Signature Associating Patents (Class 270/52.14)
  • Patent number: 11279056
    Abstract: A device for carrying out cutting operations on at least one open format edge of a printed product, includes: a transport unit configured to transfer the printed product along a guide path from a first cutting location to a second cutting location and from the second cutting location to a third cutting location for an edge-related cutting operation, the transport unit having at least one gripper configured to grip the printed product by its spine to convey the printed product from one cutting location to the next in a suspended manner, and at at least one cutting location, at least one cutting tool configured to perform the edge-related cutting operation comprising a first edge-related cutting operation and optionally at least one second subsequent edge-related cutting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: MUELLER MARTINI HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Christoph Berger, Stephan Schmidiger, Reto Peyer, Thomas Lenhard
  • Patent number: 10889443
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pocket-type conveyor belt installation (2) having a plurality of carrying rollers (21) which are designed to support a pocket-type conveyor belt (1), preferably a lower conveyor belt edge (12) of a pocket-type conveyor belt (1), wherein the carrying rollers (21) are each connected in load-bearing fashion by means of at least one carrying roller holder (22) to a carrying frame (23) of the pocket-type conveyor belt installation (2). The pocket-type conveyor belt installation (2) is characterized in that at least one carrying roller holder (22), preferably a plurality of carrying roller holders (22), has at least one sensor element (4), which is arranged and designed to record at least a force and/or a change in force between the carrying roller (21) and the carrying frame (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: ContiTech Transportbandsysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Behrens, Olaf Kluth, Jens Schlomski
  • Patent number: 9624063
    Abstract: An apparatus for folding products includes a conveying member adapted to convey the product, an oscillating member disposed adjacent the conveying member, and a folding roll disposed adjacent the conveying member and the oscillating member. The oscillating member is adapted to grasp and lift a first portion of the product from the conveying member while the product is being conveyed by the conveying member. The oscillating member is moveable in a first direction away from the conveying member and in a second direction toward the conveying member. The folding roll is adapted to receive the first portion of the product from the oscillating member and to place the first portion of the product into engagement with a second portion of the product such that the product is in a folded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Coenen, Gerald Sosalla, Gregory J. Rajala, John Soosai Alphonse, Mohammed Shafi Khurieshi, Mahendra Mittapalli
  • Patent number: 9039003
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing sheets of different formats, the apparatus including a feeding device that feed sheets of different formats in a feeding direction one behind the other, and at a certain conveying speed, at least two collecting drums disposed downstream of the feeding device, the at least two collecting drums having cylindrical lateral surfaces that rotate about an axis of rotation, securing means for temporarily securing the fed sheets on a circumference of the at least two collecting drums, a drive device that drives the collecting drums in rotation at a circumferential speed that corresponds to the conveying speed of the feeding device, and a sensing device for sensing the sheets of different formats moving past is arranged along the conveying path and senses the leading edge of the sheets of different formats, as seen in the feeding direction, or markings applied to the sheets of different formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: HUNKELLER AG
    Inventors: Toni Egli, Stephan Riedel
  • Patent number: 8915491
    Abstract: A method for operating a collection system for printed products includes drawing off the printed products from discharge device(s) disposed at corresponding discharge point(s) in the collection system. The printed products are deposited on a collection section during a cycle period of the discharge device(s) so as to form a bundle of printed products. The bundle is transferred to a subsequent conveying mechanism having receiving pockets. It is determined whether at least one missing printed product exists due to an incorrect drawing off from the discharge point(s). A repair process is initiated and controlled in which the at least one missing printed product is drawn off from the corresponding discharge point(s) at a time corresponding to a subsequent recurrent pocket-related cycle of the subsequent conveying mechanism in a subsequent cycle period of the discharge device(s). The at least one missing printed product is inserted in the relevant receiving pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Rolf Meyerhans, Thomas Probst, Roger Stammbach, Roger Luescher
  • Patent number: 8894056
    Abstract: Sheets center-folded by a center-folder are placed on a main saddle. A buffer saddle is provided separately from the main saddle, on an opposite side of the center-folder across the main saddle. The pile of sheets saddle-stitched on the main saddle is placed on the buffer saddle. When viewed from above, the buffer saddle is movable in a direction separating from the main saddle that is a reverse direction to the center-folder, and in a direction orthogonal to the direction separating from the main saddle. A sheet processing device is arranged in the orthogonal direction where the buffer saddle is movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Keisuke Oshima
  • Patent number: 8876099
    Abstract: A saddle stitcher for conveying a printed product is provided. The saddle stitcher includes a saddle chain conveyor, and a plurality of chain tops mounted on the saddle chain conveyor defining a chain top conveyance line for transporting a printed product. At least one of the chain tops includes a profiled top edge so the at least one chain top does not extend beyond the chain top conveyance line in a transition area. A method for transferring a printed product is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn Alan Guaraldi
  • Patent number: 8733752
    Abstract: The invention proposes a method for operating a print further processing system for producing and processing printed products, in particular for forming stacks or packs of printed product collections comprising completed final printed products such as periodicals and newspapers, which are preferably put together from a main product and a plurality of part products and/or inserts. The printed products are produced in accordance with a predefined production plan and, by means of a stacking device, are processed to form a sequence of packs (S1-S9) of individually predefined size; in order to produce part packs, the processing speed of the parts of the print further processing system that are connected upstream of the stacking device is reduced and, when a threshold value (T) is exceeded, empty positions are formed deliberately in the section of the product sequence allocated to the pack (S). The threshold value (T) is preferably a predefined value of the difference ? in the size of successive packs (Sn?Sn+1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Reto Heiniger
  • Patent number: 8708326
    Abstract: Sheets of different formats, i.e. of different format lengths, are transported in a feeding direction one behind the other; and at a certain conveying speed, to at least two collecting drums, which have essentially cylindrical lateral surfaces. Each of these collecting drums is driven about an axis of rotation at a circumferential speed, which corresponds essentially to the feeding speed of the sheets. The first incoming sheet is secured temporarily on one of the collecting drums, while the following, second sheet is secured temporarily on the other collecting drum. At a suitable point in time, the two sheets secured on the collecting drums are detached from the collecting drums and brought together with the third fed sheet to form a sub-product or end product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG
    Inventors: Toni Egli, Stephan Riedel
  • Publication number: 20140048998
    Abstract: A section signature stacking body where one or more section signatures are stacked in a proper appearance is formed and carried out. A section signature accumulating apparatus includes: a first carrying part configured to receive and carry the manufactured section signature; a classifying/carrying part configured to classify N (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2 section signatures having the same configuration transported by the first carrying part to N different section signature accumulating parts one by one to carry the section signatures; N section signature accumulating parts configured to stock the section signatures carried by the classifying/carrying part and form a section signature stacking body where one or more sections signatures are stacked; and a second carrying part configured to carry N section signature stacking bodies discharged from the N section signature accumulating parts, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKYO KIKAI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Kenichi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 8596632
    Abstract: A method and device to produce printed items having at least one printed product and a supplement. The device includes a gathering device with a gathering section such that the gathering section includes a continuously circulating conveyor. A printer is also provided to produce the printed products wherein the printed products include a single page or partial block stacks. The device further includes feeders to supply the printed products to the conveyor and at least one supplement feeder arranged between two of the feeders to feed at least one supplement to the circulating conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Guenther Silberbauer, Konrad Boos
  • Patent number: 8523164
    Abstract: An inserter including a pocket for holding an unevenly folded printed product having a fold edge, a first section on a first side of the fold edge and a second section on a second side of the fold edge that is at least 20 percent shorter than the first section is provided. The pocket includes a lower support surface for supporting the fold edge, a first wall for supporting the first section and a second wall for supporting the second section. The first and second walls each have at least one cutout defined therein. The at least one cutout of the second wall includes a lower cutout edge that is less than a length of the second section away from the lower support surface. The inserter also includes a gripper for securely gripping unevenly folded printed product and removing the unevenly folded printed product from the pocket by passing through the at least one cutouts in the first and second walls. A method of inserting an insert into an unevenly folded printed product is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Roy Tassinari
  • Patent number: 8490961
    Abstract: A co-mailing system uses an insert machine to merge different mail streams into one stream in the sequence of a master mail list. By using an insert machine with vertically oriented pockets traveling on a moving conveyor, the speed of merging the mail streams is high and efficiency is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Muller Martini Corp.
    Inventors: Tim Voorhees, Ed Yeoman, Mike White, Timothy Goszka, Roger Bilodeau
  • Patent number: 8444131
    Abstract: The sheet transporting device of the invention includes: a transferring device (64) adapted to transfer a sheet (30), a conveying device (66; 66A) for conveying a sheet transferred from the transferring device (64) onto the conveying device, and a controlling means (76) adapted to control the speed of the conveying device (66; 66A) and defining a transfer cycle (CT). The controlling means (76) is adapted to slow down the conveying device (66) when a sheet is conveyed by the related conveying device and to accelerate the conveying device when no sheet is present on said conveying device. The invention can be used for the cutting devices of rotary printing machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignees: Goss International Montataire SA, Vits Print GmbH
    Inventors: François Poiret, Christophe Noiret, Alain Blanchard, Jean-François Robert, François Vidaillac, Nicolas Rousseau, Eric Pierda, Detlef Milkereit
  • Patent number: 8424861
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for collating printed products. The apparatus includes a collating drum rotatably driven about a horizontal axis of rotation and at least functionally subdivided into axial sections, provided with separate compartments or saddle-shaped supports that are externally open in a radial direction. A first feeding device delivers printed products to the processing drum, and a conveyor conveys the printed products away from the processing drum. Conveying elements are associated with the compartments or the supports, and are used for conveying the printed products in the axial direction when the processing drum rotates. A secondary conveying section is arranged between the first feeding device and the conveyor, and a processing station or at least one additional feeding station is located between the first feeding device and the secondary conveying section in order to process the printed products or feed additional printed products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Karl Büchel
  • Patent number: 8419004
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for compiling flat objects, wherein a gripper conveyor is used, the grippers of which either act directly as support elements or contact surfaces for the products to be compiled, thereby constituting a receiving unit, or interact with a separate support element to form a receiving unit. The use of a gripper conveyor having a controllable opening state and a controllable orientation of the gripper jaws of the individual grippers, and/or a controllable orientation of the separate support elements, has the advantage that the orientation of the contact surfaces and the clamping function within a receiving unit can be set independently of the adjoining receiving units. In this way, greater flexibility is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Hans Ulrich Stauber
  • Patent number: 8393608
    Abstract: A substrate finishing system includes a sheet input that feeds sheets to a compiler for compiling. The sheets may be stapled at the compiler. A trail edge support of the compiler is movable from a first position to a second position. The compiler is configured to drop a sheet or set of sheets to build compiled set stacks at the first and second positions on a stacking tray positioned beneath the compiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventors: Carlos M. Terrero, Richard J. Milillo, Brian J. Dunham
  • Patent number: 8371568
    Abstract: This is a media transport system that can accommodate various size media or sheets. The system has a series of even sized bins that can accommodate both small and large sheets. Above the bins is located a sheet diverter that when lowered diverts the small sheets into a small portion of the even sized bin. When the sheet diverter is raised, it permits the large sheets to be unblocked by it and fall into the largest portion of the even sized bin. When the large sheets are housed in the bin, they are supported on a short pusher which is located between two large pushers. Both the small and large sheets are in substantial collated alignment when housed in the bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K Herrmann, John P Parson, Robert L Powell
  • Patent number: 8297608
    Abstract: A transport system for conveying sheet material along a feed path. The transport system includes an electro-dynamic propulsion system for moving sheet material, or a stacked collation of sheet material, along a support deck which defines the feed path. More specifically, the electro-dynamic propulsion system includes at least one guideway and a ferromagnetic element disposed internally of the guideway. The guideway includes a magnetic coil to produce a variable magnetic field. By varying the flux density and polarity of the magnetic field the ferromagnetic element may be propelled within the guideway. An abutment member is coupled to the ferromagnetic element, extends through the elongate opening of the support deck and engages an edge of sheet material. A processor is operative to control the electro-dynamic propulsion system and, accordingly, the rate of travel and position of the sheet material along the feed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Henson C. Ong
  • Publication number: 20120242027
    Abstract: Sheets of different formats, i.e. of different format lengths, are transported in a feeding direction one behind the other; and at a certain conveying speed, to at least two collecting drums, which have essentially cylindrical lateral surfaces. Each of these collecting drums is driven about an axis of rotation at a circumferential speed, which corresponds essentially to the feeding speed of the sheets. The first incoming sheet is secured temporarily on one of the collecting drums, while the following, second sheet is secured temporarily on the other collecting drum. At a suitable point in time, the two sheets secured on the collecting drums are detached from the collecting drums and brought together with the third fed sheet to form a sub-product or end product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Toni EGLI, Stephan RIEDEL
  • Patent number: 8262074
    Abstract: A plurality of conveying elements is arranged on a traction device of a conveying arrangement in spaced apart succession in a conveying direction. Each conveying element includes a support surface and an end stop coupled to a front of the support surface, positioned perpendicular to the support surface and transverse to the conveying direction. The conveying elements are guided at least while in a feed region of respective feed devices that feed printed sheets to the conveying elements. The support surfaces of the conveying elements are aligned parallel to the conveying direction on the feed section. A holding down device located at a downstream end in the conveying direction of the feed region of each of the feed devices holds down and guides the book block from above while conveyed on the conveying element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Daniel Langenegger
  • Patent number: 8246031
    Abstract: A new gathering and stitching machine (10) and a new method for operating a gathering and stitching machine (1) are proposed, which make it possible to drive in the staples (K) in a positionally correct manner and to close them satisfactorily even in the case of relatively short staple setting times. This is achieved by the novel control of the position of the staple heads (20) and the saddle-shaped supports (2, 30, 40, 50) in the region of the interaction during stapling. It is an essential feature of the present invention that the staple head (20) and the support (2, 30, 40, 50) are pivoted towards one another in such a way that they come to lie within a common stapling plane (H).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Marcel Ramseier
  • Patent number: 8215629
    Abstract: A system and method for producing printed sheet material for use in a mailpiece inserter. The system comprises an input module for supplying the printed sheet material associated with a mailpiece fabrication job of the mailpiece inserter and a transfer module adapted to receive the printed sheet material from the input module and dispense the printed sheet material. An output module is adapted to receive the printed sheet material from the transfer module and convey the printed sheet material along the transport deck. A processor is operatively coupled to a mail run data file of the mailpiece fabrication job for controlling the input, transfer and output modules to stack the printed sheet material in accordance with the mail run data file. In the method, the output module includes at least two transport decks which may be repositioned such that one of the transport decks receives/stacks the printed sheet material in a manner which is best suited for subsequent use by the mailpiece inserter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Ifkovits, Russell W. Holbrook, Edward M. Ifkovits
  • Patent number: 8210512
    Abstract: With an arrangement for the timed processing of a book block, consisting of at least one printed sheet or at least one signature, a transfer device is arranged in-between the feed devices for the book blocks and the device for the further conveying of such a book block, wherein this transfer device supplies the book blocks to at least one other processing station. The transfer device is provided with a translation device for taking over or clamping in the book block, wherein this translation device executes at least one rotary or quasi-rotary translation movement. The translation device itself operates in at least two spatial dimensions for the transfer of the book block, wherein the translation movement occurs with a uniform or a changeable movement speed. The center axis for the translation device occupies an optional position in space, relative to the further processing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Robert W. McFarland, Guenther Silberbauer
  • Patent number: 8201816
    Abstract: A device and a method for taking over flexible, two-dimensional objects (100), in particular printed products, at a take-over location (S1). The objects (100) are received by receiver units (10, 12). Controllable narrowing elements (20) are present, in order to prevent a squashing and rebounding of the objects (100) on or from an abutment of the receiver unit (10, 12), with which narrowing elements, in an active condition, the opening width (W2) of the receiver unit (10, 12) in a middle region between an entry opening (16) of the receiver unit (10, 12) and the abutment (15), may be reduced compared to an inactive condition. These are controlled with a control device (30). A more reliable positioning of the objects (100) in the receiver unit (10, 12), in particular at high feed speeds and with thin, elastically deformable objects (100), may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Erwin Stauber
  • Patent number: 8191883
    Abstract: A system uses a plurality of sensors to detect and manage conditions within a moving pocket, such as a pocket carrying a flat product from one location to another. The system is particularly useful in connection with a newspaper insert machine. One sensor detects whether the product has been opened properly at a particular time; another sensor detects whether the product has been properly gripped by a gripper at a particular time; another sensor detects whether the pocket is empty at a particular time and another sensor detects whether the pocket is open or closed at a particular time. In the event an error condition is detected, the error condition is corrected by a control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Muller Martini Corp.
    Inventors: Eric W. Bader, Timothy Goszka, James Baird, John R. Shaffer, Richard J. Sterner
  • Patent number: 8181959
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the processing of print products. The method may include conveying individually the print products with a feeding device along a feeding section, transferring individually the print products from the feeding section to a further processing section, and generating control signals from a control unit. The control signals may correspond to further treatment of each individual print product and to the transfer of a print product to the further processing section such that it can be processed further. The apparatus may include a feeding device configured to convey the print products individually along a feeding section, a transfer device configured to individually transfer the print products from the feeding device to a further processing device, and a control unit configured to generate control signals to control the transfer of the print products from the feeding device to the further processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Michael Bichsel, Simon Von Arb
  • Patent number: 8113498
    Abstract: A method and device for transferring signatures. The device includes a first gathering chain which conveys the signatures with the aid of pushers and which transfers the signatures in a transfer region to a second gathering chain. The second gathering chain includes at least one conveying chain provided with pushers that are arranged at a pre-defined distance relative to each other. The second gathering chain includes recesses adjacent to each of its pushers such that each pusher of the first gathering chain corresponds to a pusher of the second gathering chain and can be lowered through a respective recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Marcel Buerge
  • Patent number: 8096542
    Abstract: A method for producing perfect-bound book blocks for books or similar printed products, including driving successively arranged clamps to circulate along an endless path of a perfect binding apparatus, positioning loose book blocks composed of gathered printed sheets inside conveying units of a conveying device, supplying the book blocks upon or prior to reaching the transfer region below the endless path to the clamps of the perfect binding apparatus, the supplying including inserting the book blocks into the clamps pivoted by approximately 90° around a perpendicular axis from a processing position for the book blocks and clamping the book blocks in the clamps with spines facing downwards, and transporting the clamped book blocks in an upright position for further processing in the perfect binding apparatus. An arrangement for producing perfect-bound book blocks is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Daniel Langenegger, Konrad Boos
  • Patent number: 8091879
    Abstract: In a device for trimming the top edge, bottom edge and opening edge of a printed product, for example a newspaper, the printed product is transported through A cutting region of a connected cutting unit in a closed clamp of a synchronously driven conveying apparatus. The conveying apparatus is configured as a conveying rotor and the clamps are guided past a transfer station for loading on a circulating path and past a delivery station for delivering a printed product in an open position. The printed product is trimmed in the cutting region of the cutting unit which is arranged between the transfer station and the delivery station and in which the printed product is clamped in the closed clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Heinz Boss
  • Patent number: 8091880
    Abstract: The device has successively disposed receiving elements (14). These are formed by a channel-like base (42) and a wall (44) trailing as viewed in circumferential direction (U). The circumferential path (24) extends in the working section (38) at an incline such that the printed products (18) fed by means of the first conveyor (10) come to rest in the system at the base (42) and plane against the wall (44). A sliding body (60) is associated with each receiving element (14), the sliding body displacing the fed printed products (18) along the wall (44) of the receiving section (46) in the insertion section (48) by abutting the same. The printed products (18) are opened, wherein the second product part (18?) is placed behind the hold-open element (50), which is disposed on the forward receiving element (14). Inserts (20) are added to the printed products (18) by means of a second conveyor (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Werner Honegger
  • Patent number: 8070149
    Abstract: An arrangement for gathering or assembling printed sheets into semi-finished products for producing bound printed products, the arrangement including a conveying device and a plurality of replaceable feeder units arranged side-by-side along the conveying device. Each replaceable feeder unit includes at least two feeders for supplying the printed sheets to the conveying device and an undercarriage. The plurality of replaceable feeder units are arranged on the undercarriage. The undercarriage includes interface sections assigned, respectively, to the replaceable feeder units and the interface sections each include a first interface configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schober, Erich Jornot
  • Patent number: 8066111
    Abstract: A signature transport device is provided. The signature transport device includes a saddle conveyor for transporting signatures, an escalator tucker for lifting the signatures off the saddle conveyor and a linear gripper conveyor located adjacent to the escalator tucker and having a plurality of grippers for gripping the signatures. The linear gripper conveyor has a velocity component that is equal to or greater than a velocity component of the escalator tucker when the signatures are gripped from the escalator tucker. A method for transporting signatures is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Daniel Curley
  • Patent number: 8056892
    Abstract: Different printed products (10) are fed by feeding units (7) and collated in compartments (2), wherein the compartments (2) are conveyed substantially continuously past the feeding outlets (6) arranged successively in a line, and a printed product (10) is added through each feeding outlet (6). The compartments (2) have a compartment base (3) and a transverse wall (4), wherein the compartment base (3) is inclined at least in a feeding region (5) of a circuit (1) of the compartments (2) in a conveying direction and the transverse wall (4) is upstream or downstream depending on the direction of inclination of the compartments. The compartments (2) are coupled to a conveying means such that they are rotatable around a substantially horizontal and/or substantially vertical axis. Thus, it becomes possible to maintain the inclination angle of the compartments which they have in the feeding region, in a region (12) for conveying further, an extraction region (15) with inclining or declining gradients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Werner Honegger
  • Patent number: 8052133
    Abstract: A method and arrangement is provided for producing an adhesive-bound printed item composed of a plurality of printed products. The printed products are gathered into loose book blocks along a first conveying section of a conveying track for a circulating conveyor while positioned transverse to a conveying direction and inclined counter to the conveying direction. The book blocks are then accelerated in an additional section of the circulating conveyor to obtain a larger divisional spacing between the printed products. The book blocks are transferred from the additional section of the circulating conveyor to clamps of a transporter and pivoted to an upright position where one side edge is approximately parallel to the conveying direction. The book blocks are transferred from the clamps of the transporter into respective circulating conveying clamps of an adhesive binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Theo Hug, Peter Fischer, Christophe Vaucher
  • Patent number: 8052132
    Abstract: An arrangement and method for producing an adhesive-bound, printed item composed of a number of printed products. A circulating conveyor includes a conveying track and a plurality of space-apart conveying units driven along the conveying track, wherein along a first conveying section of the circulating conveying printed products are gathered into loose book blocks in the conveying units which are positioned transverse to the conveying direction and in a reclined position that is inclined counter to the conveying direction. The circulating conveyor includes an additional conveying section to which the book blocks are supplied from the first conveying section for being conveyed to an adhesive binder. The additional conveying section is operative to accelerate the conveying units so that a divisional spacing between the book blocks is increased, and to pivot the conveying units so that the book blocks are moved to an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Daniel Langenegger
  • Patent number: 8042808
    Abstract: The image forming system includes: a first transporting unit transporting paper sheets along a first transportation route; an image forming unit forming images on the paper sheets; a sheet supplying unit having a second transportation route, and transporting a sheet along the second transportation route to supply the sheet to a gap between the paper sheets sequentially transported along the first transportation route, the second transportation route joining the first transportation route at a position located on a downstream of the image forming unit in a transportation direction; and a controller outputting, to respective first and second output units, a paper sheet located on a downstream of the gap, and a paper sheet located on an upstream of the gap while causing the image forming unit to form an image on the paper sheet on the upstream of the image forming unit, when the sheet is not supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8023935
    Abstract: A system for printing a list on a print medium includes a device and a server. The device which has a sensor module for sensing a print media identifier coded on a surface of the print medium, and a printer module for printing the list on the print medium. The server stores the list in association with the print medium identifier in a database. The list is retrievable from the database using the print media identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Publication number: 20110215512
    Abstract: A sheet guiding apparatus with a sheet diverter function, a production system with a printer and a folding machine for printed products, in which such a sheet guiding apparatus is used, and a method for producing printed products with the production system, permit productivity to be raised without increasing the operating speed of the folding machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: HEIKO FEYERABEND, UDO GANTER, MARTIN HAUPT-TERLAU
  • Patent number: 7997573
    Abstract: To form stacks of printed products such as books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, etc., a plurality of printed sheets is delivered by a conveying section and assembled thereon into preliminary products, which are then formed into stacks, where the process for collating the printed sheets into preliminary products is controlled as a function of the size of the stack of printed products to be formed. A device for implementing the process includes a collating device for forming preliminary products and an indirectly downstream stacking device connected to a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Müller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Daniel Langenegger
  • Patent number: 7992853
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing documents is provided. Documents having a selected characteristic are placed into a first area, whereas documents not having the selected characteristic are placed into a second area. A sensor in the first area detects the presence of documents in the first area. The documents are conveyed to a scanner that scans the documents to obtain information regarding the documents. The processing of the documents is controlled by a processor. A document is electronically tagged as having the selected characteristic and processed accordingly in response to the detection of the document in the first area and in response to whether the document arrived at the scanner during a pre-determined time frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventors: George L Hayduchok, Peter M. Chezik
  • Patent number: 7976002
    Abstract: A gatherer-stitcher has a folded-sheet feeder and an apparatus for transferring folded sheets from the feeder to a transporting configuration of the gatherer-stitcher. The apparatus has a plurality of shafts or drums with grippers for gripping the folded sheets. The apparatus opens the folded sheets and places them astride the transporting configuration. The apparatus also has a blowing configuration which, as a folded sheet is transferred from one shaft or drum to another, subjects the folded sheet to a surge of air in time with a folded-sheet transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Steffen Hoffmann, Falk Preuss
  • Publication number: 20110140339
    Abstract: An inserter including a pocket for holding an unevenly folded printed product having a fold edge, a first section on a first side of the fold edge and a second section on a second side of the fold edge that is at least 20 percent shorter than the first section is provided. The pocket includes a lower support surface for supporting the fold edge, a first wall for supporting the first section and a second wall for supporting the second section. The first and second walls each have at least one cutout defined therein. The at least one cutout of the second wall includes a lower cutout edge that is less than a length of the second section away from the lower support surface. The inserter also includes a gripper for securely gripping unevenly folded printed product and removing the unevenly folded printed product from the pocket by passing through the at least one cutouts in the first and second walls. A method of inserting an insert into an unevenly folded printed product is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Roy Tassinari
  • Patent number: 7959144
    Abstract: The invention relates to a processing device for processing printed products, in particular for collecting individual printed sheets for manufacturing an assembled printed product. The device includes a drum rotatable about a rotation axis and at least two feed stations arranged distanced from one another in the direction of the rotation axis, for feeding printed products, and at least one lead-away station for leading away processed printed products. The drum includes several guides, in particular saddle-like rests or conveyor compartments which are arranged in succession in the peripheral direction of the drum and are movable along a closed revolving path, as well as advance elements controlled by a control unit, for displacing the printed products in the direction of the rotation axis. For increasing the flexibility, the device is composed of modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Marcel Ramseier
  • Patent number: 7950645
    Abstract: A method and an installation for the insertion of supplements into printed products (1) such as newspapers, periodicals, brochures, etc., wherein each single, folded or multi-paged printed product (1) is opened over a fold (8) and a supplement (2) is inserted, wherein a leader edge (9) of the supplement (2) is placed at least near the fold (8), or against the spine respectively, of the printed product (1). The method further comprises the following steps of: Application of a bonding agent (3) to the supplement (2) near the leader edge (9) or to the printed product (1) near the fold (8); Insertion of the supplement (2) into the printed product (1); and Adhesion by means of the bonding agent (3), of the supplement (2) in at least one place near its leader edge (9) with the printed product (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: FERAG, AG
    Inventor: Hans Ulrich Stauber
  • Patent number: 7946566
    Abstract: An apparatus for wire-stitching print products compiled from gathered signatures and for trimming open edges of the print products, includes a first gathering and wire-stitching machine including a first wire-stitching unit. A first cutter is installed downstream from the first gathering and wire-stitching machine. A second gathering and wire-stitching machine having a second wire-stitching unit is selectively connected in-line with the first gathering and wire-stitching machine. A second cutter is installed downstream from the second gathering and wire-stitching machine. A transfer element is also positioned between the first and second gathering and wire-stitching machines for transferring print products or partial print products from the first gathering and wire-stitching machine to the second gathering and wire-stitching machine. The apparatus further includes a drive motor operatively arranged with the first gathering and wire-stitching machine and the first cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: André Schüpbach
  • Patent number: 7925300
    Abstract: A method of printing content is disclosed. The method starts by a server receiving a request for content. The server renders the content into a pre-rendered format before transferring the content in the pre-rendered format to a mobile telecommunications device. The content is then printed on a print medium in a media feed path of a printer module of the mobile telecommunications device. During the printing step, coded data disposed on the print medium is sensed using a sensor module in the media feed path of the printer module. The coded data encodes a print medium identifier which uniquely identifies the print medium. Finally, the content is associated with the print medium identifier for later retrieval using the print medium identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun, Colin John Pickup
  • Patent number: 7920855
    Abstract: A method of printing content on a print medium is disclosed. The method starts by receiving the print medium in a media feed path. The media feed path includes a sensor module and a printer module. A print media identifier is read from a surface of the print medium using the sensor module. The print medium identifier uniquely identifies the print medium. The content is then on the print medium using the printer module and the content is stored in association with the print medium identifier in a database. The content is retrievable from the database using the print media identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun, Simon Robert Walmsley, Colin John Pickup
  • Patent number: 7900902
    Abstract: A new gathering and stitching machine (10) and a new method for operating a gathering and stitching machine (1) are proposed, which make it possible to drive in the staples (K) in a positionally correct manner and to close them satisfactorily even in the case of relatively short staple setting times. This is achieved by the novel control of the position of the staple heads (20) and the saddle-shaped supports (2, 30, 40, 50) in the region of the interaction during stapling. It is an essential feature of the present invention that the staple head (20) and the support (2, 30, 40, 50) are pivoted towards one another in such a way that they come to lie within a common stapling plane (H).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Marcel Ramseier
  • Patent number: RE42404
    Abstract: A binding line having increased capacity and increased flexibility to deliver customized or personalized signatures to the gathering conveyor in order to customize or personalizes the content of a book to appeal to targeted demographic groups or individuals. The binding line includes a gathering conveyor, a plurality of packer boxes positioned along the gathering conveyor, each of the packer boxes being adapted to deliver a distinct signature to the conveyor, and a feeder system operatively associated with at least one of the packer boxes. The feeder system includes a feed conveyor and a plurality of feeder boxes, each of the feeder boxes being adapted to deliver a selected signature to the associated packer box. A primary controller is provided for activating a selected set of the packer boxes, thereby delivering a set of signatures to the gathering conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: R.R. Donnelley & Sons
    Inventor: Ronald E. Dooley