Abstract: The apparatus for forming an imbricated product formation, in which the pitch between successive printed products can be deliberately selected, comprises successively arranged first and second conveyors. A scanning device detects the printed products arriving on the first conveyor at a first imbrication pitch, and delivers for each printed product a signal to a measuring unit. This measuring unit determines a time dependent value, such as the repetition frequency of the signals produced by the scanning device and delivers such to an evaluation circuit. In the evaluation circuit the thus determined time dependent value is combined with a signal proportional to the deliberately selected pitch between the products and which deliberately selected pitch is different from the first imbrication pitch, and the resultant signal value is delivered to a motor regulator.

Abstract: An improved signature delivery apparatus includes a mechanism for diverting signatures into a first series serially arranged dual conveyors or a second series of serially arranged conveyors. Each of the series of serially arranged conveyors are substantially identical in construction. The first series includes an assembly of opposed conveyor belts which engage the leading edge of each signature and reduces the speed of the signatures. Subsequently, the signature passes into an adjacent series of opposed conveyor belts where the signature is overlapped with the next succeeding signature and the speed of the signatures is reduced further. Two stage speed reduction of signature movement with stacking or overlapping of the signatures at the second stage permits significantly increased speed of press operation.

Abstract: In a conveyor system, a retarder device (1) with a braking gap (40) for the passage of sheet stacks (4) collated with an overlap and regulated by a controller (35) via an actuator (33), the width of the braking gap (40) being positively adjusted, with the slight undersize necessary to generate the braking load, to the current stack height of the section of the stack stream (6) passing the braking gap (40). In this way the braking pressure acting on the stack sheets (4) can be kept substantially constant independently of the stack height. The braking pressure may also be adapted to the sensitivity of the sheet stacks (4) by a braking pressure relief unit in the form of a load relief element (42).

Abstract: An apparatus for diverting and delivering sheets in which the sheets are positively controlled throughout the entire operation. Initially, a continuous web of paper passes between opposing cylinders comprising a rotary cutter. The lead edge of the web is then engaged by a pair of opposed nip rollers. Once held by these nip rollers, the rotary knife cuts a separate sheet from the front of the continuous web. The separate sheet then passes between and is accelerated by the nip rollers whereupon a dual set of diverting cams, in combination with a pair of conveyors, directs the sheet to one of two delivery systems. The next subsequent sheet is directed to the other delivery system so that each successive sheet is alternately diverted between the two delivery systems. Upon exiting either delivery system, the sheet is subjected to a snubbing means which decelerates the sheet and further allows the next subsequent sheet to overlap the previous sheet before being similarly decelerated.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an indicium in a stream of moving signatures, consisting of a signature displaced laterally from the stream and corresponding to a predetermined count of signatures, comprises an idler roller mechanism connected with a rotatable idler roller shaft and a series of vacuum heads located adjacent to and downstream of the idler roller mechanism. The vacuum heads are mounted to a vacuum head shaft laterally movable with respect to the signatures. A detector such as a laser detector coupled with a counter is used to actuate the system. When a predetermined count is reached as determined by the detector and counter, the idler roller shaft is caused to rotate to lower the idler roller and the signature corresponding to the count contacts the tops of each vacuum head. Simultaneously, a partial vacuum is formed in the recessed vacuum chamber of each head binding the targeted signature to the heads.

Abstract: In order to avoid a pushing-together or pulling apart of an imbricated stack of sheets during reversal around the reversing roller (3) of a rotary sheet feeder (1), belt-like flexible guide means (18) are used which are disposed at intervals over the axial length of the reversing drum (3), one end of the feeder frame side forming an intake gusset while the other end of each is articulated through a spring (19) on a rod (20) which connects the side walls of the feeder frame (7). The flexible guide means (18) pass between the reversing element (13) and the intake side roller (8) of the second belt conveyor (6) which forms the withdrawal table, the reversing element (13) like the other rollers of the second belt conveyor being mounted on a pivotable frame (11) which is articulated in turn on the feeder frame (7) and is initially tensioned in the direction of the reversing drum (3).

Abstract: The device for feeding flattened boxes comprises a magazine arranged at the output of a feeder, such as a folding-pasting machine and provided with advancement means adapted to collect boxes, which exit in a line horizontally superimposed in a sequential manner from the feeder, and to accumulate them in stacks. The device then transfers the boxes into a vertically flattened position, at a zone which cooperates with a packaging machine extractor.

Abstract: A valve plug having a valve plug housing shaped to fit in a bonnet cylinder of steam control valves has a pressure seal ring groove for holding a pressure seal ring therein. The pressure seal ring groove has a pair of walls and a bottom surface end and antiwedging relief groove formed in one wall of the pressure seal ring groove adjacent the bottom surface thereof to prevent the wedging of a pressure seal ring between a valve plug and a bonnet cylinder bore wall. The pressure seal ring wears a step in the contact surface to allow the wedging which can otherwise prevent the valve from closing as required for turbine overspeed protection. The valve plug housing pressure seal ring groove can be annular groove having an annular pressure seal ring therein and the relief groove can be annular groove formed in one wall of the pressure seal ring groove adjacent the pressure seal ring along the seal ring contact surface of the pressure seal ring.

Abstract: To permit storage of folded products, an elongated storage strip of finite length includes carriers for the folded products, the folded products being placed in predetermined position against the strip such that the sheets engage with a surface facing the strip element. The strip element, at the same time, can function as a transport element, to receive the folded sheets therefor, and transport them to a storage position where, for example, the elongated element is rolled into a roll (FIG. 1) or where the elongated element can be placed in a rack, or suspended, with the folded product hanging thereon (FIGS. 18, 19). The strip element is formed with carriers which have hook ends, engageable beneath the fold of the folded elements, upon flexing of the folded products and/or the carriers, or pivoting of carrier fingers engageable behind the backs of the folded products (6).

Abstract: Printed products are infed in an imbricated formation by a transport device to a stacker apparatus. These printed products are transported by a delivery belt conveyor and an infeed belt conveyor to a pivotably mounted infeed device. The outfeed end region of the infeed device opens into a stacker chute of a stacker device. At the infeed device there is arranged a support element. The printed products delivered by the infeed device to the stacker chute slide onto an elevationally displaceable stacker table. This infeed device is supported by the support element upon the stacked printed products. Governed by the pivotal motion of the infeed device, the stacker table of the stacker chute is incrementally lowered. As soon as sufficient printed products are available for forming a first partial stack in the stacker chute, this first partial stack is pressed by presser structure comprising piston-and-cylinder units and then this first partial stack is rotated about an upright axis through about 180.degree.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying relatively planar articles, e.g. biscuits, comprises a first conveyor comprising a pair of runs of endless belts having operative surfaces defining a first path for biscuits. The operative surfaces of the belts face one another and are symmetrically inclined to the vertical, biscuits being conveyed thereby contacting the belts by their peripheries, and, when at least two biscuits are in contact, assuming an inclined attitude with the upper part of each biscuit leading. A further conveyor providing a further path for biscuits extends upwardly from the outlet end of the first path and, in the region of the outlet end of the first path, means are provided for causing or permitting a change in attitude of the biscuits to bring them to an attitude in which they are substantially parallel to the further path.

Abstract: Sheet conveyer intended to take charge of and convey part sheets (2', 2", 2"') obtained from a main sheet by dividing this into a predetermined number of parts and delivering it out of a cutter simultaneously and side by side. The conveyer includes a number of downward gradient planes corresponding to the number of part sheets. Each plane has a length as viewed in the conveying direction corresponding to the length of a respective part sheet. Adjacent planes are connected with one another by an intermediate portion substantially shorter than the respective plane. The connection of the intermediate portion to the preceding plane is rounded off. Furthermore, carrier elements are arranged so that when the planes have received a respective part sheet, the carrier elements push the last part sheet as viewed in the conveying direction from its plane to a position on top of the next part sheet. Thereafter the two part sheets lying on one another are pushed to a position on top of the following part sheet, etc.

Abstract: A machine for arranging signatures in bundles includes a receiving conveyor onto which signatures are placed. The receiving conveyor moves the signatures in a shingled condition between deflecting surfaces to cause the signatures to assume an edge-standing condition. The edge-standing signatures move onto a consolidating conveyor so they move closer together. The signatures pass from the discharge end of the consildating conveyor onto an accumulating conveyor, which normally advances the signatures at a slightly slower speed than the consolidating conveyor. When enough signatures to make a bundle have passed onto the accumulating conveyor, the velocity along that conveyor is increasd substantially, and the consolidating conveyor is stopped to produce an isolated group of edge-standing signatues on the accumulating conveyor.

Abstract: Bundled signatures are placed on a first set of conveyor belts which move the signature bundle to a shingling station. A pair of side belts at the shingling station are spaced so that the signatures are individualy bowed forwardly upon encountering the belts so as to separate each signature from the other signatures of the bundle. A third set of conveyor belts move the bowed signatures upwardly in a shingled condition from a discharge site of the side belts.

Abstract: A machine for handling flat sheets employs a pair of conveyors in series to receive the sheets from a processing machine and to deliver them to a downwardly moving platform to form a stack thereon and to deliver the stack so formed. Both conveyors operate at a predetermined initial speed to deliver to the platform until a predetermined number of sheets is received from the processing machine. At that point both conveyors are speeded up for a short interval to clear the first conveyor and then the first conveyors is tilted upwards and slowed down which stops the flow to the second conveyor and accumulates the sheets on the first conveyor. The second conveyor continues at a high speed to complete the stack on the platform. The sheets are then discharged from the platform. The first conveyor is returned to its original angle of tilt and both conveyors are returned to their original speeds and the platform returns to its original height to start forming a new stack.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for merging two separate streams of flat paper products or the like into a single stream of such products are disclosed, and wherein first and second longitudinally extending belt conveyors are provided within a frame. A drive is operatively connected to each of said first and second belt conveyors for advancing the same at corresponding speeds. Each belt conveyor has an entry end and a discharge end at opposing ends of said frame, with the two conveyors being vertically and laterally inclined with respect to each other such that the discharge end of one conveyor is vertically above and longitudinally aligned with the discharge end of the other belt conveyor. A deflection conveyor is positioned above the discharge end of the upper belt conveyor so as to downwardly deflect onto the lower belt conveyor those paper products conveyed on the upper belt conveyor.

Abstract: The winding core mounted to be rotatable and removable in a mobile storage unit, is placed into rotation by means of a drive roll which engages at the outer surface or circumference of the widing core or, as the case may be, the wound product package forming thereupon. In the mobile storage unit there is likewise removably arranged a winding band spool or reel which is also driven at its outer surface or circumference. For this purpose there is likewise provided a driven drive roll. By virtue of such circumferential drives for the winding core and, as the case may be, the wound product package, and equally the winding band spool or reel the mobile storage units can be of simple construction. This also enables the mounting or support arrangement for the winding core and the mounting or support arrangement for the winding band spool or reel to be structured such that the winding core and the winding band spool can be easily removed from the related mobile storage unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a plurality of flat, collapsed, folded paper boxes which have been produced on a high speed, folder-gluer, delivered in shingled formation onto the advancing apron of a stacker, counted into slugs of about fifty each and must be packed into cases for shipment. To enable an operator to grasp individual and successive lifts of the flats between her hands and remove them for packing, the apparatus includes a secondary apron traveling at less speed than the stacker apron to raise the shingled flats upstanding on edge, hold down belts to prevent misalignment and a transversely movable segregation rod mounted on a carriage movable horizontally alongside the path of the flats. The carriage has one-way clutch rollers so that the rod will hold back the leading flat but the carriage will roll freely back to the next slug. Speed reduction mechanism may be used to advance the carriage at less speed than the apron to compress the line of flats when edge stacking is desirable or necessary.

Abstract: A quarter folder machine for accepting half fold signatures and converting them into quarter signatures. The machine receives half signatures in an incoming shingle running at relatively low velocity, strips and accelerates the signatures to travel seriatim in a high speed stream which passes through camming and crimping means to create the quarter fold. A decelerating and re-shingling section then converts the stream back into an output shingle which runs at relatively low linear velocity but at a high rate in terms of signatures per hour--for transport to some subsequent processing device. The machine is characterized by a very high throughput rate. It is flexibly adjustable to match to the velocity of and setback of an incoming shingle from various sources, and yet to determine by choice the setback and velocity of the output shingle.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a plurality of flat, collapsed, folded paper boxes which have been produced on a high speed, folder-gluer, delivered in shingled formation onto the advancing apron of a stacker, counted into slugs of about fifty each and must be packed into cases for shipment. To enable an operator to grasp individual and successive lifts of the flats between her hands and remove them for packing, the apparatus includes a secondary apron traveling at less speed than the stacker apron to raise the shingled flats upstanding on edge, hold down belts to prevent misalignment and a transversely movable segregation rod mounted on a carriage movable horizontally alongside the path of the flats. The carriage has one-way clutch rollers so that the rod will hold back the leading flat but the carriage will roll freely back to the next slug. Speed reduction mechanism may be used to advance the carriage at less speed than the apron to compress the line of flats when edge stacking is desirable or necesary.

Abstract: One stack space is provided for accommodating each stack of a plurality of stacks of printed products to be supplied to the processing line. Each stack space is provided with a powered feed mechanism which urges the associated stack toward a predetermined processing location, such as a product singling or supply device for singly transferring printed products to the processing line. To be able to prepare the supply of printed products at a location remote from or independent of the processing line, a plurality of transportable winding frames are provided. The winding frames are equipped for exchangeably accommodating a wound package of mutually identical printed products. The winding frames are provided with drive and conveying means which drive the wound package in an unwinding direction and convey the printed products unwinding from the printed package to a transfer location.

Abstract: A sheet stacker for a corrugation machine having a cutter to widthwisely cut off a continuously manufactured corrugated cardboard web into corrugated cardboard sheets, and then transfer, stack and eject the sheets.

Abstract: By means of a conveyor device, which possesses grippers arranged behind one another in the product conveying direction, the printed products are infed in an imbricated formation to at least one but possibly two or more stacker units. These stacker units are successively arranged in the product conveying direction below the conveyor device. Above each stacker unit there is located a release device for the grippers. In each case at least one of the release devices is located in its switched-on condition for opening the grippers moving therepast. The printed products are drawn by the conveyor device over the stacker compartment of the stacker units. The products released above the intended stacker compartment, upon opening of the grippers, drop essentially in vertical direction downwardly and after a short free-fall path arrive in such stacker compartment.

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: An improved collator uses a novel sliding deflector assembly to allow greater spacing between the sheet conveyor 13 and trays 23. It also uses a novel sheet retention system which winds or unwinds as the sliding deflector assembly moves. The sliding deflector assembly may be driven with a double-clutch drive in increments in either direction. An improved plenum of the vacuum sheet-conveying system of the collator has a novel hole-spacing series to reduce noise and power demands for the vacuum system.

Abstract: A machine for stacking and bundling flexible sheets, such as the signatures that are delivered from a printed press, includes a succession of aligned conveyors. The sheets are deposited on the first conveyor where they accumulate in a generally horizontal disposition, one on top of the other, and the first conveyor withdraws sheets from the bottom of this pile and conveys them to a gate in a shingled condition. At the gate, which is narrower in width than the sheets, the sheets bow forwardly and rise upwardly at their leading edges until they stand on edge. It is in this condition that the sheets pass onto a second conveyor which moves them through another gate that is narrower than the first gate, so that the degree of bowing increases. The second conveyor moves slower than the first conveyor and as a result the flexible sheets consolidate in the upright condition on the second conveyor.

Abstract: Successive sheets of a stream of partially overlapping paper sheets are brought into contact with and are entrained by successive increments of an upwardly sloping running flexible band which is convoluted onto a rotary core to form with the sheets a bobbin wherein the sheets are confined between successive overlapping convolutions of the coiled band. The sheets of the stream are inverted ahead of the locus where they reach the running band so that the trailing portion of each preceding sheet overlies the leader of the next-following sheet. This reduces the likelihood of shifting of the sheets on impact against and during travel with the band upwardly toward the rotating core and renders it possible to dispense with a flexible element which is used in conventional apparatus to hold the sheets against slippage relative to the upwardly sloping band and which is convoluted with the band to thereby reduce the amount of space which is available in the bobbin for storage of confined sheets.

Abstract: A printing system for printing characters in various fonts and formats onto webs of sheet stock of various sizes includes apparatus for cutting the web into various lengths to accommodate various formats as well as for providing different lengths of tags which are interposed between batches of tags to permit easy separation of the batches. A stacker is also provided which selectively stacks the tags in a shingle fashion or into piles. Circuitry is provided to detect jams in the system and to assure that the proper size web corresponding to the selected format is used. Also, the system is provided with circuitry for adjusting the line print position to compensate for positioning errors caused by mechanical tolerances in the printers.

Abstract: Successive sections of a long stream of partially overlapping paper sheets are transferred onto the upper side of a relatively wide flexible elastic band which is indexed stepwise so that it is gradually withdrawn from a first reel and wound onto a second reel. Each section has two or more partially overlapping sheets, and successive sections can be deposited on the band in such a way that they partially overlap one another, i.e., that the band supports and confines between its windings a scalloped stream consisting of partially overlapping sections of partially overlapping sheets. In order to remove the stored sheets, the conveyor which is used to transfer sections of the scalloped stream onto the band is used to remove successive sections from the band while the latter is driven stepwise to be withdrawn from the second reel and wound back onto the first reel.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling single sheets delivered in succession from upstream equipment comprises two conveyors, the first of which is adapted to receive the sheets and is actuated independently of upstream equipment, at an adjustable speed, either higher or lower, than that of the arriving sheets. The second conveyor is mounted on a vertically-movable structure and is able to reach a raised position substantially level with the first conveyor, in which position it engages a gear for actuation synchronously with the first conveyor, or several positions progressively lower, in which the second conveyor is stopped in a condition to effect stacking of the sheets.

Abstract: Extraneous signatures in a continuous stream are purged by so diverting the stream that it is possible at the same time to originate and advance the head of a new stream to the point of diversion.

Abstract: Apparatus for the shingling of cut sheets of paper as they pass between conveyance on a high-speed tape conveyor and a low-speed tape conveyor is provided by a two-stage slowdown arrangement. At the first stage, a slowdown mechanism, comprising two rolls arranged respectively above and below each sheet passing through a drop-off area from the high-speed conveyor to the low-speed conveyor, serves to engage the tail portion of the sheet in a nip such that the sheet is slowed down to a speed approximately 30 to 40% of the speed of the high-speed conveyor. In this manner, the lead edge of a next succeeding sheet overlaps with the trailing edge of the nipped sheet in a drop-off area from the high-speed tape conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for conversion of a stream of partially overlapping imprinted sheets into discrete stacks each of which contains a fixed number of fully overlapping sheets has a chute one side wall of which arrests successive foremost sheets of the stream and causes such sheets to descend in the chute and to pile up on top of each other. A rotary separating device has three prongs which are moved seriatim from an upwardly inclined first position above the path of the stream to an upwardly inclined second position in which the respective prong intercepts the oncoming sheets of the stream. In to a horizontal third position, the respective prong continues to intercept the oncoming sheets and supports the lowermost intercepted sheet from below while the respective prong allows the intercepted sheets to descend in the chute in a fourth position. The stacks of piled-up sheets are removed during the intervals between movements of successive prongs between their second and fourth positions.

Abstract: A bundling mechanism for receiving a stream of signatures in overlapping relation on a conveyor belt and for stacking them in register with one another preparatory to separation into bundles for transfer or storage. A twisting conveyor is provided for helically twisting the stream of signatures substantially 90 degrees so that the signatures are placed on edge. The outlet of the twisting conveyor is formed of a pair of vertically oriented rollers defining an outlet nip. A stop horizontally spaced from the nip arrests and accumulates the signatures thereby establishing the remote surface of the stack, the stack being supported on a table extending horizontally at right angles to the direction of the incoming stream. The near surface of the stack is horizontally spaced from the nip, the space being bridged by an auxiliary conveyor driven substantially at stream speed for incrementally conveying the trailing edge of each signature from the nip into a position which is flush with the near surface of the stack.

Abstract: An arrangement for forming a sequence of underlapping sheets when conveying sheets that are cut off a paper web by a sheeter located in front thereof, to the feed table of a machine working the sheets. Suction equipment is located above the sheet web in the area between two draw-off equipments which are driven at different feed rates. A lifting device is located below the sheet web to bring the rear zone of every sheet into action with the suction equipment, so as to form a guide gap for the following sheet. The suction equipment is provided with a suction box connected to a vacuum supply that may be adjusted stationary during operation. The suction box has at the bottom a punched plate which is provided with a width corresponding to the maximum workable sheet width.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a multiple bank note temporary storing device for use with a bank note totaling machine. The storing device includes a piling station for piling a multiplicity of discontinuously fed bank notes consecutively with a slight shift into a stepwise shape. Further inclusive is a temporary storing station formed in a clearance between conveyor belts for arranging the piled bank notes while allowing them to fall down into the clearance generally in parallel with the facing sides of the belts. Thus, the arranged bank notes can be fed as a whole selectively into their tray and the return exit of the bank note totaling machine. As a result, this totaling machine can be reduced in size but can accomplish its arranging and totaling operations in a reduced number of steps orderly and efficiently without any totaling error.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving sheets of corrugated paperboard or the like from a processing machine such as a slotter for transfer to another device such as a stacker including shifter rollers for longitudinal separation of each sheet, an inclinable belt conveyor for lateral separation of the sheet, and a belt conveyor adapted to be transiently stopped for the accumulation of the sheets, each conveyor having serial rolls along the upper surface of the conveyor belt to pass and restrain the sheets on the conveyor belt. Sheets divided in the slotter are separated crosswise and accumulated in order in the apparatus in accordance with the needs of the succeeding device.

Abstract: A backup station in a carton filling machine for the delivery and packaging of premanufactured blanks into transport containers. The station is arranged between an imbrication station and a delivery belt which includes a rotation station. Within the backup station, a support rail is arranged in the direction of delivery of the blanks which provides support for the blanks. Two conveyor belts running along the support rail are raised above the surface of the support rail during normal operation and are lowered by the backed-up blanks during backed-up operation.

Abstract: A simple circular panel pallet has stored thereon a helical array of folded paper items and is rotated in opposite directions about its axis to respectively load and unload the items. By unloading a helical stack of items from the top, high-speed, low-friction operation permits attaining on stream unloading at press speeds of 60,000 units per hour. A tape is fed under the layer of shingled items in the helical array for access in unloading to guide the folded edge of the paper items into removal nips.

Abstract: In an apparatus for cutting, decelerating and overlapping sheets of paper, comprising means for feeding a paper web at predetermined speed, means for cutting said web into sheets, suction means for decelerating the sheets, means for adjusting the amount of suction in relation to the feeding speed, and means for stacking the decelerated sheets, the improvement wherein said suction means includes an ejector roller provided with recesses and located directly in front of the stacking means, at least one suction strip provided in a recess of the ejector roller and extending approximately to the apex of the ejector roller, and at least one nozzle provided in the area of the ejector roller directing air toward the stacker so as to form an air cushion between the sheet being stacked and the sheet which had just previously been stacked.

Abstract: A plurality of sets of aligned rollers are guided for movement along a shingling conveyor. While one set of such rollers is in an operative position snubbing sheets as they are delivered to the shingling conveyor, another set of such rollers is inoperative and can be moved to a ready position for the next production order. The rollers are movable downwardly to a snubbing position and upwardly to an inoperative position.

Abstract: Apparatus for combining newspapers from a pair of newspaper stuffing assemblies into a single stream of overlapped newspapers. A rotatable tine wheel has on its periphery a number of movable newspaper receiving tines interspersed with a like number of fixed newpaper receiving tines. Newspapers are fed to the fixed tines from a pocket of a newspaper stuffing assembly and to the movable tines from a feed apparatus supplied by a conveyor from a second stuffing assembly. The fixed and movable tines alternately deposit the newspapers upon a single delivery conveyor overlapping a previously deposited newspaper to form a single, lapped stream. The movable tines are movable between a newspaper receiving position and a position out of the newspaper receiving path of an adjacent fixed tine.

Abstract: A system for receiving semi-rigid or flexible workpieces from a prior operation, and stacking the workpieces in a specified, stable fashion for employment in a subsequent operation. A conveyer advances sequentially random spaced workpieces to the bottom of a vertical stack which is driven in a circular path upon a support plate by a rotor assembly. A ramp or scoop of the support plate extends generally radially from the axis of rotation of the rotor assembly and directs workpieces from the conveyor to the top of the support plate and beneath the workpieces already positioned within the stack.

Abstract: In a conveyor line, a pasta stacking apparatus is provided wherein individual spaced strips of pasta such as lasagne are automatically counted and stacked in shingles for loading into a packaging machine. The apparatus comprises an upstream conveyor belt, a downstream conveyor belt disposed slightly below the upstream conveyor belt at a junction, clutch mechanism controlling the motion of the downstream conveyor belt, an air nozzle located below the upstream conveyor belt and disposed to direct the blast of air in a downstream direction across the junction, and a photo-sensor arranged to detect items crossing the junction for operating control apparatus and for tallying the number of items delivered to the junction. In operation, lasagne strips are transported along the upstream conveyor belt to the junction where the presence of each is detected by the photo-sensor as it drops to the downstream belt.

Abstract: An automatic stacker is disclosed having finned rotors to be turned incrementally so respective fins are horizontal and are spaced to support thereon the edges of a flat partition. Such partitions are successively moved onto the horizontal fins and the rotors are successively incrementally turned so as to drop the partition held thereon and to receive the next succeeding partition. The partitions thus dropped fall onto a conveyor on which succeeding partitions are overlapped, and such partitions are moved in groups to an inclined plate at which the partitions are forced to incline upwardly and close together to form an inclined stack.

Abstract: A mechanism for collecting and arranging into a horizontal stack a large quantity of photographic slides being delivered from a photographic slide mounting machine, which includes a transfer and packing belt positioned to receive the mounted slides in overlapped relation and an elongated carrier cassette which is open on the bottom and at one end and is mounted over the upper run of said belt to enclose the same and provided with a generally inclined stacking element at the end of said cassette which is remotely disposed from said delivery mechanism of the mounting machine, the leading edge of said stacking element positioned in closely spaced relation above the upper run to receive and progressively raise into upstanding horizontally stacked relation the mounted slides being transferred by said belt. This invention also embodies the method for arranging said slides into a closely packed horizontal stack within a carrier cassette adapted for transportation and/or storage of the mounted slides.

Abstract: A stacking mechanism and method brings batches of articles from a shingled formation on a conveyor to a vertically stacked formation without stopping the progress of any of them. Shingled articles are pushed forward from behind by a pusher at a speed greater than that of a conveyor on which they are supported while at the same time a slower-moving obstruction is erected in their path offering a vertical rear wall. The articles successively align against the rear wall of the obstruction until when the longitudinal distance between the pusher and the obstruction has become substantially the same as the length of the articles, so that all of a batch of shingled articles must have been stacked, the obstruction is withdrawn and the stack is driven on by the pusher. Hooks may travel at the same speed as the conveyor and engage over a trailing edge of the last article in a shingled batch of articles to help define the end of the batch.

Abstract: Sheets of material, wood veneers in particular, are assembled into a continuous, linear, composite stack by arranging a first stack of sheets above a lineal conveyer with the sheets progressively lapped by predetermined increments in the direction of movement of the conveyer. The bottom-most sheet is deposited on the conveyer. The conveyer is advanced a predetermined linear travel increment while placing the first sheet of a second stack on the introduced with its leading end overlapping the trailing end of the sheet from the first stack already there.The stepwise advancement of the conveyer is continued while alternately depositing and lapping additional sheets. When the first stack has been completely deposited, the second stack is elevated above the conveyer and a third stack interleaved with the second stack in the same progression. This sequence is continued indefinitely, producing a continuous, linear, composite stack of sheet materials.

Abstract: A stand-alone power stacker for envelopes and similar type planar articles is provided wherein two end to end arcuately adjustable belt conveyors are adapted to be driven at automatically varying relative speeds depending on load conditions. The machine drive motor is controlled by a sensing means that detects the presence of each envelope that is delivered to the upstream end of the stacker and a time delay control circuit is provided to delay a termination of operation of said motor for a selected time period after said sensing means has completed a sensing operation. The arcuate adjustability of the outer ends of said conveyors permits the upstream one of said conveyors to receive envelopes, etc. from various heights and the downstream one of said conveyors to generate envelope stacks of desired compactness or density.

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.