one end of said deck and having a reclined surface extending generally upwardly from said deck, said stack wall being slidably mounted to said housing such that said stack wall can be horizontally displaced outwardly from said deck, means for causing said delivered articles to be forcibly stacked against said stack wall, support means slidably mounted to said housing for providing article support between said deck and said displaced stack wall and biasing means for providing a counter return force to said stack wall; a code break mechanism having a deflector means for encountering a select one of said articles and causing said selected article to be stacked by said power stacker such that said selected article presents a visual discontinuity relative to other said articles stacked by said power stacker; said deflector means having a deflector plate pivotally mounted in an opening in said registration wall, and drive means for causing said deflector plate to be selectively positionable from a first position coplanar with said registration wall to a second position pivotally displaced from said registration wall; said drive means having a rotary output shaft, a first link fixably mounted at one end to said output shaft, and linking means for connecting said other end of said first link with said deflector plate such that pivotal displacement of said first link causes said deflector plate to move to said first or second position.

Claim 3

A combination for collecting delivered articles comprising: a power stacker having a support housing, a deck fixably mounted to and supported by said housing, a registration wall fixably mounted to said housing and extending generally perpendicular to said deck, a stack wall slidably mounted to said housing at one end of said deck and having a reclined surface extending generally upwardly from said deck, said stack wall being slidably mounted to said housing such that said stack wall can be horizontally displaced outwardly from said deck, means for causing said delivered articles to be forcibly stacked against said stack wall, support means slidably mounted to said housing for providing article support between said deck and said displaced stack wall and biasing means for providing a counter return force to said stack wall; a code break mechanism having a deflector means for encountering a select one of said articles and causing said selected article to be stacked by said power stacker such that said selected article presents a visual discontinuity relative to other of said articles stacked by said power stacker; and, said deflector means having a deflector plate pivotally mounted in an opening in said registration wall, and drive means for causing said deflector plate to be selectively positionable from a first position coplanar with said registration wall to a second position pivotally displaced from said registration wall, said drive means having a rotary solenoid having a rotary output shaft fixably mounted to the underside of said deck, a first link fixably mounted at one end to said output shaft and linking means for connecting said other end of said first link with said deflector plate such that pivotal displacement of said first link causes said deflector plate to move to said first or second position.

Claim 4

A combination for collecting delivered articles comprising: a power stacker having a support housing, a deck fixably mounted to and supported by said housing, a registration wall fixably mounted to said housing and extending generally perpendicular to said deck, a stack wall slidably mounted to said housing at one end of said deck and having a reclined surface extending generally upwardly from said deck, said stack wall being slidably mounted to said housing such that said stack wall can be horizontally displaced outwardly from said deck, means for causing said delivered articles to be forcibly stacked against said stack wall, support means slidably mounted to said housing for providing article support between said deck and said displaced stack wall and biasing means for providing a counter return force to said stack wall; a code break mechanism having a deflector means for encountering a select one of said articles and causing said selected article to be stacked by said power stacker such that said selected article presents a visual discontinuity relative to other of said articles stacked by said power stacker; and, said deflector means having a deflector plate pivotally mounted in an opening in said registration wall, and drive means for causing said deflector plate to be selectively positionable from a first position coplanar with said registration wall to a second position pivotally displaced from said registration wall, said drive means having a rotary solenoid having a rotary output shaft fixably mounted to the underside of said deck, a first link fixably mounted at one end to said output shaft and linking means for connecting said other end of said first link with said deflector plate such that pivotal displacement of said first link causes said deflector plate to move to said first or second position.

Claim 5

A combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein said deflector means further comprises biasing means for biasing said deflector plate in said first position acting on said linking means.

Claim 6

A combination as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, further comprising control means for selectively activating said code break mechanism.