Method and Device to Form Stacks

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for forming stacks of objects ( 9, 9 a ) with adjacent flat sides, using a rotating chain ( 2 ) comprising individual compartments (5) in which individual objects ( 9 a ) with the same orientation are respectively arranged. Every second object is ejected from the compartments of a strand ( 2 a , 2 b ) transversally to the transport direction, and inserted into the corresponding empty compartments ( 5 ) on the opposite side. In this way, the objects are alternately oriented in opposite directions in the position where they are ejected from the chain.

1 . Device to form stacks of objects ( 9 ,  9   a ), the device comprising: 
 a compartment device ( 1 ) with a plurality of compartments ( 5 ) moved along the path that each receive an object ( 9 ,  9   a ),    wherein the path is perpendicular to the compartment device,    a transfer device ( 20 ) to withdraw an individual object ( 9   a ) from an occupied one of the compartments ( 5 ) and to insert the object ( 9   a ) into an empty one of the compartments ( 5 ) of the plurality of compartments, and    an ejection device ( 14 ) to eject a series of objects ( 9 ,  9   a ) forming a stack.    
   
   
       2 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer device ( 20 ) is designed so that it inserts the object ( 9   a ) into another compartment ( 5 ) of the plurality of compartments.  
   
   
       3 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer device ( 20 ) moves the object ( 9   a ) without changing its orientation.  
   
   
       4 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the compartment device ( 1 ) is designed so that it moves the compartments ( 5 ) along a path having two at least approximately parallel sections, whereby the movement in these two sections runs in opposite directions.  
   
   
       5 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the compartments ( 5 ) of the compartment device are moved along a closed path with two parallel sides ( 2   a ,  2   b ).  
   
   
       6 . Device according to  claim 5 , wherein the compartments ( 5 ) are on a revolving chain ( 2 ).  
   
   
       7 . Device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a supply device ( 8 ) that inserts the objects ( 9 ,  9   a ) sequentially into the compartments ( 5 ) of the compartment device.  
   
   
       8 . Device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a device to generate an apparent stoppage of the compartment device ( 1 ) at the site of the ejection device ( 14 ).  
   
   
       9 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer device ( 20 ) has a servodrive ( 26 ) to provide movement in two directions.  
   
   
       10 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer device is designed to transfer a plurality of individual objects ( 9   a ) out of and into non-neighboring compartments ( 5 ).  
   
   
       11 . Method to form stacks of objects ( 9 ,  9   a ), the method comprising: 
 locating the objects ( 9 ,  9   a ) next to each other in compartments ( 5 ) within a compartment arrangement,    moving the compartments with the objects ( 9 ,  9   a ) along a path perpendicular to the compartment arrangement,    removing a single object ( 9   a ) from a series of adjacent objects ( 9 ,  9   a ), and    wherein the object is inserted into an empty compartment ( 5 ), and    wherein a series of objects ( 9 ,  9   a ) now forming a stack is ejected together out of the compartments ( 5 ).    
   
   
       12 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein an individual object ( 9   a ) is inserted into a different compartment ( 5 ) of the compartment series than the compartment ( 5 ) from which it was removed.  
   
   
       13 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein the object ( 9   a ) does not change its orientation while it is being removed from one compartment ( 5 ) and inserted into another compartment ( 5 ).  
   
   
       14 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein the compartments ( 5 ) are moved along a path having two at least approximately parallel sections, whereby the movement in these two sections run in the opposite direction.  
   
   
       15 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein the compartments ( 5 ) are moved along a closed path with two parallel sides ( 2   a ,  2   b ).  
   
   
       16 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein the compartments ( 5 ) are moved with the aid of a revolving chain ( 2 ), a belt, etc.  
   
   
       17 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein the objects ( 9 ,  9   a ) are inserted sequentially into the compartments ( 5 ).  
   
   
       18 . Method according to  claim 11 , the movement of the series of compartments ( 5 ) is brought to an apparent standstill while the objects ( 9 ,  9   a ) are being ejected from the compartments ( 5 ).  
   
   
       19 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of individual objects ( 9   a ) are simultaneously removed from compartments ( 5 ) and simultaneously inserted into compartments ( 5 ).