Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for monitoring the thickness of a film includes a sensor roll which cooperates with a compliant roll to form a nip through which the film passes. As the two rolls rotate relative to each other, magnets disposed in the sensor roll are sequentially moved to and from the nip. As a magnet moves by the nip, the field emanating from the magnet is concentrated by a body of material having a relatively high magnetic permeability and disposed in the compliant roll. This results in an induced voltage being generated in a sensor coil. The output from the sensor coil is transmitted to control circuitry which effects operation of a suitable apparatus to control the thickness of the film.

Abstract: An apparatus for notching the back of a book. The apparatus includes a conveyor for moving the book along a conveyor path with the back of the book exposed. A cutter is provided for forming notches in the back of the book. A cutter support disc supports the cutter adjacent the conveyor path and supports the cutter for movement along a path extending transverse to the conveyor path. A first drive is connected with the cutter support dics for moving the cutter along a path extending transverse to the conveyor path. The first drive is operable in a timed relationship with the conveyor to form notches in the back of the book. A second drive is connected with the cutter for moving the cutter relative to the cutter support disc to form notches in the back of the book. The second drive is operable independent of the first drive to maintain the cutter at a speed sufficient to form notches in the back of the book regardless of the speed of movement of the cutter support disc.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to sequentially form and transport sheet material assemblages to a receiving location. The apparatus includes a collating conveyor assembly which is operated to form the sheet material assemblages. A gripper conveyor assembly sequentially grips sheet material assemblages formed by the collating conveyor assembly and transports them to a receiving location. A receiving conveyor transports the sheet material assemblages from the receiving location. The gripper conveyor assembly includes a plurality of grippers which are sequentially moved beneath the collating conveyor assembly with the grippers fully open and facing upwardly. Sheet material assemblages are sequentially dropped from the collating conveyor assembly downwardly into the upwardly opening grippers. Each of the grippers in turn is closed to clampingly grip the sheet material assemblages.

Abstract: A noncontact rotary position sensor for measuring the rotary position of a shaft includes an annular magnetic member mounted for rotation with the shaft and a Hall effect device spaced from the shaft. The annular magnetic member includes a magnetic pole pair radially oriented. The magnetic field produced radially outwardly from the annular magnetic member is monopolar. In one embodiment, the annular magnetic member is circular and produces a magnetic field having a uniform magnetic flux density around its entire circumference at equidistant locations extending radially outwardly of the annular magnetic member and the annular magnetic member is mounted eccentric with respect to the shaft.

Abstract: An improved signature stacking apparatus includes an assembly which feeds signatures across a stack of signatures toward a register surface. As the signatures are moving toward the register surface, they are engaged by a precompressor assembly which applies a force to a leading end portion at each of the signatures in turn to urge the signature forwardly against the register surface and to press the leading end portion of each signature downwardly against other signatures in the stack of signatures. The precompressor assembly incudes a pair of arcuate paddles which extend outwardly from a rotatable hub. The speed of rotation of the hub is such that outer side surface areas of the paddles are moving at a speed which is greater than the speed of movement of the leading end portion of the signatures. Therefore, upon engagement of an outer side surface area of a paddle with a signature, the signature is accelerated toward the register surface.

Abstract: A fluid metering system is disclosed for use with a printing press including an array of individual adjustable ink fountain keys for regulating the thickness profile of the ink film supplied to the inker roll by an ink fountain. The fountain keys are spaced along the length of the ink fountain and associated inker roll and each includes a friction wheel fixed thereto. A key actuator is mounted upon a carriage so as to traverse the array of keys. The key actuator includes a drive wheel which engages the friction wheels of the ink keys in sequence as the carriage traverses the array in either direction. The carriage responds to commands as from an operator, an ink preset sensor or an on-press color sensor to move the key actuator along the array to any of the keys requiring adjustment.

Abstract: A rotatable drum is disclosed for securing thereto various sizes of sheets of film by a partial vacuum. The drum includes a cylindrical body and first and second circular end blocks connected for closing the body. The drum is mounted for rotation about its central axis. The first end block defines concentrically therethrough a central passageway, connected to a source of partial vacuum so that the drum may be partially evacuated. The cylindrical body defines on its outer surface a plurality of parallel, identical grooves extending circumferentially about the body. A plurality of holes also extend through the body, each of the holes opening on the outer surface into one of the grooves. Importantly, the cross-sectional area of each hole is approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of each of the grooves, and no porting or valving is provided for the drum interior to close unneeded holes.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing a card on a bundle of sheet-like articles comprises a support for supporting the card adjacent the bundle, a feed device for feeding the card into the support, and a mechanism for placing a strap around the bundle, the card being stripped from the support by relative movement between the bundle with the card attached thereto and the support.

Abstract: A gripper assembly includes a movable clamp member which is rotatable relative to a stationary clamp member from a fully open position to any one of a plurality of closed positions to grip an article of a selected size between clamp members. When a releasable clutch or retainer assembly is in an engaged condition, the clutch prevents rotation of the movable clamp member from any one of the closed positions back to the fully open position. An actuator assembly is operable to release the clutch to enable the movable clamp member to rotate back to the fully open position. The clutch includes a coil spring having a plurality of turns which grip surfaces connected with the stationary and movable clamp members when the clutch is in the engaged condition. The actuator assembly operates the clutch from the engaged condition to the release condition by applying a force to the turns of the coil spring urging the turns to flex in a direction tending to increase the diameter of the coil spring.

Abstract: A signature folder is disclosed in which a vacuum system is provided to prevent tail whipping of the signature when the direction of movement thereof is reversed. The folder provides two counter-rotating cylinders. A portion of the signature moves along the periphery of one cylinder and then reverses direction to move onto the periphery of the other cylinder. A vacuum system is provided adjacent to the signature when it reverses direction. The vacuum system includes a pair of guides and a central, freely rotatable vacuum roll. The vacuum causes the reversing portion of the signature to move into engagement with the guides and roll and eliminates tail whipping. Further, it guides the signature so that it smoothly moves onto the periphery of the subsequent roll.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for monitoring the thickness of a film includes a sensor roll which cooperates with a compliant roll to form a nip through which the film passes. As the two rolls rotate relative to each other, magnets disposed in the sensor roll are sequentially moved to and from the nip. As a magnet moves by the nip, the field emanating from the magnet is concentrated by a body of material having a relatively high magnetic permeability and disposed in the compliant roll. This results in an induced voltage being generated in a sensor coil. The output from the sensor coil is transmitted to control circuitry which effects operation of a suitable apparatus to control the thickness of the film.

Abstract: A lateral positioner and adjust mechanism is provided for an unwind station of a web press. The unwind station includes first and second arms pivotally mounted to a frame that cooperate for supporting for rotation a roll on a shaft. The arms can be raised and lowered to raise and lower the roll. In the subject mechanism, a wheel is mounted to a first end of the shaft extending beyond the first supporting arm, the wheel defining in its periphery a groove having opposing side walls. Each of the side walls defines an outward bevel. A block attached to the first arm defines thereon a ridge extending upwardly perpendicular to the shaft, the ridge having opposing side walls, each of which includes a bevel. The ridge is fittable within the groove. The block can be selectively moved toward and away from the first arm in a direction parallel to the shaft. As the roll shaft is raised into position, the ridge and groove engage, moving the shaft into correct lateral position.

Abstract: A method of automatic control of a printing press (10) comprising the steps of scanning a representation of an image to be printed by means of a light table (70) to derive therefrom objective data representing the average density of the inked image in areas corresponding to those controlled by keys (48) of an ink fountain, producing multiple printed copies (85) of the image as a result of subjective operator (80) intervention in the setting of the fountain keys, recording the objective data in memory (75) and subjective data representing the setting of the fountain keys as set by the operator in memory (90) for a plurality of different press runs, analyzing both the objective data and the key setting data by examining a plurality of harmonic components thereof sufficiently large to represent accurately that data by circuit means (100), correlating by a linear regression analysis respective harmonic components of the objective data and subjective data over said plurality of press runs and storing said linear r

Abstract: An ink fountain for printing presses is disclosed in which a plurality of metering segments extend along the surface of the fountain roll to control the thickness of the ink film applied to the roll. The metering segments are individually adjustable toward and away from the fountain roll surface by screw and nut actuators in combination with springs which bias the segments toward the fountain roll. Precise positioning of the segments with respect to the roll is provided because the spring takes up all backlash within the actuator threads and any play in the connection between the actuator and the segments and trough. The actuator is structured to prevent actuator-produced forces on the segment in the direction of the roll so that the maximum force of engagement is provided by the spring. The ink trough and segment assembly is pivoted for movement to a service position in which the segments can be removed and replaced without disassembly of the trough assembly.

Abstract: A process for the continuous and automatic presetting of the fountain keys (48) a printing press (10) based on objective data obtained from scanning an image to be printed by means of a light table (70) identifies that family of printing jobs wherein an objective relationship has been established between the objectively obtained ink coverage data obtained from the light table and the key settings actually established for each of those jobs by a pressman. A minimum of four jobs are selected for adaptation, and in the preferred embodiment, as many as ten jobs are included within the group selected for adaptation. If four or more jobs in a row are rejected as being outside the selected family of jobs, then a separate adaptation procedure is used to determine whether these jobs establish an objective relationship, and if so, then they will be used to derive the information necessary for presetting the press.

Abstract: A printing press includes an improved method and apparatus for moving printing cylinders between thrown off positions in which bearers connected with the cylinders are separated and thrown on or printing positions. The printing cylinders are urged to their thrown off positions by springs which, in one embodiment of the invention, apply a biasing force to pivotally mounted support arms for the cylinders. In another embodiment of the invention, the cylinders are mounted on cantilevered leaf springs which urge the cylinders toward their thrown off positions. A motor is provided to apply a force directly to one of the printing cylinders to move it from its thrown off position to its printing position. The other printing cylinders are moved from their thrown off positions to their printing positions under the influence of forces transmitted between bearers connected with the printing cylinders.

Abstract: A signature collator and stitcher is disclosed which provides high output, multiple path operation, automatic repair, and multispeed operation. The collator provides a saddle conveyor which moves the saddles perpendicular to the direction of the saddles so that the signature assemblies are carried in a direction perpendicular to the fold for better control. The saddles are positioned close to each other so that a high density system results in which high production rates can be obtained with relatively low conveyor speeds. The signature feed delivers the signatures to the saddles along an inclined path to provide a component of movement in the direction of conveyor movement for high speed operation. The stitcher operates on the fly for high speed operation and utilizes a simple linkage to produce linear stitcher head movement.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for engaging a first gear with a second gear that is used to connect and disconnect a brake mechanism and a roll shaft within the unwind station of a web press. The first gear is mounted for rotation to a first shaft secured to a frame, while the second gear is carried for rotation on a member movable with respect to the frame. The member may be moved in a manner that will move the second gear along a path from a first disengaged position to a second engaged position. The mechanism includes a rigid support member pivotally mounted to the first shaft for pivotal movement about the shaft toward and away from the path along which the second gear is moved. A third gear is rotatably mounted on the support member and engages the first gear. A fourth gear is also rotatably mounted on the support member, the fourth gear being engaged with the third gear and adjacent to but not engaged with the first gear.

Abstract: A gripper conveyor assembly includes a plurality of grippers. A conveyor chain moves the grippers along a track from a pick up station to a receiving station. The conveyor chain has identical links. Any one link can be removed from the chain while all of the other links remain interconnected and enclosed by the track. Each of the links includes a body section with rollers which engage the track to guide movement of the body section along the track. Plug and socket type universal joints interconnect the body sections of the links. An opening having a length corresponding to the length of the body section of a link is provided in the track. When a link is rotated, through approximately 90.degree. at the opening, the plug and socket joints can be disconnected and the rotated link removed from the conveyor chain.

Abstract: Problems of wear and bounce created by imperfections in the surface of a magnetic recording medium, such as a chromium dioxide-coated drum, are circumvented by a hydrodynamic magnetographic imaging technique that provides the intended effective intimate contact between the recording head the magnetographic recording surface. A readily evaporatable liquid (e.g. water, alcohol, acetone) is applied to the surface of the drum slightly upstream of the location of the recording head, so as to create a liquid bearing against which the recording head is urged, and thereby intimately magnetically coupled with the surface of the drum, except for an extremely thin liquid film between the head and drum surface. As a result of this extremely thin liquid bearing, continuous pressure can be applied to the head to maintain the head in effective intimate contact with the surface of the recording medium without the fear of scratching the medium or causing wear on the head.