Patent ID: 6048163
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: B65G,B65H

Abstract:
Apparatus for receiving, transporting and precisely stacking thin, container separation sheets onto a transport pallet comprising, in combination:a vacuum conveyor belt having a horizontal receiving station, said belt comprising a unitary belt member for transport of a sheet from said horizontal receiving station, said belt further comprising a vertically descending run to a sheet discharge station, said conveyor belt having vacuum suction means for retaining a sheet placed thereon in a predetermined orientation from the horizontal receiving station to the sheet discharge station;a mechanical guide bar assembly at the sheet discharge station for engaging and removing a sheet at the sheet discharge station and for directing the sheet to a horizontal orientation stacking station adjacent to and spaced from the vertically descending run;a sheet collection bin at the stacking station, said bin comprised of a horizontal pallet support plate forming a bottom of the bin and for support of a pallet for sheets discharged into the bin, vertical side wall members along the edges of the pallet support plate for guiding and retaining sheets discharged to the stacking station, at least one of the wall members including means for engaging the side of a plurality of stacked sheets and thereby aligning said sides, and a pallet plate support including a vertical height adjustment mechanism for movement of the plate and a pallet supported thereby to receive multiple stacked sheets.