Abstract: Bag handling apparatus includes a bag flattener for flattening and evenly distributing the material in each bag and a bag palletizer having an infeed conveyor for metering the bags at a controlled rate onto a bag turner apparatus. The bag turner apparatus rotates selected bags from a stream of the bags either 90.degree., 180.degree., or 270.degree. to orient the bags for forming a selected of a multiplicity of layer patterns on a live roller conveyor load table. From the load table a pusher bar transfers the bags onto a set of stripper plates which are separable for depositing the layer pattern of bags onto a pallet situated on a pallet elevator below the stripper plates. After each layer is deposited the layer is squared and then compressed by moving the deposited layers up against the stripper plates for vertical compression. Alternating layer patterns are loaded onto the pallet, with squaring and a vertical compression after each layer, until a full pallet load is obtained.

Abstract: In a machine for separating and discharging products in sheet form, in which the sheets are supplied by a conveyor and stacked in a stacking position defined by a stop abutment associated with the conveyor, each successive sheet being introduced under the preceding sheet in the stacking position, a roller is provided at the upstream lower edge of the stack, the roller having peripheral cogs and being arranged so that the upstream edge of the lowest sheet in the stack rests against it and is raised by rotation of the roller.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for articles, especially printed products, comprising a stacking chute or channel which can be loaded from its top end with the printed products and at least one pair of press or contact elements which can be driven to-and-fro in the lengthwise direction of the stack chute and arranged at one side thereof. These press or contact elements periodically engage into the confines of the stack chute, in order to exert a pressure force upon the momentarily uppermost located printed product of the printed product stack. To obtain an uninterrupted action of the pressure or contact force, the press elements, which preferably have the shape of pawls, are arranged almost above one another. The one press element of the pair is driven in counter cycle, i.e., out-of-phase in relation to the other press element.