Method and apparatus for forming stable stacks of intrinsically unstable objects
AssigneeGruppo Elettric 80 Bieffe S.r.l.
InventorMirco Schianchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for depositing objects to form a stack of individual layers, wherein each individual layer is separately formed with a band which extends endlessly about the lateral surface of the layer, said band being of relatively yieldable and manually tearable plastic film having a width not greater than the height of the individual layer. subsequent layers of the stack are formed by depositing objects onto and in contact with a preceding layer as soon as this layer has been bound by said endless band or while it is being wrapped with the endless band.
Claims3
A method for forming stable stacks of intrinsically unstable objects as mutually superimposed layers in contact with each other which comprises
- depositing objects in a substantially horizontal plane to form an individual layer,
- wrapping the layer just formed with a band extending endlessly about the lateral surface of the layer, said band being of relatively yieldable and hand-tearable plastic film having a width not greater than the height of the individual layer, and
- forming additional layers to create a stack, by depositing objects onto and in contact with the preceding layer as soon as the preceding layer has been bound by said endless band or while the wrapping is taking place, each band wrapped around each layer being independent of bands wrapped around other layers, wherein substantially vertical rods are positioned at the corners of the layer of objects, said rods being wrapped when said layer is wrapped, and vertically removing said rods from the band, to leave the band extending around the layer of objects.
An apparatus for forming a stable stack of intrinsically unstable objects as mutually superimposed layers in contact with each other which comprises
- a vertically movable annular frame in the form of a flat ring arranged in a horizontal plane and having a central aperture,
- reel means arranged to slide along the perimeter of the annular frame said reel carrying plastic film having a height not greater than that of each individual layer of the stack, for wrapping the lateral surface of each individual layer with an endless band of said plastic film, and
- stacking means for depositing the objects to be stacked through the central aperture of the ring frame, wherein vertical rods are operatively connected to the annular frame for being placed at the vertical corners of the layer of objects, said band being wrapped around said layer and said rods, said rods being later withdrawn vertically from the band leaving the plastic film extending about the layer of objects.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.