Patent Abstract:
An adjustable gripper system for releasably holding at least one sheet against a surface includes a pivotable gripper shaft with a pivot axis and at least one gripper having a gripper body defining a plunger cavity, the gripper body connected to the shaft for pivoting the gripper about the axis, a gripper plunger slidably disposed in the cavity and holding the sheet against the surface, and a cam follower actuated by a cam. The cam follower is connected to the gripper plunger to displace the gripper plunger along the cavity dependent upon a position of the cam. The system can be part of a sheet-collating pocket having a forward wall and a rearward wall pivotally connected thereto and, together, defining an opening for receiving the sheet, which can be part of a sheet-collating machine having the cam, a conveyor, at least one sheet feeding device, and many of the pockets.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention lies in the field of printing presses. The present invention relates generally to a sheet-conveying apparatus, for example, for conveying newspapers, and, more particularly, to a sheet conveying apparatus having collating pockets moving on a track. In particular, the invention relates to an adjustable gripping device for holding folded sheet material sections in such a collating pocket and for separating folded ends of the sections from one another to allow nesting of inserted other sections. 
     2. Background Information 
     Sheet-conveying devices, in particular, devices for conveying newspapers, are required to be able to insert or nest or collate various sets of sheets inside one another. Specifically, to create a finished newspaper, a first folded section of the paper, taking the form of a folded sheet section, is opened and at least one second section of the newspaper is inserted between the two sides of the folded sheet section. It is possible that the second section is, itself, a section having third, fourth, or more other sections nested therein in the same manner as the first section. To process such sheets, in particular, newspapers, prior art conveying devices have an angle-shaped pocket that first picks up a first section, opens the first section, and then conveys the opened first section to a delivery station. Prior art systems including pockets include, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,521 to Müller and U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,318 to Newhall. A delivery unit drops the second section into the opened first section to create a nested paper with two sections. This process can be repeated for many different sections to create an entire newspaper. 
     There is a difficulty associated with the pocket properly opening the first section to the appropriate opening position. To facilitate proper opening, each section is formed with a lap. In other words, the two ends of the folded sheet section are not even. Typically, in a sheet-processing direction, the forward-most end of the folded sheet section is longer than the rear-most end of the folded sheet section. Thus, if the fold of the sheet section is at the bottom of the pocket, when viewing the ends of the folded sheet section in the pocket from above, the forward lap is higher than the rear lap. 
     In such a position, the folded sheet section can be opened if the forward, higher lap is secured by a device (applying a physical contact and/or air suction) and the pocket or folded sheet section is moved or tilted to allow gravity (possibly assisted with suction) to let the rear lap fall away from the forward lap. After the rear lap has fallen or is moved away from the forward lap, there exists an opening into which a second section can be inserted. Accordingly, a second section can be inserted into or nested within the first section. This combined section can then be inserted into a further section, and so on, to create a multiply nested set of sheets, typically, forming a common newspaper. 
     The securing device typically takes the form of a finger-shaped gripper. In the opening process, such a gripper is rotated or lowered onto the forward lap to secure the forward lap, and the forward sheet section, to a front wall of the pocket. Some examples of prior art gripper systems in such pockets include U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,770 to Seidel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,086 to Schlough, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,432 to Thünker et al. 
     However, lap sizes are neither consistent nor equal. Therefore, there is a need to adjust such grippers in a vertical direction with respect to a pocket so that the forward lap is gripped in the most efficient place. Prior art pocket systems solve this positioning problem by vertically adjusting the lowermost surface of the pocket holding the folded sheet section. If such a surface is lowered, the folded section resting thereon is also lowered. Similarly, if the lowermost surface is raised, the folded section resting thereon is also raised. What is needed is more precise lap-gripping adjustment system that is independent of the lowermost surface of the pocket. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,416 to Klopfenstein describes a sheet material conveying apparatus with a plurality of pockets moveable around a track to accept sheet material from sheet material feeders. These pockets permit, for example, a first outer section of a newspaper to first be fed into the pockets by a first sheet material feeder, and then an inner newspaper section to be inserted between the folds of the first outer newspaper section. The Klopfenstein apparatus uses a lift cam  20  to move a semicircular actuator gear  150  to rotate a drive shaft  110  so as to set a height for pocket feet  90  disposed on racks  80 . A pawl and ratchet mechanism prevents the pocket from opening. The sheet material can then be accepted and inserted into the pockets. To deliver the sheet material, a trip cam  22  can release the pawl and ratchet mechanism. Tracks  80  move to a lower position through a biasing spring, so that feet  90  release through operation of a driver cam  130 . The sheet material in the pocket can, thus, move out of the pocket from the bottom to be further conveyed or to be stacked. The entirety of Klopfenstein is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,888 to Eugster purports to describe pockets moveable along an endless path. Each pocket is provided with two vertically adjustable stops  14  mounted displaceably in a pocket carrier  8 . A guide member  28  purportedly can be set to vertically adjust the stops  14  as the pockets are moved along the endless path. 
     Other examples of adjustment devices for the bottom of a pocket can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,202 to Kircher, U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,710 to Hansen et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,968 to Linder et al. 
     These prior art pocket systems do not provide an adjustment device for setting placement of grippers at the top of the pocket or at the gripper location itself. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an adjustable gripping device for adjustable sheet-receiving pockets that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and that better separates the forward lap from the rearward lap by adjusting grippers in a vertical direction with respect to a pocket so that the forward lap is gripped in the most efficient place. 
     Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/662,277, entitled “SHEET MATERIAL CONVEYING APPARATUS WITH INDIVIDUALLY-ADJUSTABLE POCKETS” filed on Sep. 14, 2000, describes a plurality of manually-adjustable pockets, each having a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket. 
     Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/702,012, entitled “SHEET MATERIAL CONVEYING APPARATUS WITH HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE POCKETS” filed on Oct. 30, 2000, describes a plurality of manually adjustable pockets, each having a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket so as to define a set height. 
     Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/178,645, entitled “ADJUSTABLE GRIPPING DEVICE FOR ADJUSTABLE SHEET-RECEIVING POCKETS AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING SHEET-RECEIVING POCKETS” and filed concurrently herewith, describes a different gripper adjusting system  70  where each gripper  71  is individually adjustable through a gripper plunger  73  having a plunger body  75  with a nose, a rod  76 , and a cam follower  77  attached to the end of rod  76 . The nose directly contacts and holds forward lap  61  of a section  6 , or holds the entire section  6 ,  61 ,  63 . Depending on a setting of a vertically adjustable cam  26  the nose moves away from or towards an upper edge of the rearward lap  63 . 
     Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/178,642, entitled “LAP SEPARATOR FOR SHEET-RECEIVING POCKETS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING LAPS IN SHEET-RECEIVING POCKETS” and filed concurrently herewith, describes a lap separator system  70  for extending a window of time for allowing grippers  53 ,  55  to engage a forward lap  61 . The lap separating system  70  includes at least one lap separator  72  moveably disposed on a lap separator carrier system  74 , preferably in the form of an endless belt that follows pockets  10 , but moves at a different speed. Lap separator  72  contacts a rearward side of upper rear wall  54  and forces it against upper front wall  52 , thereby clamping a folded section  6  therebetween. As lap separator  72  is traveling with but faster than pocket  10 , it first lets go of upper rear wall  54 , then of rearward lap  63 , and, finally, of upper front wall  52  by dragging over the uppermost edge of each, similar to a fanning of a deck of cards. 
     A setting device of some of the commonly assigned applications is manually operated by an operator, who turns a knob gear and sets a lock ring for a desired pocket height. It may be desirable to provide a less time consuming, one-step setting device for each pocket. 
     Each of these commonly assigned applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an adjustable gripper system for releasably holding at least one sheet against a surface, including a pivotable gripper shaft with a pivot axis and at least one gripper having a gripper body defining a plunger cavity, the gripper body connected to the gripper shaft for pivoting the gripper about the pivot axis, a gripper plunger slidably disposed in the plunger cavity and configured to hold the at least one sheet against the surface, and a cam follower to be actuated by a cam, the cam follower connected to the gripper plunger to displace the gripper plunger along the plunger cavity dependent upon a position of the cam. 
     In accordance with another feature of the invention, the gripper is a plurality of grippers spaced apart from one another on the gripper shaft. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the gripper body is releasably connected to the gripper shaft. 
     In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the gripper plunger has a nose for holding the sheet against the surface. 
     In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the cam follower has a follower to be actuated by the cam and a cam rod connecting the gripper plunger to the follower. 
     In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the plunger cavity has a plunger body portion with a given diameter and a cam rod portion having a diameter smaller than the given diameter, the gripper plunger has a plunger body with a body diameter, the cam rod has a cam rod diameter smaller than the body diameter, the plunger body is slidably disposed in the plunger body portion, and the cam rod is slidably disposed in the cam rod portion. 
     In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, there is provided a bias device connected to the gripper body and the plunger body, the bias device biasing the plunger body with respect to the gripper body. Preferably, the bias device is a spring. 
     In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the bias device is disposed in the plunger body portion. 
     In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the gripper body has a wall between the plunger body portion and the cam rod portion and the bias device is disposed between the wall and the plunger body. The bias device can also be disposed around the cam rod. Preferably, the wall is disk-shaped. 
     In accordance with again another feature of the invention, the cam rod has an end and the follower is a wheel and an axle rotatably connecting the wheel to the end. 
     With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a sheet-collating pocket, including a forward wall having an upper end portion, a rearward wall pivotably connected to the forward wall for moving towards and away from the forward wall, the rearward wall and the forward wall together defining an opening for receiving at least one sheet, and an adjustable gripper system for releasably holding the sheet against the forward wall, the gripper system disposed at the upper end portion and having a pivotable gripper shaft with a pivot axis and at least one gripper having a gripper body defining a plunger cavity, the gripper body connected to the gripper shaft for pivoting the gripper about the pivot axis, a gripper plunger slidably disposed in the plunger cavity and configured to hold the sheet against the forward wall, and a cam follower to be actuated by a cam, the cam follower connected to the gripper plunger to displace the gripper plunger along the plunger cavity dependent upon a position of the cam. 
     In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, the pocket travels in a given direction and the forward wall is disposed downstream of the rearward wall with respect to the given direction. 
     In accordance with again an added feature of the invention, the upper end portion is an upper third, an upper fourth, or an upper fifth of the forward wall. Preferably, the forward wall has a top and the gripper system is disposed substantially at the top. 
     With the objects of the invention in view, in a sheet-collating pocket having a top, a forward wall, and a rearward wall pivotably connected to the forward wall, the rearward and forward walls together defining an opening for receiving at least one sheet from the top, there is also provided an adjustable gripping system for setting placement of grippers at the top of the pocket, the gripping system including a pivotable gripper shaft with a pivot axis and at least one gripper having a gripper body defining a plunger cavity, the gripper body connected to the gripper shaft for pivoting the gripper about the pivot axis, a gripper plunger slidably disposed in the plunger cavity and configured to hold the at least one sheet against the forward wall, and a cam follower to be actuated by a cam, the cam follower connected to the gripper plunger to displace the gripper plunger along the plunger cavity dependent upon a position of the cam. 
     With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a sheet-collating machine, including a conveyor traveling along a transport direction, at least one sheet feeding device disposed at the conveyor for feeding at least one sheet towards the conveyor to a plurality of sheet-collating pockets, and a cam having an adjustment device placing the cam in different positions with respect to the pockets, the cam disposed at the conveyor and selectively contacting each of the pockets as each pocket respectively passes thereby. Each of the pockets is connected to the conveyor, receives the sheet from the sheet feeding device, and transports the sheet along at least a portion of the conveyor in the transport direction. Each of the pockets has a forward wall with an upper end portion, a rearward wall pivotably connected to the forward wall, and an adjustable gripper system for releasably holding the at least one sheet against the forward wall. The rearward wall and the forward wall together define an opening for receiving the sheet. The gripper system is disposed at the upper end portion and has a pivotable gripper shaft with a pivot axis and at least one gripper having a gripper body defining a plunger cavity, the gripper body connected to the gripper shaft for pivoting the gripper about the pivot axis, a gripper plunger slidably disposed in the plunger cavity and configured to hold the at least one sheet against the forward wall, and a cam follower actuated by the cam, the cam follower connected to the gripper plunger to displace the gripper plunger along the plunger cavity dependent upon a position of the cam. 
     In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, the conveyor is an endless conveyor. 
     In accordance with still another feature of the invention, the sheet feeding device is disposed above the conveyor and the pockets. 
     In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the forward wall is disposed downstream of the rearward wall with respect to the transport direction. 
     The present invention permits the grippers to be set to a set height while moving and to operate for a relevant distance at the set height. To change a gripper height, a movable setting cam is set for a new height and may also include a lock engagement device. The present invention provides a simple device for resetting gripper height and allows for manual re-setting of the gripper height. 
     “Rod” as defined herein can be any elongated structure. “Slide gear” as defined herein specifically includes any type of slidable interlocking structure, and may include a gear with an exterior star gearing, a single key or tooth exterior structure, or any other structure with which a ring gear may be fixed rotationally and with which a lock ring may be selectively fixed or free to rotate, include one having a ball-detent mechanism. 
     Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an adjustable gripping device for adjustable sheet-receiving pockets, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
    
    
     The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a sheet material conveying apparatus according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a side view of a pocket according to the invention with certain elements omitted for clarity; 
     FIG. 2B is a side view of an enlarged detail of a gripper of the pocket of FIG. 2A; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pocket of FIG. 2A with certain elements omitted for clarity; 
     FIG. 4 is a different, fragmentary perspective view of the pocket of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partially exploded, cross-sectional view of a setting device for setting a finger height according to the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective view of the setting device of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of a detail of the setting device of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 8A is a diagrammatic, partially cross-sectional, side view of a gripper system according to the invention; and 
     FIG. 8B is a diagrammatic, partially cross-sectional, side view of the gripper system of FIG. 8A in a different cam-adjusted position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a diagrammatic representation of a sheet material conveying apparatus  100  having an endless track  101  for transporting a plurality of pockets  10  in transport direction  17 . Each pocket  10  includes moveable fingers  90  for defining a pocket height, an individual height setting mechanism  8 , and a releasable lock mechanism  9  for height setting mechanism  8 . 
     At a setting area  1 , each pocket  10  can be set manually by setting mechanism  8  to move fingers  90  to at least one of two desired heights, for example, a setting for receiving 10½-inch folded products. Pockets  10  are stationary during setting, and the setting can occur outside setting area  1  as well, for example, by an operator moving about track  101 . 
     Alternatively, pockets  10  can be moved to setting area  1 , the apparatus can be stopped, and each pocket can be set. An automated robot for interacting with setting mechanism  8  also could be located at setting area  1  to move each pocket  10  to the proper height, as a pocket  10  is moved to and stopped at setting area  1 . 
     After a pocket is set to a desired height, setting mechanism  8  is then locked in place by lock mechanism  9  so that the pocket height is set. After all the pockets  10  are set, the pockets are moved to pass beneath a first sheet material feed station  2  where, for example, a folded cover section  6  of a newspaper or other printed product, also referred to as a jacket, is delivered into pocket  10 . At a second and optional sheet material feed station  3 , a second section  7  may be inserted between forward and rear portions of cover section  6  to form a final printed product  12 . This process can be repeated for any number of feed stations  2 ,  3  to create a final product  12  having many nested sections  6 ,  7 . 
     After receiving sections  6 ,  7 , pockets  10  can then pass a release station  4 , which releases lock mechanism  9 . Setting mechanism  8 , which is, preferably, spring-loaded, then releases fingers  90  so that the bottom of pocket  10  opens, and finished products  12  are delivered, for example, to a conveyor belt  11 . 
     As pockets  10  continue past release station  4 , pockets  10  pass through a reset station  5 , which can include a movable incline reset ramp  25  for interacting with a reset cam follower  156  (see FIG. 3) of setting mechanism  8  and a lock engagement device  35  for locking lock mechanism  9 . Pockets  10 , which are preferably all set to a common height, are then reset to the common height by reset ramp  25 , and locked into place by lock engagement device  35  engaging lock mechanism  9 . 
     FIGS. 2A,  3 , and  4  show more details of pocket  10 . 
     Pocket  10  has an upper rear wall  54  and an upper front wall  52 , in between which is an opening  56  for accepting sheet material, for example, cover section  6 . Pocket  10  also has a side wall  44 . Pocket  10  also may have a lower rear wall  64  and a lower front wall  62 . 
     FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the upper portion of pocket  10  illustrated in FIG.  2 A. FIG. 2B shows the area where forward lap  61  of a cover section  6  is held. To hold cover section  6  in place, a set of grippers  53 ,  55  are located at the top of upper front wall  52 . Grippers  53 ,  55  are shown coaxially disposed on a single shaft  57 , albeit in different rotational positions. However, alternatively, different sets of grippers can be disposed on different shafts, each being independently controlled. For example, grippers of one set can be longer than grippers of another set. Also, grippers  53 ,  55  are shown at the top of upper front wall  52 . However, grippers  53 ,  55  can be located at the upper third, fourth, or fifth of upper front wall  52 , depending upon the distance between the top of section  6  and a top of upper front wall  52 . 
     A non-illustrated control device pivots the shaft  57  holding the grippers  53 ,  55  between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In FIG. 2B, one gripper  53  is shown in the disengaged position and the other gripper  55  is shown in the engaged position. In the engaged position, the gripper  55  holds the forward lap  61  of the cover section  6  so that it is fixed with respect to the upper front wall  52 . A cover section  6  being so held is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2B with a dashed line. See also FIGS. 8A and 8B. 
     When the cover section  6  is first deposited in the opening  56 , the bottom (lowermost) edge of the cover section  6  rests at the junction between the fingers  90  and the upper rear wall  54 . In the open position of the pocket  10  shown in FIG. 2A, gravity causes the cover section  6  to rest entirely against the upper rear wall  54 . To grip the cover section  6  with the grippers  53 ,  55 , the upper rear wall  54  is pivoted about axis  51  to contact the upper front wall  52 . Alternatively and/or additionally, the entire rear wall  54 ,  64  can be displaced towards the front wall  52 ,  62 . When the cover section  6  rests against the upper front wall  52 , the grippers  53 ,  55  can be rotated into the engaged position and hold the cover section  6  in place against the upper front wall  52 . If the grippers  53 ,  55  are adjusted so that they extend no further than the top edge of the rearward lap  63  of the cover section  6  (see FIGS.  8 A and  8 B), then the grippers  53 ,  55  only grip the forward lap  61  of the cover section  6 . After engaging the forward lap  61 , when the upper rear wall  54  is moved back to the position shown in FIG. 2A, the forward lap  61  is held against the upper front wall  52  and gravity carries the rearward lap  63  of the cover section  6  along with the upper rear wall  54 , thus creating an opening between the forward lap  61  and rearward lap  63  for receiving another section  7  therein, for example, from the second sheet material feed station  3 . 
     Slidable with respect to upper front wall  52  is a rack  80 , on which the fingers  90  are supported. The fingers  90  are supported on the rack  80  by a pivot  96  attached to a first section  92  of the finger  90 . A second section  94  of the finger  90  can define a pocket bottom when the fingers  90  are in a closed position (as illustrated in FIG.  2 A). As most clearly shown in FIG. 4, rack  80  includes teeth  82  that interact with a gear  122  of a pinion  120  (FIGS.  3  and  4 ), which also includes a release cam  130 . Pinions  120  are located on a shaft  110  rotatably supported in wall  44  and wall  46  (only partially shown in FIG.  4 ). 
     At the wall  46 , an end  111  of shaft  110  passes through a setting ring gear  140 , of which only a first part is shown in FIG.  3 . Ring gear  140  has an interior surface that ensures rotation of ring gear  140  in a fixed relationship with a slide gear  180  (FIG. 5) that is in a fixed rotational relationship with shaft  110 . Slide gear  180 , however, can slide axially with respect to shaft  110  for selective interlocking with the lock ring  160  (interior to gear  140  and visible in FIG. 6) that forms part of lock mechanism  9 . Lock mechanism  9  also includes a pawl  209  for interacting with a single ratchet  164  on the exterior of ring  160 . Ring gear  140  is shown in FIGS. 2A,  3 , and  4  only in part, with a second outer gear section  182  (FIGS. 5 and 6) for interacting with a non-illustrated setting rod. The details of slide gear  180  and its interaction with ring gear  140  and lock ring  160  will be described in more detail with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     FIG. 3 shows how fingers  90  extend through the front wall. Release cam  130  can interact with a release surface  100  (FIG. 4) of finger  90  located in an opening  86  between teeth  82  when fingers  90  are fully lowered, so that the fingers  90  rotate away from the rear wall  54 ,  64  and release any products in the pocket  10 . Release of the fingers  90  is similar to the release of the feet in U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,416 to Klopfenstein, which has been incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIG. 2A shows ring gear  140  interacting with a semicircular setting gear  150 . On one side of semicircular gear  150  is a reset cam follower  156  held rotationally at an axis  154 . The setting gear  150  pivots about an axis  152 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the semicircular gear  150  is attached to a spring  158  to spring-load the gear  150  in a direction  151 , as also shown in FIG.  2 A. 
     FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of certain details of the setting mechanism. End  111  of shaft  110  fits, passing through interior holes in ring gear  140  and lock ring  160 , into an interiorly toothed hole  147  of slide gear  180 . End  111  is fixed to a screw  145  that abuts slide gear  180  through a spring  146 . Thus, slide gear  180  can be moved against the force of spring  146  in the direction of arrow  240  so as to slide axially with respect to shaft  110 , however always remaining rotationally fixed with the shaft  110 . 
     Slide gear  180  has exterior star gearing  141  that matches interior star gearing  183  of ring gear  140 . Slide gear  180  and ring gear  140  thus rotate together at all times. Interior to slide gear  180  and ring gear  140  is lock ring  160 , which selectively engages, through an interior star gear  163 , exterior star gearing  141  of slide gear  180  when slide gear  180  is not moved axially against the spring force of spring  146 . 
     When moved axially against the spring force in direction  240  (see FIG.  5 ), slide gear  180  releases from lock ring  160 , which then is held only by pawl  209  but is freely rotatable with respect to shaft  110  due to a smooth inner surface section  162  that rests on shaft  110 . 
     Slide gear  180  has a raised portion  142  for interacting with a disengaging device of a non-illustrated setting rod to permit the slide gear  180  to be moved against the spring force of spring  146 . 
     Ring gear  140  has external gear teeth  181  for interacting with semicircular gear  150  (FIG.  2 A), as well as external gear teeth of the second outer gear section  182  for interacting with the setting rod. 
     Lock ring  160  has a single ratchet  164  on an external surface, which interacts with pawl  209 , as shown in FIG.  7 . An extension  210  extends outwardly from pawl  209 , for permitting pawl  209  to move between an upward and a downward position. The pawl  209  may be spring-loaded to favor one position, or to click into both positions. 
     As stated above, after a pocket  10  is set to a desired height, the setting mechanism  8  is then locked in place by the lock mechanism  9  so that the pocket height is set. After all the pockets  10  are set, the pockets  10  are moved to pass beneath at least one sheet material feed station  2 ,  3  where, for example, sections  6 ,  7  of a newspaper or other printed product are delivered into the pocket  10 . 
     Once the pocket  10  is set to a desired height, it typically cannot be adjusted to account for variations in the size of the sections  6 ,  7  being placed therein. Prior art devices have been created to adjust for such variations by only adjusting the level or location of the bottom of the pocket. Thereby, raising or lowering the section  6 ,  7  placed therein from below. However, no prior art device has used an adjustment of the grippers  53 ,  55  to compensate for section  6 ,  7  size variation. 
     As set forth above, up until the invention, there was a difficulty associated with separating the forward lap  61  of a first section  6  from the rearward lap  63  to create a pocket therebetween into which the second section  7  can be inserted or nested. 
     The invention adds a new adjustment mechanism to the grippers  53 ,  55 . 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B diagrammatically illustrate a gripper adjusting system  70 . A single gripper  71  is depicted in FIGS. 8A and 8B for the sake of clarity. Nonetheless, system  70  can be expanded to many or all of the grippers used to grip forward lap  61  in a pocket  10 . Gripper  71  has a gripper body  72 , a gripper plunger  73 , and a reset spring  74 . Gripper plunger  73  includes a plunger body  75  with a nose, a rod  76 , and a cam follower  77 . The nose directly contacts and holds forward lap  61  of a section  6 , or holds the entire section  6 ,  61 ,  63 . Gripper body  72  is attached, preferably, fixedly but adjustably, to gripper shaft  57 , which is diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Thus, when shaft  57  rotates about its axis  58  in either rotation direction  59 , gripper  71  is rotated as well, and the nose of plunger body  75  either lifts away from upper front wall  52  to let go of or make room to grasp forward lap  61  or moves towards upper front wall  52  to grasp forward lap  61  of section  6 . 
     Gripper body  72  defines a cavity  78  having forward and rearward openings (with respect to an insertion direction of gripper plunger  73 ). The larger forward opening is sized to slidably fit the outer circumference of plunger body  75 . The smaller rearward opening is sized to slidably fit the outer circumference of rod  76 . Cavity  77  also has a rear, disk-shaped wall  79  to hold the rearmost end of reset spring  74 . Thus, while reset spring  74  can slidably fit into cavity  78 , it can only be inserted until it hits rear wall  79 . Alternatively, reset spring  74  can be integral with rear wall  79 . 
     Rod  76  of gripper plunger  73  is inserted into cavity  78 . Rod  76  has an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of reset spring  74  and, therefore, rod  76  passes through reset spring  74  unobstructed. Rod  76  also passes rear wall  79  and exits the second smaller opening of cavity  78  to project out of the top (with respect to the views of FIGS. 8A and 8B) of gripper body  72 . A cam follower  77  is attached to the end of rod  76 . 
     The other, forward, end of reset spring  74  contacts a rearward disk-shaped wall of plunger body  75 . As such, when plunger body  75  enters cavity  78 , reset spring  74  is compressed. In such an embodiment, plunger body  75  is biased to travel out of cavity  78 . 
     The rod  76  and cam follower  77  combination and connection can take various forms. For example, rod  76  can have an axle hole (extending into the plane of the views of FIGS. 8A and 8B) for receiving an axle or shaft that is then attached to a wheel-shaped cam follower  77 . Other equivalent attachment embodiments can be used as well. 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate how gripper system  70  works. A vertically adjustable gripper bite adjustment cam  26  is placed in the path of pockets  10  as they travel in transport direction  17 . Adjustment cam  26  is placed in a position similar to incline reset ramp  25 , in that, a portion of pocket  10  must contact adjustment cam  26  as the portion passes thereby. Before any pocket  10  reaches adjustment cam  26 , the bias of reset spring  74  pushes plunger body  75  out of the cavity  78 , for example, until the connection of rod  76  and cam follower  77  abuts the upper surface of gripper body  72  or to the fullest extent of an uncompressed reset spring  74 , whichever is smaller. In such a position, the nose of plunger body  75  is disposed at a given first distance  65  from the end of rearward lap  63 . Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG.  8 A. 
     Adjustment cam  26  can be set to any vertical distance with respect to gripper body  72 . 
     In the view of FIG. 8A, adjustment cam  26  is set to a lowermost activating position. In such a position, when pocket  10 , including gripper system  70 , passes by adjustment cam  26 , cam follower  77  merely rolls along the upper surface  27  of adjustment cam  26  and does not contact ramp  29 . Such a position is called a lowermost activating position because adjustment cam  26  has no affect upon cam follower  77  if adjustment cam  26  is lowered any more than that shown in FIG.  8 A. In the lowermost activating position, the nose of plunger body  75  is at a distance  65  from the uppermost edge of rearward lap  63 . 
     In the view of FIG. 813, adjustment cam  26  is set to a position Δh higher than the lowermost activating position. In such a raised position, when pocket  10 , including gripper system  70 , passes by adjustment cam  26 , cam follower  77  first contacts ramp  29  and then rolls up and off ramp  29  onto upper surface  27  of adjustment cam  26 . This raised position of adjustment cam  26  has a specific affect upon cam follower  77 —cam follower  77 , attached to rod  76 , pulls rod  76  and, therefore, plunger body  75  further into cavity  78  of gripper body  72 . As such, the nose of plunger body  75  is raised vertically along the surface of upper front wall  52  to a distance  67  away from the uppermost edge of the rearward lap  63 . 
     In the lowermost activating position of FIG. 8A, the nose of plunger body  75  is shown at a distance  65  from the uppermost edge of rearward lap  63 . However, it is possible, due to a variation in size of rearward lap  63 , that the nose of plunger body  75  actually contacts rearward lap  63  and prevents rearward lap  63  from falling away from forward lap  61  to create the pocket for receiving an inserted section  7 . In such a situation, the printing press operator can use the invention and prevent this undesired condition by raising adjustment cam  26  such that the nose of plunger body  75  no longer contacts rearward lap  63 . Therefore, the invention allows an operator to raise a gripper system  70  of each of pocket  10  without having to manually adjust each gripper  71  of each pocket  10 . 
     The gripper system  70  shown is a linear raising system. In other words, if adjustment cam  26  is raised by Δh, then plunger body  75  will be pulled into cavity  78  along a distance equal to Δh. Thus, the difference between  65  and  67  is Δh. Gripper system  70  does not have to be a linear raising system, however. It is envisioned to have, if desired, a more complex lever system such that a small raising of the adjustment cam  26  results in a correspondingly larger or smaller raising of the plunger body  75 . 
     Ramp  29  of adjustment cam  26  is depicted as being relatively small and shallow. Of course, ramp  29  can have any length or be at any angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees. However, preferably, the length of ramp  29  is at least equal to a radius of the cam follower  77 . Also preferable is for the ramp angle to be between 30 and 60 degrees, in particular, to be between 30 and 45 degrees. Adjustment cam  26  is also shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B with a flat front surface  30 . In alternative embodiments, the forward-most end of the ramp  29  can be even lower than the illustration of FIGS. 8A and 8B. Preferably, the forward-most end of ramp  29  is approximately level with lower surface  28  of adjustment cam  26  and, where cam follower  77  is wheel-shaped, the forward-most portion  30  of adjustment cam  26  is rounded to permit smooth contact between ramp  29  and cam follower  77 . 
     Vertical movement of the adjustment cam  26 , therefore, determines how far gripper plunger  73  is pulled into cavity  78 , thus, pulling the nose of plunger body  75  upward along front upper wall  52  and upward along section  6 , preferably along forward lap  61 . 
     Vertical movement of adjustment cam  26  can be effected by any device that can raise or lower rod  76 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the bottom of cam follower  77  contacts upper surface  27  of adjustment cam  26 . Alternatively, the top of cam follower  77  can contact lower surface  28  of adjustment cam  26 . The above-noted example including an axle hole and wheel-shaped cam follower  77  can be used both for contacting upper surface  27  and bottom surface  28  of adjustment cam  27 . But, an embodiment can be made so that cam follower  77  only contacts lower surface  28 . For example, rod  76  can have a groove with a width and cam follower  77  can be a wheel rotatably disposed in such a groove, the wheel  77  having a width less than the groove width. Wheel  77  can be attached to rod  76  with an axle and cotter pin assembly, for example. In such an embodiment, the reset spring  74  could be positioned not to bias the gripper plunger away from the cam follower  77 , but, instead, to bias the gripper plunger  73  in the direction of the cam follower  77 . Alternatively, the reset spring  74  could have an adjustment device that limits a bias thereof. 
     The invention better separates the forward lap from the rearward lap by adjusting grippers in a vertical direction with respect to a pocket so that the forward lap is gripped in the most efficient place.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1