Method and apparatus for stacking articles and feeding the stacks to a discharge site.

摘要

A method and apparatus for stacking small articles (2) in a side-by-side stack (28) and feeding the stacks (28) to a discharge conveyor (6). A plurality of articles (2), such as small video casette containers (2), are conveyed in an upright end-to-end relation on a first conveyor (3). As each article (2a) approaches the downstream end of the conveyor (3), it is pushed laterally across a platform (l4) against a movable backstop (23) to form a side-by-side stack (28) of articles (2). The stack (28) is then transferred into a movable carriage (36) and the carriage (36) is moved to a position over a discharge conveyor (6). The end of the carriage (36) facing downstream in the direction of movement of the discharge conveyor (6) is provided with a movable gate (40) and after the carriage (36) is in position over the discharge conveyor (6) the gate (40) is opened to release the stack (28) for movement on the discharge conveyor (6).