Patent GB-747348-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to signature delivery arrangements for paper sheet handling machinery
Inventor: FRY REGINALD STANLEY
IPC: B65H31/24
Filed: 1953-07-30
Abstract: 747,348. Sheet delivery apparatus. CAMCO (MACHINERY), Ltd. July 22, 1954 [July 30, 1953], No. 21202/53. Class 100 (1). In a machine for delivering signatures of the kind in which a plurality of signatures are simultaneously delivered in a downward direction whilst lying in mutually parallel but transversely spaced-apart planes, the downward delivery of each signature is arranged to take place into an individual receptacle which is then swung through an appropriate angle, preferably 90 degrees, about a vertical axis before being opened to allow the passage of the signature therefrom. A number of signatures are fed side by side from a folding machine in the direction of the arrow a (Fig. 2) to a corresponding number of folders KF, one only of which is shown. Each signature is folded by rolls 10 and delivered by tapes 17 into a receptacle comprising two plates 21, 22 (Fig. 4). The rolls 10 are carried by a framework 11 which is slidably mounted upon transverse bars 12 fixed to the main frames of the machine. The framework 11 may be adjusted laterally of the length of the folding machine by means of a rack-andpinion arrangement 16, 15 and spindle 14. The tapes 17 pass around the rollers 10 and around rollers 18 secured to parallel shafts 19 journalled in the framework 11. The plate 21 of the signature receptacle 20 is secured to lugs 21a integral with collars 24, 25 rigidly connected to a vertical spindle 26 which is provided with a pinion 35 meshing with a rack 36 slidable in transverse guides 37. The spindle 26 is rotatably mounted in bearings 27 mounted on a bracket 28 extending from the framework 11. The plate 22 is provided with a pair of bosses 29 which are rotatable on a pin 30 rigidly secured at one end to the spindle 26. The pin 30 has a collar 32 secured thereto which has a downwardly extending arm 32a carrying at its lower end' a pin 32b surrounded by a compression spring 33 adapted to bear against the plate 22 so as to hold the lower edges of the plates 21, 22 in contact to retain the delivered signature. The lower edge of the plate 22 has secured thereto an abutment 34. The rack 36 is operated by means of a cam follower 39 located in the groove 40a of a cam 40, the cam 40 being carried on a transverse shaft 41 rotatably mounted in the bracket 28. The cam 40 is transversely slidable upon the shaft 41 and is keyed thereto by a slide key 43. Secured to the bearing 27 is a stop arm 44 having a piston 44d adapted to co-operate with the abutment 34 on the plate 22. In operation the shaft 41 is rotated in timed relation with the rollers 10 so that after the signature has been deposited the receptacle 20 is rotated, by the action of the rack and pinion 36, 35, about the axis of the shaft 26 through 90 degrees, the plates being then opened by the action of the abutment 34 and the portion 44d of the stop arm 44. The signature is prevented from dropping out of the side of the receptacle 20 by the bent portion 22b of a disc 22a secured to the plate 22. After the plates 21, 22 have been opened the signature falls between elements 56, 56a and the receptacle 20 is returned to its original position for the collection of another signature. Elements 55, 56 are carried respectively on bars 57, 58. The bar 57 is mounted on arms 59a of levers 59 secured to a shaft 53 rocked by means of a link 60 which is reciprocated in the direction of the arrow x by a suitably centred cam on one of the driving shafts of the machine. The bar 58 is secured to lever arms 62 oscillated, by a suitable cam arrangement, in the direction of the arrow y. The elements 55, 56 project through spaces 54a in a horizontal platform 50 on which the pack P of signatures is delivered. The elements 56 are each provided with a tongue element 56a. After the signature has been deposited between the elements 56, 56a the latter are lowered by the action of the arm 62 so as to deposit the signature on the platform 50, the elements 56, 56a being finally withdrawn below'the level of the platform. The elements 55 are then operated to push the signature against the edge fe of the pack P. The elements 55 are then returned to their original position and subsequently the elements 56, 56a are raised ready to receive the next signature from the receptacle 20.