Apparatus and method for individually printing signatures during delivery to a binding line conveyor

An apparatus for individually printing signatures during delivery to a binding line conveyor, comprising:

• a feeding station for receiving a plurality of signatures to be delivered to said binding line conveyor;
• signature transfer means extending from said feeding station to said binding line conveyor and adapted to receive one signature at a time from said plurality of signature at said feeding station and to transfer said signatures to said binding line conveyor;
• and
• means for individually printing on said signatures in a direction perpendicular to backbones of said signatures during delivery to said binding line conveyor;
• said feeding station receiving said signatures with the backbones extending perpendicular to the direction of travel of said signature transfer means, said feeding station including a feed conveyor for holding said signatures in a stack with the backbones disposed o said feed conveyor;
• said signature transfer means transferring said signatures with the backbones extending perpendicular to the direction of travel of said signature transfer means, said signature transfer means including a transfer conveyor having a plurality of clips for gripping the backbones as said signatures are transferred to said binding line conveyor;
• said printing means printing on said signatures with the printing extending parallel to the direction of travel of said signature transfer means, said printing means including at least one ink jet printer along the path of travel of said transfer conveyor upstream of said binding line conveyor.

An apparatus for individually printing signatures during delivery to a binding line conveyor, comprising:

• a feeding station for receiving a plurality of signatures to be delivered to said binding line conveyor;
• signature transfer means extending from said feeding station to said binding line conveyor and adapted to receive one signature at a time from said plurality of signatures at said feeding station and to transfer said signatures to said binding line conveyor;
• and
• means for individually printing on said signatures in a direction perpendicular to backbones of said signatures during delivery to said binding line conveyor;
• said feeding station receiving said signatures with the backbones extending perpendicular to the direction of travel of said signature transfer means, said feeding station including a feed conveyor for holding said signatures in a stack with the backbones disposed on said feed conveyor;
• said signature transfer means transferring said signatures with the backbones extending perpendicular to the direction of travel of said signature transfer means, said signature transfer means including a transfer conveyor having a plurality of clips for gripping the backbones as said signatures are transferred to said binding line conveyor;
• said printing means printing on said signatures with the printing extending parallel to the direction of travel of said signature transfer means, said printing means including at least one ink jet printer along the path of travel of said transfer conveyor upstream of said binding line conveyor;
• said feeding station also including means for separating one of said signatures at a time from said stack, the backbones of separated ones of said signatures being gripped by said clips of said transfer conveyor;
• said feed conveyor being disposed in a generally horizontal plane, said stack of signatures being disposed in a generally vertical orientation, and at least a portion of said separating means being disposed in a generally vertical plane;
• said transfer conveyor including a first portion running generally vertically upward in a plane perpendicular to said feed conveyor, a second portion running generally horizontal in a plane parallel to said feed conveyor, and a third portion running generally vertically downward in a plane perpendicular to said feed conveyor.

A method for individually printing signatures during delivery to a binding line conveyor, comprising:

• providing a plurality of signatures to be delivered to said binding line conveyor;
• transferring one signature at a time from said plurality of signatures toward said binding line conveyor;
• and
• individually printing on both sides of said signatures in a direction perpendicular to backbones of said signatures upstream of said binding line conveyor.

An apparatus for individually printing signatures during delivery to a binding line conveyor, comprising:

• feeding station for receiving a plurality of signatures to be delivered to said bonding line conveyor;
• signature transfer means extending from said feeding station to said binding line conveyor and adapted to receive one signature at a time from said plurality of signatures at said feeding station and to transfer said signatures to said binding line conveyor, said signature transfer means including at least a vertical portion extending in a direction generally vertically away from said feeding station and a vertical portion extending in a direction generally vertically toward said binding line conveyor;
• and
• means for individually printing on said signatures in a direction perpendicular to backbones of said signature upstream of said binding line conveyor.

A method for individually printing signatures during delivery to a binding line conveyor, comprising:

• providing a plurality of signatures to be delivered to said binding line conveyor;
• transferring one signature at a time from said plurality of signatures toward said binding line conveyor, said signatures being transferred along a path extending in a direction generally vertically away from said plurality of signatures and in a direction generally vertically toward said binding line conveyor;
• and
• individually printing on said signatures in a direction perpendicular to backbones of said signatures during delivery to said binding line conveyor.