Including Sheet-margin Gripper Patents (Class 271/247)
  • Patent number: 9194467
    Abstract: An apparatus for the vertical adjustment of combined front/top lays in a sheet processing machine includes a front/top lay carrier shaft carrying the front/top lays jointly in such a way that it can be pivoted with respect to a front/top lay drive shaft, or thrust joints disposed in carriers or coupling links for the front/top lays in such a way that they effect a lengthening of the carriers or coupling links in order to adjust the front/top lays. A sheet-fed rotary printing press having the apparatus, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Mueller, Henning Niggemann, Burkhard Wolf
  • Patent number: 7992866
    Abstract: An apparatus for aligning sheets in a processing machine includes translationally movable stops or front lays which can be driven through the use of a coupler mechanism or individually actuable electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Müller, Georg Grasmück, Burkhard Wolf, Jochen Renner, Leva Markus
  • Patent number: 6681697
    Abstract: A device for aligning sheets on a feeder of a sheet-processing machine includes a plurality of pivotably disposed front lays and a plurality of pivotably disposed top lays, the top lays being vertically adjustable. The front lays and the top lays are respectively assigned to and combined with one another and have a common pivoting drive. A push rod vertically adjusts the top lays, and a wedge-like slide actuates the push rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Markus Möhringer, Jochen Renner
  • Patent number: 6655682
    Abstract: A device for fixing the position of a sheet includes a feeding table for transporting the sheet; at least one front lay disposed in vicinity of the feeding table and, in a working position, protruding upwardly beyond the plane of the feeding table; a swivellable holder to which the front lay and an adjusting device for the front lay are secured; and a adjusting device secured to the holder, the front lay and the adjusting device being disposed separated from one another on the holder, the front lay being in continuous biasing engagement, under tension, with the adjusting device, so that, by changing the position of the holder, the front lay and the adjusting device are movable from the working position into a neutral position and, conversely, from the neutral position into the working position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Willi Becker, Wolfgang Dolz
  • Patent number: 5390908
    Abstract: A measurement device for detecting the presence of a sheet is disclosed. A paper sheet processing machine has front lays with stop surfaces at which the leading edges of paper sheets are aligned. The paper sheets are accelerated by pre-grippers to a speed sufficient for transferring the paper sheets to a paper sheet processing unit, such as a transfer drum in a sheet-fed rotary offset printing machine. The measurement device comprises upper and lower sensor members between which a gap is defined. The leading edges of sheets which are aligned at the front lays are disposed within the gap. The upper and lower sensor members forming upper and lower boundaries, respectively, of a scanning region which is defined vertically relative to the plane of the paper sheet. Paper sheets which cross the scanning region between the sensor members and which are aligned along the stop surfaces of the front lays are detected. A method and a corresponding pre-gripper assembly are disclosed as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Heiner Luxem
  • Patent number: 5292111
    Abstract: A conveying device having individually controllable grippers conveys the printed products in the conveying direction to a straightening station where the printed products are aligned. Subsequently, for opening, the folded printed products are fed to an opening device with their open edge leading and are then conveyed further to a transfer region, which is spaced apart from the opening device, for depositing on the rests. The separation of the different functions, i.e. the alignment, the opening and the depositing of the printed products allows simple setting to different formats of the printed products to be processed. Between the opening device and the transfer region, the open printed products are held open by a holding-open device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Egon Hansch
  • Patent number: 5085623
    Abstract: Bar scoring apparatus with a conveyor for moving a corrugated box in one direction, a first conveyor table that is adapted to align the box and feed it to a scoring press in another direction, perpendicular to the one direction, and a second conveyor table that is adapted to receive the fully-scored box and feed it to a subsequent process in yet another direction, opposite to the one direction. The first conveyor table is inclined downwardly from the conveyor, and includes a datum edge to align the box under the influence of gravity. Once the box is fully-scored, a rotatable frame on the second conveyor table rotates downwardly to a horizontal position for offload of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Union Camp Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Mitchard
  • Patent number: 5080347
    Abstract: A sheet paper feeder for use in a printing press, includes a cam mechanism interposed between sheet feeding rollers, and a source of drive force for the sheet feeding rollers which are adapted to be repeatedly rotated and stopped along a programmed continuous cam operation curve. A retracting mechanism associated with sheet holddown wheels operates in synchronism with the sheet feeding rollers to cause reciprocating movement of the sheet holddown wheels toward and away from the sheet feeding rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Funada
  • Patent number: 4311093
    Abstract: A feed assembly for feeding sheets seriatim from a position of register on a feed table to an impression cylinder in a printing press which includes a pre-gripper having an oscillating connection with the press drive for periodically swinging the pre-gripper from a sheet pick-up position at the front edge of the table to a sheet-releasing position at the surface of the impression cylinder. The pre-gripper has a jaw and a jaw lever for opening and closing the jaw. A gripper operating cam is arranged in the path of movement of the jaw lever as the pre-gripper oscillates back and forth, the oeprating cam being mounted for retreating and return movement to control the opening and closing movement of the jaw. A rotating control cam coupled to the press drive has a control cam follower with a linkage for connecting the same to the gripper operating cam for controlling its retreating and return movement so that the jaw is closed upon an awaiting sheet at the pick-up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Assignee: M.A.N.-Roland Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Paul Abendroth, Helmust Emrich
  • Patent number: 4085673
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in which successive sheets are separated and advanced from a stack thereof. As the sheet advances from the stack, it is aligned. After alignment, a conveyor moves the sheet to a delivery station. The aligning mechanism moves into the sheet path in response to the conveyor reaching a first predetermined position. When the conveyor moves to a second predetermined position, the aligning mechanism is spaced from the sheet path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1978
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald R. Wierszewski
  • Patent number: 4072306
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet feed apparatus suitable for feeding an original into a copying machine at an intake position and through the machine past an exposure station, the apparatus comprising a rotary support having a surface for supporting the original, means rotatable with the rotary support for gripping the leading edge of the original, means for selectively coupling and decoupling the gripping means with the support, means in advance of the exposure station for pressing the original against the supporting surface, means associated with the rotary support for conveying the original in contact with the supporting surface when the gripping means is stationary and means for releasing the original from the gripping means at a discharge position after the support has made a predetermined number of revolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1978
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hermann Idstein