The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 16, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 12, 1999
Todd R. Eggebrecht, Mukwonago, WI (US);
Jason M. Knas, Mukwonago, WI (US);
Dorner Mfg. Corp., Hartland, WI (US);
Abstract
A retractable arm serves as a combined pushing mechanism and dead plate for holding and moving articles that have been stacked onto an accumulation tray for a stacking station in an article sortation conveying system. The stacking station stacks articles sequentially onto the accumulation tray standing upright on edge and in series side-by-side. While the articles are being stacked, the retractable arm is positioned in the down position and positioned so that a first side of the arm holds the articles on edge without tipping, much like a bookend. A linear motion actuator, preferably a pneumatic cylinder, moves the retractable arm along the length of the elongated accumulation tray. During the stacking procedure, the pneumatic cylinder is deactivated (i.e. a dead cylinder), and the stacked articles push the retractable arm incrementally along the accumulation tray towards an unloading area. When the order is complete, the arm retracts and is returned to a home position in which a second side of the arm is ready to push the articles towards the unload end of the accumulation tray. Movement of the articles towards the unload end of the accumulation tray is controlled in response to a photoelectric sensor that senses the presence of articles at a location near the unload end of the tray. When the entire order of articles has been moved to the unload area of the accumulation tray, the retractable arm is returned to the home position ready to accept the next stack of articles.