Machine for handling shingles or similar sheet-like pieces

Claim 1

A MACHINE FOR HANDLING SHINGLES OR SIMILAR SHEETLIKE PIECES COMPRISING A TRAY FOR RECEIVING SHINGLES FROM ONE DIRECTION, A SHINGLE ASSEMBLY BOX SPACED THEREFROM, A CONVEYOR FOR TRANSFERRING SHINGLES IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE THE RECEIVING DIRECTION FROM THE TRAY TO THE BOX WHERE THEY ACCUMULATE IN A PILE, A RECIPROCATING PUSHER FOR MOVING SHINGLES IN THE SAME TRANSVERSE DIRECTION FROM THE TRAY TO THE CONVEYOR, AND A SHINGLE FLIPPING FINGER MOUNTED ABOVE THE PLANE OF THE CONVEYOR UPON A PIVOT SHAFT FROM WHICH IT IS ADAPTED TO HANG DOWNWARDLY WITH ITS LOWER END ACROSS THE PATH OF SHINGLE MOVEMENT AS THE SHINGLES TRAVEL FROM THE TRAY TO THE BOX, SAID LOWER END BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE LEADING EDGE OF A SHINGLE, LATCH MEANS NORMALLY HOLDING SAID FINGER OUT OF THE PATH OF SHINGLE MOVEMENT, MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID LATCH MEANS TO PERMIT ENGAGEMENT WITH A SELECTED SHINGLE, SAID FINGER WHEN RELEASED AND ENGAGED BY A SHINGLE BEING ADAPTED TO BE SWUNG BY THE SHINGLE AND TO GUIDE SAID LEADING EDGE UPWARDLY AS THE SHINGLE MOVES FROM THE TRAY TO THE BOX WHEREBY TO PERMIT THE FOLLOWING EDGE TO PASS UNDER THE LEADING EDGE AND ITSELF BECOME THE LEADING EDGE AND THEN TO ALLOW THE SHINGLE TO FALL TO THE CONVEYOR FOR DELIVERY TO THE BOX IN INVERTED POSITION.