Abstract: Paper gripper improvement in a printing press of the type having a frame, a large paper carrying impression cylinder drum mounted on the frame and a plurality of retractable printing stations mounted on the frame and spaced around the drum. Each gripper has a stationary finger and a second finger reciprocatable with respect to the stationary finger. A cam is connected to operate the reciprocatable finger to grip the paper as it is fed onto the drum. To detect a missing paper, an electrical circuit is completed by contact between the stationary finger and the reciprocatable finger in the absence of a paper between them insulating them from each other, whereby the need for photo-cells or other detectors to detect missing papers is eliminated. The inking rollers are driven separately from the drum to facilitate retracting the printing stations in the event of a missing paper.

Abstract: High speed document processing and sorting apparatus. A stream of documents is guided along a path at high speed. A detector is mounted along said path to detect identifiable documents. A magazine is mounted to receive the detected documents. A vacuum wheel is mounted to remove the detected documents from said path to said magazine. The vacuum picker comprises a vacuum wheel mounted a predetermined spacing over said path, the vacuum wheel having a surface speed equal to the high speed document speed. A solid wheel is movably mounted below said vacuum wheel and below said path. A detector control moves the solid wheel and document up into contact with the vacuum wheel when it is desired to remove a document moving at high speed.

Abstract: Document conveying apparatus without roller contact on the documents. An upper chain is mounted on upper sprockets and a lower chain is mounted on lower sprockets. A plurality of equally spaced friction grip members are mounted on the chains so that the upper and lower grip members contact each other in the absence of a document. The leading edges of the documents are gripped by the upper and lower sets of grip members and the documents are conveyed by the chains without roller contact on the documents.

Abstract: A feeder hopper for documents. A pair of guide rods are slidably mounted in a base member. A rear plate is mounted on the guide rods. A second plate pivotally and slidably mounted on one side of the guide rods. The plates are adapted to nest together. Means are provided to push back the rear plate back from the second plate when it is desired to add a new supply of documents to the hopper. The second plate holds the stack in position. After the new sheets are added the second plate is rotated out of the stack.

Abstract: Connecting means to connect first and second printing presses in tandem. A support member is mounted on a first printing press. A curved plate is mounted on said support member, said plate bridging the gap between an output of the first printing press and the input of a second printing press.An endless belt is mounted on said support member over said curved plate and runs in contact with said curved plate. One of the printing presses is connected to drive the belt the same linear speed as the linear paper feed speed of the printing presses.