Patent ID: 6840025

Claim:
Apparatus for depositing a stack of flexible articles, including: stack deposit means for contacting said stack and placing it with respect to a reference point, said stack deposit means arranged for placing said stack into a box, the box having an open end, which means includes at least one surface means for contacting the top or bottom of the stack; and means to withdraw said at least one surface means in a direction substantially parallel to the top or bottom of the stack, respectively, said at least one surface means being arranged so that any surface thereof in contact with the top or bottom of the stack, respectively, is driven by frictional contact with the stack so that said surface moves oppositely to said direction of withdrawal of the surface means at a relative speed along the top or bottom of the stack sufficiently less than the speed of said withdrawal of the surface means to substantially prevent rolling of the articles of said stack during said withdrawal; and lateral stop means positioned to at least partially block the oven end of the box for restraining said stack during said withdrawal of the surface means.