Book-calipering machine

Claim 2

Apparatus for detecting the absence of a predetermined number of signatures in a group of signatures when advancing with respect to said apparatus along a predetermined path of travel comprising: a. a stationary frame; b. a driven rotatable calipering element having the periphery thereof adapted to engage one side of a group; c. means mounted on said stationary frame for selectively pivoting the rotational axis of said driven calipering element with respect to said stationary frame to position said driven calipering element with respect to one side of the predetermined path of travel; d. means for driving said driven rotatable calipering element, said driving means including a shaft thereof coincidental with the pivotal axis of said selective pivoting means to enable the rotational axis of said driven rotatable calipering element to be selectively pivoted without additional adjustment of the driving means; e. an idler rotatable calipering element having the periphery thereof adapted to engage the other side of the group, the axis of rotation of each of said driven and idler calipering elements being offset from said predetermined path of travel so that the periphery thereof are substantially tangential to the side of a group when moving therebetween; f. additional means mounted on said stationary frame independent of said pivotable means for selectively pivoting the rotational axis of said idler calipering element with respect to said stationary frame to position said idler calipering element with respect to the other side of the predetermined path of travel, said idler calipering element spaced from said driven calipering element with the signatures to be calipered being adapted to pass along the predetermined path of travel between said driven and idler calipering elements and means for resiliently biasing said additional pivoting means toward said pivoting means and into a predetermined position in which the distance between the periphery of said driven calipering element and the periphery of said idler calipering element is less than the thickness of a group of signatures containing the predetermined number of signatures therein, said additional pivoting means for said idler calipering element being moved away from said pivoting means for said driven calipering element and against the bias of said biasing means as a function of the thickness of a group when the group passes between said driven and said idler calipering elements; g. means for multiplying the movement of said additional pivoting means; and h. means responsive to the movement of said means for multiplying the movement of said additional pivoting means for producing a signal whenever a group having a number of signatures different than the predetermined number of signatures passes between said driven and idler calipering elements.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for selectively pivoting the rotational axis of said driven calipering element with respect to said stationary frame to position said driven calipering element with respect to one side of the predetermined path of travel and said additional means for selectively pivoting the rotational axis of said idler calipering element with respect to said stationary frame to position said idler calipering element with respect to the other side of the predetermined path of travel each have a pivotal axis substantially parallel to the path of travel of the group.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 further including: a. drive means for said apparatus, said drive means for advancing the signatures to be calipered along the path to a position between said calipering elements and then away from said calipering elements; b. said means for multiplying movement of said additional pivoting means including linkage means connected to said idler calipEring element for amplifying movement of said idler calipering element relative to said driven calipering element in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane the signatures will be in when being calipered; c. a measuring device; d. means in synchronization with said drive means for moving said measuring device toward said linkage means upon the arrival of the signatures to be calipered between said calipering elements and for moving said measuring device away from said linkage means subsequent to the previously mentioned signatures passing between said calipering elements.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein a gauge block is located on a portion of said linkage means, said measuring device including a pair of gauge receptacles with said gauge receptacles movable towards the portion of said linkage means where said gauge block is located when the signatures are being calipered, said gauge receptacles flanking said gauge block as said gauge receptacles are moved towards said gauge block when the predetermined number of signatures is passing between said driven and idler calipering elements, said gauge block interfering with movement of said gauge receptacles towards said gauge block when a number different than the predetermined number of signatures is passing between said driven and idler calipering elements.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 further including: a. drive means for said apparatus, said drive means for advancing the signatures to be calipered along the path to a position between said calipering elements and then away from said calipering elements; b. said means for multiplying movement of said additional pivoting means including linkage means connected to said idler calipering element for amplifying movement of said idler calipering element relative to said driven calipering element; c. a measuring device; d. means in synchronization with said drive means for moving said measuring device toward said linkage means upon the arrival of the signatures to be calipered between said calipering elements and for moving said measuring device away from said linkage means subsequent to the previously mentioned signatures passing between said calipering elements.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 further including: a. switch-actuating means movable with said measuring device; b. abutment means on said linkage means; c. said means for producing a signal including switch means capable of moving relative to said measuring device and with said measuring device; and d. means moved in synchronization with said drive means for moving said switch means toward said switch-actuating means upon the arrival of signatures between said calipering elements and away from said switch-actuating means upon the previously mentioned signatures leaving said calipering element, whereby said switch means will move relative to said switch-actuating means upon a different number of signatures being calipered than the predetermined number due to said abutment means on said linkage means halting movement of said measuring device towards said linkage means upon said linkage means amplifying movement of said idler calipering element relative to said driven calipering element so said switch-actuating means will actuate said switch means whereas when the predetermined number of signatures are being calipered said switch means and said switch-actuating means will move in unison and said switch means will not be actuated.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 further defined by: a. said linkage means including a first lever connected to said idler calipering element and pivotable about said stationary frame, a second lever pivotable about said stationary frame with said abutment means being located on said second lever and means for biasing said second lever in contact with said first lever so that movement of said first lever and said idler calipering element will result in amplified movement of a portion of said second leveR; b. a third lever pivotable with respect to said stationary frame and movable in synchronization with said drive means towards said second lever upon the arrival of signatures between said calipering elements and away from said second lever subsequent to the signatures leaving said calipering elements; and c. said switch-actuating means and said measuring device being supported by said third lever.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said second lever is biased into contact with said first lever adjacent said idler calipering element.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 further including a fourth lever pivotable with respect to said stationary frame, said switch means being mounted on said fourth lever, means to bias third and fourth lever away from each other, means for limiting movement of said third lever away from said fourth lever and vice versa, and means in synchronization with said drive means for moving said fourth lever toward said third lever as the signatures arrive between said calipering elements to be calipered and away from said third lever upon the signatures leaving said calipering elements.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9 further defined by means fixed relative to said stationary frame for biasing said fourth lever away from said third lever.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said means for moving said third lever toward said fourth lever when signatures arrive between said calipering elements and said fourth lever away from said third lever when the signatures leave the calipering elements includes cam means rotated in synchronization with said drive means and a follower located on said fourth lever for following the contour of said cam means.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said fourth lever includes three mutually joined arms, a first of said arms being pivotable with respect to said stationary frame, a second of said arms including said follower at one end and said switch means being located on a third of said arms.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 6 further defined by a memory device having at least one memory element capable of being in a first or second position, and electrically actuated means responsive to said switch means being actuated for moving at least one memory element from a first to a second position, said memory device including a rotatable structure rotatable in synchronization with said drive means, and said electrically actuated means including solenoid means energizable by said switch means being actuated, whereby when said solenoid means are energized and upon a predetermined amount of rotation of said rotatable structure at least one memory element will move from the first to the second position.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said solenoid means include a plunger movable from a first to a second position upon said solenoid being energized, said plunger being located with respect to said rotatable structure so that when said plunger is in said second position rotation of said rotatable structure a predetermined amount will cause a memory element of said rotatable structure to abut said plunger so that the element will be in the second position.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 14 further defined by signal-producing means for producing a signal upon at least one memory element being in second position and after a predetermined amount of rotation of said rotatable structure.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 15 further defined by a member fixed relative to said stationary frame and adjacent to said rotatable structure, said signal-producing means located on said fixed member, whereby said signal-producing means will produce a signal upon said memory element being in the second position when said rotatable structure is rotated so said memory element thereon in the second position is at a predetermined location with respect to said signal-producing means on said fixed member.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said signal-producing means are defined by a switch and lever arrangement located on said fixed member in relation to said rotatable structure so that when said memory element is in said second position as a result of said solenoid being energized said memory element will abut said lever to actuate said switch on said fixed member as said rotatable structure rotates a predetermined amount.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 1 further including: a. means for biasing said first pivotable means towards said additional pivoting means and toward one side of the predetermined path, said biasing means for said first pivotable means being stronger than said means to resiliently bias said additional pivoting means whereby when a number greater than the predetermined number of signatures are being calipered between said calipering elements said idler calipering element will always move relative to said stationary frame in preference to said driven calipering element moving relative to said stationary frame; and b. means for selectively limiting movement of said driven calipering element on said first pivotable means towards said idler calipering element on said additional pivoting means.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein means are provided for selectively limiting movement of said idler calipering element toward said driven calipering element.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said means for selectively limiting movement of said idler calipering element towards said driven calipering element includes stop means adjustably fixed relative to said idler calipering wheel, abutment means fixed relative to said stationary frame in a position so that as said idler calipering element moves towards said driven calipering element a predetermined amount said stop means will hit said abutment means halting movement of said idler calipering element towards said driven calipering element.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for selectively pivoting the rotational axis of said driven calipering element includes support means pivotally mounted on said stationary frame, said support means and said driven calipering element movable in unison with each other, a threaded element having a free end, said free end of said threaded element being held fixed from movement toward or away from said stationary frame, said support means threadedly connected with said threaded element wherein said support means and said driven calipering element are movable with respect to said threaded element to pivotably vary said driven calipering element axis of rotation upon rotation of said threaded element.

Claim 23

A calipering method for detecting the absence of a predetermined number of signatures in a group of signatures including the steps of: a. advancing the group of signatures in a path of travel along one side of a support surface having an aperture therein; b. pivoting a driven calipering element disposed on the one side of the support surface relative to the support surface and independently of any movement of an idler calipering element disposed on the other side of the support surface to set a distance between the idler calipering element and the driven calipering element corresponding to the thickness of the predetermined signatures; c. passing the signatures between the idler calipering element and the driven calipering element and biasing the idler calipering element into the aperture of the support surface; d. moving the idler calipering element in a vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of the signatures in response to the thickness of the signatures passing between the calipering elements; e. amplifying movement of the idler calipering element in a vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the path and positioning a block of a predetermined size in accordance with the amplifying movement of the idler calipering element and in the plane of the amplifying movement when a group of signatures are between the calipering elemenTs for departure from a predetermined point corresponding to the position of the block when the predetermined number of signatures are between the calipering elements; f. moving gauge block receptacles in the vertical plane the gauge block is moved in towards the block when a group of signatures are between the calipering elements; g. abuting the gauge block receptacles with the gauge block as a result of the amplifying movement of the idler calipering element when a number of signatures different than the predetermined number are between the calipering elements and flanking the gauge block with the gauge receptacles when the predetermined number of signatures are between the calipering elements; h. producing a signal upon abuting the gauge receptacles with the gauge block; and i. moving the gauge block receptacles away from the gauge block while moving the signatures away from the calipering elements.

Claim 24

A calipering method for detecting the absence of a predetermined number of signatures in a group of signatures including the steps of: a. advancing the group of signatures in a path of travel along one side of a support surface having an aperture therein; b. pivoting a driven calipering element disposed on the one side of the support surface relative to the support surface and independently of any movement of an idler calipering element disposed on the other side of the support surface to set a distance between the idler calipering element and the driven calipering element corresponding to the thickness of the predetermined signatures; c. passing the signatures between the idler calipering element and the driven calipering element and biasing the idler calipering element into the aperture of the support surface; d. moving the idler calipering element in a vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of the signatures in response to the thickness of the signatures passing between the calipering elements; e. amplifying movement of the idler calipering element in a vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the path and positioning a block of a predetermined size in accordance with the amplifying movement of the idler calipering element and in the plane of the amplifying movement when a group of signatures are between the calipering elemenTs for departure from a predetermined point corresponding to the position of the block when the predetermined number of signatures are between the calipering elements; f. moving gauge block receptacles in the vertical plane the gauge block is moved in towards the block when a group of signatures are between the calipering elements; g. abuting the gauge block receptacles with the gauge block as a result of the amplifying movement of the idler calipering element when a number of signatures different than the predetermined number are between the calipering elements and flanking the gauge block with the gauge receptacles when the predetermined number of signatures are between the calipering elements; h. producing a signal upon abuting the gauge receptacles with the gauge block; and i. moving the gauge block receptacles away from the gauge block while moving the signatures away from the calipering elements.

Claim 25

A method according to claim 22 including the step of moving the idler calipering element in to the aperture to set the projection of the idler calipering element above the one side of the support surface.

Claim 26

Apparatus for detecting the absence of a predetermined number of signatures in a group of signatures when advancing with respect to said apparatus along a predetermined path of travel comprising: a. a stationary frame; b. a driven rotatable calipering element having the periphery thereof adapted to engage one side of a group; c. means mounted on said stationary frame for selectively pivoting the rotational axis of said driven calipering element with respect to said stationary frame to position said driven calipering element with respect to one side of the predetermined path of travel; d. an idler rotatable calipering element having the periphery thereof adapted to engage the other side of the group, the axis of rotation of each of said driven and idler calipering elements being offset from said predetermined path of travel so that the periphery thereof are substantially tangential to the side of a group when moving therebetween; e. additional means mounted on said stationary frame independent of said pivotable means for selectively pivoting the rotational axis of said idler calipering element with respect to said stationary frame to position said idler calipering element with respect to the other side of the predetermined path of travel, said idler calipering element spaced from said driven calipering element with the signatures to be calipered being adapted to pass along the predetermined path of travel between said driven and idler calipering elements and means for resiliently biasing said additional pivoting means toward said pivoting means and into a predetermined position in which the distance between the periphery of said driven calipering element and the periphery of said idler calipering element is less than the thickness of a group of signatures containing the predetermined number of signatures therein, said additional pivoting means for said idler calipering element being moved away from said pivoting means for said driven calipering element and against the bias of said baising means as a function of the thickness of a group when the group passes between said driven and said idler calipering elements; f. drive means for said apparatus, said drive means for advancing the signatures to be calipered along the path to a position between said calipering elements and then away from said calipering elements; g. means for multiplying the movement of said additional pivoting means including linkage means connected to said idler calipering element for amplifying movement of said idler calipering element relative to said driven calipering element; h. abutment means on said linkage means; i. means responsive to the movement of said means for multiplying the movement of said additional pivoting means for producing a signal whenever a group having a number of signatures different than the predetermined number of sigNatures passes between said driven and idler calipering elements, said means for producing a signal including a measuring device and a switch means capable of moving relative to said measuring device; j. means in synchronization with said drive means for moving said measuring device toward said linkage means upon the arrival of the signatures to be calipered between said calipering elements and for moving said measuring device away from said linkage means subsequent to the previously mentioned signatures passing between said calipering elements; k. means moved in synchronization with said drive means for moving said switch means toward said switch-actuating means upon the arrival of signatures between said calipering elements and away from said switch-actuating means upon the previously mentioned signatures leaving said calipering elements, whereby said switch means will move relative to said switch-actuating means upon a different number of signatures being calipered than the predetermined number due to said abutment means on said linkage means halting movement of said measuring device towards said linkage means upon said linkage means amplifying movement of said idler calipering element relative to said driven calipering element so said switch actuating means will actuate said switch means whereas when the predetermined number of signatures are being calipered said switch means and said switch-actuating means will move in unison and said switch means will not be actuated; and

Claim 27

Apparatus for detecting the absence of a predetermined number of signatures in a group of signatures when advancing with respect to said apparatus along a predetermined path of travel comprising: a. a stationary frame; b. a driven rotatable calipering element having the periphery thereof adapted to engage one side of a group; c. means mounted on said stationary frame for selectively pivoting the rotational axis of said driven calipering element with respect to said stationary frame to position said driven calipering element with respect to one side of the predetermined path of travel; d. an idler rotatable calipering element having the periphery thereof adapted to engage the other side of the group, the axis of rotation of each of said driven and idler calipering elements being offset from said predetermined path of travel so that the periphery thereof are substantially tangential to the side of a group when moving therebetween; e. additional means mounted on said stationary frame independent of said pivotable means for selectively pivoting the rotational axis of said idler calipering element with respect to said stationary frame to position said idler calipering element with respect to the other side of the predetermined path of travel, said idler calipering element spaced from said driven calipering element with the signatures to be calipered being adapted to pass along the predetermined path of travel between said driven and idler calipering elements and means for resiliently biasing said additional pivoting means toward said pivoting means and into a predetermined position in which the distance between the periphery of said driven calipering element and the periphery of said idler calipering element is less than the thickness of a group of signatures containing the predetermined number of signatures therein, said additional pivoting means for said idler calipering element being moved away from said pivoting means for said driven calipering element and against the bias of said baising means as a function of the thickness of a group when the group passes between said driven and said idler calipering elements; f. drive means for said apparatus, said drive means for advancing the signatures to be calipered along the path to a position between said calipering elements and then away from said calipering elements; g. means for multiplying the movement of said additional pivoting means including linkage means connected to said idler calipering element for amplifying movement of said idler calipering element relative to said driven calipering element; h. abutment means on said linkage means; i. means responsive to the movement of said means for multiplying the movement of said additional pivoting means for producing a signal whenever a group having a number of signatures different than the predetermined number of sigNatures passes between said driven and idler calipering elements, said means for producing a signal including a measuring device and a switch means capable of moving relative to said measuring device; j. means in synchronization with said drive means for moving said measuring device toward said linkage means upon the arrival of the signatures to be calipered between said calipering elements and for moving said measuring device away from said linkage means subsequent to the previously mentioned signatures passing between said calipering elements; k. means moved in synchronization with said drive means for moving said switch means toward said switch-actuating means upon the arrival of signatures between said calipering elements and away from said switch-actuating means upon the previously mentioned signatures leaving said calipering elements, whereby said switch means will move relative to said switch-actuating means upon a different number of signatures being calipered than the predetermined number due to said abutment means on said linkage means halting movement of said measuring device towards said linkage means upon said linkage means amplifying movement of said idler calipering element relative to said driven calipering element so said switch actuating means will actuate said switch means whereas when the predetermined number of signatures are being calipered said switch means and said switch-actuating means will move in unison and said switch means will not be actuated; and

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 24 further defined by signal-producing means for producing a signal upon at least one memory element being in second position and after a predetermined amount of rotation of said rotatable structure.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 25 further defined by a member fixed relative to said stationary frame and adjacent to said rotatable structure, said signal-producing means located on said fixed member, whereby said signal producing means will produce a signal upon said memory element being in the second position when said rotatable structure is rotated so said memory element thereon in the second position is at a predetermined location with respect to said signal producing means on said fixed member.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said signal-producing means are defined by a switch and lever arrangement located on said fixed member in relation to said rotatable structure so that when said memory element is in said second position as a result of said solenoid being energized said memory element will abut said lever to actuate said switch on said fixed member as said rotatable structure rotates a predetermined amount.