Jogger for straightening sheets in tiers

A jogger for straightening material in tiers. The material rests against at least two lateral baffles associated with adjacent sides of a stack-supporting surface. The stack-supporting surface can vibrate. A gantry travels back and forth in the same plane as the stack-supporting surface. The stack-supporting surface can be tilted out of the horizontal toward the two lateral baffles. A top-covering plate (21) is mounted in the gantry (16) and parallels the stack-supporting surface (3). The stack (40) is accommodated between the top-covering plate and the stack-supporting surface. Mechanisms (22) accommodated in the gantry lower the top-covering plate onto and raise it off the stack-supporting surface. Blowers (30 & 31) for forcing wind between the tiers are accommodated in at least one (25) of the lateral baffles (25, 26, & 27). At least one side-covering plate (33 or 34) closes off the space between the stack-supporting surface and the top-covering plate. The side-covering plate can be positioned at a right angle to the first lateral baffle by mechanisms for moving the covering plate toward and away from the parallel second lateral baffle. The stack is accordingly enclosed all around with the exception of an outlet for the wind.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention concerns a jogger for straightening material in 
tiers. The material rests against at least two lateral baffles associated 
with adjacent sides of a stack-supporting surface. The stack-supporting 
surface can vibrate. A gantry travels back and forth in the same plane as 
the stack-supporting surface. The stack-supporting surface can be tilted 
out of the horizontal toward the two lateral baffles. 
The purpose of tilting a jogger's stack-supporting surface toward is to 
align the edges of any sheets resting on the surface against the lateral 
baffles. To eliminate friction between the sheets, the stack is winded 
before being jogged. The winding occurs in a separate device. To prevent 
the sheets from shifting after being jogged, the stack is compacted by a 
press bar and the wind is expressed by a mechanism that strokes over the 
top of the stack away from the press bar to the other side. The stack 
emerges from this procedure in the form of a dense block that can be 
forwarded to a downstream trimmer for example. The stack is usually jogged 
by vibrating the tilted stack-supporting surface. The wind is usually 
expressed by a roller that lowers onto the stack and rolls over it. 
A jogger of the aforesaid type is known form German GM 9 004 711. Since the 
stack being jogged is secured on the stack-supporting surface only by the 
two lateral baffles, the surface can be tilted only to a limited extent. 
It accordingly takes longer to jog the separate tiers against the lateral 
baffles and straighten up the stack. The procedure takes even longer when 
the sheets in the stack are relatively rough-surfaced. The squeegee 
rollers ascend and descend pneumatically on the traveling gantry. The 
jogger lacks an integrated winder. 
A stack reverser is known from the brochure Herold-Stapelwende, published 
by Maschinenfabrik H. Herold, Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany. The stack 
is straightened by jogging. A continuous top-covering plate parallels the 
stack-supporting surface and rises and lowers on it. Blowers mounted on 
opposite sides of the device force wind in between the tiers. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the present invention is an improved jogger of the aforesaid 
type that will rapidly straighten the stack and precisely align the edges 
of the sheets without consuming too much power and extensively 
independently of the properties of the material being jogged. 
This object is attained in accordance with the invention in the generic 
jogger by 
a top-covering plate mounted in the gantry and 
paralleling the stack-supporting surface, whereby the stack is accommodated 
between the top-covering plate and the stack-supporting surface, 
mechanisms accommodated in the gantry and lowering the top-covering plate 
onto and raising it off the stack-supporting surface, 
blowers for forcing wind between the tiers and accommodated in at least one 
of the lateral baffles, 
at least one side-covering plate for closing off the space between the 
stack-supporting surface and the top-covering plate, whereby the 
side-covering plate can be positioned at a right angle to the first 
lateral baffle by mechanisms for moving the covering plate toward and away 
from the parallel second lateral baffle. 
It is essential to the jogger in accordance with the invention for at least 
one side of the stack, preferably the side the wind emerges from, to be 
completely covered. This feature will promote rapid jogging with a minimum 
of wind and accordingly consuming little energy. The bottom of the stack 
is accordingly covered by the stack-supporting surface and the top of the 
stack by the top-covering plate. The term covering indicates that the 
stack is entirely or extensively covered in the vicinity of the plate to 
prevent leakage or ensure minimal or acceptable leakage of wind. The stack 
is also enclosed along three of its four sides, specifically at least by 
the two or more lateral buffers positioned at a right angle to each other 
and by the side-covering plate that forms a U in conjunction with them. 
The wind enters between the two lateral baffles, the side-covering plate, 
the top-covering plate, and the stack-supporting surface essentially 
through the blowers associated with the first lateral baffle in this 
embodiment and travels through the sheets that constitute the stack, 
exiting from the uncovered side opposite the first lateral baffle. 
Additional blowers can of course be integrated into the second lateral 
baffle and even into one or more of the covering plates. 
The top-covering plate in another embodiment of the invention is in several 
parts that slide together and apart in a specific direction. The 
multiple-part covering plate makes it possible in conjunction with the one 
or more and preferably two side-covering plates at a right angle to the 
first lateral baffle to vary the size of the space, which constitutes a 
wind chamber in accordance with the size of the sheets. The wind will 
accordingly enter the stack at an ideal distance from the components that 
enclose it and from the blowers accommodated in the components. The 
side-covering plates are preferably secured in the top-covering plate 
perpendicular to it and accordingly perpendicular to the stack-supporting 
surface as well. The jogger in accordance with the invention accordingly 
makes it possible to ideally handle stacks of different height. 
The top-covering plate can in particular be rectangular and tripartite. One 
component can be a T-shaped base mounted in the gantry. Its other two 
components can slide together and apart, into the remainder of the 
rectangular cross-section, in the base. This design will ensure that the 
top-covering plate covers the stack with no significant gap even when the 
other two components are positioned together on top of the T-shaped base. 
The other two components are preferably actuated in a practical procedure 
by two pneumatic cylinders mounted on the top of the base with piston rods 
engaging the other components. The two side-covering plates are preferably 
positioned on the apart-facing sides of the other two components, each 
mounted in the other component. The side of the top-covering plate facing 
away from the first lateral baffle can also accommodate several and 
especially two holddowns for holding down the stack. 
Another embodiment of the jogger features a third lateral baffle that forms 
the shape of a U in conjunction with the first and second lateral baffle. 
The third lateral baffle makes it possible to jog at two corners of the 
jogger. The two side-covering plates are also provided for this purpose, 
although either only the second or only the third lateral baffle 
participates along with whatever side-covering plate is associated with 
the unemployed baffle. Blowers for forcing wind between the tiers can be 
integrated into the second and/or the third lateral baffle as well as into 
the first. 
The blowers integrated into the first lateral baffle in one embodiment of 
the invention have stationary stabilizing nozzles and, perpendicular to 
the surface of the first lateral baffle, moving fanning nozzles, with 
stabilizing nozzles at the ends of the first lateral baffle. The blowers 
in the second and third lateral baffles need only stationary stabilizing 
nozzles. 
The stack can be particularly effectively winded over its total width 
before being jogged when stabilizing nozzles associated with a specific 
lateral baffle are accommodated with the fanning nozzles between them 
essentially at the ends of the baffle. The external stabilizing nozzles 
accordingly constantly replace from outside the wind escaping from between 
the sheets, while the internal traveling fanning nozzles wind, in 
accordance with their position, only specific tiers of the stack. The area 
of the outlet of each stabilizing nozzle can to advantage be adjusted to 
the properties of the sheets being jogged. The top and bottom of the 
outlet can be adjusted or closed off in accordance with the height of the 
stack. Depending on the dimensions of the sheets and on the direction of 
jogging, accordingly, the supply of wind to the external stabilizing 
nozzles can be completely discontinued with the stack resting against the 
first and second lateral baffles or against the first and third lateral 
baffles. The fanning nozzles should have a slide with outlets of limited 
height. It is practical for the width of the outlets alone to be 
individually adjusted to the properties of the material being jogged. It 
is of advantage for the slide to travel back and forth to ensure that the 
outlets will emit wind only at the momentary height of the stack. 
The top-covering plate and especially its base can have additional blowers 
for generating a cushion of wind between it and the top of the stack. The 
top-covering plate and especially its base can have auxiliary jogging 
baffles that can be aimed toward the first lateral baffle in the area of 
the stack-supporting surface facing away from that baffle. After brief 
winding and jogging, the auxiliary jogging baffles can be lowered in front 
of the stack and slowly and gently advanced along the stack to the desired 
sheet size. Any sheets still projecting will simultaneously be inserted 
into the winded stack. 
The jogger can also have a mechanized holder that can reach through a 
breach in the first lateral baffle and clamp down on one tier of the 
stack. The breach can be provided with a seal to prevent or extensively 
inhibit wind from leaking through it when the holder is disengaged. 
The top-covering plate employed in the present invention accordingly 
demarcates the surface of the stack facing away from the stack-supporting 
surface. It allows the surface to tilt farther out of the horizontal, 
90.degree. for example, than it could without a top-covering plate. Also 
essential is for the top-covering plate to operate in conjunction with the 
blowers. The stationary stabilizing nozzles wind the full width of the 
stack, and the wind escaping at the unenclosed side of the stack is 
constantly replaced. The top-covering plate is opened, raised 
perpendicular to the stack-supporting surface, that is, in accordance with 
how high the separate tiers float. The stabilizing nozzles simultaneously 
prevent the stack from S-curving. The traveling fanning nozzles also 
travel up and down the stack, winding whatever section they cover. The 
nozzles can be adjusted to sheets of a wide range of materials. Winding is 
reinforced by jogging the stack on the stack-supporting surface. The 
fanning nozzles gently lift the winded section from the associated baffle. 
Once the fanning nozzles have passed, the just winded section of the stack 
will settle back subject to its own weight against its associated baffle. 
As hereintofore indicated, the top-covering plate must not force individual 
tiers against the stack-supporting surface while the stack is being 
winded, which would prevent the tiers from floating. A probe aimed between 
the stack-supporting surface and the top-covering plate and traveling 
perpendicular to the surface of that plate will accordingly be of 
advantage for establishing the top-covering plate in a particular ideal 
position. The probe will constantly detect the level of the stack and 
adjust the top-covering plate accordingly. 
A belt with fanning brushes can be mounted on the same side of the 
top-covering plate as the blowers in the jogger in accordance with the 
invention. The belt can be constantly advanced with the brushes facing the 
stack traveling up. The result will be even more ideal fanning, allowing 
the blowers to inject wind more effectively between the individual tiers. 
The structure and position of the top-covering plate is of particular 
significance to the jogger in accordance with the invention. Mounting it 
in the gantry makes it possible to advance it out from above the 
stack-supporting surface so that the surface can accept a stack unimpeded. 
The multiple parts that comprise the top-covering plate make it possible 
to adjust it to tiers of different sheet size, with the blowers always at 
a prescribed distance from the stack that is independent of the size of 
the sheets. As hereintofore indicated, the basic structure of the jogger 
in accordance with the invention ensures that a stack that is to be winded 
and jogged is completely enclosed except for an area for the wind to 
escape out of. A parallelepipedal stack will accordingly be closed off on 
five of its six sides. It is basically conceivable to close off the sixth 
side as well if the component that closes it off has an outlet for the 
wind. A third side-covering plate with at least one wind outlet can for 
example be positioned parallel to and away from the first lateral baffle 
and travel back and forth laterally and perpendicularly thereto. The wind 
inside the space occupied by the stack can be rendered more directional if 
the side is closed off by a funnel with a vacuum at its outlet instead of 
by the third side-covering plate. 
Further characteristics of the present invention will be evident from the 
subsidiary claims, the specification, and the figures. All individual 
characteristics and all combinations thereof are essential to the 
invention. 
One embodiment of the invention will now be specified by way of example 
without in any way limiting its scope with reference to the drawing, 
wherein

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a jogger 1. A stack-supporting surface 3 rests on 
a stand 2 on a base 4. Stand 2 is bifurcated and has a post 6 on each side 
and a piston-and-cylinder mechanism 7 in the middle. A flanged section 8 
of stand 2 accommodates a bearing 10 that pivots around an axis 9. Another 
piston-and-cylinder mechanism 11 positioned remote from axis 9 on an arm 
12 on post 6 engages bearing 10. 
A known vibrator 13 vibrates stack-supporting surface 3 by a known 
procedure. Stack-supporting surface 3 pivots on an axis 5 perpendicular to 
axis 9 subject to another piston-and-cylinder mechanism 14. One end of 
piston-and-cylinder mechanism 14 is connected to the bottom of 
stack-supporting surface 3 and away from axis 5 and the other end to 
bearing 10. Piston-and-cylinder mechanism 7 is responsible for raising and 
lowering stack-supporting surface 3, and piston-and-cylinder mechanism 11 
for tilting it upright, 90.degree., around axis 9. Piston-and-cylinder 
mechanism 14, finally, is responsible for pivoting the stack-supporting 
surface at least 20.degree. to either side around axis 5, as represented 
with respect to one side in FIG. 8. The surface can of course be tilted 
around axes 5 and 9 at the same time. 
Secured on each side to the bottom of stack-supporting surface 3 are two 
tracks 15. A gantry 16 extends across stack-supporting surface 3 and 
travels back and forth along tracks 15. Gantry 16 is controlled by a 
cylinder 18. Cylinder 18 lacks a piston and is attached to one upright 17 
of gantry 16. A cogged belt 19 is positioned on each side of 
stack-supporting surface 3. Cogged belts 19 are connected by a gang shaft 
20 and ensure that gantry 16 will travel square. A top-covering plate 21 
travels back and forth parallel to stack-supporting surface 3 in gantry 
16. Top-covering plate 21 is controlled by a motor through a transmission 
22. Transmission 22 includes a friction clutch. As will be evident from 
FIG. 3, top-covering plate 21 has the same rectangular shape and 
essentially the same dimensions as stack-supporting surface 3. Since 
top-covering plate 21 is in three parts, it can be adjusted to cover areas 
of different size. Top-covering plate 21 comprises a T-shaped base 21a 
secured in gantry 16 and two components 21b and 21c that slide together 
and apart in base 21a. When apart, components 21b and 21c occupy the 
residual area of the rectangular top-covering plate 21. FIG. 3 illustrates 
top-covering plate 21 with components 21b and 21c apart and accordingly 
covering the largest area possible. Top covering-plate base 21a and 
components 21b and 21c are dimensioned to ensure that the gap between base 
21a and component 21b and the gap between base 21a and component 21c will 
be as narrow as possible. Two pneumatic cylinders 23a and 23b are secured 
to the upper system of top covering-plate base 21a. Cylinders 23a and 23b 
operate in conjunction with piston rods 24a and 24b secured to top 
covering-plate components 21b and 21c. 
The jogger 1 in accordance with the present invention is intended for 
jogging a stack 40 of material in two directions. It accordingly includes 
three lateral baffles for the stack to impact against on three 
corresponding sides of stack-supporting surface 3. First lateral baffle 25 
is secured stationary to one side of stack-supporting surface 3, second 
lateral baffle 26 is associated with one end of stack-supporting surface 
3, and third lateral baffle 27 is associated with the other end of the 
surface. Second lateral baffle 26 and third lateral baffle 27 are parallel 
and can be raised and lowered in relation to stack-supporting surface 3 by 
an unillustrated mechanism. A cheek 29 for securing stack 40 travels 
perpendicular to each lateral baffle 26 and 27 subject to a 
piston-and-cylinder mechanism 28. 
While it is being jogged, the stack is winded by blowers integrated into 
lateral baffles 25, 26, and 27. The blowers comprise stabilizing nozzles 
30 or fanning nozzles 31 or both. Since the direction the wind travels in 
is mainly dictated by the longer first lateral baffle 25, first lateral 
baffle 25 should have not only the stationary stabilizing nozzles 30 but 
also fanning nozzles 31, which travel perpendicular to the 
stack-supporting surface 3. Stabilizing nozzles 30 in particular should be 
accommodated in the ends of first lateral baffle 25 that face lateral 
baffles 26 and 27. It will be sufficient for the lateral baffles 26 and 27 
associated with the sides of stack-supporting surface 3 to have only 
stationary stabilizing nozzles 30 integrated into them. Either the area of 
the wind outlets in each stabilizing nozzle 30 is adjustable, or the top 
and bottom of each outlet can be blocked off in accordance with how high 
stack 40 is, or the whole outlet can be blocked off. These features are 
not illustrated in the drawing. Fanning nozzles 31 can be provided with 
slides perforated to a limited extent. This feature is also no 
illustrated. 
The illustrated jogger can have two side-covering plates 33 and 34 
associated with and separable from top covering-plate components 2lb and 
21c. The figures illustrate only the side-covering plate 33 associated 
with component 21c and employed for jogging in the right-hand corner of 
the jogger. Another side-covering plate 34, indicated raised by the broken 
lines, would be employed instead for jogging in the left-hand corner. 
Side-covering plate 34 would be positioned on top covering-plate component 
21b symmetrical with respect to a plane 32 of symmetry perpendicular to 
stack-supporting surface 3. Each side-covering plate 33 and 34 is 
accordingly mounted on the top covering-plate component 21b or 21c facing 
the corner between first lateral baffle 25 and second lateral baffle 26 or 
between first lateral baffle 25 and third lateral baffle 27 the stack 40 
is being jogged in. As will be evident from FIG. 1, side-covering plate 33 
can be positioned perpendicular to first lateral baffle 25 and displaced 
perpendicular to the plane of top covering-plate component 21c by an 
electrically operated mechanism 35 accommodated in that component. 
Side-covering plate 33 is accordingly associated with third lateral baffle 
27 and side-covering plate 34 with second lateral baffle 26. Another 
mechanism associated with top covering-plate component 21b positions 
second lateral baffle 26. 
How the jogger hereintofore basically specified operates will now be 
specified. 
Jogger 1 is assumed to be initially in the state illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 
2 and with gantry 16 in the position illustrated in FIG. 2. A stack 40 to 
be jogged is laid off onto the horizontal stack-supporting surface 3. If 
the stack is to be jogged in the left-hand corner 36 of surface 3, 
side-covering plate 34 will be removed and only side-covering plate 33 
will in accordance with the invention be employed. Once stack 40 is 
resting on stack-supporting surface 3, top-covering plate 21 is advanced 
over them and the second lateral baffle 26, which is associated with 
left-hand corner 36, is entirely extracted into the position represented 
by the dot-and-dash lines. With first lateral baffle 25 stationary and 
second lateral baffle 26 disengaged, stack-supporting surface 3 can be 
tilted to one side into the position illustrated in FIG. 8 (toward both 
first lateral baffle 25 and second lateral baffle 26). Stack 40, which 
consists of various tiers, will accordingly be oriented toward both 
baffles when the jogger is turned on. The operation of the jogger in 
accordance with the invention is up to this point similar to that of a 
conventional jogger. 
In accordance with the present invention, however, transmission 22 will now 
lower top-covering plate 21 toward stack 40 with stack-supporting surface 
3 either slightly tilted or in the initial position illustrated in FIGS. 1 
and 2. A probe 41 accommodated in top covering-plate base 21a and 
illustrated only in FIG. 2 will now locate the top of stack 40 and will 
ensure that transmission 22 positions top-covering plate 21 at a 
prescribed distance away from the top of the stack. 
Stack 40 is specifically composed of sheets of paper, cardboard, plastic, 
etc. Side-covering plate 33 operates on the side of stack 40 that faces 
second lateral baffle 26. Plate 33 is lowered by mechanism 35 onto the 
surface of stack-supporting surface 3 as illustrated in FIG. 8. Top 
covering-plate component 21c has already been engaged by its associated 
pneumatic cylinder 23a to adjust the length of top-covering plate 21 in 
the vicinity of its components 21b and 21c to that of the stack. Top 
covering-plate component 21c is advanced, that is, until side-covering 
plate 33 is adjacent to the associated side of the stack. The stack is 
accordingly completely enclosed, closed off on five sides, that is, as far 
as the side of stand 2 facing first lateral baffle 25. The resulting wind 
chamber can automatically be adjusted to the size of the sheets and the 
height of the stack in order to minimize loss of wind. 
The jogging mechanism is now actuated along with the stabilizing nozzles 30 
and fanning nozzles 31 in lateral baffles 25 and 26 (but not the nozzles 
in the unemployed third lateral baffle 27). Stack-supporting surface 3 is 
tilted to the desired angel. The tiers in stack 40 will float on the 
intervening wind between stack-supporting surface 3 and top-covering plate 
21. Stabilizing nozzles 30 wind the entire width of stack 40 and prevent 
it from S-curving. Fanning nozzles 31 briefly lift the just winded section 
of the stack from the associated lateral baffles 25 and 26. It should be 
attempted to ensure that a narrow gap is initially left as side-covering 
plate 33 descends onto the surface of stack-supporting surface 3 and that 
the plate will be slowly and gently advanced past the stack. Top-covering 
plate 21 can be adjusted to smaller sheets in this way by engaging 
pneumatic cylinder 23a. The purpose of side-covering plate 33, and of 
side-covering plate 34 as well of course when it is employed, is to 
prevent wind from escaping at the side and to help straighten the stack. 
Top covering-plate base 21a can also accommodate other, unillustrated, 
nozzles to generate a cushion of wind between stack 40 and top-covering 
plate 21 while the stack is being jogged. FIG. 3 also illustrates two 
holddowns 37 accommodated in base 21a on the side of top-covering plate 21 
facing away from first lateral baffle 25. Holddowns 37 are intended to 
hold stack 40 down tight on stack-supporting surface 3. The gap of 
approximately 20 to 40 mm between top-covering plate 21 and stack 40 
promotes the separation and floating of the separate tiers. The stack 40 
is secured with a narrow and variable gap between lateral baffles 25 and 
26. Separately projecting tiers must be prevented from skewing. The 
jogging can be optimized by, especially two, variable auxiliary jogging 
baffles 38 near plane 32 of symmetry and facing first lateral baffle 25 on 
the side of top covering-plate base 21a facing away from that baffle. 
Auxiliary jogging baffles 38 act on the side of the stack facing away from 
first lateral baffle 25. Auxiliary jogging baffles 38 can also be adjusted 
to the size of the sheets and the height of the stack. After brief winding 
and jogging, auxiliary jogging baffles 38 are lowered approximately 20 mm 
off the stack and slowly and gently advanced past the stack to the 
prescribed sheet size by an auxiliary transmission. Any projecting tiers 
will be forced into the winded stack. 
Once one tier of the stack has been jogged and stack-supporting surface 3 
has been returned to the horizontal, another tier can be jogged on top of 
the first. In this event the holder 42 illustrated in FIG. 7 and actuated 
by a pneumatic cylinder 39 will reach through a breach 43 in first lateral 
baffle 25 and descend on the lower tier to clamp it against 
stack-supporting surface 3 while the second tier is being added. Breach 43 
can be provided with a seal 44 to prevent or extensively inhibit wind from 
leaking through it when the holder is disengaged, during winding and 
jogging, that is. 
As will be particularly evident from FIGS. 3 through 5, the wind is 
supplied to the stabilizing nozzles 30 and fanning nozzles 31 associated 
with lateral baffles 25, 26, and 27 through a distributor 45. The 
invention need accordingly not employ only ordinary air for wind. If the 
sheets being jogged are of a material that readily accepts an electric 
charge, the wind can be ionized air. 
Subsequent to jogging, stack-supporting surface 3 is returned to the 
position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, with gantry 16 in the position 
represented by the dot-and-dash line in FIG. 2. The stack-securing cheek 
29 associated with second lateral baffle 26 is advanced over the facing 
end of stack 40 and the stack will be clamped at that site as second 
lateral baffle 26 descends. An unillustrated stroker can then express the 
wind from the stack. Such a stroker can be a roller accommodated in the 
gantry paralleling second lateral baffle 26 and rolling over the top of 
the stack. The jogged stack can then be transferred to a take-off surface 
or to another location for further processing, in a paper cutter for 
example.