Patent ID: 6089820
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: B65B,B65G

Abstract:
A unit for forming and supplying stacks of products to a machine, each said stack comprising a bottom product and at least one upper product, and the unit comprising a stacking device for forming a succession of said stacks and having an input for said products and an output for said stacks, said input and said output being respectively located at a first and a second surface, the second surface extending at a higher level than the first surface; conveying means for feeding a succession of said products along said first surface and in a first direction to said input; and a pocket conveyor comprising a number of pockets moving in steps in a given second direction through said output, so as to receive a respective said stack inside each pocket and feed the stack along said second surface to said machine; wherein said stacking device comprises a stop device located at said output and comprising a first stop member movable back and forth between a lowered position and a raised position in which said first stop member is respectively located below and above said second surface; each said pocket being defined, at least when the pocket is located at said output, by a first and a second wall for retaining said stack, the second wall being located in front of the first wall in said second direction; and said second wall being defined, at least as regards a portion facing said second surface, by said first stop member in the raised position; said second wall comprising a top portion integral with said pocket conveyor, shorter than the corresponding first wall, and facing a top portion of the respective first wall; said first wall extending, downstream from said output in said second direction, substantially into contact with said second surface; and said top portion of said second wall defining, with said second surface, a passage for at least said upper product.