Patent ID: 8636280
Filing Date: 2014-01-28
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A method of stacking flat articles on-edge, the method comprising the steps of: providing a stack holding unit configured to hold a stack of the articles on-edge, the stack holding unit having an article entry opening for receiving the articles, the article entry opening having a height that is smaller than a height of the articles to be stacked during operation; providing a helical drive assembly with spaced-apart helical screws disposed separately from the stack holding unit and configured to receive the articles therebetween; providing a conveyor configured to support lower edges of the articles during transport to the stack holding unit and driving the conveyor at an instantaneous conveying speed; receiving the articles between the helical screws in an on-edge orientation and repositioning each of the articles from a first angular position with respect to a transport path to a different second angular position with respect to the transport path; and ejecting each of the articles from the helical drive assembly towards the stack holding unit at a higher speed than the instantaneous conveying speed of the conveyor.