Abstract: A molding device that molds a stereoscopic molding object through a layered molding method, where after molding of at least one molding object is started and before the molding of the at least one molding object is completed, molding of another molding object is started. The molding device 10, for example, includes an ejection head, and a molding object supporter, the molding object supporter includes, for example, a plurality of molding tables, at least an opposing surface of each molding table is independently movable, an ejection head ejects a material toward the opposing surface of at least one molding table to mold the molding object on the molding table, and at least the opposing surface of the molding table on which the molding object is molded is moved in a perpendicular direction to move the molding object in the perpendicular direction.

Abstract: An example stacking system comprises a stacking member movable between a first position in which the stacking member is configured to partially support a first stack of printed substrates, and a second position in which the stacking member is disengaged from the first stack. A receptacle positioned below the stacking member is configured to hold a second stack of printed substrates. A controller is configured to cause the stacking member to move between the first position and the second position when the first stack satisfies a criterion, thereby depositing the first stack into the receptacle on top of the second stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for a forming bundle composed of at least one layer of printed products includes a lift, wherein an area above the lift constitutes a holding space to accommodate the at least one layer. The lift is adapted to lower the at least one layer. A control unit is connected to control movement of the lift. A thickness determining device is coupled to the control unit and arranged to determine a thickness of the at least one layer. The lift is controlled to be lowered corresponding to a previously determined thickness of a layer to accommodate a following layer of a bundle or to accommodate a layer of a following bundle.

Abstract: A stacking device for print products that includes a table to receive the print products such that the print products form a stack. The device also includes at least two ejector elements arrangeable against the stack to push the stack in an ejection direction away from the table. The stacking devices further includes at least two drive elements operatively connected, respectively, with the at least two ejector elements so that the at least two ejector elements move independent of one another.

Abstract: A method and device are provided to produce stacks composed of printed products. Printed products are supplied substantially vertically and in an overlapping flow with the aid of a first conveying device continuously to an essentially horizontally extending stack support. A stack is formed at the stack support, where the printed products are at least approximately lined up in an upright position. The stack on the stack support is transported with a second conveying device moving at a forward-feed speed and in a forward-feed direction. The stack is supported along a leading stack end against a support device that also moves in the forward-feed direction. A third conveyor acts upon a region of a lower edge of at least one printed product, which impacts the stack support, to move the at least one printed product in the forward-feed direction of the stack with a speed that corresponds at least to the forward-feed speed of the stack.

Abstract: There is described a machine for forming groups of ordered products, each group including products disposed according to superposed layers. The machine includes a succession of conveyors aligned according to a principal direction of alignment, with a feed conveyor and a delivery conveyor. The feed conveyor receives single layers of products aligned with and spaced from one another; and the conveyors are disposed and controlled so as to distribute layers of products on a predetermined number of levels at different heights, and to unload onto the delivery conveyor a predetermined number of layers, superposed on one another, equal to the predetermined number of the levels at different heights.

Abstract: In a station for forming a pile of layers of items, a surface receives layers of items to be transferred to a first support plane situated after the receiving surface. The items arranged in layers are moved along the receiving surfaces and the first support plane by driving chains connected by rods set crosswise to the receiving surface and support plane. The support plane is spaced apart from the receiving surface to define a window and a descending ramp is situated below the window. An additional conveyor formed by narrow slats or rolls, is situated at the window and is operated so that one flexible plate moves to cover and uncover the window, so that layers of items are alternately either carried from the receiving surface to the support plane or made to pass through the window and released on the descending ramp. The ramp can change inclination so as to connect the receiving surface to either one or the other of second and third support planes situated below the first support plane.

Abstract: A circulating storage system (1) has at least two storage columns (4) of stored-goods carriers (5) that are arranged one above another and circulate during operation, at least one horizontal conveyor device (9) which, during operation, transfers the stored-goods carriers from one storage column to the other storage column, and a vertical conveyor device (7) which, during operation, can move at least one part of the storage column in a vertical direction. The circulating storage system also has at least one further vertical conveyor device (7), for each vertical conveyor device assigned to a storage column, to provide each storage column with the capability of being moved in the vertical direction, independently of the other storage column, by the vertical conveyor device assigned to it.

Abstract: A method and unit for transferring blanks on a packing machine, whereby stacks of blanks are transferred from a platform, on which the blanks are arranged in stacks, to a store wherein the blanks are packed successively and seamlessly along a path for supply to a pickup station of the packing machine; transfer of the stacks from the platform to the store including forming, at a loading station and by means of two gripping devices for gripping the stacks, a group of blanks defined by stacks superimposed and aligned in a container, feeding the container and the group along a path to an unloading station at the store, and transferring the group of blanks from the container to the store.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking horizontally conveyed individual flats into vertically extending stacks including a stacking housing with an upper station for receiving the flats singly and releasing them downwardly into an intermediate station wherein multiple flats are accumulated and the accumulated grouping is then released downwardly to form an overall vertically extending stack of twenty flats or more for exit conveying. A control system is further disclosed including control plates, link arms and retaining/releasing arms for controlling downward movement of the flats within the stacking housing.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for accumulating sheet stacks from a continuous web having sheets printed both in side-by-side relationship and with the sheets behind each other. Slitting the continuous web lengthwise between said side-by-side sheet and cutting the web transversely between the sheets behind each other sheets to separate the printed sheets. Accumulating the printed sheets into separate stacks and stacking the separate stacks one on top of the other in offset relationship to each other and moving the offset stacks into a receptacle, such as a cassette.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus which stores sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus in a bin, staples the sheets if necessary, takes the stapled or unstapled set of sheets out of the bin and transports the set of sheets up to a large-capacity tray nipping the set of sheets between rollers of a conveying gate to deliver the set of sheets onto the tray. While the conveyer gate is transporting the set of sheets upward, the set of sheets hangs down from the nipped portion, and the hanging-down portion is guided by a guide plate. A limit is set to the number of stapled sets of sheets which can be stacked on the large-capacity tray, and transportation of stapled sets of sheets to the tray by the conveyer gate over the limit is canceled. When a set of sheets is delivered onto the tray, pressing sticks press sets of sheets which have been stacked on the tray.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for receiving folded cartons of non-uniform thickness from a conventional gluing device, stacking those cartons into stacks of a predefined number, and rotating successive stacks 180° from each other in order to compensate for the uneven or non-uniform thickness of each folded carton. The apparatus further serves to drop two or more stacks of the folded cartons from a stack building station into a slug building area and then, once a slug of a desired size is built, tilting the slug until the plane of each folded carton is vertically oriented (i.e., the slug lies horizontally). The apparatus then automatically loads the slug into a shipping box.

Abstract: In an installation for stacking plate-like elements, in particular fibre plates, supplied on an infeed conveyor, a compact construction and rapid and reliable processing are obtained by a controlled level switch which takes an infed element into one of a number of buffer stations which are situated above one another, with downstream thereof a stacking station with a number of stacking units situated above one another, each with a controlled removable support, and below them a receiving support on which the elements, falling over a short distance, land.

Abstract: An apparatus for accumulating sheets from a secondary source and changing their conveyance direction 90.degree.. The accumulator is a group of vertically stacked bins that discharge batchwise and are loaded from the secondary source alternately by way of a diverter. Discharge is synchronous with a directionally constant primary sheet source.

Abstract: A system for vertically stacking rows of parallelepedic objects includes a first conveyor adapted to arrange the objects in a first horizontal row on a first sliding table, at least a second conveyor adapted to arrange the objects in a second horizontal row on a second sliding table, disposed below the first sliding table so that this second row is below the first row, a thrust horizontal bar pusher for each row in the same direction and in reciprocal vertical alignment so that the upper row, when it passes beyond the downstream end of the first table falls into vertical alignment above the top of the lower row.

Abstract: Stacking device for stacking groups of articles on top of each other, the articles being supplied to that stacking device in a single stream and at a common first level, the device comprising moveable elements which are substantially parallel to the article track, and which are adapted to receive one or more articles each time, and which are designed to move through a first track section and a second downstream track section, wherein in said first track section, articles are to be received and in said second track section, the articles are to be delivered at a subsequent level different to that of said first level, and means, in or beyond the second track section viewed in downstream direction, for positioning a group of articles, successively located at various levels, substantially on top of each other, wherein each time the level of the elements in said first and second track part is substantially the same.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for interleaving a carrier sheet with sliced food products, such as bacon strips, has a supply conveyor for continuously conveying products with spacings that may be random or non-uniform, a delivery section to a drop-off point, a detector for detecting the position of each product from the drop-off point, a sheet supply source, an indexing conveyor for moving the carrier sheet to receive products at the drop-off point in timed relation to arrival of the products, a counter for counting down the arrival of each product to the drop-off point, and a programmable controller for controlling the advance of the carrier sheet to the drop-off point and incrementally thereafter to receive successive products in timed relation thereon. The preferred embodiment draws and cuts each carrier sheet from a supply paper roll. The indexing conveyor has a perforated belt and holds the carrier sheet on the belt by vacuum pressure. Multiple interleaver lines can be set up in side to side relation.

Abstract: The signature handling apparatus of the invention includes a first stacker for accumulating layers of signatures, a second stacker for piling a plurality of small stacks of the signatures accumulated by the first stacker, and a pair of third stackers arranged below the first stacker and below the second stacker respectively, the pair of third stackers being reciprocatingly revolvable. The signatures on the first stacker are transferred to one of the third stackers, and signatures which have been stacked on the other of the third stackers are transferred to the second stacker.

Abstract: A sheet transporting device applicable to a sorter of the type having a plurality of bins arranged one above another for receiving sheets sequentially driven out of an image forming apparatus includes a top tray disposed above an uppermost one of the bins. A sheet stack is pulled out from each bin, transported upward, and then discharged onto the top tray. This not only promotes easy take-out of sheet stacks from the sorter but also allows the number of sheet stacks greater than the number of bins to be produced without interruption.

Abstract: There is shown an endless conveyor having a loading station and an unloading station. Articles, such as pouches are loaded individually onto platters on an endless chain by a walking beam type device. Each platter on the chain co-operates with the next adjacent platter to form article receiving pockets and each platter has a plurality of slots aligned with the plurality of slots in the next adjacent platter. Articles are driven up an inclined ramp by a delivery conveyor to a loading platform. From the loading platform the articles are loaded onto the endless chain conveyor by the loading walking beam device. Articles are discharged from the endless chain conveyor at an unloading station where a series of platters pass through a vertical run of the chain onto upstanding rods which are inserted into the rear of the slots and then, whilst the conveyor is stationary, move horizontally to discharge the articles onto a platform.

Abstract: Apparatus for blanking and collating a plurality of individual pyrolyzable sheets having electrical circuit patterns formed thereon from an integral pyrolyzable sheet having the electrical circuit patterns for the individual sheets printed thereon, where the individual pyrolyzable sheets comprise layers of a hybrid module. The apparatus includes a die having substantially identically sized openings for supporting the integral printed pyrolyzable sheet, a punch assembly engageable with the die for blanking the integral printed pyrolyzable sheet into a plurality of substantially identically sized sheets having electrical circuit patterns formed thereon, and a collation structure located beneath the means for receiving the blanked sheets from the die and for stacking the blanked sheets.

Abstract: A system for stacking veneer sheets conveyed from two different directions includes a lower mechanism for carrying a first veneer sheet to a first position above a stack support and an upper mechanism for carrying a second sheet to a second position above the first position. The first veneer sheet carried to the first position may not be dropped immediately, but waits for the second veneer sheet to be dropped thereon from the second position, and then the first and second veneer sheets may be dropped as one body on the stack support. The lower carry mechanism includes a carry roller and a sheet carrier which may be moved substantially synchronously. However, the sheet carrier is moved through a stopper away from the carry roller when the veneer sheets are to be freed from the support thereof by the sheet carrier.

Abstract: Rolls of paper are stacked in layers without any relative movement occurring between the surfaces brought into contact, using a transfer table which pivots about a horizontal axis, such that the end directed toward the wrapping machine can be swung vertically into different positions corresponding in number with the number of layers to be wrapped and matched in height with a set of tiered stacking tables, the lowest of which is also the longest; with each stacking table occupied by one layer of the paper rolls, the several layers move forward as one, in vertical alignment, to the point where the top layers run off the ends of the shorter tables together and each roll settles plumb on the roll beneath.

Abstract: A system for stacking veneer sheets conveyed from two different directions includes a lower mechanism for carrying a first veneer sheet to a first position above a stack support and an upper mechanism for carrying a second sheet to a second position above the first position. The first veneer sheet carried to the first position may not be dropped immediately, but waits for the second veneer sheet to be dropped thereon from the second position, and then the first and second veneer sheets may be dropped as one body on the stack support. The lower carry mechanism includes a carry roller and a sheet carrier which may be moved substantially synchronously. However, the sheet carrier is moved through a stopper away from the carry roller when the veneer sheets are to be freed from the support thereof by the sheet carrier.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming sets of accumulator plates, with an endless conveyor chain (1) for pairs of plates following one another at an interval, and each consisting of a plate jacketed in a separator and an antiplate lying thereon, a plane of conveyance of the conveyor chain being higher than the plane of conveyance of an endless conveyor band (5) located downstream in the direction of conveyance for accepting an end plate of a set from a magazine and/or a pair of plates consisting of a jacketed plate and antiplate supplied by the conveyor chain (1), whereas the plane of conveyance of an endless removal belt (12), located downstream of the conveyor belt (5) in the direction of conveyance, is arranged lower than the plane of conveyance of the conveyor belt, and wherein in the movement zone both of the conveyor belt (5) and of the removal belt (12) stop devices (10,13) are provided for the plates (3,4,6) or sets of plates (15).

Abstract: A stacking apparatus includes a stacking unit and a bundling unit arranged under the stacking unit. Located at the end of a prestacking space, as seen in the direction (F), is a limiting element which serves as a stop for the folds of the printing products. While the printing products fed, with their fold forward, in the feed direction (F) are being deposited on one another to form a prestack, they are supported approximately centrally by a supporting element in their edge region located opposite the fold. For depositing the prestack so formed into a rest table, supporting arms are pivoted into a position of rest and slide plates are moved out of the region of the stacking space. A residual bend of the printing products is thus preserved in their edge region, thereby improving the stability of the stack.

Abstract: Installation for handling ceramic products comprising a closed circuit 1 of carriages 2 passing through furnaces for drying 3 and baking, an unstacking station 7 and a stacking station 6 combined with transverse endless belts, one, 10, running from an empty support loading 13 to a stacking station 6 with operations of loading of green products on the supports, the other, 11, running from a station for picking up baked products 7 to a packaging station 29, the other, 12, running from the pickup of empty supports 7 to a system 30 of storage and transfer which returns the empty supports to the first belt 10; a first battery of pincers 21 operates between belt 10 and the position for stacking on carriages intermediate stops at the unstacking station 43; equidistant retractable mobile stops 17, 19 which are linked together, bringing the supports closer together for stacking and batteries of stops 36, 37 separating them for storage, transfer and loading on a belt.

Abstract: The assembly for stacking articles comprises a conveyor for moving articles along a conveying path having a lifting work station, a storing work station and a stacking work station. The conveyor has an incoming end and a discharging end with a lifting mechanism for lifting an article from the conveyor at the lifting work station. A storage assembly is located along the path for storing the lifted article at a location above the path. A removing mechanism then removes the stored article and places it onto another article moving along the path at the stacking work station. The method includes lifting a package at the lifting work station and carrying it to the storage work station. Another package is then conveyed along the path beneath the first package disposed at the storage work station. The stored package is then removed from the storage work station onto the package passed therebeneath thereby stacking the stored package onto the lower package located at the stacking work station.

Abstract: The conveyor apparatus is connecting a cutter, by means of which sheet metal blanks are produced in adjacent rows, to the magazine of a can welding apparatus which produces from the sheet metal blanks can bodies. A row of adjacently arranged depositing receptacles for receipt of at least one sheet metal blank each is located along the cutter on a frame. Two conveyor chains having dogs move along the depositing receptacles of which each presents a bottom surface which rises in the direction of transport such that the dogs push the sheet metal blanks from one to the next depositing receptacle and accordingly collect the sheet metal blanks out of all depositing receptacles such to form a pile at the end. Such pile is taken over at the end of the path of transport of the conveyer chains by a further conveyer means in form of elastically supported pawls.

Abstract: For a mail stacker including a compartmented path equipped with switches and stack compartments for sorting the letters, to avoid congestion of the letters assigned to the same compartment upon entry into the compartment there is provided a secondary conveying path parallel to part of the primary conveying path, with the length or transporting speed of the secondary conveying path being dimensioned so that, after two of the above-mentioned letters have been separated and combined again, they are now transported in an overlapping arrangement.

Abstract: A conveyor system for positioning slices of meat or other foodstuffs by converting M input streams of products into N output streams of products where M is an integer greater than one and N is an integer not equal to M comprises an input conveyor (15, 55) for conveying M input streams and an output conveyor (16, 58) for conveying N output streams. It also includes a multi-element strip conveyor (17, 18, 56, 57) having its upstream input end arranged to receive products (P) from an input stream and having its downstream end arranged to move laterally to deposit products from the input stream into an output stream shifted laterally with respect to the input stream. The conveying elements (37, 41, 67) of the multi-element strip conveyor (17, 18, 56, 57) are arranged to conform as its downstream end moves laterally.

Abstract: The output of a high speed press or bindery is formed into stacks which are then combined into four stack "cubes". The cubes are handled as units and formed into tiers which can be loaded onto pallets. A pickup head for manipulating the cubes is carried by a transport device such as a gantry or robot arm. It has a top plate which is connected to the transport device. The top plate carries horizontal guide members from which depend four side panels. The side panels may be retracted to grasp the sides of the cube or extended to release the cube. Fingers mounted along the bottom edges of the side panels are designed to extend between the bottom sheets of the cube and the surface on which it sits. They can be locked into this position, permitting the cube to be lifted and transported by the pickup head. Also disclosed is a gantry-type transport device with a telescoping extender to which the pickup head is connected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking products such as trays are disclosed utilizing a rotary ferris wheel device which raises product off a conveyor and places it on a platform where it is pushed off unto additional product being conveyed on the conveyor. Specifically, an arm is rotated from a noninterfering position below the conveyor until a pivotally mounted shoe on the free end of the arm abuts the product without gripping or attachment thereto, raises the product off the conveyor, and places the product on a platform. The next product on the conveyor is allowed to be conveyed on the conveyor without interference. After the arm is rotated from under the platform into a noninterfering position below the conveyor, the product is pushed off the platform unto the product which remained on the conveyor. Thereafter, the stacked products continue to be conveyed on the conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the stacking and/or palleting of, in particular, thin products of a printing press operation, which is characterized by a gathering and depositing station rotatable about a vertical axis. The invention relates, further, to a process, preferably with use of the device, in which the products, for the formation of a preliminary stack, are rotated about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the products and thereupon gathered lying one upon another into the stack, which stack is transferred into a depositing shaft arranged vertically under the stack, turned back about this axis through at least the previous rotation, or through 90.degree., 180.degree., 270.degree. plus or minus the preliminary rotation and then deposited.

Abstract: A method for storing and afterwards collecting orders consisting of products packed in crates and the like, with the aid of a staging with a number of storage conveyors. The crates and the like are stored as partial stacks, after which two or more partial stacks are stacked to form a full stack, which is delivered as such.

Abstract: The cup filling unit includes a guided circulating feed means which carries cup receptacles positioned in rows transverse to the feed direction. The cup receptacles also follow feed paths parallel to the feed direction. An elevator is provided for feeding cup and/or cover stacks in an added cup and/or cover feed device. The carrier of the elevator engages under a cup and/or cover stack and raises it from below axially into a lower opening of a shaft of an intermediate magazine. Each lower opening is associated with an engagable or disengagable supporting base for gripping under or delivering an overlapping cup and/or cover stack. The intermediate magazine is movable and displaceable from its filling position into a discharging position. In the discharging position the lower opening of the intermediate magazine substantially coincides with the upper opening of a cup and/or cover delivery magazine positioned above the cup and/or cover delivery station.