US3345064A

US3345064A - Stacking device

Info

Publication number: US3345064A
Application number: US549874A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vandenberg Edward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-05-13
Filing date: 1966-05-13
Publication date: 1967-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-03

Description

Oct. 3, 1967 E. vANDENBERG STACKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 13, 1966 FIG. 6

FIG. 7

FIG.

I INVENTOR EDWAR VANDENBERG .BYVa/w Anornevs Oct. 3, 1957 E. VANDENBERG 3,345,064

STACKING DEVICE Filed May 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,345,064 STACKING DEVICE Edward Vandenberg, 426 Findlay St., Cincinnati, Ohio. 45214 Filed May 13, 1966, Ser. No. 549,874 6 Claims. (Cl. 27168) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for stacking fiat articles in an upright stack which includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor receiving articles from the first conveyor, and means for holding the stack on the second conveyor, the articles feeding upwardly from the first conveyor to be received at the bottom of the stack.

This invention relates to devices for stacking articles in an upright stack. More particularly, this invention relates to a stacking device which can be connected to an automatic machine which produces relatively flat, smooth articles for stacking such articles.

Pressure sensitive labels are manufactured in large quantities and are ordinarily mounted individually or in groups on backing sheets. An object of this invention is to provide a stacking device in which such mounted labels are delivered to the bottom of a stack and stacked one below another.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a stacking device in which the labels are stacked on an upper course of a main belt which carries the articles to the pile.

A further object of this invention is to provide a stacking device of this type in which the articles are led to the main belt by a delivery belt having an upper .course which runs below the upper course of the belt on which the articles are stacked.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a device in which the belts are formed in sections and in which sections of the main belt and delivery belt alternate.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this type in which the articles running on the delivery belt are held in place thereon by idle rolls which guide the articles to the bottom of the stack.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the following detailed description, and the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a label stacking device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention, a fragmentary portion of a label forming machine being shown in association there;

FIG. 2 is .a plan view of the label stacking device shown in FIG. 1, portions of belt sections thereof being broken away to reveal interior construction, a fragmentary portion of the label forming machine being shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the device illustrated in FIG. 2, a fragmentary portion of the label forming machine being shown in association therewith;

FIG. 4 is another view in side elevation of the device illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a gear housing being removed;

FIG. 5 is a view in end elevation of the device illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, inclusive;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view insection taken on the line 66 in F162;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line 7-7 in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line 88 in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 1 is shown a label stacking device 9 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention which includes a frame 10 mounted on a pedestal 12 having an upright portion 12a. The pedestal 12 can be sup ported on a floor 1212. As shown, a pivotal connection 12c can be provided in the upright portion 12a to permit controlled swinging of the frame 10. At opposite ends, the main frame 10 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) carries cross channel frames 13 and 14 (FIG. 3), which are rigidly attached thereto.

Lengthwise side frames

16 and 17 .are rigidly mounted on the cross frames 13 and 14. Rolls 18 and 19 are rotatably mounted in the

side frames

16 and 17. A plurality of main belt sections 23 are mounted to run on the rollers 18 and 19. A pulley 24 mounted on the roll 18 is driven by a belt 26 which, in turn, is driven by a motor 27 to drive the main belt sections 23. As shown in the drawings, the belt sections 23 are separated by spaces 28. Guide pins 29 carried by a cross frame 31 guide the main belt sections to maintain them in spaced relation.

Delivery belt sections 32 run in the spaces between the main belt section 23. The delivery belt sections 32 run on rollers 33 and 34 which are carried by

journals

35 and 36 rotatably mounted in the

side frames

16 and 17. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper courses of the delivery belt sections 32 are substantially parallel to and spaced below the upper courses of the main belt sections 23. The roller 19 and the journal 36 carry

gears

37 and 38, respectively (FIG. 4), which mesh with .an idle gear 39' so that the rollers 19 and 34 (FIG. 6) and the belts carried thereon are driven in the same direction. The peripheral speed of the roller 19 on which the main belt sections 23 are mounted can be somewhat greater than the peripheral speed of the roller 34 so that the main belt sections advance faster than the delivery belt sections. Spacer pins 41 carried by a cross plate 42 guide the delivery belt sections. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the roller 19 is provided with a plurality of annular slots 42a through which the delivery belt sections 32 pass. Above the delivery belt sections are mounted

idle rolls

43, 44, 46, 47, and 48 (FIG. 5) which are rotatably mounted on

shafts

49, 51, 52, 53, and 54, respectively. The

shafts

49, 51, 52, 53, and 54 link roll frames 56 and 57 (FIG. 2). The

frames

56 and 57 are mounted on the

side frames

17 and 16, respectively. Pins 58, mounted in the

side frames

16 and 17, extend into sockets 61 in the

roll frames

57 and 56 to align the roll frames and the side frames.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, label assemblies 62, each consisting of a backing sheet 63 and label members 64, are fed to the stacking device from a label printing and cutting machine 66 above the upper courses of the delivery belt sections and below the idle roll 43. The label assemblies pass under the

idle rolls

44, 46, 47, and 48. When the label assemblies reach the main belt sections, the label assemblies are advanced upwardly around the main belt sections and the roll 19 and under label assemblies 62a (FIG. 6) stacked on the upper courses of the main belt sections 23.

The stack of label assemblies is formed by a stop assembly 68. The stop assembly 68 includes a main or angle frame 69 of angle shape which is mounted on the side frame 16, as shown in FIG. 7. A guide strip 71 is mounted below a main flange 72 of the main frame 69 in spaced relation thereto. Fasteners 72a attach the strip 71 to the flange 72. An end edge 73 of the guide strip 71 engages Patented Oct. 3, 1967 tions 23 run over and are supported by the guide strip 71 to prevent sagging thereof where the label assemblies are collected thereon. An angle shaped guide frame 76a (FIGS. 6 and 8) is mounted on the main flange 72 of the stop .assembly. The guide frame 76a has a plurality of downwardly extending teeth 76b which extend between upper courses of the belt sections 23 so that advance of label assemblies on the belt sections 23 is halted thereby. An upright post 77 mounted on the guide frame 76a limits advance of the label assemblies as a stack thereof builds up. Adjustable side guides 78 .and 79 (FIG. 2) catch and guide the labels. As shown, the side guides are carried by horizontal rods 81 and 82 which in turn are carried by support blocks 83 and 84. The support blocks 83 and 84 are carried by a cross rod 86 of hexagonal cross section. Ends of the cross rod 86 are mounted in

brackets

87 and 88 mounted on opposite ends of the main flange 72 of the angle frame 69.

Thumb screws

91 and 92 mounted in the blocks 83 and 84 bear on the cross rod 86 to position the blocks and side guides. Set screws 92a and 92]) mounted in the support blocks 83 and 84 lock the rods 81 and 82 in position. Access to the set screws 92a and 92b is had through openings 920 in the

brackets

87 and 88.

As the label assemblies are advanced by the delivery belt sections, each label assembly engages a switch actuator arm 94 (FIG. 6). The arm 94 is mounted on a microswitch 96 and, as the .arm 94 swings from the full line position of FIG. 6 to the dot-dash line position 94a, the switch 96 is actuated. The switch is connected to a suitable electronic counting device (not shown in detail) which counts the label assemblies as delivered. The switch 96 is mounted on a rod 98 (FIG. 2) which, in turn, is mounted on the side frame 17.

The side frames 16 and 17 carry

clamp members

101 and 102, respectively, which are carried by an extension of the rod 98 and a similar rod 103 mounted in the side frame 16. The clamp members are of L shape and can engage edge portions of wall frames 106 and 108 of the label printing and cutting machine 66, details of construction of which are not shown.

A discharge guide 111 is mounted to swing between the full line position of FIG. 3 and the dot-dash line position 111a. When in the normal, full line position, label assemblies are fed to the stacking machine. When the discharge guide is in the dot-dash line position, label assemblies can be diverted therefrom.

As shown in FIG. 6, the discharge guide is mounted on lever arms 112, only one of which is shown, which are mounted in a shaft 114. The shaft 114 is rotatably supported between the cross frame 13 and an angle frame 116. A screw 117 holds the shaft 114 in selected position.

Label assemblies are fed to the label stacking device by the label printing and cutting machine 66 (FIG. 3) and are received on the upper course of the delivery conveyor belt sections 32 under the rolls 43 (FIG. 6). The label assemblies are advanced under the

rolls

44, 46, and 47 to the roll 48. As the leading edge of a label assembly is advanced upwardly around the belt sections 23 of the roller 19, the leading edge is received under trailing edges of label assemblies already stacked on the belt sections 23. The label assembly advances until stopped by the guide frame 760. It is stopped with a trailing edge portion overhanging the roller 19. As the leading edge of a label assembly enters below the trailing edges of assemblies already in the stack, the rest of the label assembly is held down by the roller 48 and the idle rollers to the left thereof, as shown in FIG. 6. The tightness with which the label assemblies are held by the roll 48 can be adjusted with a belt tightening assembly 116 The assembly 116' includes a cross bar 117' swingably mounted in the side frames 16 and 17. A plate 118 mounted on the cross bar 117' is engageable with upper courses of the belt sections 32. A head end 119 (FIG. 3) of a journal portion of the cross bar 117' is exposed and has a crossslot therein by means of which the cross bar 117' and plate 118 can be swung to adjust tension on the belt sections 32. As the assembly 116' is pivoted counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 6, the upper courses of the delivery belt sections 32 are raised.

The label stacking device illustrated in the drawings and described above is subject to structural modification without departing from the spirit ,and scope to the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device for stacking substantially fiat articles which comprises a first continuous conveyor belt means, spaced rol-l means supporting said first conveyor belt means, a second continuous conveyor belt means, spaced roll means supporting the second conveyor belt means, said conveyor belt means having substantially parallel upper course, an upper course of the second conveyor belt means being elevated above an upper course of the first conveyor belt means, one of the roll means for supporting the second conveyor belt means being intermediate the roll means supporting the first conveyor belt means, slot means being provided in said one of the roll means, the upper course of the first conveyor belt means extending through said slot means, whereby the first and second conveyor belt means overlap, stop means adjacent the second conveyor belt means for arresting articles thereon in a stack with a trailing edge portion of each article overlying said one of the roll means and extending free of said belt means, means for holding articles down on the upper course of the first conveyor belt means as the articles approach said one of the roll means, .and means for advancing the conveyor belt means in a direction to move articles from the first to the second conveyor belt means, a leading edge of each article on the first conveyor belt means being received under the trailing edge portion of the articles on the second conveyor belt means, the articles being stacked on the second conveyor belt means.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the means for holding articles down on the upper course of the first conveyor belt means includes a plurality of idle rolls extending transversely of and above the upper course of the first conveyor belt means and each arranged to engage an article supported thereon.

3. A device as in claim 1 in which means is provided for raising and lowering the upper course of the first belt means with relation to the means for holding down articles thereon.

4. A device for stacking substantially fiat articles which comprises a first continuous conveyor belt means, spaced roll means supporting said first conveyor belt means, a second continuous conveyor belt means, spaced roll means supporting the second conveyor belt means, the upper course of the second conveyor belt means being elevated above the upper course of the first conveyor belt means, one of the roll means for supporting the second conveyor belt means being intermediate the roll means supporting the first conveyor belt means, slot means being provided in said one of the roll means, the upper course of the first conveyor belt means extending through said slot means, whereby the first and second conveyor belt means overlap, stop means adjacent the second conveyor belt means for arresting articles thereon in a stack with a trailing edge portion of each .article overlying said one of the roll means and extending free of said belt means, and means for advancing the conveyor belt means in a direction to move articles from the first to the second conveyor belt means, .a leading edge of each article on the first conveyor belt means being received under the trailing edge portion of articles on the second conveyor belt means, the articles being stacked on the second conveyor belt means.

5. A device as in claim 4 wherein the second conveyor belt means includes a plurality of belt sections, in which the stop means includes a frame extending transversely of the belt sections of the second conveyor belt means, and in which a plurality of teeth are provided on the frame of the stop means extending between sections of the upper course of the second conveyor belt means, leading edges of the articles engaging and being stopped by said teeth.

6. A device as in claim 5 wherein means is provided on the frame of the stop means underlying the sections of the upper course of the second conveyor belt means to maintain same in position with the teeth extending therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,868,384 7/1932 Greenwood 271-68 X 6 2,414,059 1/ 1947 Powers 271-68 X 3,174,749 3/ 1965 Childs 27168 FOREIGN PATENTS 589,283 12/ 1959 Canada.

EVON c. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner.

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR STACKING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT ARTICLES WHICH COMPRISES A FIRST CONTINUOUS CONVEYOR BELT MEANS, SPACED ROLL MEANS SUPPORTING SAID FIRST CONVEYOR BELT MEANS, A SECOND CONTINUOUS CONVEYOR BELT MEANS, SPACED ROLL MEANS SUPPORTING THE SECOND CONVEYOR BELT MEANS, SAID CONVEYOR BELT MEANS HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL UPPER COURSE, AN UPPER COURSE OF THE SECOND CONVEYOR BELT MEANS BEING ELEVATED ABOVE AN UPPER COURSE OF THE FIRST CONVEYOR BELT MEANS, ONE OF THE ROLL MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE SECOND CONVEYOR BELT MEANS BEING INTERMEDIATE THE FOLL MEANS SUPPORTING THE FIRST CONVEYOR BELT MEANS, SLOT MEANS BEING PROVIDED IN SAID ONE OF THE ROLL MEANS, THE UPPER COURSE OF THE FIRST CONVEYOR BELT MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT MEANS, WHEREBY THE FIRST AND SECOND CONVEYOR BELT MEANS OVERLAP, STOP MEANS ADJACENT THE SECOND CONVEYOR BELT MEANS FOR ARRESTING ARTICLES THEREON IN A STACK WITH A TRAILING EDGE PORTION OF EACH ARTICLE OVERLYING SAID ONE OF THE ROLL MEANS AND EXTENDING FREE OF SAID BELT MEANS, MEANS FOR HOLDING ARTICLES DOWN ON THE UPPER COURSE OF THE FIRST CONVEYOR BELT MEANS AS THE ARTICLES APPROACH SAID ONE OF THE ROLL MEANS, AND MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE CONVEYOR BELT MEANS IN A DIRECTION OF MOVE ARTICLES FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND CONVEYOR BELT MEANS, A LEADING EDGE OF EACH ARTICLE ON THE FIRST CONVEYOR BELT MEANS BEING RECEIVED UNDER THE TRAILING EDGE PORTION OF THE ARTICLES ON THE SECOND CONVEYOR BELT MEANS, THE ARTICLES BEING STACKED ON THE SECOND CONVEYOR BELT MEANS.