Abstract:
A newspaper inserting machine for inserting supplements or inserts into signatures or newspaper jackets improves upon conventional inserting machines by modifying the conventional inserting machines existing belt gripping mechanisms for gripping the inserts and for propelling the inserts into the newspaper jackets as the jackets are moved by a conveyor past insert-containing containers. The existing belt gripping mechanisms are modified to be adjustably positionable to accommodate inserts of different thicknesses and are also modified to be adjustably positionable in directions parallel with the conveyor to accommodate inserts of different sizes while reducing the machine set-up time required by operators for different sizes of inserts. The adjustability of the belt gripping mechanisms also increase the capacity of conventional machines for the number of different inserts which can be placed into the newspaper jackets along a conveyor of predetermined length.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Provisional application No. 60/196,892, filed Apr. 13, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to improved apparatus for placing inserts into newspaper jackets and more particularly to such apparatus which provides for increased capacity for the number of different inserts which can be placed into newspaper jackets as the jackets move along a conveyor of predetermined length and which reduces the set-up time required by operators in preparing the machine for operation. 
     Inserting machines for placing inserts or supplements into signatures or newspaper jackets are well known. Examples of such machines are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,577,261; 4,085,927 and 4,401,299, each of which patents is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Each of the machines described in the above-identified patents and other similar machines uses a gripper finger located in a center drum or wheel. The gripper finger is closed onto a pre-printed insert or supplement, and the insert or supplement is carried around the drum by approximately 180°. The insert or supplement is then grasped between two opposing belts, which are commonly referred to as drum belts and tension belts. The gripper finger then opens to release the insert or supplement to be propelled by the belts into an opened newspaper jacket or signature. The gripper finger is operated by a rotating cam which is attached to a shaft upon which a plurality of additional drums or wheels are attached. The drum belts are positioned on one or more of the additional drums or wheels and the tension belts are located in opposition to the drum belts. 
     Although such devices have served the purpose, they have not proved entirely satisfactory for a number of reasons. For example, only one gripper finger can be used for each stack of inserts because of the physical constraints of the inserter mechanism. As a result, all pre-print inserts must be placed in the exact center of the insert container or pocket to enable the gripper finger to pull the insert around the drum. Elaborate planetary gear timing mechanisms must be employed to allow the operator of the inserter machine to time the rotation of the gripper finger drum to match the exact sequence of the newspaper jacket&#39;s cover passing in front of the insert container. 
     Today, many different sizes of pre-prints or inserts are used. Each different size insert requires that the timing mechanism for the pocket or container for each different sized insert be readjusted by an operator to properly time the propelling of the insert into the jacket as the jacket moves past the insert container. 
     Pre-print inserts also vary greatly in thickness from a single sheet page to magazines or coupon books of twenty or more pages. The insert gripper finger of existing inserter machines has a manually operated mechanical adjustment to allow for various thicknesses of inserts but requires great skill and a significant amount of time to adjust the gripper finger to properly grasp inserts of different thicknesses. 
     The average set-up time by a skilled operator for conventional inserting machines having an insert gripping finger is ten to fifteen minutes, depending on the insert sizes and thicknesses. 
     Also, when using conventional inserter machines having gripper fingers, inserts of only a single size can be placed into each pocket or insert container. Because the inserts must be centered within the pocket or container to enable the inserts to be grasped by the centrally located gripper finger, a significant amount of container or pocket space may be wasted. Thus, if an operator has ten inserts to be placed into one newspaper jacket, the operator requires a conventional inserting machine with eleven pockets, one pocket for the jacket cover and one pocket or container for each insert. 
     Because the use of an insert gripper finger and all its associated complex timing mechanisms are eliminated in the improved apparatus of this invention, the inserts need not be centered in each insert container or pocket. As a result, more than one size insert can be positioned within each insert container or pocket and the drum and tension belts can be moved to properly remove the inserts from the containers and to propel the inserts into the jackets as the jackets pass by the containers on the conventional jacket conveyor. 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for efficiently placing inserts of various sizes and thicknesses into newspaper jackets. 
     Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for efficiently propelling newspaper jackets or signatures from a container onto a conveyor. 
     Another object is to provide such apparatus which modifies belt mechanisms currently used in prior art inserting machines for grasping and propelling inserts of different sizes and thicknesses into newspaper jackets. 
     A further object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus which modifies existing inserter machines to movably adjust the belt gripping mechanisms or assemblies to increase the number of inserts which can be accommodated by the existing inserting machine. 
     Still another object is to provide such improved apparatus which reduces the set-up time required by operators. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of such apparatus which efficiently accommodates inserts of different sizes and thicknesses. 
     A still further object is to provide such apparatus which eliminates the need for complex planetary gear timing mechanisms and which eliminates the need for a gripper finger mechanism to grasp and remove inserts from each insert stack. 
     Another object is to provide such apparatus which can insert an increased number of inserts into newspaper jackets at less cost and by using less floor space. 
     Still another object is to provide such apparatus which uses existing cams and timing mechanisms of conventional inserting machines to activate belt-gripping mechanisms which grasp and propel inserts into newspaper jackets as the jackets are moved by a conveyor along a path past containers holding the inserts. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages are realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To achieve these and other objects, the present invention provides apparatus for sequentially feeding stacked inserts one at a time from each of a plurality of insert containers into opened newspaper jackets as the jackets are moved by a conveyor along a path past the containers, the apparatus including a plurality of inserting devices mounted on first supports and controlled by a driver and first timing elements for withdrawing the inserts one at a time from each of the containers and for propelling the inserts into the open jackets as the jackets pass by the containers, wherein the improvement comprises: each of the inserting devices including a first shaft rotatably mounted in the supports and connected in operative relationship for being rotated by the driver; a plurality of first circular drum elements fixedly mounted on the shaft; a plurality of first movable belt assemblies positioned, respectively, on predetermined of the drum elements and between the predetermined drum elements and the conveyor for movement with the predetermined drum elements as the predetermined drum elements are rotated by the shaft; and a plurality of second movable belt assemblies connected in operative relationship with the timing elements and movably adjustable for respective positioning in opposed relationship with the first belt assemblies and the predetermined drum elements for receiving an insert, withdrawn from one of the containers, between the first and second belt assemblies and for propelling the insert into the jacket. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory but are not restrictive of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a prior art inserting machine; 
     FIG. 2 is another diagrammatic view showing the prior art machine of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of inserting apparatus in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view illustrating this invention as an insert is being removed from an insert container; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view showing this invention as an insert is about to be removed from an insert container; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, showing a detailed portion of the invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation view, partly in section, of a portion of the invention which accommodates inserts of different thicknesses. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a diagrammatic illustration of prior art apparatus  20  for sequentially feeding stacked inserts  22  one at a time from each of a plurality of insert containers  24  into opened newspaper jackets  26  as the jackets are moved by a conveyor  28  along a path  30  past containers  24 . Prior art apparatus  20  typically includes a plurality of inserting devices or gripper fingers  32  positioned, respectively, to withdraw inserts  22  from each of a plurality of containers  24 . A plurality of drum elements  44  are mounted on shaft  42 , which is mounted on first supports  34 ,  36 . Shaft  42  is driven and controlled by a driver  38 . First timing elements  40  are connected to gripper fingers  32  for withdrawing inserts  22  one at a time from each of containers  24  and for propelling inserts  22  into open jackets  26  as the jackets pass by containers  24 . 
     The improved apparatus  20 ′ of this invention, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3, provides for each of improved inserting devices  32 ′ to include a first shaft  42  rotatably mounted in supports  34 ,  36  and connected in a conventional manner for being rotated by driver  38 . 
     In accordance with the invention, improved apparatus  20 ′ further includes a plurality of first circular drum elements  44  fixedly mounted on shaft  42 . Apparatus  20 ′ further includes a plurality of first movable belt assemblies  46  positioned, respectively, on predetermined of drum elements  44  and between predetermined drum elements  44  and conveyor  28  for rotational movement with predetermined drum elements  44  as the drum elements are rotated by shaft  42 . 
     Improved apparatus  20 ′ further includes a plurality of second movable belt assemblies  48  connected in a conventional manner to timing elements  40  and movably adjustable for respective positioning in opposed relationship with first belt assemblies  46  and with predetermined drum elements  44  for receiving an insert  22 , withdrawn from a container  24 , between belt assemblies  46 ,  48  and for propelling insert  22  into jacket  26 . 
     Each of first belt assemblies  46 , as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, includes a first belt  50 , and each of assemblies  46  is movably adjustable with respect to drum elements  44  for removably positioning belt  50  of each assembly  46  on a selected one of drum elements  44 . 
     Each of first and second belt assemblies  46 ,  48  is movably adjustable in directions parallel with respect to shaft  42 . Conventional timing elements  40  include a bar  52  conventionally positioned in parallel relationship with shaft  42 , and second belt assemblies  48  are each slidably mounted for adjustable positioning along bar  52 . 
     Each of second belt assemblies  48  includes a second belt  54 , and each of belt assemblies  48  includes means  56  in operative relationship with belt  54  for adjusting the position of belt  54  with respect to an opposed one of first belts  50  for accommodating inserts  22  of different thicknesses passing between belts  50  and  54 . 
     Each of second belt assemblies  48  further includes means  58  in operative relationship with bar  52  for enabling second belt assembly  48  to be movably adjusted along bar  52  and to be selectively fixedly connected to bar  52 . 
     In accordance with the invention, each of first belt assemblies  46  includes a first rod  60  extending between and supported by supports  34 ,  36 . Rod  60  is positioned in parallel relationship with respect to shaft  42 . A first pulley  62  receives first belt  50  thereon, and pulley  62  is rotatably connected to first pulley mount  64 , which is slidably and rotatably mounted on first rod  60  to be movably adjusted along and around rod  60 . 
     Each of first movable belt assemblies  46  further includes first means  66 , such as a bolt, in operative relationship with first pulley mount  64  for releasably connecting mount  64  in selected fixed positions on rod  60 . 
     Each of first movable belt assemblies  46  further includes a second pulley  68  receiving first belt  50  thereon. A second pulley mount  70  is rotatably connected to second pulley  68  and is slidably and rotatably mounted on first rod  60  to be movably adjusted along and around rod  60 . Second means  72 , such as a bolt, is provided in operative relationship with second pulley mount  70  for releasably connecting pulley mount  70  in selected fixed positions on first rod  60 . Bolt  72  is positioned behind bolt  66  in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that only edge portions of bolt  72  are visible in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     Each of second movable belt assemblies  48  further includes a second rod  74  supported by supports  34 ,  36  and positioned in parallel relationship with respect to shaft  42 . A third pulley  76  receives second belt  54  thereon, and a third pulley mount  78  is rotatably connected to pulley  76  and is slidably and rotatably mounted on rod  74  to be movably adjusted along and around rod  74 . Third means  80 , such as a bolt, is provided in operative relationship with third pulley mount  78  for releasably connecting pulley mount  78  in selected fixed positions on rod  74 . 
     Each of second movable belt assemblies  48  further includes first and second arm members  82 ,  82 ′, each conventionally rotatably mounted on second rod  74 . A third rod  84  is conventionally rotatably mounted on and extends between arm members  82 ,  82 ′. 
     Each of second movable belt assemblies  48  further includes stationary elements or spring mounts  86 ,  86 ′ connected to supports  34 ,  36 , respectively, and springs  88 ,  88 ′ are connected to and extend, respectively, between stationary elements  86 ,  86 ′ and first arm members  82 ,  82 ′. Arm member  82 ′, mount  86 ′ and spring  88 ′ are behind arm member  82 , mount  86  and spring  88 , respectively, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that only edge portions  82 ′,  86 ′ and  88 ′ are seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Third rod  84  receives second belt  54  thereon so that springs  88 ,  88 ′ act to maintain tension on belt  54 . Third rod  84  is in parallel relationship with respect to shaft  42 . Each of second movable belt assemblies  48  further includes fourth and fifth rods  90 ,  92  rotatably supported by supports  34 ,  36 , and each of rods  90 ,  92  receives second belt  54  thereon. 
     In accordance with the invention, each enabling means  58  includes a support element  94  slidably mounted on conventional cam bar  52  for adjustable positioning along the bar. Means  96 , such as an adjustable screw element, are provided in operative relationship with bar  52  and with support element  94  for releasably and selectively fixedly connecting support element  94  to bar  52 . 
     Adjusting means  56  each includes a pivot arm  98  rotatably mounted to support element  94 , and fourth and fifth pulleys  100 ,  102  are rotatably attached at opposite ends of pivot arm  98  and receive second belt  54  thereon. A second spring  104  is conventionally connected between pivot arm  98  and support element  94  for enabling inserts  22  of various thicknesses to be received between and gripped by belts  50 ,  54 . 
     Adjusting means  56  each further includes a pivot connector  106  rotatably connecting pivot arm  98  to support element  94 , and pivot connector  106  is located between second spring  104  and fourth pulley  100  so that spring  104  acts to urge pulley  100  toward an insert  22  located between belts  50  and  54 . See FIG.  7 . 
     Each of insert containers  24  preferably includes a plurality of roller elements  108  for receiving and supporting stacked inserts  22  on roller elements  108  and for facilitating the withdrawal of stacked inserts  22  one at a time from container  24 . 
     The apparatus of this invention is also used for sequentially feeding newspaper jackets  26  one at a time from a stack of jackets in a jacket container onto conveyor  28 . The jacket feeding apparatus of this invention is identical to that previously described and illustrated with respect to the sequential feeding of inserts  22 . The newspaper jackets  26  propelled onto conveyor  28  by the apparatus of this invention will be moved by the conveyor along a path  30  past insert containers  24 , and jackets  26  will be opened in a conventional manner (not shown) for receiving inserts  22  which are propelled into jackets  26  by apparatus  20 ′ of this invention. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show, in diagrammatic form, prior art inserting apparatus  20  which uses a gripper finger  32  for grasping inserts  22  and for moving the inserts around drums  44  to be propelled into jackets  26  by drum and tension belts (not shown in FIGS.  1  and  2 ). As shown in FIG. 2, all inserts, no matter what size, must be placed in the exact center of container or pocket  24  so that gripper finger  32  can pull the inserts around drum  44 . Elaborate planetary gear timing mechanisms  40  must be used in conventional apparatus  20  to properly time the rotation of drum  44  with movement of conveyor  28  to match the exact sequence of the passing of jacket  26  in front of gripper finger  32  and gripping finger drum  44 . The timing mechanisms controlling operation of gripper finger  32  must be readjusted for each different size insert, and this timing mechanism readjustment takes a considerable amount of time to accomplish and requires a lengthy set-up time for apparatus  20 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates, in diagrammatic form, improved apparatus  20 ′ in accordance with this invention. Gripper fingers  32  are eliminated and, instead, existing drum and tension belts  50 ,  54  and new belt assemblies  46 ,  48  can be moved or readjusted in position with respect to different drums  44  so that inserts  22 , no matter what their size, can be positioned to one side of container or pocket  24 . Timing mechanism  40  can now be quickly and easily adjusted so that the propelling of inserts  22  into jackets  26  is properly timed. Edges  22 ′ of inserts  22 , no matter what the size of inserts  22 , will be automatically aligned with jackets  26  so that inserts  22  will be propelled into jackets  26  in a proper manner as the jackets move past each container station  24  on conveyor  28 . 
     In operation and use of apparatus  20 ′, inserts  22  are stacked within each container  24  with leading edges  22 ′ of the inserts positioned in a predetermined location within container  24 . Because of this predetermined alignment of the inserts within container  24 , timing mechanism  40 , which is conventionally known, needs to be set only one time. Thereafter, inserts  22  of different size can be used within container  24  without the need for resetting the timing mechanism. 
     During the setting-up process of apparatus  20 ′, belt  50  can be positioned on any desired drum element  44 . This can be accomplished by loosening bolts  66 ,  72  so that pulley mounts  64 ,  70  and pulleys  62 ,  68  can be rotated about rod  60  to reduce tension on belt  50 . Belt assembly  46 , including belt  50 , can then be slidably adjusted along rod  60  until belt  50  is properly positioned around a new desired drum element  44 . Pulleys  62 ,  68  and pulley mounts  64 ,  70  can then be readjusted by rotation around rod  60  so that the proper tension is created on belt  50 . Bolts  66 ,  72  can then be tightened so that belt assembly  46  is held in fixed position with respect to the appropriate drum  44 . 
     Repositioning of second belt assembly  48  so that belt  54  will be located in opposition to belt  50  can also be quickly and easily accomplished. Screw element  96  is loosened by an operator to enable support element  94  to be slidably moved along timing bar  52 , which is a conventional element used in prior art apparatus  20 . Simultaneously therewith, bolt  80  is loosened to permit pulley mount  78  to be slidably adjusted along rod  74 . Belt  54  is slidably moved along and over rods  84 ,  90  and  92 . 
     When belt assembly  48  has been positioned so that belt  54  is located in opposed relationship with respect to belt  50 , screw element  96  can be tightened on to cam bar  52  and bolt  80  can be tightened to fixedly attach pulley mount  78  to rod  74 . Springs  88 ,  88 ′ acting on arm members  82 ,  82 ′, respectively, will move rod  84  with respect to belt  54  to create proper tension in belt  54 . 
     More than one belt assembly  46  and more than one belt assembly  48  can be used for withdrawing inserts  22  from each pocket or container  24 , as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     Inserts  22  are withdrawn from container or pocket  24  in a timed manner so that the inserts are properly propelled into jackets  26  as the jackets move past each station or container  24 . Inserts  22  are removed one at a time from the bottom of the stack of inserts by conventional suction element  110 . Each insert  22  withdrawn from the insert stack by element  110  is drawn down to a position to be grasped between belts  50 ,  54  of belt assemblies  46 ,  48 . See FIG.  4 . The timing of movement of belt assembly  48  to grasp insert  22  between belts  50  and  54  is controlled by the movement of cam bar  52 . The timing of movements of element  110  and of cam bar  52  is conventional and does not form a part of this invention. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the position of belt assembly  48  which enables an insert  22 , removed by suction element  110  from the insert stack, to be grasped between belts  50 ,  54 . Rotation of shaft  42  by conventional driver  38  causes rotation of drum element  44 . As a result, belts  50 ,  54  which are in contacting relationship with each other are rotated to move insert  22  around drum  44  while being held between belts  50 ,  54 . Insert  22  is then propelled by movement of belts  50 ,  54  into open jacket  26  as the jacket moves past belts  50 ,  54  on conveyor  28 . 
     A plurality of pockets or containers  24  containing different inserts  22  are positioned side by side, and each pocket or container  24  is associated with its own belt assemblies  46 ,  48  as previously described. Thus, a plurality of different inserts can be propelled into jackets  26  as the jackets move on conveyor  28  past the containers  24 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the positions of suction element  110  and of belt assembly  48  as an insert  22  is about to be withdrawn from the bottom of the insert stack within a container  24 . FIG. 5 illustrates the movement of support element  94  and of adjusting means  56  by movement of cam bar  52 . 
     A similar arrangement to that illustrated in FIGS. 3-7 is used in the improved apparatus  20 ′ of this invention for propelling jackets  26  onto conveyor  28  from a jacket container. The structure and method of operation of apparatus  20 ′ for this purpose is identical to that illustrated in FIGS. 3-7, with the exception that jackets  26  are positioned within a container  24  instead of inserts  22  as illustrated. 
     Adjusting means  56  of apparatus  20 ′ allows inserts  22  of different thicknesses to be accommodated. Pivot arm  98  mounted on pivot connector  106  is connected to one end of spring  104 . The opposite end of spring  104  is connected to support element  94 . As an insert  22  is positioned between belts  50  and  54 , pivot arm  98  will rotate about pivot connector  106  to accommodate the thickness of insert  22  between belts  50 ,  54 . This rotational movement of pivot arm  98  will compress spring  104 , and the action of spring  104  will cause pivot arm  98  to return to its normal position to receive the next insert. 
     Because inserts  22  do not have to be centered within each pocket or container  24  of apparatus  20 ′, more than one size or type of insert  22  can be stacked within the space occupied by each container  24 . As a result, the insert capacity of apparatus  20 ′ is significantly increased with respect to the capacity of conventional insert machines  20 . Because gripper finger  32  has been eliminated, the set-up time for apparatus  20 ′ is significantly less than that of prior art apparatus  20 . The use of adjusting means  56  in apparatus  20 ′ also enables apparatus  20 ′ to accommodate inserts of widely varying thicknesses. 
     The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details shown and described, and departures may be made from such details without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.