Device and process for intermediate stacking of items

Details Device and process for intermediate stacking of items Device and process for intermediate stacking of items

1998-06-18

1999-09-28

Krizek, Janice L.

Sheet feeding or delivering

Feeding

Pack holders

271148, 271149, B65H 102, B65H 124

Patent

active

059574488

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention concerns a device and a process for the intermediate stacking of items, in particular in letter processing systems.
Such intermediate stacking devices are used, for example, in letter-sorting facilities as a connecting link between segments containing rough sorting compartments and precise sorting machines. The intermediate stacking device in this case buffers the irregularly arriving items, such that the precise sorting machine can be stressed evenly.
With a known intermediate stacking device, the individual items to be stacked are conveyed while clamped between a front belt and a rear belt near the stacking location, where a stack of items already exists or is formed by the items to be stacked. The stack is formed in that the items are conveyed individually, one after another, with their front edge to a stacking wall. For this, the front belt is removed from the item at a certain distance from the stacking wall and, owing to its inertial mass, the item continues to move in the direction of the stacking wall along a guide rail. With the aid of a rotating stacking roller, e.g. driven by the rear belt, the item is finally conveyed into the space between the stack of items and the stacking roller and is then transported further to the stacking wall.
The items in the stack of items rest with their lower edges on an underlying belt, crosswise to its movement direction, which belt can be moved along the stacking wall. A separating device is provided on the side of the stack that is located opposite the stacking roller, which device can withdraw the items one after another from the stack of items for further processing.
The underlying belt is moved in the direction of the separating device, in such a way that the stack fits closely against the separating device so that the item closest to the separating device can be withdrawn. In the stacking region, the stacking roller must be positioned such that the items to be stacked can be transported without a problem between the stacking roller and the stack to the stacking wall.
In known intermediate stacking devices, the stacking carriage with the stacking roller is moved in the direction of the separating device owing to a mechanical coupling of the stacking carriage with the underlying belt. Thus, during the removal of items by the separating device, the underlying belt and therefore also the stacking carriage with the stacking roller are moved in the direction of the separating device.
A three-phase motor with electromagnetic clutch is provided for stacking the items. Depending on the item to be stacked, this motor moves the stacking carriage with the stacking roller along the underlying belt in the opposite direction as the withdrawing roller. A lever is arranged near the stacking roller, and the stack pushes onto this lever. The lever then actuates a proximity sensor, which gives off a signal for switching the clutch and thus also for a movement of the stacking carriage toward the back, that is in the direction away from the withdrawing roller, as soon as a specific minimum pressure acts upon the lever. The clutch is disengaged again as soon as a specific minimum pressure is not reached, and the stacking carriage remains in the position it is in at the time.
This intermediate stacking device has the disadvantage that the stack of items can topple over if the items have irregular thickness or if they are particularly heavy and tall, thus omitting the function of the intermediate stacking device.
It is therefore the object of the invention to ensure a trouble-free operation of the intermediate stacking device, even for unevenly thick items or particularly heavy, tall items.
This object is solved in accordance with the invention with an intermediate stacking device having the features as in claim 1.
Advantageous modifications and embodiments of the invention follow from the dependent claims.
The intermediate stacking device according to the invention comprises a stacking roller, a stacking carriage, an underlying belt, a separating device, a pr

REFERENCES:
patent: 3690474 (1972-09-01), Klappenecker
patent: 4302000 (1981-11-01), Frank
patent: 4523753 (1985-06-01), Hiromori et al.
patent: 4757985 (1988-07-01), Hamant et al.
patent: 5335899 (1994-08-01), Golicz
patent: 5409207 (1995-04-01), Freeman

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