Abstract: A storage compartment can be used selectively as an individual compartment attached to a document processing device or as one of several compartments joined together in a sorting device. The compartment is functionally autonomous so that its component parts, which are drive and pressure rollers (23, 24, 25, and 27) for conveying documents supported on a base plate (1) and a motor (40) and electrical coupling for actuating the rollers, are all connected to the base plate (1). The only mechanical connection between the compartment and a document processing device or other compartments in a sorting device is by a plug (28) for electrical connection. Special shaping of the base plate (1) facilitates space-saving packaging of several compartments.

Abstract: A lift mechanism of a "fork-lift" type is capable of use on the input and output sides of machines for processing sheets of particle board, plywood and similar products. The mechanism itself has the sheets of product to be processed stacked on a pair of spaced-apart lifting arms which are hydraulically raised and lowered from one end, leaving the other end open to permit loading of stacks of product sheets or to permit removing stacks of product sheets from the arms by means of a conventional fork-lift truck. The lifting arms deflect under load in direct proportion to the amount of load on them, and a cam and cam-follower mechanism is provided to compensate for this deflection. Thus, the top sheet of the stack load always is presented at a horizontal orientation.

Abstract: A card item stacker comprises a base member having an upwardly directed principal surface for stacking card items in a predetermined direction, an endless belt extended along the base member for conveying stacked card items, and a guide plate for vertically holding the stacked card items. The endless belt has teeth spaced apart on a belt surface. Each of the tooth surfaces of the endless belt has first and second end portions transversely of the predetermined direction. The first end portion leads the second end portion in a conveying sense of the predetermined direction and is more protruded than the second end portion. At least the first end portion is protruded from the principal surface. The guide plate is engaged with two adjacent ones of the teeth while each card item does not fall within the teeth. The card items can be slided in a sense opposite to the conveying sense.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for deflecting and stacking letters and the like.Such an apparatus comprises a support plate which, with the horizontal, forms an angle of 23.degree. and has at least one belt driven by motor means, at least one second belt driven by friction by the first belt and which in turn drives at least one further belt. A deflecting means placed in a deflection position by a control means deflects the letters towards a stacker, constituted by a pallet sliding under the action of the stack of letters during formation along a shaft.

Abstract: A material handling system includes an assembly for feeding, directing and sewing fabric materials, an assembly for cutting fabric, and an assembly for stacking fabric. The feeding and sewing assembly folds a reinforcing binding web over the edge of a garment panel and sews the two together before they are advanced by the binding to the cutter assembly. The cutting assembly includes angularly disposed blades for simultaneously severing the binding web intermediate adjacent garment panels. The stacking assembly includes a conveyor for sequentially advancing severed garment panels to an elevator mechanism for receiving the panels.

Abstract: A paper jogging apparatus can automatically jog paper sheets due to vibratory action of vibratory plate (19) disposed on an upper portion of a tiltable body (2) simply by tilting the tiltable body (2) having an up-down table (3) vertically movable by an up-down driver (8) and stacking an appropriate number of paper sheets on the up-down table (3) as tilted.

Abstract: A pivotal swing plate for stacking sorted envelopes on edge in the storage section of a high speed mail sorting machine. A sleeve on each swing plate fits on an upright post to pivotally mount the swing plate in the path of incoming sorted envelopes. The swing plate is angled relative to the envelopes and serves both as a side support and back plate for holding the envelopes in a stack. The incoming envelopes progressively pivot the plates open, and a ramp and pin mechanism maintains each swing plate against the leading edges of the envelopes to retain them on edge in the envelope 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 stack top control method and apparatus includes sensing the vertical position of a top of signatures being stacked on a stacking platform at two spaced apart locations. Two belt assemblies tangentially contact at least a portion of opposed sides of the stack being formed adjacent the top locations being sensed. Each belt assembly is driven by a variable drive motor and applies a tangential, frictional drive force to the opposed sides of the stack being formed toward the stacking platform. A control circuit monitors the vertical position of the two spaced apart locations and controls the speed of each drive motor of the belt assemblies responsive to the sensed vertical position of the top of the signatures being formed into the stack. The top of the stack is thereby substantially leveled.

Abstract: An improved palletizing apparatus sequentially loads a plurality of layers of bundles of newspapers onto a pallet. The apparatus includes a layer position and sheet hold down assembly which (1) indicates the level of the uppermost layer of bundles in a stack of bundles on a pallet and (2) holds down pages of the newspaper at the top of the bundles. During operation of the palletizing apparatus, a layer of bundles is moved onto a retractable floor disposed above a pallet. The floor is then opened and the layer of bundles is dropped onto the pallet. An elevator is then operated to lower the pallet. The layer position and sheet hold down assembly indicates when the upper layer of bundles has been moved a predetermined distance beneath the floor so that the floor can close without interference with the stack of bundles. The layer position and sheet hold down assembly includes a frame which engages the top of the layer of bundles and a linkage which maintains the frame in a horizontal orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking sheet-like articles such as envelopes side by side, i.e., horizontally, in the upright state is disclosed. An article urging lever is disposed in the neighborhood of an article supply path, along which an article to be stacked proceeds toward a stacking position, such that it is rockable between an advanced position, in which the lever is found on and blocks the article supply path, and a retreated position, in which the lever is out of the path. In the advanced position, the lever serves to prevent the stacked articles from blocking the progress of a new article along the supply path into the stacking position and also to engage the rear end portion of an article supplied into the article supply path from one side of the article and thus urges the article's rear end portion crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction of the path, thereby permitting the next article supplied to the article supply path to freely proceed along the path.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating, counting and stacking sheets, including a feed roller and cooperating stripper shoe for permitting the passage of only single sheets fed therebetween, said sheets being moved along a curved path defined by a guide plate cooperating with the feed roll as the sheet emerges from the region between the stripper shoe and feed roll. The leading edge of the sheet moving along said curved path enters into a nip between an acceleration roller and an acceleration idler mounted on a common axis with the feed roll to abruptly accelerate the sheet and drive it into a stacker wheel which delivers the sheet to an outfeed stacker. The feed roll is provided with a plurality of surfaces of differing coefficients of sliding friction to facilitate separation of sheets.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for continuous collecting, compressing and stacking folded multiple sheet signatures from a press fly end, wherein horizontally conveyed, overlapped signatures are stream-transferred from in-feed to vertical stacking position, the apparatus being characterized by a crusher station and a floating compressor station the latter of which has opposed tensioned conveyor belts which are retained in a face to face uniformly flat, negative angular relationship by multiple series-mounted rollers. The rollers are in compression contact with uppermost floating conveyor belts whereby compression is obtained through the signatures indirectly to tensioned lower conveyor belts, the signatures being thus continuously moved in a stream from a precise, endwise overlapping relationship, to a vertical endwise stacked relationship within a stacking receiver.

Abstract: A sheet stacker with a separator plate having a movable stacker table with a stack supporter thereon. A first drive means is utilized for alternately lowering the separator plate and the stacker table, and a second drive means is utilized for alternately raising the separator plate and the stacker table. The second drive means is constantly running and two clutches are respectively interposed between the drive means and the plate and table and that second drive means is constantly running and is overcome by the downward drive means, but is effective upon suitable alternate actuation of the two clutches for the plate and the table.

Abstract: A recording medium feeding device for use in an image formation instrument such as a printer, a copying apparatus or a recording apparatus. The feeding device has a recording medium supporting table, feed apparatus for feeding the recording mediums on the supporting table, and a drive system for vertically driving the supporting table. During supply of recording mediums, the supporting table is gradually lowered from a predetermined upper position as the recording mediums are supplied.

Abstract: A device for producing a bundle from an overlapping sheet-by-sheet stream of folded printed sheets on a slope where the stream is initially conveyed to an inclined moving stacking table having a base, in a free fall delivery, to form a stack on the base and inclined toward the vertical. The stacking table is carried on a circulating conveyor and is moved downward in an inclined condition to receive the sheets. The circulating conveyor is provided with a followup transporter following a common path with the base and moves faster than the base. The followup transporter thus engages the top of the stack to compress same during formation thereof. A tension band arrangement effects jogging of the sheets on an inclined slope of 10.degree. to 60.degree. in the conveying direction so that each sheet slides toward the inclined slope under its own weight and/or by the push of the following sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling the speed of the conveyor on which a stack of sheets is being collected. A first conveyor moves a stream of sheets into a stacker and onto a second conveyor which moves the stack away from the incoming stream. The stream is moved around a drum which forms a part of the first conveyor and a second conveyor receives the stack and moves at a speed which accommodates the growth of the stack. A sensor detects the thickness of the stream of sheets, and another sensor detects the speed of the first conveyor, and the two sensings are transmitted to the drive for the second conveyor so that the second conveyor is moved at an automatic and appropriate speed to accommodate the incoming stream of sheets.

Abstract: Method for producing a bundle from an overlapping sheet-by-sheet stream of folded printed sheets on a slope where the stream is initially conveyed and is rerouted upward in order to form a stack inclined toward the vertical. The method comprises the steps of stacking the sheets on a moving base arranged at a right angle to the slope and moving downward on the slope; interrupting the flow of sheets after a certain number of sheets is stacked by cyclically forming a gap during conveyance to the slope, placing a firm support on the last sheet of the stack, compressing the stack and forming the stack into a bundle. The step of stacking includes jogging the sheets on a slope inclined toward the vertical by 10.degree. to 60.degree. in the conveying direction so that each sheet slides toward the slope under its own weight and/or by the push of the following sheet. The sheets drop onto the stack in a free fall.

Abstract: A stacker for sheet material has a stacker drum. The stacker drum receives sheets from a transport system at a first tangential position and arcuately moves them to a stop at a second tangential position against which the stack is formed. The stacker drum has a row of suction openings for gripping the leading edge of the sheets followed by compressed air openings. The compressed air openings are positioned behind the suction openings sufficiently far so that the compressed air is applied to the sheets only after the leading edges have been run up against the stop.

Abstract: A device for transporting and buffering a flow of small articles, such as mail pieces, includes a conveyor belt that moves the articles onto a linearly displaceable carriage which delivers the articles into a buffer stack at a constant entrance angle regardless of buffer stack size. Articles in the buffer stack are supported and agitated by a plurality of rotating beater bars. Agitation causes skewed articles to level while the rotation of the beater bars transports the articles toward a moving edging belt that propels them into a feeder output. One of the plurality of beater bars includes screw thread sections for advancing the articles toward the feeder output.

Abstract: A plurality of coplanar belt conveyors extend in parallel spaced relationship to each other to feed successive sheets to be stacked into a stacking compartment formed on the conveyors. Just upstream of the stacking compartment, one or more endless belts are loosely engaged about pulleys so as to provide free, deformable loops normally lying crosswise with the belt conveyors. Pressed by each sheet being transported by the belt conveyors, the free belt loops engage the upstream edge of an existing stack of sheets in the stacking compartment and raise same away from the conveyors, thereby permitting the new sheet to be fed under the existing sheet stack. The free belt loops can be subsequently withdrawn from between the sheet stack and the new sheet as the belts are revolved about the pulleys in a specific direction. In another embodiment the belts are nonrotatably supported, and a pullout rod extends through their free loops.

Abstract: A plurality of pockets of a document sorter are controlled by a time-division multiplexed controller, in order to insure that the bottom and leading edges of documents within each pocket are aligned. The controller utilizes a programmed microcomputer in a time-division multiplexed arrangement in order to increase hardware efficiency.

Abstract: A sorter pocket flag back-up assembly and switch indicating means comprises a non rotatable rectilinearly, slideably moveable support member engageable with one side or face of an item entering the pocket of a sorter including a zero clearance bearing and an integral linear rack having radially disposed teeth engageable with a drive pinion coupled to a reversible stepping motor. The support and rack include a lower guide track coextensive with the rack and an upper spring loaded pin which together maintain a constant depth engagement of the pinion and rack teeth and avoid any tilt of the rack transverse to the long dimension thereof.

Abstract: A document stacking table is lowered in steps under electronic control as the documents accumulate. A predetermined number of documents are stacked, after which the table is lowered by a predetermined amount. An optical sensing arrangement is used to determine the effective top of the stack of documents within the limits of "light sensed" and the "absence of light". If light is sensed, the count is increased and the table lowered again; in the absence of light the count is decreased and the table is again lowered. Thus the stacking table will be lowered by a fixed amount to the level of least error.

Abstract: Apparatus for conversion of a stream of partly overlapping sheets into a row of fully overlapping sheets has a first conveyor which transports a growing row of sheets at right angles to the planes of sheets, and a composite second conveyor which defines a downwardly extending path wherein successive sheets of the stream descend onto the first conveyor to accumulate between spaced-apart distancing elements of the first conveyor. The advancement of successive sheets all the way onto the first conveyor is assisted and promoted by oscillating fingers which engage the oncoming sheets immediately above the first conveyor and intermittently push such sheet in the direction of forward movement of the growing row to provide room for the oncoming sheet.

Abstract: A device for stacking sheets from the output of a machine for producing sheets, the device comprising a conveyor system feeding the sheets to a stack forming station, the conveyor system comprising first and second conveyors of which the first conveyor has a telescopic discharge portion which is retracted relative to the second conveyor during the period in which a formed stack is discharged from the stack forming station, to lay sheets on the second conveyor. The second conveyor moves at a reduced or zero linear speed while the speed of the first conveyor remains unchanged.

Abstract: Documents are stacked on edge on a bed assembly having a backplate assembly near one end and a slidable backstop assembly aranged to be incremented away from the backplate assembly as the documents fill the stacking space therebetween. The backstop assembly is fixed to and alternately freed from the bed assembly by an escapement assembly coupled therebetween and actuated electrically. Preferably the escapement assembly comprises a pawl and ratchet together with cogged or spurred belts guiding the backstop assembly along the bed assembly. A photoresponsive, or like, assembly is arranged to sense the entrance of documents into the stacking space, and electric reed switches and corresponding actuating magnets are assembled on the backstop and bed assemblies for predetermining an initial increment of stacking space.

Abstract: Sheet stacking apparatus having a variable speed conveyor on which sheets are carried in partially overlapped or "shingled" relation and deposited onto a second variable speed conveyor disposed in end-to-end relation to the first conveyor for receiving sheets therefrom and projecting onto a vertically movable stacking conveyor which lowers automatically as the stack builds up. Feed stop mechanism is disposed to stop and release selectively the flow of sheets from the first conveyor onto the second conveyor in response to the "full stack" position of the stacking conveyor. Control means is provided for changing the speed of the two conveyors in sequential relationship to the actuation of the stop mechanism whereby the speed of the first conveyor is substantially reduced, while the speed of the second conveyor is substantially increased to clear the latter preparatory to discharge of the stacking conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating sheet material in stacked relation on a vertically descending tray and transferring the stack for subsequent processing. An oscillating transfer mechanism is positioned in the path of movement of the tray as it is lowered. The tray and stack is pivoted by cam means into a complemental position with the transfer mechanism and as it passes the transfer mechanism is deposits the accumulated stack on the transfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism is then oscillated to remove the stack. When the stacking tray has assumed its transfer mode, an auxiliary sheet material receiving tray is formed by rotating two vanes from a vertical to horizontal position to receive subsequent sheets. Upon return of the stack tray to its initial position, the vanes are rotated back to their horizontal position dropping the accumulated sheets to the tray.

Abstract: A document hopper having a platform which can be lowered and elevated. The platform is operably connected to a rotatable leadscrew through a shoe engaging the threads of the leadscrew. The leadscrew is held against rotation by a pawl engaging a detent about one end of the leadscrew. When so held, the platform is maintained at a determined height. When the pawl is withdrawn from the detent, the weight of the platform against the shoe is sufficient to cause rotation of the leadscrew. Upon rotation of the leadscrew, the platform is lowered. When lowered a desired extent, the pawl is permitted to reengage the detent. Elevation of the platform is manual with the leadscrew rotating and the pawl ratcheting over the detent.

Abstract: A note storage apparatus has a stacking assembly, a push bar assembly movably mounted in the stacker, a coffer assembly for storing the notes, a collector located in the stacker assembly for receiving the notes and the push bar assembly selectively contacting the note and transferring it to the coffer assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting secondary printing in the course of paper delivery in addition to primary printing achieved within the body of an offset printing machine comprises a delivery mechanism, a mechanism provided with a printing couple for performing secondary printing, a mechanism for applying printing pressure and a mechanism for arranging paper sheets.

Abstract: An improved stacking system for a collar is disclosed. The stacking system comprises a unique three-position off-set stacking apparatus that provides a third off-set stack position for improperly collated sets. The improperly collated sets are delivered to a third off-set position when a miss or a double feed is detected. Two stop members are moved to an inactive position in response to the double or miss detection, thus allowing a third stop member to provide a third off-set position for the improperly collated stack.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus wherein individual sheets are inserted between the preceding sheet and an air floatation chamber having angled ports therein for discharge of air in the direction of sheet movement to transport the sheet therebetween, maintain the delivered sheets out of the path of incoming sheets, and hold the delivered sheets in a planar condition.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically conveying and stacking sheet material is provided in which the sheet material is first moved to a tiltable table assembly which tilts towards the vertical position to transfer the material from the table to a receiving means, the material being placed and detained on the receiving means in a substantially vertical position.

Abstract: A method for filling a shipping carton with flat-folded boxes supplied in substantially horizontal shingled array from a processing machine, comprising positioning an empty carton in displaceable manner on a support below the supply from said processing machine, supporting said boxes in shingled array while advancing them along a curved path to substantially vertical shingled array, discharging said vertically shingled boxes successively into said carton, and supporting said discharged boxes on one flat surface thereof within said carton, whereby the force of said boxes as discharged causes said carton to be displaced on its support. The apparatus includes a pair of cooperating curved conveyors extending from said manufacturing machine conveyor to said carton, whereby said boxes are transferred from horizontal shingled array to vertical shingled array and are successively discharged into said carton in vertical disposition.