Abstract: A pusher assembly for a stacker includes first and second opposing moving sidewalls, each sidewall defining a lateral side of a chute region, the chute region defining a centerline therethrough. A first pusher is located on the first sidewall and is movable therewith and a second pusher is located on the second sidewall and is movable therewith. The first and second pushers, when in a home position, are staggered from one another relative to the centerline. The first pusher engages a leading edge of a stack of material in the stacker and the second pusher engages a trailing edge of the stack. In a conveying position, the first sidewall moves to engage the first pusher with the trailing edge of the stack of material, and the first and second sidewalls both move in a forward direction to discharge the stack of material.

Abstract: Bottom wrap/three-quarter wrap apparatus having an automatic web feeder for safely advancing a web fed from a supply roll to a main web feeder. The main feed rollers advance one length of the web and a cutter cuts the advanced length, completing one cycle of operation, after which the bottom wrap/three-quarter wrap apparatus is placed under control of a bundle feeder. The main feed roller pair are displaced from one another when the web passes between creasing rollers. When a predetermined length of web has been advanced to the creasing rollers a cutter cylinder moves a blade mounting plate in the cutting direction. A resilient clamping assembly arranged on the mounting plate momentarily clamps the web between the mounting plate and a web guide just prior to severing of the web by the blade, maintaining the web taut during cutting. The cutting blade is rapidly moved back to a position displaced from the web in preparation for a subsequent cutting operation.

Abstract: Bottom wrap/three-quarter wrap apparatus having an automatic web feeder for safely advancing a web fed from a supply roll to a main web feeder. The web free end is inserted between a pair of rollers, one being driven by a motor and the other being free-wheelingly mounted. The free-wheeling roller swings about a pivot shaft. A cylinder normally maintains the free-wheeling roller displaced from the drive roller. The insertion of the web past the nip formed by the initial feed rollers is detected by a proximity sensor to pull the free-wheeling roller toward the motor-driven roller pinching the web therebetween. A small motor drives the driven roller, moving the web upwardly and into a nip formed by a main feed roller pair. The small motor is then turned off and the main feed rollers advance one length of the web and a cutter cuts the advanced length, completing one cycle of operation, after which the bottom wrap/three-quarter wrap apparatus is placed under control of a bundle feeder.

Abstract: Signatures are delivered to a stacker by a gripper conveyor, each gripper delivering a signature thereto. The grippers follow a curved path adjacent to the stacker, substantially aligning the signatures with the stacking platform receiving signatures as they are released. A plurality of stacking platforms are moved about a closed loop path, each independently driven by an associated drive motor. The speed of each stacking platform is variable and is synchronized with the throughput of the gripper conveyor as well as signature thickness. When a predetermined quantity of signatures has been collected, an upstream stacking platform is moved between the last signature of the preceding stack and the first signature of the next stack. When a stack has been completed, the stacking platform is quickly pulled away from the signature stack allowing it to fall by gravity into a collector, and is thereafter moved quickly to the ready position in preparation for forming a subsequent signature stack.

Abstract: A self-adaptive stacker comprising infeed and stacking sections whose movement is coordinate to provide interception of the signature stream. The infeed conveyor section "Vees" the incoming signature stream through the use of rollers of different diameters mounted upon straight, spaced, parallel shafts.

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 self-adaptive stacker comprising infeed and stacking sections whose movement is coordinated to provide interception of the signature stream. A microprocessor utilizes a signal, representative of the infeed conveyor speed, together with a signal from a signature counter, to track the movement of each signature and thereby its arrival at the intercept position. Low armature inertia motors drive the three axes, (stacking section, the turntable, and the ejectors) to provide rapid starting, acceleration, deceleration, and stopping at selected positions. These motors are controlled to interact in real-time in order to adapt the three axes to the rate of the incoming signatures. The movement of the signature carriers is altered, when necessary, due to speed changes of the signature stream.

Abstract: A self-adaptive stacker comprising infeed and stacking sections whose movement is coordinated to provide interception of the signature stream. The infeed conveyor section "Vees" the incoming signature stream through the use of rollers of different diameters mounted upon straight, spaced, parallel shafts.