Abstract: A device for stacking sheets delivered on a first conveyor in a plurality of parallel streams of overlapping sheets, includes a second conveyor moving slower than the first conveyor that compacts the streams as they exit the first conveyor; a third conveyor that receives the streams from the second conveyor; and a plurality of stackers, each aligned with one of the streams exiting the third conveyor, formed of endless belts positionable horizontally which cooperate with stop members to stack the incoming sheets. Completed stacks are then moved downstream on the belt. When sheets in a stream are determined to be defective; its belt for that stream is tilted, and the stream falls onto a fourth conveyor for disposal.

Abstract: An arrangement for forming a third stream of at least one first and one second stream of identical printed products has a first transport device synchronously conveying in a first conveying direction the first and second streams adjacent to one another. A second transport device is arranged downstream of the first transport device and has a second conveying direction substantially transverse to the first conveying direction of the first transport device. The first and second transport devices form steps transporting the printed products in a cascade fashion and combining the first and second streams to a common third stream.

Abstract: A printer in which the speed at which the recording medium is loaded into the printer prior to printing, at which the recording medium is moved through the printer during printing, and at which the recording medium is ejected from the printer after printing, are automatically selected based upon existing print modes and printing-related conditions, and which provides for concurrent pre-printing processes and tasks to occur during the loading of the recording medium.

Abstract: A method of the invention is for operating a media feed motor of a printer to perform a media feed move of a predetermined distance and includes steps a) through c). Step a) includes choosing a position-error scale factor for a media feed move that is within a range of distances. Step b) includes calculating a media-feed-motor drive signal which includes a position error contribution substantially equal to the product of the position-error scale factor and the difference between a desired final media position at the end of a media feed move and the actual media position. Step c) includes modifying the position error contribution in step b) to reduce its effect when the predetermined distance is greater than the maximum distance within the range but not when the predetermined distance is less than the maximum distance within the range.

Abstract: A copier has an ejection mechanism for allowing a sheet with a formed image to be ejected via an ejection exit toward the outside of the machine. The ejection mechanism has a switch-back section for allowing the sheet which is passed through a fixing unit at a predetermined process speed to be received for the sheet to be inverted and an ejection roller pair for allowing the sheet which is sent from the switch-back section to be decelerated before the ejection exit and to be sent to the outside of the machine. In order to maintain a conveying pitch at which sheets are continuously delivered, the conveying speed of the sheet passed through the switch-back section is increased, thus shortening the inversion operation time required for the switch-back operation. That is, the conveying speed of the sheet passed through the switch-back section is made higher than the process speed.

Abstract: A sheet material stacking device and an automatic exposure device for a printing plate, capable of stacking a number of interleaf sheets stably and efficiently. A pair of skewered rollers are provided at the sheet material stacking device used for the automatic exposure device. An interleaf sheet, which is fed from an interleaf sheet transport section, is guided by guide plates and nipped by the rollers. The interleaf sheet, while maintaining a so-called stronger pulling tension, is forcibly fed to an interleaf sheet accommodating section and stacked. Even if the interleaf sheet is thin, the interleaf sheet can behave stably as it is being stacked, and a number of the interleaf sheets can be stacked regularly and effectively.

Abstract: In a sheet stacking apparatus, in particular spiral slot stacker, one determines the relative position of a group of sheets 7A, 7B, for example distance ta between the sheets or total length tL of overlapping sheets. Sheet sensor 16 is mounted for this purpose at a large distance before input point 15 so that irregularities such as distance and/or overlap within the group of sheets 7A, 7B are taken into account and corresponding steps can be taken before leading sheet 7A is fed into stacker slot 2 of stacking wheel 1. Depending on the kind of irregularity ascertained, stacking wheel 1 is stopped, slowed down or accelerated to permit collision-free feed of the group of sheets into common slot 2 or into separate slots 2. In special embodiments one influences the sheet speed by means of separately controllable transport path segments 12a, 12b, and/or input point 15 by means of control finger 8.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for forming an imbricated stream of first and second printed products, in which in each case a first and a second printed product are located substantially congruently one upon the other in double imbricated formation. The first and second printed products are individually gripped alternately by an intermediate conveyor and conveyed one behind the other at a conveying spacing d. In each case a first printed product is transferred in a transfer region from the intermediate conveyor to a removal conveyor, which is designed as a belt conveyor, such that the first printed product comes to rest on the belt conveyor and overlaps the preceding printed product in an imbricated manner. A second printed product is then deposited such that it comes to rest substantially congruently on a first printed product which has already been deposited.

Abstract: A device is used to insert and/or deposit printed products into a conveying channel. The printed products are conveyed in the conveying channel with of carriers of a conveying element. An acceleration apparatus pre-accelerates the printed products in conveying direction. The acceleration apparatus conveys the printed products essentially in a straight line and at an angle to the conveying direction of the conveying channel. The printed products are preferably inserted with the aid of conveying belts and at an angle into the conveying channel. As a result of the slanted feed, the divisions of the conveying element can be optimized and the capacity increased.

Abstract: A delivery for a printing machine that processes sheets passing through the latter in a processing direction, includes sheet brakes adjustable transversely to the processing direction and a respective braking element having a vacuum passing therethrough, the braking element being cooperatable with the sheet and revolving during the operation thereof, and a supporting element through which vacuum does not pass, the respective braking element being replaceable by the supporting element for converting one of the sheet brakes to a respective sheet support adjustable transversely to the processing direction; and a printing machine having such a delivery.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for removing flat mail pieces from a pile by means of a removal device with controllable removal velocity which feeds the mail pieces to conveyor belts driven at the velocity v0. Set velocity value profiles are associated with the differences between set and actual gaps. Since the curve forms are selectable, the drive ratios can be taken into account. The association of the set velocity value curves of the drive unit with the actual gaps in order to achieve the set gap at the takeover point of the conveyor belts at velocity v0 takes place in previous measurements. The nonlinearities of the transfer function of the drive unit are detected by tabular assignment of the velocity profiles on the basis of measurements.

Abstract: A signature slow-down section in a folder of a printing press for slowing down signatures is provided. The folder is driven by a folder drive mechanism and the signature slow-down section includes a frame, a slow-down mechanism supported by the frame, and a motor connected to the slow-down mechanism for rotatably driving the slow-down mechanism separately from the folder drive mechanism. The motor is selectively operable to drive the slow-down mechanism at a speed in response to the position of the signatures relative to the slow-down mechanism.

Abstract: A folder apparatus includes a conveyor and knock-down wheel assembly to receive signatures from, for example, a tape system output. The conveyor and knock-down wheel assembly slow down the signatures from the tape system and create a shingled output stream of signatures. Multiple conveyor and knock-down wheel assemblies may be employed to attain a desired speed and signature spacing.

Abstract: A method and system for transporting envelopes from an envelope feeder to an envelope staging area in an envelope insertion machine. The envelope transport system includes two envelope bins and two envelope supply paths linking the envelope bins to an envelope feeder. Each of the bins is used to temporarily store an envelope before that envelope is moved to the staging area. The envelope supply paths are controlled by a flipper gate which alternately opens one path and closes another so as to allow an envelope to enter one envelope bin while another envelope in the other envelope bin is moved to the staging area. With the dual envelope bins connected to the dual supply paths to receive envelopes released by the envelope feeder, the envelope feeder does not have to slow down substantially in order to wait for the released envelope to clear the feeding path.

Abstract: A method for transferring signatures is described. A gripper assembly contains a gripper bar having a gripper and a pivot arm having a gripper seat. The gripper assembly is moved such that the gripper projects through a space in front of a leading edge of a signature being delivered on a transport system. The gripper assembly is moved such that the gripper seat is directly aligned with the leading edge of the signature and the gripper seat is travelling at the same velocity as the signature. The gripper is driven in a direction of the gripper seat such that the signature is held between the gripper and the gripper seat. In this manner the velocity of the signature is not changed during the handoff. In addition, a gripper assembly for performing the handoff is described.

Abstract: A conveying-in stream, in which flat articles (4) are conveyed held gripped individually, is transformed into a conveying-away stream, in which the articles (4) are loosely lying overlapping one another in an imbricated manner and in alternating groups oriented rotated relative to each other. The transformation is implemented, in that the conveying-in track intersects with the conveying away track at two track intersections (A and B) and in that the articles (4) are transferred from the conveying-in track to the conveying-away track in alternating groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) at the first track intersection (A) or at the second track intersection (B). In the conveying-away stream, the articles (4) are arranged in imbricated stream sections (1A/1B) each section comprising one or two groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) of articles (4) and being separated from neighboring sections by a stream gap (22).

Abstract: A shingling nip roll is added between an infeed conveyor and a reciprocating table. The nip roll slows the speed of the sheets thereby reducing bruising and buckling as sheets are ejected to the table. Further, the trailing end of a dropped sheet is overlapped by a leading end of the next upstream sheet which assists in maintaining control of the dropped sheet as it drops onto the reciprocating table.

Abstract: A method and device for improving the stacking efficiency in a sheet accumulation system using a continuous web cutter for cutting a web of material into sheets and a plurality of right angle turn-over modules for changing the direction of the sheets and causing overlapping between adjacent sheets. Different movement mechanisms are used to move the sheets with different moving speeds from the web cutter toward the right angle turn-over modules for increasing the overlapped amount.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device to change the speed of individual flat shipments that are jammed and displaced one behind the other on a two-part conveyance system. In order to carry out any desired speed changes, without subjecting the shipments to pull or strain, a first conveyance device is located in front of a second conveyance device with controllable speed. The first conveyance device is normally driven at the speed of the inputting part of the conveyance system and does not exert a propelling or braking effect on the relevant delivery when it is blocked on the second conveyance device with controllable speed.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device, comprised of a sheet support bed having a plurality of side-by-side rollers that are freely rotatable about an associated roller axis. A drive assembly moves the sheet support bed in a predetermined direction along a closed path. The path has a horizontal upper run and a horizontal lower run, and is dimensioned such that a space exists between the first end and the second end of the sheet support bed as the sheet support bed moves along the path.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus comprising a sheet feeding device for separating and feeding stacked sheets one by one, a convey guide device for guiding the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding device, a spacing device provided on the guide device and adapted to deviate positions of a trailing end of a preceding sheet and a leading end of a succeeding sheet which is fed continuously to the preceding sheet, a sheet detecting device for detecting the leading end of the succeeding sheet deviated from the trailing end of the preceding sheet by the spacing device.

Abstract: An apparatus for transforming an overlapping stack of flexible flat objects, such as printed products, arriving on a first conveyor into an overlapping formation on a second conveyor which is positioned downstream of the first conveyor. A displacement element is guided to reciprocate on a guide rail and has a hook which acts to engage and displace each of the objects from the first conveyor into an active region of the second conveyor. The second conveyor is driven at a conveying speed which is greater than that of the first conveyor. Also, the speed of the displacement element in the direction of conveyance is greater than the conveying speed of the first conveyor, and thus the objects are fed to the second conveyor separately and at an increased spacing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for advancing and/or slowing signatures in a printing press. The apparatus and method includes a series of two or more belt drives, where each belt drive includes at least a pair of opposed belts. The belts are preferably timing or toothed belts driven by sprockets. The sprockets are formed with a semi-elliptical outer surface. As a result, the belts have two directions of motion. The first direction—horizontal—advances the signatures and may be used to slow the signatures. The second direction—vertical—withdraws the belts away from contact with the signatures to prevent buckling or wrinkling during a speed transition or during a transfer between belts. In one embodiment of the present invention, both opposed belts are retracting belts; in another embodiment, one belt is a fixed conveyor belt, while the other opposed belt is a retracting belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for decelerating signatures moving in tandem fashion through sheet processing equipment is provided. A pair of counter-rotating cams lying in general face-to-face relation along a travel path of the signatures reach into the travel path of the signatures to effectively grab the trailing end of each signature so as to decrease the speed of each signature as the signature continues or to further processing equipment in the sheet handling system. Also provided is a guide assembly which increases control over the signatures during the decelerating process and during transport of the signatures to further downstream processing equipment. The guide assembly includes grooved rollers which act as pulleys for belts near the exit stream of the slow-down equipment, wherein the protruding segments between belt grooves act to push the signatures away from the belt.

Abstract: A sheet transport system comprises a plurality of separately driven transport sections (1, 2; 4, 5, 6), each transport section being driven by a respective motor or motors (7-12). A control system (22-27, 50) controls operation of the motors (7-12). A monitoring system (37) monitors the performance of the motors, the control system being responsive to the monitoring system to maintain correct operation of the motors.

Abstract: A stacker (10) includes a housing (18) provided with an inlet port (20) and an outlet port (22), a tray (14) arranged beneath the outlet port of the housing in an upward/downward movable manner, and a transfer mechanism for transferring printed sheets from the inlet port to the outlet port and discharging the sheets above the tray through the outlet port. The sheet transfer velocity of the transfer mechanism is controlled in three stages including an intake speed (V1) at which the printed sheets are taken in through the inlet port, a carrying speed (V2) at which the sheets are carried from the inlet port to the outlet port and a discharge speed (V3) at which the sheets are discharged from the outlet port above the tray. The carrying speed is higher than the intake speed, and the discharge speed is not lower than the carrying speed.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device comprised of a sheet support bed having a first end and a second end. The sheet support bed is comprised of a plurality of side-by-side rollers, each of the rollers being freely rotatable about an associated roller axis. A drive assembly moves the sheet support bed in a predetermined direction along a closed path, the path having a horizontal upper run and a horizontal lower run, and is dimensioned such that a space exists between the first end and the second end of the sheet support bed as the sheet support bed moves along the path. A roller control assembly for selectively and sequentially controlling rotation of select ones of the rollers at select intervals during a stacking operation.

Abstract: A file of successive sheets is delivered to a converting station by a faster first conveyor, and a stream of partially overlapping sheets is removed by a slower second conveyor. Partial overlapping between the leading sections of successive sheets in the file and the trailing sections of the respective preceding sheets in the stream is due to the difference between the speeds of the two conveyors. A deflector assembly at the converting station ensures that the leading sections of successive sheets of the file can predictably overlap with the trailing sections of the immediately preceding sections of the stream by causing the trailing sections to move out of the way of oncoming leading sections and/or vice versa.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the arrival of copy sheets at a photoreceptor in an image processing having a copy sheet path having a plurality of segments coupled at given transfer zones, a plurality of copy sheet drives, an image transfer station, a photoreceptor and a controller. The controller directs the image processing apparatus by tracking the movement of copy sheets at the image transfer station in relation to the movement of the photoreceptor, monitoring the movement of copy sheets at the transfer zones, determining the need to adjust the spacing of copy sheets along the plurality of segments of the copy sheet path, and suitably activating selected copy sheet drives.

Abstract: An apparatus for varying a speed of flat products. The apparatus has a first, higher-speed conveyor arrangement containing conveyor drums and belts, and a second, slower speed conveyor configuration containing belt rollers and belts, in which the flat products are each transported between the belts of the first and second conveyor configurations. A pair of rollers with recesses is provided on the circumference in the conveying path of one of the two conveyor configurations). Rotational bodies move about their respective eccentric axes that in turn are located on crankshafts. The crankshafts rotate on axes with reference to the frame walls, and the rotational bodies and the crankshafts move at a constant angular speed omega.

Abstract: A sheet-braking system and method of operation for a delivery of a sheet-processing machine, includes a braking belt revolving during operation and undergoing periodic decelerating and accelerating phases. The braking belt further includes a braking strand passable over a suction region providing a suction effect passing through the braking strand. The suction region is overlapped throughout the duration of a respective decelerating phase, by a respective sheet deposited on the braking strand.

Abstract: A signature-delivery-pitch regulating apparatus includes a grip mechanism adapted to grip a signature received in a rotating delivery fan, push the signature out of the delivery fan, and then release the signature on the transport conveyer operating at a speed slower than the moving speed of the grip mechanism. The grip mechanism includes at least one endless chain in meshing engagement with at least a first sprocket and a second sprocket. The first sprocket rotates at a position within a rotation locus of bottoms of signature receiving spaces of the delivery fan and in the vicinity of a region where the delivery fan comes close to the transport conveyer. The second sprocket has an outer circumference located outside the rotation region of the delivery fan. The endless chain can travel along the transport direction of the transport conveyer from a position inside the rotation region of the delivery fan to a position outside the rotation region of the delivery fan.

Abstract: A signature conveying apparatus is disclosed which is structured simply and which enables a stable high-speed operation to be performed when a chopper-folding operation is performed by conveying the signatures to a chopper-folding unit at a low speed. A signature conveying unit of a folding machine incorporates a delivery cylinder which is rotated at a speed lower than the peripheral speed of a gripping cylinder and a speed-reduction cylinder. A high-speed conveying means conveys signatures received from the delivery cylinder and the speed-reduction cylinder at the same peripheral speed as that of the delivery cylinder and the speed-reduction cylinder. A speed-change conveying means receives the signatures conveyed from the high-speed conveying means to convey the signatures to a low-speed conveying means such that the conveyance speed is gradually reduced.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking sheets comprises a duplex tray for holding a sheet in a temporary storage position. A dispense nip is formed at an outlet of the tray. Rollers feed a sheet from the temporary storage position by a predetermined distance through the dispense nip. Any sheets already located in the dispense nip are fed at the same time by substantially the same predetermined distance, whereby a shingled stack of sheets is obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transport and slowing of folding copies in a folding machine. The folding copies are transported by belt groups, and the copies are removed from a surface of the copy-guiding cylinder by the belt groups. At least two belt groups are provided for transporting the folding copies. A belt group preceding a longitudinal-folding device is driven by a drive that is independent of the folding machine drive.

Abstract: A rotary bristle brush, particularly adapted for use in a decelerating conveyor for shingling sheets, operates over a preload surface that subjects the moving bristles to an increasing bending deflection. The bristles are released from the preload surface just above the sheets entering the shingling conveyor to allow the ends of the preloaded bristles to spring downwardly into contact with the sheet. The contact force of the bristles helps drive the sheet downwardly onto the shingling conveyor which may be a vacuum conveyor.

Abstract: A plurality of sheets are fed along a plurality of rows of conveying paths in a state in which leading edges of the respective sheets in the conveying direction are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction, and fed from an outlet of the conveying paths by a high-speed feeding means at a speed which is greater than or equal to a conveying speed of the conveying path. In the feeding section, the plurality of sheets are received by a moving endless belt, arranged, and then fed out. As a result, the present invention can provide a sheet conveying apparatus which has a simple structure and a simple control system and in which a plurality of the sheets which are conveyed along the plurality of rows of the conveying paths are fed while being arranged in a single row in the feeding section.

Abstract: The disclosed sorting device, within a conveyor of plate-like workpieces, comprises a first lower rear conveyor (40) ending in a front wheel or roller (42) driven in rotation. It also comprises a second lower front conveyor (50) located behind the first and beginning with a rear wheel or roller (52) driven in rotation. It is also provided with compression device (30, 35) for pressing the plate-like workpieces against the lower conveyors, and a sorter (60) interposed between the front roller (42) of the first conveyor (40) and the rear roller (52) of the second conveyor (50), the sorter (60) having, in cross section, a corner facing the upstream or feed end of the conveyor, with a first side parallel to the normal path of the conveyors, and a second slanted side along an ejection path passing between the first and second lower conveyors. The device also comprises deflection means (26, 32) situated slightly above the front half of the front wheel or roller (42) of the first conveyor (40).

Abstract: Certain parameters in a high speed order change in a corrugator, including a small gap between orders and the relative lengths of the old and new order sheets, require altered order change and discharge routines on the downstacker conveyor system in order to prevent edge butt between the last sheet of the old order and the first sheet of the new order. Alternate order change and order discharge routines, which are automatically implemented by the downstacker system controller, include accelerated movement of the old order shingle out of the downstacker vacuum conveyor to outrun the incoming first sheet of the new order or, alternately, allowing the first sheet of the new order to overrun the tail end of the old order and utilizing, if necessary, a device to divert the lead edge of the first new order sheet upwardly to allow the shingle to be reestablished.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing printed products to a gatherer, including a product supplier for feeding printed products, a product separator positioned to receive printed products from the product supplier and to separate the printed products into a separated stream, a printer positioned adjacent to the separated stream and positioned to print on the separated printed products, and a gripper conveyor positioned to receive the separated printed products from the printer and to form a shingled stream.

Abstract: The bristles for brushes used in the deceleration section of a sheet handling system are made of a pultruded construction utilizing a high strength fiber core and high wear resin binder to provide bristles which will not acquire a set from bending and exhibit extremely long wear life. Pultruded fibers of various cross sectional shapes and constructions may be utilized to tune the brushes to a particular sheet handling application.

Abstract: Sheet handling apparatus, and more particularly a cash dispenser unit, has a number of cassettes (1,2) which hold currency notes. Pick mechanisms (3,4) are associated with each cassette and function to transfer notes from the cassettes to conveyor belts for passage to an outlet point. There are two successive conveyor belt systems. The first belt is driven by an induction motor (7) which also provides power for the pick mechanisms. The second belt system (9,19) is driven by a stepper motor (12). The stepper motor is required to operate under two different control regimes. In one it is synchronized to the speed of the induction motor (7) and for this purpose the induction motor (7) has an optical timing disc 27 mounted on its shaft (21) which cooperates with an optical sensor (28) to generate a pulse train to drive the stepper motor (12) through a selector (25) and driver circuit (23). For the other control regime a pulse generator (26) supplies pulses through the selector (25) to the stepper motor (12).

Abstract: A slow-down apparatus is disclosed using a suction box by itself to slow a sheet of paper in a paper transport apparatus, and to remove the trailing edge of a sheet from the path of the leading edge of an oncoming or following sheet to prevent lead edge damage. A set of high-speed conveyors deliver a sheet above shingled predecessor sheets being drawn by a slowdown conveyor. The shingled sheets "shutter" a suction box beneath them from affecting the delivered high-speed sheet. As the shingled sheets uncover the suction box, the high-speed delivered sheet is affected and drawn to the low-speed conveyor.

Abstract: A device for feeding blanks on a cigarette packing machine, wherein a succession of blanks, arranged side by side and overlapping one another along a supporting strip wound into a reel, is fed along a supply path by unwinding the reel and feeding the supporting strip along the path, which extends through a pitch-change device for spacing the blanks to eliminate the overlapping arrangement, and for adjusting the pitch of the blanks in a given manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing printed products to a gatherer, including a product supplier for feeding printed products, a product separator positioned to receive printed products from the product supplier and to separate the printed products into a separated stream, a printer positioned adjacent to the separated stream and positioned to print on the separated printed products, and a gripper conveyor positioned to receive the separated printed products from the printer and to form a shingled stream.

Abstract: Method for depositing different products produced by a printing press in a continuous printing operation, the printing press having at least one controllingly variable printing form, includes separating the products from one another in accordance with a control varying the printing form, and feeding the products individually to a further processing location, and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: A device for conveying flat floppy products has an inlet conveyor belt with a constant velocity, an intermediate conveyor belt with a periodically changing velocity and an outlet conveyor belt with constant velocity. The intermediate conveyor belt causes a deceleration or acceleration of the product to be conveyed. Transfer of the product between the conveyor belts takes place at respectively the same velocities of the affected belts. The drive of the intermediate conveyor belt is performed by a gear making periodic gear changes. The invention relates to the relationship between the shaft distance and the radius of the drive pulley of the intermediate conveyor belt and is particularly related to steps reducing the torque during acceleration or deceleration of the drive elements and assuring a slip-free conveyance of the products.

Abstract: A conveyor system wherein individual sheets are conveyed from a cutter at a given speed, are increased in speed before passing through a vacuum conveyor shingling section, are slowed down at the shingling section, and then normally proceed at a slowed down speed to the stacker which is adapted to stack a fixed number of sheets before discharging a stack. The sheets are basically handled in accordance with the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,276. The vacuum shingler of the invention includes a slow-down device, such as a smoothing wheel or spring fingers, positioned above the vacuum conveyor section to nip the leading edge of the individual sheets before they contact the vacuum conveyor. The slow-down device acts to reduce the tendency of lightweight paperboard sheets to fold transversely or buckle across their width.

Abstract: Sheet-like products are fed to the transfer location by a first conveyor. A detector arrangement determines the spacing between the products and controls the first predetermined speed of a second conveyor correspondingly, with the result that, at the transfer location, the formation of the products have a predefined spacing. If the second conveyor is driven, at the stationary transfer location, at the first predetermined speed which differs from a second predetermined speed at the stationary discharge location, the conveying length of the second conveyor changes, thereby displacing a deflection wheel. Different spacings between fed products can thus be evened out.

Abstract: Sheet collation apparatus and method operate on a random array of seriatim sheets to effect ordered stack collation. An edge guide surface is located along a sheet support surface extending from a sheet ingress to egress. A plurality of conical rollers are configured and relatively overdriven to effect edge alignment and sheet end separations between the sheet ingress and egress.