US3554532A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Signature machines
Assignee: CHICAGO MACHINERY LAB Inc
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Filing: 1968-08-21
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1988-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A gripper finger for clamping the margin of a signature sheet may be operated from the same source of suction which enables a suction cup to be effective on the same sheet, and this is made possible by oscillating the finger through a piston responsive to suction.
Inventors
- 👤 James F Cosgrove
- 👤 John Balla
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:57
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H5/00; B65H5/30; B65H5/305; B65H5/307; B65H5/08; B65H5/12; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/43; B65H2301/435; B65H2301/4351; B65H2301/45; B65H2301/453; B65H2301/4531
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
In a signature machine where folded signatures are to have the sheets thereof spread apart to an open state and the signature in its open state then deposited on a saddle conveyor: a pair of parallel driven shafts each supporting a disc above the saddle, one disc opposed to the other, and each shaft and disc being characterized by the following structure: a first gripper in a leading position adapted to clamp to the disc the leading edge of one of the sheets of the unopened signature; a second gripper on the disc, trailing the first gripper, for also gripping the sheet and including a gripper finger and an associated anvil carried by the disc between which a portion of the sheet is to be clamped, a pinion shaft supporting said gripper finger on the disc for movement between open and closed positions with respect to said anvil, a pinion gear on the pinion shaft within said disc and said disc having a cylinder chamber with a piston mounted therein for reciprocation in opposed directions induced at least in part by fluid subjected to a pressure differential in said chamber, a rack on the piston engaged with the pinion to translate reciprocal motion of the piston into oscillation of the finger, a suction cup on the disc substantially in alignment with said anvil, and passages in the disc for communicating pressure differential to the cylinder and the cup, each disc being constructed from a pair of segments each having a 180* recEss therein fitting the shaft, one of the segments having aligned passages communicating with the cup to furnish vacuum thereto, and said gripper finger and the anvil being located outboard of the disc on one side thereof and the anvil and suction cup being in substantial alignment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
In a signature machine where folded signatures are to have the sheets thereof spread apart to an open state and the signature in its open state then deposited on a saddle conveyor: a pair of parallel driven shafts each supporting a disc above the saddle, one disc opposed to the other, and each shaft and disc being characterized by the following structure: a first gripper in a leading position adapted to clamp to the disc the leading edge of one of the sheets of the unopened signature; a second gripper on the disc, trailing the first gripper, for also gripping the sheet and including a gripper finger and an associated anvil carried by the disc between which a portion of the sheet is to be clamped, a pinion shaft supporting said gripper finger on the disc for movement between open and closed positions with respect to said anvil, a pinion gear on the pinion shaft within said disc and said disc having a cylinder chamber with a piston mounted therein for reciprocation in opposed directions induced at least in part by fluid subjected to a pressure differential in said chamber, a rack on the piston engaged with the pinion to translate reciprocal motion of the piston into oscillation of the finger, a suction cup on the disc substantially in alignment with said anvil, and passages in the disc for communicating pressure differential to the cylinder and the cup, each disc being constructed from a pair of segments each having a 180* recEss therein fitting the shaft, one of the segments having aligned passages communicating with the cup to furnish vacuum thereto, and said gripper finger and the anvil being located outboard of the disc on one side thereof and the anvil and suction cup being in substantial alignment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |