US3904019A

US3904019A - Method and conveying path for the separation of at least one signature from a stream of signatures

Info

Publication number: US3904019A
Application number: US398072A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bo Robert Junior Carlen; Anders Ingvar Andersson
Original assignee: AHLEN AND AKERLUNDS FORLAGS AB
Current assignee: AHLEN AND AKERLUNDS FORLAGS AB
Priority date: 1972-09-21
Filing date: 1973-09-17
Publication date: 1975-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-09
Also published as: DE2346898C2; CH570921A5; DE2346898A1; GB1448115A; SE366713B; IT1005161B; FR2200831A5; CA991665A

Abstract

Separating a single signature from a stream of overlapping signatures is effected by leading the stream over a crest portion in the path of the stream so that a widened gap is provided between the uppermost signature and the underlying signature. A shunting or diverting device is rapidly introduced into the gap to grip the uppermost signature and is thereafter rapidly retracted to withdraw a single signature from the stream. The diverting device comprises an upper and a lower belt conveyor supported by a carriage movable along an inclined path relative to the main path of the stream of signatures, the lower end of the lower conveyor forming a freely projecting end which is adapted to be introduced into said gap between two consecutive signatures.

Description

United States Patent Carlen et al. [45] S t, 9 1975 METHOD AND CONVEYING PATH FOR 3,061,068 10 1962 Spinks 198/31 R THE SEPARATION UP AT LEAST ONE f; 13;} gufour gi /2i ogren et a SIGNATURE FROM A STREAM 0F 3,738,644 6/1973 Kluge et a1 271 64 SIGNATURES 3,754,647 8/1973 DiFrank et al 271/64 [75] Inventors: Bo Robert Junior Carlen,

Sollentuna; Anders Ingvar Andersson, F arsta, both of Sweden [73] Assignee: Ahlen & Akerlunds Forlags AB,

Stockholm, Sweden [22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 398,072

[] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 21, 1972 Sweden 12207/72 [52] US. Cl. 198/31 AB; 198/75; 198/133; 271/64 [51] Int. Cl. B65G 47/26 [58] Field of Search 198/31 R, 31 AB, 35, 133, 198/20 T, 271/64, 172, 184; 214/ G, 8.5 SS

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,478,610 8/1949 Uschmann et al. 271/64 Primary ExaminerRichard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner,leffrey V. Nase Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen [5 7] ABSTRACT Separating a single signature from a stream of overlapping signatures is effected by leading the stream over a crest portion in the path of the stream so that a widened gap is provided between the uppermost signature and the underlying signature. A shunting or diverting device is rapidly introduced into the gap to grip the uppermost signature and is thereafter rapidly retracted to withdraw a single signature from the stream. The diverting device comprises an upper and a lower belt conveyor supported by a carriage movable along an inclined path relative to the main path of the stream of signatures, the lower end of the lower conveyor forming a freely projecting end which is adapted to be introduced into said gap between two consecutive signatures.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEU SEP 9 75 sum 1 0f 2 PATENTED 9|975 3,904,019

sum 2 n5 2 FIG. 2

METHOD AND CONVEYING PATH FOR THE SEPARATION OF AT LEAST ONE SIGNATURE FROM A STREAM OF SIGNATURES The present invention relates to a method and a conveying path of the kind set forth in the preamble to the claims 1 and 2 following hereafter. With such conveying paths for a stream of signatures or newspapers overlapping each other, there are known devices which at will can cause the diversion of a stream of signatures to a branch path. However, the known devices are not suitable for plucking out a solitary signature for inspection of the quality of the print on the signature. The aim of the present invention is to accomplish a device which makes this possible and can alternatively also be used to divert a plurality of signatures if so requires, e.g., to separate a number of signatures which are to go to waste because of poor quality.

This is made possible by a method and a conveying path of the kind under consideration, which have the characteristics given in the claims following hereafter. The branch path has thus a displaceable carrier provided with an upper and a lower belt conveyor and which can be quickly shifted to a gripping position where the spine of a signature is immediately gripped between the conveyors, whereafter the carrier is snatched back, taking with it only one signature. If the carrier is permitted to remain in the plucking position, signatures will be diverted as long as the carrier remains in this position.

A convenient embodiment of the invention is de scribed in the following while referring to the attached drawings, where FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section through the main conveying path and a branch path according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 is an elevation taken from in front of the branch path.

The main path and the branch path consist in a known manner of driven belt conveyors with a number of belts, ribbons, chains, wires or other similar means side by side passing over a number of jockey pulleys, rollers or the like. For the sake of simplicity, although a conveyor is composed of a number of spaced belts or the like and rollers, reference will be made merely to one of the belts and one of the rollers seen in FIG. 1.

The main path has an approach portion 10 extending somewhat slantingly upwards to an upper jockey pulley 12, round it and backwards to a lower jockey pulley 14, round this and thereafter forming an essentially horizontal exit portion 17. A crest 16 is formed at the

pulleys

14, 12 so that when the signatures pass over the upperjockey pulley 12, they will cease to lie flat against each other because the signatures bend one at a time towards the exit portion 17 of the path. A widened pocket 18 is hereby obtained between the spine edge 20a of the uppermost signature 20 and the downwardly bent preceding signature. In some applications the pulley 14 may be omitted so that the crest portion 16 of the main path will be obtained merely by the pulley 12. The pulley 12 and/or 14 may be formed by a shaft having the same diameter as the pulley 12 and/or 14.

The jockey pulleys or

shafts

12, 14 of the main path are supported by shafts mounted in parts 22 supported by the frame of the machine.

Above the main path there is a carrier 24 having two side plates 26 joined together by transverse struts, one

strut 24a being shown in FIG. 2. The side plates carry a number of

shafts

30, 32, 34 provided with

jockey pulleys

38, 40, 44 for a lower belt conveyor 46, the belt of which further passes over a tensioning pulley 48 on a shaft 50 which is mounted on adjustable arms 50a journalled on a frame part 22a. The carrier also supports an upper belt conveyor 52 with

shafts

54, 56, 58 provided with

jockey pulleys

62, 64, 66. There is further a tensioning pulley 68 mounted on a pivotal arm 68a supported by a strut 24a extending between the side plates 26.

The carrier 24 is displaceably mounted for displacement in a sloping plane between the lower end position, shown in solid line fashion, to the upper end position shown with dotted lines in FIG. 1. This displacement is accomplished by two cylinders 70 supporting the carrier 24 and being displaceable on two stationary piston rods 72, each of which have a fixed piston 70a which in a manner known per se divides the cylinder into two chambers. When pressurized air is admitted through inlet 70b, the cylinders will be moved upwardly to move the carrier 24 rapidly to its upper end position. When air is led to inlet 700, the carrier will be moved rapidly to its lower end position.

The upper part 74 of the lower conveyor 46 extends from the lower jockey pulley 38 or a corresponding shaft to the upper jockey pulley 42, round it and down to the tensioning pulley 48. From here the belt extends backwards in a

loop

76, 78 round the intermediate jockey pulley 44 and forward to the lower jockey pulley 38. Pulley 42 is mounted on driven shaft 36 journalled in the two side plates 22 of the machine frame.

The upper conveyor has a lower part 80 extending from the lower jockey pulley 66 to the upper jockey pulley 64 and lying adjacent to the upper part 74 of the lower conveyor. From the upper jockey pulley 64 the belt extends via tensioning pulley 68 to the extra jockey pulley 62 lying in front of the lower jockey pulley 66. Between the two pulleys the belt forms an end portion 82 which is shown as being horizontally but may be inclined.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the upper part 74 of the lower conveyor has a free end portion 84 between the

jockey pulleys

66 and 38, this together with the end portion 82 of conveyor 52 forms a pocket for receiving the signature 20 forming the upper part of pocket 18.

The conveyors are driven by having a driving motor coupled to the pulley 42 for driving the lower conveyor. From this conveyor, drive is transmitted to the upper conveyor between the

shafts

34 and 56 with their

respective chain wheels

86, 88 around which are placed a chain 90.

When a single signature is to be plucked from the stream of signatures, the carrier 24 is moved by cylinders 70 quickly from its upper end (dotted) position to its position shown with full lines in FIG. 1, where the lower jockey pulley 38 enters the widened pocket 18. The signature 20 lying uppermost and beginning to move over the jockey pulley 12 will be thrown forward with its spine 20a contacting the forward end portion 84 of the belt part 74. The signature 20 is thereby led up into engagement between the lower pulley 66 and the upper part 74 and is drawn upwards between the lower part 80 and the upper part 74. When this has taken place, the spine edge portion of signature 20 will be at a position between the ends of the lower part 80, that is gripped by the upper and lower conveyors. The

carrier 24 is now quickly withdrawn to its upper end position, simultaneously withdrawing a single signature from the stream. If the upward speed of the carrier upon displacement is approximately equal to the driving speed of the

belts

74, 80, the belts will stand essentially still in comparison to the carrier during its movement, which is due to the relative movement obtained at the pulley 44 by reason of the

pulleys

48 and 42 hav ing a fixed position. This means that the carrier may arrive at its upper end position before the signature has reached pulley 42. The signature is thereafter led away to an inspection station on paths not shown.

Apart from the above-mentioned advantage of the stationary pulley 42, this device brings with it a simple means of transferring drive to both the upper and lower conveyors from a stationary driving motor through the shaft 36 to conveyor 46 and via chain 90 to conveyor 52.

If it is desired to lead off several signatures, the carrier 24 is allowed to remain in its lower end or gripping position.

What we claim is:

l. A method for separating a least one signature from a stream of signatures fed in a downstream direction from an upstream location along a conveying path having a main path and a branch path selectively movable towards the main path for conveying a stream of signatures, weekly journals, brochures or the like,,whieh are arranged in overlapping fashion and have spines facing forward and in the downstream direction of the main path, said signatures each having a bottom and a top surface whereby each bottom surface engages the top surface of the preceding adjacent downstream signature and each top surface engages the bottom surface of the succeeding adjacent upstream signature, the spines of each signature being a spaced distance from the spines of adjacent upstream and downstream signatures, the branch path being provided with a reciprocating shunting device as well as a withdrawing device having engaging belts, the method comprising the steps of:

leading the signatures around a bend so that the spine of each signature is caused to lift away from the engaging top surface of the preceding adjacent downstream signature to form a gap between the lifted spine and the top surface of the preceding adjacent downstream signature;

moving the shunting device into said gap whereby the lifted spine is deflected towards the withdrawing device and between the engaging belts;

moving the belts to draw the deflected signature between the engaging belts; and

rapidly withdrawing the shunting device away from said gap as the deflected signature moves between the engaging belts by means of a quick backward snatching of the withdrawing device while the extracted signature continues to move between the belts of the withdrawing device.

2. Conveying path with a main path and a branch path optionally engageable and alignable with the main path for conveying a stream of signatures, weekly journals, brochures or the like, which overlap each other having their spines facing forward in the conveying di' rection, the main path having a crest so arranged to accomplish a separation of the signatures in the area at the crest so that a shunting device, movable between two end positions, is introducible in a gap formed between two adjacent signatures, when the foremost of these bends over the crest, characterized in that the branch path is defined by a carrier which is displaceable in a sloping plane between an upper and a lower end position, said carrier supporting an upper and a lower endless driven belt conveyor with a number of endless belts, running over jockey pulleys, forming the conveying elements of the conveyors, the upper conveying element having a portion of the lower conveyor extending between a first lower and second upper jockey pulley, the lower conveying element having a portion of the upper conveyor cxtending between a third lower and fourth upper jockey pulley lying adjacent the upper conveying element of the lower conveyor for conveying signatures between the conveying element portions, the third jockey pulley of the upper conveyor being positioned above the first jockey pulley of the lower conveyor so that the upper conveying element of the lower conveyor has a free end portion for guiding in at least one signature under the third jockey pulley of the upper conveyor when the carrier is in its lower end position, and the first jockey pulley of the lower conveyor lies in said gap.

3. Conveying path according to claim 2, characterized in that'the upper conveyor has a fifth jockey pulley at its lower end, said fifth jockey pulley together with the third jockey pulley of the upper conveyor defining an end portion forming an acute triangle with the free end portion of the lower conveyor to define a tapered entry for a signature, and coacting to guide at least one signature therebetween, when the carrier is lowered to its lower end position.

4. Conveying path according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower conveying element of the lower conveyor, which extends between the upper and lower jockey pulleys at the ends of the conveyor, defines in a' double S-bend where the lower conveying element from the upper jockey pulley first extends to a tensioning pulley adjustably arranged on the supporting frame,

and around the tensioning pulley and back up again towards an intermediate jockey pulley rotatably journalled on the carrier, to move therewith round the intermediate pulley and then forward to the first jockey pulley of the lower conveyor and then over the first jockey pulley to form the upper conveying'element with its free lower end portion.

5. Conveying path according to claim 4, characterized in that the intermediate jockey pulley of the lower conveyor is driveably united with one of the jockey pulleys of the upper conveyor, for driving both the conveyors at the same speed.

6. Conveying path according to claim 5, characterized in that the second pulley of the lower conveyor is supported by a shaft journalled in the machine frame and connected with a driving motor.

7. Apparatus for withdrawing at least one signature from a signature stream moving from an upstream loca tion in a downstream direction and in which signatures are arranged in overlapping fashion, each signature having a spine facing in the downstream direction, said signatures each having top and bottom surfaces, whereby each bottom surface engages the top surface of the preceding adjacent downstream signature and each top surface engages the bottom surface of the succeeding adjacent upstream signature, the spines of each signature being a spaced distance from the spines of adjacent upstream and downstream signatures comprismeans for conveying said signature stream in the downstream direction along a main path;

means in said main path for leading the signatures around a bend to lift the spine of each signature away from the engaging top surface of the preceding downstream signature and thereby form a gap therebetween;

a shunting device for deflecting signatures away from the main path and along a branch path, said device comprising:

a reciprocally mounted carriage;

a first lower closed loop conveyor belt entrained about a first lower and a second upper pulley rotatably mounted on said carriage in a first direction;

a second upper closed loop conveyor belt entrained about a third lower and a fourth upper pulley rotatably mounted on said carriage;

a portion of said second belt extending between said third and fourth pulleys engaging a portion of the first belt extending between said first and second pulleys;

said engaging pelt portions defining said branch path;

said first pulley being positioned closer to said gap than said third pulley;

means for moving the engaing portions of said first and second belts in a first direction along said branch path;

means for abruptly reciprocally moving said carriage along said branch path and towards said main path to position said first pulley in said gap and for moving said carriage away from said main path to remove said first pulley from said gap whereby the signature whose spine is lifted at said bend is deflected towards said branch path and between the engaging portions of said belts when said first pulley lies in said gap and the deflected signature passes between the engaging belt portions as the carriage moves the first pulley away from said gap thereby enabling signatures not deflected by the first pulley to continue moving along said main path.

Claims

1. A method for separating a least one signature from a stream of signatures fed in a downstream direction from an upstream location along a conveying path having a main path and a branch path selectively movable towards the main path for conveying a stream of signatures, weekly journals, brochures or the like, which are arranged in overlapping fashion and have spines facing forward and in the downstream direction of the main path, said signatures each having a bottom and a top surface whereby each bottom surface engages the top surface of the preceding adjacent downstream signature and each top surface engages the bottom surface of the succeeding adjacent upstream signature, the spines of each signature being a spaced distance from the spines of adjacent upstream and downstream signatures, the branch path being provided with a reciprocating shunting device as well as a withdrawing device having engaging belts, the method comprising the steps of: leading the signatures around a bend so that the spine of each signature is caused to lift away from the engaging top surface of the preceding adjacent downstream signature to form a gap between the lifted spine and the top surface of the preceding adjacent downstream signature; moving the shunting device into said gap whereby the lifted spine is deflected towards the withdrawing device and between the engaging belts; moving the belts to draw the deflected signature between the engaging belts; and rapidly withdrawing the shunting device away from said gap as the deflected signature moves between the engaging belts by means of a quick backward snatching of the withdrawing device while the extracted signature continues to move between the belts of the withdrawing device.

2. Conveying path with a main path and a branch path optionally engageable and alignable with the main path for conveying a stream of signatures, weekly journals, brochures or the like, which overlap each other having their spines facing forward in the conveying direction, the main path having a crest so arranged to accomplish a separation of the signatures in the area at the crest so that a shunting device, movable between two end positions, is introducible in a gap formed between two adjacent signatures, when the foremost of these bends over the crest, characterized in that the branch path is defined by a carrier which is displaceable in a sloping plane between an upper and a lower end position, said carrier supporting an upper and a lower endless driven belt conveyor with a number of endless belts, running over jockey pulleys, forming the conveying elements of the conveyors, the upper conveying element having a portion of the lower conveyor extending between a first lower and second upper jockey pulley, the lower conveying element having a portion of the upper conveyor extending between a third lower and fourth upper jockey pulley lying adjacent the upper conveying element of the lower conveyor for conveying signatures between the conveying element portions, the third jockey pulley of the upper conveyor being positioned above the first jockey pulley of the lower conveyor so that the upper conveying element of the lower conveyor has a free end portion for guiding in at least one signature under the third jockey pulley of the upper conveyor when the carrier is in its lower end position, and the first jockey pulley of the lower conveyor lies in said gap.

3. Conveying path according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper conveyor has a fifth jockey pulley at its lower end, said fifth jockey pulley together with the third jockey pulley of the upper conveyor defining an end portion forming an acute triangle with the free end portion of the lower conveyor to define a tapered entry for a signature, and coacting to guide at least one signature therebetween, when the carrier is lowered to its lower end position.

4. Conveying path according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower conveying element of the lower conveyor, which extends between the upper and lower jockey pulleys at the ends of the conveyor, defines in a double S-bend where the lower conveying element from the upper jockey pulley first extends to a tensioning pulley adjustably arranged on the supporting frame, and around the tensioning pulley and back up again towards an intermediate jockey pulley rotatably journalled on the carrier, to move therewith round the intermediate pulley and then forward to the first jockey pulley of the lower conveyor and then over the first jockey pulley to form the upper conveying element with its free lower end portion.

7. Apparatus for withdrawing at least one signature from a signature stream moving from an upstream location in a downstream direction and in which signatures are arranged in overlapping fashion, each signature having a spine facing in the downstream direction, said signatures each having top and bottom surfaces, whereby each bottom surface engages the top surface of the preceding adjacent downstream signature and each top surface engages the bottom surface of the succeeding adjacent upstream signature, the spines of each signature being a spaced distance from the spines of adjacent upstream and downstream signatures comprising: means for conveying said signature stream in the downstream direction along a main path; means in said main path for leading the signatures around a bend to lift the spine of each signature away from the engaging top surface of the preceding downstream signature and thereby form a gap therebetween; a shunting device for deflecting signatures away from the main path and along a branch path, said device comprising: a reciprocally mounted carriage; a first lower closed loop conveyor belt entrained about a first lower and a second upper pulley rotatably mounted on said carriage in a first direction; a second upper closed loop conveyor belt entrained about a third lower and a fourth upper pulley rotatably mounted on said carriage; a portion of said second belt extending between said third and fourth pulleys engaging a portion of the first belt extending between said first and second pulleys; SAID engaging pelt portions defining said branch path; said first pulley being positioned closer to said gap than said third pulley; means for moving the engaing portions of said first and second belts in a first direction along said branch path; means for abruptly reciprocally moving said carriage along said branch path and towards said main path to position said first pulley in said gap and for moving said carriage away from said main path to remove said first pulley from said gap whereby the signature whose spine is lifted at said bend is deflected towards said branch path and between the engaging portions of said belts when said first pulley lies in said gap and the deflected signature passes between the engaging belt portions as the carriage moves the first pulley away from said gap thereby enabling signatures not deflected by the first pulley to continue moving along said main path.