Abstract: Banknotes directed along the formation channels of a machine for making up bundles are caused to accumulate into an ordered stack at the outlet of each channel. The machine utilizes a bundling unit equipped with a sliding carriage and a first gripper, of which the operation is piloted by sensors associated with each outlet and governed by a monitoring and control unit in such a way that the gripper will address the single outlet each time a stack is formed, then pick up the stack and pass it to a second gripper forming part of a translate and tilt unit; this same unit proceeds first to offer the stack of banknotes to a binder, by which two wrapping bands are applied to the two ends to complete the bundle, and thereafter to tilt the bundle into the path of a push rod which directs it toward a packaging and/or storage station.

Abstract: A device for placement of bale ties to effect repair of cotton bales which have been damaged as a result of bale tie failure, includes a base frame structure and a pair of compression platens provided with elongated, generally longitudinally extending bale contacting and compressing surfaces. The platens are mounted on the structure for relative intraplanar movement toward and away from one another, with the compression surfaces disposed in substantial parallelism. The platens are positioned for compressing a damaged cotton bale therebetween as the platens move toward one another. The compression surfaces of the platens have a width which is sufficiently small to compress a damaged cotton bale only in close proximity to a position where a single replacement bale tie is to be placed. A drive mechanism is coupled to the platens for moving the latter relatively toward one another to effect bale compression.

Abstract: A sheet-bundle conveying device receives a plurality of sheets and conveys a bundle of the sheets. The device includes a first tray having a contact portion where the leading edges of the sheets contact, and being swingable between a first position, inclined so that the contact portion is lowered, for receiving the sheets and a second position for transferring the received sheet bundle, and a second tray for receiving the sheet bundle from the first tray moved to the second position and for rectilinearly moving in a state of conveying the sheet bundle.

Abstract: An apparatus for baling municipal solid waste, characterized in that it comprises a waste compacting press composed of a compartment, which encloses a chamber, and is provided, in an upward region, with an opening for loading the loose waste, and is laterally provided with an axial opening for discharging the compacted waste; the upper opening is closeable by two articulated covers, subjected to the action of two pusher jacks to apply a pre-compaction pressure to the waste fed into the chamber, and the axial opening can be closed by a door against which the waste is compacted, so as to form a prism-like bale, by an axial jack, with an action line perpendicular to the door; the door can be removed to clear the axial opening and transfer the bale from the chamber into a sorting channel, whereat a pusher element advances the bale through a strapping machine adapted to place straps around the bale.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing strapped bales of highly compressible textile fibers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a supply chamber for supplying loose fibers to a tramping chamber which is stationary. A ram assembly repeatedly tramps loose fibers to form a compacted fiber mass which is then formed into a compressed fiber block within a stationary compression chamber disposed in fiber transfer relation to the stationary tramping chamber. The stationary tramping and compression chambers are off-set and the fiber mass is transferred through a transfer opening into the compression chamber. During the compression cycle, a new fiber mass may be tramped in the tramping chamber allowing a high production rate of strapped fiber bales. The compressed fiber block is formed between a movable main platen and a movable secondary platen which are axially aligned in the compression chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for feeding, bundling and transporting a stream of sheets, such as printed sheets in signature form. A vertical stacking machine stacks a stream of signatures and then clamps, compresses and straps the signatures into a bundle for transportation and delivery. The machine has a pair of improved bar clamps for preventing sheet drift during compression and strapping. The clamps attach each bar to a driving mechanism in a cantilevered fashion. Each bar is only attached to the driving mechanism at the top and/or the center portion of the bar. The opposite, bottom end of each bar is free of attachment to the driving mechanism. As a result, a critical obstruction is removed.

Abstract: Automatic baling press including a plurality of vertical cases 12, intermittently rotating in carousel fashion, with continuous feed device 5 and automatic binding device 18. The cases 12 are open on the top and bottom and rotate by grazing an underlying horizontal fixed plane 6. The fixed plane or plate is provided with an aperture 21 in the pressing region. A cylinder 10 having a vertical axis is provided whose head 11 is intended to fit precisely into the case 12. The pressing station is provided with a horizontal prismatic caisson 7 with an aperture 20 equal and juxtaposed to the aperture 21 of the plane 6. The caisson has a head 15 which is axially movable. A gate 16 is transversely movable to delimit a pressing chamber 24. The caisson has a mouth for the unloading of the bales and is provided with automatic binding means 8 which are fixed.

Abstract: In a printing system in which printing is conducted on sheets of cut paper supplied from a sheet hopper and the printed sheets are stacked in a stack unit, the binding apparatus binds a bundle of sheets of printed cut paper discharged to the stack unit, wherein the binding apparatus includes: a conveyance arm that holds an end portion of the bundle of printed cut paper in a vertical direction and conveys them in a horizontal direction; a binding machine that binds the bundle of sheets of cut paper conveyed by the conveyance arm with a band-shaped or string-shaped binding medium; an output unit that stocks and outputs the bundle of sheets that have been bound; and a control unit that controls the conveyance arm, binding machine and output unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing and baling plastic webs from agricultural fields including a carriage, a conveyer for receiving and conveying a plurality of plastic webs with sufficient force to remove the webs from the ground, a guide for guiding the webs to the conveyer while removing substantial amounts of dirt and debris therefrom, a hopper for receiving the plastic webs from the conveyer, a baler for compacting the plastic webs into bales, and an hydraulic drive for driving the conveyer and the baler.

Abstract: A vehicle supports a first roller conveyor having stop members at opposite sides of the vehicle mounted for pivotal movement between the rollers of the first conveyor to assist in stacking ties on the first conveyor from either side of the vehicle. The first conveyor feeds stacks of ties into a horizontal compression means and a vertical compression and banding means for banding stacks of ties. A second roller conveyor feeds banded stacks of ties away from the banding means. Dump arms at opposite sides of the vehicle are mounted for pivotal movement between the rollers of the second conveyor to dump banded stacks of ties to either side of the vehicle. Hydraulic motors drive the conveyors, and a sensor is provided adjacent the second conveyor to sense the position of a stack of ties, the operation of the hydraulic motors being responsive to the sensor.

Abstract: In a machine for strapping a skid and a supported load by the use of a strap passing through aligned openings in the skid runners, a conveyor is provided for conveying the skid through a feeding zone. A turntable including powered rollers is provided for receiving the skid and the supported load from the conveyor, for positioning same within a strapping zone, and for rotating same within. A vertical scanner comprising a vertical array of photoelectric transmitters spaced from one another, on one side of the feeding zone, and a vertical array of photoelectric receivers spaced from one another, on the other side of the feeding zone, is provided for scanning the skid being conveyed. Two horizontal scanners, each comprising a single photoelectric transmitter and a single photoelectric receiver on each side of the strapping zone, are provided for scanning the skid being conveyed after it has been scanned by the vertical arrays.

Abstract: A stacker assembly receives signatures. A jogger assembly engages signatures supported by the stacker assembly to align edge portions of the signatures. A turntable receives the signatures from the stacker assembly and rotates the signatures to offset relatively thick folded edge portions of the signatures. A conveyor assembly pushes a stack of signatures from the turntable to a tying station in a strapper assembly. The conveyor assembly presses a leading end portion of a stack of signatures against registration surfaces in the strapper assembly to position the main stack of signatures relative to the tying station. A pusher element presses against a trailing end of the stack of signatures to press a leading end of the stack of signatures against the registration surfaces in the strapper assembly and to ensure that the trailing edge portions of the signatures are aligned. The strapper assembly is operable to tie a band around the stack of signatures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for harvesting and bundling plants, preferably energy forest plants and the like planted in rows. The plants may be harvested from one or several planting rows by a harvesting assembly. The harvesting assembly is advanced across the ground in such a manner that the plants are continuously gripped by a feeding apparatus and are cut off. The cut-off plants are broken at a position between their ends and are folded around the position of breaking, in a direction towards the subsequent plants for forming a continuous bead of folded plants. Subsequently, the plants are conveyed by a feeding apparatus for further treatment or storing.

Abstract: A horizontal baler has a longitudinally extending generally rectangular frame assembly defining a receiving chamber and an adjacent aligned compaction chamber. Each of the chambers has a top, a bottom, and sides. A ram is mounted for reciprocation within the receiving chamber so that material therein may be transferred to the compaction chamber and compacted therein by reciprocation thereof. A first cylinder and piston assembly is longitudinally disposed within the frame assembly and is operably associated with the ram for causing reciprocation thereof. A door defines one of the sides of the compaction chamber. The door is selectively securable and movable relative to an opening communicating with the compaction chamber. A support defines a portion of the bottom of the compaction chamber. The support is reciprocable transverse to the first cylinder and piston assembly and is aligned with the door for moving compacted material through the opening.

Abstract: A horizontal baler has a longitudinally extending generally rectangular frame assembly defining a receiving chamber and an adjacent aligned compaction chamber. Each of the chambers has a top, a bottom, and sides. A ram is mounted for reciprocation within the receiving chamber so that material therein may be transferred to the compaction chamber and compacted therein by reciprocation thereof. A first cylinder and piston assembly is longitudinally disposed within the frame assembly and is operably associated with the ram for causing reciprocation thereof. A door defines one of the sides of the compaction chamber. The door is selectively securable and movable relative to an opening communicating with the compaction chamber. A support defines a portion of the bottom of the compaction chamber. The support is reciprocable transverse to the first cylinder and piston assembly and is aligned with the door for moving compacted material through the opening.

Abstract: This invention is directed to bundling and banding machine that forms and bands bundles of firewood into the shape of a stable wood pile that can be easily removed from the machine, transported as a banded bundle and when deposited at its final destination and the bands are removed it will stand as a stable wood pile, with a minimum of distortion or need of restacking.

Abstract: A binding machine, such as a strapping machine, for binding a bundle of newspapers or magazines by applying crossed straps around the bundle. Means are provided for conveying the bundle into and from a strapping zone. Means including a strapping head for each strap are provided for applying a transverse strap and a longitudinal strap around the bundle. A transverse chute is provided, which receives the transverse strap, which guides the transverse strap around the bundle, and which releases the transverse strap when the transverse strap is applied. A longitudinal chute is provided, which receives the longitudinal strap, which guides the longitudinal strap around the bundle, and which releases the longitudinal strap when the longitudinal strap is applied. The transverse chute arches from a given side of the strapping zone to its other side.

Abstract: A hay bale recompacting system comprises an elongated compression chamber having a generally rectangular cross-section defined by top, bottom, and end walls, an inlet end and an outlet end, an inlet opening at the inlet end in one side of the chamber, an outlet at the outlet end in the other side of the chamber, a ram at the inlet end of the chamber for compressing bales therein, an indexing apparatus for weighing a charge to be introduced into the compressor, a ram for moving a selected amount of a bale into the chamber, a strapping chamber at the outlet disposed at right angle to the compression chamber for receiving compressed bales, an extruder ram for extruding bales from the compression chamber into and from the strapping chamber, and strapping units associated with the strapping chamber for strapping bales in the strapping chamber.

Abstract: An in-line strapping system which is particularly adaptable for strapping a compressible stack of sheet material includes a stack feeding mechanism which captures and holds the stack with its vertical side faces squared through the strapping cycle. A pair of vertically disposed compression belts captures the stack fed from an upstream squaring mechanism and feeds the stack into a strapping station to partially encircle the stack with a strap disposed in the path of movement. Only one lateral side of the stack is captured between the compression belt such that the stack is held in cantilevered fashion in the strapping station with the opposite lateral side unsupported. A rotary strap arm supports the partially wrapped strap and carries it around the unsupported rear portion of the stack to a sealing position overlapping the free end of the strap beneath the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling round bales of hay, straw or the like material. In general terms, the handling comprises dispensing a round bale of hay or the like material by unwinding the bale and feeding the thus produced continuous mat into the inlet device of a compactor, typically employing the compacting mechanism of a known square baler. The compactor compacts the material fed into it to produce a second, compacted state generally similar to square bales. Thus, in brief, the invention converts the round bales into the square bales. In a particularly preferred application of the invention, the continuous compact mass of the material is fed directly into a grinder-mixer. The grinder-mixer, being usually on a mobile frame, can thus be fed from a round bale.

Abstract: A signature handling system is provided to form and handle stacks of signatures. The signature handling system includes a stacker which receives signatures and forms stacks of signatures. A plurality of containers have side-by-side cells to hold the stacks of signatures. A conveyor is provided to sequentially move the containers to the stacker. The stacker includes a loader which loads the signatures into cells of the containers. The loader may be extendable through open sides of cells of the containers to move stacks of signatures downwardly into the cells of the containers through open upper end portions of the cells. The containers may be provided with doors which are movable between an open condition and a closed condition. When the doors are in the closed condition, they at least partially block open sides of the cells to retain stacks of signatures in the cells.

Abstract: A strapping machine arranged to compress a load along a vertical axis, as well as along a longitudinal, horizontal axis, and to confine the load along a transverse, horizontal axis, before strapping the load. A platen is arranged for vertical movement toward and away from a roller table. Load-end formers are arranged, in pairs for relative movement toward and away from each other along a longitudinal, horizontal axis, and for relative movement along the platen, in engagement with the platen at least after the platen has been lowered partially. Load-confining doors are pivotable between closed positions, in which such doors confine opposite sides of the loads, along a transverse, horizontal axis, and opened positions. Strapping heads and coacting strap chutes are carried by the platen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing fibrous material into dense bales having uniform size, shape and weight. Weighed longitudinally extended charges of material having a predetermined transverse dimensional profile are individually loaded into a compression chamber defined by side plates and first and second movable end platens. A long-stroke small-diameter hydraulic piston pushes the first end platen against the charge toward the second end platen, partially compressing the charge. The first end platen is then latched in a fixed position at full stroke while the second end platen, via a short-stroke large-diameter hydraulic piston, applies a further compressive force to the charge against the first end platen. The resulting fully compressed charge is pushed out of the compression chamber, bound loosely while still fully compressed, then released, whereupon the bale longitudinally expands into the bindings to a predetermined length.

Abstract: A stationary knife blade for shearing bales of recompressed hay disposed across the discharge end of a decompression chamber of a recompression apparatus designed to recompress and retie bales of fibrous material.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus has a conveying member on which an article such as a bundle of newspapers to be conveyed is laid, a driving device for driving the conveying member, and a lifting device to lift the article so as to separate at least a part of the article from the surface of the conveying member. Thyis lifting device is located near by the tail end of the conveyor member. This lifting device consists of a mechanical lifting unit or a pneumatic lifting unit, or the combination of them. This lifting device is actuated in accordance with a signal from a sensor for detecting the article.

Abstract: A method for recompressing bales of fibrous material wherein the bales of hay or other fibrous material which are recompressed to approximately half of their original volume and then retied with bale twine and then held in a decompression chamber for a sufficient period of time to allow for trapped air to escape and for the fibrous material to loose some of its resiliency before subjecting the retied bales to unrestricted recoil stresses. Bales are recompressed in the recompression chamber, then tied, then transferred, under full compression, to a decompression chamber where they are held for said period of time prior to being ejected from the machine.

Abstract: Bales of hay or other fibrous material which are recompressed to approximately half of their original volume and then retied with bale twine and then held in a decompression chamber for a sufficient period of time to allow for trapped air to escape and for the fibrous material to loose some of its resiliency before subjecting the retied bales to unrestricted recoil stresses. Bales are recompressed in the recompression chamber, then tied, then transferred, under full compression, to a decompression chamber where they are held for said period of time prior to being ejected from the machine.

Abstract: A system for automating the stacking of bundles onto a pallet, and including a stacker for positioning bundles of sheets into discrete stacks, a strapper for tying the bundles and a lift mechanism for raising the bundles to an elevation. A pallet is positioned onto a pallet holder at the elevation and the bundles are placed onto the elevated pallet. A lift means supports the pallet while bundles are continued to be placed thereon, and the pallet holder is then moved clear so that the pallet can be lowered for additional loading and for ultimate removal, with the removal process taking place while another pallet is placed onto the pallet holder.

Abstract: An automatic high speed hooping station for horizontal hooping of diverse packages contains a barrier device to effect entry of packages, one by one, along their direction of travel, followed by a conveyance assembly. The conveyance assembly includes a rolling double transfer belt, followed in turn by a take-up table provided with an optical detector at its extremity. Along the conveyance assembly there moves reciprocally a push- and loading device for being introduced into an upward travel and holding assembly formed by an ascending platform, a holder trapdoor in a hooping position in an arc of a hooping device, and an upper package discharge device operating by lateral disengagement from a pile of the packages onto an exit ramp. The discharge device includes a push arm articulatably mounted around a point actuated by a cam. The assembly may be moved in translation under the surveillance of a detector.

Abstract: An improved tyer includes a central station where loose stacks of signatures sre received. A pair of tying stations are disposed on opposite sides of the central station. A pair receiving stations are disposed adjacent to the tying stations. An improved shuttle assembly is used to sequentially move loose stacks of sheets from the central station to one or the other of the tying stations. The shuttle assembly includes three pusher arms which are movable along tracks between the central and tying stations. Gaps are provided in the tracks at the tying station to enable bands or straps to be moved through the tracks and secured around loose stacks of signatures at the tying stations. In order to provide for as compact a loose stack of signatures as possible at a tying station, the loose stack of signatures is compressed between a pair of pusher arms as it is moved to a tying station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stacking apparatus for stacking pipes or other similar long pieces into a stack of a predetermined shape for bundling and storage. The purpose is to provide an apparatus in which the stacking need not be interrupted for the duration of the binding up of the bundle and in which, on the other hand, the pipes are not subject to battering. The apparatus includes an assembling table (5) for the pipes (1), a lifting device (7) equipped with electromagnetic gripping means (8) for transferring the pipes, in groups corresponding to a stack layer, from the assembling table, and a stacking table (11) for receiving the layers between adjustable side supports (12).

Abstract: Stacking and strapping machines for magazines in which the turning axes for the conveyors which move a stack to be strapped are positioned to enable the stack to be boxed in while being strapped, the conveyors having pushers which in part enable this to be done in cooperation with fixed stops at the strapping station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling a stack of sheets, including the stacking of the sheets from a continuous incoming stream of sheets and on a lower endboard, and compressing the stack and restricting the sides of the stack while the stack is moved laterally to a station where an upper endboard is applied and the stack is strapped or bound and then moved further away.

Abstract: Sheet material handling apparatus comprising a transfer vehicle movable along a guide track between a stack pickup position and a stack discharge position. The transfer vehicle has a clamping mechanism for clamping a stack of signatures at the stack pickup position and for removing the stack of signatures from the stack pickup position. The clamping mechanism is adapted to maintain clamping engagement with the stack of signatures as the transfer vehicle is moved along the guide track away from the stack pickup position and to the stack delivery position, and the clamping mechanism is releasable from the stack of signatures at the stack delivery position.

Abstract: A carton sealing machine for sealing cartons in which a clutch is provided to connect a pair of oppositely disposed conveyor belts for movement thereof from a driving motor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for handling tobacco. Five to eight bales are compacted to reduce the transverse dimension of the bales, the compacted group being tied into a single pack. The disclosed apparatus for performing the method consists of a truck having a pair of jaws which are movable toward one another, which are rotatable and which are elevatable to permit the bales to be compressed, raised, rotated through 90.degree. and tied.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for supplying strap to an item, such as a bundle of sheets, and with two strapping mechanisms being made available to a fixed segment of a strap guide, such that either mechanism can be positioned in the operating position at any one time. Arrangement is made for shifting the two strapping mechanisms laterally into mating position with the fixed strap guide, and with each strapping mechanism carrying a segment of a strap guide for mating with and completing the fixed segment of strap guide. Provision is also made for removing the strapping mechanisms from a fixed strap guide or position, for servicing or the like.

Abstract: A transfer vehicle with a special clamping mechanism for clamping a stack of signatures supported on a stacker, and for maintaining clamping engagement with the stack as the transfer vehicle moves the stack to a delivery position. The clamping mechanism can bring an end board over to the stacker, and deposits the end board on the stacker as the clamping mechanism engages a stack. The clamping mechanism also has independently movable clamp members that can move to different coextents in applying pressures to different portions of a stack of signatures during the clamping process. Still further, the clamping mechanism is designed to positively contain a signature stack that is removed from a stacker.

Abstract: A base frame supports pairs of parallel compressing arms having a pivoted depending support on an upper extension. These arms are operated between open and bale forming positions by fluid operated cylinders. An article holding cartridge has upstanding ribs arranged to confine articles therebetween for baling. The ribs are spaced such that upon moving the loaded cartridge into place on a cross conveyor, the compressing arms thread through the ribs and compress the articles. The upper extension has powered lifting and lowering means for operation of the compressing arms in a baling sequence and also to open the arms rearwardly for ejecting the bale. Upper straps are associated with the compressing arms to compress the top portion of the bale, and banding mechanism is supported on the frame for applying bands around the bale. The base frame is supported on a wheeled chassis and has longitudinal adjustment on the chassis for positioning between a rear baling position and a forward road traveling position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a compression bundling apparatus which can be used to compression pack or bundle such materials as waste paper, hair, cotton, plastics, crude rubber, city rubbish and the like. The apparatus can be used for lateral and vertical binding with polypropylene plastic bands. The apparatus has two main sections, the compression section and the bundling section. The two sections are connected by a guide space in which the compressed material is conveyed to the bundler where it is then bound by vertical and, if desired, lateral bands to form the bundle. There is means to discharge the banded bundle or to discharge the compressed bundle prior to banding. The vertical banding is accomplished by the cooperation of a plurality of band guides external to the compression chamber and movable into the bundling chamber which has a movable bundler for causing the bands to bind the compressed block into a bundle.

Abstract: A strapping machine particularly adapted for strapping unstable stacks of magazines and the like includes a means for positive pushing of the unstable stack into position at the strapping station by sliding the stack over a surface having a low coefficient of friction. At the strapping station, a compactor compresses the stack and a strap is automatically applied around the stack. Then, a pusher bar moves to contact the rearward end of the stack and to remove the strapped stack from the strapping station. Bundle stops which are used to properly position the unstrapped stack in the strapping station are mechanically linked to the pusher bar to retract when the pusher bar is used to move the strapped bundle from the strapping station. These bundle stops automatically reposition themselves so that this machine is ready to receive another unstrapped stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bundling beds of pipes using an intermediate cradle, a single removal sled, and a shovel prior to banding. Following delivery of pipe beds to the apparatus by a horizontal conveyor, a shovel repeatedly piles beds of pipes into an intermediate cradle, which subsequently passes the bundles to a removal sled for banding. An intermediate cradle passes obliquely above and below a removal sled to transfer the pipe bundles.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus has a first operational mode for bundling elongated elements having round cross-sectional profiles, and a second operational mode for stacking elongated elements having shaped flat-sided cross-sectional profiles.

Abstract: A tying machine comprising a bundle shaping unit including a pair of side aligning plates and a roller press which enables the bundle to be tied to move in a feeding direction while exercising a compressing force upon the bundle which has had its sides aligned by the side aligning plates. The tying machine also comprises a tying unit including a pair of oppositely disposed tying devices and press means which exercises a compressing force upon the bundle during the tying operation. The bundle to be tied is fed from the bundle shaping unit to the tying unit one by one upon completion of each cycle of the bundle shaping operation of the bundle shaping unit.

Abstract: A strapping machine having a pair of strap-feeder and tensioning devices and a pair of vertically movable chutes which cooperate with the strap-feeder and tensioning devices for applying straps to a package at spaced points thereof and are adjustable horizontally together with the strap-feeder and tensioning devices for varying the distance between the straps.

Abstract: A parcel tying-up machine which is placed between an input conveyor belt for the parcels to be tied up and an output conveyor belt for the tied-up parcels, comprises a frame and a tying-up unit. The tying-up unit has a guide apparatus for placing a tie round a parcel and a tie-joiner, which is placed under the conveyor path in the tying-up plane and is operative for joining together the loop ends of the tie. The tying-up unit is supported on the frame so that it may be moved backwards and forwards in the direction of transport of the parcels. The movement of the tying-up unit is affected by a driving system which is fixed to the frame. The machine is provided with conveying systems for taking over the parcels to be tied up from the input conveyor belt and for handing over the parcels after being tied up onto the output conveyor belt.

Abstract: Bundles of vegetables such as broccoli, and the like, are banded by apparatus (10) comprising an expander assembly (18) having a plurality of arms (86, 86', 86") which swing toward and away from one another about axes perpendicular to a phase of an associated segment in order to expand and contract an elastic band (E) placed on the arms when retracted and permit a worker to place a bundle to be banded within an expanded band. A plurality of expander assemblies (18) can be mounted on a continuous conveyor (14, 14') formed by a plurality of planar segments (16) articulated to one another and each supporting a respective expander assembly. Banded bundles are removed from conveyor (14, 14') by an extractor arrangement (30) including a pair of opposed belts (32, 32') provided with flexible fingers (34) which engage the banded bundles in a protective manner in order to remove them from an associated expander assembly (18).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a stacker tyer for stacking newspapers received in a shingled stream from a printing press. A single centrally located stacker mechanism is flanked by a pair of compensators and outside of the compensators is a pair of tyers. Stacks are built in the stacker and moved laterally first to a compensator and then to a tying mechanism. Outside the tying mechanism is located a pair of delivery mechanisms which deliver the tied stack for further processing. The stacker is able to form either short stacks (bundles) or tall stacks (logs). The tyers are able to tie either a single strap around the midline of a stack or a pair of parallel straps offset to opposite sides of the middle of a stack using a single tie head. Moreover, the tyers are able to tie either bundles or logs.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a stacker tyer for stacking newspapers received in a shingled stream from a printing press. A single centrally located stacker mechanism is flanked by a pair of compensators and outside of the compensators is a pair of tyers. Stacks are built in the stacker and moved laterally first to a compensator and then to a tying mechanism. Outside the tying mechanism are located a pair of delivery mechanisms which deliver the tied stack for further processing. The stacker is able to form either short stacks (bundles) or tall stacks (logs). In the case of bundles, the bundles may be either compensated or uncompensated; compensated logs are not built.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a stacker tyer for stacking newspapers received in a shingled stream from a printing press. A single centrally located stacker mechanism is flanked by a pair of compensators and outside of the compensators is a pair of tyers. Stacks are built in the stacker and moved laterally first to a compensator and then to a tying mechanism. A shuttle mechanism is used to move the completed stacks from the stacker to one or the other of the compensators and from there to the adjacent tyer. The shuttle mechanism supports the leading and trailing edges of each stack as it is moved, and the back side and bottom of each stack is supported by fixed bottom supports and back supports.