摘要 |
A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis. The segmented cylinder is located adjacent the article inlet and has a planar surface thereon substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the segmented cylinder. The planar surface in the segmented cylinder opens a gap between a prior article and the segmented roller, receives a single article and incrementally rotates to drive the article against a register wall, with the segmented roller continuing to rotate until the planar surface is rotated into position to open an additional gap between the stack and the segmented roller ready to receive the next article entering the article inlet.
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