Stacking mechanism and method

A mechanism for converting a shingled batch of articles to a vertically stacked batch of articles comprising:

• a. A conveyor means constrained to move continuously at a first predetermined speed;
• b. A means for depositing articles successively on a conveyor section of said conveyor means to produce a shingled array of successive articles thereon, said successive articles having the same length;
• c. A pusher means including a plurality of pushers adapted to move into the path of said shingled articles on said conveyor means and adapted to engage behind a plurality of shingled articles on said conveyor means and being constrained to move in a predetermined direction at a second predetermined speed greater than said first predetermined speed, said pushers being adapted to push said articles in front of said pushers;
• d. A retarder means including a plurality of retarders adapted to move into the path and ahead of said shingled articles on said conveyor means and constrained to be moved continuously therealong in the same predetermined direction as said pusher means at a third predetermined speed greater than zero and less than said second predetermined speed, said retarders being removable from said path and having a generally vertical rear face when in said path, whereby a batch of articles pushed by the pushers is assembled behind said moving generally vertical rear face;
• and,
• e. Means for removing said retarders from said path when the distance between said retarders and said next approaching pushers is substantially equal to the length of each of said articles, said mechanism thereby leaving a batch of articles assembled in a stack to be taken forward on said conveyor means.