Abstract: A cart for handling a load includes a generally horizontal support for supporting the load, vertical rear and side walls for laterally confining the load, and at least one door for laterally confining the front of the load. A hinge permits the door to pivot about a vertical pivot axis and a latch having a plurality of latch positions holds the door in one of the latch positions for laterally confining the front of the load.

Abstract: A cart loader for loading successive layers of articles on a loading surface of a cart includes an elevating conveyor for positioning a discharge end at a selected discharge elevation. A support extends from the discharge end to position the layer of articles over the loading surface. Retracting the support from beneath the layer deposits the layer of articles on the cart.

Abstract: A signature stream is intercepted by a bucket unlatched from the intercept position. The buckets are moved by drive chains. A spring assembly maintains tension upon the drive chains and spring loads the bucket in the "home" position, providing a detent action upon this bucket to accelerate the bucket and also provide a force for drop-out of the bucket. A bucket cam follower guides the bucket to move from a normal path to the "home" position. A microprocessor selectively halts each bucket during downward movement to reduce free fall time of signatures. A zero force cam engaged by the bucket cam follower counteracts the force otherwise applied to the chains by variable weight signatures on the bucket to maintain uniform tension on the chains. Circular cams move the free ends of the tines increasingly faster to orient the signature stack horizontally before the bucket withdraws from beneath the batch. Oscillating paddles jog the sides and corners of the signatures during stacking to form a neat batch.

Abstract: An article wrapping device feeds an article to be wrapped on a conveyor in a generally horizontal direction. A sheet of wrapping material is fed upward from beneath the conveyor to intersect the path of the article. The sheet of wrapping material is maintained in a generally vertical orientation by a flow of forced air between the sheet of wrapping material and a generally vertical displaceable wall suspended alongside the path of the sheet of wrapping material. As the article intersects the sheet of wrapping material and the displaceable wall, the wall is displaced, and forces a leading edge of the sheet of wrapping material over a top side of the article.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a stream of signatures into discrete batches includes an infeed conveyor transporting signatures at a constant velocity V.sub.1, an outfeed conveyor transporting signatures at a higher constant velocity V.sub.2, and a plurality of parallel endless belts disposed between the infeed and outfeed conveyors. The plurality of parallel belts each include a raised portion for engaging and transporting signatures. Each belt is independently driven, and the belts are positioned with the raised portions staggered to engage successive portions of the incoming stream of signature. Each belt is driven alternatively at speeds V.sub.1 and V.sub.2, first matching the infeed velocity and then matching the outfeed velocity. As each successive raised portion fully engages a portion of signatures, it is accelerated to V.sub.2, thus introducing a gap between that portion of signatures and the remainder of the stream, which is engaged by the raised portion of the succeeding belt traveling at V.

Abstract: A signature stacker has an infeed conveyor for conveying signatures in a stream to a reciprocating stacking blade, and a rotary intercept blade driven by a servomotor. The intercept blade intercepts a stream of signatures being delivered to a reciprocating stacking blade to facilitate forming the stream into batches and forming the batches into compensated bundles.

Abstract: A gripping and conveying apparatus includes at least one gripper having jaws which are supported in an orientation where the jaws are attracted together by gravity. Magnets are mounted in the opposing surfaces of the jaws to hold the jaws together and grip the articles to be conveyed. The grippers are mounted on a breakaway arm mechanism. Cams and cam followers are used to separate the jaws at selected locations.