Self-actuated book sections feeder

Abstract: A self-actuated book section feeder (20) for use to feed automatically book sections to an apparatus for binding these sections together. This feeder comprises a table (42); a continuous conveyor (22) mounted on the table (42); a motor (88) secured to the table (42) for driving the conveyor (22); and a detector (54) mounted on the table (42) and connected to the motor (88) via a relay (92) for actuating and stopping the motor (88). In use, the detector (54) senses the presence or absence of book sections at the delivering end (53) of the conveyor (22), and then automatically actuate or stop the continuous conveyor (22) to bring more book sections.

Description: Document DE-A-2 708 855 discloses a self-actuated book feeder including a continuous conveyor driven by a motor, and a detector for actuating or stopping the motor of the conveyor. The detector senses the presence or absence of books by measuring the force of a book pressing against a back wall. The feeder does not include retaining means at a delivery end nor securing means near a receiving end. Document EP-A-0 339 178 discloses a self-actuated feeder including a continuous conveyor driven by a motor, and a detector for actuating or stopping the motor of the conveyor. The detector is a diffuse reflection type photoelectric sensor disposed in an opposed relation to an upper edge of a carton ; said sensor is not adjusted in height. The feeder does not include retaining means at a delivery end nor securing means near a receiving end. Document US-A-4 981 292 discloses a loader including a microswitch for sensing the height of a signature pile. The loader does not include retaining means at a delivery end nor securing means near a receiving end. The invention relates to a self-actuated book section feeder which comprises a continuous conveyor having a receiving end and a delivering end, and on which book sections are placed upwardly, a motor for driving said conveyor, and a detector connected to said motor through means for actuating or stopping the motor ; according to the invention, it includes, at said delivering end, retaining means to retain said book sections in an upward position, and, near the receiving end of said conveyor, means to secure book sections, said securing means advancing along with said conveyor, and the detector is mounted near the delivering end of the conveyor and is adjusted to a height corresponding substantially to the upper margin of the book sections fed on the conveyor, thereby being capable of detecting when said book sections are tilted at said delivering end, said detector sensing the presence or absence of book sections at the delivering end of the conveyor, and said conveyor being automatically stopped upon sensing the presence of book sections. Preferably, the book section feeder includes a relay connected to the motor and the detector, whereby, through said relay, said detector automatically actuates said conveyor upon detecting when said book sections are tilted and automatically stops said conveyor upon detecting when said book sections are not tilted. Preferably, the book section feeder includes, between said motor and said conveyor, a speed reducer. Preferably, the conveyor is selected from the group consisting of chain conveyors and belt conveyors. Preferably, the conveyor consists in four parallel chains running in pairs, and said chains are driven by sprocket gears connected to a variable speed control, itself connected to said motor, said motor being operated through a relay via said detector. Preferably, the book section feeder includes a table, on which is mounted said conveyor. The invention is also directed to a book binding system in which a book section feeder according preceding paragraphs is positioned to feed book sections to a saddle-stitching apparatus or to a perfect-binding apparatus. The invention also relates to a method for automatically feed book sections from a conveyor having a delivering end to an apparatus for binding said sections together, said method including the steps of retaining book sections in an upward position by retaining means disposed at said delivering end, securing book sections with securing means advancing along with said conveyor, continuously detecting when said book sections retained by said retaining means are tilted at delivering end of the conveyor, actuating said conveyor in response to detecting that said book sections are tilted, and stopping said conveyor in response to detecting that said book sections are not tilted, so that said detector senses the presence or absence of book sections at the delivering end of the conveyor, and said conveyor is automatically stopped upon sensing the presence of book sections. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings which illustrate examples of embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a book section feeder according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the book section feeder according to the invention; Figure 3 is a cross-section view of the side of the book section feeder when taken along line III-III of Figure 2; Figure 4a is a detailed side view of the delivering end of the conveyor when feeding book sections to a saddle-stitching apparatus; Figure 4b is a detailed view as shown in Figure 4a showing the detector when book sections are tilted so that the detector detects the absence of book sections; Figure 5 is a front view of the delivering end of the book section feeder illustrating its relationship with the motor; Figure 6a is a detailed side view of the delivering end of the conveyor when feeding book sections to a perfect-binding apparatus; Figure 6b is a detailed view as shown in Figure 6a showing the detector when book sections are tilted so that the detector detects the absence of book sections. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS, Referring now to figure 1, the automatic book section feeder 20 comprises a conveyor 22 . In a preferred embodiment, the conveyor 22 consist of four parallel chains 24 , 26 , 28 , and 30 running in pairs by means of sprocket gears 32 , 34 , 36 , 38 , and 40 (as shown in Figure 3). The conveyor 22 is preferably mounted on a table 42 having supporting legs 44 , 46 and reinforcing bars 48 , 50 . The conveyor 22 is driven by a motor 88 contained in a housing 52 itself connected to a worm gear speed reducer 90 such as for instance a FLEXALINE right angle worm gear speed reducer. Preferably, the motor is conveniently connected to a speed motor master PM. A detector 54 (preferably a photoelectric cell) is mounted on a bracket 56 , itself mounted on the side 57 of the conveyor 22 near its delivering end 53 . The detector 54 is supplied by a light source 58 , and is connected to a relay 92 contained in the housing 52 . The relay 92 as shown in Figure 5 is itself connected to the motor 88 . The detector 54 is adjusted to a height corresponding substantially to the upper margin 76 of the book sections fed on the conveyor 22 , thereby being capable of detecting the absence of book sections when they are tilted. Book sections 64 are placed upwardly on the conveyor 22 and held in that position at the delivering end 53 of the conveyor by retaining means 96 . When pulled from a book binding apparatus, the lower margin of the book sections is slipped between the retaining means 96 and the delivering end of the conveyor 53 . The absence of book sections, when detected by the detector 54 , will actuate the motor, that will in turn drive the conveyor 22 in order to carry the row of book sections 64 toward the delivering end 53 , thus replacing the upper margins 76 of the sections in a vertical position. The detector 54 will then detect the presence of these sections and will stop the motor. The feeder 20 is also provided with means to secure the book sections near or at the receiving end 60 thereof. These securing means consist preferentially of an arm 62 advancing along with the conveyor 22 as the sections are conveyed to the delivering end 53 . The arm 62 is displaceable laterally along a slot 65 to adjust to the different width of book sections. Figure 2 illustrates a plurality of bundels of book sections 64 being fed by the conveyor 22 . It is shown particularly, the arm 62 as actuated by a spring pulley 66 via a cable 68 that pulls a holding member 70 toward the delivering end 53 . Figure 3 further shows the motor 72 actuating the chains 24 , 26 , 28 , and 30 via the sprocket gears 32 , 34 , 36 , 37 , 38 , and 40 . Figure 4a shows the delivering end 53 of the feeder 20 when supplying book sections 64 to a saddle-stitching apparatus 74 . The detector 54 is covered by the upper margin 76 of the vertical book sections 64 . As seen on Figure 4b, when the number of book section 64 decreases on the conveyor, they start tilting on the side such that the detector 54 is partially uncovered. The absence of book sections in front of the detector 54 actuates the motor to drive the conveyor 22 and bring more sections 64 to the delivering end 53 . Once the detector 54 is covered, the presence of book sections 64 stops the motor. Figure 5 shows the conveyor 22 and the chains 124 , 126 , 128 , and 130 . The book sections 64 are retained upwardly on the delivering end 53 by retaining means such as two small hooks 96 provided at the delivering end 53 . The sections are held upwardly until the binding apparatus picks one book section and slides it between the conveyor 22 and the hooks 96 to take it down to be bound. Figure 6a shows a different type of book binding apparatus being fed by a another embodiment of the book section feeder of the invention. The book section feeder 20 feeds book sections 64 to a perfect binding apparatus 78 . The detector 54 is able to evaluate its distance from the upper margin of the book sections 76 . As shown in Figure 6b, when the book sections are titled, the distance between the detector 54 and the upper margin 76 is greater. This signal actuates the motor to drive the chains of the conveyor 22 to provide more book sections near the delivering end 53 . Once the detector senses the presence of book sections 64 , it stops the conveyor 22 . Of course, although a chain conveyor is preferred, it should be noted that other types of conveyors such as continuous belt conveyor could be used for the invention.

Claims: A self-actuated book section feeder comprising a continuous conveyor (22) having a receiving end (60) and a delivering end (53), and on which book sections (64) are placed upwardly, a motor (88) for driving said conveyor (22), and a detector (54) connected to said motor (88) through means for actuating or stopping the motor (88), characterized in that it includes, at said delivering end (53), retaining means (96) to retain said book sections (64) on the conveyor (22) in an upward position, it includes, near the receiving end (60) of said conveyor (22), means (62) to secure book sections (64), said securing means (62) advancing along with said conveyor (22), and the detector (54) is mounted near the delivering end (53) of the conveyor (22) and is adjusted to a height corresponding substantially to the upper margin of the book sections (64) fed on the conveyor (22), thereby being capable of detecting when book sections (64) are tilted at said delivering end (53) said detector (54) sensing the presence or absence of book sections (64) at the delivering end (53) of the conveyor (22), and said conveyor (22) being automatically stopped upon sensing the presence of book sections (64). A book section feeder as defined in claim 1, characterized in that it includes a relay (92) connected to the motor (88) and the detector (54), whereby, through said relay (92), said detector (54) automatically actuates said conveyor (22) upon detecting when said book sections (64) are tilted and automatically stops said conveyor (22) upon detecting when said book sections (64) are not tilted. A book section feeder as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it includes, between said motor (88) and said conveyor (22), a speed reducer (90). A book section feeder as defined in anyone of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said conveyor (22) is selected from the group consisting of chain conveyors and belt conveyors. A book section feeder as defined in anyone of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said conveyor (22) consists in four parallel chains (24, 26, 28, 30) running in pairs. A book section feeder as defined in anyone of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it includes a table (42), on which is mounted said conveyor (22). A book section feeder as defined in claim 5, characterized in that said chains (24, 26, 28, 30) are driven by sprocket gears (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) connected to a variable speed control, itself connected to said motor (88), said motor (88) being operated through a relay (92) via said detector (54). A book binding system including a book section feeder as defined in anyone of claims 1 to 6, positioned to feed book sections (64) to a saddle-stitching apparatus (74). A book binding system including a book section feeder as defined in anyone of claims 1 to 7, positioned to feed book sections (64) to a perfect-binding apparatus. A method for automatically feed book sections (64) from a conveyor (22) having a delivering end (53), to an apparatus for binding said sections (64) together, said method characterized in that it includes the steps of : retaining book sections (64) in an upward position on the conveyor (22) by retaining means (96) disposed at said delivering end (53), securing book sections (64) with securing means (62) advancing along with said conveyor (22), continuously detecting when said book sections (64) are tilted at delivering end (53) of the conveyor (22), adjusting the detector (54) to a height corresponding to the upper margin of the book sections (64) actuating said conveyor (22) in response to detecting that said book sections (64) are tilted, and stopping said conveyor (22) in response to detecting that said book sections (64) are not tilted, so that said detector senses the presence or absence of book sections (64) at the delivering end of the conveyor (22), and said conveyor (22) is automatically stopped upon sensing the presence of book sections (64).

Inventors: CLOUTIER JEAN-GUY, CLOUTIER MARCEL, CLOUTIER, JEAN-GUY, CLOUTIER, MARCEL
Applicants: CLOUTIER JEAN GUY, CLOUTIER MARCEL, CLOUTIER, JEAN-GUY, CLOUTIER, MARCEL
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65H1
IPC codes: B65H7, B65H1