Abstract:
A method and apparatus for transporting articles comprising single sheets or short stacks of single sheets from a collating machine to a high speed newspaper and/or commercial inserter utilizes a conveyor apparatus intermediate the collator and inserter that twists or rotates the articles through one-quarter turn as they move in succession and at high speed along their path of travel. The one-quarter turn rotation is carried out around an axis that extends longitudinally of the path of travel of the articles from the collator to the inserter. Special twister belts are utilized to grip and convey the articles as they pass through the article rotating portion of the apparatus. Such quarter-turn rotation orients the articles into a radial orientation for direct insertion into rapidly moving pockets of the inserter machine which are preferably moving in a circular path of travel in a plane that is perpendicular to the inserting path of travel of the articles. The articles may have also been previously upended from a flat stack into an edgewise or upended condition if the initial collator is of the type which dispenses the articles on a horizontal moving conveying surface. At all times throughout their conveyance from the collator to the inserter, the articles are maintained under firm control despite traveling at high speeds and significant distances.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority benefit of provisional patent application No. ______ filed Nov. 26, 2003, said provisional application being hereby incorporated by reference into the present specification. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates to the field of handling equipment for thin, flimsy sheet articles such as advertising materials, fliers and other inserts for printed newspaper sections and, more particularly, to conveying apparatus especially adapted for transporting such articles as individual sheets or short stacks thereof at high speeds and in succession from a source of supply such as an in-line collator to the inserting station of a high-speed newspaper inserting machine.  
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY  
       [0003]     Newspaper and/or commercial inserting machines that stuff multi-page inserts into opened, generally V-shaped newspaper or similar jackets moving at high speeds are well-known in the industry. However, a particular problem is sometimes encountered when it is desired to stuff thin, flimsy single sheets or stacks of single sheets into the jackets at the desired high line speeds. Conventional hopper-type feeders available in association with conventional machines sometimes have a difficult time dispensing the individual sheets and are largely incapable of handling collated stacks of the individual sheets, especially at the required high line speeds. For capacity reasons, it would be very desirable to collate a number of different individual sheets into a short stack and then stuff the assembled stacks in succession into corresponding jackets, as this would avoid the need to add an additional dispensing hopper and inserting station at the inserting machine for each different sheet.  
         [0004]     The present invention is directed to apparatus that replaces a hopper or other feeder at one of the loading stations of a multi-station newspaper and/or commercial inserting machine and which has particular utility in feeding articles that comprise single sheets or stacks of single sheets to the loading station at high speeds while maintaining complete control over the articles throughout their entire path of travel from a source of supply into the open newspaper or other V-shaped jacket product moving past the loading station. Although the principles of the present invention have particular utility in connection with circular, carousel-type inserting machines such as the well known HARRIS/Heidelberg/AM Graphics brand circular machine in which a series of product holding buckets or pockets move sequentially beneath loading stations having overhead feeders, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to use with the HARRIS-type machine or to a carousel-type machine for that matter. It will also be appreciated that the while the present invention is particularly suited for use in connection with an inline collating machine as the source of supply, such as the KANSA MULTI-FEEDER available from Kansa Technology LLC of Emporia, Kans., the present invention is not limited to use of a MULTI-FEEDER as the source of supply.  
         [0005]     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a conveying apparatus and method wherein the single-sheet or multiple-sheet articles are conveyed along a path of travel from the source of supply, and in the process of such conveyance are turned or rotated a certain distance about the longitudinal axis of the path of travel so as to reposition and properly orient the articles for insertion into the moving pockets of the inserting machine. In a preferred embodiment, the articles are rotated approximately one-quarter turn to accomplish the necessary reorientation. Preferably, such rotational action is carried out by a pair of high-speed, relatively narrow and opposed conveyor belt lengths that are twisted about their respective longitudinal axes and which clamp and convey the articles along the path of travel while at the same time causing the rotating action. Special guide rods located alongside the path of travel of the articles and in close association with the twisted belt lengths engage the articles as they are being operated upon by the belts to assist in carrying out the rotating action. Other cooperating conveyor belt stretches upstream from the article-rotating portion of the apparatus may be arranged in such a manner that articles coming from the source of supply in a horizontal disposition are essentially turned on end and reoriented for edge-wise vertical delivery down into the top-loading inserting machine. The conveyor apparatus may be upwardly arched for carrying out such up-ending of the articles so that the path of travel of the articles includes and initial upwardly directed leg, a transition leg in which the path of travel changes from upwardly to downwardly, and a third downwardly moving leg immediately above the loading station.  
         [0006]     Even though the articles may be conveyed over a fairly lengthy path of travel compared to a short path of travel available with overhead feeding hoppers, the present invention provides a way of maintaining firm control over the articles throughout the entirety of the transporting path of travel. A discharging portion of the conveyor apparatus may be provided immediately downstream from the article rotating portion thereof for taking control of the newly reoriented articles and discharging them in rapid succession down into the receiving pockets that move successfully therepast and therebelow. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary top plan view of conveyor apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and illustrated in association with a circular newspaper or other product stuffing machine and an in-line collator for supplying individual sheets or stacks of individual sheets to the conveyor apparatus;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view thereof;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary, slightly enlarged, vertical cross sectional view thereof with shields and end panels of the apparatus removed to reveal details of construction;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view through the apparatus taken substantially along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary, vertical cross sectional view through the apparatus taken substantially along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary, vertical cross sectional view through the apparatus taken substantially along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged front elevational view of the article rotating or twisting portion of the apparatus with sidewalls and housing portions removed to reveal internal details of construction;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged, fragmentary right side elevational view of the article rotating or twisting portion of the apparatus with sidewalls, panels and housing removed to reveal details of construction;  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged, fragmentary rear elevational view of the article rotating or twisting portion of the apparatus with panels, sidewalls and housings removed to reveal details of construction;  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged, fragmentary left side elevational view of the article rotating or twisting portion with panels, walls and housing removed to reveal details of construction;  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is a horizontal cross sectional view through the article rotating or twisting portion of the apparatus taken substantially along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary, vertical cross sectional view through the article rotating apparatus taken substantially along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is a fragmentary, vertical cross sectional view of the article rotating or twisting apparatus taken substantially along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 14  is a fragmentary, horizontal cross sectional view of the article rotating or twisting portion of the apparatus taken substantially along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 12 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 15  is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view through the article rotating or twisting apparatus showing guides for the twisting and conveying belt lengths in that region of the machine;  
         [0022]      FIG. 16  is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view through the article rotating or twisting apparatus from a point above the twister belt guides of  FIG. 15  and illustrating guiding mechanism at that location;  
         [0023]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged perspective view of a set of guide rods in the article rotating or twisting portion of the apparatus that assists in carrying out the one-quarter turn rotation of the articles as they move along the path of travel, the phantom lines representing a pair of successive articles that undergo the rotating action;  
         [0024]      FIG. 18  is a fragmentary perspective view of the twisted, article rotating belts located in the article rotating or twisting portion of the apparatus;  
         [0025]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged perspective view of the air cylinder control assembly at the lower discharge end of the apparatus that controls the angle of discharge of the cooperating discharge conveyor assemblies at that location;  
         [0026]      FIG. 20  is a longitudinal cross sectional view through the control cylinder of  FIG. 19 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 21  is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for synchronizing motor speeds of the various parts of the entire collating, transporting, and inserting mechanism, and for controlling the angle of discharge of the conveyor assemblies at the discharge end of the apparatus as a function of the operating speed of the main newspaper and/or commercial inserting machine; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 22  is a schematic diagram illustrating the manner in which articles are rotated one-quarter turn for insertion into the top loading inserting machine and, if necessary, are turned on edge from an initial, horizontal position at the source of supply. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]     The present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. While the drawings illustrate and the specification describes certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. There is no intent to limit the principles of the present invention to the particular disclosed embodiments.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show transporting or conveying apparatus broadly denoted by the numeral  10  for supplying articles such as flimsy single sheets or stacks thereof to a high speed, multi-station circular newspaper and/or commercial inserting machine  12 . The source of such articles may be an inline collator denoted by the numeral  14 . In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the collator  14  may take the form of a KANSA MULTI-FEEDER available from Kansa Technology LLC of Emporia, Kans. Generally speaking, the collator  14  is most advantageously operable to collate a number of flat, flexible insert sheets into a stack or package forming an article to be conveyed into inserting machine  12 , although it is within the scope of the present invention for the source of supply to simply feed individual sheet materials to the conveying apparatus  10  for subsequent delivery to the newspaper and/or commercial inserting machine  12 . In one preferred embodiment, the articles supplied by the collator  14  are oriented horizontally on a flat conveying surface with their planar surfaces facing upwardly and downwardly respectively. An axis normal to the plane of such articles thus extends generally vertically upwardly.  
         [0031]     The present invention has utility in connection with a variety of different high speed newspaper and/or commercial inserting machines, both circular and inline. In the illustrated embodiment, the circular machine  12  may advantageously comprise a well-known HARRIS/Heidelberg/AM Graphics brand inserting machine having multiple top loading insert stations about its periphery as designated generally by the alphabet designations A, B, C, D, E and F in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Stations B-F are provided with dispensing hoppers  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  respectively, while the transporting apparatus  10  takes the place of a dispensing hopper at station A. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the conveying apparatus  10  and collator  14  approach circular machine  12  in a radial direction.  
         [0032]     Generally speaking, and as well understood by those skilled in the art, the inserting machine  12  has a number of buckets or pockets  26  that move sequentially in a circular path of travel beneath the dispensing hoppers  16 - 24  and the outlet of conveyor apparatus  10  for the purpose of receiving insert articles into opened newspaper or other product sections or jackets within the pockets  26 . Each pocket  26  receives an insert article at each of the stations A-F during one complete revolution so as to build up a complete package of jacketed inserts. The complete jacketed package is discharged from each successive pocket  26  by means not illustrated. Advertising slicks, weekly news magazines, and specialty sections are but a few of the wide variety of different article types that can be inserted at the machine  12  by hoppers  16 - 24 . Advantageously, the station A with conveyor apparatus  10  and collator  14  may be utilized to insert a stacked compilation of individual sheet items at one station, thereby greatly increasing the capacity of the machine  12  without adding additional inserting stations and hoppers thereto.  
         [0033]     With reference initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , the conveyor apparatus  10  generally includes three primary portions, i.e., a transporting and turning portion  26  leading from collator  14  for traversing most of the distance between collator  14  and inserter machine  12  and for turning the articles from a horizontal condition to an on-end or edgewise orientation; an article rotating portion  28  vertically aligned with insert station A above the later for receiving the edgewise article from turning portion  26  and rotating it through a one-quarter turn for proper insertion into the radially extending pockets  26  of inserting machine  12 ; and an article discharging portion  30  at the lower end of rotating portion  28  for receiving the quarter-turned articles from rotating portion  28 , establishing firm control over such quarter-turned articles, and driving them down into the radially oriented pockets  26  passing rapidly in succession below discharging portion  30 .  
         [0034]     This turning, rotating and discharging action is depicted generally in a simplified manner in  FIG. 22  wherein it may be seen that the overall path of travel  32  of the articles from collator  14  to the inserting machine  12  is upwardly arched to present an upwardly oriented first leg  34 , a gently arched intermediate or second leg  36  in which the path of travel  32  transitions from upwardly directed to downwardly directed, and a third downwardly directed leg  38  leading from second leg  36  and aligned directly above insert station A. A representative article  40  in  FIG. 22  departs from collator  14  in a horizontal condition with an axis  42  that is normal to the plane of article  40 . Article  40  then moves upwardly along the first leg  34  of path of travel  32  through the transporting and turning portion  26  of conveyor apparatus  10 . Article  40  then moves around the apex of its path of travel through second leg  36  and turns downwardly as it nears third leg  38  comprising the article rotating portion  28 . By the time it enters third leg  38  of its path of travel, article  40  is on edge with article axis  42  projecting horizontally as it needs to for insertion into pocket  26 . As article  40  continues along third leg  38 , it is rotated or twisted one-quarter turn about the longitudinal axis  44  of path of travel  32  so that the plane of article  40  is extending in a radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation of circular machine  12 . As article  40  completes its descent along the lower region of its path of travel  32 , it is maintained in its radial orientation and is inserted down into the pocket  26 .  
         [0035]     As illustrated particularly in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4  and  5 , collator  14  has a horizontally disposed discharge conveyor  46  that supports the horizontally disposed articles as they move leftwardly out of the machine and generally toward inserter  12 . As the articles exit conveyor  46 , they are received by a receiving conveyor assembly  48  that includes a top set of four, relatively narrow conveyor belts  50  looped around rollers  52  on a cross shaft  54  that overlies conveyor  46  and is driven by collator  14 . At their opposite end, belts  50  are looped around four corresponding rollers  56  mounted on a transversely extending common shaft  58  that is supported at its opposite ends by a pair of links  60 ,  62  that extend longitudinally of the path of travel and back toward collator  14 . The two links  60 ,  62  are journaled at their upstream ends to a transverse pivot shaft  64  so that links  60 ,  62  can swing upwardly and downwardly to a certain extent about pivot shaft  64 . Another pair of laterally spaced links  66  and  68  are pivoted on pivot shaft  64  slightly outboard of links  60 ,  62  and extend therefrom in an upstream direction to support a transverse shaft  70  carrying four idler rollers  72  below the top stretch of belts  50 . Links  66 ,  68  may thus also move up and down about pivot shaft  64  to a certain extent during operation.  
         [0036]     Receiving conveyor assembly  48  further includes four relatively narrow conveyor belts  74  ( FIG. 5 ; only one belt  74  being illustrated) immediately below belts  50  and in vertical alignment therewith. Belts  74  are wrapped around four rollers  76  on a transverse shaft  78  that is journaled by opposite sides of the frame of conveyor apparatus  10 . Shaft  78  projects outwardly beyond such frame on the backside thereof as shown in  FIG. 4  for driving connection with collator  14  by a pulley  80  and a belt  82 . Rollers  76  associated with belts  74  are disposed in close proximity to the discharge end of discharge conveyor  46  so as to effectively form a continuation of the lower conveying surface provided by discharge conveyor  46 . At their downstream ends, belts  74  are looped around a set of four corresponding idlers  84  mounted on a shaft  86  directly below pivot shaft  64 . Articles leaving collator  14  on discharge conveyor  46  thus become clamped between conveyor  46  and belts  74  on the bottom and belts  50  on the top so as to positively drive and control the articles. Rear links  66  may pivot upwardly about pivot shaft  64  as need be to permit idler rollers  72  to be forced upwardly by the moving article as may be necessary to accommodate the particular thickness of the article being conveyed.  
         [0037]     A diverter gate broadly denoted by the numeral  88  is disposed immediately downstream from idler shaft  86  and includes a series of fingers  90  that are interspersed between belts  50  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  and are normally maintained down at the level of the other surface of belt  74  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . However, fingers  90  are interconnected by a transverse rod  92  and are mounted for up and down swinging movement about a transverse pivot shaft  94  at their downstream ends so that fingers  90  can be flipped up from their stowed positions of  FIG. 5  into the path of travel of the moving articles for the purpose of blocking further advancement of the articles and diverting them downwardly out of the path of travel of the conveying apparatus in the event that such diversion of the articles is temporarily needed for any reason. An air cylinder  96  ( FIG. 5 ) is operably coupled with diverter gate  88  for operating the same between its two extreme positions.  
         [0038]     Receiving conveyor assembly  48  additionally includes a relatively short bottom set of narrow belts  98  that are looped around corresponding downstream rollers  100  mounted on a transverse shaft  102  directly below corresponding upper rollers  56 . The upstream ends of belts  98  are looped around four small rollers  104  on the pivot shaft  94  of diverter gate  98 . Shaft  102  of rollers  100  projects outwardly beyond the rear of the frame of the conveyor apparatus as shown in  FIG. 4  and is drivingly coupled with the drive mechanism of collator  14  by a drive belt  106  and a pulley  108  on the other end of shaft  102 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , tension springs  110  apply downward bias to a crossbar  112  that structurally interconnects swingable links  60 ,  62  to urge top rollers  56  down into engagement with bottom rollers  100 .  
         [0039]     The transporting and turning portion  26  of conveyor apparatus  10  primarily includes two opposed pairs of long, relatively wide and continuous belts  114  and  116  that are guided by a multiplicity of transverse rollers. At the upstream end of conveyor portion  26 , an upper transverse roller  118  cooperates with a lower transverse roller  120  to define an entry nip for articles from the discharge end of receiving conveyor assembly  48  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The side-by-side belts  116  are wrapped around top roller  118  at that location, while belts  114  are looped around the lower roller  120 . Belts  114  and  116  extend upwardly along a tall upright leg  122  of the conveyor frame defining the first upright leg  34  of the path of article travel, then along an arched portion  124  of the frame defining the second leg  36  of the path of travel  32 , and thence partly down a third, downwardly extending leg  126  of the conveyor frame defining portions of the third leg  38  of the path of article travel.  
         [0040]     Shortly after entering the downwardly projecting leg  126  of the conveyor frame, the two sets of belts  114  and  116  are looped around two pairs of opposed, transverse drive rollers  128  and  130 , the belts  114  being looped around rollers  130  and the belts  116  being looped around rollers  128 . Located between the upstream rollers  118 ,  120  and the downstream rollers  128 ,  130  are a multiplicity of transverse guide rollers  132  that cooperate to support the belts  114 ,  116  and to create a pair of opposed, inter-engaging stretches that serve to effectively clamp and drive successive articles from rolls  118 ,  120  on the one hand to the rolls  128 ,  130  on the other hand. Although rolls  118 ,  120  are opposed to one another at the upstream end of the belt runs and rolls  128 ,  130  are similarly opposed at the downstream end of the stretches, the guide rollers  32  are so disposed that none of the rollers are directly opposed to one another along the remaining length of the opposed stretches. This facilitates accommodating various thicknesses of articles without the need for making any of the guide rollers  132  moveable toward and away from one another. Cooperating pairs of edge guide rollers  134  are strategically positioned along the slack side runs of belts  114  and  116  in disposition for engaging opposite edges of such belts to maintain proper positioning of the belts along the length of the guide rollers  132 , the entry rollers  118 ,  120 , and the exit rollers  128 ,  130 .  
         [0041]     Referring also now to  FIGS. 7-10 , the belts  114 ,  116  are driven by a motor  136  supported at the upper end of a frame tower  138  associated with article rotating portion  28  of the conveyor apparatus. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , motor  136  has an output shaft  140  on the backside of conveyor apparatus  10  that carries a pulley  142  drivingly engaged by an endless drive belt  144 . Belt  144  is looped around a driven pulley  145  on a shaft  146  that carries roll  128  so as to supply driving power from motor  136  to rolls  128 . Belt  144  is also looped around a number of additional pulleys  148 ,  150  and  152 .  
         [0042]     Pulley  148  is fixed to a shaft  154  that passes completely through the apparatus and exits on the front side thereof where a pulley  156  is fixed thereto ( FIGS. 8 and 10 ). Pulley  156  is entrained by a belt  158  looped around a lower pulley  160  which, in turn, is fixed to a shaft  162  that carries the belt drive rolls  130 . In this manner, motor  136  also supplies driving power to drive rolls  130 . The shaft  154  also serves as a support means for one of the guide rollers  132  which is rotatable relative to shaft  154 .  
         [0043]     The shaft  162  for rolls  130  is carried at the lower ends of a pair of depending links  164  and  166  that are swingably supported at their upper ends on the shaft  154 . Thus, while rolls  128  are fixed in their positions, rolls  130  can swing toward and away from rolls  128  to vary the width of the gap or nip created between rolls  128  and  130 . Arcuate clearance slots  168  ( FIGS. 7 and 9 ) in the opposite side walls of the frame of the conveyor of the apparatus provide clearance for such movement of shaft  162 . In  FIG. 7 , rolls  128  and  130  are shown somewhat separated, although they would normally be essentially contacting one another except during those times when articles are passing therebetween. An air spring cylinder  170  yieldably biases rolls  130  toward rolls  128  through a cross bar  172  that interconnects a pair of arms  174  and  176  fixed to respective links  164  and  166  below the axis of swinging movement thereof defined by shaft  154 . Spring cylinder  170  and other spring cylinders hereinafter described may take the form of cylinders available from SMC Pneumatics Incorporated of Indianapolis, Ind. Such cylinders are advantageously provided with an SMC series 2000 fast release regulator.  
         [0044]     The rolls  128  and  130  represent the termination of the transporting and turning portion  26  of conveyor apparatus  10  and the beginning of article rotating portion  28 . In this respect, one primary component of the article rotating portion  28  is a pair of cooperating twister belts  178  and  180  that not only continue the advancement of the articles along their path of travel but also twist and rotate such articles one-quarter turn about an axis extending axially of the path of travel. The upper end of twister belt  178  is looped around a pulley  182  ( FIG. 10 ) rotatably mounted on shaft  146  associated with rolls  128 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , pulley  182  is disposed between the two rolls  128 . Similarly, the upper end of twister belt  180  is looped around a pulley  184  rotatably mounted on driven shaft  162  associated with rolls  130 , the pulley  184  being located between such rolls  130 . Belts  178  and  180  are so disposed as to present a pair of downwardly moving, opposed lengths  178   a  and  180   a  that cooperate to engage and grip opposite faces of the article during its movement through this portion of conveyor apparatus.  
         [0045]     As illustrated particularly in  FIG. 18 , each of the belts  178 ,  180  is twisted one-quarter turn about its longitudinal axis so that although the upper ends of belts  178 ,  180  are looped around fore-and-aft axes defined by shafts  146  and  162 , the lower ends of twister belts  178 ,  180  are looped around transverse axes defined by a pair of shafts  186  and  188  respectively. Shafts  146 ,  162  are thus perpendicular to shafts  186 ,  188 . The lower end of belt  178  is looped around a pulley  190  fixed to shaft  186 , while the lower end of belt  180  is looped around a pulley  192  fixed to shaft  188 . Pulleys  190  and  192  are drive pulleys and are provided with circumferential, centrally disposed ribs  194  that are received within longitudinal extending, complemental grooves  196  on the interior surfaces of belts  178  and  180 .  
         [0046]     Belts  178  and  180  are relatively narrow compared to the overall width of articles being conveyed, as will subsequently be seen. Moreover, it will be noted that runs  178   a  and  180   a  of belts  178 ,  180  engage the articles substantially centrally thereof to facilitate the rotating and twisting action imparted to the articles. Belts  178 ,  180  are confined adjacent their upper ends against twisting by a pair of opposed belt guide assemblies  198  and  200  as shown in  FIG. 16  that engage the return or slack sides of belts  178 ,  180 . Below guides  198 ,  200 , belts  178  and  180  are free to twist one-quarter turn and are guided in this respect by edge guides  202  and  204  illustrated in detail in  FIG. 15 .  
         [0047]     The article rotating portion  28  of conveyor apparatus  10  further includes as a primary component a set of stationary guides broadly denoted by the numeral  206  alongside the path of travel of articles as they are advanced by twister belts  178 ,  180 .  FIG. 17  illustrates stationary guides  206  isolated from other structure of the conveyor apparatus  10  and shows a preferred form of such guides  206 , namely a series of elongated, stationary guide rods  208 ,  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216  and  218 . Guide rods  208 ,  210  and  212  are supported at their upper ends  208   a ,  210   a  and  212   a  respectively by a fore-and-aft extending beam  220  that also supports the upper twister belt guides  200  for belt  178 . Similarly, on the other lateral side of the path of travel of the articles the guide rods  214 ,  216  and  218  are supported at their upper ends  214   a ,  216   a  and  218   a  by a fore-and-aft extending beam  222  that carries the upper belt guide assembly  198  for belt  180 . Guide rods  208 - 218  form a structure that is analogous to a twisted cage for confining articles as they are acted upon twister belts  178  and  180  and for assisting in such rotating action imparted by belts  178 ,  180 . It will be seen in this respect that lower ends  208   b ,  210   b  and  212   b  are supported by a lower transverse mounting bar  224  that extends at right angles to upper support beam  220 . Similarly, lower rod ends  214   b ,  216   b  and  218   b  are supported on a lower mounting bar  226  that extends at right angles to upper support beam  222  as illustrated in  FIG. 17 . An article  40  moving downwardly through stationary guides  206  is encouraged to rotate one-quarter turn between the upper end of stationary guides  206  and the lower end thereof. The rods of stationary guides  206  are configured so as to present a fairly wide but tapering entrance thereto adjacent the upper end thereof and a narrower outlet therefrom adjacent the lower end thereof.  
         [0048]     Referring now also to  FIGS. 11-16 , the article discharging portion  30  is disposed below article rotating portion  28  and is adapted to receive articles from the twister belts  178 ,  180  and the stationary guide rods  206 . The lower exit end of rotating portion  128  and the upper entrance end of discharge portion  30  coincide with one another at the axes of rotation of lower pulleys  190 ,  192  for twister belts  178  and  180 . The shafts  186  and  188  for pulleys  190  and  192  respectively are carried at the upper ends of four upwardly converging support links  228 ,  230 ,  232  and  234 , with the links  228  and  230  supporting the front shaft  188  and the links  232  and  234  supporting the rear shaft  186 . At their lower ends, the support links  228 ,  230  are swingably mounted on a cross shaft  236  that spans the tower frame. Similarly, the lower ends of links  232  and  234  are swingably mounted on a cross shaft  238 . Drive shafts  186 ,  188  and pulleys  190 ,  192  are thus rendered swingable toward and away from one another.  
         [0049]     Lower ends  208   b ,  210   b  and  212   b  of guide rods  208 ,  210  and  212  are also rendered moveable toward and away from the lower ends  214   b ,  216   b  and  218   b  of guide rods  214 ,  216  and  218  by virtue of swingable links  228 ,  230   232  and  234 . In this regard, it will be seen that mounting bar  224  for lower guide rod ends  208   b ,  210   b  and  212   b  is carried by a centrally disposed block  240  that is in turn carried by a longer, horizontally extending beam  242 . Beam  242  is rigidly connected to links  232  and  234  by a corresponding pair of arms  244  and  246 . An air spring cylinder  247  is operably coupled between the frame tower and beam  242  to yieldably bias twister belt pulley  190  toward twister belt pulley  192 . Similarly, on the front side of the apparatus, the front mounting bar  226  is carried by a centrally disposed block  248  that is in turn supported by a transversely horizontally extending beam  250 . Beam  250  is rigidly joined to the front links  228  and  230  by a pair of spaced arms  252  and  254  respectively. An air spring cylinder  256  is operably coupled between the tower frame and beam  250  to yieldably bias lower front twister belt pulley  192  toward lower rear twister belt  190 . Manifestly, air cylinders  247  and  256  also serve to bias the lower ends of guide rods  208 - 218  toward one another.  
         [0050]     The lower discharging portion  30  of apparatus  10  includes a pair of generally vertically extending, opposed conveyor assemblies  258  and  260  that are supported by and depend from links  228 - 234 . Rear conveyor assembly  260  includes four endless, relatively narrow belts  262 ,  264 ,  266  and  268  that are wrapped around four corresponding rollers  270 ,  272 ,  274  and  276  fixed to shaft  186 . Shaft  186  at its opposite ends is rotatably supported by a pair of upright side frames  278  and  280 . At their lower ends, the four belts  262 - 268  are wrapped around four corresponding rollers  282 ,  284 ,  286  and  288  ( FIG. 9 ), which are in turn fixed to a lower shaft  290  journaled at its opposite ends by the lower ends of side frames  278  and  280 .  
         [0051]     Correspondingly, front conveyor assembly  258  includes four endless, relatively narrow belts  292 ,  294 ,  296  and  298  entrained at their upper ends around a corresponding set of four rollers  300 ,  302 ,  304  and  306  that are fixed to shaft  188  for rotation therewith. Shaft  188  is journaled at its opposite ends by a pair of upwardly extending side frames  308  and  310 . At their lower ends, side frames  308 ,  310  journal a shaft  312  carrying four rollers  314 ,  316 ,  318  and  320  fixed thereto for the corresponding belts  292 ,  294 ,  296  and  298 .  
         [0052]     At their lower ends, the rear side frames  278 ,  280  are fixed to a transversely extending moveable member  322  ( FIG. 14 ). Likewise, at their lower ends the side frames  308 ,  310  are fixed to a moveable member  324 . Members  322  and  324  are operably interconnected by a double-acting air cylinder  326  ( FIG. 14 ) that is adapted to maintain only a slight differential in air pressure on opposite sides of the internal piston thereof so that only a light compressive action is maintained by air cylinder  326  against the lower ends of conveyor assemblies  258  and  260 . A suitable cylinder for cylinder  326  is also readily available from SMC Pneumatics Incorporated of Indianapolis, Ind.  
         [0053]     Located directly above differential air cylinder  326  as detailed in  FIG. 12  is equalizing linkage  328  that maintains the upper ends conveyor assemblies  258 ,  260  equally spaced apart relative to the center of the path of travel of articles therebetween as the upper ends of conveyor assemblies  258  and  260  move toward and away from one another during passage of articles therebetween. Linkage  328  includes a rear link  330  pivotally connected at its upper end to a trunnion  332  on rear beam  242 . Likewise, a front link  334  is pivotally connected at its upper end by a trunnion  334  to the front beam  250 . At their lower ends, links  330  and  334  are swivel-connected to opposite upper and lower ends of a generally upright rocker lever  338  attached intermediate its opposite ends to the frame of the tower by a horizontal pivot  340 .  
         [0054]     Driving power for the discharge conveyor assemblies  258  and  260 , and also for twister belts  178  and  180 , is provided via a long endless belt  342  on the backside of the frame tower. At its upper end belt  342  is entrained around a pulley  344  disposed beside the pulley  152  that receives driving power from motor  136 . Pulleys  152  and  344  may advantageously comprise side-by-side, fixed interconnected halves of a double pulley so that when pulley  152  is rotated by belt  144 , so also is pulley  344 , which in turn drives belt  342 . At its lower end belt  342  is looped around a pulley  346  fixed to an input shaft  348  of a right angle gearbox  350 . Gearbox  350  has an output shaft  352  ( FIG. 10 ) that carries a pulley  354 .  
         [0055]     Pulley  354  is entrained by an endless drive belt  356  that also wraps around three additional pulleys  358 ,  360  and  362 . Pulley  358  is fixed to the outer end of driven shaft  236  for rotating the same, while pulley  360  is fixed to the outer end of driven shaft  238  for rotating that shaft. Pulley  362  is an idler. Thus, both shafts  236  and  238  are driven shafts for supplying driving power to conveyor assemblies  258 ,  260  and twister belts  178 ,  180 .  
         [0056]     Driven shaft  236  has a pulley  364  fixed thereto slightly inboard of link  230 . Pulley  364  is entrained by an endless upwardly extending belt  366  that at its upper end is looped around another pulley  368  fixed to shaft  188 . Shaft  188  in turn supplies driving power to upper rollers  300 ,  302 ,  304  and  306  of front conveyor assembly  258 , as well as to lower twister belt pulley  192 . Similarly, a pulley  370  is fixed to shaft  238  just inboard of link  234  and is entrained by a belt  372 . Belt  372  at its upper end is entrained around a pulley  374  ( FIG. 11 ) fixed to shaft  186  for, in turn, driving upper rollers  270 ,  272 ,  274  and  276  of rear conveyor assembly  260 , as well as lower belt twister pulley  190 .  
         [0057]     The lower discharge end of the conveyor assemblies  258 ,  260  is maintained in a vertical orientation as illustrated throughout the drawings when conveyor apparatus  10  and the circular inserting machine  12  are either idle or moving fairly slowly. However, it will be appreciated that as the inserting machine  12  is speeded up to normal operating speeds, the pockets  26  move underneath and past discharge conveyor assemblies  258 ,  260  quite rapidly. Therefore, it has been found desirable to adjust the angle of discharge of conveyor assemblies  258 ,  260  in accordance with the operating speed of circular inserter  12  so that conveyor assemblies  258 ,  260  are angled somewhat forwardly at their lower ends with respect to the direction of circular travel of pockets  26 . Thus, discharge conveyor assemblies  258 ,  260  somewhat lead the pockets  26  at full line speed so as to provide additional time for the discharging articles to travel the distance between discharge assemblies  258 ,  260  and pockets  26 .  
         [0058]     Such adjustment of the discharge angle is accomplished in part by a discharge angle adjustment air cylinder broadly denoted by the numeral  376  illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , but also seen in several of the other figures. Angle adjustment cylinder  376  comprises a modified double-acting air cylinder that includes a barrel  378  having an internal chamber  380 . Ports  382  and  384  communicate from the outside with chamber  380  at opposite ends thereof to receive air from supply lines  386  and  388  as shown in  FIG. 19 . A piston  390  is adapted to shift within chamber  380  toward and away from opposite ends thereof, depending upon the air pressure supplied to ports  382  and  384 . Piston  390  has a stem  392  that projects outwardly from one end thereof and is mechanically coupled with the side frame  280  of rear conveyor assembly  260  by a connector  394  as seen in  FIGS. 11 and 13 .  
         [0059]     Secured to the end of barrel  378  opposite stem  392  is a cylindrical block  396  and a cylindrical end cap  398 . An externally threaded stop rod  400  passes through the end of barrel of  378 , block  396  and end cap  398  and carries a gripping knob  402  at the outer end thereof. An internally threaded sleeve  404  contained within end cap  398  threadably engages rod  400  so as to advance or retract stop rod  400  within chamber  380  when knob  402  is rotated after loosening a set screw  406 . The inboard end of stop rod  400  thus serves as a limit stop for piston  390 , determining the amount of retraction of stem  392  into barrel  378 . Because stem  392  is mechanically connected to the sideframe of rear conveyor assembly  260 , when pressurized air is admitted into port  382 , rear conveyor assembly  260  is pulled angularly out of its vertical position until piston  390  comes into engagement with the inboard end of stop rod  400 . Due to the pressure differential air cylinder  326  that always seeks to maintain the lower discharge ends of discharge conveyors  258 ,  260  in contacting engagement with one another, front conveyor  258  swings along with rear conveyor  260  into the angled position. The extent of such angled position is determined by appropriate adjustment of knob  402 , followed by retightening set screw  406  to retain stop rod  400  in the selected position. On the other hand, the admittance of pressurized air into the port  384  when piston  390  is against stop rod  400  causes piston  390  to move to the opposite end of barrel  378 , extending stem  392  and returning the discharge conveyors  258 ,  260  to their vertical positions as shown throughout the figures.  
         [0060]      FIG. 21  is a schematic illustration of a system for controlling and synchronizing the motor speeds of the inserting machine  12 , the conveyor apparatus  10 , and the collator  14  with the discharge angle control cylinder  376 . A motor  408  of the circular inserter  12  is mechanically coupled to an encoder  410  that produces a pulsed output signal related to the speed of motor  408 . That signal is delivered to a drive controller  412  associated with the conveyor apparatus drive motor  136  to control the speed of conveyor apparatus  10 . An output from drive controller  412  is delivered to a control unit  414  which processes the signal and sends an output to a solenoid valve  416  that controls which of the ports  382 ,  384  of control cylinder  376  will receive pressurized air, and which will be communicated with atmosphere. Both of the lines  386 ,  388  leading to cylinder  376  are provided with adjustable needle valves  418  and  420  respectively for feathering the entry and exit of pressurized air to and from cylinder  376 .  
         [0061]     When the inserter motor  408  reaches a predetermined speed as sensed by encoder  410 , drive controller  412  and control unit  414 , solenoid  416  is actuated to admit pressurized air into cylinder  376  through line  388  so as to retract stem  392  to the extent permitted by the adjusted stop rod  400 , correspondingly changing the delivery or discharge angle of the discharge conveyors  258 ,  260 . On the other hand, when the operating speed drops below the set level, solenoid  416  is deactuated to admit pressurized air into cylinder  376  via line  386  and exhaust air via line  388 , extending stem  392  and returning discharge conveyor assemblies  258 ,  260  to their normal vertical orientations. Control unit  414  also sends control signals to drive controllers associated with collator  14  such as, for example, the four drive controllers  422 ,  424 ,  426 , and  428 . Such controllers regulate the speeds of their corresponding motors  430 ,  432 ,  434  and  436 , it being noted that the number of such motors and drive controllers can vary widely depending upon the nature of collator  14  and the number of loading stations associated therewith.  
         [0062]     One type of encoder suitable for performing the function of the encoder  410  is available from Heidenhain Corporation of Schamburg, Ill. as Model ROD4861024. The control unit  414  and the various drive controllers  412 ,  422 ,  424 ,  426  and  428  may also be obtained from Heidenhain Corporation as a DKCO2.3 drive controller featuring a SERCOS interface and a CCD control unit with a SERCOS interface. The barrel  378  and related parts of control cylinder  376  may comprise a standard double-acting single rod series CG1 cylinder available from SMC Corporation of Indianapolis, Ind., and fast release regulators associated with each of the air spring cylinders of the conveyor apparatus  10  may comprise SMC series 2000 regulators.  
         [0000]     Operation  
         [0063]     The operation and use of conveyor apparatus  10  should be apparent from the foregoing description. Therefore, suffice it to say at this juncture that, as illustrated in  FIG. 22 , as the articles  40  travel in succession from collating machine  14  along the path of travel  32 , they are upended into a vertical or upright orientation along the article turning portion  26  of conveyor apparatus  10  and are twisted or rotated about an axis  44  extending longitudinally of the path of travel  32  along the article rotating portion  28  of apparatus  10 . This orients the articles  40  radially to match the radial orientation of the pockets  26  so that articles  40  can be forcibly, rapidly and reliably stuffed down into pockets  26  as the latter move successively past and below the discharge portion  30  of conveyor apparatus  10 .  
         [0064]     Due to the cooperating efforts of the conveyor belts  114  and  116  of article turning portion  26 , the articles are maintained under complete control at all times, notwithstanding the fact that they may comprise loose, flimsy sheets stacked one upon the other. As such articles leave conveyor belts  114  and  116  and enter the twister portion  28  of apparatus  10 , the twister belts  178  and  180  assume firm, secure control over the articles and turn them one-quarter turn into their proper radial orientations. Guide rods  208 - 218  cooperate during this quarter-turn twisting action to maintain control over the articles and to assist in carrying out the quarter-turning motion. When the articles are then received by the cooperating discharge conveyor assemblies  258  and  260  of discharge portion  30 , the articles are maintained in their radial dispositions for a short distance of travel so as to assure that complete control continues to be exerted as they are stuffed down into the pockets  26 .  
         [0065]     The inventor(s) hereby state(s) his/their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of his/their invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.