US 4,723,770 A · Straight-line insert machine

Abstract

A straight-line insert machine for inserting materials into a newspaper jacket is disclosed. The jacket is positioned in a moving pocket which is hinged but closed at the bottom such that when the pocket opens, as vacuum is applied to the walls of the pockets, the jacket opens. Vacuum flanges moving at the same linear speed as the pockets mate with vacuum stems attached to the pockets for a predetermined time and apply vacuum to the walls of the pocket so that the front and rear portions of the newspaper jacket are held against the fixed and movable walls, respectively, as the pocket opens. The pockets and vacuum system are synchronously driven. Camming action is used to open and close the pockets. Insert hoppers place insert materials into the open jackets. Because the machine is modular, additional insert hoppers and pockets can be added. A gripper-conveyor system, which is also synchronously driven with the pockets and vacuum system, picks up the newspaper with inserts from the top of a closed pocket and delivers the newspaper with inserts to a drop-off point such as a tray or a stacker.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A straight-line insert machine for inserting at least one insert section into the outer-folded portion of an item known as a jacket comprising:

a series of pockets each for holding a single jacket wherein each pocket has a fixed wall and a movable wall and the fixed wall and the movable wall are hingedly connected at the bottom and open at the top;
means for moving the pockets in a closed path;
a jacket hopper for inserting a jacket into each pocket;
first means for closing each pocket after the jacket has been inserted by moving the movable wall toward the fixed wall;
a vacuum system for applying vacuum to the fixed wall and the movable wall while the pocket is closed;
means for opening the pocket while vacuum is applied such that a first jacket portion is held by suction against the fixed wall and a second jacket portion is held by suction against the movable wall;
means for removing the vacuum from the fixed wall and the movable wall;
at least one insert hopper for inserting an insert section into each pocket between the first jacket portion and the second jacket portion;
second means for closing the pocket by moving the movable wall toward the fixed wall;
a series of gripper mechanisms each for picking up and holding the jacket and insert section from the top of each of the pockets while the pocket is closed;
and
conveyor means for moving the gripper mechanisms in a closed path.

9 more elements

A straight-line modular insert machine for inserting at least one insert section into a newspaper jacket comprising:

a series of pockets each for holding a single jacket wherein each pocket has a fixed wall approximately at a 15.degree. positive angle relative to 0.degree. vertical and a movable wall, wherein the movable wall and the fixed wall are hingedly connected at the bottom and open at the top;
at least one moving roller chain connected to the pockets for moving the pockets in a closed path;
a jacket hopper for inserting a jacket into each pocket;
first means for closing each pocket after the jacket has been inserted by moving the movable wall toward the fixed wall;
a vacuum system for applying vacuum to the fixed wall and the movable wall while the pocket is closed;
means for opening the pocket by pivoting the movable wall to approximately a 25.degree. negative angle relative to 0.degree. vertical while vacuum is applied such that a front jacket portion is held by suction against the fixed wall and a rear jacket portion is held by suction against the movable wall;
means for removing the vacuum from the fixed wall and the movable wall;
at least one insert hopper for inserting an insert section into each pocket between the front jacket portion and the rear jacket portion;
second means for closing the pocket by moving the movable wall toward the fixed wall;
and
a series of gripper mechanisms attached to a moving conveyor for picking up and holding the jackets and insert sections from the top of each pocket while the pocket is closed.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Straight-line insert machine

Life of this patent

Straight-line insert machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14