초록 ▼

A stacker and cart are provided for vertically stacking forms fed from a printer, folder, or other mechanism, by a conveyor, which do not require tilting of the cart to allow offloading of the forms. The stacker has a housing with side walls parallel to and spaced from each other in a first dimensio

A stacker and cart are provided for vertically stacking forms fed from a printer, folder, or other mechanism, by a conveyor, which do not require tilting of the cart to allow offloading of the forms. The stacker has a housing with side walls parallel to and spaced from each other in a first dimension and a base which mounts the side walls so that they are inclined with respect to the vertical (e.g. about 15 degrees), tilted in a second dimension perpendicular to the first. A number of forms-supporting stacker tines are parallel to and spaced from each other in the first dimension, and an elevator mechanism moves the tines in unison generally vertically with respect to the side walls. A stacker cooperates with a cart, a part sensor mounted on or adjacent the stacker base, and a latch on the cart cooperating with a latching mechanism on the stacker. The cart has a forms engaging face making the same angle to the vertical as the stacker side walls, and cart tines extend outwardly from the face parallel to and spaced from each other in the first dimension and intermeshed with the stacker tines so that the stacker and cart tines do not interfere with each other as the stacker tines are moved by the elevator mechanism relative to the cart tines. The cart preferably has a second face and tines on the opposite side of a movable base from the first face and tines.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A stacker comprising:a housing including first and second generally vertical side walls, and a base, said side walls substantially parallel to each other and spaced in a first dimension;a plurality of forms-supporting tines parallel to and spaced from each other in said f

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A stacker comprising:a housing including first and second generally vertical side walls, and a base, said side walls substantially parallel to each other and spaced in a first dimension;a plurality of forms-supporting tines parallel to and spaced from each other in said first dimension, and having free ends and top surfaces;said base including support portions which mount said side walls and tines so that at least one of said tines and said side walls are inclined with respect to the vertical more than two degrees, tilted in a second dimension, substantially perpendicular to said first dimension and so that said tine free ends are substantially the lowest portion of said top surfaces;an elevator mechanism for moving said forms-supporting tines together in a generally vertical dimension with respect to said side walls; anda cart sensor mounted on or adjacent said base for sensing positioning of a cart in operative association with said forms-supporting tines.