[1]lb- AL E-aEented Feb. 6, 1951 29540,972 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,540,972 SHEET STACKING AND CONVEYING MACHINE Wilmer W. Wagner, Jr', and Henry B. Greenwood, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Samuel M. Langston Company, Camden, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 24, 1948, Serial No. 10,284 30 Claims. (Cl. 93-93) This invention relates to conveyors and more particularly to convey6rs fdr transporting and stacking sheet material and to automatic and manualcontrolling means for such conveyors. The general obj-'ect of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machine for receiving successive sheets of materio.1, stackin,- them in piles each containing a predetermined number of sheets, and deliverin.- the piles to a desired destination for storage, shipment, or use. 10 Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved machine of the el,ass descri-bed which is mainly ai-itomati.c in op-Iration, which is provided with adjustable rieai)s for determining the number of units to be placed in I r) each pile, and which is adapted for handling sheets of various sizes. The present invention is particularly applicable to the receiving and stacking of severed sheets of corrugated board from a corrugating 20 machine. The conventional machine for making corrugated paper board includes shears and slitter knives for cutti-n.- the freshly fabric-ated board into sheets of various sizes, in accordance with the demands of the consumers. These cor- @,) rugating machines run at a very rapid rate and difficulty has been experienced in the past in providing satisfactory high-speed automatic mech,anism for handling and delivering the subdivided sections of the paper board as they come from the severing knives. 30 In common with the invention described in our copending application Serial No. 667,180, filed May 3, 1946, this invention involves basically the provision of a conveying and stacking machine which is almost completely automatic 35 in operation, and which is arranged to receive the severed units, stack a specii-ied number of them in piles, and transfer the completed piles toward the delivery end of the machine. A plurality of piling areas or zones are provided which 40 are used in alternation, the sheets being received and stacked at one of such zones while one or more previously completed piles are being removed from others of such stacking zones. Automatic means are provided for shifting the 45 delivery of units from one of the sto,"-Iking points to the other in accordance with the number of sheets wanted in a stack, and the rate of delivery of the piles from the machine is synchronized with the rate of operation of the corru- ro gator. Means are also provided for thro@ving out defective sheets before they can be forv,7arded to the pile being formed. The present invention, however, presents severo4 novel and improved features peculiar to lt. 44 2 self and among them may be mentioned the following: The invention contemplates the provision of multiple stacking machine embodying novel structural and operational features facilitating 4 e- high-speed counting stacking, and delivery t,h of sheets of difierent dimensions from a plurality of sources such as corrugated board makin.- niachines or shears. Specifically, the arrqngement consists of a dual or multiple system of sheet conveyors, preferably of the endless tape type, each providing alternately usable convergent paths eading to separale stac,,-ng areas upoil which stacks are alternately formed for delivery to convenient points for storage, shipment, packing, or use. According to the present ir@vention, the multiple stacking devices are integrated in a iiovel vvay into a compact organization, the units being partly superposed and partly in tandem, whereby the various operative elerqents will not interfere with each other, and the delivery conveyors of the entire mechanism may discharge the staclo at substantially the same level. Another advantageous feature of the assembly, according to the Present invention, is the Provision of a discard conveyor system adapted to collect defective sheets or articles-such as "loose-backs" in tlae case of corrugated boal-d handling-from all of the stacking units and discharge them ot a common delivery point. Another important feature of tlle invention is the partly automat@c and Partly manual system of controls provided for both the normal running of the machiiie and for the rejectibn and diverting of defective articles. These provisions include the autor@iatic sw-itch-over from c)ne piling area to another when a stack of a predetermined nurnber of articles is completed, this switch-over being accompilished by means of electr-Lcally operat-ld counting devices which may be of any suitable or known type, but which are associated in a novel way for application to the problems peculiar to the functioning and purposps of the P-.-esent invention. For example, Y10vel means are provided for regula@-ly and autoniatically shift@@',-i., bver the operation of the diverting n-ieniber which distributes the articles to the alternately Lised stacking areas, the actuation of the respe,-tive hold-down devices associated with each of such areas, and the actuation of the carry-off conveyors at each of the areas for the discharge or delivery of the completed stacks, the operation of all of said means being under the control of the passage of the successive arti.@
[2]cles past a given point. In addition to these provisions, manually actuated nleans are provided for further diverting defective o,-,, unwanted articles from their normal path of movement to the stacking areas, or for similarly diverting all of @the a@ticles,in case of @@an!lnterruption in @the lbperationof the pilirig inabhinery beyond this point of diversion. Such suppler@iental diverting means are also associated with the counting devices and automatic controls in a novel way so as to interrui@t 'tlie coiiiit iii progress, and either cancel out the incomplete count-,,vhich will result in la stack 'bf few -cir articles upon the instant stacking@ar6a teMporariiy suspend the count Vhbreb the cdmpley tion of the interrupted pile -will be resumed when the discardin.@ diversion is completed. O'@her features of the invention include the provisi-on of novel f-iu-'@.d pressure means fok---rnoving th-, qhiftable element@ of the machine, novel st67p d6vi66s-for tho o@@,ticies-dil@the sta6king@conveyors,. improved c6unterbalanced ,tack @disclfblrki@g lo"o'-n-v-e-yors, @'uiiiq'u@ ih6ld-d6Wn,@devibes, 2;lia illov, ol L b@@rb;iig'oribi@ts a-Ad details bf @the "Va;ris - oii-V -driviiig ine@aiiq'therbfb 6ti c --yors@and, re. @'@i@-di@t6,h-er:d'tijects a'n'8 -feo@tui@es o@i' iiovelgy *ill'be 61))i@dr6nt @ffoiii the @f 'O'll6wiDg - s@ec;@fica:ti6n -4@,@b-en i-n-@ @(iiine'dti6n-iXiith'tho ace(irnpa@r@,yiiig-dral@,,reo@d iti@g's fn 'which :c6ttain eiiibodiments @of the iiivehtile-n are'illii tta:ted -Vy way@6f,example. -iii@the, dtdwihgs: @ 1. I' F. 1 1-4 1 1 1.@ 1. II .@.t., I'@.16; -@, ure'l is-a diagramma ic v,. w -,@n --@side t . i-6ii-bf-an installation;,bmbodying the prin,@i--_oles 6f lihia @iia,@6ntion; @'diag@a@fnma@tic @lan - -.i@;.@ure @@'fs -a p vie@rT of the in@@tallation; @ligure: 3 @is a -partial top plan view on an enI.n,rgi@d scale of -a portion -of the installation, the e:@tent of which @is indicated @ by @ e braelfet desuh -igneited @it-I @ in -Figute 2; ,I@igu@e 4 @ia a% partial side elevaluional -view On an6ii,@fitged'sca'le of the portibn indicated by -the T-,@a&!,,et;designated iV in Pigure 1; parts o-'c -the machine broken aw @y YP-igtire@ 4,is a parti-al'iiiew-in,,Side"elevation @iinil@i'r tb-Fi--'gii-re 4,@but cav'6tin@ the:ar,@a d&.igiiated -.-in,z'l@4'@ure 1, 'PEi@ts 6f';the 'also being Wfok-e'T-i",'awa@-ih-this@vibw-for@clar-ity-of illustration giite8@is@a@fi:@ag'f@ieiitar@y-,Vie@vin@Vertiddl-longitudii@al -'s'ectioii @'tdkeh - oia -lih@e @6-6 6f igure - 3; -LI@ig-iir-e 7 is a :ffAgin@6ntarY view -in v&ti-cal longitddihal,'secti6n talten -on @lin-e @-7,6f @Figilre 1-3. isa@partial View@in--jde elE@vdt idn'@ub tAiitibblly-.co-6xt6nsiVia@with@Fii@@ure@,4- btit,@as@@een froj@2. the opposite side of the machine; :Figur@e @9 isa @ vertical tr6-@isiv6rse 86cti6iial '@i6t of Figure 5; 10 is a Vorti-cal @ trqhsver.,@-'SP-dtioiial 'Vieiv line @i I 0- I 0 of @ Figure 5; '.Mgure taken@on@lfne-I of Figilre,5; Figure 12 is a view substantially i,-i hbrizontal se,'-,tion taken on line 12-12 of FigLir(@ 10; Mgute 13 is a@fragmentai@y vi-ew in side elevatio'n 4of @the dis,.@harge end of a delivery conveyor for completed piles; 14 is a: fragmeiitary sectio-@ial vie,,v taken on line 14-14 of Figure 13; Figure 15 is a fragmentary@and partly diagraii-im,dtic! elevation o'L the:iriachine as,vie-@-ed 7-at the de'Av--Ory ev-id, and showing the @ delivery conveyors serving the @second or lower-stacking-unit; anti 22540,972 Pligure 16 is a diagrammatic view of the installation showing the varibus controlling devices a-Lad including wiring diagrams. Referring more part@@cularly to Figures 1 and 2 6 of the draivings, the principal units and subdivisibris@ of the ihiprov-6d @tq6kii- - @i7ii,,tthine wlil be de@cribed@iii a general @va:@ and the cotrelated f uncti o@is tiiere6f set forth. in Figure I the t-,vo -@,j',Perposed and lo-,Igitudinally oi'fsel. staek@lig 10 units-are-designated respectively by the reierenct, charae'ters'T- an-dil, atid the p.- incipal operative assernbl4es or subdivisions vT,'@ll be indicat-ld by ea-lipcdl lett6ts@ 'tl@e 'Ieltters applied to the parts -of'titiit @II-b6eing,primed. As lyrev,'- ,O,,isly -L--,,idicatld, 15 'th-e-iti8t' 'i6i_l 6f th airat_ e t@,io uyiits, i-,a a s,ngle suppof6iil-.- f-r-a'-me dha having provisions for dis: charging@@coridplethd i@iles of sheets fro,-r, one side of the machine at substantially the same level, ana 'rLi6:iAs for discarding rejected or defective 20 sheets at a single point atone end of the machine do'ih@oti@e@impbrtaiitfe'atures@bf 'Lh'.-- The 'E@to@6kl'ng .'ma-c'hine'is ad,,,ptod tb teceive she@ts s'and s' fr6ni'cuttiiig kiiives or;shear-s-A and 'A' iv@hic'h are @adapted:to sevor @@.Ilie -.s 25 qnd @s' -from -i3dritinubus webs @w 6,nd w' as:they c-omefr(im - a fabricating - itiachiiie Nvhich @rnby @be disposed be@ond the;ldft @hanC,:eiid:6f @lpi,&ure :1; Th6.,shears A and -Al rhay-be parts of the fabrid@Lting madhine itself, 6r @they r-riay cor@iprise a 30 sepafate r-riachine @3ul@i)bited In any event, the ar@angemeht 'is si-i@h that the receiving conveyors-of the,@tacking ma6liine a@e directly associated with @ the 'sh6ars or @ cLi@'utbrs A:and A" and mby if convehient ibe r-artly -Ve the4r d@ v' eri ri ing 35 sliPPbft6d froin aiid 'd ftbin@ilie@fabricatiiig'niachine@br theshdars. -General arrange,,7r6nt The prin6ii3al orerative subdiiiisions of the, 40 E@ta6king machine proper are as I follows, the intej.,-m-itteritly hift e d@ e@ting s abl iv or dist@ibiiting de@ices"b,and:t@';'the @ta,6king zonesc and Cl-I tile@pile-d6liVery conveyor inst@llations'l) and b'- rge -or d6livery conveyor sys the discha tem E'for rejects. or d seards; ihe t@ble P for@receiviiig:su6h discards;- ar@-d't'he main. supporting framewor'kF-r6m tl-ie shear A'ihe sheets arem(jve'd'by means o@@ihe co67jerE@iing tapes 6,"b'elt conveyors towa the -distr@ iiiing or diveriin,-, a and b rd ib , -P>. -1@e ord ihe divert-Ing o membe-rs indicnted at y or. dist-ributing devipe-B, @ihe @heets may take two courses@ -I'f the diverting or distributing elements are directeddownwardly, the-.Qheet-follows alorg thtapes 6f conveyor a beneath.the cooperating whil -if -the distributor B-i.,3 55 @7oiiiining . tapes . c, e in:its,upward,position, the-sheets are passed-betweenthetape@or'- b'elt-conveyorsid-andei -Fror@i the'loiver course the sheets are deposited-in stacked formation upon the-stacking area@f,.th(, ,g sheets being, stopped-at the proper poiiits according to -their -leng-th by means -of, the @a @djustable stop rriem-ber g, and@the-pile being:steadied-and the- forination ther-eof -facilitated @by the holddoNvn-meTpb6r h. C5 V@7hen -the -di@stributor -device --B@ -de'livers -the shee,@.,s between the ronve3@ors di and, e the s-heets are -deposited -upon the -upper -stack-ing area. i whe@-e.they-are,sto-,oped by-the:upper portion,6L the sto -me Mber@g and-come under @the@influence 70 Of thelhoid-down aevice k. A -stack p@@s shown upon the upper level @6f -the --distributing area @ 1 in,Figure-1. The stacking areas f an.d.-i !each @ comprise a ser ies-of@parallel driven rollers;@the axes@:of which 7,5. e7,,tepd @-longitudinally @of -the,,,machine,,- ,"erel)y
[3]9,540,972 upon rotation i)f the rollers the piles which are formed upon the areas f and j are moved laterally of the machine aild deposited upon the delivery conveyors D. The general arrangement and operation of the 1) stacking machine is similar to the one illustrated in the above mentioned copending application@ and it will be understood that the distributor, diverting, or switching device B is automatically moved to and from its two operative positions in 10 acebrdance with the nurober of @heets which it is d.esired to deliver consecutively to a given stacking area to form a pile. In a manner generally similar to that described in the copending applicatioii-, the conveyors comprising the stacking 15 areas f and j are also driven in alternation so that a stack or pile previously formed on one of the areas may be discharged laterally upon one portion of the delivery conveyor assembly D while a pile is being formed on the other area while it 20 is in an idle condition. The lower unit II receives sheets s' from the shear A' which is adap'ued to sever the continuous web w' into predetermined lengths controlled by the relative speeds of the web and the shear 2,1) blades. The sheets are moved between conveyor rnembers a' and b'. The upper or hold-down conveyor r@-iember b2 terminates adjacent th(,, diverter or switch B', but the lower member a2 continues onward toward the piling area. V,7h(-n 3( the diverter or switch element B' is in the lower position, the sheets pass between the further portion of the conveyor a2 and the hold-down tapes b3 from whence they are delivered to the lower stacking area f', the position of the sheets being 35 determined by the stop member g' and the holddown h'. On the other hand, when the diverters B' are in the unper position, the sheets pass between the co-nveyors d' and e'. From this relatively short section, the sheets pass between con- 40 veyor members d2 and e2 from whence they norir.ally fall upon the stacl,,ing area jl of the stacking zone C', beinp,, under the control of the backstop rnember y' and adapted to be @ acted uno3- by the hold-down -,-nember kl. 4,r, The conveyor rollers comi3rising the stackinp,@ areas f' and j' are alternately actuated to deliver the pi-les laterally to the delivery conveyor assemblies D', in the same way as the correspondin.- elements operate in the stacking unit I. Al- 50 though the areas f' and j' of unit II are considerably lower than the corresponding areas f and j of the unit i, the delivery conveyor systems D and D' are provided with novel features which effect delivery from all of the stacking areas at r,)1) .substantially the same level. This will be described in detail at a later Point in the specifleation. An inspection of l@ligure I will show tha-t economy of space is effected by the nov-1 inter- 60 relatio-Ti of the two units I and II wherein the sheets follow a singl-e path for a good percentage of their travel in the lower unit II particularlv while they are beneath the dual alternative stacking areas coriprisiiig the section C of unit I. 65 The diverter or switch B' of unit number II is disposed toxvard the remote end of the stacking unit C of unit I so that the alternate paths of the second unit do not diverge widely until they reach a point beyond the first stacking area C; 70 and the stacking area C' of the unit II with its two levels il and @' is afforded adequate space well beyond the end of the stacking areas of the first unit. This arrangement, together with t'ne novel delivery assemblies D and D', not only af- 75 fords adequate roora for the olierafioii of the iwd units which rnay receive sheets from two fabri.cating machines, but also lays the basis for the provision of a common discard or reject delivery system which will now be described i-n a general wav. The mating conveyors d and e of unit I and the conveyor sect4ons d2 and e2 of tlie unit II are pivoted adjacent their receivi-iig eiids so that the remote ends mty be raised froipthe lower normal I)ositioia in which they deliver sheets to the upper stacking areas @ and j', to a discarding position whereby defective sheets ri-iwy be diverted 'tlo the discard co-@iveyor s@stem E from which they may be discharged upo@-i discord table F. The conveyors d and e of unit I discharge their discards or rejects upon the corl-veyor Z which 4@s carried by the uppermost portion of the main supporting frz,:,me O- and terminates adjacent the point m UPOT-I the lower portioii of the frame above the stackiiig a',--ea C' of the unit TI. The mating conveyor see@ulons d2 and e' , of unit II Etre similarly pivoted adiacent their rece.'Lving ends so that the discharge erd may be r,,),ised f@,om the normal I.oNxier operntive p-@.-,ition iiiwliieh sheets are discharged upon the upper stacking level j' oj' the stae'l-ing asseinblies C' of unit II. In tlle raised. positioii of these conveyors, the sheets are directed upo,,a a discard conveyor n which passes beyond the erd point m of the upper conveyor I and terminates at the point r where it discharges upoii the tgbl@e F. The discards from the conveyor 1 may fall upon the conveyor n beyond the point m and discards from both units are discharged at the pbint r from the coniteyor n. Thus, by the staggered or offset arrangement of the units, a, common discharge system forrejects, or for by-p,,tssiiag normal sheets under certain conditions, is afforded. Sheet distributor apd stacker Proceeding now to the consideration of the mechanis@ii in more detail, i-3articularly as shown in the successive l@',igures 4 and 5 together with the detailed Figures 6 ai-id 7,, the coiastruction and arrangeme@nt of the earlier stages of unit I will be described ond explained. At the extreme left hand end of Figure 4 of the drawings a portion of the shear support-ing sub-frgme X is shown, this frame carry'_-Iig the roller 20 upon which the tapes of the conv,-yor a are adapted to run. Coiiveyor a may be traced across the middle of Figure 4 to the roller 22 c,),Yried on fhe shaft 23 mou'nted on bracket 24 secured to the upr-,@'ghts 25 forming parts of the riqin frame G. I-Iori@ontal frame elements 27 extend betweeii the uprights 25 and the posts 28 and then continue past the uprights 29 and terminate at the end posts 30 of the frame@vork. The horizontal .,nembei-s 2'@ ea-rry an idler roller 32 which lends support to the tapes or belts of the coni7eyor a. Another idler 32' is carried by another portion of the frame, for examdle the posts 20. a-@ad also aids -'@r su,)po,.t,'.I'lg the conveyor a. The tapes a are troined a3:ound the roller 33 fixed on a cross shaft 37 supported by the brackets 3e and then around the roller 35 which is carried by the brackets these brackets being suitably secured to adjacent portio--qs of the framework G. The rewainder of the ret-axii leiagth of the coiiveyor a may be traced to the left hand end of Figure 4, ai-id ther@ce by reference to Figure 1. The hold-do-%Fin conveyor b which cooperates wi 'th the conveyor a to guide the sheets from the shear A, is fragmqntarily shown at 'Lho lef,@ l@and
[4]encl@ ci@-.-Figtire'@@4, ,the @tgpes @comprising the conveycir'b:@;passing atound the ro.Iler 38 fixed oil a, sl@ib,ft-,39 -arr-' ed @1.)y:@the bracket @39@ @secured to t-he post@lao@ The,.hold@@,down:taDe8 c are.clearly show-n supqr- r, posed above the portion of the conveyor a ;a r,ig.ui@e 4, these ta-oes c being trained about the r.Gller- 40 which is carried 'oy the rods or struts 41 see7ared @as at "@2 to ',he posts 29. The tapes of the conveyor c are @passed around the roller 43 10 fixed on a transve--,se shaft -44 which is rotatably mo.uiited upon suitable brackets carried by the fra -mev@ork so:that the tapes c cooperate with the tapes ;of the conveyor a in passing the sheets a-long @the laiver @ course of the unit I toward the 1.5 stacki,@ig zone C. The conveyor d and the holddo@vir@ means e are a.so tape or belt conveyors (,,ar.t,ied resdectivel-y by rollers mounted at the end,s of @the str:,,its-4,5:and 46, these struts being piv.0@ued respecti-Vely at the points 47 and 48. At 20 the,lefl@- Lhaid,ends of the conveyors d and e the rapes - a-.-e @ carricd @ about rollers 4 9 and 50 respectively n,.iounted upon shafts 51 and 5 I' rotata.bly:carr@@ed 'oy the frar@ie,,vork. It wil@l be noted that the lev@7er run of the conveyor tapes d is bent 2.5 n-round the roller-t@13,Nvhich carries the tapes c and ,qonle drii@ing force rlay be,asserted between the t-@vo conveyors -by thi's ar@@angeme-nt. However, a belt -or @chali'l drive is provided for all of these COP.1.7eyors ,jvhicli w-ill be described presently. 30 It will @be recalled the.,t Tadjacert the diversi6n po.@nt B @tb-e:path of -the -Qheets through the unit i divides;-the lower course being belween the upper run of @ the conveyor a and th-- lower run of the conveyor c, @and the uppe-r course being between 25 the respect,@ve uppei, cLi7@d lower runs of the conveyors 7d Pnd,e. These points of entry between the.res ective mating pairs of conveyors will be @p clearly observed at the left @@nd side of Figure 4, o.rid even more clearly in the enlarged view of Fig- 40 ilre 6. The -qheets s bf course, erlerge from betv,,een the utp-r)er ruii of the first position of conveyo--c-a and the loiver run of the coliveyor b to the @le't b @ of th-- 1-losts 3 0. At 'this point they pass betv,,een '@,ne lowe.r set of blades 52 and the tipper 4.;-, biades I'@3 of the d-iV-@Fter mechanism B. These lo,v.,,er bia,7ies are secu:red to the cross shaft 54 sup,,-),.ted in bearings in the mai,n supporting fral-ne G, f-,nd the upp,,r blades I@3 are fixed to the upper sliaf t .55. The sh,@,f ts 5e, and U5 hgve crank arnis 50 5,11 1- and @14 5' se--.Iiied to . end portions thereof out@d sl e- o-l@@the T,2,th of t-he sheets, and - these,stub e-fank are cot,.iiiected by mea-,as bf the link ;@,C.'L'or par,@iliel-i,-novernent. In Figure 6 @the blades d T., are so rosi',Io-@ied that the sheet s is guided accuratel@7 betvt@,eil the flights d and e and are thus l@@e-'.@ig.diverte@,i 't,.D the tipper stacking area j 6f unit --t b--, clearly understood that when the Gt) blades@i',2 and'I.3 of the diverter B are moved to t,!-Ie i@ov-@ler sheets will be diverted ai,,3ng @tj':ie of the conveyor a and @beneath the lov,7er run of the cbnveyor c and thus diree'Ted 'uovia-,-,d '-uhe low.-r stacking area i of or) unit I. Means fo,. raisin.- at)d lowering t';,'le cooperati-ig blades @l-,2 and t@@3 -,f th-- diverter B comprise th-3 1!',nk @512 ,Tihi-.h is connected at its lower.end to the crank arr.-, -551,,,@nd its upper eid iq -rivoted 70 as@at@59 to tlie pisto-,i rod or @lunger 6OLwhich extei,.a's from a 1,)iston w,-,-ri@:ing in thecornpressed air cylillider @61 cea-vr-ied by the upper -horizontal chaiinel,,mei-rb--r 02 of the frame G@ This fluid pre@sur.e aqtuated piston rod 60 is forced up- 5 V,@gi@dly,,Qr downwardly depending upon which,end of tt@i h d _e Qyjtncler GI t e@,supply og flui pressur @ 1 admitte(i to, s a i d f i l @ i d p r e s s u r - e b e i n s u p p l i e d g from the pipe 63 leading from the line Z. A soleijoid@operated@valve@64 directs the i)ressure 6it-her to the @upper end-:of the qylixider 61 throug-h the ponn@,ation 5 @@or to the lower end through the . 6 co@-inection@@66. A solenoid 70 is:disposed at the upper:e,nd of the valve @64 and -t,he @sole,noid 7 l@ is i--Iisposed at the lower end ;of the valve @and each one;is eliergized at @,@@he proper -time in acclordance with t@ie automatic controls to be described later. A switch -actuat-ing arm 72 @extends from th,e din,.erter actuati-ng linkage 58, 60@ and is adapted to 7a-Iteriiat-ively @actuate the spaced, limit switches 7@4 a-nd 15 vTl,,-n the diverter blades are in their reFPoctive upperpiost and 16wermost positions. T-@ie connectio-.is@and functions of these limit s@val@cnes,also-,@iill be describE,,d-in@connection@w@ith the a@vtomat;c controls of the machine. Referring now more particulgriy to th p right h,-@rd,side o@v.z":g@a@-e 4-and to-F-iguire 5 of 't,@he drawings,it@villbe@seen@"i-'@iatthe@sheetsaredischar, d 9Qf-ror-r -the -end of coy-iveyor a @where the conveyor tap;,,s; pass around the end roller 22, @onto the staci@:ing@ area J,.,vjhich 2.rea co.@@aprises +.he series 'el roller of ,,rare@l, s 80@ Tliese rollers are Fhown -to good advatitage in !,I-igu,res 9 and 10 of the dra,w-irgs as v,,,ell as in F-igure .5. It -,--@iay be noted -at tiis r-oi.nt-.tiliat the last one @of these rollers :80 a,@Lj-a-'ent the edge oi' tiic -r.,iachine t6ward t-he discharge 8ide tbereo-F serves the functicfn @also :of p-@.cvidirig aii end roller of t-he laiver dischai@ e t which forris a parb of the primary diseharge @or deliver ,y syst,,m D. These conv@,yors bl@@ deser,-',b---,! in greater detail @as :t'-,,e speciL-iezition proceeds@ 'Th--:rol@ers 89 of the stacki-ng-area f::are rotat2,@,ly;n,@oun"@ed in bearings 81 carried@as by@means of braclze ts -82 secured@ to a portion of thof rame la. T-he @opl:)osite @ends of t.@ie rollers 80 @are similarly -inolinted - for@ r otation in suitaloly7supported be-@)@,lings 7SR-@ At the latter end -of the stacking ar--@a tthere is secured as,by brackets @84, the drive mOtOr't5, which is prp-.,-feral)ly aii.Telectric@motor h?.,,7;rig@a r@rtlley or sprocket C-6 D-xed upon the sliai'Lt,-thereof. Each of:t'li@- 1-ollers..@1,3 are provided p 7,7,A -i -a pai.--, of s rockets 8 A drive ch6in @.88 the rir@tor sprooket.86 with. thei.sprooket I'@@7 ef the fl,rst roller @80 aiid each of @tlie rollers 80 are connected to ,,n :@dj@-cent roller by n-leans of short 89. By this m eans all of 1. o rolle r8 60 @of the - stacking area;f ai@o driven in.tlie same TLe means for cner clirp-etio.-Li by 35 p ;re!-ati6n. @v,7i'fili the operation o'i the other pirts of the i-alchiiie, will be described in conliecti.on with the op,-@ratioi-i of t'lle@- @vliol d e e v i c e . As the sl-,Iets pass -ovet @the end-rolier 22 of tlie conveyor a @1,1,iey,a,@'e. p@ressed do@,1,,nwardiy v.-nd g-.lide,-l to scme de.@ree by means of the @transv@irsely -extending bearing roller -90 w-hi-ch is:carrl-,d by or-id brackecs 91 f--@oely pivoted on the @shaft 92 rock,,i@bly siipp6rted 1,lpori- @t'nI l i p - rl;ght menibers 2r@ of the f 0. r me G as by -mearis of the brackets - 1@13. The bearing rol-ler 90 @is pref eil,,@bly rnade of a;l-aminum which is a relativel 1-ight and soft netal, and thus damage to the s@llee'u-S is @iainimized as they strike the roller -and pass @betv,7eeT-i it and the tapes of the conveyor. a ad,-"acent.the roller 22. An electric svi-Lteh C, I 5 @is secured to the bracke@u 82 and has an actuating finger or feeler 96 -,7ihich proi0ots@up@var d l y b e y o i i d t h o ' 1 6 v 6 l o t t @ @ @ @ - r o k g ; . @ sre: i- he,,--@ ui)per position an it will be seen r,.5 gizirer @tlie, -rn otor to drive lat ral , Oo, veyors tha'u t-',la--curv@-,d li-ps at the r,- mote e,-@ids thereoi w!7,-, cl-I coni-@,ir-ise 't@he &ta(,,king area I f @ in pro - erly
[5]9 80 so as to be moved downwardly from the position showt-l in Figure 5 whenever sheets begin piling up on the stackinp,, area f. The function of this switch will be described later. Sheets which are directed along the upper course of unit I by means of the diverters B pass from betweei the conveyors d and e at the right hand end thereof at the -point@ where the tapes of these conveyors pass around the end r6llers 98 and 99. When the conveyors are in the position shown in Figi).res 4 and 7 of the dranvings the sheets s are directed over the 'Leed roller 100 fixed on the shaft IC 1 which is rotatably carried by a bracket secured to the uprights or posts 25. An aluminum bearer roll 102 carried by end brackets 103 pivoted upon the tock shaft 104 supported upon the brackets 105 carried by the posts 25, bears downwardly upon the sheets in a manner similar to the roll 90 described in connection with the lower Diling arrangement. As the sheets s issue from between the rollers 100 and 102 they fall upon the stacking area j which comprises the rollers 80, which are rotatably mounted in the bearings 8 I' and 83' in exactly the same way as the rollers 80 of the lower tier. An end one of the rollers 80' forms a terminal roller of the upper delivery conveyor t' of the delivery assembly D. The driving motor 85' furnishes povter to the rollers through the transmission 861, 87', 681, as described in connection with the stacking area f. A switch 95' having an actuating finger 96' is provided at the left hand end of the area j similar to the elements designated by the unprimed numbers in connection with the other area. The beekstop member g is provided for limiting the movement of the sheets s on the stacking areas f and j and forming the further limit of pile p formed upon either of these areas. This stop device is best shown in Figures 5 and 11 C)f the drawings. The depending portion II 0 of the device g comprises a lower stop -wall 112 and an upper stop wall 113 extend transversely of the rollers 80 and 801 of the two stacking areas and provide means against which the sheets s forming the pile p abut. The ends of the walls or boards 112 and 113 are secured to the depnding posts 114 and 115. The post 114 is offset inwardly, as clearly shown in Figure 10, so as to pass between the end roller and the next to the end roller of the roller series 80' of the upper area j. This i-S done so as to prevent the post or upright 114 from interfering with the tapes of the upper delivery conveyor t" which pass around the end one of the rollers 80'. A tra-nsverse connection 114' connects the upper end of 4. @he post I @ 4 with the carriage If 6 disposed for longitu.dinal movement upon a channel side frame member 117 forming an upper portion of the framework G. The depending post or upright 115 at the opposite side of the machine is conPected directly to the carriage 1161 which rides upon the channel beam 117, as clearly shown in Figure I 1. Each of the carriages I 1 6 and I 1 61 comurise flanged rollers I 18 the flanges of which embrace the upper flanges of the channel tracks I 1 7 and I 1 7'. Along the outer f aces of the webs of the channels 117 and 1171 there are secured the horizontal racks 120 and the teeth of these racks are adapted to be engaged by those of the pinions 121 carried by the cross shaft 122 rotatably sutaported in the carriages I f 6 and I 1 6'. L7pon on extreme outer end of the shaft 122 ,,here is keyed a drive sprocket 125 with -,vhich meshes an endless drive chain 126. The drive 2)540)972 10 chain 126 is trained around the sprockets f27 and 128 rotatably mounted in suitable brackets such as indicated at f29 preferably carried by the posts 25 and f3C of the framework G. A shaft 131 extends from the sprocket 127 a,rross the machine to the delivery side tbereof, which is the side at which the operator stands, and upon the end of the shaft 127 there is secured a, hand wheel 132. The lower run of the chain 126 which 10 meshes with the teeth of the sprocket 125 is held in engagement with the sprocket by means of the guide sl@loe 133 suitably secured to the backstop assembly I ID and properly spaced from the sprocket 125. The upper or idle run of the chain 15 12b -is loosely supported by the angle bracket 135 as shown in Figure 11. If desired suitable graduatibns may be marked along the rack 120 or the channel If 7 and it will be readily understood that by rotation of the hand wheel 132 the chain 126 20 will be iiioved in either direction to travell the carriages II 6 and II G' along the framework to position the stop elements 112 and 113 at the proper points depending upon the length of the sheets to be stacked. 25 In order to properly confine the sheets as they are being stacked and also tb insure that they register at their forward ends against the stop plates 1 1,9 and II 3 there is provided in association with each of the stacking area f and i the hold30 d . owii devices h and k. These devices are very similar in construction and comprise substantially short belt conveyor assemblii@s 140 and 140' the tapes 141 of which are trained about the rollers @ 42 and 142' and 143 and 143'. The rollers 35 142 and 142' are fixed on shafts 144 and 144, rotatably mounted in brackets carried by the posts "1,5, and the rollers 143 and 143' are rotatably and preferably adjustably mounted vpon the ends of the side frame members 145 and 145, 4,) which are splined at 146 to the rock shafts 92 and 104, froni which the rollers 90 and 102 swing. In this way, the remote ends of the hold-down or bearer devices may be raised and lowered so that the tapes 141 and 14 I' may be brought into bea.-cing contact with the successive top sheets of 45 the pile p. Each of the hol.d-doix7n devices h and k are P9,rt3@all-y coup-l@er-b,-tlapced by means of the spi@iiigs 117 which rfay be seevrec' to pn-rti.o,-as of the fr,,lmework G as at 143 and the other ends 50 of -,@ihich qre connected as by means of the stral-.tds 14,,; and 149' with one side o,v the respecti@re ends of th@- hold-dovi7n roem'oe,.s h and k. The strands 149 and 149' may pass arolind guide pulleys @P50 if necessary. 55 Mr-,ans are provided for a-,-,to3,,-.atically raisitig and lowei-ing ti-le liold-down devices h Pnd k as they are ,),Iternately employed in connect-on with 'Lhe p@li3,,ag of the sheets Lipon the respective c-tack2ng @ireas. It will be understood 'Lhat this lifting 60 i7qear-s is actuated in accorda.,icc- with the ti-med or so-que,@atial operation of the i-achine and only the mechan-ical e-tem,,n,'@-s of the liftiiig means will be described at this poiii'G. Ai3proDriately seciired for pivotal move.Ln:aent tipoii the frarqev@ork 05 G- ore th(, :PlL,@id press-,.,,re cyliiiders 152 c@,iid 153. For exasi-iple, ttie fclrliier -ri)ay be pivoted as Pt to a frame r@iember 155 while the iipper cyli-,ider 153 may be ,:),voted as at 156 to th4Lg roei-.riber. Pistons N@,ork iix the cylinders 152 and 70 lC3 ,lnd ,ire respect4vely operal.ively connected as bil, raeans of the rods 157 apd 158 to the frai-iies !.In aiid I iIB' of the respectiveholCt-do-Illin devices h and k. Upon the outside surface o@ one of the side fra-rne members 145 and 1.45' of the hold7,,, down devices, there arc- provided out,@itardly pro-
[6]iee'L,i-lAg@@'@ugs@- 1,65 ha-@ing -.@ertiegl@ openings therein soriie\rvhat lp,.@- ger@ than ithe rods 117 and 156@ The r.ods -oass throi gh tl,4ese o-ce2x-'27,g- P., @ @ld ar.@- pro-vided tipon their. le,@,@iier et-ids i@,7-'Lth stopen,argemc-ni,s vjh@ch r,,iay take the.@foria@. of. tbe% iii,-its 196 sht1,7,Tn in, the illustratled embodiinent. Thus a lost@raotion coiinection@is@provided which permit-s tl@a bearer or hold-dov7n assembly 141@- ond@ 143' ta rise gra;dua-Ily as the. piles of sheets are' i_rlcreased, vTithout@djBturbing,-@the@:-f@od@,3 %157 a-nd'I 50. Then ' vihen@ tl-ie piles have been cornpleted, and th-e lifting ineans actuated, the l@,tt--r will pick up, the@ appropriate@ bearer 9.s ly from e point@ ta vihich@@it ha;s- risen,@ a movf, it-: to its i-lpper limit,. As prev-iously indcated, the weiglis of' the hbldrdo,,@in devices are oliIY7 partly counter-balanced by. ti-ie s@orings 147 and. thtis @.he' pistotis within @the: cylinders l@52 and 153@ are continually scrib@@d in connectign witi-i the description of tw,e I., delivering sheets to the propulsion of the conveyor devices. It wt-'-.', be UT)per discard@ position, i realized that thei lyearing pres@vvre of these devices Lpon @ the. successive top -heets of the pile conveyor L 2i-5-4,Oi972 12 rol ler is disposed@in close Pj:oximity to the pivotal mounting of the upper hold-down device@ k adjace,-@-,t the roller 142.',;ond,@ is adapted to receive shef,,ts 'i@'rom betweeii the@ con,7eyors@ d oiid 'e when these t@orveyor& ar,-@ raised fron 'uhe normal@ positi-,ri shov@j,,i in FiguTes% -4, and 7- to- an upper posit;@on Irom vrhich the-she--ts s i@iay bL, discharged fro?ii: '@he. conve@,7orz . d.@,-,nd c i@pon the UPPer runof the ta-pes l@ of the diSeard conveyor as best shown 10 in,@ Fig-i-ire 4, of the 4@,rawings. The rods or striits 45@ of t'lle lower conveyor d@@ are secured at, tli@eir ends, to the lower - end@ of the coil. spring, 175, the upp,- r end o-' which is secured to, the braci@:et. 1- 76 a@@@tache d to +,.,ie tipper part of the fran@ e@vork G. I r, This spring 175 serves to svbstantially counterbalance the- weig'-iat-, of t'-rie convey@ors d and, e. For rai-sing and lowering the conveyors so.as to alternatively discha-rge tl-ie sheets-to-the stacki-@n-g area j@ or the discard conveyor 1,@ the. remote urged do@linwa-rdly. Fluid pressure for raisi','Ia 2, ,) end of the rod or bracket 45 of the@ conveyox,- d the pistons and thu-s: the -'connected holddown is pivotally secured to the lower end.of the links devices is admitt.-d to t.@ie cylinders throiigh@ the 1-7.71 'che upper ends of which are pivoted to,the conduits: 139 ai@d 160. Valv:es 161@ and @62 are crank arms, 9 @,,7hich@ are rigi-dly carried @by the iii@i,erposed in these fluid p@-essure leads,and the cross, shaft 1-79 pivotoily inounted on brackets vali@es:ar,e-respectivel,y act,,iated by mes-ns@ of the 2,, secured to the upper chan-lel frame member 180. solenoids l@63@,,@--id 1.64. At@the operator's sicle of the machipe there is se, It will. be notf-,d@@that the lifting or rkiising de- cired upbn the cross- shaft 179. the cranl,, arm vic@as and@ 'the counter-balancing springs are op- 1.82. To. the end of this crank arm there is pivera@tively connected to only one side of each of otally@secur@ed one end@of 'the,piston rod 183 which the hold-do,,,Vn or -bp-a-rer di3vices h ayid k, and iii 30 at its@ other end carries a piston disposed for reorder to prever@t warping or twisting@ of the struc@- ciprocati-on wi.thin 4@'he fiuid pressure cylipder 18LI, ture and an uneven @presslire ut)ollrthe piles, the this cylir@der being pivotally secured as at 185@ to frar@iework is made exceptiov-ially rigid. This is a bracket L I 8 0 carried by7 the frame member 18 0. eff-ected by the use o.@i@ ri-gid torqiie sustaining rock FItiid pressure may@ be ad-mitted to tt-ie respective slaafts at 9 2 'and t C;4 arl-d% t-he connpcting of the 35 ends of the cylinder 184-. to@ raiseand lower@ the side bars 1457 and of @ the beprer de,,Tices to conveyor d, e,@ by rneans-@of' the pipe connections the rock shaft rigidly by means of-, the spli-@ies 14 1, 187: and I 8 8 which lead from the @coiitrol valve 18 9 all as previously, described. mthioh r@-iay be -manipulated by the handle 190 The tapes of @ the, hold-dovi,@i devices h and k Nvhenpver the - operator finds- it necesgary to@ shift ar.e. driven by driving means which v@till be de- dO the conveyor;d@ e froir. the norma;l@positibn for upper stacking j, to the n association with the j. will @ probably confine the movement of these Th-e initial portion I o4 the discard coilveyor sheets and also -Lirge the sheets forwardly to t.heii, 45 system, E is d,riven b@ the riaotor i@6 carried by final position up against the stop de-,7ice g. suitable brackets carried:-upor- the mai'n Tframe G. The pulley I 9 6: of the motor is operatively conDiscard ha7zdlzng nectod with the sheave br pulley I OT by means of Occasiorally during tl-ie piling of articles P'S the belts 198,.@ The pijlley 197@ is @ carried by the received fronq the fabricatii-ig machine or the C)o drive shaft' IO D@ whii3h is mounted@ in suitable bearseveri.i,lg shear blade-R, defecti-ve articles will be ings and extends across the4 frame and carries the encolinterecl. For e.@,,o-r.,.ple, in the art of manu- rollers 200 which serve to support; the tapesi or facturing corrugated board therc Tv-III occasioll- belts@ I of the conveyor ,ystera E. The operation ally appear what are known as "loos,--backs," and of the motor I 9 5 @is controlled by means which will it i-S desirable that such defective artic'4es should Bb bel described; said -niea,@-is being responsive to the be di-,ierted frori the Daths toward the p:ilin,@ shifting of 'the conveyors d, e to and from discatd zone C. As already indicated, this is the purpose position. and function of the discard cc)nveyor system E Pile delivery which cor-riprises luhe tape conveyors@ I and n and t-he table P. The gen,.ral arrpngement and con- rt) As previo,,isly indicatedi and as vvi-il be best figuration of this d;@seard conveyor system are perceived f@-om an inspection of FigLres 2, 9, 10, a,,id 12, the initial delivery conveyor system desigclearly shown i.., F, 1:gure I of the draw;y-igs where r s ith -ig z it will be pe@@ceived that the conveyor I exte-id nated D is associated w, the stackii one C of from a poin+, adjaepnt the intake of the UpTier @-ie unit I and is adapted to receive piles7 alternatpiling area j, forwardly to the point m where the 6@,5 in@g from the areas f@ a-nd i and discharge them discards may be dropped upon the conveyor n at a convenient level for removal by an operator, and, thence trans-,nitted to the point r to the ree-,ardless of the height. of the; stacking areas. table P. A beneh frame-ti supporl@ed by the leg@@ or pedesThe r,-@anner ard means, of transferring sheets tals 7 x extends laterally ou'TWardly from, the maill to this coiiv(,yoi@ will be test uiiderstord from. aii 70 fromeworb:- G@ upon the delivery or operating side im,pection of Pligures 4, 5, Pnd 7 of the drl-- IVings. of the machine and. thi-S supplemer-tal framework The tapes 11 (,,om-ori_sing the e,,@.rlier stqge of the u, x serves to rigidIV. support the lower delivery discard conveyor systeri El poss arouiid tla,- @ idle coriveyor@ me?pber t. At the outer end of the roller 170 9,.nd thence to the driven roller 171 at beqch u there,is adjustably supported a roller 204 the forward end of the conveyor. The latter 75 ,;,hich catries the conveyor tapes205 which. are
[7]2,540,072 13 also trained around the end roller 80 of the piling area f and receive their movement therefrom. In order to properly support the tapes 205 and prevent undue sagging, each tape is underlaid by the inverted channel elements 206 ivhich ai:e 5 secured at their inner ends as at 207 to a b-@-acket carried by the main frame; and these elements are suitably secured at their outer ends to the extension of the bench u. From the upper stacking level j a conveyor t' 10 extends outwardly and comprises the framing 208 wlaich is suitably pivoted as at 209 to the main frame. This framing carries in its outer end the roller 2 1 8 around which tlae tapes 2 0 5 are trained, the inner portion of 'hese tapes being passed 15 L@ around the end one of the rollers 80 and receive their driving force therefrbm. Th,.s upper discharge conveyor t' is pivotally mounted and is provided with balanciii.g means whereby wheii no piles are resting tilereupon, the conveyor t' 20 will be maintp,,ined in its upper position sho,,vn in solid lines in Figure 10, while upon - receivii-ig a pile from the upper level j the counter-balanciilg arrangement is overbalanced ai-td the conveyor t' moved downwardly to the position shown in dot- 25 ted lines, whereii-i the discharge end is disposed at substanti-ally t-he level of the lower conveyor t. This counter-balaiac@,ng rleans comprises a torque sustainir.p,@ rock shaft 212 rotatpbly mounted ii-.t brackets 213 carried by the posts or legs x of the bench or extension frame u. Crank arms 2 1 5 are rigidly fixed upon each end of the shaft 212 as by Pieans of the splires 214 aild these crank arms are connected by means of the 216 with the points 217 on the framing at the resp 35 ective sides ' of the conveyor t'. Upon an intermediate i)ortion of the rock shaft 212 there is fixed the crank al-m Pi8 upon which is carried a counterweight 220 which may be adjustable along the arm. 140 It will be readily seen that if the sheets forming the piles are of a length shorter than the maximum available length of the stacking area, the weight of the delivered pile will be sustained mainly by the side of the delivery conveyor mem- 4, ber next to the initial or receiving end of the - machiiie, that is upon the left hand side of the conveyor as viewed in Figure 12. This uneven loading of the delivery conveyor might ward the device if it were not for the above provisions. As 1,)0 described, the torque sustainin.- rock shaft 212 is of a rigid constri:tction and the crank arms 215 .ire splined as at 2 @ 4 to the qhaf t and --,omnected without any lost r@iotion to the conveyor frame. In Figures 13 and 14 a modified construction of 55 the delivery unit D is shown in which the upper delivery conveyor t' i.s counter-balanced by a spring means rather than by means of a counterweight. All of the principal el.ements of the construction shown in theqe figures are the same Go ," 'uhose shown in Figures 10 and 12 and are designated by the sanie reference characters. However, the cross shaft 212 carried in tlie brackets 2 1 3 supl)orted upon the legs x of the bench or slibframe u, has fixed thereon adjacent one side 65 of the frame u, a craiik arrr. II O', which extends in a generally ijpward direction and has att-,tchecl at its upper end one end of tne eoil spriiig 220'. j-he remote end of the spring is secured as at 219 to i port of the fra-,.ne u@ The streii,-th of the 70 spring 220' is selected so as to somevihat more .than counterbalance the upper conveyor t' when it is empty, but to permit the conveyor to descend as soon as a pile has been moved onto it from the upper stacking area ' 75 14 Driving transmission for distributing conveyors As already indicated, the stacking area rc)llers, and the discard conveyor system E are driven by individual electric motors 85, 85', and 195 (See Fig,,ire 10) and the rollers and tapes of the delivery conveyors t ond t' are driven from one of the rollers 80, 80' of the stacking area which it serves. On the other hand, the tape conveyors and distributors by means of which the sheets are carried to the stacking areas, and the holddown devices vihich cooperate with the stop ir@ember in stacking the sheets, are all drive-Ti, in the preferred embodiment, from the shear or -'abriatin.a machine -k@,,hich the stacker serves. The - tapes of the conveyor a, as has been previously stated, are driven from the shear A or from the 'Labricating machine, these t,,@pes being trained ri-ound the roller 33 which is - fixed t,-) the sha@@-t 37. This shaft 37 may be conveniently taken as a (lriv ng shaft for certai@n of the conveyors in its vicinity. lp ,-his particular driving arrangeme-@it will be clearly understood from an inspection of the left-haiid portion of Figure 4 and the ri-ght-hand side of Figvre 8, as well as Figure 3 in which the projecting parts of the drive shafts and the sheaves carried thereby are ele,-)rly shown. The shp.,ft 37 vihich carries the conveyor roller 33 car-ies upon its outer projecting erd a pulley or sheave 225. The shaft 44 which corries the roller 3 al,,but @vhich the lead end of the coiiveyor tat)es cf the conveyor c are trained has a proiecting end upon which is fixed a pulley or sheave i26. 9imilai,ly the shaft 9 I unon which 'uhe roller of con veyor f@7 is fi@.:ed, carries a pulley or sheave 227. The roller 50 at the receivinf,@ erd of the h(,Id(3.own cor-,veyor e, is mounted o@i the sh-.ft 51' which carries at its end a sheave 228. The shaft 39 which carries the pulley 39 ivhich corrprises 9.,,nart of the deliv---y end of the hold-down@ convcyor b, is also pi,ovided with a sheave or pu.Iley 226. Also upon a cross member 231 extending between the posts 29 and 30 there is mormted a slip@ft 232 wh-ir-,h carries aii idler pi-i.Iley 233. All of @,hese ptilleys 22C,, 226, 227, 228, 22,q, ard 233 are preferably provided wit-h nililtiple grooves ancl carry a series of V-belts 35 by rrea---s of vihich the drive is trans-qiitted from the pulley 225 on the drive shaft 37 to the shafts which carry the tapes of the conveyors b, c, d, and e. Simil@ar driving megns is provi.ded for th-- rollers and hold-down device provi-ied adia---- -nt the pilirg ar,-as. The rembte or delivery end of the coii-. veyor a includes 'the roller 22 about which the tapes are passed, which roller is fixed. to a t-,-,ansverse shaft 23 carried in brackets 26 secured i-n posts 25 of th,-, icrai-aev,7ork. The shaft 23 projects beyond the frqrqe and is provided with a pulley or sheave 233. The shaft @4A upon whi-ch the roller 1(42 of the lower hol@d-down device is fixed, carries a sheave 23'7 upoii its projecting end, and thp- shaft I 0 1 wh,'@ch carries the del;lvery roller I @';,B adj,,cent the upper piling area j is providod with a @heave ' It will ,De re@,all&,I. that the -apper roller @42, o-f the etevi@2e k is m.6ui-ited upon a shaft 144' and this shaft ,iisG '@s r-.rovidei-I at i@,s 2 c@ . 2. Up-,@-i the i.-.Ipper cha,@'inel iiie.,Pbe,,: I foi-ir-in., a part of the fra--ievvork G there -'-Is v'@ded a-i axle 206 uprin which @- shoo-ve 2;7@.i is :,iot,,nted and t,,pon the hori7.ontai - eleirie@at 27 and at an intermediate he-'--ght oi. '.lie frarliework there 'is rqoutited ai-i ayle 2P,7 uppii ,vh.ich is ine carrie,,l ,i sheave 248. Tra" d about the sheaves
[8]238, 239, 24:0, 262, 245@ @r@d 248 are the drive belts 250, whereby power is transmitted fro:ii the shaft 23, driveii by the conveyor a, 'vo both ol' the hold-doN@Tn devices h a@id k a---id -@o 'Uhe de-@j@@ieTy roller I 0 1. SeconL7 stac7,ing zt,?iit Most of the details of the stac;.@:-,n.- LI.Ilit Ti ?,):e exac-("Iy the sai-.ae as the corj:es,,3onding elf-,mep-'T'S of the u,-Iit the sta.-,k@.iig zone C' whi,@'-tl coyr@-r-rises the e.,Itern,-i@ely Lisuable st,.icking areas J" a-.-3.d j'. 1- loweve-r, th@, ead-i-ci aiid di-strib,,it-irg copveyors are soir-e-,-@That (.tiffere,itly arr@inged aiid. constri-icted i-@l o@r@ler to prov@,@l.-:, the nc,,vel instailation vThere"@@y @-,h@- two units -L P.,n@,l -,.I a,.re c o@.ive-.1-11,.eiitly enelosei suppor'ued ivithin the sarae t-ompact frayrp@@liork. Thl3 I.i-@Irincilna,l subdiviqsons o.-' unit !I h.,tve b,!@en set forth i-,-i a generol way in reference to @.F'igures I and 2 -o-@ the cira-@7,Tin@-s, and the co-,.-,-veyc,,rs Of unit II inay be readii-Y followed a-ii-d trgced. ao-.cc,.c;L@, Figures 4, 5, 3 of th-- drawiiigs. The sheet-s s' as they are s,@@vered fr,,)-Tr the web z,)" by meai-,s of the shear A' oass between the tai,,es of the in-vver and upper c,)i-ive-liTors a' n,.,,id b'. Th-@ tapes a' upon e7itei-i--@,ig the D,@rticn of th,,@ izia,-hine sho,@xiii i-,.3. F4@,--Lire 4 rass -jve:r tb.,- 2@,@5 supported bv t'@-Le -oosts 3@9 9,--,-id thence pa,.,@-I the rolic-r siijport.@,,d 'crp@ckets 'L@.7 secui:t@,ci to the posts 23. The return run of the tao-s' ,, r,asses arcuiid !-,he st'.P,2--z-;ejed ro'lers -,c--- .et-.-red by brackebs,,' lpoii opposi.t.- sides o-F tli,- Posts 28, and return the-Lice to the in'@,,ake cndof 1. t,he cor@ve or. 'Y The hold-down conveyor b' is -oivotal'@y ed iipoti @uhe shaft 2r@O which is suppoi,@',ed brackets se@-u-red to the posts 3,C,, afid a, rolia- 2@-, on this sha,-'t t9ll@es the tapes at ilhe eii of the coriveyoi,. Struts or 'U-grs IIS3 e-g-@,enf@, l@.7ark@Lly fror@i the pivot shaft 2- @--ri aiicl c2,rry u thei_r forwa-rd ends the roller 264 upon w t'xie tanp-s are Now the @fiesfriptioii c-f the -,3ptli o, the sheets tirovgh iinit -@I, it Aill be noted ot the le-t't h@!,,nd eiid of l@'ig-o,.re 5, that the sheets pass fro,n the tapes of ccr,,7eyors a' arid b' al,-P@bs@u 'IEli,.i.ediately betweeii the coc-perati--,i.- conveydcs a2 and b2. At the end, the tapes o@L the veyor a2 are tra-'--nl-d around the roller also serves to s-,ipport the discharge end of the co.-@ilieyor ci,'. The ta?,,es r,2 cooperate viith th@t,,tr,.es b'-) c-,' 'uhe lipper @-,onveyor to receive the sheets an@f, tl--aisporl@ thein to the distribliting or swit,-;hing de,,7ice B'. The tapes o-.@ th-- cor@veyor b2 @.oass a,_,Ijl-,,nd the re-Iler 265 ard the roller 2F.6, the former being carri-ed upon the fix@,d shaf@@, 2ET a-yid thplp-tter upon the end of the s@uruts or .i-od.s 2@-8 for.?ning the franie-.,@iork of this holddown conveyor. The cross shaft 2619 is ino-Linted in beariiags suibably supported by portions of the frarnczt,vork G which may 4nelude the Diate 273. The tapes a2 pass around the supporting roller 271 and then in opposite directions around the rollers 272 and 273, these rollers being located adjacent the discharge end bf the conveyor b2 and ser,,irg to guide the tape a2 a-round the switching or distributing blades of the distri-buting asseinbl@y B'. The tapes a2 then pass over the roller 275 and thence to the discharge end of the conveyor a2 which is indicated at 276 in Figure -1. The lower or return run of the conveyor tapes a2 pass beneath the roller 277 and above the roller 278 both carried by brackets supported upon the lower horizontal member 279 of the framework G. 2,540,972 16 The switching or distributing blades of the device BI are indicated at 521 and 53, a,-idare actuated in the same way and by a similar mechanism to those associated with the blades 52 and 53 of the unit I. When the blades are in the lowermost position the sheets are directed to the throat of the conveyor systera com-,orised by the second half of the conveyor a2 and the Lippe,: or hold-down conveyor b3. The conveyor b3 -.t part 10 of ,vhich is sho@iin at the right hand end of Figure 5 includes the struts or bars 230 at-id a rollor 281 carried by the ends thereof, and it will be readily seen how the sheets pass between the tapes a2 and b3 and are carried toward the de15 livery point upon the lower stacking area When the distributor blades 52' and 53" are,-@@n the uppqr posi.tion shown in Figure 5 the sheets sl are directed between the lower conveyor d' and the upper conveyor el from whence they are dis@ 20 charged upon the stacking area jl. Conveyor d' has its tapes pass around the roller 283 and a forward roller 284 which is shown in Figure I of the drawings. TI-iis conveyor is disposed in a relatively fixed or non-pi-Votal position. The co25 operating hold-doiTjD- conveyor e' has its tapes O ass around a roller 285 at the discharge end, this roller being mounted upon a pivot shaft 286 carri-ed by bracket 287 supported u-con the post 130. Extending from the pivot shaft 285 are the 30 struts or rods 288 which carry a roller 289 upon their ends. Thus it will be seen that the conveyor e' may be raised by a pivotal iiiovement about the shaft 286 whenever it is necessary to separate the conveyors d' and e'. 35 An inspection of Figure 1 of the drawings ivill disclose that the sheets, in their upper path through the unit I[ pass from betjreen the conveyors d' and e' into the control. of the cooperating conveyors d2 and e2. These conveyors cor40 respond in purpose ar-d function to the conveyprs d and e of unit I and are adapted to be raised from their normal position in which they del , iver sheets 'uo the stacking area jl to an uD@),,-r discard position for delivering sheets u-oon the element it of the discard systerd- E. To effect this purpose 4,5 pneuriiatic lifting rriea-ris indicated generally at 290 is ernployed. This pneumatic i-eans corresponds exactly to the device described in connection with raising conveyors d and e, and einbodying the air cylinder 184 (see Figure 4). 50 As previously indicat-.d, the di-Stributiorl of the sheets s' upon tl-ie stacking areas fl and j, -@s exactly the same as that described in connection with unit I of the device. The rollers o.L these stacking areas f' and jl are driven by motors con5,5 trolled ill the same way as in the first unit and they deliver the completed stacks or piles transversely onto the delivery instaliation D'. Due to the fact that tl-ie sl@-acking areas j" and j' are displaced downwardly relatively to the stacking 60 areas f and i of the first unit, the conveyors comprising the discharge syste@-i DI are incii,,ied upwardly in the direct-Ion of the discharge os clearly showninFigi),rel5ofthedrawings. Inthisfigure there is shown at 300 onp- of the verti-cal side 65 posts of the framework G and extendilig from the framework G is a bench or sii@bfrar-rie ii -,vhich s supported at its outer end by the post x'. An upper horizontal brace is indicated at 3@ji. The rollers 8,0 of the stackin,@ area coiiv,yor f I de'liver 70 the sheets upon the inclined dis@-harge co.,ii7eybr.,i the tapes 205 of which ore '@rained around. ai-i end one of the rollers 80 and around the teri--riinal roller 302 carried upon the end of the be-ich frame u'. The piles from the upper area )'I are shifted 75 transversely by the driven rollers 80, onto the
[9]@p@er con,v6yor z the tapes 205, of which are driven from the end one of the rollers 801. The conveyor z is suitably pivoted from the frame in a manner similat to the pivoted conveyor t' of the delivery system D, the outer end of the conveyor being supported by means of cables 304 trained around pulleys 305 at the tops of the upper ends of the posts x, upon either side of the conveyor. To the opposite ends of the cables 304 are attached the cbunter-weights 306 which serve to slightly balance the weight of the conveyor z when empty. When piles of sheets are delivered upon the conveyor z the weight of the pile wi-il move the conveyor downwardly against the influence of the weights 306 whereupon the conveyor wfll occupy the dotted line position shown in Figure 15 and the sheets will be delivered at substantially the same level as the delivery point of the roller conveyor y and of the delivery points of the conveyors t and t, of the system D of the first unit. Automatic and manual control The operation of the improved stacking machine will now be described, particularly in relation to Figure 16 of the drawings in which the principal operative parts of the device are shown diagrammatically together with the fluid pressure lines and the electrical wiring. It will be helpful in understanding the details of the controls, if a brief description of the functioil,, and operations of the alternately energized elements is given. Suitable counting devices preferably actuated by impulses derived from the passage of successive sheets toward the distributor B, totaiize the sbeets passing through the distributor when it is in one position and when a predetermined number of sheets have passed toward one stacking area, the counting device automatically shifts the distributor blades 52 and 53 of distributor device B to direct the, sheets toward the other stacking area. At the same time the counting device begins counting the sheets passing to the second area. The shifting of the distributor blades not only serves to direct the sheets, toward the alternative area, but also prepares a circuit for energization t6 raise the hold-down members upon the opposite stacking area to an inoperative position. The co-mpletion of this circuit is accomplished bY the dropping of the first sheet upon the new ,area. At the same time that this circuit is prepared for energization, the circuit which heretofore had held the hold-down devices in idle posi@ tion within the area now to be used, is broken and the hold-down devices move downwardly to operative position up6n the pile being formed. The effect of the lifting of either one of the hold-down devices to the upper idle position is to close an electrical circuit energizing the roller.driving motor of the stacking area upon which a pile has just been completed, and thus move the pile transversely of the machine toward one of the delivery installations. Conversely, while@ stacking is proceeding upon a stacking area the. hold-down devices are depressed and the motor energizing circuit is open. A further circuit is provided for energizing the discard conveyor motor whenever the manuallk controlled pneumatically operated lifting devices for the conveyors d, e are actuated toward dis-, carding position. The raising of the conveyors di@ e to discarding position aiso has the effect of interrupting the impulse generating circuit so tuate the counting devices so long as the conveyors are held in discarding position. There will nbw be described the electrical eircuits andmechanical devices involved in the shift@ng of the distributor B. The sheet counting anc-t distributor control circuit may be designated in its entirety by the reference letter P and the circuit which energizes the impulse generating device may be designated R. In the preferred i o fonn of the invention this device comprises an electric eye arraiigement whereby a lamp directs a beam across the path of the sheets toward a photoelectric cell and the successive interruptions of tb-e beam by the passage of the sheets causes i i5 inipul@les to be generated in the latter member. In eircu-it P the leads from the source of curreiat aredesignated LI and L2. Two electrically actuated counting mechanisms are provided and are indicated by the legends "Counter No. 1" anct 20 "Counter No. 2" in Figure 16. These counters are of the type designated "Microflex Instantaneous Reset Counter" illustrated and described in Booklet 297 of the Eagle Signal Corp. of Mohne, IRinoi,3. Counter No' 2 is shown partly in elevation, ) e x h i b i t i n g a s e t t i n g d i a l 4 0 0 b y w h i c h t h e n u m b e r o f s h e e t s t o b e a l l o t t e d t o e a c h p i l e i s p r e d e t e r i n i n e d . C o u n t e r N o . I i s s h o w n i n d i a g r a m m a t i c f o r m w i t h t h e i n t e r n a l e l e c t r i c a l . c i r c u i t s d i s c l o s e d . B o t h c o u n t e r s a r e e x a c t l y a l i k e a n d a il ( description of one will suffice. The reference numeral 401 indicates a clutch coil and a count co,"I is shown at 402. A switch associated with tlle clutch coil is indicated at 403 and another switch adapted to be actuated by the clutch coil 35 is shown at 404. The counting devices are generally provided with two switches similar in pur..@ pose and construction to the one indicated at, 404 and this is shown at 405 but is not used in' the present hookup. 40 A series of terminals are provided on each counter and are designated by the following refer-. ence numerals: 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, and 416. It will be seen that the clutch coil 401 bridges the contacts 410 and 412; the count coil 4,@ 402 bridges the contacts 410 and 414; the switch 493 is disposed across the terminals 411 and 413; the terminals 413 and 414 are bridged by a con-, nection within the counter; and switch 404 is disposed across the terminals 415 and 416. Thi r(,@ wires L' and L2 from the source of current are connected into the devices as follows: the line L' ig connected with the terminals 410 of both counters; and line L2 is connected with the terminals 4 1 5 of both counters. A lamp which casts a beam across the path of the sheets immediately in advance of the distributo , B is indicated at 420, the beam being direct ed tbward the photoelectric cell 421 which riiay be contained within a suitable casing 422. e,,o Lines L' and L2 from the source of current are conne cted to the binding posts 424 of the casing 422 and a pair of binding posts 425 are also connecte d witliin the casing across the current lines from L' and L2 and provide a source of current P, 5 for the lamp 420. A wire 426 connects one of the binding po,@@ with the lamp; another wire 427 is connected with a mercoid switch 428; and the other terminal of the mercoid switch is connecte d by means of the wire 429 to thie other 7,) lamp terminal. The mercoid switch 428 is pivotally connected as at 430 with a portion of the frame work G, and the switch is connected at its other end by means of a link 432 with the tiltable discar d conveyor assembly d, e. Thus, it will be that the passage of successivq sheets wlll not aC- 7.,@ seen that when the conveyor d, e is in tbe lower
[10]-normal position delivering -sheets to the,stacking areas j, the - ffiercoid sv@ritch coiitact is clos6d and the lamp .420 ener ized,,'m which c6ridition the 9 .,courit irlay proceed by the interruption of the beam-by the passage of the@sheets from conveyors @a,.@b to, the distributor B. @ On the other hand, ,,@ihen the conveyor d, e.is raised to discard Posi I tion by i-neans of the fluid -pressure device con-I. '@ttollea' by , the hand vaive 1'89, 190, the mercoid @switdh is tilted, the circuit R broken and @the lamp 10 de-ener ized thus inter the count. 9 rup The @bhotoelectric cell 421 is -conneeled with @@the source of current from the -leads L' and ',-L2 -by suitable arrangement within the casing '41 k2 -so that ea;ch iraipulse received thereby will 15 e,uer-gize a relay coil 435 and this coil -will actu-ate @the switch 436, this switch being connected n 'wi,tlii @the casing 422 across @the terminols 437 ,axid 438. A wire 439 connects the terminal 437 .,w-ith the -line -L2 while @a wire 440 -connects the 20 ter-rninal .438 @with the terminals 4,iil of -both ,,Pou,uters. -'I'here is indicated at 445.a@relay - devicewhich @may .4e -a @ Struthers. Dunil @relqy -,which @is adapted ,to aliernateiy open.and ciose -each one of a pair 23 of switches upon successive 1 energizatiolis of ,the .r-elay riiagnet. The @magnet is @indicated at .44S ,,and -:is connected @across ttie binding .@post s 447 .,and 14.4o. 6ne of the alternate:switches @of the .relay is indicated at-@450 and the other @at: 45 1. 0 .A comirion lead 4b2 connects o4ue side @of each @switch with the -terminals 415 iof the @counters whicii are in turn connected with @the line wire L2. A!lead454connectsthe.othersideofzNvitell 450 with a wire .4,b5 leading from the @terminal @@5 ..412 of counter.No.:I@and-both@of:these-.wires@ are @e.onnecteci by means of -the wire .456 with,,orie terminal of Ithe @soienoid @l'i which @ actuates @the valve 641 which controls the @air @cylinder .-GI @so @as . to move @the -distributor @blades LZ2,@-53 of -the,,4o _aistribtitor 'B -downwardly. @The opposite ter-minal @of @switch @451 ;-of ithe @relay @is connected by lneans of the wire 458 to the:, terminal 4:12 of @counter @No. 2 @and to -@ one ,,,post of -tlle sbienoid '.7-0 which actuates the@ @pneu- 4.) .,matic -mechanism:.to raise @the "blades 52, 53 i of distkibutor :B. @A@ return wire @460 @connects ,the ..two terininals -Of the solenoids7& @and with the @lead wire L'. @20 w-ire 45-5, @.wire -454, -relay -@.switch -460, -wire 492, teri-riinal,4 i.5 of counter -No. 1, lea;d wire L2. The @clutch switch 403 of counter .-No, -..l ,is ma intained-closed by tlle!clutch@coili and @the im-pulses from the photoelectr-ic cell @.due -to -the passage of successive sheets, actuates @the counter @coil through the following circuit @ line -circuit L2, wire -439, terminal 437, impulse zwitch 436, terrninal,438 wire 440, terminal 4 1,1 of ter No. 1, switch 403 -of the same @courrter, - terminal 4i3 terrninal 4:14 by @way of @the,,interaal I @cross connection, count coil -402, terminal -41.0, line wire -L'. When successive im ulses have @stppped @the @p counter around until the;clutch @is released;@at the lend of the predetermined count, switch -No. 404 -of counter No. l.is 7momentarily-closed. 'This causes current to .@flow,through @the followingeircuit, line @L2, terminal 4;1 5, @switch 404 -,of @coun@ter No. 11 @terminal -41 6 of ccounter iNo. .I, @@terminal 448 of the relay coil, relay coil 446, @tern-iinal 447, liae wire.L'. The energization of relay coil 446, thus effebted, serves to open switch 450 and @close switch @.45 1. The ibffect @of this switchOVer.i8:to zde-energize'the line -leading to solenoid 71 and @to energize @:the following circuit: line wire L2, @@terminali4:15 of @counter;No. -11 @wire r432,:switch 45:1, wire 458, solenoid 70, return lead -460 ;line I wirel'. This@serves@to:energiz esolenoid7D,@alid a tuate @the -vblve --64 @to raise 'the blades @ 52, 53 the @distributor B to the position -where @they @will @discharge - sheets into conveyors d, e @dnd thencetostacking@areaj. When@switch'450,was ititerrupted the:circuit 'through the solenoid 71 -,,vas -Also br(jken @and'that -sblenoid de energized. the same,time 'that,switoh 451 is -closed @the @-f6lloWing,dircuit is@energized-shifting the count oun@_- ter@,No.:i,@ @wire.@452, switch 451, ivire@458, terniinal @412 @of @counter@ No. 21 c6il- '401 -of I counter @No.'2,:termingl4iO,-line-wire@L'. This-energiza'tion of clutch 401 of-counter'No.'2 sets that@coun@ter @into operationland impulses from sheets beiag fed to the,,di8t@ibutors @B in upper position are 'impressed %upon counter No. 2 in the @same way @as ' described @in corinection @with' the,dperation @of counter -No. 1. -At: the @ -end of the @count, switch 404 :of counter No. 2 -is momeiitarily energized @and the relay@ 445;is reversed and distributor sdleo noid'Ti re-energized-,as solenoid 70 is'thrown oitt -@l,he'terminal -444@.-of -the @relay @coil 446 -is con- ') -of operation. @nected@-with a poition-of @the 'line'eircuit L'- !veniently:the part w'hich bridges across the ter- -Once @tl-ie distribution -6f - sheets has -'been -8hifted @-from one area to the other, the -holdminals 410 of the 'twb -counters. Th6 @terniinitl 'dowii-arrangements-h and k must'be shifted ovex 448 of the relay coil is connedted ivith the -terr,5 ;so @ as to' free the completed:pile and to -bring th-e --minals @-416 of both counters'by means 6f -the '-appr6priate -hold-'down" nto ooeration i;pon@,the -462. wire pile -About to be built up. This -shiftover is,aeh 465 @is @di@posed - corll@ll@h6d @by -the@'followixig means. When the .A mailually operable @swite adjacent the counter and relay - installation Tand blades @52 @ and 63. df - distributor B, are mov6d to is,connected across @the terminals 415 and @4l@6 c( ;upper position @by @the rdising df the -piston rod6.0 :and the @depending ;connection -58, the -coilta@6t @arm 72 opens 'the limit switch '75 and energiz6s the lirriit @:switch 74. This 'de-energizes circuit SI @and energizes circuit S. Circuit S includes the fbIloWing:-6lements. @:Beginrdng with 'the'leads -from tlie@ source df current in(ficatod at -.470, A v.7ire 471 makes connection@with the limit switch .74@arid:from@this switi@h a vrire,472 leadsi@to one @LermmeLl 6f.: the sheet - abtuated @switch@ -95, - dssociated@v,,,iththeupper@tackingareaj. A@wire@47@4 -Onnedts the @dther "teriiiinal @ 6f the switoh 95, @with a t e r m i n a l @ o f ' - t h e @ s o l e n o i d 1 6 3 , w h i c h c o n @ - V trols -the qlVe 71@61 @to @E@dmit pressure fluid through@th e@connetdi on"159 to;the@pow er c@lirider -12' la -@2 WWb@raise@@the '@piston-rod 15,7@'and thuszlfft$ of @counter@ 'No. 1, clutch@-,coil :40 1,, @terminal A -1 -of @counter 1,4o. 1, I the lead from I the @switch to .terminal .415 being connected ,vith@the common I turn wire 452 of the alternate relay@switches@ .r,e The counters illustrated herein are of the ,.wellknownLtype@referred to in@which the count ii,-, -coil is @ energiz d b e y received @ impulses -to step @a -movable @member, for exainple a ratchet.whe6l, a-round for acertain predeteraiined number @6f inerenients, whereupon thecounting@mechanism will release the @dltitch c6il and momentarily dlose the.switch 404. Assuming,the switch-403 @bf - counter No. .1 - to be closed, the clutch @-eircult .inay @be traced as follows: @line -LI, @terminal to counter ' No. 2: @li.ne L2 i 5 of @,c
[11]21 -ifie lo-wer hold-down device 140 from contact ,,with the pile on stacking area f. A return lead .475 conne.ets the solenoid 163 with the source of ,current. It will thus be seen that when the switch or distributing device B is raised to upper position' the circuit S is prepared. for actuation .by the closing of the limit switch 74. As the sheets proceeii through the conveyors d, e and the first o.,Lae drops upon the stacking area j and contacts the fin-ger 96" the switch 95' is also ,closed thus energizing the solenoid 163 and lifting the hold-down device h from the completed pile on area f. Circuit S' may be traced as follows from the ,leads 477 from a suitable source of current. A wire 478 connects with the lower limit sivitch 75 and a wire 479 leads from this switch to t.he sheet actuated switch 95 of lower area f. A wire 480 leads to solenoid 164 which controls the lift,ing cylinder 153 which is adapted to raise the hold-down k from the upper area j. A return lead wire 4 8 I connects with the - source of current. A switch 485 is disposed above a rigid portion of.the hold-down device h so as to be contacted thereby when the latter is in its uppermost position. This switch is connected by the circuit T with the controller box 488 which energizes the motor 85 which drives the rollers 80 of the conveyor which comprises the lower stacking area f. Similarly a switch 490 is disposed so as to I)e closed by contact with the upper hold-down device k when in its uppermost position, this switch 490 being connected by the circuit T' with the controller box 492 for the motor 851 which drives the rollers 80' of upper stacking area j. It will thus be seen that when a pile is completed upon the lower area f and the upper limit swi'Llch 74 is closed bY the arm 72 and the first sheet faces upon the stacking area j the hold-down 7t will be closed, motor 85 will be energized, and rollers 80 will be driven to carry the pile p off area f to the delivery mechanism. When the pile commences to form upon the upper area j the holddown k is lowered onto the top of the pile and the switch 490 is open thus breaking the circu't T' and deenergizing the motors 85' and thus stopping the conveyor rolls 80'. This of course occurs immediately the limit switch 75 is open and the rouers are thus stopped before any sheet reaches the stackin@,a area. Similarly the carryoff rollers of the other stacking area are not energized until both a limit switch (74 or 75) and a sheet actuated switch (95 or 95') are closed. The effect of the actuation of the discard devices w-ill now be described. When the handle 190 is thrown in a direction to open valve 189 to admit pressure fluid through the pipe 188 from the pressure fluid main Z, to the cylinder l'v4 the bell crank arrangement 118, 182 is rocked thlis lifting the conveyors d, e through the link 177 to discard sheets upon the conveyor belt 1. When the crank arm 182 is rocked in a counterclock@iiise direction as viewed in Figure 16, an abtitmerit 5AD closes a switch 501 which closes the circuit Y actuating the control b6x 503 of the motor 195 which drives the discard conveyor 1. Thus, the defective sl-ieets or "loose-backs" discharged by the conveyors d, e up6n the belt I of the discard system E are carried off as the latter belt begins to move. At the same time the lifting of the conveyor d, e tilts the mercoid switch 428@ breaking the lamp energizing eiretiit R and extinguishing the lamp 420 whereupon the defeet-ive slitet passing from the conveyors a b Is 9,540,0 1 not counied since no impulse will pass from th6 electric eye 421 to the co-Linting devices. if the discard device is actuated while the sheets are being fed through the blades 452.and 453 in loiver position toward the stackina area f, the operator, at the same time that he aettiates the discard conveyor controlling handle 1! 9 0, must actuate switch 465 adjacent the relay 445. This short circuits the terminals 415 and 41 6 and has 10 the same effect as the momentary energizing of the switch 404 of counter No. 1, namely, that of discontinuing the count and shifting th.e operation control over to the other counter. This will mean that the blades 52, 53 will be raised to dis15 charge the sheets onto the conveyors d, e and these conveyors will at the same time be raised to discard the sheets upon the discard conveyor 1. This will mean that the count on the lower area f will be incomplete, but this may be taken 20 into account when the pile is moved off the area along the discharge conveyor system D. On the other hand, if the pile is being formed upon tlle upper level i when a "loose-back" or other defective sheet is spotted, the 6perator need 25 only manipulate the handle 190 of the discard conveyor shifter and need not actuate the switch 465, since the sheets are already being d-irected to the pivoted conveyors d, c. In this case the count is not terminated but only suspended pend30 ing the shifting of the conveyors and the mercoid switch 428 back to normal position, and the pile being formed on the upper level j will be deficient by the exact number of sheets discarded' Various changes and modifications may be 35 made in the embodiments illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as described by the fol-:r)v,7ing claims. Having thus de-cribed tha invention, what Is 4,0 claimed as new and desired to be secured by
