Method and apparatus for precision counting and tracking of signatures moving between a gripper conveyor and a stacker infeed

In combination, a gripper conveyor having a plurality of spaced apart grippers for conveying printed products along a given path;

• a release cam for releasing printed products from grippers passing a release cam location when the release cam is engaged;
• a lay-down conveyor positioned beneath said release cam for receiving printed products released from grippers as they pass the release cam;
• a stacker for stacking printed products positioned to receive printed products from a downstream location of the lay-down conveyor;
• a gripper sensor located a given distance upstream relative to the release cam location for detecting a presence of a gripper;
• a product sensor for detecting a presence of a product by a gripper which has activated the gripper sensor;
• said release cam being activated to open a gripper passing the release cam responsive to a release signal;
• a generator for generating a pulses representing movement of said lay-down conveyor;
• and
• an accumulator for accumulating said pulses responsive to opening of a gripper carrying a printed product by said release cam.

A method for tracking printed products conveyed along a path to a stacker in imbricated fashion comprising:

• detecting a presence of a printed product delivered to a receiving end of said path and sending a printed product count to the stacker;
• generating pulses representing a linear speed of the printed products being conveyed along said path;
• detecting folded edges at a given location along the path;
• and
• alerting the stacker as to a position of each printing product.

A method for tracking printed products being delivered to a stacker, comprising:

• depositing printing products upon a conveyor for delivery to the stacker so that printed products are arranged in imbricated fashion with folded edges downstream;
• generating pulses representing a speed of the conveyor;
• initiating accumulation of said pulses for each printed product as it is deposited on the conveyor;
• sensing folded edges as they pass a location along the conveyor intermediate the deposit point and the stacker;
• halting counting of pulses for each printed product when the folded edge of the printed product passes the sensing point;
• and
• forming an average count from a given number of said counts.

Apparatus for tracking printed products being delivered to a stacker, comprising:

• means for depositing printed products upon a conveyor for delivery to the stacker so that printed products are arranged in imbricated fashion with folded edges facing downstream;
• means for generating pulses representing a speed of the conveyor;
• means for accumulating said pulses for each printed product as it is deposited on the conveyor;
• means for sensing printed products as they pass a given location along the conveyor intermediate the deposit point and the stacker;
• means for determining a count, based accumulation of said pulses, for each printed product when the printed product passes said given location;
• and
• means for generating an average count from counts representing a given number of the printed products that have passed said given location.

A method for controlling a stacker, comprising:

• depositing printed products on a lay-down conveyor which delivers printed products to the stacker;
• counting each printed product deposited on the conveyor;
• associating a flag with selected printed products based on said count;
• detecting when a flagged printed product reaches a given location along said conveyor, which location is a fixed distance upstream from an input nip of a stacker infeed;
• tracking the flagged printed products to the nip point;
• and
• providing a signal to the stacker to perform tracking flagged printed products between said nip and an intercept location.