Apparatus for collating folded printed products, especially signatures or sheets

An apparatus for collating folded printed products, especially signatures, comprising:

• a plurality of collating conveyors for conveying the folded printed products in straddling relationship along respective substantially straight conveyor paths defined by said plurality of collating conveyors;
• each collating conveyor of said plurality of collating conveyors extending in spaced substantially parallel relationship to a common axis of revolution;
• drive means for driving said plurality of collating conveyors in revolution about said common axis of revolution;
• each said collating conveyor being spaced from each adjacent collating conveyor of said plurality of collating conveyors by a controllable separation distance;
• control means for altering said controllable separation distance between said adjacent collating conveyors during revolution of said plurality of collating conveyors about said common axis of revolution;
• said control means comprise a plurality of rocker arms for supporting said plurality of collating conveyors;
• rotatable means supporting a plurality of journal pins extending substantially parallel to said common axis of revolution for pivotably positioning said plurality of rocker arms on said plurality of journal pins and for circulatingly driving said plurality of rocker arms about said common axis of revolution;
• said control means comprising a control arrangement for pivoting said plurality of rocker arms during revolution about said common axis of revolution;
• said rotatable means including common support means for supporting said plurality of rocker arms together with said plurality of journal pins at a respective substantially uniform radial distance from said common axis of revolution;
• a shaft for supporting said common support means and defining said common axis of revolution;
• said drive means being operatively connected with said shaft;
• said common support means being defined by two support elements located in mutual spaced relationship on said shaft;
• and
• said plurality of journal pins of said plurality of rocker arms being positioned on said two support elements.

An apparatus for collating folded printed products, especially signatures, comprising:

• a plurality of collating conveyors for conveying the folded printed products in straddling relationship along respective substantially straight conveyor paths defined by said plurality of collating conveyors;
• each collating conveyor of said plurality of collating conveyors extending in spaced substantially parallel relationship to a common axis of revolution;
• drive means for driving said plurality of collating conveyors in revolution about said common axis of revolution;
• each said collating conveyor being spaced from each adjacent collating conveyor of said plurality of collating conveyors by a controllable separation distance;
• control means for altering said controllable separation distance between said adjacent collating conveyors during revolution of said plurality of collating conveyors about said common axis of revolution;
• said control means comprise a plurality of rocker arms for supporting said plurality of collating conveyors;
• a plurality of journal pins extending substantially parallel to said common axis of revolution for pivotably supporting said plurality of rocker arms and for circulatingly driving said plurality of rocker arms about said common axis of revolution;
• said control means comprising a control arrangement for pivoting said plurality of rocker arms;
• said control arrangement at least one control cam and at least one follower mounted on each rocker arm of said plurality of rocker arms and co-acting with said at least one control cam;
• each said collating conveyor being mounted at each end in an associated one of said plurality of rocker arms;
• and
• said at least one control cam comprising two control cams which are substantially identical and confrontingly positioned at opposite ends of said plurality of collating conveyors.

An apparatus for collating folded printed products, especially signatures, comprising:

• a plurality of collating conveyors for conveying the folded printed products in straddling relationship along respective substantially straight conveyor paths defined by said plurality of collating conveyors;
• each collating conveyor of said plurality of collating conveyors extending in spaced substantially parallel relationship to a common axis of revolution;
• drive means for driving said plurality of collating conveyors in revolution about said common axis of revolution;
• each said collating conveyor being spaced from each adajcent collating conveyor of said plurality of collating conveyors by a controllable separation distance;
• control means for altering said controllable separation distance between said adjacent collating conveyors during revolution of said plurality of collating conveyors about said common axis of revolution;
• said control means comprising a plurality of rocker arms for supporting said plurality of collating conveyors;
• a plurality of journal pins extending substantially parallel to said common axis of revolution for pivotably supporting said plurality of rocker arms and for circulatingly driving said plurality of rocker arms about said common axis of revolution;
• said control means comprising a control arrangement for pivoting said plurality of rocker arms;
• said control arrangement comprising at least one control cam and at least one follower mounted on each rocker arm of said plurality or rocker arms and co-acting with said at least one control cam;
• said plurality of rocker arms containing alternatingly arranged rocker arms situated on the same ends of said plurality of collating conveyors;
• said alternatingly arranged rocker arms of said plurality of rocker arms situated on the same ends of said plurality of collating conveyors have a substantially offset shape;
• and
• each rocker arm of said plurality of rocker arms positioned between said alternatingly arranged and substantially offset rocker arms having a substantially straight shape.

An apparatus for collating folded printed products, especially signatures, comprising:

• a plurality of collating conveyors for conveying the folded printed products in straddling relationship along respective substantially straight conveyor paths defined by said plurality of collating conveyors;
• each collating conveyor of said plurality of collating conveyors extending in spaced substantially parallel relationship to a common axis of revolution;
• drive means for driving said plurality of collating conveyors in revolution about said common axis of revolution;
• each said collating conveyor being spaced from each adjacent collating conveyor of said plurality of collating conveyors by a controllable separation distance;
• control means for altering said controllable separation distance between said adjacent collating conveyors during revolution of said plurality of collating conveyors about said common axis of revolution;
• each said collating conveyor having an axis of rotation located substantially parallel to said common axis of revolution of said plurality of collating conveyors and being rotatable about said axis of rotation;
• and
• means for rotating each said collating conveyor about said axis of rotation during revolution about said common axis of revolution such that each said collating conveyor maintains a substantially upright position.

An apparatus for collating folded printed products, especially signatures, comprising:

• a plurality of collating conveyors for conveying the folded printed products in straddling relationship along respective substantially straight conveyor paths defined by said plurality of collating conveyors;
• each collating conveyor of said plurality of collating conveyors extending in spaced substantially parallel relationship to a common axis of revolution;
• drive means for driving said plurality of collating conveyors in revolution about said common axis of revolution;
• each said collating conveyor being spaced from each adjacent collating conveyor of said plurality of collating conveyors by a controllable separation distance;
• control means for altering said controllable separation distance between said adjacent collating conveyors during revolution of said plurality of collating conveyors about said common axis of revolution;
• said control means comprising a plurality of rocker arms for supporting said plurality of collating conveyors;
• rotatable means supporting a plurality of journal pins extending substantially parallel to said common axis of revolution for pivotably positioning said plurality of rocker arms on said plurality of journal pins and for circulatingly driving said plurality of rocker arms about said common axis of revolution;
• said control means comprising a control arrangement for pivoting said plurality of rocker arms during revolution about said common axis of revolution;
• said rotatable means including common support means for supporting said plurality of rocker arms together with said plurality of journal pins at a respective substantially uniform radial distance from said common axis of revolution;
• a shaft for supporting said common support means and defining said common axis of revolution;
• said drive means being operatively connected with said shaft;
• each said collating conveyor having an axis of rotation located substantially parallel to said common axis of revolution of said plurality of collating conveyors and being rotatable about said axis of rotation;
• means for rotating each said collating conveyor about said axis of rotation during revolution about said common axis of revolution such that each said collating conveyor maintains a substantially upright position;
• a drive arrangement comprising a plurality of drive members cooperating with said plurality of collating conveyors;
• said plurality of collating conveyors being rotatably positioned in said plurality of rocker arms and provided with said plurality of drive members;
• said drive arrangement further comprising a drive element;
• a drive component arranged co-axial to said common axis of revolution of said plurality of collating conveyors;
• and
• said drive component operatively engaging said plurality of drive members by means of said drive element.

An apparatus for conveying objects, comprising:

• a plurality of driven elements mutually separated by a predetermined distance and arranged about a common axis of revolution and circulatingly driven about said common axis of revolution for receiving the objects to be conveyed;
• means for circulatingly driving said plurality of driven elements about said common axis of revolution;
• and
• control means provided for positively and selectively variably altering said predetermined distance between adjacent ones of said plurality of driven elements during revolution about said common axis of revolution.