Stack-forming arrangement

• US 7,500,819 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Muller Martini Holding Ag (Muller Martini Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Muller Martini Holding Ag (Muller Martini Corporation)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Erik Vind
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams; Gregory W
• Application Number:
  US10/873,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20040265114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 414/790, 414/794.9, 4147952-7955, 198/468.8, 198/468.2, 198/811, 198/813, 198/468.1, 198/809, 198/812, 198/823, 198/837, 198/806, 198/804, 198/485.1, 198/819, 271/159
• US Class Current: 414/790
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/035 with a stepwise downward movement of the stack
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/254 Arrangement for varying the guiding or transport length
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/255 Arrangement for tensioning
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/38 by movable piling or advancing arms, frames, plates, or like members with which the articles are maintained in face contact

Abstract

An arrangement for an optional forming of stacks of multiple products conveyed successively along a conveying path, and/or for changing the sequence of products conveyed successively along the conveying path. The arrangement includes a conveying device having conveying sections for transporting the products in a conveying direction. At least one up and down movable lifting element is disposed on at least one side of the conveying device and picks up the products from an underside of the products along the conveying path from the conveying device and subsequently deposits them again. The lifting element is disposed at a right angle to the conveying direction and is displaceable below a support surface of the conveying device.

Claims

1. An arrangement for an optional forming of stacks of multiple products conveyed successively along a conveying path, or for changing a sequence of products conveyed successively along the conveying path, said arrangement comprising:

a conveying device comprising a circulating conveying belt having conveying sections for transporting the products in a conveying direction, the conveying belt defining a support surface;

at least two lifting elements disposed opposite from one another, with one of the lifting elements located on each respective side of the conveying device, the at least two lifting elements adapted to move up and down independently from one another, and to pick up the products from an underside of the products along the conveying path from the conveying device and subsequently stack the products, each lifting element comprising a plurality of support rods spaced apart from one another and projecting at right angles to the conveying direction to form a support for the products, each lifting element being displaceable from below the support surface of the conveying belt to above the support surface of the conveying belt; and

rollers that span the entire width of the support surface, wherein the rollers have a first position above the support surface in which objects are lifted, and a second, belt deflecting position below the support surface in which the deflection creates gaps in said conveying belt into which the lifting elements enter;

wherein each of the at least two lifting elements is movable within a respective one of the gaps in the support surface to a position below the support surface, thereby interrupting substantially the entire width of the support surface.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a tensioning device to re-tension the conveying belt to remove gaps in the support surface.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising driven conveying rolls to form the surface of the conveying belt.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the lifting apparatus comprises a format-adjustable vertical guide.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein a position for picking up the products from the support surface is arranged below the vertical guide.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the rollers are attached to a joint roll support.