Including Support For Group Patents (Class 414/923)
  • Patent number: 8348591
    Abstract: A device for forming stacks of piece goods batches, includes a movable transport device for transporting the piece goods batch. A feed device feeds the piece goods batch to the transport device. The transport device includes a support device which at least intermittently supports the piece goods batch and relative to which the piece goods batch can move and which can be removed essentially completely from a region located below the piece goods batch. The transport device includes at least one controllable fixing device for temporarily fixing an intermediate layer, wherein the fixing device for fixing the intermediate layer moves below the piece goods batch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Kurt Perl
  • Patent number: 7950896
    Abstract: A handling apparatus can be used to transfer objects from a first location to a second location along a defined path, without the need for a conveyor along the path. Instead, the handling apparatus can be moved along the path by a controllable transport device, such as a robot arm. The handling apparatus can comprise a plurality of unpowered rollers which are selectively rotated by way of a transfer assist mechanism during loading and/or unloading of the objects to be transferred. The transfer assist mechanism can comprise a separate component that can power the rollers directly or indirectly. The transfer assist mechanism can comprise a belt which imparts rotational force to the support rollers via contact in some embodiments, with the amount of force controlled by varying the relative inclination of the support rollers and the transfer assist mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William John Scholtes, Matthew A. Job, Roger T. Johnston, Mark Nunn
  • Patent number: 7704037
    Abstract: A device for destacking books, brochures, or similar cubic printed products (2), wherein said device comprises a separating belt (6) that is powered by a controllable drive and serves for the cyclic separation of the respective bottom printed product (2a) from the stack (3a), lateral boundaries (8a, b) that can be adjusted to the respective format and position the stack (3a) on the separating belt (6), a height-adjustable retaining element (9) that forms a passage for the respective printed product (2a) to be separated, a support (10) in the infeed region of the separating belt (6) in order to support the rear edge of the printed product (2) lying on top of the bottom printed product during the separation of the bottom printed product (2a), and a feeding belt (5) that is arranged upstream of the separating belt (6) and serves for delivering the next stack (3b) into the separating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Kolbus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Gerke
  • Patent number: 6619486
    Abstract: A self-pivoted catcher for the up-stacking of die-cut thermoformed components comprises a low mass loop of material having opposed ends thereofjournaled in a guide pin which is affixed in a narrow web of a catcher plate between apertures therein. The catcher is adapted to move upwardly with movement of the die-cut component as the individual component is separated from a previously die-cut larger sheet of components by the pusher as the pusher is advanced through the catcher plate. The loop is also adapted to engage the underside of a lip of the die-cut component thereby retaining the die-cut component on an upper side edge of the catcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Carlos J. Veloso
  • Patent number: 6612799
    Abstract: A cart loading system for loading materials on a cart in a orderly and compact manner even if the materials being loaded have different dimensions. The cart loading system includes a frame for positioning on a floor surface adjacent to a material shaping table, and at least one material support arm assembly for moving a piece of material from the material shaping table to a position over the frame. A carriage assembly is provided for moving a material cart in a first direction and a second direction with respect to the frame, and includes a subframe movable in the second direction on the frame and a shuttle mounted movable in the first direction with respect to the subframe. A first moving assembly is provided for moving the shuttle in the first direction on the subframe, and a second moving assembly is provided for moving the carriage assembly in the second direction on the frame. A detection assembly detects movement of material on the support arm assembly and generates a detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Component Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Brent Albers, Lloyd L. Reaves
  • Publication number: 20030007859
    Abstract: A system for forming a plurality of discrete objects into a stack is disclosed which system includes a frame having a top, a bottom and sides; a conveyor associated with the frame and having an end edge for dispensing discrete objects, a first support mounted on the frame near the end edge for receiving objects from the end edge and having an opening with a width smaller than the width of the objects, a first actuator operably connected to the first support for moving the first support between first and second positions relative to the end edge; a second actuator operably connected to the first support for moving the first support between upper and lower positions relative to the frame; a second support mounted on the frame beneath the first support having a width less than the width of the opening in the first support; a third actuator operatively connected to the second support for moving the second support between high and low positions, the second support high position being higher than the first support
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn, Steve N. Tomlin, Matthew Peterson
  • Patent number: 5876028
    Abstract: In a device for stacking flat letters having a separating mechanism and a stacking mechanism between which the letters are stacked, the stacking mechanism capable of moving in the stacking direction along a stacking surface, and a transport path that is formed by endless vertical belts guided by way of rollers, between which belts the letters are conveyed from a loading station to the stacking mechanism, it is provided that the stacking surface has a horizontal concave curvature with respect to the side on which the transport path is located, and that the belts are deflected in the region of the transport path by a plurality of deflecting rollers that are disposed on a curve adapted to the curvature of the stacking surface in such a way that the transport path has a curvature adapted to that of the stacking surface, in the region of the transport path, the belts being disposed between the stacking surface and the deflecting rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jurgen Francke, Peter Bretschneider
  • Patent number: 5647720
    Abstract: A hand cart for carrying sheets and other stacked objects has a motorized self-leveling platform, so the things being carried are kept at a constant elevation convenient to a worker, whether things are being added or removed from the platform. For carrying sheets, such as moving sheets of paper in document processing operations, the cart upright and platform are tilted, and the upright has opposing wings extending at 90 degree. Thus, sheets tend to move against the wings and their alignment is either obtained or maintained. When the cart is tilted to move it about, the cart design and load positioning system desirably keep the upward force which a worker must apply to the cart handle at low levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Documotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan G. Golicz, Roman M. Golicz
  • Patent number: 5558318
    Abstract: A system for conveying folded web and forming discrete stacks of folded web comprising a conveyor that receives a stack of folded output web from a web folder and separator. The conveyor drives the web from an upstream end, adjacent the web folder and separator, to a downstream end. A supporting surface, which can comprise a plurality of pivoting rails biased by a spring, selectively supports the web remote from and off of the conveyor so that a compressed stack can be formed adjacent the folder and separator. At selected times, the stack is moved by the supporting surface into communication with the folder and separator so that it can be conveyed downstream. An elevator platform can be located at the downstream location for receiving successive stacks thereon. The elevator ascends and descends so that the tops of the successive stacks are aligned with the conveyor for receipt of a further stack thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: H. W. Crowley, Stephen E. Silva, Peter E. Bianchetto, John W. Clifford, Bruce J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5415514
    Abstract: Sheets are stacked in a container substantially open at its front, and which has a pair of sidewalls and an upright back wall having a pair of edges each secured to a respective adjacent edge of the sidewalls. After a stack of sheets is formed within the container by depositing them through the open front of the container, the bottom of the stack or container is supported, and the supported stack and the container are lifted and moved from a first location to a second location. Because of the open front, the container can be slipped from around the stack to leave the stack standing at the second location free of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Inventor: Floyd S. Butterfield
  • Patent number: 5348284
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supply apparatus comprising a sheet containing device for containing a plurality of sheets, a sheet positioning member provided in the sheet containing device to position the sheets in a widthwise direction thereof by abutting against a side edge of the contained sheets, and a supply device for feeding out the sheets positioned by the sheet positioning member. Wherein the sheet positioning member is previously inclined at a predetermined angle toward a direction opposite to a direction that the sheet positioning member may be inclined by the deflection of the sheet containing device due to the weight of the sheets contained in the sheet containing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ishihama, Yasuyoshi Hayakawa, Naoki Asano, Kenichi Horikoshi, Tetsuro Onuki, Akihiro Toma, Masanori Yamagata
  • Patent number: 5328322
    Abstract: Method for loading stacks of sheet material into a packaging machine feeding unit, including the transfer of pallets for carrying the stacks of sheet material onto supporting plates, which are rotatably mounted on a fixed frame of the feeding unit and which are arranged in a raised receiving position; the actuation of the supporting plates, at the end of the step of feeding the stacks onto the unit, from the raised receiving position to a lowered position for releasing the emptied pallets into an underlying removal station; and the return of the supporting plates to the raised receiving position. The device for loading stacks of sheet material into a packaging machine feeding unit includes supporting plates for supporting pallets for carrying the stacks of sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: G.D. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Armando Neri
  • Patent number: 5320481
    Abstract: A carry pallet is disclosed which has a plurality of supporting members attached to the periphery of a pallet base, sacrifice board carrying portions are mounted on the upper portions of the supporting members and stop plates are arranged on the carrying portions. When process boards and a sacrifice board are arranged on the pallet, the sacrifice board is carried on the carrying portions of the carry pallet without contact with the stack of process boards without shifting and falling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Heian Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5297923
    Abstract: A device wherein at least one feedbox housing a stack of sheet elements presents a first and second wall parallel to each other, and an actuating device for moving the two walls in relation to and parallel to each other, so as to define a channel varying in width between a maximum and minimum value; the section of the channel at maximum width being approximately equal to but no smaller than the surface of the sheet element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: G.D. Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Silvano Boriani, Antonio Gamberini
  • Patent number: 5211309
    Abstract: A bottled beverage vending machine storage column modified by including a controlled containment system to dispense irregularly shaped bottles having spherical surface areas from a dispenser tray at the bottom of the column for discharge of the bottled beverages from a collection door without damage to the bottles. The controlled containment system includes a pair of opposed bottle neck guide tracks, one of which is adjustable in width to provide for temporary holding of the bottles in suspension and the other of which includes removable and telescopic segments, to keep the bottles from turning sideways when the bottles are stacked alternately, neck to bottom in a stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignees: FAB Design Concepts, Inc., Nutrivend, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. Crook
  • Patent number: 5192181
    Abstract: The machine comprises an oscillating chute (2) and a conveyor (3) feeding containers (25) to a height-adjustable conveyor belt (12) consisting of a number of parallel belts (13). Photosensors (27) detect incorrectly placed containers which are allowed to continue to a chute (38) and are returned by a conveyor belt (39) to the oscillating chute (2). A displaceable stop (18) halts correctly placed containers are lifted into a stack holder (31) and retained by grippers (35) that may be rotated by a rotating cylinder (34), thereby releasing the container stack after the pile holder has been tilted against a stacking table (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Inventor: Bent Bryde-Hansen
  • Patent number: 5127207
    Abstract: A case blank feed device used in case packaging assemblies is disclosed. The device employs a pair of parallel and spaced apart bars rotatably mounted at the bottom of a case blank container having a stack of case blanks. As the bottom blank is pulled from the bottom of the container, the roller bars decrease the friction associated with the weight of the stack. In addition, the blank feed device concentrates the vacuum force along the blank edges located parallel and proximate to the roller bars so that deflection of the blank is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Inventor: Thomas J. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 5122030
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring can blanks from a steel slitting machine to a welder includes a two stage chain conveyor feeding stacker pockets on a dial indexer or turntable for holding a predetermined number of stacks. A gripper assembly mounted at the end of a vertical drive assembly on a horizontally movable carriage moves along a horizontal overhead beam to transfer stacked blanks from the turntable into the welder hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Inventors: Heinz Schmeisser, Jack Ryan
  • Patent number: 5096368
    Abstract: Sheets are stacked in a container substantially open at its front, and which has a pair of sidewalls and an upright back wall having a pair of edges each secured to a respective adjacent edge of the sidewalls. After a stack of sheets is formed within the container by depositing them through the open front of the container, the bottom of the stack or container is supported, and the supported stack and the container are lifted and moved from a first location to a second location. Because of the open front, the container can be slipped from around the stack to leave the stack standing at the second location free of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: Floyd S. Butterfield
  • Patent number: 5069598
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for sequentially loading sheet material articles into a plurality of compartments in a plurality of containers includes a loader assembly which is disposed at a loading station. An infeed shuttle assembly moves an empty container to a carriage disposed at the loading station. The carriage is movable back and forth along a linear path to sequentially position compartments of the empty container at the loading station. In addition, the carriage is operable to rotate the container about a vertical axis to at least partially position another compartment at the loading station. When the compartments of the container have been loaded with sheet material articles, an outfeed shuttle assembly engages the loaded container and moves it away from the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: AM International Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen R. Kleinhen, Robert A. Bryson, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5010715
    Abstract: A method of supplying stacks of flat articles to a packing machine comprises the following steps: charging receptacles in a dosing device with articles to obtain in each receptacle an article stack shorter and lighter than a predetermined weight and length; advancing some of the charged receptacles to a standby station and some of the charged receptacles to a fine dosing device; and charging the receptacles in the fine dosing device with articles until the predetermined weight and length are substantially reached. The charging step in the fine dosing device includes the step of transferring articles from a receptacle dwelling in the standby station to a receptacle dwelling in the fine dosing device. Thereafter, the receptacles are advanced from the fine dosing device to the packing machine. The empty receptacles are advanced from the packing machine and the standby station to the dosing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: SIG Schweizerische-Industrie-Gesellschaft
    Inventor: Rene Fluck
  • Patent number: 4921397
    Abstract: A work stacking apparatus for stacking a plurality of different type of works alternately which includes a plurality of stock rods each for stocking same kind of works in a stacked condition at predetermined work supply positions. A stacking arm is pivotally mounted for rocking motion between the work supply positions and a work receiving locator. Chucks are mounted on the stacking arm for chucking uppermost works at the different work supply positions alternately and releasing them at the work receiving locator. C-shaped forks are provided underneath the stacked works for pushing up the works one by one whenever the uppermost one of the works is taken out from the respective work supply positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd.
    Inventor: Tohru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 4890975
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus for stacking loop springs which include a series of oppositely oriented U-shaped loops, which apparatus comprises a frame, a storage chamber on the frame for temporary and one-at-a-time storage of the springs, guide elements located on the frame below the spring storage chamber for guiding and supporting the springs into an aligned stack, and movable elements on the frame and operative independently of the guide elements for effecting spring discharge from the storage chamber and onto the guide elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Hoff, Michael L. Kozak, Horst F. Wentzek
  • Patent number: 4884389
    Abstract: A rotating carousel and bag handling apparatus comprising a rotating carriage plate driven by a motor and carrying a plurality of trays filled with bags. The trays are each maintained in a stable, level position by a timing collar, belt, and pulley assembly connected to each tray. As successive bag trays are rotated to a pickup position adjacent a bag handling mechanism, a brake assembly momentarily stops the motion of the bag carousel sufficient for a bag handling arm to pivot down over one of the bag trays, and for a plurality of bag grippers to grip and hold the top bag in that tray. The bag handling arm then pivots back upwardly and away from the tray carrying the bag onto a bag support assembly displaced over the conveyor belt and mounted on a pair of rocker arms, with the longitudinal edge of the bag being positioned adjacent to a side retaining wall on the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Inventor: Harold R. McGregor
  • Patent number: 4861213
    Abstract: A stacking device for sheets emerging from an ejection opening (for example, a photocopying machine), whereby the sheets are alternately distributed and stacked in several positions relatively displaced to each other. The relatively displaced stacks are formed by a one-sided engagement of the sheets to be stacked by a switchable turning mechanism controlled by a steering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Inventor: Werner K. H. Fuchs