Signature feeder and method including a variable speed separator disk
OwnerDavid F. Hall, Jonh E. Priminventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A signature feeder for delivering stacked signatures to a conveyer or gatherer includes a variable speed separator disk for separating signatures from the stacked signatures. The separator disk mechanically couples with a servomotor. The separator disk has a blade with a leading edge and a trailing edge. The servomotor accelerates the separator disk through the stacked signatures to separate signatures from the stacked signatures. After a signature separates from the stacked signatures, the servomotor slows the separator disk.
Claims20
A feeder for delivering stacked signatures to a conveyer, comprising:
- a rotatable separator disk having a blade with a leading edge and a trailing edge;
- a variable speed servomotor mechanically coupled to the separator disk to rotate the blade from a first position where the leading edge contacts the stacked signatures, to a second position where the separator disk separates a signature from the stacked signatures;
- a servo control system coupled with the servomotor for regulating servomotor speed and accelerating the separator disk blade between the first position and the second position to quickly separate the signature from the stacked signatures;
- and
- a rotatable feed drum having at least one gripper, the feed drum rotates the gripper into a gripping position to grip the separated signature.
A method for separating stacked signatures, comprising:
- providing a servomotor and a separator disk having a blade for separating a signature from the stacked signatures;
- and
- rotating the separator disk with the servomotor at a variable velocity from a first position where the blade enters the stacked signatures to a second position where the blade separates a signature from the stacked signatures.
A feeder for delivering stacked signatures to a conveyer, comprising:
- a rotatable separator disk having a blade with a leading edge and a trailing edge;
- a variable speed servomotor mechanically coupled with the separator disk to rotate the blade from a first position where the leading edge contacts the stacked signatures, to a second position where the separator disk separates a signature from the stacked signatures;
- a servo control system coupled with the servomotor for regulating servomotor speed and accelerating the separator disk blade between the first position and the second position to quickly separate a signature from the stacked signatures;
- a sucker arm coordinated with a feed drum for delivering the separated signatures to the feed drum;
- the feed drum having and at least one gripper, the feed drum rotates the gripper into a gripping position with respect to the stacked signatures to grip separated signatures and deliver the separated signature to a conveyer;
- and
- a conveyer positioned with respect to the feed drum for receiving the separated signature from the feed drum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.