Patents Assigned to KFW Automation, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7344134
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking a plurality of flat articles on edge is provided that receives articles in an article receiver that includes a stop wall to receive the front edge of each article and stop horizontal motion of the article and a rotatable segmented roller for receiving the bottom edge of each article. The segmented roller is rotatable about a central axis of the cylinder and includes a planar surface, the planar surface receiving the bottom edge of each flat article when the planar surface is in a horizontal position. The segmented roller is rotatable from a stopped position wherein the planar surface is in the horizontal position to form a gap to receive the bottom edge of one article at a time to a rotating configuration wherein the cylindrical outer surface of the segmented roller drives the one article against a stacking conveyor bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Mark W. Ricker, Kurt D. Schultz
  • Patent number: 6682067
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking articles on edge is provided which has a discharge magazine for stacking the articles face-to-face and on-edge. The magazine has an article edge receiver having a non-offset position and an offset position. The article edge receiver has a register wall for aligning the articles in the non-offset position and a segmented rotational offset disk for aligning the articles in the offset position. The disk has a cut out segment having a planar stop edge surface. The cut out segment is rotatable from an article receiving position to an article bypass position. When in the receiving position, the planar stop edge surface is at a right angle to the two faces of the article. When in the article bypass position, the segmented rotational offset disk allows the articles to bypass the segmented rotational disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Patent number: 6540223
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Publication number: 20020089115
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Patent number: 6398204
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester