Automatic stacker apparatus and method
US5480278A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S414/105
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus for frozen patties wherein one wide and slow conveyor feeds a plurality of narrow and fast conveyors to spread out the patties prior to stacking. Each fast conveyor conveys a stream of patties to a stacking module, each module includes a vertically-extending stacking cylinder. Each stacking cylinder includes a vertically-movable plunger which decrements as a patty is added to the top of the cylinder. When a cylinder contains enough patties for a stack, a patty-blocking member blocks patties from entering that fast conveyor, and the plunger in that cylinder raises the stack vertically out of the cylinder to a horizontal stage platform. A pusher member pushes the stack off the plunger and onto the stage platform. Vertically-hanging spring leaves stabilize the position of the stacks on the stage platform. When a desired number of stacks have accumulated on the stage platform, the stacks are moved to a collection station. If a problem occurs in any stacking modules, patty flow is blocked, the fast conveyor feeding the module is stopped, the plunger in the corresponding cylinder is lowered to the bottom of that cylinder, and that cylinder is moved horizontally to overhang a pu…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.