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

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

• a feeding station for receiving a plurality of signatures to be transferred to said binding line conveyor;
• signature transfer means extending between said feeding station and said binding line conveyor;
• main drum means disposed between said feeding station and said signature transfer means for moving signatures one at a time from said feeding station to said signature transfer means;
• said signature transfer means including a transfer conveyor having a plurality of clips for gripping the backbones of said signatures and being adapted to receive one signature at a time from said main drum means for transfer along a path extending from said main drum means to a point near said binding line conveyor;
• delivery drum means disposed between said signature transfer means and said binding line conveyor for delivering signatures one a time from said signature transfer means to said binding line conveyor;
• and
• means for individually printing on said signatures one at a time in a direction perpendicular to backbones of said signatures at a point intermediate said main drum means and said delivery drum means.

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

• a feeding station for receiving a plurality of signatures to be transferred to said binding line conveyor;
• signature transfer means extending from a point near said feeding station to a point near said binding line conveyor, said signature transfer means being adapted to transfer signatures one at a time between said feeding station and said binding line conveyor, said signature transfer means being adapted to transfer signatures along a path at least a portion of which is generally horizontal;
• and
• means for individually printing on said signatures in a direction perpendicular to backbones thereof during signature transfer along said generally horizontal portion of said path;
• said feeding station receiving said signatures with backbones of said signatures extending perpendicular to said path of signature transfer;
• said signature transfer means transferring signatures with backbones of said signatures extending perpendicular to said path of signature transfer, said signature transfer means including a transfer conveyor having a plurality of clips for gripping backbones of said signatures to cause said signatures to be transferred backbone first;
• said printing means printing on said signatures with the printing extending parallel to said path of signature transfer, said printing means including at least one noncontact printer upstream of said binding line conveyor along said path of signature transfer.

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

• a feeding station for receiving a plurality of signatures to be transferred to said binding line conveyor;
• signature transfer means extending from a point near said feeding station to a point near said binding line conveyor;
• main drum means intermediate said feeding station and said signature transfer means adapted to move one signature at a time from said plurality of signatures at said feeding station to said signature transfer means;
• delivery drum means intermediate said signature transfer means and said binding line conveyor adapted to deliver one signature at a time from said signature transfer means to said binding line conveyor;
• said signature transfer means being adapted to transfer signatures along a path at least a portion of which is generally horizontal:
• and
• means for individually printing on said signatures in a direction perpendicular to backbones thereof during signature transfer along said generally horizontal portion of said path:
• said feeding station receiving said signatures with backbones of said signatures extending perpendicular to said path of signature transfer, said feeding station including a feed conveyor for holding said signatures in a stack with backbones of said signatures disposed on said feed conveyor;
• said signature transfer means transferring signatures with backbones of said signatures extending perpendicular to said path of signature transfer, said signature transfer means including a transfer conveyor having a plurality of clips for gripping backbones of said signatures to cause said signatures to be transferred to said signature transfer means;
• said transfer conveyor including a first vertical portion extending vertically away from said feeding station and a horizontal portion extending horizontally away from said first vertical portion, said first vertical portion of said transfer conveyor extending vertically away from said feeding station, said transfer conveyor also including a second vertical portion extending vertically downward from said horizontal portion in a direction opposite said first vertical portion, a second horizontal portion extending horizontally toward said first vertical portion and a third vertical portion extending vertically away from said second horizontal portion;
• said transfer conveyor further including a continuous gripper chain and said clips being mounted on said gripper chain to extend generally perpendicular thereto, said clips being disposed at evenly spaced intervals entirely along the length thereof, said clips each traversing said path from said main drum means to said delivery drum means and returning to said main drum means;
• said printing means printing on said signatures with the printing extending parallel to said path of signature transfer, said printing means including at least one noncontact printer upstream of said binding line conveyor along said path of signature transfer.

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

• a feeding station for receiving a plurality of signatures to be transferred to said binding line conveyor
• signature transfer means extending between said feeding station and said binding line conveyor, said signature transfer means being adapted to transfer signatures one at a time between said feeding station and said binding line conveyor, said signature transfer means being adapted to transfer signatures along an entirely horizontal path;
• main drum means disposed between said feeding station and said signature transfer means for moving signatures one at a time from said feeding station to said signature transfer means, said signature transfer means being adapted to receive one signature at a time from said main drum means;
• delivery drum means generally horizontally spaced from said main drum means and intermediate said signature transfer means and said binding line conveyor adapted to deliver one signature at a time from said signature transfer means to said binding line conveyor said signature transfer means including a transfer conveyor having a plurality of clips for gripping backbones of said signatures to cause said signatures to be transferred along said entirely horizontal path intermediate said main drum means and said delivery drum means;
• and
• means for individually printing on said signatures one at a time in a direction perpendicular to backbones of said signatures at a point intermediate said main drum means and said delivery drum means during signature transfer along said entirely horizontal path.

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

• a feeding station for receiving a plurality of signatures to be transferred to said binding line conveyor;
• signature transfer means extending from a point near said feeding station to a point near said binding line conveyor, said signature transfer means being adapted to transfer signatures one at a time between said feeding station and said binding line conveyor, said signature transfer means being adapted to transfer signatures along a path at least a portion of which is generally horizontal;
• and
• means for individually printing on said signatures in a direction perpendicular to backbones thereof during signature transfer;
• said feeding station receiving said signatures with backbones of said signatures extending perpendicular to said path of signature transfer;
• said signature transfer means including a transfer conveyor having a plurality of clips for gripping backbones of said signatures to cause said signatures to be transferred backbone first;
• said clips having a plurality of spring biased fingers with intermediate elements which act against a resilient pad and are adapted to be opened upon engagement of a cam follower mechanism and means for varying the action of said clips.