Patents Assigned to Quipp, Incorporated
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Patent number: 5226780Abstract: A dual drive signature stacker having side-by-side stacker sections, each of substantially identical design and including a stepper motor for driving a pair of buckets for receiving signatures secured at spaced intervals along a drive chain driven by the stepper motor. The buckets have intercept blades supported by brackets joined to the drive chain to position one of the intercept blades of each drive assembly in front of the adjacent drive assembly so that all of the buckets of the dual drive assembly are in alignment with one another and with the signature stream. The side-by-side arrangement greatly simplifies the design cost and assembly. A microprocessor-based control system permits stacking of stacks having as few as two signatures and is further capable of forming successive signature stacks of differing count in a precision manner and compatible with the speeds of any signature flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1992Date of Patent: July 13, 1993Assignee: Quipp, IncorporatedInventors: Christer A. Sjogren, Louis D. Kipp, William K. Moritz
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Patent number: 5135102Abstract: A bundle distribution system is comprised of tilt tray carriers coupled in tandem forming a continuous loop, each carrier being a link in the loop. A top loader which is positioned above the track so as to minimize the space required therefor, is capable of dropping signature bundles onto the desired tray with great accuracy. The top loader also orients bundles delivered thereto at an angle which compensates for tilting of the bundle as it leaves the top loader thereby assuring that bundles are dropped upon each carrier in a predetermined orientation, without tumbling.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1991Date of Patent: August 4, 1992Assignee: Quipp, IncorporatedInventors: Christer A. Sjogren, J. D. Houseman, Henri T. Paets
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Patent number: 5114306Abstract: A dual drive signature stacker having side-by-side stacker sections, each of substantially identical design and including a stepper motor for driving a pair of buckets for receiving signatures secured at spaced intervals along a drive chain driven by the stepper motor. the buckets have intercept blades supported by brackets joined to the drive chain to position one of the intercept blades of each drive assembly in front of the adjacent drive assembly so that all of the buckets of the dual drive assembly are in alignment with one another and with the signature stream. The side-by-side arrangement greatly simplifies the design cost and assembly. A microprocessor-based control system permits stacking of stacks having as few as two signatures and is further capable of forming successive signature stacks of differing count in a precision manner and compatible with the speeds of any signature flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1989Date of Patent: May 19, 1992Assignee: Quipp, IncorporatedInventors: Christer A. Sjogren, Louis D. Kipp, William K. Moritz
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Patent number: 5054601Abstract: A bundle distribution system comprised of tilt tray carriers coupled in tandem forming a continuous loop, each conveyor being a link in the loop. Vertical and horizontal wheels guide the conveyors along a closed loop path which may include curved and straight sections as well as vertical curves and inclined path sections. Each carrier includs a pivotally mounted tilt tray normally maintained in an upright position. Linear induction motors (LIMs) cooperate with a conductive plate arranged along the underside of each carrier for propulsion. The LIMs are distributed at spaced intervals along the closed loop track, each carrier being a movable element of the motor. The LIMs are operated in parallel and a speed sensor provides feedback for controlling the operating speed to a tolerance of within .+-.5%. The cam follower rollers of a tilting assembly follow a movable tilt cam which initially unlocks the tilting mechanism from the locked position followed by tilting of the carriage about its longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1989Date of Patent: October 8, 1991Assignee: Quipp, IncorporatedInventors: Christer A. Sjogren, J. D. Houseman, Henri T. Paets
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Patent number: 5006041Abstract: Intercept arms of a stacker are coupled to the drive chains by connecting links pivotally connected at one end directly to one of the drive chain links so that the pivot point of the connecting link is coincident with the pitch centerline of the drive chain resulting from the fact that the connecting link forms an integral part of the drive chain, directly replacing one of the drive chain rollers. The connecting link design provides a mechanical advantage of five to one and is pivotally mounted and angled so that the connecting link is free to pivot about the chain to avoid interference as the intercept arm moves about the sprocket, providing greater stability to the intercept arm while simultaneously increasing the mechanical advantage thereby significantly reducing power losses.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1989Date of Patent: April 9, 1991Assignee: Quipp, IncorporatedInventor: Christer A. Sjogren
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Patent number: 4905818Abstract: Gripper assemblies are moved past a pick-up station by a chain conveyor. A conveyor overlapping signature stream moves past the pick-up station beneath the gripper assemblies at a faster linear velocity whereby the leading edge of each signature enters into the open jaws of a gripper assembly. A closing cam closes the cooperating gripper jaws which firmly grip the leading end of the signature as the gripper assemblies enter a curved path thereby abruptly accelerating the gripped signature and the next upstream signature resting thereon to facilitate and enhance its entry into the region between the open gripper jaws of the next upstream gripper assembly. The signature stream is delivered to the pick-up station by a conveyor having a cooperating vacuum source for retaining the signatures in proper alignment upon the conveyor belt as they approach the pick-up station, the vacuum condition terminating before the signatures are gripped by the jaws of a gripper assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1987Date of Patent: March 6, 1990Assignee: Quipp IncorporatedInventor: J. D. Houseman
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Patent number: 4852722Abstract: A chain conveyor moves gripper assemblies to pass a pickup station. A signature stream moves at a faster velocity beneath the gripper assemblies whereby the leading edge of each signature enters the open jaws of a gripper assembly. A closing cam closes the jaws which firmly grip the leading end. The gripper assemblies enter a curve abruptly accelerating the gripped signature and the upstream signature resting thereon to facilitate its entry into the next set of jaws. A conveyor delivers the signature stream to the pickup station. A vacuum is provided to retain signatures in alignment on the conveyor, the vacuum condition terminating before a signature is gripped by the jaws. Each gripper assembly includes a wrap spring normally holding the jaws closed. When a release ring engages an opening cam, the wrap spring opens the jaws. A closing lever roller engages a closing cam to close the jaws to firmly grip a signature. Otherwise, the jaws are maintained open by the clutch, enabling selective release of the jaws.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1987Date of Patent: August 1, 1989Assignee: Quipp IncorporatedInventor: J. D. Houseman
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Patent number: 4812099Abstract: A stacker having platforms movable along a path by chains. Cam followers on the platforms engage a cam surface which controls the platform path. The chains are driven by a motor in a closed-loop system which monitors the platforms and controls their speed. The closed-loop system first decelerates the platforms and thereafter stops one platform in the intercept-ready position. The platform cam follower enters a claw which moves the end of the platform through the stream to collect signatures when the downstream platform reaches a predetermined count and deposits the stack on a turntable. A piston assembly rotates the turntable one-half turn after each deposit. Different pressure values are selectively applied to the piston assembly to slow the turntable before it is halted.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1987Date of Patent: March 14, 1989Assignee: Quipp IncorporatedInventors: Christer A. Sjogren, Carl D'Amico
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Patent number: 4749077Abstract: In a stacker turntable used to form compensated bundles, a drive assembly for moving completed bundles off of the turntable comprises first and second drive motors mounted to the underside of the rotatable turntable at equally distant locations from the center line and as close thereto as is practicable to minimize the offcenter mass. The locations of the motors are balanced to balance the rotatable mass. Each motor drives a "picket fence" assembly, each assembly being a movable wall formed of individual vertical slats. Pusher elements are arranged at spaced distances among the slats to cooperatively form end guides for supporting bundles as they are being formed and during the time that they are rotated for pushing a completed bundle off of the turntable.The leadlines of the motors extend through a hollow center support and coaxial with the turntable center of rotation to prevent any whipping of the leads during turntable rotation.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1987Date of Patent: June 7, 1988Assignee: Quipp, IncorporatedInventor: Christer Sjogren
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Patent number: 4746007Abstract: A chain conveyor moves gripper assemblies to pass a pickup station. A signature stream moves at a faster velocity beneath the gripper assemblies whereby the leading edge of each signature enters the open jaws of a gripper assembly. A closing cam closes the jaws which firmly grip the leading end. The gripper assemblies enter a curve abruptly accelerating the gripped signature and the upstream signature resting thereon to facilitate its entry into the next set of jaws. A conveyor delivers the signature stream to the pickup station. A vacuum is provided to retain signatures in alignment on the conveyor, the vacuum condition terminating before a signature is gripped by the jaws. Each gripper assembly includes a wrap spring normally holding the jaws closed. When a release ring engages an opening cam, the wrap spring opens the jaws. A closing lever roller engages a closing cam to close the jaws to firmly grip a signature. Otherwise, the jaws are maintained open by the clutch, enabling selective release of the jaws.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1986Date of Patent: May 24, 1988Assignee: Quipp IncorporatedInventor: J. D. Houseman
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Patent number: 4678387Abstract: A stacker having platforms movable along a path by chains. Cam followers on the platforms engage a cam surface which controls the platform path. The chains are driven by a motor in a closed-loop system which monitors the platforms and controls their speed. The closed-loop system first decelerates the platforms and thereafter stops one platform in the intercept-ready position. The platform cam follower enters a claw which moves the end of the platform through the stream to collect signatures when the downstream platform reaches a predetermined count and deposits the stack on a turntable. A piston assembly rotates the turntable one-half turn after each deposit. Different pressure values are selectively applied to the piston assembly to slow the turntable before it is halted.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1985Date of Patent: July 7, 1987Assignee: Quipp IncorporatedInventors: Christer A. Sjogren, Carl D'Amico
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Patent number: 4645069Abstract: A vacuum operated accumulating conveyor including a table with a slick top surface having an elongated gap. A perforated belt moves along said gap above the open ends of a plurality of vacuum chambers arranged end-to-end at spaced intervals beneath the upper run of the belt. A vacuum generator is coupled to each vacuum chamber. A proximity sensor is arranged adjacent to each vacuum chamber. A controller controls the operation of the vacuum accumulating conveyor to collect a group of bundles upon the conveying table by selective operation of the vacuum generators which create a vacuum condition in the associated vacuum chambers to draw a bundle toward the belt to move each bundle a predetermined distance for initially collecting a group of bundles of a desired number and thereafter delivering the group of bundles collected to suitable take-off apparatus. Bundles may also be advanced without being collected in groups. The selective operation of the vacuum generators conserves energy.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1985Date of Patent: February 24, 1987Assignee: Quipp, IncorporatedInventor: Christer A. Sjogren
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Patent number: 4562339Abstract: A sensor assembly having senser fingers swingably mounted upon a rotatable support and resiliently biased to extend radially outward. In the three-finger embodiment, a detent assembly rotatable with the support detents the support through a 120 degree rotation when the nose of a signature engages the finger lying in the path of signature movement. A one-way clutch cooperates with the detent assembly to dampen movement of the fingers and cooperating rotatable support to prevent oscillation of the rotating members. The finger advanced to the detent position slides upon the adjacent surface of the last counted signature and is freely yieldable to prevent irregularities in the signature from causing an erroneous count.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1984Date of Patent: December 31, 1985Assignee: Quipp, IncorporatedInventors: Christer A. Sjogren, John McRae, Carlos Reyes