Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of forming assemblages from at least first and second signatures, said method comprising the steps of printing the first signatures and delivering the first signatures from a printing press in an overlapped shingled stream, placing segments of said shingled stream on a support, releasably clamping the first signatures in a stabLe overlapped-shingled relationship on said support, transporting and storing remote from the printing press the first signatures while clamped on the support, removing the first signatures from storage while clamped on the support, unclamping and unloading the first signatures from the support, feeding said first signatures in a shingled stream toward a first hopper of a collating machine, printing second signatures, feeding the second signatures toward a second hopper of the collating machine while the first signatures are fed toward the first hopper of the collating machine, and collating said first and second signatures by operating the collating machine.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of forming assemblages from at least first and second signatures, said method comprising the steps of printing the first signatures and delivering the first signatures from a printing press in an overlapped shingled stream, placing segments of said shingled stream on a support, releasably clamping the first signatures in a stabLe overlapped-shingled relationship on said support, transporting and storing remote from the printing press the first signatures while clamped on the support, removing the first signatures from storage while clamped on the support, unclamping and unloading the first signatures from the support, feeding said first signatures in a shingled stream toward a first hopper of a collating machine, printing second signatures, feeding the second signatures toward a second hopper of the collating machine while the first signatures are fed toward the first hopper of the collating machine, and collating said first and second signatures by operating the collating machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method of forming assemblages from first and second signatures as defined in claim 1 wherein the signatures are delivered from the printing press in a loosely shingled relationship, and further including the step of arranging the signatures on said support in a densely shingled relationship with the signatures extending at an angle to a support surface of the support and with all of the folded edges of the signatures lying in substantially the same horizontal plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as defined in claim 2 wherein said signatures are fed in a loose shingled strem to the collating machine with the folded edges leading whereby the signatures are temporarily transformed from a loose shingled stream to a dense shingled stream and are subsequently returned to a loose shingled stream.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as defined in claim 1 further including the steps of feeding the first signatures directly into a hopper to provide a supply thereat, sensing the supply of first signatures in the hopper, and controlling the feeding of said first signatures in accordance therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method of forming assemblages from first and second signatures as defined in claim 4 wherein the signatures are delivered from the printing press in a loosely shingled relationship, and further including the step of arranging the signatures on said support in a densely shingled relationship with the signatures extending at an angle to a support surface of the support and with all of the folded edges of the signatures lying in substantially the same horizontal plane.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of forming assemblages from at least first and second signatures, said method comprising the steps of delivering the first signatures in an overlapped shingled stream, spacing segments of said shingled stream on a support, releaseably clamping the first signatures in a stable overlapped-shingled relationship on said support, transporting and storing the first signatures while clamped on the support, removing the first signatures from storage while clamped on the support, unclamping and unloading the first signatures from the support, feeding said first signatures in a shingled stream into a first hopper of a collating machine by a continuous conveyor, sensing the supply of signatures in the first hopper by engaging the top of the pile in the hopper with a pile height sensor, controlling operation of the continuous conveyor from the sensor, feeding the second signatures toward a second hopper of the collating machine while the first signatures are fed into the first hopper of the collating machine, and collating said first and second signatures by operating the collating machine.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of forming assemblages from at least first and second signatures, said method comprising the steps of delivering the first signatures in an overlapped shingled stream, spacing segments of said shingled stream on a support, releaseably clamping the first signatures in a stable overlapped-shingled relationship on said support, transporting and storing the first signatures while clamped on the support, removing the first signatures from storage while clamped on the support, unclamping and unloading the first signatures from the support, feeding said first signatures in a shingled stream into a first hopper of a collating machine by a continuous conveyor, sensing the supply of signatures in the first hopper by engaging the top of the pile in the hopper with a pile height sensor, controlling operation of the continuous conveyor from the sensor, feeding the second signatures toward a second hopper of the collating machine while the first signatures are fed into the first hopper of the collating machine, and collating said first and second signatures by operating the collating machine.