Claims
- 1. An apparatus for stacking and separating sheets of web material comprising:
- a conveyor for transporting sheets from a source in a stream aligned in a downstream direction in a first orientation to a stacking location;
- a kicker located along the conveyor for offsetting selected of the sheets in a direction substantially transverse to the downstream direction, the kicker comprising a frictional surface constructed and arranged to move between a position free of engagement with the sheets, located above the sheets and facing a side of the sheets opposite a side of the sheets that is supported by the conveyor and the kicker surface being constructed and arranged to move from a position that is free of engagement with the face of the sheets to a position that engages the sheets and wherein the frictional surface, in engagement with the sheets moves to direct the sheets in the direction that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction, wherein the kicker comprises a reciprocating foot having a frictional surface that includes a spring that biases the frictional surface toward the selected of the sheets to maintain the frictional surface in frictional engagement with the selected of the sheets as the foot moves to offset the selected of the sheets in the direction substantially transverse to the downstream direction; and
- a stacker positioned at the stacking location for receiving each of the sheets from the first orientation in the conveyor and overlaying each of the sheets in a stack extending downstream in a second orientation.
- 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the kicker includes a slide having a carriage with the foot mounted thereto, the slide being oriented at a downward angle so that the foot engages each of the sheets at an angle.
- 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a drive motor interconnected to the conveyor.
- 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a central processor for controlling each of the conveyor and the kicker.
- 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the central processor means includes means for identifying specific sheets to be offset by the kicker means.
- 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stacker comprises a plurality of diagonally disposed conveyor belts interengaging the conveyor and moving simultaneously with the conveyor, the diagonally disposed conveyor belts driving each of the sheets from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation.
- 7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the kicker is constructed and arranged to enable offset of each of the sheets in each of opposite transverse directions relative to the downstream direction.
- 8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a cutter that forms each of the sheets from a source of continuous web.
- 9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first orientation comprises a substantially horizontal orientation and wherein the second orientation comprises a substantially vertical orientation.
- 10. An apparatus for stacking and separating sheets of web material comprising:
- a conveyor for transporting sheets from a source in a stream aligned in a downstream direction in a first orientation to a stacking location;
- a kicker located along the conveyor for offsetting selected of the sheets in a direction substantially transverse to the downstream direction, the kicker comprising a frictional surface constructed and arranged to move between a position free of engagement with the sheets, located above the sheets and facing a side of the sheets opposite a side of the sheets that is supported by the conveyor and the kicker surface being constructed and arranged to move from a position that is free of engagement with the face of the sheets to a position that engages the sheets and wherein the frictional surface, in engagement with the sheets moves to direct the sheets in the direction that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction, wherein the kicker comprises a rotating wheel having a frictional surface that engages and withdraws from the surface of the selected of the sheets and that rotates on an axis approximately aligned with the downstream direction to offset the selected of the sheets in the direction substantially transverse to the downstream direction.
- 11. An apparatus for stacking and separating sheets of web material comprising:
- a conveyor for transporting sheets from a source in a stream aligned in a downstream direction in a first orientation to a stacking location;
- a kicker located along the conveyor for offsetting selected of the sheets in a direction substantially transverse to the downstream direction, the kicker comprising a frictional surface constructed and arranged to move between a position free of engagement with the sheets, located above the sheets and facing a side of the sheets opposite a side of the sheets that is supported by the conveyor and the kicker surface being constructed and arranged to move from a position that is free of engagement with the face of the sheets to a position that engages the sheets and wherein the frictional surface, in engagement with the sheets moves to direct the sheets in the direction that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction, wherein the kicker includes a weighted multidirectional roller for engaging and maintaining stationary against the conveyor a leading edge of each of the sheets as each of the sheets is positioned relative to the kicker.
- 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the multidirectional roller comprises a weighted ball positioned within an orifice of a plate located over each of the sheets as each of the sheets is positioned relative to the kicker.
- 13. An apparatus for stacking and separating sheets of web material comprising:
- a conveyor for transporting sheets from a source in a stream aligned in a downstream direction in a first orientation to a stacking location;
- a kicker located along the conveyor for offsetting selected of the sheets in a direction substantially transverse to the downstream direction, the kicker comprising a frictional surface constructed and arranged to move between a position free of engagement with the sheets, located above the sheets and facing a side of the sheets opposite a side of the sheets that is supported by the conveyor and the kicker surface being constructed and arranged to move from a position that is free of engagement with the face of the sheets to a position that engages the sheets and wherein the frictional surface, in engagement with the sheets moves to direct the sheets in the direction that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction; and
- a stacker positioned at the stacking location for receiving each of the sheets from the first orientation in the conveyor and overlaying each of the sheets in a stack extending downstream in a second orientation wherein the stacker further comprises a plurality of vertically disposed conveyor belts for driving each of the sheets into a vertical orientation to form a stack that extends in a horizontal direction and wherein the stacker further comprises a reciprocating surface for spacing each of the sheets of the horizontally oriented stack away from the vertically disposed conveyor belts as each of the sheets passes into the vertically disposed conveyor belts.
- 14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein each of the vertically disposed conveyor belts and the reciprocating surface are mechanically interconnected to operate simultaneously and each of the vertically disposed conveyor belts and the reciprocating surface are mechanically interconnected to a plurality of diagonally disposed conveyor belts located upstream of the vertically disposed conveyor belts to operate at a different rate than the diagonally disposed conveyor belts.
- 15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the stacker further comprises a movable stack support for maintaining a downstream end of the stack in a vertical orientation.
- 16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein the movable stack support includes a base for contacting a friction plate for providing resistance to downstream movement of the movable stack support and wherein the base further includes a tension spring for providing a preset force to the end of the stack, the force of the tension spring being overcome by a reciprocating surface located at an upstream end of the stack for generating a space that enables passage of each of the sheets into a stack.
- 17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein the reciprocating surface comprises a plurality of rotating cams interposed between a plurality of vertically disposed conveyor belts.
- 18. An apparatus for stacking and separating sheets of web material comprising:
- a conveyor for transporting sheets from a source in a stream aligned in a downstream direction in a first orientation to a stacking location;
- a kicker located along the conveyor for offsetting selected of the sheets in a direction substantially transverse to the downstream direction, the kicker comprising a frictional surface constructed and arranged to move between a position free of engagement with the sheets, located above the sheets and facing a side of the sheets opposite a side of the sheets that is supported by the conveyor and the kicker surface being constructed and arranged to move from a position that is free of engagement with the face of the sheets to a position that engages the sheets and wherein the frictional surface, in engagement with the sheets moves to direct the sheets in the direction that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction, wherein the conveyor is constructed and arranged to receive a plurality of side-by-side streams of sheets and the kicker includes a plurality of individually operated engaging and withdrawing kicker feet for offsetting selected of the sheets in each of the streams in a direction substantially transverse to the downstream direction; and
- a stacker positioned at the stacking location for receiving each of the sheets from the first orientation in the conveyor and overlaying each of the sheets in a stack extending downstream in a second orientation.
- 19. An apparatus for stacking and separating sheets of web material comprising:
- a conveyor for transporting sheets from a source in a stream aligned in a downstream direction in a first orientation to a stacking location;
- a kicker located along the conveyor for offsetting selected of the sheets in a direction substantially transverse to the downstream direction, the kicker comprising a frictional surface constructed and arranged to move between a position free of engagement with the sheets, located above the sheets and facing a side of the sheets opposite a side of the sheets that is supported by the conveyor and the kicker surface being constructed and arranged to move from a position that is free of engagement with the face of the sheets to a position that engages the sheets and wherein the frictional surface, in engagement with the sheets moves to direct the sheets in the direction that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction, wherein the kicker includes an engaging kicker foot positioned to engage selected of the sheets positioned relative thereto at a point on the selected of the sheets wherein frictional resistance forces between the selected of the sheets and the conveyor upstream of the kicker foot equal frictional resistance forces between the selected of the sheets and the conveyor downstream of the kicker foot so that the kicker foot translates the selected of the sheets evenly free of substantial rotation thereof in a direction substantially transverse to the downstream direction; and
- a stacker positioned at the stacking location for receiving each of the sheets from the first orientation in the conveyor and overlaying each of the sheets in a stack extending downstream in a second orientation.
- 20. An apparatus for stacking and separating sheets of web material comprising:
- a conveyor for transporting sheets from a source in a stream aligned in a downstream direction in a first orientation to a stacking location;
- a kicker located along the conveyor for offsetting selected of the sheets in a direction substantially transverse to the downstream direction, the kicker comprising a frictional surface constructed and arranged to move between a position free of engagement with the sheets, located above the sheets and facing a side of the sheets opposite a side of the sheets that is supported by the conveyor and the kicker surface being constructed and arranged to move from a position that is free of engagement with the face of the sheets to a position that engages the sheets and wherein the frictional surface, in engagement with the sheets moves to direct the sheets in the direction that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction wherein the kicker includes an engaging kicker foot positioned relative to selected of the sheets to engage the selected of the sheets positioned relative thereto at a point in which frictional resistance forces between the selected of the sheets and the conveyor upstream of the foot are unequal to frictional resistance forces between the selected of the sheets and the conveyor downstream of the foot so that the selected of the sheets is translated unevenly, having a rotation generated therein to form an angular offset, in a direction transverse to the downstream direction; and
- a stacker positioned at the stacking location for receiving each of the sheets from the first orientation in the conveyor and overlaying each of the sheets in a stack extending downstream in a second orientation.
- 21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein the stacker includes vertically positioned stack forming stops that allow the formation of stacks with angularly offset sheets positioned therein.
- 22. A method of stacking and separating sheets of web material comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of sheets from a source;
- conveying each of the sheets in a downstream direction in a first orientation to a stacking location;
- locating each of the sheets upstream of the stacking location at an offset station and translating selected of the sheets in a direction substantially coplanar with and transverse to the downstream direction to form an offset in the selected of the sheets relative to to other of the sheets, the step of translating including engaging the selected of the sheets with a reciprocating frictional member that moves from a position above each of the sheets and free of engagement with each of the sheets to a position in which the frictional member engages the selected of the sheets and moves to translate the selected of the sheets transverse to the downstream direction wherein the step of translating further includes engaging each of the selected of the sheets while each of the selected of the sheets is positioned relative to the offset station with a moving foot that grips and moves the selected of the sheets in a direction transverse to the downstream direction; and
- forming each of the sheets at the stacking location into a stack with each of the sheets oriented in a second orientation.
- 23. The method as set forth in claim 22 further comprising the step of cutting each of the sheets from a continuous web source.
- 24. The method as set forth in claim 22 wherein offset of each of the selected of the sheets is varied by engaging each of the selected of the sheets a plurality of times with foot while each of the selected of the sheets is positioned relative thereto.
- 25. The method as set forth in claim 22 wherein the foot is positioned at a point of balance upon the selected sheets of the between upstream sheet frictional resistive forces and downstream sheet frictional resistive forces.
- 26. The method as set forth in claim 22 wherein the step of stacking comprises directing each of the sheets from the offset station through a substantially diagonal conveyor and then into a vertical conveyor wherein a horizontal stack is formed.
- 27. The method as set forth in claim 26 further comprising spacing the horizontal stack away from the vertical conveyor at selected intervals that allow additional sheets to be driven into the stack via the vertical conveyor.
- 28. The method as set forth in claim 26 further comprising supporting of the stack at an end opposing the vertical conveyor, the step of supporting including providing frictional resistance to downstream expansion of the stack that is overcome by the step of spacing.
- 29. A method as set forth in claim 28 further comprising providing biasing force to the stack at the end opposing the vertical conveyor, the biasing force being overcome by the step of spacing.
- 30. A method of stacking and separating sheets of web material comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of sheets from a source;
- conveying each of the sheets in a downstream direction in a first orientation to a stacking location;
- locating each of the sheets upstream of the stacking location at an offset station and translating selected of the sheets in a direction substantially coplanar with and transverse to the downstream direction to form an offset in the selected of the sheets relative to to other of the sheets, the step of translating including engaging the selected of the sheets with a reciprocating frictional member that moves from a position above each of the sheets and free of engagement with each of the sheets to a position in which the frictional member engages the selected of the sheets and moves to translate the selected of the sheets transverse to the downstream direction
- forming each of the sheets at the stacking location into a stack with each of the sheets oriented in a second orientation; and
- wherein a leading edge of each of the sheets is held in the offset station by means of weighted balls that allow translation of each of the sheets in both a downstream direction and in a direction transverse to the downstream direction.
- 31. A method of stacking and separating sheets of web material comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of sheets from a source;
- conveying each of the sheets in a downstream direction in a first orientation to a stacking location;
- locating each of the sheets upstream of the stacking location at an offset station and translating selected of the sheets in a direction substantially coplanar with and transverse to the downstream direction to form an offset in the selected of the sheets relative to to other of the sheets, the step of translating including engaging the selected of the sheets with a reciprocating frictional member that moves from a position above each of the sheets and free of engagement with each of the sheets to a position in which the frictional member engages the selected of the sheets and moves to translate the selected of the sheets transverse to the downstream direction
- forming each of the sheets at the stacking location into a stack with each of the sheets oriented in a second orientation; and
- controlling of the steps of conveying and offsetting, the step of controlling including reading of instructions representative of the size of each of the sheets and the selection of offset sheets in a stack thereof.
- 32. The method as set forth in claim 31 wherein the step of controlling includes reading information representative of the sheet size and the selection of offset sheets from information printed upon the sheets.
- 33. The method as set forth in claim 32 wherein each of the sheets moved in a downstream direction by the step of conveying overlaps an upstream sheet.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a stacker and separator of sheets.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/874,046 filed on Apr. 27, 1992 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,212.
US Referenced Citations (17)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
946734 |
Jun 1949 |
FRX |
1611703 |
Mar 1972 |
DEX |
0140454 |
Nov 1980 |
JPX |
172273 |
Jul 1991 |
JPX |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
874046 |
Apr 1992 |
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