Apparatus for compiling sheets in a binding line
AssigneeCraftsman Printing Company
InventorJames W. Nail
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for compiling and processing a plurality of differently printed groups of sheets into collated sets is disclosed, and wherein each of the printed sheets has an indicium thereon at a predetermined location and with the predetermined location on the printed sheets for each group being different from the location of the indicium on the other group of sheets. Feeder structure is provided for sequentially depositing a sheet from each of the groups onto predetermined spaced locations of an advancing conveyor and sensors are mounted along the path of the feeder structure for detecting whether an indicium is present at the proper predetermined location on each of the withdrawn sheets, and such that the sensors are adapted to identify an improperly collated sheet as well as a missing sheet.
Claims11
An apparatus for compiling a plurality of differently printed groups of sheets into collated sets, with each of the printed sheets having an indicium thereon at a predetermined location, and with the predetermined location of the indicium on each of the printed sheets of each group being different from the predetermined location of the indicium on each of the printed sheets of the other groups of sheets, and which is characterized by the ability to accurately detect an improperly collated sheet as well as a missing sheet in each collated set, and comprising
- a longitudinally directed conveyor means, and drive means for longitudinally advancing said conveyor means,
- feeder means for sequentially depositing a sheet from each of said groups onto predetermined spaced locations of said advancing conveyor means and so as to form a set of overlying collated sheets at each of said spaced locations, said feeder means comprising a plurality of feeder stations positioned in longitudinally spaced apart relation along said conveyor means, with each of said feeder stations comprising
- (a) sheet supporting means for supporting a stack of one of the groups of sheets,
- (b) sheet transport means for sequentially withdrawing the sheets from said stack, and conveying the same along a predetermined path of travel and onto said conveyor means, and
- (c) sensor means mounted along said path of travel for detecting whether an indicium is present at the proper predetermined location on each of the withdrawn sheets, and whether a sheet is missing, and such that said sensor means is adapted to identify an improperly collated sheet as well as a missing sheet.
An apparatus for compiling a plurality of differently printed groups of folded sheets into collated sets, with each of the folded sheets having and indicium printed thereon at a predetermined location, and with the pre-determined location of the indicium on each of the printed sheets of each group being different form the predetermined location of the indicium on each of the printed sheets of the other groups of sheets, and which is characterized by the ability to accurately detect an improperly collated sheet as well as a missing sheet in each collated set, and comprising
- a longitudinally directed conveyor means, and drive means for longitudinally advancing said conveyor means,
- feeder means for sequentially depositing a sheet from each of said groups onto predetermined spaced locations of said advancing conveyor means and so as to form a set of overlying collated sheets at each of said spaced locations, said feeder means comprising a plurality of feeder stations positioned in longitudinally spaced apart relation along said conveyor means, with each of said feeder stations comprising
- (a) a frame mounted above said conveyor means,
- (b) sheet supporting means mounted to said frame for supporting a vertical stack of said folded sheets of one of said groups of sheets and wherein the sheets are folded along one edge and have an open opposite edge composed of separate layers,
- (c) rotating drum means mounted to said frame and disposed below said sheet supporting means for sequentially engaging and withdrawing the folded edge of the lowermost folded sheet of the vertical stack, transporting each withdrawn sheet on the surface of the rotating drum means to a predetermined transfer position wherein the folded edge is above the open opposite edge, and then releasing the withdrawn sheet,
- (d) means mounted below said rotating drum means for separating the layers of the open opposite edge of each folded sheet while at said transfer position, and then withdrawing the sheet downwardly and so that the separated layers of the open opposite edge are received on said conveyor means, and
- (e) sensor means mounted to said frame for detecting a printed indicium at a predetermined location on each of said folded sheets while each folded sheet is located at said transfer position, and so as to identify a sheet from an improper group as well as a missing sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.