Apparatus for handling stacks for articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10867464-B2
Application number	US-201815955405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2018
Priority date	Apr 17, 2018
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus for handling stacks of articles, such as cups or containers, includes a selectively extensible conveyor which can be indexed for moving the stacks of articles, and which can moved from an extended position to a retracted position. By movement from the extended position, the conveyor is moved from beneath one or more of the stacks for discharging stacks from the apparatus. The apparatus includes one or more movable stack gates for controlling, guiding, and stabilizing movement and discharge of the stacks, to thereby avoid problems associated with the instability of the stacked articles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for loading stacks of articles, comprising:
an infeed conveyor defining an upper run for carrying one or more stacks of articles, said infeed conveyor including an infeed end and a discharge end;
a conveyor drive for driving said infeed conveyor for advancing said stacks of articles in a direction from said infeed end to said discharge end;
said infeed conveyor including a movable conveyor guide, so that by reciprocable movement of said movable conveyor guide, said upper run of said conveyor can be changed between extended and retracted positions; and
at least one stack gate, the at least one stack gate comprising a first stack gate with opposite sides positioned at said discharge end of said infeed conveyor at a first location for controlling movement of said stacks of articles carried on the upper run at said discharge end, said first stack gate at the first location being movable between a first open position and a second blocking position,
wherein in said first open position of said first stack gate at the first location, said movable conveyor guide is positioned so that said upper run of said conveyor is in said extended position, and at least one of said stacks of articles can be conveyed along said upper run of said infeed conveyor in a first direction in a first conveying path to said discharge end thereof and to against one of the opposite sides of said first stack gate at the first location,
said first stack gate at the first location thereafter being movable to said second, blocking position wherein the other of the opposite sides of said first stack gate at the first location intercepts, and thereby blocks conveyance along said upper run of additional of said stacks of articles in said first direction in the first conveying path, said movable conveyor guide thereafter being movable to change said upper run of said infeed conveyor from said extended position to said retracted position, to thereby move said upper run of said infeed conveyor from beneath at least the one of said stacks of articles, whereby the at least one of said stacks of articles is downwardly discharged from said discharge end of said upper run of said infeed conveyor,
wherein the first stack gate pivots through approximately 180° between said first and second positions.

2. An apparatus for loading stacks of articles in accordance with claim 1 , wherein
the first stack gate projects above the upper run of said conveyor in both said first and second positions.

3. An apparatus for loading stacks of articles in accordance with claim 1 , wherein
said infeed conveyor includes a movable idler guide which is movable in unison with said movable conveyor guide to maintain a substantially constant tension in said infeed conveyor.

4. An apparatus for loading stacks of articles comprising:
an infeed conveyor defining an upper run for carrying one or more stacks of articles, said infeed conveyor including an infeed end and a discharge end;
a conveyor drive for driving said infeed conveyor for advancing said stacks of articles in a direction from said infeed end to said discharge end;
said infeed conveyor including a movable conveyor guide at the discharge end thereof, so that by reciprocable movement of said movable conveyor guide, said upper run of said conveyor can be changed between extended and retracted positions; and
at least one stack gate, the at least one stack gate comprising a first stack gate positioned at said discharge end of said infeed conveyor for controlling movement of said stacks of articles at said discharge end, said first stack gate being movable between a first open position and a second blocking position,
wherein in said first open position of said first stack gate, said movable conveyor guide is positioned so that said upper run of said conveyor is in said extended position, and at least one of said stacks of articles can be conveyed along said upper run of said infeed conveyor in a first direction to said discharge end thereof and to against said first stack gate,
said first stack gate thereafter being movable to said second, blocking position to block conveyance along said upper run of additional of said stacks of articles in said first direction, said movable conveyor guide thereafter being movable to change said upper run of said infeed conveyor from said extended position to said retracted position, to thereby move said upper run of said infeed conveyor from beneath at least the one of said stacks of articles, whereby the at least one of said stacks of articles is downwardly discharged from said discharge end of said upper run of said infeed conveyor,
wherein said first stack gate pivots between said first and second positions,
wherein said first stack gate has a generally semi-cylindrical configuration.

5. An apparatus for loading stacks of articles comprising:
an infeed conveyor defining an upper run for carrying one or more stacks of articles, said infeed conveyor including an infeed end and a discharge end;
a conveyor drive for driving said infeed conveyor for advancing said stacks of articles in a direction from said infeed end to said discharge end;
said infeed conveyor including a movable conveyor guide at the discharge end thereof, so that by reciprocable movement of said movable conveyor guide, said upper run of said conveyor can be changed between extended and retracted positions; and
at least one stack gate, the at least one stack gate comprising a first stack gate positioned at said discharge end of said infeed conveyor for controlling movement of said stacks of articles at said discharge end, said first stack gate being movable between a first open position and a second blocking position,
wherein in said first open position of said first stack gate, said movable conveyor guide is positioned so that said upper run of said conveyor is in said extended position, and at least one of said stacks of articles can be conveyed along said upper run of said infeed conveyor in a first direction to said discharge end thereof and to against said first stack gate,
said first stack gate thereafter being movable to said second, blocking position to block conveyance along said upper run of additional of said stacks of articles in said first direction, said movable conveyor guide thereafter being movable to change said upper run of said infeed conveyor from said extended position to said retracted position, to thereby move said upper run of said infeed conveyor from beneath at least the one of said stacks of articles, whereby the at least one of said stacks of articles is downwardly discharged from said discharge end of said upper run of said infeed conveyor,
wherein the at least one stack gate comprises a second stack gate,
the first and second stack gates positioned adjacent to each other at said discharge end of said upper run of said infeed conveyor at first and second endmost positions of said upper run,
said first and second stack gates being independently positionable in each of said first open and second blocking positions, whereby said first stack gate can be positioned in said first open position thereof, and said second stack gate can be positioned in said second, blocking position thereof,
so that one of said stacks of articles can be moved from said second endmost position to said first endmost position by operation of said infeed conveyor, while any further ones of said stacks are articles are prevented from moving into said second endmost position by said second stack gate being in its blocking position.

6. A method of supplying stacks of articles to an associated apparatus, comprising the steps of:
providing an infeed conveyor defining an upper run for carrying one or more stacks of articles, including an infeed end and a discharge e

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Mueller Martin J
• Dye Ryan

Classifications

• B65B35/44

  by endless belts or chains {(B65B35/405 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65B43/52 Primary

  using roller-ways or endless conveyors · CPC title

• B65B35/246

  using extensible or retractable conveyors · CPC title

• B65G47/82

  Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels {(means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453)} · CPC title

• G07F11/58 Primary

  the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors · CPC title