Tray stacking and buffer system and method of use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for stacking and storing a plurality of trays, comprising:
- a stacker system having a platform mounted to a movable frame member, wherein at least the platform moves a tray between a raised position and a lowered position by a lifting and lowering mechanism;
a buffer system having a plurality of opposing projections projecting from opposing belts which are configured to capture the tray when the platform is raised from the lowered position to the raised position; and
a component mounted between the frame member and the platform which is configured to be moved upward when the platform is in the raised position to maintain or hold the tray in a position until it is captured by opposing projections projecting from the opposing belts;
wherein the component is a biasing system which is structured to maintain positive control of the tray and prevent compaction of nested trays of the plurality of trays already within the buffer system.
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Abstract
A system and method for stacking and storing a plurality of trays includes a stacker system and a buffer system. The stacker system includes a component, e.g., a platform, which moves a tray between a raised position and a lowered position. The buffer system includes a plurality of opposing projections for capturing the tray when the component is in the raised position.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for stacking and storing a plurality of trays, comprising:
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a stacker system having a platform mounted to a movable frame member, wherein at least the platform moves a tray between a raised position and a lowered position by a lifting and lowering mechanism; a buffer system having a plurality of opposing projections projecting from opposing belts which are configured to capture the tray when the platform is raised from the lowered position to the raised position; and a component mounted between the frame member and the platform which is configured to be moved upward when the platform is in the raised position to maintain or hold the tray in a position until it is captured by opposing projections projecting from the opposing belts; wherein the component is a biasing system which is structured to maintain positive control of the tray and prevent compaction of nested trays of the plurality of trays already within the buffer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for stacking and storing trays, comprising:
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a platform vertically moveable between a first position and a second position, the platform accommodating a tray; a first drive system connecting to the platform for raising and lowering the platform between the first position and the second position; opposing driven belts each of which includes a plurality of spaced apart lugs extending partially inward such that a space is provided between spaced apart lugs on the opposing driven belts, the spaced apart lugs being structured for capturing and storing the trays in a vertical, nested configuration; a second drive system connecting to the opposing driven belts for synchronously rotating the belts of the opposing driven belts in opposing directions; a controller coordinating the movement of the opposing driven belts and the platform such that the platform is in the second position and the plurality of spaced apart lugs capture and lift the trays from the platform in a vertical, nested configuration; a spring system mounting the platform to a frame member, the spring system structured to prevent compaction of nested trays; and at least one stop mechanism provided on the opposing driven belts to maintain a position of the tray when the tray is the second position and prior to being captured by the plurality of spaced apart lugs. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for stacking and storing trays, comprising:
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a platform vertically moveable between a first position and a second position, the platform accommodating a tray; a first drive system connecting to the platform for raising and lowering the platform between the first position and the second position; opposing driven belts each of which includes a plurality of spaced apart lugs extending partially inward such that a space is provided between spaced apart lugs on the opposing driven belts, the spaced apart lugs being structured for capturing and storing the trays in a vertical, nested configuration; a second drive system connecting to the opposing driven belts for synchronously rotating the belts of the opposing driven belts in opposing directions; and a controller coordinating the movement of the opposing driven belts and the platform such that the platform is in the second position and the plurality of spaced apart lugs capture and lift the trays from the platform in a vertical, nested configuration, wherein; the first drive system is a belt drive coupled to the frame or platform for moving the platform between the raised and lowered position; the opposing driven belts include a first driven belt mounted between a first set of shafts and a second driven belt mounted between a second set of shafts; the second drive system includes a single drive shaft for synchronously driving the first and second driven belt; the plurality of spaced apart lugs project towards each other when positioned between the opposing driven belts; and the plurality of spaced apart lugs are spaced at a predefined separation from one another on each of the opposing driven belts.
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23. A method of buffering trays, comprising:
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providing a tray onto a single platform which is mounted on a plate which is raised and lowered; raising the platform with the tray to a stop mechanism; biasing during raising the platform with a biasing system mounted between the platform and the plate; synchronizing movement of a belt system of a buffering system with the raising of the tray such that when the tray is in the raised position, the tray will be captured between opposing lugs of the belt system of the buffering system; and lifting the tray from the platform and into the buffering system by engaging the opposing lugs with the tray such that trays become nested. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification