Abstract:
A storable transfer conveyor system for moving bundles from an upstream conveyor to a downstream conveyor utilizing a storable transfer conveyor which is movable from a first operative position, wherein the bundles are transferred to the downstream conveyor, to a second stored position on top of the downstream conveyor. When the storable transfer conveyor is in the second stored position, nearly all of the floor space occupied by the storable transfer conveyor when it was in the first operative position is vacated and available for another use and for operators to freely traverse the formerly occupied floor space. Transfer of the storable transfer conveyor is preferably nearly entirely by powered conveyors, requiring very minimal manual effort on the part of the operators of the equipment. In some applications, the storable transfer conveyor may be manually pushed or pulled in and out of a stored position. Transfer of the transfer conveyor from the first operative position to the second stored position requires no additional floor space to effect the move. The transfer and its return requires no uncoupling and re-coupling of hydraulic hoses, power cables, or control cords.

Description:
This invention relates to a dual path transfer conveyor system for either moving full stacks of cardboard/corrugated from an upstream conveyor to a downstream conveyor or for moving bundles of perforated or nicked card board/corrugated to a bundle breaker machine located at a right angle to the upstream conveyor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is common to stack cardboard sheets in full stacks which are then conveyed in a straight line by a floor level conveyor to another machine or stacked on pallets. One form of sheet stacker is found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,901,250 granted to Martin on Aug. 25, 1959. 
     It is also common, since as early as 1979 as shown in Schmidt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,604, to create small stacks of cardboard/corrugated (referred to as bundles and to move these bundles from the aforementioned stacker on an alternate path; to a bundle breaker machine where the bundles are separated along perforated or nicked lines into multiple bundles. There are several types of bundle breaker machines, some of which can be used with the present invention. One bundle breaker which can be used with the present invention is the Martin bundle breaker disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 10/229,891 filed Aug. 28, 2002. 
     Martin et. al. Ser. No. 10/229,891 filed Aug. 28, 2002 was granted patent No. 6,655,566 on Dec. 2, 2003. Martin et. al. Ser. No 10/229,891 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,566 granted Dec. 2, 2003 is hereby incorporated by reference, in its entirety, into the present application. 
     The need to effect an easy periodic transition from moving full stacks from a stacker machine to straight line floor conveyors to moving perforated or nicked bundles to a bundle breaker has become progressively greater with the introduction of additional bundle breaking machines such as Vanhoutte of Brugge Belgium in European patent 292,067 in 1994; Lucas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,022 in 1985; Fernandez, U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,358 in 1999; Duecker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,582; granted Jul. 27, 1999; Shill, U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,267 granted in 2000 and Martin and Talken, U.S. Ser. No. 10/229,891 filed Aug. 28, 2002. Thus for the 24 years since Schmidt first introduced a bundle breaker machine, the persistent unsolved need for providing an easy way to transition the line set up from conveying full stack output from the stacker to conveying bundle output from the stacker to a bundle breaker machine has existed. 
     Prior to this invention, when it was desired to change from straight line removal of the full stacks on straight line floor conveyors to conveyance of bundles to a bundle breaker at a right angle, several different systems were in use. All of these systems required the use of a mobile roll out transfer conveyor which was wheeled into and out of the line set up. Often this mobile roll out transfer conveyor (hereafter “take away system or take away transfer conveyor) had to be stored at a relatively long distance from the stacker and bundle breaker. 
     One system which could be used was the Geo. M. Martin BOS™ Bundle Transfer System On Scissors Lift shown in  FIG. 3  (Prior Art). 
     In  FIG. 3 , Prior Art upstacker  17  is discharging full stacks  18  onto a Geo. M. Martin BOS™ Bundle Transfer System On Scissors Lift, hereafter sometimes referred to as an upstream conveyor  3 . As configured, the full stacks  18  proceed to a floor conveyor  20 . 
     In the set up shown in  FIG. 3  (Prior Art), the Prior Art mobile roll out take away transfer conveyor  64  is parked at a location  65  remote from both the prior art stacker  17  and the prior art unmodified bundle breaker  7 ′ so that the operator  61  can move quickly and easily from his normal operating station near controls  59  or remote boom control station  59 ′ along pathway  62  to a second station designated  61 ′. 
     When the production set up is changed, not shown, it generally takes two operators, several minutes to move the Prior Art mobile roll out take away transfer conveyor  64  from its parked remote location  65  to a position between the unmodified bundle breaker machine  7 ′, and the Geo. M. Martin BOS™ Bundle Transfer System On Scissors Lift, or upstream conveyor  3 . 
     In this second set up, not shown, the stacker  17  deposits bundles  2  onto a Geo. M. Martin BOS™ Bundle Transfer System On Scissors Lift  3 . Bundles  2  proceed to the Prior Art mobile roll out take away transfer conveyor  64  and hence to prior art unmodified bundle breaker  7 ′. 
     The reason for removing the prior art mobile roll out take away transfer conveyor  64  after the production run of bundles  2  is completed is to permit the operator of the stacker to quickly move to the downstream end of the up stacker  17  should problems in the stacker occur. The operator must also be free to move beyond the downstream end of the stacker  17  and observe the operation of the downstream floor conveyors  20  and to return quickly to the controls  59  of the stacker  17  if necessary. The operator may also need to move adjacent to or even onto the upstream conveyor  3  to place dunnage boards on upstream conveyor  3  or place shipping tags on full stacks  18 . 
     Periodic removal of even a small conveyor from one part of a crowded factory floor to another equally crowded part of the factory is a problem without an easy solution. As one production engineer recently stated, “real estate on a busy factory floor is more expensive than real estate in downtown San Francisco.”. Thus the need for a way to store the prior art mobile roll out take away transfer conveyor  64  without taking up space on the factory floor is apparent. 
     Instead of moving a conveyor on castors to another part of the factory, some efforts have been made to permit the small roll out transfer take away conveyor to be mounted on a pivot and pivoted out of the way. Others have provided tilting mechanisms which tilt the small take away conveyor at an angle to take up less floor space. None of these measures have proved to be satisfactory. 
     Finally, but not less important, the present system is designed to reduce the chance of injury to the two or more workmen formerly in charge of moving the heavy mobile roll out takeaway transfer conveyor  64  from one part of the factory floor into position between upstream conveyor  3  and unmodified bundle breaker  7 ′ and to other personnel on the factory floor who could be hit by the rolling heavy piece of machinery. 
     While this invention primarily addresses the problem of saving space on a factory floor where a bundle breaker machine is involved, the problem also may occur in any dual pathway situation where instead of a bundle breaker being the downstream side conveyor, the downstream conveyor is simply another conveyor. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The storable transfer conveyor of the present invention, is only used when the bundle breaker is in operation. When the bundle breaker is out of use, the storable transfer conveyor may be stored inside the bundle breaker. Thus, the very important objective of conserving space on the factory floor is achieved. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to be able to quickly and easily remove the storable transfer conveyor from its operative position between the bundle transfer system on scissors lift machine and the bundle breaker machine and to store it in the bundle breaker machine and then to quickly and easily return it to an operative position between the bundle transfer system on scissors lift machine and the bundle breaker machine as needed. 
     A further object of the present invention is to store the storable transfer conveyor in the bundle breaker machine so that the operator of the stacker can easily move between the upstream side of the stacker to the downstream end and beyond without interference with the storable transfer conveyor stored in the bundle breaker machine. Using the present invention, it only takes less than two minutes to change between full stack and bundle operation or visa-versa. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a powered storable transfer conveyor which can be stored within the bundle breaker machine with only minor modification of the bundle breaker. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system requiring a minimum of effort by the operator with nearly all of the motive power in making the transfer supplied by the power driven belts in the bundle breaker machine. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a system which eliminates the expensive quick disconnect couplings for the air supply, and electrical supply for the drive motors and electrical control wires used with the former takeaway system. 
     Another object is to reduce the replacement costs and maintenance costs required by the former takeaway system because of the damage and wear associated with connecting and disconnecting the electrical power and control cables as well as air lines which are part of the disconnect system. 
     Still another object is to eliminate damage to the take away transfer conveyor as well as damage done to other machines on the factory floor which occurred during movement of the take away transfer conveyor through crowded factory floors to a remote parking position. 
     A further, and very important objective is to reduce the hazard of injury to operating personnel who must move the heavy take away transfer conveyor and to other personnel on the floor of the factory floor who might be struck by the rolling machinery by eliminating the need to move the heavy take away transfer conveyor to a remote location on a busy crowed factory floor. 
     A still further object is to provide a storable transfer conveyor which may be manually pushed on rollers into the bundle breaker. 
     Still another object is to provide a storable transfer conveyor which is self powered and may be stored within the bundle breaker without the use of any manual labor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view schematic of the powered storable transfer conveyor system  1  where the conveyors are at floor conveyor elevation of about 12″, showing storable transfer conveyor  5  of the present invention stored within modified bundle breaker machine  7 . Modified bundle breaker machine  7  and storable transfer conveyor  5  are shown in a nonoperating mode. Full stacks  18  have just been discharged from prior art upstacker  17  onto prior art upstream conveyor  3  which may be a Geo. M. Martin Company BOS™ Bundle Transfer System on Scissors Lift. The full stacks are discharged to a floor conveyor  20 . 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic plan view of a storable transfer conveyor  5  of the present invention moved into an operating position between the prior art modified bundle breaker machine  7  and a Geo. M. Martin BOS™ Bundle Transfer System on Scissors Lift 3 where conveyors are at a bundle conveyor elevation of 30″ to 42″. Bundles  2  proceed to the powered storable transfer conveyor  5  to the modified bundle breaker  7 . After the bundles  2  are broken into smaller bundles  2 ′, they move to a station  19  where they are assembled into a pallet load by a prior art machine  24 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic plan view of a Prior Art mobile roll out take away transfer conveyor  64  parked at a location  65  remote from both the prior art stacker  17  and the prior art unmodified bundle breaker  7 ′ so that the operator  61  can move quickly and easily from his normal operating station near controls  59  or remote boom control station  59 ′ along pathway  62  to a second station designated  61 ′. Full stacks  18  move from the upstacker  17  to the up stream conveyor  3  to the floor conveyor  20 . Prior Art Bundle Breaker  7 ′ is shown but is presently out of service. 
         FIG. 4  is side view, partially in section, of an existing but modified Martin bundle breaker  7  operatively connected to a storable transfer conveyor  5  of the present invention in a bundle transfer operating mode. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the modified Martin bundle breaker  7  shown in  FIG. 4  connected to a powered storable transfer conveyor of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a portion of the powered storable transfer conveyor of the present invention taken in the vicinity of line  6 — 6  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a portion of the storable transfer conveyor of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 8 , but taken from a different angle. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the existing modified bundle breaker  7  shown in  FIG. 4  with the storable transfer conveyor of the present invention shown in a raised but not stored position 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the bundle breaker of  FIG. 8  with the storable transfer conveyor of the present invention shown in a raised position. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the bundle breaker machine of  FIG. 8  taken from a different angle with the storable transfer conveyor of the present invention in a raised but not stored position. 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the modified bundle breaker machine and storable transfer conveyor shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the bundle breaker  7  and storable transfer conveyor  5  shown in  FIG. 10  with the storable transfer conveyor  5  stored or parked inside the bundle breaker machine  7  on top of the downstream conveyor  4 . 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the bundle breaker  7  and storable transfer conveyor  5  of  FIG. 12  stored or parked inside the bundle breaker  7 . 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the bundle breaker  7  and the storable transfer conveyor  5  shown in  FIG. 12  stored or parked inside the bundle breaker  7  and taken from a different angle. 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan view of the bundle breaker  7  and the storable transfer conveyor shown in  FIG. 14  with the transfer conveyor  5  shown in  FIG. 14  with the storable transfer conveyor  5  stored or parked inside the bundle breaker  7 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In a first embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a storable transfer conveyor system  1  is provided for moving bundles  2  from an upstream conveyor  3  to a downstream conveyor  4 . 
     The storable transfer conveyor system  1  is shown in  FIG. 2  and consists of a storable transfer conveyor  5  in a first operative position A located adjacent to the upstream conveyor  3  and positioned to deliver bundles  2  to the downstream conveyor  4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the storable transfer conveyor  5  is moveable to a second stored position C in elevational juxtaposition with the downstream conveyor  4 , substantially vacating the floor area  6  formerly occupied by the storable transfer conveyor  5  in the first operative position A. 
     In its simplest form, the downstream conveyor may be any standard conveyor. For example, the conveying distance to a downstream machine such as a bundle breaker  7  as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , may be a relatively great distance and require several conveyors before the bundle breaker  7  is reached. In such event, storable transfer conveyor  5  may be stored either under or above such a standard conveyor. 
     In its simplest form, the downstream conveyor  4  need not have powered rollers or belts. In this form of the invention, the storable transfer conveyor  5  may be simply raised or lowered, and pushed under or over downstream conveyor  4 . 
     Further, storable transfer conveyor  5  need not have powered rollers. Bundles  2  may simply travel by gravity down an inclined slope on storable transfer conveyor  5  or be moved by any other hand or powered means. 
     In another preferred form of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4  of the drawings, the present invention is a transfer conveyor system  1  for moving bundles  2  from an upstream conveyor  3  to a powered downstream conveyor  4  and includes: a storable transfer conveyor  5  in a first operative position A, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , located adjacent to the upstream conveyor  3  and positioned to deliver the bundles  2  to the powered downstream conveyors  4 ′ and  4 ″; and the storable transfer conveyor  5  is moveable to a raised position B, as shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10 , for powered movement by the powered downstream conveyor  4  to a second stored position C, illustrated in  FIG. 12 , at an elevated level on top of the powered downstream conveyor  4  substantially vacating the floor area  6  occupied by the storable transfer conveyor  5  in the first operative position A. 
     Storable transfer conveyor  5  in a preferred form of the invention is more clearly shown in  FIG. 6  and has powered rollers  25  which may be powered by belts  29  driven by powered shaft  28 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12  storable transfer conveyor  5  is stored on top of downstream conveyor  4  and downstream conveyor  4  has powered pulling means such as powered belt conveyors  4 ′ and  4 ″ as shown in  FIG. 4  for pulling storable transfer conveyor  5  onto downstream conveyor  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , lift means, as indicated by arrow  8  is provided for raising the storable transfer conveyor  5  so that it can be pulled onto downstream conveyor  4  by powered belt conveyors  4 ′ and  4 ″. 
     As noted in  FIG. 1 , in transfer conveyor system  1 , the storable transfer conveyor  5  is preferably positioned adjacent and in line with the upstream conveyor  3 , but at an angle of 90° to a stacker  17 . 
     In the preferred form of the storable transfer conveyor system  1  storable transfer conveyor  5  is stored on top of downstream conveyor  4  where downstream conveyor  4  has pulling means such as powered downstream belt conveyors  4 ′ and  4 ″ for pulling storable transfer conveyor  5  onto downstream conveyor  4 . 
     Downstream conveyor  4  is best shown in  FIG. 4  where it is part of bundle breaker  7 . Downstream conveyor  4  may include two separate belt conveyors  4 ′ and  4 ″ as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Storable transfer conveyor  5  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 – 15 , may be an endless belt, powered rollers, or other type conveyor capable of transporting bundles of sheet material. A preferred form of storable transfer conveyor  5  with multiple rollers illustrated in  FIG. 6  includes a plurality of closely spaced rollers  25  journaled for rotation on a frame  26  and powered by a motor  27  illustrated in  FIG. 14  which drives shaft  28 ; best shown in  FIG. 6 . Belts  29  engage pulleys  30  mounted on drive shaft  28  and grooves (not shown) in each roller  25 . 
     The storable transfer conveyor system  1  as above described and particularly shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  6 ,  7 , and  13  may also include a storable transfer conveyor  5  which has lift means  8  which includes a down stream lift mechanism  11  and an upstream lift mechanism  48  for raising the storable transfer conveyor  5  so that it can be pulled onto downstream conveyor  4  by downstream powered belt conveyors  4 ′ and  4 ″ shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8 . 
     In transfer conveyor system  1 , where the powered downstream conveyor  4  is part of a bundle breaker machine  7 , the lift means or lifting mechanism  8  preferably includes a downstream lift mechanism  11  mounted on the bundle breaker machine  7  for lifting the downstream end  47  of the storable transfer conveyor  5 . Lifting mechanism  8  preferably also includes an upstream lift mechanism  48  mounted on the upstream end  10  of the transfer conveyor  5 . 
     In transfer conveyor system  1 , the downstream lift mechanism  11  preferably includes a hydraulic lift mechanism  12  and upstream lift mechanism  48  includes a hydraulic lift mechanism  49 . 
     Another option configuration may also include motorized caster wheels  9  for moving storable transfer conveyor  5  over downstream conveyor  4  should downstream conveyor  4  not have the drive capability to move storable transfer conveyor  5 . 
     To power wheels  9 , a motor  67  shown in  FIG. 7  may be mounted on base member  36  and operably connected by well known means (not shown) to wheels  9 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the transfer conveyor system  1  as previously described the downstream conveyor  4  is part of a bundle breaker machine  7 , as illustrated e.g. in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     Generally, in the transfer conveyor system  1  of the present invention, lifting mechanism  8  as shown generally by arrow  8  in  FIG. 4 , is provided for raising the storable transfer conveyor  5  to the raised position B, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10  for movement of the storable transfer conveyor  5  to the second stored position C on top of the powered downstream conveyor  4 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . The lifting mechanism  8  lowers the storable transfer conveyor  5  when the storable transfer conveyor  5  is moved from the second stored position C via position B to the first operative position A. 
     The storable transfer conveyor  5  may include a pair of wheels  9 , as illustrated e.g. in  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8 , for supporting and moving the upstream end  10  of the storable transfer conveyor  5  during movement of the storable transfer conveyor  5  from the first operative position A to the second stored position C. The wheels  9  need not be motorized as set forth above and the storable transfer conveyor  5  may be moved by manual power or pulled by powered downstream belt conveyors  4 ′ and  4 ″ as described below. 
     In the preferred form of the storable transfer conveyor system  1 , the downstream conveyor  4  is part of a bundle breaker machine  7  and bundles  2  are nicked so that bundles  2  may be broken into smaller bundles  2 ′ in bundle breaker machine  7 . 
     In storage transfer conveyor system  1 , the storage transfer conveyor  5  includes electrical power cables (not shown) and power control lines (not shown) connecting the storage transfer conveyor  5  and the bundle breaker machine  7  which need not be disconnected and reconnected when the storage transfer conveyor  5  is moved from the first operative position A to the second stored position C or back again to the first operative position A. 
     In a storable transfer conveyor system  1  as described, preferably a safety feature is provided as illustrated in  FIG. 4  which may consist of a cross member  16  including a projection surface or member mounted on the storable transfer conveyor  5  and a stop member  15  operably mounted on the bundle breaker machine  7 , preferably on down stream lift mechanism  11  for contacting the projection surface of cross member  16  for preventing the storable transfer conveyor  5  from accidentally falling to the floor area  6  when the powered transfer conveyor  5  is moved from the second stored position C to the first operative position A. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are schematic drawings of several machines on a factory floor which may work in conjunction with the storable transfer conveyor system  1  of the present invention. 
     Individual sheets, such as corrugated paper board are received from a corrugator, rotary die cutter, printer or other machines (not shown), and assembled into stacks  18  by a stacker  17 . Stackers are common and one such stacker is fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,901,250 granted to Martin on Aug. 25, 1959. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a full stack of sheets  18  might be assembled by the stacker  17  and routed to downstream operations via powered floor conveyors  20 . 
     Stacker  17  may also assemble sheets formed with score lines into stacks which may be referred to as bundles  2 . Where it is desirable to break a large bundle  2  into one or more smaller bundles  2 ′, the large bundles  2  are received from stacker  17  on upstream conveyor  3  and transported to storable transfer conveyor  5  where they are fed into bundle breaker machine  7  where they are broken along score lines in the sheets into smaller bundles  2 ′. Bundle breakers are well known in the art, one of which is fully described in U.S. Ser. No. 10/229,891 filed Aug. 28, 2002 by Daniel J. Talken and Merrill D. Martin and assigned to the Martin Family Trust. The smaller bundles  2 ′ may be transferred to Station  19  via a right angle conveyor  22  and conveyor  23  where they are prepared for shipment on pallets using load forming equipment  24 . 
     Conveyor frame  26  includes side rails  31  and  32  having generally planar elongated surface faces  33  and  34  which engage powered downstream conveyors  4 . Additionally, cross member  16  shown in  FIG. 4  is connected between side rails  31  and  32  with the face  68  generally aligned with surfaces  33  and  34 . This increases the surface area for engaging down stream conveyors  4 . 
     In the preferred form, storable transfer conveyor system  1  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a lifting means as indicated by arrow  8  shown in  FIG. 4  is provided for raising the storable transfer conveyor  5  to a raised position B as shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  9 , and  10  for movement to a second stored position C shown in  FIG. 13  on top of downstream conveyor  4 . Lifting mechanism  8  also lowers storable transfer conveyor  5  when storable transfer conveyor  5  is moved from second stored position C to a first operative position A shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     In the preferred form of the invention, storable transfer conveyor system  1  as shown in  FIG. 4 , for example, includes storable transfer conveyor  5  which is provided with a pair of wheels  9  for supporting and moving the upstream end  10  of transfer conveyor  5  during movement of powered storable transfer conveyor  5  from first operative position A to second stored position C. 
     Preferably lifting means designated by arrow  8  in  FIG. 4  for lifting storable transfer conveyor system  1  includes a downstream lift mechanism  11  illustrated in  FIG. 13  mounted on bundle breaker machine  7  for lifting the downstream end  47  of storable transfer conveyor  5 , and an upstream lift mechanism  48  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6  mounted on upstream end  10  of storable transfer conveyor  5  for lifting upstream end  10  of storable transfer conveyor  5 . 
     The downstream lift mechanism  11  used to raise the downstream end  47  of storable transfer conveyor  5  is best illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , and is also shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  10 , and  13 . A base  50  is attached to base frame member  51  of bundle breaker machine  7  and supports fixed frame stud  52 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , downstream lift mechanism  11  preferably is a hydraulic lift mechanism  12  which includes a hydraulic cylinder  53  mounted on base  50  and hydraulic piston rod  54  connected to cross frame channel member  55  and elevating support frame  58 . Wheel supports  56  connected to cross frame channel member  55  rotatably support wheels  57  which respectively engage generally planar elongated surface face  33  of side rail  31  and generally planar elongated surface face  34  of side rail  32 . 
     Frame  26  is supported at its upstream end  10  by an elevating mobile frame  35 , best shown in detail views in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Elevating mobile frame  35  includes a base member  36  which receives axle  37 , upon which wheels  9  are rotatably mounted, and supports frame stud  38 . 
     Upstream lift mechanism  48  for lifting the upstream end  10  of storable transfer conveyor  5  is illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . An elevating channel support frame  39  fitted with guide rollers  40  shown in  FIG. 7 , which ride along the side edges of frame stud  38 , is connected to cross frame channel member  41 . Frame  26  is pivotally connected to cross frame channel member  41  by a pin  42  mounted in pin bracket  43 . Frame  26  of storable transfer conveyor  5  is lifted by hydraulic lift mechanism  49  shown in  FIG. 6  which includes hydraulic piston rod  44  attached to cross frame channel member  41  by fitting  45  and reciprocally mounted in hydraulic cylinder  46  attached to base member  36 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 4 , powered downstream conveyor  4 , may consist of two independently powered belt conveyors  4 ′ and  4 ″ which are designed to transport bundles  2  and small bundles  2 ′ as well as to receive and pull downstream on generally elongated surface faces  33  and  34  of side rails  31 , and  32  respectively and face  68  of cross member  16  or to operate in the opposite direction and eject storable transfer conveyor  5  from bundle breaker machine  7 . 
     Operation of the transfer conveyor system  1  is as follows: Referring to  FIG. 2 , when a plurality of sheets are formed into a bundle  2  by stacker  17  and conveyed by upstream conveyor  3  to storable transfer conveyor  5 , storable transfer conveyor  5  should be in first operative position A as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4  to receive them. Bundle  2  is then moved by powered rollers  25  to powered downstream belt conveyor  4 ′, then to powered downstream belt conveyor  4 ″ after being broken into small bundles  2 ′ by the action of bundle breaker machine  7 . Small bundles  2 ′ are then conveyed to station  19  via conveyors  22  and  23  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     When the run of bundles  2  to bundle breaker machine  7  is completed, stacker  17  is programmed to deliver bundles to floor conveyor  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 . In most operations, it is essential that the operator of stacker  17  be able to move from the control panel  59  or remote boom control panel  59 ′ to floor conveyor  20  when full stacks  18  are being delivered to floor conveyor  20 . Hence, it is imperative to remove storable transfer conveyor  5  from floor area space  6 . 
     In the present invention, storable transfer conveyor  5  is removed from floor area space  6  as follows. First, the operation of powered rollers  25  is shut down. Hydraulic lift mechanism  12  on bundle breaker machine  7 , and upstream lift mechanism  48  on elevating mobile frame  35  are then activated. Storable transfer conveyor  5  is then raised from a first operative position A as viewed in  FIGS. 2 and 4  to an elevated raised position B as viewed in  FIGS. 8 ,  9 , and  10 . After storable transfer conveyor  5  is fully raised, the operator moves storable transfer conveyor  5  toward bundle breaker machine  7  until the downstream end  47  (see  FIG. 10 ) is in touching contact with powered downstream belt conveyor  4 ′. This operation may be powered, but at the present time all that is necessary is for the operator to give storable transfer conveyor  5  a slight nudge in the direction of powered downstream belt conveyor  4 ′. Once the downstream end  47  of storable transfer conveyor  5  is in contact with powered downstream belt conveyor  4 ′, the operator merely activates powered downstream belt conveyors  4 ′ and  4 ″ and transfer conveyor  5  moves on powered downstream belt conveyors  4 ′ and  4 ″, wheels  57 , and wheels  9  until storable transfer conveyor  5  reaches second stored position C as shown in  FIGS. 12 ,  13  and  14 . This entire operation takes less than two minutes. 
     To place storable transfer conveyor  5  back in first operative position A as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the process is simply repeated in reverse order. Again, the operation takes less than two minutes.