COMBINATION STACKER-FEEDER

• US 3,643,817 A
• Filed: 09/16/1970
• Issued: 02/22/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boyd W. Rose
• Original Assignee: Boyd W. Rose
• Inventors: Rose, Boyd W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Forlenza, Gerald M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/072,706
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 214/6BA,7,6 271/DIG.4,87 198/24
• US Class Current: 414/795.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/302 added articles being lifted to substantially stationary grippers or holders

Abstract

A combination stacker-feeder for filler flats which includes a member for lifting the flats individually from a primary conveyor onto a pair of opposed supports which are cammed outwardly by the upwardly moving flat. When it is desired to feed the flats individually from the supports, an endless chain conveyor having spaced pusher lugs thereon is positioned between the supports with its lower run in the plane of the supports. The endless conveyor is intermittently energized by the lifting of each flat so that the flat will be engaged by one of the lugs to be slid off the supports and moved laterally of the primary conveyor. When it is desired to stack the flats upon the supports, the endless chain conveyor is arranged for pivotal movement about one end thereof so that it can be rotated completely out of the stacking area.

Claims

1. A combination stacker and feeder for flat articles comprising a pair of upright wall members mounted in opposed relationship, means for intermittently conveying said articles beneath one of said wall members to a position between said wall members, means for successively lifting said articles from said conveying means between said wall members, a support member yieldably mounted on each wall member for receiving each of said articles from said lifting means and supporting it above said conveying means, an endless feed conveyor arranged between said wall members in generally parallel relationship therewith and with one run thereof being located generally in the plane of said support members, a pusher member mounted on said feed conveyor for engagement with an article on said support members, a drive shaft mounting one end of said feed conveyor between said wall members, means for operating said drive shaft in timed relationship with said lifting means to slidably feed the article on said support members in a direction laterally of said conveying means, and a movable support mounting the other end of said feed conveyor whereby said feed conveyor may be pivoted about the axis of said drive shaft by an angle greater than 90* so that a stack of said articles may be formed upon said support members by said lifting means.

2. A combination stacker and feeder according to claim 1 wherein said movable support member for said feed conveyor comprises means for rotatably supporting said other end of said feed conveyor and a rod for mounting said last-named means with the distal end of said rod being removably mounted upon one of said wall members.

3. A combination stacker and feeder according to claim 1 wherein said feed conveyor comprises an endless chain, a sprocket for supporting one end of said chain, said sprocket being fixed to said drive shaft, said movable support member for said feed conveyor comprising a member supporting the other end of said chain for rotation thereabout, and a rod for mounting said chain supporting member.

4. A combination stacker and feeder according to claim 3 wherein said rod extends laterally of said feed conveyor and is provided with an end portion adapted to be received upon the top of one of said wall members.

5. A combination stacker and feeder acCording to claim 2 including an elongate mounting arm, means for mounting one end of said arm on said drive shaft, and the other end of said arm including an arcuate portion arranged to slidably receive said other end of said feed conveyor.

6. A combination stacker and feeder according to claim 1 including a stop mounted upon one of said wall members and extending toward said feed conveyor, and abutment means secured to said feed conveyor for engagement with said stop to maintain said feed conveyor in its pivoted position out of the path of the articles on said support members.

7. A combination stacker and feeder according to claim 2 wherein the lower run of said feed conveyor is located generally in the plane of said support members, said feed conveyor being adapted to be pivoted upwardly into a pivoted position wherein said feed conveyor extends outwardly of said wall members in the direction of feed of the articles by said feed conveyor.

8. A combination stacker and feeder according to claim 7 including a stop mounted upon the upper portion of one of said wall members near one end thereof, said stop extending toward said feed conveyor, and abutment means secured to said feed conveyor for engagement with said stop to maintain said feed conveyor in said pivoted position.

9. A combination stacker and feeder according to claim 3 including switch means arranged for contact by said lifting means when an article is delivered to said support members, said means for operating said drive shaft including an intermittent drive connected for energization by said switch means to move said chain a predetermined distance.

10. A combination stacker and feeder according to claim 9 wherein said chain is provided with a plurality of pusher members, said pusher members being uniformly spaced about said chain by distances corresponding to said predetermined distance.

11. A combination stacker and feeder for flat articles comprising a pair of upright wall members mounted in opposed relationship, means for successively lifting said articles between said wall members, a support member yieldably mounted on each wall member for receiving each of said articles from said lifting means and supporting it, an endless feed conveyor arranged approximately midway between said wall members in generally parallel relationship therewith and with one run thereof being located generally in the plane of said support members, a pusher member mounted on said feed conveyor for engagement with an article on said support members, a drive shaft mounting one end of said feed conveyor between said wall members, means for operating said drive shaft in timed relationship with said lifting means to slidably feed the article from said support members, and a movable support mounting the other end of said feed conveyor whereby said feed conveyor may be pivoted about the axis of said drive shaft by an angle greater than 90* so that a stack of said articles may be formed upon said support members by said lifting means.

12. A combination stacker and feeder according to claim 11 including an elongate mounting arm having one end thereof rotatably received about said drive shaft, said movable support mounting the other end of said feed conveyor including a rod fixed to the other end of said arm and projecting laterally thereof with the projecting end of said rod being arranged to be removably received by one of said wall members.

13. A combination stacker and feeder according to claim 11 wherein the lower run of said feed conveyor is located generally in the plane of said support members, said feed conveyor being adapted to be pivoted upwardly into a pivoted position wherein said feed conveyor extends outwardly of said wall members in the direction of feed of the articles by said feed conveyor.