Abstract: A bottom feed newspaper hopper utilizes a shuttle plate that reciprocates across the bottom of a stack of the papers to partially eject each successive lowermost newspaper from the stack during each feed stroke and present it to high speed nip rollers. The rollers grasp the leading edge of the partially ejected newspaper and quickly withdraw it the rest of the way from the stack. The stack of newspapers rests upon a fore-and-aft narrow rail on the shuttle plate so that a stiffening ridge is created in the body of the lowermost paper and at least several papers thereabove. During each feed stroke, a stop at the front of the hopper permits the lowermost paper to exit from the hopper but blocks similar movement of the second paper and all those above it. The stop is offset laterally from the path of travel of the rail so that the area immediately above the rail is open and unrestricted, allowing the peak of the ridge to pass out of the hopper even if the paper has an accidentally rolled up, fat leading edge.

Abstract: A hopper and feeder assembly for feeding newspapers to be collated or assembled for delivery is provided which includes a reciprocating feeder device employing roller clutch and bearing wheel assemblies. The roller clutch and bearing wheel assemblies lock during frictional engagement with the lowermost newspaper in the stack during a forward feed stroke to push the newspaper forward to nip rollers. The narrow feeder device permits a sharp ridge to be formed as the nip rollers snap down to bend the lowermost newspaper in the stack over the wheel assemblies. The roller clutch and bearing wheel assemblies are mounted on a rail to provide a narrow newspaper engagement surface and corresponding narrow ridge formed in the newspaper.

Abstract: Folded and tied newspapers are delivered in a stream to an infeed conveyor which moves the newspapers in succession toward an inserting station where a stack of flimsy plastic bags are waiting. Just prior to reaching the inserting station, the newspaper is gripped by high-speed accelerating rollers which fire the newspaper into the open mouth of the inflated top bag in the stack. High-speed ejector rollers then clamp onto the bagged newspaper and pull it off the holding wicket for movement on down the line. A special, transverse, bag supply shuttle has two separate bag holding zones along its length so that one zone containing an adequate supply of bags may be presented to the inserting station while the other, empty zone is restocked with a new supply. During shifting of the shuttle, the incoming stream of newspapers is diverted temporarily so that no newspapers are presented to the inserting station during manipulation of the shuttle.

Abstract: A metering hopper which utilizes an oscillating friction pad to engage and initiate the feeding of successive, bulky newspaper sections or the like from the bottom of a stack may be converted into a machine using a vacuum separating feeder for thin, single-sheet articles by disabling the rocker pad assembly and bolting in place a tray module having an essentially self-contained oscillating vacuum sucker head assembly. When the tray is installed, the self-contained oscillating mechanism for the sucker head assembly makes operable engagement with pre-existing drive means on the machine so as to carry out the necessary rocking action of the sucker heads in timed relationship with other functions of the machine. Connecting the sucker assembly to vacuum control mechanism and a source of vacuum pressure completes the conversion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for taping closed the open edge of a composite newspaper is provided which includes a tape applicator for applying a portion of tape to one side of a newspaper, and a moving member presenting a surface moving downstream with the newspaper but at a greater speed relative thereto, whereby a remainder portion of the tape not adhered to the one side may be wrapped around the open end by temporarily adhering a portion of the remainder of the tape to the moving surface and transferring the tape thus temporarily adhered from the moving surface to the other side of the newspaper as the moving surface passes thereby in close adjacency.

Abstract: An upright hopper has a pair of bottom doors which support one or more newspaper sections in flat, horizontal orientation. The doors shift in opposite directions toward an open position in timed relationship to movement of a conveyor passing beneath the doors to drop the sections onto defined bucket areas of the conveyor. One or more hoppers, associated with a single, horizontally moving conveyor, can be utilized by one or more operators to meter toward downstream processing equipment newspaper editions which have been completely assembled before reception in the hopper. Alternatively, the hoppers may be used for newspaper assembly or collation, wherein each operator contributes respective sections to corresponding hoppers which open at the proper time to assemble the complete edition. A number of sensing devices are provided to ensure reliable, automatic operation with minimal attention.

Abstract: Multiple section, quarter-folded bulky newspapers in flat form are inserted into and sealed within transparent polyethylene bags without first rolling or folding the newspapers into smaller bundles so as to present generally flat, weather-resistant, tamper-deterring packages which may be readily stacked, shipped and otherwise handled. The newspapers are delivered seriatim to an inserting station at which the leading newspaper is fed into the open mouth of the topmost bag in a wicketed stack of the bags, whereupon the bagged newspaper package tears free from the wicket and advances downstream to a heat sealing mechanism. Just prior to passing beneath the heat sealer, a marginal, entry end portion of the bag is folded back on top of the package so that, as the package passes under the sealer, the marginal portion is fused against the top wall of the bag while the encapsulated newspaper serves as a heat sink, thereby securely closing the bag mouth and completing the sealed package.

Abstract: Each interfaced loader and metering hopper combination of a newspaper assembling system includes improvements for producing ridges in the newspapers at various states where separation of the newspapers from one another is required. The ridges enhance separation by stiffening the newspaper and reducing the area of contact and thereby the friction between them. At the receiving region of the loader, an arrangement of parallel side and central conveyors, wherein the central one is at a higher level than the side conveyors, produces ridges when the newspapers in a stack are fanned back into a stream. A pair of superimposed center conveyors and inclined laterally located arms produce ridges in the newspapers as they are discharged one at a time from a discharge region of the loader into a receiving zone in the hopper.

Abstract: Each interfaced loader and metering hopper combination of a newspaper assembling system includes improvements for producing ridges in the newspapers at various stages where separation of the newspapers from one another is required. The ridges stiffen the newspaper and reduce the area of contact and thereby the friction between them. At the receiving region of the loader, an arrangement of parallel side and central conveyors, wherein the central one is at a higher level than the side conveyors, produces ridges when the newspapers in a stack are fanned back into a stream. A pair of superimposed center conveyors and inclined laterally located arms produce ridges in the newspapers as they are discharged one at a time from a discharge region of the loader into a receiving zone in the hopper.

Abstract: Multiple section, quarter-folded bulky newspapers in flat form are inserted into and sealed within transparent polyethylene bags without first rolling or folding the newspapers into smaller bundles so as to present generally flat, weather-resistant, tamper-deterring packages which may be readily stacked, shipped and otherwise handled. The newspapers are delivered seriatim to an inserting station at which the leading newspaper is fed into the open mouth of the topmost bag in a wicketed stack of the bags, whereupon the bagged newspaper package tears free from the wicket and advances downstream to a heat sealing mechanism. Just prior to passing beneath the heat sealer, a marginal, entry end portion of the bag is folded back on top of the package so that, as the package passes under the sealer, the marginal portion is fused against the top wall of the bag while the encapsulated newspaper serves as a heat sink, thereby securely closing the bag mouth and completing the sealed package.

Abstract: The feeder has a device which reciprocates across the bottom of a stack of articles so as to separate and feed the lowermost article of the stack during each feeding stroke of the device. The device has a pair of elongated members which extend in the direction of feed and are provided with friction padding along their uppermost surfaces for making firm contact with the article to be fed. Such members, working together as an integral unit, rise up into engagement with the article to slightly raise it along the engaged portions thereof above the rest of the device as the forward stroke is commenced, thereby warping the article along the leading edge thereof as such leading edge is at the same time tucked beneath a confining element at the front of the stack which is strategically spaced above the device a distance which permits the passage of only the lowermost article during each feed stroke.

Abstract: Friction members, working together as an integral unit, rise up into engagement with the lowermost article in a stack to slightly raise it along the engaged portions thereof above the rest of the device as a forward stroke is commenced, thereby warping the article along its leading edge as such leading edge is at the same time tucked beneath a forwardly located element positioned to permit passage of only the lowermost article during each feed stroke. This combination of actions has the effect of advancing the articles seriatim from the stack into a pair of highspeed nip rollers which grab only the lowermost article and immediately complete its withdrawal. At the instant the nip rollers begin pulling on the article, the raised friction members respond by dropping down to their initial position below the upper surface of the feed device, which thereupon makes its return stroke in preparation for feeding the next article of the stack.