Material or article handling – Load-transporting type vehicle and external means... – Power-driven conveyor for loading a wheeled vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-09
2001-11-06
Hess, Douglas (Department: 2167)
Material or article handling
Load-transporting type vehicle and external means...
Power-driven conveyor for loading a wheeled vehicle
C414S789200, C414S790500, C414S373000, C414S401000, C414S416060, C414S809000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312208
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for the processing of business forms or web. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for stacking continuous folded forms. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a unique combination of elements used in such a system employing a tiltable table in combination with a cart or rack that supports the stack of sheet or folded material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are various ways of processing folded forms particularly between an initial folding operation and subsequent finish operations. However, existing transfer systems tend to be rather complex in construction and have rather limited capacity. It is an object of the present invention to provide a forms transfer system that has an improved capacity and in particular in which a transfer rack is used having a capacity of 50,000 forms or more.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved system for stacking continuous folded forms in which there is far less frequent intervention by an operator. In accordance with the present invention there is a minimizing of handling of the forms, thus minimizing maintenance problems associated with the system.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cart system in which the cart is far more space-efficient than prior carts. In accordance with the present invention, for a particular square footage of coverage of the cart, there is a forms capacity far in excess of that previously obtainable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved system for stacking continuous folded forms and associated improved stack rack or stack cart that is relatively inexpensive, of relatively simple construction and one requiring minimal maintenance.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved storage cart for folded forms and one in which it is readily adapted for use with utilization equipment such as feed inserting equipment. This cart should be portable by a variety of methods and devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention there is provided in accordance with the present invention a system for stacking continuous folded forms or sheets. The system of the present invention is characterized by simplicity, versatility, flexibility, cost, cost effectiveness, and space efficiency. The system employs a unique combination of elements that enables folded forms to be conveyed, accepted on a tiltable table and then readily transferred to a stack rack or stack cart.
In accordance with the present invention the system may be considered as comprising a folder for folding the forms along fold lines and a separator for separating the forms at various locations therealong, a conveyor and means for positioning the conveyor adjacent the folder so that the folded forms from the folder are received on and moved along the conveyor. A table is provided having a table top support surface. The table is positioned adjacent and in line with the conveyor and in a position for receiving a horizontal stack of folded forms that are moved by the conveyor and positioned on the table top support surface. In accordance with the embodiment disclosed herein, a flap may bridge between the conveyor and the table which flap is maintained flush with the top surfaces of the conveyor and the table so that the forms pass readily from the conveyor onto the table.
The system of the present invention also provides means for enabling tilting of the table from a substantially-horizontal position to a substantially-vertical position to in turn move the stack from a horizontally disposed stack to a vertically disposed stack. In the embodiment disclosed herein, associated with the table is an end wall at the end of the table remote from the conveyor and a door or backing support at the end of the table adjacent to the conveyor.
The door or backing support, when the table is in a horizontal position may be disposed depending downwardly but may be moved to an upward position to in essence form an opposite end wall for retaining a stack of folded forms on the table between these end walls. The doors, once the stack is moved to a vertical position functions as resting surface for the stack.
Moreover, in accordance with the system of the present invention there is provided a rack or a cart for holding a stack of folded material. This is movable such as by means of wheels or casters on it and is compartmentalized so as to receive preferably a plurality of these vertical stacks. For this purpose the stack cart is movable to a position adjacent the tilted table, once tilted, for receiving from the table the vertical stack for support on the cart.
In the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the cart has a bottom resting surface or base and vertically disposed walls preferably defining four separate compartments for accommodating vertical stacks. Each of these compartments may also be provided with one or more shelves so as to accommodate stacks of different height. As also indicated previously, the cart is readily rotatable so that once one stack has been loaded the cart can be easily rotated to receive a further stack from the table once the table receives the stack and is tilted.
According to an alternate embodiment, the tilting table structure according to this invention can include a base that is either fixed to the floor or wheeled for portability, and a bracket assembly that enables the table top to tilt in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, allowing unloading of stacks from the table top adjacent either an upstream or downstream side of the base.
Additionally, the base can be constructed so that the table can rotate on an axis taken perpendicularly to the floor so that either end (upstream or downstream) of the table can be selectively positioned adjacent a conveyor. Similarly, when the table is disposed (tilted) in a substantially-vertical orientation, the tilted table can be pivoted about the above-described perpendicular axis so that the stack thereon faces in any direction to aid in loading of a multiple-section cart.
The table structure according to an alternate embodiment can further include a plurality of movable backing surfaces or doors that can each be relocated into and out of a path of travel of the web over the table top. These backing surfaces can comprise sliding doors that pass through a slot in the table top. The movable backing surfaces can be located at each of an upstream and downstream location on the table and can enable a stack to be supported at either an upstream or a downstream location when the table is tilted.
The table structure, according to an alternate embodiment, can also include a horizontally-moving backing surface that is either driven by a linear drive or that is spring-loaded and that, based upon sensor signals, programmed instructions stack pressure thereon, moves in response to the formation of a stack upon the table top to continuously restrain the downstream end of the stack. The base of the table structure can also include a lifting device that enables the table top to be raised and lowered in either the substantially-vertical or substantially-horizontal position. This enables a stack to be loaded onto a raised shelf on a cart or, alternatively, to the top of an already-loaded stack on the cart.
The tilting table and or the conveyor according to this invention can include sensors at predetermined locations thereon that can control various drive functions so that loading and unloading of a stack is automated. The table top can also include a movable hold-down bracket that overlies the stack at selected times to retain the stack on the table. The backing support for the tilting table according to this invention can also include a plurality of straps positioned along a surface thereof to isolate a bottom of the stack from the surface of the backing support. As the backing support is relocated, typically
Bianchetto Peter
Clifford John W.
Crowley H. W.
Cesari and McKenna LLP
Hess Douglas
Loginov William A.
Roll Systems Inc.
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