Abstract: Apparatus for stacking sections of photographic films on top of each other in an elongated receptacle having a bottom panel and two side walls flanking an open top of the receptacle has two guide rails which are mounted on springs supported by the side walls and allowing each guide rail to pivot relative to the corresponding side wall. The guide rails have normally coplanar grooves for the marginal portions of a section which is supplied by a conveyor so that it overlies the open top of the receptacle. Two pivotable hold-down devices are mounted on the receptacle, and each hold-down device has a cushioned arm which is normally located at a level above the common plane of the two grooves.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating successive sections of a running web wherein neighboring sections are connected to each other by weakened (e.g., perforated) web portions has a first and a second web driving unit. The second unit is located behind the first unit, as considered in the direction of transport of the web, and its speed is reduced below the speed of the first unit (and/or the speed of the first unit is increased above that of the second unit) when a weakened portion is located between the two units. This results in automatic separation of the preceding section because the tensional stress upon the weakened portion behind the preceding section suffices to destroy such weakened portion. The weakened portions are monitored by a detector which transmits short-lasting signals to change the speed of the first and/or second unit when a weakened portion advances beyond the second unit but is yet to reach the first unit. When a separating step is completed, the speed of the two units is again the same.