Improvements in Machines for Gathering Signatures for Bookbinding.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 29th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Gathering Signatures for
Bookbinding.
I, DAVID MCCONNELL SMYTH, of Northwood, in the State of New Hampshire,
United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In binding books it is usual to fold the separate sheets into what are known as
signatures and to make piles of these signatures and to take one signature from each
pile in bringing together the signatures that form one volume.
The present invention is for accomplishing this object by machinery in such a
reliable manner that the possibility of mistake in collecting the signatures will be
avoided. In my machine I make use of boxes one box for each pile of signatures
and one signature is carried out from each receptacle or box each movement of the
machine.
'
In some machines I make use of a single range of boxes and in other machines
two or more ranges of these boxes one above the other. In each instance there is a
pusher applied to each box and the pushers are all actuated simultaneously by one or
more laterally moving bars to which the pushers are connected, the bottom of each
box being slotted for the connection between the bar and the pusher and at the end
of each box there is a separator that holds back the signatures or folded sheets except
the bottom signature which is carried out by the pusher and the signatures as
delivered from the boxes rest upon a collecting slide. In some instances the boxes
are inclined so that one passes slightly below the other and the signatures as they
fall upon the collecting slide lap one upon the other similar to roof shingles but where
the boxes are vertical and side by side there are lifters upon the collecting slide in the
form of inclines that raise the edges of one sheet up over the next signature as the
signatures are brought together by a traveller that moves end wise along the collecting
slide and in this manner all of the signatures discharged from the range of boxes are
piled up together at one end of the collecting slide and where there are several
ranges of boxes and collecting slides the signatures are gathered into a corresponding
number of piles, and at this end of the machine there are vertical slideways and
guards and a vertically moving table so that the piles of signatures are received one
above the other upon the vertically moving table and elevated up within the slideways
and held in the elevated position by spring fingers and there are brackets extending
at the ends of the collecting slides that support the respective piles of signatures
until they are received upon the table and the brackets move back out of the way.
The necessary motions are given to the respective parts by any suitable mechanism,
I however prefer to use racks and pinions for giving motion to the pushers, pulleys
and cords for giving motion to the travellers and to the vertically moving table, and
I remark that the travellers are made in such a manner that when moving in one
direction they swing down below the signatures as they lie upon the collecting slides
and they are swung upwardly at the end of the motion in one direction so as to be in
position for carrying the signatures along upon the collecting slides and forming them
into piles as aforesaid by the movement in the other direction.
In consequence of the signatures being projected one from each box and lying out
upon the collecting slides should any one signature be missing it is noticed instantly
by the attendant and the machine stopped, hence risk of improper compilation in
putting the signatures together to form the respective volumes is effectually guarded
LD.

page_text: against. The machine is made adjustable so as to receive different sizes of sheets
into the respective boxes and also to adapt the gathering slides to the different widths
of signatures lying upon the same.
Date :
1
C
1000
DAVID
MCCONNELL SMYTH.
By Brewer & Son,
33, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Gathering Signatures for
Bookbinding.
I, DAVID MCCONNELL SMYTH, of Northwood in the State of New Hampshire,
United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In the binding of books it is usual to fold the separate sheets into what are known
as signatures and to make piles of these signatures and to take one signature from
each pile in bringing together the signatures that form one volume. The present
invention is for accomplishing this object by machinery and in such a reliable manner
that the possibility of mistake in collecting the signatures will be avoided.
The piles of signatures are laid in separate receptacles and one signature from each
receptacle is carried out by the pusher upon a ledge or table so that the absence of
any one signature is immediately apparent to the attendant and the machine stopped
and the error rectified, and the signatures as they lay in a range are gathered
automatically into a pile, the one slipping over the other in a reliable manner so that
the edges of the paper are not folded or injured and each signature is brought to the
proper place so as to form the volume.
Where but a few signatures are required in making up the volume, only one range
of boxes may be used, but I prefer to employ two or more ranges of boxes one
above the other for the reception of the signatures and the piles of signatures from
each range of boxes are brought together into a vertical receiver from which they
are removed to be bound in any usual manner.
In the drawings
'
Fig. 1. is an elevation of the machine.
Fig. 2. is a plan view of the same, and
Fig. 3. an end elevation.
Fig. 4. is a cross-section at the line x. a. of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5. is a plan, and
Fig. 6. is a side view in larger size of the traveller for bringing the range of
signatures together into a pile.
Fig. 7. is a section at the line y. y. of fig. 6.
Fig. 8. is a plan and
Fig. 9. an elevation in larger size of one of the stationary lifters that cause the
signatures to pass one above the other and showing also some of the adjacent.
parts.
Fig. 10. is a plan and
Fig. 11. a section of the pusher and adjacent parts.
Fig. 12. is a section of the upper part of the receptacle for the signatures as
gathered.
Fig. 13. is an elevation and
Fig. 14. a plan view of a modification in the brackets for supporting the piles of
signatures.
The machine is supported upon the sills A and vertical posts B. and there are

page_text: transverse connecting bars C. and longitudinal connecting bars D. forming the
frame and the driving shaft E. is supported in bearings in the lower part of the
frame.
I make use of ranges of boxes F; there may be one, two or more of such ranges
of boxes; I prefer to employ five or six such ranges but only three ranges are
shown, and each box is made of a bottom 2. and a division 3. and the boxes are to
be sufficiently large for the reception of the largest size of signatures with which
the machine is to be used and in order to adapt the boxes to different sizes of
signatures I provide a stationary front so that the pile of signatures can be laid
into the box from the back with the folds thereof against the division 3, and
against the stationary front F1 and at the back portion of each box is a movable
vertical gauge 6, having a slotted base through which passes the screw 5. so that
the gauge can be moved towards or from the stationary front F' according to the
length of the folded signatures, and I also make use of a vertical gauge a. having a
horizontal base that is attached at the other end by a screw a¹ to the bottom 2. and
upon this screw the vertical gauge a. can be swung up against the edges of the
signatures as they lie in a pile within the box. Between the bottoms 2. of the boxes
and the lower edge of the stationary front F¹ there is a long horizontal opening that
is sufficiently wide to allow the free passage of the thickest folded signature and
upon the stationary front F1 and near the middle of each box is a separator H.
which is attached to the stationary front F¹ by a screw 7. This separator may be
adapted to swing but I have shown the same as sliding vertically and being at the
back of the stationary front F and extending up and over the top of the same
and perforated for the screw 7. so that the lower edge of the separator may be
raised or lowered to allow only the necessary width of opening between the bottom
end of the separator and the bottom 2. of the box for one signature at a time to be
passed out from the box upon the collecting slide or ledge G.
This collecting slide is slotted longitudinally for the traveller P. hereafter described
and the bottom 2. of each box is slotted longitudinally for the pusher N. that
extends up from the reciprocated stock or bar L. and the pusher is sufficiently thick
for carrying out the bottom signature from the pile of signatures within the box and
delivering such signature upon the collecting slide G. The reciprocating stock L.
has upon it one pusher for each box and there is one signature delivered from each box
every movement of the reciprocating stock L. and I remark that there is a stock and
range of pushers for each range of boxes and the pushers and reciprocating stocks
upon all three ranges of hoxes shown in the drawings have the same letters of
reference.
It is preferable to attach each pusher by two screws to the rounding top part of a
block, see fig. 11, that extends up into the slot of the bottom of the box, so that the
edge of the pusher that comes into contact with the signature can be raised or
lowered by adjusting the screws.
In order to give motion to the reciprocating stocks L. and to the travellers P. any
suitable mechanism may be employed, but I prefer to use a crank 11. upon the shaft E.
with a connecting rod 10. to the rack-slide d. at the ends of which are racks d' d² that
act upon pinions e. upon the vertical shafts f. f1 that are supported in suitable bearings
upon the frame of the machine and upon these vertical shafts f. f¹ are pulleys 50.
with cords 51. to the bases of the travellers P so that as the rack-slide d. is reciprocated
and the pinions e. and vertical shafts f. f are revolved first in one direction and then
the other direction, the cords 51. pull each traveller P. first one way and then the
other way and while the traveller is going in one direction, the signatures are carried
off by it and piled up and while it is going in the other direction, the traveller passes
beneath the signatures as they are projected from the boxes and the extent of motion
given to the travellers is to be so proportioned that such travellers will move the
proper distance along the front of each range of boxes and within the slot in the
collecting slide G.
Each traveller P is provided with a swinging finger 52. pivotod at 53. and having
a downwardly projecting arm 54. to the lower ends of which the cords 51. are

page_text: attached and the movement of the arm 54. is limited by stops as seen in fig. 6. so that
when the traveller is being drawn towards the right in the respective figures, the
finger 52. is elevated as shown in fig. 6. and carries along with it the signatures and
when the motions of the shafts and pulleys are reversed and the cords 51. drawn in
the opposite direction, the arm 54. is swung by the action of the cord and the finger 52.
depressed and then the farther movement of the cord carries the traveller towards the
left and beneath the signatures as they are being projected from the respective ranges
of boxes.
In order to give motion to the reciprocating stocks or bars L and the pushers
connected with them, I find it convenient to employ toothed racks 56. extending off
at right angles from the ends of the respective stocks or bars and adjacent to pinions 7.
on the vertical shafts ff and these shafts being revolved simultaneously and first in
one direction and then in the other, carry the toothed racks and the reciprocating
bars L. backwards and forwards bodily and project the bottom signature in each box
and then the pushers return back under the piles of signatures a sufficient distance to
go behind the piles of signatures and be in position for carrying out another set of
signatures upon the next movement.
As the signatures lie flatwise upon the collecting slide G. it is necessary to lift one
signature to cause it to pass above the next, so that the pile of signatures may be
formed as the traveller P moves from one end of the collecting slide to the other.
To effect this object I place upon the collecting slide G. and adjacent to the end of
each division 3. a lifter . formed preferably of a piece of thin sheet metal bent as
a compound curve shown in fig. 9. and with a concave groove adapted to receive one
edge of the signature preferably the folded back edge as it is projected from the box,
hence as the pile of signatures is accumulated by the movement of the traveller P
from the left to the right, figs. 1. and 2. the signature at the extreme left is raised by
the lifter . over the next signature to the right and then the two signatures aro
raised over the third signature and so on and the compound curved upper edge of the
lifter h. raises the paper of the signature without folding or injuring the same, so that
one sheet laps upon the other and these lifters h. are preferably close against the outer
ends of the division 3. between the ends of such division and the longitudinal slot in
the collecting slide G. and it is advantageous to employ a range of lifters in line
with the lifters . at the outer edge of the collecting slide which lifters h' may be
similar to the lifters . or they may be simply upwardly inclined blocks upon the top
surface of the collecting slide, the vertical edges of which are in range with the
lifters h.
I remark that the cords 51. on the pulleys 50. to the traveller P are passed around
guide pulleys 59. so that the cord will be brought into line with the longitudinal slot
in the collecting slide G.
If but one range of boxes is made use of, the signatures as they are collected
together into a pile may be left upon the collecting slide G. at the end thereof to be
taken away by hand, but where the signatures from two or more ranges of boxes go
to make up one volume, it is preferable to deliver the piles of signatures vertically and
with this object in view I make use of the guards k. k; the guards k. are horizontai
and rest at their lower edges upon supports adjacent to the collecting slides G. and
the guard is vertical and attached to the ends of the guards k. and these guards
can be moved in or out according to the size of the signatures to be collected, there
being a proper space left between the guards k. and the stationary fronts F¹ for the
signatures and at the ends of the stationary fronts F¹ is a vertical stationary slide-
way . having a vertical slot for the lifter having connected with it a horizontal
table 13 and there is a cord 60. from one of the pulleys 50. passing over the pulley 61.
and attached to the lifter 12 so that the table 13 is raised and lowered each notion of
the machine and the parts are so adjusted that when the table 13 is lowered it comes
into line with the collecting slide G. of the lowest range of boxes and when such table
is lifted it rises above the collecting slide in the upper range of boxes and there are
upon the surfaces of the vertical guard and the vertical slideway l. spring fingers 63.
that yield to the piles of signatures that are lifted by the table 13 and then sach fingers

page_text: swing or spring out below the bottom signature in the pile of signatures, holding such
pile in an elevated position and sufficiently above the collecting slide G. of the top
range of boxes for the pile of signatures from that collecting slide to pass under the
piles of signatures held up by such spring fingers.
In order to limit the movement of the piles of signatures as they are pushed along
upon the respective collecting slides G. and beyond the ends of the same, I make use
of a vertical gauge m. that is connected to the slideway 1. by slotted angle irons and
clamping screws 65. so that this vertical gauge m. can be adapted to the width of the
folding signatures. I make use of a swinging bracket o. which is preferably made of
wire coiled around the pivot supports 66. and having a down vardly projecting leg
which forms a stop so that in the normal position each swinging bracket o. is horizontal
and forms a continuation of the top surface of the upper collecting slides G. so that
the piles of signatures from the upper collecting slides G. are pushed by the travellers P.
upon these brackets o. at the ends of their movements and these brackets o. support
the upper piles of signatures and the table 13 receives upon it the lower pile of
signatures and as it is lifted it carries up such pile of signatures and they come under
the next pile of signatures above and lift such pile of signatures and in so doing the
bracket o. swings upwardly and moves out from between one pile of signatures and
the next, and the legs of the bracket assume a horizontal position while the bracket is
left in a vertical position and the same operation is performed with the upper swinging
bracket as the piles of signatures are raised to the extreme elevated point and sustained
by the spring fingers as before designated, and as the table 13 descends it comes in
contact successively with the legs of the swinging brackets and moves them from a
horizontal to a vertical position and brings the swinging brackets down into their
normal horizontal position ready for the next piles of signatures.
It is to be understood that where the number of boxes in the machine is as great
as the number of signatures in two or more volumes, the necessary number of boxes
may be used and two or more volumes of signatures delivered each movement of the
machine.
The boxes in this machine might be inverted provided the piles of signatures were
raised by springs and in that instance the pushers would take off the top signatures
of the piles instead of the bottom ones. I prefer to make each alternate partition 3.
movable so that by taking the same out, the machine is adapted to the reception of
large sizes of signatures, no other change being necessary..
I find practically that in some instances the signatures are comparatively thin and
are liable to be buckled by the pressure of the pushers acting against the back edges
only of the paper. To avoid this difficulty a piece of rubber or a roughened surface
may extend from the pusher under the surface of the signature to a greater or less
extent to apply the necessary friction for pushing out the signature as seen at p.
figs. 10. and 11. and in these figures I have also represented the manner in which
the pusher N. can be adjusted by the screws to raise or lower the edge which comes
into contact with the signature, the countersunk screws that pass through the pusher
being made use of for rocking the pusher and raising or depressing the front edge
thereof according to the thickness of the folded signature.
Instead of swinging the brackets up by the movement of the table, there may be
an incline figs. 13. and 14. upon the lifter 2 to press the bracket back and slide it
horizontally as the signatures are lifted and the bracket is drawn out by the incline
as the table descends..
In fig. 15. the boxes are represented in a single row and inclined, and one box
lapping upon the other similar to shingles, so that when the bottom signature is pushed
out from the pile in each box, such signatures fall upon the gathering slide and one
laps upon the other so that they occupy their proper relative positions as they are
carried together into a pile by the movement of the traveller. In this arrangement
it is not necessary to employ the stationary lifters h. upon the surface of the gathering
slide.
The separators H. are pivoted upon the screws 7, and they hold back the signatures
in the piles exept the bottom signatures which are carried out by the pushers

page_text: beneath such separators H. It will be seen by the section fig. 16. that the piles of
signatures may be pressed downwardly by springs 40.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. The combination in a machine for gathering signatures, of a range of boxes
for holding the piles of signatures, reciprocating pushers for discharging the lower
signature of each pile of signatures automatically, a collecting slide upon which the
signatures fall, and a traveller for moving the signatures along upon the collecting
slide and gathering the signatures into a bundle, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination with the range of boxes for holding the piles of signatures,.
of an adjustable separator at the end of each box, and a pusher in the bottom of the
box and means for reciprocating the same along the box and below the pile of
signatures for removing automatically the lower signature from each pile of signatures
and a collecting slide for receiving said signatures, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination in a machine for gathering signatures, of a collecting slide,
means for delivering the signatures upon such collecting slide so as to lap one upon
the other, a traveller for gathering the signatures into one pile, an elevating table
for receiving the pile or volume of signatures and vertical guards between which the
volume of signatures is raised, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with a range of boxes for holding piles of signatures, of
a pusher to move one signature out from each box, a collecting slide and a traveller
to move the signatures along and lifters to raise one signature above the next,
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with two or more ranges of boxes for holding piles of
signatures, of pushers for moving the signatures out of the respective boxes, travellers
for gathering the signatures into piles, and a moving table to bring together the two
or more piles substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the range of boxes for holding piles of signatures, of
pushers for moving the signatures out of the respective boxes, à reciprocating bar to
which the pushers are connected, toothed racks and pinions for giving motion to the
pushers, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the boxes for holding piles of signatures, of gauges
with slotted bases and screws by which the gauges are adjusted and a stationary front
to the range of boxes, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the range of boxes for receiving the piles of
signatures, of a traveller, the slotted collecting slide upon which the signatures are
received from the boxes, shafts and pulleys and cords extending to the traveller for
giving motion to the same, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the slotted collecting slide G. of a traveller having
a swinging finger 52. a pivoted arm 54. and the cord connected to the arm for
moving the traveller and raising and lowering the swinging finger, substantially
as set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the range of boxes for holding the piles of signatures
and pusbers for delivering the signatures from the boxes, of a collecting slide upon
which the signatures are delivered and lifters upon the collecting slide to lift the
respective signatures and cause them to shingle one upon the other as they are
gathered into a pile, substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with the ranges of boxes for holding the piles of
signatures, the pusher for delivering the signatures from the boxes and the travellers
for gathering the signatures into piles, of the collecting slides, the guards at the edge
of the collecting slide and the vertical guard and stationary slideways and a lifting
table for bringing together the respective piles of signatures, substantially as set
forth.
Twelfth. The combination with the ranges of boxes for holding the piles of
signatures, the pushers and the travellers, of collecting slides upon which the

page_text: signatures are delivered from the boxes, vertical guards and slideways, a vertically
moving table and moving brackets at the ends of the collecting slides substantially as
set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination with the ranges of boxes for holding the piles of
signatures, the pushers and the travellers, of vertical shafts, pulleys and cords or
connections to the respective travellers and mechanism for revolving the shafts and
pulleys first in one direction and then the other, substantially as set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination with the ranges of boxes for holding piles of
signatures, of pushers for moving the signatures out of the respective boxes, a stock
or bar to which the pushers are connected, toothed racks and pinions for giving a
reciprocating motion to the bar and pushers, substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination with the range of boxes, having partitions, slotted
bottoms and a stationary front with an opening between the lower edge of the front
and the bottom, of pushers and reciprocating bar to which the pushers are connected
for delivering the signatures through the opening below the stationary front and a
collecting slide upon which the signatures are received, substantially as set forth.
Sixteenth. The combination with the stationary front F' and the bottoms 2. for
forming the boxes for the reception of the signatures, of the divisions 3. the alternate
ones being removable, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 25th day of February 1890.
D. McCONNELI, SMYTH.
By Brewer & Son,
Agents.