Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
Apparatus for inserting a first sheet section into a second, folded multiple leaf sheet section, the fold dividing the section into two segments and constituting a side edge of said second section with the segments thereof having hard, forward edges extending transversely of the fold, said apparatus comprising: a support for receiving said second section and holding said fold thereof against lateral movement; a shiftable gripper disposed to frictionally engage only the face of the outermost leaf of one of the segments of said second section when the latter is received by said support; means coupled with said gripper for shifting the latter into engagement with said face to pull the outermost leaf or leaves of said one segment adjacent said gripper in directions generally in their planes relative to the remaining leaves of said segments to cause the hard forward edge formed by said one segment to separate and move away from the hard forward edge of the other segment of said second section to thereby open the latter; means for advancing said second section forwardly along a predetermined path of travel upon operation of said gripper shifting means and attendant opening of said second section; structure along said path of travel in disposition to support said second section and maintain the latter open as it advances; and means along said path of travel for feeding said first section into the open second section as the latter advances.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
Apparatus for inserting a first sheet section into a second, folded multiple leaf sheet section, the fold dividing the section into two segments and constituting a side edge of said second section with the segments thereof having hard, forward edges extending transversely of the fold, said apparatus comprising: a support for receiving said second section and holding said fold thereof against lateral movement; a shiftable gripper disposed to frictionally engage only the face of the outermost leaf of one of the segments of said second section when the latter is received by said support; means coupled with said gripper for shifting the latter into engagement with said face to pull the outermost leaf or leaves of said one segment adjacent said gripper in directions generally in their planes relative to the remaining leaves of said segments to cause the hard forward edge formed by said one segment to separate and move away from the hard forward edge of the other segment of said second section to thereby open the latter; means for advancing said second section forwardly along a predetermined path of travel upon operation of said gripper shifting means and attendant opening of said second section; structure along said path of travel in disposition to support said second section and maintain the latter open as it advances; and means along said path of travel for feeding said first section into the open second section as the latter advances.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, there being means along said path of travel for feeding at least one additional sheet section into the open second section as the latter continues to advance, whereby said apparatus inserts a plurality of sheet sections into said second section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said gripper shifting means effecting movement of said gripper generally toward said fold, whereby the outermost leaf or leaves of said one segment adjacent said face are pulled toward said fold to open said second section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said support having means disposed to underlie said second section in supporting relationship to the opposite face thereof, said one face thereby constituting the upper face of said second section, said gripper-shifting means effecting movement of said gripper downwardly into and at an angle to said upper face and generally toward said fold, thereby raising the hard forward edge of said one segment to open said second section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said structure having means disposed to underlie the raised forward edge and hold the latter in spaced relationship to the forward edge therebeneath, as said second section advances along said path of travel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, there being means mounting said support for movement a predetermined distance along said path of travel, said advancing means including drive means coupled with said support for shifting the latter said distance to effect initial forward advancement of said second section, said structure having means for receiving the raised forward edge of said second section as said support is shifted, said receiving means being disposed to underlie said raised forward edge and hold the latter in spaced relationship to the forward edge therebeneath as said second section continues to advance along said path of travel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said gripper including a friction wheel rotatable about an axis extending transversely of said path of travel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, said support shifting relative to said wheel as the support moves said distance, said gripper shifting means maintaining said wheel in engagement with said upper face of the second section during initial movement of the support, whereby the wheel rotates as the support commences movement to hold the second section open.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said advancing means further including means engageable with said second section upon said initial forward advancement thereof for shifting the second section from said support and effecting continued advancement thereof along said path of travel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said drive means effecting said shifting of the support following operation of said gripper-shifting means to open said second section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said support including a tray presenting said means disposed to underlie said second section and provided with an upstanding side guide, said tray having a rib thereon generally aligned with said gripper and extending transversely of said path of travel, there being means for feeding said second section into said tray over said rib with said fold against said guide, whereby a hump is formed in said second section by said rib to augment the pulling action of said gripper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, said rib having a concave, frictional upper surface opposing said gripper as the latter moves into engagement with said upper face of the second section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, said movement of said gripper being arcuate and directed downwardly over said tray and toward said guide, said concave surface of the rib having a curvature substantially conforming to the arcuate path of movement of said gripper.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said support including a tray presenting said means disposed to underlie said second section and provided with an upstanding side guide, there being means for feeding said second section into said tray with said fold against said guide, said movement of said gripper being arcuate and directed downwardly over said tray and toward said guide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said support including a tray presenting said means disposed to underlie said second section and provided with an upstanding side guide, there being means for feeding said second section into said tray with said fold against said guide; and means mounting said tray for forward and return movement a predetermined distance along said path of travel, said advancing means including cyclic drive means coupled with said tray for shifting the latter forwardly said distance to effect initial forward advancement Of said second section, and then returning said tray to a standby position thereof for a predetermined dwell period before again shifting the tray forwardly, said gripper-shifting means being synchronized with said drive means and operable to effect downward movement of said gripper into said upper face during said dwell period, said structure having means for receiving the raised forward edge of said second section upon forward movement of said tray following said dwell period, said receiving means being disposed to underlie said raised forward edge and hold the latter in spaced relationship to the forward edge therebeneath as said second section continues to advance along said path of travel.