Patent GB-683388-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to signature-gathering machines
IPC: B65H39/055
Filed: 1949-05-13
Abstract: 683,388. Signature-gathering machines; feeding sheets. SCUOLA PROFESSIONALE DON BOSCO. May 13, 1949 [May 17, 1948], No. 12807/49. Class 100 (i). A machine for gathering folded signatures to form a book comprises two tables 2, 2<SP>1</SP> arranged parallel to each other in a common plane and on which the signatures are placed in a series of stacks 3, 3', a conveyer 4 between the two tables, and means for alternately picking up signatures from the two tables and depositing them on the conveyer; the machine is stopped automatically if a signature is not picked up and has means indicating at which position this occurs. A series of stacks is placed on each table with the shorter sides of the signatures parallel to the conveyer. Two series of suction devices 6, 6' are provided, the devices 6 operating to pick up the top signatures simultaneously from all the stacks 3 and transfer them to the conveyer 4, and the devices 6' operating similarly upon the stacks 3<SP>1</SP>. The suction devices are mounted on a support 9 having a carriage with rollers D running in guides C, E on a frame 1<SP>1</SP> which is reciprocated vertically. The carriage is reciprocated horizontally along the guides C, E by links B connected to rocking- levers A. The motion given to the suction devices is such that the devices 6 first move to the right over the stacks 3, descend and rise to remove the top signatures, and then move to the left over the conveyer 4 to deposit the signatures. Subsequently the devices 6' similarly convey the top signatures from the piles 3' to the conveyer. Pin-and-slot connections F, 18 between the links B and the carriage provide lost motion at the end of each horizontal stroke to afford time for the suction devices to seize the top signatures. The devices 6, 6' are connected to separate exhaust tubes 8, 8', Fig. 2 (not shown), the suction to the device 6 being cut off to allow the depositing of the signatures on the conveyer 4 by the engagement of a valve-controlling lever 9a with a cam 10. A similar cam 10<SP>1</SP> at the opposite end of the machine similarly controls the suction to the devices 6'. Between each complete to-and-fro movement of the carriage, the conveyer moves forward a distance equal to the signature width so that at its delivery end the conveyer has collected a complete set of signatures at each cycle of the machine. The tables 2, 2' are moved upwardly at each cycle a distance corresponding to the signature thickness, by screws 13 engaging nuts 13a. Above the longitudinal inner edges of the tables are two metal bars 14, 14<SP>1</SP> engaging by resilient metal strips 16, 16', one strip to each stack. The strips 16, 16' are connected in parallel through lamps 17, 17<SP>1</SP> respectively with an electric circuit which is rendered live e.g. by a rotary switch whenever a set of signatures is being transferred to the conveyer. Signatures during transfer pass between and separate the strips 16, 16<SP>1</SP> from the bars 14, 14', but if there is failure to feed a signature, the corresponding strip remains in contact with its bar to keep its circuit closed and cause its lamp 17 or 17<SP>1</SP> to light up. At the same time a relay is excited to stop the machine. According to the Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91, the tables 2, 2<SP>1</SP> are so connected to their supports, that additional tables can be connected to the same supports. Further, the signatures may be stacked vertically instead of horizontally. This subjectmatter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.