Stacking device and printed sections in the form of cartridges

Automatic device for horizontal stacking and transfer of booklets in the form of bundles of stacked booklets, of the type comprising:

• conveyor for supplying printed booklets (C) in the form of a layer,
• horizontal stacking head for the booklets (C) with a vertical arrival path (1) for said booklets,
• stacking table (2) on which the booklets (C) rest on their backs,
• means arranged to form a separation between two stacked booklets so as to form a bundle of booklets (C),
• means for transferring a formed bundle of booklets, movable below and along the stacking table (2), comprising at least one bearing element (3a) projecting above the stacking table (2) and retractable below the stacking table (2) and against which bears the front end of a bundle, said bearing element being carried by a first carriage (3) and at least one abutment element (4a) drivable between a position retracted below the stacking table (2) and a position projecting above the stacking table (2), in which position said abutment element (4a) extends against the rear end of a formed bundle, said abutment element (4a) being introduced between two separated booklets (C) and being carried by a second carriage (4), said carriages (3, 4) being drivable below and along the stacking table (2),
• bearing element (6) for a new bundle undergoing formation carried by a third movable carriage (7) below and along the stacking table, said bearing member (6) being drivable between a position retracted below the stacking table and a position projecting above the table, and
• means for the distribution and emplacement of front and rear plates at the ends of a bundle from a store of plates,
• characterized in that the first carriage (3), the second carriage (4) and the third carriage (7) are drivable independently of each other in the direction of advance of the stacking table (2) and in the contrary direction in the course of stacking the booklets, the second and third carriages (4, 7) being respectively drivable with the relative movement in the direction of advance of the stacking table and in the opposite direction relative to a plate emplaced transversely on the stacking table by the distribution means and the means for emplacing plates disposed adjacent the stacking point, during the appearance of the separation space in the stacked booklets, to emplace a plate at the rear end of the formed bundle and a plate at the forward end of the bundle undergoing formation.