Continuous motion, in-line product stacking apparatus

Abstract

A continuous motion, in-line stacker for positioning products, one atop the other, as the products are being conveyed from a product supply point to a high-speed wrapping machine. The stacker assembly comprises a supply conveyor which is in longitudinal alignment with a downstream stacking conveyor and a discharge conveyor. The stacking conveyor has an endless belt or chain which is trained over a series of idler rollers or sprockets so as to form an ascending flight, a horizontal flight, a descending flight and a return flight. Secured to the stacking conveyor's belt or chain at predetermined spacings therealong are a series of product platens of predetermined differing heights. In the zone of the horizontal flight are a series of vertically arranged, horizontally extending deadplates whose vertical spacings correspond to the heights of the product platens. As the products move along the supply conveyor, they are intercepted by the product's platens as they move along the ascending flight and are deposited on the deadplates in sequence. Also affixed to the stacker conveyor's belt or chain are a series of pusher fingers which cooperate with the products resting on the deadplates to move those products in unison off the deadplates and onto the descending flight of the stacker conveyor to be picked up by the discharge conveyor. In moving off the deadplates in unison, the products become stacked one atop the other.