Abstract: A product inspection apparatus includes a conveyor system for transporting items. The conveyor system includes a weigh conveyor with a load detector for detecting the weight of items transported on the conveyor system and a transport conveyor adjacent the weigh conveyor. The apparatus also includes a support structure with a support beam. The transport conveyor is mounted to the support beam by at least one support column externally mounted to the support beam such that vibrations are suppressed by the at least one externally mounted support column.

Abstract: A system includes a computing device with circuitry and memory with instructions for execution by the circuitry. The instructions include monitoring signals indicative of a non-uniform distance between a transfer head and a receiving substrate, and, in response to the monitored signals, actuating one or more actuators towards the transfer head or the receiving substrate to deform the transfer head or the receiving substrate.

Abstract: A device for stacking sheets includes a layboy, a transfer conveyor, a main conveyor, a diverting apparatus, and an accumulator. The main conveyor is pivotably mounted to a base to that it may be pivoted between an upper position and a lower position. The diverting apparatus has a plurality of diverting slats pivotably mounted to a support shaft so that the slats may be raised and lowered. When the main conveyor is in the upper position, the diverting slats are not activated, that is, they are not raised. Accordingly, when sheets are transferred along and discharged from the main conveyor, the trajectory of the sheets is basically the same as the angle of the conveyor. In contrast, when the main conveyor is in a lower position, the slats are raised. Accordingly, discharged sheets are diverted so that the trajectory of the sheets is different than the angle of the conveyor. The slats may be placed at any chosen angle.

Abstract: A load change safety system in which a sheet stacker having a stacking deck formed with a discharge end discharges sheet material onto and builds a sheet stack on a conveying sheet stack removal system formed with a receiving means. A variable pinch point gap is formed by relative motion between the discharge end of the stacking deck and the receiving means of the conveying sheet material removal system. The safety system includes redundant means selectively preventing a decrease in the variable pinch point gap. The redundant means of the safety system preferably includes an electro-optical light guard means operably connected to the redundant means with one or more redirections of light beams to create a light guard perimeter guarding portions of the stacker and sheet removal system to guard against access to the pinch point.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for stacking flat mailings, in which the thickness of each individually conveyed mailing that is to be stacked is detected within a main control loop. The underfloor belt is displaced away from the stacking location by a distance that corresponds to the measured thickness minus a specific distance by means of a stack support for the arriving mailing. The stacking force is measured at different heights in the area of the stacking roll in a static correcting control loop and is re-regulated by moving the underfloor belt within set point values established for the allowed stacking force ranges once each mailing has reached the stop.

Abstract: A stream of successive sheets of paper, foil or the like is converted into a series of piles at a stacking station where successive sheets are caused to descend onto a pallet which is adjacent a monitoring device serving to transmit signals denoting the levels of successive uppermost sheets of a growing pile. Such signals are processed by a unit which controls one or more valves in a pneumatic elevator for the discharge end of the endless flexible conveyor which supplies successive sheets to the stacking station. The elevator ensures that the distance between the discharge end of the conveyor and the uppermost sheets of the growing pile remains within a preselected range. This contributes to the accuracy of stacking of sheets on their pallet.

Abstract: A hopper loader apparatus and method for delivering signatures to a binding line, the hopper loader including a first conveyor having a horizontal entry portion and an arched exit portion. During operation of the hopper, the signatures are loaded onto the horizontal entry portion and moved toward the arched exit portion such that the signatures are fanned or deblocked as they travel over the arched exit portion. A second conveyor connected to the first conveyor receives signatures from the arched exit portion of the first conveyor and moves the signatures to the binding line. The arched exit portion is preferably less than 25% of the total length of the first conveyor. The horizontal portion of the first conveyor is located between 30 and 34 inches above a platform on which the hopper loader is standing to facilitate loading of the signatures onto the horizontal portion by an operator.

Abstract: Vertical pocket feeder signature handling equipment which supplies signatures in an on-edge orientation one at a time to bindery equipment. The vertical pocket feeder particularly cooperates with a hopper loader apparatus which transfers and separates individual signatures of sheet materials from a vertically aligned, stack of such signatures. The separated, individual signatures may then be subjected to bindery operations such as stapling or stitching.

Abstract: A load change safety system in which a sheet stacker having a stacking deck formed with a discharge end discharges sheet material onto and builds a sheet stack on a conveying sheet stack removal system formed with a receiving means. A variable pinch point gap is formed by relative motion between the discharge end of the stacking deck and the receiving means of the conveying sheet material removal system. The safety system includes redundant means selectively preventing a decrease in the variable pinch point gap. The redundant means of the safety system preferably includes an electro-optical light guard means operably connected to the redundant means with one or more redirections of light beams to create a light guard perimeter guarding portions of the stacker and sheet removal system to guard against access to the pinch point.

Abstract: A safety lock for locking an upstacker conveyor in an elevated position by means of a safety lock having a retractable member which is inserted between elevating members and the frame of the upstacker. Specifically, the safety lock is inserted between elevating members such as link members which rotate with respect to the frame as the frame is lowered and form an ever decreasing angle with the frame as the frame is lowered. By inserting a retractable member so that the angle between the structural member and frame can no longer decrease, the upstacker is effectively prevented from lowering accidentally.

Abstract: A signature hopper loader apparatus and method for delivering signatures in a shingled stream to the hopper.

Abstract: A zero feed interrupt sheet stacker conveying an uninterrupted stream of sheets in which a sheet accumulator catches holds and deposits a stack of sheets upon a load receiving device. The accumulator includes a curtain which is extended into the stream of sheets at a selected point between two sheets. The curtain type apparatus provides a platform in which the portion of the platform in contact with the carried sheets does not move relative to the sheet while it is extending, during holding, or during retraction of the platform.

Abstract: A zero feed interrupt sheet stacker conveying an uninterrupted stream of sheets in which a sheet accumulator catches holds and deposits a stack of sheets upon a load receiving device. The accumulator includes a curtain which is extended into the stream of sheets at a selected point between two sheets. The curtain type apparatus provides a platform in which the portion of the platform in contact with the carried sheets does not move relative to the sheet while it is extending, during holding, or during retraction of the platform.

Abstract: A conveyor (10) has a self-contained main conveyor line (12), a number of feed lines (14, 14') in the form of buffer lines and a return line (16, 16'). Each feed line (14, 14') is associated to a processing station (26, 26'). The feed lines (14, 14') are connected to the main conveyor line (12) by means of controlled switches (28) so that, viewed in the conveyor direction (F), any of the clamps (20) can be delivered to any desired processing station (26). This gives the device great flexibility and decouples the processing stations from the pickup of the pressroom products at the pickup station (24).

Abstract: A staple sorter comprising a large-capacity non-sort tray. Sheets are stacked one by one on a plurality of bins so as to make collated sets of sheets (sort mode), and each set is stapled by a staple unit. A sheet conveyer gate has rollers and is capable of moving vertically. The sheet conveyer gate takes a stapled stack of sheets out of a bin with the rollers when lowered, and ejects the stack onto the non-sort tray after elevated. When ejecting, the gate is elevated to a position which is higher than the uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the non-sort tray.

Abstract: A machine for conveying, discharging and stacking sheets such as carton blanks is disclosed in which the velocity of the blanks is substantially reduced as they are discharged from the conveyor into the stacking area.

Abstract: A device for arranging sheets of paper (32) in a stack (33) having a frame (2) to be mounted fixed in place, with an inlet opening (62) for introducing the sheets (32) to be stacked. The arm (4) is pivotably seated at its rear end on the frame (2) and contains a conveying member (45) driven by a motor (43) for conveying the sheets (32). A container (3) is provided for receiving the sheets (32), with a vertically displaceable carriage (12) and a drive member (15) for displacing the carriage (12). The front end of the arm (4) is pivotably connected to with the carriage (12). There is a sensor (68) at the front end of the arm (4) for detecting the upper edge of the stack (33), and a control device (67), connected with the sensor (68) and the drive member (15), for maintaining the front end of the arm (4 ) at the height of the stack (33) being formed. Finally, an exchangeable cassette (28) for receiving the stack (33) can be inserted into the container (3).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stacking a plurality of flat articles on edge, comprising a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles in a stack, the discharge magazine including moveable discharge support belts adapted to support the stack of articles on edge and a moveable compression plate to maintain the articles on edge. A drive element is provided for controllably moving the discharge support belts. A stacker section adjacent the discharge magazine transports articles sequentially into the stack, the stacker section comprising stacker belts extending around a plurality of rollers.The last of the articles in the stack abuts against the stacker belts adjacent one of the rollers to apply a compressive force developed by the stack of flat articles and the compression plate to the one roller. The one roller is movably mounted to the apparatus for movement responsive to increases and decreases in the compressive force.

Abstract: A device which forms a stack of flat articles such as envelopes is disclosed. A conveyor delivers flat articles to a movable carriage. The movable carriage includes a horizontal support and vertical support for aligning flat articles received. A stacking head supported on the movable carriage comprises four rotary rollers positioned at the vertices of a parallelogram. Two non-adjacent rollers are movable but maintained a fixed distance apart. The rollers support a belt which transfers received flat articles from the conveyor onto the horizontal and vertical supports. A strain-sensitive detector is coupled to the movable rollers for providing a signal to control carriage movement as the stack of accumulated flat articles increases.

Abstract: Folded products, supplied in dual-comb like interdigited form are transported by a transport chain system (75) carrying grippers (84, 85) in a vertical direction to form a vertical stack. Grippers engage alternate products about their fold line, and hold the interdigited intermediate sheets therebetween. The transport system and a carrier structure are placed in relative positions to permit the grippers of the transport system to pick up the products (1, 2) at the fold line and, after reorienting the products, to place them in a vertical stack on a support (96, 110), a cam track (88) opening the grippers on the transport system (75) as the grippers pass about a vertically movable deflection wheel (97) to release the products. The deflection wheel moves upwardly as the stack grows.

Abstract: A sheet ejector for transporting sheets discharged from a sheet handling apparatus such as electronic copying machine or facsimile machine to a sheet tray is disclosed. The sheet discharged from the sheet handling apparatus is pinched by a movable member which is moved to the sheet tray to transport the sheet therewith and to eject the sheet to the sheet tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a stack of flat objects such as letters on a support is disclosed. A conveyor moves flat objects to the support. A stacking apparatus moves the flat objects onto the support into abutment against a jogging wall of the support. The conveyor and stacking apparatus are supported on a table which is movable relative to the support and stack. The stacking apparatus extends between the conveyor and jogging wall and includes an end having an axis about which the stacking apparatus is pivoted so as to be displaceable towards and away from the end of the stack.

Abstract: A tray apparatus for stacking sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine and other recording machines. The tray apparatus has a sheet aligning member in the form of an endless web which is contactable to the top surface of the sheet which has been discharged onto a tray or bin tray so as to displace the sheet in the opposite direction until the trailing edge of the sheet abuts a stopper member which is disposed adjacent that end of the tray which is near the discharging outlet. By doing so, the sheets discharged are aligned against the stopper member.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a dual tote sorting and stacking apparatus for continuously transporting, sorting and stacking sequentially fed sheets of paper such as from printing, copying and duplicating machinery. The apparatus employs mass airflow type of conveyors for paper transport. A diverter is provided for selectively diverting the sheet to designated receiving trays or, optionally, for expelling the sheet from the apparatus. A jogger is provided for jogging the sheets which are deposited into the trays into individually aligned job stacks. An assembly may also be provided for flipping the sheets as they enter the apparatus or for feeding individual sequentially fed sheets into the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding out sheets to a stacking magazine wherein the sheets are fed out from a carriage which is lifted in timed relation with the growth of the stack of sheets so that the sheets are continuously fed out directly to the top end of the stack.

Abstract: A stack support rotating about an upright axis is arranged beneath a discharge station of a delivery conveyor for the imbricated formation. The stack support and at least the discharge station of the delivery conveyor are adjustable in height in relation to one another. In order to increase the storage capacity of the spiral-layered coiled stack being formed, respectively in order to reduce its height for the same content, a drive mechanism is provided to periodically displace the discharge station of the delivery conveyor and the axis of rotation of the stack support relative to one another periodically and alternatingly toward and away from one another. A spiral-layered coiled stack thus forms in which each layer of the coil consists of a flat spiral preferably comprising a plurality of spiral windings progressing from the interior to the exterior and from the exterior to the interior in alternate layers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for transporting sheet materials from a source location to a stacking workstation. A lower conveyor is positioned between the source location and the stacking work station. An upper conveyor having a first conveyor section and a second conveyor section is positioned above the lower conveyor such that the first conveyor section is above an end portion of the lower conveyor and the second conveyor section extends beyond the the downstream end of the lower conveyor. The first conveyor section is pivotably fixed at an upstream end. The upstream end of the second conveyor section is pivotably attached adjacent the downstream end of the first conveyor section. The downstream end of the second conveyor section is adapted to be operatively coupled to the top of the stack of sheet materials being stacked on a movable support of the stacking workstation.

Abstract: In a currency deposit and dispensing machine, a movable stacking assembly having a pair of paddle wheels is provided in the box for receiving the deposited bills. A predetermined box for receiving the deposited bills. A predetermined space is kept between the wheels and the top of the bills stacked in the box so that the received bills can be positively stacked in the box. On dispensing bills, the weight of the paddle wheel assembly is made to press against the top of the stacked bills so that the bills can be positively fed out one by one from the box through a feed port at the bottom of the box.

Abstract: A tray loading apparatus includes an inclined support having a displaceable front part so that the front wall of a tray can be brought into abutment with the front end of a stack carried by the support and to be loaded in the tray after a backing plate supporting the stack front end has been removed. The stacking apparatus includes a conveyor able to apply the front portion of each envelope conveyed in a direction making an angle with the above backing plate against this backing plate and a belt arrangement operating on the front portion of each envelope to cant the rear part of the envelope into engagement with a deflector after the front portion has been applied against the backing plate.

Abstract: A collector and discharge mechanism permits a continuous flow of sheet material into a stacker station while predetermined size batches are removed from the growing stack and discharged for processing and cartoning.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus and method in which the stack of sheets forming the load are fed onto a pivoting cradle whose pivot axis is at a height permitting substantially horizontal delivery of the sheets to the receiving conveyor. After each loading of the cradle, it is moved horizontally toward the receiving conveyor an amount sufficient to cover any feeding gap on the conveyor caused by the excursion of the cradle through its load position. A pivotable conveyor aft of the receiving conveyor includes a backstop gate assembly which is adjustable to control the thickness of flow of the shingled sheets.

Abstract: A stacking assemblage fed from a conveyor which transports materials to a staging area. The materials are formed into a tier on a movable platen of the assemblage in accordance with a prescribed pattern. The platen can be raised or lowered to a desired level and then shifted to deposit each tier on an outboard conveyor until a desired multi-tier stack is formed.

Abstract: A machine for stacking rectangular sheets of relatively rigid material such as panels, counters, doors, plastic sheets, or the like which has an input conveyor for receiving the panels as they are placed horizontally thereon, an elevator conveyor pivotally connected to the discharge end of the input conveyor on a horizontal axis for raising and lowering movement, a discharge conveyor at the outer end of the elevator conveyor, a conveyor drive motor for driving the conveyors, elevator motor for moving the elevator conveyor about its pivot axis, and a switch on the discharge conveyor for activating the elevator motor as a panel is discharged therefrom to raise the elevator conveyor a selected distance prior to discharge of the next panel. The machine also includes a mechanism on the input conveyor for straightening any panel disposed thereon prior to its movement onto the elevator conveyor.

Abstract: In the herein automatic conveyor system for conveying corrugated cardboard sheets from a sheet making machine or the like, the sheets are delivered to a stacker conveyor and the aligning system for the sheets in the stack includes back-stops spaced from the stacker end of the stacker conveyor and against which the sheets are discharged from the conveyor, adjustable side aligners, adjustable against the opposite side edges of the sheets in the stack, and a flexible longitudinal aligner opposite the back-stops with a mechanism for flexing the longitudinal aligner against the sheets sequentially from one end to the other along its length. The longitudinal aligner includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced rollers along a flexible plate and coacting cams on a rotating shaft engaged with the rollers, the cams being circumferentially offset relatively to one another sequentially so as to push adjacent portions of the plate toward the sheets sequentially from end to end as the cams are rotated.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in which the stack of sheets forming the load are fed onto a pivoting cradle whose pivot axis is at a height permitting substantially horizontal delivery of the sheets to the receiving conveyor. After each loading of the cradle, it is moved horizontally toward the receiving conveyor an amount sufficient to cover any feeding gap on the conveyor caused by the excursion of the cradle through its load position. A pivotable conveyor aft of the receiving conveyor includes a backstop gate assembly which is adjustable to control the thickness of flow of shingled sheets.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking stackable workpieces in a plurality of side-by-side vertical columns. The apparatus includes a stacking head transversely movable on a frame, and a conveyor attached to the head for directing individual workpieces to the head. The head has downwardly extending arms that are peripherally spaced from each other a distance corresponding to the breadth of the workpieces for receiving the workpieces one upon the other, for accumulating the workpieces and for releasing the accumulated workpieces for vertical fall to a horizontal surface located below the arms and head.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking skins uses an endless conveyor belt mounted on a support and driven by a drum at an upstream end, and passing around a pair of rollers. The latter are displaceable relative to the drum to define a pair of retractable and extendable conveyor arms at the downstream end by a pair of chains for cyclically displacing the rollers to extend an upper one of the arms while retracting a lower one of the arms simultaneously. A bar is affixed to the conveyor belt and is engageable with notches on the support upon the displacement of said conveyor belt for retaining a portion of the conveyor belt between the rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus for accurately controlling registration of incoming sheets against a stop with minimal buckling. The apparatus includes a roller positioned on top of the stack of sheets which are registered against the stop. A belt encircles the roller and extends thru a slot formed in the stop. The roller is supported by a double pivoted linkage incorporating a counter weight to set a predetermined tension on the belt.

Abstract: At least one end of a conveyor having guided movement in an upright direction is provided with an emergency brake to stop descent of the conveyor in the event of a component failure. The brake includes elements on the conveyor which cooperate with the conveyor guide.

Abstract: An apparatus for infeeding printed products or the like to a stacker, comprising an endless revolving conveyor having an outfeed portion which is elevationally adjustable and automatically accommodatable to the height of the formed stack. The outfeed portion is constituted by a loop of an essentially vertically traveling run of the conveyor, the loop is deflected out of the conveyor by means of guides which are arranged at a frame guided along the aforementioned run and displaceable by means of a lift drive. The lift drive can be switched-on and switched-off as a function of the response of a feeler provided at the frame and scanning the height of the stack.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for stacking bundles such as bundles of paperboard sheets on a receiver. The apparatus includes an L-shaped conveyor having a top run and a bottom run. The top run of the conveyor has a position defined by the location of spaced first and second carriers having discrete guide members contacting the conveyor. The carriers are individually elevated with the second carrier being progressively elevated in stages while the first carrier moves up and down from a receiving position to a position corresponding to the current position of the second carrier.

Abstract: A method of stacking corrugated paperboard blanks issuing from a corrugator that produces parallel streams of blanks from an advancing endless web by shingling the blanks from each of the streams and advancing them to lineally displaced stacking stations where a predetermined number of blanks are accumulated and then interrupting the flows of blanks for removing stacks of blanks from the stacking stations. Suitable apparatus for performing the method includes vertically displaced, parallel shingling conveyors which advance the shingled blanks to lineally displaced stacking platforms and a gating apparatus at the downstream end of each conveyor to interrupt the flow of blanks while the stacks are removed from the platforms. The output end of the lower conveyor rises to compensate for the increasing height of the stack on its associated platform while the other platform falls to similarly compensate for the increasing height of the stack thereon.