GB2024168A

GB2024168A - Conveying means for bindery machines

Info

Publication number: GB2024168A
Application number: GB7905115A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Linotype and Machinery Ltd
Current assignee: Linotype and Machinery Ltd
Priority date: 1978-02-17
Filing date: 1979-02-13
Publication date: 1980-01-09
Also published as: GB2024168B

Abstract

In signature conveying means, e.g. for saddle stitch bindery machines, of the kind in which signatures are conveyed by a plurality of fingers 37 through different stations, the fingers are attached by links which may be integral with the fingers, thereby eliminating the requirement for chains. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in bindery machines The present invention relates to copy conveying means for binding machines and more particularly to bindery machines of the saddle stitch type in which copy to be processed is manually or automatically fed from copy feeding stations onto a track provided with conveying means whereby the copy is conveyed to one or more processing stations.

Usually the conveying means comprises a plurality of spaced apart fingers secured to a chain or spaced apart chains. The length of chain on a multi-copy feeding station is considerable and is expensive.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simplified copy supporting track.

Another object of the invention is materially to reduce the cost of copy supporting track.

The term "copy" means at least one signature, in its simplest form, a sheet of paper with a fold to produce four pages so that it is capable of resting by its fold on a track of a conveying mechanism.

According to the present invention there is provided a copy conveyor for bindery equipment in which copy is fed onto a moving track composed of a plurality of fingers each of which is self supporting or supported on a track and is coupled to its preceding and succeeding finger to transmit traction.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a cross section of a known type of binder machine conveying track.

Figure2 is a side section on ll-ll, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is one example of binding machine track according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of one of the fingers of the track shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of another example of a finger for a bindery machine track.

Figure 6 is a detail of the finger shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7is a front elevation of another example of a finger Figure 8 is a perspective view of a coupling link for use with the type of finger shown in Figure 7 Figure 9 is a perspective view of another example of finger.

Figure 70 is a perspective view of another form of bindery machine conveying track.

Figure 11 is a cross section on X - X, of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a cross section of a modification of the track shown in Figures 10,11.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of another example of a binding machine conveying track.

Figure 14 is a cross section on X111-X111, of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is another example of finger and Figure 16 is another example of finger.

With many saddle stitch binder machines, the saddle supports a plurality of fingers attached to two laterally spaced endless chains, each of which passes over sprocket wheels at the ends of the saddle; some of the fingers have ears on them to engage the end of copy dropped onto the saddle to transport the copy along the saddle.

In cross section the saddle is approximately of triangular shape: the saddle can be twenty feet (6 metres) or more in length.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the endless chains, generally designated 1, 2 are supported in two sets of laterally spaced tracks each having an upper and lower track 3,4 respectively. A centre rod 5, running the length of the saddle forms the apex of the saddle.

The chains 1,2 are specialty chains, in which the rivets 6 are longer so that they may pass through complementary holes in fingers 7. The fingers 7 are secured onto the rivets by means of circlips 8 which engage in a circumferential groove near the outer end of the rivets 6.

Standard chain is expensive and specialty chain even more so.

The invention provides means for materially reducing the cost of the copy conveying means by utilising the fingers themselves to transmit traction.

Referring to Figure 3, the fingers 9 are preferably one piece mouldings made, for example, from Nylon, and each has integrally formed thereon two bosses 10.

Each link 12 has secured to it, adjacent its ends, a pin 13 which passes through a hole in the boss 10 so that a finger 9 and its associated boss 10 is sandwiched between a link 11, and link 12.

The pin 13 may be integrally moulded with the link 12 or may be separate therefrom.

Each link 11 is locked onto the pin 13 by means of a circlip, 14, locking into a circumferential slot not shown in the pin 13. Each link 11 abuts against its associated boss 10 but is freely rotatable about the pin 13.

The links 11 and bosses 10 run in tracks 3', 4', to guide and support the complete finger assembly forming the delivery track.

If desired the bosses 10 may be in the form of separate thick washers ratherthan being formed integrally with the fingers.

In the example shown in Figures 5 and 6 the boss 10 is integral with finger 9'. and has integrally moulded two spigots 15, 16 on the outer face of the finger and the boss respectively. The spigots 15, 16 are preferably mushroom headed and provided with a circumferential groove 17, to allow a plastic or metal coupling link to be snapped over the head and be locked in place in the circumferential groove.

In the example shown in Figures 7 and 8 each finger 9" has two spaced apart holes (only one, 19, is shown) adjacent to the bottom of the sides of the finger. A coupling link preferably made of plastic, generally designated 20 has side links 21,22.

Integrally moulded on the link 22 are bosses 23, 24, a reduced diameter portion 25 and mushroom headed ends 26.

When assembly of the conveyor is to be effected, one of the mushroom headed portions of a side link 22 is passed through one of the holes 19 of the finger 9" and pressed until the face of the finger abuts against the boss 24.

The other side link 21 can then be snapped over the mushroom head 26, which has passed through one of the holes 28 in the side link 21, and engages in slot 29 locking the link in place. The link 20 is free to pivot relatively to the finger 9".

In place of the self locking arrangement of the side link 21, the side link 21 can be locked in position by a circlip, not shown, locking in the circumferential groove 29.

The assembled conveyor can be driven by sprock wheels, not shown, at each end of the conveyor track. The dimensions of the links and fingers being such that a tooth of a drive sprocket can engage between the bosses 10 of adjacent fingers and one or two or more teeth can pass between the bosses 10 on the same finger dependant on the spacing apart of those bosses 10 on the finger.

In the example shown in Figure 9 drive is imparted to the conveyor by sprocket wheels, not shown, positioned at each end of the conveyor track.

In this example the links 30,31 abut against the faces of the finger 9"' or may have small spacing washers, not shown, therebetween or on one or both sides.

The links are coupled together either by forming pins 32 integrally with one of the links passing it through 9"' and the other link and locking it with a spring clip 33 engaging in a circumferential slot, not shown, in the end of the pin or by making the pin to pass through both link members, sandwiching the finger, the head ofthe pin retaining one linkandthe other being held on the pin by a spring clip engaging in a circumferential slot in the pin. The links are pivotable about the pins.

The finger 9"' has at least one slot 34 of tooth profile in its base and half tooth profiles 35,36 at the base of each side, that is, its leading and trailing edges.

The teeth, not shown, of the sprocket wheels can thus enter between the fingers and onto the base of each finger and impart drive thereto.

In the example shown in Figures 10 and 11 there is not intermediate link between fingers 37. Each finger 37 is a one piece moulding of, for example, nylon, with a bifurcated base with legs 38, 39 at the leading edge (ortrailing edge) of the finger and a tail 40 at the trailing edge (or leading edge).

The tail 40 locates between the legs of the bifurcated nose and is held in position by a pin 41 passing therethrough. The pin 41 is locked in position by a circlip 42 engaging peripheral slots at each end of each pin 41.

The nose portion 39 is in the form of a boss for engagement by the driving teeth, not shown, of a sprocket wheel whereby drive motion can be imparted to the binding machine conveyor.

In the example shown in Figure 12, both legs 38, 39 form bosses which can be engaged by spaced apart teeth on a sprocket wheel, not shown.

The pin 41 in this example has a mushroom head 43, but is secured in position at the other end by the circlip 42.

Either method, circlip at both ends or mushroom head at one end of securing the fingers together can be used in the examples shown in Figures 11 and 12.

To facilitate ease of manufacture and replacement of worn or damaged fingers, the example of finger shown in Figures 13 and 14 may be used. In this example, each finger 44 has a leading edge (or trailing edge) head or ball 45 and a trailing edge (or leading edge) boss 46.

The head 45 is press fitted into a socket 47 in the boss 46 to form a ball and socket joint.

The boss 46 is engaged by the driving teeth, not shown of a sprocket to impart motion to the assembled track on the bindary conveyor.

Another example of finger is shown in Figure 15 in which a finger 48 has a bifurcated claw end 49 at its leading edge (or trailing edge) and a flat nose 50 at its trailing edge (or leading edge).

The flat nose 50 has integrally moulded in it, or otherwise secured to it, a pin 51. In assembling the track the claw end 49 of one finger is slipped over the pin 51 of its adjacent finger and so on to build up a complete conveyor track.

If desired the length of the opening 52 in the claw is slightly smaller than the diameter of the pin 51,the claw slot then opening out so that the finger can freely pivot on the pin 51, which is confined in the slot.

The claw 49 has a boss 53 integrally formed in it for engagement by the driving teeth, not shown, of a sprocket wheel whereby drive motion can be imparted to the binding machine conveyor.

Another example of finger is shown in Figure 16 in which the finger 54 has a claw 55 leading edge (or trailing edge) and a bifurcated trailing edge 56 (or leading edge).

A pin, not shown, extends between the legs of the bifurcated trailing edge 56. The pin can be integrally moulded with the finger or may be passed through the legs and be secured thereto.

A boss 57 may be integrally moulded into one or both faces of the finger 54, which boss can be engaged by the driving teeth, not shown, of a sprocket wheel whereby drive motion can be imparted to the binding machine conveyor.

The conveyor is assembled by pushing the claw 55 of one finger so that the pin in the bifurcated edge 56 of the adjacent finger snaps into the slot 58 in the claw 55, the slot 58 havng its opening a little less in length than the diameter of the pin. The final assembly being such that the claw 55 can freely pivot about the pin, but be retained by the narrow entrance of the slot.

In the place of bosses on the fingers of any of the foregoing examples, the finger may have at least one tooth form either cut out of the fingers or a tooth may be integrally formed or attached to the base of each finger.

Claims

1. A copy conveyor for a bindery machine in which copy is fed onto a moving track composed of a plurality of fingers each of which is self supporting or supported on a track and is coupled to its preceding and succeeding finger to transmittrac- tion.

2. A copy conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein the fingers are secured to each other in spaced relationship by link means each of which is pivotally mounted adjacent each end on adjacent fingers.

3. A copy conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein the fingers are secured to each other by co-operating link means formed integrally on each finger whereby the link means on one finger engage with the link means of the preceding and succeeding fingers and are pivotally secured thereto.

4. A copy conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein the fingers are secured to each other by co-operating link means formed integrally on each finger whereby the link means on one fnger engage with the link means of the preceding and succeeding fingers and are self locking thereto.

5. A copy conveyor according to Claim 3 or 4 wherein the co-operating link means incorporates means whereby drive may be imparted to the bindery machine conveyor track.

6. A copy conveyor according to Claim 6 wherein the means includes a boss integrally moulded in or secured to the co-operating link means.

7. A copy conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein each finger includes a ball at its leading (ortrailing) edge and a socket at its tailing (or leading) edge whereby the ball of one finger can be snapped into the socket of the adjacent finger to form a copy conveyor for a bindery machine.

8. A copy conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein the leading (ortrailing) edge of each finger has formed therein a bifurcated end the fingers trailing (or leading) edge has a nose piece, which nose piece is adapted to fit between the legs of the bifurcated end of an adjacent finger and is secured thereto to form a pivotal joint between adjacent fingers.

9. A copy conveyor according to Claim 8 wherein the bifurcated end and nose piece are pivotally connected by pin means.

10. A copy conveyor according to Claim 8 wherein each leg of the bifurcated end includes a claw for engagement of a pin extending from the nose piece of an adjacent finger to form a pivotal joint between adjacent fingers.

11. A copy conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein the leading (ortrailing) edge of each finger has a claw nose piece and each trailing (or leading) edge has a bifurcated end, the claw engaging a pin extending between the legs of the bifurcated end of the adjacent finger to form a pivotal joint between adjacent fingers.

12. A copy conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein the fingers are secured to each other in spaced relationship by link means each comprising a pair of link members sandwiching the finger and pivotally connected thereto by means of a pin passing through the link means and the finger.

13. A copy conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein the fingers are secured to each other in spaced relationship by link means each comprising a pair of link members sandwiching the finger and pivotally connected thereto buy a pin integrally formed on one link member and passing through the finger and the other link member and terminating in link retaining means.

14. A copy conveyor according to any of the preceding Claims 2 12 or 13, wherein there is provided spacing means between each finger and its associated link means.

15. A copy conveyor according to Claim 14 wherein the spacing means is integrally formed with the finger.

16. A copy conveyor according to Claim 14 wherein the spacing means is integrally formed with one of the link means.

17. A copy conveyor according to Claim 14 wherein the conveyor is driven by a sprocket wheel the teeth of which engage between sequential spacing means on sequential fingers and the space between the spacing means on any finger is a whole number ratio of the space between the teeth of the sprocket wheel.

18. A copy conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein each finger has a slot of toothed profile in its base to be engaged by a tooth of a driving sprocket wheel.

19. A copy conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein each finger has a half tooth profile in its leading and trailing edge whereby it may be engaged by the driving teeth of a driving sprocket wheel.

20. A copy conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein each finger has depending therefrom a tooth for engagement by the driving teeth of a driving sprocket wheel.

21. A copy conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein each finger has integrally formed thereon or attached thereto a boss for engagement by the driving teeth of a driving sprocketwheel.

22. A copy conveyor according to any of the preceding claims wherein each finger is a one piece moulding.

23. A copy conveyor for a bindery machine constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A copy conveyor for a bindery machine constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein before described with reference to Fiures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A copy conveyor for a bindery machine constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A copy conveyor for a bindery machine constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A copy conveyor for a bindery machine constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.

28. A copy conveyor for a binder machine constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.

29. A copy conveyor for a bindery machine constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 13 and 14 of the accompanying drawings.

30. A copy conveyor for a bindery machine comprising a plurality of fingers each constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein before described with reference to Figure 15 of the accompanying drawings.

31. A copy conveyor for a bindery machine comprising a plurality of fingers each constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.

32. A finger for use in a copy conveyor of a bindery machine, which finger is constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 or Figures 5 and 6 or Figure 7 or Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

33. A finger for use in a copy conveyor of a bindery machine, which finger is constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 10 and 11 or Figure 12 or Figures 13 and 14or Figure 15 or Figure 16.