Collating apparatus

Claim 2

In a newspaper stuffer for inserting newspaper sections into a newspaper jacket, said stuffer having pockets movable along a path and stationary bottom-feed hoppers spaced along the path of the pockets and having at least a first and second of said hoppers each adapted to hold a supply of said jackets and positioned in a generally side-by-side relationship, said second hopper being downstream of said first hopper in the direction of movement of said pockets and said first and said second hoppers being in adjacent relationship along said path, separate first and second feed means associated respectively with said first and second hoppers for withdrawing jackets from the associated hopper and supplying the withdrawn jackets to said moving pockets, said first and second feed means including, respective vacuum-actuated first grippers for engaging and withdrawing jackets from said respective hoppers, continuously rotating drums adjacent said respective hoppers, and second grippers carried by said continuously moving drums for receiving signatures from said respective vacuum-actuated first grippers and for supplying the jackets to said moving pockets, control means including means for sensing failure of said first feed means to supply a jacket to a pocket and for actuating said second feed means to supply a jacket to the pockets missed by said first feed means, and said control means including, means for controlling the action of said first gripper means of said second feed means while said second gripper means continuously moves with said drum comprising means for controlling the vacuum supplied to said vacuum actuated first gripper of said second feed means.

Claim 3

In a newspaper stuffer for inserting newspaper sections into a newspaper jacket, said stuffer having pockets movable along a path and stationary bottom-feed hoppers spaced along the path of the pockets and having at least a first and second of said hoppers each adapted to hold a supply of said jackets and positioned in a generally side-by-side relationship, said second hopper being downstream of said first hopper in the direction of movement of said pockets and said first and said second hoppers being in adjacent relationship along said path, separate first and second feed means associated respectively with said first and second hoppers for withdrawing jackets from the associated hopper and supplying the withdrawn jackets to said moving pockets, said first and second feed means including, respective vacuum-actuated first grippers for engaging and withdrawing jackets from said respective hoppers, continuously rotating durms adjacent said respective hoppers, and second grippers carried by said continuously moving drums for receiving signatures from said respective vacuum-actuated first grippers and for supplying the jackets to said moving pockets, control means including means for sensing failure of said first feed means to supply a jacket to a pocket and for actuating said second feed means to supply a jacket to the pockets missed by said first feed means, and said control means including, means for controlling the action of said first gripper means of said second feed means while said second gripper means continuously moves with said drum comprising a linkage means for moving said first gripper means, and means for latching said linkage means to prevent movement thereof, and means included in said control means for releasing said latching means to enable movement of said linkage means to occur.

Claim 4

In a newspaper stuffer for inserting newspaper sections into a newspaper jacket, said stuffer having pockets movable along a path and stationary bottom-feed hoppers spaced along the path of the pockets and having at least a first and second of said hoppers each adapted to hold a supply of said jackets and positioned in a generally side-by-side relationship, said second hopper being downstream of said first hopper in the direction of movement of said pockets and said first and said second hoppers being in adjacent relationship along said path, separate first and second feed means associated respectively with said first and second hoppers for withdrawing jackets from the associated hopper and supplying the withdrawn jackets to said moving pockets, said first and second feed means including, respective vacuum-actuated first grippers for engaging and withdrawing jackets from said respective hoppers, continuously rotating durms adjacent said respective hoppers, and second grippers carried by said continuously moving drums for receiving signatures from said respective vacuum-actuated first grippers and for supplying the jackets to said moving pockets, control means including means for sensing failure of said first feed means to supply a jacket to a pocket and for actuating said second feed means to supply a jacket to the pockets missed by said first feed means, and said control means including, means for controlling the action of said first gripper means of said second feed means while said second gripper means continuously moves with said drum comprising a linkage means for moving said first gripper means, and means for latching said linkage means to prevent movement thereof, and means included in said control means for releasing said latching means to enable movement of said linkage means to occur.

Claim 5

A stuffer as defined in claim 2 wherein said linkage means includes a cam follower, a cam engaging said cam follower and having a high portion for actuating said linkage means and which high portion engages said cam follower when said vacuum-actuated first gripper of said second feed means engages a signature in said second hopper, and wherein said means for releasing said latch mechanism is operable to effect said release when said high portions on the cam engages the cam follower for actuating the means linkage.

Claim 6

A stuffer as defined in claim 3 further including a spring means for biasing the cam follower into engagement with said cam, and wherein said latch means locks said linkage means from following said cam under the action of said spring means whereby the vacuum-actuated first gripper of said second feed means is maintained in a position in which it supports a pile of signatures in said second hopper when signatures in the hopper are not to be removed therefrom.