US3640407A - Apparatus for handling books - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and apparatus whereby books delivered on-edge, spine-up, as by a building-in machine, are alternately tipped in opposite directions on a continuously operating belt conveyor, funneled into alignment and then stacked with the spine joints of adjacent books at opposite sides of the stack and offset to prevent crushing thereof. The progressively formed stacks are progressively lowered on a photocell-controlled elevator, jogged, and then removed to a delivery conveyor while the building of the succeeding stack is begun on an auxiliary retractable platform for subsequent transfer to the elevator.

Description

0 limited @tates Patet 51 3,640,407 Anastasia et a1. Feb. 8, 1972 [54] APR ARATUS FOR HANDLHNG BOOKS 3,477,591 11/1969 Andersson ..214/6.5

[72] Inventors: Frank J. Anastasia, Paramus; Clinton F.

Brundage, Mahwah, both of N.J.; Clarence Pmf'mry Emmnfer-c'erald Forlenza P. Stmkosch, Tappan, Assistant Exammer-George F. Abraham I AnorneyDale A. Bauer, John L. Seymour and Bauer and [73] Assignee: North American Rockwell Corporation, Seymour Pittsburgh, Pa. 221 Filed: June 17, 1969 [571 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 833,985 Method and apparatus whereby books delivered on-edge, spine-up, as by a building-in machine, are alternately tipped in opposite directions on a continuously operating belt conveyor, [52] US. Cl ..2l4/6 F, 214/6 H, 214/6 N, funneled into alignment d th n stacked with the spine joints C 2l4/6 214/65 of adjacent books at opposite sides of the stack and offset to 2; ami prevent crushing thereof. The progressively formed stacks are l 1 0 are progressively lowered on a photocell-controlled elevator, jogged, and then removed to a delivery conveyor while the [56] Referemes Cited building of the succeeding stack is begun on an auxiliary UNITED STATES PATENTS retractable platform for subsequent transfer to the elevator.

2,602,554 7/1952 Griffith ..2l4/6S 20 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEU FEB 8W2 3 640 407 SHEET '2 OF 5 I96 I56 INVENTORS CZ FRANK J. ANASTASiO .2- :7. cumou F. BRUNDAGE CLARENCE P. ST-RAKOSCH moan YS PATENIED FEB 81572 3.640.407

may 5 or 6 INVENTORS M FRANK J. ANASTASIO CLINTON F. BRUNDAGE BY CLARENCE E JSTRAKOSCH gm M ATTOR FYS PMENIEB FEB 8 I972 SHEET 6 (If 6 INVENTORS FRANK J. ANASTASIO F. BRUNDAGE P STRAKGSCHATTORN 5 @IKIJ CLINT CLAR 5m Md APFARATIJS FOR HANDLING BOOKS This invention related to an apparatus for stacking books.

The invention is particularly useful in the stacking of books which are thicker at their backbone or spine joints than throughout the remainder of the area of their covers or case boards. An example of books of this type is that wherein the spine of gathered signatures forming the body or filler of the book is rounded and backed, and the hinges or spine joints between the spine of the case or cover applied to such book body extend somewhat outwardly of the plane of the outer surfaces of the front and back case boards.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for the stacking of books.

A further object is the provision of a method of and an apparatus for producing stacks of books wherein the spines of alternate books in the stack lie on opposite sides of the stack and offset slightly in the direction of the spines from the next adjacent book or books.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a method of and an apparatus for rapidly and accurately producing stacks of books wherein the possibility of crushing the joints between the backbone and case boards is eliminated.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

FIG. I is a view in side elevation of the book alternator and stacker of the invention, the conveyors for carrying single books in sequence to the alternator and stacker station and for carrying stacks of books away from such station being frag mentarily shown;

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. I, the view being taken from theline 22 of FIG. 1, the parts of the stacker being shown in the positions which they occupy after a stack, shown in phantom, pushed from the stacker onto the delivery conveyor and the stack elevator and front stop have been returned to their upper positions, but before retraction of the auxiliary platform;

FIG. 3 is a view in plan of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the view being taken from the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

F IG. 4 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section through the alternator and stacker, the section being taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. I, the view particularly showing the retractable end stop for the book stacker in retracted position and the mechanism for operating such stop;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section through the alternator and stacker, the section being taken along theline 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section through the stack-forming portion of the apparatus, the section being taken generally along the line 6t3 of FIG. 3, certain of the parts being omitted and others being shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 7 is a view in horizontal section through the lower portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, the section being taken along theline 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. I;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the stack-forming portion of the apparatus above a partial bookstack-supporting separator or platform blade, the section being taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the stack-formin g portion of the apparatus above a side presser or jogger for a completed stack of books, the section being taken along the line IIII0 of FIG. 2.

The book alternator and stacker of the invention may be used, for example, at the delivery end of a book-forming or building-in machine from which books are delivered in upright position with the spines uppermost. As delivered to the alternator and stacker, the books shown have had the backbones thereof rounded and hacked and have been cased-in in a known manner. In such books the hinged joints between the spine and the case boards or covers thereof protrude outwardly somewhat beyond the outer surfaces of the front and back case boards. It is therefore desirable, in forming stacks of such books, that alternate books be so offset that the case boards of one book do not overlie the protruding spine joints of the next adjacent book or books. The apparatus of the invention forms stacks of books while offsetting adjacent books so that the spine joints of one are not contacted by the case boards of the other. As will become apparent hereinafter, the method and apparatus of the invention are useful also in stacking books of other types.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. I and 3 a book alternator and stacker I2, 14 which receives spaced books (generally designated 43) in sequence from afirst conveyor 10, forms stacks of such books in the manner above generally described, and delivers such stacks 15 to afurther conveyor 16. The infeedconveyor 10 may be, for example, the delivery conveyor of a book building-in machine; theconveyor 16 may forward the book stacks 15 to suitable wrapping and strapping apparatus (not shown). Theconveyor 10, which is relatively narrow, carriesbooks 43 longitudinally in an upright, on-edge position in the direction of their general plane and deposits them in such position upon a second,wide conveyor 11 disposed in central alignment with conveyor III. Disposed at the entering end of the continuously operatingconveyor 11 there is a book alternator which tips or lays down successive books in opposite lateral directions. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, books which have been tipped toward the reader in FIG. 1 are designated 43a and those which have been tipped away from the reader in such figure are designated 43b. The thus tipped books, one-half of which now lie on their front covers and the other half of which lie on their back covers, are fed forwardly byconveyor 11 and are funnelled by fixed guides, to be described, toward the center line of the conveyor and abook stacking mechanism 14 disposed in central alignment withconveyor 11 and fed thereby. At thestacker 14 the books are formed into a pile or stack; the stack is progressively lowered as books are added thereto. After being lowered the books are jogged laterally inwardly in opposite directions to edge align the sets of alternate books in the stack while leaving one such set laterally offset somewhat from the other set, and all books in the stack are end aligned. The thus treated book stack 15 is then discharged from the stacker to thedelivery conveyor 16.

Thestacker 14 is so constructed and arranged as to provide normally vertically aligned upper and lower book receiving channels, the upper channel being periodically separated from the lower channel by laterally reciprocable, vertically fixed book supporting orseparator blades 86. This permits the upper channel continuously to receive books delivered thereto from thebook alternator conveyor 11 while a completed stack of books 15 in the lower channel is lowered by a vertically reciprocable book supporting elevator or platform in such lower channel, is edge and end aligned while supported by the platform and is discharged from the stacker. Upon discharge of the stack, the platform I30 rises, theseparator blades 86 are retracted, and the support of the partial book stack in the upper channel is thus transferred to theelevator platform 130. The cycle is then repeated.

THE MECHANICAL DRIVE Theconveyors 10 and 11 are driven by a motor 17 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Amotor drive pulley 19 is connected by abelt 20 to a large drivenpulley 21 affixed to the forward end of acountershaft 22 which extends longitudinally of thestations 12, 14. Apulley 23 is affixed to the rear end ofshaft 22, such pulley driving a speed reducer 26 (FIG. 2) through the medium of aTiming belt 24 which is entrained over thepulley 23 and apulley 25 on the speed reducer. The speed reducer 26 in turn drives theconveyor 11 through the medium of aTiming belt sprocket 27 on the output shaft of the speed reducer, and aTiming belt 29 entrained over a sprocket 30 on theshaft 31 which carries the forward elongated drive pulley orroll 32 of theconveyor 11.Conveyor 11 has awide belt 34 which runs over theroll 32 and aroll 35 at the rear end thereof as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, therolls 32 and 35 being journaled upon spaced parallelside frame members 33.

The infeed conveyor has a narrow belt 36 (FIG. 3) which runs over a forward drive pulley 37 on a shaft 39 and over a similar pulley (not shown) at the rear of the belt.Belt 36 is driven in synchronism with and at the same speed as thebelt 34 ofconveyor 11 through the medium of apulley 40, affixed toshaft 31 ofconveyor 11, and a longitudinally extending Timing belt 41 which extends to a pulley 42 on the shaft 39 ofconveyor 10. Thebooks 43 are carried byconveyor 10 in upright, spine-up position between opposed side guides 44 which may be adjusted by means not shown to accommodate books of different thicknesses.Books 43, still in upright position, enter upon theconveyor 11 whereby they are carried to thealternator 12 free from lateral guidance. After the books have been tipped or laid down by thebook alternator 12 in a manner to be next described,conveyor 11 carries them to thebook stacker 14.

THEBOOK ALTERNATOR 12 Theside frame members 33 of theconveyor 11 are carried by opposed rear and forwardupright frame members 46 and 48, respectively, such uprights in turn being mounted upon alongitudinal frame 47. The upper ends ofuprights 46 are connected by a horizontalcross frame member 49;member 49 and a similarforward cross member 50 connected toupper frame members 101 serve to support and guide a laterallyreciprocable frame 51 of thealternator 12.Frame 51 has similar spaced parallel, longitudinally-extendingside members 52 which are connected and spaced bytie rods 54. A double actingreciprocable fluid motor 55 having the cylinder thereof disposed above and connected to thecross member 49 has a piston rod 56 which extends through the opposite ends of the cylinder, the outer end of rod 56 being connected tomembers 52 as shown. Thereciprocable frame 51 is partially supported by the double-ended piston rod 56 and is also partially supported by and guided by channel-shapedcrossmember 50, there beingrollers 69 journaled on the forward ends of theside frame members 52 which ride in the channel ofmember 50 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. It will be apparent that upon the alternate admission of fluid under pressure to the opposite ends of themotor 55 and the exhausting of fluid from the other, the piston rod 56 and theframe 51 reciprocate in a direction transverse to the lengths of theconveyors 10 and 11.

Mounted upon theframe 51 substantially midway between theside members 52 thereof, there is a horizontal longitudinally extendingsupport member 61 from whichbrush 62 or comparable means depends. Thebrush holder 61 andbrush 62 are so located that when the piston rod 56 of themotor 55 is at one end of its stroke the brush lies on one side of the path of books delivered to thealternator 12 on theconveyor 11 and that when the piston rod 56 is at the other end of its stroke thebrush 62 lies on the other side of books delivered to thealternator 12. Thebrush holder 61 andbrush 62 are vertically positioned as shown in FIG. 1 so that the brush, when reciprocated laterally, may engage the books below the spines thereof. It will be apparent that successive books pivot about the lower laterally outer edge of their respective opposite lower edges so as to fall in opposite directions depending upon the side thereof engaged by the moving brush.

Thebrush holder 61 andbrush 62 are vertically adjustable to cooperate with books of different widths, that is, heights as thebooks 43 are presented thereto. Parallel longitudinally spaces shafts 57 span theopposite side members 52 offrame 51 and are journaled therein (FIG. 3). Mounted upon therespective tie rods 54 and shafts 57 arehousings 59 within which similarvertical racks 60 are guided, there being apinion 64 in each of the housings keyed to its shaft 57 and similarly meshing with the teeth on the respective racks 60. Shafts 57 are drivingly connected by a chain 66 which runs over similar sprockets on corresponding ends of the shafts;

the shafts 57 are turned in the same direction and in equal amounts simultaneously to adjust theracks 60 vertically in the same amount by means of ahand wheel 67 attached to one end of a shaft 57 Themotor 55 for reciprocating theframe 51 andbrush 62 is under the control of a photocell (not shown) which may be disposed on one side of the path of travel of books as they emerge from theconveyor 10. When the photocell is darkened by a book travelling between it and its light source, themotor 55 is energized so as to travel into a terminal position opposite from that which it then occupies. In so doing, thebrush 62 engages the book, designated 43a in FIG. 3, which is then passing so that such book is tipped toward the reader in FIG. 1. Thenext book 43b emerging fromconveyor 10 again darkens the photocell and causes themotor 55 to operate in the reverse direction so thatsuccessive books 43a and 43b are alternately tipped or laid down in opposite directions bybrush 62.

As the tippedbooks 43a and 43b are carried forwardly bybelt 34 ofconveyor 11, their backbones or spines engage the inner vertical surfaces of respective smoothly converging but oppositely disposed similarlongitudinal guide members 72a and 72b which lie above the upper run of thebelt 34.Guides 72a and 72b are made of somewhat flexible self-sustaining strip metal, the rear ends of the guides being connected at 74 touprights 46 and the forward ends thereof being connected bystraps 75 toside guide members 85 at the opposite sides of thestacker 14 shown in FIG. 2.Members 85, to be more specifically described hereinafter, define the sidewalls of an upper channel in stacker l4, and may be adjusted laterally toward and away from each other in order to accommodate books of different widths. Since the forward ends of theflexible guides 72a and 72b are connected to therespective members 85a and 85b, the forward ends of the guides are correspondingly laterally adjusted.

It will be apparent that as theconveyor belt 34 carriesbooks 43a and 43b forwardly, the forward laterally outer corners of thebooks 43a, 43b engage therespective guides 72a, 72b; the books are progressively thrust sidewardly or funnelled by such guides toward the longitudinal center line of thebelt 34 so that they enter the upper end of the stack defining means, made up in part of the forward ends ofguides 72a, 72b andsidewall members 85a, 85b. Such members and the forward ends of said guides are disposed at equal distances on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line ofconveyor 11 and are spaced apart a distance which appreciably exceeds the widths of the books being stacked; as a result, sets of alternate ones of the books in the upper channel portion of the stacker lie laterally offset in opposite directions an appreciable distance with respect to the longitudinal center line of theconveyor 11 and of said channel portion, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

THESTACKER 14 As thebooks 43a, 43b travel forwardly uponconveyor 11, their upper surfaces are engaged by a gravity actuatedpresser roll 79 which is journaled on the free end of alever 77 pivotally mounted on a fitting secured to across bar 76 mounted on the upper ends of the uprights 48.Roll 79 holds the books down against theconveyor belt 34 and prevents premature tilting thereof over the end ofbelt 34 to insure their most desirable entry into the stacker channel onto the supporting platform, or the book stack. Thestacker 14 is mounted upon fixedframework including members 47 disposed beneath theconveyor 11 and further less widely spacedframe members 80 forwardly of the stacker which underlie and support theconveyor 16.Frame members 47 and 80 are connected bycross frame members 81 which lie forwardly of the stacker and by similartransverse frame members 82 which are spaced rearwardly frommembers 81 at the rear of the stacker.Transversely extending guideways 83 are provided upon the upper surfaces ofmembers 81 and 82 on both sides of the stacker. Similar but oppositely disposedcarriages 84 are supported for lateral adjustment upon and guided by theguideways 83. Frames orcarriages 84 support the abovementionedupper sidewall members 85.

Beneath the lower edges of thesidewall plates 85 there are disposedhorizontal separator blades 86 which are laterally reciprocable and extend into the book receiving channel when the parts are disposed as shown in FiGS. 2 and 3. When thus disposed, theblades 86 constitute an auxiliary or temporary support or platform for several books in the upper end of the stacker channel. The sides of the lower portion of the bookreceiving channel of the stacker, below the level of theseparator blades 86, are formed by spaced side guideorjogger plates 87, which are moved inwardly or jogged in order to dispose the books in the lower end of the stack with the desired degree of lateral offset from the longitudinal central vertical plane of the stack, before the discharge of the stack from the stacker.

As above explained, thecarriages 84 are laterally adjustable in opposite but equal distances from the longitudinal central vertical plane of theconveyor 11 and the stacker so that the stacker may accommodate books of different widths. A cross shaft 89 (FIGS. 1 and 3) suitablyjournaled in the frame members 8d, may be turned by acrank 99 affixed to one end thereof (FIGS. 1 and 3). The opposite ends of theshaft 89 havesimilar sprockets 91 affixed thereto, there beingchains 92 connecting therespective sprockets 91 tosprockets 94 on the outer ends of oppositely disposed horizontal adjusting screws 95 of opposite hand. The outer ends of such screws are journaled in the fixed frame of the apparatus, whereas the laterally inner threaded portions thereof are threadedly received in nuts affixed to each of therespective carriages 84. It will be seen that the turning of thecrank 90 in one direction adjusts thecarriages 84 toward each other, whereas the turning of the shaft in the opposite direction further separates the carriages.

Centrally above the book receiving channel of thestacker 14 there is a horizontallongitudinally extending rod 97 which is suitably supported upon the fixed frame structure of the apparatus. One such support for the rod includes abracket 99 affixed to the rear end thereof, the bracket being secured to across member 100 affixed to the longitudinal frame members ml. Another support forrod 97 is thebar 76. The forward end ofrod 97 carries a transversely extendingvertical plate 96, the lower edge of which lies substantially coplanar with the upper surface ofblades 86. Member 56 forms an end stop for books fed into the upper portion of the book receiving channel of the stacker as shown in FIG. 2. When theseparator blades 86 are in their inner position as shown in FIG. 2,books 43a, 43b are deposited into the upper end of the channel by thebelt 34, the forward end of which lies slightly to the rear of the rear end of such channel. The thus deposited books fall into the channel, the lowermost one of such books lying upon theblades 86. Theblades 86 lie a sufiicient distance below the upper surface of theconveyor belt 34 so that the upper por tion of the channel can accommodate a plurality of books. In the embodiment shown, the upper portion of the channel, above theblades 86, is capable of receiving at least three relatively thick books. As above indicated, during the time that such three books are being deposited upon theblades 86, a previously deposited stack of books in the lower portion of the channel of the stacker onelevator platform 130 are sidewardly aligned, end aligned, and discharged as a neat stack from the stacker, andelevator 130 is returned to its elevated position (FIGS. 2 and 6).

THE SEPARATOR BLADES as Theseparator blades 86 are particularly shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 9. As shown in FIG. 9, which is a section through the left-hand (FIG. 2)carriage 84, such blades have broad horizontal extents, the upper laterally inner edges of the blades being beveled at 102. Secured toblade 86 are a horizontallyreciprocable rack bar 104 and aparallel guide bar 105, such bars having their outer ends extending through guiding slots and holes in verticalparallel frame members 106 and 107 of thecarriage 84. The outer ends ofbars 104 and are connected by a longitudinally extendingstrap member 109. Theblade 86 is secured to the inner ends ofbars 104 and 105 by being received withinslots 110 therein and bolted thereto as shown.

Theseparator blades 86 are moveable from their laterally inner position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein they are shown supporting books in the upper portion of the stacker channel, to an outwardly retracted position in which theirinner edges 102 lie at least slightly outwardly beyond the inner faces of theside guide members 85. The separator blades are moved between such positions by a reciprocable fluid motor 111 (FIG. 7) which is disposed horizontally beneath thestacker 14. Motor 111 has apiston rod 112 which is connected to a horizontallyreciprocable rack bar 115 by abracket 114. The rack bar 1 15 has a rearwardly facingrack gear 116 on one end thereof and a similar but oppositely facingrack gear 116 on the other end. Rack gear 1 l6 meshes with apinion 117 which is connected to avertical stub shaft 118 which is journaled in the fixed frame of the apparatus. A generally vertically extendingshaft 119 which includes twouniversal joints 126 therein rises from thepinion 117 as shown in FIG. 6. The upper end ofshaft 119 is joumaled in and supported by abracket 123 which is secured to the upper portion ofcarriage 84. Fixedly secured by across pin 121 to the upper end ofshaft 119 beneath thebracket 123 is apinion 120. It will be seen that as the piston of motor 111 moved in opposite directions the pinion is turned in opposite directions.

Thepinion 120 meshes with apinion 122 which is journaled upon and freely rotatable with respect to the upper end of ashaft 124 which is mounted parallel to the upper end ofshaft 119. Thepinion 122 meshes with arack gear 125 on therack bar 104. The driving connection between the rack gear 116' and theseparator blade 86 mounted on the right-hand (FIG. 2)carriage 84 of the stacker is the same as that above described the exception of the reversal of positions of the rack gears 116, 116 with respect topinions 117 to cause the opposedseparator blades 86 to move simultaneously in opposite directions.

THE BOOK STACK ELEVATOR Fitting between theinner edges 102 of the opposedseparator blades 86 when such blades are in their laterally inner positions as shown in FIG. 3 is ahorizontal elevator platform 130. Such platform has a central forwardly open notch 131 therein which freely receives a retractible end stop 154 which may be swung downwardly from the position thereof shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 5. The platform has a bracket fitting 132 secured to the bottom thereof, the fitting serving to connect the upper end of a vertically reciprocableelevator rack bar 134 to the platform, as shown more particularly in FIG. 6. Thebar 134 has a forwardly facingrack gear 135 thereon, such rack gear meshing with arotatable pinion 136 which is mounted on ahorizontal stub shaft 137.Pinion 136 also meshes with arack gear 139 on a horizontallyreciprocable rack bar 140 which is connected to the piston rod 141 of a double actingreciprocable fluid motor 142 as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 6. It will be apparent that upon the thrusting of the piston rod 141 and bar 140 to the left in FIG. 6 theelevator platform 130 is lowered and that upon the travel of such piston rod to the right the elevator platform is raised. The actuation of piston rod 141 is automatically controlled in a manner to be hereinafter described to insure proper timing and sequencing with other parts of the apparatus. In general, after retraction ofauxiliary platform 86, 86elevator 130 is moved down step-by-step as books are added to the stack until the desired number are present. The elevator is then moved down quickly to unloading position (FIG. 2), unloaded in a manner to be described, and returned quickly bymotor 142 to its raised position (FIG. 6).

RETRACTIBLE BOOK STOP 154 As illustrated in FIG. 1, theend stop 154 is disposed with its rear face coplanar with and beneath the rear face of fixedend stop 96. After the desired number of books have been formed into a stack onelevator 130, as detected by suitable known counting means, such stack of books is thrust forwardly by avertical plunger plate 199 through a small distance so that their forward ends engage thestop 154, thereby vertically aligning the ends of the books. Immediately thereafter, the opposed side guide orjogger plates 87 which defines the sides of the lower portion of the channel of thestacker 14 are thrust laterally inwardly through a small distance to vertically align the spines of alternate books and bring the stack to the condition shown in FIG. 2. All of such functions are effected by suitable known types of detection means and sequencing controls.

Theretractible end stop 154 is mounted upon the forward end of an elongated generally longitudinally extendinglever arm 155 which lies substantially horizontal when the parts are in the position of FIG. 1. The rear end of the lever are 155 is secured to an upwardly and forwardly inclined lever composed'of two similar parallel levers 156 (FIG. 4), the lower ends of which are pivotally mounted to the fixed frame of the apparatus at 157. Adjustment of the angularity of thelever 156, in a manner to be described, permits adjustment of thestop 154 in a direction longitudinally of the stacker for books of different lengths so that crushing of the books byplunger 199 will be avoided. Theupper book stop 96 is releasably clamped onrod 97 for similar adjustment (FIG. 2). Thelever arm 155 and thestop 154 are oscillated from their elevated position of FIG. 1 to their retracted or lowered position of FIG. by a double acting reciprocatingfluid motor 159. The lower end of such motor is pivotally mounted to the frame at 160, thepiston rod 162 of the motor being pivotally connected at 161 to an intermediate portion of thelever 155.

As shown in FIG. 4, thelever arms 156 are connected at their upper ends by across bar 164. A longitudinally extending threaded adjustingrod 165 has its forward end threadedly received in a fitting mounted onbar 164. The rear end ofrod 165 is journaled in the frame of the apparatus at 166. Ahand wheel 167 on the rod rearwardly of the bearing 166 permits the rod to be turned in the desired direction relative to said fitting so as to change the angularity of thelever arm 156. Asarm 156 is inclined further away from the vertical in FIG. I, theconnection 163 and hence theend stop 154 are moved forwardly; conversely, adjustment of thearm 156 closer to the vertical moves thestop 154 rearwardly. For purposes to appear hereinafter, the movements of theretractible stop 154 into its elevated and retracted positions are relied upon to operate aswitch 174 having an operating arm 17S mounted onlever arm 156 and aswitch 176 having an operating arm 177 is actuated by thelever 155.

THE SIDE JOGGERS Since theside jogging plates 87, which are disposed on opposite sides of the lower portion of the book receiving channel of thestacker 14, are similar to each other and are operated by identical mechanism, a specific description of the joggers carried by the left-hand (FIG. 2)carriage 84 will suffice. Theside guide plate 87 is mounted in vertical position on abracket 184 which in turn is secured to the end of a horizontallyreciprocable rack bar 185. As shown in FIG. the outer end of therack bar 185 is guidingly received in passages through the verticalparallel plate members 106, 107 of the carriage 84 (FIG. 10). Aguide bar 186 disposed parallel to bar is also secured to thebracket 184 and is guided by themembers 106, 107. The outer ends ofbars 185, 186 are connected by astrap 187. Theplate 87, thebracket 184, and thebars 185, 186 of theopposite carriages 84 are moved laterally inwardly in opposite directions through equal distances at substantially the same time that the book stack 15 is being thrust forward against thestop 154. Immediately thereafterfront stop 154 and theplates 87 are retracted and the side aligned books forming the stack 15 are thrust forwardly onto theconveyor 16 bypusher 199.

Eachplate 87 of the side jogger means is moved inwardly and outwardly between the full and dotted line positions in FIG. 2 by the following mechanism. Arack gear 189 onbar 185 meshes with apinion 190 which is affixed to theshaft 124 by apin 193. Theshaft 124 is turned in opposite directions by a double acting fluid operated reciprocable motor 191 (FIG. 7) which is disposed beneath the stacker and close and parallel to the above described motor 111. Thepiston rod 192 ofmotor 191 is connected through a fitting 194 to a horizontallyreciprocable rack bar 195. The left-hand end ofbar 195 as it is shown in FIG. 2 carries a rearwardly facingrack gear 196 whereas the right-hand end of such bar carries a forwardly facing rack gear 196'.Rack gear 196 meshes with apinion 197 which is journaled on the upper end of a vertical stub shaft 198 (FIG. 6) affixed to the frame parallel to theshaft 118. The lower end of theshaft 124 is connected to thepinion 197. As shown,shaft 124 includes serially disposeduniversal joints 128 which permit the drive between thepinion 197 and thepinion 190 to be preserved despite laterally adjustment of thecarriage 84. The disposition of the rack gears 196, 196' on opposite sides ofbar 195 permits theopposite jogger plates 87 to be moved laterally inwardly toward each other upon movement of thepiston rod 192 ofmotor 191 in one direction and to be retracted outwardly upon movement of such piston rod in the opposite direction.

THE BOOK STACK PUSHER The vertically disposedpusher platen 199 forms the rear wall of the lower portion of the book receiving stacker channel when the pans of the apparatus are disposed as in FIGS. 1 and 6. Such platen is secured to acarriage 203 which is supported for longitudinal reciprocation byguide wheels 200 which travel along a horizontal supportingplate 201. Thecarriage 203 is secured to the forward end of thepiston rod 202 of a double acting reciprocable fluid motor 204 (FIGS. 1 and 8) which is disposed longitudinally of the apparatus beneath theconveyor 11.Piston rod 202 extends in both directions from the cylinder of themotor 204, the rearwardly extending portion of said piston rod being supported upon aroller guide 205 as shown in FIG. 1. The rear end ofpiston rod 202 is provided with an abutment cap 206 (FIG. 8), such cap being provided with aflange 207 on its forward end. A further, relatively short, fixed stroke double actingreciprocable fluid motor 209 is disposed rearwardly of and in alignment with themotor 204. Thepiston rod 211 ofmotor 209 has anabutment cap 210 thereon, such cap having aflange 212 on its rear end. Whenelevator 130 is lowering a completed stack 15 to unloading position ready for vertical alignment as described above,motor 209 is first actuated so as to thrust itspiston rod 211 against theabutment cap 206 and thereby to thrust thepiston rod 202 of themotor 204 withplaten 199 forwardly with sufficient force to override the then opposing fluid pressure inmotor 204 to move the stacked books gently against thestop 154 to effect substantial end alignment. Following this and after thestop 154 has been retracted bymotor 159 and theside jogger plates 87 have been moved laterally inwardly to side align alternate books, themotor 204 moves thepusher platen 199 further to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 and betweenjogger plates 87 so that the book stack 15 is fully discharged from the stacker and supported upon the conveyor 16 (FIG. 1). It will be understood that as soon as a completed stack is lowered for jogging and discharge, theauxiliary platform plates 86 are temporarily moved in to catch the next few incoming books fromconveyor 11.

Theplaten 199 pushes the stack of books 15 to the right across theplate 201 and ontorollers 230 which protrude upwardly through slots in said plate to facilitate such travel of the stack. The stack then enters upon laterally spacedsimilar belts 231 of theconveyor 16, such belts being driven by means not shown.Idle pulleys 232 affixed to arear shaft 234 ofconveyor 16 support the rear ends of thebelts 231; similar driven pulleys (not shown) engage and drive thebelts 231. Such belts travel across and are supported by longitudinally extendingplates 235 which underlie them.

In the initial portion of its travel on theconveyor 16 the stack is engaged at its upper end by apresser roll 237 which is preferably of soft resilient character, being made, for example, of soft sponge rubber. Theroll 237 is mounted upon a longitudinally extending arm 239 (FIG. 1) which is afiixed to alateral arm 240 to which avertical sleeve 241 is secured.Sleeve 241 slides upon a fixedvertical post 242. Thearm 240 intermediate thesleeve 241 and thearm 239 has a vertical threaded passage therethrough, such passage threadedly receiving avertical screw 244 which is journaled at its upper end against vertical motion. Ahand wheel 235 on the upper end ofscrew 244 permits thearms 239, 240 and thesleeve 241 to be adjusted vertically in response to rotation of the screw, thereby permitting theroll 237 to engage the upper end of the stack 15 with the desired amount of pressure so as to press the stack securely against the infeed ends ofbelts 231 ofconveyor 16.

SEQUENCING CONTROLS The operating sequence of the various elements of the stacking means of the apparatus is preferably effected by electrical and pneumatic means, the latter being in the form of fluid motors described above. The electrical controls includeswitches 174 and 176 operable bybar 155 whenfront stop 154 is in its terminal down and up positions, respectively (FIG. 5). Aswitch 214 having anarm 216 is actuated by abar 212 on the forward stroke of piston rod 211 (FIG. 8).Switches 217, 220 and 224 are operable, for purposes to hereinafter appear, by abar 207 onpiston rod 202, the flange being adapted to engage the roller equippedarms 219, 221 and 224, respectively, on said switches. Aswitch 225 shown in FIG. 7 is operable bybar 195. Other switches and photocell detection devices of known construction are referred to in the following description of the operation but are not shown in order to avoid unnecessary complication of the drawing.

MODE OF OPERATION From the foregoing it will be seen thatconveyor belts 34, 43 and 231 are the only parts of the apparatus which are continuously driven by motor 17. The other operating elements are operated by cylinder and piston fluid motors, such as double acting compressed air motors. The application of pressure in opposite ends of each cylinder may be controlled in a known manner by solenoid actuated valves which may in turn be controlled by suitable relays, switches, photocells and the like which are responsive to the passage of books or movements of the operating elements of the apparatus.

By way of example, book detection means of known type, such as a photocell, may be provided to detectbooks approaching brush 62 and to control the reciprocation ofmotor 55 to actuate the brush and tip successive books in opposite directions onconveyor 11. Means well known in the art, such as a photocell counter, are also provided for electrically counting the books as the same drop off the end ofconveyor 11, said means being employed to control the operation ofauxiliary platform 86,elevator 130 andend jogging motor 209. When the first of a series of a selected number of books for a stack passes the counter detector, the motor 111 is energized to moveplates 86 into operative position to catch and support a few books, usually about one-third of a full stack. This number may depend on several factors such as the rate of travel and spacing of the books, the thickness of the books, the vertical height of the stacker channel, the time required for the elevator to complete a down-up cycle and others. When the selected number of books have been stacked onplates 86, as determined by the counter, said plates are retracted by motor 111. This preliminary number of books now rest onelevator 130 in its up position where they are detected by suitable control means, such as a photocell and light beam, to control the descent of the elevator. Thus, when the photocell, for example, is darkened by the uppermost book on the stack being in the beam, motor 42 is operable to slowly lower the elevator until the photocell is again lighted across the top of the stack. As each book is added, the elevator is progressively lowered. This may be effected by causing motor 42 to operate against a hydraulic dash pot with an escape valve controlled by the photocell and a solenoid. When the counter signals the entry of the final book of a stack the dash pot is rendered ineffective so as to permit the elevator to be moved promptly to fully lowered position. The next book entering the stacker, i.e., the first book of the next stack, is detected by the counter and motor 111 is thereby caused to be energized to again moveauxiliary platform plates 86 into operative position as explained above.

When the last book of a stack arrives, the counter also disables the dash pot control ofmotor 142 to permit rapid, continuous descent of the elevator and effects energization ofend jogger motor 209 to movepusher 199 to the right (FIG. 1) to end align the stack againstfront stop 154 as explained above. In response to actuation ofswitch 214 byflange 212,motor 191 is energized to moveside jogger plates 87 inwardly against the stack by actuation ofbar 195. The latter, near the end of its stroke, actuatesswitch 225 to thereby effect proper energization ofmotor 159 to lowerfront stop 154. Aselevator 130 reaches its lowermost position, it actuates a switch (not shown) which, conditioned on the completion of the end jogging signalled by actuation ofswitch 214 and on the lowering offront stop 154 signalled by actuation ofswitch 174, signals the proper energization ofmotor 204 for actuatingpusher 199 to move the jogged book stack from betweenplates 87 ontoconveyor 16.

The energization ofpusher motor 204 for returningpusher 199 is effected whenflange 207 actuates switch 222 at the end of the forward stroke ofpiston rod 202. On the pusher retraction stroke ofpiston rod 202, the switch 221 is actuated byflange 207 to signal the return offront stop 154 to raised position bymotor 159 and consequent actuation ofswitch 176. Near the end of its return stroke,flange 207 momentarily actuates the one-way switch 217 to initiate the raising ofelevator 230 which is effected with continuous rapid movement bymotor 142. When the elevator reaches its upper position it actuates a switch, not shown, which reverse energizesmotor 142 to apply a lowering force to the elevator under control of the dashpot and stack level detecting means as above described. In the interval thus required for lowering, unloading and returning the elevator several books will have been deposited onplatform 86. When the preselected number of books have been deposited ontoplates 86, as determined by the counter, said plates are retracted and the complete cycle is repeated.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be expressly understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, ,altemate books 43 which have been tipped or laid down in opposite directions upon thebelt 34 of theconveyor 11 may be moved laterally so as to enter thestacker 14 in offset position by means other than the opposedcurved guides 72a, 72b. One such alternative means for so doing is in the form of a transversely reciprocable carriage similar tocarriage 51 and suspended in a similar manner above thebelt 34 downstream of thecarriage 51. Such unillustrated carriage may have horizontal, longitudinal bars rigidly suspended therefrom and positioned above the upper surface ofbelt 34 but close enough thereto to engage the spines of the books which have been laid down upon the belt. Suitable means such as a photocell and light source are disposed to detect the passage of the laid-down books on the conveyor and to effect proper energization of the carriage motor. In one terminal position of the carriage, the bar on one side thereof is disposed laterally outwardly of the spines of the books which have been laid over in the respective direction; the bar on the other side of the carriage is similarly disposed with respect to the books laid over in the other direction when the carriage is in its other lateral terminal position. As the carriage moves from one terminal position toward the other, one of the bars engages the book which it confronts and carries it laterally inwardly; in the reverse travel of the carriage the other bar carried the book on the other side of thebelt 34 laterally inwardly. The books thus carried inwardly are released in such lateral position on the belt that they can enter the upper portion of the channel in thestacker 14 but are laterally offset in the same manner as in the illustrated apparatus.

Although the apparatus of the invention has been illustrated in connection with books which have been rounded and backed, and encased, it is to be understood that the invention may be employed to advantage in the stacking of books of other types. Among such other types of books are those in which the front and rear surfaces of the books, including the spine joints, throughout their extent lie substantially in parallel planes, making the offsetting of adjacent books unnecessary. The apparatus is also useful for stacking books without alternating the position of the spines thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for stacking books which comprises means for feeding longitudinally a plurality of similar books in succession generally along a path and for disposing the books flat in first lateral positions with successive books substantially offset laterally in opposite directions from the longitudinal center line of such path, means for moving one set of alternate books, as the books travel longitudinally, laterally toward the other set of alternate books so that the books lie in second lateral positions wherein there is decreased lateral offset between successive books, and means for discharging the books in such second lateral positions into an at least generally vertical stack.

2, Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said one set of alternate books laterally toward the other set of books comprises guide means engaged by said one set of books and moving them progressively laterally inwardly toward the other set of books as the books travel longitudinally.

3. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said one set of alternate books laterally toward the other set of books comprises means for moving alternate books as they travel longitudinally laterally inwardly in opposite directions toward the longitudinal center line of said path.

4. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1, comprising means for initially disposing the books on edge in endto-end alignment along said path of travel, and wherein the means for disposing the books in said first lateral positions comprises means for tipping successive books in opposite directions about their lower edges as they travel longitudinally along said path.

5. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 4, comprising means for detecting the approach of each book toward the tipping means, and means actuated by the detecting means controlling the tipping means.

6. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for moving said one set of alternate books laterally toward the other set of books comprises guide means on each side of said path, each guide means being engaged by the respective set of books and progressively moving them laterally inwardly toward the center line of said path as the books travel longitudinally.

7. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for tipping successive books in opposite directions from their initial on-edge positions comprises a member movable laterally of said path, and means for reciprocating said member so that it engages opposite sides of the upper portion of successive books as the books travel therepast.

8. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim I wherein the books have back covers and caseboards connected by spine joints to the back covers, the books in their initial on-edge position have their back covers disposed uppermost, the books in said first lateral positions thereof have the spine joints of the sets of alternate books disposed laterally outwardly, and wherein the means for moving one set of alternate books laterally toward the other set of alternate books is so constructed and arranged that the outer free edges of the caseboards of each book in said second lateral position thereof falls somewhat short of overlying the spine joints of each adjacent book in the stack.

9. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1 comprising means for stopping the longitudinal forward travel of books in their second lateral position and sequentially adding them to the top of said stack by dropping them onto the stack after their forward travel has been stopped.

10. Apparatus for stacking books as defined inclaim 9, comprising means for retaining the bottom book of the stack at a first, upper fixed level while continuing to pile books on the top of such stack, and means for subsequently progressively lowering the bottom of the stack while piling additional books on the top of the stack.

11. Apparatus for stacking books as defined inclaim 10 comprising means for terminating the lowering of the bottom book in the stack at a second, lower fixed level, means for pressing the opposite sides of the thus lowered stack laterally inwardly toward each other to a point at which the alternate books lie in third lateral positions in which the alternate books in one set thereof are slightly offset laterally from the books in the other set thereof.

12. Apparatus for stacking books as defined inclaim 10 wherein the books have back covers and caseboards connected by spine joints to the back covers, the back covers of the books in both sets of alternate books lie laterally outwardly of the free edges of the caseboards of the contiguous books in the stack, and comprising means for tenninating the lowering of the bottom book in the stack at a second, lower fixed level, and means for thereafter pressing the backs of the books on opposite sides of the thus lowered stack laterally inwardly toward each other to a point at which the outer free edges of the caseboards of each book fall slightly short of overlying the spine joints of each contiguous book in the stack.

13. Apparatus for stacking books as defined inclaim 9 wherein the book feeding means feeds them continuously forwardly until they are stopped to be dropped onto the top of the first recited stack, including means for retaining the bottom book of the first stack at a first, upper fixed level that comprises at least one separator blade which supports the first stack while books are continually piled on the top of the first stack, means comprising an elevator located below the separator blade for lowering a previously formed second stack of books disposed below the first stack to a lowered position wherein the lowest book of the second stack lies at a second, lower fixed level, and means for discharging the thus lowered second stack of books from beneath the first stack, thereafter raising the elevator to a position close to and below the separator blade, and retracting the separator blade to transfer the first stack of books to the elevator where they form the lower portion of a subsequent second stack.

14. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 13, comprising means for moving the books in the second stack endwise against stop means so as to end align the books in the second stack in a longitudinal direction.

15. Apparatus for stacking books as defined inclaim 14 wherein the means for end aligning the books in the second stack is so constructed and arranged that such end alignment takes place while the second stack is moving to its lowered position.

16. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 13, comprising means for pressing the opposed side edges of the books in the second stack laterally inwardly toward each other to a point at which the alternate books lie in third lateral positions in which the alternate books in one set thereof are slightly offset laterally outwardly from the books in the other set thereof, so as to align the laterally outer edges of the books in the respective sets thereof.

17. Apparatus for stacking books as defined inclaim 16, wherein the means for edge aligning the sets of books in the second stack is so constructed and arranged that such edge alignment takes place as the second stack is moving to its lowered position.

18. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 17 comprising means for end aligning the books in said second stack while such second stack is moving to its lowered position including means for pressing the forward ends of the books against retractable stop means.

19. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 18 wherein the means for end aligning the books in the second stack and the means for edge aligning the sets of books are so constructed and arranged that such two aligning operations take place in quick succession.

20. Book stacking apparatus comprising laterally retractible platform means, an elevator below said platform means, means for feeding books to form a preliminary stack on said platform means and thereafter to form a complete stack on said elevator, means for counting the books so fed, means responsive to said counting means for retracting said platform means to transfer the preliminary stack to the elevator, means successively responsive to the stack level and to said counting means for moving the elevator to its lowermost position, means responsive to the counting means for end jogging the book stack on the elevator, means responsive to the end jogging means for side jogging the book stack, and means responsive to said side jogging means for removing said stack from the elevator.

Claims (20)

1. Apparatus for stacking books which comprises means for feeding longitudinally a plurality of similar books in succession generally along a path and for disposing the books flat in first lateral positions with successive books substantially offset laterally in opposite directions from the longitudinal center line of such path, means for moving one set of alternate books, as the books travel longitudinally, laterally toward the other set of alternate books so that the books lie in second lateral positions wherein there is decreased lateral offset between successive books, and means for discharging the books in such second lateral positions into an at least generally vertical stack.

2. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said one set of alternate books laterally toward the other set of books comprises guide means engaged by said one set of books and moving them progressively laterally inwardly toward the other set of books as the books travel longitudinally.

3. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said one set of alternate books laterally toward the other set of books comprises means for moving alternate books as they travel longitudinally laterally inwardly in opposite directions toward the longitudinal center line of said path.

4. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1, comprising means for initially disposing the books on edge in end-to-end alignment along said path of travel, and wherein the means for disposing the books in said first lateral positions comprises means for tipping successive books in opposite directions about their lower edges as they travel longitudinally along said path.

5. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 4, comprising means for detecting the approach of each book toward the tipping means, and means actuated by the detecting means controlling the tipping means.

6. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for moving said one set of alternate books laterally toward the other set of books comprises guide means on each side of said path, each guide means being engaged by the respective set of books and progressively moving them laterally inwardly toward the center line of said path as the books travel longitudinally.

7. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for tipping successive books in opposite directions from their initial on-edge positions comprises a member movable laterally of said path, and means for reciprocating said member so that it engages opposite sides of the upper portion of successive books as the books travel therepast.

8. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1 wherein the books have back covers and caseboards connected by spine joints to the back covers, the books in their initial on-edge position have their back covers disposed uppermost, the books in said first lateral positions thereof have the spine joints of the sets of alternate books disposed laterally outwardly, and wherein the means for moving one set of alternate books laterally toward the other set of alternate books is so constructed and arranged that the outer free edges of the caseboards of each book in said second lateral position thereof falls somewhat short of overlying the spine joints of each adjacent book in the stack.

9. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 1 comprising means for stopping the longitudinal forward travel of books in their second lateral position and sequentially adding them to the top of said stack by dropping them onto the stack after their forward travel has been stopped.

10. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 9, comprising means for retaining the bottom book of the stack at a first, upper fixed level while continuing to pile books on the top of such stack, and means for subsequently progressively lowering the bottom of the stack while piling additional books on the top of the stack.

11. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 10 comprising means for terminating the lowering of the bottom book in the stack at a second, lower fixed level, means for pressing the opposite sides of the thus lowered stack laterally inwardly toward each other to a point at which the alternate books lie in third lateral positions in which the alternate books in one set thereof are slightly offset laterally from the books in the other set thereof.

12. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 10 wherein the books have back covers and caseboards connected by spine joints to the back covers, the back covers of the books in both sets of alternate books lie laterally outwardly of the free edges of the caseboards of the contiguous books in the stack, and comprising means for terminating the lowering of the bottom book in the stack at a second, lower fixed level, and means for thereafter pressing the backs of the books on opposite sides of the thus lowered stack laterally inwardly toward each other to a point at which the outer free edges of the caseboards of each book fall slightly short of overlying the spine joints of each contiguous book in the stack.

13. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 9 wherein the book feeding means feeds them continuously forwardly until they are stopped to be dropped onto the top of the first recited stack, including means for retaining the bottom book of the first stack at a first, upper fixed level that comprises at least one separator blade which supports the first stack while books are continually piled on the top of the first stack, means comprising an elevator located below the separator blade for lowering a previously formed second stack of books disposed below the first stack to a lowered position wherein the lowest book of the second stack lies at a second, lower fixed level, and means for discharging the thus lowered second stack of books from beneath the first stack, thereafter raising the elevator to a position close to and below the separator blade, and retracting the separator blade to transfer the first stack of books to the elevator where they form the lower portion of a subsequent second stack.

14. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 13, comprising means for moving the books in the second stack endwise against stop means so as to end align the books in the second stack in a longitudinal direction.

15. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 14 wherein the means for end aligning the books in the second stack is so constructed and arranged that such end alignment takes place while the second stack is moving to its lowered position.

16. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 13, comprising means for pressing the opposed side edges of the books in the second stack laterally inwardly toward each other to a point at which the alternate books lie in third lateral positions in which the alternate books in one set thereof are slightly offset laterally outwardly from the books in the other set thereof, so as to align the laterally outer edges of the books in the respective sets thereof.

17. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 16, wherein the means for edge aligning the sets of books in the sEcond stack is so constructed and arranged that such edge alignment takes place as the second stack is moving to its lowered position.

18. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 17 comprising means for end aligning the books in said second stack while such second stack is moving to its lowered position including means for pressing the forward ends of the books against retractable stop means.

19. Apparatus for stacking books as defined in claim 18 wherein the means for end aligning the books in the second stack and the means for edge aligning the sets of books are so constructed and arranged that such two aligning operations take place in quick succession.

20. Book stacking apparatus comprising laterally retractible platform means, an elevator below said platform means, means for feeding books to form a preliminary stack on said platform means and thereafter to form a complete stack on said elevator, means for counting the books so fed, means responsive to said counting means for retracting said platform means to transfer the preliminary stack to the elevator, means successively responsive to the stack level and to said counting means for moving the elevator to its lowermost position, means responsive to the counting means for end jogging the book stack on the elevator, means responsive to the end jogging means for side jogging the book stack, and means responsive to said side jogging means for removing said stack from the elevator.

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