Signature machines

Claim 2

A caliper system for a cyclically operable signature gathering machine of the kind in which signatures are gathered froM a plurality of supply sources into individual unbound books each containing a given number of signatures, and in which the unbound books are advanced seratim along a predetermined path through a calipering station to a binding station comprising binding means for binding the books in their sequence of arrival, and having control means for controlling operation of the machine, said caliper comprising: reference means for developing an energy analogue or the correct thickness for an unbound book and including means for projecting a beam of energy through a correctly assembled book employed as a standard book of correct thickness; probe means for projecting a beam of energy through each unbound book as the book traverses the caliper station; means for comparing the emergent beam characteristic of said energy analogue with the emergent beam characteristic of the unbound book to determine whether a match or a mismatch prevails and for developing a control signal indicative thereof; and means for applying the control signal to the machine control means to inhibit binding of a mismatched book.

Claim 3

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 1, in which said reference means includes a plurality of individual means for developing a corresponding plurality of separate and individual energy analogues each corresponding to a correctly assembled unbound book of a thickness different from the others, said system further comprising selective switching means for selecting any one of the energy analogues for use in the system at any given time.

Claim 4

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 2, in which said selective switching means is also coupled to said signature supply sources in the machine to correlate the reference means and the signature contents of said unbound books.

Claim 5

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 1, and further comprising synchronizing means for delaying application of said control signal to said binder for a given number of machine cycles to synchronize inhibition of said binding means with the scheduled arrival of a mismatched book at said binding station.

Claim 6

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 4 in which said synchronizing means comprises a multiple level storage register, each level of the storage register corresponding to an individual sequential stage in the advancing movement of the unbound books along said path from said calipering station to said binding station, and means for applying shift signals to said shift register in synchronism with the stage-by-stage advancement of said unbound books along said path.

Claim 7

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 5, in which the machine includes a transfer station for diverting mismatched books from said path to a different destination than the destination for matched books, and in which said machine control means includes a transfer control and a binding means control, said system further including means for applying said control signal to said binding means control from a different level of said storage register.

Claim 8

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 5 in which said reference means includes a plurality of individual means for developing a corresponding plurality of separate and individual energy analogues each corresponding to a correctly assembled unbound book of a constituency different than the others, said system further comprising selective switching means for selecting any one of the energy analogues for use in the system at any given time, said selective switching means being coupled to said signature supply sources to correlate the reference means and the signature contents of said unbound books.

Claim 9

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 1 in which each of said reference means and probe means comprises a radioactive material affording a beam of beta particles and in which there is a sensing means comprising a sensing element that produces a signal having an intensity that is a function of the beta particle beams impinging thereon, the signal from the sensing means being delivered to the comparing means.

Claim 10

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 8 in which said reference means includes a plurality of individual means for developing a corresponding plurality of separate and individual energy analogues each corresponding to a correctly assembled unbound book of a constituency different than the others, said system further comprising selective switching means for selecting any one of the energy analogues for use in the system at any given time, said selective switching means being coupled to said signature supply sources to correlate the reference means and the signature contents of said unbound books. 10 A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 8 in which said sensing means further includes means for cyclically interrupting said beam whereby the output signal from said sensing element is an alternating signal.

Claim 11

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 10 in which said sensing element is a crystal excited to luminescence by the impinging beams of beta particles, said sensing means further including a photosensitive device positioned to receive light from the sensing element and to convert that light into an alternating electrical signal.

Claim 12

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 8 and further comprising means for cyclically interrupting the two beta particle beams from said reference means and said probe means with a phase displacement of approximately 180* and in which said sensing element is a luminescent element excitable by beta particle bombardment and producing a light output representative of the intensity of an impinging beta particle beam, said sensing means further including a photosensitive device positioned to receive light from said sensing element and to convert that light into an electrical signal.

Claim 13

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 12 in which said comparing means comprises a detector circuit for detecting an alternating current output from said photosensitive device to establish the presence of a mismatched book.

Claim 14

A caliper system for a cyclically operable signature gathering machine of the kind in which signatures are gathered from a plurality of supply sources into individual unbound books each containing a given number of signatures, and in which the unbound books are advanced seriatim along a predetermined path through a calipering station to a binding station comprising binding means for binding the books in their sequence of arrival, and having control means for controlling operation of the machine, said caliper comprising: reference means for developing an energy analogue of the correct thickness for an unbound book; said reference means including a plurality of individual means for developing a corresponding plurality of separate and individual energy analogues each corresponding to a correctly assembled unbound book of a thickness different from the others, said system further comprising selective switching means for selecting any one of the energy analogues for use in the system at any given time; probe means for projecting a beam of energy through each unbound book as the book traverses the caliper station; means for comparing said energy analogue with the emergent beam characteristic of the unbound book to determine whether a match or a mismatch prevails and for developing a control signal indicative thereof; and means for applying the control signal to the machine control means to inhibit binding of a mismatched book.

Claim 15

A caliper system for a cyclically operable signature gathering machine of the kind in which signatures are gathered from a plurality of supply sources into individual unbound books each containing a given number of signatures, and in which the unbound books are advanced seriatim along a predetermined path through a calipering station to a binding station comprising binding means for binding the books in their sequence of arrival, and having control means for controlling operation of the machine, said caliper comprising: reference means for developing an energy analogue of the correct thickness for an unbound book; said reference means including a plurality of individual means for developing a corresponding plurality of separate and individual energy analogues each corresponding to a correctly assembled unbound book of a thickness different from the others, said system further comprising selective switching means for selecting any one of the energy analogues for use in the system at any given time; probe means for projecting a beam of energy through each unbound book as the book traverses the caliper station; means for comparing said energy analogue with the emergent beam characteristic of the unbound book to determine whether a match or a mismatch prevails and for developing a control signal indicative thereof; and means for applying the control signal to the machine control means to inhibit binding of a mismatched book.

Claim 16

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 14 in which said selective switching means is also coupled to sAid signature supply sources in the machine to correlate the reference means and the signature contents of said unbound books.

Claim 17

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 15 and further comprising synchronizing means for delaying application of said control signal to said binder for a given number of machine cycles to synchronize inhibition of said binding means with the scheduled arrival of a mismatched book at said binding station.

Claim 18

A caliper system for a signature gathering machine according to claim 16 in which said synchronizing means comprises a multiple level storage register, each level of the storage register corresponding to an individual sequential stage in the advancing movement of the unbound books along said path from said calipering station to said binding station, and means for applying shift signals to said shift register in synchronism with the stage-by-stage advancement of said unbound books along said path.