Patent GB-1203235-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for stacking books and like articles
Inventor: MCCAIN WILLIAM B
IPC: B65H31/26
Filed: 1967-10-03
Abstract: 1,203,235. Stacking machine; delivering sheets. CHICAGO MACHINERY LABORATORY Inc. 3 Oct., 1967, No. 44933/67. Headings B8C and B8R. A stacking machine receives books or the like from a trimming machine, forms a stack on a suitable support means upon which the books are pressed downwards and has means for removing a formed stack after a predetermined counting or detecting means is operated. Means for temporarily supporting the incoming books whilst the previously formed stack is being removed may also be provided. The stacking machine 25 receives separate and spaced superimposed books in a continuous manner from trimming machine 27 at the conveyer bands 32, 33. The latter move the books to an inclined support plate 440 whereupon positive drive fingers 442 on conveyer chain 444 move the books upwardly into the bight of belts 450, 451 comprising a conveyer 36. The books leaving conveyer 36 have sufficient momentum to move forwardly into the stacking station ST to engage a plurality of register bars of a stop and register mechanism 54. The books are supported and accumulated one upon another on the top surface of a lowerator 50 whereupon they are pressed downwards by a patter mechanism 61 operated periodically to engage the topmost book and drive the stacked books downwardly against the drag of an electric brake (not shown) secured at one end of shaft 74 which has a gear 72 in engagement with rack 74 on the lowerator 50. The operating force of patter 61 is afforded by spring 62 which urges the cam follower 65 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction when permitted to do so by the flat portion 190 of cam 64. The pressing downwards of the books continues until a predetermined count is reached as determined by an electric counter (not shown) or as determined by a sensing device which recognizes a predetermined code or other identifying element. At this time the stack removal operation is commenced. During stack removal the patter mechanism 61 is latched against downward movement by a suitable solenoid being operated. Simultaneously transfer conveyer mechanism 80 is operated by the de-energization of a solenoid (245, Fig. 3, not shown) to operate suitable clutch mechanism to drive the conveyer chain 82. The latter has four sets of combined pushers 84 and temporary supports 91, Fig. 6, and the surface 88 of the forwardmost pusher 84 engages the front cut-edges E of the stack to push it from the stacking station on to table 90 aligned at the height of the lowerator 50 so as to prevent free fall of the stack as it is moved. During the removal operation the stop and register mechanism 54 is lifted upwardly and rearwardly above the stack of books to prevent any interference therewith during removal. The temporary supports 91 extended above the stack and serve as temporary supports for the incoming books whilst the previously formed stack is being pushed on to table 90. The pusher mechanism is arranged to move at a relatively slow speed compared with the speed of discharge of books to the stacking station. The conveyer mechanism 80 is halted after having moved a predetermined distance by disengagement of the clutch means and the actuation of an electric brake and the lowerator 50 is raised to lift the books from the temporary supports 91, by disengaging the brake on shaft 74 and applying a positive drive to said shaft. The table 90 is adapted to be raised or lowered to the same level as the surface of the lowerator 50 and is tiltable so as to maintain the topmost books of the stack generally horizontal. Associated with the table 90 is a discharge conveyer, the height of which is also adjustable, for removal of the stacked books from the machiine. The above described machine may receive books in pairs one on top of another and detecting mechanism may be provided to detect the presence of only one book or a fault in the thickness of a book and to deflect any defective books from entering the stacking mechanism into a collecting shoot 128. (See Fig. 23, not shown). The machine may also be adapted to receive and stack, simultaneously, two or more streams of incoming books.