Patent GB-190227724-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Gathering Signatures in Book-Binding.
Inventor: SMYTH DAVID MCCONNELL
Filed: 1902-12-16
Granted: 1903-02-12
Abstract: 27,724. Smyth, D. M., Smyth, D. G., and Hastings, H. Dec. 16. Bookbinding.-A signature-gathering machine is shown in front and end elevation respectively in Figs. 2 and 1. The signatures are carried in partitioned compartments on platforms l suspended at a constant inclination from a rotary carrier, and are removed by means of suction devices v. Wheels d, e are disposed eccentrically with respect to wheels h, i, the former being carried by a central shaft c mounted in end frames a, b, and the latter mounted in bearings 7 on the frames a, b. The wheels are connected in pairs by arms 8, which are provided with studs engaging in hubs 9 of the wheels h, i, and are connected by pins to short shafts 10 passing through hubs of the wheels d, e. The shafts 10 are connected in a fixed relation to hubs of hangers k, each of which comprises a vertical portion, a portion extending upwards and forwards, and an inclined edge flange. The platforms l are preferably made of wood and provided with metal surfaces 16, Fig. 8, and are secured between the edge flanges of the hangers. Open frames or partitions 13 extending down to the platforms, and shorter partitions 14, are threaded on rods 11, 12, 15 and adjustably secured by setscrews. The rods 11 extend through the hangers. Rods 17 provided with fingers 18 are mounted in the hangers and also preferably in the partitions 13, and the surfaces 16 are notched to receive the fingers 18. The signature compartments formed by the partitions 13 are provided with pusher frames m and sliding carriages n pivotally connected by screws 19. The shaft c, Figs. 1 and 2, is driven from a power shaft f, which is provided with fast and loose pulleys g and a hand-wheel 6, and also with a worm 5 meshing with a worm-wheel 4 on the shaft c. Another worm 23 on the shaft f operates a worm-wheel 24 and cam-wheel u loosely mounted on a fixed bar o supported in bracket extensions 2, 3 of the end frames a, b. A rocker arm 26 on a rocker bar r is provided with long and short rollers for engagement, respectively, with a rib 25 and an adjacent peripheral depression on the cam-wheel u. A groove in one face of the camwheel is engaged by a roller connected to a crank 49 on a shaft s. The rod o carries series of frames 20, 21, the former carrying means for operating the suction devices v, Figs. 2 and 8, and the latter carrying valve chambers and exhaust valves. The shaft s is mounted in the frames 20, and the rocker bar r in the frames 21. Cranks 22 are pivoted on the shaft s between jaws of the frames 20, and are linked to open frames 28 mounted to slide on bars 29 of the frames 20. All the devices v are secured to a bar 33, and alternate devices preferably are connected by arms 30, 31 to the frames 28. These devices consist of hollow, perforated, flanged plates, and are provided on the faces adjacent to the bar 33 with roughened surfaces or pins. An exhaust air pipe t is supported in the frames 21, and communicates with valve chambers containing valves 36 and provided with pipes connected by flexible pipes 34 to the devices v. The valves 36 are connected to piston-rods 35, which pass through packing-sleeves 38 provided with air inlets 39, and are operated by means of spring arms 37 from the rocker bar r. Arms 40, Figs. 1 and 2, fixed near the ends of the bar o, are provided with slots for adjustable stop bars, which co-operate with pins 47, 48 on eccentric discs 45 pivoted to the hangers k and linked to cranks 43 on the finger-rods 17.