Patent ID: 8152160
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: B65G,B65H

Abstract:
1. A tier sheet dispensing apparatus positioned adjacent to and extending over a conveying system that separates an individual tier sheet from a top of a stack of tier sheets, lifts the tier sheet vertically from the stack and moves the tier sheet transversely from the stack to a position over a two-dimensionally arrayed layer of objects conveyed by the conveying system to dispense the tier sheet from the apparatus and place the tier sheet on the layer of objects, the apparatus comprising: a frame constructed of a plurality of metal bars assembled together in a box configuration; a conveyor at a bottom of the frame, the conveyor having a top conveying surface that is positioned to support a stack of substantially flat tier sheets, the conveyor being operable to move the stack of tier sheets supported on the conveying surface into the frame with each of the tier sheets in the stack of tier sheets being substantially flat when supported on the conveying surface and fully inserted into the frame; an upwardly facing convex support surface mounted in the frame for vertical movement upwardly and downwardly through the frame between a lower position of the convex support surface and an upper position of the convex support surface where in the lower position the convex support surface is positioned below the conveying surface and below the stack of tier sheets supported on the conveying surface and as the convex support surface moves upwardly the convex support surface comes into engagement with a bottom of the stack of tier sheets and raises the stack of tier sheets upwardly above the conveying surface and as the convex support surface lifts the stack of tier sheets from the conveying surface the convex support surface bends the stack of tier sheets in a curved configuration with a topmost tier sheet in the stack of tier sheets having a top surface that is bent in a convex configuration due to the convex support surface; and, a lift mechanism above the frame, the lift mechanism having a lift surface positioned above the convex support surface to engage with the topmost tier sheet in the stack of tier sheets, the lift mechanism being operable to lift the topmost tier sheet in an upward direction from the stack of tier sheets supported in the frame and separate the topmost tier sheet from the stack of tier sheets and then move the tier sheet transversely from a first position over the stack of tier sheets supported in the frame to a second position over the layer of objects conveyed by the conveying system.