Rotary signature gathering apparatus with sheet stop

Apparatus for manipulating spreadable folded sheets each of which has overlapping panels joined to each other along a fold line, comprising a first conveyor having a plurality of spaced-apart carriers and means for moving the carriers in a first direction along a first path;

• a second conveyor having means for advancing a file of folded sheets in a second direction along a second path wherein the fold lines constitute the leaders of the respective sheets and which has a discharge end remote from said first path;
• and a third conveyor having pockets and means for transporting said pockets along a third path which extends from said discharge end to said first path and wherein the pockets move at least substantially in said first direction, at least at said first path, each of said pockets having a sheet-admitting inlet and said third conveyor further comprising means for opening the inlet not later than at said discharge end to admit a sheet into the pocket and for closing the inlet between said discharge end and said first path, said third conveyor also comprising means or withdrawing sheets from said pockets, for spreading the sheets and for depositing the spread out sheets on said carriers, said withdrawing means including means for locating each sheet in the respective pocket while the respective inlet is closed and prior to spreading of the sheet;
• said third conveyor being rotatable about a predetermined axis and each of said pockets comprising a first wall, a second wall pivotable about a second axis which is at least substantially parallel to the predetermined axis, to open or close the respective inlet, said third conveyor further comprising means for adjusting said second axes relative to the respective first walls.

Apparatus for manipulating spreadable folded sheets each of which has overlapping panels joined to each other along a fold line, comprising a first conveyor having a plurality of spaced-apart carriers and means for moving the carriers in a first direction along a firs t path;

• an second conveyor having means for advancing a file of folded sheets in a second direction along a second path wherein the fold lines constitute the leaders of the respective sheets and which has a discharge end remote rom said first path;
• and a third conveyor having pockets and means for transporting said pockets along a third path which extends from said discharge end to said first path and wherein the pockets move at least substantially in said first direction, at least at said first path, each of said pockets having a sheet-admitting inlet and said third conveyor further comprising means for opening the inlet not later than at said discharge end to admit a sheet into the pocket and for closing the inlet between said discharge end and said first path, said third conveyor also comprising means for withdrawing sheets from said pockets, for spreading the sheets and for depositing the spread out sheets on said carriers, said withdrawing means including means or locating each sheet in the respective pocket while the respective inlet is closed and prior to spreading of the sheet;
• said third conveyor being rotatable about a predetermined axis and said pockets extending substantially radially of said axis, said withdrawing means further comprising a rotary withdrawing element at the inlet of each of said pockets and means for rotating said withdrawing elements about second axes which are at least substantially parallel to said predetermined axis.