Abstract: Sheet delivery device employing a vertically-movable main pile hoist, a horizontally-insertable auxiliary platen and a racking device having board-supporting ledges immediately below the platen. The auxiliary platen and racking device are mounted on framework of a vertically movable auxiliary pile hoist, and thus move in unison between an upper sheet-receiving limit and a lower pile-discharge limit. When used for pile racking, the platen is first inserted below a conventional sheet conveyor to temporarily receive sheets. A racking board is next inserted below the platen, being supported by side ledges of the racking device. Once the board is in position and the ledges have been removed, the platen may be removed to deposit a newly-forming pile of sheets from the platen onto the board for conventional racking of small sheet piles.

Abstract: A separator for providing a gap between counted groups of previously overlapped articles of a stream of said articles. The separator includes a counter which counts the articles as they issue from the feed path. A spur path and an output path diverge from one another adjacent to a counting point at the counter. A diverter is adapted to divert articles to the spur path on command. Actuator means responsive to the completion of the count of articles causes the diverter to send articles to the spur path. Retention means is placed in the spur path to receive articles diverted into the spur path. Sensing means in the output path is responsive to the departure of the last article of a previously counted group to cause the retention means to transfer articles retained by it to the output path and to remove the diverter from its diverting position, thereby again to permit the passage of articles directly to the output path until a predetermined count is completed.

Abstract: A sheet delivery arrangement including a conveyor for depositing sheets on a pile and a jogger for squaring up the pile, the jogger having an associated interceptor member spaced slightly above the pile for intercepting the curled edge of a sheet deposited on the pile to prevent such curled edge from being inserted between the jogging element and the pile. The interceptor member is coupled to the conveyor for movement between an interposed position phased with the arrival of a sheet and a retracted position clear of the pile in which the engaged edge of the sheet becomes fully supported on the pile. In the preferred embodiment the interceptor member is mounted upon the jogging element for movement with the latter, and in an alternate embodiment the interceptor member is independently mounted for movement synchronized with the arrival of successive sheets.