Abstract: An apparatus for forming a stack of flat objects such as letters on a support is disclosed. A conveyor moves flat objects to the support. A stacking apparatus moves the flat objects onto the support into abutment against a jogging wall of the support. The conveyor and stacking apparatus are supported on a table which is movable relative to the support and stack. The stacking apparatus extends between the conveyor and jogging wall and includes an end having an axis about which the stacking apparatus is pivoted so as to be displaceable towards and away from the end of the stack.

Abstract: Printed products are infed in an imbricated formation by a transport device to a stacker apparatus. These printed products are transported by a delivery belt conveyor and an infeed belt conveyor to a pivotably mounted infeed device. The outfeed end region of the infeed device opens into a stacker chute of a stacker device. At the infeed device there is arranged a support element. The printed products delivered by the infeed device to the stacker chute slide onto an elevationally displaceable stacker table. This infeed device is supported by the support element upon the stacked printed products. Governed by the pivotal motion of the infeed device, the stacker table of the stacker chute is incrementally lowered. As soon as sufficient printed products are available for forming a first partial stack in the stacker chute, this first partial stack is pressed by presser structure comprising piston-and-cylinder units and then this first partial stack is rotated about an upright axis through about 180.degree.

Abstract: A travelling slot cutting machine and method of cutting a workpiece upon the machine in which there are two independently operable and longitudinally aligned, endless conveyor belts, the adjacent ends of which are spaced apart to define a gap through which a cutting medium may be directed. To cut a workpiece supported over the gap, the cutting medium is directed through the gap while the cutting machine, as well as the gap, are moved longitudinally relative to the stationary workpiece. In moving the gap, the conveyors are clamped against movement over their respective supporting rollers. The supporting rollers are then moved in such a fashion that the length of at least one of the conveyor belts is maintained unchanged as the workpiece is transported from the upper run of one of the conveyor belts to the upper run of the other conveyor belts.

Abstract: A paper sheet guide mechanism is provided for use in a sorter of the elevator type. Paper sheets are conveyed from an input through the paper sorter along a conveyor belt and are successively deflected by an elevator for distribution on corresponding paper shelves. A guide mechanism includes a plurality of moveable wires which on one end are attached to the elevator and extend parallel to each other along a common plane toward the top of the sorter. These moveable wires pass over a plurality of pulleys and are thereby directed down a common side of the housing, around other pulleys, and are attached to a bracket that is connected to the bottom of the elevator in an endless loop. A tension spring is interposed in each of these wire loops. The plane formed by the parallel moveable wires is adjacent to and slightly closer to the inner ends of the paper shelves than is the plane along which paper is transported through the sorter by the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Flat products, such as printed sheets, resting in the form of a horizontal stack on two circulatingly driven transport chains are conveyed towards a retention plate serving as a stop of a feeder or feeder attachment. Two circulatingly driven toothed belts are laterally arranged above the transport chains and these two toothed belts define the sides of a conveying channel. The toothed belts hold the printed sheets in their mutually related positions inside the loose stack during their forward displacement. The distance between the mutually facing runs of the toothed belts is less than the width of the printed sheets or the stack of printed sheets. The toothed belts and therefore also the conveying channel terminate at a distance from the retention plate. The printed sheets are held in a curved or bowed configuration in the conveying channel.

Abstract: An upstanding sheet support system which utilizes either brushes or a jagged configuration member for engaging the opposite sides of sheets standing in a horizontal bundle where the sheets are standing on their edges on a floor. The side support members can either be stationary or moving, for supporting the sheets, and there is no requirement for any other support of the sheets, such as the requirement of the usual backstop, special handling, or binding of the bundle, since the sheets are self-standing by virtue of the spaced-apart engaging the opposite sides of the sheets in the bundle.

Abstract: A sheet sorting device for use in a sheet processing machine having at least one sorting unit including a plurality of superposed sheet receiving bins and a first conveyor for conveying sheets selectively to one of the sheet receiving bins and a second conveyor positioned below and substantially normal to the first conveyor for conveying sheets from the processing machine to the first conveyor. The second conveyor is mounted to the sorting unit so as to be displaceable between a first position disposed below said receiving bins and a second position adjoining said sheet processing machine.

Abstract: A selective sheet feeder includes a plurality of trays and a sheet feed unit movable over the trays and including a conveyor. The sheet feed unit with a sheet held on the conveyor is moved toward and stopped over a prescribed one of the trays. Then, the conveyor is driven by a rotational drive source for discharging the sheet into the prescribed tray.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus includes a plurality of trays, each having a pair of tray pins on the both sides of the sheet inlet of the tray and being held in a stacked condition; tray inlet holding members interposed between the tray pins of the vertically adjacent trays to define an inlet for a sheet and being vertically movable and rotatable; member which, upon rotation of the tray inlet holding member, moves the tray pins which are in contact with the holding members vertically while the holding member moves in the opposite vertical dirction, thereby shifting the sheet inlet defined between the tray pins; and supporting members disposed not to interfere with the vertical movement of the holding member and made into contact with the respective pairs of the tray pins in such a manner that the supporting members bear the bearing load produced from each tray and permit the tray pins to override the supporting members when the bearing load is greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A sheet material accumulating device includes a sheet transporting section which is arranged to receiver sheets from a sheet feeding station at a feeding speed and to transport the received sheets to a slanted guide plate of an accumulating section, where the sheet transporting section releases the sheets to thereby accumulate the sheets on the guide plate. The transport speed and direction of the transporting section is controlled so that the sheet reaches the guide plate at a desired position and speed and is released from the transporting section by moving the sheet transporting section away from the guide plate, toward the sheet feeding station.

Abstract: A stack top control method and apparatus includes sensing the vertical position of a top of signatures being stacked on a stacking platform at two spaced apart locations. Two belt assemblies tangentially contact at least a portion of opposed sides of the stack being formed adjacent the top locations being sensed. Each belt assembly is driven by a variable drive motor and applies a tangential, frictional drive force to the opposed sides of the stack being formed toward the stacking platform. A control circuit monitors the vertical position of the two spaced apart locations and controls the speed of each drive motor of the belt assemblies responsive to the sensed vertical position of the top of the signatures being formed into the stack. The top of the stack is thereby substantially leveled.

Abstract: An apparatus for discharging sheets of paper from a copying machine, printing machine, or the like. The apparatus has a plurality of spaced parallel belt supporting rollers with a belt member reeved around them and having at least one run extending from a first to a second one of the belt supporting rollers. The belt member is positioned to receive sheets on the outer peripheral surface at the end of the run adjacent the first belt supporting roller. An offset roller is positioned in rolling contact with the outer peripheral surface of the belt member at a position downstream of the first belt supporting roller and a solenoid or spring device is connected to the offset roller for changing the position of the offset roller between a position in which the axis of rotation thereof is parallel to the axis of rotation of the belt supporting rollers and a position in which the axis of rotation thereof is skew to the axis of rotation of the belt supporting rollers.

Abstract: In the changing of the dimensions of sheets of paper to be stacked by a paper stacking apparatus including a conveying station, adjustable upper tapes moving about reflection rollers, separating shoes, ejector rolls, separating plates and stopper boards, the improvement which comprises displacing the upper tapes along with their deflection rollers, the separating shoes, the ejector rolls, and the separating plates all together transversely to the paper path. This is effected by providing a rod which connects the upper-tape deflection rollers, a separating shoe, ejector rolls, and a separating plate whereby they will all be transversely displaced together.

Abstract: A laundry piece stacking device which stacks a predetermined number of laundry pieces uniformly and evenly in a stack. Laundry pieces of a predetermined size are conveyed from an ironing area along a double feed conveyor to a swing arm conveyor. The swing arm conveyor is pivotable and rotates in an arc above a work discharge zone. By appropriate adjusting elements, the laundry pieces are evenly draped over a first conveyor in a stacking arrangement until the number of pieces in the stack equals a predetermined count. At that time, the first conveyor and a second, adjacent conveyor are activated for a brief interval so that the first stack formed is transported away from the work deposit zone towards a workpiece receiving area located at the far end of the second conveyor means. The swing arm conveyor is inhibited from operation during this time period. After one stack is removed, additional stacks are formed on the first conveyor and sequentially conveyed towards the receiving area.

Abstract: A loader for signatures, loose sheets, gathered sheets and the like, in particular for collating, pamphletizing, stitching and similar bookbinding machines, which can be moved in an automated manner with respect to the bookbinding machine when switching from one size format of the signatures or the like to another. The loader comprises a frame carried in a displaceable fashion by a fixed base, preferably through rolling bearings. The displacement is accomplished by means of an electric motor associated with a threaded rod cooperating with a nut attached to the movable frame of the loader.

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus for use in combination with an electrophotographic copying machine includes introducing rollers, discharge rollers, and a pair of transporting belts disposed in superposed relation in a tensioned state for feeding copy sheets in sandwiched relation therebetween from the introducing to the discharge rollers. The discharge rollers are carried on a vertically movable platform so that the transported sheets are dischargeable to a selected one of a plurality of receiving trays, movement of the platform effecting variation in the distance between the introducing and discharge rollers. Structure is provided for maintaining the tensioned state of the belts as said distance varies.

Abstract: A method of employment of automatic lengthwise receivers which equip continuously operating corrugators. In accordance with the invention the course of the last panel of a first form and size is followed from its arrival upon the receiver, and a change of stack is triggered when this last panel has left the final conveyor of the receiver. Furthermore any retraction of the telescopic device located downstream from first conveyor of the said receiver is stopped.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lowering and pivoting rail mechanism for a carton filling machine for guiding and loading blanks into transport containers, in which the lowering rail can be lowered more or less vertically to the vicinity of the floor of the transport container or to a previously loaded layer of blanks and in which the pivoting rail can be moved into a position above the layer of blanks to be loaded.

Abstract: Switch apparatus for the positioning drive of a lowering and pivoting rail for the guiding of blanks into transport containers in a carton filling machine. With the pivoting rail and the aid of a belt running along the pivoting rail, previously imbricated delivered blanks are delivered to loading position in the transport container such as a carton. The lowering rail serves as a counter support so that the pivoting rail and lowering rail cooperate at the loading point of the blanks to guide and control the loading of the blanks as far as possible into their final position in the transport container.

Abstract: A heated metal plate drying system for drying either green veneer or partially dried veneer can have a plurality of modular hot presses mounted on a frame. At a loading station, individual sheets of veneer to be dried or redried are fed into a hot press, and at an unloading station the dried veneer sheets are unloaded from the system. Within each individual modular hot press, a direct contact drying process occurs that functions to reduce the moisture content of a veneer sheet down to the desired uniform level such as within a range of from 1 to 10%. The drying process accepts veneer of different species, thickness, and beginning moisture contents and the controlled process variables include contact time, temperature and pressure.Each individual modular press can be multi-opening and has the ability to open and close on command. Specially designed heated metal plates are part of each press and each plate has substantially parallel grooves on at least one surface.

Abstract: Signatures fresh from the printing press are fed in a shingled stream toward and then dropped one by one into a hopper which may feed a gathering chain. The signatures are "broken" (unstuck) by first stacking them edgewise on horizontal support, shingling them in a constant stream by an unusual form of suction feed, bending the shingled stream and thereafter cascading the stream into the hopper.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking sheet members in a number of piles, having a conveying passage for the sheet members, so constructed that a downstream end portion thereof can be lengthened and shortened, a stop member movable up and down, facing the downstream end portion, and a lifting mechanism which can be elevated and lowered below a space formed between the end portion of the passage and the stop member.

Abstract: A copying apparatus with a document copying platen, including a substantially uniformly light reflective platen cover for holding documents against the platen, and including document drive wheels having light reflective constant width surfaces partially extendable through fixed apertures in the platen cover towards the platen. The fixed apertures in the platen cover are wider than the drive wheels to allow their limited transverse movement. Light reflective shields having an aperture the same width as the wheels are mounted in the platen cover so that each wheel extends through a light shield aperture with each light shield closely fitted to both sides of a wheel. Each light shield is movable transversely together with its wheel, but each light shield constantly overlies its fixed aperture in the platen cover irrespective of this transverse movement to constantly present a substantially uninterrupted light reflective surface over the platen together with the wheel.

Abstract: A compact sheet sorting apparatus having a first modular assembly which includes a plurality of bins and a second modular assembly which includes a sheet transport for transporting sheets along the inlets of the bins. The second modular assembly is juxtaposed with the first assembly and is pivotally mounted to move from a first position when in a sorting mode of operation to a second position opened away from the first assembly to provide access thereto.