Abstract: The sorting plant has two loops (2,102) on which endless cart chains (4,104) circulate. The loops (2,102) extend parallel and adjacent to each other at a transfer station (100). The cart chains (4,104) are driven by synchronized drives (6,106) in such a way that two carts (5,105) move exactly adjacent to each other at the transfer station (100). The second loop (2) is extended along a somewhat lower elevation at this location. By tipping the receptacles (113,114) of a cart (105) on the first loop (102), unit load (10) occupying the same is directly transferred onto the cart (5) of the second loop (2) that moves exactly adjacent to it. This arrangement makes it possible to load one gross distribution facility (101) and two fine distribution facilities (1,1a) in a mail distribution center in a reasonable manner and with small spatial requirements.

Abstract: A printed sheet constituting a reference is scanned to form an image of a predetermined part of the sheet, and this reference image is stored in a microprocessor. Additional printed sheets which are to undergo further processing are subsequently similarly scanned to form images of predetermined parts thereof which, as regards position, correspond at least approximately to the predetermined part of the reference sheet. The predetermined part of the reference sheet may be larger than the predetermined parts of the additional sheets or vice versa so that the reference image is larger than the other images or vice versa. The microprocessor compares the image of each additional sheet with that of the reference sheet. In comparing two images, the microprocessor searches the larger image to determine the relative position in which the images would be most closely matched if superimposed on one another.

Abstract: A carriage for a conveyer for piece goods. The carriage is provided with a tilting device that is fastened to a carriage frame and is equipped with a push rod which is used to tilt a transporting tray disposed on a horizontal shaft. When the transporting tray is being tilted, for example, a postal package disposed on the tray is transferred at a preselected destination, for example, to a chute. A locking device equipped with detent pawls, an adjustment disc and a locking disc, automatically locks the transporting tray in its predetermined oblique position. In this way the transporting tray is prevented from tilting back once a sliding block provided for the pivoting is no longer in engagement with the tilting device in the region of the tilting path. The sliding block can thus be shorter than the tilt path.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a removal arm which is provided at its front with two cooperating rollers to grip a printed product and with a movable flap in front of the rollers. A cylinder-piston unit can move the two cooperating rollers in the same plane and linearly to the first conveyor path. The cylinder-piston unit is controlled in such a manner that at least the extraction speed of the two cooperating rollers is proportional to the transporting speed of the first conveyor path. The apparatus is provided to serve as a turnout switch or to separate an overlapping stream of laterally offset, folded together printed products.

Abstract: Folded printed sheets are delivered by a first conveyor into the radially extending pockets of a turret-shaped second conveyor for delivery onto successive saddles of a gathering conveyor which transports stacks of superimposed interfitted folded sheets to a stapling apparatus. The fold lines are disposed at the leading ends of sheets which enter the pockets of the second conveyor to engage suitable abutments, and the sheets are thereupon acted upon by centrifugal force to move radially outwardly against stops in their pockets prior to being withdrawn and simultaneously partially spread out for deposition on the oncoming saddles of the gathering conveyor. The second conveyor rotates about a horizontal axis which is located at a level above the gathering conveyor and at the level of or below the discharge end of the first conveyor.

Abstract: Each of the pockets (3), which are arranged at regular distances apart and are moveable along an endless path, is provided with two vertically adjustable stops (14, 15) for the printed product (12) placed into the pocket (3). The stops (14, 15) are mounted displaceably in a pocket carrier (8). Within the pocket carrier (8) there is horizontally arranged a slide (18) which has two elongated openings (19, 20) of slight inclination to the horizontal. A projection (21, 22) on each stop (14, 15) is guided in the corresponding opening (19, 20) of the slide (18). A displacement of the slide (18) accordingly effects a vertical displacement of the stops (14, 15). A guide member (28) which is displaceable in the direction of the slide (18) on a carrier (29) fixed to the machine has a guide groove (32) for a projection (27) arranged on the protruding end of the slide (18).

Abstract: Stacks consisting of selected numbers of neighboring signatures are bound together by at least two rows of stitches. The thread which is used to form the rows of stitches is severed subsequent to completed assembly of a stack and following partial assembly of the next-following stack. It is preferred to assemble at least two signatures of the next-following stack prior to severing of the thread between the finished stack and the growing stack.

Abstract: Apparatus for trimming lateral marginal portions of a scalloped stream of partially overlapping sheets has two counterknives at that side of the path for the sheets which is adjacent the leaders of successive sheets and a pair of rotary knives located opposite the counterknives at the side of the path which is adjacent the trailing ends of successive sheets. The sheets of the stream of sheets issuing from a printing machine must be inverted by 180.degree. if the counterknives are located beneath the respective rotary knives. Trimming operations which are carried out upon successive sheets having leaders at that side of the path which is adjacent the counterknives are less likely to result in tearing of the sheets than the trimming operations in conventional apparatus.

Abstract: Tongs for releasably clamping newspapers or other sheet-like commodities for movement with a conveyor have a housing connectable to the conveyor, a first jaw provided on the housing, a second jaw which is pivotable in or on the housing between open and closed positions adjacent and remote from the first jaw, respectively, and a mechanism for pivoting the second jaw. The mechanism employs a lever which is pivotable relative to the housing with and with respect to the second jaw between first and second end positions which respectively correspond to the open and closed positions of the second jaw, one or more springs which oppose pivotal movements of the lever relative to the second jaw during pivoting of the lever to its second end position, and a motion transmitting unit which operates between the lever and the spring or springs and is caused to move through a dead-center position during each movement of the lever between its first and second end positions.

Abstract: Apparatus for singularizing stacked paper sheets has a rotary withdrawing conveyor with an annulus of equidistant satellites having suction cups which attract successive lowermost sheets of a stack in a magazine adjacent a first portion of an endless path for the satellites. The satellites deliver the sheets into a second portion of the endless path where the leaders of the sheets are caused to project radially outwardly and to enter the spaces between the open jaws of grippers which are transported by an endless chain in such a way that a gripper which is about to receive a sheet is moved at the speed of the oncoming sheet-carrying satellite and in the same direction. The satellites have discs cooperating with an endless band serving to gradually release a sheet which is in the process of advancing with a gripper.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly with uniformly spaced-apart grippers for sheet-like printed products wherein the grippers are pulled along a plastic guide by one or more endless flexible bands which replace conventional chains. Each gripper has one, two or more roller followers which are movable along one, two or more tracks defined by the guide. The guide has one or more plastic rails which are affixed to a strip-shaped metallic carrier. The grippers have pairs of jaws one of which supports the follower or followers and the other of which is pivotably mounted on the one jaw and is permanently biased to an operative positioned or to an inoperative position by a prestressed leaf spring which is integral with the second jaw.

Abstract: A stream of square folded sheets, wherein one marginal portion is thicker than the marginal portion which is parallel thereto, is fed into the nip of a rotary core and one or more flexible bands which are being convoluted onto the core whereby the sheets form a roll having convolutions which alternate with the convolutions of the band or bands. The thicker marginal portions of the sheets are fed in a direction at right angles to the axis of rotation of the core so that, in the absence of any undertaking to the contrary, the diameter of the respective end face of the roll would exceed the diameter of the other end face which is formed by the thinner marginal portions of the sheets. The development of such frustoconical roll is prevented by moving the single band or one of several bands close to that end face of the roll which is formed by the thicker marginal portions of the sheets and by maintaining the thus positioned band under requisite tension in order to compress the thicker marginal portions.

Abstract: A perfect binder wherein the grippers of a transporting unit advance discrete stacks of paper sheets along a horizontal path past a series of successive treating stations from a stack receiving location of the grippers are located in a common plane, and those portions of the stacks which require treatment extend downward beyond the respective undersides. A second unit of the perfect binder includes a set of treating devices (which can include aligning panels, milling tools, grinding tools, adhesive applicators and cover applicators) which are mounted on a platform beneath the path for the stacks and are individually adjustable toward or away from the common plane. In addition, the perfect binder is provided with an apparatus which can move the transporting unit and/or the second unit toward or away from the other unit in order to simultaneously alter the spacing of all treating devices relative to the common plane.

Abstract: Apparatus for advancing sections of newspapers has a first conveyor with equidistant grippers which deliver a series of suspended sections to a transfer conveyor. The latter delivers successive sections into successive pockets of a turret-shaped conveyor and comprises a driven shaft carrying two annuli of bearings for the stubs of two sets of plate-like clamping members. Each clamping member of one set cooperates with a clamping member of the other set to engage a section which is delivered by an oncoming gripper and to transfer the thus engaged section into a pocket of the turret-shaped conveyor. The clamping members of each set are pivotable relative to the shaft and orbit about the shaft when the latter is driven to advance the clamping members along an endless path. The devices for pivoting the two sets of clamping members during predetermined stages of each revolution of the shaft employ exchangeable stationary cams and followers provided on the respective sets of clamping members to track the cams.

Abstract: Apparatus for singularizing stacked paper sheets has a rotary sheet withdrawing unit with a set of equidistant rotatably mounted transfer elements having suction cups which attract successive lowermost sheets of a stack in a magazine adjacent a first portion of the endless path of orbital movement of the transfer elements. The transfer elements deliver the sheets into a second portion of the endless path where the sheets are transferred toward an endless belt conveyor having a reach which advances in the direction of advancement of transfer elements in the second portion of the endless path and at a speed which exceeds the speed of orbital movement of the transfer elements. The leaders of the sheets are caused to abut stops on the endless belt conveyor.

Abstract: A link chain has alternating first and second links which are articulately connected to each other by universal joints. Each first link carries a gripper with a fixed jaw and a second jaw pivotable between first and second end positions through a dead-center intermediate position. Springs are provided to permanently bias each second jaw to either of the two end positions, and each second jaw is connected with a follower which can track a set of cams at two spaced-apart stations to move the second jaw between its end positions. Each link of the chain carries two shafts for pairs of roller followers which track the lateral edge faces of two flanges of an elongated guide rail having an H-shaped cross-sectional outline. The guide rail is bent and/or twisted, if necessary, to establish a helical, arcuate, looped and/or other complex path for advancement of successive links between the two stations.

Abstract: A machine wherein stuffers are inserted between the panels of folded sheets, while the sheets are confined in receptacles advancing along an endless path, has a rotor which defines a portion of the path and supports several sets of sheet opening elements including swords which penetrate between the panels of folded sheets in adjacent receptacles to open up the sheets preparatory to admission of stuffers between the panels. The swords are mounted on a support which is adjustably secured to the rotor so that all of the swords are adjusted relative to the adjacent receptacles in response to proper adjustment of a single sword. This simplifies the change of setup when the machine is to be converted from treatment of folded sheets having relatively thick panels to treatment of folded sheets with thinner panels or vice versa.

Abstract: Apparatus for singularizing successive stacks of a series of stacks consisting of superimposed groups of sheets has a transporting unit which advances successive stacks of the series in a horizontal plane against a barrier which intercepts each but the lowermost group of the oncoming stack. An endless conveyor with one or more pushers is provided to advance successive lowermost groups of an intercepted stack through and beyond a clearance between the barrier and a stationary table of the transporting unit. The width of such clearance exceeds the height of a single group but is less than the combined height of two superimposed groups. The width of the clearance and the extent to which the pusher or pushers can extend above the horizontal plane are adjustable.

Abstract: Large rolls of partially overlapping paper sheets which are convoluted onto the cores of reels are stored in one or more rows of compartments in a newspaper printing or bookbinding plant. Two adjoining rows are separated from each other by a track for one or more vehicles which are used to transport empty reels to one or more compartments wherein the sheets are convoluted onto the respective cores as well as to transport loaded reels to unoccupied compartments or to compartments which are adjacent to unwinding units. Conveyors in the form of cranes and/or chain or belt conveyors are used to transfer empty and loaded reels between the compartments of the rows and pairs of similar compartments on the vehicles. A vehicle which transports a loaded reel from the convoluting station to an empty compartment is used to transport an empty reel from such compartment to the compartment at the convoluting station so that the vehicle is put to use during each stage of its movement.

Abstract: The sheets of a stream of partially overlapping sheets are counted during transport past a generator of ultrasonic waves which is operated by a control unit at a frequency such that each sheet reflects a series of successive waves. The resulting echoes are directed toward two discrete signal generators which transmit signals to an evaluating circuit by way of the control unit. The signals denote the length of intervals of propagation of waves from the source to the respective signal generators, and the circuit processes such signals to furnish information denoting the number of sheets which are conveyed past the locus of impingement of waves upon the sheets.