Bundle count verifier
AssigneeAmerican Newspaper Publishers Association
InventorNhac Nguyen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method according to the invention for determining respective deviations in the total number of signatures in each of a plurality of individual successive stacks from a given number of signatures having a ram for compressing the stacks of the signatures, a linear differential voltage transducer for measuring the relative heights of signature stacks by measuring distance that the ram travels, control apparatus comprised primarily of a programmable controller for processing the output of the transducer and optical detection means for monitoring the stack top for a sheet indicating that the stack has an odd count and disabling the control apparatus for indicating deviations in stack count. Additionally, a strapper which includes the apparatus for determining the count deviations adapted to monitor the position of a belt drive.
Claims16
An apparatus for determining respective deviations in the total number of signatures in each of a plurality of individual successive stacks from a given number of signatures, comprising:
- means for compressing a plurality of individual stacks of signatures including a standard stack having said given number of signatures in succession to a predetermined pressure;
- means for detecting variations between the height of said compressed standard stack and the height of each individual successive compressed stack;
- and
- means responsive to the detected variations for indicating a number of signatures in each of said successive stacks different from said standard stack.
An apparatus for strapping a stack of signatures, comprising:
- a ram for compressing a plurality of individual stacks of signatures in succession to a predetermined pressure;
- a cable drive operatively coupled to said ram for operating said ram;
- strapping means for fixedly securing the stacked signatures in each of said plurality of stacks of signatures;
- and
- means responsive to the position of said cable drive for determining respective deviations in the total number of signatures in each of said plurality of individual successive stacks from a given number of signatures.
A method of determining a deviation in the total number of signatures in a stack from a given number of signatures, comprising the steps of:
- stacking a given number of the signatures in a standard stack having said given number of signatures;
- compressing the standard stack to a predetermined pressure;
- measuring the height of the compressed standard stack;
- compressing a next stack of the signatures to the predetermined pressure;
- and
- detecting the deviation from the given number of signatures in the standard stack as a function of the height of said next stack relative to the height of the standard stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.