Apparatus for conveying and treating folded book signatures and the like

Claim 2

Apparatus for handling folded signatures comprising an inverted V-shaped saddle for supporting a signature astraddle thereof with the backbone fold of the signature engaging the apex of the saddle, said saddle having a slot in the apex thereof, means for pushing said signature along the saddle at a predetermined speed, and means for compressing said backbone fold as the signature travels across said slot.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fold compressing means comprises a rotatable disc engageable with the inner surface of said fold through said slot and a roller having a concave peripheral surface engageable with the outer surface of said fold opposite said disc.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising first resilient means for supporting said roller in spaced relation to said disc and second resilient means for yieldably resisting further separation of said roller and disc, whereby the signature fold is compressed as it passes between the roller and disc.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said first resilient means are in tension and said second resilient means are under compression.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 comprising means for driving said roller to thereby advance the signature at a speed slightly in excess of said predetermined speed.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fold compressing means comprises a pair of rotatable discs spaced longitudinally of the saddle and projecting upwardly into said slot, a pair of rollers above said discs, said rollers having concave peripheral surfaces in mating relation with said discs, a frame for rotatably supporting said rollers, and means for supporting said frame with said rollers in spaced relation to said disc while permitting limited vertical movement thereof and yieldably resistIng such movement thereof both toward and away from said discs.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said frame supporting means allows limited pivotal movement of said frame about an axis in a vertical plane centrally disposed between and parallel to the axes of said rollers.

Claim 9

In apparatus for handling folded signatures, an inverted V-shaped saddle for supporting a signature astraddle thereof, and means for yieldably compressing the backbone fold of the signature as the same moves along the saddle, said means comprising a fixed rotatable disc engageable with the inner surface of the fold, a peripherally grooved roller engageable with the outer surface of the fold at a point in a plane containing the axes of said disc and roller, means for resiliently suspending said roller in spaced relation to the disc, and resilient means under compression for urging said roller toward said disc.

Claim 10

In apparatus for handling folded signatures, an inverted V-shaped saddle for supporting a signature astraddle thereof, and means for yieldably compressing the backbone fold of the signature as the same moves along the saddle, said means comprising a fixed rotatable disc engageable with the inner surface of the fold, a peripherally grooved roller engageable with the outer surface of the fold at a point in a plane containing the axes of said disc and roller, means for resiliently suspending said roller in spaced relation to the disc, and resilient means under compression for urging said roller toward said disc.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 comprising means for driving said roller whereby to move the signature along the saddle between said roller and disc.

Claim 12

In apparatus for handling folded signatures an inverted V-shaped saddle for supporting a signature astraddle thereof, and means for yieldably compressing the backbone fold of the signature as the same moves along the saddle, said means comprising a pair of fixed rotatable discs engageable with the inner surface of the fold, a floating frame, a pair of peripherally grooved rollers rotatably mounted in said frame, means for resiliently supporting said frame with said rollers adjacent said discs for receiving the fold of the signature therebetween, and resilient means for resisting movement of said frame and rollers away from said discs to effect compression of the fold of the signature passing between the rollers and discs.

Claim 13

In apparatus for handling folded signatures an inverted V-shaped saddle for supporting a signature astraddle thereof, and means for yieldably compressing the backbone fold of the signature as the same moves along the saddle, said means comprising a pair of fixed rotatable discs engageable with the inner surface of the fold, a floating frame, a pair of peripherally grooved rollers rotatably mounted in said frame, means for resiliently supporting said frame with said rollers adjacent said discs for receiving the fold of the signature therebetween, and resilient means for resisting movement of said frame and rollers away from said discs to effect compression of the fold of the signature passing between the rollers and discs.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the means for resiliently supporting said frame is applied thereto in a vertical plane passing approximately midway between said rollers.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 comprising means for preventing appreciable movement of the frame and rollers in the direction of movement of the signature.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 comprising means for guiding the movement of the frame linearly toward and away from the discs while permitting limited rocking motion of the frame about an axis in a vertical plane between and parallel to the axes of the rollers.