Continuous motion stacking apparatus and methods

摘要

A continuous motion stacking apparatus (10) is disclosed including a positive drive device (14) which places abutting products on a conveyor (12). When the leading series of products is detected to have reached a predetermined position by a sensor (94), the series of products are pushed from the conveyor (12) by a pusher plate (32) which has a first movement component equal to the conveying speed parallel to the conveyor (12) and a second movement component perpendicular to the conveyor (12). The series of products are pushed onto a shelf (30) simultaneously moving perpendicular to the conveyor (12) with the pusher plate (32). When the shelf (30) retracts, the products fall onto a vertically, movable platform (24) or products supported thereon. A guide (34) moves forward at the conveying speed parallel to the conveyor (12) to keep the remaining products on the conveyor (12) and to keep the last product of the series being pushed from the conveyor (12) parallel to the conveyor (12). The pusher plate (32) is raised above the remaining products on the conveyor (12) when it moves back to its initial cycle position. Thus, product is conveyed by the conveyor (12) at a constant speed at all times of operation of the apparatus (10). Product is pushed from the movable platform (24) onto an output conveyor (22) when stacked to the desired height by a further pusher plate (26).