Signature cutting and trimming apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for folding and trimming signatures cut from a continuously advancing strip comprising first and second rotary cylinders having means thereon for cutting successive signatures from the advancing strip, a third rotary cylinder, means disposed on the peripheries of said second and third rotary cylinders for successively folding each cut signature at a predetermined distance from the leading edge thereof and move the leading half of the signature into overlying relationship with the trailing half, said third cylinder having means for gripping the folded edge of each cut signature, a fourth rotary cylinder, means disposed on the peripheries of said third and fourth rotary cylinders for trimming the trailing edges of each folded signature, vacuum means contained within and communicating with the surface of said fourth cylinder for removing the trimmed waste at the point of cutting, and means for removing the trimmed signatures.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 including means disposed on the periphery of said second rotary cylinder for gripping the leading edge of each cut signature and means for holding the trailing portion of the cut signature in close proximity to the peripheral surface of said second rotary cylinder.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said holding means comprises at least one longitudinal shaft within and adjoining the surface of said second cylinder, a plurality of pins carried by said shaft, a cam follower assembly secured to said shaft and a cam cooperating with said cam follower assembly to move said pins to and from a position extending from the surface of the last said cylinder during rotation thereof.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said folding means comprises at least one folding blade on said second rotary cylinder, a pair of relatively movable jaws on said third rotary cylinder and means for rotating said cylinders in synchronism whereby said blade tucks said signature between said jaws which clamp the folded edge of the signature and permit withdrawal of the blade.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4 including a fixedly mounted jaw operating cam spaced from one end of said third rotary cylinder and cam follower means coupled to at least one of said jaws for moving it relative to the other jaw.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said trimming means includes at least one elongated anvil carried by said third rotary cylinder and movable to and from a position wherein the surface of said anvil is in approximate alignment with the surface of said cylinder and said fourth rotary cylinder includes at least one cutting blade cooperating with said anvil to trim the trailing edge of the folded signature.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said folding means comprises at least one folding blade on said second rotary cylinder, a pair of relatively movable jaws on said third rotary cylinder and means for rotating said cylinders in synchronism whereby said blade tucks said signature between said jaws which clamp the folded edge of the signature and permit withdrawal of the blade.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 including a fixedly mounted jaw operating cam spaced from one end of said third rotary cylinder and cam follower means coupled to at least one of said jaws for moving it relative to the other jaw.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said trimming means includes at least one elongated anvil carried by said third rotary cylinder and movable to and from a position wherein the surface of said anvil is in approximate alignment with the surface of said cylinder and said fourth rotary cylinder includes at least one cutting blade cooperating with said anvil to trim the trailing edge of the folded signature.

Claim 11

Apparatus for folding and trimming signatures cut from a continuously advancing strip comprising first and second rotary cylinders having means Thereon for cutting successive signatures from the advancing strip, a third rotary cylinder, means disposed on the peripheries of said second and third rotary cylinders for successively folding each cut signature at a predetermined distance from the leading edge thereof and move the leading half of the signature into overlying relationship with the trailing half, a fourth rotary cylinder, means disposed on the peripheries of said third and fourth rotary cylinders for trimming the trailing edges of each folded signature, vacuum means for removing the trimmed waste, and means for removing the trimmed signatures, said trimming means including at least one elongated anvil carried by said third rotary cylinder and movable to and from a position wherein a surface of said anvil is in approximate alignment with the surface of said cylinder, said fourth rotary cylinder including at least one cutting blade cooperating with said anvil to trim the trailing edge of the folded signature, a fixedly mounted anvil operating cam spaced from one end of said third rotary cylinder and cam follower means coupled with said anvil and engagable with said cam to move said anvil to and from said position.

Claim 12

Apparatus for folding and trimming signatures cut from a continuously advancing strip comprising first and second rotary cylinders having means Thereon for cutting successive signatures from the advancing strip, a third rotary cylinder, means disposed on the peripheries of said second and third rotary cylinders for successively folding each cut signature at a predetermined distance from the leading edge thereof and move the leading half of the signature into overlying relationship with the trailing half, a fourth rotary cylinder, means disposed on the peripheries of said third and fourth rotary cylinders for trimming the trailing edges of each folded signature, vacuum means for removing the trimmed waste, and means for removing the trimmed signatures, said trimming means including at least one elongated anvil carried by said third rotary cylinder and movable to and from a position wherein a surface of said anvil is in approximate alignment with the surface of said cylinder, said fourth rotary cylinder including at least one cutting blade cooperating with said anvil to trim the trailing edge of the folded signature, a fixedly mounted anvil operating cam spaced from one end of said third rotary cylinder and cam follower means coupled with said anvil and engagable with said cam to move said anvil to and from said position.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said vacuum means includes a passage extending through said fourth rotary cylinder and at least one elongated channel extending from the surface of said fourth cylinder and communicating with said passage, said channel being disposed on the trailing side of and immediately adjoining said cutting blade, and means for applying a vacuum to said passage.

Claim 14

Apparatus for folding and trimming signatures cut from a continuously advancing strip comprising first and second rotary cylinders having means thereon for cutting successive signatures from the advancing strip, a third rotary cylinder, means disposed on the peripheries of said second and third rotary cylinders for successively folding each cut signature at a predetermined distance from the leading edge thereof and move the leading half of the signature into overlying relationship with the trailing half, a fourth rotary cylinder, means disposed on the peripheries of said third and fourth rotary cylinders for trimming the trailing edges of each folded signature, vacuum means for removing the trimmed waste, and means for removing the trimmed signatures, means disposed on the periphery of said second rotary cylinder for gripping the leading edge of each cut signature, means for holding the trailing portion of the cut signature in close proximity to the peripheral surface of said second rotary cylinder, said holding means comprising at least one longitudinal shaft within and adjoining the surface of said second cylinder, a plurality of pins carried by said shaft, a cam follower assembly secured to said shaft, a cam cooperating with said cam follower assembly to move said pins to and from a position extending from the surface of the last said cylinder during rotation thereof, said folding means comprising at least one folding blade on said second rotary cylinder, a pair of relatively movable jaws on said third rotary cylinder, means for rotating said cylinders in synchronism whereby said blade tucks said signature between said jaws which clamp the folded edge of the signature and permit withdrawal of the blade, a fixedly mounted jaw operating cam spaced from one end of said third rotary cylinder, cam follower means coupled to at least one of said jaws for moving it relative to the other jaw, said trimming means including at least one elongated anvil carried by said third rotary cylinder and movable to and from a position wherein the surface of said anvil is in approximately alignment with the surface of said cylinder, said fourth rotary cylinder including at least one cutting blade cooperating with said anvil to trim the trailing edge of the folded signature, a fixedly mounted anvil operating cam spaced from one end of said third rotary cylinder and cam follower means coupled with said anvil whereby said cAm and cam follower operate to move said anvil to and from said position.

Claim 15

Apparatus for folding and trimming signatures cut from a continuously advancing strip comprising first and second rotary cylinders having means thereon for cutting successive signatures from the advancing strip, a third rotary cylinder, means disposed on the peripheries of said second and third rotary cylinders for successively folding each cut signature at a predetermined distance from the leading edge thereof and move the leading half of the signature into overlying relationship with the trailing half, a fourth rotary cylinder, means disposed on the peripheries of said third and fourth rotary cylinders for trimming the trailing edges of each folded signature, vacuum means for removing the trimmed waste, and means for removing the trimmed signatures, means disposed on the periphery of said second rotary cylinder for gripping the leading edge of each cut signature, means for holding the trailing portion of the cut signature in close proximity to the peripheral surface of said second rotary cylinder, said holding means comprising at least one longitudinal shaft within and adjoining the surface of said second cylinder, a plurality of pins carried by said shaft, a cam follower assembly secured to said shaft, a cam cooperating with said cam follower assembly to move said pins to and from a position extending from the surface of the last said cylinder during rotation thereof, said folding means comprising at least one folding blade on said second rotary cylinder, a pair of relatively movable jaws on said third rotary cylinder, means for rotating said cylinders in synchronism whereby said blade tucks said signature between said jaws which clamp the folded edge of the signature and permit withdrawal of the blade, a fixedly mounted jaw operating cam spaced from one end of said third rotary cylinder, cam follower means coupled to at least one of said jaws for moving it relative to the other jaw, said trimming means including at least one elongated anvil carried by said third rotary cylinder and movable to and from a position wherein the surface of said anvil is in approximately alignment with the surface of said cylinder, said fourth rotary cylinder including at least one cutting blade cooperating with said anvil to trim the trailing edge of the folded signature, a fixedly mounted anvil operating cam spaced from one end of said third rotary cylinder and cam follower means coupled with said anvil whereby said cAm and cam follower operate to move said anvil to and from said position.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said vacuum means includes a passage extending through said fourth rotary cylinder and at least one elongated channel extending from the surface of said fourth cylinder and communicating with said passage, said channel being disposed on the trailing side of and immediately adjoining said cutting blade, and means for applying a vacuum to said passage.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said fourth rotary cylinder includes at least two diametrically opposed cutting blades, at least two of said channels with one channel adjoining each blade and means surrounding a portion of said fourth cylinder to restrict the flow of air into each of said channels during movement through a predetermined portion of their angular path.