Method and apparatus for forming a dense shingled array of signatures

Claim 2

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray, and means for removing said tray from said dense shingling location with said shingled array of signatures thereon.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for forming the dense shingled array comprises a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further including means for moving said guide member and said signatures in a retracting direction relative to the surface of the tray and said conveyor means as additional signatures are conveyed to said dense shingling location.

Claim 5

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray comprising a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, means for moving said guide member and said signatures in a retracting direction relative to the surface of the tray and said conveyor means as additional signatures are conveyed to said dense shingling location, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of conveyor belts to which said guide member is secured and which are located on opposite sides of the tray and which support the signatures thereon and drive means for moving said belts.

Claim 6

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray comprising a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, means for moving said guide member and said signatures in a retracting direction relative to the surface of the tray and said conveyor means as additional signatures are conveyed to said dense shingling location, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of conveyor belts to which said guide member is secured and which are located on opposite sides of the tray and which support the signatures thereon and drive means for moving said belts.

Claim 7

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray comprising a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, means for moving said guide member and said signatures in a retracting direction relative to the surface of the tray and said conveyor means as additional signatures are conveyed to said dense shingling location, said last mentioned means comprising a drive mechanism connected to said guide member and which moves said guide member when actuated and means for sensing the receipt of a signature at said dense shingled location for actuating said drive mechanism.

Claim 8

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray comprising a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, means for moving said guide member and said signatures in a retracting direction relative to the surface of the tray and said conveyor means as additional signatures are conveyed to said dense shingling location, said last mentioned means comprising a drive mechanism connected to said guide member and which moves said guide member when actuated and means for sensing the receipt of a signature at said dense shingled location for actuating said drive mechanism.

Claim 9

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray comprising a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, means for moving said guide member and said signatures in a retracting direction relative to the surface of the tray and said conveyor means as additional signatures are conveyed to said dense shingling location, said last mentioned means comprising a drive mechanism connected to said guide member and which moves said guide member when actuated, and means for sensing the rate of receipt of signatures at said dense shingling location for controlling the speed at which said guide member moves in said retracting direction.

Claim 10

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray comprising a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, means for moving said guide member and said signatures in a retracting direction relative to the surface of the tray and said conveyor means as additional signatures are conveyed to said dense shingling location, said last mentioned means comprising a drive mechanism connected to said guide member and which moves said guide member when actuated, and means for sensing the rate of receipt of signatures at said dense shingling location for controlling the speed at which said guide member moves in said retracting direction.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for moving said guide meMber comprises a drive mechanism connected to said guide member and which moves said guide member when actuated, and means for sensing the rate of receipt of signatures at said dense shingling location for controlling the speed at which said guide member moves in said retracting direction.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said drive mechanism comprises electrically operated elements and circuit means for controlling said electrically operated elements and said means for sensing the receipt of a signature comprises a first switch in said circuit means mounted above the tray and which is actuated by the leading edge of a signature after it has engaged either the inclined surface of the guide member or previously delivered signature.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for controlling the speed at which said guide member moves comprises a second switch means in said circuit means and for sensing an excessive build-up of signatures at the dense shingling location and a third switch means in said circuit means and for sensing the absence of signatures delivered to the dense shingling location, said circuit means and drive mechanism including means responsive to said second switch means for increasing the speed of retracting movement of said guide member and means responsive to said third switch means for slowing the speed of retracting movement of said guide member.

Claim 14

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray, said means for supporting said tray comprising an elevator mechanism movable to position an empty tray at said dense shingling location and to remove a full tray therefrom.

Claim 15

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray, said means for supporting said tray comprising an elevator mechanism movable to position an empty tray at said dense shingling location and to remove a full tray therefrom.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said conveyor means for delivering signatures has a retractable and extensible portion which delivers signatures to the dense shingling location and means for extending said portion toward said dense shingling location after an empty tray is positioned thereat and for retracting said portion prior to movement of a full tray therefrom by actuation of said elevator mechanism.

Claim 17

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray comprising a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, means for moving said guide member and said signatures in a retracting direction relative to the surface of the tray and said conveyor means as additional signatures are conveyed to said dense shingling location, said means for supporting said tray comprising an elevator mechanism movable to position an empty tray at said dense shingling location and to remove a full tray therefrom, said conveyor means for deliverying signatures having a retractable and extensible portion which delivers signatures to the dense shiNgling location and means for extending said portion toward said dense shingling location after an empty tray is positioned thereat and for retracting said portion prior to movement of a full tray therefrom by actuation of said elevator mechanism.

Claim 18

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray comprising a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, means for moving said guide member and said signatures in a retracting direction relative to the surface of the tray and said conveyor means as additional signatures are conveyed to said dense shingling location, said means for supporting said tray comprising an elevator mechanism movable to position an empty tray at said dense shingling location and to remove a full tray therefrom, said conveyor means for deliverying signatures having a retractable and extensible portion which delivers signatures to the dense shiNgling location and means for extending said portion toward said dense shingling location after an empty tray is positioned thereat and for retracting said portion prior to movement of a full tray therefrom by actuation of said elevator mechanism.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 further including switch means actuated by said guide member reaching the end of its retracting movement and means responsive to said switch means for actuating retracting movement of said portion of said conveyor means.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 further including means responsive to positioning of an empty tray at said dense shingling location by said elevator means for extending said portion of said conveyor means.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 further including means responsive to the removal of a full tray from said dense shingling location for returning said guide member to its initial position.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for forming the dense shingled array comprises a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, and vertical guides for engaging the leading edge of a signature advanced thereto above said support surface and for guiding the stacked array as said guide member retracts.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 further including means supporting said vertical guides for vertical and lateral adjustment.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for forming the dense shingled array comprises a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, and means for engaging the lower edge of a signature in the array to prevent its sliding down relative to the other signatures therein.

Claim 25

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray, said means for forming the dense shingled array comprising a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, and means for engaging the lower edge of a signature in the array to prevent its sliding down relative to the other signatures therein comprising a pair of cam members having notches which receive the lower edge of The signature.

Claim 26

Apparatus for providing a dense shingled array of signatures on a tray with the signatures inclined relative to the surface of the tray on which they are supported, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a tray at a dense shingling location, conveyor means for delivering signatures in a loose shingled stream to said dense shingling location, means at the dense shingling location for forming the dense shingled array and for locating same on the tray, said means for forming the dense shingled array comprising a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, and means for engaging the lower edge of a signature in the array to prevent its sliding down relative to the other signatures therein comprising a pair of cam members having notches which receive the lower edge of The signature.

Claim 27

Apparatus for forming a dense shingled array of signatures from a loose shingled array of signatures comprising, conveyor means for feeding the loose shingled array to a dense shingling location, means for supporting signatures in a dense shingled relationship at said location including a member having an inclined support surface and against which a side surface of the signatures rests and a support for engaging the lower edge of the signatures, said member having an initial position for engaging and supporting the first signature delivered thereto and being movable therefrom as additional signatures are fed to said location, and means for moving said member and the signatures formed into a dense shingled array as the additional signatures are fed to said location, said means for moving said member comprising a support to which said member is connected and drive means for moving said support and said member.

Claim 28

Apparatus for forming a dense shingled array of signatures from a loose shingled array of signatures comprising, conveyor means for feeding the loose shingled array to a dense shingling location, means for supporting signatures in a dense shingled relationship at said location including a member having an inclined support surface and against which a side surface of the signatures rests and a support for engaging the lower edge of the signatures, said member having an initial position for engaging and supporting the first signature delivered thereto and being movable therefrom as additional signatures are fed to said location, and means for moving said member and the signatures formed into a dense shingled array as the additional signatures are fed to said location, said means for moving said member comprising a support to which said member is connected and drive means for moving said support and said member.

Claim 29

Apparatus for forming a dense shingled array of signatures from a loose shingled array of signatures comprising, conveyor means for feeding the loose shingled array to a dense shingling location, means for supporting signatures in a dense shingled relationship at said location including a member having an inclined support surface and against which a side surface of the signatures rests and a support for engaging the lower edge of the signatures, said member having an initial position for engaging and supporting the first signature delivered thereto and being movable therefrom as additional signatures are fed to said location, means for moving said member and the signatures formed into a dense shingled array as the additional signatures are fed to said location, said support comprising conveyor means to which said member is attached, said means for moving said member and the signatures comprising said conveyor means and drive means for driving said conveyor means.

Claim 30

Apparatus for forming a dense shingled array of signatures from a loose shingled array of signatures comprising, conveyor means for feeding the loose shingled array to a dense shingling location, means for supporting signatures in a dense shingled relationship at said location including a member having an inclined support surface and against which a side surface of the signatures rests and a support for engaging the lower edge of the signatures, said member having an initial position for engaging and supporting the first signature delivered thereto and being movable therefrom as additional signatures are fed to said location, means for moving said member and the signatures formed into a dense shingled array as the additional signatures are fed to said location, said support comprising conveyor means to which said member is attached, said means for moving said member and the signatures comprising said conveyor means and drive means for driving said conveyor means.

Claim 31

Apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said conveyor means comprises a pair of belts spaced laterally apart and said signatures bridge the space therebetween when in said dense shingled relationship and elevator means for moving a tray through the space to pick up the shingled array of signatures from said belt means.

Claim 32

Apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein the lead edge of the first signature delivered to the location engages the inclined support surface, said support surface comprising a means for deflecting the lead edge of the signature upwardly to at least assist in forming the dense shingled array.

Claim 33

Apparatus as defined in claim 20 further including vertical guides for engaging the leading edge of the signature above said inclined support surface and for guiding the stacked array as said member moves.

Claim 34

Apparatus as defined in claim 24 further including means supporting said vertical guides for vertical and lateral adjustment.

Claim 35

Apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said means for forming the dense shingled array comprises a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, and means for engaging the lower edge of a signature in the array to prevent its sliding down relative to the other signatures therein.

Claim 36

Apparatus for forming a dense shingled array of signatures from a loose shingled array of signatures comprising, conveyor means for feeding the loose shingled array to a dense shingling location, means for supporting signatures in a dense shingled relationship at saId location including a member having an inclined support surface and against which a side surface of the signatures rests and a support for engaging the lower edge of the signatures, said member having an initial position for engaging and supporting the first signature delivered thereto and being movable therefrom as additional signatures are fed to said location, and means for moving said member and the signatures formed into a dense shingled array as the additional signatures are fed to said location, said means for forming the dense shingled array comprising a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, and means for engaging the lower edge of a signature in the array to prevent its sliding down relative to the other signatures therein comprising a pair of cam members having notches which receive the lower edge of the signature.

Claim 37

Apparatus for forming a dense shingled array of signatures from a loose shingled array of signatures comprising, conveyor means for feeding the loose shingled array to a dense shingling location, means for supporting signatures in a dense shingled relationship at saId location including a member having an inclined support surface and against which a side surface of the signatures rests and a support for engaging the lower edge of the signatures, said member having an initial position for engaging and supporting the first signature delivered thereto and being movable therefrom as additional signatures are fed to said location, and means for moving said member and the signatures formed into a dense shingled array as the additional signatures are fed to said location, said means for forming the dense shingled array comprising a guide member having an inclined surface which when the guide member is in an initial position engages the leading edge of the first signature which is conveyed to the dense shingling location and guides it to a position resting thereagainst inclined to the support surface of the tray, the lead edge of further signatures conveyed to the dense shingling location engaging the previously positioned signature and being guided to an inclined position thereby with said guide member comprising at least a part of a means supporting said signatures in the inclined position, and means for engaging the lower edge of a signature in the array to prevent its sliding down relative to the other signatures therein comprising a pair of cam members having notches which receive the lower edge of the signature.

Claim 40

A method as defined in claim 28 wherein the step of forming the dense shingled array includes the steps of, positioning a member having an inclined surface in the path of the lead edge of the signatures, deflecting the signatures upwardly due to the location of the member so that the signatures become inclined at an angle corresponding to the incline of said surface.

Claim 41

A method as defined in claim 29 further including the step of moving said member and signatures formed into a dense array in a retracting direction as additional signatures are advanced to the dense shingling location.