Abstract: An apparatus for use in forming sheet material assemblages includes a pocket assembly having upper and lower grippers. The upper gripper is spaced a first distance from a sheet material support portion of the pocket assembly to engage an upper edge portion of a large cover section having a relatively large distance between a fold and an upper edge portion. The lower gripper is spaced a distance which is smaller than the first distance from the sheet material support portion of the pocket assembly to engage an upper edge portion of a small cover section having a relatively small distance between a fold and an upper edge portion of the cover section. Pressers are mounted on a movable side wall of the pocket assembly and are engagable with a side of a small cover section to press small the cover section toward the lower gripper.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for engaging at least a portion (20b) of a signature (20a) in a hopper (14) and moving the portion relative to a stack of signatures (20) in the hopper includes a stem member (110) and a suction cup (150) mounted on the stem member. The stem member (110) is supported for movement toward and away from the stack of signatures (20) A venturi tube (160) is provided in the stem member (110) for generating a vacuum which is communicated to the suction cup (150). The vacuum in the suction cup (150) causes the portion (20b) of a signature (20a) to be gripped by the suction cup (150) and moved relative to the stack of signatures (20) in the hopper (14) upon movement of the stem member (110).

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus includes a plurality of sheet material feeders. A plurality of pockets are movable past each of the sheet material feeders in turn to sequentially feed sheet material into the pockets. Each pocket has an upper end portion through which sheet material enters the pocket, a lower end portion through which sheet material leaves the pocket, and a support which supports sheet material in the pocket. The support is movable between a plurality of closed positions in which the support is spaced different distances from the upper end portion of the pocket and at least partially blocks the lower end portion of the pocket. The support is movable from each of the closed positions to an open position in which sheet material is movable out of the pocket through the lower end portion of the pocket. The pocket includes a rack and a pinion which are relatively movable to move the support between each of the closed positions and the open position.

Abstract: A rotatable gripper drum includes a seat mounted on the drum and a gripper supported on the drum for pivotal movement relative to the seat between an open position and a closed position. The seat is made from a resilient material and includes a body portion having first and second grip surfaces. The drum has a retaining pocket for receiving the body portion of the seat to secure the seat for rotation with the drum. The seat is selectively mountable in the retaining pocket with the body portion in a first orientation in which the first grip surface cooperates with the gripper to grip sheet material or in a second orientation in which the second grip surface cooperates with the gripper to grip sheet material.

Abstract: A sheet material collating system includes a pair of tubular metal guide rails. A plurality of plastic carriers are supported by guide rollers on the guide rails. A plurality of plastic pockets for receiving signatures are supported on the carriers in a position cantilevered out from the guide rails. Each carrier has a set of drive teeth. Drive element located along the guide rails includes an externally toothed drive belt which is engageable with the drive teeth on the carriers, as the carriers move past the drive element, to drive the carriers and thereby the pockets along the guide rails.

Abstract: A gripper assembly for clamping articles comprises a first clamp member and a second clamp member pivotal relative to the first clamp member. An actuator pivots the second clamp member relative to the first clamp member from an open position into a closed position. A coil spring is compressed when the second clamp member is in the open position. A pin engaging in a slot maintains the coil spring in the compressed condition when the second clamp member is in the open position. A releasable locking device holds the second clamp member in a closed position. The locking device includes a latch that can be mounted in one of two positions on the first clamp member. The latch is biased into engagement with one of two latch blocks, depending on the position of the latch, to hold the second clamp member in the closed position.

Abstract: A gripper assembly for gripping sheet materials such as a folded newspaper includes a fixed jaw and a movable jaw for engaging opposite surfaces of the article. The jaws are supported on a base block for pivotal movement relative to each other. The movable jaw is made of spring wire and includes a pair of gripping tangs, a pair of spring coils associated one with each gripping tang, and a pressing element extending between the gripping tangs. The movable jaw is pivotally mounted on a shaft about which the spring coils are wrapped. The spring coils bias the clamp arm as a whole, and also the gripping tangs, independently of one another, into clamping relation toward the fixed clamp arm. The pressing element clamps and presses the lower folded edge of a folded newspaper being held in the gripper assembly. The movable clamp arm is made from a single continuous piece of spring wire.