Patent ID: 6296437
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: B65G,B65H

Abstract:
In a sortation conveying system that conveys articles in single file, a method of stacking selected articles sequentially on an accumulation tray comprising the steps of:a) providing a reciprocating stacking member at a loading end of the accumulation tray, the reciprocating stacking member having a floor which is mounted to slide adjacent a bottom wall of the accumulation tray between an article receiving position and a retracted position;b) providing a stationary stop member located generally above the floor of the reciprocating stacking member and disposed such that a pushing side of the stationary stop member generally faces toward an unloading end of the accumulation tray;c) positioning the reciprocating stacking member in the article receiving position;d) transferring a single selected article from the conveying system onto the reciprocating stacking member when the reciprocating stacking member is positioned in the article receiving position;e) moving the reciprocating stacking member to the retracted position after the respective article has been stacked onto the reciprocating stacking member thereby causing the article to drop from the reciprocating stacking member onto the bottom wall of the accumulation tray;f) returning the reciprocating stacking member to the article receiving position thereby pushing the dropped article in the accumulation tray towards the unloading end of the tray; andg) repeating steps d) through f) for each respective article that is selected to be stacked on the accumulation tray.