Patent US5141219A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5141219A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for separating a stream of lapped signatures into discrete batches
Assignee: AB Dick Co
•
Filing: 1989-11-08
•
Granted: 1992-08-25
•
Expires: 2009-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for separating a stream of signatures into discrete batches includes an infeed conveyor transporting signatures at a constant velocity V 1 , an outfeed conveyor transporting signatures at a higher constant velocity V 2 , and a plurality of parallel endless belts disposed between the infeed and outfeed conveyors. The plurality of parallel belts each include a raised portion for engaging and transporting signatures. Each belt is independently driven, and the belts are positioned with the raised portions staggered to engage successive portions of the incoming stream of signature. Each belt is driven alternatively at speeds V 1 and V 2 , first matching the infeed velocity and then matching the outfeed velocity. As each successive raised portion fully engages a portion of signatures, it is accelerated to V 2 , thus introducing a gap between that portion of signatures and the remainder of the stream, which is engaged by the raised portion of the succeeding belt traveling at V 1 , thus creating a discrete batch. This process continues, repeatedly and successively with each of the belts, thus continuously creating a stream of discrete batches of lapped signatures, each batch being substantially the same length.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard A. Watts
- 👤 Medardo Espinosa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:07
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/66; B65H29/16; B65H33/00; B65H33/12; B65H33/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for separating a stream of lapped signatures into discrete batches of lapped signatures, comprising: a plurality of conveyors, each for receiving, engaging and transporting a portion of the stream of lapped signatures from an infeed location to an outfeed location while maintaining the portion of lapped signatures in lapped form and discharging the portion of lapped signatures generally along the direction in which the lapped signatures are transported by the conveyors; and means for repeatedly and successively driving each of the plurality of conveyors alternately at a first speed to engage a portion of the lapped signatures and at a second speed greater than the first speed to separate the portion of lapped signatures which it is engaging from a succeeding portion of lapped signatures being conveyed by another of the plurality of conveyors, and to discharge each successive portion of lapped signatures at the outfeed location along the direction in which the lapped signatures are transported by the conveyor at a substantially constant speed which is greater than the first speed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for separating a stream of lapped signatures into discrete batches of lapped signatures, comprising: a plurality of conveyors, each for receiving, engaging and transporting a portion of the stream of lapped signatures from an infeed location to an outfeed location while maintaining the portion of lapped signatures in lapped form and discharging the portion of lapped signatures generally along the direction in which the lapped signatures are transported by the conveyors; and means for repeatedly and successively driving each of the plurality of conveyors alternately at a first speed to engage a portion of the lapped signatures and at a second speed greater than the first speed to separate the portion of lapped signatures which it is engaging from a succeeding portion of lapped signatures being conveyed by another of the plurality of conveyors, and to discharge each successive portion of lapped signatures at the outfeed location along the direction in which the lapped signatures are transported by the conveyor at a substantially constant speed which is greater than the first speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, including means for constantly transporting the signatures to the infeed location at the first speed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, including means for constantly transporting the signatures from the outfeed location at the substantially constant speed which is greater than the first speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conveyors include at least three conveyors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of conveyors includes at least one endless belt for engaging and transporting signatures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the belts includes a portion for engaging and transporting signatures and a portion which does not engage and transport signatures.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the portion for engaging and transporting signatures is a raised portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conveyors are positioned alongside each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conveyors include spaced pairs of commonly driven belts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pairs of belts are in a bilaterally symmetrical arrangement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the portion of each belt for engaging and supporting signatures is at the same elevation so that each batch may be conveyed at the same elevation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the portion of each belt for engaging and supporting signatures is the same length so that each batch may be the same length.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the portion of each belt for engaging and supporting signatures is the same length and at the same elevation so that each batch may be conveyed at the same elevation and may be the same length.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 6, including means for transporting signatures to the infeed location, wherein the portion of each belt for engaging and supporting signatures is at the same elevation as the means for transporting signatures to the infeed location so that the signatures do not vary in elevation when transferred from the means for transporting signatures to the infeed location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 7, including a table with channels for supporting the belts and for permitting only the raised portions of the belts to extend above the channels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving means includes a servosystem including a plurality of servomotors, each for driving one of the plurality of conveyors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the driving means includes a servosystem including a plurality of servomotors, each for driving at least one of the belts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the servomotors is positively linked to the belts which it drives.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, including means for monitoring the speed and presence of the stream of signatures upstream of the infeed location.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for separating a stream of lapped signatures into discrete batches of lapped signatures, comprising: a plurality of endless belts positioned alongside each other for transporting a portion of the stream of lapped signatures from an infeed location to an outfeed location while maintaining the portion of lapped signatures in lapped form and discharging the portion of lapped signatures generally along the direction in which the lapped signatures are transported by the conveyors, each belt including a portion for receiving, engaging and transporting lapped signatures and a portion which does not engage and transport lapped signatures; and means for repeatedly and successively driving each of the plurality of belts alternately at a first speed to engage a portion of the lapped signatures and at a second speed greater than the first speed to separate the portion of lapped signatures which it is engaging from a succeeding portion of lapped signatures being conveyed by another of the plurality of belts, and to discharge each successive portion of lapped signatures at the outfeed location along the direction in which the lapped signatures are transported by the conveyor at a substantially constant speed which is greater than the first speed.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for separating a stream of lapped signatures into discrete batches of lapped signatures, comprising: a plurality of endless belts positioned alongside each other for transporting a portion of the stream of lapped signatures from an infeed location to an outfeed location while maintaining the portion of lapped signatures in lapped form and discharging the portion of lapped signatures generally along the direction in which the lapped signatures are transported by the conveyors, each belt including a portion for receiving, engaging and transporting lapped signatures and a portion which does not engage and transport lapped signatures; and means for repeatedly and successively driving each of the plurality of belts alternately at a first speed to engage a portion of the lapped signatures and at a second speed greater than the first speed to separate the portion of lapped signatures which it is engaging from a succeeding portion of lapped signatures being conveyed by another of the plurality of belts, and to discharge each successive portion of lapped signatures at the outfeed location along the direction in which the lapped signatures are transported by the conveyor at a substantially constant speed which is greater than the first speed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the portion for engaging and transporting signatures is a raised portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the plurality of conveyors include spaced pairs of commonly driven belts.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the pairs of belts are in a bilaterally symmetrical arrangement.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the portion of each belt for engaging and supporting signatures is at the same elevation so that each batch may be conveyed at the same elevation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the portion of each belt for engaging and supporting signatures is the same length so that each batch may be the same length.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the portion of each belt for engaging and supporting signatures is the same length and at the same elevation so that each batch may be conveyed at the same elevation and may be the same length.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 20, including means for transporting signatures to the infeed location, wherein the portion of each belt for engaging and supporting signatures is at the same elevation as the means for transporting signatures to the infeed location so that the signatures do not vary in elevation when transferred from means for transporting signatures to the infeed location.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 21, including a table for supporting the belts.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 21, including a table with channels for supporting the belts and for permitting only the raised portions of the belts to extend above the channels.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the driving means includes a servosystem including a plurality of servomotors, each for driving at least one of the belts.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 30, wherein each of the servomotors is positively linked to the belts which it drives.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the driving means alternatively drives the plurality of conveyors at a common speed to convey the stream of signatures without batching.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for separating a stream of lapped signatures into discrete batches of lapped signatures, comprising the steps of: receiving a stream of lapped signatures at an infeed location; transporting successive portions of the stream of lapped signatures from the infeed location at a first speed on respective successive conveyors; repeatedly and successively accelerating each portion of lapped signatures and its respective conveyor to a second speed greater than the first speed to separate it from the succeeding portion of lapped signatures and form a discrete batch of lapped signatures; and discharging the discrete batches of lapped signatures from their respective conveyors at an outfeed location generally along the direction in which the lapped signatures are transported by the conveyors at a substantially constant speed which is greater than the first speed.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for separating a stream of lapped signatures into discrete batches of lapped signatures, comprising the steps of: receiving a stream of lapped signatures at an infeed location; transporting successive portions of the stream of lapped signatures from the infeed location at a first speed on respective successive conveyors; repeatedly and successively accelerating each portion of lapped signatures and its respective conveyor to a second speed greater than the first speed to separate it from the succeeding portion of lapped signatures and form a discrete batch of lapped signatures; and discharging the discrete batches of lapped signatures from their respective conveyors at an outfeed location generally along the direction in which the lapped signatures are transported by the conveyors at a substantially constant speed which is greater than the first speed.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the transporting and accelerating steps are performed by circulating endless conveyor belts.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 33 including maintaining each portion of the signatures at the same elevation between the infeed location and the outfeed location.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the transporting and accelerating steps are performed by circulating endless conveyor belts which are positioned alongside each other.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 36 wherein each of the belts includes a portion for engaging and transporting signatures and a portion which does not engage and transport signatures.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the portion for engaging and transporting signatures is a raised portion.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 37 including separating the stream of signatures into portions of equal length with equal length belt portions for engaging and transporting signatures.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 33 including maintaining the signatures at the same elevation during the receiving step.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 33 including maintaining the signatures at the same elevation during the discharging step.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 38 wherein the method alternatively includes driving the plurality of conveyors at a common speed with the raised portions staggered and overlapped to convey the stream of signatures without batching.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for separating a stream of lapped signatures into discrete batches of lapped signatures, comprising the steps of: receiving a stream of lapped signatures travelling at a first speed at an infeed location; transporting successive portions of the stream of lapped signatures at the first speed from the infeed location on respective successive conveyors; repeatedly and successively accelerating each portion of the stream of lapped signatures to a second speed and its respective conveyor while transporting a succeeding portion of lapped signatures on another conveyor at the first speed, to separate it from the succeeding portion of lapped signatures and form a discrete batch of lapped signatures; and continuously discharging the discrete batches of lapped signatures from their respective conveyors at an outfeed location at a substantially constant speed which is greater than the first speed.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for separating a stream of lapped signatures into discrete batches of lapped signatures, comprising the steps of: receiving a stream of lapped signatures travelling at a first speed at an infeed location; transporting successive portions of the stream of lapped signatures at the first speed from the infeed location on respective successive conveyors; repeatedly and successively accelerating each portion of the stream of lapped signatures to a second speed and its respective conveyor while transporting a succeeding portion of lapped signatures on another conveyor at the first speed, to separate it from the succeeding portion of lapped signatures and form a discrete batch of lapped signatures; and continuously discharging the discrete batches of lapped signatures from their respective conveyors at an outfeed location at a substantially constant speed which is greater than the first speed.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 43 including constantly transporting the signatures to the infeed location at the first speed.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 43, including constantly transporting the signatures from the outfeed location at the substantially constant speed which is greater the first speed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1192832A
Cited
US3072095A
Cited
GB1008026A
Cited
US3367474A
Cited
US3406961A
Cited
US3368660A
Cited
US3403772A
Cited
US3506258A
Cited
US3509984A
Cited
US3688890A
Cited
US3861672A
Cited
US4043442A
Cited
DE2713895A1
Cited
US4083277A
Cited
DE2712677A1
Cited
US4180154A
Cited
US4238024A
Cited
GB2037714A
Cited
US4313600A
Cited
DE3202444A1
Cited
US4585227A
Cited
US4725052A
Cited
US4678172A
Cited
NL8602926A
Cited
US4768642A
Cited
US4805890A
Cited
US4948114A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-25 | 1996-02-24 | 1996-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-25 | 2000-02-24 | 2000-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-25 | 2004-02-24 | 2004-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |