US2532626A - Signature hopper mechanism - Google Patents

Description

1950 P. E. KLEINEBERG SIGNATURE HOPPER MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 51, 1946 INVENTOR P. E. KLEINEBERG SIGNATURE HOPPER MECHANISM Dec. 5, 1950 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 51, 1946 INVVENTORY;

Dec. 5, 1950 P. E. KLEl NEBERG SIGNATURE HOPPER MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 31, 1946 1? K INV ENTOR Patented Dec. 5, 1950 SIGNATURE 'HOPPER MECHANISM Paul E. Kleineberg, Easton,lPa., assignor to ".l. .& .C. B. Sheridan Company, New York, N. Y..

a corporation of New York Application July 31, 1946,.Serial'Nov687A98 13 Claims.

:resting upon asupport or hopper bottom which includes'a frontwardly traveling web upon which the signatures standedgewise, and also includes side walls or stack guides between which thestack .may beloaded or resuppliedfrom the rear, to be advanced progressively frontwardly, and a front ,abutmentagainst which .the stack .may bear in suitable position for the successive extractions therefrom of front signatures with substantially .vertical or upright extracting motion, upwardly or downwardly.

,Atypicalinstance ofthe practical utility of a signature stackholder orhopper of the kindre- .ferredtois in signature gathering machines; and anillustration ofsuch a machine embodying .a ,hoppermechanism.of.the.kind referred to is that shown in the prior patent of Kleineberg, .Schweizer and Wilks No. 2,163,732, issued June .297, .1939, reissued June, 25, 1940, No. 21,489. The hopper and stack feeding means of the present invention maybe employed in various signature handling machines including different types ,of

gathering machine, such as the insert gatherer {for producing saddle stitched pamphlets, illustrated in said prior patent, or the fiat gathering machine for producing side=stitched pamphlets; wherein in either case the signaturesare stacked eclgcwise .or "substantially upright in the hopper in..a manner adapting. each frontmost signature to .he gripped .by its upper or lower edge, extraotedfrom the hopper by suitableextracting means as arotarydrum, carried away from the extracting position and transferred to a suitable receiving point such as the conventional traveling conveyor of an insertgathering or a flat gathering machine. Said priorpatent illustrates upward extraction, preceded by aslight downward retraction of eachsignature while hereinis illustrated the well known plan of direct loweredge ripping. and downwardextraction of each signature, either plan being usable with the hopper mechanism of the present invention; while the hopper bottom or stack supporting'web is preferably, as shown in the prior patent and herein;

slightly inclined downwardly'toward the front, so that gravity aids in keeping the loaded supplies in place, the signatures leaning lightl frontward.

The general object of'the present invention is to aiford-asi'gnature' hoppenmechanism of improved operation, efficiency and durability, especiallywith respectto the bodil-y feeding of the V12 stack .of ,edgewise signatures by the frontward travel of.a.supporting.bottom or web. A further object is to afford improved reliability of action and ability ,to operate .at the increasing speeds prevailing in the .gathering of signatures .and production of .pamphlets therefrom. .A particular .object is to affordanfine control of the stack feedingaction in a manner-tokeep pace correctly with the rate of gradual depletion ofthe stackat its front end ,while resupplies are added at the .rear end of the stack or.hopper. Another Wobiect is to afford a practical means for fine adjustment 'inaccordance with varyingthicknesses of Si na- *ture. Other and further objects and advantages of the'invention will be explained in or appear from the hereinbelow description of one or more illustrative embodiments of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general left elevational View of sufficientvportions of a signature feeding and gathering machine to illustrate the novel elements and combination constituting or embodyingthe present invention; certain longitudinal parts and shafts beingshown in transverse vertical section,

and certain detacher parts shown in dottedlines in a different position; the front of, the machine "being considered to be at the righthandside of Fig.1.

Fig. '2 is a left elevation similar to Fig. '1 but showing a second form involving a modified construction of certain of the elements of their!- 'vention.

Fig. 3 is a detached left elevation of certain of the operative elements shown in Figs. 1 and;2 but with the parts in a different position or stage of-action; and'Fig. 4 is a view similar toFig.f3 --butwith the parts in a still different position.

Fig. 5 in a left elevation is a detached view of certain elements of the first form shown in Fig. 1; while "Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5but showing the same parts in a different position, .and Fig. GA-is a front view of part of Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is a left elevation of a portion of the mechanism of the second form as shown in'the Fig. 2 modification, with the parts in a different stage or position; while Fig. 8 shows certain of the parts of Fig. "'Zbut in a still different position.

Referring firstto certain parts of the gatheringmachine, which may be of design and operation-generally-as in said prior patent,'the lower frame of the machine-is omitted,'but the upper frame l't'isseen, and this provides bearings'for the :main shaft, not shown, and various other shafts, as well as longitudinal frame parts and rods:extendingibetween the several upper frame 3 transverse walls l3. Such terms as front and back, right and left, are employed in a relative sense, and, not intended as limitations upon the invention. At the upper rear of the frame transverse walls it are provided extending brackets M to give support, in each secti n of the gathering machine, to a signaturer loading shelf [5. At the upper front are a number of'high front brackets I 8 giving support to various elements in each sec ion. The ma n shaft may be arranged below the extracting drum 75 as in said prior patent, not being herein. i lustrated, but being the source from which motion is derived by various countershafts and other elements. Other known general parts, such as the extracting means will be described hereinafter.

Referring next to the hopper mechanism, located ener ly between the loading s elf at the rear and the extract ng drum at the front, the hop er in each section of the gatherer is provided with a bottom or plate 30, preferably consistin of two opposite such p ates, upon which the edeewise stacked signaturer lower corners may rest. At each side, right and left, of each hop er mechanism is arrang d cert in stack confining shown as including a low wall or s de plate 3! at each s de and thereabove an p osite pair of side gu des or walls 32. The bottom plates or ledg s 30 of the hopper may be formed as fiancee at t e lo er edges of the low side walls 3!. The high walls or guides 32, and preferably also the low walls 3|, are arranged sli htly closer together than the length of the signatures, this b ing for the pur ose of c mpolling the loaded batches of signatures to take a bo ed or arched form, with the concave side thereof toward th re r, in the manner more fullv shown and explained in said prior patent. This bow ng has the effect of stiffening the infed signatures against collap e or slumping in the hopper, while allowin the desired progressive frontward bodi y travel or feed o the stack. As in said prior patent the rearwardly concave bowing of the signatures may be confined es ecially to the lower portion thereof, this being sufficient, and perm tting the upper p r ions of the signatures to stand flatly again t the front abutment to be described. As another preference, the hop er side wa ls are shown terminated somewhat short of the front of the hopper, also as illustrated in said rior patent. this having the advantageous effect of releasing a relatively small gro p of fr nt s natur s. which therebv flatten out ag inst the front abutment. bringing the whole width of such roup of signatures frontwa rdlv in optimum osition for the detaching and extrac ing operations to be described.

The upper and. lo er side walls 32 and 3| at each s de of each ho per are sup orted uoon upstanding brack ts wh ch may be adiu table widthwise for differ nt lengths of signature. These brackets, constituting carriages for the s de walls. are shown su orted upon a long tudinal rod 34, that is, transverse to the frontward direction of stack feed, near the r ar of the hopper, and may have an extension 3 A engaging also a simi ar front rod. 35. The ad ustment of the carria es 33 for signature lengths may be effected bv prov ding the rods 34 as threaded shafts, with o posite threads for the respective two carriages in each honner so that by adin 1;

ment they may be set closer t gether or further. apart, as in said pr or atent further de cr bed.

At the front of each hopper is an abutment 38,

constituting a stop plate, preferably of the full Width of the hopper, and being inclined slightly frontwardly to correspond with the downward incline of the hopper, so that contained signatures may rest firmly and securely against the abutment plate, and gravity thereby aiding in the frontward feed of the stacked signatures, The abutment 38 is shown mounted upon a cross bar 39 which takes its support from the upper front frame brackets l8, and may run the full length of the gatherer.

For the progressive frontward feed of the stacked signatures in each hopper there is shown' a traveling su port or bottom web 45, in the nature of a feed belt; this being located centrally between the opposite bo tom plates 30 and approximately at the level thererof, said web taking the maior part of the weight of the supported signature stack. Preferably the traveling bottom web 45 is an end ess belt, wi h upper and lower stretches; and its upper stretch may travel sliding'ly along an underneath rigid support, shown as afforded by the upper side of a carriage 41. Said carriage may be positioned by and supported upon the rods or adjusting shafts 34 and 35, and it may be bodily removable therefrom for purposes of access, interchange or repair. The endless traveling web 45 may pass around pulleys 49 at the front and 50 at the rear of the carriage 41.

The progressive frontward travel of the supporting web 45 of each hopper may be effected by the methodical rotation of the front supporting pulley .9, the shaft 54 of which pulley takes it bearings in the b ttom supporting carriage 41. The travel being natural y very slow and gradual, special means is necessary to effect the regulated rot tion of t e dri ing pulley 49 of the endless feeding belt 45. The rate of feed must be varied in accordance wi h the thickness of the individual signatures to be fed, and it has been found that intermittent rotation and travel are highly advantageous for the purpose, such action being that described in said prior patent. To carry out this p an there is shown mounted to turn with the drive pulley 49 a ratchet wheel 55. preferably secured near one end of the pulley shaft 54 and formed. with fine teeth coo' erable with pawl means to del ver clock ise rotation to the pulley, and forward travel of the web, as viewed in Fi s. 1 and 2.

To this point the described elements corresnond clo el with t ose bearing the same reference numbers in said prior atent: but from this po nt of descri ion onward the ele ents, combinations and o era ions differ materially, calling for th use of independent reference numbers on the parts.

The si natures will first he referred to. stack S contains the many edgewise-star ding individua signatures s, and these may be either of t e lap t pe, each havin an extension of p rt of ts openable ed e to assist opening for saddle gatherin or of the re ular type as preferred for fiat athering, as explained in the prior patent. Herein the signatures are shown stacked for downward extraction, each signature having its closed back edge s, whereat the final fold is formed, at the bottom, and its openable edge s at the top; and an extracted signature is seen traveling with its closed ed e s leading upon the periphery of the extracting drum.

The successive feeding of frontmost signatures from the stack involves, in the form herein The Y ments of the detacher.

shown, ass in said prior-patent, the :operation ro'f detaching an edge of the signature from themermainder of the :stack, by swinging #said edge 'frontwardly from the stack, followed by. ripping of the detached edge and gpulling the signature bodily from the stack and hopper, by theme of an extractor means or drum .which'carries grippers and trotates in the desired direction, in this case counterclockwise for downward extraction and :frontward transfer, on the drum periphery,

towards .a point of gathering or other disposition. Thus in abothlformsfof the invention, :seen

in Figs. .1 and 2 and others, there is .shownza .detaching:means 6010f the advantageous; suction type, the body of which constitutes .-;a carriage, or .oppositepair -10f carriages, shiftable tor swing- -.able .rearwardly toward the .:lower edge :of the signature stack and .frontwardly therefrom to deflect and .swing loutwardly the: signature lower Theactual engagement with the signaportion of :the swinging :system is .a trans erse .member or .hollow suction bar 64, extending substantially the .jtull width .of the section and giving direct support to e-rid pneumatic .connection with, the two or lmo're suckers or ,cups .6 I

The operations .of each suction .detaeher r60 1 in each section of the gatherer.and .in each extract ng cycle are substantially conventional, the suckers being shifted .or swung .rearwardly .at the proper moment. in each cy'cleso as :to come in contact with the .front.signature, th suction effect .being then applied .through'athesucker bar 64 and suction cups .by passages, controlling valves etc., .not shown, the detaching system being thereu on swung .frontwardly .to detach and deflect.outwardly-thelower edgeof .thefrontmost si nature, 'for. gripping and extraotiornand the release .of the suctioncondition occurring. at the same time that the extracting .grippereengages the signature edge. The mechanical actuationof the si nature detacher may'beithrough any suitable connection thereto .from an appropriate cam or timing. device providing one. o eration per cycle. "For illustration there .is .shown an actuating link 65 extending Item the detacher pivot ,63 upwardly to apivot at the free end of a rearwardlv extending .rockarm .65 mounted on a rocksha'ft or axle J6! sup orted .by the 'frame bra'cket l8. By the actuationo'f the rockshaft or rockarmthe required swinging movements of -the detaching suckers are .produced. Fig. "1 shows in dotted linesthe .frontswung pos tion of 'theseparts. V

The suction detachingmeans thus described upon 'Fig. '1 is in general duplicated in Fig. "2, with modifications; and .one such modification is the providing, instead of the simple actuatinglink 65 of Fig. 11 a cushioned or yieldin link 65A seenin Fig.2 .andinFig. 7. Thisyielding element couldbe provided ataanypoint in the train of connections for working the suction cups solong as a limit'to .the yieldingmotionis 1 provided, l but preferably the ,yielding means .is embodied .in the link 65A of lthe secondlform of the invention, the purpose -and-.operation of which .will ,be hereinafter fully described. As

il o as composed of a :pair of telescoping members under spring control, for example, .a rod 68 pivoted to *therdetacher at .63 and a sleeve 69 :pivoted to the rockarm 66,the rodbeing slidable telescopically within thesleeve. The depending sleeve is :of short length, and thereis arranged a'compression spring 10 between the bottom end tot the sleeve, :and a collar ll near the low end of the, rodpsothatthenormal effect of the spring is .to-lengthenor expand the yieldable link, this action however being limited by an expansion stop zmeansshown as a pair of opposite slots 12 formed .in the walls of the sleeve :member 69 and engaged by :ajpair of opposite stop pins (3 projectingoutwardly from the rod member of the ,link. '.The normal length 0f the link :is its fullllength when the yieldingspring 10 has forced the pins 13113011'110Vfi to the bottom-of the slots .12; while the potential yield is such-asto permit :a slight shortening of the link length thereby to permit an-abnormalfrontward relativexmotion or-swing of the suction 'detacher 60.

[At-this point may-conveniently be briefly-described the illustrative-extracting means shown in the drawings, The main element is the rotary extractoror drum 15, one such drum being provided {for each hopper, and the drums being preferablvofthe skeleton type as'in said prior patent. :As illustrated, the drum is mounted ,upon a continuously rotating shaft -16, which :may be an elongated :shaftserving all sections of the machine, andturning counterclockwise in the present embodiment. On the drum arecarriedisignature grippers "shown in the form of jaws-each's-wingable abouta-rocksha'ft 18 on the drum and each cooperating with a relatively fixed gripper seat 19. Each-illustrated gripper represents a set or .pair :of grippers, spaced apart longitudinally on each drum so as to be able .to gripeach detached lower'signature edge at two spaced :apart points, insuring-accurate extraction and transferof signatures, 'WhiIe one conventional arrangement involves a single gripper set upon each drum, for extraction of a single signature in one complete rotation of-the drum, there is shown the other conventional arrangemen-tof aplurality of gripper sets, in this case two opposite gripper sets-involving the extraction of two successive signatures in each rotation of the drum; the-drum therefore being rotated at-.ha1f--speed,zthat=is,- one half 1 turn of the drum .per cycle. Each of Figs. '1 and :2 shows a :first gripper set in the act of transferring away ta signature ,iustextracted, for. handling-in a man ner forming no part of .the present invention; and diametrically ,opposite thereto .a second gripper set which stands open but the ,iaw T5 .of which is ready tobeswung rapidly around to bear upon theseat"ifithereby gripping, on the run, theoutswunglower edge of the frontmost "signature in the hopper.

or formed into a head or pawl carrier 83. Instead of using a single pawl operating upon very fine ratchet teeth, as in said prior patent, the preferred arrangement is the use of the multiple pawls, and for this purpose the carrier 83 is shown as giving support to three lightly spring-pressed or gravity-operated pawls 84, all bearing constantly upon the ratchet periphery. The head or carrier 83 is therefore provided with three pawl pivots or pins 85; and these and their pawls are differentially spaced, in the .known manner of differential pawls, so that the pawl pitch may be considered as subdivided into three equal fractions, with the three pawls in correspondingly spaced relations. By this arrangement is provided the equivalent of much finer ratchet teeth worked by a single pawl,

while retaining teeth of ample size and strength. As the pawl carrier is oscillated, the amount of advancing drive communicated to the ratchet and the hopper web may be to the extent of onethird of the pitch of a single tooth, or of selective multiples thereof. The pawl lever 8! is formed also with a second or upper arm 87, utilized to cooperate in the control of the feeding action of the pawl and ratchet system. A pull spring 88 is shown urging frontwardly the upper end of the pawl lever arm 81, with a very light pull, tending to bring a pawl to a ratchet tooth and hold it there until a feed stroke of the lever 85 takes place; said spring 88 serving also to hold a trip finger Hll on the lever in contact with a feeler member I06 during an idle stroke as will be described.

As a means to oscillate the pawl lever BI is shown a driven actuator or rotary cam 98 mounted upon a longitudinal drive shaft 9!. which may extend the full length of the machine. Said shaft may be geared from the main or drum shaft 15, with 2 to 1 ratio, for example by a sprocket chain 89. The cam should be cyclic, making one action or revolution per cycle, for example, having an outer dwell and an inner dwell separated by two cam slants and adapted to put the pawl lever through its clockwise or feed movement in each cycle. The cam or timing means is preferably an open cam with its periphery acting directly upon a follower or roll 92 carried on a rocking cam arm 93, which constitutes part of a cam lever the second arm 9 of which may extend at an angle to the first.

The cam lever 93, 94 is mounted to rock about a longitudinal axle 95, and in order to hold the follower 92 always in contact upon the cam periphery there is suitably provided resilient means such as a stout coil spring 96 pulling for example upon the first cam rockarm 93. From the second arm 94 extends a connection to the pawl lever, being illustrated as a link 91, arranged for example at about a right angle to the arm 94, so that the lever oscillations produced by the pawlactuating cam 99 are applied to cause a swinging of the carrier 83 and the pawl or pawls carried thereby. Instead Of rigid connections between the cam and the pawl carrier, depriving this system of variable control of stack feeding, a lost motion device is introduced at a suitable point. This for example may consist of a pin and slot device, the slot 98 being shown provided at the front extremity of the link 91, and the pin 99 pro- .iecting from the lower tip of the pawl carrier into said slot. Said device is such, acting like a hook, that the cam can onl swing clockwise the lever, for its feed stroke as will be hereinafter more fully explained, the link slot end I00 being the hook.

The web-advancing wheel 55, while shown as a ratchet with teeth, may be of the toothless kind if a so-called silent pawl is used, gripping the wheel periphery on each feed stroke. Said feed wheel and the train Of connections leading to it, namely, the variable-throw reciprocating carrier or pawl lever 8| and the pawl means thereon, and the cam-driven rocklever 93, 94, with link 9! and pin-and-slot lost-motion device or loose connections 98, 99 extending to the carrier lever from the rocklever, may be considered as constituting a variable speed intermittent drive for the feed web; the variation of the carrier throw being the means of regulating the rate of wheel rotation and of web and stack travel. In combination with these combined elements, in their broad and Specific aspects, the present invention provides a novel control means to cause the stack feed tokeep pace substantially with the rate of extraction of signatures, and with the resulting depletion at the stack front, being greater with thicker signatures and vice versa. Said control means of this invention takes its action from the stack itself, and comprises a shiftable feeler member or presser I 06 bearing on a free or exposed part of the stack front, preferably resiliently, and taking therefore a variable position responsive to the degree of looseness or tightness of the stacked signatures near the front. This feeler has connections, extending operatively at certain points of time to the regulating means, specifically shown as loose or lost motion connections to the pawl lever or carrier, arranged and operating to increase the stack travel speed with greater looseness of signatures and vice versa; so that excess looseness is promptly corrected by the faster feed, while excess fullness or tightness causes the feed to reduce to a minimum, or even to zero for suspension, until mean conditions are again established. Besides the general advantage of controlling the mean rate of stack feed to accord with the de pletion produced by extraction of signatures, the described arrangement has the advantage that the exposed or free areas of the stack front are continuously maintained at a uniform and optimum frontward position, thereby cooperating efiiciently and reliably with the suction detacher means including the sucker cups 5| which in each cycle are moved rearwardly to a definite signature engaging position.

More specifically, the invention may be said to consist in a signature hopper mechanismof the kind handling edgewise stacked signatures, having at its bottom the aforesaid traveling feed web for feeding frontwardly the stack, with lateral means forguiding the advancing stack, and the front abutment against which the stack may bear in position for each of the front signatures in cyclical succession and by automatic means to be detached at its edge, gripped and extracted: and characterized by means for advancing the feed web at a rate corresponding substantially with stack depletion, comprising the following elements. A feed wheel 55 having connections operative to advance the feed web, a reciprocable carrier 8!, 82 with pawl means :84 to engage and intermittently advance the feed wheel and web to a variable extent determined by the throw of the carrier, and a driven actuator, the cam 90, having connections to said carrier to impart successive feed strokes to bring the carrier to a constant final position in each action but with lost greases motion-185 99' irisaid: actuator connections per-- mitting variable return strokes and consequent variable feed strokes" of the=carrierr With these elements cooperates the control means for-'de' termi'ning in each" cycle the variable extent of feed wheelandiwebadvance derivedfrom saidactuator cam through" said lost-motion connections' and carrier, comprising a shiftable-feeler I06 resiliently yieldable irontwardly' and spring-- pressed rearwardl'y in each cycle to bear upon'and compress a-free portion Of the stack front'thereby responsivelyto-take a variable rear-position determined by thecondition of looseness or'tightness of thestack front. The pawl carrier and: the feeler are so interconnected at least during.

the idle part of the cycle that they'shift in unison, and the feeler-by itsvariable rear position determined by the stack' condition, and" its corresponding consequent relative frontward yield" during-each idl'eperiodj effectsa variable abridgementof thefull operative throw. of the pawlcarrier, as permitted bythelost'motion in said'actuatorconnections. By such mechanism, when the stack is tight'full the actuator operations are substantially takenup; within said" lost-motion,

and-thepawl carrierthrow andstack feed rate are-minimum or zero; whereas with increasingv stack looseness the feeler and'thruster. and consequentlythe connected carrier take progressively rearwardly displaced positions. to. being about progressively increasing throws of carrier and.

upon the carrier; a mere lost-motion connection.

with contacting cooperation is preferred; in order to permit the feeler' to be conveniently mounted.

on, the detacher and shifted away frontwardly. with l'GIfQYOnB period of each cycle, and, also to. permit the tripping of the. connection into. in-.

activity: when the stack is empty, thus obviating. wear upon the pawl, ratchet and otherpartsn as will-be more particularly described; Thusthe.

pawl lever ispreferably subjected'to two. one-way;

actions by looseor lost motion connections operating like mere ,contacts orhooks; (1) during.

the feed period" the feedlcam operating through. the link or hook connection. 9T, 98Lto. swing the. lever. clockwise, pullin l'eftwardits lower. end to cause feed}, While (2) during. thev non-feed period the feeler-pusher operates.through..con-

tact connection to swing the lever. counterclocke wise; pushing its upper end, leftward, to .a variable. extent which determines the. subsequent extentofi feed in: the next period. Neither operating trainis continuously operative but they act alternate1y,

the ieeler-controlled;train.v causing the. pawl car.-

rier idle stroke atone stage,.to-a.variable degree.

according to the needs, thefeed-cam train causing the carrier feedstroketo the.extent.determined by the precedingidlestroke.

The mechanism for carrying out thefeedlcontrol operations and results.ofjthisinvention.com-- prises combinations of elements suchas shown.

in Figs, 1,5 and 6 or as in Figs. 2, '7 and or.

equivalents thereof, the .function thereof. being to change the extent or; angle of swing of the pawl lever 81" ineach direction to' a variable movement determined" by the condition of" the stack at its front end; whether it istight full orsubstantially I loose I and compressible; thereby *to vary accordingly the throw oi the pawl carrier and thus-'- accelerateon deceleratethe mean or average rate-of frontward stack feed in accord ancewith'theneeds;

Refer-ring toboth' forms; one of the preferred".v elements ofthe control mechanism, and a'con tacting part of the interconnections between feelerand carrier, consists of a contact piece preferably in the iorm of aa trip member or finger till located upon, and-preferably pivoted at 02 atop, the pawl lever 81 orthe upstanding armdlithereoi', being thusan extension of the carrier. This contact member" extends frontwardly from: said pivo't hcneaththeirontmost: group of stackedsignatures; and reaches, at itsextremity, approxi-- mately to" the frontmost signature, which is about to be detached and extracted, as'seen in Figs; 1, 2; 5 and Thetrip finger or contact piece wt therefore isswi'ngable upwardly and" downwardly on its pivot I82; and it is shown as: being spring-positioned by meansof a'rearwardly extending tail I03 that" is pulled downwardly by a light spring liMtendingslightly-to lift the trip finger from itsnormal or operative position showniirFigs; Band? to an upwardly swung idle position as-shown in: Figs. 6 and 8, and in-the detached front view Fig; 6A.

This upswinging tripping. movement of finger" Itl is an abnormal-one, occurring only-when the staclc'is empty-and serving merely to shift some what the tri'pfi'nger away from-the operative position inwhichit' coactswiththe feed control ele ments Hid, lfil to be described; the spring HM having only sufhcicnt'tension and play to effect the" described slight upward tripping displace-- mentsof the'contact finger. Whenthe hopper is resupplied' with signatures they act to depress" again the finger illl to normal operative-position;

This trippingaction of the finger Iii! is advantageous inrendering the control and feedaction inoperative for any given hopper or hoppers which are not" being used, thus savingneedless wear. In gathering thin pamphlets only aiew hoppers may-be inuse, and the finger tripping actiondn the'nthers renders them idle;

Cooperating. with" the tripping contact finger' illl', which is carried bodily 'frontward' and rearward with the oscillation of the .upper' arm 81 of the? pawl. carrier: lever, is whatis designateda feeler: membenonpresser' ills arranged to pressagainstthe stack, and which feeler takesdis-- tinctly" different mechanical forms inthe two embodimentsofi the invention, but in each case detecting the. degree of looseness of the front group of: signatures.andthereby'undergoing and transmittin toithe contactpiece or-finger IM and the pawl lever arm. 8'3. 3, variable idle rearwardishift.

The: fcelenarrangement shown Figs. 1, 5

andxdwill be. first described. The feeler member I'M-is providediwith: anextension piece or foot:

Ill] which during the non-feeding period is;

75- ture; its ofiset foot'or horizontal extension- 101 aseaeae when in feeling position stands directly in front of and is adapted to thrust upon the contact finger or piece I I. Thereby the stack-d termined position taken by the feeler extension or thrust piece I01 in each cycle determines the extent to which the contact finger is thrust rearwardly and the pawl lever is swung counterclockwise for its idle stroke. This variable and usually abridged motion or swing, being the idle or return stroke of the pawl lever and carrier, the next subsequent clockwise or feed stroke is of course varied or abridged correspondingly, as the parts pass from the Fig. 4 to the Fig. 3 position during which stroke the action of the cam 90 causes the sovaried active feed stroke of the carrier and pawls, acting through the lost-motion pin-and-slot device 98-99, which permits the described variation of actual throw and feed, the cam action always bringing the carrier to the constant limit or zero position of Fig. 3.

By the principles of the invention the feeler and its offset foot or thrust member I01 are thus adapted in each cycle to shift rearwardly to different operative positions in accordance with the tightness or looseness of the signatures at the front end of the stack, the greater the looseness and need of accelerated feed the greater the rear shift. For these purposes the feeler I06 is arranged and fitted to thrust rearwardly, with sufficient pressure to compact the frontmost signatures when they are in slack condition, taking up the slack and to the degree thereof shifting rearwardly. The feeler I06 may take different mechanical forms, being shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 as a depending plate or strip, for example piv- ...1

oted at I08 at its upper end and extending downwardly therefrom for contact with the front signature, at least during the non-feed period, and with its low extremity extended or offset as the aforesaid thrust extension or contact foot I01, being the part which is shifted by the feeler and directly coacts, by thrust-connection, with the contact finger IOI atop the pawl lever. A convenient way is illustrated for mounting shiftably the plate or feeler I06, its pivot I08 being at the top end of a small bracket I09 shown as extending upwardly from the suction bar 64 or other part of the swinging suction detacher 60. With this arrangement the feeler and mountings are swung bodily away frontwardly from the stack during the signature detaching operation, clearing the path for signature extraction, and then back into feeling position. The stack feed stroke caused by the feed cam preferably occurs during the frontward separation of the feeler from the stack; while the following return of the feeler to the stack and its compression thereof provide the variable idle stroke of the carrier and pawls.

As a means of resiliently pressing the feeler I06 against the front lower margin of the signature stack when the detacher is in its rear swung position, a spring III is shown, this bein of ample strength to overcome the light pull spring 88, and being under compression between the lower end of the feeler and a convenient front abutment such as a drop lug II 2 depending from the sucker bar 64 well in front of the feeler. The spring III may be of the helical type and may surround a long pin II3 the rear end of which is pivoted to an ear near the lower end of the feeler and the front end of which is slidable through a perforation in the drop lug II2, a pair of locking stop nuts I I4 being mounted upon the front end of the slide pin to determine or limit the extreme rearward position of the feeler I06,

as shown in Fig. 6, while permitting frontward yielding, as to the position shown in Fig. 5, which may be caused by the frontward feeding of the stack or in some cases by the cyclic frontward throw of the upper arm 8'! of the pawl lever acting through the contact piece IiII to push frontwardly the feeler during each feed action. The feeler mountin elements I08, I09 and H2 are preferably carried as shown by the sucker bar 66, thereby partaking of the swinging movements of the suction detacher 60, by which the suction cups BI in each cycle are swung frontwardly for detaching the lower margin of each front signature, and thereafter rearwardly again, following the extraction of such signature, into normal contact with the next succeeding signature, for repeat of action; the spring III when the detacher is in normal position maintaining the feeler bear ing firmly against the stack.

At any time when the extraction of signatures has proceeded to an excess extent, to render loose or slack the frontmost group of signatures, these become compressible so that in each cycle the feeler I06 becomes swung further and further toward the rear, whereby it takes a variable rearward position to determine variably for each cycle the idle position' of the pawl lever 8|, for example, as shown in Fig. 4. On its next or active stroke the lever is swung clockwise through a variable increased distance, being the same as I that of the idle throw. Thus the extent of feed is controlled, being greater with increase of signature looseness and vice versa. The number of ratchet teeth, or tooth fractions, over which the pawls can play becomes thus increased, thereby adjusting the rate of stack feed to accelerate it, until the accelerated advancement of the stack takes up its looseness and may eventually produce tighter packing of the signatures, which action in turn, upon any excess of feed and packing, varies reversely the action of the feeler to reduce again its rearward thrust and therefore reduce the effective rate of stack travel. By these actions the travel of the stack, on the average, is caused to keep pace quite closely with the depletion caused by the removal of signatures at the front end of the stack; and, due to the subdivision of pawl and ratchet action by the differentially spaced pawls, this plan works well with all usual signatures including the thickest and thinnest, maintaining a substantially steady feed, with small variations, and a substantially uniform condition of signature packing.

In the described action it will be understood that the timing cam acts the same as a posi-,

the pin-and-slot lost motion being fully taken up. At the end of each idle or return stroke however the lever is seldom if ever brought to its extreme counterclockwise position, sufficient stack looseness therefor being rare, and the lost motion 98, 99 functioning to allow the feeler I 06 and thrust piece IIl'I to bring the connector or trip finger I ill and pawl lever to a variable intermediate position, such as is shown in Fig. i; in which sense the thrust piece I01 acts as a limiting member or abutment to the lever idle stroke. The stack front in its average condition is fairly tight but slightly loose, so that usually there will occur masteresome degree. ofidleswinglofzthei lever; and its;

corresponding active swing which as soonz'asi of: suificient extent, .will start thezpawlmeans: upon its action of fGGGiIlgthE feedwheel. and web.

As the feed stroke offthe pawl carrier is preferably; timed to. occur when therfeeler is: separated awayfrontwardly from the stack, see the dotted lineposition in Fig.. 1, which affords; ample timingJatitude, the. feed cam action does'not cause. the compression ofthe feeler spring H I, although. with-different timing it might do so, in causing each abridged feedstroke. of the pawl lever. Said springineach cycle: yields relatively frontwardly, asin Fig. 5, dueto the stack abridgingthe rearward shift of the feelen. Whenever the stack may become tight. fullthe feeler takes, and'is stopped at, its extreme frontward-feeling position, permitting, the trip finger to remain in its extreme frontward position,.1or example held there by=the light pawl lever spring. 88, whereby accordingly the pawl lever remains in its extreme clockwise position, correspondingv with the position shown in Fig. 3 at the close of the feed. stroke. Consequently, in that condition,. the feed. stroke is without result, the feed bein zero, and the pin-and-slot device Eli -99 merely playingidly under thecam-reciprocated motion of the transmitting link. 91; until extraction of signatures may again overcome the tightness, and the repositioning of the feeler and connected parts restarts the feed action, In all cases it is the rearward return motion of the feeler, variably lim-' ited. as stopped by the stack, that determines the variable idle position of the pawl lever and there.-

by the extent of the next following fee-d stroke.

The pawl carrier. never lacks control;v its idle throw is by the counterclockwisethrust imposed bythe feeler; its feed throw by theclockwise pull, imposed by. the cam-through the hooking or pulling end I06 of its link slot 98; andbetween these actions the light. lever spring 88v holds a pawl upon the feed wheelor ratchet tooth, the pawl springs: also being very light. The friction of the. parts 45, 39; v 54' etc; prevent falseor accidental feed or othermotions-that might interfererwith theficontrolled feed of the-stack.

Thestack feeding action of the hopper bottom web-4T being. step-by-step its mean travel speedis what is to be coordinated withthe depletion caused: by extractions of signatures. A an example; with signatures inch thick extracted at; the rate of per minutethe-mean-speed of the web should average 1.5 inches per minute. While a given mean-speedv can not be attained exactly -'by pawl-and-ratchet it cansbe alternate- 1y over and under attained; and thepresent invention in this way controls the action through the-stack feeler ,operatingthrough the carrier to cause alternating overfeed and under-feed according. to the loosenessor tightness at the front ofthe: stack. When the stackbecomes low, and its. looseness increases to the point whereat the feeler and thruster ltd-I01: beginslto cause suificientiidle swing, of. thepawl lever for a pawl to P8531 on to a new tooth, the feed commences, increasing with increase of. looseness, until the;

phase isrever'sed and the stack feed causes tightening until the opposite action occurs. With thickersignatures asingle pawl might give 'fine enough feed regulation, but the multiple pawldevice serveswell even for the thinnest; Thesesignatures. Theratcliets are selected with teethcoarseenough for the thickest signatures, while" the. subdivision provided by; the? multiple pawls; takes care of the thinnest signatures. More than threepawls cambecusedfor still finer action. In

practice; the described; controlv of stack; feed.

quite: quickly responsive,v and. the mechanism tends: to assume a fairly steady. action, with. web travel; approximating the needs. thin signaturesthe frontiaceof the stack never departsv so. far. from its optimum. position. asv to. impair: cooperation with the detaching. suckers. Referring-further to. the modification .of Figs. 2,,

T and: 8 this: is .upon the. same. principles as that of. Figs. 1,5 and 6-but. with certain changes of structure andoperation.

The following elements in Fig. 2,,differing from:

Fig: 1, havexalready. been: referred. to, namely,.

the. cushioned. link. A; by: which the opposite suction detacher; carriages; 60 are oscillated,.and. the telescopingxrod 6B and sleeve 6.9 comprised: in said link and thecompression spring-.10.con.--

fined; between the' sleeve 69 and the collar ll.

serwng to maintaimthe. link yieldinglyinits most; extendedi condition, and. the sleeve slots 72- ene' gaged by. rod' pins. 73 limiting the elongating. move'ments of: the link. while. providing ampleplay andresilient-yield for the purposes: toibe:

;or-' detector responsive. to the looseness' of the stacked signatures. Thesedetaclierparts:therefore, the body 60 and cup 6:15, serve not merely for the. detaching: fun'ction,.butialso: to. afford the responsive function. of the'feeler I06. of' Fig.

Thei .detachemfeeler 60;. 61': bears with pressure uponthe signaturestack for about one twelfth of eachi cycle,.affording'a sufficient period of time for" responsive action forthe purposes of controlling the rat'e oftravel' of 'the' feed Web 45 and.

the feedof'the signature stack. By reason of theresilient character of the-link; and the abilityof'the' feelerSU-Bl to yield relatively frontward while. in. its. feeling position; this detacherfeeler, during the non'feed period oteach cycle, is'caused' to assume a variablerearward position in accordance'with the extentof depletion at the front of'the stack, ina-mariner analogous to the described'actionof the feelerof Fig. 1..

Referring to'me'chanical' details, each .detaeherfeeler 60-6! swings abouttthe high pivot'62 comparablewitlrthe pivot H18 of the Fig. 1' feeler I06. Whereas each-Fig; 1- feelerhas-a plate-like body and adownward'extension in theform of an offset foot HIT to cooperatewith the contact finger I'M, the Fig. 2 feeler mechanism has, cup to press upon the stack and provides a downward.

extension in the form of a lug IUIA having, as av partof. it: an: adjusting. screw or thrust. piece Ill-1B: extending rearwardly, with its rear extension in the lineof shifting movement of; the finger or contact piece- IM- when the feeler is in. feeling position: pressing: upon thestack;-

Whereas' in Fig; l the:.detacher movements are positive and the horizontal spring I I i presses the feeler toward the stack, in Fig; 2' the upright compression spring- 10= of-the detacher-swinging link BSAservesthe same function, and likewise per mit's relative-frontward yield of the .d'etacher' feeler drains thefeeler" imposed variable idle And. even r with:

atsaoee E stroke or counterclockwise throw of the carrier lever.

With this second or alternative form of the invention, as with the first form, the cam 99 should be cyclic, making one turn or cam action per extraction, and the feed stroke caused, by the cam should likewise be coordinated With the feeler swinging movements. The thrust piece 20713 and contact piece ill! being shown connected only by their mutual lost-motion contact in the period when the feeler comes to stack pressing position, the frontward detaching swing of the detacher-feeler can impart no clockwise or feeding shift or stroke to the carrier lever; such feed action being left to the drive cam under the control afforded by the varying rearward swing of the feeler with pressure on the stack. The relative timing of the cam and the feeler should preferably be such that the cam-produced or clockwise feed stroke of the carrier will commence about when the feeler reaches its most frontward position in each cycle, with an amplitude of stroke and extent of feed of stack predetermined by the preceding rearward shift of the feeler, to its stack-controlled position, thereby ensuring the required abridgement of feed stroke to accord with the stack condition.

There has thus been described a signature hopper mechanism embodying the principles and attaining the objects of the present invention; but since many matters of operation, combination, construction, arrangement and detail may be variously modified without departing from the principles of the invention it is not intended to limit the same except to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signature hopper mechanism of the kind described having a traveling web on which the signatures are stacked edgewise and fed frontward for front extraction, with rear loading, a variable feed drive for the feed web, said drive comprising a feed wheel connected to drive the web and a variable-stroke oscillating carrier carrying pawl means cooperating with said wheel, means for controlling suchdrive comprising a shiftable feeler bearing resiliently rearward on the stack front and thereby taking avariable position responsive to the degree of looseness of the signatures, and connections from the feeler to the carrier operating to cause increase of carrier return and advance stroke with increasing looseness of stack due to depletion of signatures, and vice versa, thereby to cause the stack feed to keep pace substantially with the rate of extraction of signatures; the connections from the feeler to carrier comprising extensions in the form of separate pieces in mutual thrusting relation, the feeler piece having a strong rearwardly-pressing spring and the carrier piece a weak frontwardly-pressing whereby the former controls the carrier return stroke.

2. In a signature hopper mechanism of the kind described. having a traveling web on which the signatures are stacked edgewise and fed frontward for front extraction, with rear loading, a controlled variable feed drive for the feed web, said drive comprising a feed wheel connected to drive the web and a variable-stroke oscillating carrier carrying pawl means cooperating with said wheel; means for controlling such drive comprising a shiftable feeler bearing resiliently rearward on the stack front and thereby taking a variable position responsive to the degree of looseness of the signatures, and connections from the feeler to the carrier operating to cause increase of carrier return and advance stroke with increasing looseness of stack due to depletion of signatures, and vice versa, thereby to cause the stack feed to keep pace substantially with the rate of extraction of signatures; and in combination with such recited elements the feed drive means comprising lost-motion connections to the oscillating carrier and adapted to shift the carrier for each pawl feed stroke to a constant advanced position; the feeler by its variable position being adapted to operate through its connections to the carrier to limit the return of the carrier to a variably curtailed idle return stroke, thereby correspondingly limiting the extent of the succeeding feed stroke whereby the feed rate of the web and. stack is controlled; and the connections from the feeler to the carrier comprising extensions of these in mutual thrusting contact, the feeler having a strong spring pressing it rearward against the stack and the carrier having a weak spring pressing the carrier extension frontward into contact with the feeler extension, whereby the variable feeler position determines the extent of carrier idle return stroke, and thereby the extent of variable feed of the stack to keep pace with the depletion of signatures.

3. A signature hopper mechanism of the kind handling edgewise stacked signatures, having at its bottom a traveling feed web for supporting and feeding frontwardly the stack, lateral means for guiding the advancing stack, and a front abutment against which the stack may bear in position for each of the front signatures, in cyclical succession and by automatic means, to be detached at its edge, gripped and extracted; and in combination therewith means for advancing the feed web at a rate corresponding substantially with stack depletion, the same comprising a feed wheel having connections operative to advance the feed web; a to-and-fro movable carrier having pawl means to engage and intermittently advance the feed wheel and web to a variable extent determined by the throw of the stituting an extension of the carrier and movable to-and-fro with the variable throw thereof,

a 'shiftable feeler resiliently yieldable frontwardly and spring-pressed rearwardly to bear upon and compress a free portion of the stack front thereby responsively to take a variable rear' position determined by the condition of looseness or tightness of the stack front, and a second piece constituting an extension of the feeler and partaking of the shifting thereof to and from a variable rear position; said first piece and second piece having such cooperative relation and action that the second piece by its variable 1 rear position determined by the stack condition,

and its corresponding consequent frontward yield during each feed stroke, effects a variable abridgment of the full operative throw of the first piece and pawlcarrier, as permitted by the lost motion in said actuator connections; whereby with tight full stack the actuator operations are substantially taken up within said lost-motion, and the pawl carrier throw and stack feed rate are minimum or zero, whereas with increasing stack looseness the feeler and first piece take progressively rearward positions to bring about progressively increasing throws of carrier and pawl means, with resulting increasing ratev of stack feed, until excess looseness of stack is taken up, and vice versa; and the interconnections between the stack feeler and the pawl carrier comprising a contact extension on the feeler and a trip finger pivoted on an upward extension of the carrier in a position to press upwardly against the stack front end and to press frontwardly against the feeler extension, with a spring tending to swing the carrier to cause the finger to press frontwardly, and a spring tending to press upwardly the finger; whereby the advancing feed stroke of the carrier may thrust frontwardly through said finger against the feeier extension, and whereby when the stack is exhausted the trip finger may rise out of line with said extension, and render inoperative said interconnections.

A signature gathering machine hopper mechanism of the kind handling edgewise stacked signatures, having at its bottom a traveling feed web for supporting and feeding front- Wardly the stack, permitting rear loading without cessation of operation, lateral means for guiding the advancing stack, and an upright front abutment against which the stack may bear in position for each of the front signatures in cyclical succession and by automatic means to be detached at its edge, gripped and extracted; and characterized, in combination therewith, by means for advancing the feed web at a rate corresponding substantially with stack depletion, the same comprising a feed wheel having connections operative to advance the feed web, a reciprocable carrier with pawl means to engage and intermittently advance the feed wheel and web to a variable extent determined by the throw of the carrier, and a driven actuator having connections to said carrier to impart successive feed. strokes to bring the carrier positively to a constant final position in each action but with lost motion in said actuator connections permitting abridgement of return strokes and consequent variable extent of feed strokes of the carrier;

and control means for determining in each cycle the variable extent of feed wheel and web advance derived from said actuator through said lost-motion connections and carrier, comprising a shiftable feeler resiliently yieldable frontwardly and spring-pressed rearwardly to bear upon and compress a free portion of the stack front thereby responsively to take a variable rear position determined by the condition of looseness or tightness of the stack front, said carrier and feeler being mechanically interconnected, namely, by an up-extension of the carrier and an alined down-extension of the feeler the former having a front pressing spring weaker than the feeler spring, to shift in unison during return stroke whereby the feeler by its variable rear position determined by the stack condition, and its corresponding consequent frontward yield during each feed stroke, efiects a variable abridgement of the full operative throw of the pawl carrier, as permitted by the lost motion in said actuator connections; whereby with tight full stack the actuator operations are substane tially taken up within said lost-motion and the pawl carrier throw. and stack feed rate are minimum or zero, whereas with increasing stack looseness the feeler and connected carriertake. progressively further displaced positions to, bring about progressively increasing throws of carrier and pawl means, with increasing rate of stack feed, until excess looseness of stack is taken up, and vice versa.

5. A signature hopper mechanism of the kind handling edgewise stacked signatures, having at its bottom a traveling feed web for supporting andfeeding frontwardly the stack, lateral means for guiding the advancing stack, and a front abutment against which the stack may bear in position for each of the front signatures in cyclical succession and by automatic means to be detached at its edge, gripped and extracted; and characterized, in combination therewith, by means for advancing the feed web at a rate corresponding substantialiy with stack depletion, the same comprising a feed wheel having connections operative to advance the feed web, a to-and-fro movable carrier with pawl means to engage and intermittently advance the feed wheel and web to a variable extent determined by the throw of the carrier, and a driven actuator having connections to said carrier to impart successive feed strokes to bring the carrier to a constant final position in each action but with lost motion means comprising a pin and slot device in said actuator connections permitting variable return strokes and consequent variable feed strokes of the carrier; and control means for determining in each cycle the variable extent of feed wheel and web advance derived from said actuator through said lostmotion connections and carrier, comprising a first piece constituting an extension of the carrier and movable to-andfro therewith with variable throw, a shiftable feeler resiliently yieldable frontwardly and spring-pressed rearwardly to bear upon and compress a free portion of the stack front there- I by responsively to take a variable rear position determined by the condition of looseness or tightness of the stack front, and a second piece constituting an extension of the feeler and partaking of theshifting thereof to and from a variable rear position; said first piece and second piece having such cooperative action in unison that the second piece by its'variable rear position determined by the stack condition, and its corresponding consequent frontward yield during each feed stroke, eflects a variable abridgement of the full operative throw of the first piece and pawl carrier, as permitted by the lost motion in said actuator connections; whereby with tight full stack the actuator operations are substantially taken up within said lost-motion and the pawl carrier throw and stack feed rate are minimum or zero, whereas with increasing stack looseness the feeler and first piece take progressively rearward positions to bring about progressively increasing throws of carrier and pawl means, with increasing rate of stack feed, until excess ,looseness of stack is taken up, and vice versa.

6. A signature hopper mechanism of the kind handling edgsW-ise stacked signatures to be gathered, having at its bottom a traveling feed web for feeding frontwardly the stack, and adapted to receive at the rear new supplies of signatures without interrupting operation, and an upright front abutment against which the stack may bear in position for each of the front signatures to be detached, gripped and extracted; together with means for advancing the feed web at a rate corresponding substantially with stack depletion, comprising a feed wheel having connections operative to advance the feed web, a reciprocable carrier with pawl means to engage and intermittently advance the feed wheel and web to a variable extent determined by the throw of the carrier, and a cam having connections to impart successive feed strokes to bring the carrier to a constant final position in each cycle but with lost motion permitting variable return strokes and consequent variable feed strokes of the carrier; and control means for determining in each cycle the variable extent of feed wheel and web advance derived from said cam through said lost-motion connections and carrier, comprising a carrier extension piece, a shiftable feeler resiliently yieldable frontwardly and spring-pressed rearwardly to bear upon and compress a portion of the stack front thereby responsively to take a variable rear position determined by the condition of looseness or tightness of the stack front, and a feeler extension piece, said two pieces having such cooperative action that the feeler piece by the variable rear position of the feeler determined by the stack condition efiects a variable abridgement of the full operative throw of the carrier piece and carrier, as perm ted by the lost motion in said cam connections; and said interconnections between feeler and carrier comprising an extension piece of the carrier movable regularly therewith, and an extension piece of the feeler shiftable therewith, these being separate pieces arranged in mutual alinement for loose-play coaction during operation, with spring means pressing the carrier piece toward the feeler piece with less force than the pressure of the feeler upon the stack, whereby the stack condition determines the extent of idle stroke of the carrier.

'7. A signature hopper mechanism of the kind handling edgewise stacked signatures to be gathered, having at its bottom a traveling feed web for feeding frontwardly the stack, and adapted to receive new supplies at the rear, and an upright front abutment against which the stack may bear in position for each front signature to be gripped and extracted; together with means for advancing the feed web at a rate corresponding with stack depletion, comprising a feed wheel operative to advance the feed web, a reciprocable carrier with pawl means to engage and intermittently advance the feed wheel and web to a variable extent determined by the throw of the carrier, and an actuator cam having connections to impart successive feed strokes to bring the carrier to a constant final position in each cycle but with lost motion permitting variable return strokes and consequent variable feed strokes of the carrier; and control means for determining in each cycle the variable extent of feed wheel advance derived from said cam through said lost-motion connections and carrier; said control means comprising a shiftable feeler resiliently yieldable frontwardly and spring-pressed rearwardly to bear upon and compress a portion of the stack front thereby responsively to take a variable rear position determined by the condition of looseness or tightness of the stack front, an extension piece of the carrier movable regularly therewith, and an extension piece of the feeler shiftable therewith, said two pieces being separate pieces arranged in mutual alinement along their path of action thereby to undergo operative thrusting contact between them during operation; whereby the feeler piece by the variable rear position of the feeler determined by the stack condition effects a variable abridgement of the full operative throw of the carrier piece and carrier, as permitted by the lost motion in said cam connections; thereby to coordinate the feed of the web and stack with the signature depletion rate.

8. A signature hopper mechanism of the kind stated in claim 7 and wherein is spring means operative to press the carrier piece frontwardly toward the feeler piece with spring thrust less strong than that of the spring means pressing rearwardly the feeler against the stack, whereby the stack condition determines the positions of the two pieces and the extent of the idle stroke of the carrier.

9. A signature hopper mechanism of the kind handling edgewise stacked signatures to be gathered, having at its bottom a traveling feed web for feeding frontwardly the stack, and an upright front abutment against which the stack may bear in position for each front signature to be extracted; together with means for advancing the feed web at a rate corresponding substantially with stack depletion, comprising a feed wheel operative to advance the feed web, a toand-fro movable carrier with pawl means to engage and intermittently advance the feed wheel and web to a variable extent determined by the throw of the carrier, and an actuator or cam having connections to impart successive feed strokes to bring the carrier to a constant final position in each cycle but with lost motion permitting variable return strokes and consequent variable feed strokes of the carrier; and control means for determining in each cycle the variable extent of feed wheel advance derived from said actuator cam through said lost-motion connections and carrier, comprising a shiftable feeler resiliently yieldable frontwardly and spring-pressed rearwardly to bear upon and compress a portion of the stack front thereby responsively to take a variable rear position determined by the condition of looseness or tightness of the stack front; an extension piece movable with the carrier, an extension piece shiftable with the feeler, said two pieces being separate pieces arranged in alinement along their paths of action thereby to have abutting contact during each cycle; whereby the feeler piece by the variable rear position of the feeler determined by the stack condition effects a variable abridgement of the full operative throw of the carrier piece and carrier, as permitted by the lost motion in said cam connections; and one of said pieces being a trip finger, mounted on one of said members, the carrier or feeler, to shift or tilt out of alinement with the other piece on the other member to render inoperative the pawl feed of the wheel and web, and a means or spring for so shifting said trip finger when the stack is exhausted.

10. A mechanism as in claim 9 and wherein the carrier extension piece or trip finger pivoted to tilt upwardly from operative position thereby to trip the interconnections between feeler and carrier, is provided with a light spring tending to trip and tilt upwardly and trip the finger; the trip finger being so arranged beneath the front part of the signature stack that the stacked signatures present at the hopper front end normally hold down the trip finger in po- 21 sition to allow cooperation with the feeler extension piece, whereas when the stack is exhausted the finger becomes released to rise into inoperative position, and so prevent web feeding actions.

11. A signature gathering machine hopper mechanism for edgewise stacked signatures comprising a frontwardly advancing web supporting the stack and adapted to be ioaded at will at the rear, and means to advance the web and stack at an average rate corresponding with stack depletion, comprising a web feed wheel, and an oscillating carrier having feed and return strokes, with pawl means thereon to ad- Vance the wheel and web, said wheel and carrier being mounted directly beneath the front end of the stack of edgewise standing signatures, and the carrier having above its pivot an upwardly extending arm which swings frontwardly when the pawl means on the carrier swings backwardly for each feed stroke, cyclical means to advance the carrier and pawl means, to a constant back position in each web feeding stroke with lost motion therein to permit variation of stroke; and control means to vary the carrier stroke in accordance with the degree of stack looseness, comprising a stack feeler pressed resiliently against the stack front during each carrier return stroke, and connections from the feeler to the upstanding arm of the carrier adapted, by reason of the variable rear position of the feeler, to cause variable abridgement of carrier return stroke and therefore a slower average stack feed with increasing looseness of stack and vice versa.

12. A signature hopper mechanism having a frontwardly traveling feed web for edgewise stacked signatures, and means for advancing the feed web at a rate in pace with stack depletion, comprising a feed wheel, an oscillating carrier with pawl means to advance intermittently the feed wheel and web to a variable extent determined by the throw of the carrier, and an actuator with connections to impart successive feed strokes to bring the carrier to a constant advanced position in each cycle but with lost motion permitting variable return strokes and consequent variable feed strokes of the carrier; and control means for determining in each cycle the variable extent of feed wheel advance derived from said actuator through said lost-motion connections and carrier, comprising a carrier extension piece oscillating with the carrier, a shiftable feeler spring-pressed rearwardly to bear upon and compress a portion of the stack front thereby responsively to take a variable rear position determined by the condition of looseness or tightness of the stack front, said feeler having an extension piece, said two pieces being separate but in mutual alinement whereby to have cooperative action, the feeler piece by its variable rear position determined by the stack condition effecting a variable abridgement of the full operative throw of the carrier piece and carrier, as permitted by the aforesaid lost motion, the carrier extension having spring means pressing it frontward less strongly than the feeler pressure.

13. Mechanism as in claim 12 and wherein the carrier extension piece is a trip finger mounted to tilt upwardly from operative position below the stack and thereby trip the connections between feeler and carrier, with a light spring tending to trip the finger; whereby when the hopper is empty of signatures the carrier extension rises out of line with the feeler extension.

PAUL E. ICLEINEBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,489 Kleineberg et al. June 25, 1940 Re.2l,707 Davidson Feb. 4, 1941 2,336,839 Blackstone Dec. 14, 1943 2,369,914 La Bombard Feb. 20, 1945

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