Abstract: A method for in-plane separation of side-by-side parallel sheet articles that are transported along mutually-laterally-adjacent, in-plane paths, the method comprising: feeding unconnected sheet articles parallel to one another to mutually divergent belt arrangements that are driven at the same speed; conveying the sheet articles in a common plane divergently in relation to one another through the divergent belt arrangements and thereby irrotationally separating the sheet articles in the common plane and conveying the articles to a transporter; transporting the sheet articles and selectively stopping them by and in collectors of the transporter; collecting the selectively-stopped sheet articles in the collectors; and selectively releasing and thereby delivering stopped sheet articles for further handling.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a transfer member, for example, a transfer drum with a line of small closely spaced laser drilled vacuum holes to hold a receiving sheet to the drum surface. The transfer drum is formed by forming a layer of at least intermediate conductivity material on the surface of a core, forming at least one vacuum opening in the core and laser drilling in the layer a line of closely spaced small holes communicating with the opening. In one embodiment, a short focal length lens focuses a laser beam near the surface of the layer, which beam spreads below the surface to form a conical hole. The conical hole helps maintain the continuity of a transfer field while being free from clogging.

Abstract: Apparatus for advancing sections of newspapers has a first conveyor with equidistant grippers which deliver a series of suspended sections to a transfer conveyor. The latter delivers successive sections into successive pockets of a turret-shaped conveyor and comprises a driven shaft carrying two annuli of bearings for the stubs of two sets of plate-like clamping members. Each clamping member of one set cooperates with a clamping member of the other set to engage a section which is delivered by an oncoming gripper and to transfer the thus engaged section into a pocket of the turret-shaped conveyor. The clamping members of each set are pivotable relative to the shaft and orbit about the shaft when the latter is driven to advance the clamping members along an endless path. The devices for pivoting the two sets of clamping members during predetermined stages of each revolution of the shaft employ exchangeable stationary cams and followers provided on the respective sets of clamping members to track the cams.

Abstract: Document feeding apparatus, comprising: structure for registering an edge of a document; first structure for feeding a document in a path of travel; and second structure for feeding a document from the registering structure to the first feeding structure, the second feeding structure including a plurality of rows of independently flexible members rotatable into and out of engagement with a document.

Abstract: Cable-type supporting elements (26) are stretched between the two serially arranged belt conveyors (10, 12). The supporting elements (26) are fixed in the end or starting region of the belt conveyors (10, 12) on supporting plates (24) over which the conveying sides of the conveyor belts (14) slide. The supporting elements (26) support the leading edges (30) of the printed products (28) in the region between the two belt conveyors (10, 12).

Abstract: A cash dispensing unit includes first (68) and second (70) cooperating endless groups of belts for feeding a stack (72) of currency notes to an exit location (50). First ends of the first (68) and second (70) groups of belts respectively pass round first (26) and second (30) group of pulleys of equal diameter mounted in a central position of a support framework (11), and second ends of the two groups of belts (68, 70) respectively pass round two smaller groups of pulleys (66, 52) disposed adjacent the exit location (50). The first group of belts (68) pass partly around the periphery of the second group of pulleys (30), and are resiliently stretchable so that the stack (72) can pass between this group of belts (68) and this group of pulleys (30).

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: In handling flat sheets as for example from a sheet processing machine to a downstacker a plurality of narrow parallel belt conveyors are necessarily employed. Non-uniformity in manufacture of the belts and different slippage on the pulleys causes unequal speed of travel of the individual belts resulting in improper and unequal handling. Utilizing a lower set of conveyor driving belts on which are super-imposed overlapping driven carrier belts overcomes this problem by producing uniform speed of travel of the belts.

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: In the context of a guide device for a narrowing gap between the two cylinders of a machine for processing sheet-like products, adapted to cooperate with each other during the transfer of the sheet-like products comprising a rotary member which is rotatably bearinged by means of lateral journals with an axis parallel to the cylinder and has a cylindrical outer surface, and at least one stationary connection member which is laterally adjacent to the said rotary member and has a surface configuration tangentially intersecting with a cylindrical outer surface of the rotary member, and in the case of which the rotary member and each connection member associated therewith are arranged so as to be adjustable in relation to the adjacent cylinders, a greater ease of operation is achieved inasfar as on at least one of the lateral journals of the rotary member, which is able to be moved by means of a setting device along an associated guide running sideways in relation to the axis of the rotary member, there is for eac

Abstract: In the commercial production of licorice bites, each about 1 inch long, a group of extruded 54-inch licorice strips are lifted by a programmable controlled robot from the discharge end of a lower conveyor and deposited at the input end of an upper conveyor which carries the strips to a cutting station. The robot hand has a lower stainless steel blade for insertion under the group of licorice strips to wedge the sticky strips from a board on which they are being carried by the lower conveyor. The robot hand includes an upper bar. The bar is moved relative to the blade after insertion of the blade under the licorice strips, thereby clamping the strips between the bar and the blade. The arm of the robot then lifts the hand and clamped group of licorice strips and deposits the front ends of the strips at the input of the upper conveyor.

Abstract: Two dispensing port mechanisms are arranged in parallel in a banknote distributing and dispensing machine. A distributing mechanism is provided to be selectively arranged at either one of two dispensing port mechanisms. A transmission mechanism is provided to transmit the movement of conveyor belts in the distributing mechanism to the conveyor belts of the selected dispensing port mechanism.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus has a conveying member on which an article such as a bundle of newspapers to be conveyed is laid, a driving device for driving the conveying member, and a lifting device to lift the article so as to separate at least a part of the article from the surface of the conveying member. Thyis lifting device is located near by the tail end of the conveyor member. This lifting device consists of a mechanical lifting unit or a pneumatic lifting unit, or the combination of them. This lifting device is actuated in accordance with a signal from a sensor for detecting the article.

Abstract: The printed products are supplied in an imbricated formation by an infeed device and are pushed together to form a reclining buffer stack concomitant with a reduction in their mutual spacing or imbrication pitch. This buffer stack is conveyed to a stack accommodating space of a feeder by a conveying device and at a reduced conveying speed as compared to the infeed rate of the infeed device. There is thus formed a stack of interaligned printed products. The printed products are individually removed from the stack at a product withdrawal location which is determined by a stop. The buffer stack forms a printed product storage device for bridging interruptions in the supply or infeed of the printed products.

Abstract: In a folder with at least one folding blade cylinder cooperating with a folding jaw cylinder, and with a guide mechanism which is located at each outlet wedge situated after the folding place in the direction of rotation of the respective cylinders cooperating in the folding process, extends over the entire length of the cylinder, and guides the parts of the sheets lying, after the folding place, on the circumferential section of the folding blade cylinder and being taken therefrom in the folding process, a long life of the guide mechanism as well as careful handling of the signatures to receive a cross fold can be guaranteed by the guide mechanism being equipped with a middle part which is so supported that it can turn freely around an axis parallel to the cylinder and has an approximately cylindrical surface, and with stationary connecting parts which join the said middle part laterally and have a surface contour cutting about tangentially into the surface of the middle part.

Abstract: Collation of folded printed signatures or sheets is accomplished by a rotating collating cylinder or rotary collator which is rotatably driven about its longitudinal axis of revolution. The rotary collator comprises a plurality of collating conveyors arranged substantially parallel to this longitudinal axis. These collating conveyors are substantially annularly positioned about this longitudinal axis and extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotary collator. The folded printed signatures or sheets are fed or conveyed by three feeding conveyors or infeed devices and are deposited to straddle the collating conveyors or the respective folded printed signatures or sheets already straddling the collating conveyors. The folded printed signatures or sheets are displaced in the direction of conveyance of the rotary collator while revolving about the longitudinal axis of the rotary collator.

Abstract: In the commercial production of licorice bites, each about 1 inch long, a group of extruded 54-inch licorice strips are lifted by a programmable controlled robot from the discharge end of a lower conveyor and deposited at the input end of an upper conveyor which carries the strips to a cutting station. The robot hand has a lower stainless steel blade for insertion under the group of licorice strips to wedge the sticky strips from a board on which they are being carried by the lower conveyor. The robot hand includes an upper bar having a food-grade rubber undersurface. The bar is lowered relative to the blade after insertion of the blade under the licorice strips, thereby clamping the strips between the lowered bar and the blade. The arm of the robot then lifts the hand and clamped group of licorice strips and deposits the front ends of the strips at the input of the upper conveyor.

Abstract: For accepting folded products (5) and transporting them further, a revolving belt or chain system (7) on which drivers (8) are provided is used following the transfer point between a folding blade cylinder (1) and a folding gripper cylinder (2). After the folded spine (6) has been grasped by the folding grippers (4) of the folding gripper cylinder (2), drivers (8) are laterally inserted into the wedge-shaped region A, after which the folding grippers open. Then the drivers (8) accept the folded products (5) from the folding gripper cylinder (2) or the folding blade cylinder (1) and guide them further, preferably in a suspended condition, for further handling.

Abstract: To pick up folded paper sheets, being folded, for example, by a standard folding apparatus (1, 2, 4-6), an endless transport belt or chain (71; 7, 7, 7', 18) retains thereon carrier elements (9) made of highly elastic flat spring steel, being guided by the endless transport means in a path which places the flat spring steel strips edgewise between the folding products at the folding zone, then transport the folded products along the path and then decelerates the folded products while spreading them apart. The latter combined effect is obtained by guiding the transport means over a deflection wheel (11, 16) at the region of attachment of the carrier elements to the transport chain or belt, while retaining the flat strip free end portions, forming hangers, at or close to the center of rotation of the deflection wheel, so that, effectively, the folded paper products will be spread while, at the same time, will be slowed, or have a linear speed of, or close to 0.

Abstract: A continuous scalloped stream of paper sheets is divided into a succession of discrete sections by an accelerating device in cooperation with one or more belt conveyors which receive the sections. The accelerating device has an elongated rubber pad attached to an endless chain conveyor which can move the pad into the path of movement of the stream of sheets toward the belt conveyor or conveyors. The belt conveyor(s) and the chain conveyor are accelerated from the speed of the advancing stream to a higher second speed as soon as the trailing end of the section which is about to be separated from the stream is engaged by the trailing end of the pad on the chain conveyor. The chain conveyor and the belt conveyor(s) are decelerated back to the speed of the stream as soon as the entire freshly formed section is transferred onto the belt conveyor(s) and before the fresh leader of the stream reaches the discharge end of the conveyor for the stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring semiautomatically cattlehides from one hide transport conveyor to a second faster moving transport conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for decelerating a sheet moving at a predetermined linear speed along a travel path. The apparatus, located in juxtaposition with the sheet travel path, engages a sheet traveling along such path to apply a deceleration force to such sheet. The deceleration force imparted to such sheet is progressively increased to gradually slow the linear speed of such sheet from the predetermined linear speed to a lesser linear speed.

Abstract: Rigid plastic foam is flexibilized in an apparatus utilizing four sets of foam gripping belts. A first and second set of opposed belts traveling at a given speed forward the foam into the apparatus to a second and third set of opposed belts traveling at a slower speed than the first and second set of belts. The first and third and the second and fourth sets of belts are interdigitated in a region of foam crush.

Abstract: In spaced relationship from an infeed track or path for an imbricated product formation there is arranged an outfeed track or path. Between the infeed and outfeed tracks there is provided a group of movable track elements which are spaced in overlying or superimposed relationship from one another in their direction of movement. This group of track elements is guided and moved transversely with respect to the infeed and outfeed tracks or paths. Conveyor means serve to transfer the printed products from the infeed track in each case by means of one of the track elements to the outfeed track. In this way it is possible, without releasing the printed products out of the imbricated product formation and without altering the movement of the imbricated product formation or interrupting such movement, to render accessible each of the printed products for performing further processing operations thereat during the throughpass thereof at the relevant track element.

Abstract: A laundry piece stacking device which stacks a predetermined number of laundry pieces uniformly and evenly in a stack. Laundry pieces of a predetermined size are conveyed from an ironing area along a double feed conveyor to a swing arm conveyor. The swing arm conveyor is pivotable and rotates in an arc above a work discharge zone. By appropriate adjusting elements, the laundry pieces are evenly draped over a first conveyor in a stacking arrangement until the number of pieces in the stack equals a predetermined count. At that time, the first conveyor and a second, adjacent conveyor are activated for a brief interval so that the first stack formed is transported away from the work deposit zone towards a workpiece receiving area located at the far end of the second conveyor means. The swing arm conveyor is inhibited from operation during this time period. After one stack is removed, additional stacks are formed on the first conveyor and sequentially conveyed towards the receiving area.

Abstract: In a duplicating machine for duplicating images on both sides of copy sheets including a blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder, a mechanism for handling the sheets and re-feeding the sheets back to the impression cylinder for duplex copying. The blanket cylinder has first and second images transferable to the copy sheets. The impression cylinder forms a nip with the blanket cylinder for transferring the copy sheets through the nip. A first gripper on the impression cylinder releasably engages a lead end of a copy sheet and moves the sheet through the nip to transfer the first image on a first side of the sheet. A chain gripper releasably engages the lead end of the sheet transferred thereto by the first gripper and transports the sheet away from the impression cylinder. A swing gripper releasably engages a trail end of the sheet in timed relation with release of the sheet by the chain gripper and re-feeds the sheet back to the impression cylinder.

Abstract: A device for delivering and packaging folded boxes, which are folded and glued in a folder-gluer, comprises a first conveyor for receiving a flow of folded boxes in an overlapping shingled relationship for a delivery station and conveying the flow of boxes without changing any lateral position of the boxes to a second conveyor at which the flow is converted into a stack-like flow moving in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the folded boxes. The second conveyor terminates in a filling device and a coacting intermittently driven roller. A third conveyor for introducing the positioning packaging containers is disposed beneath the second conveyor and is mounted for movement both transverse and along the direction of movement of the second conveyor and vertically thereto. The device also includes a removing conveyor which comprises a roller conveyor mounted for movement between a level position to a slant position to enable ejecting a filled container from the device by gravity.

Abstract: An apparatus for outfeeding printed products arriving in an imbricated product stream, in which, in each case, the leading edge of a printed product overlies the rearward edge of the preceding printed product. The arriving imbricated product stream is infed, by means of a conveyor belt or band, to the conveying gap of a deflection or turning device where the imbricated product stream is turned through about 180.degree.. This deflection device comprises a deflection drum about which there is guided an endless conveyor belt. A pressing or contact belt, held under tension, is arranged opposite the deflection drum and forms together therewith the conveying gap. The pressing belt presses the printed products, traveling through the conveying gap, against the deflection drum. The conveyor belt guided about the deflection drum conveys the printed products, departing out of the conveying gap, towards an individual conveyor.

Abstract: Printing products from a printing machine are successively moved one above the other against a stop to form a stack. A leading product in contact with the stop is biased adjacent to its fold by a perpendicular force compressing the fold. A trailing product is moved on the free end face of the leading product and the perpendicular compressing force is substantially relieved upon approach of the trailing product fold to the stop. The trailing product is biased by a perpendicular force in such a manner that the trailing product is pressed adjacent its fold against the leading product. The movement of the trailing product is not hindered by the perpendicular forces and is synchronized with the build up and relief of the perpendicular forces.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improved reading and printing apparatus which includes a carrier for holding a film in a flat state, a first positioning device for positioning the carrier at a screen projecting position for projecting the image of the film onto an observation screen, a second positioning device for positioning the carrier at a scanning starting position for scanning and exposing the image of the film, and a scanning device for scanning the carrier from the scanning starting position. By the above arrangement, the functions as the reader and printer are incorporated into the apparatus of compact size through elimination of wasteful space and time involved in the scanning of the carrier.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a convolute paper tube on a winding mandrel, including means for conveying a sheet of paper from a gluing and cutting apparatus longitudinally of the winding mandrel, with an edge of the paper sheet engaged in a longitudinal slot in the mandrel, to a position where the sheet edge is fully engaged with the mandrel suitably for winding. The conveying means includes a belt conveyor for slidable frictional engagement of the paper sheet to convey the paper sheet into winding position while being slidable with respect thereto so that the paper can remain in proper winding position while in continuing contact with the moving conveyor belt. Support wires, guides, trim rolls, and a stop are also provided in the apparatus for controlling the pick up, transport, alignment, and terminal position of the sheet.

Abstract: A paperboard web is severed transversely between the double facer machine and the slitter-scorer after the completion of a production order. The speed of the double facer machine is maintained constant while the severed web section is accelerated to a speed substantially above the speed of the double facer machine to create a gap. Adjustments to one or more of the slitter-scorer and cut-off for the next production order are made while the same are in the gap. Sheets cut from the web section are shingled on a shingling conveyor. The speed of the shingling conveyor is accelerated prior to the arrival of the last sheet of the web section and decelerated while the gap is on the shingling conveyor.

Abstract: The basic press structure includes a printing couple consisting of a lower printing cylinder, having a single work area, and a large printing cylinder, having an effective diameter which is a whole multiple, greater than one, of the effective diameter of the lower printing cylinder, and has a number (equal to the whole multiple) of work areas, in each of which one of a variety of the especially constructed removable and interchangeable segments may be mounted. One of a variety of different printing surfaces may be carried in each of the various work areas on the cylinders of the printing couple, in a wide range of combinations. The printing couple is mounted in a frame structure constructed so as to provide a plurality of module mounting positions, at each of which one of a variety of printing modules may be mounted in cooperative relationship with the large printing cylinder.

Abstract: A device for feeding sheets to boxing machines comprises a pair of endless flexible elements retaining therebetween the sheets to be fed to the boxing machine, a conveyor for the products to be fed to the boxing machine which supports a plurality of compartments uniformly distributed on it and open transversely to the movement direction thereof, a grip associated with each compartment, a driving motor effective to drive the flexible elements at a velocity greater than that of the conveyor and cam means to cause the grip to engage the sheets.

Abstract: A system for duplicating images wherein a copy sheet is delivered to a first gripper of an impression cylinder. A first image is transferred to one side of each sheet, and each sheet is then released by the first gripper and delivered to a reversing means. A second gripper includes means for engaging the trailing edge of each sheet and the sheets are thus re-fed to the impression cylinder by this second gripper, trailing edge first. The re-feeding is in synchronism with the second image whereby this second image is transferred to the opposite side of each sheet. The second gripper is provided with inverting means to accommodate the re-feeding. In addition, separate gripper means are provided on the second gripper for engaging the trailing edge of a succeeding sheet whereby the second gripper simultaneously engages the trailing edge of one sheet and the formerly trailing edge of a previously introduced sheet.

Abstract: In a machine for cutting a paper web into sheets and forming them into a stack, the sheets are fed from the cutter to a primary conveyor on which they are spaced apart, and then to a secondary conveyor driven at a slower speed so that the sheets are overlapped, and finally fed onto the top of a stack. In one arrangement a pair of rollers, between which the sheets are gripped, is positioned between adjacent ends of the primary and secondary conveyors, which rollers are driven at a speed which is cyclically variable between the speeds of the two conveyors so as to decelerate the sheets. In another arrangement the secondary conveyor is dispensed with and the sheets are fed directly onto the stack from the variable speed rollers.

Abstract: In the method, two originals are placed side-by-side on the contact glass of an electrophotographic duplex copying machine and are scanned successively, in a single scanning operation, by the exposure optical system of the machine to form respective successive images on a photoconductive drum rotated past an image transfer device. Two transfer sheets are fed successively, with a short interval therebetween, from a primary supply device for transfer sheets, past the image transfer device in synchronism with the image formation on the drum, to provide duplex copies, having images in the same relation as that of the two originals, in a single copying cycle or process. By utilizing a secondary sheet supply device and a suitable switching device, images can be provided on both sides or surfaces of a transfer sheet or sheets. The duplex copying apparatus includes a novel sheet feed device effective to stack transfer sheets neatly.

Abstract: A duplex copying system including an improved buffer set means that receives substrates having been copied on a first side and shingles the substrates for subsequent refeeding and copying on a second side.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture of objects of sheet shape being removed from the output end of said machine by means of a taking-off device. Said device is connected with a feeding device for said objects. The feeding device is arranged to perform a reciprocating movement and the taking-off device is arranged to follow the same in its motion.

Abstract: This application discloses an improved device for reducing the velocity at which thermoplastic bags, as they are produced by a bag machine, are directed to a table, or other suitable support, for accumulation in even-edged stacks.

Abstract: The device is of the type having a stacking drum with openings in its cylindrical periphery by means of which the articles to be conveyed can be adhered by suction to the drum and accumulated in an orderly stack, with the suction air being effective only within a predetermined circumferential range of the stacking drum. The stacking drum is so arranged in the conveying system that the articles to be conveyed are fed tangentially to the drum, and the stacking drum has only a single row of openings in its circumference, with the row extending parallel to the axis of the drum. The openings may be selectively connected either to vacuum or to a source of air under pressure so that, with suction being effective in the openings, the articles are grasped by the stacking drum at the leading edge, discharged around the stacking drum and fed to the stack while, with compressed air being supplied to the openings, the articles pass by the stacking drum and move on to a following conveying system.

Abstract: Stacking apparatus for generally flat objects, particularly useful for the stacking of magazines by zip code. According to the invention, a continuous input stream of the objects is alternately diverted in preselected numbers pursuant to a shift signal to first and second hoppers or bins wherein the objects are deposited in stacks, the stacks when completed being alternately ejected from the hoppers onto common conveyor means whereon they are merged into a single output series of stacks.In one form of the invention an input feeder receives the output flow of magazines from a labeler; a vertically shiftable separator alternately directs sequences of the generally flat objects to upper and lower feed conveyors which in turn alternately feed the sequences of objects to side-by-side hoppers. "Live" rollers moving at right angles to the feed conveyors underlie and extend as stack output conveyor means from the hoppers.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking printed products or the like continuously arriving from a conveyor and moving along a conveying path of travel, especially printed products arriving in an imbricated product formation, wherein there are provided a plurality of clamping elements elastically pre-biased towards one another. The clamping elements are displaceably guided through the operable zone of a driven spreader mechanism and due to the action thereof temporarily brought out of their mutual clamping position. The path of movement of the clamping elements at the region of the spreader mechanism penetrates or passes through the path of travel for the incoming or arriving printed products defined by the conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking in precise alignment relatively large, flat, lightweight and flexible objects such as low density felted, fiber pads are disclosed. The disclosed method comprises the steps of feeding the pads towards the stack, rotating the leading edge of a pad to be stacked approximately 180.degree. to place the leading edge of the pad at the top of the stack in a position reversed top-bottom due to the rotation, and causing the remaining portion of the pad to follow in the position reversal along the top of the stack.

Abstract: Apparatus for inverting and stacking sheets successively conveyed along a path. Each sheet is sensed and actuates an inverting means which causes an element to engage and slow the leading edge of the sheet at a discharge region and deflect it from the path to a stacking platform. The trailing portion of the sheet continues to be moved by conveying means at approximately its original velocity and moves past the leading edge so that the sheet is rolled over and deposited in an inverted position on the stacking support or preceding sheet. The stacking support is sloped upward at its outer edge to facilitate removal of a portion of the stacked sheets while continuing the stacking operation. The conveying means extend over the stacking support to insure that the shorter sheets as well as the longer ones are properly deposited on the stack. By using a plurality of sheet engaging elements on the inverting means, sheets having a wide range of sizes can be deposited on the stack.

Abstract: A stacking system for thermoplastic film products, such as polyethylene bags or the like. The stacking system is arranged to be employed in combination with a product conveyor which receives finished articles or products from a thermoplastic film converting machine, the arrangement employing stacking wheels disposed along the terminal portion of the conveyor, and wherein the drive means for the stacking wheels are arranged to impart rotary motion to the stacking wheels in timed relationship to the movement of thermoplastic film product therethrough, and with means being provided to intermittently retard the rotational velocity of the stacking wheels at a point generally coincident with the passage of the trailing edge of the film product through the stacking wheels so as to frictionally retard the rate of speed of travel of the film product.

Abstract: An improved discharge apparatus for facilitating the removal and stacking of finished bags from a bag-making machine. An adjustable speed control means is operable to impart selective rotational velocity to a pair of opposed stacking wheels between which bags are travelling as they are discharged from the machine. Timing means operatively connected to the stacking wheels cause the speed control means to operate for a fraction only of the time interval of discharge of each bag.

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: Disclosed is a document handler and feeder device for performing high speed separating and transporting of documents, such as business forms. The document handling unit is equipped with friction type feed rollers and a lipped contour plate over which documents must pass. The feed rollers contact and transport a foremost document from a gravity-feed document hopper. High speed tracking belts are mounted over grooves or tracks, which extend along a track plate and through the lip of the contour plate. The feed rolls force the leading edge of the foremost document into the lip where the document engages the bottom side of the belts so that it is nipped between the belts and the contour plate causing the document to move into the tracking grooves. In order to provide ready access to the tracking plate area, the entire tracking belt drive assembly is pivotable upwards about a pivot pin located adjacent the feed roller shaft.

Abstract: A sheet piling machine for stacking metal sheets of material which respond to magnetic force which machine is characterized by an upright supporting frame defining two in-line stacking areas having suitable lift platforms on which sheets are piled, an elongate overhead magnetic sheet conveyor mounted on the supporting frame above the first stacking or piling area, a roller skate conveyor forming an approach to the entrance end of each of the stacking areas and spaced below the overhead conveyor in predetermined, vertical relation so as not to interfere with the entry of sheets to the respective stacking areas, each roller skate conveyor being inclined in the direction of the associated stacking area so as to cause sheets deposited thereon to be advanced by gravity into the associated stacking area, end stop and back stop mechanisms and a side guide mechanism for each of the stacking areas, and electrical control circuits for controlling the operation of the magnetic conveyor and associated mechanisms so as to