Abstract: Apparatus for transporting a scalloped stream of paper sheets from a first horizontal path into an aligned second horizontal path or into a downwardly sloping third path has a flap which is pivotable in a gap separating the first and second paths between a first position of coplanarity with the first and second paths so that the stream can enter the second path by traveling along the upper side of the flap and a second position in which the flap extends above the first and second paths to block the entry of the stream into the second path while permitting the stream to advance from the first into the third path. An intercepting plate is moved across the discharge end of the first path prior to pivoting of the flap from the first to the second position to temporarily prevent (e.g., for an interval of a few milliseconds) the advancement of sheets beyond the first path.

Abstract: A tool which is used to make rows of perforations in a running web of paper or the like has a rotary holder and a flat blade which is removably secured to the holder so that one of its longitudinal edge faces extends beyond the periphery of the holder. Such one longitudinal edge face has a row of perforating teeth and the blade has an elastically deformable portion which extends lengthwise of the one longitudinal edge portion to enable at least some of the perforating teeth to yield if they engage a hard surface while the row of teeth bulges outwardly in the region between the ends of the one longitudinal edge face. The elastically deformable portion can have one or more rows of slots or one or more corrugations. If the elastically deformable portion has two rows of slots, the slots in the row which is nearer to the perforating teeth partially overlap the neighboring slots of the adjacent row.

Abstract: Folded cover sheets are conveyed seriatim from a first magazine into each of several parallel channels during each of a series of successive intervals. Such sheets are opened up on entry into the channels and are transported past one or more locations where they receive inserts which are supplied from one or more additional magazines, again in such a way that each additional magazine admits an insert into each channel during each of the successive intervals. The thus obtained groups of sheets are gathered into larger groups which are assembled into a continuous stream of partly overlapping groups.

Abstract: A gathering machine wherein the platforms for deposition of sheets prior to accumulation into piles on the horizontal track of the conveyor system are of adjustable width so as to properly confine and guide wider or narrower sheets. Each sheet which rests on a platform is accelerated prior to removal from the platform by the oncoming prong of a series of equidistant prongs on an endless chain which forms part of the conveyor system. The accelerating devices are elongated elastic bars having rectangular sheet-engaging undersides which bear against the upper sides of sheets on the respective platforms and accelerate the sheets in the direction of travel of the oncoming prongs shortly before the sheets are engaged by the prongs. The platforms carry recessed idler rollers below the respective accelerating devices to reduce friction between the sheets and the platforms during acceleration of the sheets by the undersides of the accelerating devices.

Abstract: Apparatus for conversion of a stream of partially overlapping imprinted sheets into discrete stacks each of which contains a fixed number of fully overlapping sheets has a chute one side wall of which arrests successive foremost sheets of the stream and causes such sheets to descend in the chute and to pile up on top of each other. A rotary separating device has three prongs which are moved seriatim from an upwardly inclined first position above the path of the stream to an upwardly inclined second position in which the respective prong intercepts the oncoming sheets of the stream. In to a horizontal third position, the respective prong continues to intercept the oncoming sheets and supports the lowermost intercepted sheet from below while the respective prong allows the intercepted sheets to descend in the chute in a fourth position. The stacks of piled-up sheets are removed during the intervals between movements of successive prongs between their second and fourth positions.

Abstract: A cylindrical drum of a rotary transfer conveyor rotates below an opening at the bottom of a magazine for a stack of superimposed sheets. The drum carries a first pivotable gripping lever and one or more second pivotable gripping levers. The common pivot axis of the levers is parallel to the axis of the drum, and the levers are pivotable by cams so that their speed relative to the magazine is less than the peripheral speed of the drum during travel immediately below the opening in the bottom of the magazine. At such time, a set of suction cups flexes a portion of the lowermost sheet of the stack through the opening and between the first and second gripping levers so that the speed of the engaged sheet need not be immediately accelerated to the peripheral speed of the drum but merely to the relatively low absolute speed of the levers.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing and opening successive folded sheets of a stack has a transfer conveyor whose gripper engages the folded backs of successive sheets and propels them into the elongated channel of a straight guide extending tangentially of the flanges of the transfer conveyor. When a sheet is released, its folded back is leading and the sheet continues to travel in the channel. Such sheet is braked by a stop which is moved at the speed of the sheet during disengagement of the sheet from the transfer conveyor, which has a clamping device that grips the folded back of the sheet, which moves at a gradually decreasing speed subsequent to engagement of its clamping device with the folded back to brake the sheet in the channel, and which is disengaged from the sheet not later than at the time when one or both front edge portions of the sheet are engaged by rotary spreading members which open the sheet during removal from the channel and drop the opened sheet onto a roof-shaped evacuating conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for singularizing and opening stacked folded sheets, wherein one marginal portion of each sheet opposite the fold projects beyond the adjacent marginal portion, has a magazine for a stack of such sheets, a rotary drum which withdraws successive sheets from the magazine in such a way that the two marginal portions are located at the lower end of the withdrawn sheet, two rotary opening devices mounted below the drum and having grippers for the marginal portions of the withdrawn sheet, and a plate-like straightening device which is mounted between the opening devices and is pivoted against the marginal portions of the withdrawn sheet to flatten the projecting marginal portion and to place the flattened marginal portion into the path of movement of the gripper on one of the opening devices. The straightening device is thereupon withdrawn to allow the shorter marginal portion to move into the path of movement of the gripper of the other opening device.

Abstract: Apparatus for the conversion of a stream of partly overlapping sheets into a row of fully overlapping sheets has a first conveyor which transports a growing row of sheets at right angles to the planes of the sheets, and a composite second conveyor which defines a downwardly extending path wherein successive sheets of the stream descend onto the first conveyor to accumulate between spaced-apart distancing elements of the first conveyor. Successive sheets of the stream are engaged and pushed forwardly on the first conveyor by an oscillating pusher which, when retracted, provides room for descent of a sheet onto the first conveyor behind the rearmost sheet of the growing row. The amplitude and/or frequency and/or the end positions of the pusher are adjustable to account for variations in thickness and/or stiffness of sheets in successive streams and/or for differences in friction between the sheets and the second conveyor.

Abstract: Bookbinding machine with a horizontal turntable 2 which carries pairs of clamping jaws (3, 4) and transports the pairs of clamping jaws past work stations (A-E), wherein a disc cam (16) is provided coaxially with the turntable to open and close the pairs of clamping jaws, characterized in that the axis of the turntable is defined by a shaft (13) which is rotatably connected with the turntable by friction elements (11, 14, 15), that the shaft is non-rotatably connected with a second disc cam (44) which controls the movements of a restrainer (40) into and/or from the path of the turntable in order to arrest briefly the turntable whenever a pair of clamping jaws is located at the inserting station (A) for inner books.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for diverting groups of sheets to one or more processing machines which are adjacent to an elongated path defined by a transporting system consisting of a series of conveyors separated from each other by pivotable switches. Each processing machine can receive sheets from the transporting system in response to pivoting of the adjacent switch to a sheet-diverting position, and the switch which precedes such switch is pivotable to a position in which it diverts sheets onto an auxiliary conveyor which can be started to deliver sheets directly to the respective processing machine. The discharge end of the transporting system delivers surplus sheets to a stacker, and a switch which is located ahead of the foremost auxiliary conveyor can be caused to divert sheets into a row forming machine.

Abstract: Paper sheets which are creased during transport from a magazine to a folding station are delivered between the outer side of a straight reach of an elastic belt conveyor and a row of folding rollers whose radially outwardly tapering peripheral portions extend into a groove in the outer side of the conveyor whereby the rollers fold the sheets along the creases. The straight reach of the conveyor is propped from the inside by a set of rollers which are adjustable toward and away from the row of folding rollers to account for different thicknesses, stiffnesses and/or other characteristics of the sheets. The taper of peripheral portions of successive folding rollers increases in the direction of transport of sheets.

Abstract: Apparatus for trimming the front, head and foot ends of brochures has a stationary platform which supports one brochure at a time. A first knife which trims the front end of the brochure on the platform descends in a vertical plane ahead of two additional knives which thereupon simultaneously trim the head and foot ends of the same brochure as soon as the first knife completes the trimming of the front end. The first knife is pivoted forwardly and away from the additional knives while the additional knives move toward and trim the brochure on the platform. This insures that the first knife is held out of the way while the additional knives move to positions in which their forward ends extend beyond the trimmed front end of the brochure.

Abstract: Apparatus for conversion of a stream of partly overlapping sheets into a row of fully overlapping sheets has a first conveyor which transports a growing row of sheets at right angles to the planes of sheets, and a composite second conveyor which defines a downwardly extending path wherein successive sheets of the stream descend onto the first conveyor to accumulate between spaced-apart distancing elements of the first conveyor. The advancement of successive sheets all the way onto the first conveyor is assisted and promoted by oscillating fingers which engage the oncoming sheets immediately above the first conveyor and intermittently push such sheet in the direction of forward movement of the growing row to provide room for the oncoming sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for conversion of a stream of partially overlapping imprinted sheets into discrete stacks each of which contains a fixed number of fully overlapping sheets has a chute one side wall of which arrests successive foremost sheets of the stream and causes such sheets to descend in the chute and to pile up on top of each other, and a rotary separating device with three prongs which are moved seriatim from an upwardly inclined first position above the path of the stream to an upwardly inclined second position in which the respective prong intercepts the oncoming sheets of the stream, thereupon to a horizontal third position in which the respective prong continues to intercept the oncoming sheets and supports the lowermost intercepted sheet from below, and finally to a fourth position in which the respective prong allows the intercepted sheets to descend in the chute.

Abstract: A newspaper stuffing apparatus wherein pockets which serve for reception of newspaper jackets and inner sections are transported along an endless path past a first feeder which admits openable jackets, past at least one second feeder which admits inner sections into opened jackets in successive pockets, and thereupon past an evacuating device which removes the thus assembled newspapers from successive pockets. Each pocket is associated with a retaining blade which is held at one end of the pocket during travel past the first feeder, which is moved by a spring into the pocket and clamps one-half of the opened jacket against one wall of the pocket during travel toward and past the second feeder, and which is retracted from the pocket not later than when the pocket reaches the evacuating device.

Abstract: A newspaper stuffing apparatus wherein pockets having fixedly mounted and pivotable walls travel along an endless path below a plurality of feeders which propel jackets and inserts of newspapers into successive pockets. In order to prevent the jackets from rebounding upon impact against intercepting levers below the pockets, each pocket is equipped with two spring-biased braking members which bear against the corresponding pivotable wall and extend toward the associated fixedly mounted wall during introduction of a jacket so that the braking members frictionally engage the jacket but do not prevent it from moving its folded edge all the way into engagement with the intercepting levers. The braking members are retracted in response to movement of the pivotable wall away from the associated fixedly mounted wall to thus provide room for opening of the jacket preparatory to introduction of inserts.

Abstract: A newspaper stuffing apparatus wherein a succession of pockets is transported below at least one stuffer having a bottom-feed hopper for newspaper jackets and one or more additional bottom-feed hoppers for inserts which are dropped into the jackets upon admission of jackets into successive pockets. The thus assembled newspapers are removed from successive pockets by sets of jaws in the tooth spaces of a toothed wheel which rotates at a level below the path of the pockets and transfers withdrawn newspapers onto a conveyor system. Each pocket has a recess which is provided in its lower portion and through which the jaws of the wheel withdraw assembled newspapers during travel of filled pockets above the wheel. Pivotable levers are employed to prevent the jackets and their inserts from leaving the respective pockets by way of the recesses during travel of pockets toward the wheel.

Abstract: Apparatus for baling newspapers or the like has a folding unit which folds and compacts successive newspapers and delivers successive folded newspapers to a conveyor which advances the newspapers onto a support on which the newspapers pile up to form a stack. A pusher is operated intermittently to transfer successive stacks into the range of a transporting unit which advances each stack against a retractible gate whereby the stack is held in an optimum position for looping a cord therearound before the gate opens to permit the transporting device to advance the thus obtained bale toward a packing machine. The transporting unit has a bottom guide which is assembled of a front and a rear belt conveyor and a stationary bridge between the conveyors, and two lateral guide members which terminate short of the gate.

Abstract: A gathering apparatus for folded sheets which are stored in several magazines at a level above the upper reach of an endless chain conveyor has suction heads which withdraw the folded backs of sheets from the respective magazines, rotary transfer members which complete the withdrawal of sheets from the respective magazines, pairs of rotary spreading members which open each withdrawn sheet at a level above the upper reach of the conveyor in such orientation that the front edge portions of the opened sheet are located at a level below the folded back of the sheet, and stationary guide members which flank the upper reach of the conveyor and guide the front edge portions of sheets during downward movement of sheets from the range of the respective spreading members toward the upper reach of the conveyor. The downward movement of sheets is promoted by nozzles which discharge air streams downwardly toward the outer sides of opened sheets and are preferably mounted in the guide members.