GB2394946A

GB2394946A - Flight for a saddle conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2394946A
Application number: GB0225314A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor David Reynolds
Original assignee: SENATOR PRINT FINISHERS Ltd
Current assignee: SENATOR PRINT FINISHERS Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-31
Filing date: 2002-10-31
Publication date: 2004-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-31
Also published as: GB2394946B; GB0225314D0

Abstract

A flight 24 for attachment to the chain of a saddle conveyor (12, Fig 1) comprises first and second driving surfaces 34,40 separated by a separating element 36. The first and second driving surfaces 34,40 are spaced from one another both perpendicular to and in line with the direction of drive A of the flight. A first signature is driven by the first driving surface 34, and a second signature is driven by the second driving surface 40, enabling the signatures to be fastened together in a position offset from one-another.

Description

Title: Flight for a Saddle Conveyor The present invention relates to a

flight for a saddle conveyor, and more particularly but not exclusively to a flight for a saddle conveyor for use in an apparatus for assembling greetings cards having an outer signature and an inner signature.

5 Saddle conveyors, sometimes referred to as saddle gatherers, are conventionally used to gather folded sheets, known as signatures, ofthe same size to form magazines, books or the like. The signatures are fed from feeders which open the folded signatures and drop them onto the saddle.

A conveyor chain runs underneath the saddle and flights attached to the chain extend through a slot in the side ofthe saddle and push the signatures along the saddle, which is stationary. Each flight 10 pushes a signature from the position of a first feeder to the position of a second feeder, where a second signature is dropped onto the first signature. The edge ofthe second signature is effectively gathered or alignedwiththe edge ofthe first signaturebythe flight, end the signatures are pushed to the next feeder and so on until all ofthe signatures are gathered. The folds ofthe signatures nest one in another and are typically fastened together with staples.

15 Greetings cards having an inner and an outer signature are not conventionally gathered with a saddle conveyor, because the inner signature is usually smaller than the outer signature and known flights act on one edge of the signatures, thus not providing for a border between the signatures.

Therefore, greetings cards are typically assembled by hand using glue, or with a flat gatherer, in which the signatures are fed on their sides, and their folds are aligned. In a flat gatherer, the 20 signatures are fed to a flat conveyor by feeders which present open or flat signatures standing up on one edge. The signatures are gathered and pushed by a flight which engages the rearward corner ofthe signatures being gathered. In practice the signatures tend to rotate about the flight, and are often glued or stapled together mix-aligned. For this reason, flat gatherers operate at relatively low speeds, and can achieve a maximum output of assembling typically 4000 cards per 25 hour.

It is an obj ect of the invention to provide an improved flight for a saddle conveyor suitable for assembling greetings cards having an outer and an inner signature.

It is a further object ofthe invention to provide an apparatus for assembling greetings cards haying an outer and an inner signature.

5 It is a yet furtherobject ofthe invention to provide amethod for assembling greetings cards haying an outer signature and an inner signature.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a flight for driving signatures resting astride a saddle conveyor comprising a first driving surface, a second driving surface spaced 10 from the first driving surface both perpendicular to and in line with the direction of drive of the flight, and a separating element positioned between the first and second driving surfaces which extends beyond the driving surfaces in the direction of drive of the flight.

It is an advantage ofthe flight that the first driving surface can engage the trailing edge of a first signature resting astride a saddle and the second driving surface can engage the trailing edge of a 15 second signature resting astride the saddle, the edges ofthe signatures being spaced in the direction of travel.

It is aparticular advantage ofthe inventionthat if signatures of different sizes are gathered, then a border can be provided between the signatures.

20 Preferably the first driving surface is in front ofthe second driving surface in the direction of drive ofthe flight. Alternatively, the first driving surface maybe behind the second driving surface in the direction of drive of the flight.

Preferably the separating element has a leading tip which is angled towards the first driving surface.

The angled leading tip has the advantage of guiding the trailing edge of a signature resting astride the saddle conveyor onto the first driving surface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for 5 assembling greetings cards having an outer signature and an irmer signature comprising a saddle conveyor fitted with at least one flight in accordance with the first aspect ofthe invention, a first sheet feeder for supplying folded inner signatures to one end ofthe saddle, a gluing station for applying glue to each inner signature as it moves along the saddle, and a second sheet feeder for supplying folded outer signatures to the saddle, each outer signature being aligned with a respective 10 inner signature.

The gluing station preferably applies a row of glue spots to the outer surface of the inner signature.

The glue may be applied by spraying from a nozzle.

Sensingmeans, for example, light sensors arepreferablyprovided on either side ofthe gluing station which are able to detect when an inner is passing the glue spraying nozzle.

15 According to a third aspect ofthe invention there is provided a method for assembling greetings cards having an outer signature and an inner signature using the apparatus in accordance with the second aspect ofthe invention comprising supplying an inner signature to the saddle from the first signature feeder in a position in front ofthe at least one flight, the trailing edge ofthe sheet being engaged and driven along the saddle by the first driving surface ofthe flight, applying glue to the 20 surface ofthe inner as it moves past the gluing station, supplying an outer signature to the saddle from the second signature feeder in a position overlying the inner signature and the separating element, the trailing edge ofthe outer signature being engaged and driven along the saddle by the second driving surface ofthe flight and the inner signature teeing attached to the outer signatureby the glue.

Preferably, the assembled cards are supplied to a transfer station and subsequently to a take off conveyor.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Fig I shows a schematic plan view of an apparatus for assembling greetings cards having an outer signature and an inner signature; 5 Fi g 2 shows a view of the inside of an open greetings card having an outer signature and a smaller inner signature; Fig 3 shows a schematic side view of a flight for a saddle conveyor of the type used in the apparatus shown in Fig 1; and Fig 4 shows a schematic plan view of part of a saddle conveyor ofthe typeused in the apparatus 10 shown in Fig 1, with inner and outer signatures of a greetings card being assembled.

Referring firstlyto Fig 1, an apparatus for assembling greetings cards having an outer signature and an inner signature is indicated generally at 10. The apparatus 10 includes a saddle conveyor 12, sometimes known as a saddle gatherer, a first signature feeder 14, a gluing station 16, a second signature feeder 18, a transfer station 20 and a take-off conveyor 22. A conveyor chain (not I S shown) runs underneath the saddle conveyor 12 and flights 24, shown in Fig 4, attached to the conveyor chain push signatures 26 along the saddle conveyor 12. The gluing station 16 has a glue spraying nozzle 52 for applying glue in spots, and sensors (not shown) detect when a signature is passing the nozzle 52. This type of gluing station is of known construction.

A flight 24 is shown in more detail in Fig 3 and has a body portion 28, which is attached to the 20 chain oftheconveyor(not shown) in conventionalmanner, for example, by means of bolts 30, indicated schematically. The direction of/ravel/drive ofthe flight along the saddle conveyor is indicated by arrow A. An auxiliary driving portion 32 is attached to the front ofthe flight and comprises a first driving surface 34 and a separating element 36. The separating element 36 has a reading tip 38 whichis angled towards the first driving surface 34. The face ofthebodyportion

28 forms a second driving surface 40. The second driving surface 40 is thus spaced from the first driving surface 34 bothperpendicularlyto and in fine with the direction of drive A ofthe flight.

The operation ofthe flight24 end the apparatus 10 will nowbe described with reference also to Fi g 4 and the assembly of a greetings card 42, shown in Fig 2. The greetings card 42 includes an 5 outer signature 44 and a smaller signature 46, with a border 48 provided between the signatures 44,46 around the periphery of the inner signature. Folds 45,47 of the signatures 44,46 are aligned, and the border 48 is approximately of uniform dimension, indicated at 56.

An inner signature 46 is fed from the first signature feeder 14 onto the saddle of the saddle conveyor 12 in front of a flight 24. The flight 24 is driven up to the position of the inner signature 10 46 whereupon the trailing edge 50 ofthe inner signature 46 is engaged by the first driving surface 34 ofthe flight 24, indicated et position B in Fig4. The angling offofthe reading tip 38 ofthe separating element 36 helps to direct the trailing edge SO ofthe inner signature 46 towards the first driving surface 34 ofthe flight 24, should the trailing edge ofthe inner signature tend to lift up away from the saddle. The inner signature 46 i s driven by the flight 24 past the gluing station 16, at 15 position C, and glue is sprayed onto the outer surface of inner signature 46 through nozzle 520f the gluing station 16. The glue is applied as a row of glue spots.

When the inner signature 46 and flight 24 reach the position of the second signature feeder 18, at position D, an outer signature 44 is fed onto the saddle. The feeding ofthe outer signature 44 is timed to ensure that the outer signature overlies the separating element 36. The flight 24 continues 20 movingin the directionofarrow A along the saddle end the trailing edge 54 ofthe outer signature 44 is engagedbythe second driving surface 40 ofthe flight 24. The separating element36 guides the outer signature 44 onto the second driving surface 40, and not the first driving surface 34.

The spacing of the driving surfaces 34,40 in the direction of drive, as indicated by arrow A, provides the border 48 between the inner and outer signatures 46,44. The amount of border is 25 indicated on Fig 2 and Fig 3 at 56. A brush (not shown) may be provided above the saddle to ensure that the folds 45,47 ofthe signatures are resting in line with the back ofthe saddle and are

pushed down fully. This is important, since the signatures 44,46 ofthe greetings card 42 must be correctly aligned. Sometimes, a guide (not shown) having an upturned 'V-shape' rests on the saddle and assists in alignment of the signatures. The guide can be spring loaded.

The assembled greetings cards 42 are fed by the flights 24 to the transfer station 20 and 5 subsequently to the take-offconveyor 22 in known manner. The cards 42 can then be packaged.

The apparatus 10 is capable of assembling up to 8000 cards per hour, which is significantly more than the rate of assembly provided by existing flat gatherers. The signatures 44,46 ofthe cards 42 are also less likely to be mix-aligned, thus reducing wastage and increasing productivity.

The flight, apparatus and method ofthe invention is not intended to be limited to the assembly of 10 greetings card and can be used to assemble any paper product comprising two or more folded sheets nested one in another, where at least one ofthe sheets is offset along one edge relative to the other(s).

Claims

CLAIMS I. A flight for driving signatures resting astride a saddle conveyor comprising a first driving surface, a second driving surface spaced from the first driving surface both perpendicular to and in line with the direction of drive of the flight, and a separating element positioned 5 between the first and second driving surfaces which extends beyond the driving surfaces in the direction of drive of the flight. 2. A flight as claimed in claim 1 in which the first driving surface is in front ofthe second driving surface in the direction of drive of the flight. 3. An apparatus for assembling greetings cards having an outer signature and an inner 10 signature comprising a saddle conveyor fitted with at least one flight as claimed in claim 1 or 2, a first sheet feeder for supplying folded inner signatures to one end ofthe saddle, a gluing station for applying glue to each inner signature as it moves along the saddle, and a second sheet feeder for supplying folded outer signatures to the saddle, each outer signature being aligned with a respective inner signature. 15 4. A method for assembling greetings cards having an outer signature and an inner signature using the apparatus as claimed in claim 3 comprising supplying an inner signature to the saddle from the first signature feeder in a position in front of the at least one flight, the trailing edge ofthe sheet being engaged and driven along the saddle bythe first driving surface ofthe flight, applying glue to the surface ofthe inner as it moves past the gluing 20 station, supplying an outer signature to the saddle from the second signature feeder in a position overlying the inner signature and the separating element, the trailing edge of the outer signature being engaged and driven along the saddle by the second driving surface of the flight and the inner signature being attached to the outer signature by the glue. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS

1. A flight for driving signatures resting astride a saddle conveyor comprising a first driving surface, a second driving surface spaced from the first driving surfacebothperpendicular to and in fine with the direction of drive ofthe flight, and a separating elementpositioned 5 between the first and second driving surfaces which extends beyond the driving surfaces in the direction of drive of the flight.

2. A flight as claimed in claim 1 in which the first driving surface is in front ofthe second driving surface in the direction of drive of the flight.

3. A flight as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the separating element has a leading tip 10 which is angled towards the first driving surface.

4. An apparatus for assembling greetings cards having an outer signature and an inner signature comprising a saddle conveyor fitted with at least one flight as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, a first sheet feeder for supplying folded inner signatures to one end ofthe saddle, a gluing station for applying glue to each inner signature as it moves along the 15 saddle, and a second sheet feeder for supplying folded outer signatures to the saddle, each outer signature being aligned with a respective inner signature.

5. An apparatus for assembling greetings cards as claimed in claim 4 in which sensors are provided either side of the gluing station for detecting each inner signature.

6. A method for assembling greetings cards having an outer signature and an inner signature 20 using the apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 comprising supplying an inner signature to the saddle from the first signature feeder in aposition in front ofthe at least one flight, the trailing edge ofthe sheet being engaged and driven along the saddle by the first driving surface ofthe flight, applying glue to the surface ofthe inner as it moves pest the gluing station, supplying an outer signature to the saddle from the second signature feeder in a

position overlying the inner signature and the separating element, the trailing edge ofthe outer signaturebeing engaged and driven along the saddlebythe second driving surface of the flight and the inner signature being attached to the outer signature by the glue.

7. A flight for driving signatures resting astride a saddle conveyor substantially as described 5 herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figs 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.