Method and apparatus for stacking
First Claim
1. In a method of providing stacks of predetermined count product, the steps of providing a closed loop accumulator, serially introducing product at a first point in said loop while periodically removing a product stack adjacent a second point to provide a product-advancing loop portion with said loop portion expanding due to product introduction and the remaining loop portion contracting, periodically contracting the advancing loop portion and immediately thereafter removing said product stack, said advancing loop portion being arranged to expand during stack removal due to further product introduction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for converting a stream of individual product such as diapers into predetermined count stacks and including a closed chain loop accumulator having differing speed input and output drives.
35 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. In a method of providing stacks of predetermined count product, the steps of providing a closed loop accumulator, serially introducing product at a first point in said loop while periodically removing a product stack adjacent a second point to provide a product-advancing loop portion with said loop portion expanding due to product introduction and the remaining loop portion contracting, periodically contracting the advancing loop portion and immediately thereafter removing said product stack, said advancing loop portion being arranged to expand during stack removal due to further product introduction.
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8. Apparatus for providing stacks of predetermined count product comprising a frame, a closed loop chain means accumulator mounted on said frame, means for serially introducing a product adjacent a first point in said loop and means for periodically removing a product stack adjacent a second point in said loop, means for driving said loop adjacent said first point at a substantially uniform rate and means for periodically driving said loop adjacent said second point at a rate faster than said uniform rate to expand one position of said loop while contracting the remaining portion, and means coordinating said periodic driving means and removal means to actuate the latter immediately after said periodic driving means has stopped and a predetermined count stack is available adjacent said second point for removal.
- 9. Apparatus for providing stacks of predetermined count product comprising a frame, a closed loop accumulator mounted on said frame, means for serially introducing a product adjacent a first point in said loop and means for periodically removing a product stack adjacent a second point in said loop, means for driving said loop adjacent said first point at a substantially uniform rate and means for periodically driving said loop adjacent said second point at a rate faster than said uniform rate, and means coordinating said periodic driving means and removal means to actuate the latter immediately after said periodic driving means has stopped and a predetermined count stack is available adjacent said second point for removal, said loop accumulator including a pair of spaced apart, parallel endless chains each entrained on four sprockets being mounted adjacent said first and second sprockets being mounted adjacent said first and second points with the remaining two sprockets being mounted on opposite sides of said first point sprocket and being translatable to achieve expansion of one loop portion while contracting the other.
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11. A product accumulator adapted to be interposed in the path of a series of products and to arrange the products in stack form for delivery to a second path comprising a frame interposed between the first mentioned and second paths, four sprocket means arranged in quadrilateral fashion on said frame and supporting a closed chain loop thereon, said chain loop being equipped with finger means for supporting products delivered thereto from said first mentioned path,
a first of said sprocket means being positioned adjacent said first mentioned path and fixed against translational movement, means operably associated with said first sprocket means for rotating the same at a velocity corresponding to the velocity of product in said first mentioned path, a second of said sprocket means being also positioned adjacent said first mentioned path and mounted for translational movement so as to vary the distance between said first and second sprocket means, a third of said sprocket means positioned adjacent said second path and fixed against translational movement, means operably associated with said third sprocket means for periodically rotating the same, the fourth of said sprocket means also positioned adjacent said second path and mounted for translational movement so as to vary the distance between said third and fourth sprocket means in an inverse relation to the distance change between said first and second sprocket means, and means on said frame for delivering an accumulated stack of product from said chain loop to said second path.
- 15. Apparatus for converting a stream of individual product such as disposable diapers into predetermined count stacks comprising a frame, a first sprocket means journaled in said frame adjacent an introduction path for individual diapers advanced serially in said path, a first carriage mounted on said frame for vertical sliding movement below said first sprocket means and rotatably supporting second sprocket means, a third sprocket means journaled in said frame downstream of said first sprocket means and positioned adjacent a removal path for diaper stacks, a second carriage mounted on said frame for vertical sliding movement above said third sprocket means and rotatably supporting fourth sprocket means, a closed chain loop equipped with individual diaper-supporting finger means entrained on said four sprocket means in generally quadrilateral configuration, resilient means on said frames for each carriage urging the same vertically away from its journaled sprocket means, individual servomotor means for each of said first and third sprocket means, said first sprocket means servomotor means being adapted to operate at a continuous rate so as to position a finger means in said introduction path for each serially advanced diaper, said third sprocket means servomotor means being adapted to operate periodically at a rate faster than said continuous rate so as to position said predetermined number of finger means adjacent said removal path for removal from said finger means when said third sprocket means servomotor means is stopped, pusher means on said frame for pushing a stack of diapers from said predetermined number of finger means upon stopping of said third sprocket means servomotor means provided said predetermined number of finger means has been advanced during the periodic operation of said third sprocket means servomotor means into adjacency relative to said removal path, and switch means on said frame responsive to the movement of said second carriage for regulating the operation of said third sprocket means servomotor means.
Specification