Abstract: An arrangement for forming successive layers of sheets of paper and the like from a stream of individual sheets supplied in succession to a collecting station by a supply conveyor, and for transferring the formed layers to a continuously advancing discharge conveyor, includes an abutment capable of interrupting the advancement of the supplied sheets to form a layer from a predetermined number of sheets, and a clamping device which grips the layer of sheets and transfers the same to the discharge conveyor. The arrangement includes a drive including a transmission, particularly a kinematic linkage transmission, causing the abutment and clamping device to perform a preselected succession of movements, and a prime mover which is kinematically separated from the main drive of the machine in which the arrangement is used and thus from the drive of the supply and discharge conveyors.

Abstract: A web of undulate wire is converted into a series of coherent C-shaped binders of the type known by the trademark Wire-O and used to bind stacks of paper sheets or the like in the making of steno pads, brochures, calendars and similar stationery products by continuously moving the web lengthwise at a constant or variable speed, by imparting to successive increments of one marginal portion of the moving web a concavo-convex shape in stepwise fashion so that the one marginal portion resembles (in cross-section) one-half of the letter C, and by thereupon imparting to successive increments of the other marginal portion of the moving web a concavo-convex shape in stepwise fashion so that the thus converted other marginal portion becomes a mirror image of the converted one marginal portion. The imparting steps include deforming the respective marginal portions from the inner toward the outer edges thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting a running web of paper or the like has a rotary disk-shaped first knife and a driven counterknife. The first knife is rotatable on a shaft which constitutes the piston rod of a double-acting pneumatic cylinder and piston unit. The cylinder of such unit is connected with a second piston rod forming part of a single-acting cylinder and piston unit. The control system for the two units includes a shutoff valve which can admit compressed air to the single-acting unit whereby the pressure in a first conduit which connects the source of compressed air with the single-acting unit rises when the second piston rod reaches an end position in which the marginal portion of the first knife overlaps but is remote from the marginal portion of the counterknife. A second conduit thereupon admits compressed air to the double-acting unit in order to move the first knife axially against the counterknife.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting paper sheets wherein a first knife, which is freely rotatable on a shaft, is movable sideways toward and away from a driven counterknife. The shaft is reciprocable in a carrier which is connected with one end of a reciprocable and turnable piston rod. The piston rod extends into a cylinder and is reciprocable by a spring and a membrane-like piston. The orientation of the first knife with respect to the counterknife can be changed by turning the piston rod with reference to the cylinder so that the piston rod can assume and is held in any one of several angular positions. To this end, the piston rod is rigidly connected with a radially extending projection which is disposed between two rollers mounted in the cylinder for movement at right angles to their axes. One of the rollers is biased against one side of the projection by a helical spring, and the other roller is movable at right angles to its axis by an adjusting screw which meshes with the cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus for looping the free end portions of the outermost convolutions of helical binders which are threaded through the perforations of a stack of loose leaves has a pivotable tool with a cutting edge which clips the end convolution of a properly located binder and a bending edge which bends the free end portion of the clipped end convolution over the neighboring convolution. A rotary loop forming device is thereupon actuated by a lever to convert the deformed end portion into a loop which surrounds the neighboring convolution. The loop forming device has a guide face which cooperates with a parallel second guide face provided on a reciprocable hold-down device which is caused to extend between the end convolution and the neighboring convolution while the end portion is converted into a loop.

Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating discrete stacks of superimposed note books has a feeding conveyor which delivers note books seriatim into each of a battery of receptacles forming a row which extends transversely of the direction of feed of note books. Each receptacle has a composite bottom wall with two elongated horizontal carriers which are movable sideways toward and away from each other to constitute a platform for an oncoming note book in those positions in which they are closer to each other and to provide an opening for gravitational descent of a note book onto a stacking table therebelow in those positions in which they are more distant from each other. The carriers are parallel to the direction of feed of note books into the respective receptacles, one carrier of each bottom wall is connected to a first reciprocable support, and the other carrier of each bottom wall is connected to a second reciprocable support.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting stacks of paper sheets from a gathering station which receives successive rows of aligned stacks to two packing machines has a discrete staggering conveyor for each stack of a row. These conveyors serve to convert each row into two groups of staggered stacks and cooperate with auxiliary conveyors which deliver such stacks to successive pallets of two separate sets of pallets which advance the stacks toward the respective packing machines. The pallets of each set travel along a separate main track. The main tracks are parallel to each other and flank two crossing connecting tracks.

Abstract: A machine which converts a strand of wire into a body of meandering shape has two carriers which rotate about parallel axes and respectively carry annuli of pins. One annulus of pins surrounds the other annulus of pins, and each pin of one annulus is adjacent to a pin of the other annulus. When the carriers rotate, neighboring pins of the two annuli move toward each other during one-half of each orbital movement about the respective axes and away from each other during the other half of each orbital movement. A looping device winds the wire alternately about the oncoming pins of the inner and outer annuli while the neighboring pins move away from each other whereby the wire is converted into a meandering body and the wire portions between successive pins are stretched to assume a predetermined shape. The meandering body is stripped off the pins while the neighboring pins move nearer to each other.

Abstract: Apparatus for looping the free end portions of the outermost convolutions of helical binders which are threaded through the perforations of a stack of loose leaves has a pivotable tool with a cutting edge which clips the end convolution of a properly located binder and a bending edge which bends the free end portion of the clipped end convolution over the neighboring convolution. A rotary loop forming device is thereupon actuated by a lever to convert the deformed end portion into a loop which surrounds the neighboring convolution. The loop forming device has a guide face which cooperates with a parallel second guide face provided on a reciprocable hold-down device which is caused to extend between the end convolution and the neighboring convolution while the end portion is converted into a loop.

Abstract: Apparatus for looping the free end portions of the outermost convolutions of helical binders which are threaded through the perforations of a stack of loose leaves has a pivotable tool with a cutting edge which clips the end convolution of a properly located binder and a bending edge which bends the free end portion of the clipped end convolution over the neighboring convolution. A rotary loop forming device is thereupon actuated by a lever to convert the deformed end portion into a loop which surrounds the neighboring convolution. The loop forming device has a guide face which cooperates with a parallel second guide face provided on a reciprocable hold-down device which is caused to extend between the end convolution and the neighboring convolution while the end portion is converted into a loop.