Am International Incorporated

Ta Triumph-adler Aktiengesellschaft

Heidelberg Finishing Systems, Inc.

Andrew D Bruce

Aaron J Belvo

Peter A Wolf

Todd C Platt

John A Manley

Thomas A Rowe

Daniel A Tucker

Stephen M Ent

James D Johnstone

Horng J Yang

Darryl W Coy

A collator comprises a first hopper for storing signatures having a first characteristic and a second hopper for storing signatures having a second characteristic. A plurality of collating pockets move relative to the first and second hoppers and receive signatures from the first and second hoppers. An actuatable feeder, when actuated, feeds an individual signature from one of the first and second hoppers. A memory stores a predetermined number corresponding to the number of individual signatures to be delivered from the first hopper. The feeder is controlled to initially feed individual signatures from the first hopper to the plurality of pockets until the number of individual signatures delivered equals the predetermined number and then to feed individual signatures from the second hopper to the plurality of pockets without stopping movement of the pockets relative to the first and second hoppers.

Collator and method for controlling the collator

Newspapers are collated with materials which vary as a function of the characteristics of the readers of the newspapers. For example, a newspaper for a reader having a credit card for a particular business establishment would include an insert which is an advertisement for the business establishment. A newspaper for a reader who did not have a credit card for the business establishment would not include the advertisement. Indicia identifying the reader for whom each newspaper is intended is printed on the jacket of the newspaper during the process of collating the newspaper. Further indicia may be applied onto inserts appropriate to the intended reader and/or advertiser.

Method of collating newspapers based upon credit card holders

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. In the event of a misfeed of an insert for a newspaper, the transfer of newspapers from the hoppers is inhibited until a misfed section of a newspaper has been fed to the hopper at which the misfeed occurred. This enables the newspapers to be maintained in the same sequence that they are to be delivered to different addresses along a delivery route.

Newspaper handling method and apparatus with misfeed inhibiting control

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.

Method and apparatus for controlling a collator

A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling a collator. A microcomputer learns hopper insertion points, jam switch insertion points, and hopper miss and double feed service angles relative to a reject gate. Based on the learn collator configuration, the controller controls collator operation. When a hopper phase adjustment is made by an operator, the controller automatically re-learns the hopper service angles during a ripple start of the collator and adjusts its reject data in response thereto. A miss verify sensor arrangement permits the controller to monitor for phase adjustments after a ripple start and to warn the operator upon such occurence.

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Troy, OH, United States of America

Andrew D Bruce