Stacked package separating system
OwnerJohn C. Hammainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
By providing a package processing system with pulsed or intermittently applied package retardation or separation forces, a highly effective package handling system is attained which is able to process all packages without tearing, ripping, or damaging any surfaces or surface coverings. In its preferred construction, the packages are advanced in one direction and contact one or more rollers rotationally driven to the opposed direction in order to retard and separate stacked packages into a single level array. In addition, each roller is continuously raised and lowered out of and into engagement with the packages passing therebelow. By providing this pulsed or intermittent force, the packages are separated as desired, while also preventing damage to any package surface.
Claims8
A system for separating stacked packages and placing the packages in a single layer array while preventing damage to the surfaces thereof, said system comprising
- A. conveyor means for supportingly maintaining the packages placed thereon and advancing the packages in a first direction;
- B. a drive assembly
- a. constructed for contacting the top surface of the top package on the conveyor means,
- b. applying a force to the top package for moving the top package in a second direction, generally opposite to the first direction, and
- c. incorporating means for automatically disengaging the drive force whenever a desired pre-set torque level is reached between the drive assembly and a package or the conveyor means;
- and
- C. control means for intermittently raising and lowering the drive assembly for continuously cycling the drive assembly into and out of contacting engagement with the packages being processed;
- whereby a pulsed or intermittently applied package retardation/separation system is attained which is capable of separating stacked items and placing the stacked items in a single layer array while preventing any damage to the surface of any package being processed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.