Sheet material stacking and transfer apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus for accumulating sheet material in stacked relation on a vertically descending tray and transferring the stack for subsequent processing. An oscillating transfer mechanism is positioned in the path of movement of the tray as it is lowered. The tray and stack is pivoted by cam means into a complemental position with the transfer mechanism and as it passes the transfer mechanism is deposits the accumulated stack on the transfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism is then oscillated to remove the stack. When the stacking tray has assumed its transfer mode, an auxiliary sheet material receiving tray is formed by rotating two vanes from a vertical to horizontal position to receive subsequent sheets. Upon return of the stack tray to its initial position, the vanes are rotated back to their horizontal position dropping the accumulated sheets to the tray. A deflector which decelerates and positions the sheet material in the stack remains in contact with the stack and senses the level of the stack on the descending tray to deactivate the drive lowering the tray to assure that the stack reaches a certain height before transfer is effected.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.