COUNTING, STACKING ALIGNING AND DISCHARGING SYSTEM FOR IMBRICATEDLY FED CARDBOARD BLANKS

Previously folded corrugated paperboard blanks are stacked, aligned, and discharged in stacks of preselected number by slowing the advance of such blanks advancing in serial alignment to form a stream of shingled blanks; counting a preselected number of the blanks; momentarily interrupting the stream in response to counting to form spaces between preselected numbers of the blanks; detecting the spaces; in response to such detecting, stopping and then releasing the preselected numbers of blanks for collection in a stack; simultaneously aligning all the blanks in the stack; and discharging the aligned stack perpendicular to the stream of shingled blanks. Suitable apparatus for performing the method includes a shingling conveyor having a first gate to form the spaces between preselected numbers of blanks; a detector for detecting the spaces; a second gate controlled by the detector to release the preselected number of blanks to form a stack on an inclined plate; and opposed, spaced belts for aligning and discharging the stacks perpendicular to the shingling conveyor.