Abstract: An improved tyer includes a central station where loose stacks of signatures sre received. A pair of tying stations are disposed on opposite sides of the central station. A pair receiving stations are disposed adjacent to the tying stations. An improved shuttle assembly is used to sequentially move loose stacks of sheets from the central station to one or the other of the tying stations. The shuttle assembly includes three pusher arms which are movable along tracks between the central and tying stations. Gaps are provided in the tracks at the tying station to enable bands or straps to be moved through the tracks and secured around loose stacks of signatures at the tying stations. In order to provide for as compact a loose stack of signatures as possible at a tying station, the loose stack of signatures is compressed between a pair of pusher arms as it is moved to a tying station.

Abstract: A quick change punch reel for a rotary press comprises a transversely split annular main body member having radially extending cylindrical sockets for receiving individual punches, each punch having a head and a base and an outer cylindrical sidewall with a circumferential undercut including a tapered wall extending toward the base of the punch. The sockets are adjacent a planar side face of the main body member and cylindrical bores are formed through the side face in alignment with and intersecting the sockets with the bores having counterbores at the side face. Punch retaining plungers are spring-biased into the bores and counterbores by means of a transversely split cap plate which is secured to the side face of the main body member. Cylindrical punches may be exchanged in the sockets by retracting the plungers against the compressive force of individual springs such that the punches are received within the sockets and retained by spherical heads of the plungers within the undercuts of the punches.

Abstract: A transfer mechanism for a magnetographic recording apparatus employs a pair of imaging/printing drums arranged for pivotal translation past one another so as to be controllably positionable at a respective one of imaging and printing stations. At the imaging station a latent image of the desired graphics/text to be reproduced is written onto a first drum while, at the same time, at the printing station, a latent image that was previously written at the imaging station onto a second drum is employed for hard copy reproduction. The transfer mechanism preferably comprises a set of rotatably driven and meshed gear wheels about the respective axes of which pivot of a pair of support arms upon which the imaging/printing drums are mounted.

Abstract: Apparatus for crimping of a moving web is provided, the web having a plurality of holes formed therethrough along a line defined thereon in the direction of movement of the web, each of the holes being separated from a preceding hole by a substantial uniform distance. A holder for mounting a plurality of crimp blades is secured to a shaft for rotation thereby, and the blades are mounted to the holder body in predetermined fixed locations. An anvil is also provided, mounted to a second shaft for rotation thereby. The anvil body includes at least one annular groove defined around its outer surface for receiving the cutting edges of the blades, counter-rotation of the holder and anvil with the moving web therebetween causing insertion of each blade at least partially through the web and into the groove, and subsequent withdrawal of the blade, thereby crimping the web.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking sheetlike articles of flexible material includes a stack follower engaging the trailing end of a stack to prevent separation of articles from the stack adjacent its trailing end as the edges of the articles drag across a guide surface during lowering movement of the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically tipping closely incidental mail to magazines or the like. A plurality of magazines are sequentially fed from a source location to a town sort stacking location. A labelling station and an envelope tipping station are disposed intermediate the source and town sort location. Presorted closely incidental mail pieces are provided and scanned for zip code information. Labels are provided having subscriber information including name, address, zip code and mail piece attachment indicia indicating whether that subscriber is to receive a mail piece. Each label is scanned. If a label scanned does not include mail piece attachment indicia indicating that subscriber is to receive a mail piece, that label is fixed to the corresponding, next magazine being fed from the source location to the town sort stack location.

Abstract: A quick-release mounting for a cutting wheel comprises a housing adjustably mounted in an arm, and a hollow shaft rotatably supported in the housing. The shaft has an expandable collet hub on which a wheel can be received. A mandrel extends within the shaft and has a tapered part to expand the collet hub; the mandrel is spring loaded toward expanding the hub, and a handle on the mandrel allows thrusting the mandrel in opposition to the spring load for release of a wheel. Locking members guard against accidental release of a wheel from the shaft, and an adjustable stop prevents over-tightening the collet hub. Adjustments of the mounting to mount or dismount a wheel and to change position thereof can all be accomplished without need for tools.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for registering a perfecting offset printing unit to a reference perfecting offset printing unit while minimizing displacement between associated non-print gap areas. The circumferential position of the upper printing plate and the lower printing plate of the unit to be registered is monitored with respect to their associated blankets. The print registration between the unit to be registered and the reference unit is monitored. Printing position changes for the upper printing couple and the lower printing couple of the unit to be registered that are needed to effect registration with the reference unit are determined. A circumferential bias is determined responsive to the determined printing position changes needed and responsive to the monitored circumferential position of the upper printing plate and the lower printing plate.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus is provided capable of obtaining image area information from both photograhic films and printing plates. The apparatus includes a scanner assembly carrying two independent light sources for use in the respective plate and film scan operations. The scanner assembly is mounted for movement over a film/plate support surface and carries a columnar sensor array positioned to receive light transmitted through films being scanned. The same sensor array is utilized for receiving light reflected from plates when in the plate scan mode. Optical baffle members are operated by a manual control knob which also controls energization of the appropriate light sources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for transporting sheet materials from a source location to a stacking workstation. A lower conveyor is positioned between the source location and the stacking work station. An upper conveyor having a first conveyor section and a second conveyor section is positioned above the lower conveyor such that the first conveyor section is above an end portion of the lower conveyor and the second conveyor section extends beyond the the downstream end of the lower conveyor. The first conveyor section is pivotably fixed at an upstream end. The upstream end of the second conveyor section is pivotably attached adjacent the downstream end of the first conveyor section. The downstream end of the second conveyor section is adapted to be operatively coupled to the top of the stack of sheet materials being stacked on a movable support of the stacking workstation.

Abstract: A stack top control method and apparatus includes sensing the vertical position of a top of signatures being stacked on a stacking platform at two spaced apart locations. Two belt assemblies tangentially contact at least a portion of opposed sides of the stack being formed adjacent the top locations being sensed. Each belt assembly is driven by a variable drive motor and applies a tangential, frictional drive force to the opposed sides of the stack being formed toward the stacking platform. A control circuit monitors the vertical position of the two spaced apart locations and controls the speed of each drive motor of the belt assemblies responsive to the sensed vertical position of the top of the signatures being formed into the stack. The top of the stack is thereby substantially leveled.

Abstract: A plurality of skewing devices are mounted in a collating apparatus above collating points at which a plurality of webs are collected together for further processing. The skewing devices comprise rollers mounted on shafts which may be rotated by a handle. Each shaft has a threaded section, and a threaded block is mounted thereon for axial movement in response to rotation of the handle. There is a link bar pivotally linked to the threaded block, so that axial movement of the threaded block causes pivotal rotation of the link bar. Such pivotal rotation of the link bar causes the threaded block to rotate the shaft in a horizontal plane for controlled skewing of the web.

Abstract: A collating apparatus having a collating unit, a perforating unit and a fan-folding unit, all gear driven by a single main drive gear, and having a gear assembly driven by the drive gear which includes a gear having an adjustable rotational eccentricity and an adjustable phase of eccentricity relative to the other gears. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustable gear includes an inner hub mounted on a rotatable shaft, an intermediate hub having an eccentric bore rotatably receiving the inner hub, a gear ring having an eccentric bore rotatably receiving the intermediate hub and a clamp bar attached to the gear ring and to the shaft. The bar includes an adjustment mechanism for varying the orientation of the gear ring, intermediate hub and inner hub relative to each other.

Abstract: New and useful stacking apparatus in which a stacker can form a stream of signatures into a stack, and also associate an end board with one end of the stack. Moreover, the stacker is associated with a clamping mechanism which, when it moves over to the stacker to clamp a stack of signatures, also brings an end board and deposits an end board on the stacker for association with a succeeding stack. The stacker has a main member which moves along a path between a stack receiving position and an end board receiving position. As the main member moves from the end board receiving position, the intermediate member moves out of its way. The stacker also has an interceptor for initiating formation of a stack and a unique way of transferring the partially formed stack from the interceptor to the main member.

Abstract: Sheet material handling apparatus comprising a transfer vehicle movable along a guide track between a stack pickup position and a stack discharge position. The transfer vehicle has a clamping mechanism for clamping a stack of signatures at the stack pickup position and for removing the stack of signatures from the stack pickup position. The clamping mechanism is adapted to maintain clamping engagement with the stack of signatures as the transfer vehicle is moved along the guide track away from the stack pickup position and to the stack delivery position, and the clamping mechanism is releasable from the stack of signatures at the stack delivery position.

Abstract: A holder mounting a plurality of crimp blades for crimping of a moving web includes a cylindrical body having a curved outer surface, and eight slots defined in the outer surface. A crimp blade is secured within each of the slots such that rotation of the body causes the blades to crimp a web moving therepast. The diameter of the body and the positions of the blade mounting slots on the surface thereof are selected so that with the blades mounted to the body, rotation thereof causes crimps to be applied to the moving web with spacings thereon between successive crimps defining a repetitive pattern of substantially 2.0, 2.0, 2.0, 2.0, 2.0, 2.0, 2.0 and 3.0 inches (5.08, 5.08, 5.08, 5.08, 5.08, 5.08, 5.08 and 7.62 cm).

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for indicating and correcting misregister of plural overlapping images produced by a multicolor press. A register indicia (FIG. 3) is used comprising two overlapping sets of parallel lines (R and C), each set being formed in a known position relative to a corresponding one of the images whereby the positional relationship between the sets of lines varies with the positional relationship of the images. The extent of overlap of the sets of lines is dependent upon displacement of the sets of lines in a direction transverse to the lines, whereby the percentage of nonprint area in the register indicia is dependent upon register of the overlapping images in that transverse direction. The percentage of nonprint area is detected by illuminating the register indicia area and measuring the extent to which the area reflects the light. The resulting signal is used to control the register adjustment mechanisms of the multicolor press.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the relative circumferential setting of at least two rotating elements of a machine for operating on a moving web are provided wherein a first of the elements serves as a measurement reference. An electric reference pulse is generated for each revolution of the first element, along with a train of clock pulses wherein each count corresponds to an increment of rotation. A marker pulse is generated for each revolution of the second element, and the count pulses generated subsequent to generation of a reference pulse and up to and simultaneous with generation of the next succeeding marker pulse are counted, thereby providing a relative rotational measurement. The count is retained in a memory until the next succeeding count is completed.

Abstract: Apparatus for makeready of a business forms press having an unwind apparatus (12) for supporting a rolled web (20) of material and having a plurality of rotatable members in spaced alignment defining a path for the web and arranged to perform operations on said web such as printing (22, 23), perforating (45), numbering (35), punching (40, 42) or slitting, wherein the members are rotated in synchronism and are adjustable laterally and/or circumferentially with respect to the web path, is disclosed as comprising markings (90) and scales (110) establishing a reference position in the unwind apparatus for the rolled web and further devices (125, 230, 250, 270, 297, 327) establishing separate side reference positions for each of said rotatable members which has a lateral adjustment with respect to the unwind reference position, and further markings and scales (128, 222, 247, 272, 298, 308) establishing a circumferential reference position for each of said rotatable members with respect to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially stitching groups of sheets includes a reject assembly which directs groups of sheets containing either more or less than a predetermined number of sheets to a receiving station without being stitched. If a desired number of sheets is in a group, the group will move through the reject station to a stitching station and then through a folding apparatus at one of two discharge stations. The reject assembly includes a ramp which is movable between a retracted position aligned with a main support surface and an extended position projecting upwardly from the main support surface to a reject conveyor. A main conveyor pushes a group of sheets containing more or less than a predetermined number of sheets up the ramp to a reject conveyor which conducts the groups of sheets to a receiving station.