| 摘要 |
An apparatus for forming and conveying stacks of documents includes a stacking machine positioned above a conveying machine. The stacking machine includes a compartment for receiving documents to be stacked. Two rotor assemblies are rotated in opposite directions to repeatedly define a closed configuration in which the documents are stacked within the compartment, and an open configuration in which a stack is dropped from the rotor assemblies to the conveying machine. The conveying machine includes a support surface upon which the stacks are sequentially dropped, and a pusher assembly for moving the stacks along the support surface. The pusher assembly includes two chain assemblies that travel around similar yet offset travel paths and carry multiple pusher bars. Each pusher bar is pivotally connected to both chain assemblies such that the pusher bars define a continuous pusher travel path, and the pusher bars remain generally upright around the entire pusher travel path. In a sequential fashion, a portion of each of the pusher bars moves from below the support surface to above the support surface, and thereafter along and above the support surface to push a stack along the support surface. The rotor assemblies and pusher bars are driven by servomotors. The servomotors provide for rapid and intermittent movement of the rotor assemblies and pusher bars, so that the interaction therebetween can be optimized in a manner that permits the apparatus to be reliably operated at a high delivery speed.
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