GB2034271A - An Apparatus for Stacking Products - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for stacking substantially box-shaped articles (16), comprising two conveyors being at an angle to each other adjacent the point of intersection or transition of which there is disposed a blade wheel, the blades (5) of which being adapted to transfer articles from the one conveyor onto the other, said blades being mounted on the blade wheel in such a way that their direction relatively to the blade wheel are variable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An Apparatus for Stacking Products In the packaging industry, in particular when box- or dish-like articles are used as packaging material, there is a need for an effectively operating apparatus which is adapted to combine said articles to a stack wherein they are nested.

The invention provides a quickly operating apparatus complying with the requirements for stacking substantially box-shaped products, comprising two conveyors being at an angle to each other adjacent the cutting or the transition point of which there is disposed a blade wheel, the blades of which being adapted to convey articles from the one conveyor onto the other, which blades are so conducted within the blade wheel that their direction relative to and their length outside the path of the blade wheel are variable.

Although not restricted thereto, the invention is considered to being applied to the packaging of eggs in the form of boxes or the like dished packaging material.

According to an effective embodiment, the blade wheel is provided with a plurality of radially extending arms in each of which there is incorporated a rotation shaft connected to a blade, on which shaft there is likewise mounted a gear or the like, while adjacent the end of each arm there is present a shaft having a gear segment being in engagement with the gear on the blade shaft, whereby the gear segment is connected to a lever at the free end of which there is disposed a roller which is conducted across a fixed curve path.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawing. In the diagrammatic drawing is shown a part of the stacking apparatus according to the invention.

The new apparatus comprises a blade wheel 1 whose rotation shaft is indicated by 2. The blade wheel is provided with a plurality of substantially radially directed arms 3, in each of which the shaft 4 of a blade 5 is rotatably accommodated.

Adjacent the end of each arm there is mounted a second rotation shaft 6 for a lever 7. Said lever 7, in the drawn case, is united with a gear segment 8 which is in engagement with a gear 9 fixedly connected to the rotation shaft 4.

The free end of the lever 7 carries a roller 11 freely rotatable about a shaft 10. Said roller 11 is conducted in a curve path which is confined by frames 12 and 13.

As shown in the drawing the curve path 12, 13 adjoins a chute 14 having upright sides, one of which being shown by 15.

The products to be stacked, in the present case egg packaging cartons 16, can be quickly and correctly collected by the apparatus according to the invention in the form of a nested stack 1 7 in the chute 14, 1 5 and, if desired, be combined to packages.

The apparatus according to the invention is operated as follows: Articles 1 6 as discussed above are supplied by a conveyor (not shown) right-angled to the plane of drawing and are taken up one after the other by a blade 5, as shown at the left in the drawing.

Thereby the blade wheel 1 rotates about its shaft 2, at a speed that is attuned to the supply rate of the articles 1 7. Since the course of the curve path 12, 1 3 deviates from the circular path described by the handle ends, the blades 5 with an article 1 6 thereon will change direction, since the roller 11 follows the curve path 12, 13 while rotating about its shaft 1 0. This deviation results in that the segment 8 rotates about its shaft 6 and the gear 9 will rotate about its shaft 4, which rotary movement is followed by the blade 5 so that the above mentioned change of direction of the blade relatively to the associated handle 3 is produced.

The composite movement which is made by the blades results in a movement which is indicated by the dotted line 1 8.

It appears from the right-hand part of the drawing that a blade 5 causes an article 1 6 resting thereon to so adjoin the last one in the stack 1 7 that this cannot tilt, which may lead to disturbance in the stacking process. Moreover a so-called nesting of the article takes place, combined with a transport movement in the direction of the arrow 1 9. After a given number of articles has thus been stacked, the stack is removed from the chute 14, 1 5 and is ready for further use or treatment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for stacking substantially boxshaped articles, comprising two conveyors being at an angle to each other adjacent the point of intersection or transition of which there is disposed a blade wheel whose blades are adapted to transfer articles from the one conveyor onto the other, said blades being conducted within the blade wheel in such a way that their direction relatively to and their length outside the path of the blade wheel are variable.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the blade wheel is provided with a plurality of radially extending handles in each of which there is incorporated a rotation shaft connected to a blade, on which shaft there is likewise disposed a gear or the like, while adjacent the end of each handle there is present a shaft having a gear segment being in engagement with the gear on the blade shaft, whereby the gear segment is connected to a lever, at the free end of which there is disposed a roller which is conducted over a fixed curve path.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An Apparatus for Stacking Products In the packaging industry, in particular when box- or dish-like articles are used as packaging material, there is a need for an effectively operating apparatus which is adapted to combine said articles to a stack wherein they are nested. The invention provides a quickly operating apparatus complying with the requirements for stacking substantially box-shaped products, comprising two conveyors being at an angle to each other adjacent the cutting or the transition point of which there is disposed a blade wheel, the blades of which being adapted to convey articles from the one conveyor onto the other, which blades are so conducted within the blade wheel that their direction relative to and their length outside the path of the blade wheel are variable. Although not restricted thereto, the invention is considered to being applied to the packaging of eggs in the form of boxes or the like dished packaging material. According to an effective embodiment, the blade wheel is provided with a plurality of radially extending arms in each of which there is incorporated a rotation shaft connected to a blade, on which shaft there is likewise mounted a gear or the like, while adjacent the end of each arm there is present a shaft having a gear segment being in engagement with the gear on the blade shaft, whereby the gear segment is connected to a lever at the free end of which there is disposed a roller which is conducted across a fixed curve path. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawing. In the diagrammatic drawing is shown a part of the stacking apparatus according to the invention. The new apparatus comprises a blade wheel 1 whose rotation shaft is indicated by 2. The blade wheel is provided with a plurality of substantially radially directed arms 3, in each of which the shaft 4 of a blade 5 is rotatably accommodated. Adjacent the end of each arm there is mounted a second rotation shaft 6 for a lever 7. Said lever 7, in the drawn case, is united with a gear segment 8 which is in engagement with a gear 9 fixedly connected to the rotation shaft 4. The free end of the lever 7 carries a roller 11 freely rotatable about a shaft 10. Said roller 11 is conducted in a curve path which is confined by frames 12 and 13. As shown in the drawing the curve path 12, 13 adjoins a chute 14 having upright sides, one of which being shown by 15. The products to be stacked, in the present case egg packaging cartons 16, can be quickly and correctly collected by the apparatus according to the invention in the form of a nested stack 1 7 in the chute 14, 1 5 and, if desired, be combined to packages. The apparatus according to the invention is operated as follows: Articles 1 6 as discussed above are supplied by a conveyor (not shown) right-angled to the plane of drawing and are taken up one after the other by a blade 5, as shown at the left in the drawing. Thereby the blade wheel 1 rotates about its shaft 2, at a speed that is attuned to the supply rate of the articles 1 7. Since the course of the curve path 12, 1 3 deviates from the circular path described by the handle ends, the blades 5 with an article 1 6 thereon will change direction, since the roller 11 follows the curve path 12, 13 while rotating about its shaft 1 0. This deviation results in that the segment 8 rotates about its shaft 6 and the gear 9 will rotate about its shaft 4, which rotary movement is followed by the blade 5 so that the above mentioned change of direction of the blade relatively to the associated handle 3 is produced. The composite movement which is made by the blades results in a movement which is indicated by the dotted line 1 8. It appears from the right-hand part of the drawing that a blade 5 causes an article 1 6 resting thereon to so adjoin the last one in the stack 1 7 that this cannot tilt, which may lead to disturbance in the stacking process. Moreover a so-called nesting of the article takes place, combined with a transport movement in the direction of the arrow 1 9. After a given number of articles has thus been stacked, the stack is removed from the chute 14, 1 5 and is ready for further use or treatment. Claims

1. An apparatus for stacking substantially boxshaped articles, comprising two conveyors being at an angle to each other adjacent the point of intersection or transition of which there is disposed a blade wheel whose blades are adapted to transfer articles from the one conveyor onto the other, said blades being conducted within the blade wheel in such a way that their direction relatively to and their length outside the path of the blade wheel are variable.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the blade wheel is provided with a plurality of radially extending handles in each of which there is incorporated a rotation shaft connected to a blade, on which shaft there is likewise disposed a gear or the like, while adjacent the end of each handle there is present a shaft having a gear segment being in engagement with the gear on the blade shaft, whereby the gear segment is connected to a lever, at the free end of which there is disposed a roller which is conducted over a fixed curve path.