Signature hopper with lap straightening device

Abstract

A signature hopper is provided comprising a first drum having a first gripper for a lead edge of a folded signature, a second drum having a second gripper for an open edge of the folded signature, the second gripper having a gripper finger with an end curled in a direction of rotation of the second drum, a dipper blade for pushing the open edge from the first drum toward the second drum so as to contact the gripper finger and a stationary signature guide spaced with respect to the first drum, the signature contacting the signature guide as the first drum rotates the signature past the signature guide.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below by reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a signature hopper according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the signature hopper of FIG. 1 with dipper blades contacting a signature;

FIG. 3 shows the signature hopper of FIG. 1 with dipper blades forcing the signature against a gripper finger;

FIG. 4 shows the signature hopper as in FIG. 3 at a further time point;

FIG. 5 shows the signature hopper as in FIG. 3 with the second drum gripping the signature;

FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of parts of the signature hopper according to the present invention;

FIG. 6A shows a cam for the gripper of the second drum; and

FIG. 6B shows an end view of the cam and a section of the gripper for the second drum.

Claims

1. A signature hopper comprising: a first drum having a first gripper for a lead edge of a folded signature;a second drum having a second gripper for an open edge of the folded signature, the second gripper having a gripper finger with an end curled in a direction of rotation of the second drum;a dipper blade for pushing the open edge from the first drum toward the second drum so as to contact the gripper finger; anda stationary signature guide spaced with respect to the first drum, the signature contacting the signature guide as the first drum rotates the signature past the signature guide.

2. A signature hopper comprising: a first drum having a first gripper for a lead edge of a folded signature;a second drum having a second gripper for an open edge of the folded signature;a dipper blade for pushing the open edge from the first drum toward the second drum;a register stop for stopping a lead edge of the signature; anda stationary signature guide spaced with respect to the first drum, the signature contacting the signature guide as the first drum rotates the signature past the signature guide, the signature guide having a section concentric with respect to the first drum, the section having an end point in a direction of rotation of the first drum circumferentially spaced from the register stop about the first drum so that the open edge of the signature remains in the signature guide or at the end point when the signature hits the register stop.

3. A signature hopper comprising: a first drum having a first gripper for a lead edge of a folded signature;a second drum having a second gripper for an open edge of the folded signature;a dipper blade for pushing the open edge from the first drum toward the second drum, the dipper blade having a curved profile so as to curve at a blade end opposite a direction of rotation of the first drum; anda stationary signature guide spaced with respect to the first drum, the signature contacting the signature guide as the first drum rotates the signature past the signature guide.

4. A saddle stitcher comprising a plurality of the signature hoppers as recited in claim 1, a saddle conveyor and a stitcher.

5. A saddle stitcher comprising a plurality of the signature hoppers as recited in claim 2, a saddle conveyor and a stitcher.

6. A saddle stitcher comprising a plurality of the signature hoppers as recited in claim 3, a saddle conveyor and a stitcher.

7. An extension piece for a signature support of a signature hopper comprising: an arced body section having an arced slot.

8. A cam mask for a primary gripper cam of a signature hopper for causing the primary gripper to close earlier.