# US 5,343,998 A · Method and apparatus for turning a block of signatures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,343,998 A - Document ID: US5343998A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/115,178 - Filed: 1993-08-31 - Granted: 1994-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1993-08-31 - Assignees: R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company - Inventors: Paul E. Depinet; Don E. Detterman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5343998A ## CPC - B65G 47/252: about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction - B65G 47/2445: {by means of at least two co-operating endless conveying elements} - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract An oblong block turning apparatus comprises a conveyor pin assembly, a block advance pin assembly, a pivot pin assembly, a flip pin assembly, and an elongated trough with a pair of side walls bridged by a bottom surface. The pin assemblies include respective chains carrying a plurality of respective pins which extend laterally through the trough while moving downstream through the trough. To turn an oblong block deposited into the trough, the block is first pushed downstream through the trough using a conveyor pin of the conveyor pin assembly. Next, the block is disengaged from the conveyor pin by advancing the block downstream away from the conveyor pin with a faster-moving block advance pin. While maintaining the lower leading corner of the block against a pivot pin of the pivot pin assembly, the block is turned ninety degrees forward about the pivot pin using a flip pin of the flip pin assembly. After turning the block, the conveyor pin re-engages the block to push the block downstream through the trough. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for turning a rectangular block having a pair of first sides and a pair of second sides substantially orthogonal to the pair of first sides, comprising the steps of: pushing the block downstream through a trough using a conveyor pin, the bottom surface of the trough supporting one of the first sides of the block prior to turning the block; disengaging the block from the conveyor pin by advancing the block downstream away from the conveyor pin with a block advance pin; maintaining a lower portion of the leading second side of the block against a pivot pin; pivoting the block approximately ninety degrees forward about the pivot pin using a flip pin while the lower portion of the leading second side is maintained against the pivot pin; and after pivoting the block approximately ninety degrees, pushing the block downstream through the trough using the conveyor pin, the bottom surface of the trough supporting one of the second sides of the block. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said step of pushing the block downstream through a trough using a conveyor pin, the bottom surface of the trough supporting one of the first sides of the block prior to turning the block, includes extending the conveyor pin laterally across the width of the trough via a slot formed in the trough and moving the conveyor pin downstream through the trough substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the trough. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further including the step of providing a chain adjacent the trough for carrying the conveyor pin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said step of disengaging the block from the conveyor pin by advancing the block downstream away from the conveyor pin with a block advance pin, includes extending the block advance pin laterally across the width of the trough via a slot formed in the trough and moving the block advance pin downstream through the trough substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the trough. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further including the step of providing a chain adjacent the trough for carrying the block advance pin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including the step of extending the pivot pin laterally across the width of the trough via cut-away sections formed in the trough and moving the pivot pin downstream through the trough adjacent and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the trough. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further including the step of providing a chain adjacent the trough for carrying the pivot pin. ### Claim 8 The method of 1, wherein the step of maintaining a lower portion of the leading second side of the block against a pivot pin, includes providing a conveyor belt beneath the pivot pin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said step of pivoting the block approximately ninety degrees about the pivot pin using a flip pin while the lower portion of the leading second side is maintained against the pivot pin, includes extending the flip pin laterally across the width of the trough via an angled slot formed in the trough and moving the flip pin downstream through the trough beginning at the bottom surface of the trough and moving through an angle extending away from the bottom surface of the trough. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further including the step of providing a chain adjacent the trough for carrying the flip pin. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for turning a rectangular block having a pair of first sides and a pair of second sides substantially orthogonal to the pair of first sides, comprising: an elongated trough extending between an upstream end and a downstream end, said elongated trough having a bottom surface supporting one of the first sides of the block prior to turning the block and supporting one of the second sides of the block after turning the block; means, including a conveyor pin, for pushing the block downstream through said trough prior to and after turning the block; means, including a block advance pin, for disengaging the block from said conveyor pin and advancing the block downstream away from said conveyor pin prior to turning the block; means, including a pivot pin, for engaging a lower portion of the leading second side of the block and maintaining the lower portion against said pivot pin following disengagement of the block from said conveyor pin; and means, including a flip pin, for pivoting the block approximately ninety degrees forward about said pivot pin while the lower portion of the leading second side of the block is maintained against said pivot pin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said trough includes a pair of substantially parallel sides walls connected to said bottom surface of said trough for guiding the block through said trough. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said conveyor pin extends laterally across the width of said trough via a slot formed in said trough and moves downstream through said trough substantially parallel to said bottom surface of said trough. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said pushing means includes a chain positioned adjacent said trough and carrying said conveyor pin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said block advance pin extends laterally across the width of said trough via a slot formed in said trough and moves downstream through said trough substantially parallel to said bottom surface of said trough. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said disengaging means includes a chain positioned adjacent said trough and carrying said block advance pin. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said pivot pin extends laterally across the width of said trough via cut-away sections formed in said trough and moves downstream through said trough adjacent and substantially parallel to said bottom surface of said trough. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said engaging means includes a chain positioned adjacent said trough and carrying said pivot pin. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said engaging means includes a conveyor belt disposed beneath said pivot pin, said conveyor belt maintaining the lower portion of the leading second side of the block against said pivot pin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said flip pin extends laterally across the width of said trough via an angled slot formed in said trough and moves downstream through said trough beginning at said bottom surface of said trough and moving at an angle extending away from said bottom surface of said trough. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said pivoting means includes a chain positioned adjacent said trough and carrying said flip pin. ### Claim 22 An apparatus for turning a rectangular block having a pair of first sides and a pair of second sides substantially orthogonal to the pair of first sides, comprising: an elongated trough extending between an upstream end and a downstream end, said elongated trough having a bottom surface supporting one of the first sides of the block prior to turning the block and supporting one of the second sides of the block after turning the block; means for pushing the block downstream through said trough prior to and after turning the block, said pushing means including a plurality of spaced conveyor pins extending laterally across the width of said trough via a conveyor pin slot formed in said trough and moving downstream through said trough substantially parallel to said bottom surface of said trough; means for disengaging the block from said conveyor pin and advancing the block downstream away from said conveyor pin prior to turning the block, said disengaging means including a plurality of spaced block advance pins extending laterally across the width of said trough via a block advance pin slot formed in said trough and moving downstream through said trough substantially parallel to said bottom surface of said trough; means for engaging a lower portion of the leading second side of the block and maintaining the lower portion against said pivot pin following disengagement of the block from said conveyor pin, said engaging means including a plurality of spaced pivot pins extending laterally across the width of said trough via cut-away sections formed in said trough and moving downstream through said trough adjacent and substantially parallel to said bottom surface of said trough, said engaging means further including a conveyor belt disposed beneath said plurality of pivot pins, said conveyor belt maintaining the lower portion of the leading second side of the block against said pivot pin; and means for pivoting the block approximately ninety degrees forward about said pivot pin while the lower portion of the leading second side of the block is maintained against said pivot pin, said pivoting means including a plurality of spaced flip pins extending laterally across the width of said trough via an angled slot formed in said trough and moving downstream through said trough beginning at said bottom surface of said trough and moving at an angle extending away from said bottom surface of said trough. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said plurality of conveyor pins, said plurality of block advance pins, said plurality of pivot pins, and said plurality of flip pins are carried by respective chains positioned adjacent said trough.