REQUIREMENTS FOR STANDARD FORMAL ESTABLISHMENTS

摘要

An apparatus and method for stacking a plurality of flat articles on edge, comprising a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles in a stack, the discharge magazine including moveable discharge support belts adapted to support the stack of articles on edge and a moveable compression plate to maintain the articles on edge. A drive element is provided for controllably moving the discharge support belts. A stacker section adjacent the discharge magazine transports articles sequentially into the stack, the stacker section comprising stacker belts extending around a plurality of rollers. The last of the articles in the stack abuts against the stacker belts adjacent one of the rollers to apply a compressive force developed by the stack of flat articles and the compression plate to the one roller. The one roller is movably mounted to the apparatus for movement responsive to increases and decreases in the compressive force. A deflection plate is positioned proximate the one moveable roller to deflect leaning sides of the articles from inadvertently applying pressure to the moveable roller. An actuator element is operatively connected to and responsive to movement of the one roller and connected to the drive element for activating the drive belts and the discharge support belts to transport the stack of flat articles away from the stacker section when the compressive force reaches a predetermined maximum value.