Abstract: A transfer wheel removes flat products from one location, such as an overhead conveyor, spaces the products apart, reorients them and then transfers the products to a second conveyor or other location. The transfer wheel is eccentrically mounted within a circular frame. Grippers mounted on radially-moving spokes of the transfer wheel rotate as the wheel turns, to reorient the products, for example from vertical to horizontal, so they can be laid flat on the second conveyor. The eccentric mounting of the wheel causes the spokes to increase the spacing between adjacent products as the wheel turns, to prepare the products for later processing.

Abstract: This invention discloses an apparatus and method for separating and feeding flat products from a stack to a gripper drum. The invention employs a specially-positioned pivoting and articulating sucker bar, having several degrees of motion, operating in timed relationship with a reciprocating and articulating pusher blade, to reduce the travel distance of vacuum suckers, to reduce the diameter of the gripper drum, and to increase the speed at which products are separated from the stack and transferred to the gripper drum.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved insert machine for inserting flat material into an open pocket and, more particularly, to a straight line insert machine employed for printed matter such as newspapers. The machine includes an all-electronic control system for controlling machine functions. The control system includes at least one central control computer running under software control and a plurality of network controllers, all coupled together via a controller area network (CAN) bus. Electronic control messages for controlling machine elements are sent among the computers and controllers using a novel message protocol to enable both broadcast messages and individual messages to be employed.

Abstract: A combined insert feeder and printer is employed such that blank inserts are stored in its hopper. The blank inserts are then fed by a transporter to a printer. The printer prints onto the insert to create a printed insert which is transported into a moving pocket.

Abstract: The transfer device is a circular conveyor having a plurality of radially moveable grippers. The grippers receive a non-self-supporting package, such as a newspaper jacket, on its bottom edge from an overhead line conveyor and rotate the newspaper down onto a receiving device such as a bundler at the bottom of the drum's rotation. The transfer device controls the gripping of the newspaper from the line conveyor with an inhibitor cam to provide a controlled bypass mechanism. The radial moveable grippers allow for smoother transistion and decrease space needs.

Abstract: The device stacks successive planar products (newspapers) and separates a plurality of the products into individual stacks. A circular conveyor has a plurality of grippers thereon which are spaced apart by a circumferential distance, grasps the planar products from a linear conveyor, upstream of the circular conveyor, so that the products are transferred from the linear conveyor to the circular conveyor and onto a stack.

Abstract: A sucker adjustment device including a moving lever having a cam surface adjacent its far end. An axis is located adjacent the near end and a first cam follower is mounted intermediate the ends. The first cam follower bears against an actuating cam which causes the former to move between an extended position, wherein the sucker cup attached thereto contacts the bottom newspaper of a stack, and a retracted position, wherein the sucker cup is out of the path of the lowest newspaper. There is an actuating lever pivotally mounted about the axis and carrying an arm between its distal end and the axis. There is a second cam follower on the arm at a point remote from the actuating lever and bearing against the cam surface. A pivot adjacent the rotating end of the sucker bar spaced apart from the sucker cup permits the sucker bar to move between its extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: A conveyor which includes one or more pocket assemblies which are adapted to be transported in a closed path. The assembly includes a pocket having two walls which are hinged to each other. In the closed position, the walls retain the product (newspaper) between them and, in their open position, they are spaced apart and can receive the product inserted therein. There is a pair of aligners mounted on the pocket which move from a retracted position to a forward position. If the product is misaligned in either direction transverse to the path of the pocket, one of the other of the aligners will contact the nearest edge of the product and push it into a central position in the pocket.

Abstract: A device for feeding flat, flexible products from the bottom of a stack. The stack is supported by rollers arranged like spokes in a wheel that is continuously rotating. Feeding occurs when a vacuum cup pulls the leading edge of a product between subsequent rollers. A rotary conveyor following feeding employing rollers with irregular surfaces is incorporated to insert the products into a series of pockets passing beneath.

Abstract: A device for transporting flat products consisting of feeders for introduction of flat products into openable pockets. The pockets move in a closed path and each receives one or more inserts. Specific and preferred pocket conveyor, sprocket, and divider designs are also set forth.

Abstract: A device and method for forming stacks of planar elements, particularly newspapers, wherein the elements are serially discharged onto a receiver, compressed to eliminate entrapped air, and bound with fusible tape. The stacks are bound by providing tape which extends across the path through which the individual stacks travel. As the stacks move down the path, they press against the tape, causing it to be discharged from sources thereof and to wrap itself around three sides of the stack. Welding heads are then moved in from the sides to press the tape together and fuse it into two portions. One portion is wrapped around the stack and the other constitutes the tape which will be contacted by the next stack in the cycle.

Abstract: Imbricated or overlapped copies of printed material are formed within a plurality of rows to form a single layer of a multi-layered and cubic-shaped stack. The stack allows for more efficient use of space for the storage of printed materials, and allows for easier and faster storing and retrieving of printed materials. The apparatus for forming the stack includes a plurality of in-feed conveyors which feed imbricated copy stream segments to a shuttle assembly upon a plurality of side-by-side rows. Once filled, the shuttle is positioned over a flat separator sheet and drops the plurality of rows onto the separator sheet, thereby forming a single layer. The layer is formed directly upon a stack which is formed upon a pallet. The separator sheet of the formed layer is supported by the copy streams which lie below on the preceding separator sheet.

Abstract: A device for stacking and destacking a stream of imbricated, substantially planar, flexible units to form or destack a layered stack. The device is a stacker, adapted to receive a stream of units from a source thereof, and a plurality of transfer sheets. The feeder delivers the stream of units to the stacker.The stacker has staging belts which receive portions of the stream and deposit the units serially on one of the transfer sheets, as it is withdrawn from the sheet stack. This forms an imbricated layer of the units and the transfer sheet. The stacker deposits the imbricated layer on a removable support and repeats the cycle to deposit successive imbricated layers on the preceding layers. Destacking is carried out by simply reversing the process.

Abstract: Imbricated or overlapped copies of printed material are formed within a plurality of rows to form a single layer of a multi-layered and cubic-shaped stack. The stack allows for more efficient use of space within the storage of printed materials, and allows for easier and faster storing and retrieving of printed materials. The apparatus for forming the stack includes a plurality of in-feed conveyors which feed imbricated copy stream segments to a shuttle assembly upon a plurality of side-by-side rows. Once filled, the shuttle is positioned over a flat separator sheet and drops the plurality of rows onto the separator sheet, thereby forming a single layer. The layer is formed directly upon a stack which is formed upon a pallet. The separator sheet of the formed layer is supported by the copy streams which lie below on the preceding separator sheet.

Abstract: A device for dividing a product such as a newspaper into two substantially equal portions, the device including a pocket assembly which receives the newspaper (fold down) when open. The pocket then closes and a retainer, at one corner of one pocket wall, prevents the extended portion of the newspaper from curling. A divider splits the newspaper into two portions, and the retainer then moves to a position wherein one of the portions is held between the retainer and the adjacent pocket wall. The pocket assembly is tilted so that the other portion of the newspaper falls away from the first portion as the pocket is opened. At the same time, the divider withdraws and another retainer, at the opposite corner from the first retainer, holds the corresponding corner of the first portion against the pocket wall.

Abstract: A selective release for grippers on a conveyor, each of which has a movable arm and a stationary arm. Arms move toward each other to grip a planar product (e.g. a newspaper) therebetween and move away from each other to release the product. The gripper is biased toward the closed position and can be moved into the open position by the application of a release force. A rocker cam is provided which can move into a position whereby it urges the movable gripper arm into the open position and into contact with a retaining cam. The retaining cam holds the movable arm in the open position for a period of time sufficient to allow the product to be completely released from the gripper.

Abstract: A device for bundling a plurality of flat flexible structures received serially from a feed conveyor, applying top and bottom protective sheets, and strapping the structure together. The device includes a support conveyor adjacent to the feed conveyor and movable in a downstream direction along a path, a first conveyor movable in the downstream direction adjacent and substantially parallel to said support conveyor, at least one first blade on the first conveyor movable in a perpendicular direction toward the support conveyor to a support position. The first blade acts as a rest for the structures, and is movable away from the support conveyor to an inoperative position out of the path. When in the support position, this first blade advances in the downstream direction as the structures are deposited on edge onto the support conveyor, whereby a bundle of structures is formed.

Abstract: A device for opening a printed product having three open edges and one folded edge having a pocket which can close to hold the product. A splitter enters the product from one side and divides the pages into approximately equal bundles. A pair of grippers then holds the corners while a spiral enters the opening between the bundles and carries it to the opposite side. At that point, a second pair of grippers holds the opposite corners to thereby hold the bundles against the walls of the pocket. The pocket opens and the product is ready to receive inserts.

Abstract: A device for separating a printed product into two groups of pages wherein the product is held between two faces of a pocket and an element presses against the fold to cause the product to bow outwardly and form an opening. A preopener is inserted into the opening and moved toward the free edge. Thereafter, grippers hold the corners to prevent curling and an opener moves across the width of the product where the opposite corners are held.

Abstract: A straight-line insert machine for inserting materials into a newspaper jacket is disclosed. The jacket is positioned in a moving pocket which is hinged but closed at the bottom such that when the pocket opens, as vacuum is applied to the walls of the pockets, the jacket opens. Vacuum flanges moving at the same linear speed as the pockets mate with vacuum stems attached to the pockets for a predetermined time and apply vacuum to the walls of the pocket so that the front and rear portions of the newspaper jacket are held against the fixed and movable walls, respectively, as the pocket opens. The pockets and vacuum system are synchronously driven. Camming action is used to open and close the pockets. Insert hoppers place insert materials into the open jackets. Because the machine is modular, additional insert hoppers and pockets can be added.