Method and conveying path for the separation of at least one signature from a stream of signatures

Claim 3

Conveying path with a main path and a branch path optionally engageable and alignable with the main path for conveying a stream of signatures, weekly journals, brochures or the like, which overlap each other having their spines facing forward in the conveying direction, the main path having a crest so arranged to accomplish a separation of the signatures in the area at the crest so that a shunting device, movable between two end positions, is introducible in a gap formed between two adjacent signatures, when the foremost of these bends over the crest, characterized in that the branch path is defined by a carrier which is displaceable in a sloping plane between an upper and a lower end position, said carrier supporting an upper and a lower endless driven belt conveyor with a number of endless belts, running over jockey pulleys, forming the conveying elements of the conveyors, the upper conveying element having a portion of the lower conveyor extending between a first lower and second upper jockey pulley, the lower conveying element having a portion of the upper conveyor extending between a third lower and fourth upper jockey pulley lying adjacent the upper conveying element of the lower conveyor for conveying signatures between the conveying element portions, the third jockey pulley of the upper conveyor being positioned above the first jockey pulley of the lower conveyor so that the upper conveying element of the lower conveyor has a free end portion for guiding in at least one signature under the third jockey pulley of the upper conveyor when the carrier is in its lower end position, and the first jockey pulley of the lower conveyor lies in said gap.

Claim 4

Conveying path with a main path and a branch path optionally engageable and alignable with the main path for conveying a stream of signatures, weekly journals, brochures or the like, which overlap each other having their spines facing forward in the conveying direction, the main path having a crest so arranged to accomplish a separation of the signatures in the area at the crest so that a shunting device, movable between two end positions, is introducible in a gap formed between two adjacent signatures, when the foremost of these bends over the crest, characterized in that the branch path is defined by a carrier which is displaceable in a sloping plane between an upper and a lower end position, said carrier supporting an upper and a lower endless driven belt conveyor with a number of endless belts, running over jockey pulleys, forming the conveying elements of the conveyors, the upper conveying element having a portion of the lower conveyor extending between a first lower and second upper jockey pulley, the lower conveying element having a portion of the upper conveyor extending between a third lower and fourth upper jockey pulley lying adjacent the upper conveying element of the lower conveyor for conveying signatures between the conveying element portions, the third jockey pulley of the upper conveyor being positioned above the first jockey pulley of the lower conveyor so that the upper conveying element of the lower conveyor has a free end portion for guiding in at least one signature under the third jockey pulley of the upper conveyor when the carrier is in its lower end position, and the first jockey pulley of the lower conveyor lies in said gap.

Claim 5

Conveying path according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper conveyor has a fifth jockey pulley at its lower end, said fifth jockey pulley together with the third jockey pulley of the upper conveyor defining an end portion forming an acute triangle with the free end portion of the lower conveyor to define a tapered entry for a signature, and coacting to guide at least one signature therebetween, when the carrier is lowered to its lower end position.

Claim 6

Conveying path according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower conveying element of the lower conveyor, which extends between the upper and lower jockey pulleys at the ends of the conveyor, defines in a double S-bend where the lower conveying element from the upper jockey pulley first extends to a tensioning pulley adjustably arranged on the supporting frame, and around the tensioning pulley and back up again towards an intermediate jockey pulley rotatably journalled on the carrier, to move therewith round the intermediate pulley and then forward to the first jockey pulley of the lower conveyor and then over the first jockey pulley to form the upper conveying element with its free lower end portion.

Claim 7

Conveying path according to claim 4, characterized in that the intermediate jockey pulley of the lower conveyor is driveably united with one of the jockey pulleys of the upper conveyor, for driving both the conveyors at the same speed.

Claim 8

Conveying path according to claim 5, characterized in that the second pulley of the lower conveyor is supported by a shaft journalled in the machine frame and connected with a driving motor.

Claim 9

Apparatus for withdrawing at least one signature from a signature stream moving from an upstream location in a downstream direction and in which signatures are arranged in overlapping fashion, each signature having a spine facing in the downstream direction, said signatures each having top and bottom surfaces, whereby each bottom surface engages the top surface of the preceding adjacent downstream signature and each top surface engages the bottom surface of the succeeding adjacent upstream signature, the spines of each signature being a spaced distance from the spines of adjacent upstream and downstream signatures comprising: means for conveying said signature stream in the downstream direction along a main path; means in said main path for leading the signatures around a bend to lift the spine of each signature away from the engaging top surface of the preceding downstream signature and thereby form a gap therebetween; a shunting device for deflecting signatures away from the main path and along a branch path, said device comprising: a reciprocally mounted carriage; a first lower closed loop conveyor belt entrained about a first lower and a second upper pulley rotatably mounted on said carriage in a first direction; a second upper closed loop conveyor belt entrained about a third lower and a fourth upper pulley rotatably mounted on said carriage; a portion of said second belt extending between said third and fourth pulleys engaging a portion of the first belt extending between said first and second pulleys; SAID engaging pelt portions defining said branch path; said first pulley being positioned closer to said gap than said third pulley; means for moving the engaing portions of said first and second belts in a first direction along said branch path; means for abruptly reciprocally moving said carriage along said branch path and towards said main path to position said first pulley in said gap and for moving said carriage away from said main path to remove said first pulley from said gap whereby the signature whose spine is lifted at said bend is deflected towards said branch path and between the engaging portions of said belts when said first pulley lies in said gap and the deflected signature passes between the engaging belt portions as the carriage moves the first pulley away from said gap thereby enabling signatures not deflected by the first pulley to continue moving along said main path.

Claim 10

Apparatus for withdrawing at least one signature from a signature stream moving from an upstream location in a downstream direction and in which signatures are arranged in overlapping fashion, each signature having a spine facing in the downstream direction, said signatures each having top and bottom surfaces, whereby each bottom surface engages the top surface of the preceding adjacent downstream signature and each top surface engages the bottom surface of the succeeding adjacent upstream signature, the spines of each signature being a spaced distance from the spines of adjacent upstream and downstream signatures comprising: means for conveying said signature stream in the downstream direction along a main path; means in said main path for leading the signatures around a bend to lift the spine of each signature away from the engaging top surface of the preceding downstream signature and thereby form a gap therebetween; a shunting device for deflecting signatures away from the main path and along a branch path, said device comprising: a reciprocally mounted carriage; a first lower closed loop conveyor belt entrained about a first lower and a second upper pulley rotatably mounted on said carriage in a first direction; a second upper closed loop conveyor belt entrained about a third lower and a fourth upper pulley rotatably mounted on said carriage; a portion of said second belt extending between said third and fourth pulleys engaging a portion of the first belt extending between said first and second pulleys; SAID engaging pelt portions defining said branch path; said first pulley being positioned closer to said gap than said third pulley; means for moving the engaing portions of said first and second belts in a first direction along said branch path; means for abruptly reciprocally moving said carriage along said branch path and towards said main path to position said first pulley in said gap and for moving said carriage away from said main path to remove said first pulley from said gap whereby the signature whose spine is lifted at said bend is deflected towards said branch path and between the engaging portions of said belts when said first pulley lies in said gap and the deflected signature passes between the engaging belt portions as the carriage moves the first pulley away from said gap thereby enabling signatures not deflected by the first pulley to continue moving along said main path.