Power stacker
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorMario J. Marin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stand-alone power stacker for envelopes and similar type planar articles is provided wherein two end to end arcuately adjustable belt conveyors are adapted to be driven at automatically varying relative speeds depending on load conditions. The machine drive motor is controlled by a sensing means that detects the presence of each envelope that is delivered to the upstream end of the stacker and a time delay control circuit is provided to delay a termination of operation of said motor for a selected time period after said sensing means has completed a sensing operation. The arcuate adjustability of the outer ends of said conveyors permits the upstream one of said conveyors to receive envelopes, etc. from various heights and the downstream one of said conveyors to generate envelope stacks of desired compactness or density.
Claims23
A power stacking device for planar articles:
- comprising a frame;
- first and second conveyor means mounted on said frame and arranged in end to end relation, the respective inner ends of said first and second conveyor means being articulately supported by said frame, and the respective outer ends of said first and second conveyor means being adjustably supported with respect to the frame;
- drive means for operating said conveyor means, said drive means including a positive drive for the upstream conveyor means and a yieldable slower drive for the downstream conveyor;
- sensing means for determining when an article is delivered to one of said conveyor means;
- and
- control means responsive to the operation of said sensing means to control said drive means.
A power stacker:
- comprising
- a frame;
- at least one conveyor means mounted on said frame;
- drive means for said conveyor means;
- and
- control means for controlling the operation of said drive means;
- said drive means including a yieldable drive connection and a positive drive connection whereby said conveyor means may be yieldably driven at relatively high speeds by said yieldable drive connection and whereby said conveyor means may be driven by said positive drive connection when the effective speed at which said yieldable drive means drives said conveyor means drops to the effective drive speed of said positive drive connection.
A power stacker for planar articles:
- comprising
- a frame;
- a first and second belt conveyor means carried by said frame in end to end relation;
- the mutually adjacent ends of said belt conveyor means being pivotally supported on said frame;
- means for securing the respective outer ends of said belt conveyor means in selected positions relative to said frame;
- drive means for operating said first and second belt conveyor means;
- and
- control means for controlling the operating of said drive means.
A power stacking device;
- comprising a frame;
- conveyor means mounted on said frame, said conveyor means including two conveyors disposed in an end to end relationship;
- drive means for operating said conveyor means;
- control means for controlling the operation of said drive means;
- said control means including switch means, the operation of said switch means serving to initiate operation of said drive means;
- time delay means for enabling the continued operation of said drive means for a short period of time following the termination of operation of said switch means;
- and
- abutment means pivotally mounted on the downstream end of said conveyor means, and carrying a slidably adjustable abutment plate.
A power stacking device for planar articles:
- comprising a frame;
- first and second conveyor means mounted on said frame and arranged in end to end relation, the respective inner ends of said conveyor means being articulately carried by said frame;
- and the respective outer ends thereof being adjustably supported with respect to said frame;
- drive means for operating said conveyor means;
- sensing means for determining when an article is delivered to one of said conveyor means;
- and
- control means responsive to the operation of said sensing means for controlling the operation of said drive means.
A power stacking device for planar articles:
- comprising
- a frame;
- first and second conveyor means mounted on said frame and arranged in end to end relation;
- drive means for operating said conveyor means, said drive means including a yieldable drive means and a positive drive means for one of said conveyor means, said yieldable drive means being adapted to normally drive said one conveyor means at a speed greater than that produced by said positive drive means;
- sensing means for determining when an article is delivered to one of said conveyor means;
- and
- control means responsive to the operation of said sensing means for controlling the operation of said drive means.
A power stacking device for planar articles:
- comprising a frame;
- first and second conveyor means mounted on said frame and arranged in end to end relation;
- drive means for operating said conveyor means, said drive means including a yieldable drive means and a positive drive means for one of said conveyor means, said yieldable drive means being adapted to normally drive said one conveyor means at a speed greater than that produced by said positive drive means, said positive drive means including an overrunning clutch means and said one conveyor means being disposed downstream from the other of said conveyor means;
- sensing means for determining when an article is delivered to one of said conveyor means;
- and
- control means responsive to the operation of said sensing means for controlling the operation of said drive means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.