Patent US3693486A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3693486A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor system
Assignee: Arcata Graphics Corp
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Filing: 1971-03-03
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1991-03-03
Abstract
Abstract Books are printed in units each comprising two integral books positioned edge to edge and the units are bisected at a shearing station to produce single books on each side of the shearing station. The sheared books from one side of the shearing station are conveyed in a first traveling row with spaces between the successive books and the other books are conveyed in a second traveling row that merges with the first traveling row at the spaces thereof to form a combined row of closely spaced books which accumulate at a collecting station.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip J Maniaci
- 👤 Byron E Mckinsey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:08
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42C; B42C19/00; B42C19/08; B65; B65H; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/44; B65H2301/445; B65H2301/4454; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/929; Y10S83/934; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0448; Y10T83/0467; Y10T83/202; Y10T83/2033; Y10T83/2037; Y10T83/2042; Y10T83/2074; Y10T83/2087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
In a system for handling newly printed books wherein the books are printed and bound in units, each unit comprising two books integrally joined edge to edge and the units are conveyed to a shearing station where the units are bisected by shearing means to produce individual books, one book from each unit being deposited on each side of the shearing means, an apparatus to collect the sheared books, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor system to receive the books from one side of the shearing means with the books flat and with spaces between the books that are severed by the successive shearing operations, said spaces being longer than the dimension of the books as measured in the direction of their travel, said conveyor system terminating at a collection station; and means synchronized with the conveyor system to receive the other books from the other side of the shearing means and to deposit in said spaces successively said other books that are severed by the successive shearing operation, thereby producing on said conveyor system a traveling row of closely spaced books for accumulation at said collection station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a system for handling newly printed books wherein the books are printed and bound in units, each unit comprising two books integrally joined edge to edge and the units are conveyed to a shearing station where the units are bisected by shearing means to produce individual books, one book from each unit being deposited on each side of the shearing means, an apparatus to collect the sheared books, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor system to receive the books from one side of the shearing means with the books flat and with spaces between the books that are severed by the successive shearing operations, said spaces being longer than the dimension of the books as measured in the direction of their travel, said conveyor system terminating at a collection station; and means synchronized with the conveyor system to receive the other books from the other side of the shearing means and to deposit in said spaces successively said other books that are severed by the successive shearing operation, thereby producing on said conveyor system a traveling row of closely spaced books for accumulation at said collection station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
112 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said synchronized means is a second conveyor system; in which the two conveyor systems travel at the same rate past the shearing means so that books on the second conveyor system are spaced apart in the same manner as the books on the first conveyor system; and in which the rate of travel of one of the two conveyor systems changes relative to the rate of travel of the other conveyor system to cause the books on the second conveyor system to register with the spaces on the first conveyor system in the region of the terminal of the second conveyor system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which the second conveyor system speeds up as it approaches its terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which two units positioned face to face are bisected on each shearing operation to produce a pair of books positioned face to face on each side of the shearing means; in which the pairs of books received from the one side of the shearing means are spaced apart in flat positions on the conveyor system; and in which said synchronized means receives pairs of books from the other side of the shearing means and deposits the pairs in said spaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said shearing means operates in shearing cycles to deposit the severed books on the conveyor system on each shearing cycle; and in which the rate of travel of the conveyor system is adjusted relative to the frequency of the shearing cycles to cause said spaces to be created on the conveyor system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
135 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said synchronized means is a second conveyor system, the two conveyor systems being on opposite sides of the shearing means to receive the books from the opposite sides of the shearing means respectively; in which the shearing means operates in cycles to deposit books on the two conveyor system on each shearing cycle; in which the rate of travel of the first conveyor system relative to the frequency of the shearing cycles is adjusted to create said spaces; in which the second conveyor system terminates at a point intermediate the length of the first conveyor system to deposit its books on the first conveyor system; and in which the second conveyor system is synchronized with the first conveyor to deposit its books in said spaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which the second conveyor system terminates at a level above the first conveyor system to drop its books onto the first conveyor system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which the terminal portion of the second conveyor system includes two synchronized belts overhanging the first conveyor system with runs of the two belts respectively traveling face-to-face to clamp the books between the two faces of the belts to lift the books above the level of the first conveyor system and to drop the books onto the first conveyor system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which the second conveyor system includes a short upwardly inclined chain conveyor to feed the books to the pair of belts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which the pair of belts travel faster than the remainder of the first conveyor system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which said upwardly inclined chain conveyor travels faster than the preceding part of the first conveyor system but slower than the pair of belts, whereby the books on the second conveyor system are accelerated twice as they approach the terminal of the second conveyor system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which at the receiving end of the pair of belts, the lower belt of the pair extends rearward of the upper belt to form a moving platform to receive the books.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which at the discharge end of the two belts the upper belt extends beyond the lower belt to overhang the books discharged by the pair of belts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a system for handling newly printed books wherein the books are printed and bound in units, each unit consisting of two integrally joined edge to edge and the units are subsequently bisected by cyclicly operating shearing means, an apparatus to collect the sheared books, comprising: a first conveyor to receive the sheared books from one side of the shearing means, said conveyor leading to a collection station; a second conveyor to receive the sheared books from the other side of the shearing means, each conveyor being synchronized with the shearing means to provide spaces on the conveyor between the books that are sheared on the successive shearing cycles, said spaces being longer than the dimensions of the books in their direction of travel; and a belt conveyor having a pair of belts with runs positioned face-to-face to grip the sheared books and to convey the sheared books from the second conveyor, said belt conveyor overhanging the first conveyor and being synchronized therewith to deliver its sheared books to the spaces on the first conveyor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a system for handling newly printed books wherein the books are printed and bound in units, each unit consisting of two integrally joined edge to edge and the units are subsequently bisected by cyclicly operating shearing means, an apparatus to collect the sheared books, comprising: a first conveyor to receive the sheared books from one side of the shearing means, said conveyor leading to a collection station; a second conveyor to receive the sheared books from the other side of the shearing means, each conveyor being synchronized with the shearing means to provide spaces on the conveyor between the books that are sheared on the successive shearing cycles, said spaces being longer than the dimensions of the books in their direction of travel; and a belt conveyor having a pair of belts with runs positioned face-to-face to grip the sheared books and to convey the sheared books from the second conveyor, said belt conveyor overhanging the first conveyor and being synchronized therewith to deliver its sheared books to the spaces on the first conveyor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 in which at the receiving end of the belt conveyor, the lower belt of the pair of belts extends rearward of the upper belt to form a moving platform to receive the severed books.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 in which at the discharge end of the belt conveyor, the upper belt extends beyond the lower belt to overhang the books that are discharged by the pair of belts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 which includes means to transfer the severed books from the second conveyor to the belt conveyor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 in which the means to transfer the books comprises a short upwardly inclined chain conveyor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 18 in whIch the short upwardly inclined chain conveyor travels faster than the second conveyor but slower than the belt conveyor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
131 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which the second conveyor has two parallel sprocket chains with pushers thereon; in which the short upwardly inclined chain conveyor has two parallel sprocket chains with pushers thereon; in which the chains of the second conveyor overlaps the chains of the short upwardly inclined chain conveyor; and in which the chains of the short upwardly inclined chain conveyor travel faster than the chains of the second conveyor with the pushers on the short upwardly chain conveyor synchronized with the pushers of the second conveyor to overtake the pushers on the second chain conveyor to push the severed books forward away from the pushers of the second conveyor as the pushers of the second chain conveyor approach the ends of their forward runs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 in which the first and second conveyors are parallel; in which the belt conveyor is at an acute angle to the first and second conveyors; and in which the belt conveyor grips the books and transports the books without changing the orientation of the books.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |