Patent GB-877115-A (GB)
Title: A machine for gathering and stitching folded sheets to produce brochures, booklets and the like
IPC: B65H39/043
Filed: 1959-03-26
Abstract: 877,115. Sheet-delivery apparatus. MACHINES RAPIDEX. March 26, 1959 [March 26, 1958], No. 10497/59. Class 100(1) In a machine for gathering and stitching folded sheets or signatures to produce brochures &c., the conveyer means for the folded sheets comprises two metal bands interconnected by distance pieces or knives to form an endless band, and the folded sheets are placed astride the knives and displaced in a direction at right angles to their folds. The folded sheets are directly stitched on the endless band whilst the latter is moving. As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7, folded sheets are deposited from a series of distributer devices 104 ... 104 2  astride knives or cross-bars 2 arranged transversely and secured at the ends to two metal band conveyers 1 which are driven continuously at constant speed. The last distributer applies a cover 106 to complete a brochure or magazine which is now moved beneath a wire-stitching device 105. The device 105 reciprocates on a platform along a path 105, and the stitching is performed as the brochure moves with the conveyer 1. The brochure moves towards a gripper chain 65 having a series of spaced grippers 81 thereon; it is grasped and carried forward by the gripper 81 which subsequently is tilted, as shown, and then opened to place the brochure in overlapping relationship with previous brochures on a delivery conveyer band 98. The main conveyer comprises two perforated metal bands 1 mounted on spaced wheels 12 which are driven by sprocket-and-chain means, and the upper runs of the bands are supported by the extensions of the main frame of the machine. The distributer devices 104-104 2  are of known construction, and each comprises a rotating drum which supports a pile of folded sheets, and is mounted on pivoted arms,which are adjustable towards or away from the conveyer. bands 1: means for circumferential adjustment of the drum relative to the driving means is also provided. The drum embodies three suction rollers, each of which removes a folded sheet from the bottom of the pile and carries it to a stationary gripper, and a pusher device on the drum then moves the sheet to an opening device which also places the sheet astride a knife 2 on the conveyer 1. The wire stitching device 105 has stitching heads and wire-feed units supported on a frame 43 which is reciprocated along the main frame of the machine by cams on the shaft 46, and levers &c. 58, 60, 61, 63. The stitching heads are mounted on bars 51, 52 which are actuated by cams also on the shaft 46. Stitching is effected when the frame 43 is moving in the same direction as the conveyer bands 1. There are two gripper chains 65 mounted on sprockets 66, 67 and provided with cross-rods 80 spaced apart the same distance as the knives 2 on the bands 1, and each rod 80 carries pivotally at each end a gripper 81 spaced apart to correspond with gaps in the upper edges of the knives 2, whereby sheets on the knives can be grasped. Each gripper comprises two levers 84, 85 carrying rollers which are adapted to ride along fixed abutments 89, 90 which control the opening and closing of the actual grippers and their positions. The delivery conveyer comprises two spaced endless bands 98 on pulleys 99, 100, a sheet-metal table 104 supporting the upper runs of the band, and a deflector 101 which engages the trailing ends of the brochures on to the bands 98. The brochures are stacked on the bands 98 in overlapping formation. A ramp 93 may be placed by mechanical or other means in the path of a lever arm 84 of a gripper 81 to cause the latter to release a brochure so that it falls on to an inclined plate 94 and into a box 95. This ramp is operated only when there is a signal from a control apparatus in the event of an incomplete or imperfect brochure being conveyed by a gripper 81.