Carton stacking apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for stacking incoming items. The apparatus includes a receiving mechanism for receiving incoming items, a stacking mechanism for receiving items from the receiving mechanism and stacking the items in a stacking area, a buffering mechanism for receiving incoming items when the stacking mechanism is full, and a stack unloading mechanism. The method includes receiving an item in an item receiving mechanism, moving the item receiving mechanism to track the motion of a stacking mechanism, transferring the item from the receiving mechanism to the stacking mechanism, stacking the item in a stacking area, and unloading the stacking area when the stacking area is full of items.

1 . A method for stacking incoming items, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving an item in a first end of an item receiving mechanism;    (b) moving a second end of the item receiving mechanism to vertically track the vertical motion of a stacking mechanism;    (c) transferring the item from the receiving mechanism to the stacking mechanism;    (d) stacking the item in a stacking area; and    (e) unloading the stacking area when the stacking area is full of items.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of repeating steps (a) through (c) when the stacking area is full of items.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) is disabled when the stacking area is full of items.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (e) occurs concurrently with steps (a) through (c).  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus for stacking items, comprising: 
 (a) a receiving mechanism for receiving incoming items;    (b) a stacking area wherein the items are stacked one upon the other;    (c) a stacking mechanism further comprising a plurality of moving stacker shelves for receiving items from the receiving mechanism and stacking items in the stacking area;    (d) a buffering mechanism for receiving incoming items when the stacking area is full;    (e) a stack unloading mechanism; and    (f) wherein one end of the receiving mechanism is within one of the plurality of moving stacker shelves.