1952-11-26

Abstract of GB683388 683,388. Signature-gathering machines; feeding sheets. SCUOLA PROFESSIONALE DON BOSCO. May 13, 1949 [May 17, 1948], No. 12807/49. Class 100 (i). A machine for gathering folded signatures to form a book comprises two tables 2, 2<SP>1</SP> arranged parallel to each other in a common plane and on which the signatures are placed in a series of stacks 3, 3', a conveyer 4 between the two tables, and means for alternately picking up signatures from the two tables and depositing them on the conveyer; the machine is stopped automatically if a signature is not picked up and has means indicating at which position this occurs. A series of stacks is placed on each table with the shorter sides of the signatures parallel to the conveyer. Two series of suction devices 6, 6' are provided, the devices 6 operating to pick up the top signatures simultaneously from all the stacks 3 and transfer them to the conveyer 4, and the devices 6' operating similarly upon the stacks 3<SP>1</SP>. The suction devices are mounted on a support 9 having a carriage with rollers D running in guides C, E on a frame 1<SP>1</SP> which is reciprocated vertically. The carriage is reciprocated horizontally along the guides C, E by links B connected to rocking- levers A. The motion given to the suction devices is such that the devices 6 first move to the right over the stacks 3, descend and rise to remove the top signatures, and then move to the left over the conveyer 4 to deposit the signatures. Subsequently the devices 6' similarly convey the top signatures from the piles 3' to the conveyer. Pin-and-slot connections F, 18 between the links B and the carriage provide lost motion at the end of each horizontal stroke to afford time for the suction devices to seize the top signatures. The devices 6, 6' are connected to separate exhaust tubes 8, 8', Fig. 2 (not shown), the suction to the device 6 being cut off to allow the depositing of the signatures on the conveyer 4 by the engagement of a valve-controlling lever 9a with a cam 10. A similar cam 10<SP>1</SP> at the opposite end of the machine similarly controls the suction to the devices 6'. Between each complete to-and-fro movement of the carriage, the conveyer moves forward a distance equal to the signature width so that at its delivery end the conveyer has collected a complete set of signatures at each cycle of the machine. The tables 2, 2' are moved upwardly at each cycle a distance corresponding to the signature thickness, by screws 13 engaging nuts 13a. Above the longitudinal inner edges of the tables are two metal bars 14, 14<SP>1</SP> engaging by resilient metal strips 16, 16', one strip to each stack. The strips 16, 16' are connected in parallel through lamps 17, 17<SP>1</SP> respectively with an electric circuit which is rendered live e.g. by a rotary switch whenever a set of signatures is being transferred to the conveyer. Signatures during transfer pass between and separate the strips 16, 16<SP>1</SP> from the bars 14, 14', but if there is failure to feed a signature, the corresponding strip remains in contact with its bar to keep its circuit closed and cause its lamp 17 or 17<SP>1</SP> to light up. At the same time a relay is excited to stop the machine. According to the Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91, the tables 2, 2<SP>1</SP> are so connected to their supports, that additional tables can be connected to the same supports. Further, the signatures may be stacked vertically instead of horizontally. This subjectmatter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.

8

1952-11-26

B65H39/055 ; B65H39/00

B65H39/055

GB19490012807 19490513

ITX683388 19480517

1	Improvements in and relating to signature-gathering machines
	Inventor:	Applicant: SCUOLA PROFESSIONALE DON BOSCO
	EC:B65H39/055	IPC: B65H39/055;B65H39/00
	Publication info: GB683388 A - 1952-11-26

claim is:

1.A machine for gathering previously folded sheets or signatures to form a book, characterised in that it comprises two movable tables arranged parallel to each other in a common plane, on each of which the previously folded sheets or signatures are placed in a series ofstacks with their shorter sides arranged longitudinally of the tables, a central conveyor arranged between the two tables, means for alternately picking up the folded sheets from the two tables and releasing them on the central conveyor, means for moving the tables in such manner as to ensure that the foremost folded sheets are in a position where they can be engaged by the pick-up means, and means for stopping the machine automatically when a folded sheet fails to be picked up and for locating such folded sheet.

2. A machineaccording to Claim 1, characterised in that the means for picking up the folded sheets from the two tables and releasing them on the central conveyor are suction devices.

3. A machine according to Claim 1, characterised in that the two tables are moved upwardly during operation and have smooth upper surfaces that are notinterrupted by fixed partitions or spacers.

4. A machine according to Claim 3, characterised in that the stacks of folded sheets laid on the two tables are separated from each other by adjustable spacers.

5. A machine according, to Claims 1 and 3 characterised in that the two tables are carried by nuts and are moved upwardly by means of screws engaging said nuts and driven by worms and worm wheels.

6. A machine according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that movement of the two tables is synchronised in that movement of the two tables is synchronised with the horizontal movement of the central conveyor belt in such manner that during each operational cycle of the machine the central conveyor moves a distance corresponding to the width of a folded sheet and the two tables move a distance corresponding to the thickness of a folded sheet.

7. A machine according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the means for stopping the machineauto matically when one of the folded sheets has not been picked up and for locating such sheet include two metal bars arranged along the edges of the central conveyor belt and resilient metal strips or projections each of which has one end resting on one of said metal bars and its other end fixed to one of two elongatedboxes arranged longitudinally:of- the machine and containing as many electric lamps as there are resilient projections, each of said lamps being electrically connected to the corresponding projection, and the arrangement being such that when a folded sheet fails to be picked up, one of said projections remains in contact with one of said metal bars and clo,ses an electric circuit which in turn energizes a relay whereby to stop the machine driving means and also causes the corresponding electric lamp to be lit.

8. A machine for gathering previously folded sheets or signatures to form a book, constructed and adapted to operate substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(COMPLETESPECIFICIATION

Improvements in and relating to Signature-Gathering Machines Nave, SCtTOLt PROTISSIONALE Dos

Bosco, a corporate bodyorganized under the laws of Italy, of Via.Cottolengo No.

32, Turin, Italy, do hereby declarethe nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the followingstatement:

The present invention relates to machines used forbook-binding purposes and more particularly to machines forgathering the previously folded sheets or signatures destined to be bound together tofonn a. book and stacking them incorrect order ready for stitching or sewing.

The machines of the type above referred to which have been employed hitberto are of considerable length and consequently also very heavy owing to the folded sheets or signatures being arranged thereon lengthwiseat som.e distance from each other.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine which is simple, while being of comparatively small size and weight, and from which the sheets fora complete book may readily becollected at each operatingcvcle.

A machineaccording to theinvention comprises twomovable tables arrangedparallel to each other in a common plane.

on each of which the previously folded sheets or <RTI signatures are placed in a series of stacks with their shorter sides arranged longitudinally of the tables, a centralconveyor arranged between the two tables, means for alternatelypicking up the folded sheets from the two tables and releasing them on the central conveyor means for moving the tables in such manner as to ensure that the foremost folded sheets are in a position where they can be engaged by thepick-np means, and meansfor stopping the machine automatically when a folded sheet fails to be picked up and for locating such folded sheet.

One embodiment of the invention mill now be described in greater detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic. part-sectional end view of the machine and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 denotes the stationary frameof, the machine and on the opposite sides thereof are carried two movable tables 2 and21 arranged parallelto; each other in a common plane. Folded sheets or signatures 3 and 31 are placed on said tables 2 and 21 instacks very near to each other with their shorter sides parallel to the longitudinal sides of the tables.

The tables 2 and 21 are connected to the machine driving means so that at each cycle of the machine they are moved upwardly a distance corresponding to the thickness of a folded sheet, this is accoplished by gearing 12 and screw driver 13

as described hordinafter.

The folded sheets 3 and 31 are placed on the tables 2 and 21 in a predetermined order, for instance the previously folded sheets or signatures of successive even numbers may be placed on table 2 and the folded sheets of successive oddnumbers may be placed on table 21.

The tables 2 and21 are initially arranged in such a position that the top sheets are above the horizontal plane of a central table as explained hereinafter, such table being provided with a conveyor belt 4, said conveyor belt being driven by gearing 5 of such ratio that at each cycle of the machine the belt is displaced a distance corresponding to the width of a folded sheet.

The top sheets of eachstack arepicked up by suitable pick-up means engaging

the portions of the sheets nearest to the

conveyor 4, such means being in this instance suction devices or grippers 6 and6 connected through rubber pipes 7 and71

to twoeentral tubes or manifolds 8 and8

carried by a common support or beam 9, tube 8 connecting suction devices 6 to the

exhauster means while tube8l connects

suction devices 61 thereto.

The feed motion is imparted to the

grippers 6,6l as follows: two arms A are

made torock iniio;ison on pivotslocated

near the base of the machine. Their free upper ends are connected tolinks B

throughwhch they impart to the gripper

support orbeam--9 the horizontal com- ponento the latter's cyclical motion. The

support 9 is borne art each end onå

carriage comprising twowheels or rollers

D which ride in a slot defined by hori

zontal rails C and E forming part of a

moving frame1l. Each link B is slotted

atF where it engages a pin 18 or18l pro

jecting from the support 9 or from the

respectivecarriage, this being done in

order to provide a degree of lost motion

at the end of each stroke so as to give

the suction grippers 6 and6l time to

descend and seize the folded sheets with

out, translatory motion.

While the wheels D are thus driven to

and fro along the rails C, E, the latter are

raised and lowered synchronously, with

the framell, by any appropriate means

such as cams or eccentrics housed in the

body of the machine, and this vertical

component of the motion of the support 9

is combined with its horizontal-component

to provide an arcuate feed motion whereby the grippers 6,6'- descend on each

table in turn and then rise over the con

veyor to release the sheets.

In practice after suitably placing the

folded sheets on tables 2 and2l the machine isstarted. Support 9; togetherwith tubes8 and 81, moves for instance to the right and is lowered on to table 2

until suction devices 6 contact the top

folded sheet of eachstack. Said top folded

sheets arepicked mp bysuction and brought towards thecentral of the

machine; when they are abovethe -con- veyorbelt4, the free or outer end of a lockable control lever 9a on beam 9 rides up on- a-cam-lO: thereby opening a vacuum-breaking or air admission valvewhich interrupts the suction to devices 6, whereby the folded sheets are released

and fall down own the conveyor.

Support 9eontinue.s-to move towards the left and is lowereduntil -the - other bank of suction devices61, contacts folded sheets81 placed on table2l.

In the meantime tables 2 and2l move upwardly a distance corresponding to the thickness of a folded sheet.

After picking up the uppermost folded sheets3,1 from table2l, support 9 moves back towards the centre of the machine and, when sheetsssl reacha position above the central table, a controllever 9'a (not shown, but located at the far end of support 9 as viewed in Fig. 1) rides sup on a second cam,10l, causing a second air admission valve to open and suction to grippersG1 to ble interrupted, whereby the gripped sheets are dropped on to the conveyor belt 4.

The support 9 goes on moving to the right and starts the same cycle of operation again, and meanwhile the conveyor belt 4 has moved under the action of gearing 5 through a distance corresponding to the width of a folded sheet.

Thus the two banks ofgrippers are controlled separately by two air admission valves actuated by levers 9a and 91 a respectively. Moreover each valve is opened momentarily twice during each cycle as the respective lever rides over its cam 10 or10l, in one direction or the other, the opening that occurs during the return stroke being inoperative since no sheets are held by the particular set of grippers at that stage. It will be understood that separateexhausters must be provided for the two banks-of grippers, or appropriate valve means furnished, in order to prevent the inoperative tripping of lever 9a from releasing prematurely the sheets held by grippers6'l and vicaversaJ. Moreover, the tops of the stacks of sheets 3,31 are maintained at a level higher than that of a gathered book on the conveyor so as to prevent unwanted removal or displacementob sheets from the conveyor by the suction devices 6 during the gripping operation of devices 61 orqxice versa.

If the improved machine according to the invention is used in the manner described, a complete book is-formedat- each cycle once the conveyor 4 has completely traversed the tables.

Owing totables 2 and2l being smooth and free from anyfixed partitions or spacers, stacks of folded sheets of any size can be placed thereon and spaced by adjustable - spacers,- so that- the same machine can be used to gather sheets forboots of any width and length without any modifications of tables 2 and2l being required; for this purpose the grippers 6,61 may also be adjustable or more th-an onegripper- may be -provided for each stack of sheets so that at least one gripper comes within the field of each stack whatever' the dimensions ofthe - sheets.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the narrower the book to be bound is, the greater the number of stacks of folded sheets that can be placed on the tables 2 and 21 and the thicker the volumes that can be gathered.

In the event of a folded sheet not being picked up, for instance, owing to a suction device failing to work, the machine is provided with means for stopping its operation automatically to avoid missing a folded sheet in the particular gathered book and for indicating simultaneously which sheet has not been picked up.

Said detector and stopping means may be of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and described hereinafter.

Above the longitudinal inner edges of the tables 2, 21 there are arranged two metal bars 14 and 141, while two elongated boxes 15 and 151, parallel with the conveyor 4 and bars 14, 141 and made of wood or any other suitable material, are arranged at the outer edges of the fixed frame I. Resilient metallic projections or strips 16 and 161 are fixed to said boxes 15 and 151, said metallic projections being parallel with each other and passing over the folded sheets 3 and 31 respectively with their inner ends resting on the bars 14 and 141. The metallic projections 16 and 161 are connected in parallel, through lamps 17, 171, to an electric circuit which is rendered live by a rotary switch or other appropriate means (not shown) whenever a set of folded sheets is being transferred to the conveyor.

When the machine operates, the transfer of folded sheets 3 and 31 from tables 2 and 21 to the conveyor separates the inner free ends of projections 16 and 161 from bars 14 and 141 respectively. In the event of a folded sheet failing to be picked up, when support 9 passes over bar 14 or 141, the corresponding projection 16 or 161 remains in contact with one of the bars and closes the electric circuit to which it is connected; under these conditions, the circuit is closed and excites a relay which automatically stops the machine. The current passing through the closed circuit lights one of the electric lamps 17 and 171, which lamps are arranged inside the boxes 15 and 151 and connected to the projections 16 and16 respectively.

Thus the folded sheet which has not been picked up is clearly located by the corresponding lamp and it is easy to take the appropriate action and re-start the machine while ensuring that at the end of each cycle a complete book is gathered.

The tables 2 and 21 are carried by nuts 13a riding on and moved vertically by screws 13 which may be driven either by wormwheels12 as shown or by an endless chain controlled by the machine driving motor.

It is obvious that the embodiment dscribe is susceptible of changes and modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we