Apparatus for feeding and transporting signatures in bookbinding machines

Abstract

Apparatus for converting successive stacks of condensed parallel signatures into a single file of signatures which are thereupon processed in a bookbinding machine has a chain conveyor the front portion of which supports and advances an expiring stack of signatures. Successive foremost signatures of the expiring stack are withdrawn by a mechanism which transfers them onto a further conveyor. The horizontal rear portion of the chain conveyor is long enough to support at least one full stack of signatures behind the expiring stack. A fresh stack of signatures is placed onto a platform forming part of a carriage and movable between a raised position in which the platform is located above the rear portion of the chain conveyor to receive a fresh stack and a lower position in which the platform is located below the rear portion of the chain conveyor so that the fresh stack comes to rest on the rear portion. The carriage is movable lengthwise of the rear portion of the chain conveyor to allow for movement of the foremost signature of the fresh stack into abutment with the rearmost signature of the expiring stack before the platform is lowered to allow for return movement of the carriage to a retracted position in which the platform can be lifted again to receive another fresh stack of signatures.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.