US 5,292,110 A · Signature transport with selective parallel or series paths

Abstract

A conveying apparatus comprises supports arranged in tandem and revolvingly driven in a predetermined direction of revolving motion. Along the upper run of the conveying apparatus there are provided a first processing path and a second processing path which are mutually parallel and arranged side-by-side in laterally offset relationship. These processing paths are connectable in parallel or in series by means of a reversible belt conveyor. Each processing path is provided with a number of infeed stations for infeeding printed products. During series operation there is deposited at each infeed station of the first processing path a printed product in a straddling fashion upon each support moving therepast or upon the printed product or products previously deposited thereupon. In the region of the lower run of the conveying apparatus, the intermediate products formed in the first processing path are displaced transversely relative to the direction of revolving motion and supplied to the second processing path, whereby the infeed stations of the latter deposit in a straddling fashion further printed products upon the intermediate products. Subsequently, all collected printed products are stapled by means of a stapling apparatus and the end products are transported away. In the case of parallel operation, the first processing path and the second processing path operate isochronously parallel to one another and the collected end products are transported away at the end of each processing path.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method of processing printed products, such as newspapers, magazines and the like, comprising the steps of:

providing a first processing path;
driving a plurality of printed product receiving supports along said first processing path;
arranging a first infeed supply along said first processing path;
depositing printed products upon said printed product receiving supports with said first infeed supply;
selectively collecting or assembling printed products along the first processing path and respectively producing an end product or an intermediate product;
subsequently transporting away the printed products;
providing a second processing path;
driving a plurality of printed product receiving supports along said second processing path;
arranging a second infeed supply along said second processing path;
depositing printed products upon said printed product receiving supports with said second infeed supply;
selectively connecting in parallel or in series the second processing path to the first processing path;
simultaneously selectively collecting or assembling further printed products along the second processing path;
and
subsequently transporting away the further printed products.

11 more elements

An apparatus for processing printed products, such as newspapers, magazines and the like, comprising:

a first processing path;
said first processing path being substantially linear at least by sectors;
an endless revolving conveying apparatus passing through said first processing path and defining a predetermined direction of revolving motion;
said endless revolving conveying apparatus comprising saddle-shaped supports extending transversely with respect to said predetermined direction of revolving motion:
the printed products also including folded printed products;
said saddle-shaped supports serving to take up the folded printed products in a straddling configuration;
several infeed stations successively arranged along said first processing path for depositing in a straddling fashion said folded printed products upon said saddle-shaped supports or, as the case may be, upon previously deposited folded printed products;
an outfeed station arranged downstream of said infeed stations as viewed in said predetermined direction of revolving motion;
said outfeed station serving to transport away the folded printed products deposited one on top of the other;
a second processing path;
further infeed stations successively arranged along said second processing path;
a further outfeed station arranged downstream of said further infeed stations as viewed in said predetermined direction of revolving motion;
said endless revolving conveying apparatus passing through said second processing path;
means for selectively connecting said first processing path and said second processing path in parallel or in series;
and
said outfeed station associated with said first processing path being disengageable when said processing paths are connected in series.

13 more elements

An apparatus for processing printed products, such as newspapers, magazines and the like, comprising:

a first processing path;
said first processing path being substantially linear at least by sectors;
an endless revolving conveying apparatus passing through said first processing path and defining a predetermined direction of revolving motion;
said endless revolving conveying apparatus comprising pocket-like receiving sections extending transversely with respect to said predetermined direction of revolving motion;
said pocket-like receiving sections serving to receive printed products;
several infeed stations successively arranged along said first processing path for inserting the printed products into said pocket-like receiving sections;
an outfeed station arranged downstream of said infeed stations as viewed in said predetermined direction of revolving motion;
said outfeed station serving to transport away the printed products inserted into said pocket-like receiving sections;
a second processing path;
further infeed stations successively arranged along said second processing path;
a further outfeed station arranged downstream of said further infeed stations as viewed in said predetermined direction of revolving motion;
said endless revolving conveying apparatus passing through said second processing path provided with said further infeed stations and said further outfeed station;
means for selectively connecting said first processing path and said second processing path in parallel or in series;
and
said outfeed station associated with said first processing path being disengageable when said processing paths are connected in series.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Signature transport with selective parallel or series paths

Life of this patent

Signature transport with selective parallel or series paths

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27