Apparatus and method for packaging siding panels

Abstract

An apparatus for sorting and packaging vinyl siding panels. The apparatus comprises a panel receiving section for positioning in line with a panel extrusion line, pins for inverting and stacking the panels atop each other with the pins being coupled to a frame supporting the panel receiving section and situated below the panel receiving section, a panel accumulation section situated below the panel receiving section and the pins, and a mechanism means, preferably a ram mechanism, situated at a first end of the panel accumulation section for pushing the panels from the panel accumulation section and into a container, such as a pre-made carton, situated at a second end of the panel accumulation section that is opposite the first end. The apparatus substantially reduces ergonomic issues associated with the current apparatus for packaging vinyl siding panels and substantially increases the vinyl siding panel extrusion rate. A method is also disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The invention relates to production line machinery for sorting and packing articles, and in particular to such an apparatus for sorting and packing vinyl siding panels.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Vinyl siding is commonly used in construction as the exterior cladding for homes and other structures and has the advantage of low maintenance and high resistance to weathering. Vinyl siding is easily applied by home remodelers and do-it-yourselfers. This siding is made by a known extrusion process with a common panel size of 8 inches wide by 12 feet long, although other lengths and widths can be used as appropriate. The siding is normally formed with a hanger strip along one edge which interlocks with a mating strip along the edge of an adjoining strip. These hanger strips complicate packing the strips in stacks within a box or carton, and to achieve maximum space efficiency, the strips are normally packed in alternate orientation. Moreover, stacking and ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The method comprises moving the panels from the panel extrusion line to the panel receiving section and dropping the panels from the panel receiving section onto pins that invert and arrange received panels. When dropped, the panels are inverted as they hit the pins and drop into the panel accumulation section where they are stacked. The mechanism means, preferably a ram mechanism, pushes the stacked panels into the the pre-made carton and the carton is closed and ready for shipping. In this manner, the apparatus of the present invention facilitates an automated packing process which significantly reduces the level of operator participation in its operation.

Problems solved by technology

These hanger strips complicate packing the strips in stacks within a box or carton, and to achieve maximum space efficiency, the strips are normally packed in alternate orientation.

Accordingly, repetitive hand and wrist movement is required, which can lead to repetitive stress injury.

The current work design, in some instances, also forces a reduction in extruder throughput because the packer cannot keep up.

This lowers the overall production rate and allows ergonomic issues such as risk of injury to an operator, to persist.

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