Patent ID: 6491154
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A decline unstacking apparatus comprising:a feed conveyor for feeding stacks of items; and a declined conveyor arrangement including at least first and second declined conveyors arranged in series, and each including a declined upstream end, the first declined conveyor having its declined upstream end disposed at a discharge end of the feed conveyor, the first declined conveyor being declined from its upstream end at an angle relative to a direction of travel of the feed conveyor whereby a stack being discharged from the discharge end tilts forwardly and causes the items in the stack to slide forwardly off one another into a shingle arrangement on the first declined conveyor, wherein the leading end of an item is situated beneath the trailing end of a preceding item, the second declined conveyor having its declined upstream end disposed adjacent the downstream end of the first declined conveyor and traveling at a faster speed than the first declined conveyor for at least partially de-shingling the items received from the first declined conveyor.