Abstract: A method and an apparatus for stacking serially advancing parallel streams of blanks, such as corrugated paperboard blanks, by serially advancing such parallel streams in which there are spaces between pairs of such blanks in each of the streams but no spaces between the blanks of the pairs, creating spaces between the blanks of each pair during advance, stopping the advance of the blanks one after the other, and guiding succeeding spaced blanks one on top of the other to form a stack of blanks from each stream.

Abstract: Sheet-like products coming off a folder are firstly transported some distance before being caused to overlap. In order to slow down the products to cause this to take place and to arrange them in a perfectly regular feed stream without being damaged, the products are engaged by grippers that are moved along a preferably arcuate path on a support in the course of which the products are slowed down by the grippers to the speed of a delivery belt on which the products are then deposited.

Abstract: A stacking and delivery apparatus for stacks of products such as paper napkins and paper towels includes a magazine into which the products are delivered to form stacks and which supports the stack along a path of product movement. A plurality of fingers are mounted on a conveyor adjacent the magazine, and the conveyor moves a finger into the path of stack movement when a stack is completed and separates the completed stack from the next stack. A drive system for the conveyor moves the conveyor at different speeds during each cycle in which a stack is formed--a first, fast speed at which a finger is quickly moved into the path after a stack is completed, a second, relatively slow speed at which the finger moves the completed stack along the path as the next stack is built up behind the finger, a third, relatively fast speed at which the finger moves the completed stack rapidly along the path, and a fourth speed, which can be zero, during which a completed stack is removed from the conveyor.

Abstract: Document counter with discharge means comprising a support for a wad of documents, an endless conveyor belt which can be moved about a rotational axis, means for guiding the conveyor belt in the plane of the support to engage the lowermost document on the support, and collecting means comprising a flap wheel system which can be rotated about a rotational axis which is parallel to the rotational axis of the conveyor belt, flaps extending from the periphery of the flap wheel system, said flaps forming pockets mutually spaced circumferentially, which open in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the flap wheel system, and a receptacle located at the moving path of the flaps for receiving the documents from the pockets of the flap wheel system.

Abstract: A conveyor system wherein sheets (10) are conveyed from a cutter (9) or the like at a given speed, are increased in speed before passing through a vacuum conveyor shingling section (5), are slowed down at the shingling section and then normally proceed at the slowed-down speed to a stacker (8) which is adapted to stack a fixed number of sheets before discharging a stack. The sheets are basically handled in accordance with the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,276. To prevent scattering of the sheets during shingling due to high input conveyor speeds and the like, the vacuum conveyor shingling section (5) includes a second (or pre-shingling) conveyor (38) upstream of the original shingling conveyor (15). The pre-shingling conveyor operates at a relatively high rate of speed while the original shingling conveyor operates at a relatively low rate of speed (which nevertheless may be as high as the device of the patent) relative to the sheet input speed.

Abstract: A continuous scalloped stream of paper sheets is divided into a succession of discrete sections by an accelerating device in cooperation with one or more belt conveyors which receive the sections. The accelerating device has an elongated rubber pad attached to an endless chain conveyor which can move the pad into the path of movement of the stream of sheets toward the belt conveyor or conveyors. The belt conveyor(s) and the chain conveyor are accelerated from the speed of the advancing stream to a higher second speed as soon as the trailing end of the section which is about to be separated from the stream is engaged by the trailing end of the pad on the chain conveyor. The chain conveyor and the belt conveyor(s) are decelerated back to the speed of the stream as soon as the entire freshly formed section is transferred onto the belt conveyor(s) and before the fresh leader of the stream reaches the discharge end of the conveyor for the stream.

Abstract: A high-speed compact sheet handling device is disclosed. In this device sheet members are supplied from a stacking table to a required position and are ejected at a higher speed from that position to the stacking table, and the functions of supply and ejection can be effected at the same time.

Abstract: A control system for a blank presser used to touch down blanks fed from a conveyor controls the blank presser so as to hold down each of the blanks at the proper time, so as to thereby prevent them from scattering or jamming up. The control system can control the blank presser automatically even if the speed or length of the blanks changes.

Abstract: Shingled precisely spaced papers are carried off a first conveyance path on a moving belt at a first speed into a further conveyance path along which a set of spaced clamps which individually grasp each paper flow at a substantially constant lower transit speed. By gradually inserting a paper into an open clamp travelling alongside in a parallel path over a predetermined transfer zone length overlapping a plurality of successive clamps, the instantaneous nature of feeding a paper into a clamp is changed so that a higher paper feed speed can be tolerated. By inclining the shingled paper feed path downwardly over the transfer zone, the drag of the papers off the shingled array is reduced to prevent any tendency to misalign the papers from a seated position in the clamps.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring semiautomatically cattlehides from one hide transport conveyor to a second faster moving transport conveyor.

Abstract: Printed products arriving in an imbricated product formation are fed to spaced gripper units of a transport device by a belt conveyor. The conveying direction of the belt conveyor forms an acute angle with the transport direction of the transport device. The transporting rate or velocity of the belt conveyor is greater than the transporting rate or velocity by the transport device. Each gripper unit comprises a stationary clamping jaw, a pivotable clamping jaw, and a plate-shaped stop. The pivotable clamping jaw is pivoted against the action of a closing spring by a cam structure or the like. The printed products are first accelerated and then pushed into the open gripper mouth until abutting the stop in order to thereby align the printed products at the region of their leading edges. At the region of their trailing edges, the printed products remain under the conveying action of the belt conveyor at least until the gripper units are closed.

Abstract: A cross cutter subdivides a continuous paper web into a file of discrete randomly distributed satisfactory and unsatisfactory sheets which are advanced by a first transporting unit at an elevated first speed into the variable-width clearance between two superimposed conveyors of a second transporting unit which are driven at a lower second speed so that the sheets which enter the clearance are converted into a scalloped stream. Unsatisfactory sheets are removed from the first transporting unit and the width of the clearance is reduced in response to segregation of an unsatisfactory sheet or two or more successive unsatisfactory sheets to prevent the next-following satisfactory sheet from advancing through the clearance without deceleration by the two conveyors.

Abstract: To match the speed of incoming sheets, typically folded sheets, form a first high-speed transport system (3, 4) to a receiving speed of a second, lower speed transport system (5, 6), a decelerating path is formed by a third transport system (1, 2) which includes moving belts which are looped about looping rollers (17, 18) in S-configuration to further define a third path between opposed rollers (19, 20), the looping rollers being reciprocatably connected to a slide unit by an eccenter-and-crank arrangement (22, 23) so that the belts (14, 14') of the third unit will have undulating variable speed between maximum and minimum. The rotation of the eccenter-and-crank arrangement (22, 23) is synchronized with the transport of sheets such that, when the belts are at their maximum speed, they are about to grip the leading edge of a sheet being fed thereto, and then decelerate to their minimum speed when the sheets are about to leave the third transport system.

Abstract: Apparatus for decelerating a sheet moving at a predetermined linear speed along a travel path. The apparatus, located in juxtaposition with the sheet travel path, engages a sheet traveling along such path to apply a deceleration force to such sheet. The deceleration force imparted to such sheet is progressively increased to gradually slow the linear speed of such sheet from the predetermined linear speed to a lesser linear speed.

Abstract: In connection with a unit for parallelizing a chain of overlapping printed products such as signatures (that is to say causing the leading edges to be parallel), delivered by way of a fan wheel onto a delivery belt thereunder, the purpose of the invention is to make for trouble-free operation, to see that the signatures are completely regularly placed, and to make upkeep work on the unit simple. For this purpose, the unit has at least one driver which is moved along at a higher speed than the signatures so as to come up against the trailing edge of each signature as its leading edge comes onto the delivery belt. The driver is moved along a line of motion in such a way that at least part of such motion is directed out of the transport plane of the delivery belt. The driver may be a simple kicking edge of a part fixed to a driver support.

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: In a strand length for conveying and slowing down folded products beteen two consecutive stations of a folding apparatus, particularly between a folding cylinder and a folding sword or delivery station, with a minimum of two consecutive stand sections driven at opposingly stepped speeds, each strand section including an upper and lower belt set having a plurality of parallel belts in each set and a minimum of one forward belt roller in the conveying direction and one rear belt roller in the conveying direction, of which at least one of the front belt rollers of the faster moving rear strand section in the conveying direction and at least one of the rear belt rollers of the slower moving front strand section in the conveying direction are adjustable for height, and the belts of each of said belt sets are spaced apart and staggered by at least a belt width so that said rear and front strand sections may be dovetailed into each other.

Abstract: In a signature delivery device in which signatures of paper sheets folded by a folding machine of a rotary printing press are conveyed by an endless conveyor belt to a horizontal type stacker in a partially overlapped state and at the stacker the signatures are inverted and then sequentially inserted beneath a stack of previously stacked signatures, there are provided a first roller in contact with a lower surface of the endless conveyor belt and rotated at a peripheral speed substantially the same as a running speed of the endless belt, a second roller mounted on a shaft in parallel with the first roller for clamping the conveyor belt and the signatures conveyed thereby between the first and second rollers, and drive gears for rotating the second roller at a peripheral speed lower than that of the first roller so as to slightly lay an upper sheet of each double fold signature with respect to the lower sheet.

Abstract: Extraneous signatures in a continuous stream are purged by so diverting the stream that it is possible at the same time to originate and advance the head of a new stream to the point of diversion.

Abstract: With the aid of a traction element at which there are temporarily fixed or attached the printed products, such as newspapers, periodicals and the like, there is rendered possible maintaining a certain order of the printed products during their processing, while however affording the possibility of altering the product order or arrangement, and thereafter to again reestablish the same. The traction element possesses a latent adhesion or sticking capability which can be activated in order to fix the products at the traction element. It is conversely possible to annihilate the adhesion or sticking capability or property and thus to detach the traction element from the products without damage to the products or leaving any visible marks or traces thereat. It is preferred to use a traction element which is provided with a hot melt, and the fixation of the products at the traction element and the detachment of the traction element from the products is accomplished in the presence of heat.

Abstract: Apparatus for the shingling of cut sheets of paper as they pass between conveyance on a high-speed tape conveyor and a low-speed tape conveyor is provided by a two-stage slowdown arrangement. At the first stage, a slowdown mechanism, comprising two rolls arranged respectively above and below each sheet passing through a drop-off area from the high-speed conveyor to the low-speed conveyor, serves to engage the tail portion of the sheet in a nip such that the sheet is slowed down to a speed approximately 30 to 40% of the speed of the high-speed conveyor. In this manner, the lead edge of a next succeeding sheet overlaps with the trailing edge of the nipped sheet in a drop-off area from the high-speed tape conveyor.

Abstract: Paper sheet products are conveyed in shingled array at speeds up to 60,000 pieces per hour in the grasp of individual normally closed clamps precisely spaced on a chain link drive and timed for on-line processing at various stations. Thus, clamp tractor units have wheels mating with a U-channel track and rolling at low friction along the track, which may be bent and twisted to conform to a desired pathway in a plant between processing stations. Entrance and exit stations along the transit path provide mating cam surfaces at the station and on the clamp for opening the clamps to receive the products or to discharge them on further processing or transit equipment. Simplified equipment with more reliable pickup and release controls assuring individual product timing and positioning is accomplished by spring biased jaws pivotable by simple cams into open product receiving and closed product gripping and registration positions.

Abstract: Document handling apparatus for determing the fitness of documents such as paper sheets, paper currency and the like and including a feed mechanism for feeding documents in a single file through an examining location. Documents pass through the examining location and are examined for relative limpness or stiffness, density (i.e. clean or dirty,), perforations, cuts, tears, holes and the like, missing and/or folded corners and a test for document genuineness. Based upon the results of the tests, the sheets, which are still moving at high speed in a single file after examination, are directed toward a rotatably mounted gating roller which, dependent upon the condition of the examined sheets, is rotated either in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, at extremely high speed, to deflect sheets toward either of two possible output paths. The gating roller may be either a continuous or dicontinuous member.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a splicing apparatus for splicing together the leading end face of one of cord ply segments and the trailing end face of another cord ply segment positioned in front of one of the cord ply segments. The apparatus comprises a first conveyor having a first surface, a second conveyor fixed with respect to the first conveyor and having a second surface spaced apart from and in face-to-face relationship to the first surface of the first conveyor and for conveying the cord ply segments on the second surface thereof in a second conveyance direction substantially in parallel with the first conveyance direction of the first conveyor, and transfer members for transferring each of the cord ply segments on the first surface of the first conveyor to the second surface of the second conveyor.

Abstract: A mechanism for stacking and accumulating a plurality of stacks of predetermined numbers of flat flexible articles, such as pillowcases and like products, sequentially received therein, such as from a machine fabricating such articles.

Abstract: Device for transporting sheets on printing machines having a rejector shaft driven in rhythm with a flow of sheets, the rejector shaft carrying cams for deflecting the sheet ends downwardly to form an overlapping, fish-scalelike flow of the sheets including a belt drive for the rejector shaft and means for adjusting the belt drive so as to vary the instant of movement of the cams relative to the flow of sheets.

Abstract: A series of separate paper sheets issuing from a cross cutter wherein a running paper web is subdivided into discrete sheets is converted into a stream of partly overlapping sheets by transporting the sheets of the series at a first speed onto the upper reach of a belt conveyor which is driven at a lower second speed. A cylindrical braking roller is adjacent to the sheet-receiving end of the upper reach of the belt conveyor and is driven at a peripheral speed matching the second speed. A flat of the otherwise cylindrical peripheral surface of the braking roller is adjacent to but out of contact with the leading edges of successive sheets of the series but the cylindrical surface of the roller engages the intermediate portions of successive sheets and decelerates such sheets from the first to the second speed. This ensures that reaction liquid cannot escape at the leading edges of successive sheets which constitute carbon-free pressure-sensitive copy paper sheets.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling the speed of the conveyor on which a stack of sheets is being collected. A first conveyor moves a stream of sheets into a stacker and onto a second conveyor which moves the stack away from the incoming stream. The stream is moved around a drum which forms a part of the first conveyor and a second conveyor receives the stack and moves at a speed which accommodates the growth of the stack. A sensor detects the thickness of the stream of sheets, and another sensor detects the speed of the first conveyor, and the two sensings are transmitted to the drive for the second conveyor so that the second conveyor is moved at an automatic and appropriate speed to accommodate the incoming stream of sheets.

Abstract: Paper sheets are advanced seriatim between high speed upper and lower conveyor belts across a gap onto a slower speed multi-belt conveyor with which the upper high speed belts cooperate to form a sheet controlling tunnel. Static eliminating and sheet knock-down air is directed through the upper high speed belts and into the sheets traversing the gap. Advance of the sheets across the gap is facilitated by impermanent wave-like longitudinal stiffening rib deflection of the sheets where they leave the high speed conveyor belts. After each sheet has been fully received on the slow speed conveyor, its high speed travel is stopped by stop roll means to assure overlap of a succeeding sheet thereon. The stop roll means cooperate with the slower speed conveyor belts to effect impermanent wave-like longitudinal jam preventing stiffening rib deflection of the sheets.

Abstract: Attached to revolving traction elements are a number of equidistantly arranged entrainment members having impact surfaces at their leading edges. The impact surfaces engage at trailing edges of the printed products arriving in an imbricated product stream. Between the traction elements there is arranged a suction head connected by means of a connection line or conduit with a negative pressure source. The suction head fixedly retains the printed products moving therepast or delays their forward movement until the engaged printed product can be entrained by one of the entrainment members. Due to the holding back of each second printed product each entrainment member infeeds two superimposed printed products to the individual grippers of a transport device. Since each gripper conveys away two printed products the transport device can be driven at a lower velocity that the infeed velocity of the imbricated product stream, which, among other things, affords quieter travel and reduced wear of the transport device.

Abstract: An arrangement for forming a sequence of underlapping sheets when conveying sheets that are cut off a paper web by a sheeter located in front thereof, to the feed table of a machine working the sheets. Suction equipment is located above the sheet web in the area between two draw-off equipments which are driven at different feed rates. A lifting device is located below the sheet web to bring the rear zone of every sheet into action with the suction equipment, so as to form a guide gap for the following sheet. The suction equipment is provided with a suction box connected to a vacuum supply that may be adjusted stationary during operation. The suction box has at the bottom a punched plate which is provided with a width corresponding to the maximum workable sheet width.

Abstract: The size of the gap between the leading and trailing portions of a severed web is monitored with respect to an upper limit. The severed web is cut into box blanks which are transported on a stacker conveyor in shingled relation. The speed of the severed web through the corrugator is continuously controlled to prevent the gap from exceeding the limit when the gap reaches the stacker conveyor. Alternatively, the stacker conveyor is temporarily stopped until the size of the gap falls below the limit, and the stacker conveyor is re-started before the gap can close. In either case, the gap control prevents bumping of consecutive box blanks on the stacker conveyor following a change-over of production runs while insuring that the first blank of the new production run shingles on the last blank of the old production run with sufficient tail to insure retention of the first blank by stacker conveyor suction cups or tail grabbers.

Abstract: A first stream of non-overlapping spaced-apart sheets which move at a high speed is converted into a second stream of partially overlapping sheets by braking successive sheets of the first stream and deflecting the trailing portions of braked sheets laterally to enable the oncoming foremost sheets of the first stream to catch up with and partly overlap the preceding sheets. When the first stream exhibits a gap as a result of the absence of one or more sheets, or independently of the presence or absence of gaps, the deflection of the braked sheet is repeated at a location which is nearer to the braking station to thus insure that the trailing portion of the braked sheet preceding a gap is deflected laterally immediately before the sheet which follows the gap catches up therewith. The deflection of trailing portions which precede gaps in the first stream is effected by suction.

Abstract: This invention concerns an improved gluing machine and a continuous method of operation which allows the gluing process to proceed at a rate that equals the feed rate of vacuum rotary document feeders. The machine includes a unique registry and guide system for efficiently moving documents fed initially in an individual manner in a continuous, flowing manner from an initial input feed device to the gluing and registry point with the carrier. The feed system not only allows substantially greater operating speeds but simultaneously overlaps documents while establishing and maintaining correct registration of the documents. The documents are overlapped so that following documents are positioned beneath leading documents. This overlapped condition together with the registry achieved within the feed system assures each individual document arrives in proper registry with areas of glue previously applied at preselected intervals on the carrier sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a convolute paper tube on a winding mandrel, including means for conveying a sheet of paper from a gluing and cutting apparatus longitudinally of the winding mandrel, with an edge of the paper sheet engaged in a longitudinal slot in the mandrel, to a position where the sheet edge is fully engaged with the mandrel suitably for winding. The conveying means includes a belt conveyor for slidable frictional engagement of the paper sheet to convey the paper sheet into winding position while being slidable with respect thereto so that the paper can remain in proper winding position while in continuing contact with the moving conveyor belt. Support wires, guides, trim rolls, and a stop are also provided in the apparatus for controlling the pick up, transport, alignment, and terminal position of the sheet.

Abstract: A folding apparatus for rotary roller printing presses, having at least one collecting or crosswise folder, positioned behind which there is at least one sword folder composed of a folding sword interacting with a pair of folding cylinders, the folded material being conveyed to the sword folder via a belt guide having upper and lower belts and, in the region of the folding sword, passing positioned limit stops for the folded material. The belt guide has at least two strands positioned one behind the other and being driven at opposingly stepped speeds, with the faster-running strand on the collecting or crosswise folder side, having a run-out groove opening wedge-shapedly, beyond which least one locating stop moving at the speed of the slower-running strand, on the sword folder side, is positioned, its path at least partly overlapping with the feeding-in region of the equally fast belt guide strand.

Abstract: An apparatus for the stacking of sheets, with a stacking band conveyor, which for both-sided action on a series of scalelike staggered sheets has conveyor belts with conveying surfaces facing each other defining a conveying track therebetween, the latter beginning at its entrance having at least one bend about an axis parallel to the axes of rotation of the conveyor belts and having an exit directed substantially downwardly from above, with a substantially horizontal support on which the exit of the stacking band conveyor is directed and on which the scalelike staggered sheets are pushed together in the staggering succession into a stack with sheets standing substantially vertically on their edges, and with a feeder which feeds the sheets to the entrance of the stacking band conveyor. The bend at the entrance of the stacking band conveyor is convex viewed from above, so that the lagging edge of each sheet fed from the feeder to the entrance to the stacking band conveyor lifts from the feeder.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving sheets of corrugated paperboard or the like from a processing machine such as a slotter for transfer to another device such as a stacker including shifter rollers for longitudinal separation of each sheet, an inclinable belt conveyor for lateral separation of the sheet, and a belt conveyor adapted to be transiently stopped for the accumulation of the sheets, each conveyor having serial rolls along the upper surface of the conveyor belt to pass and restrain the sheets on the conveyor belt. Sheets divided in the slotter are separated crosswise and accumulated in order in the apparatus in accordance with the needs of the succeeding device.

Abstract: An apparatus for dividing an imbricated stream of printed products into individual mutually separated sections, comprising a separator device which, in the conveying direction of a conveyor device, can be moved with a speed which is smaller than the conveying speed of such conveyor device. The separator device is equipped with a clamping device which selectively retains, for a certain time, a printed product and which can be forwardly moved at the speed of motion of the separator device. Owing to the lower speed of movement of the fixedly-retained printed product, in relation to the conveying speed of the conveyor device, there is formed a gap with respect to the leading printed product of the preceding section and which printed product moves forwardly at the full conveying speed. By means of this gap the successive sections can be separated from one another.

Abstract: A plurality of sets of aligned rollers are guided for movement along a shingling conveyor. While one set of such rollers is in an operative position snubbing sheets as they are delivered to the shingling conveyor, another set of such rollers is inoperative and can be moved to a ready position for the next production order. The rollers are movable downwardly to a snubbing position and upwardly to an inoperative position.

Abstract: An apparatus for individually conveying printed products arriving in an imbricated product stream, comprising a number of driven controlled grippers revolving and guided in a closed path of travel for engaging the leading edge of the printed products. The gripper drive contains means for temporarily restraining the grippers. The gripper drive has at least one continuously driven sluice for the cycled recall of the restrained or stopped grippers. Operatively associated with the sluice is an endless revolving conveyor element equipped with entrainment members engaging the trailing edge of the products, the entrainment members being provided at a uniform spacing at the conveyor element. The conveyor element, as concerns the entrainment members, is driven in cycle with the sluice and opposite in sense to the sense of rotation or revolution of the grippers. There is also provided an infeed device having a drive operatively coupled with the drive of the sluice by a synchronous control.

Abstract: A conveyor system wherein sheets are conveyed from a cutter or the like at a given speed, are increased in speed before passing through a diverter, are slowed down after passing through a shingling nip to thereby overlap them, and then normally proceed at the latter speed to a stacker which is adapted to stack a fixed number of sheets before discharging the stack. A sheet sensor is disposed upstream of the diverter to count the number of sheets and, when the requisite number of sheets have passed, triggers the cycle for ultimate discharge of all downstream sheets in a single stack. The first phase of the discharge cycle includes speeding up of the conveyor line downstream of the shingling nip to move the downstream sheets away from those upstream which will be disposed in the next succeeding stack.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet handling apparatus wherein sheets are delivered onto a conveyor belt traveling at a slower speed than the speed at which the sheets are delivered. The leading end of a sheet is sucked against the conveyor belt such that a trailing end of the sheet flips upwardly and allows the leading end of the succeeding sheet to pass therebeneath. These sheets are conveyed in lapped relationship by the conveyor belt. At a discharge end of the conveyor the lapped sheets drop sequentially in vertical orientation onto a carrier. A movable retainer plate contacts the initial sheet of the stack and is horizontally displaced thereby as the stack builds up, to maintain the sheets upright and in tightly abutting relationship. The retainer is mounted at the end of a freely movable, horizontally extensible pair of rods onto which the sheets fall, such that displacement of the retainer produces extension of the rods to accommodate additional sheets.

Abstract: Overlapping sheet articles continuously arriving on a belt conveyor are separated into groups by brake bands which are intermittently pressed against respective rails disposed between the belts substantially flush with the conveying runs. The brake bands lie loosely on the sheet articles which pass thereunder unimpeded until they are to be temporarily halted, which is done by successively lowering a plurality of weights on the brake bands starting at the leading ends of the brake bands.

Abstract: A machine for counting flat articles includes a sequence of conveyor belts driven at successively increasing speeds from input to output. At the input end the articles are stacked and withdrawn from the stack from the bottom. A separator above the conveyor isolates the bodies from each other and spaces them, the spacing being increased by the increasing speed of the conveyors as the articles move toward the output end. The articles are counted by a photocell device or feeler. A receiver arranges the articles in a layered arrangement. In one embodiment the input conveyor belt is inclined and has spaced groups of holes with a suction box below the belt to grip and move the articles in spaced relationship.

Abstract: In a conveyor line, a pasta stacking apparatus is provided wherein individual spaced strips of pasta such as lasagne are automatically counted and stacked in shingles for loading into a packaging machine. The apparatus comprises an upstream conveyor belt, a downstream conveyor belt disposed slightly below the upstream conveyor belt at a junction, clutch mechanism controlling the motion of the downstream conveyor belt, an air nozzle located below the upstream conveyor belt and disposed to direct the blast of air in a downstream direction across the junction, and a photo-sensor arranged to detect items crossing the junction for operating control apparatus and for tallying the number of items delivered to the junction. In operation, lasagne strips are transported along the upstream conveyor belt to the junction where the presence of each is detected by the photo-sensor as it drops to the downstream belt.

Abstract: A device for stacking sheets from the output of a machine for producing sheets, the device comprising a conveyor system feeding the sheets to a stack forming station, the conveyor system comprising first and second conveyors of which the first conveyor has a telescopic discharge portion which is retracted relative to the second conveyor during the period in which a formed stack is discharged from the stack forming station, to lay sheets on the second conveyor. The second conveyor moves at a reduced or zero linear speed while the speed of the first conveyor remains unchanged.

Abstract: A stack of sheets is formed in a paper cutter by feeding spaced sheets from a first conveyor to a second and slower conveyor to overlap the sheets which are then fed onto a pallet, the latter being lowered as more sheets are fed. When a stack is near completion the first and second conveyors are decelerated and some sheets diverted from the first conveyor to form a gap in the flow of sheets, the second conveyor only is then accelerated for a period of time to enlarge the gap and then decelerate, both conveyors then being accelerated to normal speed. An auxiliary support is then moved into the path of the sheets falling on to the pallet in the gap previously created. While the completed stack is being removed a new stack is forming on the auxiliary support. The full pallet is replaced by an empty one and the auxiliary support is withdrawn to permit the new stack to drop onto the pallet.

Abstract: In the automatic conveyor system for conveying corrugated cardboard sheets from a sheet making machine, the sheets are delivered to a right angle roller conveyor to change the direction of the travel of the sheets at right angles to the delivery from the sheet making machine; a transfer conveyor receives the sheets from the right angle conveyor and transfers the sheets to a stacker conveyor, at the stacker end of which latter the sheets are stacked. A back-up aligning device facing toward the direction from which the sheets are delivered from the sheet making machine is adjustable in accordance with the size of sheets. Above the transfer conveyor is a snubber with predetermined relation to the sheets thereon, and means are provided to adjust the snubber conveyor also in accordance with the size of the sheets. At the stacker end of the stacker conveyor are back-stops against which the sheets abut to be aligned in the stack.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a device for slowing down a fed printing specimen as it is fed to the paddle wheel, and includes a pair of rollers, one of which is adjustable relative to the other to provide for an adjustable wedge portion therebetween which includes means to slow the speed of the fed printing specimen down as it is fed to the paddle wheel.