Methods and apparatus for producing stacks of sheets

An apparatus for producing and conveying indexed stacks of sheets, processed from layers of wide stock, comprising:

• cutting means for successively severing the stock lengthwise to produce parallel rows of side-by-side batches of layers, the layers having lengthwise binding edges and index edges opposite one another and parallel to a conveying direction;
• lengthwise conveying means for conveying the parallel rows of batches of layers in the conveying direction;
• spacing means disposed downstream of the cutting means for spacing the batches of layers in each row apart from one another in a direction transverse to the conveying direction;
• index-punching means disposed downstream of the spacing means and having a row of adjustable punches for simutaneously removing parts of at least one of the lengthwise index edges of the layers in at least some of the batches in each row without damaging the lengthwise binding edges of layers in adjacent but spaced batches, the punches being adjusted so that at least some of the batches of layers in each row are punched differently from adjacent batches of layers in the same row by the index-punching means;
• and,
• transverse conveying means, adapted for incremental stepped conveying, disposed downstream of the index-punching means, for receiving the spaced, differently-punched batches of layers and for producing stacks of indexed sheets from the batches of layers in each row as the conveyor steps from one end of each row to the other.