US 5,393,196 AGranted

Method and apparatus for stacking of envelopes or the like

AssigneeWinkler & Duennebier Maschinenfabrik und Eisengiesserei KG

InventorMartin Bluemle

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Abstract

Articles, such as envelopes, are formed into stacks that are transported to packing station. For this purpose a stacking and transport mechanism is positioned between a depositing mechanism (4, 4a) and the packing station. Continuously and individually arriving articles are set with one of their edges (6, 6a) on a stacking surface (7, 7a). The articles to be stacked are first held at the beginning of the formation of a stack (10, 10a), by a first, forward or leading stack holder (8, 8a) which moves in the direction in which the stack (10, 10a) increases, (FIG. 4 ) toward the packing station. Thereafter, a second forward or leading stack holder (9, 9a) takes the position of the first, forward stack holder (8, 8a) (FIG. 6 ). Upon completion of the stack (10, 11 or 10a, 11a) (FIG. 2 ) a third, forward or leading stack holder (12, 12a) and a rear stack holder (13, 13a) take over the stack (11, 11a) to transport it to the packing station, whereby simultaneously with the take-over of the stack (11, 11a) by the third forward stack holder (12, 12a) and by the rear stack holder (13, 13a), the first forward stack holder (8, 8a) together with the rear stack holder (13, 13a) operate for separating the completed stack (11, 11a) from the next stack being formed.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for forming, holding, separating, and transporting stacks (10, 10a;

11, 11a) of articles (3, 3a) downstream of a depositing mechanism (4, 4a) which deposits continuously and individually arriving articles with an article edge (6, 6a) on a stacking surface (7, 7a) to form said stacks, said transporting taking place in a transport direction (a) from said depositing mechanism to a packing station (14), said stack having several sides extending in parallel to said transport direction, said method comprising the following steps:
(a) first holding articles at the beginning of a stack formation by a first leading stack holder (8, 8a) which moves in said transport direction in which a stack size increases;
(b) second holding a partly formed stack by a second leading stack holder (9, 9a) which takes over said partly formed stack from said first leading stack holder (8, 8a) while said second leading stack holder (9, 9a) is also moving in said transport direction;
(c) engaging a leading end of a completed stack (11, 11a) by a third leading stack holder (12, 12a) and engaging a rear end of said completed stack by a rear fourth stack holder (13, 13a) for further transporting said completed stack (11, 11a) in said transport direction (a) toward said packing station (14);
(d) simultaneously with said engaging of the completed stack (11, 11a) by said third leading stack holder (12, 12a) and by said rear fourth stack holder (13, 13a), separating said completed stack (11, 11a) from a next stack (10) being formed, by entering said first leading stack holder (8, 8a) and said rear fourth stack holder (13, 13a) between said completed stack (11, 11a) and said next stack (10, 10a);
(e) supporting said next stack by said first leading stack holder (8, 8a) and by said rear fourth stack holder (13, 13a);
(f) moving any three stack holders (8, 8a;
12, 12a;
13, 13a) of said four stack holders crosswise to said transport direction (a) from one stack side of said several sides of said stack and also moving said any three stack holders alongside said transport direction for said transporting of a stack;
and
(g) moving any one stack holder (9, 9a) of said four stack holders crosswise to said transport direction from another stack side and also moving said any one stack holder (9, 9a) temporarily in said transport direction and then opposite said transport direction back to a starting position.

8 more elements

An apparatus for forming, holding, separating and transporting stacks of articles (3, 3a) downstream of a depositing mechanism (4, 4a) which deposits continuously and individually arriving articles with an article edge, comprising a stacking surface (7, 7a) leading in a transport direction from said depositing mechanism (4, 4a) to a packing station (14), said stacking surface forming a stacking level on which articles are deposited, said apparatus further comprising four movable stack holders for holding an article on said stacking surface, drive means connected to said four stack holders for operating said stack holders, said movable stack holders comprising three leading stack holders (8, 9, 12 or 8a, 9a, 12a) and one rear stack holder (13, 13a), said drive means comprising first drives adapted for moving said three leading stack holders crosswise of said transport direction (a) and in parallel to said transport direction, said drive means further comprising a second drive adapted for moving said rear stack holder (13, 13a) crosswise of said transport direction and in said transport direction for holding a stack during its formation and for transporting a completed stack, said first drives, two of said three leading stack holders (8, 8a;

12, 12a), and said rear stack holder (13, 13a) being arranged for moving said two leading stack holders and said rear stack holder from one and the same side of a stack crosswise to said transport direction and in parallel to said transport direction, and wherein said second drive and the third of said three leading stack holders are arranged for moving from another side of a stack crosswise to said transport direction and in parallel to said transport direction, whereby a stack is positively held and guided during its formation and during its transportation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.