Claims
- 1. An apparatus for removing a marker from a length of marker material, having a multiplicity of adhesive coated individual markers mounted on a backing sheet, and applying the marker to a book, comprising:a separator assembly for pulling an end marker from the length of material; and a gripper system for gripping the end marker, taking it from the separator assembly, and inserting it into the book.
- 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further including a peel bar for separating the end marker from the backing sheet.
- 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a cartridge assembly having a drum supporting a roll of the marker material.
- 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the separator assembly comprises a jaw device having an upper jaw and a lower jaw, wherein the jaw device is configured for closing the upper and lower jaws to grip the end marker.
- 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the gripper system comprises a pair of gripping arms and wherein the upper and lower jaws define an enlarged recess therebetween at both ends of the jaws for receiving the arms.
- 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the gripper system comprises a pair of rotatable arms each having finger portions at an extended end thereof.
- 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the rotatable arms further comprise means for biasing the arms apart.
- 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the jaw device includes guide members engaging the rotatable arms in the separated position, thereby pushing ends of the arms inward for gripping the end marker and wherein upon disengaging the guide members, the arms grip the end marker under tension.
- 9. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the upper and lower jaws grip the end marker substantially along the entire length of the end marker.
- 10. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a sensor for sensing the position of the end marker relative to the jaw device.
- 11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the separator assembly pulls the end marker transversely to a longitudinal direction of the marker.
- 12. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a page spreader for spreading opposing pages of the book.
- 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a sensor for sensing the position of the page spreader.
- 14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the page spreader includes guide means for guiding the end marker into position.
- 15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the page spreader comprises a substantially V-shaped bar.
- 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the V-shaped bar includes a slot formed therethrough at a lower portion of the bar and wherein ends of the slot widen.
- 17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the separating means comprises a jaw device having an upper jaw member and lower jaw member configured for moving together and apart, the jaw device being movable toward a position at which the end marker is intermediate the upper and lower jaw members, wherein upon moving the jaw members together, the jaws grip the end marker, and wherein moving the closed jaw device transversely away from the end marker separates the end marker from an adjacent marker.
- 18. An apparatus for removing a marker from a length of marker material having a multiplicity of individual markers having an adhesive-coated portion and at least one non-adhesive-coated portion, and applying the marker to a book, comprising:(a) an assembly for gripping a marker and separating it from the length of marker material; and (b) an assembly for holding at least one of the non-adhesive portions of the marker and inserting the marker into the book.
- 19. An apparatus for removing a marker from a length of marker material having a multiplicity of adhesive coated individual markers, and applying the marker to a book, comprising an assembly for gripping two opposed ends of a marker, and inserting it into the book, wherein the assembly maintains the marker in tension to present the marker in proper position for insertion into the book.
- 20. An apparatus for automatically inserting a marker into a book, comprising:a pair of substantially parallel gripper arms rotatably mounted, rotating between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position; means for biasing the gripper arms outward away from one another; gripper fingers at an extended end of the gripper arms actuatable between an open and a closed position; and means for raising and lowering the gripper arms wherein the gripper arms are adapted to support the marker and insert the marker into the book.
- 21. An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for sensing the height of the gripper arms.
- 22. An apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising means for sensing the height of the gripper arms relative to the book.
- 23. An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for forcing the gripper arms inward.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/622,567 filed Mar. 25, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,272, issued Dec. 1, 1998.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
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