Abstract: A stacking assembly is operative to protect stacked mailpieces from damage due to abrasion. The stacking assembly includes a support blade moveably mounted to a bin for accepting a stack of mailpieces and an ingestion assembly including a Leading Edge (LE) urge roller and Trailing Edge (TE) alignment device. The LE urge roller is operative to accept mailpieces from a supply of mailpieces, and urge a leading edge portion thereof toward a sidewall of the stacking bin. The TE alignment device includes a first cam driven about an axis of rotation by a digital rotary positioning device which cam defines a surface operative to urge the trailing edge portion of each mailpiece into parallel alignment with the support blade. The stacking assembly also includes an anti-abrasion linkage responsive to rotation of the digital rotary positioning device to forcibly displace a surface of the stacked mailpieces away from a moving surface of the ingestion assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for automating the depalletization process. A vacuum hood is used to capture palletized goods one layer at a time using slip sheets that form barriers between the layers of goods stacked on a pallet. The walls of the vacuum hood form a seal with the slip sheet in order to seize the goods within the vacuum hood and remove the goods from the pallet. Each layer of goods may then be deposited on a conveyor system where the slip sheet is removed and the goods can be further processed or subdivided using conventional conveyor separation and alignment techniques.

Abstract: A transfer device for transferring stacks (4, 4a, 4b, 5, 5a, 5b), which have a cylindrical external shape, of products resting on one of their edges between a conveyor (1) set upstream for advance of the stacks (4, 4a, 4b, 5, 5a, 5b) in a direction (a) transverse to the generatrices of the aforesaid cylindrical shape, and a conveyor (2) set downstream for advance of the stacks In a direction parallel to said generatrices, or vice versa, the said transfer device being operatively set between said conveyor (1) set upstream and said conveyor (2) set downstream. The transfer device comprises at least one gripping assembly (3) for picking up and conveying a stack. Said gripping assembly (3) moreover turns, according to a motion of revolution. (C) about a first axis (X), between a position in which it engages a stack (4, 4a, 4b, 5, 5a, 5b), in a position (A) corresponding to an output end of the conveyor (1) set upstream, and a position (B) in which it releases the stack onto the conveyor (2) set downstream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an input unit of a letter sorting system which comprises separable first and second conveyor lines. The first line is positioned proximate to an isolating device which processes letters. The first line comprises a conveyor surface and supporting wall along with a linear guide which extends beyond the surface. On the linear guide runs a separating blade. The second line also comprises a conveyor surface and supporting wall along with a linear guide, however this linear guide does not run beyond the length of the second conveyor line supporting surface. At least one second separating blades run on the second conveyor line linear guide. In operation, letters are placed on the second conveyor supporting surface from bins. The placement may be in a select order. The second conveyor line is then brought proximate to the first conveyor line where the two are then coupled.

Abstract: A placing apparatus having first and second rear end holding members is provided between a loading apparatus that loads items in an upright position and a conveyance apparatus downstream. These rear end holding members move making a box motion when seen from the side. As a result, while the first rear end holding member holds the rearmost end of a group of items, the second rear end holding member stands by to receive a new item. The invention provides a conveyance apparatus and a boxing apparatus comprising the same that have widespread applicability. The conveyance apparatus and boxing apparatus, while achieving high-speed processing, are able to convey items of varying thickness and grouped in varying numbers in a stable manner and maintained in a prescribed position.

Abstract: A machine and a method for carrying out portioning of products in stacks having a pre-set length. One or more portioning stations are provided, in which there are present at least two elements for supporting the stack, the supporting elements being mobile in translation, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stack, between an initial position of separation of the stack from the respective row and a final position distant from the initial position at a distance greater than or equal to the pre-set length of the stack.

Abstract: A placing apparatus having first and second rear end holding members is provided between a loading apparatus that loads items in an upright position and a conveyance apparatus downstream. These rear end holding members move making a box motion when seen from the side. As a result, while the first rear end holding member holds the rearmost end of a group of items, the second rear end holding member stands by to receive a new item. The invention provides a conveyance apparatus and a boxing apparatus comprising the same that have widespread applicability. The conveyance apparatus and boxing apparatus, while achieving high-speed processing, are able to convey items of varying thickness and grouped in varying numbers in a stable manner and maintained in a prescribed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for the counting and stacking of food portions in preparation for packaging, and without human intervention, including a conveyor for receiving and moving food portions therealong to form rows of food portions, at least one counter, and a stacking rake positioned with respect to said conveyor as to moveably shuffle the rows of food portions into a horizontal stack for packaging. The conveyor, counter, and stacking rake are cooperatively interconnected by a programmable computer so that the rows of food portions are moved along the conveyor for stacking by the stacking rake.

Abstract: An improved jogger includes a sidewall with a guide groove, a chain defining a closed path including a sloped loading end and a straight transport section, the sloped loading end being angled toward the transport section in the direction of the travel of the chain at least two sprockets, the sprockets defining the slope of the sloped loading end of the closed path, a plurality of fingers coupled to the chain at spaced apart intervals, the fingers receiving flat articles therebetween at the sloped loading end and conveying the articles along the horizontal transport section and a plurality of guides coupled to the fingers, the guides engaging the guide groove and orienting fingers in a position perpendicular to the horizontal transport section as the fingers are carried into the sloped loading end.

Abstract: A system and method for stacking a predetermined number of nestable objects is disclosed, including several alternative embodiments. The system is preferably designed for use with a plurality of nestable objects each having a measurable thickness. A cavity is configured for containing the nestable objects in an orientated position. The objects may be taken directly from a manufacturing process or otherwise loaded to the system at a receiving end. An ejector mechanism operates at the receiving end of the cavity to tamp, by relatively short strokes, successive objects into the cavity until a predetermined number of objects is achieved. At the point of tamping the last object into the cavity, the ejector executes a longer stroke to advance the now oriented and stacked objects toward a discharge end of the cavity. A flange is functionally positioned proximate the discharge end of the cavity to create a span within the cavity having a length.

Abstract: A system and method for stacking a predetermined number of nestable objects is disclosed, including several alternative embodiments. The system is preferably designed for use with a plurality of nestable objects each having a measurable thickness. A cavity is configured for containing the nestable objects in an orientated position. The objects may be taken directly from a manufacturing process or otherwise loaded to the system at a receiving end. An ejector mechanism operates at the receiving end of the cavity to tamp, by relatively short strokes, successive objects into the cavity until a predetermined number of objects is achieved. At the point of tamping the last object into the cavity, the ejector executes a longer stroke to advance the now vertically oriented and stacked objects toward a discharge end of the cavity. A flange is functionally positioned proximate the discharge end of the cavity to create a span within the cavity having a length.

Abstract: A machine and a method for carrying out portioning of products in stacks having a pre-set length. One or more portioning stations are provided, in which there are present at least two elements for supporting the stack, the supporting elements being mobile in translation, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stack, between an initial position of separation of the stack from the respective row and a final position distant from the initial position at a distance greater than or equal to the pre-set length of the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking articles in a side-by-side stack and feeding the stacks to a discharge conveyor. Articles such as video cassette containers or CD containers, are conveyed in an upright singulated fashion by a guide arrangement. Each individual article enters a transfer location where it is supported by a transfer platform. A pusher device extends to push the article from the transfer location onto a support platform. The support platform supports the individual articles as they are assembled into a stack. After the pusher device has been retracted, a hold-back member is extended to support the outermost article of the assembled stack. Once a stack of articles has been assembled, a stack pusher assembly pushes the stack off of the support platform and onto an outfeed conveyor assembly. A back-up slide assembly supports the outermost article of the stack as the stack is assembled by the stacker mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed are machines and methods of orienting and stacking a stream of workpieces when it is desirable to stack at lease some of the workpieces in a face-to-face or back-to-back orientation. The apparatus has a receiving assembly for receiving a continuous stream of workpieces. A flipping assembly follows the receiving assembly for selectively flipping selected workpieces onto their opposing faces. Downstream from the flipping assembly, a stacking guide is positioned for guiding the workpieces into stacks for further manual or automated handling.

Abstract: A device for insertion of products into a packaging container in a packaging machine comprises an insertion plunger which is guided along a certain path parallel to the product and a cover element which can be pre-positioned above the product by a first displacement control and which can be lowered onto the products via a second displacement control. The insertion plunger and the cover element can exercise an insertion motion to insert the products into the container. In order to guarantee a precise seating of the cover element and to facilitate a simple reconfiguration to differing product formats, the second displacement control comprises a substantially vertical control surface as well as an element engaging the control surface for horizontal displacement thereby, wherein the horizontal adjustment displacement of the element can be transformed by a transformation device into the vertical lowering motion of the cover element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stacking and loading disc-like objects into receptacles is provided. The apparatus includes a lane combining conveyor which receives multiple lanes of product and combines one or more of the outer lanes into the remaining lanes. A stack former is provided for forming individual stacks of patties which are side supported onto rails. The rails can be pivoted down to divert patties for clearing jams. After the product is formed on the stack formers, a stack transfer mechanism transfers the stacks of products formed on the stack forming rails to the matrix former. Matrix former receives individual rows of multiple stacks from the stack transfer mechanism. A stripper mechanism is used to ensure that the stacks are not scrambled during this transfer. Once the matrix former is filled with product, a case rollover mechanism is rotated to the matrix former.

Abstract: A retractable arm serves as a combined pushing mechanism and dead plate for holding and moving articles that have been stacked onto an accumulation tray for a stacking station in an article sortation conveying system. The stacking station stacks articles sequentially onto the accumulation tray standing upright on edge and in series side-by-side. While the articles are being stacked, the retractable arm is positioned in the down position and positioned so that a first side of the arm holds the articles on edge without tipping, much like a bookend. A linear motion actuator, preferably a pneumatic cylinder, moves the retractable arm along the length of the elongated accumulation tray. During the stacking procedure, the pneumatic cylinder is deactivated (i.e. a dead cylinder), and the stacked articles push the retractable arm incrementally along the accumulation tray towards an unloading area.

Abstract: A discharge stacking station for a sortation conveying system uses a reciprocating stacking member to stack orders of articles onto an accumulation tray for the station in an aligned series. Articles are provided in singular fashion from a core conveyor for the sortation conveying system onto the reciprocating stacking member via an inclined chute. The reciprocating stacking member preferably has a floor and a backstop wall which are mounted for reciprocating sliding motion along a small portion of the accumulation tray for the stacking station at a loading end of the tray. A stationary stop member is disposed above the floor of the reciprocating stacking member. When a photoelectric eye senses the passing of an article onto the reciprocating stacking member, a computer controlled actuator pulls the reciprocating stacking member towards the stationary stop member to a retracted position.

Abstract: A unit for feeding flat diecut blanks of wrapping material to a user machine is equipped with a conveyor by which blanks disposed on edge transversely to a given feed direction and ordered in a substantially continuous column are caused to advance along a conveying path extending toward a transfer station where each blank in turn is picked up from the column; the conveyor comprises two sections aligned along the path: the one, an intermittently driven first belt by which the column is advanced toward the transfer station through a step of predetermined length, at a predetermined frequency timed with the operation of a pickup mechanism positioned at the transfer station, the other a continuously driven second belt designed to advance the column toward the first belt at a predetermined velocity.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a nut feeder for the feeding of nuts for resistance welding. A stopper 12 is provided which is so energized as to enter into the inside of a chute 7 from a lower-end lateral side of the chute 7. A lowermost nut 5 in the chute 7 is held by the stopper 12, thereby being prevented from falling. With a pin 11 of the nut receiver 9 set against a projection part 29 of the stopper 12, a nut receiver 9 is moved backward together with the stopper 12, by which the holding of the nut 5 is released. Then the nut 5 is placed at a position ahead of the pin 11 of the nut receiver 9 while leaning against the stopper 12. Thereafter the nut receiver 9 is moved forward and the nut 5 falls down so that its threaded hole fits onto the pin 11 and is delivered to under the upper electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for nesting taco shells, comprising: a stop for positioning a first taco shell, a pusher for urging taco shells toward the stop, pusher drive means for moving the pusher reciprocally relative to the stop, and control means for causing the minimum mutual distance between the stop and the pusher to increase stepwise during successive strokes of the pusher during making of a nest of taco shells. The invention also relates to a method of nesting taco shells.