Apparatus for transferring sheets from a succession of stacks

Apparatus for transferring successive sheets of successive stacks of overlapping sheets at a transfer station into the range of one or more conveyors for delivery to a book assembling, pad assembling, loose leaf binder assembling or other location employs a transporting unit with a stationary bottom defining an elongated path sloping downwardly toward the transfer station. The stacks are advanced stepwise or continuously in compartments between successive partitions pivotably secured to two endless chains which advance the partitions and the stacks between them toward the transfer station. The partitions are automatically pivoted to retracted positions beneath the bottom so that an intact stack immediately upstream of the transfer station can merge into the stack which is being singularized at the transfer station. The singularizing device at the transfer station employs a stationary stop for the foremost sheet of the adjacent stack and a mechanism which transfers the thus arrested foremost sheet into the range of conveyors for delivery to the assembling location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to improvements in apparatus for transferring sheets, 
panels, plates and like flat or substantially flat commodities, and more 
particularly to improvements in apparatus for transferring sheets and/or 
like commodities which are supplied to a transfer station in the form of 
stacks of overlapping commodities. 
It is often necessary to transfer individual sheets, panels, plates or 
analogous commodities from a magazine to one or more spaced-apart 
locations. For example, it is customary to draw individual sheet-like 
commodities from a stack in a magazine for delivery to one or more 
conveyors which, in turn, advance successively withdrawn individual 
commodities to a station where the commodities are merged into, added to 
and/or otherwise associated with layers, piles or other accumulations of 
identical and/or different commodities. The transferred commodities can 
constitute front or back covers for books, pamphlets, brochures, pads or 
other stationery products, but such commodities can also constitute 
dividers for use in various types of loose leaf books, pads, catalogues or 
the like. Still further, the commodities can constitute pockets, 
advertising literature, separators, top or bottom sheets of reams of 
typewriter paper sheets, copy paper sheets and/or others. 
The commodities can be made of paper, cardboard, plastic sheeting or 
paneling or combinations of two or more layers such as laminates 
containing two or more plies of paper, plastic, cardboard and/or metal. 
The transfer of commodities in the form of sheets or the like from a stack 
in a magazine to a processing location does not present many problems if 
the thickness of each commodity is constant and if the commodites have 
identical sizes and shapes. However, it is much more difficult to properly 
transfer, at a high or very high frequency, individual commodities (e.g., 
in the form of pockets) having plural layers of different sizes, 
thicknesses and/or shapes. Thus, if the mechanism for transferring 
discrete commodities is designed to remove successive commodities from a 
stack, the dimensions of the stack are limited (i.e., the stack cannot 
contain a relatively large number of overlapping commodities) because the 
stability of a stack of commodities each of which includes (or at least 
some of which include) at least one relatively thick portion and a 
relatively thin portion is nil or close to nil as soon as the height of 
the stack reaches a relatively low value. Therefore, and if the 
commodities are to be drawn from a magazine which contains a stack of 
overlapping commodities, the magazine must be refilled at frequent 
intervals in order to avoid collapsing of stacks (consisting of 
commodities having portions of greater thickness and portions of lesser 
thickness) in the magazine proper, during introduction of stacks into the 
magazine or at the location of assembly of such commodities into stacks. 
Moreover, the operation of such apparatus must be continuously monitored 
by one or more persons in order to avoid unsatisfactory transfer of 
commodities from the magazine, unsatisfactory introduction of stacked 
commodities into the magazine, unsatisfactory gathering of commodities 
into stacks during introduction into the magazine or unsatisfactory 
formation of stacks outside of the magazine. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,073,460 granted Jan. 15, 1963 to Richert et al. for 
"Equipment for continuously charging an edgewise conveying system" 
discloses an apparatus wherein compression fingers affixed to two endless 
chains define a series of spaces for sheets which are to be advanced into 
the range of a suction-operated separating device. A drawback of the 
patented apparatus is that the compression fingers cannot adequately 
control the movements of sheets during advancement of sheets all the way 
to the separating device. Reasonably reliable guidance of the sheets is 
ensured only after the sheets leave the path of the compression fingers 
and advance along a stationary platform into the range of the separating 
device. 
Swiss Pat. No. 473 724 granted Jun. 15, 1969 to Stobb discloses an 
apparatus for lifting a succession of stacks of paper sheets toward a 
withdrawing device which removes sheets from the top of the stack below 
it. Such stack is lifted by a plate which provides room for introduction 
of a fresh stack below it as soon as the bottom part of the expiring stack 
has risen to a preselected level. This apparatus cannot manipulate tall 
stacks of sheet-like commodities having portions of different thicknesses. 
German patent application Serial No. 27 32 837 of Himmelsbach (published 
Feb. 8, 1979) discloses an apparatus for accumulating stacks of 
overlapping sheets on a platform between successive pairs of separators 
which advance past a rotary sheet-supplying conveyor. The inventor named 
in the German patent application wishes to gather coffee bags and like 
commodities into relatively small stacks each of which is to contain a 
given number of commodities. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can singularize 
all kinds of sheets, panels, plates, laminates and/or analogous 
commodities with equal facility and wherein the commodities are confined 
and guided in a novel and improved way during advancement to a station for 
singularization or withdrawal of individual commodities. 
Another object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with novel and 
improved means for transporting stacks of substantially sheet-like 
commodities (which may but need not have constant thicknesses) to a 
transfer station. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method 
of transporting stacks of overlapping sheets or analogous commodities to a 
sheet withdrawing or singularizing station. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide the above outlined 
apparatus with novel and improved means for temporarily separating 
successive stacks of a series of stacks of paper sheets or analogous 
commodities from each other. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with 
novel and improved means for ensuring predictable positioning of 
commodities arriving at the transfer station. 
A further object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with novel 
and improved means for ensuring predictable and reliable gathering of a 
requisite number of stacked sheets or analogous commodities upstream of 
the transfer station. 
Another object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with novel and 
improved means for merging successive stacks of sheet-like commodities on 
their way toward the singularizing or withdrawing station. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can 
properly manipulate larger or smaller sheet-like commodities as well as 
commodities of constant thickness or commodities having one or more 
portions of a first thickness and one or more portions of a different 
second thickness. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can 
be readily installed in existing production lines as a superior substitute 
for heretofore known apparatus for singularizing successive accumulations 
of overlapping sheet-like commodities. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is embodied in an apparatus for transferring successive 
sheet-like commodities (hereinafter called sheets and intended to embrace 
sheets of paper or the like, panels, plates, pockets, laminates and the 
like) from stacks of sheets. The improved apparatus comprises sheet 
transporting means having a series of neighboring compartments for stacks 
of overlapping sheets, mobile partitions between neighboring compartments, 
and means for advancing the partitions in a predetermined direction along 
a predetermined path wherein the compartments form at least one file of 
successive compartments. The apparatus further comprises means for 
removing sheets from stacks in successive compartments arriving at a 
transfer station adjacent a predetermined portion of the path, and means 
for moving the partitions relative to the neighboring compartments not 
later than at the transfer station from operative positions in which the 
partitions separate the stacks in the neighboring compartments from each 
other to retracted positions in which the stack in the compartment about 
to reach the transfer station is free to merge into a remnant of the stack 
at the transfer station. 
The removing means (which can also be called singularizing means if it is 
designed to remove one sheet at a time) can include means for arresting 
successive sheets or groups of sheets of the stack at the transfer station 
in a predetermined position, and means for evacuating (e.g., by suction 
and/or otherwise) successive arrested sheets or groups of sheets from the 
respective compartment. 
The transporting means preferably further comprises a preferably stationary 
bottom which defines the predetermined path. The partitions are inclined 
relative to and extend from the bottom in their operative positions. Each 
compartment is preferably provided with at least one open side (e.g., the 
side opposite the bottom) for admission of stacks at a second portion of 
the predetermined path upstream of the transfer station (as seen in the 
predetermined direction). 
The bottom preferably serves as a means for slidably supporting the stacks 
in compartments between those partitions which advance or which are 
between stages of advancement toward the transfer station. The 
compartments are or can be dimensioned to receive stacks of sheets which 
rest edgewise on the bottom. The orientation of sheets in the stacks 
confined in the compartments of the transporting means is preferably such 
that the exposed sides of the two outermost sheets of each stack in a 
compartment confront the partitions separating such compartment from the 
neighboring compartments during advancement of partitions (and during the 
intervals between advancements of partitions) toward the transfer station. 
At least a portion of the bottom preferably slopes in the predetermined 
direction downwardly toward the transfer station, and the angle of slope 
is or can be such that the stack in each compartment advancing toward the 
transfer station causes one of its outermost sheets (namely the foremost 
sheet) to abut the respective partition under the action of gravity (or 
because the stack fills the respective compartment from upstream partition 
to downstream partition). 
The advancing means can comprise at least one endless conveyor for the 
partitions, and such at least one conveyor is or can be mounted in such a 
way that it includes a first reach or stretch along which the partitions 
advance toward the transfer station and a return reach or stretch along 
which the partitions advance downstream of the transfer station. The 
stationary bottom is adjacent those compartments which are disposed 
between partitions affixed to and sharing the movements of the first reach 
of the at least one endless conveyor. 
Each partition can comprise a plurality of (e.g., two) components (e.g., in 
the form of elongated prongs, tines, rods, pins or the like) each having a 
portion movably affixed to the at least one conveyor and each movable in a 
slot which is provided therefor in the stationary bottom. The components 
are or can be substantially normal to the bottom in the operative 
positions of the respective partitions. The bottom is preferably disposed 
between the compartments on the one hand, and the first reach of the at 
least one conveyor and the portions of those components which are affixed 
to the first reach on the other hand. 
The components can be affixed to the at least one conveyor (e.g., an 
endless chain conveyor) in such a way that they are pivotable relative to 
the at least one conveyor through predetermined angles (e.g., angles 
approaching or matching 90.degree.). 
The apparatus can further comprise means (e.g., a discrete stationary track 
adjacent each slot of the bottom) for locking the components of the 
partitions while the respective partitions assume their operative 
positions during advancement of their components along the first reach of 
the at least one conveyor toward the transfer station. The locking means 
(such as the aforementioned tracks) can be said to constitute a blocking 
device which engages the portions of the components to limit the thus 
engaged components to advancement relative to the bottom solely in the 
predetermined direction while the respective partitions share the movement 
of the first reach of the at least one conveyor toward the transfer 
station. 
The moving means can include means for pivoting the portions of the 
components at the transfer station (e.g., slightly ahead of the transfer 
station) from first positions corresponding to the operative positions of 
the respective partitions to second positions corresponding to the 
retracted or inoperative positions of the respective partitions. The 
components of the partitions are or can be located at a level below the 
bottom in the second positions of their portions. 
As already mentioned above, the means for locking the components of the 
partitions in the operative positions of the respective partitions can 
comprise at least one stationary track extending along the first reach of 
the at least one conveyor to prevent pivoting of the components during 
advancement toward the transfer station, and the at least one track can 
include a spring-biased yieldable portion which is disposed at the 
transfer station to permit pivoting of components from the first to the 
second positions of their portions. The means for pivoting the portions of 
components forming part of the partitions can include a mobile tilting 
member (e.g., in the form of a reciprocable beam extending transversely of 
the predetermined direction) and means (e.g., a fluid-operated motor) for 
moving the tilting member against the portions of components forming part 
of the partition which is located at least close to the transfer station. 
The advancing means can include means (e.g., a stepping motor) for 
intermittently driving the at least one conveyor for the partitions, and 
means for starting the driving means including means for monitoring the 
position of the stack at the transfer station relative to the removing 
means. 
The apparatus can also comprise means for detecting the presence and 
absence of stacks in compartments in a second portion of the predetermined 
path upstream of the transfer station and for initiating the introduction 
of stacks into unfilled compartments upon detection of a predetermined 
number (e.g., one, two or three) of unfilled compartments. 
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention 
are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus 
itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, 
together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best 
understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain 
presently preferred specific embodiments with reference to the 
accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 shows an apparatus which is used to transfer successive sheets 7 
from stacks (a file of eight stacks 8a, 8b, 8c, . . . 8g, 8h can be 
actually seen in FIG. 1) in discrete compartments 23 of a stack 
transporting unit 1 to a remote location or station 16, e.g., to a station 
where the sheets 7 are inserted into, placed below, placed onto or 
otherwise assembled with piles or other accumulations of similar or 
different sheets, not shown. 
The transporting unit 1 serves to advance successive stacks 8a, 8b, . . . 
into the range of a group 2 of devices which perform the function of 
delivering successive discrete sheets 7 from a transfer station 4 to the 
aforementioned remote location or station 16. The group 2 includes a sheet 
removing or stack singularizing device 6 which is installed at the 
transfer station 4 and transfers successive discrete sheets 7 into the 
range of tongs 11 or an analogous clamping device of the group 2. The 
clamping device 11 is reciprocable in directions indicated by a 
double-headed arrow 9 and delivers successive sheets 7 into the range of a 
composite conveying device 3 here shown as including two endless belt 
conveyors 12, 13 serving to advance successive sheets 7 in the direction 
indicated by an arrow 14 and to the remote location or station 16. 
In the apparatus of FIG. 1, successive sheets 7 are positively held during 
transport all the way from the foremost stack 8a at the transfer station 4 
to the remote location 16. The manner in which the sheets 7 arriving at 
the location 16 are processed forms no part of the present invention. By 
way of example only, such sheets can constitute cover sheets of pads, 
catalogues, books, booklets, manuals or the like; they can constitute 
pockets for insertion into advertising literature, diaries or address 
books; or they can be used as dividers in stationery products or the like. 
The sheet removing device 6 includes a suction head 17 which is pivotable 
or rotatable about a fixed axis and is connected to a suitable suction 
generating device 18. The device 6 further includes a stop 22 which serves 
as a means for arresting successive foremost sheets 7 of the stack (8a in 
FIG. 1) at the transfer station 4 in a predetermined position for proper 
engagement by the suction head 17. The latter is designed to operate in 
such a way that it deflects a portion of the foremost sheet 7 of the stack 
8a at the transfer station 4 into the range of the clamping device 11 
which thereupon extracts the thus clamped sheet from the respective 
compartment 23 and advances the sheet in one of the directions indicated 
by the arrow 9, namely into the nip of the belt conveyors 12 and 13. The 
clamping device 11 causes the properly engaged sheet 7 to slide over the 
top of a barrier 19 extending across the path of the compartments 23 
toward the transfer station 4. The stop 22 is pivoted back and forth in 
directions indicated by a double-headed arrow 21 to ensure that the 
configuration of the stepwise diminishing remnant of the stack (8a in FIG. 
1) at the transfer station 4 is not unduly changed as a result of removal 
of successive sheets 7 by the device 6 in conjunction with the clamping 
device 11. 
The entire group 2 including the removing device 6, the clamping device 11 
and the conveying device 3 can be of conventional design as long as it is 
capable of reliably removing successive foremost sheets 7 of the stack 8a 
being located at the transfer station 4. 
The path for the advancement of successive compartments 23 toward the 
transfer station 4 is defined by a stationary bottom 24 which can be said 
to form part of the transporting unit 1 and slopes (either entirely or in 
part) downwardly toward the transfer station 4 in the direction (arrow 36) 
of stepwise advancement of successive compartments 23 and the stacks 
therein toward the sheet removing device 6. 
The neighboring compartments 23 of the file of such compartments are 
separated from each other by composite partitions 26 which, in accordance 
with a feature of the invention, are movable between operative or extended 
positions (FIGS. 2 and 4) and retracted or inoperative positions (FIGS. 3 
and 5) at a level below the bottom 24. The partitions 26 form part of the 
transporting unit 1 and the latter further comprises means 27 for 
advancing the partitions along an endless path a portion of which 
coincides with the path defined by the upper side of the bottom 24 and 
extends toward, past and beyond the transfer station 4. The advancing 
means 27 of the apparatus which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises two 
endless chain conveyors 37 installed in two parallel vertical planes which 
are spaced apart from each other as seen transversely of the direction 
(arrow 36) of advancement of compartments 23, partitions 26 and stacks 8a, 
8b, . . . along the bottom 24 toward the transfer station 4. Each chain 
conveyor 37 has an elongated upper reach or first reach which is adjacent 
the underside of the bottom 24, and an elongated second or return reach 62 
for advancement of partitions 26 beyond the transfer station 4 and back 
toward the upper end of the bottom 24. 
The chain conveyors 37 are trained over suitable idler sprocket wheels 28 
and a driven sprocket wheel 29 which latter can receive torque from a 
prime mover 32 (e.g., an electric stepping motor) when the prime mover is 
started in response to an appropriate signal from a control circuit 31. 
As can be best seen in FIG. 2, each partition 26 comprises two discrete 
elongated rod-, pin-, stud-, prong-, bar- or strip-shaped or analogous 
components 33 which are pivotable relative to each other and relative to 
the respective chain conveyors 37, as well as relative to the bottom 24, 
between the first positions of FIG. 2 (corresponding to the operative 
position of the respective partition 26) and the second positions of FIG. 
3 (corresponding to the retracted or inoperative position of the 
respective partition). When they are caused to assume their first 
positions, the components 33 forming part of the partitions 26 adjacent 
the bottom 24 are normal or substantially normal to the upper side of the 
bottom (see also FIG. 1). The bottom 24 is provided with two spaced-apart 
elongated parallel slots 34, one for each component 33 of a partition 26 
advancing from the top of the bottom 24 toward the transfer station 4. The 
partitions 26 are then operative to separate the stacks 8a, 8b . . . in 
neighboring compartments 23 from each other during intermittent 
advancement of successive stacks toward the transfer station 4, i.e., into 
the range of the sheet removing or stack singularizing device 6. 
At least those links 38 of the chains 37 which are adjacent the underside 
of the bottom 24 are confined to movement in the direction as indicated by 
the arrow 36 due to the provision of two stationary guides 39 (FIGS. 2 and 
3) which are affixed to a stationary base plate 42 below the bottom 24. At 
least some of the links 38 forming part of each of the chain conveyors 37 
are provided with roller-shaped or other suitable followers 41 which 
extend into the respective guides 39 with requisite play to reduce 
friction between the chain conveyors 37 and the stationary structure 
including the bottom 24, the guides 39 and the base plate 42 when the 
prime mover 32 is on. 
The components 33 of the partitions 26 include base portions 43 which are 
located at a level below the bottom 24 during advancement of the 
respective partitions in the direction of the arrow 36 and toward the 
transfer station 4. The base portions 43 are movably secured to the 
adjacent links 38 of the respective chain conveyors 37 by pintles 44 
having axes extending in the direction of arrow 36 during advancement of 
the respective partitions 26 from the upper end of the bottom 24 toward 
the transfer station 4. As can be best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, at least 
those links 38 which carry base portions 43 of the components 33 include 
substantially U-shaped sections or yokes 46 having parallel legs for the 
end portions of the respective pintles 44 and flanking the corresponding 
base portions 43. 
The base portions 43 of the components 33 have flat surfaces or facets 47 
(FIGS. 2 and 5) which abut and can slide along the complementary upper 
sides of two elongated tracks or rails 48 disposed beneath the bottom 24 
adjacent the respective slots 34. The tracks 48 can be said to constitute 
a composite locking device which serves to reliably block or prevent any 
pivoting of the components 33 relative to the bottom 24 and the respective 
chain conveyors 37 during advancement of the respective partitions 26 from 
the upper end of the bottom 24 toward the transfer station 4. FIG. 1 shows 
one of the two tracks or rails 48; such track is spaced apart from the 
underside of the bottom 24 and the latter is located between the filled 
compartments 23 on the one hand, and the base portions 43 and the tracks 
48 on the other hand. 
In lieu of two discrete tracks 48, the improved apparatus can employ a 
relatively wide single track which extends all the way between the two 
slots 34 so that one of its marginal portions can stabilize one component 
33 and its other marginal portion can stabilize the other component 33 of 
a partition 26 extending beyond the upper side of the bottom 24, i.e., 
such single track can maintain both components 33 of each partition 26 
between a pair of filled compartments 23 (or between a pair of 
compartments capable of receiving stacks of sheets 7) in their first 
positions corresponding to the operative position of the respective 
partition. 
At least some of the compartments 23 above the bottom 24 can remain empty 
during the initial stage of their movement toward the transfer station. 
The exact construction of the means for introducing individual sheets 7, 
groups of two or more sheets 7 or complete preassembled stacks of sheets 
into the compartments 23 above the bottom 24 can be of any suitable 
design, e.g., of the type described and shown in the aforediscussed 
published German patent application Serial No. 27 32 837 to Himmelsbach. 
All that counts is to ensure that the compartment 23 at the transfer 
station 4 (and preferably also the compartment immediately following the 
compartment 23 at 4) contains a stack of sheets 7. The nature of the 
illustrated sheet removing device 6 is such that it can singularize the 
sheets 7 of the foremost stack (8a) while the sheets 7 rest edgewise on 
the downwardly sloping upper side of the bottom 24. 
The inclination of the upper side of the bottom 24 in the transporting unit 
1 of the improved apparatus is selected in such a way that the exposed 
side of the leftmost sheet 7 in each compartment 23 containing a stack 
(8b, 8c, . . . ) of sheets abuts the adjacent (downstream) partition 26. 
At the same time, the exposed side of the other outermost (i.e., rearmost) 
sheet 7 in an at least partially filled compartment 23 also confronts the 
adjacent partition 26. At least the upper sides of those compartments 23 
which are located above the bottom 24 are (or can be) at least temporarily 
open in order to permit convenient introduction of complete stacks of 
sheets 7 or individual sheets or groups of sheets which are to form stacks 
in the respective compartments. If the compartments 23 which are adjacent 
the upper side of the bottom 24 are filled by the sheets of the stacks 
(8b, 8c, . . . ) therein, the fact that the selected slope of the upper 
side of the bottom 24 enables the centrifugal force to maintain the 
exposed side of the foremost sheet 7 of a stack in abutment with the 
components 33 of the adjacent partition 26 is of no consequence. 
The feature that the upper side of the bottom 24 slopes downwardly toward 
the transfer station 4 brings about the additional advantage that this 
facilitates the introduction of stacks or constituents of stacks into the 
compartments 23 and guarantees that each stack assumes a predetermined 
optimum position relative to the immediately preceding (downstream) 
partition 26 not later than upon arrival at a locus immediately upstream 
of the transfer station 4. 
The prime mover 32 can be controlled (at 31) to maintain the chain 
conveyors 37 in uninterrupted motion, in continuous stepwise motion or to 
advance the chain conveyors 37 only when necessary in order to maintain 
the foremost sheet(s) of the foremost stack (8a in FIG. 1) in optimum 
position(s) for removal by the suction head 17 of the device 6. As shown 
in FIG. 1, an input of the control circuit 31 for the prime mover 32 
receives signals from a monitoring device 49, and such signals are or can 
be used to start the prime mover if the position of the stack (8a) at the 
transfer station 4 must be changed in order to ensure predictable and 
optimal removal of successive sheets 7 for insertion into the clamping 
device 11. The monitoring device 49 can be designed to generate signals 
which denote the force with which the foremost sheet 7 of the stack (8a) 
at the station 4 abuts the stop 19. If the force is below a threshold 
value, the control circuit 31 processes the thus obtained signal into a 
signal which starts the prime mover 32 so that the partition 26a between 
the stacks 8a and 8b shown in FIG. 1 moves the rearmost sheet of the stack 
8a toward the stop 19 in order to move the foremost sheet 7 of the stack 
8a to the predetermined (optimum) position for extraction from the 
respective compartment 23. 
The components 33 of the partition 26a are or can be moved out of the way 
(i.e., away from the path for advancement of stacks 8b, 8c, . . . toward 
the transfer station 4) when they assume the positions of FIG. 1 or when 
they move close to (e.g., slightly beyond or slightly upstream of) such 
positions. This enables the stack 8b of FIG. 1 to merge into the remnant 
of the stack 8a so that the removal of successive sheets 7 from the thus 
obtained combined or merged stack 8a+8b can proceed without any 
interruptions. 
The means for moving the components 33 of successive partitions 26 out of 
the way to permit the stack (8b) in the compartment 23 immediately 
upstream of the transfer station 4 to merge into the remnant of the stack 
(8a) at the station 4 includes a mobile pivoting or tilting member 54 
which can be moved up and down by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and 
piston assembly 56. The base portions 43 of the components 33 are provided 
with followers 51. The followers 51 and the major parts of the components 
33 together constitute what can be termed bell crank levers each having a 
longer arm extending between two stacks of sheets 7 in the first position 
of the respective component 33 and a shorter arm constituted by the 
follower 51. Each such bell crank lever is pivotable about the axis of the 
respective pintle 44. The components 33 are fixed in their first positions 
as long as the facets 47 of their base portions 43 bear against the 
adjacent upper sides of the respective tracks 48. Thus, the partitions 26 
continue to dwell in their operative positions as long as the base 
portions 43 of their components 33 continue to bear against the upper 
sides of the respective tracks 48. 
The fixed portions of the tracks 48 end slightly ahead of the transfer 
station 4. This can be readily seen in FIG. 1 which also shows that the 
tracks 48 further include yieldable portions 52 which are biased upwardly 
by coil springs 53 reacting against the fixed base plate 42. The springs 
53 tend to maintain the yieldable portions 52 in their raised positions 
(FIGS. 1 and 2) in which the upper sides of such portions 52 are flush 
with the upper sides of the fixed major portions of the tracks 48. The 
prime mover 32 brings the chain conveyors 37 to a halt as soon as the base 
portions 43 of two components 33 forming part of a partition 26 reach the 
yieldable portions 52. The cylinder and piston assembly 56 is then started 
to move the pivoting or tilting member 54 downwardly, i.e., against the 
base portions 43 resting on the respective spring-biased yieldable 
portions 52 of the corresponding tracks 48. This causes the components 33 
above the portions 52 to pivot about the axes of the corresponding pintles 
44 whereby the portions 52 descend against the opposition of the 
associated coil springs 53 and the components 33 are compelled to pivot to 
their second positions (FIGS. 3 and 5) in which they are located beneath 
the adjacent portion of the bottom 24. In pivoting the components 33 of 
the partition 26 immediately upstream of the transfer station 4, the 
pivoting or tilting member 54 bears against the followers 51 of the base 
portions 43 of such components. 
The pivoting or tilting member 54 is attached to rivets 57 or other 
suitable guides which are movably mounted in the base plate 42 and serve 
to confine the member 54 to reciprocatory movements in a vertical plane 
and transversely of the direction indicated by the arrow 36. The member 54 
causes the portions 52 of the tracks 48 to descend against the opposition 
of the respective coil springs 53 so that the pivoted components 33 (see 
FIGS. 3 and 5) are reliably held in their respective second positions by 
the tilting member 54 (which is then urged downwardly by the cylinder and 
piston assembly 56) and by the respective portions 52 of the tracks 48 
because the portions 52 are biased upwardly by the respective coil springs 
53. 
The cylinder and piston assembly 56 constitutes but one form of means for 
moving the tilting member 54 in a sense to pivot the followers 51 of the 
base portions 43, i.e., to pivot the components 33 of the partition 26a at 
the transfer station 4 to the second positions at a level below the 
adjacent portion of the bottom 24. 
The bottom 24 is provided with a transversely extending slot 59 which is in 
line with the pivoting or tilting member 54 and provides room for pivoting 
of the components 33 beneath the bottom as soon as the cylinder and piston 
assembly 56 causes the member 54 to complete a downward stroke and to 
depress the portions 52 of the tracks 48 by way of the adjacent components 
33. Once they assume their second positions (FIG. 3), the components 33 of 
the partition 26a abut the upper side of a plate-like abutment 61 which 
can be made of a suitable plastic material and is installed in the space 
between the stationary guides 39. The base portions 43 of the components 
33 have additional plane surfaces or facets 58 which abut the adjacent 
vertically yieldable portions 52 of the corresponding tracks 48 when the 
components 33 of the partition 26a complete their pivotal movement from 
the first positions of FIGS. 2 and 4 to the second positions of FIGS. 3 
and 5. The facets 58 are substantially vertical in the first positions and 
they are substantially horizontal in the second positions of the 
respective components 33. On the other hand, the facets 47 are 
substantially horizontal in the first positions and they are substantially 
vertical in the second positions of the respective components 33. 
FIG. 5 shows that the free end portions of the components 33 forming part 
of a partition 26 are flattened so that they can readily bypass each other 
during movement of such components from the first positions of FIG. 2 or 4 
to the second positions which are shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. 
As can be seen in FIG. 3, the components 33 of the partition 26a at the 
transfer station 4 are located entirely at a level below the adjacent 
portion of the bottom 24 when they are compelled to assume their second 
positions (corresponding to the retracted or inoperative position of the 
respective partition 26a). This ensures that the components 33 cannot 
interfere with the merger of the foremost intact stack (8b in FIG. 1) into 
the preceding stack (8a in FIG. 1), i.e., into the remnant of that stack 
whose sheets are being transferred by the device 6. Moreover, when they 
assume the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the components 33 enable the 
sheets 7 of the freshly merged stack 8b to advance toward the transfer 
station 4 by sliding along the adjacent portion of the bottom 24. 
As already mentioned above, the abutment 61 for the components 33 (in the 
second positions of such components) can be made of a suitable plastic 
material and serves as a track along which the components 33 slide on 
their way past and beyond the transfer station 4. The thus advancing 
components 33 move beyond the respective spring-biased yieldable members 
52 which are needed primarily or exclusively at a level below the 
vertically movable pivoting or tilting member 54 of the means for moving 
the components 33 to their second positions. 
The components 33 which have advanced beyond the driven sprocket wheel 29 
and the adjacent idler sprocket wheel 28 are no longer compelled to remain 
in their second positions so that they can pivot back to the first 
positions under the action of gravity. The thus reerected components 33 
advance back toward the upper end of the bottom 24 within an enclosure or 
housing 63 which confines the return reach 62 of the composite conveyor 
27. The housing 63 ends immediately or shortly downstream of the upper 
idler sprocket wheel 28 for the endless chain conveyors 37. This ensures 
that the compartments 23 advancing beyond the housing 63 are accessible at 
least from above to receive stacks of sheets 7 not later than at least 
slightly upstream of the transfer station 4. 
The sensor 64 is shown in FIG. 1 twice. Its right-hand position (close to 
and somewhat upstream of the transfer station 4) is the right position. 
This sensor monitors the adjacent compartment for the presence or absence 
of a stack of sheets 7 therein. If the monitored compartment 23 is empty, 
this normally indicates that all of the compartments upstream of the 
sensor 64 are empty (it is assumed here that stacks of sheets 7 are being 
fed into successive compartments 23 at a single location downstream of the 
housing 63 and at least slightly upstream of the sensor 64). The signal 
from the sensor 64 then induces the control circuit 31 to generate a 
visible, audible and/or otherwise detectable signal which indicates to the 
operator(s) that the compartments 23 upstream of the sensor 64 require 
refilling or actually initiates introduction of sheets or entire stacks 
into such compartments. 
An important advantage of the improved apparatus is that the magazine 
including the compartments 23 above the bottom 24 can store a large 
quantity of sheets 7 (i.e., a substantial composite pile of sheets) even 
if the thickness of the sheets is not uniform, e.g., if the sheets 
constitute pockets or like articles including several panels which only 
partially overlie each other. Such sheets cannot be gathered into tall or 
long stacks but can be readily stored, in large quantities, in the form of 
a file or series of neighboring relatively small stacks each of which is 
confined in a discrete compartment. 
The feature that the partitions 26 are movable relative to the neighboring 
compartments 23 between operative and retracted positions renders it 
possible to ensure that the components 33 of the partitions cannot 
interfere with uninterrupted advancement of successive sheets 7 to the 
transfer station 4 even though the sheets are not supplied in the form of 
a single elongated stack but rather in the form of a file of relatively 
small or short stacks. The dimensions of the transporting unit 1 can be 
increased practically at will, i.e., the number of compartments 23 above 
the bottom 24 can be less than but can also exceed (and if necessary 
greatly exceed) the number shown in FIG. 1. 
The tendency of the sheets 7 in the compartments 23 to change their 
inclination due to gravity (i.e., as a result of adequate selection of the 
angle of slope of the upper side of the bottom 24) is actually an 
advantage because this facilitates the merger of the foremost complete 
stack (such as 8b in FIG. 1) into the remnant of the preceding stack (8a 
in FIG. 1) when the need arises, i.e., when the components 33 of the 
partition 26a immediately or closely upstream of the transfer station 4 
are to be pivoted from the first positions of FIGS. 2 and 4 to the second 
positions of FIGS. 3 and 5. Moreover, the inclination of the upper side of 
the bottom 24 downwardly toward the transfer station 4 in the direction 
(arrow 36) of advancement of partitions 26 toward the sheet removing or 
singularizing device 6 enables the force of gravity to assist in the 
advancement (sliding movements) of the sheets 7 and the stacks of such 
sheets along the bottom 24 and toward the stop 19. A substantial portion 
of the weight of each stack of sheets 7 is borne by the partition 26 
immediately in front of such stack so that the extent of frictional 
engagement between the lower edges of the sheets 7 and the upper side of 
the bottom 24 is not very pronounced. 
The dimensions, the material and hence the strength of the components 33 of 
the partitions 26 can be selected practically at will. Furthermore, it is 
clear that the illustrated means for pivoting the components 33 between 
their first and second positions can be modified or replaced with 
different means without departing from the spirit of the present 
invention. 
The aforediscussed design of the transporting unit 1 including the bottom 
24, the partitions 26 and the compartments 23 renders it possible to 
confine large quantities of sheets 7 upstream of the transfer station 4 
without risking misalignment of sheets relative to each other in a given 
compartment and/or misalignment of neighboring stacks relative to each 
other. This, in turn, renders it possible to avoid continuous visual 
monitoring of the supply of sheets upstream of the transfer station 4 as 
well as to automate the admission of sheets and stacks into the 
compartments and the advancement of sheets and stacks along the bottom 24 
and toward the sheet removing device 6. 
Still another important advantage of the apparatus is its compactness as 
well as its simplicity. Thus, a substantial quantity of sheets 7 can be 
maintained in a state of readiness for advancement toward the transfer 
station 4 by resorting to very simple and inexpensive parts and to simple, 
compact and reliable control elements. The apparatus can be installed in 
many existing production lines for the making of stationery products 
and/or any other products wherein discrete sheets or groups of 
predetermined numbers of sheets must be transferred from a magazine to a 
remote location with a high degree of reliability irrespective of the 
exact nature of the transferred commodities. 
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of 
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, 
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, 
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential 
characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of the above outlined 
contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are 
intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of 
the appended claims.