Patent GB-890318-A (GB)
Title: Package stacking machine
Inventor: THOMSON ELY KNOX
IPC: B65G57/00
Filed: 1959-01-16
Abstract: 890,318. Stacking-machines. CONTINENTAL CARBON CO. Jan. 16, 1959, No. 1713/59. Class 94(1). A stacking machine comprises an elevator which receives articles and arranges them in a row, and means to discharge the row on to a support, raise the elevator, form a further row and discharge that on top of the previous row, the sequence being repeated until the desired stack height is reached. The machine then automatically pushes itself away from the stack and forms a second stack against the first. This is repeated as required. Means may be included for timing articles through 90 degrees prior to forming rows, the machine being set to produce automatically a desired pattern in the stack. The elevator 77 is vertically moveable along uprights 76 by a pneumatic piston 1001 and is fed with articles by an extensible conveyer 80. Driven rollers 105 forward the articles directly to a gravity roller conveyer 112 from which they are discharged on to an assembly table 82 moveable with the elevator but capable of horizontal reciprocating motion relative to it. If the articles are to be turned through 90 degrees, a grid 114 raises them above the level of the rollers 105, rotates through 90 degrees and descends to deposit them again on the rollers. An article arriving on the table 82 contacts a switch operator 143 causing a sweep arm 182 reciprocable longitudinally of the table, to move it towards one or other of end plates 152 and this is repeated until a row is formed. Articles contacting the plates 152 operate switches in circuit with switch means operated by the last article to form the row and when this article is in position, a pusher 83 moves horizontally against the articles. The friction between the articles and the table 82 causes the latter to move with the articles until its limit of travel is reached. The table is then withdrawn while the pusher remains stationary and the row drops on to the floor &c. The sweep arm 182 tilts through 90 degrees when contacted by the pusher. Mounted on the elevator is a feeler 194 retained in a raised position when the table 82 is advanced, by a spring 206 and drum and cable means 195, 200, 201, Fig. 15, when the table is fully retracted it moves a lever 203 permitting the feeler to descend and come to rest on the previously deposited row of articles. The elevator then rises, the feeler thus moving relative to it until it actuates switches 322, 323 to stop the elevator. A further row is then formed and deposited and so on to produce a stack. At the top of its travel, the elevator operates a switch 326 whereby it is permitted to descend towards the bottom of its travel it engages a cranked portion 217 of an axle eccentrically supporting wheels 86 and in turning it, causes the wheels to take over support of the forward end of the machine. As the pusher 83 and table 82 move forward to deposit the next row, the latter is forced against the stack and the machine pushed backwards the required distance to permit formation of the next stack. The length of the table 82 may be adjusted by addition of roller sections 147. During operation the spacing between the end plates 152 is reduced automatically before platform loading to account for any differences in length of rows in which packages have been turned 90 degrees. The sweep arm pushes these plates outwards during loading. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 801,623.