Web stacker and separator apparatus and method
US6322315A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2701/1924
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A separator and stacker apparatus and method for separating a completed stack of web product from a stack of product being built thereafter. Preferred embodiments of the present invention utilize a stack building carriage having a forked or slotted floor cooperating with a load finger assembly to discharge the completed product stack from the stack building carriage. The load finger assembly preferably has a set of load fingers which mesh with the carriage floor so that when the load finger assembly is actuated, the load fingers pass substantially unobstructed through the stack building carriage. The load finger assembly and the stack building carriage can therefore pass through their motions independently of one another, permitting the stack building carriage to return to a stack building position without waiting for the load finger assembly to retract. Some preferred embodiments of the present invention include finger assemblies adapted for movement alongside the stack building carriage path so that various fingers mounted thereon can be inserted in a range of stack building carriage positions. In addition to added flexibility in count and separation finger operations, the fold o…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.