Abstract: A saddle stitcher is provided. The saddle stitcher includes a saddle conveyor for transporting signatures and at least one signature guide located along the saddle conveyor. The signature guide includes a plurality of supports and at least one flexible member supported by the plurality of supports thereby defining a guide area. The at least one flexible member guides the signature in the guide area. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: A stitching head is provided for stitching books or printed products. The stitching head includes a supporter and a driver. The supporter has a corrugated supporter surface including first ridges and first grooves. The driver interacts with the supporter and has a channel and a corrugated driver surface which includes second ridges and second grooves. The first grooves and first ridges of the supporter mesh with the second ridges and first grooves of driver and the channel supports stitching material between the corrugated supporter surface and the corrugated driver surface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A stitching head is provided for stitching books or printed products. The stitching head includes a supporter and a driver. The supporter has a corrugated supporter surface including first ridges and first grooves. The driver interacts with the supporter and has a channel and a corrugated driver surface which includes second ridges and second grooves. The first grooves and first ridges of the supporter mesh with the second ridges and first grooves of driver and the channel supports stitching material between the corrugated supporter surface and the corrugated driver surface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A patient care system for providing static progressive positioning of body members in pronation or supination, the system includes a positioning assembly that rotatably positions a first body engaging assembly relative to a second body engaging assembly for static progressive positioning of a body joint in pronation or supination.

Abstract: A patient care system for positioning on a limb of a patient for assisting in flexion or extension of a joint. The system has a threaded shaft which engages a toothed gear. The threaded shaft is rotated to rotate the toothed gear for assisting in flexion or extension of the joint.

Abstract: An orthosis including a splint, a sole member detachably connectable to a surface of the splint, a fastener extending from the surface of the splint, an aperture extending through the sole member for receiving the fastener, a projection extending from the surface of the splint and spaced apart from the fastener, and a receptacle defined on the sole member for receiving the projection in a snap-fit relationship when the sole member is installed on the splint.

Abstract: An orthosis including a splint, a sole member detachably connectable to a surface of the splint, a fastener extending from the surface of the splint, an aperture extending through the sole member for receiving the fastener, a projection extending from the surface of the splint and spaced apart from the fastener, and a receptacle defined on the sole member for receiving the projection in a snap-fit relationship when the sole member is installed on the splint.

Abstract: A device for transporting flat products to further processing units is provided which includes a track 4 forming a continuous loop, a plurality of gripper elements 1 and a driving module 99. The gripper elements 1 are arranged on the track 4, and include a gripper 2 for seizing a flat product 11 from a first device and releasing the flat product to a second device 13. Each gripper element 1 moves independently from each other gripper element 1 along at least a portion of the track 4. Each gripper element is selectively engaged by the driving module 99 for movement along the track. The driving module 99 may include, for example, a drive unit 9 for driving the gripper elements in a side-by-side configuration without pitch; an extended pitch driving unit 7 for driving the gripper elements at a defined pitch; an acceleration unit 6 for accelerating the gripper elements to the defined pitch; and/or a diverting unit 32 for diverting selected gripper elements to an alternate track.

Abstract: A device for selectively extracting samples from a folding unit is provided. The device includes a signature transport system for transporting signatures to a deceleration device. The deceleration device has a plurality of rotating arms with gripping elements assigned thereto for seizing signatures emerging-from the transport system. Portions of the signature transport system or selectively actuable gripping elements either deliver sample signatures to a delivery system or deviate sample signatures into an alternate transport path.

Abstract: A device for slowing down signatures being transported in a folding machine is provided. The device provides a plurality of rotary grippers which positively grip signatures exiting a tape conveyor system in the folding machine traveling at a high velocity. A deceleration drum is also provided for slowing down the signatures through a smooth velocity profile. The deceleration drum has a plurality of pivot arms pivotally mounted on a pivot disc rotating about a first axis, the pivot arms being connected to a control disc by a control link, the control disc rotating about a second axis parallel to, and offset from, the first axis. The rotary grippers are attached to outward ends of the pivot arms. The rotary grippers grip the leading edges of the signatures as they exit the tape conveyor system while the trailing edges are still being controlled by the tape conveyor device.

Abstract: A device for the release of folded products transported by a rotating endless conveyor is provided. The conveyor transports identical product holders past a release module. The release module comprises rotating members, such as the links of a chain, on which swivelable blocks are mounted. As the identical product holders are transported beneath the release module, each product holder is associated with a swivelable block. Selectively actuable ramps in the release module, when actuated, cause swivelable blocks which have a tab corresponding to the actuated ramp to swivel. The swiveling of a block causes the product holder associated with it to release its product.

Abstract: A device for slowing down signatures being transported in a folding machine is provided. The device provides a plurality of rotary grippers which positively grip signatures exiting a tape conveyor system in the folding machine traveling at a high velocity. A deceleration drum is also provided for slowing down the signatures through a smooth velocity profile. The deceleration drum has a plurality of pivot arms pivotally mounted on a pivot disc rotating about a first axis, the pivot arms being connected to a control disc by a control link, the control disc rotating about a second axis parallel to, and offset from, the first axis. The rotary grippers are attached to outward ends of the pivot arms. The rotary grippers grip the leading edges of the signatures as they exit the tape conveyor system while the trailing edges are still being controlled by the tape conveyor device.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing paper products from a stack on a hopper comprises a rotatably mounted gripper drum for rotating about a central axis at a substantially constant angular velocity. A stationary cam is rigidly mounted adjacent the gripper drum. A gripper mechanism is mounted on the gripper drum and rotates with the drum. The gripper mechanism is provided for gripping a paper product, removing the paper product from a stack and for entraining the paper product with the rotating gripper drum. A linkage mechanism which is also mounted on the gripper drum and which rotates with the drum is provided for angularly displacing the gripper mechanism relative to the gripper drum, i.e. to accelerate and to decelerate the gripper, and for operatively linking the gripper mechanim with the cam.

Abstract: A signature supply apparatus moves signatures in an on-edge orientation to a signature feed apparatus which feeds the signatures one at a time. The signature supply apparatus includes a generally horizontal main section which supports a large number of signatures in an on-edge orientation with major side surfaces of the signatures upright. A hopper section is disposed at a higher level than the main section and supports on-edge signatures with the major side surfaces of the signatures upright and with a forwardmost signature positioned to be engaged by the signature feed apparatus. An inclined ramp section extends forwardly and upwardly from the main section to the hopper section. The ramp section supports the signatures on-edge in a thick shingled stream with major side surfaces of the signatures inclined forwardly and upwardly. The main, ramp and hopper sections of the improved signature supply apparatus support a continuous stream of on-edge signatures.

Abstract: A sharpening head with a conical stone or burr is spring biased for application to the end of a spinning paper drill bit brought down on the apex of the cone. As the drill depresses the head, a pin extends through the apex of the cone to push any paper scrap out of the end to be sharpened and up into the drill. This assures that the sharpening force between the head and the drill bit is determined by the bias of the spring. The spring forces the sharpening head linearly upwardly along the pin and within an internal cylinder in a base which encloses a cylindrical extension of the head. In an alternative embodiment, spacer blocks and a lever are provided to adjust the initial height of the sharpening head. The alternative embodiment is useful to sharpen automated paper drills whose range of movement is relatively fixed.