Book-transferring apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for advancing a book from a fixed position to a selectively variable delivery position, said apparatus comprising: a frame having a first guide path means, a book support secured to said frame along which a book is adapted to be movable supported between a fixed position and a selectively variable delivery position, a lever having a driving end, a driven end, and a second guide path means, a linkage interconnected with said frame and the driving end of said lever, said lever driving end being operative through said linkage to move a book on said support, an actuator for moving the driven end of said lever through a predetermined displacement defined by an initial position and a terminal position for moving said driving end and thereby advancing a book through said linkage from said fixed position to said delivery position, and a pivot element pivotally interconnecting said lever and said frame, said pivot element being movable relative to said frame and to said lever along said first and second guide paths, respectively, formed in said frame and in said lever, respectively, said guide paths being parallel when said actuator has reciprocated said driven end of said lever to said initial position, thereby enabling the position of said pivot element to be altered to vary the position of said driving end, and hence, said delivery position, when said driven end of said lever is positioned by said actuator to its terminal position, without varying the position of said driving end, and hence, said fixed position, when said lever driven end is positioned by said actuator to its initial position.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for moving said pivot element when said actuator moves said driven end of said lever, thereby enabling said delivery position to be selectively varied to advance books to different delivery positions without interrupting the operation of said apparatus.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second guide path is an elongated slot formed in said lever and disposed on a line passing through the driving and driven ends thereof, and wherein said pivot element is a bar slidable in said slot.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 further including a link connected to said bar for sliding said bar in said slot and thereby altering the pivot point of said lever.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second guide path lies on a line passing through said driving and driven ends of said lever.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said actuator is a cam and said driven end of said lever is a cam follower driven by said cam, said apparatus further including a pusher rod having one end connected to said driving end of said lever and the other end engageable with books to be advanced, and also including means to constrain movement of said cam follower in an arc having a center on said line passing through said lever ends.

Claim 8

Apparatus for advancing a book from a home position to a delivery position, one of said positions being fixed and the other selectively variable, said apparatus comprising: a frame having a first guide path means, a book support secured to said frame along which a book is adapted to be movably supported between a home position and a delivery position, one of said positions being fixed and the other selectively variable, a lever having a driving end, a driven end, and a second guide path means, a linkage interconnected with said frame and the driven end of said lever, said lever driving end being operative through said linkage to move a book on said support, an actuator for moving the driven end of said lever through a predetermined displacement defined by an initial position and a terminal position for moVing said driving end and thereby advancing a book from said home position to said delivery position, and a pivot element pivotally interconnecting said lever and said frame, said pivot element being movable relative to said frame and to said lever along said first and second guide paths, respectively, formed in said frame and in said lever, respectively, said guide paths being parallel when said actuator has reciprocated said driven end of said lever to one of said initial and terminal positions, thereby enabling the position of said pivot element to be altered to vary the position of said driving end, and hence, one of said home and delivery positions, when said driven end of said lever is positioned by said actuator to one of its initial and terminal positions, without varying the position of said driving end, and hence, the other of said home and delivery positions, when said driven lever end is positioned by said actuator to the other of its initial and terminal positions.

Claim 9

Apparatus for advancing a book from a home position to a delivery position, one of said positions being fixed and the other selectively variable, said apparatus comprising: a frame having a first guide path means, a book support secured to said frame along which a book is adapted to be movably supported between a home position and a delivery position, one of said positions being fixed and the other selectively variable, a lever having a driving end, a driven end, and a second guide path means, a linkage interconnected with said frame and the driven end of said lever, said lever driving end being operative through said linkage to move a book on said support, an actuator for moving the driven end of said lever through a predetermined displacement defined by an initial position and a terminal position for moVing said driving end and thereby advancing a book from said home position to said delivery position, and a pivot element pivotally interconnecting said lever and said frame, said pivot element being movable relative to said frame and to said lever along said first and second guide paths, respectively, formed in said frame and in said lever, respectively, said guide paths being parallel when said actuator has reciprocated said driven end of said lever to one of said initial and terminal positions, thereby enabling the position of said pivot element to be altered to vary the position of said driving end, and hence, one of said home and delivery positions, when said driven end of said lever is positioned by said actuator to one of its initial and terminal positions, without varying the position of said driving end, and hence, the other of said home and delivery positions, when said driven lever end is positioned by said actuator to the other of its initial and terminal positions.