Abstract: An apparatus for stacking and storing articles and subsequently unstacking the articles. The apparatus includes a first conveyor to convey a plurality of articles, and a plurality of secondary conveyors are disposed normal to a side edge of the first conveyor. To store the articles, each article is stopped on the conveyor and is pushed laterally from the main conveyor into bearing engagement against a movable stop member on a secondary conveyor. Additional articles are pushed onto the secondary conveyor into engagement with the preceding aritlce to form a composite stack. The composite stack can be lifed from the secondary conveyor by a lifting mechanism to a storage site, and subsequently, when it is desired to release the stack from storage, the stack is lowered back onto the secondary conveyor.

Abstract: A high speed apparatus for selectively discharging articles from a conveyor system, including a conveyor to convey the articles in a path of travel. A rotatable discharge member is mounted for rotation above the conveyor and includes a plurality of parallel grooves that extend longitudinally of the path of travel. Each article, as it moves along the conveyor, enters and is stopped within one of the grooves, and the discharge member is then rotated by a pair of cooperating drive units to discharge the article laterally from the conveyor. A first of the drive units includes a fluid cylinder that operates to rotate the discharge member through an arc that is less than the arc between adjacent grooves, and the second drive unit includes a cam mechanism which completes the indexing of the discharge member while the first drive unit is returned to its original position. A locking mechanism can be incorporated with the second drive unit to lock the discharge member in the indexed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling containers from a pair of open faced container sections or halves comprising a frame having a first receiving station and a second receiving station straddling an assembly station. A plurality of first container sections are deposited on a supporting surface at the first receiving station and a plurality of second container sections are deposited on a supporting surface at the second receiving station. A transfer mechanism initially moves from a position above the assembly station to a position above the second receiving station, and an inverting unit moves the first container sections from the first receiving station to the assembly station and inverts the sections, and the transfer mechanism then transfers the second container sections from the second receiving station to the assembly station.

Abstract: A method for stacking small articles in a side-by-side stack and feeding the stacks to a discharge conveyor. A plurality of articles, such as small video cassette containers, are conveyed in an upright end-to-end relation on a first conveyor. As each article approaches the downstream end of the conveyor, it is pushed laterally across a platform against a movable backstop to form a side-by-side stack of articles. The stack is then transferred into a movable carriage and the carriage is moved to a position over a discharge conveyor. The end of the carriage facing downstream in the direction of movement of the discharge conveyor is provided with a movable gate and after the carriage is in position over the discharge conveyor the gate is opened to release the stack for movement on the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking and storing articles and subsequently unstacking the articles. The apparatus includes a first conveyor to convey a plurality of articles, and a plurality of secondary conveyors are disposed normal to a side edge of the first conveyor. To store the articles, each article is stopped on the conveyor and is pushed laterally from the main conveyor into bearing engagement against a movable stop member on a secondary conveyor. Additional articles are pushed onto the secondary conveyor into engagement with the preceding article to form a composite stack. The composite stack can be lifted from the secondary conveyor by a lifting mechanism to a storage site, and subsequently, when it is desired to release the stack from storage, the stack is lowered back onto the secondary conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking and storing articles and subsequently unstacking the articles. The apparatus includes a first conveyor to convey a plurality of articles, and a plurality of secondary conveyors are disposed normal to a side edge of the first conveyor. To store the articles, each article is stopped on the conveyor and is pushed laterally from the main conveyor into bearing engagement against a movable stop member on a secondary conveyor. Additional articles are pushed onto the secondary conveyor into engagement with the preceding article to form a composite stack. The composite stack can be lifted from the secondary conveyor by a lifting mechanism to a storage site, and subsequently, when it is desired to release the stack from storage, the stack is lowered back onto the secondary conveyor.

Abstract: A high speed apparatus for stacking articles in a side by side relation and transfering the stack to a conveyor. Each article is fed onto a pair of spaced support members and against a movable backstop to form a stack of side by side articles. When a stack of desired size has been formed, the support members are pivoted to a release position and the stack is lowered to a discharge station. When the stack is lowered sufficiently to clear the backstop, the backstop is returned to its original position, and as the stack is lowered to a position beneath the release support members, the support members are returned to their supporting position. The backstop and support members are then in a ready position to form a second stack before the first stack reaches the discharge station. The first stack is then discharged to a main conveyor while a second stack is formed at the stacking station.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking and storing articles and subsequently unstacking the articles. The apparatus includes a first conveyor to convey a plurality of articles, and a plurality of secondary conveyors are disposed normal to a side edge of the first conveyor. To store the articles, each article is stopped on the conveyor and is pushed laterally from the main conveyor into bearing engagement against a movable stop member on a secondary conveyor. Additional articles are pushed onto the secondary conveyor into engagement with the preceding article to form a composite stack. The composite stack can be lifted from the secondary conveyor by a lifting mechanism to a storage site, and subsequently, when it is desired to release the stack from storage, the stack is lowered back onto the secondary conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for inverting articles that includes a receiving chute which is mounted for movement between a generally horizontal receiving position and an inclined discharge position. A curved inverting chute has an inlet end disposed to receive articles from the receiving chute when the receiving chute is in the discharge position and has an outlet end from which the inverted articles are discharged to a discharge site. A releasable stop member is associated with the receiving chute and prevents the articles from sliding from the receiving chute as the chute is tilted to the downward inclined discharge position. The stop member is automatically released as the receiving chute approaches its discharge position, so that the articles can then slide from the receiving chute to the inlet end of the inverting chute.

Abstract: An apparatus for unstacking and stacking containers. The apparatus includes a frame defining a compartment to receive a stack of containers, and a guide mechanism mounted within the frame to guide the stack in vertical movement. Located beneath the compartment is a conveyor, which in the unstacking mode, will deliver a stack of containers to the compartment and discharge individual containers. A vertically movable lift mechanism is mounted in the frame and includes a plurality of pivotable lift members disposed to engage a rim on the second lowermost container, to elevate the stack, and a plurality of holding members mounted on the frame and disposed to engage the upper surface of the rim on the lowermost container to hold the lowermost container against elevation. After elevation of the stack, the separated lowermost container is in a ready position to be conveyed away on the conveyor, depending on a need in the conveying system.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking a plurality of articles in a side-to-side relation. The articles are conveyed in an upright end-to-end relation on a conveyor and a bin or article receiving member is positioned adjacent the downstream end of the conveyor and individually receives each article discharged from the conveyor. The bin includes a bottom wall and a rear wall and the bin is movable between a receiving position where the bottom wall extends downwardly and outwardly from the downstream end of the conveyor, to a discharge position where the bottom wall is disposed substantially horizontal. Each article being received within the bin is held in an upright position and is transferred laterally within the bin against a movable support plate, and each succeeding article received in the bin is transferred in a similar manner against the preceding article to form a stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for unstacking articles and feeding the articles to working equipment in an end-to-end uniformly spaced stream. Articles are stacked in a side-by-side relation and the stacks are conveyed in spaced relation on a conveyor. The speed of each stack is retarded while the conveyor is maintained at its operating speed to cause each succeeding stack to catch and engage the trailing end of the preceding stack. As each stack reaches the downstream end of the conveyor, each article is separated from the remainder of the stack and the article is transferred through a chute to a second conveyor, so that the articles are fed in end-to-end relation by the second conveyor to working equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus for vertically stacking and storing articles. The apparatus includes, in series, a stacking station, at least one storage storage, and an unloading station. A discharge conveyor is disposed beneath the stations. A stacking carriage is mounted for vertical movement in the stacking station, and with the carriage in an upper position, each article is individually fed onto the carriage and supported by a pair of supports that are movable between an inner supporting position and a release position. After each article is fed to the stacking carriage, the carriage is lowered in increments until the desired number of superimposed articles are applied to the carriage to form a stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading a group of side-by-side stacked articles into a relatively flimsy enlongated open-top container. The containers are conveyed on a conveyor and each container, when positioned beneath a loading unit, is elevated from the conveyor to an elevated position where a pair of parallel spreader plates are received within the container. The spreader plates are pivoted outwardly deflecting the opposite elongated side walls of the container to a generally flat planar condition. With the side walls spread apart, a stack of articles is lowered by the loading unit into the container and the filled container is then lowered back onto the conveyor.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a conveyor system. A pair of conveyors are located in parallel spaced relation and each conveyor includes a drive pulley with the drive pulleys being axially aligned. A transfer conveyor consisting of a plurality of parallel drive rollers is located between adjacent ends of the main conveyors. A rotatable input shaft driven by a motor is connected to a bevel gear unit which includes a pair of output shafts disposed normal to the input shaft and the output shafts are operably connected to the respective drive pulleys to drive the main conveyors. In addition, the bevel gear unit includes a second output shaft which is operably connected to one of the rollers of the transfer conveyor to drive that roller. Rotation of the driven roller is transmitted to the other rollers in the transfer conveyor by endless bands that are connected between adjacent rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for joining and folding container sections to form a hinged container. Two container sections are transported in end-to-end relation on a conveyor and the downstream section is engaged with a stop while a pusher member is pivoted into engagement with the trailing edge of the upstream section to force the sections together and engage snap fitted hinge elements on the two sections. The hinged container is then discharged from the first conveyor onto a second conveyor located at a level beneath the first conveyor and operating at a slower speed than the first conveyor. As the leading section of the hinged container falls from the upper conveyor onto the lower conveyor the increased speed of the upper conveyor will fold the trailing section over the leading section to provide a closed hinged container. The closed container then passes under a spring loaded pressure member which ensures that locking elements on the two container sections are fully engaged.

Abstract: An improved storage unit for a conveyor system. Articles are conveyed on a main conveyor and a plurality of secondary conveyors extend laterally from a side edge of the main conveyor. When a slow-down occurs downstream in the conveyor system, successive rows of articles are stopped on the main conveyor and are transferred onto the secondary conveyors. When the secondary conveyors are filled with rows of articles, the rows are elevated to a storage location. Subsequently, when the slow-down ceases, the rows of articles are lowered onto the secondary conveyors, and are returned to the main conveyor. As each row is moved onto the main conveyor, an elongated positioning member is pivoted downwardly from an elevated storage location into engagement with a trailing surface on each of the articles in the row to urge the articles back onto the main conveyor.

Abstract: An improved bearing construction for mounting carriers on an endless chain elevator. The elevator comprises a pair of endless chains mounted to travel in parallel offset vertical paths. The opposite corners of a plurality of carriers or platforms are connected to the respective chains by bearing assemblies, and as the chains move in their path of travel the carriers move in a generally rectangular path. Each bearing assembly includes a housing having an axial opening the receives a sleeve. A shaft is journalled within the sleeve and is connected to the respective chain. The sleeve is mounted for both linear and pivoting horizontal movement within the housing so that the sleeve can move horizontally but not vertically to accommodate any misalignment between the two chain drives.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading articles into a container. The articles, in the form of a side-by-side stack of small trays or boxes, are conveyed along a conveyor and are discharged into a bin, which is mounted for pivoting movement between an article receiving position, in which the base of the bin is located at an acute angle to the horizontal, to a discharge position where the base is disposed generally vertical. The stack of articles received within the bin is supported against a movable end wall, and clamping means is provided to clamp the stack laterally against a side wall of the bin, as well as clamping the stack against the base. With the stack clamped in the bin, the bin is then rotated to the discharge position and the movable end wall is moved to a release position. The bin is then lowered to lower the stack into a container, and on release of the clamping mechanism the stack is discharged into the container.

Abstract: A live roller conveyor includes a plurality of rollers arranged in a curved path with the axes of the rollers being located at an acute angle with respect to each other. A rotatable drive disc is located above the adjacent inner ends of the rollers, and an O-ring is mounted in a groove formed in the lower surface of the drive disc and engages the inner ends of the rollers. Rotation of the drive disc will be transmitted through the O-ring to the rollers to rotate the rollers about their axes. The vertical position of the drive disc relative to the rollers can be adjusted to provide precise control of the frictional engagement between the O-ring and the rollers.