US3601282A

US3601282A - Apparatus for dispensing flanged elements from a stack thereof

Info

Publication number: US3601282A
Application number: US835362A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leo G Vogel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-06-23
Filing date: 1969-06-23
Publication date: 1971-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-24

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for dispensing such flanged elements as trays and plates from a stack thereof. The apparatus has a pair of units spaced apart to receive the stack between them and each unit includes a pair of blades vertically spaced by a distance equal to the thickness of the margins of the elements and movable into and out of margin supporting position. Operating means provide a cycle in which the stack is first supported by the upper blades, then by the lower blades, the upper blades then returned to their supporting position and the lower blades retracted to release the lowermost element. When the lowermost elements may adhere to the stack, pry means are provided to become operative when the lower blades are retracted. Fluidpressure and cam-operated embodiments of the apparatus are detailed.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor LeoG. Vogel Box 227. Downlngtown, Pa. 19335 [2|] Appl. No. 835,362 [22} Filed June 23,1969 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 197i [$4] APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING FLANGED ELEMEM'S FROM A STACK THEREOF 19 Claims, 32 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S.Cl 211/25], 222/298 [5 1] Int. Cl. B651 59/06 [50] Field of 22 H25 1. 273. 274, 295, 297, 223, 298

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.5 89,600 3/l952 Burkholder 22 I129! X 2.974.828 3/196] Matteson U 22l/2Sl X 3,l9l.804 6/1965 Amic,Sr 22l/25l X Primary Examiner- Lloyd L. King Assistant Examiner-John J. Love ArtorneyAbbott Spear ABSTRACT: Apparatus is disclosed for dispensing such flanged elements as trays and plates from a stack thereof. The apparatus has a pair of units spaced apart to receive the stack between them and each unit includes a pair of blades vertically spaced by a distance equal to the thickness of the mar gins of the elements and movable into and out of margin supporting position. Operating means provide a cycle in which the stack is first supported by the upper blades, then by the lower blades, the upper blades then returned to their supporting position and the lower blades retracted to release the lowermost element. when the lowermost elements may adhere to the stack, pry means are provided to become operative when the lower blades are retracted. Fluid-pressure and camoperated embodiments of the apparatus are detailed.

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APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING FLANGED ELEMENTS FROM A STACK THEREOF The present invention relates to apparatus for dispensing elements from a stack.

While apparatus in accordance with the invention may be used in dispensing elements from a stack of any articles where blades may be entered between them without injury to the articles, the invention is herein discussed with particular reference to baking industry problems arising from the requirements that containers of various sizes, shapes, and constructions be dispensed from a stack onto a conveyor, later to be filled with a food product. Such containers are trays, dishes, pans, cups, and plates, by way of example, and may be made of plastics, aluminum foil, pulp, or combinations thereof and characteristically have marginal structures by which they may be supported in the form ofa flange or lips, usually having a rolled edge. The elements will hereafter, for convenience, be referred to as trays and their marginal structures will also subsequently be referred to as flanges. At this time, it should be noted that while stacks of trays, as delivered to the bakery, are so securely nested that they often tend to adhere to each other, their marginal structure presents, between each two trays, a recess defining a blade entrance enabling a blade to be forced into a position underlying a flange without injury to either tray.

The principal objective of the present invention is to provide tray-dispensing apparatus taking advantage of that fact, an objective attained with apparatus provided with a pair of units spaced apart to receive the stack of trays between them. Each unit includes a pair of vertically spaced blades with the distance between them equal to the flange thickness. Each blade of each unit is transversely aligned with and disposed towards the corresponding blade of the other unit and movable between advanced positions in which corresponding blades underlie the flange of a tray and retracted positions in which they are disengaged therefrom. Means are provided to establish an operating cycle in which both blades of both units are in their operative position with the stack supported by the upper blades, the upper blades are then retracted to let the stack drop and be supported by the lower blades, the upper blades are then returned into their stack-supporting position and, finally, the lower blades are retracted to free the lower most tray.

Another objective of the invention is to provide, where the lowermost tray may adhere, when the lower blades are retracted, to the bottom of the tray held by the upper blades, pry means to dislodge the lowermost plate, the pry means being operated on the retraction of the lower blades. Yet another objective of the invention is to provide the pry means with a part operable as a block to prevent lateral movement of a tray with one of the lower blades.

Other objectives of the invention are to provide for adjustment of the units relative to each other as required by tray sizes, the adjustment of the vertical spacing between the blades of each unit to provide for different flange thickness and the adjustment of the blades relative to their supporting structure to adjust their operative positions relative to flange widths.

Another objective of the invention is to provide for cam operation of the blades and yet another objective is to effect blade movements by fluid-pressure-operated means.

In the accompanying drawings, there are shown embodi merits of the invention illustrative ofthese and other of its objectives. novel features, and advantages.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. IA is a section taken approximately along the indicated lines lA-IA of FIG. I,

FIG. 2 is a view of the apparatus as seen from the outfeed end ofthe conveyor,

FIGS. 3, 4, and are sections taken approximately along the indicated lines 33 44, and 5-5, respectively, of FIG, I,

FIG. 6 is a section taken approximately along the indicated lines 6-6 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the stack of trays supported by the upper blades,

FIG. 8 is a like view showing the stack supported by the lower blades,

FIG. 9 is a like view showing the return of the upper blades to again support the tray stack,

FIG. 10 is a like view with the lower blades retracted and the pry blade actuated to ensure the release of the lowermost tray,

FIG. I] is a view of another embodiment of the invention as seen from the outfeed end of the conveyor,

FIG. I2 is a fragmentary view of the apparatus showing, on an increased scale, the blade actuating means of the unit on its right hand side, as viewed in FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is a view of the blade actuating means as seen from the same position as the apparatus is seen in FIG. 11 with the stack of trays supported by the lower blades,

FIG. 14 is a like view but with the stack of trays supported by the lower blades,

FIG. I5 is another like view but with the upper blades returned into their stack-supporting position,

FIG. 16 is yet another like view showing the lower blades retracted and the lowermost tray released,

FIG. 17 is a section taken approximately along the indicated lines l7-17 ofFIG. I1,

FIG. I8 is a section taken approximately along the indicated lines I8I8ofFIG. ll,

FIG. 18A is a view taken approximately along the indicated lines l8l8 of FIG. 7 but in the opposite direction to show the upper blades and blade actuating means of one of the units,

FIG. I9 is a somewhat schematic view of the control system,

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of apparatus in accordance with another embodiment ofthe invention,

FIG. 21 is a view thereof as seen from the outfeed end of the conveyor,

FIG. 22 is a section taken approximately along the indicated lines 22-22 of FIG. 2],

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary and partly sectioned view of the right hand unit as the apparatus is viewed in FIG. 21 with the upper blade in support ofa stack of trays,

FIG. 24 is a like view but with the upper blade retracted and the stack supported by the lower blade,

FIG. 25 is a like view showing the upper blade returned into its stack'supporting position,

FIG. 26 is another like view but with the lower blade retracted,

FIG. 27 is a schematic view showing a stack of trays of a type requiring the blades to be spaced apart vertically a substantial distance, the stack being supported by the upper blade,

FIG. 28 is a like view but with the stack supported by the lower blades,

FIG. 29 is a like view but showing the return of the upper blades, and

FIG. 30 is a like view but with the lower blades retracted and the pry blades actuated.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by FIGS. 1 I0, supports 20 and 21 are located on opposite sides of the conveyor 22. The base 23 ofa first generally indicated unit 24 is secured to the support 20 as by bolts 25 and the base 26 of a second generally indicated unit 27 is also secured to the sup port 21 by bolts 28 but with the support 2[ having slots 29 through which the bolts 28 extend thereby to enable the unit 27 to be moved towards or away from the unit 24 as required by the size and shape of the trays being dispensed and to be secured in such adjusted position. In FIG. I the apparatus is shown with the units spaced as required for dispensing trays 30 but adjustable for use in dispensing trays of larger sizes such as that indicated at 30A.

The

units

24 and 27 are substantially identical so that both will not be detailed except as to different features. The

Claims

1. Apparatus for dispensing elements from a stack thereof, the elements being of the type having flanges between which blades may be inserted, said apparatus comprising a pair of units spaced apart to receive the elements between them, each unit including upper and lower blades, and means separately connecting the upper and lower blades to the appropriate units with the distance between them equal to the flange thickness of an elemEnt and with corresponding blades of the units being transversely aligned with and disposed towards each other and movable between advanced operative positions in which they underlie the flange of an element and retracted inoperative positions in which they are disengaged therefrom, and means in control of the blades providing that the upper and lower blades of both units are first operatively positioned with the stack supported by the upper blades, the upper blades are retracted to permit the stack to drop and be supported by the lower blades, the upper blades are again operatively positioned and finally the lower blades are retracted to release the lowermost element, the upper blade of at least one of the units including a transversely pivoted intermediate section yieldably held in alignment with the lower blade thereof, and means connected to and movable with the lower blade thereof and operable to pivot said section as an elementreleasing pry when the lower blades are retracted.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the lower blade includes sections that are spaced apart by a distance such that the pry blade section may swing downwardly between them.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the pry blade section includes a stop member on its undersurface that is exposed for engagement by a tray if it adheres to the lower blade as the lower blade is retracted.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which each upper blade includes a depending stop exposed for engagement by a tray if it adheres to a lower blade as the lower blades are retracted.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the upper blade of at least one of the units includes a transversely pivoted section provided with a rearward, downwardly disposed cam portion, and the lower blade includes an upwardly disposed cam portion coacting with the cam portion of the upper blade section as the lower blade is retracted thereby to pivot the upper blade section as an element-releasing pry.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the pry blade section is counterweighted.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 and spring means yieldably urging the pry blade section into alignment with the remainder of the upper blade.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the blade control means includes cam carried by each unit, one for each blade and including a driving connection with the other, each blade includes a cam follower in operative engagement with the appropriate one of the cams, a driving connection between corresponding cams of the two units, one unit is adjustable towards and away from the other unit, the driving connection includes a shaft consisting of telescopic sections of a mating noncircular section.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the driving connection includes a shaft, a gear on each end of said shaft, said shaft having an elongated keyway for one of said gears, and said one gear including a part entrant of said keyway.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means in control of the blades include fluid-pressure-operated devices, one for each blade and connected thereto, a source of fluid under pressure, and means to connect said devices to said source in predetermined order.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the fluid pressure devices are double-acting piston-cylinder units.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the piston of each unit is adjustably connected to the appropriate one of the blades.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 and bleeder valves for each device, and cam means for operating the bleeder valves in a predetermined manner.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 and an air motor including a drive for the cams operating the bleeder valves.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 in which each unit includes upper and lower slideways and the blades include mounts, one slidable in the upper slideway and one slidable in the lower slideway, one of the slideways is movable relative to the other to vary the spacing of the blades, and adjustable means limits the extent to which the slideways may move Toward each other.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 in which one of the slideways of each unit is pivoted at its rear to swing upwardly and downwardly relative to the other slideway of that unit, and a threaded connection between first portions of the slideways is operable to establish and maintain the desired spacing between the blades.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 in which the base includes vertical walls having lengthwise, transversely aligned slots and the slidable unit includes supports extending through the slots.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 in which each unit includes a reciprocable member for each blade and each blade is connected thereto to enable its operative position to be advanced or retracted.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 in which each unit includes a reciprocable member for each blade and each blade is connected thereto to enable its operative position to be advanced or retracted to enable its vertical position to be varied.