Abstract: A dividing device used in a commodity collecting device which aligns a predetermined number of commodities successively supplied by a conveyance conveyor and continually pushes them out sideways by a sideway pusher to regularly collect commodities on a stock yard, the dividing device including a floor onto which the collected commodity group is discharged by a discharge pusher, the floor being divided into front and rear floors with respect to the moving direction of the discharge pusher, the front floor on which a part of the commodities on the stock yard is discharged being designed to move in the same direction as the moving direction of the discharge pusher so as to separate only a part of the commodities, and rear pusher engagable with the rear end of the commodity group being provided above the stationary rear floor so that the remaining part of the commodities may be pushed out onto the front floor from which the commodities have been discharged.

Abstract: A motorized device for retrieving rectangular objects and stacking said objects on a pallet is described. The device includes a conveyor for picking up objects such as hay bales from the ground and a manipulator for taking bales from the conveyor and orienting them either lengthwise or crosswise. The oriented bales are then individually transported to an accumulator in the desired orientation to form a layer. When the layer has been formed on the accumulator, a carriage is translated forward and downward to engage the layer and pick the layer up, moving the carriage and layer of bales rearwardly to deposit them on a pallet. Successive layers are formed in this fashion until a stack of the desired height is disposed on the pallet. The device then may transport the palletized load to a storage or transport area where the load may be moved by forklift truck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for aligning the slices in stacks of sliced food products and for loading the stacks into container cavities. Stacks are received sequentially from a supply conveyor onto a stack support surface, where the stacks are detained either by friction with the support surface or by a stack catcher. A stack positioning member movable along the support surface pushes the stacks into engagement with a stack former for aligning the slices. Simultaneously, the stack positioning member retards movement of the next upstream stack on the supply conveyor so that the stack comes to rest on the support surface, and then pushes the previously aligned stack to a downstream pick-up station for loading into a container cavity. Each stack is removed from the loading station by a gripper assembly which pivots between the loading station and the container.

Abstract: Panel-like members are aligned as they are transferred sequentially from a pick-up station to a discharge station by a primary carriage mounted for linear movement selectively to the pick-up position and to a position adjacent the discharge station. At least one extensible, secondary carriage is carried by the primary carriage and is rotatable about a vertical axis selectively to a transport position and to an aligned position and is movable linearly to an extended position and to a retracted position. The secondary carriage and a pick-up head carried thereby is movable selectively to an upper transport position and to a lower pick-up and discharge position. Linear movement of the primary carriage is stopped prior to its reaching the discharge station with the secondary carriage being movable toward an extended position after movement of the primary carriage is stopped.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for inserting supplements into newspapers without slowing the flow of newspapers from a printing press. The method and apparatus produce a final, single stream of newspapers after the newspapers are received from inserting machines. At least two inserting machines receive portions of a main stream of newspapers from the printing press. The main stream is divided into branch stream which pass through the slower operating inserting machines. The branch streams are recombined into a single stream of newspapers having the same speed as the main stream of newspapers from the printing press. The apparatus comprises a receiving conveyor for receiving newspapers from respective branch streams. Overlapped batches of newspapers are formed on the receiving conveyor. One newspaper from each branch stream is deposited at predetermined longitudinal and lateral positions of the receiving conveyor to form the batches of newspapers.

Abstract: A conveyance system which adjusts the quantitative rate at which items are conveyed independently of the linear velocity at which items are conveyed while the conveyance operation is on-going, is disclosed. The conveyance system includes a roller section that receives the items being conveyed at a first conveyance velocity, a positioning device that moves the items lateral to the direction of conveyance, a control device that controls the rate of operation of the positioning device, and a second roller section that includes a gear box which adjusts the linear conveyance velocity of and the spacing between the items being conveyed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for forming a substantially aligned and uniform stack of flat articles (for example, food products such as sliced sausage products) from a non-uniform stack. The first stack is positioned between at least a pair of stack engaging members which are movable in the same direction, but at different speeds, to converge gradually and engage the articles, thereby moving the articles into a substantially aligned and uniform stack.

Abstract: Discrete articles moving on a conveyor belt are first laterally aligned in rows extending transversely to direction of movement of the conveyor belt and then engaged in compartments arranged in rows extending across the conveyor belt. The compartments containing the articles are then shifted to overlie packages located beneath the compartments and the aligned rows of articles from within the compartments are permitted to drop into the packages.

Abstract: Apparatus for the lateral feeding and transfer handling of successive cants into and through a wane scanning station, with subsequent adjusted-position placement on the infeed conveyor for an edger. Featured in the apparatus are a main carriage, which is driven reciprocally with what might be thought of as sinusoidal motion, and thereon a relatively moveable subcarriage which can translate, and rotate about a central upright axis, under the influence of a pair of conventional setworks. The subcarriage includes cant transport blades which directly support a cant, and which are rockable between raised and lowered positions and about axes which substantially parallel the reciprocation axis of the main carriage, all for the purpose of effecting a simple pick-up and final hand-off transfer of a cant as it travels and is scanned on the fly between intake and discharge stations. During cant transfer, there is no relative movement occurring between the cant and the structure directly supporting it.

Abstract: An in-line pattern forming apparatus includes a windowed endless roller conveyor disposed in a longitudinal system path for sequentially receiving sets of articles. A friction shoe shifts the set of articles through the conveyor window to an underlying turntable which is rotatable for selectively reorienting the set, whereupon the lead roller at the end of the window pushes the set off the turntable to a staging support which sequentially receives a plurality of sets to form a pattern. The pattern is then swept as a unit from the staging support to a container loader or other associated apparatus in the system path. Means may be provided for selectively shifting sets of articles on the staging support laterally of the path to facilitate formation of certain patterns.

Abstract: A container rearranging station wherein bottles or other containers enter in single file and are discharged with several of them abreast of each other. The station is comprised of three parallel running conveyor sections. All the sections are tilted at the same angle so as to provide a smooth inclined plane. A supply conveyor on which the bottles arrive in single file is the highest of those on the inclined plane and runs at the highest speed of any of them. The adjacent intermediate conveyor runs at a slightly slower speed and the adjacent lower most discharge conveyors run at a uniform but still slower speed. Inclination angles of the conveyors between the input region of the station and the output region where the containers are abreast are preferably adjustable between 8.degree. and 11.degree. so that the containers drift from the supply conveyor through the intermediate conveyor to the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: Horizontally conveyed flat glass articles are halted and oriented in a precise location. Vertical stop pins removably affixed to a table attached to one end of the apparatus arrest the leading edge of the moving article whereupon pins removably mounted in a pair of transversely movable tables advance toward the article substantially normal to its arrival direction, thus engaging the edges of the article and orienting it in a vise-like manner. Lastly, adjustable pins mounted in a vertically and longitudinally moving table engage the trailing edge of the article and urge it toward the stop pins, thus orienting and aligning the article in a precise position relative to a fixed reference point. The apparatus is particularly adapted to the precise orientation and alignment of pattern cut sheets of glass to be removed from a conveyor platform by a robot.

Abstract: A mechanism for powering the formation of a tie-tier on a bale wagon is disclosed wherein the drive for pivotally moving the first table to convey a set of three bales onto the second table provides the driving power to kick the center bale back onto the first table. The movememt of the kicker mechanism to move the center bale back onto the first table effects a movement of a spiking mechanism to fix the exterior ends of the outer bales of the set conveyed onto the second table for rotation about vertically extending spikes and effects the movement of a two bale trip from a retracted position. A latching mechanism is provided to latch the kicking mechanism in a forward position so as to maintain the spiking mechanism and the two bale trip in operative positions during the formation of the tie-tier.

Abstract: Lead frames with semiconductor microcircuit chips bonded thereto are automatically rapidly precisely loaded onto loading frames for subsequent encapsulation of the chips. The lead frames are contained within magazines, each lead frame resting on a separate rack therewithin. An air-actuated piston causes a plurality of pusher bars to each eject a lead frame from each of a plurality of the magazines, horizontally disposed, onto a nest member which pivots to invert the lead frames ejected thereon onto the loading frame. The lead frames are precisely positioned on the nest member early in the pivot thereof when the lead frame are caused to slide downwardly on the smooth-surfaced nest member to thereby contact an abutment and to be retained in that precise position by vacuum until deposited on the loading frame.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for packing cut pickle spears in a jar in predetermined positions and orientations by laying the spears side-by-side on a flexible resilient belt, rolling up the belt with the spears on it to form a cylinder, and pushing the cylindrical array of spears out of the rolled up belt into the jar.

Abstract: An apparatus for precisely locating a windshield at the take-off end of a conveyor for subsequent removal by a transfer apparatus. The locating apparatus includes a carriage having a lift device for raising the windshield off the conveyor up to a predetermined level. The carriage also is provided with a slide for moving the elevated windshield horizontally in a first direction against a first stop. The carriage is then actuated to move the windshield in a direction normal to the first direction against a second stop oriented 90.degree. from the first stop.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable-configuration head for seizing and handling objects, which head comprises a frame from which are suspended supports for seizing members through the medium of three links swivelled both to the supports and to the frame, the supports being geometrically equivalent to two identical articulated parallelograms having opposite angles at one common vertex, so as to allow the supports to be joined together transversely or longitudinally to modify the configuration of the group of objects held by the seizing members.

Abstract: An extensible head for seizing and reorienting a group of objects includes a frame to which is swivelled a member which drives swivelled first links to cause the translation of carriages on which are rotatably mounted supports for gripping members, these supports being connected to a plate by second links swivelled to the plate and to lugs provided on the supports.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for aligning a pair of bent glass sheets of matching configuration for assembly with a position occupied by a flexible sheet of interlayer material to form a sandwich to be laminated.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring articles, such as eggs, from one station to another. The eggs are arranged in a predetermined configuration at the first or transfer station, and deposited at a second station in a different array or configuration. The transfer head, which contains egg engaging and lifting members in the form of vacuum cups, includes a first and second carrier section, each of which retains one-half of the array or egg engaging positions. The carrier sections are interconnected by linkage members which, when rotated, change the array configuration from a first position to a second position without the need for rotating the entire transfer head and the articles being carried.

Abstract: An assembly system for loading glass sheets of different size on a conveyor that comprises a plurality of loading tables for assembling a group of consecutive or non-consecutive glass sheets on any selected one or other of said loading tables. The formed group of glass sheets has a greater density than that of a group formed by assembling consecutive glass sheets of different size onto a single loading table. Means is provided to transfer each group of glass sheets when completed onto a treatment conveyor without disturbing the arrangement of the glass sheets within said group.

Abstract: A plurality of gimbal mounted wheels are located to protrude slightly above an alignment table to support a work piece. A pair of electro-optical scanners are located above the table to locate a marked bend line on the work piece with respect to a die in an adjacent press brake. The scanner signals for wheel alignment and to drive units located in each half of the alignment table to selectively drive the wheels and move the work piece bend line into position in the press brake. An alternate drive actuates the wheels when the wheels are aligned for maximum rotation.

Abstract: A feeding device for controlled feeding of objects (R) from an inlet (9) to a outlet (11) by means of a feeding means consistituted by two cooperating feeding wheels (4,5). One of the feeding wheels (4) has a guiding groove (21), and the other feeding wheel (5) has two round belts (17a,17b) laid around the wheel, and stationary guide plates (26,27) preferably extend between the belts in the nip and merge with the inlet and/or the outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically handling palletized poultry coops containing live birds to empty the birds from the coops for hanging. A pallet loaded with tiers of poultry coops after removal from the livehaul truck by a forklift is placed on a conveyor to move automatically to the input end of a coop infeed conveyor extending transverse to the pallet conveyor. Upon alignment of the pallet with the coop infeed conveyor, a limit switch stops the pallet conveyor and an extractor is actuated which pushes a tier of coops off the pallet and onto the coop infeed conveyor. The tier of coops is moved along to an unstacker comprising a lay-down unit having a rotor with coop support arms arranged in quadrature such that the coops are laid down on an inclined conveyor with each quarter of a revolution. The inclined conveyor moves each of the coops in succession to a dumping unit that empties the coop.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for grouping of objects such as books or the like to stacking layers for loading onto pallets wherein stacks of equal height are formed from the individual objects, and are conveyed sequentially for forming a stacking row, the length of which corresponds to the transverse dimension of a pallet; at least one of the stacks in a given stacking row is rotated by 90.degree. with respect to the other stacks in the given stacking row, and a gap is produced between the thusly rotated stack and the remainder of the stacks in the stacking row, the stacking row then being pushed onto an intermediate storage table, with subsequently arriving similarly oriented stacking rows being pushed onto the first stacking row to form a tier, and subsequent tiers similarly formed but with differently oriented stacks to provide a staggered or overlapping bond and thus a stable pallet stack.

Abstract: An appartus for aligning an advancing plastic-glass sandwich on a conveyor to accurately direct the same in a desired orientation for proper entry into the restricted receiving zone of a pressing apparatus. The aligning apparatus includes a pair of pivotal arms located on one side of the sandwich and a third pivotal arm movable inwardly against the other side of the sandwich to urge the same against said first mentioned pair of arms while the sandwich is advanced therebetween.

Abstract: In apparatus for conveying successive stacks of sheets to a station at which an operation is to be performed on the stack, the sheets are advanced by pushing elements (14) to the station, at which a resilient finger (17) projects through a slot (16) in the track. The finger (17) aligns the leading edges of the sheets in the stack. When the stack of sheets is to be advanced, a slide (20) retracts. The finger (17) is pivotally mounted on the slide and its upper inclined edge engages the bottom rear corner of the slot when the slide is retracted, causing the finger to sink below the track until the slide is returned in time for the alignment of the next stack.

Abstract: A first conveyor moves cants to a delivery position adjacent to a second conveyor whose axis of movement is transverse to that of the first conveyor. A cant movement and aligning mechanism, which includes an overhead support that supports at least two positioning heads for movement in a direction transverse to the axis of movement of the second conveyor, moves the cant onto the second conveyor. The positioning heads are moved between a position beyond the trailing edge of a cant located at the delivery position and a position overlying the second conveyor. Each of the positioning heads includes a pusher pin and a hold-down pin mounted such that the longitudinal axis of the pusher and hold-down pins are vertically oriented and such that the pusher pin lies beyond the trailing edge of a cant located at the delivery position and the hold-down pin lies in a position between the pusher pin and the second conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing bottles from a case wherein the bottles are in a 3.times.4 pattern and depositing the bottles in a 2.times.6 pattern on a conveyor. The apparatus includes a center carriage having a 2.times.3 pattern of lifting devices and two outboard carriages having 1.times.3 patterns of lifting devices with mechanism for moving the outboard carriages toward each other as the center carriage is moved longitudinally with respect to the outboard carriages, thereby converting a 3.times.4 pattern to a 2.times.6 pattern.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing a log after scanning dimensionally by feeding the log along a longitudinal axis through a cutting means mounted adjacent the axis. The apparatus has a carriage mounted on rails for movement along the rails parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a clamp on the carriage which clamps the log on side faces thereof for feeding into the cutting means. The apparatus has orienting structure cooperating with the carriage and clamp to move the clamp relative to the longitudinal axis to re-position the log in a desired orientation relative to the axis and in accordance with the scanned dimensions. The cutting device initially cuts a lower datum face of the log which supports a forward end of the log when released from a respective clamp, and then cuts two side datum faces which engage guides to prevent rotation of the log after release by the clamp.

Abstract: An apparatus receives empty bins and loose articles of random size and shape, such as apples, to be stored within the bins at a fill station. The articles are delivered to an inclined conveyor which has a lower end adjacent to a horizontal conveyor with a stop roller being positioned between the conveyors. When the articles have collected on the inclined conveyor a predetermined distance up the incline, a drive is actuated which simultaneously moves the inclined conveyor upwardly and moves the horizontal conveyor away from the inclined conveyor while rotating the stop roller to permit the articles to move from the inclined conveyor to the horizontal conveyor. This conveyor motion causes the articles to gently cascade down the incline in spread out fashion so that they are transported toward the end of the horizontal conveyor remote from the inclined conveyor and across the entire breadth thereof.

Abstract: A machine for stacking rectangular sheets of relatively rigid material such as panels, counters, doors, plastic sheets, or the like which has an input conveyor for receiving the panels as they are placed horizontally thereon, an elevator conveyor pivotally connected to the discharge end of the input conveyor on a horizontal axis for raising and lowering movement, a discharge conveyor at the outer end of the elevator conveyor, a conveyor drive motor for driving the conveyors, elevator motor for moving the elevator conveyor about its pivot axis, and a switch on the discharge conveyor for activating the elevator motor as a panel is discharged therefrom to raise the elevator conveyor a selected distance prior to discharge of the next panel. The machine also includes a mechanism on the input conveyor for straightening any panel disposed thereon prior to its movement onto the elevator conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking brick in packages suitable for shipping or handling is disclosed. Such package is provided with two spaced voids adapted to receive the fork of a lift mechanism for handling the package. Arrays of rows of superposed pairs of brick are received at a setdown position and are conveyed to a transfer position where they are assembled in grids for stacking. A void row grid is formed by removing as a unit the upper layer of selected rows of brick to form a first void and such upper layer is subsequently inserted between adjacent superposed pairs of brick at another location to form a grid having a full lower layer and an upper layer having spaced voids therein. The void row grid is transferred to the stack by gripping the lower full layer thereof.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for forming layers of bricks in which rows within the layer can have the same or differing orientations. The bricks are conveyed in closed or substantially closed rows along a first conveyor. Two other conveyor systems are fed therefrom. On one of these two other conveyor systems, bricks are moved initially to a displacement device and spread apart in a direction longitudinally of the row and are thereafter transferred downstream to form, on a conveyor, a layer or partial layer. When partial layers are formed, that partial layer can be supplemented by transferring a layer of rows of bricks from a preparatory layer formed on the other conveyor system. When such bricks are transferred from the preparatory layer, they are simultaneously rotated through 90.degree. prior to their being deposited to complete the partial layer.

Abstract: A conveyor system for distributing packets from two packing machines among the two tracks of a wrapping machine includes an indexing conveyor and a rotary pusher for each track. Packets are fed from the packing machines along respective conveyors and delivered by plungers on to the conveyor at every second stoppage period thereof. The rotary pushers operate in phased relationship, so that an equal number of packets reaches each track.

Abstract: A method of loading bales of refuse from a horizontally acting baling press on to a transport vehicle without the use of a separate loading machine such as a fork-lift truck comprises aligning the transport vehicle with a discharge from the press; moving each bale as it is discharged from the press on to a transverse table; moving some of the bales laterally so that the bales are formed into two or more rows side by side aligned with the transport vehicle and moving the two rows of bales progressively forward as successive bales are discharged from the press so that the rows are moved from the transverse table on to the vehicle and the rows are built up on the vehicle until the vehicle is fully loaded.

Abstract: In an automatic sawmill, a caliper device measures the diameter of an incoming log and the log is then positioned against a pair of backstands over a log receiving carriage. A plurality of cutting devices are positioned relative to the carriage, and the speed control for the carriage is predetermined, in response to the log diameter. The diameter measurement is supplied to data processing circuitry which provides outputs indicative of "sets" to be taken by the aforementioned backstands and cutting devices for sawing the log into a number of cants, boards, or slabs in a manner making optimum use of the log content.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for squaring reams of paper as they are fed toward a wrapper, the squaring up being accomplished as the reams are moving forward toward the wrapper.

Abstract: Method and apparatus wherein bricks are taken from a kiln car in two or more groups of multilayered bricks, and then moved to a shuttle station alongside a horizontal tray conveyor for loading the bricks thereon. At the discharge end of the tray conveyor, the bricks are discharged onto an elevator to further stack the bricks into a predetermined number of layers after which the bricks are conveyed to a strapping station where a pack of bricks is strapped into a discrete unit. Between the loading and discharge ends of the tray conveyor, certain layers of the brick have spaced rows of brick removed therefrom to form voids in the layer which eventually will constitute the third layer in the ultimate standard brick pack to be formed; the voids being applied to receive the tines of a forklift.

Abstract: For separating green bricks arranged in a compact array of abutting rows, a separating device is operable to engage the leading row of the compact array and to hold the individual row between the separating device and a base as the remainder of the array is moved away, whereby the engaged individual rows are sequentially separated at spaced distances on the base.

Abstract: A bundle squaring machine suitable particularly for squaring a bundle of cartons in readiness for strapping. The machine includes a conveyor system for conveying a bundle of randomly orientated stack of articles into a squaring zone, where the stack is squared-up laterally and fore and aft. While in the squaring zone, side squaring arms close in a lateral direction against the sides of the bundle, and a pusher device moves the bundle longitudinally forward against a pair of spring biased rollers which contact the leading edge of the bundle. Following a period of contact between the leading edge of the bundle and the rollers, the rollers are pivoted clear of the bundle and, thereafter, the side squaring arms move back to their initial position. During the squaring operation the conveyor system is halted, the bundle being advanced by the pusher device during this period, and following the squaring operation, the pusher device is retracted below the level of the conveyor system.

Abstract: A collating apparatus for cans or other articles of circular cross-section comprises a plurality of conveyor belts running parallel to one another and a constraining wall inverted just above the belts serving to collate the cans into a nested configuration, i.e., with transverse lines of cans at approximately an angle of 60.degree. to one another whereby a maximum number of cans can be accommodated in a given space. The constraining wall has a transverse portion facing an intake throat aided by zig-zag portions which build up a triangle pattern until the wall space has been filled. A circle of cans is then lifted magnetically.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively blending rows of bricks includes a blending station having a blending area into which bricks are introduced from first and second staging areas on opposite sides of the blending area. In a preferred embodiment, the bricks are delivered by conveyors to the staging areas in spaced parallel rows. Brick transfer means are provided for each brick row in each staging area and may be selectively actuated to transfer rows of bricks into the blending area in the desired blend, the rows being moved longitudinally so as to interleave with the rows from the opposite staging area. Retractable guide means are provided to prevent interference between the oppositely moving rows of bricks. Upon retraction of the guide means, a conveyor moves the bricks from the blending area to permit the repetition of the blending operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for indexing groups of identical containers into patterns in which the component containers are spaced from one another for the purpose of receiving container separating partitions. The containers include bottom edges that define open spaces when the containers are held in a closed group with adjacent containers touching one another. Tapered lugs of the apparatus are urged inwardly between the containers to separate and index them into partition receiving patterns. This is accomplished by longitudinal conveyor assemblies as the partitions are moved to a partition receiving station. The containers are held in the partition receiving pattern by the tapered lugs which remain in position between the containers until after a partition is placed between the containers of the pattern. The tapered lugs are slotted to receive portions of the partitions.

Abstract: A device for centering, straightening up and turning the loads displaced on a motorized conveyor. The device comprises at least one support which is transverse in relation to the direction of displacement of the load on the conveyor and on which are slidingly mounted two vertical arms capable of being displaced in a transverse direction so as to straighten up and then center the said load in relation to a predetermined axis.

Abstract: During the manufacture of bricks, either before or after such bricks are introduced to the kiln for drying, selected brick from spaced positions in at least some of the rows are mechanically displaced to corresponding positions in upstream, downstream, or otherwise adjacent rows to effect an inter-row movement of some, but fewer than all of the bricks in any particular row. According to the invention, the selected bricks may be either pushed, lifted, lowered or combinations thereof from one row and transferred to a different row. One translating device designed for this technique is a snaggle-tooth pusher which engages and pushes some, but not all of the bricks in a row or rows. The selected bricks may be initially separated from the other bricks by means of either the snaggle-tooth puller, or by means of a vertically movable support plate which operates in conjunction with a slotted support plate immediately thereabove to remove and lower selected brick.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling individual sliced stacks of a comestible product includes a first roller dropper unit which arranges the output of a slicer into adjacent stacks, and drops the stacks onto a weighing scale. Accepted pairs of stacks are carried by parallel transfer conveyors to second and third roller dropper units which each accumulate two stacks, and which then drop them simultaneously onto a channelizer assembly. The channelizer assembly includes a plurality of parallel, drivable rollers mounted in a frame which is selectively translatable laterally in the direction of the roller axes. The channelizer receives four stacks from the roller dropper units, indexes laterally and receives four more stacks to form a 2.times.4 matrix. The rollers are then driven to unload the stacks onto a ramp conveyor which leads to a vacuum packaging machine. The ramp conveyor includes momentarily actuable stop tabs which bring the rows into exact alignment before being wrapped simultaneously.

Abstract: A newspaper streamliner for mounting in a newspaper conveyor system which includes a pair of roller-operated belts disposed in essentially parallel relationship on each side of a newspaper stream, and a flat cover plate disposed between the belts to receive a continuing flow of newspapers. The belts are wider at the upstream, receiving end of the streamliner than at the discharge end in order to effect a straightening of the newspapers as they enter the wide end and are forced into alignment as they exit the narrow end of the moving belt. The streamliner is designed to be compatible with existing newspaper conveyor systems and can be mounted by means of an adjustable frame onto the frame of such a conveyor system, or in the alternative, on the floor or other area in the vicinity of the conveyor system.