Abstract:
An adjustable gripper system for releasably holding at least one sheet against a surface includes an adjustment body, a gripper connected thereto for holding the sheet against the surface, and a cam follower to be actuated by a cam. The cam follower is connected to the adjustment body and displaces the adjustment body dependent upon a cam position, which correspondingly displaces the gripper along the surface. The system can be part of a sheet-collating pocket having a top portion, forward and rearward walls pivotally connected to one another and defining a sheet-receiving opening, which pocket can be part of a sheet-collating machine having the cam, a conveyor, a sheet feeding device, and other pockets. A method for adjusting the grippers positions the cam in the pocket path to contact each and selectively displace the gripper holding portion with dependent upon the cam position while the cam and pocket contact.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention lies in the field of printing presses. The present invention relates generally to a sheet-conveying apparatus, for example, for conveying newspapers, and, more particularly, to a sheet conveying apparatus having collating pockets moving on a track. In particular, the invention relates to an adjustable gripping device for holding folded sheet material sections in such a collating pocket and for separating folded ends of the sections from one another to allow nesting of inserted other sections. 
     2. Background Information 
     Sheet-conveying devices, in particular, devices for conveying newspapers, are required to be able to insert or nest or collate various sets of sheets inside one another. Specifically, to create a finished newspaper, a first folded section of the paper, taking the form of a folded sheet section, is opened and at least one second section of the newspaper is inserted between the two sides of the folded sheet section. It is possible that the second section is, itself, a section having third, fourth, or more other sections nested therein in the same manner as the first section. To process such sheets, in particular, newspapers, prior art conveying devices have an angle-shaped pocket that first picks up a first section, opens the first section, and then conveys the opened first section to a delivery station. Prior art systems including pockets include, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,521 to Müller and U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,318 to Newhall. A delivery unit drops the second section into the opened first section to create a nested paper with two sections. This process can be repeated for many different sections to create an entire newspaper. 
     There is a difficulty associated with the pocket properly opening the first section to the appropriate opening position. To facilitate proper opening, each section is formed with a lap. In other words, the two ends of the folded sheet section are not even. Typically, in a sheet-processing direction, the forward-most end of the folded sheet section is longer than the rear-most end of the folded sheet section. Thus, if the fold of the sheet section is at the bottom of the pocket, when viewing the ends of the folded sheet section in the pocket from above, the forward lap is higher than the rear lap. 
     In such a position, the folded sheet section can be opened if the forward, higher lap is secured by a device (applying a physical contact and/or air suction) and the pocket or folded sheet section is moved or tilted to allow gravity (possibly assisted with suction) to let the rear lap fall away from the forward lap. After the rear lap has fallen or is moved away from the forward lap, there exists an opening into which a second section can be inserted. Accordingly, a second section can be inserted into or nested within the first section. This combined section can then be inserted into a further section, and so on, to create a multiply nested set of sheets, typically, forming a common newspaper. 
     The securing device typically takes the form of a finger-shaped gripper. In the opening process, such a gripper is rotated or lowered onto the forward lap to secure the forward lap, and the forward sheet section, to a front wall of the pocket. Some examples of prior art gripper systems in such pockets include U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,770 to Seidel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,086 to Schlough, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,432 to Thünker et al. However, lap sizes are neither consistent nor equal. Therefore, there is a need to adjust such grippers in a vertical direction with respect to a pocket so that the forward lap is gripped in the most efficient place. Prior art pocket systems solve this positioning problem by vertically adjusting the lowermost surface of the pocket holding the folded sheet section. If such a surface is lowered, the folded section resting thereon is also lowered. Similarly, if the lowermost surface is raised, the folded section resting thereon is also raised. What is needed is more precise lap-gripping adjustment system that is independent of the lowermost surface of the pocket. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,416 to Klopfenstein describes a sheet material conveying apparatus with a plurality of pockets moveable around a track to accept sheet material from sheet material feeders. These pockets permit, for example, a first outer section of a newspaper to first be fed into the pockets by a first sheet material feeder, and then an inner newspaper section to be inserted between the folds of the first outer newspaper section. The Klopfenstein apparatus uses a lift cam  20  to move a semicircular actuator gear  150  to rotate a drive shaft  110  so as to set a height for pocket feet  90  disposed on racks  80 . A pawl and ratchet mechanism prevents the pocket from opening. The sheet material can then be accepted and inserted into the pockets. To deliver the sheet material, a trip cam  22  can release the pawl and ratchet mechanism. Tracks  80  move to a lower position through a biasing spring, so that feet  90  release through operation of a driver cam  130 . The sheet material in the pocket can, thus, move out of the pocket from the bottom to be further conveyed or to be stacked. The entirety of Klopfenstein is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,888 to Eugster purports to describe pockets moveable along an endless path. Each pocket is provided with two vertically adjustable stops  14  mounted displaceably in a pocket carrier  8 . A guide member  28  purportedly can be set to vertically adjust the stops  14  as the pockets are moved along the endless path. 
     Other examples of adjustment devices for the bottom of a pocket can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,202 to Kircher, U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,710 to Hansen et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,968 to Linder et al. 
     These prior art pocket systems do not provide an adjustment device for setting placement of grippers at the top of the pocket or at the gripper location itself. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an adjustable gripping device for adjustable sheet-receiving pockets and method for adjusting sheet-receiving pockets that overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that better separates the forward lap from the rearward lap by adjusting grippers in a vertical direction with respect to a pocket so that the forward lap is gripped in the most efficient place. 
     Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/662,277, entitled “SHEET MATERIAL CONVEYING APPARATUS WITH INDIVIDUALLY-ADJUSTABLE POCKETS” filed on Sep. 14, 2000, describes a plurality of manually-adjustable pockets, each having a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket. 
     Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/702,012, entitled “SHEET MATERIAL CONVEYING APPARATUS WITH HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE POCKETS” filed on Oct. 30, 2000, describes a plurality of manually adjustable pockets, each having a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket so as to define a set height. 
     Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/178,651, entitled “ADJUSTABLE GRIPPING DEVICE FOR ADJUSTABLE SHEET RECEIVING POCKETS AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING SHEET RECEIVING POCKETS” and filed concurrently herewith, describes a different gripper adjusting system  70  having an adjustable gripper  71  with two main parts, a gripper body  72  and an adjustment device  73  including a pivot  75 , a cam follower  77 , and an adjustment body  79  in the form of a two-arm rocker. Depending on a placement setting of a vertically adjustable cam  26 , the adjustment body  79  pivots and moves a nose  74  of gripper body  72  along the surface of upper front wall  52  away from or towards the uppermost edge of the rearward lap  63 . 
     Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/178,642, entitled “LAP SEPARATOR FOR SHEET-RECEIVING POCKETS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING LAPS IN SHEET-RECEIVING POCKETS” and filed concurrently herewith, describes a lap separator system  70  for extending a window of time for allowing grippers  53 ,  55  to engage a forward lap  61 . The lap separating system  70  includes at least one lap separator  72  moveably disposed on a lap separator carrier system  74 , preferably in the form of an endless belt that follows pockets  10 , but moves at a different speed. Lap separator  72  contacts a rearward side of upper rear wall  54  and forces it against upper front wall  52 , thereby clamping a folded section  6  therebetween. As lap separator  72  is traveling with but faster than pocket  10 , it first lets go of upper rear wall  54 , then of rearward lap  63 , and, finally, of upper front wall  52  by dragging over the uppermost edge of each, similar to a fanning of a deck of cards. 
     A setting device of some of the commonly assigned applications is manually operated by an operator, who turns a knob gear and sets a lock ring for a desired pocket height. It may be desirable to provide a less time consuming, one-step setting device for each pocket. 
     Each of these commonly assigned applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an adjustable gripper system for releasably holding at least one sheet against a surface, including a rotatable gripper shaft having a shaft axis, at least one gripper connected to the gripper shaft and rotating with the gripper shaft about the shaft axis to selectively hold the sheet against the surface, a pivot shaft having a pivot axis, an adjustment body connected to the pivot shaft for pivoting the adjustment body about the pivot axis, the gripper shaft rotatably connected within the adjustment body, a cam follower to be actuated by a cam, the cam follower connected to the adjustment body for pivoting the adjustment body about the pivot axis, and the adjustment body displacing the gripper shaft about the pivot axis dependent upon a position of the cam to correspondingly displace the gripper along the surface. 
     In accordance with another feature of the invention, gripper is a plurality of grippers spaced apart from one another on the gripper shaft. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the gripper is releasably connected to the gripper shaft. Preferably, the gripper shaft is journaled in the adjustment body. 
     In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the adjustment body is a lever. Preferably, the lever is a rocker having two ends, a first of the ends is connected to the cam follower, and the gripper shaft is rotatably connected within a second of the ends. 
     In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the cam follower is a wheel and an axle rotatably connecting the wheel to the second end. 
     In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the gripper shaft is to be connected to a second cam for rotating the gripper shaft about the shaft axis. 
     With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided an adjustable gripper system for releasably holding at least one sheet against a surface, including an adjustment body, at least one rotatable gripper rotatably connected to the adjustment body for selectively holding the sheet against the surface, and a cam follower to be actuated by a cam, the cam follower connected to the adjustment body and displacing the adjustment body dependent upon a position of the cam and correspondingly displacing the gripper along the surface. 
     With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a sheet-collating pocket, including a forward wall having an upper end portion, a rearward wall pivotably connected to the forward wall for moving towards and away from the forward wall, the rearward wall and the forward wall together defining an opening for receiving at least one sheet, and an adjustable gripper system for releasably holding the sheet against the forward wall, the gripper system disposed at the upper end portion and having an adjustment body, at least one rotatable gripper rotatably connected to the adjustment body for selectively holding the sheet against the forward wall, and a cam follower to be actuated by a cam, the cam follower connected to the adjustment body and displacing the adjustment body dependent upon a position of the cam and correspondingly displacing the gripper along the forward wall. 
     In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the pocket travels in a given direction, and the forward wall is disposed downstream of the rearward wall with respect to the given direction. 
     In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the upper end portion is an upper third, fourth, or fifth of the forward wall. Preferably, the forward wall has a top and the gripper system is disposed substantially at the top. 
     With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a sheet-collating pocket, including a forward wall having an upper end portion, a rearward wall pivotably connected to the forward wall for moving towards and away from the forward wall, the rearward wall and the forward wall together defining an opening for receiving at least one sheet, and an adjustable gripper system for releasably holding the sheet against the forward wall, the gripper system disposed at the upper end portion and having a rotatable gripper shaft with a shaft axis, at least one gripper connected to the gripper shaft and rotating with the gripper shaft about the shaft axis to selectively hold the sheet against the forward wall, a pivot shaft having a pivot axis, an adjustment body connected to the pivot shaft for pivoting the adjustment body about the pivot axis, the gripper shaft rotatably connected within the adjustment body, a cam follower to be actuated by a cam, the cam follower connected to the adjustment body for pivoting the adjustment body about the pivot axis, and the adjustment body displacing the gripper shaft about the pivot axis dependent upon a position of the cam to correspondingly displace the gripper along the forward wall. 
     With the objects of the invention in view, in a sheet-collating pocket having a top, a forward wall, and a rearward wall pivotably connected to the forward wall, the rearward and forward walls together defining an opening for receiving at least one sheet from the top, there is also provided an adjustable gripping system for setting placement of grippers at the top of the pocket, the gripping system including an adjustment body, at least one rotatable gripper rotatably connected to the adjustment body for selectively holding the sheet against the forward wall, and a cam follower to be actuated by a cam, the cam follower connected to the adjustment body and displacing the adjustment body dependent upon a position of the cam and correspondingly displacing the gripper along the forward wall. 
     With the objects of the invention in view, in a sheet-collating pocket having a top, a forward wall, and a rearward wall pivotably connected to the forward wall, the rearward and forward walls together defining an opening for receiving at least one sheet from the top, there is also provided an adjustable gripping system for setting placement of grippers at the top of the pocket, the gripping system including a rotatable gripper shaft having a shaft axis, at least one gripper connected to the gripper shaft and rotating with the gripper shaft about the shaft axis to selectively hold the sheet against the forward wall, a pivot shaft having a pivot axis, an adjustment body connected to the pivot shaft for pivoting the adjustment body about the pivot axis, the gripper shaft rotatably connected within the adjustment body, a cam follower to be actuated by a cam, the cam follower connected to the adjustment body for pivoting the adjustment body about the pivot axis, and the adjustment body displacing the gripper shaft about the pivot axis dependent upon a position of the cam to correspondingly displace the gripper along the forward wall. 
     With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a sheet-collating machine, including a conveyor traveling along a transport direction, at least one sheet feeding device disposed at the conveyor for feeding at least one sheet towards the conveyor, a plurality of sheet-collating pockets, each of the pockets connected to the conveyor, receiving the sheet from the sheet feeding device, and transporting the sheet along at least a portion of the conveyor in the transport direction, an adjustable cam having an adjustment device displacing the cam in different positions with respect to the pockets, the cam disposed at the conveyor and selectively contacting each of the pockets as each pocket respectively passes thereby, and each of the pockets having a forward wall with an upper end portion, a rearward wall pivotably connected to the forward wall, the rearward wall and the forward wall together defining an opening for receiving at least one sheet, and an adjustable gripper system for releasably holding the sheet against the forward wall, the gripper system disposed at the upper end portion and having an adjustment body, at least one rotatable gripper rotatably connected to the adjustment body for selectively holding the sheet against the forward wall, and a cam follower actuated by the cam, the cam follower connected to the adjustment body and displacing the adjustment body dependent upon a position of the cam and correspondingly displacing the gripper along the forward wall. 
     With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a sheet-collating machine, including a conveyor traveling along a transport direction, at least one sheet feeding device disposed at the conveyor for feeding at least one sheet towards the conveyor, a plurality of sheet-collating pockets, each of the pockets connected to the conveyor, receiving the sheet from the sheet feeding device, and transporting the sheet along at least a portion of the conveyor in the transport direction, an adjustable cam having an adjustment device displacing the cam in different positions with respect to the pockets, the cam disposed at the conveyor and selectively contacting each of the pockets as each pocket respectively passes thereby, and each of the pockets having a forward wall with an upper end portion, a rearward wall pivotably connected to the forward wall, the rearward wall and the forward wall together defining an opening for receiving at least one sheet, and an adjustable gripper system for releasably holding the sheet against the forward wall, the gripper system disposed at the upper end portion and having a rotatable gripper shaft having a shaft axis, at least one gripper connected to the gripper shaft and rotating with the gripper shaft about the shaft axis to selectively hold the sheet against the forward wall, a pivot shaft having a pivot axis, an adjustment body connected to the pivot shaft for pivoting the adjustment body about the pivot axis, the gripper shaft rotatably connected within the adjustment body, a cam follower actuated by the cam, the cam follower connected to the adjustment body for pivoting the adjustment body about the pivot axis, and the adjustment body displacing the gripper shaft about the pivot axis dependent upon a position of the cam to correspondingly displace the gripper along the forward wall. 
     With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a method for adjustably gripping at least one sheet within a sheet-receiving pocket of a sheet-collating device, including the steps of conveying sheet-receiving pockets along a transport path, each of the pockets having forward and rearward walls pivotably connected to one another, the forward wall having a top portion, and at least one adjustable gripper having a holding portion for holding at least a portion of a sheet deposited in a respective one of the pockets, the gripper disposed at the top portion, selectively placing a cam into a position in the transport path of the pockets, contacting each of the pockets with the cam to selectively move the holding portion of the gripper dependent upon the selected position of the cam, and while retaining contact between the cam and the pocket opening the forward and rearward walls of each of the pockets to create a sheet-receiving opening, conveying the pockets past a sheet-feeding device, and feeding the sheet into the sheet-receiving opening from the sheet feeding device to place the portion of the sheet against the forward wall, and securely gripping at least the portion of the sheet against the forward wall with the holding portion of the gripper. 
     With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a method for adjusting grippers of sheet-receiving pockets, including the steps of providing sheet-receiving pockets to be conveyed in a transport path, each pocket having a top portion and at least one adjustable gripper having a holding portion for holding at least a portion of a sheet deposited in the pocket, the gripper disposed at the top portion, and positioning an adjustable cam in the transport path of the pockets to contact each of the pockets and selectively displace the holding portion of the gripper dependent upon a set position of the cam such that the portion of the sheet is securely gripped within the pocket with the holding portion of the gripper while contact exists between the cam and the pocket. 
     In accordance with a concomitant mode of the invention, the gripped sheet is transported in the pocket along at least a portion of the conveyor. 
     The present invention permits the grippers to be set to a set height while moving and to operate for a relevant distance at the set height. To change a gripper height, a movable setting cam is set for a new height and may also include a lock engagement device. The present invention provides a simple method and device for resetting gripper height and allows for manual re-setting of the gripper height. 
     “Rod” as defined herein can be any elongated structure. “Slide gear” as defined herein specifically includes any type of slidable interlocking structure, and may include a gear with an exterior star gearing, a single key or tooth exterior structure, or any other structure with which a ring gear may be fixed rotationally and with which a lock ring may be selectively fixed or free to rotate, include one having a ball-detent mechanism. 
     Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an adjustable gripping device for adjustable sheet-receiving pockets and method for adjusting sheet-receiving pockets, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
     The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a sheet material conveying apparatus according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a side view of a pocket according to the invention with certain elements omitted for clarity; 
     FIG. 2B is a side view of an enlarged detail of a gripper of the pocket of FIG. 2A; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pocket of FIG. 2A with certain elements omitted for clarity; 
     FIG. 4 is a different, fragmentary perspective view of the pocket of FIGS. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partially exploded, cross-sectional view of a setting device for setting a finger height according to the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective view of the setting device of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of a detail of the setting device of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a gripper system according to the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of another position of the gripper system of FIG. 8; and 
     FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of another position of the gripper system of FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a diagrammatic representation of a sheet material conveying apparatus  100  having an endless track  101  for transporting a plurality of pockets  10  in transport direction  17 . Each pocket  10  includes moveable fingers  90  for defining a pocket height, an individual height setting mechanism  8 , and a releasable lock mechanism  9  for height setting mechanism  8 . 
     At a setting area  1 , each pocket  10  can be set manually by setting mechanism  8  to move fingers  90  to at least one of two desired heights, for example, a setting for receiving 10½-inch folded products. Pockets  10  are stationary during setting, and the setting can occur outside setting area  1  as well, for example, by an operator moving about track  101 . 
     Alternatively, pockets  10  can be moved to setting area  1 , the apparatus can be stopped, and each pocket can be set. An automated robot for interacting with setting mechanism  8  also could be located at setting area  1  to move each pocket  10  to the proper height, as a pocket  10  is moved to and stopped at setting area  1 . 
     After a pocket is set to a desired height, setting mechanism  8  is then locked in place by lock mechanism  9  so that the pocket height is set. After all pockets  10  are set, they are moved to pass beneath a first sheet material feed station  2  where, for example, a folded cover section  6  of a newspaper or other printed product, also referred to as a jacket, is delivered into pocket  10 . At a second and optional sheet material feed station  3 , a second section  7  may be inserted between forward and rear portions of cover section  6  to form a final printed product  12 . This process can be repeated for any number of feed stations  2 ,  3  to create a final product  12  having many nested sections  6 ,  7 . 
     After receiving sections  6 ,  7 , pockets  10  can then pass a release station  4 , which releases lock mechanism  9 . Setting mechanism  8 , which is, preferably, spring-loaded, then releases fingers  90  so that the bottom of pocket  10  opens, and finished products  12  are delivered, for example, to a conveyor belt  11 . 
     As pockets  10  continue past release station  4 , pockets  10  pass through a reset station  5 , which can include a movable incline reset ramp  25  for interacting with a reset cam follower  156  (see FIG. 3) of setting mechanism  8  and a lock engagement device  35  for locking lock mechanism  9 . Pockets  10 , which are preferably all set to a common height, are then reset to the common height by reset ramp  25 , and locked into place by lock engagement device  35  engaging lock mechanism  9 . 
     FIGS. 2A,  3 , and  4  show more details of pocket  10 . 
     Pocket  10  has an upper rear wall  54  and an upper front wall  52 , in between which is an opening  56  for accepting sheet material, for example, cover section  6 . Pocket  10  also has a side wall  44 . Pocket  10  also may have a lower rear wall  64  and a lower front wall  62 . 
     FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the upper portion of pocket  10  illustrated in FIG.  2 A. FIG. 2B shows the area where a forward lap  61  of a cover section  6  is held. To hold cover section  6  in place, a set of grippers  53 ,  55  are located at the top of upper front wall  52 . Grippers  53 ,  55  are shown coaxially disposed on a single shaft  57 , albeit in different rotational positions. However, alternatively, different sets of grippers can be disposed on different shafts, each being independently controlled. For example, grippers of one set can be longer than grippers of another set. Also, grippers  53 ,  55  are shown at the top of upper front wall  52 . However, grippers  53 ,  55  can be located at the upper third, fourth, or fifth of upper front wall  52 , depending upon the distance between the top of section  6  and a top of upper front wall  52 . 
     A non-illustrated control device pivots shaft  57  holding grippers  53 ,  55  between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In FIG. 2B, one gripper  53  is shown in the disengaged position and the other gripper  55  is shown in the engaged position. In the engaged position, gripper  55  holds forward lap  61  of cover section  6  so that it is fixed with respect to upper front wall  52 . A cover section  6  being so held is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2B with a dashed line. 
     When cover section  6  is first deposited in opening  56 , the bottom (lowermost) edge of cover section  6  rests at the junction between fingers  90  and upper rear wall  54 . In the open position of pocket  10  shown in FIG. 2A, gravity causes cover section  6  to rest entirely against upper rear wall  54 . To grip cover section  6  with grippers  53 ,  55 , upper rear wall  54  is pivoted about axis  51  to contact upper front wall  52 . Alternatively and/or additionally, the entire rear wall  54 ,  64  can be displaced towards front wall  52 ,  62 . When cover section  6  rests against upper front wall  52 , grippers  53 ,  55  can be rotated into the engaged position and hold cover section  6  in place against upper front wall  52 . If grippers  53 ,  55  are adjusted so that they extend no further than the top edge of rearward lap  63  of cover section  6 , then grippers  53 ,  55  only grip forward lap  61  of cover section  6 . After engaging forward lap  61 , when upper rear wall  54  is moved back to the position shown in FIG. 2A, forward lap  61  is held against upper front wall  52  and gravity carries rearward lap  63  of cover section  6  along with upper rear wall  54 , thus creating an opening between forward lap  61  and rearward lap  63  for receiving another section  7  therein, for example, from second sheet material feed station  3 . 
     Slidable with respect to upper front wall  52  is a rack  80 , on which fingers  90  are supported. Fingers  90  are supported on rack  80  by a pivot  96  attached to a first section  92  of finger  90 . A second section  94  of finger  90  can define a pocket bottom when fingers  90  are in a closed position (as illustrated in FIG.  2 A). As most clearly shown in FIG. 4, rack  80  includes teeth  82  that interact with a gear  122  of a pinion  120  (FIGS.  3  and  4 ), which also includes a release cam  130 . Pinions  120  are located on a shaft  110  rotatably supported in wall  44  and wall  46  (only partially shown in FIG.  4 ). 
     At wall  46 , an end  111  of shaft  110  passes through a setting ring gear  140 , of which only a first part is shown in FIG.  3 . Ring gear  140  has an interior surface that ensures rotation of ring gear  140  in a fixed relationship with a slide gear  180  (FIG. 5) that is in a fixed rotational relationship with shaft  110 . Slide gear  180 , however, can slide axially with respect to shaft  110  for selective interlocking with lock ring  160  (interior to gear  140  and visible in FIG. 6) that forms part of lock mechanism  9 . Lock mechanism  9  also includes a pawl  209  for interacting with a single ratchet  164  on the exterior of ring  160 . Ring gear  140  is shown in FIGS. 2A,  3 , and  4  only in part, with a second outer gear section  182  (FIGS. 5 and 6) for interacting with a non-illustrated setting rod. The details of slide gear  180  and its interaction with ring gear  140  and lock ring  160  will be described in more detail with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     FIG. 3 shows how fingers  90  extend through the front wall. Release cam  130  can interact with a release surface  100  (FIG. 4) of finger  90  located in an opening  86  between teeth  82  when fingers  90  are fully lowered, so that fingers  90  rotate away from rear wall  54 ,  64  and release any products in pocket  10 . Release of fingers  90  is similar to the release of the feet in U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,416 to Klopfenstein, which has been incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIG. 2A shows ring gear  140  interacting with a semicircular setting gear  150 . On one side of semicircular gear  150  is a reset cam follower  156  held rotationally at an axis  154 . Setting gear  150  pivots about an axis  152 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, semicircular gear  150  is attached to a spring  158  to spring-load gear  150  in a direction  151 , as also shown in FIG.  2 A. 
     FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of certain details of the setting mechanism. End  111  of shaft  110  fits, passing through interior holes in ring gear  140  and lock ring  160 , into an interiorly toothed hole  147  of slide gear  180 . End  111  is fixed to a screw  145  that abuts slide gear  180  through a spring  146 . Thus, slide gear  180  can be moved against the force of spring  146  in the direction of arrow  240  so as to slide axially with respect to shaft  110 , however always remaining rotationally fixed with shaft  110 . 
     Slide gear  180  has exterior star gearing  141  that matches interior star gearing  183  of ring gear  140 . Slide gear  180  and ring gear  140  thus rotate together at all times. Interior to slide gear  180  and ring gear  140  is lock ring  160 , which selectively engages, through an interior star gear  163 , exterior star gearing  141  of slide gear  180  when slide gear  180  is not moved axially against the spring force of spring  146 . 
     When moved axially against the spring force in direction  240  (see FIG.  5 ), slide gear  180  releases from lock ring  160 , which then is held only by pawl  209  but is freely rotatable with respect to shaft  110  due to a smooth inner surface section  162  that rests on shaft  110 . 
     Slide gear  180  has a raised portion  142  for interacting with a disengaging device of a non-illustrated setting rod to permit slide gear  180  to be moved against the spring force of spring  146 . 
     Ring gear  140  has external gear teeth  181  for interacting with semicircular gear  150  (FIG.  2 A), as well as external gear teeth of second outer gear section  182  for interacting with the setting rod. 
     Lock ring  160  has a single ratchet  164  on an external surface, which interacts with pawl  209 , as shown in FIG.  7 . An extension  210  extends outwardly from pawl  209 , for permitting pawl  209  to move between an upward and a downward position. Pawl  209  may be spring-loaded to favor one position, or to click into both positions. 
     As stated above, after a pocket  10  is set to a desired height, setting mechanism  8  is then locked in place by lock mechanism  9  so that the pocket height is set. After all pockets  10  are set, they are moved to pass beneath at least one sheet material feed station  2 ,  3  where, for example, sections  6 ,  7  of a newspaper or other printed product are delivered into pocket  10 . 
     Once pocket  10  is set to a desired height, it typically cannot be adjusted to account for variations in the size of sections  6 ,  7  being placed therein. Prior art devices have been created to adjust for such variations by only adjusting the level or location of the bottom of the pocket. Thereby, raising or lowering section  6 ,  7  placed therein from below. However, no prior art device has used an adjustment of grippers  53 ,  55  to compensate for section  6 ,  7  size variation. 
     As set forth above, up until the invention, there was a difficulty associated with separating forward lap  61  of a first section  6  from rearward lap  63  to create a pocket therebetween into which second section  7  can be inserted or nested. 
     The invention adds a new adjustment mechanism to grippers  53 ,  55 . 
     FIGS. 8,  9 , and  10  diagrammatically illustrate a gripper adjusting system  70 . A single adjustable gripper  71  of system  70  is depicted in FIGS. 8 to  10  for the sake of clarity. Nonetheless, system  70  can be expanded to many or all of the grippers used to grip forward lap  61  in pocket  10 . Single grippers  71  can be independently adjustable. Alternatively, or additionally, one gripper  71  can be adjustable but fixedly connected to one or more other grippers so that the other grippers follow any adjusting movement of the one adjustable gripper  71 . Other equivalent embodiments of grippers are also possible. 
     Adjustable gripper  71  has two main parts, a gripper body  72  and an adjustment device  73 . 
     Gripper body  72  has a nose  74  and a fastening portion  76 . Nose  74  directly contacts and holds forward lap  61  of a section  6 , or, if desired, holds the entire section  6 ,  61 ,  63 . Gripper body  72  is, preferably fixedly but adjustably, attached to gripper shaft  57  (diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B) through fastening portion  76 . Thus, when shaft  57  rotates about its axis  58  in either rotation direction  59 , gripper body  72  is rotated as well, and nose  74  either lifts away from upper front wall  52  to let go of or make room to grasp forward lap  61  or moves towards upper front wall  52  to grasp forward lap  61  of section  6 . Fastening portion  76  can take any form that connects gripper body  72  to gripper shaft  57 . Preferably, fastening portion  76  releasably clamps to shaft  57  such that, when released, at least to a small extent, fastening portion  76  can rotate around shaft  57  for manual alignment and adjustment. 
     A preferred embodiment of adjustment device  73  includes a pivot  75 , a cam follower  77 , and an adjustment body  79  in the form of a two-arm rocker, a first rocker arm connecting gripper shaft  57  to pivot  75 , and a second rocker arm connecting pivot  75  to cam follower  77 . Preferably, cam follower  77  is disposed at a distal end of the second rocker arm. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate how adjustment device  73  works. 
     A vertically adjustable adjustment cam  26  is placed in the path of pockets  10  as they travel in transport direction  17 . Adjustment cam  26  is placed in a position similar to incline reset ramp  25 , in that, a portion of pocket  10  must contact adjustment cam  26  as the portion passes thereby. Adjustment cam  26  can be set to any vertical distance with respect to adjustment device  73 . As a pocket  10 , including gripper adjusting system  70 , approaches and passes adjustment cam  26 , cam follower  77  first contacts ramp  29  and then rolls up and off ramp  29  onto an upper surface  27  of adjustment cam  26 . The movement of cam follower  77  with respect to pivot  75  has a specific affect upon gripper body  72 —the second rocker arm of adjustment body  79  moves up or down dependent upon the position of adjustment cam  26 , thus moving gripper shaft  57  as well. Because shaft  57  is fixedly connected to gripper body  72 , gripper body  72  is likewise moved, causing nose  74  to move along the surface of upper front wall  52  away from or towards the uppermost edge of rearward lap  63 . This movement is dependent upon the placement of adjustment cam  26 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates adjustment cam  26  in a raised position with respect to pivot  75 . Accordingly, gripper shaft  57  is in a lowered position with respect to pivot  75 . A lower position of shaft  57  with respect to adjustment cam  26  means that gripper body  72 , and, thus, nose  74 , is relatively close to the uppermost edge of rearward lap  63  at a distance  65 . It is possible, due to a variation in size of rearward lap  63 , that nose  74  actually contacts rearward lap  63  (a condition not illustrated) and prevents rearward lap  63  from falling away from forward lap  61  to create the pocket for receiving an inserted section  7 . Typically, a printing press operator needs to prevent this undesired condition. However, if desired, the invention permits lowering of gripper shaft  57  sufficient to intentionally place nose  74  over rearward lap  63 . 
     An operator can use the invention and prevent this undesired condition by lowering adjustment cam  26  such that nose  74  no longer contacts rearward lap  63 . FIG. 9 illustrates adjustment cam  26  in a lowered position with respect to pivot  75 . A higher position of shaft  57  with respect to adjustment cam  26  means that gripper body  72 , and, thus, nose  74 , is relatively far away from the uppermost edge of rearward lap  63  at a distance  67 . In such a position, even if there is a variation in size of rearward lap  63 , nose  74  is sufficiently far away from the uppermost edge of rearward lap  63  to prevent rearward lap  63  from being held by nose  74 . 
     Therefore, the invention allows an operator to raise a gripper system  70  of each of pocket  10  without having to manually adjust each gripper  71  of each pocket  10 . 
     Adjustment device  73  need not be a two-arm rocker lever with a pivot  75 . Instead, it can take any form that moves gripper shaft  57  dependent upon an operator-adjustable shaft-setting device  26  such that gripper nose  74  is moved along upper front wall  52  and, therefore, along section  6  to place the end of gripper nose  74  at any position on either or both forward lap  61  and rearward lap  63 . 
     Similarly, the combination and connection of adjustment body  79  and cam follower  77  can take any form. For example, body  79  can have an axle hole (extending into the plane of the views of FIGS. 8 and 9) for receiving an axle or shaft that is then attached to a wheel-shaped cam follower  77 . Other equivalent attachment embodiments can be used as well. 
     Gripper system  70  shown is a linear raising system. In other words, if adjustment cam  26  is raised by Δh, then gripper body  75  will be pulled into cavity  78  along a distance equal to Δh. Thus, the difference between  65  and  67  is Δh. Gripper system  70  does not have to be a linear raising system, however. It is envisioned to have, if desired, a more complex lever system such that a small raising of adjustment cam  26  results in a correspondingly larger or smaller raising of gripper body  75 . 
     Ramp  29  of adjustment cam  26  is depicted as being relatively small and shallow. Of course, ramp  29  can have any length or be at any angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees. However, preferably, the length of ramp  29  is at least equal to a radius of cam follower  77 . Also preferable is for the ramp angle to be between 30 and 60 degrees, in particular, to be between 30 and 45 degrees. Adjustment cam  26  is shown without a lower surface. Nonetheless, in a preferred embodiment, the forward-most end of ramp  29  is approximately level with such a lower surface and, where cam follower  77  is wheel-shaped, the forward-most portion of adjustment cam is rounded to permit smooth contact between ramp  29  and cam follower  77 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the bottom of cam follower  77  contacts upper surface  27  of adjustment cam  26 . Alternatively, the top of cam follower  77  can contact a non-illustrated lower surface of adjustment cam  26 . The above-noted example including an axle hole and wheel-shaped cam follower  77  can be used both for contacting upper surface  27  and the lower surface of adjustment cam  27 . But, an embodiment can be made so that cam follower  77  only contacts the lower surface. For example, the second rocker arm can have a non-illustrated groove with a width and cam follower  77  can be a wheel rotatably disposed in such a groove, wheel  77  having a width less than the groove width. Wheel  77  can be attached to the second rocker arm with an axle and cotter pin assembly, for example. 
     In either embodiment, adjustment body can be attached to a non-illustrated bias device, such as a spring, that biases cam follower  77  in a given rotation direction around pivot  75 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment for controlling opening and closing of adjustable gripper  71 . Gripper shaft  57  can be connected to a gripper control lever  81 . Preferably, gripper control lever  81  is fixedly, but adjustably, connected to gripper shaft  57 . For example, gripper control lever  81  releasably clamps to shaft  57  such that, when released, at least to a small extent, gripper control lever  81  can rotate around shaft  57  for manual alignment and adjustment. The distal end of gripper control lever  81  includes a second cam follower  83 . Second cam follower  83  can be connected to gripper control lever  81  in any way similar to the connection of cam follower  77 . Further, second cam follower  83  can take any form, including the same form as cam follower  77 . In a preferred embodiment, second cam follower  83  is a roller that is controlled by a second adjustable cam  85  having a cam surface  87 . Second adjustable cam  85  can take any form, including the same form as adjustable cam  26 . In an alternative preferred embodiment, adjustable cam  26  and second adjustable cam  85  are linked to one another in some way so that one is dependent upon another, but with each remaining independently adjustable by an operator. 
     In operation, when second adjustable cam  85  is at a raised position with respect to gripper shaft  57 , as illustrated in FIG. 10, gripper shaft  57  is rotated counter-clockwise to place nose  74  against section  6 , forward lap  61 , and/or rearward lap  63 . Alternatively, when second adjustable cam  85  is at a lowered position with respect to gripper shaft  57  (a condition that is not illustrated), gripper shaft  57  is rotated clockwise to move nose  74  away from section  6 , forward lap  61 , and/or rearward lap  63 . 
     The invention better separates the forward lap from the rearward lap by adjusting grippers in a vertical direction with respect to a pocket so that the forward lap is gripped in the most efficient place.