Abstract: Stacks of paper sheets are transported from a sheeter into a wrapper by the upper reach of an endless infeed conveyor. The front end faces of successive stacks catch up with and are decelerated by successive flights on an endless second conveyor which is driven at a speed less than the speed of the corresponding section of the infeed conveyor. This ensures that the dimensions of so-called tails, consisting of lowermost sheets of a stack which are shifted rearwardly with reference to the sheets above them, are reduced in size or that the tails are eliminated before the stacks enter the wrapping station. Misoriented stacks are reoriented ahead of the second conveyor by two endless lead-in conveyors having flexible belts trained over vertical pulleys and defining a channel the width of which decreases in the direction of advancement of the stacks.

Abstract: Folio reams are draped into discrete panels of paper or other wrapping material while in continuous motion along a horizontal path. The panels are fed from below so that the front, lateral and rear portions of each panel extend beyond the respective sides of the corresponding ream. The rear portions of successive panels are folded upwardly against the rear sides and thereupon forwardly against the top sides of the respective reams. The front portions of the panels are provided with films of adhesive and are folded upwardly against the front sides and thereupon rearwardly against the top sides of the respective reams so that their leaders overlie and are adhesively secured to the folded rear portions. The folding of front and rear portions is preceded by squaring of the reams and is followed by tucking and folding of front, rear and lateral portions of successive panels against the adjacent lateral sides of the respective reams.