Rockwell International Corporation

Paul D Siniscal

J Paige Benzing

Lawrence J Bain

David L Hebert

Victor F Rana

Louis G Matte

Robert D Eckerson

An apparatus for removing newspapers from a container in a newspaper live storage buffer having an indexing unit for moving the containers individually from the buffer's conveying device to an unloading position. In the unloading position a pneumatically controlled paddle is raised to engage the newspapers within the container and at approximately the same time a gate forming the bottom of the container is unlatched to permit it to swing to an open position. The paddle is then lowered and is effective in guiding the newspapers into an arcuated channel from which they are delivered for further processing downstream of the buffer.

Newspaper container unloading apparatus

A live storage buffer for receiving newspapers from a printing press which includes an endless conveyor having carriers adapted to travel about the pathway of the conveyor and to removably support newspaper container members thereon. A pair of spaced transfer conveyors operatively associated with the endless conveyor are adapted to sequentially receive and then return the containers to the endless conveyor. On one transfer conveyor the containers are positioned by an indexing member at a location for receiving a supply of newspapers, and on the other transfer conveyor the containers are indexed to a position where the newspapers are unloaded for further processing downstream of the storage buffer.

Newspaper live storage buffer

An apparatus for receiving bundles of newspapers from a first conveyor and for discharging the bundles into a second conveyor which is travelling in a direction substantially normal to the direction of travel of the first conveyor, the apparatus including a bundle receiving surface, means for laterally positioning each bundle at a preselected position on the surface and driven bundle engaging paddles for moving the bundles in a direction that has a component of movement that is substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the second conveyor.

Bundle entry device

For a newspaper mail room having a closed-loop track and an endless cart train whose carts are adapted to carry a pair of newspaper bundles for delivery to the exit end of the system, an exit conveyor system is provided which includes a first bundle-spacing section comprising a power-driven roller conveyor disposed parallel to the cart-train track and having drag means for effecting desired spacing between individual bundles, followed by a second bundle-turning section comprising a power-driven off-center belt conveyor parallel to the cart-train track for applying forward pull to the undersurface of only a portion of a received bundle for rotating the bundle about its vertical axis into an angular orientation for delivery into the 90.degree. bend of a gravity exit chute which extends at right angles to the cart-train track. A bundle speed-control device is provided near the bottom of the exit chute comprising retardation gate means for slowing down the bundle and delivering it at desired speed to a transverse discharge belt conveyor located at the base of the exit chute. The bundle carried by the discharge conveyor encounters a turning post which rotates the bundle through 90.degree. into the desired orientation for discharge to the loading dock or truck.

Exit conveyor system for newspaper mail room

A cart conveyor system for transporting bundles of newspapers from a bundle-forming region within a mail room to a loading dock includes a new cart construction which is elongated in a direction transverse to the direction of motion of the cart train, and a plurality of carts are pivotally connected end to end to form a continuous closed loop train of carts. Bundles are loaded into the cart from an overhead loading structure and the forward wall of the cart is tilted forwardly to allow the clearance of the bundle as it falls from above. The carts are then conveyed to an exit station, where a pusher blade, which pushes transversely across the width of the cart, is engaged by an overhead cam to eject parallel bundles from the cart and into a discharge chute when the cam is operated. The cart, rail and wheel construction is such that the cart is constrained to the conveyor rails. The cart platforms are provided with raised tracking surfaces to serve as a raised platform for slightly bulging newspaper stacks. The bundle entry device of the system is a novel overhead platform consisting of separable halves, each formed of transverse rollers.

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Hollis, NH, United States of America

Paul D Siniscal