Presses – Binding – With material depositing or discharging
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-09
2001-10-02
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3721)
Presses
Binding
With material depositing or discharging
C271S182000, C414S790300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295922
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bundling systems, and in particular, to systems that can convert a shingled stream of goods into successive bundles of goods.
2. Description of Related Art
Goods made of flexible sheets are often produced in a shingled stream. For example, printed cards or labels may be printed on a web and cut by a rotary die that delivers successive sheets onto a relatively slow conveyor belt. Because of this relatively slow speed, successive sheets are placed atop one another to form a staggered or shingled stream. Other types of equipment can also produce shingled streams. For example, booklets can be produced in a shingled stream by a stapling machine or by other binding machines. Other non-paper goods are also produced in a shingled stream.
These shingled streams usually need to be stacked into bundles having a predetermined number of units. Manually counting and separating the stream into a predetermined count is inefficient and impractical, because these shingled streams are delivered too quickly for human handlers.
Accordingly, automated machines have been designed to separate the shingled stream into predetermined bundles, but even these machines have had difficulty accommodating high flow rates. One known bundling technique allows the shingled stream to fall onto a table and form a stack. After reaching a certain height, the stack is pushed toward an automatic banding machine that ties a band around the stack.
Several difficulties exist with this type of machine. The incoming shingled stream continues to fall onto the table while the stack is being pushed away. Goods delivered during this transition period can get caught in the pushing mechanism. Therefore the pushing mechanism must be made extremely fast, but this increases the likelihood of damage to the goods. Also, separating the stream into bundles having a precise count is rather difficult when the shingled stream flows at a relatively high rate and the pusher must act very quickly.
Accordingly, there is a need for a bundling system that can quickly and accurately separate the shingled stream into stacked bundles having an accurate number of units per stack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a bundling system that can convert a shingled stream of goods into successive bundles of goods. The system has a conveyor assembly with an upstream and a downstream section for (a) longitudinally passing the shingled stream of goods from the upstream to the downstream section, and (b) repeatedly interrupting passage of goods for creating a gap in the shingled stream of goods. The system also includes a reciprocatable table located downstream of the conveyor assembly for detaining and collecting goods there into a stacked bundle. Also included is a pusher for extending and pushing the stacked bundle off the table.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a bundling system can also converting a shingled stream of goods into successive bundles of goods. The system has a conveyor assembly for longitudinally passing the shingled stream of goods in a downstream direction. Also included is a reciprocatable table located downstream of the conveyor assembly for detaining and collecting goods there into a stacked bundle. The bundling system also has a pusher for extending and pushing the stacked bundle off the table. The reciprocatable table is arranged to rise past the pusher without interference when the pusher is extended.
By employing equipment of the foregoing type, an improved bundling system is achieved. In a preferred embodiment a shingled stream of goods is conveyed between different sections of a conveyor assembly. The shingled goods are conveyed by the assembly to form a stack on a table that lowers as the stack builds.
Preferably, a gap is formed in the shingled stream by temporarily accelerating the downstream conveyor section and temporarily decelerating the upstream conveyor section. At the same time a blade is inserted into the shingled stream to prevent goods from crossing over to the downstream conveyor section. As the blade descends, a nip roller is also placed at the downstream conveyor section to ensure that goods are positively accelerated.
When the gap in the shingled stream is detected at the table, the preferred table quickly descends. Preferably, a pair of implements are thrust into the position vacated by the retreating table to catch the stream of goods that will resume after the gap. A pusher then pushes the stacked goods off the table. The preferred table has a forked structure that can straddle the pusher mechanism and rise while the pusher is still extended. Thus the table is able to quickly return and is not delayed by the cycling of the pusher.
In the preferred embodiment, the stacked bundle is straightened by a side jogger before being grappled by a robotic arm. This arm has a carriage that moves in an upstream/downstream direction by riding with a linear bearing on a horizontal rail. A preferred scoop can be lowered from the carriage and inserted under the bundle. A preferred gripper can then descend from the carriage onto the top of the stacked bundle, which is then moved forward to, for example, a banding machine.
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Balcerek Gregory
Hanif Leakat
Salamone John
Gerrity Stephen F.
Nu-Tech Printing Machinery, Inc.
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