Apparatus and method for handling bundles of sheets

Claim 1

Apparatus for handling a row of bundles of sheets, comprising a first conveyor for movably supporting said bundles of sheets in an upstanding position, a second conveyor disposed adjacent said first conveyor and forming a juncture therewith and being in bundle-movement communication therewith and extending in a direction angulated to the direction of bundle movement for said first conveyor, said first conveyor having movable anti-friction support members for movably supporting said bundles of sheets on said first conveyor in a row relationship, a gate disposed at said juncture and being movably disposed into and out of the path of movement of said row of said bundles of sheets on said first conveyor for metering of the movement of the first one of said bundles of sheets in said row and relative to and toward said second conveyor, a brake operatively associated with said anti-friction members of said first conveyor and being spaced upstream from said gate and at a location relative to the second one of said bundles in said row for engaging said anti-friction members and retarding the movement of said anti-friction members and thereby holding all but the first one of said bundles of sheets relative to said first conveyor and against movement along said first conveyor, control mechanism operatively inter-connected with both said brake and said gate for operating said brake and said gate in synchronization whereby movement of said gate actuates said brake to interrupt movement of all but the first one of said bundles in said row of bundles, a guide mechanism connected with said control mechanism and including a powered device movable across said first conveyor in synchronization with the operation of said gate, and said powered device being disposed adjacent said first bundle and in line with said juncture to be engagable with said first of said bundles and diverting it off said first conveyor and onto said second conveyor, further said powered device includes a plurality of upstanding members, each upstanding member extending between said anti-friction members and above said first conveyor.