Feeder device and method for moving printed products by planar motion
AssigneeGoss International Americas, Inc.
InventorAtef Tanious Massoud
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A feeder device for printed products is provided including at least one first drum rotatable about a first axis; at least one second drum rotatable about a second axis; and an actuator coupled to the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum for reciprocating the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum axially. A printed product conveying device and a method of transporting printed products are also provided.
Claims21
A feeder device for printed products comprising:
- at least one first drum rotatable about a first axis, the at least one first drum including at least one first gripper;
- at least one second drum rotatable about a second axis, the at least one second drum including at least one second gripper, the at least one first gripper and the at least one second gripper opening printed products passing between the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum for reciprocating the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum axially.
A printed product conveying device comprising:
- a device, including at least one gripper, for opening and transporting printed products downward in a first direction;
- a conveyor positioned directly, vertically below and downstream from the device traveling in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction for receiving the printed products from the device;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the device for translating the device in the second direction.
A method of transporting printed products comprising:
- receiving a printed product and transporting the printed product in a first direction with at least one first drum rotating about a first axis and at least one second drum rotating about a second axis;
- translating the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum in a second direction that corresponds to a direction of the first axis and a direction of the second axis to accelerate the printed product in the second direction;
- and
- releasing the printed product from the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum to a conveyor traveling in the second direction;
- wherein the printed product is folded at a folded edge and has a first open edge and a second open edge and the printed product is released to the conveyor so that the first and second edges straddle the conveyor.
A method of transporting printed products comprising:
- receiving a printed product and transporting the printed product in a first direction with at least one first drum rotating about a first axis and at least one second drum rotating about a second axis;
- translating the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum in a second direction that corresponds to a direction of the first axis and a direction of the second axis to accelerate the printed product in the second direction;
- and
- releasing the printed product from the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum to a conveyor traveling in the second direction;
- wherein the printed product is traveling at a predetermined velocity in the second direction as the printed product is released from the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum;
- wherein the predetermined velocity of the printed product is equal to a velocity of the conveyor moving in the second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.