Patent ID: 6179111
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A device for transporting and distributing signatures comprising:an endless gripper chain;a plurality of controllable signature grippers on said endless gripper chain each of said controllable signature gripper shaving a control roller each said control roller being movable between a gripper opening position and a gripper closing position;a plurality of separate signature receiving distribution points spaced along a movement path of said endless gripper chain;a rotatable control device associated with each one of said plurality of separate signature distribution points, each said rotatable control device having a plurality of control cams each said control cam being movable between a control position and a non-control position by rotation of each said control device, one of said plurality of control cams on each said rotatable control device engaging one of said control rollers of one of said controllable signature grippers in said control position and being out of engagement with said control rollers in said non-control position; andmeans for rotating each of said rotatable control devices so that a circumferential speed of movement of a highest point of each said control cam is at least temporarily greater than a conveying speed of said endless gripper chain during distribution of a signature to a selected one of said plurality of signature receiving distribution points, and further so that each said control cam is selectively stopped in one of said control and non-control positions when each said control roller passes each said associated signature receiving distribution point.