Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag

Heidelberg Finishing Systems, Inc.

Am International Incorporated

Andrew L Klopfenstein

Jackson Hacker Jones

Russell Alan Bechler

Hugh Thompson Lee

A sheet material conveying apparatus includes a plurality of pockets, each pocket including a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket when the pocket is stationary so as to define a set height. A sheet delivery section delivers sheet material into the pockets and a release station for releases the sheet material from the pockets. A reset station automatically resets the pockets to the set height. A method and a sheet material pocket are also provided.

Sheet material conveying apparatus with individually-adjustable pockets

A pile restrictor includes a restrictor body and a restricting blade attached to the body, the restricting blade being adjustable angularly with respect to the body during an operating mode of a sheet feeder. The present invention also provides a pile feed device having a front guide and at least one pile restrictors, each of the pile restrictors connected to the front guide and including a body and a restricting blade attached to the body, the blade being adjustable angularly with respect to the body during the operating mode. Also disclosed is a method of restricting a sheet pile comprising the steps of placing a pile of sheets in a feeder so that the nose of the pile is restricted by a restrictor; and adjusting an angle of the restrictor furing operation of the feeder.

Feeder pile restrictor and method

A sheet material conveying apparatus includes a plurality of pockets, each pocket including a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket when the pocket is stationary so as to define a set height, the setting device including a setting rod, a ring gear having an outer surface connected to the setting rod, and a lock ring selectively releasable from the ring gear, the setting rod including a disengaging device for releasing the lock ring from the ring gear during a setting operation. A method and a sheet material pocket are also provided.

Sheet material conveying apparatus with height-adjustable pockets

Apparatus (10) for engaging at least a portion (20b) of a signature (20a) in a hopper (14) and moving the portion relative to a stack of signatures (20) in the hopper includes a stem member (110) and a suction cup (150) mounted on the stem member. The stem member (110) is supported for movement toward and away from the stack of signatures (20) A venturi tube (160) is provided in the stem member (110) for generating a vacuum which is communicated to the suction cup (150). The vacuum in the suction cup (150) causes the portion (20b) of a signature (20a) to be gripped by the suction cup (150) and moved relative to the stack of signatures (20) in the hopper (14) upon movement of the stem member (110).

Apparatus for generating a vacuum

A sheet material conveying apparatus includes a plurality of sheet material feeders. A plurality of pockets are movable past each of the sheet material feeders in turn to sequentially feed sheet material into the pockets. Each pocket has an upper end portion through which sheet material enters the pocket, a lower end portion through which sheet material leaves the pocket, and a support which supports sheet material in the pocket. The support is movable between a plurality of closed positions in which the support is spaced different distances from the upper end portion of the pocket and at least partially blocks the lower end portion of the pocket. The support is movable from each of the closed positions to an open position in which sheet material is movable out of the pocket through the lower end portion of the pocket. The pocket includes a rack and a pinion which are relatively movable to move the support between each of the closed positions and the open position.

Variable height pocket for sheet material conveying apparatus

A rotatable gripper drum includes a seat mounted on the drum and a gripper supported on the drum for pivotal movement relative to the seat between an open position and a closed position. The seat is made from a resilient material and includes a body portion having first and second grip surfaces. The drum has a retaining pocket for receiving the body portion of the seat to secure the seat for rotation with the drum. The seat is selectively mountable in the retaining pocket with the body portion in a first orientation in which the first grip surface cooperates with the gripper to grip sheet material or in a second orientation in which the second grip surface cooperates with the gripper to grip sheet material.

Gripper seat

A sheet material collating system includes a pair of tubular metal guide rails. A plurality of plastic carriers are supported by guide rollers on the guide rails. A plurality of plastic pockets for receiving signatures are supported on the carriers in a position cantilevered out from the guide rails. Each carrier has a set of drive teeth. Drive element located along the guide rails includes an externally toothed drive belt which is engageable with the drive teeth on the carriers, as the carriers move past the drive element, to drive the carriers and thereby the pockets along the guide rails.

Sheet material collating system

A gripper assembly for clamping articles comprises a first clamp member and a second clamp member pivotal relative to the first clamp member. An actuator pivots the second clamp member relative to the first clamp member from an open position into a closed position. A coil spring is compressed when the second clamp member is in the open position. A pin engaging in a slot maintains the coil spring in the compressed condition when the second clamp member is in the open position. A releasable locking device holds the second clamp member in a closed position. The locking device includes a latch that can be mounted in one of two positions on the first clamp member. The latch is biased into engagement with one of two latch blocks, depending on the position of the latch, to hold the second clamp member in the closed position.

Gripper assembly

A gripper assembly for gripping sheet materials such as a folded newspaper includes a fixed jaw and a movable jaw for engaging opposite surfaces of the article. The jaws are supported on a base block for pivotal movement relative to each other. The movable jaw is made of spring wire and includes a pair of gripping tangs, a pair of spring coils associated one with each gripping tang, and a pressing element extending between the gripping tangs. The movable jaw is pivotally mounted on a shaft about which the spring coils are wrapped. The spring coils bias the clamp arm as a whole, and also the gripping tangs, independently of one another, into clamping relation toward the fixed clamp arm. The pressing element clamps and presses the lower folded edge of a folded newspaper being held in the gripper assembly. The movable clamp arm is made from a single continuous piece of spring wire.

Growing community of inventors

Tipp City, OH, United States of America

Andrew L Klopfenstein