Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vertical stacking system comprising an apparatus and method to control stack formation based on a non-contact sensing of the reaction of the feed conveyor to the forming stack. In accordance with the invention a stream of signatures is fed by the feed conveyor onto a support surface. There is an upper feed extension of the feed conveyor located above the support surface. The stack is formed between the support surface and the feed extension. The top of the stack is adjacent to the upper feed extension. The location of the extension is determined by the location of the top of the stack. The non-contact sensing means senses the location of the feed extension and generates a location signal. This location signal is used to control a slide drive which moves the support surface.

Abstract: A paper storage device comprises a sensor for generating a detection signal indicative of the arrival of a top level of a stack of papers on a paper support tray at a predetermined height so that the paper support tray can be lowered in response to the detection signal, and a counter for counting the number of papers successively stacked on the paper support tray so that an indication that the paper support tray is held at an improper position can be provided when the counter counts a predetermined number of the papers during the absence of the detection signal from the sensor. Once the top level of the paper stack on the paper support tray has attained the uppermost limit position, the top level of the paper stack on the paper support tray is lowered to a lowermost limit position to secure the orderly disposition.

Abstract: A two corner container for receiving copy sheets for stacking is positioned within a machine and allows viewing of stacking progress within the machine, as well as, the status of the container outside the machine.

Abstract: A paper feed device for holding a stack of printing paper sheets, has a paper holder box, a paper support bed on which the paper sheets are adapted to be placed and an elevator mechanism for moving the paper support bed upward and downward, a sensor detects the height of the paper sheets, whereby at the time of supply of the paper sheets, the paper support bed is moved downward so that the level of the paper sheets can be at a predetermined height relative to an upper end of the paper holder box.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet storing apparatus with a sheet tray which is movable up and down. When the tray moves down to a position which is specified according to the sheet size, fullness of the sheet tray is judged. The sheet storing apparatus has a sheet sensor for detecting a sheet on the tray and a top surface sensor for detecting the upper surface of the tray on which sheets are to be stacked or the top surface of a sheet stack on the tray being at a specified position. A specified time after the sheet sensor detects no sheets, the tray starts moving up, and the upward movement of the tray is stopped when the top surface sensor generates a detection signal. The sheet storing apparatus further has a paddle wheel for aligning sheets transported onto the tray. A specified time after the top surface sensor generates a detection signal in a situation that the sheet sensor detects a sheet, the tray starts moving down.

Abstract: A device for edgewise stacking flat single objects such as letters from a belt conveyor system or the like into a container or a fixed or mobile stacking system utilizes a moving container mounted on its side in front of an output module of a sorting system and moving downwardly at a controlled rate. The container is inclined relative to the vertical and the sorted objects are guided into the container by an inclined flat bottomed chute having a single rib at its lower edge, whereby the objects are flatwise stacked into the container. When the container is then turned upwards, the objects (letters) are stacked edgewise and their orientation and face are maintained.

Abstract: A device for determining the height of a pile of sheets, includes a measuring sensor formed as an expansion member and pneumatically drivable towards a top surface of the sheet pile.

Abstract: A dual drive signature stacker having side-by-side stacker sections, each of substantially identical design and including a stepper motor for driving a pair of buckets for receiving signatures secured at spaced intervals along a drive chain driven by the stepper motor. the buckets have intercept blades supported by brackets joined to the drive chain to position one of the intercept blades of each drive assembly in front of the adjacent drive assembly so that all of the buckets of the dual drive assembly are in alignment with one another and with the signature stream. The side-by-side arrangement greatly simplifies the design cost and assembly. A microprocessor-based control system permits stacking of stacks having as few as two signatures and is further capable of forming successive signature stacks of differing count in a precision manner and compatible with the speeds of any signature flow rate.

Abstract: A stack height sensor for stacked sheet members includes a switch having an actuator arm positioned adjacent to top edge of the stack at a predetermined level. A flexible "flogger" or "scuffer" element is moved along a path which first contacts the top surface of the sheet members, and then slides off the stack edge in the direction of the switch actuator arm. The switch actuator arm is adjusted such that the deflected path of the flexible flogger or scuffer element intercepts the switch for stack heights less than the predetermined value and "ski jumps" the switch actuator arm for stack heights greater than the predetermined height. The flogger or scuffer elements can be mounted on the disk inverter of a photocopier output section, and the switch output be used to control the position of the stack elevator mechanism. Alternatively a separate hub synchronized for rotation with the disk inverter, can be used to mount the flogger or scuffer elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming stacks from consecutively fed, flat workpieces, preferably bags, comprises a ram, which is movable up and down and serves to force the workpieces from a plane of conveyance onto a stacking plate or onto a stack formed on said stacking plate. The stacking plate is adapted to be lifted and to be lowered to an extent depending on the increasing height of the stack. In order to ensure that the ram will exert an approximately constant force on each workpiece as it is stacked, the stacking plate is adapted to be lowered against the action of a force exerted by a brake.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for sequentially loading sheet material articles into a plurality of compartments in a plurality of containers includes a loader assembly which is disposed at a loading station. An infeed shuttle assembly moves an empty container to a carriage disposed at the loading station. The carriage is movable back and forth along a linear path to sequentially position compartments of the empty container at the loading station. In addition, the carriage is operable to rotate the container about a vertical axis to at least partially position another compartment at the loading station. When the compartments of the container have been loaded with sheet material articles, an outfeed shuttle assembly engages the loaded container and moves it away from the carriage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a double feeding preventing mechanism which is arranged at an outlet side of a sheet feeding unit so that only one transfer material is fed, a sheet-feed controller which is stopped immediately after a leading end of the transfer material fed from the sheet feeding unit abuts against a nip portion between a pair of registration rollers, and a conveying controller for controlling rotation of the registration rollers such that the registration rollers are rotated after a sheet feeding operation is stopped so as to convey the transfer material to a predetermined position at low speed and are then rotated to convey the transfer material from the predetermined position to a transfer position in synchronism with a latent image formation timing.

Abstract: An arrangement in a press feed line for picking up and conveying metal blanks at generally the same rate of speed they exit speed from the press, and automatically stacking them on a stacker car, or the like. The stacker car has a rotatable base supporting a pallet, which in turn supports the stacked blanks, and is designed for side-shifting and raising and lowering of the base, in the stacking station, thereby allowing the desired positioning of the stacked blanks on the pallet and the pallet on the base. Automated adjustable devices which may conform to the configuration of the blank neatly stack the blanks and variations to the arrangement allow more than one blank to be removed from different sources in the press, thereby permitting more than one stack to be made simultaneously.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining the outermost surface of a stack of sheets at a selected elevation of the type having a stacking tray for holding the stack, a drive system adapted to move the tray, a position sensor for detecting the position of the outermost sheet of the stack, and a drive controller for controlling the drive system in response to signals received from the position sensor. The drive controller utilizing signals generated by a travel limit sensor, whereby the sensor indicates, with an active signal, the presence of the stacking tray at either a first or a second travel limit position. The drive controller further utilizing signals generated by a motion sensor, whereby the sensor signal is indicative of displacement of the stacking tray. The apparatus further including a sensor actuating apparatus, operatively connected to the stacking tray, for actuating the travel limit and motion sensors.

Abstract: A method of, and a device for, controlling the rotation of an element about an axis are disclosed. A continuous torque is exerted on the element to rotate it in one direction, and a control member engages with one end of a wrap spring, which extends around a cylindrical part of the element, to preclude rotation of the element when the control member is in a first position. When the control member is out of the first position, the wrap spring loosens about the cylindrical element, thereby allowing the element to rotate under the continuous torque. However, rotation of the element under the continuous torque indirectly causes the control member to return to the first position, thus preclouding further rotation of the element.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a tray for receiving sheets with an image, which is movable up toward and down away from a sheet ejection portion of a transport path, the tray being moved down intermittently in accordance with the volume of sheets stacked thereon. When a signal commanding an image forming operation is generated, the tray is moved to a proper position, where the upper surface of the tray or the upper surface of sheets stacked thereon is positioned below the sheet ejection portion with a specified space, and during the movement of the tray, the image forming operation is kept standing by. The tray is moved to the proper position when the volume of the sheet stack is varied during the image forming operation.

Abstract: An arrangement for handling and guiding a bundle of sheets in and between stacking and binding stations in which the sheets are stacked and bound respectively. The arrangement includes an arm displaceable from a pressing position in which the arm engages an uppermost sheet in the bundle in the stacking station to form a pressed bundle, to a removed position in which the arm is disengaged from the uppermost sheet. The pressed bundle is moved through the stacking station and conveyed from the stacking station to the binding station while the arm is maintained in the pressing position to prevent sheet disarrangement during such passage. In the binding station, the arm is displaced to the removed position to form a released bundle which is compressed prior to binding in the binding station. A guard engages uppermost sheets in the bundle in the binding station during displacement of the arm to the removed position to prevent sheet disarrangement.

Abstract: A paper stacker for an image forming apparatus is free from jams ascribable to curls of paper sheet which are apt to occur in hot and humid environments, and jams ascribable to static electricity which is apt to deposit on paper sheets in dry environments. When paper sheets are curled due to a large water content, the curl is sensed to inhibit further stacking operations. When paper sheets are electrostatically charged due to a small water content, the charge is dissipated before the paper sheets are stacked. The charge which may remain on a paper sheet having been stacked is immediately discharged when the paper sheet approaches feelers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet stacker, for use in combination with a copying machine, a printer or the like, capable of ensuring satisfactory sheet stacking regardless whether the sheet is folded or not. The apparatus controls the stacking operation in different modes in accordance with whether the sheets to be stacked are folded or not.

Abstract: There are disclosed method and apparatus for stacking the output ("documents" or "printed products") of a high speed printing press or bindery line. The documents are shingled on a linear infeed conveyor where they are also aligned, positioned, and counted, all at high speed. When the amount of documents desired for a stack have been counted or weighed or determined by stack size or height, further document flow is temporarily interrupted. The documents are speeded up in an accelerator to reduce the amount of shingling. They are ejected from the accelerator to glide through the air onto a stack starter surface which slowly descends as the stack is formed. The partially completed stack is transferred to a de-elevator and the stack starter returns to begin building a new stack. The de-elevator lowers the completed stack onto a receiving surface and rises to receive the next partially completed stack from the stack starter surface. A pusher then removes the stack from the receiving surface.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a sheet discharge outlet, sheet stacker for receiving sheet materials discharged through the sheet discharge outlet, a support for supporting the sheet stacker for substantially vertical movement, or driver for moving the sheet stacker in a substantially vertical direction, a control device for controlling the driver to move the sheet stacker down in the substantiallly vertical direction through a predetermined distance each time a predetermined amount of the sheet materials is stacked on the sheet stacker, and a detector for detecting fullness of the sheet stacker by detecting the sheet stacker at a lower limit level which is changed in accordance with sizes of the sheet materials.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a paper sheet stacking and jogging apparatus for the semi-continuous stacking and jogging of individually fed sheets of paper from devices such as printing or duplicating machinery. A conveyor, comprising a pair of powered forward pinch rollers and a pair of powered rearward pinch rollers each having a plurality of driving tires, conveys the sheets within the apparatus. A beam strengthener, comprising two pairs of crowned and recessed tires, which are not driving tires, give the sheets beam strength as they are deposited to prevent jamming of the apparatus. A high-capacity, self-leveling tray assembly and elevating elevator receives the deposited sheets. A jogger selectively jogs the sheets which are deposited into the tray assembly into physically separated, distinct, aligned job stacks.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for handling stacks of sheets, including a carrier for lowering the sheets in a stacker and having a clamp which applies to the bundle and moves therewith throughout the lowering process. The clamp is mounted on the carrier for movement into and out of clamping position, and in the clamping position it permits the bundles to be lowered without bending or distorting the sheets which are otherwise dragging on a stationary support.

Abstract: In a delivery safety apparatus for a sheet-fed printing press, regardless of the operation mode of the delivery table lifting unit, a delivery table is automatically moved downward on the basis of a detection result from a pile height detecting means for detecting a sheet pile height exceeding a predetermined position for sheets delivered and stacked on the delivery table. If automatic descending of the delivery table is not started even when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, this abnormal state is detected, and an alarm is generated. When automatic descending is not yet started when another predetermined period of time has elapsed after the alarm is generated, this abnormal state is detected to interrupt delivery of sheets onto the delivery table.

Abstract: A device for accommodating cash enclosing envelopes comprising an envelope container having an inlet at an upper side portion thereof, an envelope receiving member disposed substantially horizontally within the container and guidable upward and downward, a sensor for detecting the quantity of cash enclosing envelopes placed on the receiving member, and a drive assembly for moving the receiving member upward or downward in response to a detection signal from the sensor to position the uppermost of the cash enclosing envelopes on the receiving member at a substantially definite level at all times.

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: The invention concerns a stacker for a food loaf slicing machine of the type which includes first and second stack supports capable of being alternately positioned so as to receive food loaf slices of generally uniform thickness thereon as they are cyclically cut from the end of a food loaf at a slicing station into which the food loaf is advanced. When one of the stack supports has received a stack of N slices thereon, it is momentarily rotated a half turn outwardly of its slice receiving position under a force which exceeds a frictional force exerted between the underside of the stack and the upper surface of the stack support. As the one stack support is so rotated, the stack of slices present thereon is, virtually without being subject to any lateral force, allowed to fall freely downward as it is, until it is placed on a conveyor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sheet loading device for causing sheets put out one after another from a sheet output apparatus such as a laser beam printer or a copying apparatus onto a sheet receiving member to be loaded in orderly, mutually superposed relationship without being deviated from one another.

Abstract: The invention provides a sheet stacker for receiving paper from a printer, copier and the like. The stacker includes a base, and an elevator mechanism contained in the base. A hopper sits on the base and includes a floor moveable within the hopper and supported by the elevator mechanism. As paper enters the hopper a sensor is used in conjunction with an activator to maintain the floor of the hopper at a level to ensure that each sheet slides essentially horizontally onto the stack to avoid curling of the sheet on the stack. The stacker also includes a paper positioning device above the stacker and operable by a controller to engage selected sheets as they enter the stacker. This engagement deflects the sheets to one side so that these sheets are staggered with respect to the other sheets in the pile for ease of identification in the finished pile.

Abstract: A sheets aligner is provided with a frame body having vertical surfaces perpendicular to each other, a vertically movable table supported within the frame body, and a plurality of front lays extending along the respective vertical surfaces, thereby to stack on a pallet sheets fed to a sheet feed device for a sheet-fed printing press while aligning the sheet edges by vibration. The sheet aligner is provided with an opening formed in one of the vertical surfaces which is positioned in a direction to the sheet feed direction, the opening being adapted for permitting the pallet to be protruded from the frame body, a pallet stopper for stopping the pallet extruding from inside toward outside of the frame body, and a stop for closing a gap between each lower end of the front lays and the upper surface of the pallet. Thus, this arrangement permits a pallet e.g. for a maximum sized sheet to be used commonly to various sheet sizes.

Abstract: An automatic stacking machine is disclosed. The machine is designed to stack pieces of cloth, prior to the use of the cloth in the construction of garments. A conveyor, having a plurality of bands, transports the cloth pieces to a horizontally reciprocal carriage that reciprocates from a position under the conveyor. Located below the reciprocal carriage, when it is in its extended position, is an elevator table upon which the cloth pieces are deposited and stacked. A plurality of wheels, mounted above the retractable carriage, in its extended position, turn in the direction of outward movement of the carriage. When the carriage changes direction and begins to retract, the wheels, which only move in one direction, pull the fabric off the retractable carriage and the cloth drops neatly down on the table below.

Abstract: Apparatus for precisely edge aligning and offsetting or jogging stacks of sheet items wherein two oppositely disposed alternately actuated continuously rotating paddle members each produce driving forces at right angles to one another effective to force each item first in one direction and then in another direction at right angles thereto such that the sheet items operational with respect to any paddle are caused to be stacked in offset alternating piles against confronting opposite walls of a stacker frame member.

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: An electrographic printer/copier includes a paper path which is easily accessed from the top of the machine and permits copies to be collated automatically. The machine includes a paper tray which adjusts to organize successive pages into related reports.

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 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 recirculating document feeder for a copier/duplicator removes sheets seriatim from the bottom of a stack of sheets, circulates a removed sheet to a position for copying, and then returns the sheet back onto the top of the stack of sheets. A sheet separator engages the sheet that initially is on top of the stack for separating the sheets in the stack that have been circulated along the path from those sheets in the stack that have not been circulated along the path. In response to feeding of the top sheet of the stack along the path, the separator is retracted and then returned to the top of the stack after the top sheet has been circulated for copying. The separator is driven along a generally rectilinear path and guided along that path by a pin in the separator that travels along a slot formed partially in each of two facing surfaces.

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: Apparatus for stacking sheetlike articles of flexible material includes a stack follower engaging the trailing end of a stack to prevent separation of articles from the stack adjacent its trailing end as the edges of the articles drag across a guide surface during lowering movement of the stack.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for accumulating generally flat articles of substantially the same size and shape into stacks of specific count. The apparatus comprises at least one vertically oriented spiral member having an exterior leading edge and an interior trailing edge. A prime mover rotates the spiral member about its horizontal axis of rotation. A product stack-building area is provided through which the leading and trailing edges of the spiral member passes once each revolution thereof. An infeed device feeds products at substantially the same elevation to the top of the stack-building area and onto the outer surface of the spiral member constituting a product support surface which recedes from the article infeed elevation at a predetermined rate. At least one side plate is provided to keep the products within the stack-building area. An outfeed device to receive stacked products passes through the spiral member at an elevation just below the trailing edge thereof.

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: 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: To ensure a uniform formation in packets with a predetermined number of elements, of sheet-like elements, for example, paper handkerchieves, two counter-rotating bodies are provided, presenting movable blades which, cooperate to receive each sheet-like element coming from a feeding group. Each pair of blades lays down a sheet-like element on a packet to be formed, on its turn supported by fins carried by belts or chains vertically moving downward, starting from the counter-rotating bodies and synchronically with the latter, in such a way that the packet to be formed lowers until the desired number of elements is received, and it is then ejected parallel to the axes of the rotating bodies.

Abstract: A mechanism for stacking and weighing sheets fed from a semi-continuous sheet cutter. The mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to a stacking table so that as sheets are deposited onto the stacking table, the table is lowered by indexing the hydraulic cylinder. This continues until a full stack of sheets, having a predetermined number of sheets determined by weight, by height of the stack or by sheet count has been stacked on the table. The hydraulic cylinder comprises a hydraulic fluid reservoir, an electrically driven hydraulic pump, a four-way, three position hydraulic spool valve, a hydraulic cylinder and back pressure safety valve. A load cell connected between the hydraulic cylinder and the rest of the mechanism is connected to a scale device which will weigh the stack of sheets.

Abstract: A paper discharge device for an offset printing machine includes a table for receiving discharged paper, the table being lowered in conjunction with the height of the paper stack thereon. The table is driven by means of a ratchet mechanism which is engaged only when paper is actually output from the printing machine, so that the table is not excessively lowered when the printing machine is driven but does not output printed paper.

Abstract: In a stacking apparatus for flexible sheets comprising a chain conveyor consisting of two spaced chains running over sprockets at the delivery end, each sheet is supported on a depositing plate which is provided with fingers and of which the leading end is connected to the chains so that the plate is swung through 180.degree. at the delivery end of the chain conveyor and the sheet is placed onto a stack which, when finished, is discharged on spaced belts of a discharge conveyor under the chain conveyor. Each sheet is received in a stacking shaft defined by side walls, a vertically slotted rear wall and a base formed by prongs passing through the slots. The prongs are lowered as the stack height increases until they have passed between the belts of the discharge conveyor, whereupon they are withdrawn. End portions of each sheet projecting beyond the side walls of the shaft are turned inwardly over the fingers of the depositing plate by reciprocatable folding blades.

Abstract: A continous sheeting machine is formed with a sheet collection area for the accumulation and stacking of sheets into either ream or skid loads. Separate lift table and discharge means are provided for the respective ream collection or skid loading operations. Changeover between skid loading and ream collection is automatic. A ream collection system is stowed in a retracted position beneath the discharge area of the sheeting machine during skid loading. In the skid loading mode, two large scissor-lift tables shuttle concurrently respectively back and forth between the collection area and a discharge station, such that skid load collection is substantially continous. For ream collection, the skid load tables are removed from the collection area and a ream collection framework is shuttled out from beneath the sheeting machine so that a small, high-speed ream lift table is positioned in the collection area.

Abstract: A stack (S) of sheets is formed on a downwardly moving platform (4), the stack being divided into portions (P) each consisting of a predetermined number of sheets. As each alternate portion is completed, that portion is gripped between two plates (5, 20) and moved horizontally so that it is offset relative to the portion next below it.A completed stack containing the required number of portions is separated from the rest of the stack by inserting a divider (40) at the desired position. The platform (4) is then moved to remove those portions below the divider and, at the same time, an auxiliary support (41) moves beneath the divider (40) to support the stack above. The completed stack is removed from the platform (4) which is then raised level with the support (41). The divider (40), support (41) and platform (4) move together so that the stack is again supported on the platform (4).

Abstract: The collating stacker comprises a hopper mounted for oscillation between first and second positions at right angles to each other. Individual microfiche are fed into the top of the hopper so that the microfiche can be received and stacked in the hopper to form a first set when the hopper is in the first position and a second set after the hopper has been rotated to its second position at right angles to the first position. By this arrangement, the first and second sets can be easily manually separated as they are removed from the hopper.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving and stacking a large number of sheets such as electrophotographic copies in which the height of a support to which sheets are successively delivered is adjusted in response to a photodetector arranged to sense the height of the stack of sheets on the support. The sheet support is raised and lowered by rotating a lead screw engaging a follower carried by the support and is limited in its excursion by stops on the follower which circumferentially intercept stops carried by the lead screw to prevent further rotation of the screw.