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US 4,260,145 AGranted
Signature handling apparatus
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorsHenry R. Mebus, Leonard Miaskoff
Life of this patent
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AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorsHenry R. Mebus, Leonard Miaskoff
Estimating the term…
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.
An apparatus for handling signatures having a folded edge and for transferring such signatures from a first conveyor continuously moving signatures along a first conveyor path with the folded edge up to a second conveyor conveying the signatures along a path vertically displaced from and transverse to said first conveyor path, said apparatus comprising, a gripper assembly, means for moving said gripper assembly along an oblique transfer path between a signature pickup point adjacent said first conveyor path and a signature release point adjacent said second conveyor path, said means for moving said gripper assembly including means for imparting to said gripper assembly motion having a component parallel to the direction of said first conveyor path at said pickup point and motion having a component parallel to the direction of said second conveyor path at said release point, said gripper assembly including a gripper finger, a gripper pad opposed to said gripper finger, and means for causing said gripper finger and pad to engage a signature therebetween at said pickup point and to release said signature at said release point.
An apparatus for transferring a signature from a first location to a second location, said apparatus including a gripper finger, a gripper pad, means for causing said gripper finger and gripper pad to trace out an elliptical path, said means including means for rotating said gripper finger and pad about an axis spaced from said gripper finger and gripper pad and for reciprocating said gripper finger and gripper pad along a path parallel to said axis of rotation and in synchronism with the rotation of said gripper finger and gripper pad about said axis of rotation, and drive means for causing said gripper finger and gripper pad to engage a signature therebetween when said gripper finger and pad are at the first location and to release the signature when said gripper finger and pad are at a second location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.