Abstract: A signature supply apparatus moves signatures in an on-edge orientation to a signature feed apparatus which feeds the signatures one at a time. The signature supply apparatus includes a generally horizontal main section which supports a large number of signatures in an on-edge orientation with major side surfaces of the signatures upright. A hopper section is disposed at a higher level than the main section and supports on-edge signatures with the major side surfaces of the signatures upright and with a forwardmost signature positioned to be engaged by the signature feed apparatus. An inclined ramp section extends forwardly and upwardly from the main section to the hopper section. The ramp section supports the signatures on-edge in a thick shingled stream with major side surfaces of the signatures inclined forwardly and upwardly. The main, ramp and hopper sections of the improved signature supply apparatus support a continuous stream of on-edge signatures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for establishing a random fault limit for hoppers in a collating machine. A plurality of hoppers are arranged in an array, each adapted to feed signatures, one at a time, to a conveyor. A miss feed base number and a double feed base number is established in a microcomputer for each of the hoppers equal to either (i) a predetermined number of signature feeds by that hopper, (ii) a predetermined number of books assembled, or (iii) a predetermined number of collator machine cycles. A miss feed fault number and a double feed number is established in the microcomputer for each of the hoppers. Each hopper has an associated miss feed detector and a double feed detector electrically connected to the microcomputer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a collator having a plurality of delivery conveyors are disclosed. The collator includes a plurality of hoppers for feeding a plurality of signatures to a plurality of gathering stations or pockets which moves past the hoppers. An assemblage, i.e., a group of collated signatures is formed in each of the plurality of pockets. The plurality of delivery conveyors receives assemblages from the plurality of pockets during operation of the collator. If a fault condition is detected downstream of one of the plurality of delivery conveyors, then receipt of assemblages by the one delivery conveyor is interrupted while receipt of assemblages by the other of the plurality of delivery conveyors is maintained. The result is that only the one delivery conveyor with the downstream fault condition ceases delivering assemblages. All production from the collator does not cease. Production and delivery of assemblages onto the delivery conveyors with no fault condition are maintained.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a conveyor for moving books in a spaced apart relationship along a predetermined path along which each book receives a length of adhesive. A roller is supported for rotation about its longitudinal central axis and has an outer cylindrical surface for receiving lengths of adhesive. A glue gun is provided for applying adhesive to the outer surface of the roller. The adhesive applied to the outer surface of the roller is of lengths equal to lengths of adhesive to be applied to the books. The lengths of adhesive are spaced apart by nonadhesive lengths. A nonadhesive length is equal to the spacing between adjacent lengths of adhesive on the books. A length of adhesive is transferred from the outer surface of the roller to a book when the book moves along the predetermined path and into contact with the length of adhesive.

Abstract: The present provides a new and improved apparatus for verifying the operation of a signature hopper of a collator. The hopper includes a rotary drum for transporting a signature from a storage bin to a feed location on a raceway having a moving conveyor. Two reflectors are secured to the drum. A first, miss reflector, is located so as to be covered by a signature during a normal feed operation. A second, miss verify reflector, is located so as not to be covered by a signature during a normal feed operation. An optical sensor directs a beam of light toward the drum and monitors for light reflected by the reflectors. A controller determines when the sensor should receive a reflected beam from the miss verify reflector. A warning signal is generated if no light is reflected from the miss verify reflector when it is expected.

Abstract: A gripper assembly for gripping sheet materials such as a folded newspaper includes a fixed jaw and a movable jaw for engaging opposite surfaces of the article. The jaws are supported on a base block for pivotal movement relative to each other. The movable jaw is made of spring wire and includes a pair of gripping tangs, a pair of spring coils associated one with each gripping tang, and a pressing element extending between the gripping tangs. The movable jaw is pivotally mounted on a shaft about which the spring coils are wrapped. The spring coils bias the clamp arm as a whole, and also the gripping tangs, independently of one another, into clamping relation toward the fixed clamp arm. The pressing element clamps and presses the lower folded edge of a folded newspaper being held in the gripper assembly. The movable clamp arm is made from a single continuous piece of spring wire.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing signatures from a hopper includes a rotatable drum. A first feeder mounted within the drum removes a first signature from the hopper during rotation of the drum through a predetermined acruate distance. A second feeder mounted within the drum partially removes a second signature from the hopper during rotation of the drum through the predetermined arcuate distance before the feeding of the first signature from the hopper is completed. The second feeder engages the second signature and starts removal of the second signature from the hopper while the first feeder is finishing removal of the first signature from the hopper.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for forming sheet material assemblages includes a circular array of pockets which are sequentially moved through a plurality of feed stations disposed in an arcuate array. Sheet material is fed into each of the pockets in turn at the feed stations to form sheet material assemblages. A delivery conveyor conducts the completed sheet material assemblages from the circular array of pockets. A plurality of loader conveyor assemblies are provided to supply sheet material to the feed stations. One of the loader conveyor assemblies is disposed above and extends across the delivery conveyor. The loader conveyor assembly which extends across the delivery conveyor has a skewed discharge end portion which turns a stream of sheet material as it moves toward the feed station. To facilitate handling of the sheet material, a group of the loader conveyor assemblies are disposed in a group with main sections of the loader conveyor assemblies extending parallel to each other.

Abstract: Significant improvements in the life of cutting knife blades and the quality of shearing of thick multiple sheet and shingled paper products are produced in a paper trimming system having two circular rotatable knives mounted to overlap at a shearing station through which the paper products are passed. Thin steel annular disc cutting blades with teeth about the outer circumference are significantly improved in life by eliminating the effects of blade warping and non-continuous mating contact with a bed knife cutting surface in an adjacent shearing relationship that is not broken by intervention of sheared paper or out of round knife surfaces or by deflection of the cutting blade away from mating surface contact by the pressure of thick or shingled paper products. Friction and wear is reduced by inclination of the cutting blade to prevent continuous rubbing against sheared paper edges.

Abstract: Apparatus for sensing a double thickness of a sheet-like product being conveyed past the apparatus by a feed device comprises a roll positionable adjacent the feed device. The roll has a perimeter partially defining a gap in the path of movement of the product. A support structure supports the roll for rotation relative thereto and for movement away from the path. A sensor senses movement of said roll away from said path. A caliper member is supported adjacent to the support structure. The support structure is mounted for adjustment to a position in which the gap has a width which is greater than the thickness of the product and less than the thickness of two products in response to positioning the product between the support structure and the caliper member. An adjustable member is movable to hold the support structure in the position to which it is move in response to positioning of the product between the support structure and the caliper member.

Abstract: A printing plate cylinder having permanent magnets disposed therein includes an elongate member made of a highly permeable magnetic material and having a cylindrical configuration. The elongate member includes opposite axial end portions and a central portion connecting the opposite axial end portions. The elongate member is supported for rotation about its longitudinal central axis by the opposite axial end portions. The longitudinal central axis of the elongate member is parallel to and eccentric to the longitudinal central axis of the elongate member. When the elongate member is in a first position, the central portion of the elongate member is spaced away from a magnetic printing plate secured to the printing plate cylinder. In the first position of the elongate member, a magnetic field is established through the magnetic printing plate. When the elongate member is in a second position, the central portion of the elongate member is adjacent the magnetic printing plate.

Abstract: A sheet material handling apparatus includes a conveyor and a plurality of hoppers disposed along the conveyor for receiving sheet material. Each of the hoppers include a sheet material support surface which slopes downwardly at an acute angle relative to horizontal in a direction transverse to the conveyor and a register surface adjacent the support surface. Drums feed sheet material from the hopper to the conveyor. The drums are supported for rotation about axes which extend at an acute angle to horizontal in a direction transverse to the conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a collator having a variable raceway jam fault detection arrangement. A plurality of hoppers are arranged in an array, each adapted to feed signatures onto a raceway having a moving chain. The chain has spaced apart chain pins, the distance therebetween defining signature feed locations. A plurality of jam detector switches are located along the raceway and are adapted to detect a signature jam, e.g., a signature overlying a chain pin. A controller monitors each of the jam switches. The operator enters into the controller a desired rejection pattern for each of the jam switches separately.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling a collator. A microcomputer learns hopper insertion points, jam switch insertion points, and hopper miss and double feed service angles relative to a reject gate. Based on the learn collator configuration, the controller controls collator operation. When a hopper phase adjustment is made by an operator, the controller automatically re-learns the hopper service angles during a ripple start of the collator and adjusts its reject data in response thereto. A miss verify sensor arrangement permits the controller to monitor for phase adjustments after a ripple start and to warn the operator upon such occurence.

Abstract: A stitching head includes a crank rotatable about a longitudinal axis through an oscillatory displacement in each of the opposite drive and return directions of a cycle. The crank has a plurality of crank pins displaced radially from the longitudinal axis of the crank. A pivotally mounted staple supporter receives and supports an elongated piece of wire. A reciprocably mounted staple former cooperates with the staple supporter to form the piece of wire into a staple. A reciprocably mounted staple driver cooperates with the staple supporter and former to drive the staple into a product. A plurality of links couple the crank pins with the staple supporter, former and driver. The links cause independent but coordinated movement of the supporter, former and driver to form and drive the staple into the product. The crank pins are disposed at a plurality of separate locations on the crank radially displaced at different distances from the longitudinal axis of the crank.