US2413358A - Signature gathering machine - Google Patents

Description

1946- P. E. KLE INEBERG 2,413,358

SIGNATURE GATHERING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r INVENTOR: f 3. Wm%

' m my MMWM? Dec. 31, 1946. P. E. KLEINEBERG SIGNATURE GATHERING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 3l, 1946. P, E. KLEINEBERG SIGNATURE GATHERING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORZ 'R KWKA MEL k W M \w W W H w I I m h .I W WK m H W W M 6% W mm \WF ..l M N2 h Idili I. 0,011

SIGNATURE GATHERING MACHINE Paul E. Kleineberg, Easton, Pa., assignor to T. W. & C. B. Sheridan Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 11, 1944, Serial No. 530,451

29 Claims.

This invention relates to signature gathering machines, the purpose of which is to extract signatures from each of a series of stacks and transfer and discharge them to a traveling conveyor whereon the successive signatures are received and grouped during travel for eventual delivery as a procession of signature groups adapted to be suitably bound or stapled. In a specific aspect the invention relates to the so-called insert gathering, wherein the traveling conveyor is in the nature of a saddle, and each signature during transfer is opened for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle. The invention has reference particularly to the extracting of the signatures from each stack, their transfer from the extraction points to the discharge point, and their opening for delivery upon the saddle.

What is believed to be the nearest prior art may be recited as follows. Patent of Kleineberg et al. No. 2,163,732 granted June 27, 1939, shows an insert gathering machine wherein in the stack each signature is first gripped at one edge and partly retracted in one direction or downwardly, then separated at its other edge from the stack, gripped and extracted upwardly, by a continuously rotating drum, and transferred thence to the discharge point and there opened for deposit on the traveling saddle. While said machine affords a high speed of operation and output it possesses certain disadvantages, as recited in the specification of Kleineberg Patent No. 2,251,943, granted August 12, 1941. In said last mentioned patent each signature is gripped by a gripper on the drum and extracted completely from the stack and carried around to the transfer Point where it is released and pauses until a continuously rotating transfer member engages the pausing signature and pulls it reversely away from the drum for discharge upon the traveling conveyor. The present invention utilizes this principle but in an improved embodiment involving new and supplemental principles of operation and structure.

The principal object of the present invention is to retain the advantages of the machines of the prior patents while obviating or minimizing their disadvantages; and to provide a machine reliably operable on large or small signatures, at a satisfactory rate of output, and substantially free of separating and registering difficulties. A further object is to simplify and speed up the motions of each signature between each of the stacks and the saddle or other conveyor upon which the signatures are grouped. A further object is to provide means for opening and discharging so-called lap signatures in a rapid and reliable manner.

A special object is to overcome a drawback existing in the mechanism of said Patent No. 2,251,943 in that the transfer means thereof has an unduly low position, specifically being located under the rotating drum and thus requiring the conveyor or travelling saddle to be located much lower than the stack or supply of signatures; this being a matter of inconvenience owing to the practical desirability of arranging the stack at a convenient level above the floor for manual loading purposes and also having the conveyor at a substantially equivalent level for continued travel of the procession of gathered signature groups to the next unit of the apparatus, typically represented by a wire stitching r stapling machine for uniting each group into a pamphlet; in other words the conveyor should not be too low, whereas the stack should not be too high above the bindery floor. In said Patent No. 2,163,732 both the stack and the conveyor are at convenient levels, whereas the recited advantages secured by said Patent No. 2,251,943, including improved speed and reliability, were attained at the sacrifice of the first mentioned advantage; and the aforesaid special object of the present invention is to retain the desirable features of both. By having both the supply stacks and the outgoing conveyor at convenient levels, the human factors are materially improved, and all parts of the operations are in better situation for access and to be observed, adjusted and repaired, while the loaders may work safely from the floor in supplying the hoppers, and the stream of gathered groups issues from the gathering machine at the best elevation for undergoing the next step in the manufacture of pamphlets.

Other specific objects have to do with the manner and means of engaging and removing each paused signature from the drum, for transfer to discharge; particularly by minimizing the rubbing, during transfer, of each signature upon the next following signature, such as occurs in said Patent 2,251,943; and further by facilitating the engaging or gripping by the transfer means or cylinder of the second or tail edge of each of the successive signatures for the purpose of removing the same from the drum and transferring it away toward the discharge point. Further objects and advantages will be explained in the hereinafter following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention or will be understood by those conversant with the subject. To the attainment of such objects and advantages the present invention consists in the novel signature gathering machine, especially as to the means of extracting, transferring and opening of signatures, and the novel features of operation, combination, arrangement and structure herein illustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is what may be considered a left end elevational view of a signature gathering machine embodying the principles of the present invention, certain longitudinal members being shown in section, and the mechanism which is shown for a single stack to be understood as repeated for the several stacks of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic detached edge view of a single signature, shown conventionally as a lap signature and having its closed edge or head downward and its narrower or non-lap half rearward, as with the signatures in the stack of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a left hand elevation showing in larger scale a signature stop device not clearly seen in Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, and 6 are detail views of the transfer cylinder shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a left end elevational view of the active portion of one of such transfer cylinders, shown in a position beyond or subsequent to the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the transfer cylinder shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a left end view, like that of Fig. 4, but with the parts in a subsequent position.

Figs. 7 to are detail views of a modified form of transfer cylinder; Fig. '7 being a left elevation, Fig. 8 a front elevation, Fig. 9 a left elevation with the cylinder in a different position; said Figures 7, 8 and 9 corresponding in position with Figs. 4, 5 and 6 respectively. Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the modified cylinder in the position shown in Figs. '7 and 8.

To refer first to certain of the main mechanical parts, an important element is the extractor means adjacent to each hopper, and this comprises a continuously rotatable drum 26 with a gripper, or a set of grippers 30, operable to grip each signature S by its first or closed back edge s and pull it completely out of the stack, and thence carry it around on the drum beyond the transfer point 62 of the drum, to release it at or slightly in advance of a pausing position wherein its second, last-emerged or openable edge s occupies an accurately predetermined position near the aforesaid transfer point of the drum, the signature pausing thus while the drum and open gripper continue rotation for operation on another or the next signature. Another element is a suitable signature guide means, such as a fixed guide plate 55, or a series of idler rolls, spaced outwardly of the drum, for confining a portion of the length of each released signature adjacent to the drum while the signature is pausing briefly thereon awaiting transfer Cooperating with these elements is a continuously rotatable transfer cylinder 60 which is located adjacent to the drum and. near its transfer point, and havin a gripper B3 operable to grip each pausing signature by its accurately positioned second or openable tail edge, and pull it reversely away from its pausing position on the drum and thence around for downward discharge upon the gathering conveyor or saddle 20. The conveyor being shown of the saddle type an opening device IOU is provided having means operable to engage the outer half 8 of each signature advancing on the cylinder, to divert it away from the inner half s for opening during discharge of the signature upon the saddle. A further important element is a signature positioning means or stop member 43, cooperating with the drum and gripper, and preferably preset in a fixed position, determined in accordance with the width of signature, and comprising a notched member 43 operating to stop the first or closed edge s of each released signature at or slightly beyond the release point so that the opposite or second edge s of the signature will rest in registered position suitable for gripping and transfer with great accuracy as is necessary for performing reliably the delicate signature opening operation during transfer and discharge. Other and subordinate elements, and the general cooperation and mode of action of all elements will be herein described; and details not herein fully disclosed such as the signature stack mechanism, can be ascertained from the disclosures of said prior patents. While said prior patents each discloses broadly an extractor drum, a signature guide plate, a stop or registering member, a transfer cylinder and an opening device, the present invention involves modified elements and new relations and cooperations in a reorganized combination.

What was above described as the first or closed edge s of each extracted signature may be considered as its leading edge or head, between the extraction and transfer points; and the openable second edge 8 as the trailing edge or tail of the signature; a reversal taking place when transfer from the drum begins, the signature being engaged by its tail or trailing edge and so pulled away from the drum to the discharge upon the conveyor.

Referring to Fig. 1, the signatures S are shown stacked in edgewise posture with their closed edges 5 downward. They preferably are lap signatures and, as separately shown in Fig. 2, the narrow half s of each signature is rearward, while the wide or lap half s is frontward, with its lap or width extension 5 upstanding beyond the rear half of the signature. A lap signature may have its entire lap half wider than the other half, or only the innermost sheet thereof. When about to be opened the operation provides an angular gap or recess s between the free margins of the two halves of the signature, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9, at the openable tail edge The machine comprises a conventional frame, including the upright frame members or cross walls l0 and various extensions and brackets. At the upper rear, being the left side of Fig. 1, is shown a shelf ll upon which signature supplies may be rested awaiting introduction into the respective hoppers.

Each hopper may be of various known kinds. For example it may be arranged for the signatures to rest slantingly on their edges. The hopper may have any suitable bottom, such as one including feed belts l2, above which are side pieces or hopper walls 13, and above these other side walls [4, which may be spaced suitably to cause the bowing of the bulk of the signatures standing edgewise therebetween. At the front each hopper has an abutment or wall I5 and a similar upper abutment 16, against which the first or front signature bears.

To mention next the conveyor on which the gathered signatures are accumulated into groups, this conveyor, for an insert gatherer, is shown as preceded by a fixed upper receiver or saddle IQ for each hopper, located to receive each discharged signature before it is slid along therefrom to the main or traveling conveyor or saddle 20, the latter having lateral wings 2| which operate first to thrust each signature from the upper to the lower saddle, and then to push along each signature group resting on the main traveling saddle. Between each signature stack and the corresponding discharge point are arranged the means for detaching and then extracting each signature from its stack, transferring it to the discharg point and there opening it for discharge upon the saddle.

To assist reliable gripping and extracting, each hopper is provided with signature detachers 24 each in the conventional form of a suction cup on a swingable lever, mounted for example below the abutment [5, one at each side of each hopper, in such position as not to conflict with the rotation of the extractor to be described. Conventional driving means and connections are to be understood, and these in the case of the detacher 24 will cause the timed outswinging and return movements thereof, and the application and release of suction therefrom. The continuously rotating drums and cylinders to be described may all receive their drive from a main longitudinal shaft by suitable gearing such as that indicated in Patent No. 2,163,732, the main shaft usually making one turn per cycle or extraction. The drums and cylinders may be of skeleton structure, as usual, with spaced apart peripheral surfaces or rim parts.

For each signature stack the extractor comprises a continuously rotatable member or gripper carrier, herein termed a drum 26, the several drums being mounted on a common shaft 21. Near its periphery the drum carries a gripper seat 29, for each gripper member 30 of a set of two or more, such member being shown in the conven-- tional form of a swinging jaw or finger. In designating the gripper members 29 and 30 as a seat and a jaw, the latter being operatively movable on the drum, it is to be understood that the seat, shown as a non-swinging member, is not necessarily fixed on the drum. Instead of providing but a single gripper set on each drum 26, the plan is followed of providing a plurality of gripper sets, namely two gripper sets, oppositely located on the drum as shown, the drum for this purpose having an enlarged or double diameter and circumference and its shaft 21 being driven to make only one turn for each two complete cycles of the machine.

The continuously rotary extractor drum 26 has at least one set of movable grippers 30, the grippers or jaws of each set being mounted on a longitudinal shaft 3|, understood to be under the stress of a spring, not shown, acting to close each jaw 30 upon its seat 29 with sufficient force to grip and pull out of the hopper each signature; and the actuation may be analogous to that of the drum grippers in said Patent No. 2,163,732,

For opening the grippers 30 of each set against the resilient closing force, a pinion on the gripper shaft 3| is engaged by a segment gear 32 swinging upon a stud or axle 33 mounted on the drum; and the segment gear has mounted upon it a follower or roller 34 which, as the drum rotates, passes around the periphery of a fixed cam controllin the opening and closing. Said cam comprises a first cam part 35 and a complementary cam part 36, made separate for purposes to be described. The cam part 35 is secured permanently in a fixed position and has a slanting portion or cam drop 31 which allows the roller 34 to move inwardly, thus causing the spring-closing of the gripper 30. The gripper thus closes against its seat 29, with such timing that the detached signature lower or closed edge 8, outswung by the detacher 24, is gripped between the gripper jaw and seat as the drum carries these past the extracting position, so that the continued rotation causes the signature to be pulled out of the hopper by its first or closed edge. Subsequently the roller 34 of each gripper set travels around until reaching the slant or rise 38 of the second cam part 36, this rise thrusting outwardly the roller and thereby swingin open the gripper to release the extracted signature, near the top of the drum in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.

Thus each extractor or drum may be maintained in continuous rotation, each of its gripper sets engaging and extracting a signature, and pulling it completely out of the stack by an extracting motion which carries the signature around, first downwardly, and then around and upwardly to and beyond the transfer point of the drum, marked with a star 62, for release at the predetermined pausing position. In this position the second or openable edge of the signature occupies a predetermined transfer position relatively high at the front side of the drum as compared with prior Patent No. 2,251,943, namely, in a registered position substantially near or even slightly above the level of the rotation axis of the drum, as is the transfer point 62, for transfer in the manner to be described.

Owing to differences inv widths of signatures to be gathered it is desirable to alter the pausing position of the released signatures, and it is for this reason that the gripper cam 35, 36 is made in two parts, the part 35 being fixed including slant 31, but the part 36 being relatively adjustable, including slant 38, to change the point of gripper opening or release without changing the point of gripper closing. There is for these purposes shown a block or carrier 40 having a hub loosely surrounding the shaft 21 and formed with slots through which extend bolts 4| attaching the cam part 36 to the block. Thus the cam part 36 may be initially secured adjustably to the block 40, and thereafter the cam part 36 may be readily adjusted by swinging the block thereby to change the gripper opening or release point in each drum rotation.

The swingable block 40 has a radial arm 42 by which it may be adjusted, and this arm, be-- yond the drum periphery, has a longitudinal stud or rod 44 serving as a support for mounting a stop 43 and other parts.

A signature registering or stop member 43 formed preferably with a notch to receive the closed leading edge s of each signature, as shown enlarged in Fig. 3, is arranged in the path of the signatures advancing around the circumference of the drum, and so located that each advancing signature, immediately after its release by the gripper, caused by the slant 38 of cam part 36, comes up against the stop, and is there brought to a pause in its predetermined position as already described. The notcher stop 43 is shown mounted upon the rod or stud 44 provided in the radial extension of the swingable block 40, so that a single swinging adjustment about the drum axis simultaneously sets the stop according to the width of the signature and sets the cam to open the gripper slightly but safely before the signature reaches the stop.

For convenience of adjustment to adapt the machine to a given width of signature the block 40 and arm 42 are shown as having an extension or handle 46 readily accessible at the front of the machine. This adjustment may be made by placing a signature of the intended width in the desired position with its trailing edge at the transfer point, swinging the handle 46 to set the stop notch 43 to the signature, which at the same time properly sets the cam 36 and the release point of the gripper, and then securing the handle and block 40 in such position, as by a set screw or bolt 41 passing through the handle 46 and through the concentric slot 48 of an arouate member or segment 49. Said segment is shown mounted fixedly in position upon abutment l6 and the upper one of a pair of frame rods 50, which are longitudinal rods extending the length of the machine between two or more upper frame walls supported upon the under frame H1.

On account of the unavoidable lag between the release by the gripper of each signatur and the contact of the latter with the stop 43, an auxiliary feed device to insure that the signature will continue to travel to the stop, and remain there until transfer, is provided in the form of a small roll or idler 52 positioned adjacent to the release point. Said idler is operated to press resiliently the released signature against the drum, so that the continued rotation of the drum itself, by friction, insures the non-positive feeding of the signature to the stop. The idler roll 52 is shown carried on a spring-pressed lever 53 swingable on the stud 44 and acting to thrust the roll toward the drum.

Every signature therefore, in its extracting motion on the drum 26, is caused to travel as described, downwardly past the drum low point, and thence upwardly and around for accurate stoppage with its closed edge s in contact with the stop 43, and thus registered so that its second or openable edge assumes an exact position at the front side of the drum in Fig. 1 ready for cooperation with the transfer cylinder, The leading or closed edge s pauses at the set stop 43 while the trailing or openable edge 3 pauses at the high level transfer point 62, marked with a star whereat the transfer means comes into play to manipulate in a novel manner the trailing or tail edge and draw the signature away from the drum and pull it reversely around, tail first, upwardly, frontwardly and downwardly for dis charge.

There is shown a desirable means, in the form of a guide plate 55, for confining each released signature adjacent to the extractor drum periphery while pausing briefly between extraction and transfer operations. The guide 55 is shown as a plate or strips fixedly mounted upon brackets 56 extending rearwardly from the frame rod 56. This confiner plate -55 is spaced slightly away from the drum so that the first part of each signature may be enclosed loosely between the plate and drum, and preferably with a sufficient spacing or clearance that two signatures may pass by each other therein; in other words While one signature is being reversely drawn away by its tail or open edge from its stopped position for transfer and discharge, the next succeeding signature under extraction may be entering the space between the drum and the rest as it is pulled by the gripper toward its pausing position. The guide plate 55 however may in some cases be dispensed with as unnecessary when the transfer action is begun promptly, as herein disclosed; or the signatures may be held otherwise to the drum as by rollers or an air blast.

Referring next to the transfer member or cylinder 60 this is shown mounted by its hub 59, Fig. 5, upon a shaft 6|, which may be elongated and carry the entire series of transfer cylinders of the machine. This shaft and each cylinder 60 are arranged to rotate continuously, adjacent to the periphery of the drum 26, but, contrary to said Patent 2,251,943, the cylinder hereof is caused to rotate clockwise or oppositely to the counterclockwise rotation of the drum 26, as seen in left elevation. Also, the transfer cylinder is located horizontally adjacent to the drum, that is, with its axis at approximately thesame elevation as that of the drum. The transfer point 62 of the drum is with this invention at approximately the elevation of the two axes, and adjacent thereto the peripheries of both drum and cylinder travel upwardly with a novel coaction to be explained.

The transfer cylinder shaft 6! may be geared to the main drive shaft of the machine in such ri'ianner as for example to make one turn per-cycle, the cylinder 60 being practically of half the diameter of the drum 26, and there being suitable reduction gearing (not shown) to the drum shaft 21, so that the drum turns at only half the rotary speed of the cylinder, or one turn for each two cycles, the drum handling two signatures per turn, or one signature per cycle, and the transfer cylinder transferring away from the drum one signature per cycle. The plan of an enlarged drum handling two (or three or more) signatures per turn was disclosed in each of said prior patents, which may be referred to for a form of gearing suitable for the purpose.

The operation of the rotating transfer cylinder 60 includes the gripping of the openable edge of each released signature resting near the transfer point 62 and pulling the signature reversely, away from the drum. For this purpose there is shown a main gripper (or set of grippers) 63 mounted on a gripper rockshaft 64 and cooperating with a gripper seat 65 with which preferably cooperates also a second or lap gripper or jaw 66 shorter than the main gripper jaw 63; this gripper assembly, comprising the seat and the two gripper or jaws having herein a special arrangement and action as is illustrated and will be further described. By these means the transfer cylinder takes part both in the transfer of each signature away from the drum and in the later opening of each lap signature for its final discharge downwardly upon the conveyor or saddle. For this purpose both movable gripper jaws 63 and 66 may hold the openable edge of each signature against the seat 65, as seen in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, until, when near the delivery point, the main gripper 63 releases the non-lap half 3' of the signature, which thereupon naturally separates away from the lap s as seen in Figs. 6 and 9, forming a recess s between the two halves and permitting the Opening device I00 or its gripper jaw to enter the recess and engage the non-lap half of the signature and open it away from the lap half as the sig ature, during downward discharge, approaches the underneath conveyor or saddle.

The structural details of the transfer cylinder may be described as follows. The short or lap gripper 66 extends from a collar 6'! which is loose on the rockshaft 64 upon which the hub 68 of each main gripper 63 is secured. The actuation of the long or main gripper 63 is effected by an arm 69 extending from its hub 68. A strong spring 10 pulls constantly on the free end of the extension arm in a direction to close the gripper jaw 63. For opening the main gripper 63 against the pull of the spring 10 the arm 69 is provided with a follower or roll H, and this follower runs on the periphery of a fixed cam 12, the outline of which is seen in Figs. 1, 4 and 6. The cam has a drop or inslant a permitting the main gripper to take its closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. A later rise or outslant b causes the main gripper to retract from the seat, for example to the position shown in Fig. 6, thus to release the non-lap half s of the signature, permitting it, by the elasticity of the paper, to swing away to the position shown, separated from the lap half 3 of the signature. An additional rise or outslant c is operative to swing outwardly still further the main gripper and at the same time to cause the opening of the lap gripper, as will be described, as the signature is finally discharged for deposit upon the saddle 19; the opening device I in the meanwhile having engaged the non-lap half, separated it away from the lap half and released it with the final discharge of the signature.

For the coordinated operation of the main and lap gripper jaws 63 and 66 the following mechanism is both accurate and reliable in action and at the same time compact and simple in structure. The operative movements of both grippers are herein performed from the same fixed cam 12 through the same follower H and arm 69, by the following arrangement. A relatively light compression spring 14 is interposed between the long main gripper 53 and the short lap gripper 66, being a convenient means tending always to close the lap gripper upon the seat 65. When both grippers are closed on the seat, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, the spring 14 may become completely compressed, so that a substantially positive pressure is applied through the main gripper and the spring to the lap gripper, the two grippers thus holding the signature securely upon the seat, the follower H at this time having travelled along the drop surface a of the fixed cam. With furtherrotation of the transfer cylinder in each cycle the cam rise b takes effect through follower H to retract the main gripper 63 from the seat asshown in Fig. 6, thus releasing the non-lap half of the signature but leaving the lap gripper holding the signature lap s by the pressure of the spring 74, this condition continuing until the signature has been widely opened and is about to be discharged downwardly upon the saddle; this occurring somewhat beyond the Fig. 6 position.

At this time the second rise 0 of the fixed cam 12 comes into effect to swing away still further the main gripper 66, this further opening of the gripper erving no function but being accompanied by the cooperation of the parts to cause the swinging retraction of the lap gripper for the final complete release of the signature. This action is attained by an interconnection between the main gripper or its connected parts, the follower H and arm 69, and the lap gripper. A convenient mechanical arrangement for this purpose comprises a projection or lug 15 outstanding from the hub 68 of the main gripper and cooperating with a similar lug or projection 16 from the loose collar of the lap gripper, with a lost-motion gap between the lugs. When the main gripper has been partly swung away from its seat, as shown in Fig. 6, by the rise b of cam #2 this also brings the lugs 15 and 16 into operative contact, the lug 15 coming into abutment with the lug 16, so that during the later operation by the cam rise 0, accompanying the further retraction of the main gripper 63, the lug 1'5 thrusts upon and displaces the lug 16, thereby rocking the collar 61 of the lap gripper 66 and causing the lap gripper to swing away from its seat by a positive mechanical or cam action overcoming the closing spring 14. Thus the fixed cam 12 causes in each cycle the closing of both transfer grippers and next the retraction and opening of the main gripper and then also the lap gripper.

To facilitate the shift and control of each signature from the drum to the transfer cylinder it is desirable to provide supplementary means adapted to cause the outswinging of the positioned tail or trailing portion of the signature while momentarily at rest on the drum in order that the gripper seat of the rotating cylinder may rise and enter between the signature edge and the drum before the cylinder gripper jaw closes on the signature edge. While this might be done by a blast of air, there is shown a mechanical device to flick or flip the signature tail outwardly, that is, frontwardly, to swing across the intervening space near the transfer point 62. The signature thus takes a position, shown in Fig, 1, in which its lower portion stands out tangently from the drum periphery and its tail edge enters into an intersecting or substantially radial position within the recessed periphery of the cylinder. The cylinder seat can thus advance upwardly behind or below the outswung signature edge, and the cylinder grippers can take their gripping position against the signature edge thus engaged upon the seat.

The flippin device 80 is shown as comprising a set of fly fingers or light levers which are carried on extensions 19 of levers 18, such levers being fixed upon a rocking shaft 8| mounted on a fixed bracket 82 standing frontwardly from the hopper front abutment [5, the axis of swing of the fly fingers or flippers being preferably within the peripheral outline of the drum as shown. The fiipping device 80 is shown in Fig. 1 in its advanced or outswung position, and in dotted lines in its normal or retracted position. This swinging motion and return must take place once for each signature, and since the drum is of double size, carrying two signatures in each rotation, it is necessary to operate the flipping device twice for each turn of the drum. To efiect this operation there is shown, mounted on the rotary drum shaft 21, a cam 83 which is formed with two lobes or high parts 84 each adapted to act upon a follower 85 mounted upon the flipping device or the rockshaft 8| carrying the same.

Reviewing the general operation, each signature in turn is extracted from the stack, preferably by the carrier drum itself, and this drum carries the signature around and frontwardly from the stack to a release position wherein the closed edge of the signature is near or beyond the top of the drum, the signature being brought to a definite stopped position, pausing or restin at the front side of the drum with its trailing edge approximately at the transfer point 62. At this pausing instant the flipper device 80, having already started frontward, comes into play, swinging frontwardly the tail edge of the signature into the path of the ascending seat 65 of the rotating transfer cylinder, which, like the drum, may be of skeleton construction. This seat comes up behind the signature edge, between it and the drum, and. the main and lap grippers, by short motions wholly inside the cylinder periphery, close upon the seat thus gripping respectively the whole thickness of the signature and its lap half, as seen in Figs. 1

and 4. By the continuance of rotation the si nature is drawn by its tail edge upwardly and away with a whipping motion which strips the signature away from the drum. During this motion the signature edge becomes bent at approximately right angles, about the radial seat and the cylinder periphery, putting the material under a flexing strain, ready to spring back upon release. The signature as so gripped thereupon becomes transferred upwardly, frontwardly and downwardly by its openable edge. Slightly in advance of the opening action, the main gripper 63 is retracted by the rise b of cam I2, so that the edge of the non-lap half of the signature separates away from the other half, as in Fig. 9, in time for the opening device to engage and grip the released half. The two signature halves thereupon continue their advance downwardly while being spread apart and opened divergingly by reason of their travel upon the rotary cylinders 60 and I00. Finally the transfer and opener cylinders release entirely the signature which is thus discharged downwardly to settle or deposit upon the saddle I9.

The opening device I is shown as a rotary member or cylinder turning upon a driven shaft IOI and arranged afront the transfer cylinder, the two cylinders each making one turn per cycle, in opposite rotary directions. To engage the edge of the released half of each signature, the opener I00 is provided with a gripper or jaw I02, understood to be closed by a spring, and turning upon a pivot I03 so that the gripper or jaw may move to or from the outer surface of a gripper seat I04. These gripper motions may be effected by a gripper extension carrying a follower or roll I05 which rides upon the periphery of a fixed cam I06 having a drop or inslant I01 for causing the closing of the gripper and a rise or outslant I08 for causing the final opening of the gripper with the discharge of the signature.

To ensure continued advancing travel of each signature after it has been partially or wholly released from the transfer and opener cylinders ther may be provided an idler roll I I0 carried on a swingable arm III and bearing lightly, as by spring pressure, upon the periphery of the transfer cylinder. This roll operates to press the signature against the cylinder, producing friction and ensuring the continued travel of the signature until its discharge may be completed by momentum and gravity. On account of the recessed periphery of the cylinder, a stop [I2 is placed to prevent overswing of arm III, and a spring H3 provides light pressure holding the roll yieldingly upon the cylinder and the signature traveling therewith.

The signature gathering machine thus described is capable of high speed of output since substantially all parts between the stack and the v discharge are continuously rotary; the only ex ceptions being a few swinging parts which are light and with small motions not impairing the speed, including the signature detaching device 24, the several sets of gripper jaws and the flylevers or flipping fingers 80'. The important object of arranging the stack hoppers and the conveyor for the signature groups at convenient levels or elevations above the floor is attained because of the high elevation of the carrier drum with relation to the stacks and the arrangement of the transfer means not beneath but afront the drum with the axis thereof approximately at the axis level of the drum, so that, even with downwa d discharge following transfer there is no undue drop in signatur level, and the stacks and conveyor may be arranged with maximum convenience, which is aided by the small diameter of the transfer cylinder and the opener cylinder beyond when used. In one aspect the invention comprises the entire combination including the stack hoppers, the conveyor and the several elements between them. Certain subcombination features however have value aside from the complete combination, notably the cooperating carrier drum and transfer cylinder, their adaptation to each other, and their cooperative action, whatever be the manner of stacking of signatures, extraction of signatures from stacks or the accumulating of signature groups upon a conveyor.

In the cooperation of the carrier drum and the transfer cylinder, the latter may be described as arranged afront the former and therefore at a relatively high elevation. The drum is constructed to releas each signature at the transfer point, with its trailing or openable edge at substantially axis elevation; the transfer cylinder being constructed to engage and grip such trailing edge at this high point, drawing each signature away from the drum and thence upwardly, frontwardly and downwardly toward the discharge; the transition from drum to cylinder being assisted by a suitable means to swing outwardly the trailing edge, such as the illustrated fiy-fingers adapted to flip the signature tail edge across for engagement and forwarding by the transfer cylinder.

The described operations are possible because of various points of difference over Patent 2,251,943, e. g., that with the present invention the transfer cylinder rotates oppositely to the drum, whereby the cylinder, afront the drum, may transfer each signature with an upward, 'frontward and then downward travel, enhancing th aim of high level for the conveyor.

Another point is the herein disclosed transfer gripper construction and arrangement; the swinging grippers being small and with a short swing or shift, wholly within the peripheral contour of the cylinder and without protrusion at any time as with conventional grippers. The gripper seat is substantially radial so that the jaw comes to the seat with a motion substantially tangent, that is, about at right angles to the plane or surface of the pausing signature. This affords reliable accuracy in engaging the signature edge, especially important with lap signatures, and takes care of irregularities due to variation of signature structure or position or of gripper action, or other causes, in a way not possible with grippers that close in a direction substantially that Of the signature width or at a low incline to the seat, such as the grippers 30 of the drum 26.

By these arrangements the practice is made possible of bringing the transfer cylinder gripper seat upwardly to enter the space between the drum and the signature, ascending behind the wide or lap surface of the trailing edge of the signature, while the cooperating swinging jaw or jaws move toward the outer or non-lap face of the signature in approaching the seat; the fly-lever device or other means having cooperated by swinging outwardly the openable or trailing edge of the signature to admit the transfer gripper seat behind or below such trailing edge. It is this arrangement which permits both the transfer seat and jaw to be arranged wholly within the periphery of the cylinder, requiring only a short closing and opening motion, at about right angles to the seat and signature, as distinguished from the conventional long exterior swing of grippers overreaching the cylinder periphery in coming to seat.

These features are especially advantageous with the use of lap signatures to be opened up for discharge upon a traveling saddle, the transfer cylinder having the main or non-lap gripper and the shorter lap gripper operated cooperatively with respect to the same gripper seat. The action is reliably accurate and may even permit the use of signatures with a narrower lap, thus saving paper. The described gripper jaw movement, at substantially 90 to the seat and to the plane of the signatures is the result of the disclosed or similar mounting of the jaws, each of which is pivoted radially inward of the seat, and indeed the two jaws preferably swinging about the same axis, that of the rockshaft 64, in their closing and opening movements.

After the grippers 63 and 66 have closed upon the signature edge as shown in Fig. 1, gripping the edge against the radial seat 65, the continuing rotation of the cylinder 60 carries the gripper parts and signature edge around upwardly and frontwardly, the first effect of which is that the signature is bent sharply, or at about right angles, as its body takes its peripheral position around the cylinder, as seen in Fig. 4; and this forced temporary flexing of the signature assists in its later opening, since the release of the main gripper allows the short width of edge of the non-lap half to spring away from the seat and from the other half of the signature, thus making the extreme edge of the non-lap half especially accessible to the gripper I02 of the opener cylinder I00, during the process of separating from each other the two halves of the downwardly advancing signature, followed by the final discharge accompanied by the total release of the signature by the opening of the lap gripper 6B and the opening gripper I02, The features and mode of operation of the transfer cylinder, with its main and lap grippers, is rendered simple and practical by the disclosed plan of having the gripper opening cam 12 operate through the same follower H and lever 69 to cause first the opening of the main gripper 63 and, with continued lever throw, to move further the main gripper and to open the lap gripper, these successive actions being produced respectively by the outslants b and c of the fixed cam 12, the subsequent inslant a of which allows both grippers to be restored by spring to position for gripping the next signature.

Instead of a single fly device 80 mounted on a fixed bracket 82 as shown and worked by a rotary cam 83 on the drum shaft, the device might be mounted upon the drum itself, one set of fly fingers at each side of the drum, and these worked by a single fixed cam analogous to the drum gripper cam 35. In either case the fly device or flipper means may be soactuated by its cam as to begin the swinging of the fingers and the signature away from the drum slightly in advance of the instant that the released signature comes to a pause, so that the signature trailing edge may reach safely its outswung transfer position in time for cooperation with the gripper means on the transfer cylinder. In Fig.

1 the fly fingers 80 are shown in dotted lines in their retracted position and in full lines in their outswung position. The signature S is shown in dotted lines in its normal position upon the drum; and in full lines in its outswung position at S the result of the fly-finger action; and again in dotted lines in a further advanced position S where it lies substantially tangent to both drum and cylinder, on its way around to the opening and discharge points.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 to 10 means or cams are provided for actuating and timing independently the long or main grippers 63 and the short or lap grippers 66 These grippers are of modified structure and are carried upon a modified transfer cylinder mounted on the same longitudinal shaft 6| as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the cylinder being of open structure and having its hub 59 secured to the shaft.

Describing first the main gripper or gripper pair and the actuating connections thereof, these grippers are arranged to reach beyond the lap grippers and to swing against the full thickness of the signature S or rather of the radial portion thereof which overlies the gripper seat said seat corresponding to that of Figs. 1 to 6. Each of the pair of main grippers 63 is shown as an elongated flat bar or thick strip, the free end of which bears upon the seat 65 near the periphery of the transfer cylinder. At their other or inner ends the two main grippers are connected fast to swing with a, gripper shaft [i l which extends longitudinally through the cylinder and takes its bearing in the web portions of the cylinder. Upon each end of the gripper shaft 64* and rendered fast thereon by its hub 68* is a gripper carrying arm 69*, which is shown of bent form at its swinging end and has the main gripper attached to it. A strong spring Ill is provided tending to pull the main gripper toward its seat and thereby to pull the free end of the arm '59 toward the axis of the cylinder; this at the same time holding a cam follower H shown as a roller mounted on the arm 69 against the periphery of a fixed cam 12, shown in Figs. 8 and 10 and in dotted lines in Figs. '7 and 9.

In general, the main gripper connections thus described on Figs. '7 to 10 are analogous to those shown in Figsfl to 6, excepting that the cam actuation of the main gripper is independent of that of the lap gripper to be described, and therefore the main gripper operating cam (2 need be provided only with a rising slant to open the gripper and a dropping slant to permit its closing by the spring 10, with dwells between the slants, as shown. The timing is preferably as previously described, requiring no supplemental description.

The lap gripper 66 is in this form separately actuated and independently timed as follows. This gripper as usual consists of a pair of swingable gripper jaws 66 shown as of fiat bar or strip construction as with grippers 63 The two lap grippers are carried on a pair of levers 86 both mounted on a. short hub or sleeve 6'1 which surrounds and turns loosely on the main gripper shaft 64 In this way the shanks of both lap grippers are accommodated between the webs of the transfer cylinder. The lap grippers are shaped or bent in a flaring manner to overlie and cooperate with the respective gripper seats 65 As the main gripper 63 is actuated from a fixed cam l2 positioned exterior of the transfer cylinder at one longitudinal side, namely the righthand side, so the lap grippers may be actuated from a fixed cam 93 exterior to the cylinder webs at the opposite or left side, as best seen in Figs. 8 and 10. The cam connections to actuate the main grippers pass through the gripper shaft 64*, and since the sleeve or hub 6'! of the lap grippers turns loosely on the pp shaft I54 as a hearing it is necessary to carry the lap gripper actuating connections around or beyond the gripper shaft to reach the exterior cam 93. For this purpose each lap gripper carrying lever 86 is in reality a double arm, with the gripper attached at one arm or end, the other end being provided with a longitudinal rod 8! interconnecting the two levers 86 where they extend beyond the pivot shaft 64 This longitudinal rod 81 is shown extended leftward beyond the gripper arms and through a curved slot in the cylinder web thereby to reach an exterior point at which the control an actuation may be effected. On the projecting left end of rod 81 is shown a collar 88 to which is secured one end of an elongated tension spring 89, maintaining a stress tending to swing the gripper levers 8B and the two lap grippers toward the gripper seats, and providing the gripping force to hold the signatures. The extremity of the longitudinal rod 81 also carries one end of an exterior gripper-operating cam lever 90, which also is two-armed and pivots loosely upon the gripper shaft 64. One end of the cam lever connects with the rod 81 as stated, while the other arm carries a cam follower or roller 92 which bears upon the periphery of the fixed cam 93 which actuates the lap gripper.

The lap gripper actuating cam 93 may be simply designed with two dwells between a timed outslant or rise and an inslant or drop, so that at one part of each cycle the lap gripper is by the cam thrust away from the seat 65 and at another point is permitted to return under the pull of the restoring and holding sprin 89. The contour of the cam is seen in Figs. 7 and 9 and the parts actuated thereby are shown in two different positions, in Fig. 7 as in Fig. 1 with both grippers closed as transfer from the drum starts,

and in Fig. 9 with the main gripper retracted for signature opening purposes, to be followed by the opening action as in Fig. 6. The general cycle of operations may be as previously described. The lap gripper should take its gripping position preferably at the same time the main gripper engages each signature, as in Fig. 7, or at least the lap gripper should take its gripping position upon the signature lap before the main gripper retracts for release of the non-lap half of the signature, which occurs immediately in advance of the engagement of such non-lap half by the gripper of the opening device. The lap gripper remains in gripping position until the signature has been well opened and is about to be discharged upon the conveyor saddle, at which time both the opening gripper and the lap gripper are retracted or released for the complete discharge of the signature.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signature gathering machine of the kind wherein signatures are extracted in succession from each of a series of stacks for transfer and discharge upon an advancing gathering conveyor or saddle; in combination, afront each stack, a rotary signature-carrying drum having a gripper operable to hold each extracted signature by one edge to carry it around frontwardly and there while disposed around the upper half of the drum circumference to release it to pause with one edge positioned at a predetermined front transfer point adjacent the level of the drum axis, a stop means located to stop the released signature in such predetermined position, a rotary transfer cylinder arranged afront the drum adjacent to such transfer point and having means operable to grip each pausing signature by its positioned edge and pull it away from the drum successively upwardly and thence over and around frontwardly and downwardly and there release it for discharge upon the conveyor; and drive means for continuously rotating said drum and said cylinder in coordination.

2. A gathering machine as in claim 1 and wherein are stack hoppers in which the signatures are stacked edgewise with their leadin .edges downward; and each carrier drum is adapted to extract directly each successive signature with downward motion and thence carry it successively under and around frontwardly and upwardly to release and pausing position with its trailing edge at the transfer point; and the transfer cylinder is adapted to engage each signature by its trailing edge and draw it upwardly and frontwardly to discharge.

3. In a signature gathering machine of the kind wherein signatures are extracted in succession from each of a series of stacks for transfer and discharge upon an advancing gathering conveyor or saddle; in combination, afront each stack, a rotary signature-carrying drum having a gripper operable to hold each extracted signature by its leading edge to carry it successively under and around frontwardly and upwardly and there to release it to pause with its trailing edge positioned at a predetermined front transfer point adjacent the level of the drum axis, means to maintain the released signature insuch predetermined pausing position, a rotary transfer cylinder arranged afront the drum adjacent to such transfer point and having means operable to grip each pausing signature by its positioned trailing edge and pull it away from the drum successively upwardly and thence over and around frontwardly and downwardly and there release it for discharge upon the conveyor; and drive means for continuously rotating said drum and said cylinder in coordination in opposite rotary directions so that at said transfer point the peripheries of both travel upwardly.

4. The combination as in claim 3 and wherein is means acting upon the trailing edge or tail of each paused signature to swing or flip it frontwardly away from the drum into position to be engaged by the gripping means of the cylinder.

5. An insert gathering machine of the kind wherein lap signatures are extracted in succession from each of a series of stacks for transfer and discharge upon an advancing conveyor saddle; in combination, a continuously rotary signature carrying drum afront each stack and having a gripper operable to grip each extracted signature by one edge to carry it around frontwardly and there release it to pause with its openable edge at 'a predetermined transfer position at the drum axis level, means to register the released signature in such predetermined pausing position, a, continuously rotary transfer cylinder arranged afront the drum adjacent to such transfer position and having means operable to grip each pausing signature by its positioned openable edge and pull it away from the drum successively upwardly and thence around frontwardly and downwardly for partial and then complete release and discharge, and an opener means afront the transfer cylinder and cooperable therewith to open each discharging signature as it descends astride the conveyor saddle.

.6. In an insert signature gathering machine having a series of hoppers for containing stacks from which successive lap signatures may be extracted by their closed back edges for transfer, opening and discharge upon a saddle; a continuously rotary extractor drum adjacently afront each hopper comprising a gripper operable to grip each signature by its closed edge and to extract such signature completely from the stack and carry it around frontwardly and release it in advance of a pausing position with its openable edge near a transfer point located substantially at the drum axis level, a signature registering stop arranged in the path of the signatures advancing on the drum and located beyond the release point to stop the closed edge of each released signature thereby to register accurately the sig nature pausing on the drum so that its openable edge will occupy a predetermined position near the transfer point of the drum, a continuously rotary transfer member or cylinder located adjacently afront the drum with its axis substantially at the drum axis level, and having means to enage or grip each pausing signature by its positioned openable edge and pull it reversely away from the drum and transfer it thence frontwardly away for downward discharge, and opening means cooperating with the transfer cylinder to open each signature as it is discharged downwardly upon the saddle.

7. In a signature gathering machine of the kind described and interposed between each of the series of signature supply stacks and the advancing conveyor which receives the accumulating signature groups, the subcombination comprising: a continuously rotary drum having gripper means and operable to carry each of a succession of extracted signatures around frontwardly and there while disposed around the upper portion of the drum circumference to release the same at a predetermined pausing position with one edge at a transfer point near or above the drum axis level, means to register the released signature in such predetermined pausing position, and in front of the drum a continuously rotary transfer cylinder having gripper means and operable to engage each pausing signature by its positioned edge at such transfer point and pull it away from the drum wtih successively upward, frontward and downward travel and to release the same before final discharge.

8. A gathering machine .as in claim 7 and wherein the drum is of relatively large size with plural gripper means to carry a plurality of successive signatures on each turn, while the cylinder is relatively small with gripper means to transfer a single signature on each turn; and the cylinder is positioned adjacently afront the drum with its axis substantially at the drum axis level and well above the drum low point, whereby the cylinder discharge is at a relatively high level substantially not lower than the drum axis.

9. In a signature gathering machine of the kind described and interposed between each of the series of signature supply stacks and the advancing conveyor which receives the accumulating signature groups, the subcombination comprising: a continuously rotary drum having gripper means and operable to carry each of a succession of extracted signatures by its leading edge successively around under and frontwardly and upwardly and to release the same at a predetermined pausing position with its trailing edge at a front transfer point near the drum axis level, means to register the released signature in such predetermined pausing position, and in front of the drum a continuously rotary transfer cylinder having gripper means and operable to engage each pausing signature by its trailing edge at such transfer point and pull it away from the drum with successively upward, frontward and downward travel and to release the same before final discharge.

10. A gathering machine as in claim 7 and wherein the signature registering means associated with the carrier drum consists of a stop arranged to stop each signature by its leading edge after its release, and an idler device ensuring travel of the released signature to the stop.

11. A gathering machine as in claim 9 and wherein the signature registering means associated with the carrier drum comprises a positive stop arranged to arrest and register each signature by its leading edge after its release, thereby to position its trailing edge definitely at the transfer point for engagement and reverse travel by the transfer cylinder.

12. A gathering machine as in claim 9 and wherein the drum carries each signature upwardly with the leading edge well beyond the transfer point, and the transfer cylinder engages its lower edge and strips it from the drum; both drum and cylinder rotating upwardly at their adjacent sides near the transfer point, with drive means turning them in opposite rotary directions for such purpose.

13. A signature gathering machine as in claim 9 and wherein is a signature flipping device operable upon each signature to flip its trailing or transfer edge frontwardly from the drum to gripping position upon the cylinder.

14. In a signature gathering machine and interposed between each of the signature supply stacks and the advancing conveyor upon which are accumulated signature groups, in combination, a continuously rotary carrier drum having signature gripping means and operable to carry each of a succession of extracted signatures around frontwardly and release the same at a predetermined pausing position with one edge at a front transfer point near the drum axis level, means to register the released signature in such predetermined pausing position, and in front of the drum a continuously rotary transfer cylinder having gripper means and operable to engage each pausing signature by its positioned edge at such transfer point and pull it away from the drum with successively upward, frontward and downward travel and to release the same before final discharge, and operating intermediate the drum and cylinder a signature edge swinging means or fly finger device with timed means for operating it to flip the positioned edge of each signature across from the drum to the cylinder in position to be there gripped for transfer from the drum to discharge.

15. A signature gathering machine as in claim 14 and wherein the means to flip the signature edge from drum to cylinder comprises a set of fiy fingers mounted on a fulcrum adjacent to the drum, and the means for operating the same comprises a rotary cam turning with the drum.

16. In a signature gathering machine and interposed between each of the series of signature supply stacks and the advancing conveyor upon which are accumulated the signature groups, the subcombination comprising: a continuously rotary carrier drum having signature gripper means and operable to carry each of a succession of extracted signatures around frontwardly and there while disposed around the upper portion of the drum circumference to release the same at a predetermined pausing position with an edge at a front transfer point near the drum axis level, means to register the released signature in such predetermined pausing position, and in front of the drum a continuously rotary transfer cylinder having gripper means and operable to grip each pausing signature by its positioned edge at such transfer point and pull it away from the drum with successively upward, frontward and downward travel and to release the same before final discharge; said transfer cylinder being recessed for its gripper means and said gripper means comprising a seat and a jaw arranged within such recess without protrusion beyond the cylinder periphery, said seat being substantially radial or at a right angle to the cylinder periphery and facing upwardly as it rises in passing the transfer point, and said jaw being mounted for closing movement relatively downwardly toward the seat; whereby the seat in rising enters between the positioned lower edge of the signature and the drum before the closing of the jaw thereon.

17. A signature gathering machine a in claim 16 and wherein the cylinder jaw is swingingly mounted at a point inwards of the seat so that it extends radially when closed upon the seat.

18. A signature gathering machine as in claim 16 and wherein by the rotation of the cylinder the gripper'seat rises behind the signature edge between the pausing signature and drum, followed by the closing of the jaw upon the seat and the upward and frontward transfer of signature from the drum toward discharge.

19. A signature gathering machine as in claim 16 and wherein is a signature flipping device operable upon each pausing signature to swin its transfer edge frontwardly from the drum, timed to position such edge for the rising rotation of the cylinder seat behind the signature edge, followed by the closing of the jaw to grip such edge for transfer of the signature from drum to discharge.

20. In an insert gathering machine, and interposed between each of the lap signature supply stacks and the advancing conveyor saddle upon which are accumulated the signature groups, the subcombination comprising: a continuously rotary carrier drum having means operable to carry each of the succession of extracted signatures with its openable edge trailing around under, frontwardly and upwardly successively to release the same at a predetermined pausing position with its openable edge at a front transfer point near the drum axis level, means to register the released signature in such predetermined pausing position, and afront the drum a transfer cylinder, continuously rotary in the opposite direction to that of the drum, said transfer cylinder having gripper means operable in each cycle to grip the pausing signature by its openable edge at such transfer point and pull it away from the drum with successively upward, frontward and downward travel and to release the same before final discharge; said gripper means comprisin a seat and main and lap grippers cooperable therewith arranged for the main gripper to grip the entire thickness of the signature but the lap gripper only the lap half thereof, operating means to cause both grippers to grip the signature for stripping it from the drum and therebeyond to open the main gripper to release the non-lap half for the opening of the signature and therebeyond to open the lap gripper for complete release and discharge of the signature, and an opening device afront the transfer cylinder adapted in each cycle to engage the non-lap half released by the main gripper and swing it frontwardly away from the gripped lap half, and therebeyond to release such non-lap half for descent astride the conveyor saddle of the completely released and opened signature.

21. An insert gathering machine as in claim 20 and wherein the drum has gripper means for gripping the closed leading edge of each lap signature successively to carry the signature around under, frontwardly and upwardly to pause when released with its trailing openable edge at the front transfer point in preparation for gripping and reverse travel upon the transfer cylinder; and wherein intermediate the drum and cylinder is a timed means to flip each pausing signature openable edge across from drum to cylinder for engagement by the cylinder grippers.

22. An insert gathering machine as in claim 20 and wherein the cylinder gripper seat is substantially radial and faces in the direction of rotation and the gripper jaws are mounted to swing to the seat at substantially rightangles, whereby the seat rises behind the trailing edge of each signature before the closing of the jaws.

23. An insert gathering machine as in claim 20 and wherein the cylinder gripper seat is substantially radial and faces in the direction of rotation and the gripper jaws are mouned to swing to the seat at substantially right angles, whereby the signature edge is bent at substantially a right angle with travel beyond the transfer point thereby readily to spring back and assist opening when the main gripper is opened to release the non-lap half of the signature.

24. In a lap signature saddle gathering machine and interposed between each of the series of signature supply stacks and the advancing saddle upon which are accumulated the signature groups, the subcombination comprising: a continuously rotary carrier drum having signature gripper means and operable to carry each of a succession of lap signatures around frontwardly and there while disposed around the upper portion of the drum circumference to release the same at a predetermined pausing position with its openable edge at a front transfer point near the drum axis level, and afront the drum a continuously rotary transfer cylinder having gripper means and operable in each rotation or cycle to grip a pausing signature by its positioned openable edge at such transfer point and pull it away from the drum with successively upward, front- Ward and downward travel and with openable edge leading and to release the same before final discharge; said gripper means comprising a seat and main and lap grippers operable therewith without protrusion beyond the cylinder periphery, said seat bein substantially radial on the cylinder and facing upwardly as it rises in passing the transfer point and said grippers being mounted for closing movements substantially at a right angle to said seat and to the signature edge thereon, the main gripper being relatively long to grip the entire thickness of the signature on I the seat while the lap gripper is relatively short her with gripper, arranged afront the transfer cylinder and operable in each cycle, first to engage the non-lap half of the signature when released by the main cylinder gripper and swing it frontwardly from the lap half and, second, therebeyond to release such non-lap half for the final release and downward discharge of the opened signature.

25. A saddle gathering machine as in claim 24 and wherein is a timed means operabl between the drum and cylinder to flip each pausing signature openable edge across from drum to cylinder whereby the cylinder seat may rise beneath such edge to take part in the gripping thereof and upward, frontward and downward transfer of the signature.

26. In an insert signature gatherer a continuously rotary carrying drum for lap signatures and closely adjacent in front thereof a parallel transfer cylinder; the drum being adapted to release each signature at a predetermined si nature pausing position and having means to register the released signature in such predetermined pausing position, with its openable edge at a transfer point afront the drum, and the cylinder having gripping means consisting of main and lap grippers and seat adapted to engage and grip each pausing signature by its openable edge and transfer it around for opening and discharge; said cylinder having means to rotate it in a direction to pull the signature from the drum successively upwardly and thence over and around frontwardly and downwardly toward a front discharge point; said seat being substantially radial to the cylinder and facing in the direction of rotation and thereby adapted to enter the space between signature and drum; said grippers being mounted swingably on the cylinder at a pivot point inwards of the seat and adapted respectively to grip against the seat the entire thickness of signature and the lap half only thereof, without substantial protrusion beyond the cylinder periphery; and actuating means for said cylinder grippers timed, first, to grip the openable edge of the pausing signature upon said seat, second, therebeyond to open the main gripper and thereby release the non-lap half for the opening of the signature while the lap half remains gripped by the lap gripper, and third, therebeyond to open the lap gripper for final release of the opened signature.

27. An insert gatherer as in claim 26 and wherein the two cylinder grippers are mounted to swing about the same pivot, radially inwards of the seat, the main gripper being longer than the lap gripper thereby to reach and grip both halves upon the seat while the lap gripper grips onl the extreme edge or lap half of the signature.

28. An insert gatherer as in claim 26 and wherein the gripper actuating means comprises a cam and follower operated in time with the cylinder rotation the cam being of contour first to open the main gripper to release the non-lap half of the signature, and therebeyond through a lost-motion device to open the lap gripper to release the lap half of the signature.

29. An insert gatherer as in claim 26 and wherein the gripper actuating means comprises a cam and follower operated in time with the cylinder rotation the cam being of contour first to open the main gripper to release the non-lap half of the signature, and therebeyond through a lost-motion device to open the lap gripper to release the lap half of the signature; with a strong spring opposing the cam and acting to close both grippers and a light spring acting to close the lap gripper when the main gripper is open.

PAUL E. KLEINEBERG.

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