Gatherer-stitcher having a folded-sheet feeder

Abstract

A gatherer-stitcher has a folded-sheet feeder and an apparatus for transferring folded sheets from the feeder to a transporting configuration of the gatherer-stitcher. The apparatus has a plurality of shafts or drums with grippers for gripping the folded sheets. The apparatus opens the folded sheets and places them astride the transporting configuration. The apparatus also has a blowing configuration which, as a folded sheet is transferred from one shaft or drum to another, subjects the folded sheet to a surge of air in time with a folded-sheet transportation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified, diagrammatic, perspective view of a gatherer-stitcher having a plurality of folded-sheet feeders;

FIGS. 2 to 6 are enlarged, side-elevational views of a region between a folded-sheet feeder and a transporting chain of the gatherer-stitcher of FIG. 1, as seen in a section perpendicular to a transporting direction;

FIGS. 7 to 10 are further enlarged, side-elevational views of a region of sheet transfer from a separating drum to a double-gripper drum of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 11 is a front-elevational view of drums of FIGS. 2 to 6 as seen in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transporting direction.

Claims

1. A gatherer-stitcher, comprising: a folded-sheet feeder;a transporting configuration; andan apparatus for transferring folded sheets from said feeder to said transporting configuration; said apparatus having a plurality of shafts or drums with grippers for gripping the folded sheets;said apparatus opening the folded sheets and placing the folded sheets astride said transporting configuration; andsaid apparatus having a blowing configuration subjecting a folded sheet to a surge of air in time with a folded-sheet transportation, as the folded sheet is transferred from one shaft or drum to another.

2. The gatherer-stitcher according to claim 1, wherein one of said shafts or drums has at least one blowing tube of said blowing configuration, said at least one blowing tube rotating along with said one shaft or drum and being disposed in vicinity of a fanning-out end of the folded sheet transported on said one shaft or drum.

3. The gatherer-stitcher according to claim 2, wherein said at least one blowing tube is disposed in an interior of a contour of said one shaft or drum defined by the folded sheet resting thereon, and said at least one blowing tube has nozzles generating an outwardly directed air stream.

4. The gatherer-stitcher according to claim 3, wherein said air stream is directed obliquely, at an acute angle, onto the fanning-out end of the folded sheet.

5. The gatherer-stitcher according to claim 1, wherein one of said shafts or drums is a half-revolution shaft or drum containing two blowing tubes of said blowing configuration.

6. The gatherer-stitcher according to claim 1, wherein one of said shafts or drums receives the folded sheets from said folded-sheet feeder, and said blowing configuration is disposed in said one shaft or drum.

7. The gatherer-stitcher according to claim 1, wherein said blowing configuration is supplied with compressed air through a journal of one of said shafts or drums.