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US 5,911,553 AGranted
Automatic wicketing apparatus
AssigneeHuntsman Packaging Corporation
InventorsGordon F. Pickering, Richard E. Partch, Stewart L. Fluent, Colin R. Hart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for automatically removing bags from a supply conveyor and stacking a predetermined number of bags upon raised pins. The stacks are then placed on a stack transfer assembly that is then moved into a transfer station wherein the stacks are placed on wickets. An endless accumulator conveyor is arranged to deliver the wickets into the transfer station in timed relation with the movement of the transfer assembly between stations.
Claims12
An apparatus for accumulating a stack of bags having wicket receiving holes, comprising:
- a paddle wheel conveyor for placing bags;
- a stacker wheel including a front plate and a back plate that are connected so that both plates rotate together in unison;
- wherein the back plate is connected to the front plate by a plurality of rotor control link assemblies, wherein the back plate is connected to a shaft that is connected to a gearbox of a motor for driving and rotating the stacker wheel;
- a plurality of stacker bar units having a plurality of pins secured to a support beam of each stacker bar unit for receiving the bags, wherein each stacker bar unit is rotatably coupled to a rotor control link assembly so that the support beams remain in a horizontal position as the stacker wheel is rotated;
- a pick-up head which comprises:
- two tubes that receive and maintain alignment of the stack of bags,
- a restraining jaw for restraining the stack of bags on the two tubes, and
- a pusher plate for pushing the stack of bags off the two tubes.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.