Patent ID: 6918736

Claim:
A system for forming a plurality of discrete objects into a stack comprising: a frame having a top, a bottom and sides; a conveyor associated with said frame and having an end edge for dispensing discrete objects; a first support mounted on said frame near said end edge for receiving objects from said end edge and having an opening with a width smaller than the width of said objects; a first actuator operably connected to said first support for moving said first support between first and second positions relative to said end edge; a second actuator operably connected to said first support for moving said first support between upper and lower positions relative to said frame; a second support mounted on said frame beneath said first support having a width less than the width of the opening in said first support; a third actuator operatively connected to said second support for moving said second support between high and low positions, said second support high position being higher than said first support lower position; a third support mounted on said frame at a position higher than said second support low position and having an opening wider than the width of said second support; a fourth actuator operatively connected to said third support for moving said third support between a first position beneath said first support and a second position; a sensor for determining the number of discrete objects in a stack, said sensor being operatively coupled to said to said third actuator; and a controller for controlling said first, second, third and fourth actuators.