US3014600A

US3014600A - Bag handling and stacking apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3014600A
Application number: US789531A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul A Tray
Original assignee: Central Bag and Burlap Co
Current assignee: Central Bag and Burlap Co
Priority date: 1959-01-28
Filing date: 1959-01-28
Publication date: 1961-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1978-12-26

Description

Dec. 26, 1961 P. A. TRAY 3,

BAG HANDLING AND STACKING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PAUL A. TRAY 3 ATTORNEYS Dec. 26, 1961 P. A. TRAY BAG HANDLING AND STACKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1959 INVENTOR. FALJL. A.TRAY Q K ATTORNEYS D66. 26, 1961 P T AY BAG HANDLING AND STACKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 28, 1959 INVENTOR. PAUL A. TRAY 1w Q Dec. 26, 1961 P. A. TRAY BAG HANDLING AND STACKING APPARATUS 4 SheecsSheet 4 Filed Jan. 28, 1959 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. PAUL. A. TRAY BY ATTORNEYS United up States Patent r 3,014,600 BAG HANDLING AND STACKING APPARATUS Paul A. Tray, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Central Bag &

Burlap Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 789,531

' 21 Claims. (Cl. 2146) This invention relates to an apparatus for handling and stacking bags, as in the bag manufacturing industry. The main object is to provide efficient and economical apparatus for receiving sewed cloth bags in succession from a bag-sewing machine, delivering them to a stacking location, and depositing them there in an orderly stack of similarly oriented bags.

This application is a continuation-in-part of each of my prior applications, Serial No.,630,949, filed December 27, 1956, and Serial No. 656,7l7,filed May 2, 1957, now abandoned. r 1 i Previously, sewed cloth or cloth-like bags made from burlap, hemp, jute or like fabric, on discharge from the sewing machine, have tended to fall and crumple into a random sprawling mass unsuited for baling or packaging for storage or shipment, unless taken from the machine by hand and carefully smoothed out and stacked.

According to the invention, a combined conveying-and stacking apparatus receives the bags as they come from the sewing'machine, brings each into lateral alignmentwith a piling location, conveys'each toward the piling" location while skewing it, in the desired direction and amount, into a predetermined orientation, and then delivers each bag to the stacking location rather preciselyoverlying any bags already in the stack;. Apparatus according to the invention preferably includes across-conveyor in communication with'a longitudinal conveyor leading toward the stacking location, and a stacker.

Further, according to the invention, a first sensingresponsive means is employed for stopping the crossconveyor when a bag reaches a desired position thereon;

a second such means is used on the longitudinal conveyor for retarding a left or right portion of, the rear edge of a bag to cause the bag to skew into the desired alignment, and athird such means actuates the stacker on arrival of thebag at a predetermined location, causing the stacker to remove the bag from the conveyor and place it flat upon the stack. T

The'above-mentioned and other objects and features of this, invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood, by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunctionlwith the accompanying drawings, comprising FIGS. 1 to 7, wherein:

FIGS.1 and 2 are smalhscale drawings comprising respectively a top view and aside view of apparatus employedin sewing bags in succession and for handling and stacking them in succession;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively a top view and a side view of the structure 2m 5 of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a view taken generally along line 55 0 1 4;. v l

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in section taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

General description Referring first to FIGS; 1 and 2, a stack of unsewn bags 13 is' illustrated on table 12 within reach of an operator seated at 8 for sewing the bags at sewing machine 3,014,000 Patented Dec. 26, 19 61 7, mounted on table leaf 6. Arstack of sewed bags is shown at 16, on stack table 17.

The blank, or unsewed, bags in stack 13 may each comprise two layers of bag fabric folded along line d and to be sewed along side b and end 0 (along the broken line) leaving end a open. One bag blank 18A is illustrated in chained outline in a position wherein the sewing thereof at machine 7 has just started to produce a stitch along its side b. That bag, when sewed, may be considered as becoming bag 14, traveling generally lengthwise on conveyor 3 toward a position of general lateral alignment with stack 16, for transfer to conveyor 2.

As the sewing progresses on the illustrated bag blank 13A, a stitch through the two thicknesses of fabric, as shown at 15 for the completed bag 14, is run along side b of 13A, whereupon the partly sewed bag is-turned-90 degrees by the operator to about the attitude shown for completed bag 14, following which the stitch is continued to completion across end 0 of the bag.

End 0 of the sewed bag is then advanced forwardly by the operator while the sewing machine 7 is still stitching, leaving a trailing stitch (not shown) attached to corner c, d of the bag. Such trailing stitch may be conveniently severed at 9, which may comprise a simple fixed sharp blade over which the trailing stitch is drawn by the operator, or it may comprise any desired automatic stitch-cutting apparatus actuated by member 9 as a trigger to cause the cutting action to occur when the operator releases the trailing end c of the sewed bag, at which time the bag is lying on and being pulled generally lengthwise by crossconveyor 3 as shown at 14.

When the sewed and severed bag 14 is advanced, generally lengthwise, along conveyor 3, it reaches the noted position of lateral alignment with the stack location at 16. In that position, its leading edge is sensed by elevated sensing device 51, causing cross-conveyor 3 to be stopped.

I and partly on conveyor 2, (2) aligned or orienta'ted'posh tion 14B further down conveyor 2, and (3) stacked position 14C on stack 16;.

Structure is provided as hereinafter described to sense the arrival of the front edge of a bag shortly beyond position 14A to 'retardwhichever portion (right or left) of the bag is most advanced, by grasping that portion temporarily at the trailing edge until the bag skews into alignment by conveyor travel, whereupon the bag is released and is allowed to travel along the conveyor to a liftoff position at about 148, whereupon a sensing de vice detects the presence of the bag and causes a stacker fork to rise from below the surface of conveyor 2 to pick up the bag and rotate it bodily upwardly, rearwardly, and downwardly to deposit it upside down on stack 16, in position 14Cfor assumed bag 14.

Detailed description ,is carried on shaft "43'. It-may be driven by motor 45,

shown in dotted outline in FIG. 4, by a chain or 'belt 48 which interconnects pulleys on motor shaft 46 and on shaft 4-3. Cross-conveyor belt 3 is preferably arranged with crosswise corrugations at its surface as is indicated in plan view in FIGS. 1 and 3, and in profile view in FIG. 5, wherebyit' secures a better grip on the bags than would be smooth conveyor belt of the same material.

Conveniently, the noted starting and stopping of the cross-conveyor 3 may be accomplished by starting and stopping its drive motor 45 responsive to the front edge a'of a bag 14' (FIG; 1) breaking beam 52 (FIG. 4) between elevated sensing element 51 and a light source 50. Normally beam 52 passes freely through cutout 31 in table 4, FIGS. 1 and 3. The circuit arrangement (not shown) for controlling the starting and stopping of conveyor 3 as described, is preferably so arranged that the conveyor remains stopped so long as the noted light beam 52- (FIG; 4) remains interrupted, and restarts when a bag 14 has been moved down slide 5- as described, permitting the beam to become reestablished.

The slide 5, employed as a convenient device for bridging between the cross-conveyor 3 and longitudinal conveyor 2, may be constructed of sheet metal or other smooth material having a curvature as indicated in profile in'FIGS. 2, 4, and 6.

Conveyor 2 may be driven by motor 82 of FIG. 4 (

motors

82 and 45 being back geared as or if desired) through sprocket chain 79 which turns shaft 91 extending across the conveyor bed. Conveyor 2 includes a number of parallel belts 90 carried on spaced pulleys 95 (FIG. 6) and passing over pulleys 96 (FIG. 3) spaced along idler cross shaft 92.

Times 143 of a stacker fork lie between the belts 90 of conveyor 2, at a level slightly'be-low the top surface of the conveyor belts, to avoid interference with the movement of bags-along the conveyor until the stacker fork is actuated. The fork tines 143* are carried on collars 152 on cross shaft 141, provided with bearings 142, and controlled by rack and

pinion

145, 146, controlled in turn by pneumatic cylinder 149 and restoring spring 153. Each of the fork tines 143 of the stacker is preferably overlaid with a strip of rough-surfaced material 144, such as emery cloth or sandpaper, bonded thereto. This arrangement permits the tines of the stacker to get a better grip on a bag being stacked, to avoid slippage of the bag thereon.

Sprocketwheel 77 on shaft 91 acts through sprocket chain 76 to drive sprocket wheel 75 fixed with shaft 74. Shaft 74 is provided with suitable bearings in the frame structure and carries drive roller 61 (FIGS. 5 and 6), which lies generally below the surface of the starting portion of slide 5, being exposed through the illustrated cutout in the slide.

A bag in the general position shown at14 (FIG. 1) may overhang on both sides of the relatively narrow cross table 4 and cross-conveyor 3-, with the front side overhanging drive roller 61, the outer end of which (the leftend as seen, in FIG. 5) may be rounded as shown to facilitate longitudinal passage thereon of a bag moving with the cross-conveyor. Roller 61 is sufiiciently smooth that it has little tendency to move a-bag 14 onto slide 5 until idler roller 62 is caused to act.

The described interruption of beam 52 (FIG. 4) between source 5'0 and sensingdevice 51. (besides causing cross-conveyor 3 to be stopped when a bag 14 of FIG. 1 is generally cross aligned with stack 16 of FIG. 1) causes roller 62 tobe brought downwardly onto drive roller 61, as by a pneumatic cylinder'enclosed at 71 which ejects its plunger. 70 to carry attached member 69 upwardly. Member 69 is pivoted at 6-7 to-the outer end of lever 64, pivoted at 66 to member. 68 fixed with the frame structure. Roller' 62 is carried in a bracket 63, pivoted at 65 to' the inner end of lever 64.

When idler roller 62 is thus brought down into contact with roller 61, the overhanging portion of the bag (such as 14, FIG. 1) is gripped between the two rollers and thereby pulled and driven to move. laterally and downwardly over slide 5 and onto longitudinal. conveyor .2.- When his mo ement of the g p rmits be m 2 to become reestablished, motor 45 is restarted to restart "conveyor 3, and the pneumatic cylinder" at 71 is deenergized, restoring roller 62 to its normal non-clutching position. By this time the bag 14 is actively upon slide 5 for movement down the slide toward a position such as is illustrated at 14A (FIG.1).

Sensing elements are provided at two locations along conveyor 2. At the first location, three sensing elements are supported on the adjustable assembly comprising underlying cross member 116 and

uprights

117 and 118 supported thereon; These sensing elements sense the arrival of the front edge of an advancing bag and cooperate with pneumatically controlled retarding structure mounted on bridge 101 to correct the skewed misalignment or disorientation of a bag as indicated at 14A of FIG. 1, to skew the bag into the desired predetermined alignment or orientation as indicated at 1413 of FIG. 1 and in FIG. 3.

The sensing structure at the noted second location along conveyor 2comprises the trigger 140 of a switch sensitive to the slight weight of the advancing edge of an oriented bag to cause actuation of the stacker.

Theinner top Web of I-bearns 22 and 23 (supported on legs 24, 28) is slotted at and 126 to permit the structure 116 to 118 to be adjustably located along conveyor 2 and tightened in adjusted position by

nuts

127, 128 of bolts extending upwardly through slots 125 and 1-26. The distance-between the skew-sensing structure and the retarding structure mounted on bridge 101 may be thereby adjusted according to the width dimension of a bag 14, the length of end lines a and c. The sensing elements carried on members 116 to 118 are shown adjusted toward the rear end of slots 125, 126for a relatively narrow bag, the adjustment being toward the forward end of these slots for a relatively wider bag. The adjustment in each case is preferably such that when a forward portion of an advancing bag comes over the center line of cross member 116, the aligned trailing edge portion of-the'bag is substantially under retard bridge 101.

The sensing elements carried on adjustable cross member 1-16 comprise left and right

light sources

121 and 122 which direct left-and right sensing-

beams

129 and 130 upwardly and outwardly to light-sensing members 123 and 1-24carried on

uprights

117 and 118, located laterally out of the path of fork tines 143.

Sensing device 131, located about the middle of cross member-116, may be a light trigger switch of the type discussed at140, actuated by the slight weight of the advancing edge of a bag. Thus, the

beams

129 and 130 and sensing device 131' may be used incombination as will be described. In FIGS. 3 and 5,106 may indicatea pneumatictube junction, and items 104 and 105' may indicate junctions including control valve controlled bybeams129, 130 for

pneumaticallycontrolling cylinders

102 and 103.

When a bag 14 being carried on conveyor 2'- is so skewed asto-inteirupt either beam 129, 130-before the other and before switch 131 is actuated, the corresponding pneumatic cylinder (102, 103) carried'on elevated bridge 101 (FIGS. 3 to 5) is responsively actuated through control structure (not shown) to effect corrective skewing. If, for example, the'bag is skewed as shown at 14A (FIGS. 1 and 2), left cylinder 102 is'actuated by the breaking of leftbeam 129. 102 responsively ejects its plunger 10 7, causing pad 109 to grip the trailing edge of the left end of the bag between pad 109' and underlying pan, 89. The gripped rear left portion of the bag is thus stopped, allowing the retarded right end of the bag to continue to, be moved forwardly by the conveyor. The bag is thereby correctively skewed in the proper direction to overcome the original skew of the bag to reach the desired alignment indicated at 14B of FIGS. 1 and 3.

When the foregoing corrective action occurs, the other beam (130) is broken. The arrangement is preferably such that'when both

beams

129 and 130 are interrupted the energized one of the

cylinders

101 and 102 is deenergized, and thereupon restores (as by spring action, not

shown) to free the advancing bag for aligned travel along the l conveyor.

1 If the bag arrives at the skew-sensing station skewed in the opposite direction, the results are as described except that beam 130 is first broken and cylinder 103 is energized to eject its plunger 108 and hold the rear of the bag between its pad 110 and pan 89. v

. When, as may sometimes happen, a bag 14 arrives at the skew-sensing station with no skew, both

beams

129 and 130 are interrupted at about the same instant, in which case the noted control arrangement is preferably such that no action of cylinders 102, 103' occurs. Alternatively, if desired for simplification of the control arrangement, the weight sensitive switching element 131 may be employed as an indication that the intermediate portion of the advancing edge of the bag being conveyed has arrived at the skew-sensing location, to thereby nullify the breaking of either or both of

thebeams

129, 130.

When the skew, if any, of the advancing bag has been detected and corrected as described, the then aligned bag is permitted to travel uninterruptedly along the conveyor until the advancing edge of the bag encounters trigger switch 140, which extends slightly above the level of the conveyor belts. Actuation of this switch by the slight weight of the advancing edge of the bag operates (through suitable control apparatus not shown) to energize pneumaticstacking cylinder 150, which ejects its piston 152 through slide bearing 151 against the restoring force of spring 153. As seen best in FIG. 4, member 149 connects plunger 152 with link rod 148, connected in turn to rack 146. Accordingly, rack 146 partakes of the outward movement of piston 152. Pinion 145 is thereby rotated, rotating fork shaft 141 through an angle of about 180 degrees, or more, as required. This action may occur quite quickly, as the stacker fork components may be comparatively light. The speed of fork rotation is preferably such that the air-vane effect of the bag being lifted, turned, and moved downwardly is sufficient to hold the bag in position during the turning operation. The noted roughened surface provided by strips 144 on the surfaces of tines 143 causes the bag to substantially retain its aligned unrumpled position on the stacker fork during the rotating stacking action. l

' When the rotating movement of the stacker fork is terminated; the bag is 'forced onto,.or is dropped gently onto the stack 16, o'n-table 17, depending on the current height of the stack. Its position may then be as shown at 14C of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The noted control apparatus is caused to maintain c'ylinderllill-energized for a sufficient time to cause-the described. movement of the stacker fork to occur,whereupon the cylinderwis .deenergizedto permit the restoration of theplunge'rand. the stackerfork to normal position, by return spring 153, before the arrival of the next bag on conveyor 2.

- Operations as described .occur' for each of the bags sewed and delivered to the handling and stacking apparatus through cross-conveyor 3, each such bag being caused to be deposited as described at location 16 of FIGS. land 2.

The disclosed sewing, handling, and stacking operations may be continuous for any desired period. .That is, at such intervals as'desired, any part v(or all) of the accumulatingstack 16 (FIGS. 1' and 2)-may be removed for storage or shipment, packed as -desired, and the stack 13 of unsev'ved or blank bags may be replenished as needed.

,It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the usual, techniques used 'for handling and stackingstilf sheet articles, as of metal, cardboard, wood, or the'like, are not necessarily applicable in handling and stacking the relatively limp fabric bags nor other items of the generalcharacter, including sewed pillow cases, single fabric sheets, and similar limp and flaccid articles.

While I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention. i

I claim: I r

1. Apparatus for handling and stacking a succession of similar relatively limp articles of the class including empty fabric bags, the apparatus comprising a crossconveyor for receiving and conveying the articles one at a time in a generally uncrump-led condition and a longitudinal conveyor extending from one side of the cross-conveyor toward a stacking location, means for stopping the movement of any said article along the cross-conveyor responsive to the arrival of the article at a predetermined location with respect to the median line of the longitudinal conveyor, means 'for concurrently transferring. the article from the cross-conveyor onto the longitudinal conveyor along said median line While maintaining the article generally unrumpled, whereby any said article occupies a predetermined sideto-side location on the longitudinal conveyor, means operative along the longitudinal conveyor'for correctively skewing into a predetermined position of orientation any said article being carried thereon while maintaining the article generally in its said side-to-side location and generally unrumpled, and stacking means operative further along the longitudinal conveyor for lifting the articles successively from the longitudinal conveyor and for depositing them in succession in generally unrumpled'condition one above the other in a stack wherein all are similarly orientated, said means for stopping the movement along the cross-conveyorcomprising means for stopping the cross-conveyor until the article thereon has been transferred therefrom.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said means for stopping the conveyor includes means for sensing the arrival of the leading edge of the article at a predetermined location.

3. Apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the said means 'for effecting the said inter conveyor transfer is also controlled by said sensing means.

4. Apparatus for handling and stacking a succession of similar relatively limp articles of the class including empty fabric bags, the apparatus comprising a crossoonveyor for receiving and conveying the articles one at a time ina generally uncrumpled condition and a longitudinal conveyor extending from one side of the cross-conveyor toward a stacking location, means for stopping the 1move'rnent of any said article along the cross-conveyor responsive to the arrival of thewarticle at a predetermined location with respectto the median line of the longitudinal conveyIor, means for concurrently transferring the article from the cross-conveyor onto the longitudinal conveyor along said median line while maintaining the article generally unrumpled, whereby any said article occupies a predetermined. side-to-side location on the longitudinal conveyor, means operative along the longitudinal conveyor for correctively skewing into a predetermined positionv of orientation any said article being carried thereon while maintaining the article generally in its said side-to-s'ide location and generally unrumpled, and stacking means operative further along the longitudinal conveyor for lifting the articles successively from the longitudinal conveyor and for depositing them in succession in generally unrumpledcondition one above the other in a stack wherein all are similarly orientated, wherein the said cross-conveyor is elevated relative to the said longitudinal conveyor and is connected to' the said longitudinal conveyor by a slide, the said transfer means including means for pulling any said stopped article from the cross-conveyor onto the slide.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the said cross-conveyor is narrower than the said articles, and the i said pulling means comprises a pair of clutch rollers and means for bringing one toward the other to grasp an overhanging portion of a said stopped article, and

means for driving at least one roller to accomplish the said pulling.

6. Apparatus for handling and stacking a succession of similar relatively limp articles of the class including empty fabric bags, the apparatus comprising a crossconveyor for receiving and. conveying the articles one at a time in a generally uncrumpled condition and a longitudinal conveyor extending from one side of the crossconveyor toward a stacking location, means for stepping the. movement of any said article along the crossconveyor responsive to they arrival of the article at a predetermined location with respect to the median lineof the longitudinal conveyor, means for concurrently transferring the .article 'from the cross-conveyor onto the longitudinal conveyor along said median line whilemaintaining the article generally unrumpled, whereby any said article occupies a predetermined side-to-side location on the longitudinal conveyor, means operative along the longitudinal conveyor for correctively skew ing into a predeternined position of orientation any said article being carried thereon while maintaining the article generally in its said side-to-sidc location and generally unrumpled, and stacking means operative further along the longitudinal conveyor for lifting the articles successively from the longitudinal conveyor and for depositing them in succession in generally unrumpled condition one above'the other in a stack wherein all are similarly orientated, the said means for correctively skewing including a right-hand and a left-hand holder located near the rear, or input, of the longitudinal conveyor, respectively corresponding sensing elements located forwardly of the holders, each for sensing the arrival thereat of the leadingedge of a said article, and means responsive to either sensing element sensing the arrival of a said leading edge of an article thereat before such arrival at the other sensing element for actuating the corresponding holder until such arrival occurs at the other sensing element, actuation of either holder serving to. grip and hold the associated portion of the article near the trailing edge.

7. In an apparatus accordingto claim 6, means for adjusting the distance along the longitudinal conveyor between the said holders and the said sensing elements to accord with the corresponding dimension of a series of articles to be handled, whereby the portion of an article gripped and held for corrective skewing may be near the trailing edge irrespective of substantial dimension variations between the articles of one series and another.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the said adjustment means comprises means for adjusting the location along the longitudinal conveyor of the said sensing means.

9. Apparatus for handling and stacking a succession of similar relatively limp articles of the class including empty fabric bags, the apparatus comprising a crossconveyor for receiving and conveying the articles one at a time in a generally uncrumpled condition andv a longitudinal conveyor extending from one side of the crossconveyor toward a stacking location, means for stopping the movement of any said article along the cross-conveyor responsive to the arrival of the article at a predetermined location with respect to the medianline of the longitudinal conveyor, means for concurrently transferring the article from the cross-conveyor onto the longitudinal conveyor along said median line while maintaining the article generally unrumpled, whereby any said article occupies a predetermined side-to-side location on the longitudinal conveyor, means operative along the longitudinal conveyor for correctively skewing into a predetermined position of orientation any said article being carried thereon'while maintaining the article generally in its said side-to-side location and generally unrumpled, stacking means operative further along the longitudinal conveyor for lifting the articles successively from the longitudinal conveyor and for deposit- 8 ing them in succession in generally unrumpled condition one above the other in a stack wherein all are similarly orientated, sensing means responsive to a said article reaching a predetermined location along the saidlongitudinal conveyor, and meanscontrolled by the sensing means for operating the said stacking means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the said sensing means senses the arrival thereat, of the leading edge of a said article, and the said predetermined location is the location thereof when the arrival of its leading edge is sensed by the said sensing means.

11. Apparatus for handling and stacking a succession of similar relatively limp articles of the class including empty fabric :bags, the apparatus comprising a crossconveyor for receiving and conveying the articles one at'a time in a generally uncrumpled condition and a longitudinal conveyor extending from one side of the cross-conveyor toward a stacking location, means for stopping the movement of any said article along the cross-conveyor responsive to. the arrival of the article at a predetermined location with respect to the median line of the longitudinal conveyor, means for concurrently transferring the article from the cross-conveyor onto the longitudinal conveyor along said median'line while maintaining the article generally unrumpled, whereby any said: article occupies a predetermined sideto-side location on the'longitudinal conveyor, means operative along the longitudinal conveyor for correctively skewing into a predetermined position of orientation any said article being carried: thereon while maintaining the article generally in its said side-to-side location and generally unrumpled, and stacking means operative further along the longitudinal conveyor for lifting the articles sujccessively from the longitudinal conveyor and for depositing them in succession in generally unrumpledl condition one above the other in a stack wherein all are similarly orientated, the said articles being each generally oblong, the said cross-conveyor having a width dimension less than the width dimension of a said article for conveying the articles generally lengthwise with some marginal overhang, and the said longitudinal conveyor having a width dimension sufiici'ent to accommodate thearticles when carried widthwise thereon.

12. Apparatus for handling and stacking a succession of relatively limp articles of the class including emptyv fabric bags, comprising means providing a stacking location, a conveyor leading toward the stacking location, means for depositing the articles flat on the conveyor one at a time, at least some of the articles so deposited being skewedin a given direction from a desired position of orientation on the conveyor, a clutch device and means for operating it, in timed relationship with the movementalong the conveyor ofany said skewed article, to clutch and hold the article against convey'or movement at a location near the trailing edge thereof and to one side ofv its median line along the conveyor until the conveyor movemerit of. the unheld portion of the article correctively skews the article into the desired position of orientation, means responsive to the article becoming correctively skewed for terminating the said operation of the clutch, andv stacking means associated with the conveyor for taking each article from the conveyor and placing it fiat on a stack at the said stacking location in a position of orientation thereon depending on the position of orientation of the article on the conveyor.

13. Corrective skewing apparatus for adjusting the orientation to a desired direction of flat limp articles of the class including cloth bags while the articles are being uously moving carrier below said conveyor and includ-,

ing a plurality of spaced endless belts; an inclined plane disposed to provide a path for bags to move between said conveyor and said carrier; adjusting mechanism for properly orienting each bag on said carrier, said mechanism including a pair of movable stops, one adjacent eachside of the path of carrier travel and normally positioned thereabove; paired sensing means operatively associated with said stops wherebyone sensing means determines the bag foremost portion on said carrier and actuates that stop adjacent said foremost portionto arrest the travel thereof, said other sensing means determining when said bag is properly oriented on said carrier to dcactuate the actuated stop; third sensing means at a predetermined location along the flight of said carrier for determining the presence of successive bags thereat; and transfer mechanism, controlled by said third sensing means, including a plurality of slats normally positioned out of the path of carrier flight and interleaved between said belts, and effective to transfer successive bags to an orderly pile as the bags reach said predetermined location.

15. Bag handling and stacking apparatus, comprising: a first endless conveyor for receiving successive individual bags delivered thereto from sewing equipment; a second conveyor, below said first conveyor, running substantially perpendicular thereto, and including a plurality of spaced endless belts; a slide disposed to receive successive bags from said first conveyor and deliver them to said second conveyor, said slide'exte nding downwardly from the flight of'said first conveyor along a path ofgradually decreasing inclination and to the flight of said second conveyor; means disposed adjacent said first conveyor flight for feeding'successive bags-down said slide; sensing means at a predeterrnined location adjacent the flight of-said first conveyor for determining the presence of successive bags thereat; means connected with saidsensing means and efiective toactuate. said feed means asisuccessive bags reach said predeterminedlocation; second'sensing means along the flight of said second conveyor for determining that portion of a bag passing thereby which is foremost; actuatable means controlled by the latter-sensing means to arrest the bag foremost portion until, the entire bag is carried by said second conveyor into accurate alignment; third sensing means along the flight of said second conveyor for determining accurate bag alignment, connected with said arresting means, andjadaptedjto deactuate' the same upon the bag achieving accurate alignmerit, a plurality of slats interleaved between said belts and commonly joined to a rotatable shaft; fourth sensing means at a predetermined location along the flight of said second conveyor for sensing the presence of successive accurately aligned bags thereat; means connected with said fourth sensing means and effective to rotate said shaft as successive bags reach the latter predetermined location, whereby successive bags are lifted by said slats from said second conveyor and piled in an orderly stack.

16. Bag handling and stacking apparatus, comprising: a carrier including a plurality of spaced parallel running endless belts arranged for receiving a succession of bags delivered thereto; a pair of positionable stops, one adjacent each side of the path of carrier travel and normally positioned thereabove; means for positioning said stops; paired means sensitive to the presence of bags on said carrier, operatively connected with said stop positioning means, and adapted to control the operation thereof,

whereby one of said paired sensing means determines the foremost portion of each bag on said carrier and actuates that stop adjacent said foremost portion to arrest the travel thereof, and the other of said paired sensing means determines when each bag .iscorrectly oriented on said carrier to deactuate the actuated stop; third sensing means arranged to determine the presence of successive bags at a predetermined location further along the path of carrier travel; a plurality of slats interleaved between said belts, normally positioned below the surfaces thereof and positioned to underlie each of the successive bags as the same successively reach said predetermined location; a rotatable shaft carrying said slats; a pinion on said shaft; a rack drivablyengaging said pinion; a pneumatic motor having a reciprocable piston connected with said rack; and means connecting said third sensing means with said pneumatic motor whereby the pneumatic motor drives said rack and pinion to rotate said shaft and the slats thereon to remove successive bags as the same reach said predetermined location.

. 17. Bag handling and stacking apparatus, comprising: a conveyor including a plurality of spaced parallel runningendless belts for receiving a succession of bags delivered thereto; a pair of positionable stops, one adjacent each side of the path of conveyor travel and normally positioned thereabove; pneumatic means for selectively positioning said stops; paired photo-electric cell assemblies, each operatively connected with said pneumatic means, controlling the operations thereof, and having a respective beam which intersects the travelof a bag on said conveyor at a point remote from saidstops whereby the beam from one of said assemblies is interruptable to determine the foremost portion of a bag on said conveyor to actuate that stop adjacent to the bag side of which said foremost portion is a part, thereby arresting the travelthereof, and the beam from the other said assemblies is interruptable to determine when the bag is correctly oriented on said conveyor, thereby deactuating the actuated stop and freeing the entire bag for travel with, said conveyor; sensing means at a predetermined location further along the flight of said conveyor for deter-mining.

means connecting said airmotor with said sensing means, whereby as said sensing means determines the presence of said bags, said air motor is actuated to rotate said shaft and the slats carried thereby to lift said bag fromsaid conveyor;

, 18. Handling andstacking apparatus'for bags of substantially uniform size, comprising: a first endless conveyor for receiving bags delivered thereto from sewing equipment; a second conveyor, below said first conveyor and including a plurality of spaced parallel running endless belts; an inclined slide disposed to receive bags from said first conveyor and deliver them to said second con-i veyor, said slide extending downwardly from the flight of said first conveyor along a path of gradually decreasing inclination, and ending substantially in the plane of the start of flight of said second conveyor; feed means for urging bags from said first conveyor and onto said slide; photo-electric assembly means for determining the presence of successive bags at a predetermined location along the flight of said first conveyor; pneumatic means connected with said latter means and effective to actuate said feed means as successive bags reach said predetermined location; a pair of movable stops, one adjacent each side of said second conveyor and normally positioned thereabove; paired pneumatic cylinders, each for selectively positioning a respective one of said stops; paired other photo-electric assemblies, each operatively 1 1 connected with said pneumatic cylinders, controlling the operation thereof, and having a light source transmitting a beam' interruptable by the fiightof bags on said second conveyor-at a point spaced from said stops by a distance slightly less than the measurement of a bag along said second conveyor, whereby (a) one ofsaid beams is interruptable first to determine the foremost portion of eachbag on said second conveyor to actuate that stop adjacent to the bag side of which said foremost portion is a part, thereby arresting the travel thereof, and (b) the other of'said beams is interruptable by the bag remaining'portion upon the same becoming properly. aligned on said second conveyor to deactuate said actuated stop; bag transfer means including a plurality of slats interleaved between said belts and normally positioned below the surfaces thereof; a rotatable shaft carrying said slats;

piston connected with said rack; sensing means for deter-' mining the presence of successive bags over said slats; and means connecting said sensing means with said pneumatic motor, whereby upon the presence of successive bags being determined by said sensing means, said motor is actuated to drive said shaft and said'slats through said rack and pinion to lift said bags from said second conveyor and-deposit them in anorderly stack.

19'. Bag handling and stacking apparatus, comprising: aconveyor (for receiving a succession of bags delivered theretofromsewing-equipment; a movable carrier below said conveyorand including a plurality of spaced paral lel running belts; a slide for delivering bags from said conveyor; to the start of carrier flight; adjusting mechanism for properly orienting said bags on said carrier, said mechanism including a pair ofmovable stops, one adjacent each: side of the path of carrier travel and normally positioned thereabove; paired pneumatic means, one operatively connected with each of said stops for controlling the positioning thereof; paired sensing means, one at each half: of the path of carrier travel and associatedwith said pneumatiemeans whereby one of said sensing means detenmines the foremost portion of a bag on said carrier anduactuates one of said pneumatic means to lower that stop adjacent said foremost portion to arrest the travel thereof, and the other of said sensing means determines whensaidbag is properly orientedon said carrier to deactuate-said' aetuated stopg third sensing means at a-predetermined location further. alongthe flight of said car.- ricrfor determining the presence of said bag thereat; and transfer means effective to transfer said bag from said carrier. to'an orderly pile, and including aplurality ofslats interleaved between said. belts, normally positioned therebelow and located-to underlie said bag as the same reaches said predetermined location, a rotatable shaft carrying said slats, a pinion carried by said shaft, a rack drivably. engaging said p-inion, a pneumatic motor having a-reciprocable pistonconnected with said rack, and-means connectingsaid third sensing means with said pneumatic motor'whereby the latter is-effective to rotate said shaft and said slats to move said bag to said pile-upon said bagreaching said predetermined location.

1-2 20. Apparatus for conveying a succession of similar relatively'limp articles of the class including empty fabric bags from a receiving location to a stacking location and for stacking them thereat, comprising a generally horizontal'conveyor for receiving and conveying the articles overlappingthe forward portion of'tlie conveyor and receivedwithin and lying below the surface thereof to permit atsaid article to be conveyed to a position above the tines of the stacker fork, means mounting the stacker fork for an upward, forward, and downward, turning movement about an axis generally within and normal to the plane of the conveyor to a position overlying the said stacking location, and means disposed on the articlecarryingside of'the said tines for providing said article side with a roughened surface of the general character of that of emery cloth or sandpaper to minimize slippage of a said article being stacked.

21. Apparatus for handling and stacking'a succession of similar relatively limp articles of the class including empty fabric bags, the apparatus comprising a conveyor for receiving and conveying the articles one at a time in a generally fiat unrumpled condition from a receiving location toward a stacking location, means operative along the' conveyor for correctively skewing into a predetermined position of orientationgany said article being carried thereon while maintaining the article'generally flat and unrumpled, stacking means operative further along the conveyorfor lifting the articles successively from the conveyor and' for depositing them in succession in generally unrumpled condition one above the other in a stack subject to their being in'said predetermined position of orientation-when lifted, the said means for correctively skewing including a right-hand and a left-hand holder. located near the rear, or input; of the longitudinal conveyor, respectively corresponding sensing elements located forwardly of the holders, each for sensing the arrival thereat ofthe leadingedge of'a said article, and means responsive' to either sensing element sensing. the arrival of a said leading edge of an article thereat before such arrival of the other sensing element for actuating the corresponding holderuntil such arrival occurs at the other sensing element, actuation of either holder serving to grip and hold the associated portion of the article near the trailing edge.

Great Britain Apr. 15, 1953