Abstract

A synchronous stacking device for receiving and stacking documents fed to it in a random spaced apart relationship by a delivery mechanism. Documents move from the delivery mechanism through a movable guide track having first and second positions, toward a rotating carrier for insertion into one of a plurality of equally spaced document-accepting pockets which are interspersed with document non-accepting segments. The carrier delivers the inserted documents to a stripping station when the previously inserted documents are removed and deposited on a stacking platform. Comparator means are provided for sensing the orientation of the carrier relative to a document in the delivery mechanism and moving the guide means to the second position whenever the orientation of the carrier would result in the document encountering a non-accepting segment of the carrier and would not allow the document to enter a document-accepting pocket if the guide means were to remain in the first position.