Claims
- 1. A stacking apparatus for stacking groups of shingled items into vertical stacks comprising:an upper stacking conveyor comprising an item input end and an item delivery end; and at least one set of lowering arms for transporting said items from said stacking conveyor to a lower stacking level, wherein at least one lowering arm is located adjacent to each side of the upper stacking conveyor; wherein said items remain in a substantially horizontal position while being transported from said stacking conveyor to said lower stacking level by said lowering arms.
- 2. A stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a stop plate for prevention of back movement of said items in said vertical stacks, wherein said stop plate is located below said item delivery end of said stacking conveyor.
- 3. A staking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an upper guide located at least partially above said item delivery end of said upper conveyor.
- 4. A stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said items comprise food items selected from the group consisting of crackers and cookies.
- 5. A stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a pushing plate for pushing formed vertical stacks away from said delivery end of said stacking conveyor belt, wherein said pushing plate is located below said delivery end of said stacking conveyor belt.
- 6. A stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a lower conveyor belt for transporting said formed vertical stacks at substantially a right angle to the flow direction of said stacking conveyor belt or substantially parallel to the flow direction of said stacking conveyor belt.
- 7. A stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lower conveyor comprises compartments or flap fingers.
- 8. A stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an infeed system comprising a series of infeed conveyors arranged in succession and operating at various speeds and modes of operation for delivering said items to said item input end of said upper stacking conveyor in shingled groups of predetermined number, wherein said groups are delivered to said item input end of said upper stacking conveyor at regular intervals of predetermined length.
- 9. A stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said series of infeed conveyors comprises at least four conveyors.
- 10. A stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of said four conveyors comprises a gap closing shuttle, at least one of said four conveyors comprises a gap reducing shuttle, at least one of said four conveyors comprises a retracting noser and at least one of said four conveyors comprises a group separating shuttle.
- 11. A stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 8 comprising at least one tilt conveyor for receiving groups of items delivered to said tilt conveyor in a direction substantially normal to the flow direction of said tilt conveyor.
- 12. A stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a backstop.
- 13. A stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lowering arms are each pivotly attached to an end of two cranks which move the lowering arms in a continuous motion, wherein the other end of each crank is rotatably mounted on a support, and rotation of the cranks causes the lowering arms to move in a circular path while in a substantially horizontal position.
- 14. A stacking apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the lowering arms are driven by a motor having a shaft which is drivingly connected to a pulley that drives a belt which is drivingly connected to pulleys at said other ends of said cranks.
- 15. A method for stacking items into vertical stacks comprising a predetermined number of said items, comprising:transferring groups of said items from an upper conveyor level to a lower stacking level in a substantially horizontal position, wherein said items are transported from said upper conveyor level to said lower stacking level and discharged to said lower stacking level using at least one set of lowering arms, wherein the upper surfaces of said lowering arms remain in a substantially horizontal position during transportation of said items from said upper conveyor level to said lower stacking level and during discharging of said items to said lower stacking level.
- 16. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising delivering said groups to said upper conveyor at regular intervals of predetermined length.
- 17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said groups comprise a predetermined number of items arranged in shingled manner.
- 18. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one item from each of said groups remains in contact with said upper surface of said at least one set of lowering arms while being transported from said upper conveyor level to said lower stacking level.
- 19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said group of items is discharged to said lower stacking level without sliding or rolling off said upper surface of said lowering arms.
- 20. A method for stacking items into vertical stacks comprising a predetermined number of said items, comprising:transferring groups of said items from an upper conveyor level to a lower stacking level in a substantially horizontal position, wherein said items are transported from said upper conveyor level to said lower stacking level and discharged to said lower stacking level using at least one set of lowering arms, wherein, during said transferring, at least one lowering arm moves adjacent to each side of the upper stacking conveyor.
- 21. A method for stacking items into vertical stacks comprising a predetermined number of said items, comprising:transferring groups of said items from an upper conveyor level to a lower stacking level in a substantially horizontal position, wherein said items are transported from said upper conveyor level to said lower stacking level and discharged to said lower stacking level using at least one set of lowering arms, wherein said items comprise food items selected from the group consisting of crackers and cookies.
Parent Case Info
This application claims priority of U.S. Ser. No. 60/142,450, filed Jul. 6, 1999.
US Referenced Citations (37)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/142450 |
Jul 1999 |
US |