Automatic switch for stream diverter

Claim 2

The diverter means of claim 1 further comprising means positioned downstream of said clamping means for detecting the gap formed in the signature stream by said clamping means to enable said second means to operate only after the last unclamped signature passes said detecting means.

Claim 3

The diverter means of claim 2 wherein said detecting means is comprised of a light source and photodetector means positioned to one side of the said plane of movement of said signature stream; reflector means positioned to the opposite side of said plane of movement of said signature stream for reflecting light rays emitted from said light source toward said photodetector means when said last unclamped signature passes said detecting means.

Claim 4

The diverter means of claim 2 wherein said detecting means is comprised of a light source and photodetector means positioned on opposite sides of the said plane of movement of said signature stream; said photodetector means being adapted to receive the light rays emitted from said light source when said last unclamped signature passes said detecting means.

Claim 5

The stream diverting means of claim 1 wherein said first clamping assembly is comprised of at least one arm pivotally mounted at one end above the plane of movement of said signature stream, the free end of said arm being directed toward said signature stream; said second clamping assembly being comprised of at least one arm pivotally mounted at one end below the plane of movement of said signature stream, the free end of said arm being directed toward said signature stream.

Claim 6

The stream diverting means of claim 5 wherein said first moving means is comprised of an air cylinder having a reciprocally mounted piston; a piston rod coupled to said piston; a first connecting rod being coupled between one arm of one of said first and second clamping assemblies and said piston rod for moving its associated arm between the clamped and unclamped positions.

Claim 7

The stream diverting means of claim 6 further comprising a second connecting rod coupled between said first connecting rod and the arm of the remaining one of said first and second clamping assembly arms for operating its associated arm between said clamped and unclamped positions in unison with the arm of said one of said first and second clamping assemblies.

Claim 8

The stream diverting means of claim 1 further comprising a second air cylinder having a reciprocally mounted piston; a piston rod coupled to said piston; means for pivotally coupling the free end of said piston rod to said pivotally mounted roller assembly.

Claim 9

The stream diverting means of claim 8 wherein said means for moving said deflection means is comprised of a connecting rod coupled between said deflection means and the free end of said piston rod to operate said deflection means in unison with said pivotally mounted roller assembly.

Claim 10

The stream diverting means of claim 1 further comprising a guiding conveyor section positioned a spaced distance above said first output conveyor section and said pivotally mounted roller assembly and having at least a portion thereof confronting said first output conveyor section being downwardly inclined from its upstream end toward its downstream end for guiding the signature stream to pass along said first output conveyor section.

Claim 11

The stream diverting means of claim 10 wherein said deflection means is comprised of a plurality of deflection fingers; said guiding conveyor section being comprised of at least two spaced parallel roller assemblies having a plurality of conveyor belts entrained about said roller assemblies in spaced parallel fashion; the forward free ends of said deflEction fingers being adapted to extend between said conveyor belts when in said upward position whereby said inclined portion cooperates with said deflection fingers to guide the signature stream toward said second output conveyor section.

Claim 12

The stream diverting means of claim 1 further comprising a stream compressing conveyor section having at least a pair of spaced parallel roller assemblies and a plurality of conveyor belts entrained around said roller assemblies; said compressing conveyor section and the portion of the conveyor belts extending between said pivotally mounted roller assembly and said stationary roller assembly cooperating to form a guide path for the signature stream which tapers to form a narrow exit path at the downstream end of said compressing conveyor section.

Claim 13

The stream diverting means of claim 1 further comprising a conveyor driving motor; means coupled between the output of said motor and said input and first and second output conveyor sections for conveying said signature stream between its input and output ends.

Claim 14

The stream diverting means of claim 1 wherein said pivotally mounted roller assembly is comprised of a pair of spaced parallel support plates; first, second and third roller assemblies arranged in spaced parallel fashion in a triangular arrangement; a shaft for pivotally supporting the upstream ends of said support plates; a second shaft mounted between said support plates and being connected to said first drive means; said conveyor belts being entrained around said first, second and third roller assemblies and said stationary roller assembly.

Claim 15

The stream diverting means of claim 14 wherein the roller assembly of said pivotally mounted roller assembly positioned in close proximity to said deflection means is comprised of a plurality of split roller sections arranged at spaced intervals along a shaft; said deflection means being comprised of a plurality of deflection fingers having their free ends adapted to be positioned in the gaps between adjacent roller sections of the split roller assembly when signatures are being delivered to said first output conveyor section to thereby enable the upper edges of the deflection fingers to lie slightly below the signature stream when the deflection fingers are spanning the gap between said split roller assembly and the upstream end of said first output conveyor section.

Claim 16

The stream diverting means of claim 1 wherein said signature stream is arranged in overlapping fashion.

Claim 17

A reversible stream diverter comprising first and second output conveyor sections each being adapted to support and convey a signature stream delivered thereto; said second output conveyor section being positioned a spaced distance beneath said first output conveyor section; a third input conveyor section being adapted to support a signature stream and convey said signature stream downstream toward said first and second conveyor sections; means adjacent said first conveyor section for temporarily clamping selected signatures in the stream being conveyed; said first and second conveyor sections being substantially coplanar; a fourth conveyor section comprised of at least first, second and third roller assemblies; said first roller assembly being positioned adjacent the downstream end of said third conveyor section; said second roller assembly being positioned adjacent the upstream end of said second conveyor section; said third roller assembly being movable between a first position adjacent to and coplanar with the upstream end of said first conveyor section and a second position below the upstream end of said first conveyor section; deflection means having a downstream end pivotally mounted adjacent to the upstream end of said first conveyor section and being rotatably mounted to move between a first position whereby said fingers are substantially horizontally aligned to span the gap between said movable rolLer assembly and the upstream end of said first conveyor section and a second position whereby the free ends of said fingers extend above the conveying surface of said third conveyor section whereby the lower surfaces of said fingers guide the signature stream to said second conveyor section; linking means coupled between said movable roller assembly and said deflection means for moving said deflection means to said first and second positions when said movable roller assembly is being respectively moved to its first and second positions.

Claim 18

A reversible stream diverter comprising first and second output conveyor sections each being adapted to support and convey a signature stream delivered thereto; said second output conveyor section being positioned a spaced distance beneath said first output conveyor section; a third input conveyor section being adapted to support a signature stream and convey said signature stream downstream toward said first and second conveyor sections; means adjacent said first conveyor section for temporarily clamping selected signatures in the stream being conveyed; said first and second conveyor sections being substantially coplanar; a fourth conveyor section comprised of at least first, second and third roller assemblies; said first roller assembly being positioned adjacent the downstream end of said third conveyor section; said second roller assembly being positioned adjacent the upstream end of said second conveyor section; said third roller assembly being movable between a first position adjacent to and coplanar with the upstream end of said first conveyor section and a second position below the upstream end of said first conveyor section; deflection means having a downstream end pivotally mounted adjacent to the upstream end of said first conveyor section and being rotatably mounted to move between a first position whereby said fingers are substantially horizontally aligned to span the gap between said movable rolLer assembly and the upstream end of said first conveyor section and a second position whereby the free ends of said fingers extend above the conveying surface of said third conveyor section whereby the lower surfaces of said fingers guide the signature stream to said second conveyor section; linking means coupled between said movable roller assembly and said deflection means for moving said deflection means to said first and second positions when said movable roller assembly is being respectively moved to its first and second positions.