Newspaper bundle feeding and storing system

Claim 1

A feeding and storing system for handling bundled newspapers and like items having substantial mass and surface area, comprising: a spiral chute extending between vertically separated feed and delivery points, and having a helix angle such that a bundle to be fed will be held by frictional forces existing between the bundle and the surface of the chute from moving down the chute under gravitation with the chute stationary; means mounting said chute for oscillating movement; means imparting oscillatory movement having a non-uniform cycle to first move said chute sufficiently rapidly in one direction to overcome the static friction between said bundle and chute portion immediately beneath said bundle to displace said chute portion relative to said bundle in said direction, then to arrest said chute momentarily, and to move said chute sufficiently slowly in the reverse direction so that no relative movement of bundle and chute occurs, and finally to arrest said chute to complete said cycle, said direcTion of rapid movement being selected to move said chute portion relative to the bundle in a direction opposite to the desired direction of bundle feed along the chute; means at each of said feed and delivery points for starting and stopping oscillatory movement of said chute; horizontal platform means to arrest a bundle at the delivery point in chute locking position; wherein said spiral chute comprises a central vertical column, a first ramp spiralling around said column and a second ramp spiralling around said column with its convolutions interposed intermediate the convolution of said first ramp; each of said first and second spiral ramps having an in-put at said feed point and an output at said delivery point.