Abstract: A method for protecting a unit for converting a web substrate to limit a jam of the substrate inside the unit, the unit converting the substrate when the unit is stopped, in a packaging production machine: the steps of: detecting at the outlet of the unit that the converted web does not come out; stopping a motor of an infeed arrangement to prevent the substrate from entering the unit; stopping a motor of a feathering drive; and simultaneously stopping the machine, and guiding the substrate to an accumulation storage.

Abstract: A method for supplying and inserting document sets into associated envelopes, in which the document sets are supplied to an insert station in a document material stream and the envelopes are supplied to the insert station in an envelope material stream, to allow mail pieces to be collated with high reliability. In the insert station, the document set supplied in each case is inserted into the relevant envelope supplied at the same time, wherein for each document set, the position thereof in the document sequence and an associated document identification code are determined, and for each envelope, the position thereof in the envelope sequence and an associated envelope identification code are determined, and a document set and an envelope are supplied to the insert station only as a pair when it is confirmed that the envelope pending supply is individually associated with the document set pending supply.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a large amount of bags includes: a bag stocking mechanism that stocks a large amount of raised bags and guides the stocked bags to the front end thereof; and a bag transport mechanism that transports the bags of the bag stocking mechanism to a packaging machine. The apparatus further includes, a bag pickup mechanism and a bag delivery mechanism that pick up the bag from the bag stocking mechanism; a detection unit that detects the orientation of the picked up bag; and a bag turning mechanism that turns the bag in the predetermined transport direction of the bag transport mechanism according to the orientation of the bag detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A method for controlling a feeder of a gathering-stitching machine reduces the operating effort when setting the feeder, increases reliability when laying folded sheets on a transport device and improves quality during collating and stitching. Opening and closing times of grippers are regulated under program control, continuously and as a function of format when controlling the feeder of the gathering-stitching machine. Data relating to the dimensions and to the number of pages of the folded sheets is thus entered into a control device, from which data actuating signals for actuating elements of the grippers are generated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first detection unit configured to output a first detection signal upon detecting a recording medium; a second detection unit configured to output a second detection signal upon detecting the recording medium, which is conveyed from the first detection unit; a signal generation unit configured to generate a substitute signal for the first detection signal in a case where the first detection unit does not output the first detection signal; and a state determination unit configured to determine a state of the image forming apparatus based on the first and second detection signals. The state determination unit determines that the first detection unit is in a failure state upon receiving the second detection signal and the substitute signal, which is input instead of the first detection signal.

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.

Abstract: The present application discloses gripping systems and various uses thereof. As one example, a gripping system including a gripping jaw and an extensible bar is disclosed. The gripping jaw includes two opposing members that are operable to grasp a gripped object between the opposing members. The system further includes a bar that includes an upper portion and a lower portion that are coupled via an extensible joint. A distance between the upper portion and the lower portion of the bar at the extensible joint is proportional to a distance between the opposing members when the gripping jaw is in a closed position. Various methods utilizing a gripping system similar to the aforementioned to select mailing inserts are also disclosed.

Abstract: In determining a setting condition of an apparatus for assembling mail items from mail components (20, 21, 23, 25) it is detected, in a setting phase, in which of a number of feeder stations (1, 2, 34, 35) of that apparatus mail components (20, 21, 23, 25) are present. Feeder stations (1, 2, 34, 35) in which mail components are present are automatically brought into an operating condition, and feeder stations (1, 2, 34, 35) in which no mail components are present are automatically brought into a non-operating condition. As a result, at the start-up of the apparatus, on the basis of the loading thereof, it is automatically determined which station is to be brought into an operating condition and which are to remain standby. An apparatus specifically arranged for practicing the proposed method is also described.

Abstract: A method of combining a number of individually printed products into a finished product, for example a weekend newspaper containing numerous sections. The individually printed products are of the type that are folded at their mid portion so that they can be opened along the fold allowing them to receive other printed product or closed which facilitates their insertion into an opened printed product. The process starts by inserting a folded printed product into the main product. The first inserted product could have been open when inserted or opened after it was inserted. Then another printed product is inserted into the main product such that it lies adjacent to the first product that was inserted. The first product that was inserted into the main product can then be opened to permit additional printed products to be inserted into it.

Abstract: A sheet accommodating apparatus includes sheet accommodating means for accommodating one by one sheets fed thereto; aligning means for aligning the sheets; sheet interval detecting means for detecting interval time or distance between adjacent sheets; and control means for preventing the aligning means from operating when an output of the sheet interval detecting means indicates that sheet interval time or distance is shorter than time required for the aligning means to align the sheets or the distance through which the sheets moves in the time required for the aligning means to align the sheets.

Abstract: A station in a communications network determines the mode (full-duplex or half-duplex) in which it communicates with a concentrator port by establishing a Registration routine between the station and the concentrator port. The station and concentrator port exchange frames which disclose the capabilities of the concentrator port. If the concentrator port has duplex capabilities, the station enters as a duplex station. Otherwise, the station enters in a half-duplex (token ring) mode.

Abstract: In the field of sheet handling apparatus such as a mail processing machine, it is known to provide infeed apparatus which allows for both the manual and automatic feeding of inserts for processing.The disclosure relates to such infeed apparatus (10) including sensor means (32,33) for detecting (i) whether more than one insert has been fed automatically from one insert tray (13); or (ii) whether an insert has been fed manually from another insert tray (14). In the former case, the apparatus is arranged to signal a fault to an operator; in the latter case operation of the apparatus is automatically continued on sensing of a correctly fed, manually fed insert.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a plurality of individual books in a predetermined sequence includes a main conveyor having a plurality of spaced collating stations for receiving signatures. A plurality of feeders selectively feed signatures to the spaced collating stations as the main conveyor moves the plurality of spaced collating stations past the plurality of feeders to form the plurality of individual books in the predetermined sequence. A rejector rejects a defective book from the sequence of books leaving a space in the sequence of books. A reorderer causes the plurality of feeders to rebuild the rejected book. A first transferor transfers the sequence of books to a second conveyor to convey the sequence of books away from the main conveyor. The first transfer means is inhibited from transferring the reordered book from the main conveyor to the second conveyor.

Abstract: An improved newspaper handling apparatus and method enables newspapers to be formed in a sequence which is the same as the sequence in which newspapers are to be delivered to different addresses along a delivery route. Therefore, newspapers containing inserts for readers having particular characteristics can be formed and indicia corresponding to addresses along a delivery route printed on the newspapers in a sequence which is the same as the sequence in which the newspapers are delivered to the different addresses along the delivery route. During the forming of the newspapers, collating spaces are moved past hoppers from which inserts are fed. The completed newspapers are transferred from the collating spaces to a discharge conveyor in a sequence which corresponds to the sequence in which newspapers are to be delivered to different addresses along a delivery route.

Abstract: A collation error indication system for a collator is provided wherein first indication elements for indicating the paper feeding condition of the present collation cycle and second indication elements for indicating the paper feeding condition of at least the immediately before collation cycle are arranged at each paper supply shelf so that the paper feeding conditions of the present collation cycle and the immediately before collation cycle are indicated during each collation cycle. When the abnormal paper feeding occurs, the collation operation is stopped after the collation cycle subsequent to the collation cycle with the abnormal paper feeding has finished. Thus it is easy for the operator to recognize which page should be recollated in the miscollated object, even though a plurality of collation cycles proceed simultaneously.

Abstract: A binding line including at least first and second binding line sections. The first binding line section is adapted to transport books therealong to a book exit station and the second binding line section is adapted to transport books therealong from a book entry station. The binding line includes a book transferring mechanism or subsystem for moving books from the book exit station of the first binding line section to the book entry station of the second binding line section as well as devices associated with book leaving the book exit station and books entering the book entry station for tracking books during transfer from the first binding line section to the second binding line section. The first binding line section can run at the same or a different speed than the second binding line section. In addition, the binding line can include asynchronous or synchronous multiple first and/or second binding line sections.

Abstract: An in-line inserter device comprises envelope and insert feeding assemblies, an envelope inserting station assembly, a sealing and stacking assembly, and various diverter stations. The envelope feeding assembly withdraws envelopes from a hopper-held envelope stack and conveys them to the inserting station. Each modular insert feeding assembly comprises a hopper-held insert stack disposed above, along, and in line with an insert conveyor. The conveyor, along its track, carries inserts dispensed from the hopper-held insert stacks to the inserting station. Diverter stations are disposed ahead of the envelope inserting station for diversion of envelopes and inserts and ahead of the inserted envelope stacking assembly to divert inserted envelopes, for normal operational purposes and for rectification of sensed faults by rejection and extraction of processed faulty items.

Abstract: A folder inserter machine includes a device for monitoring the passage of stationery items between a pair of feed rollers (32, 38). A first signal is output if a single item is between the rollers and a second signal is output if more than one item is between the rollers. in the illustrated embodiment the first signal indicates to the folder inserter control that the machine is ready to accept a second insert and the second signal indicates that a multiple feed has occurred and flags a warning to the operator.

Abstract: An assembly system for demographic binding of signatures into a book on a collating and binding line includes a device for reading coded information printed directly on selected signatures, a feeder for supplying the coded signatures to the collating and binding line and an accumulator for transmitting the coded signatures to the collating and binding line in sequence with signatures being gathered on the line according to the information on the coded signatures.

Abstract: Mechanism for assembling a document from a plurality of predetermined sheets having a central controller, with a plurality of modules. The sheets are moved past each of said modules. One of said modules is a feed module which feeds the sheets. The feeder module has reader means for reading each sheet before it is fed and being positioned adjacent the sheet feeder so that it reads the lower-most sheet in the feeder. A module is also provided for assembling the sheets together. Means are also provided responsive to the central controller which stop the operation of the mechanism should the sheet read by the reader be the improper sheet for the document being assembled.

Abstract: The thickness of successive sheets which are delivered by the feeders of a gathering machine to a collating conveyor are monitored and a computer which is associated with each feeder calculates the extent of deviation of the monitored thickness from an acceptable value. Signals which are generated by the computers in the event of excessive deviation are used to arrest the motor of the gathering machine and/or to expel the respective groups of sheets from the collating conveyor. Each computer is caused to calculate a reference value on the basis of monitored thicknesses of n successively delivered sheets whose thicknesses are within the acceptable range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for establishing a random fault limit for hoppers in a collating machine. A plurality of hoppers are arranged in an array, each adapted to feed signatures, one at a time, to a conveyor. A miss feed base number and a double feed base number is established in a microcomputer for each of the hoppers equal to either (i) a predetermined number of signature feeds by that hopper, (ii) a predetermined number of books assembled, or (iii) a predetermined number of collator machine cycles. A miss feed fault number and a double feed number is established in the microcomputer for each of the hoppers. Each hopper has an associated miss feed detector and a double feed detector electrically connected to the microcomputer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a collator having a plurality of delivery conveyors are disclosed. The collator includes a plurality of hoppers for feeding a plurality of signatures to a plurality of gathering stations or pockets which moves past the hoppers. An assemblage, i.e., a group of collated signatures is formed in each of the plurality of pockets. The plurality of delivery conveyors receives assemblages from the plurality of pockets during operation of the collator. If a fault condition is detected downstream of one of the plurality of delivery conveyors, then receipt of assemblages by the one delivery conveyor is interrupted while receipt of assemblages by the other of the plurality of delivery conveyors is maintained. The result is that only the one delivery conveyor with the downstream fault condition ceases delivering assemblages. All production from the collator does not cease. Production and delivery of assemblages onto the delivery conveyors with no fault condition are maintained.

Abstract: The present provides a new and improved apparatus for verifying the operation of a signature hopper of a collator. The hopper includes a rotary drum for transporting a signature from a storage bin to a feed location on a raceway having a moving conveyor. Two reflectors are secured to the drum. A first, miss reflector, is located so as to be covered by a signature during a normal feed operation. A second, miss verify reflector, is located so as not to be covered by a signature during a normal feed operation. An optical sensor directs a beam of light toward the drum and monitors for light reflected by the reflectors. A controller determines when the sensor should receive a reflected beam from the miss verify reflector. A warning signal is generated if no light is reflected from the miss verify reflector when it is expected.

Abstract: Successive sheets are drawn from a magazine by a gripper which is movably mounted on a drum-shaped rotary conveyor and serves to transfer successive sheets into a gathering machine. The position of the gripper with reference to the conveyor is indicative of the thickness of the sheet or sheets which are transported from the magazine, and such position is ascertained by a monitoring device in cooperation with an input element which is movable with the gripper. The input element can constitute a soft iron core which extends into a coil of an oscillatory circuit constituting the monitoring device, a plate which extends between the plates of a capacitor forming part of the monitoring device, or an arm for a disc bearing encoded information which is monitored by a photoelectronic transducer. The monitoring device transmits signals to a circuit which is adjacent the path of movement of the gripper and includes the transducer or a winding cooperating with a winding of the oscillatory circuit.

Abstract: An external electronic measuring apparatus 2 in which a sample book block 1 is clamped and the thickness is then determined as a displacement-dependent actual value. The apparatus further includes a microprocessor 20 in which the actual displacement value is evaluated, and is stored as a required value, and a control unit 19 for transmitting the required value to the actuators 44, 45, as an actuating variable. The measuring apparatus possesses a clamping device 8, 9 which can be driven by a motor, and which enables two or more actual displacement values to be determined, these values being functions of differing compressive forces which serve to hold the book blocks in the bookbinding machine 42. These actual displacement values are defined by switch arrangements 20, 38, 13, and 39, as pressure points P1, P2 . . . Pn, and are determined, as actual displacement values, by means of a displacement measuring facility 31-35, in a sequentially controlled procedure.

Abstract: A gripper arm includes jaw members (24,26) between which articles are engaged and from which engaged articles are released in precise placement upon a transport means. Jaw (26) is actuated by solenoid actuating means (28) acting through linkage means (30) to perform the engagement and release operations. The activation of the solenoid actuating means (28) is controlled to be dependent upon the operating speed of a machine in conjunction with which the gripper arm is used. The solenoid actuating means (28) is assisted by biasing means (122) which is preloaded to facilitate the application of a desired holding force on articles engaged between the jaw members (24,26). The jaw member (24) has a piece (162) of high coefficient of friction material embedded in a surface oriented to contact articles engaged between the jaws (24, 26).

Abstract: Apparatus for discriminating signature sets of abnormal total thickness from signature sets having normal total thickness in a saddle-wired preparing apparatus. The discriminating apparatus includes means for electrically detecting the movement of sensor wheels which are adapted to discriminate a signature set of normal thickness from one having abnormal thickness, means for timing the output of this detected signal through a mechanical detector, and solenoid means for switching a stitcher and a deflector lever.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically sewing an advancing workpiece. To facilitate subsequent sewing operations, the workpiece length is calculated as the workpiece moves along its predetermined path of travel. If the advancing workpiece length lies within a preselected range of sizes, the workpiece will continue to move along its predetermined path. Should the workpiece length be calculated to be outside the preselected range of sizes, the workpiece is rejected from the predetermined path of travel.

Abstract: A sensor element and a counter-element are arranged opposite one another on opposite sides of a stream of printed products or the like. The sensor element is a deflecting feeler element. In order to detect multiple occupied positions and still be able to transport the stream of printed products practically without permanent contact by the sensor element in the absence of multiple occupied positions, the counter-element is intermittently advanced toward the side of the product stream opposite the sensor element at the tempo of the sequential or successive continuously transported printed products. The least distance between the undeflected sensor element and the counter-element in its advanced position corresponds to the thickness of one of the printed products or to an integer multiple thereof. A signal generator is associated with the sensor element and responds to its deflection.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for providing a universal multi-station document inserter, including the steps of providing a plurality of feeder stations for feeding documents in response to signals from a central processor, providing each feeder station with a unique address, storing feeder programs in distributed processors associated with the feeder stations which provide instructions to each feeder station for feeding documents, storing a supervisory program in the central processor which is capable of providing address and command signals to the distributed processors of the feeder stations, and interconnecting the central processor and the distributed processors for the transmission of signals so that upon receipt of the proper address and command signals at the feeder stations, the feeder stations will provide certain document feeding functions under control of the central processor in accordance with instructions programmed into the distributed processors associated therewith.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for calibration and adjustment of an inserter working with air suction for picking up a sheeted or folded material one at a time from a bundle for insertion in a machine, wherein an inserter includes a variable air suction source to pick up a sheeted or folded material one at a time from a bundle for insertion of the picked up sheeted or folded material into a machine. A sensor (24) positioned adjacent the inserter transmits different output signals which correspond respectively to no sheet of material picked up, one sheet of material picked up or several sheets of material picked up. The variable air suction source of the inserter is controlled responsive to the output signal from the sensor such that the air suction source produces increased suction of the sensor output signal corresponds to no sheet of material picked up or decreased suction if the sensor output signal corresponds to more than one sheet of material picked up.

Abstract: A bindery caliper is provided in the form of a non-contacting capacitive change measuring device capable of determining the page count of a multi-page stack with high sensitivity. The capacitance of a pair of plates between which the stack of pages is disposed sets the frequency of an oscillator which is sampled for a predetermined time period. The sampled pulses are counted and compared to a standard within tolerances, and the comparison determines whether the page count is satisfactory. Means for updating the standard value on the basis of accumulated measurements is also provided.

Abstract: A system for collating and controlling the processing of articles. A collator assembles the articles from a plurality of article portions. The completed articles are deposited onto a conveyor, which transports them to a processing station. The collator is temporarily disabled from beginning the assembly of another group of articles when assembly of the final article of the preceeding group of articles has been initiated. The conveyor thus has a gap thereon, which contains no articles. A signal is generated concurrently with the beginning of the gap, and is delayed by an amount selected so that the delayed signal should occur concurrently with the arrival of the gap at the processing station. The time occurrence of the delayed signal is adjusted in accordance with the actual movement of the gap along the conveyor. The conjunction of the delayed signal with the arrival of the gap causes the processing station to accomplish a selected function.

Abstract: A mistake detector for an In-Line Inserter includes complementary metallic detecting rolls positioned slightly downstream of ejection rolls of a pull-foot sheet feeding system. One of the detecting rolls is moveable and is attached to a detection feeler which is positioned between detection points. The detection points are also moveably mounted so that their positions can be overridden by excessive movement of the detection feeler.

Abstract: A proximity caliper for sensing the correct thickness of printed signatures is mounted on an apparatus for feeding printed sheets. A metal gripper which retains a signature against a rotatable drum traverses the caliper as the drum transfers the signature from one point to another. The proximity of the metal gripper with respect to the caliper is a function of signature thickness. Hence, the signature having too many or too few pages is detected. The proximity caliper includes at least two proximity sensors which do not come in contact with the metal gripper. The position of the sensors is adjustable with respect to the rotatable drum to accommodate signatures having a wide range of different thicknesses. The sensors are also adjustable with respect to each other to control the sensing tolerance. Signatures of the correct thickness are transferred by the drum and normal operation of the feeding apparatus proceeds. Signatures which are detected as having an incorrect number of pages may be removed.

Abstract: An improved signature handling apparatus includes a movable gripper jaw which operates in conjunction with similar gripper mechanisms to clamp and spread the signature so that the laps fall on opposite sides of the saddle in a saddle gatherer. In order to assure that the pages on the opposite sides of the fold fall on the appropriate side of the saddle gatherer, a sensing means is utilized to detect whether all of the pages on one side of the signature are properly clamped by the gripper jaw. Since the position of the gripper jaw is indicative of whether the correct thickness has been clamped, the sensing means emits a positive response when the gripper jaw is in the correct position. The sensing means includes a part operatively associated with the gripper jaw which is adjusted by connecting means to be in a predetermined position when the gripper jaw properly clamps the signature leg.

Abstract: A printing machine receives single sheets which are removed from a stack by the suction cups of a feeding mechanism which is combined with a monitoring unit serving to detect the absence of sheets at the undersides of suction cups or the lifting of two or more sheets. The monitoring unit employs a transducer having two feelers which determine the thickness of lifted sheet material and an indicating device which is actuated by the feelers and produces signals serving to indicate the absence of sheets, the lifting of two or more sheets and/or to control the operation of the printing machine. The suction cups can form part of the transducer when the latter is designed to detect only the absence of sheets or they form part of a second transducer which is provided in addition to the first mentioned transducer.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for making books and other sheet material articles includes a main conveyor for transporting groups of signatures to a covering station. A cover conveyor transports covers to the covering station where they are sequentially applied to the groups of signatures in a known manner. A first cover feed assembly sequentially feeds covers to the cover conveyor. In the event of a malfunctioning of a first cover feed assembly, a second cover feed assembly is activated to feed a cover to the cover conveyor. A detector for detecting a malfunctioning of the first cover feed assembly is capable of detecting either a failure to feed a cover or the feeding of double covers. In the event that double covers are fed, the double covers are rejected and the second cover feed assembly is activated.