Stacking method

Abstract

Stacking apparatus and method for generally flat objects, particularly useful for the stacking of magazines by zip code. According to the invention, a continuous input stream of the objects is alternately diverted in preselected numbers pursuant to a shift signal to first and second hoppers or bins wherein the objects are deposited in stacks, the stacks when completed being alternately ejected from the hoppers onto common conveyor means whereon they are merged into a single output series of stacks. In one form of the invention an input feeder receives the output flow of magazines from a labeler; a vertically shiftable separator alternately directs sequences of the generally flat objects to upper and lower feed conveyors which in turn alternately feed the sequences of objects to side-by-side hoppers. "Live" rollers moving at right angles to the feed conveyors underlie and extend as stack output conveyor means from the hoppers. In an automatic zip code stacking embodiment of the invention, the shift signal is provided without requiring delay means from an optical reader located on the labeler that feeds the stacking apparatus, shift registration for diverting the objects being provided in the label printout wherein a label is marked for optical reading for a zip code change that is located a fixed number of labels behind the zip code change label in the sequence.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.