Method of and apparatus for accumulating successive stacks of superimposed sheets

US6481952B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• E.C.H. Will GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Robert Deutschle · Bokholt-Hanredder, DE
• Norbert Rilitz · Hamburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 20, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 19, 2002
• Expiry date: Dec 20, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65H2406/35
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus for accumulating successive stacks of superimposed sheets on discrete pallets employs a conveyor which delivers a continuous imbricated stream of sheets to a stacking station where a pallet descends with an elevator and gathers a first stack. A separating finger is inserted into the accumulation of sheets at the stacking station at a level above the topmost sheet of the fully grown first stack. The thus obtained gap is increased by lowering the finger at a speed less than that of the elevator, the increased gap receives a positioning member which attracts the lower part of the growing second stack by suction, a table is inserted into the increased gap between the partitioning member and the fully grown stack, the fully grown stack and its pallet are withdrawn from the stacking station and replaced with a fresh pallet, the table and the partitioning member are withdrawn from the stacking station so that the growing second stack descends onto the second pallet, and the above-enumerated sequence of steps is tereupon repeated.