Patent GB-769133-A (GB)
Title: Stacking and aligning device for folded printed sheets
IPC: B65H31/06
Filed: 1955-05-02
Abstract: 769,133. Sheet-delivery apparatus. LEVEY CO., Inc., F. H. May 2, 1955 [Dec. 10, 1954], No. 12677/55. Class 100(1) Apparatus for stacking in accurate alignment folded signatures delivered from a printing press comprises a shoot of rectangular transverse cross-section of dimensions generally to the length and breadth of the signatures, the shoot being curved through 90 degrees with its upper mouth horizontal and its lower mouth vertical, signatures drop into the upper mouth from a horizontal conveyer, turn through 90 degrees during their passage through the shoot and are then stacked on a horizontal conveyer, means being provided to vibrate the shoot to cause proper alignment of the signatures. As described, signatures are delivered from a high-speed conveyer 35 with their long folded edges adjacent to the rear wall 10 of the shoot which comprises side-walls 7, 8, and a front wall 9 in addition to the wall 10, all of transparent material. The horizontal opening at the top of the shoot conforms generally to the size of the signatures. The wall 10 is curved through 90 degrees and the wall 9 may be similarly curved or may have plates 40, 40<SP>1</SP> attached thereto to provide surfaces parallel to the wall 10. Signatures dropping into the shoot are turned through 90 degrees and emerge in a vertical position on to a table comprising horizontal moving belts 24 and a vertical moving belt 28. A heavy anglemember 29 engags the front of the stack formed on the belts 24 and moves with it. The shoot and table are preferably tilted upwardly at the side adjacent to the conveyer 35 so as to align the signatures more effectively. For the same purpose, the shoot is vibrated by an electrically operated vibrator 36 attached thereto and is supported by brackets 12 secured to rubber blocks 14. Means are provided for tilting upwardly the front edge of each signature as it leaves the conveyer 35 and for urging the folded edge against the wall 10, these means comprising respectively a tapering guide member 38 and a bevelled member 39. To prevent rebound of high speed signatures reaching the shoot and to ensure that low-speed signatures enter the shoot, a pair of belts 45 driven at a speed greater than the linear speed of the signatures are situated at the top of and extend a short distance down the inside surface of the side wall 8. A rotating knurled disc 54 projecting slightly inwardly of the wall 9 and moving downwardly at that point assists in urging the signatures downwardly into the shoot and against the rear wall 10. An alarm is actuated or the speed of the belts 24 is increased if the accumulated signatures in the shoot reach a height which does not allow adequate free fall of the signatures in the shoot for their proper alignment. For this purpose a beam projector 6<SP>1</SP> and electric eye 60 are provided to actuate the alarm or belt-speed control device when the beam is interrupted by an accumulation of signatures. Knurled driven rollers 66, 67 situated adjacent to the outlet from the shoot assist the moving of the stacked and aligned signatures horizontally through the lower part of the shoot and pack them more tightly on the receiving table. At the far end of the table a cradle 30 is provided comprising arms 33, normally extending horizontally between the belts 24 and arms 34 fixed to the .arms 33 at right-angles thereto. The cradle is pivoted to the table so that a stack of signatures thereon can be swung through 90 degrees to the position shown in Fig. 1 to facilitate handling.