Carton stacking apparatus and method
AssigneeDouglas Machine Inc.
InventorsDavid L. Anderson, Chad W. Hahn, Jason P. Lattimer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for stacking incoming items includes a receiving mechanism for receiving incoming items, a stacking mechanism for receiving items from the receiving mechanism and stacking the items in a stacking area, a buffering mechanism for receiving incoming items when the stacking mechanism is full, and a stack unloading mechanism. Methods of operation include receiving an item in an item receiving mechanism, moving the item receiving mechanism to track the motion of a stacking mechanism, transferring the item from the receiving mechanism to the stacking mechanism, stacking the item in a stacking area, and unloading the stacking area when the stacking area is full of items.
Claims33
Apparatus for stacking items, comprising:
- (a) a first conveyor receiving the items and controlling item flow into the apparatus, with the first conveyor having a discharge end;
- (b) a second conveyor having an infeed end receiving the items from the discharge end of the first conveyor and having a discharge end;
- (c) a stacker conveyor having an infeed end receiving the items from the discharge end of the second conveyor;
- (d) a plurality of moving stacker shelves receiving the items from the stacker conveyor;
- (e) a shifting mechanism for moving the stacker conveyor adjacent one of the plurality of moving stacker shelves, with the discharge end of the second conveyor moving with the infeed end of the stack conveyor such that angular relationships between the second conveyor and the first conveyor and between the second conveyor and the stacker conveyor change with movement of the stacker conveyor;
- and
- (f) a stack unloader.
A method for stacking incoming items, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving the items on a first conveyor;
- (b) transferring the items to a second conveyor;
- (c) transferring the items to a stacker conveyor;
- (d) vertically positioning the stacker conveyor adjacent one of a plurality of moving stacker shelves;
- (e) transferring an item to one of the plurality of moving stacker shelves;
- (f) retracting each stacker shelf to stack items in a stacking area;
- and
- (g) unloading the stacked items from the stacking area.
Apparatus for stacking items, comprising:
- (a) a receiving mechanism for receiving incoming items;
- (b) a stacking area wherein the items are stacked one upon the other;
- (c) a stacking mechanism for receiving items from the receiving mechanism and stacking the items in the stacking area;
- (d) a buffering mechanism for receiving incoming items when the stacking area is full;
- and
- (e) a stack unloading mechanism;
- (f) wherein the stacking mechanism further comprises a plurality of moving stacker shelves, wherein the receiving mechanism further comprises a conveyor moving in the direction of motion of the moving stacker shelves and tracking the motion of the moving stacker shelves, and wherein the buffering mechanism further comprises the plurality of moving stacker shelves and the conveyor tracking the motion of the moving stacker shelves.
Apparatus for stacking incoming items, comprising:
- (a) a set of recycling stacker shelves moving in a substantially vertical path;
- (b) a conveyor having a receiving end for receiving incoming items and a depositing end for transferring the items one at a time to one of the set of recycling stacker shelves;
- (c) wherein the set of recycling stacker shelves retract to stack the items in a stacking area;
- and
- (d) wherein the conveyor's depositing end moves substantially vertically to track the motion of the set of recycling stacker shelves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.