Abstract: A material handling system for engaging and transporting material. The material handling system includes a mouth and a hydraulic actuator for pivoting a tooth within the mouth. Once a material has been positioned within the mouth, the hydraulic piston actuates the tooth to secure the material within the mouth. The tooth is preferably configured and oriented to move into tighter engagement with the material as gravity or other forces attempt to remove the material from the mouth. The hydraulic piston allows an operator to release the tooth whenever desired. The material handling system includes a vehicle mounted boom coupled to the mouth so that material engaged by the mouth may be transported to another desired location.

Abstract: A signature stacker having an infeed section for receiving a continuous stream of signatures arranged in overlapping fashion to form either compensated or uncompensated bundles having a predetermined and precise number of signatures. Counter means in the infeed section counts each signature in the stream to generate a signal upon accumulation of a predetermined count to activate a retractable stop means which enables a preloaded swingable intercept blade to be abruptly urged into the path of the signature stream which is passing from the infeed conveyor towards a reciprocating blade assembly.

Abstract: Signatures arranged in overlapping fashion are typically delivered from a press at high speeds (at the order of 80,000 per hour) to be stacked in bundles of a predetermined precise quantity, bundled and shipped to desired locations. During the delivery of signatures to the counting and bundling facility, typically referred to as the "mailroom," an extraction capability is provided wherein one or two signatures may be removed from the continuous stream without otherwise affecting the delivery of signatures to the stacking and bundling equipment. Alternatively, a number of copies greater than 2 may be extracted or paster copies inserted within the stream may be removed at high speed without interrupting the normal delivery of signatures to the stacking and bundling equipment.