Adjustable gripping device for adjustable sheet-receiving pockets

A sheet-collating pocket, comprising:

• a forward wall having an upper end portion;
• a rearward wall pivotally connected to said forward wall for moving towards and away from said forward wall, said rearward wall and said forward wall together defining an opening for receiving at least one sheet;
• and
• an adjustable gripper system for releasably holding the at least one sheet against said forward wall, said gripper system disposed at said upper end portion and having:
• a pivotable gripper shaft with a pivot axis;
• and
• at least one gripper having:
• a gripper body defining a plunger cavity, said gripper body connected to said gripper shaft for pivoting said gripper about said pivot axis;
• a gripper plunger slidably disposed in said plunger cavity and configured to hold the at least one sheet against said forward wall;
• and
• a cam follower to be actuated by a cam, said cam follower connected to said gripper plunger to displace said gripper plunger along said plunger cavity dependent upon a position of the cam.

In a sheet-collating pocket having a top, a forward wall, and a rearward wall pivotally connected to said forward wall, the rearward and forward walls together defining an opening for receiving at least one sheet from the top, an adjustable gripping system for setting placement of grippers at the top of the pocket, the gripping system comprising:

• a pivotable gripper shaft with a pivot axis;
• and
• at least one gripper having:
• a gripper body defining a plunger cavity, said gripper body connected to said gripper shaft for pivoting said gripper about said pivot axis;
• a gripper plunger slidably disposed in said plunger cavity and configured to hold the at least one sheet against the forward wall;
• and
• a cam follower to be actuated by a cam, said cam follower connected to said gripper plunger to displace said gripper plunger along said plunger cavity dependent upon a position of the cam.

A sheet-collating machine, comprising:

• a conveyor adapted to travel along a transport direction;
• at least one sheet feeding device disposed at said conveyor for feeding at least one sheet towards said conveyor;
• a plurality of sheet-collating pockets, each of said pockets:
• connected to said conveyor;
• adapted to receive the at least one sheet from said at least one sheet feeding device;
• and
• adapted to transport the at least one sheet along at least a portion of said conveyor in said transport direction;
• a cam having an adjustment device adapted to place said cam in different positions with respect to said pockets, said cam
• disposed at said conveyor and adapted to selectively contact each of said pockets as each pocket respectively passes thereby;
• and
• each of said pockets having:
• a forward wall with an upper end portion;
• a rearward wall pivotally connected to said forward wall, said rearward wall and said forward wall together defining an opening for receiving the at least one sheet;
• and
• an adjustable gripper system for releasably holding the at least one sheet against said forward wall, said gripper system disposed at said upper end portion and having:
• a pivotable gripper shaft with a pivot axis;
• and
• at least one gripper having:
• a gripper body defining a plunger cavity, said gripper body connected to said gripper shaft for pivoting said gripper about said pivot axis;
• a gripper plunger slidably disposed in said plunger cavity and configured to hold the at least one sheet against said forward wall;
• and
• a cam follower actuated by said cam, said cam follower connected to said gripper plunger to displace said gripper plunger along said plunger cavity dependent upon a position of said cam.