Abstract: A device for feeding flat, flexible products from the bottom of a stack. The stack is supported by rollers arranged like spokes in a wheel that is continuously rotating. Feeding occurs when a vacuum cup pulls the leading edge of a product between subsequent rollers. A rotary conveyor following feeding employing rollers with irregular surfaces is incorporated to insert the products into a series of pockets passing beneath.

Abstract: A device for transporting flat products consisting of feeders for introduction of flat products into openable pockets. The pockets move in a closed path and each receives one or more inserts. Specific and preferred pocket conveyor, sprocket, and divider designs are also set forth.

Abstract: A device for stacking and destacking a stream of imbricated, substantially planar, flexible units to form or destack a layered stack. The device is a stacker, adapted to receive a stream of units from a source thereof, and a plurality of transfer sheets. The feeder delivers the stream of units to the stacker.The stacker has staging belts which receive portions of the stream and deposit the units serially on one of the transfer sheets, as it is withdrawn from the sheet stack. This forms an imbricated layer of the units and the transfer sheet. The stacker deposits the imbricated layer on a removable support and repeats the cycle to deposit successive imbricated layers on the preceding layers. Destacking is carried out by simply reversing the process.

Abstract: A device for dividing a product such as a newspaper into two substantially equal portions, the device including a pocket assembly which receives the newspaper (fold down) when open. The pocket then closes and a retainer, at one corner of one pocket wall, prevents the extended portion of the newspaper from curling. A divider splits the newspaper into two portions, and the retainer then moves to a position wherein one of the portions is held between the retainer and the adjacent pocket wall. The pocket assembly is tilted so that the other portion of the newspaper falls away from the first portion as the pocket is opened. At the same time, the divider withdraws and another retainer, at the opposite corner from the first retainer, holds the corresponding corner of the first portion against the pocket wall.