US2881000A

US2881000A - Article stacking apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2881000A
Application number: US450934A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr John W Kephart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-08-19
Filing date: 1954-08-19
Publication date: 1959-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 1976-04-07

Description

April 7, 1959 J. w. KEPHART, JR

ARTICLE STACKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1954 A INVENHJR. JOHN W. KEPHART ,JR.

KWSA

ATTORNEYS April 7, 1959 J. w. KEPHART, JR 2,881,000

' ARTICLE STACKING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 19, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 52 Fig.2

INVENTOR. JOHN W. KEPHART, JR.

Wyn-xx ATTORNEYS J. W. KEPHART, JR

ARTICLE STACKING APPARATUS April 7, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 19, 1954 INVENTOR. JOHN W. KEPHART, JR.

ATTORNEYS April 7, 1959 J. w. KEPHART, JR 2,881,000

ARTICLE STACKING APPARATUS v Filed Aug. 19, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JOHN w. KEPHART, JR.

,WQflAK ATTORNEYS United States Patent" ARTICLE STACKING APPARATUS John W. Kephar.t-,Jr., Merion Station, Pa.

Application August 19, 1954, Serial No. 450,934

19' Claims. (Cl. 271-68) This invention relates. to article stacking apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for stacking sheetsof material which are received in generally horizontal motion and which are to be stacked one upon the other in piles containing counted numbers of sheets having selected sides turned upwardly.

' In the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein the invention is applied to the stacking of roofing shingles. While the invention is particularly applicable to stacking roofing shingles, it will be evident that. the invention may be applied to the stacking of various other types of articles.

In the manufacture of roofing shingles the finished shingles are cut from a strip of moving material and accelerated so as to provide spacing between the successive shingles which are, carried by a suitable conveyor' in the direction of their longitudinal axes. The shingles generally measure approximately 36" x 12" and weigh approximately 2.7 pounds each. The shingles are frequently delivered at a rate of approximately 18.0 shingles. a minute and are delivered immediately fol-,- lowing their manufacture and thus are quite hot and flexible, their temperature being such as to, necessitate their being handled only by persons wearing gloves. The shingles are customarily packaged in bundles containing 28 or 24 shingles, more specifically the, shingles are packaged in two successive packages each containing 28 shingles and the next successive package con.- taining, 24 shingles in order that. each three successive packages will contain a total of 80 shingles forming what is known in the trade as a square. It will be evident from these. figures that in order for an operator to receive these shingles as delivered from the manufacturing process it is necessary that 6 packages of shingles. weighing approximately 430. pounds be handled each minute. It will be evident that this presents an extremely difiicult physical operation and, that the physical operation is made even more difficult by the fact that shingles must be counted out into these packages at this rate of production.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to pro,- vide apparatus for receiving the shingles as delivered from the manufacturing process and, for stacking the shingles in counted bundles.

A further difiiculty arises in packaging articles. such as shingles for the reason that shingles, which are gen.- erally formed of an asphaltic material, are provided over only a portion of one surface in a transverse direction with a deposit of, gravel or similar material. Inasmuch as this material does not extend over the entire surface of the shingle it is desirable, in each of the pack.- ages mentioned above, that half of the shingles in'the package be turned with the gravel side up and the other half of the shingles'i'n the package be armed with the gravel sidedown so that the package is of approximately the same height or thickness along both of its longitudinal edges. It will be apparent from the figures noted above that if an operator were required to receive 12 2,881,000 Patented Apr. 7,. 1959 ice shingles and. deposit, them with one face or side turned upwardly and then to receive the next 12 shingles and deposit them with the. other side turned upwardly, it would add materially to the. handling problem already reviewed.

It, is, therefore, a further object of the invention to provide article stacking apparatus by which sheet articles may be stacked in stacks in which a predetermined number of the articles in each stack are turned, with one face up. and the remaining articles on the stack are turned with the opposite face. up.v

In brief it is the broad object of the invention to provide means for receiving, turning and stacking predetermined numbers of articles and for delivering successive stacks of. articles from the stacking apparatus.

These and other objects of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l. is a perspective view of a stacking apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic showing of the pneumatic and electrical control systems involved;v

Figure 3 is, a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure l showing an alternative form of'the invention;

Figure. 4 is a vertical section through a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical section through a fragmentary portion ofthe apparatus shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is the showing of the apparatus shown. in Figure 5 in an alternative position;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion of. the apparatus shown in Figure 1, including an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 8' is the vertical section through a, fragmentary portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 7.

In Figure 1 there is shown an upper conveyor 2 and a lower conveyor 4 betweenv which shingles 6' are carried. The shingles are delivered from the

conveyors

2 and 4 to a chute & extending in a downwardly inclined direction, then terminating in a generally horizontally extending portion 9. Adjacent to the lower end of the chute 8 -9 is a rectangular chamber 10 provided by an enclosure formed by side panels 12 and end. panels 13'. The horizontal rectangular dimension of the chamber 10 is selected to be somewhat in excess of the. rectangular dimension of the shingles being stacked.

The chute 8--9 is provided over substantially its entire surface with spaced perforations 14. The output of .a. blower I6 is directed. to these perforations by means of a suitable duct 18v connecting the blower casing to the underside of the chute 8- 9. Thus, air jets, are maintained above the perforation 14 tending to float the shingles 6 in their passage from the conveyors 2 and v4 to the chamber 10 wherein their longitudinal motion is arrested by engagement, of their leading edges with the enclosure end panel 13 and they are free to drop downwardly in response to the force of gravity and/or air pressure. The lower portions of one of the panels of the chamber is curved as indicated at 20, and the shingles falling within the chamber 10 will fall upon this curved panel 20 which forms achute and serves, to deliver the shingles to a lower chamber 22 provided within a lower enclosure formed by

panels

24 and 25. It willhe evident that the arrangement thus'far described causes shingles positioned horizontally to fall downwardly within the lower chamber 22 and that the shingles falling within the chamber 22 will have the same side turned upwardly as the shingles passing out from the conveyors 2 and 4'.

A'plurality of fingers 26 are mounted onsuitable guide means, not shown, externally of and adjacent to the side panel 12 opposite to the curved panel 20. The panel is provided with openings through which the fingers may chamber. The length of the fingers and the length of the operating strokes .of the cylinder assemblies 28 are selected so as to extend the fingers into the upper chamberlO for a distance of, for example, approximately one quarter of the'wa'y across the chamber when the cylinder assemblies 28 are extended and to completely retract the fingers 26 from the chamber 10 when the cylinder assemblies are contracted; The elevation of the horizontal row of fingers 26 is selected to be sufiiciently below the discharge end of the conveyor 8-9 in order to avoid any possibility of the leading edges of: any of the articles entering the chamber 10 engaging the fingers 26 and becoming jammed thereon.

Two

enclosures

32 and 34 are positioned above the upper chamber 10 and extend longitudinally for the length of the chamber inside by side relation. Each of theenclosures is provided in its lower wall with longitudinally extending rows of

bores

36 and 38 respectively. As will be hereinafter described in detail, when the fingers 26 are retracted air is supplied to the chamber the

lower fingers

48 and 60 are extending into the lower chamber 22 and may be of such length to substantially meet at the center of the space within the chamber. It will also be evident that if both of the

cylinder assemblies

52 and 62 are extended, the

upper fingers

44 and 58 will substantially meet at the center of the chamber 22 and the

fingers

48 and 60 will be drawn completely clear of the chamber.

By means of. this arrangement shingles dropping within the lower enclosure 22 can be first accumulated on the

fingers

44 and 58 which are at that time positioned inwardly within the enclosure and after a predetermined period of time has elapsed the

cylinders

52 and 62 may be actuated retracting the

fingers

44 and 58 and inserting the

fingers

48 and 60 thereby dropping the accumulated group of shingles from the upper fingers to the lower fingers, in which position the shingles are held until a predetermined number has been accumulated and then 34 and not to the chamber 32 then providing jets of air directed downwardly only below the bores 38 insuring .thatthe successive shingles delivered to the chamber 10 fall downwardly therein with what was initially their under surface in engagement with the curved panel 20. When the fingers 26 are moved to a position in which they extend into the chamber 10 air pressure is provided in the chamber 32 and not to the chamber 34 thus providing jet directed downwardly only from the bores. 36. By this arrangement of the air jets, the shingles can be caused to rotate as they fall downwardly so that what was originally the upper sides of the shingles as they were delivered to the chamber 10 becomes the lower sides in engagement with the chamber wall 20.

' Afiixed tovthe edges of one longitudinal side of the. enclosure panel 24 are brackets 40 each of which serves to pivotally mountat approximately the mid point thereof ,a lever arm 42. A row of fingers 44 extending horiz on tallyalong the one longitudinal side of the enclosure :wall panel25 are adapted to enter openings in the wall. 7

The fingers 44 are mounted on a support member 46 which is pivotally connected to the upper ends of the levers 42.; A second row of fingers 48 are positioned below the row of fingers 44 and are mounted on a bar 50 which is pivotally connected at each of its ends to the lower ends of the levers 42. A cylinder assembly 52 has its piston-rod pivotally connected to one of [the levers 42 above'the pivotal connection thereof with its associated bracket 40. A similar assembly is provided on theopposite longitudinal side of the enclosure 24 and includes a pairof brackets 54, only one of which is visible, each having a lever 56 pivotally mounted thereon. At the upper endsof the levers 56 there is pivotally connected abracket and finger assembly 58 identical to the

bracket andfinger assembly

46, 44. At the lower end of each of the levers 56, there is connected a bracket and finger assembly .60 identical with the bracket and finger assembly'50, 48. A cylinder assembly 62 has its piston rod connected to one of the levers 56 above the pivotal connection thereof with the associated bracket 54.

,As will become evident by viewing the lower'portion of Figure 2 in which the construction lines,25 represents the longitudinally extending side walls shown in Figure 1, the two upper sets of

fingers

44 and 58 are retracted completely-clear of the walls of the enclosure when the Mi er s s b iss 2 nd 62 r e r t At t is i e the total accumulation may be dropped from the

fingers

48 and 60. The

fingers

44 and 58 are moved inwardly simultaneously with the outward movement of

fingers

48 and 60 to allow time for the, accumulated stack to drop and to prevent additional shingles from falling downwardly with the prior accumulated stack during this time interval. The longitudinally extending walls 25 of the enclosure have their lowermost edges terminating above the lower portions of the transversely extending or end walls 24 of the enclosure; Positioned beneath the enclosure is a .tray. or cradle in the form of a fiat plate 64 having along each of its longitudinal edges upstanding fingers or

stakes

66 and 70. The fingers 66 are rigidly mounted on the plate 64 and the fingers 70 are pivotally connected to the plate through a shaft 72. The fingers 70 are rotatable from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in construction lines and indicated by the numeral 70. The 70' position is a'horizontal position, the outerrnost ends of the fingers terminating adjacent to the upper belt of an endless conveyor 74. A pusher assembly 75 is provided with a row of cut-away fingers 78 adapted to pass between the fixed fingers 66 mounted on the tray 64. The parts are so arranged that if a suitable wrapper isplaced on the tray 64, when the

lower fingers

48, 60 of the release mechanism previously described drop a stack of shingles onto the tray 64, the wrapper is held in an upstanding position adjacent to each side of the dropped stack of shingles and the stack of shingles is retained by the end plates 24 of the enclosure and the fingers 66 and A pusher assembly, indicated generally at 75, is pro- .vided with a row of cut-away fingers 76 joined together by a transversely extending bar 77 and having their uppermost portions extended as indicated at 78. The parts are so arranged that, when a stack of shingles is in position upon the tray 64,. the fingers 76 are moved to the left, as viewed in Figure l, by suitable actuating means connected to push rods 79 whereupon the fingers 76 pass between the fingers 66 affixed to thetray 64 and the extended portions 78 of the fingers pass overtop of the stack of shingles positioned on the tray 64. Continued motion of the pusher assembly 75 pushes the stack of shingles across the tray 64 moving the pivotally mounted fingers 70downwardly into the position shown by construction lines in Figure 1 and pushing the stack of shingles thereover onto the upper surface of the endless conveyor 74 which carries a partially wrapped shingle away. The pusher assembly 75 is then retracted and the tray 64 is in readiness to receive the next successive stack of shingles.

A suitable sensing means 80 is positioned in any suitable location so as to sense the surface condition of the shingles;carri ed by

theconveyors

2 and 4. In a suitably provided space between the discharged end of the

conveyors

2 and 4 and the chute 8 there isiprovided a plate containing a. row of, openings 82. An. air conduit 84 is positioned'below the openings 82 and is provided with a row of. jet forming parts in alignment with the openings 82. Compressed air is supplied to the conduit 84 in response to an output signal of the sensing means 80 as will be hereinafter more fully described. Positioned above the reception end of the chute 8' is a second chute 86 which is adapted to receive shingles which are discharged from the

conveyors

2, 4 when air is. supplied through the openings 82 and the leading edges of the shingles is raised thereby. A subsequent chute 88 connects' to the chute 86 and may be positioned to discharge the shingles into a suitable receptacle. It will be evident: that the sensing means. 80 may be selected to sense undesirable conditions existing on the shingles and by coupling the sensing means 80 with suitable air flow control apparatus jets of air may be made to occur above the openings 82 at the time when the leading end of a shingle to be rejected passes thereover thereby raising the shingle and causing it to pass over the chute 86 rather'than downwardly over the chute 8.

Referring to the control diagram of Figure 2, there is shown a motor 90 and a compressor 92. The motor and compressor may be entirely conventional units and need not be described in detail. The compressor is connected to a compressed air line 94 by means of which compressed. air is delivered tothe apparatus as described. The line 94- is connected to an air control valve 96 which is operated !by a suitable solenoid operated controller 98: to open a valve in order to permit air to pass through the valve whereupon air is delivered to the pipe line 84 providing air jets through the openings 82 shown in Figure 1: for effecting the rejection of an unwanted shingle. Y A pair of

power lines

100 and 101 are connected to a suit.- ablesource of power through. a suitable disconnect switch not shown in the drawings. The sensing means 80 is connected to power line 100 through conductor 104 and is connected to one side of the solenoid controller 98 through conductor 105. The other side of the controller 98 is connected to the other power line 101 through conductor 106. It will be evident that by this arrangement the sensing means 80 may be made to energize the solenoid controller when it is desired to provide air pressure to reject an unwanted shingle. It will also be evident that the sensing means may be positioned at any convenient point along the path of travel of shingles prior to their delivery to the stacking apparatus and that included within the block diagram 80 in Figure 2 is considered as being the necessary time delay means required to give rise to operation of the solenoid control 98 at the desired time. Inasmuch as numerous types of sensing means are known in the art and suitable.v time delay apparatus is also well known in the art, it is unnecessary to describe this apparatus in detail.

In. Figure 2 the turn over fingers 26 are shown diagrammatically as connected to the cylinder assembly 28. While in the actual apparatus. as shownv in Figure 1 two cylinders 28 are. employed in the diagram of Figure 2, only one cylinder is shown. for convenience. It will be evident, however, that actually the two cylinders 28 have their supply lines connected in parallel relation. Air is supplied selectively to each of the ends ofthe cylinders 28' through a control valve 108 which. is connected by means of 'air line 110 to the compressed air supply line 94'. The valve 108 is actuated by a solenoid controller 112. Ohe side of the. solenoid controller 112 is connected to the power line 100 through conductor 114 and the other side of the solenoid controller 112 is connected through a conductor 116 to a stepping relay indicated generally atv 1'18 and hereinafter more fully described. The arrangement issuch that when the solenoid controller 112 is energized the valve 108 is positioned so as to move the fingers 2.6 into the upper chamber of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. And when the solenoid controller 112 is deenergi'zed, the valve 108 ispositioned soas. toyretract the fingers 26. and hold them in: a: position removed, from the upper: chamber 10.

The two enclosures 32: and 34 shown in. Figure 1- are con-nectedv toair

lines

120 and 122 respectively. The air line 120 is connected to the supply line. 941 through a valve 124 and the air line 122 is connected to the compressed air line 94 through a valve 126.. The. valve 124 is controlled by a solenoid controller 128 and the valve 126 is connected to the solenoid controller 130. One side of the solenoid controller 128' is connected to the power line 100 through conductor 132. The other side of the controller is connected through conductor 134 to the stepping relay 118. One side of the solenoid controller is connected to the power line 100 through conductor 136. the other side of the controller is: connected through conductor 138' to the stepping relay 118.

The stepping relay 118 is of. the conventional. type wherein a rotating contact arrn not shown: in the drawing is connected to the power line 101 through conductor 140 and is adapted to make contact with individual circular arrays of elements contained in the relay and selectively connected to

conductors

116, 134 and 138 over arcuate lengths of the path of rotation of the rotating contact as may be determined, by the internal connection of the relay. This type of relay is conventional andv need not be described in detail. herein.

The relay is actuated in the conventional fashion through the solenoid controller indicated at 142 one side of which is connected to the powerline 100 through a conductor 141 and theother side of which is connected to the power line 101 through a contact 144 and conductor 143. Upon each closure of the contact 144 the rotating contact of a relay 1 18 will. be advanced one position. The contact 144 is embodied in the apparatus shown in Figure 1 in the limit switch 144 positioned conveniently under the chute 8 having its actuating lever extending through the chute to be engaged by each passing shingle. Thus, the passage of each successive shingle the stepping relay 118 is advanced one position.

As previously noted it is desirable when. packaging shingles to package two groups of shingles containing 28 shingles and then to package athird group containing 24 shingles. In each of these packages half. of the shingles should face one direction and half of the shingles should face in the other direction. Thus desirably the stepping relay 118 is provided with eighty contacts around its periphery to which the conductor 116 is connected to the first 14 contacts then not connected to the second 14 contacts, connected to the third 14 contacts, not connected to the fourth 14 contacts, connected to the next 12 contacts, not connected tothe last 12. contacts thus effecting actuation of the turnover mechanism so as to provide turning over of half of the shingles of three suc' cessive packages containing 28 shingles, 28 shingles and 24 shingles successively.

The stepping relay 118 operates similarly with respect to the

solenoid actuators

128 and 130 for the

air valves

124 and 136 respectively, providing, air to the

chambers

32 and 34 selectively in order to assist in the proper positioning of the shingles as has been previously described.

A pair of

air control valves

148 and 150 are connected to the compressed air supply line 94 through

air lines

152 and 154 respectively. The valve 148 is connected through line 156 to the

cylinder assemblies

52 and 62 and the valve 150 is connected through line 158 to

cylinder assemblies

52 and 62. Valve 148 is connected to the cylinder in such a manner as to cause contraction of the cylinder assemblies when supplied with air and vaIve'150 is connected to the cylindersto cause expansion of the cylinder assemblies when supplied with air.

The valve 148 is controlled by means of a solenoid controller 160 and the valve'150 is controlled by means: of a solenoid controller 162. The solenoid- 160 is connected to the power line 100 through conductor 164 and is connected through conductor 168 to-a contact bank of a stepping relay 170. The solenoid 162 is connected to the powercline 100 through conductor 172 and is connected through aconductor 174 .to a second'contact bank of the stepping relay 170. The rotating contact, not shown in-the drawing, of the stepping relay 170 is connected to the line 101 through conductor 176. The stepping relay 170 is actuated by a solenoid actuator 178. The stepping relay 170 is entirely conventional and provides selective'connection between the conductor 176 and each of the conductors'168 and 174, as may be desired, by the arrangement .of the connections within the relay.

The actuator 178 is connected to the power line 100 through line 180 and is connected to the power line 101 through conductor 182 and a switch contact 184. A .switch contact 184 is embodied within the limit switch indicated at 184 in Figure 1. This switch is positioned to be' actuated successively by each shingle falling within the upper chamber and passing into the lower chamber 22.

' Z.As previously noted when a stack of shingles is dropped onto'the platform 64 the

fingers

58 and 44 are inserted into the lower chamber preventing the passage of shingles and providing a surface for the accumulation of shingles. After a sufficient time has elapsed for the stack of shingles to have cleared of the

lower fingers

48 and 60, the stepping relay 170 actuates the valve 150 so as to discharge the air pressure on the expansion side of the cylinders 52 'and 62 and thereafter the relay 170 actuates valve 148 so as to apply air pressure on the contraction side of the

cylinder

52 and 62 thereby retracting the

fingers

44 and 58 and moving the

fingers

48 and 60 into the chamber. Upon this operation of the finger assemblies the shingles which have thus far been accumulated above the

fingers

44 and 58 will drop and be supported by the

fingers

44 and 60. The time of this operation is, of course, controlled by the stepping relay 170 in response to the succession of signals received from the limit switch 184 in response to'the passage of shingles thereover.

When the number of shingles which has passed the limit switch 184 it is such that the desired number of shingles providing a stack will have accumulated above the

fingers

48 and 60 the solenoid valve 150 will be actuated by the relay 170 so as .to move the

fingers

44 and 58 inwardly and separate the

fingers

48 and 60 permitting the accumulatedstack of shingles to fall and preventing the dropping of. additional shingles below the

fingers

44 and 58.

It will be evident that this arrangement provides various desirable accommodations. Firstly, the arrangement provides for the accumulation of successive stacks of shingles each containing a predetermined number of shingles. If the stepping relay 170 is provided with eighty contacts around its periphery by properly positioning the contact elements connected to

conductors

168 and 174 serving to actuate the actuators for the

valves

148 and 150 respectively, each three successive stacks of shingles dropped .from the

fingers

48 and 60 will contain 28,28, and 24 shingles successively; An additional objective accomplished by the arrangement involving the two valves -148 andi150 is that after the fingers have been moved to a desired position the air pressure accomplishing this actuation-may be relieved without the fingers being moved whereupon at. a desired time'thereafter when the fingers are-repositioned there is'involved only the time delay required in building up the necessary air pressure in the

cylinders

52 and 62 to accomplish this motion and the added load ofidischarging compressed air from the opposite side of the piston within cylinder is avoided.

. .InFigures 3-6 there is shown a modification of the turnover apparatus shownin Figure 1 in the form of the fingers 26 and the

air chambers

32 and 34. In the alternative embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, there is employed the same chute 8 as was described in conjunction with-Figure and the same enclosure 12 including the curved rearchamber wall 20. The modification shown in Figur 3 involvesa rotatably mounted member 200 extendinglongitudinally of the upper chamber contained within the enclosure 12 and rotatable on a longitudinally extending axis. A shaft 202 extending from the left-hand end of the member 200, as viewed in Figure 3, has aflixed to its outer end a link 204 which is pivotally connected to an extended piston rod 206 of a cylinder 208. The cylinder 208 is an air cylinder adapted to be supplied with compressed air through the valve 108 in place of the cylinder assembly 28 described in connection with Figure 1. It will be evident that, upon operation of the control valve 108, the member 200 will be rotated around an axis extending longitudinally of the rod 202.

The member 200 is formed to provide two

internal chambers

210 and 212. The upper walls of these chambers are providedwith rows of

openings

214 and 216, respectively. The outermost longitudinally extending edge portions of the upper surface of the member 200 are bevelled as indicated at 211 and 213. Thesesurfac'es are each provided with a longitudinally extending row of

bores

215 and 217, respectively. The member 200 is so positioned and the length of the link 204 and the piston stroke of cylinder 208 are so selected that, when the piston is contracted, the edge 211 will be approximately on a level with but, preferably, slightly below the lowermost end of the chute 8 as indicated in Figure 4. When the piston is expanded to the position shown in Figure 3, the member 200 will assume the position shown in construction lines and indicated at 200' in Figure 4 at which time the bevelled edge 213 will be approximately flush with but, preferably, slightly below the lowermost portion'of the chute 8.

At the right-hand end of the member 200, as viewed in Figure 3 but not shown in Figure 3, there is provided a compressed air line 218, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, which enters the member 200 and is slidably mounted within a cylindrical inner portion 226 of the member 200 forming a portion of a divider between the

chambers

210 and 212. The compressed air line 218 is provided with diametrically

opposed openings

220 and 224, respectively. The portion 226 of the member 200 is provided with

openings

228 and 230 communicating with the chambers 212 'and 210,respectively. When the member 200 is positioned as shown in solid lines in Figures 4 and 5, the

openings

224 and 230 will be in register providing for the admission of compressed air under pressure from the conduit 218 into the chamber 210. When the member 200 is in the position shown in Figures 3 and 6, the

openings

228 and 224 will be in register providing for the admission of compressed air into the chamber 212.

When viewing Figures 3 and 4, it will be evident that shingles passing downwardly over the chute 8 will pass above the member 200 and will be selectively deflected to the right or to the left by jets of compressed air passing through the bores 2 14 and 211 or 216 and 217 of the member 200 as they fall under the force of gravity. The shingles which are turned over and fall downwardly over the curved chamber wall 20 when the member 200 is positioned as shown in Figures 4 and 5 will have the surface of each shingle which was uppermost during its passage down the chute 8 on the underside of the shingle as it moves beyond the curved wall 20 and enters the lower chamber 22. When the member 220 is positioned, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, and as shown in construction lines in Figure 4, the shingles will drop down between the enclosure wall 12 an insert guide plate 232 positioned within the upper chamber and spaced from the enclosure wall 12. Shingles directed to the passage between the guide plate 232 and the chamber wall will pass over the lowermost portion of the guide plate and fall into the lower chamber 22 with the same side turned upwardly as was turned upwardly during their passage down the chute 8. Thus, by selectively positioning the member 200 in one of the other of the two positions shown in the Fig ures 3-6, the shingles can be made to drop into the lower chamber 22 with either side turned upwardly. Thus, if

the valve 108 is controlled by a stepping relay, such as relay 118, and a limit switch, such as limit switch 144 described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, shingles can be accumulated in the. lower chamber 22 in the manner identical with that described in connection with the accumulation occurring by the result of the operation, of the apparatus described in conjunction with Figures 1 and 2.

Still another alternative embodiment of the. turnover portion of the invention is shown in Figures 7 and 8 in which the shingles passing down the chute 8 pass over a surface 240 and the surface 242 of a member mounted within the upper portion of an enclosure provided by longitudinally extending

walls

248 and 250 and overlapping

end wall plates

239 and 241. The member 242 is provided with bevelled longitudinally extending

edges

244 and 246 of longitudinal lengths in excess of the length of a shingle. The outermost

longitudinal edges

249 and 251 of the member 242 terminate a substantial distance from the longitudinal sides 2 48 and 250 of the enclosure.

The member 242 is of hollow section. and provided with

separator webs

252 and 254 which serve to divide the. interior of the 'member 242 into three

chambers

256, 258 and 260. These chambers are each "adapted to be supplied by compressed air through

pipe lines

262, 264 and 268, respectively. The central chamber 258 is provided along its upper wall with longitudinally extending rows of bores 270. The left-hand chamber 256, as shown in Fig.- ure 8, is provided with rows of longitudinally extending bores 272 along its left-hand bevelled surface. The righthand chamber 260 is similarly provided with longitudinally extending rows of bores 274 along its right-hand bevelled surfaces.

Shingles passing down the chute 8 will progress across the upper surface of the

members

240 and 242. The shingles will be floated across the surface of the member 240 as a result of the air jets passing upwardly through the bores therein. When the shingle passes over the surface 242, it can be deflected by selectively controlling the air emerging from the bores therein. For this reason the

compressed air lines

262 and 268 are connected to the valve 108 which is controlled in the manner described in connection with Figures 1 and 2. It will be evident that if air is supplied to the compressed air line 268 and to the compressed air line 264 the right-hand side of a shingle, as viewed in Figures 7 and 8, will be raised upwardly and the shingle will be tipped to the left with the left-hand edge of the shingle falling downwardly between the member 242 and the enclosure wall 248. As the shingle moves downwardly over the curved shingle wall 248 to the portion 276 thereof, the shingle will be positioned with the side which was turned upwardly as the shingle was passing down the chute 8 turned downwardly into engagement with the surface 276. Alternatively, if compressed air is supplied to the line 262 and no air is supplied to the line 268, air emerging from the

jets

272 and 270 will cause the shingle to tip to the right as viewed in Figures 7 and 8, causing the shingle to fall downwardly between the enclosure wall 250 and an insert guide plate 278 positioned adjacent to the wall 250 and below the right-hand edge 251 of the member 242. Shingles falling to the right of the member 242 will be discharged from the lower end of the guide plate 278 with the same side of the shingle turned upwardly as was turned upwardly as the shingle passed down thechute 8.

The end

wall forming plates

239 and 241 shown in overlapping relation in Figure 7 are joined together by means of suitable bolts passing through coinciding slots in the two plates as indicated at 280 in Figure 7. This structure is provided to permit adjustability of width of the turnover apparatus to accommodate shingles of various widths. It will, of course, be evident that the prior described modifications of the turnover apparatus may also incorporate adjustable width enclosure structures. It will be recognized that the catching mechanism de- 10 scribed in conjunction with Figure 1 may also readily be provided with means adjusting the lower chamber 22, re:- ferred to therein for various shingle widths.

In the modification disclosed in Figure I there is employed a combination of stop means and air jet means for selectively turning over shingles as they change their course of motion from horizontal travel to vertical travel. The arrangement shown in Figure 3 has provided position able air jets serving to induce this turnover. In the modification shown in Figure 7 there is provided selectively operable air jets for providing this turnover. In each case, however, the turnover is accomplished at the location in the apparatus where, the travel of the shingle changes from horizontal travel to vertical travel and by air jets and stops or guides acting on a floating or falling shingle. It will be evident that the invention may be variously applied and that various modifications may be made in the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Article stacking apparatus comprising receiving means, means for moving a succession of articles of at least semirigid sheet form in substantiallyhorizontal plane positions along a substantially horizontal path to a predetermined substantially horizontal plane position above said receiving means for gravity discharge into the latter, means providing a row of fluid jets extending substantially parallel to and along one side of said path and located above said receiving means, said jets being positioned to impinge on one longitudinally extending marginal area of said articles in said predetermined position and being operative to turn said articles over as they drop from said predetermined position into said receiving means to be stacked at the bottom of the latter.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said receiving means includes spaced vertically extending guide means between which said, articles fall from said. predetermined position and in which one of said guide means terminates in an inwardly curved guide surface for directing falling articles into a horizontal path of motion.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for arresting horizontal motion of the successive articles above said receiving means.

' 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said row of fluid jets is upwardly directed to impinge on the under surfaces of articles.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in: which said row of fluid jets is downwardly directed to impinge on the upper surfaces of'articles.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 including stop means located below said predetermined position and positioned to engage the under side of the longitudinally extending area of articles in said predetermined position opposite from that impinged upon by said row of jets to coact with said jets in causing said rotation of articles.

7. Article stacking apparatus comprising receiving means, means for moving a succession, of articles of at least semirigid sheet form in substantially horizontal plane positions along a substantially horizontal path to a predetermined substantially horizontal plane position above said receiving means for gravity discharge into the latter, means providing rows of fluid jets extending respectively substantially parallel to and along opposite sides of said path and located above said receiving means, said jets being positioned to impinge respectively on opposite side longitudinally extending marginal areas of said articles in said predetermined position, means selectively controlling the operation of the jets on the areas aforesaid to provide impingement of jets on selected areas and operative to rotate said articles in a selected direction around an axis extending longitudinally of said direction of motion as said articles drop from said predetermined position toward said receiving means to be stacked at the bottom of the latter.

11 I 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including means for arresting horizontal motiomof the successive articles above said receiving means. 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said rows of fluid jets are upwardly directed to impinge on the under surfaces of articles. 10'. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said rows of'fluidjets are downwardly directed to impinge on the upper surfaces of articles.

11. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said receiving means includes spaced vertically extending guide means between which said articles fall from said predetermined position and in which one of said guide means terminates in an inwardly curved guide surface for directing falling articles into a horizontal path of motion.

12. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said receiving means includes spaced vertically extending guide means between which articles fall from said predetermined position and a pair of spaced curved guide surfaces below said predetermined position for selectively receiving artia cles rotated in one or the other direction by said fluid jets and for directing the falling articles into a horizontal path of motion.

13. Apparatus according to claim 7 including a member from which said rows of jets emanate mounted below said predetermined position extending longitudinally of the direction of said longitudinal motion and mounted for oscillation about an axis extending longitudinally of the direction of said longitudinal motion, and means for se-' lectively moving said member about said axis to alternative positions, the selective positioning of said member and the selective control of said rows of jets providing rows of'jets directed generally upwardly and sidewardly against a selected side of the articles to cause them to rotate around an axis extending longitudinally of said direction of motion as they drop from said predetermined position. i

14. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said means selectively controlling the operation of the jets includes means responsive to the passage of articles for selectively actuating the jets during passage of predetermined numbers of articles to cause predetermined numbers of articles to rotate successively in each direction.

15. Article stacking apparatus comprising receiving means, means for moving a succession of articles of at leastsemirigid sheet form in substantially horizontal plane positions along a substantially horizontal path to a predetermined substantially horizontal plane position above said receiving means for gravity discharge into the latter, means providing a row of fluid jets extending substantially parallel to and along one side of said path and located above said receiving means, said jets being positioned to impinge on one longitudinally extending marginal area of said articles in said predetermined position and being operative to turn said articles around an axis extending longitudinally of said direction ofmotion as they drop from said predetermined position into said receiving means, and said receiving means including means for releasably holding articles dropping thereinto 12 and means for releasing 'sai d' releasable, holding means after a predetermined number of articles have accumulated thereon.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 including means 'for' releasably holding articles above said first mentioned releasable holding means While said first leasable holding means is released. I

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which said meansfor releasing said releasable holding means is responsive to the passage of said predetermined number of articles. p I '18. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said rec'eiving means includes'means for releasably holding articles dropping thereinto and control means for releasin'g said releasable holding means after a predetermined number of articles have accumulated thereon, said jet control' means' and said releasable holding means control means pr'oviding stacks each containing a predetermined number of articles released by said releasable holding means containinga predetermined portion of the articles having a' first side turned upwardly and the remainder of the articles having theopposite side turned upwardly. 19.'Article' stacking apparatus comprising receiving means, means for moving a succession of articles of at least 'semirigid sheet form in substantially horizontal plane positions along a substantially horizontal path to a' predetermined substantially horizontal plane position above said receiving means for gravity discharge into the latter,-means providing a row of fluid jets extending substantially parallel to and along one side of said path and located above said receiving means, said jets being positionedfto impinge on one longitudinally extending marginal area of said articles in said predetermined position and being operative to turn saidarticles around an axis extending longitudinally of said direction of motionas they drop 'fromsa'id predetermined position, said rec'eiving means including means for releasably holding articles dropping thereinto, means above said first mentioned releasable holding means'ffor releasably holding articles, actuating means for 'operatively positioning said upper releasable holding means when the lower releasable holding means is released and for operatively positioning said'lower releasable holding means when said upper releasable holding means is released, and control means for said actuating means responsive to passage of the article's.

mentioned re- References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,365,741 'Spear Jan. 18, 1921 ,2,138,645 Rey Nov. 29, 1938 2,151,136, ,Mofiitt Mar. 21, 1939 2,228,901 Wilcox Jan. 14, 1941 2,255,522 Wilcox Sept. 9, 1941 2,517,388 Daves Aug. 1, 1950 2,605,910 Kovatch Aug. 5, 1952 2,669,340 Sjostrom Feb. 16, 1952 2,675,916 Caston et al. Apr. 20, 1954