Graphic Management Associates, Inc.

Haines and Emerson, Inc.

James D Terry

David P Herigstad

Imbricated or overlapped copies of printed material are formed within a plurality of rows to form a single layer of a multi-layered and cubic-shaped stack. The stack allows for more efficient use of space for the storage of printed materials, and allows for easier and faster storing and retrieving of printed materials. The apparatus for forming the stack includes a plurality of in-feed conveyors which feed imbricated copy stream segments to a shuttle assembly upon a plurality of side-by-side rows. Once filled, the shuttle is positioned over a flat separator sheet and drops the plurality of rows onto the separator sheet, thereby forming a single layer. The layer is formed directly upon a stack which is formed upon a pallet. The separator sheet of the formed layer is supported by the copy streams which lie below on the preceding separator sheet. The resulting stack is cubic-shaped and includes a plurality of layers of a plurality of side-by-side rows of relatively flat and horizontal imbricated copy streams that run the full width of the pallet. A method of retrieving the copy streams from the stack to the conveyors uses the same apparatus for forming the stack, and is substantially the reverse of the method of forming the stack.

Method and apparatus for storing imbricated sheets upon a pallet

Imbricated or overlapped copies of printed material are formed within a plurality of rows to form a single layer of a multi-layered and cubic-shaped stack. The stack allows for more efficient use of space within the storage of printed materials, and allows for easier and faster storing and retrieving of printed materials. The apparatus for forming the stack includes a plurality of in-feed conveyors which feed imbricated copy stream segments to a shuttle assembly upon a plurality of side-by-side rows. Once filled, the shuttle is positioned over a flat separator sheet and drops the plurality of rows onto the separator sheet, thereby forming a single layer. The layer is formed directly upon a stack which is formed upon a pallet. The separator sheet of the formed layer is supported by the copy streams which lie below on the preceding separator sheet. The resulting stack is cubic-shaped and includes a plurality of layers of a plurality of side-by-side rows of relatively flat and horizontal imbricated copy streams that run the full width of the pallet. A method of retrieving the copy streams from the stack to the conveyors uses the same apparatus for forming the stack, and is substantially the reverse of the method of forming the stack.

Stack for storing imbricated sheets

The invention involves a method of and apparatus for transferring rolls of various sizes from a roll delivery vehicle to a spindle of a reel stand. A transfer table with articulated arms lifts the roll off of the vehicle and aligns the roll both in the vertical and horizontal directions so that the longitudinal axis of the roll coincides with the axis of the spindle. A unique clam shell linkage of the articulated arms allows the transfer table to handle different diameter rolls and position the different diameter rolls on spindles of different heights.

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Edmonds, WA, United States of America

James D Terry