US 5,913,656 A · Method and apparatus for merging shingled signature streams

Abstract

Two shingled streams of signatures are stacked independently of each other in separate stacking bins that are aligned vertically one above the other and also vertically aligned with the collection bin of a re-feeder. The collection bin is replenished periodically by stopping the shingled streams and unloading the contents of the lower and upper stacking bins to form a combined stack of signatures in the re-feeder collection bin. Signatures in the re-feeder collection bin are delivered by an out-feed conveyor belt in a single reshingled stream of signatures to an in-line processing station. In an alternative embodiment, the stacking bins are laterally separated with respect to each other for separately stacking signatures from two incoming shingled streams that are being output from separate web presses or other independent sources. The incoming signatures are separately stacked and the stacks are periodically unloaded onto separate stacking tables on laterally opposite sides of a common re-feeder. The signature stacks are separately delivered at different times into the re-feeder collection bin, thereby forming a combined stack of signatures that are subsequently reshingled into a single running stream.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A process for merging first and second incoming shingled streams of signatures into a single outgoing shingled stream, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a re-feeder including a collection bin for receiving a stack of signatures and an out-feed conveyor belt for delivering a single outgoing stream of shingled signatures to an in-line processing station;
(b) providing a first stacking bin having a chamber for accumulating a stack of signatures;
(c) providing a second stacking bin having a chamber for accumulating a stack of signatures;
(d) delivering a first shingled stream of signatures into the first stacking bin thereby accumulating a first stack of signatures therein;
(e) delivering a second shingled stream of signatures into the second stacking bin thereby accumulating a second stack of signatures therein;
(f) sensing the amount of signatures accumulated in either the first stacking bin or in the second stacking bin;
(g) interrupting delivery of signatures into the first and second stacking bins in response to the sensed amount in either the first stacking bin or in the second stacking bin reaching a predetermined value;
(h) unloading the contents of the first and second stacking bins into the re-feeder collection bin to form a combined stack of signatures in the collection bin;
and,
(i) resuming delivery of signatures into the first and second stacking bins, respectively.

7 more elements

A process for combining at least two incoming shingled streams of signatures into a single outgoing shingled stream, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a re-feeder including a collection bin mounted over a variable speed outfeed belt for outputting a single stream of shingled signatures;
(b) providing a first stacking bin above and in drop alignment with the re-feeder collection bin, and separating the first stacking bin from the re-feeder collection bin by an extendable and retractable stack support member;
(c) providing a second stacking bin above and in drop alignment with the first stacking bin, and separating the second stacking bin from the first stacking bin by an extendable and retractable stack support member;
(d) delivering a first shingled stream into the first stacking bin to form a first stack of signatures;
(e) delivering a second shingled stream of signatures into the second stacking bin to form a second stack of signatures;
(f) sensing the amount of signatures accumulated in at least one of the stacking bins;
(g) interrupting the delivery of signatures from the first and second shingled streams when the sensed amount of signatures reaches a predetermined value;
(h) unloading the stacked signatures by opening the stack support members of the first and second stacking bins to permit the stacks to drop into the re-feeder collection bin;
(i) operating the outfeed belt to remove signatures from the bottom of the signature stack in the collection bin;
and,
(j) closing both stack support members and then resuming delivery of signatures from the first and second shingled streams into the respective first and second stacking bins thereby building another stack of signatures in the first stacking bin and building another stack of signatures in the second stacking bin.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for merging shingled signature streams

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for merging shingled signature streams

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11