Patent ID: 6086320
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A stacking apparatus for successively supplying boards, forming stacks of these boards and ordering these stacks in chosen patterns, which apparatus comprises:a feed conveyor for successively supplying boards;a stacking station connecting onto the end of the feed conveyor and having a supporting base and a stop extending vertically and perpendicularly to a transporting direction of the feed conveyor for bringing to a standstill the boards supplied by the feed conveyor such that a stack of boards supported by the supporting base is formed;discharge means for discharging a stack from the supporting base;wherein the supporting base has an effective dimension in the transporting direction amounting to more than twice the dimension of the boards in the transporting direction;the stop is drivable by drive means such that in a stationary stop position the stop can bring the supplied boards to a standstill until the thus formed stack has reached a desired height, wherein the stop subsequently is moved from the front surface of the stack to the rear surface of the stack and from this position displaces the stack by pushing over the supporting base with the stack to a position in which the rear surface of the stack lies beyond the initial position of the front surface of that stack or in which the stack lies with its front surface against the rear surface of a previously formed stack; anddischarge means for removing formed stacks from the supporting base.