Gathering devices such as perfect binders, saddle stitchers and mailroom inserters may use hoppers or feeders to collect sheet material. A saddle stitcher or perfect binder may for example collect folded printed materials fed from hoppers or feeders onto a saddle or perfect binder conveyor, respectively, to form a magazine or other printed product. In the context of the present application, the term hopper and feeder are used synonymously.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,489 discloses a guide mechanism provided between a tape drive, a divert cylinder and/or a deceleration drum. The guide mechanism constrains movement of the open edge of the folded signature away from the transfer mechanism across any gap between transfer mechanisms, thereby preventing dog-earring of the open edges of the folded signatures or books at they are transferred between transfer mechanisms.
U.S. Publication No. 2004/0126163 purportedly discloses a binding apparatus having a pair of guide shafts fixed respectively to a front side plate and a rear side plate by a corresponding screw and a pair of stays fixed between the front and rear side plates, a stitcher and a clincher are movably supported in the longitudinal direction on the guide shafts, wherein a binding section for binding a paper sheet bundle is interposed between the stitcher and clincher.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a gathering device includes a hopper, a gathering conveyor for transporting printed products. A curved comb mounted at a side of the gathering conveyor is provided for contacting the printed products.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a saddle stitcher includes a gathering conveyor for transporting printed products, and a hopper. A curved comb mounted at a side of the gathering conveyor is provided. The comb is adjustable to change an angle at which the comb contacts printed products on the gathering conveyor.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be elucidated with reference to the drawings, in which:
Current book guides may consist of for example, a brass bar. The brass bar may be ½ inches square and have a bent leading edge for guiding printed products, such as sheets or books, on a gathering conveyor. In high speed gathering devices, for example, high speed saddle stitchers, corners of books or sheet material fold up on the gathering conveyor and get caught in the book guides. In the printing industry, this is known as “dog ears.”
As shown in
Dog ears in books 20 can be combed out to ensure the entire book 20 goes under book guides 14 and down gathering chain 30.
Combs 12 may be mounted at other areas upstream, such as before a book guide 14′ (
Thus, comb 12 reduces paper jams, improves book quality and provides better mounting and control for NYLON guide lines.
In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments and examples thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive sense.
This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/838,659 filed Aug. 18, 2006 and hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60838659 | Aug 2006 | US |