Racking device

A device for stacking finished parts comprising:

• a frame formed from a plurality of latch columns secured to a base member to define a space intermediate the latch columns for receiving finished articles in a spaced, stacked array;
• a plurality of lever arms pivotably secured to said latch column and spaced vertically therealong, each of said lever arms having a receiving portion and an oppositely-extending weighted arm angularly disposed relative to said receiving portion, said lever arms being pivotably connected to said latch column so that each of said lever arms is capable of assuming (a) a rest position, wherein each of said receiving portion and said weighted arm are free from said space;
• (b) a receiving position, wherein said receiving portion is located within said space in a position ready to receive an article thereon within said space;
• and (c) a loaded position, an adjacent pair of said latch arms cooperating so lower latch arm causes said lower latch arm to pivot from its receiving position to its loaded position and thus to cause a pivoting of the next uppermost latch arm from its rest position to its receiving position, the weighted arms of the respective latch arms being in sliding contact;
• and further including a locking means which includes a locking plate having a plurality of extending fingers, said locking plate being movable from a unlocked position to a locking position, said unlocked position being free from interference with said space defined by said latch columns for receiving said articles, said locking position having said locking fingers in contact with said stacked articles so that an edge of said stacked articles is retained between a locking finger and a corresponding receiving portion of a receiving arm.