Patent GB-190222185-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Gathering Sections of Printed Matter, or Signatures in the Operation of Making up a Book.
Inventor: ROBERTS HORACE LUDINGTON
Filed: 1902-10-11
Granted: 1903-05-21
Abstract: 22,185. Roberts, H. L., and Mackay, A.G. Oct. 11. Bookbinding.-A machine for gathering signatures, forms, or sheets is shown in front and end elevation, respectively, in Figs. 1 and 3. The signatures &c. are placed vertically in inclined boxes b disposed in two parallel rows, and are withdrawn from the boxes by oscillating needles and delivered to oscillating grippers B, which drop them upon a collecting-table h. Endless feedchains b<2> project through longitudinal slots in the boxes b, and run over chain-wheels fast on shafts b<5> and chain-wheels b<4> attached to tension slides b<6>. The shafts b<5> are connected by chain gearing b<7>, b<8>, and the lower shaft carries a ratchet-wheel b<9> operated by a pawl b<14> on a cam-lever c' oscillated by a cam c' on a shaft c<2> geared to the main shaft c. The needles are carried by bars d, Fig. 17, disposed in grooved holders d<7> provided with slotted straps d<15> embracing slotted hollow shafts d<1> on rock shafts d<5>, the bars d being movably attached in the slots by screws d<6> to the rock shafts, and limited by means of slots d<17> and screws d<16>. The shafts d<5> are oscillated by levers d<2>, Figs. 1 and 3, links d<3>, a lever d<4>, and a cam c<5>. The shafts d<1> are provided with toothed segments engaging racks on the framing a, and are engaged by friction brakes held in position by means of tails sliding in lugs on the framing. Fingers g<1> forming abutments for the signatures in the boxes are carried by shafts g oscillated from a cam c<7>, and other abutment fingers f<1> are carried by shafts f oscillated from a cam c<6>. The grippers B, Figs. 1, 3, and 7, comprise relatively fixed and movable jaws e', e<2> respectively, the former secured by split collars e<3> to hollow slotted shafts e<4> engaged by friction bands e<16>, and the latter carried by slides e<5> connected to shafts e<8> within the shafts e<4>, and adjusted by means of slides e<9>, screws e<10>, and nuts e<11>. The shafts e<8> are oscillated from a cam c<8>, Fig. 1. The table h, Figs. 1 and 3, is provided with feed-fingers h<2> attached to a feed-chain h<3> running over a sprocket-wheel h<4> fast on a shaft h<8> geared to the shaft c, and a sprocket - wheel h<5> attached to a tension slide h<7>, and supported in the upper run by a guide-rail h<10>. The superposed signatures are normally dropped on a packing-table k provided with spring stops and a plunger k<1> operated from a cam c'‹. The machine is arrested on imperfect action as follows :-Angular tripping- levers i<17>, i<1>, Figs. 1, 3, and 5, are loosely mounted on a shaft i extending along the table h. The upper arms i<17> are placed near the upper grippers B, and are thrown backwards normally by means of springs. Locking-lugs at the angles of the levers i<17>, i<1> engage notches in normally-retracted tripping-levers i<18>, i<5> arranged for the lower grippers. The lower arms i<5> constitute slides, and are connected to levers i<7> pivoted to the table h and provided with trip-toes i<10>, which project into the path of the feed-fingers h<2> unless the arms i<17>, i<18> are carried forward by signatures held by the grippers. The toes i<17> are secured to shifter-bars i<15> linked to a shifter-bar i<20> operating a clutch m provided with a handle m<2> and mounted on the shaft c. The shaft i is provided with a handle i<21>, and also with levers adapted to swing the arms i<17> forwards, and pins to bring the slides i<5> forwards.