Harris Corporation

Harris Graphics Corporation

Henry R Mebus

Leonard Miaskoff

A separator sheet feeder for use with an automatic newspaper bundle palletizer is disclosed. An elevator mechanism maintains the top of a stack of nested separator sheets at a constant level. Suction means lifts the top sheet upward and a reciprocating carriage moves between the top of the remaining stack and the lifted sheet. The lifted sheet is deposited onto a carriage which moves the sheet to a location over a layer of newspaper bundles. As the carriage returns to get the next sheet, a stripper mechanism engages the sheet to hold it so that it drops onto the layer of newspaper bundles.

Separator sheet feeder

The disclosed signature handling apparatus is for use with a saddle conveyor which moves signatures with a folded edge up along a path through a series of stations. The apparatus transfers signatures from the saddle conveyor to the infeed conveyor of a signature trimmer in a smooth motion and without abrupt changes in speed or direction. The infeed conveyor to the signature trimmer is located in a plane parallel to and above the path of the saddle conveyor. The apparatus includes a tucker blade mechanism which contacts the folded edge of the signature from below the saddle conveyor. The tucker blade mechanism moves the signature forwardly and upwardly from the saddle conveyor as it moves in a vertical plane through a path which is oblique relative to the saddle conveyor. A gripper finger assembly grips the signature from the tucker blade mechanism and continues the forwardly and upwardly movement of the signature and simultaneously rotates it about an axis parallel to the saddle conveyor. When the gripper finger assembly grips the signature from the tucker blade mechanism, it has a component of motion parallel to the path of the saddle conveyor. The signature is released into the infeed conveyor of the trimmer when it has a component of motion which is perpendicular to the path of the saddle conveyor and in the plane and direction of the trimmer infeed conveyor.

Signature handling apparatus

Apparatus for handling moving articles such as signatures or books. A conveyor means is moveable in timed relation to a series of the moving articles. The conveyor means carries a series of first and second guide means which are adapted to engage moving articles and which are moveable with the conveyor and relative to the conveyor. First and second cam means are engageable with the respective first and second guide means for positioning the guide means relative to the conveyor to establish a guide path for the articles which are engaged by the guide means. The guide paths are oriented so that the first and second guide means are disposed in a single stream over at least a portion of the path of travel of the conveyor. Article handling systems are disclosed which can perform such functions as (1) diverting a single stream of articles into a pair of streams, (2) combining a pair of streams of moving articles into a single stream, or (3) selectively diverting one or more articles out of a moving stream of articles.

Signature handling system

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. Depending on the embodiment, the operatively associated part has either a reflecting surface or an aperture, as means for sensing its position. The sensing means further includes a light source and light sensor whereby light is received into the light sensor after either being reflected from the reflecting surface or passing through the aperture depending on the embodiment, only when the operatively associated part is in the predetermined position. Upon receiving light from the light source, the light sensor emits an electrical impulse indicating that the signature lap has been properly clamped.

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Nazareth, PA, United States of America

Henry R Mebus