Newspaper inserting machine

Claim 2

Apparatus for opening a folded section, said apparatus comprising: means for supporting the section; a double-finger divider operatively associated with said support means and being adjacent the section when disposed therein for separating opposed folds thereof; and structure on the supporting means for presenting said folds in juxtaposed relationship in alignment with said divider, said divider being shiftable as a unit into disposition between the folds, said fingers of the divider being movable away from one another when the divider is in said disposition to push the folds apart and thereby effect opening of the section.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structure includes a pair of opposed, relatively shiftable flaps adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of the section, said fingers being movable away from one another independently of the flaps.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is provided a finger for each flap for retaining a fold of the section between a respective finger and a respective flap.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said structure includes a second pair of opposed, relatively shiftable flaps spaced from said first mentioned flaps and movable independently thereof for augmenting the alignment of said section by the first mentioned flaps.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is provided resilient means interconnecting said fingers for effecting said independent movement of the flaps.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1; and a pair of opposed, shiftable vacuum suckers on said support means for cooperating with the divider to open the section, said fingers covering the suckers to close the same when the divider is in said disposition and a section is absent.

Claim 8

In combination with a series of spaced-apart, folded jacket receivers movable by conveyor means along a single predetermined path and each having a vacuum-operated sucker thereon for opening the jacket when disposed therein, means for operating the suckers as the receivers move along said path, said means comprising: stationary vacuum line means adjacent said path adapted to be connected with a source of vacuum pressure; a series of vacuum ports communicating with said line means and extending longitudinally of the path; structure on each of said receivers communicating with the sucker thereof and disposed to sequentially register with the ports as the receiver moves along the path; and control means interposed between the ports and the line means for maintaining continuous communication between the sucker on each receiver and the line means as the receivers sequentially move from one end to the opposite end of said path.

Claim 9

In combination with a series of spaced-apart, folded jacket receivers movable by conveyor means along a single predetermined path and each having a vacuum-operated sucker thereon for opening the jacket when disposed therein, means for operating the suckers as the receivers move along said path, said means comprising: stationary vacuum line means adjacent said path adapted to be connected with a source of vacuum pressure; a series of vacuum ports communicating with said line means and extending longitudinally of the path; structure on each of said receivers communicating with the sucker thereof and disposed to sequentially register with the ports as the receiver moves along the path; and control means interposed between the ports and the line means for maintaining continuous communication between the sucker on each receiver and the line means as the receivers sequentially move from one end to the opposite end of said path.

Claim 10

The invention as claimed in claim 7, wherein said control means includes a valve element for each port shiftable between a port-opening and a port-closing position, there being an actuator movable with each receiver respectively for engaging said element and shifting the same between said positions as the structure of a respective receiver moves into and out of registration with a respective port.

Claim 11

The invention as claimed in claim 7, wherein said line means includes a pair of pneumatically separate channels, alternate receivers in the series communicating with different channels.

Claim 12

The invention as claimed in claim 9, wherein said structure includes a transfer shoe on each receiver having a chamber communicating with the sucker of the receiver, said chamber of each shoe being adapted for communication with only one of said channels.

Claim 13

In apparatus for assembling an article within a folded section having a pair of hingedly interconnected folds: an open mouth bucket movable along a predetermined path of travel for sequentially receiving and supporting a section and an article, respectively; means interiorly of the bucket between the bottom thereof and said mouth for grabbing the section adjacent the fold line thereof as it enters the bucket during movement of the latter to prevent rebounding of the section; and means adjacent said path of travel for actuating said grabbing means in timed relationship to receipt of the section by the bucket as the latter moves along the path.

Claim 14

In apparatus for assembling an article within a folded section having a pair of hingedly interconnected folds: an open mouth bucket movable along a predetermined path of travel for sequentially receiving and supporting a section and an article, respectively; means interiorly of the bucket between the bottom thereof and said mouth for grabbing the section adjacent the fold line thereof as it enters the bucket during movement of the latter to prevent rebounding of the section; and means adjacent said path of travel for actuating said grabbing means in timed relationship to receipt of the section by the bucket as the latter moves along the path.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein is provided a pair of fingers on the bucket shiftable as a unit between the folds of the section and thence apart to open the section for receiving an article, said grabbing means including a pair of opposed, relatively shiftable flaps disposed to position the section for receipt of said fingers.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11; means on the bucket for physically ejecting the assembled section and article while the bucket is moving; and means adjacent said path for actuating said ejecting means.

Claim 17

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13; and first sensor means adjacent said path for determining whether a section has been delivered to the bUcket, said first sensor means being operably coupled with said actuating means for ejecting an article from the bucket when a section is absent.

Claim 18

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14; and second sensor means adjacent said path for determining whether an article has been delivered to the bucket, said second sensor means being operably coupled with said actuating means for ejecting the section from the bucket if an article is not received thereby.

Claim 19

Apparatus for assembling an article within each of a series of folded sections, each section having a pair of hingedly interconnected folds, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of open mouth buckets movable in succession along a predetermined path of travel; first delivery means adjacent said path for successively feeding a section into each of said buckets as the latter move along the path; means within each bucket between the bottom thereof and said mouth for grabbing a section as it enters the bucket whereby to retain the section and position the same for opening; a pair of opposed, relatively shiftable vacuum suckers on each bucket for parting the folds of the positioned section carried thereby to present a space therebetween; stationary vacuum means for said suckers adjacent said path including a series of vacuum ports extending longitudinally of the path; structure on each of the buckets for sequentially communicating the suckers thereof with the ports as each bucket moves along the path, said vacuum means including valve means for opening and closing each port individually in timed response to movement of the buckets to maintain the suckers of each bucket activated from one end to the opposite end of said path; a pair of dividing fingers on each bucket shiftable as a unit into the space between the parted folds of the section in the bucket and thence away from one another to push the folds apart and thereby open the section as the suckers separate; second delivery means adjacent said path for successively feeding an article into the opened section of each moving bucket; and means on each bucket for physically ejecting the assembled section and article therefrom.

Claim 20

Apparatus for assembling an article within each of a series of folded sections, each section having a pair of hingedly interconnected folds, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of open mouth buckets movable in succession along a predetermined path of travel; first delivery means adjacent said path for successively feeding a section into each of said buckets as the latter move along the path; means within each bucket between the bottom thereof and said mouth for grabbing a section as it enters the bucket whereby to retain the section and position the same for opening; a pair of opposed, relatively shiftable vacuum suckers on each bucket for parting the folds of the positioned section carried thereby to present a space therebetween; stationary vacuum means for said suckers adjacent said path including a series of vacuum ports extending longitudinally of the path; structure on each of the buckets for sequentially communicating the suckers thereof with the ports as each bucket moves along the path, said vacuum means including valve means for opening and closing each port individually in timed response to movement of the buckets to maintain the suckers of each bucket activated from one end to the opposite end of said path; a pair of dividing fingers on each bucket shiftable as a unit into the space between the parted folds of the section in the bucket and thence away from one another to push the folds apart and thereby open the section as the suckers separate; second delivery means adjacent said path for successively feeding an article into the opened section of each moving bucket; and means on each bucket for physically ejecting the assembled section and article therefrom.