Collation assemblies

US5885055A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Redland Technologies, Limited · GB

Inventors

• Frank Wojtalewicz · Wiesbaden, DE
• Helmut Rapp · Rodgau, DE
• Dietrich Thor Straten · Rodgau, DE
• Gunter Weiss · Offenbach, DE
• Peter Srostlik · Maintal, DE
• Nicholas Lyons · Petworth, GB
• Ronald Corbett Wainwright · Uckfield, GB
• Paul John Welfare · Redhill, GB
• Rolf David Mears · Redhill, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 24, 1996
• Grant date: Mar 23, 1999
• Expiry date: Jun 24, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G57/035
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A conveyor-collator assembly for use in forming stacks of articles, e.g. concrete roof tiles (T) at speeds of up to 200 tiles per minute, is provided with a conveyor means (42) by which tiles (T) are fed seriatim to a velocity control means (72) whereby each tile (T) is transferred under "no-load" or substantially "no-load" conditions onto a falling shelf conveyor (140). Tiles (T) held in the conveyor (140) are thereafter deposited onto a support (26-28) of a stack forming means (24) under "no-load" or substantially "no-load" conditions whereby breakages of tiles (T) due to "shock loads" experienced hitherto in prior art arrangements is eliminated. The stack-forming means (24) of the conveyor-collator assembly is arranged with the supports (26, 28) thereof mounted for sequential movement through the same spacial path at rates consistent with ensuring that upon the completion of a stack of tiles (T) on one of said supports (26, 28) at a downstream end of the path the other of said supports (26, 28) is approaching an upstream end of said path for facilitating the stacking of tiles (T) in a subsequent stack thereof.