Signature stacker employing swingable intercept means driven in a non-linear fashion

摘要

A signature stacker having an infeed section for receiving a continuous stream of signatures arranged in overlapping fashion to form either compensated or uncompensated bundles having a predetermined and precise number of signatures. Counter means in the infeed section counts each signature in the stream to generate a signal upon accumulation of a predetermined count to activate a retractable stop means which enables a preloaded swingable intercept blade to be abruptly urged into the path of the signature stream which is passing from the infeed conveyor towards a reciprocating blade assembly. The signatures for the bundle being completed are deposited by a downwardly moving reciprocating stacking blade assembly upon the bundle holding bucket of an outfeed assembly, said intercept blade passing through the intercept region for a period sufficient to enable the stacking blade assembly to move downwardly to deposit a completed bundle (or bundle portion) and to return to the uppermost position in readiness for receiving the next group of signatures.