Gatherer system

A system for producing different magazines composed of at least two combinations of signatures, said system comprising main gatherer means for forming first combinations of signatures, said main gatherer means including a means for defining a plurality of main feed stations, main feed means at said main feed stations for feeding signatures, and main conveyer means for receiving signatures from said main feed means at said main feed stations and transporting the signatures to a receiving location, secondary gatherer means for feeding second combinations of signatures, said secondary gatherer means including means for defining a plurality of secondary feed stations spaced from said main gatherer means, secondary conveyer means for transporting groups of signatures, and a plurality of secondary feed means each of which is associated with one of said secondary feed stations for feeding signatures at said secondary feed stations to said secondary conveyer means, rejector means for rejecting an imperfect second combination of signatures, supplemental feed means for feeding a third combination of signatures in place of a rejected second combination of signatures, control means for controlling the operation of said main gatherer means, secondary gatherer means, rejector means and supplemental feed means, said control means including means for rendering some of said secondary feed means ineffective to feed signatures to said secondary conveyer means and for effecting operation of other of said secondary feed means to feed signatures to said conveyer means, detector means for detecting a malfunctioning of one of said secondary feed means and the resulting imperfect feeding of a second combination of signatures, and means for activating said rejector means in response to detection of a malfunctioning of one of said secondary feed means by said detector means to reject the resulting imperfect second combination of signatures and for activating said supplemental feed means to feed a third combination of signatures in place of the rejected second combination of signatures, and means for combining either a second or a third combination of signatures with a first combination of signatures.

A system for producing different magazines composed of different predetermined combinations of signatures for different subscribers in accordance with predetermined criteria from known subscriber information, said system comprising main gatherer means for feeding main combinations of signatures, said main gatherer means including a means for defining a plurality of main feed stations, main feed means at said main feed stations for feeding signatures, and main conveyer means for receiving signatures from said main feed means at said main feed stations and transporting the signatures to a receiving location, secondary gatherer means for feeding at least two different special combinations of signatures in accordance with known subscriber criteria, said secondary gatherer means including means for defining a plurality of secondary feed stations spaced from said main gatherer means, secondary conveyer means for transporting signatures, and a plurality of secondary feed means each of which is associated with one of said secondary feed stations for feeding signatures at said secondary feed stations to said secondary conveyer means, control means for rendering some of said secondary feed means ineffective to feed signatures to said secondary conveyer means and effecting operation of at least one of the other of said secondary feed means to feed signatures to said secondary conveyer means to provide a first special combination of signatures for one subscriber and for thereafter rendering at least said one of said secondary feed means ineffective to feed signatures to said secondary conveyer means and effecting operation of at least some of said secondary feed means to feed signatures to said secondary conveyer means to provide a second special combination of signatures which is different than said first special combination of signatures, and signature feed means for combining a special combination of signatures fed by said secondary gatherer means with a main combination of signatures fed by said main gatherer means.

A system for producing different magazines composed of different combinations of signatures for different subscribers, said system comprising main gatherer means for forming main combinations of signatures, said main gatherer means including a means for defining a plurality of main feed stations, main feed means at said main feed stations for feeding signatures, and main conveyer means for receiving signatures from said main feed means at said main feed stations and transporting the signatures to a receiving location, secondary gatherer means for forming special combinations of signatures for different subscribers, said secondary gatherer means including means for defining a plurality of secondary feed stations spaced from said main gatherer means, secondary conveyer means for transporting groups of signatures, and a plurality of secondary feed means each of which is associated with one of said secondary feed stations for feeding signatures at said secondary feed stations to said secondary conveyer means, means for rendering different ones of said secondary feed means effective to feed signatures to said secondary conveyer means to form different special combinations of signatures for different subscribers, detector means for detecting a malfunctioning of one of said secondary feed means and the resulting imperfect forming of a special combination of signatures by said secondary feed means, rejector means for rejecting an imperfect special combination of signatures, supplemental feed means for feeding a standard combination of signatures suitable for any one of the subscribers in place of a rejected special combination of signatures, means for activating said rejector means in response to detection of a malfunctioning of one of said secondary feed means by said detector means to reject the resulting imperfect special combination of signatures and for activating said supplemental feed means to feed a standard combination of signatures in place of the rejected special combination of signatures, and means for combining either a special or a standard combination of signatures with a main combination of signatures.

A system for producing different magazines composed of different combinations of signatures for different subscribers, said system comprising main gatherer means for forming main combinations of signatures, said main gatherer means including a means for defining a plurality of main feed stations, main feed means at said main feed stations for feeding signatures, and main conveyer means for receiving signatures from said main feed means at said main feed stations and transporting the signatures along a main path to a receiving location, secondary gatherer means for forming special combinations of signatures for different subscribers, said secondary gatherer means including means for defining a plurality of secondary feed stations spaced from said main gatherer means, secondary conveyer means for transporting groups of signatures along a secondary path spaced apart from the main path and at least a portion of which extends transversely to said main path, and a plurality of secondary feed means each of which is associated with one of said secondary feed stations for feeding signatures at said secondary feed stations to said secondary conveyer means, means for rendering different ones of said secondary feed means effective to feed signatures to said secondary conveyer means to form different special combinations of signatures for different subscribers, detector means for detecting a malfunctioning of one of said secondary feed means and the resulting imperfect forming of a special combination of signatures by said secondary feed means, rejector means for rejecting an imperfect special combination of signatures, supplemental feed means for feeding a standard combination of signatures suitable for any one of the subscribers in place of a rejected special combination of signatures, means for activating said rejector means in response to detection of a malfunctioning of one of said secondary feed means by said detector means to reject the resulting imperfect special combination of signatures and for activating said supplemental feed means to feed a standard combination of signatures in place of the rejected special combination of signatures, and means at one of said feed stations of said main conveyer means for combining either a special combination of signatures formed by said secondary gatherer means or a standard combination of signatures fed by said supplemental feed means with a main combination of signatures being transported along the main path by said main conveyor means.