Abstract: Apparatus for stitching and folding sheets of material, especially paper, comprising an in-feed unit, a wire-stitching unit, a sheet-folding unit and an out-feed conveyor. The sheets are maintained in a downward linear path from entry into the in-feed unit until initiation of the folding by a folding blade. Removal of the folded sheets is substantially perpendicular to the previous downward linear path. The sheets abut a first stop for the stitching, and abut a second stop for the folding. The in-feed unit and the wire-stitching unit are pivotable relative to the rest of the machine in the manner of a clam-shell. All units remain engaged with a main drive in both the closed and opened positions.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding apparatus, e.g. a collator, comprising a variable plurality of modules (12a, 12b, 12c, 14') stacked one above another, and each incorporating a sheet storage station (14), means are provided for directing sheets (15) from said stations in a requested sequence laterally and downwardly into a common transmission path to below the lowest module (12a). A power pack (18) for the whole stack is mounted above the uppermost module.

Abstract: A pneumatic valve mechanism, especially for controlling the movement of paper, comprises a mouthpiece (47) which defines an air intake (58), a bellows (10) coupled to the mouthpiece, a passage (42, 44) connecting the interior of the bellows to a pump so that when the bellows is not fully retracted suction is created at the air intake (58) and a seal (50) between the mouthpiece and a valve body (14) which is effective when the bellows is fully retracted, following closure of the air intake by a sheet of paper (60), to seal the air intake from the suction pump. Venting air can enter the mouthpiece in the retracted position of the bellows, to permit the sheet to drop off the intake, but without breaking the seal (50), whereby the bellows is maintained in its retracted position. The bellows (10) will only extend again to seek the next sheet when the effect created by the suction pump is interrupted, as by breaking the seal (50) by energizing a solenoid (64) and displacing a mechanical linkage (62,54).

Abstract: In a rotary collating and/or inserting machine where individual sheets are peeled from the bottom of a plurality of stacks of sheets arranged spaced around a circle on a table and are moved down through one or more radial slots in the table, the separation of the bottom sheet of each stack, preferably at a corner, is initiated by creating changes in air pressure in a cyclically controlled manner at or adjacent to the upper region of at least one slot. This can be accomplished by the provision of suction holes along the length of at least one slot or by changing the contour of the table surface, such as by incorporating a bellows. To aid onward movement of a sheet into a slot after initial separation from the stack, the initial suction effect which either acts directly on the sheet or changes the contour of the table surface is shut off or reversed as the bottom sheet passes down through the slot. Cyclically controlled suction devices are preferably provided at or adjacent to the lower region of each slot.