Patent GB-918333-A (GB)
Title: Signature handling apparatus
IPC: B65H5/32
Filed: 1959-08-07
Abstract: 918,333. Sheet gatherers; opening folded signatures. MIEHLE-GOSS-DEXTER Inc. Aug. 7, 1959 [Aug. 7, 1958], No. 27046/59. Class 100 (1). Apparatus for placing folded sheets in an opened condition on an infeed conveyer of a sheet processing machine, the conveyer having saddle-shaped members, comprises a frame, an auxiliary support which receives sheets successively and keeps each sheet out of the operative range of the conveyer, and a support fixed to the frame which receives the sheets from the auxiliary support and keeps each sheet immobile until it is engaged by the conveyer. Signatures are deposited e.g. by means as described in Specification 918,332, on two members 15, 36 which constitute the auxiliary saddle and which engage the signature at each end of the fold. The member 15 is a horizontal rod and the member 36 is a skirt having the shape of an inverted V. The rigid saddle consists of a horizontal bar 17 beneath the members 15, 36. A conveyer 18 is arranged beneath the saddle 17. In use the members 15, 36 are moved from the position shown in full line in Fig. 1 vertically downwards, a signature being deposited thereon shortly after commencement of the downward movement. At the bottom end of the downward movement they are swung arcuately away from each other so as to deposit the signature on the saddle 17. The signature is then engaged by lateral fingers 19 on the conveyer 18 and slid to the left along saddle 17, as shown in Fig. 1, until it falls off the saddle on to the conveyer. The member 15 is connected to a rod 20 secured to one arm of a bell-crank 21 which is pivoted in the forked lower end of a plate 23. The other arm of the bell-crank 21 carries a roller 31 and is connected to the lower end of a rod 32. The upper end of the rod 32 passes through a hole in a plate 33 mounted on the upper end of the plate 23 and a spring 34 surrounding the rod biases the member 15 towards the position shown in Fig. 1. The plate 23 is carried by levers 24, 25 to one end of each of which it is pivoted. The other end of lever 25 is pivoted to one of a pair of shafts 27 mounted in the side plate 10 of the machine while the other end of the lever 24 is rigidly secured to a shaft 26 journalled in the side plates 10. The shaft 26 is oscillated by means of a cam 40 on a main drive shaft 11, such oscillating motion resulting in the vertical reciprocation of the plate 23 and member 15. A bracket 28 is mounted on the shafts 27 and has a horizontally extending surface 29 formed with a shoulder 30. As the bell-crank 21 is moved downwards the roller 31 engages the shoulder 30 so that the bell-crank is pivoted and the member 15 is swung arcuately away from the member 36. The mechanism for moving the member 36 is identical with that for moving the member 15. In a modification the vertical element in the motion of the members 15, 36 is eliminated. A block 51 is pivoted to the bracket 28 and supports a rod 52 the lower end of which is positioned adjacent to the member 15. The rod is biased towards a vertical position by a spring 53 and normally acts to strip a signature off the member 15 as the latter is moved outwards. If a signature on the auxiliary saddle accidentally becomes engaged with the fingers 19 on the conveyer it is thereby urged into contact with the rod 52 and causes it and the block 51 to pivot in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1. Such pivoting causes a cam surface 55 on the block 51 to actuate a microswitch 56 and thereby stop the machine. Alternatively the rod 52 may be fixed in the position shown, faulty feed being detected by a photo-cell 59.