US3692300A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Feeder and folder arrangement for signature gathering machine
Assignee: AB Dick Co
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Filing: 1971-03-02
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Granted: 1972-09-19
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Expires: 1991-03-02
Abstract
Abstract A feeder folder unit for use with an inserter of the type having a rotary feed drum, a signature opening mechanism and a conveyor chain and wherein the feeder folder unit includes hopper means for supplying signatures in a horizontal position, rotary extractor drum for extracting these signatures from the hopper, transfer means for transferring extracted signatures from the rotary drum to a folder mechanism and transfer chain means for transferring the folded signatures in timed relation to the feed drum of the inserter. The feeder folder mechanism may be constructed as a separate unit but driven from the inserter drive and used with existing inserter gatherers both to convert such gatherers from a vertical hopper feed to a horizontal hopper feed and to perform a fold operation during feeding of the signatures.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry R Mebus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 03:51
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H5/00; B65H5/30; B65H5/305; B65H5/307; B41; B41F; B41F13/00; B41F13/54; B41F13/68; B65H5/08; B65H5/12; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/43; B65H2301/435; B65H2301/4351; B65H2301/45; B65H2301/453; B65H2301/4531
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
In a signature gathering machine including a rotary feed drum, rotary signature opening means and conveyor means for receiving opened signatures thereon, hopper means for receiving and storing signatures in a generally horizontal arrangement, and feeding means for feeding the horizontally arranged signatures from said hopper means to said rotary feed drum, said feeding means including a rotary extractor drum for extracting signatures from said hopper means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
In a signature gathering machine including a rotary feed drum, rotary signature opening means and conveyor means for receiving opened signatures thereon, hopper means for receiving and storing signatures in a generally horizontal arrangement, and feeding means for feeding the horizontally arranged signatures from said hopper means to said rotary feed drum, said feeding means including a rotary extractor drum for extracting signatures from said hopper means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
An inserter gathering machine for gathering signatures and including a gathering chain for receiving signatures thereon, a rotary drum for feeding signatUres and signature opening means for opening signatures received from said rotary drum and depositing the opened signatures on said gathering chain, hopper means for storing a supply of signatures, rotary drum extractor means for extracting and feeding signatures from said hopper means, and feeding means for feeding signatures from said extractor drum to said rotary feed drum, said feeding means including folder means for folding the signatures before the signatures reach said rotary feed drum, and drive means for synchronously driving all of said means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
An inserter gathering machine for gathering signatures and including a gathering chain for receiving signatures thereon, a rotary drum for feeding signatUres and signature opening means for opening signatures received from said rotary drum and depositing the opened signatures on said gathering chain, hopper means for storing a supply of signatures, rotary drum extractor means for extracting and feeding signatures from said hopper means, and feeding means for feeding signatures from said extractor drum to said rotary feed drum, said feeding means including folder means for folding the signatures before the signatures reach said rotary feed drum, and drive means for synchronously driving all of said means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The signature gathering machine of claim 1 and further including drive means for driving said rotary feed drum and said rotary signature opening means, and means for driving said feeding means from said drive means whereby said feeding means is driven in synchronism with said rotary feed drum and said signature opening means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The gathering machine of claim 3 wherein said feeding means further includes folder means for folding said signatures before said signatures reach said rotary feed drum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The signature gathering machine of claim 4 wherein said feeding means includes means for receiving the signatures from said folder means and feeding said folded signatures to said rotary feed drum in timed relation thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The inserter gathering machine of claim 2 wherein said feeding means includes conveyor means for feeding said signatures from said extractor drum to said folder means, and transfer means for receiving said signatures from said folder means and advancing said signatures to said rotary feed drum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The gathering machine of claim 6 wherein said transfer means includes means for advancing said signatures at a rate synchronous with the rotation of said rotary feed drum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The gathering machine of claim 7 and further including additional conveyor means for feeding the signatures from said folder means to said transfer means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The gathering machine of claim 2 wherein said folder means comprises a chopper folder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The gathering machine of claim 2 wherein said folder means comprises a buckle folder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
153 words
A feeder folder unit for use with an inserter gathering machine and including, frame means, hopper means supported on said frame means for receiving and storing signatures in a generally horizontal position, rotary extractor drum means rotatably supported on said frame means adjacent said hopper means and including means for extracting signatures from said hopper means, folder means on said frame means for folding signatures, first feed means on said frame means for feeding signatures from said extractor drum to said folder means, second feed means on said frame means for feeding signatures from said folder means, transfer means for receiving signatures from said second feed means and advancing the signatures along a predetermined path, drive means for driving said transfer means, and means connected to said drive means and adapted to be connected to the drive of an inserter gathering machine for driving said transfer means in synchronism with the gathering machine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
153 words
A feeder folder unit for use with an inserter gathering machine and including, frame means, hopper means supported on said frame means for receiving and storing signatures in a generally horizontal position, rotary extractor drum means rotatably supported on said frame means adjacent said hopper means and including means for extracting signatures from said hopper means, folder means on said frame means for folding signatures, first feed means on said frame means for feeding signatures from said extractor drum to said folder means, second feed means on said frame means for feeding signatures from said folder means, transfer means for receiving signatures from said second feed means and advancing the signatures along a predetermined path, drive means for driving said transfer means, and means connected to said drive means and adapted to be connected to the drive of an inserter gathering machine for driving said transfer means in synchronism with the gathering machine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The feeder folder unit of claim 11 wherein said means connected to said drive means includes means for driving said drum means, folder means and feed means in synchronism with said transfer means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The feeder folder unit of claim 11 wherein said transfer means includes a transfer guide surface supported on said frame means, and timing chain means cooperating with said guide surface to move signatures along said guide surface at a predetermined rate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |