Signature delivery apparatus including two rotating buckets

Abstract

A delivery apparatus for sorting a single stream of signatures into two or more streams, the apparatus includes two counter-rotating bucket assemblies. Each bucket assembly includes a plurality of buckets spaced from one another along a common axis. The respective common axis of each bucket assembly is disposed parallel to the common axis of the other. Each of the buckets of one of the bucket assemblies is disposed adjacent to and in a respective common plane with a respective one of the buckets of the other of the bucket assemblies. Further, each of the buckets includes a plurality of blades, the tips of the blades of each bucket defining an outer circle. A respective outer circle of one bucket overlaps the outer circle of the opposing bucket disposed in the common plane. Two neighboring blades have respective surfaces defining a slot therebetween. Each slot includes a first generally wedge-shaped portion defined by a first planar surface and a second planar surface disposed at a first angle from the first planar surface, and a second generally wedge-shaped portion defined by a third planar surface and a fourth planar surface disposed at a second angle from the third planar surface. The second angle is smaller than the first angle.