US3269720A

US3269720A - Method and apparatus for adding inserts to folded sheets

Info

Publication number: US3269720A
Application number: US418941A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schluckebier Wilhelm; Heimlicher Paul
Original assignee: Winkler Fallert and Co AG
Current assignee: Winkler Fallert and Co AG
Priority date: 1963-11-20
Filing date: 1964-11-20
Publication date: 1966-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-30
Also published as: GB1087853A; CH419191A

Description

Aug. 30, 1966 w, SCHLUCKEBIER ET AL 3,269,720

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDING INSERTS TO FOLDED SHEETS Filed Nov. 20, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \IHLHELH SCHLULKEB/ER PAUL HEIMLICHER MMWWMZM Aug. 30, 1966 w SCHLUCKEBlER ETAL 3,269,720

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDING INSERTS TO FOLDED SHEETS Filed NOV. 20, 1964 D 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H 4 mg 17 B 54 3) 77d agxi 54 2 Fig. 7

m 26 261; m VENTORS WILHELN SCHLUEKEB/ER PH L HEIMLICHER p7 WWW HAW/WW p 3,269,720- lce Patented August 30, 1966 3,269,720 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDING INSERTS T FOLDED SHEETS Wilhelm Schlncltebier, Koblenz, Germany, and Paul Heimlicher, Bollingen, Switzerland, assignors to Winkler, Fallert & (30., Ltd., Bern, Switzerland Filed Nov. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 418,941 Claims priority, application Sweden, Nov. 20, 1963, 12,828/ 63 Claims. (Cl. 27057) This invention relates in general to an apparatus and method for adding sheet materials or supplements to folded sheet elements such as newspapers, and in particular to a new and useful apparatus and method for separating a series of overlapped folded sheet elements such as newspapers and to move them through a feed path at which the folded sheet elements are opened for receiving inserts or supplements which are fed from fixed stacks of such supplements, and for thereafter delivering the complete interleaved article to a delivery mechanism for arranging in stacks.

The inventive apparatus and method are particularly applicable for the insertion of supplements into newspapers. Rotary presses which are used for printing daily newspapers are not particularly Well used when they are modified for printing additional supplements which are usually included in such newspapers over the weekends. For this reason it has been a practice to print the supplement parts which need not be up to date in a pre-run and to insert the supplements into the newspaper which is printed on the date on which it is to be circulated. At the present time the insertion of the supplements must be done by hand because of the lack of a suitable machine for effecting the same. In the case of additions which include a circulation of several hundred thousands of copies, a considerable staff will be required to effect the insertions and a considerable amount of plant space must be set apart for effecting such insertions, and this adds materially to the cost of production of the newspaper.

Some inserting machines have been built where both the copies to be inserted and the up-to-date .parts of the newspaper must be arranged or layed up in stacks. However, because it is necessary to charge two stacks per machine, the cost of personnel, in particular for heavy products, is almost as great as for manual insertion. One reason is that the capacity of such inserting machines is only one half to one third to that of a rotary press, and therefore the respective supervising personnel must be present.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a machine for operating on the newspapers which are being delivered off a rotary press in the usual folded sheet form to effect separation of the sheets, the opening thereof, and the dropping of an insert therein. The machine advantageously operates synchronously with the rotary press and the inserts are supplied for insertion between the sheets from one or more fixed stacks thereof. In accordance with the preferred apparatus and method, the folded sheets of newspaper are opened synchronously with the operation of the rotary press on a partial work section having an area of one paper length. They are opened for receiving the insert and they are operated upon subsequently for closing the sheets on a similar partial work section of more than one paper length.

In a preferred arrangement, the apparatus includes a pair of pull-out or acceleration rollers which are capable of pulling one sheet of a folded newspaper out from a continuous overlapped series thereof and for advancing the sheet into association with means for opening the sheet to a fully opened position and advancing the sheet, while open, to a location at which it is below means for delivering a supplement between the sheets. A feed-off mechanism comprising a pair of parallel screw conveyor elements having threads which form openings laterally therebetween is arranged to receive the folded newspapers, with the assembled inserts, between opposed pairs of such threads. The feed-off mechanism includes means for rotating the screw thread elements to advance the newspapers into a collection stack. Means are provided for moving a predetermined number of such newspapers away from the device.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for separating the leaves or folds of the folded sheets of newspapers for receiving inserts includes a rotatable drum which carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced combination stop and gripping elements against respective ones of which each newspaper is fed. The drum includes cooperative elements arranged adjacent each stop including a pivotal gripper member which is adapted to lift a folded leaf of the newspaper upwardly from the drum and to open the leaves directly below means for delivering an insert downwardly therein. The combination gripping and stopping elements are then effective to close the leaves over the inserts and to deposit the sheets with the inserts therein onto a delivery mechanism. The delivery mechanism, in turn, is operated to arrange the sheets in stacks of a selected number.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved device for inserting supplements into folded sheet elements, such as newspapers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of inserting supplements into newspapers comprising separating newspapers which are fed olf a rotary press into individual sheets, transporting the individual sheets through a feedpath at which the sheets are opened while delivering an insert downwardly between the sheets and thereafter closing the sheets and thereafter feeding the closed sheets into a stack.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sheet material feeding device including a pair of laterally spaced screw thread elements having screw threads which are aligned to define openings therebetween for receiving sheet materials between the openings, with means for rotating the threads for progressing the sheets in an axial direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide means including a screw thread for delivering newspapers along a prescribed feed path and further including combining means movable behind sheets which are advanced after a selected number of sheets is accumulated to separate the selected sheets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for use with a continuously operating machine such as a rotary press for engaging and separating an end sheet of a plurality of overlapped sheets of folded elements, such as newspapers, and delivering the engaged sheets through a feed path at which the sheets are separated by suction gripper elements and held open by an insertable tongue element with means for feeding supplements from a fixed stack of supplements directly between the open sheets, and for thereafter closing the sheets and delivering them off in another feed path.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device for inserting supplements into newspapers and the like which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of a machine for inserting supplements into folded articles such as newspapers constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view of a machine similar to FIG. 1 but indicating a different delivery mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan View;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view;

FIG. 5 is a partial transverse sectional view through the carrying drum of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 indicating the apparatus in an advanced operational condition; and

FIG. 7 is a partial top plan view of the delivery mechanism.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein, as indicated particularly in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7, includes a supplement inserting mechanism generally designated A for use in association with a discharge feed or conveyor 1 of a rotary printing press generally designated B. Newspapers 2 in their usual folded condition are delivered from the rotary press B off the conveyor 1 between pairs of pressing rollers 3 and are carried on a belt 6 which is trained to run over the lowermost roller 3 and guide rollers 5, 5. The belt 6 is directed between the nip of acceleration or pick-off rollers 4, 4 which operate on the foremost sheet 2 to move it rapidly out of association with the remaining sheets in the series. The separated sheet 2' is thereafter directed, on the belt 6, under a roller 7 and the forward folded edge 2a is delivered upwardly against a combination stop and gripper member 8 carried on a large rotary drum 9.

In accordance with the invention, the rotary drum 9 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced stop and gripper members 8, each of which includes a stop portion 8' which projects radially outwardly from the surface of the drum 9, and an angle or gripper portion 10 which is adapted to overlie the forward margin of the folded sheets 2 adjacent the folded edge 2a. Means (not shown) are provided to rotate a shaft member 50 carrying the angled member or gripper 10 to cause the forward end thereof to move downwardly against the edge of the folded sheet 2 and to hold it onto the surface of the drum 9 for transportation thereon as the drum is rotated.

Associated with each combination stop and gripper member 8 are lever members 14 carrying grippers or suction elements 13 at their outer ends which are adapted to engage the tops of the folded sheets 2 adjacent the open ends 2b thereof. The grippers 13 advantageously include a plurality of openings therein which communicate through ports 13a defined within the suction member and the lever member 14 which communicate through a source of vacuum (not shown). The lever members 14 are rotatable on individual shaft elements 16 which are journalled in an end or recess of the drum 9 and are urged downwardly in a direction toward the center of the drum 9 by means of a torsion spring which is positioned around an intermediate portion of the lever 14. An abutment or stop (not shown) is provided to prevent the movement of the lever 14 downwardly beyond a certain position. Means (not shown) are connected to each of the levers to cause the oscillation or pivotal movement of the levers through the completecycle indicated in FIG. 1 during the rotation of the drum 9.

The folded sheets 2 are opened by the engagement of the grippers 13 with the foremost edge of the folded sheets to cause the sheets to separate or open at the location 2b. When this is done, a holding or insertion element 17 is moved laterally into the opening defined between the raised sheet or leaf and the remaining portion of the sheet 2. The insertion member 17 includes a hub portion 17a which is rotatable on a shaft or axle which is journalled in the drum 9. The insertion member 17 is actuated by a cam '52 operating on a follower 19 to shift the insertion member 17 axially along the shaft 18 and to cause an outer end 17b thereof to be positioned between the opened sheets 2. The shaft 18 is rotated cyclically in response to movement of a follower 20 on a cam 54, in order to bring the insertion member 17 against the uppermost sheet to hold the sheets in a fully opened position at a location to receive an insert or a supplement.

Separate stacks of inserts or

supplements

21 and 22 are arranged above respective conveyors generally designated 56 and 58 which may, for example, include an endless belt conveyor 5811 having an endless belt trainedv to run in close proximity to an endless belt roller 58b. Supplements 21' and 22' are dropped onto a moving conveyor 23 preferably in a manner that they become superposed in a vertical stack and the resultant stack is fed between an endless belt conveyor 23 and an endless belt conveyor 24 in a direction downwardly into the open mouth formed by the separated sheets 22 at the end 2b. Thereupon, the grippers effect closing of the open copy 25 with the supplements therein and the complete assembly is moved downwardly to cause the lowermost folded edge 2a to be directed between aligned threads 26 of a pair of laterally spaced

screw conveyors

26a and 26b of a delivery mechanism generally designated 11. The delivery mechanism 11 also advantageously includes a table or support 28 which extends obliquely upwardly at the same angle as the axis of the

shafts

26a and 26b and forms a support for the lowermost edge 2a of the folded newspapers 2. Means, such as a motor 60, is arranged to rotate the

shafts

26a and 26b in timed relationship to the drum 9 to advance the sheets with the inserts 25 upwardly along the support 28. Means such as an eccentric driving mechanism 62 is provided for vibrating the support 28 to facilitate the feeding of the materials and the proper alignment of the inserts within the folded sheets 2. When the screw threads 26 are rotated, the completely assembled newspaper 27 is advanced upwardly along the support 28 and they accumulate in stacks 29 at the forward ends of the conveyor. The delivery mechanism 11 advantageously includes means for sectioning off the assembled newspapers 27 into stacks 29 of a selected number which includes a divider mechanism comprising an endless chain conveyor 31 trained to run around guide rollers 64, 64 (only two of which are indicated). The divider mechanism includes means defining spaced oblique slots 32 and 33 in which end pieces 66, 66 of a divider member 30 are respectively confined. The divider member 30 includes an upright portion 68 which is perpendicular to a base portion 70 which carries the end pieces 66, 66. When the endless chain 31 is moved, the divider member 30 moves behind an accumulated stack of newspapers and it pushes them upwardly along the inclined support 28. Slots 33 and 32 merge into a common oblique slot 72 which extends parallel to the surface of the support 28. The chain conveyor 31 is timed so that the dividers will i be moved behind the newspapers after a given number has accumulated in front of the delivery mechanism 11 so that the newspapers will be grouped in bundles of uniform numbers of newspapers.

In place of the delivery mechanism 11 it is sometimes preferable to use a well known delivery mechanism generally designated 12 in association with a drum 9' which is identical with the drum 9 of the embodiment of FIG. 1. When the delivery mechanism 12 is employed, the newspapers are deposited as complete assemblies 27 onto a conveyor 74 with the respective newspapers being arranged in an overlapped manner.

It should be appreciated that in some instances the drum 9 may be replaced by a conveyor such as a chain conveyor having the associated stop and suction gripper members. The mechanism in such instance would operate in the same manner.

With'the inventive device and mechanism it is only necessary to manually transfer the supplements by hand. In order that the rotary press be fully utilized, it is sometimes advantageous to provide folding machines with double delivery. In such instance two folding devices, each with half the capacity of the rotary press, are employed. In addition, three or more fold deliveries are conceivable with corresponding multiplication of the insertion devices. The same machine may be used for delivering newspapers without supplements, in which event the operating mechanism for the suction elements or grippers and insertion members are discontinued.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied other-wise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of adding inserts, supplements and the like to folded sheets, such as newspapers, having a folded edge and an opposite open edge from a series of overlapped sheets of newspapers, using an endless conveyor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced stops and grippers comprising separating each folded sheet in succession from the series and feeding the folded end of each sheet in succession against a respective stop, gripping the folded edge of each folded sheet and moving it through a first feed path in a substantially vertical plane, opening the folded sheet by gripping one of the outer ends remote from the folded edge and by moving it away from the feed path as the folded sheet is being fed by the conveyor through a substantially vertical orbit, advancing an insert through a second feed path to intercept the first feed path from a location above the opened folded sheet as the sheet is being moved downwardly, dropping an insert into the opened folded sheet, and closing the folded sheet over the insert.

2. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to folded sheets such as folded sheets of newspapers having a folded edge and an opposite open edge, comprising a first endless conveyor for moving said folded sheets through a first feed path extending through a vertical plane, a plurality of spaced sheet supporting and gripping elements on said first endless conveyor each including front edge aligning means for positioning a folded front edge of a folded sheet, means for feeding a series of sheets so that the folded edge of each sheet is delivered against the front aligning means, means on said first endless conveyor for gripping one of the unfolded edges of said sheets and for moving the edge outwardly away from said conveyor to open said sheets as said sheets are being moved by said conveyor, a second conveyor for moving inserts through a second path to intercept said first feed path at a location above said first feed path for depositing inserts into the openings formed by said folded sheets, said means on said first endless conveyor for gripping said sheets to open said sheets being effective to close said sheets after the inserts are positioned therein, and a delivery conveyor disposed adjacent said first conveyor in a position to receive each folded sheet with an insert from said first conveyor, said gripping elements on said first endless conveyor being elfective to release said folded sheet with the insert therein onto said delivery conveyor.

3. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to folded sheets such as folded sheets of newspapers having a folded edge and an opposite open edge, comprising a first endless conveyor for moving said folded sheets through a first feed path extending through a vertical plane, a plurality of spaced sheet supporting and gripping elements on said first endless conveyor each including front edge aligning means for positioning a folded front edge of a folded sheet, means for feeding a series of sheets so that the folded edge of each sheet is delivered against the front aligning means, means on said first endless conveyor for gripping one of the unfolded edges of said sheets and for moving the edge outwardly away from said conveyor to open said sheets as said sheets are being moved by said conveyor, a second conveyor for moving inserts through a second path to intercept said first feed path at a location above said first feed path for depositing inserts into the openings formed by said folded sheets, said means on said first endless conveyor being effective to close said sheets after the inserts are positioned therein, and a delivery conveyor disposed adjacent said first conveyor in a position to receive each folded sheetwith an insert from said first conveyor, said gripping elements on said first endless conveyor being effective to release said folded sheets with the inserts therein onto said delivery conveyor, said delivery conveyor comprising first and second rotary screw thread conveyors with their axes disposed in spaced parallel relationship and having screw threads aligned and defining openings therebetween for receiving each folded sheet with an insert therein from said first conveyor.

4. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to folded sheets such as folded sheets of news papers having a folded edge and an opposite open edge, comprising a first endless conveyor for moving said folded sheets through a first feed path extending through a vertical plane, a plurality of spaced sheet supporting and gripping elements on said first endless conveyor each including front edge aligning means for positioning a folded front edge of a folded sheet, means for feeding a series of sheets so that the folded edge of each sheet is delivered against the front aligning means, means on said first endless conveyor for gripping one of the unfolded edges of said sheets and for moving the edge outwardly away from said conveyor to open said sheets as said sheets are being moved by said conveyor, a second conveyor for :moving inserts through a second path to intercept said first feed path at a location above said first feed path for depositing inserts into the openings formed by said folded sheets, said means on said endless conveyor being effective to close said sheets after the inserts are positioned therein, and a delivery conveyor disposed adjacent said first conveyor in a position to receive each folded sheet with an insert from said first conveyor, said gripping element on said first endless conveyor being effective to release said folded sheets with the inserts therein onto said delivery conveyor, said delivery conveyor comprising first and second rotary screw thread conveyors with their axes disposed in spaced parallel realtionship and having screw threads aligned and defining openings therebetween for receiving each folded sheet with an insert therein from said first conveyor, an oblique supporting wall below said screw thread conveyors for supporting the lowermost folded edge of said folded sheets with the inserts therein, means for vibrating said supporting wall as said screw conveyors are moved, and means for rotating said screw conveyors to advance said sheets along said oblique wall.

5. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to folded sheets such as folded sheets of newspapers having a folded edge and an opposite open edge, comprising a first endless conveyor for moving said folded sheets through a first substantially vertical plane feed path, a plurality of spaced sheet supporting and gripping elements on said first endless conveyor each including front edge aligning means for positioning a folded front edge of a folded sheet, means for feeding a series of sheets so that the folded edge of each sheet is delivered against the front aligning means, means on said first end less conveyor for gripping one of the unfolded edges of said sheets and for moving said sheets outwardly away from said first endless conveyor to open said sheets as said sheets are 'being moved by said first endless conveyor, a second conveyor for moving inserts through a second path to intercept said first feed path at a location above said first feed path for depositing inserts into the openings formed by said folded sheets, said means on said conveyors being effective to close said sheets after the inserts are positioned therein, and a delivery conveyor disposed adjacent said first conveyor in a position to receive each folded sheet with an insert from said first conveyor, said gripping element on said first conveyor being effective to release said folded sheets with the inserts therein onto said delivery conveyor, said delivery conveyor including first and second rotary screw thread conveyors with their axes disposed in spaced parallel relationship and having screw threads aligned and defining openings therebetween for receiving each folded sheet with an insert therein from said first conveyor, and a sectioning mechanism associated with said delivering mechanism including a member movable behind accumulated stacks of folded sheets with inserts therein which are fed by said delivery conveyor at predetermined intervals in order to collect a predetermined number of such sheets and move them off.

6. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to folded sheets such as folded sheets of newspapers having a folded edge and an opposite open edge, comprising a first conveyor for moving said folded sheets through a first feed path extending through a vertical plane, a plurality of spaced sheet supporting and gripping elements on said first endless conveyor each including front edge aligning means for positioning a folded front edge of a folded sheet, means for feeding a series of sheets so that the folded edge of each sheet is delivered against the front aligning means, means on said first endless conveyor for gripping one of the unfolded edges of said sheets and for moving the edge outwardly away from said conveyor to open said sheets as said sheets are being moved by said conveyor, a second conveyor for moving inserts through a second path to intercept said first feed path at a location above said first feed path for depositing inserts into the openings formed by said folded sheets, said means on said conveyors for gripping elements to open said sheets being movable to close said sheets after the inserts are positioned therein, and an insertion member associated with each of said gripping elements and being movable between the opened sheets which are opened by said gripping elements to hold said sheets in an opened position while the inserts are deposited therebetween.

7. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to folded sheets such as newspapers having a folded edge and an open edge from a series of fed overlapped sheets thereof, comprising means engagea'ble with each sheet in succession for feeding said sheets outwardly away from the series of overlapped sheets, a rotary drum, a plurality of combination stop and gripper members carried by said drum at spaced locations around the periphery thereof, said drum being rotated adjacent said means for feeding the sheets from the overlapped sheets thereof, whereby each sheet in succession is fed against a respective stopping gripper member of said drum, said combination stop and gripper member being effective to engage the forward folded edge of said sheets, gripper means carried by said drum adjacent each of said combination stop and gripper members including a lever having suction means thereon engageable with the outer surface of each of said folded sheets to move said sheets away from said drum to open the folded edge of said sheets, an insertion member carried by said drum adjacent each of said gripper members and adapted to be movable between the open sheets when they are opened by said gripper members, a conveyor located above said drum for conveying insert material downwardly toward said drum adjacent one side thereof, said folded sheets being movable around during rotation of said drum to position a fully opened sheet below the inserts in a position to receive said inserts from said conveyor as said drum is rotated, a delivery mechanism disposed adjacent said drum below the side thereof where said folded sheet receives the insert, said delivery mechanism including an inclined supporting wall, a pair of screw threaded members rotatably mounted above said supporting wall and having screw threads with aligned openings between which the folded sheets with the inserts therein are adapted to be received, said gripper means on said drum being adapted to close said folded sheets and said combination gripper and stop means being adapted to release the sheets onto said delivery mechanism within the screw threads, said screw threads being rotatable to advance said sheets along said oblique supporting walls.

8. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to folded sheets such as newspapers having a folded edge and an open edge from a series of fed overlapped sheets thereof, comprising means engageable with each sheet in succession for feeding said sheets outwardly away from the series of overlapped sheets, a rotary drum,

a plurality of combination stop and gripper members carried by said drum at spaced locations around the periphery thereof, said drum being rotated adjacent said means for feeding the sheets from the overlapped sheets thereof, whereby each sheet in succession is fed against a respective stopping gripper member of said drum, said gripper member being effective to engage the forward folded edge of said sheets, gripper means carried by said drum adjacent each of said combination stop and gripper members including a lever having means thereon engageable with the outer surface of each of said folded sheets to move said sheets away from said drum to open the folded edge of said sheets, an insertion member carried by said drum adjacent each of said gripper members and adapted to be movable between the open sheets when they are open, a conveyor located above said drum for conveying insert material downwardly toward said drum adjacent one side thereof, said folded sheets being movable around during rotation of said drum to position a fully opened sheet below the inserts in a position to receive said inserts as said drum is rotated, a delivery mechanism disposed adjacent said drum below each side thereof where said folded sheet receives the insert, said delivery mechanism including an inclined supporting wall, a pair of screw thread members rotatably mounted above said supporting wall and having screw threads with aligned openings between which the folded sheets with the inserts therein are adapted to be received, said gripper means on said drum being adapted to close said folded sheets and said combination gripper and stop means being adapted to release the sheets onto said delivery mechanism within the screw threads, said screw threads being rotatable to advance said sheets along said oblique supporting walls, and a sectioning mechanism including an endless chain conveyor having an upper reach running substantially parallel to said oblique supporting wall, a sectioning member carried by said endless chain including a substantially fiat base portion having ends with follower elements thereon and a central sectioning member extending substantially perpendicular to said base portion, the ends of said follower member substantially perpendicular to said oblique supporting Wall and behind each accumulated number of folded sheets for moving the predetermined number along said oblique wall.

9. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to folding sheets such as newspapers having a folded edge and an open edge, comprising an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of spaced sheet supporting and gripping elements, said elements being carried in an orbit which is substantially vertically arranged, said gripping elements each comprising front edge aligning means for positioning a folded front edge of a folded sheet, means for feeding a folded edge of a series of sheets in succession against the respective aligning means, said gripper elements further including a pivotal means for clamping said sheets on said endless conveyor, each of said supporting elements comprising openable means for separating the unclamped ends of said sheets and maintaining them in open condition, means cooperating with said elements when the clamped edge of the sheets are being moved downwardly to feed an insert into each open sheet, and means for depositing said sheets after the insert has been positioned therein.

10. An apparatus for adding inserts, supplements and the like to folding sheets such as newspapers having a folded edge and an open edge, comprising an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of spaced sheet supporting and gripping elements, said elements being carried in an orbit which is substantially vertically arranged, said gripping elements each comprising front edge aligning means for positioning a folded front edge of a folded sheet, means for feeding a folded edge of a series of sheets in succession against the respective aligning means, said gripper elements further including a pivotal means for clamping said sheets on said endless conveyor, each of said supporting elements comprising openable means for separating the unclamped ends of said sheets and maintaining them in open condition, means cooperating with said elements when the clamped edge of the sheets are being moved downwardly to feed an insert into each open sheet, and means for depositing said sheets after 10 the insert has been positioned therein a device for feeding a series of overlapped sheets, and means associated with said device for separating each sheet in succession from the series of overlapped sheets and delivering it to said first endless conveyor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 729,580 6/ 1903 Hartmann 198-104 849,122 4/ 1907 George 198-104 2,568,604 9/1951 Bechberger 27054 3,122,362 2/ 1964 Vollrath et a1 27057 3,162,434 12/1964 Hepp 27057 FOREIGN PATENTS 262,887 7/ 1913 Germany.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

N. M. ELLISON, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A METHOD OF ADDING INSERTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND THE LIKE TO FOLDED SHEETS, SUCH AS NEWSPAPERS, HAVING A FOLDED EDGE AND AN OPPOSITE OPEN EDGE FROM A SERIES OF OVERLAPPED SHEETS OF NEWSPAPERS, USING AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR HAVING A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED STOPS AND GRIPPERS COMPRISING SEPARATING EACH FOLDED SHEET IN SUCCESSION FROM THE SERIES AND FEEDING THE FOLDED END OF EACH SHEET IN SUCCESSION AGAINST A RESPECTIVE STOP, GRIPPING THE FOLDED EDGE OF EACH FOLDED SHEET AND MOVING IT THROUGH A FIRST FEED PATH IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PLANE, OPENING THE FOLDED SHEET BY GRIPPING ONE OF THE OUTER END REMOTE FORM THE FOLDED EDGE AND BY MOVING IT AWAY FROM THE FEED PATH AS THE FOLDED SHEET IS BEING FED BY THE CONVEYOR THROUGH A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL ORBIT, ADVANCING AN INSERT THROUGH A SSECOND FEED PATH TO INTERCEPT THE FIRST FEED PATH FROM A LOCATION ABOVE THE OPENED FOLDED SHEET AS THE SHEET IS BEING MOVED DOWNWARDLY, DROPPING AN INSERT INTO THE OPENED FOLDED SHEET, AND CLOSING THE FOLDED SHEET OVER THE INSERT.

9. AN APPARATUS FOR ADDING INSERTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND THE LIKE TO FOLDING SHEETS SUCH AS NEWSPAPERS HAVING A FOLDED EDGE AND AN OPEN EDGE, COMPRISING AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR CARRYING A PLURALITY OF SPACED SHEET SUPPORTING AND GRIPPING ELEMENTS, SAID ELEMENTS BEING CARRIED IN AN ORBIT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY ARRANGED, SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS EACH COMPRISING FRONT EDGE ALIGNING MEANS FOR POSITIONING A FOLDED FRONT EDGE ALIGNING SHEET, MEANS FOR FEEDING A FOLDED EDGE OF A SERIES OF SHEETS IN SUCCESSION AGAINST THE RESPECTIVE ALIGNING MEANS, SAID GRIPPER ELEMENTS FURTHER INCLUDING A PIVOTAL MEANS FOR CLAMPING SAID SHEETS ON SAID ENDLESS CONVEYOR, EACH OF SAID SUPPORTING ELEMENTS COMPRISING OPENABLE MEANS FOR SEPARATING THE UNCLAMPED ENDS OF SAID SHEETS AND MAINTAINING THEM IN OPEN CONDITION, MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID ELEMENTS WHEN THE CLAMPED EDGE OF THE SHEETS ARE BEING MOVED DOWNWARDLY TO FEED AN INSERT INTO EACH OPEN SHEET, AND MEANS FOR DEPOSITING SAID SHEETS AFTER THE INSERT HAS BEEN POSITIONED THEREIN.