Method of handling books

Claim 3

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 1 comprising moving alternate books as they travel longitudinally laterally inwardly in opposite directions toward the longitudinal center line of said path.

Claim 4

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 1 wherein the books are initially disposed vertically in end alignment generally parallel to said path of travel, and wherein the books are disposed in said first lateral positions by tipping alternate books in opposite directions about their lower edges as they travel longitudinally along said path.

Claim 5

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 1 wherein both sets of books are progressively moved laterally inwardly toward the center line of said path as the books travel longitudinally.

Claim 6

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 1 wherein alternate books are tipped in opposite directions from their initial vertical positions by thrusting a laterally moving member against the opposite sides of the upper portion of successive books as the books travel therepast.

Claim 7

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 1 wherein the books have back covers and caseboards connected by spine joints to the back covers, the books in said first lateral positions thereof have the spine joints of alternate books disposed laterally outwardly, and wherein the outer free edges of the caseboards of each book in said second lateral position thereof falls somewhat short of overlying the spine joints of each other book in the stack.

Claim 8

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 1 wherein the books in their initial vertical position have their back covers disposed uppermost.

Claim 9

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 1 comprising stopping the forward travel of books in their second lateral position, and sequentially adding them to the top of said stack by dropping them onto the stack after their forward travel has been stopped.

Claim 10

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 1 comprising retaining the bottom book of the stack at a first, upper fixed level while continuing to pile books on top of such stack, and subsequently progressively lowering the bottom of the stack while piling additional books on the top of the stack.

Claim 11

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 1 comprising terminaTing the lowering of the bottom book in the stack at a second, lower fixed level, and pressing the opposite sides of the thus lowered stack laterally inwardly toward each other to a point at which the alternate books lie in third lateral positions in which the alternate books in one set thereof are slightly offset laterally from the books in the other set thereof.

Claim 12

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 1 wherein the books have back covers and caseboards connected by spine joints to the back covers, the back covers of the books in both sets of alternate books lie laterally outwardly of the free edges of the caseboards of the contiguous books in the stack, and comprising terminating the lowering of the bottom book in the stack at a second, lower fixed level, and thereafter pressing the backs of the books on opposite sides of the thus lowered stack laterally inwardly toward each other to a point at which the outer free edges of the caseboards of each book fall slightly short of overlying the spine joints of each contiguous book in the stack.

Claim 13

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 1 wherein the books are continuously fed forwardly until stopped to be dropped onto the top of the first recited stack, retaining the bottom book of the first stack at a first, upper fixed level by at least one separator blade while continuing to pile books on the top of the first stack and while lowering a previously formed second stack of books disposed below the first stack on an elevator located below the separator blade to a lowered position wherein the lowest book of the second stack lies at a second, lower fixed level, discharging the thus lowered second stack of books from beneath the first stack, thereafter raising the elevator to a position close to and below the separator blade, retracting the separator blade to transfer the first stack of books to the elevator where they form the lower portion of a subsequent second stack, continuing to collect books as delivered on the top of the second stack, and after a predetermined desired number of books have been piled on the second stack advancing the separator blade so that subsequent books are supported on the separator blade and form a subsequent first stack.

Claim 14

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 12 comprising moving the books in the second stack endwise against stop means so as to end align the books in the second stack in a longitudinal direction.

Claim 15

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 13 wherein the end alignment of the books in the second stack takes place as the second stack is being moved to its lowered position.

Claim 16

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 12 comprising pressing the opposed side edges of the books in the second stack laterally inwardly toward each other to a point at which the alternate books lie in third lateral positions in which the alternate books in one set thereof are slightly offset laterally outwardly from the books in the other set thereof, so as to align the laterally outer edges of the books in the respective sets thereof.

Claim 17

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 15 wherein the edge alignment of the sets of books in the second stack takes place as the second stack is being moved to its lowered position.

Claim 18

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 16 comprising end aligning the books in said second stack while such second stack is moving to its lowered position by pressing the forward edges of the books against retractable stop means.

Claim 19

A method of stacking books as defined in claim 17 wherein the end alignment of the books and the edge alignment of the sets of books take place in quick succession.