Method and apparatus for assembling and pocketing sections of

Abstract

An elongated web of exposed and developed photographic film is moved lengthwise and is severed at regular intervals to yield a succession of discrete sections. Related sections (e.g., those belonging to a customer) are assembled into groups of overlapping sections, and such groups are thereupon introduced into discrete envelopes. The assembling of groups takes place in a fan-shaped magazine having a plurality of separate compartments and being movable relative to belts or analogous transporting means for successive sections of the severed film so that each section enters a different compartment. When the magazine accumulates a group of related sections, the sections are expelled from the magazine by a pusher which moves them forwardly (i.e., in the same direction in which the sections were transported to enter the magazine) or sideways and into the respective envelope. The width of each compartment decreases in the direction of forward movement of sections or at right angles to such direction. Since the sections are out of contact with each other during introduction into the magazine, raised portions around perforations or other projections of the sections cannot cause an interlacing of sections during stacking.