Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
Apparatus for baling sheets, particularly folded newspapers or the like, comprising a support; means for conveying a succession of sheets onto said support, one above the other, so that the sheets pile up and form a growing stack; a transfer device operable to move fully grown stacks off said support in a predetermined direction; transporting means extending in said direction and defining an elongated path for grown stacks, said transporting means comprising a first guide device disposed below said path and contacting a first side of a grown stack thereon, a second guide device having two lateral guide members flanking said path and contacting two additional sides of a grown stack thereon, and means for driving said devices at the same speed to thereby advance grown stacks along said path by transmitting motion to said one side and to said additional sides of a grown stack in said path; a retractible stop extending across said path to arrest an oncoming grown stack in a predetermined position in which the trailing end of such stack is disposed between said lateral guide members and a circumferentially complete portion of the arrested stack remains unobstructed; and means for looping a cord or the like around the unobstructed portion of the arrested stack to thus convert the latter into a bale.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
Apparatus for baling sheets, particularly folded newspapers or the like, comprising a support; means for conveying a succession of sheets onto said support, one above the other, so that the sheets pile up and form a growing stack; a transfer device operable to move fully grown stacks off said support in a predetermined direction; transporting means extending in said direction and defining an elongated path for grown stacks, said transporting means comprising a first guide device disposed below said path and contacting a first side of a grown stack thereon, a second guide device having two lateral guide members flanking said path and contacting two additional sides of a grown stack thereon, and means for driving said devices at the same speed to thereby advance grown stacks along said path by transmitting motion to said one side and to said additional sides of a grown stack in said path; a retractible stop extending across said path to arrest an oncoming grown stack in a predetermined position in which the trailing end of such stack is disposed between said lateral guide members and a circumferentially complete portion of the arrested stack remains unobstructed; and means for looping a cord or the like around the unobstructed portion of the arrested stack to thus convert the latter into a bale.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said lateral guide members include stack-engaging portions disposed at right angles to said first guide device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first guide device comprises a conveyor located forwardly of said lateral guide members and a stationary bridge member disposed behind said conveyor, as considered in said direction, and defining therewith a gap in alignment with the unobstructed portion of that fully grown stack which is held in said predetermined position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said first guide device further comprises a second conveyor located behind said bridge member, as considered in said direction, and flanked by said lateral guide members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said lateral guide members is a conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said first guide device comprises a further conveyor disposed between said lateral guide members and arranged to advance a fully grown stack toward said stop.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stop comprises at least one panel pivotable between an operative and an inoperative position in which said panel respectively extends across and is retracted from said path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transfer device comprises a reciprocable pusher.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first guide device comprises a continuously driven conveyor on which a stack rests while abutting against said stop and which advances the bale beyond said lateral guide members upon retraction of said stop.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said path is substantially horizontal and each of said guide devices comprises at least one endless belt or chain conveyor.