Patent GB-286764-A (GB)
Abstract: 286,764. Pollak, J. E., (Brehmer Maschinen-Fabri7, Geb.). Dec. 4, 1926. Delivery apparatus; signature gatherers; stitching-devices.-In a signature gathering and stitching machine, of the type in which the individual signatures are assembled by an endless gathering conveyer which collects them from stationary supports and conveys them to a table associated with the stitching-mechanism, the stitched signatures are finally removed from the table by means of a, second endless conveyer acting in timed relation with the gathering mechanism. The individual signatures are placed on stationary saddle-shaped supports 11, Fig. 1, mounted above an endless chain 3 provided at intervals with projecting fingers 7 which sweep the signatures from the supports 11 on to the roof-shaped links of the chain. The mounts for the supports 11 are shaped to permit the passage of the fingers 7. Adjacent each support 11 is a lever 89 connected to a common link 88 actuating a clutch for stopping the machine. The assembled signatures are fed by the chain 3 to a roof-shaped table 1 associated with the stitcliing-mechanism. The chain 3 passes over a sprocket wheel 5 at the end of the table, and returns over a sprocket wheel 6 driven by bevel gearing from a shaft 41<a> which is continuously rotated from the main shaft 41. As the signatures are fed to the table, they pass over the head 21, Fig. 3<a> of a registering-member 20 slidable in a slot 22 in an extension 19 of the table. The member 20 is adjustably connected to a slide 23 actuated by a lever 27 from a cam 30 on a shaft 51. The cam 30 is provided with two active faces 30<1>, 30<11> which serve to move the member 20 different distances, and result in the insertion of the staples in staggered relation. The shaft 51 is driven by spur gearing from a. shaft 43 actuated by bevel gearing from the shaft 41a. In a modification, the member 20, Fig. 3b, forms a support for the signatures and cooperates with a roller 21 mounted on the end of a lever 2<1> and actuated, so as to bear on the layer of signatures, by a cam 41<1> on the shaft 41<a>. The cam is adjustable so as to regulate the movement of the signatures. In another arrangement, the roller 21<1>. Fig. 3d, is driven from the shaft 41 and is rocked by the cam 41<1> through an arm 24". The roller co-operates with a roller 20<11> in place of the slide 21. The signatures are moved by the head of the member 20 or its alternatives, just before the fingers 7 pass over the sprocket wheel 5, against a finger 31, Fig. 1, on a bell-crank lever 32 having an abutment on the arm 32<1> engaging the end of a pivoted lever 33. The abutment serves to prevent movement of the lever 33 unless the finger 31 has been tilted by the oncoming signatures. The lever 33 is connected to a strap 36, Fig. 3a, under the influence of a spring 36<1> and a cam 40 on the shaft 43. The lever 33 also actuates, through connections 46, 47, 48, a, clutch 48<a> controlling the rotation of a, shaft 52 from the main shaft 41. The shaft 52 actuates the stitching-mechanism. When the lever is released from the abutment on the arm 32<1>, the cam 40 allows it to be pulled over by the spring 36<1>, with the result that the clutch 48a is thrown in and the stitcher operated. After one operation, the cam 40 resets the lever 33 and causes the disconnection of the clutch, the abutment reengaging the end of the lever 33, as a result of the lever striking a tail on the lever 32, to prevent further operation until the next set of signatures is pushed forward. According to the Provisional Specification, more than one stitching-operation may be performed in rapid succession, the signatures being advanced correspondingly. After the stitching-operation is complete, fingers 18 on an endless chain 17 engage the rear edge of the stitched pamphlet and push it off the table 1. The chain runs underneath the table which is formed with slots for the passage of the fingers 18. The chain is driven by a sprocket wheel 15 mounted adjacent to the sprocket wheel 5 of the chain 3. The chain feeds the pamphlet to, the end of the table 1, which may be roofed in by a member 102, Fig. 10<a>, to facilitate the delivery of pamphlets formed of stiff paper. In addition, a. roller is let into the table and co-operates with a roller 104 mounted on a shaft 105 rotated from the shaft 41<a>. A lever 108, the ends of which form bearings for the shaft 105, is loosely mounted on the shaft 41a and is provided with an extension operated by a cam 111 rotated from the shaft 41a, the arrangement being such that the rollers co-operate to feed the pamphlet forward to rollers 60 which may be cylindrical or conical, and parallel or inclined to one another. The shafts of the rollers are coupled for simultaneous rotation, and are driven from the shaft 41a. The rollers feed the pamphlets into a trough 62, Fig. 5a, wherein they are advanced and stacked by a slide 63 movable on a guide 63<1> by means of a rod 64 from the shaft 41a. Alternatively, the pamphlet may be delivered into a groove 68, Fig. 7, in a plank 67 on an oblique board 66 which is vertically adjustable in a sleeve' 76 on the framework 70. The pamphlet, when delivered to the groove 68 is acted on by a rake 71, the members of which move in slots in the board 66, and the pamphlet is stacked against a sliding support 73 frictionally guided so as to be displaced when the pamphlets are stacked against it. The rake is operated by a pitman 79 from an eccentric cn the shaft 41<a>. The rake is vertically movable with the board 66, and, in order to prevent alteration in the, throw and timing of the pitman, the rear end is constrained to move horizontally in a guide 82, and its operation is partly controlled by a cam 84 on the shaft 41<a>. In order to prevent the assembly of faulty pamphlets with the correct ones, the series of signatures passes under a feeler 90, Fig. 4, above the table 1. The feeler moves with the stitching-mechanism, and forms part of a bifurcated lever 93, the outer end of which is adapted to engage a pivoted arm 96, arranged, when the number of signatures is correct, to lie in the path of movement of a projection 97 on a bellcrank lever 98 connected to a spring-pressed lever 100. The end of the lever 100 embraces the shaft 41a and carries a roller 117, Fig. 4<d>, held in contact with a cam 116 having a depression into which the roller is forced when the number of signatures is incorrect and the arm 96 is out of the path of the projection 97. The spindle of the roller 117 carries a projection actuating a ratchet clutch or the like to disconnect the shaft 41<a> from the driving-means for the stacking- device. The roller 117 is in a position to engage the depression in the cam at the time when the rake 71 or slide 63 has moved the preceding pamphlet forward. and the inoperative interval continues until the lever 98 has resumed its normal position under the influence of the cam. During the interval, the faulty pamphlet is stitched, and delivered to the board behind the rake or slide, so that, when the clutch is again thrown in, the rake or slide moves backward and discards the faulty pamphlet.