US3638936A

US3638936A - Method for separating a bundle of plural sheets

Info

Publication number: US3638936A
Application number: US75099A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles H Hart; George R Cashau
Original assignee: American Newspaper Publishers Association Inc
Current assignee: AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE Inc; American Newspaper Publishers Association Inc
Priority date: 1970-09-24
Filing date: 1970-09-24
Publication date: 1972-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-01

Abstract

Method of separating a bundle of plural sheets of material, such as a folded newspaper, including lineally advancing the bundle in a vertical plane, rotatably grabbing the bottom edges of said bundle during said advancing, and pointedly probing the leading edge of said bundle at the top during said advancing so as to separate said sheets laterally from said vertical plane. The method is particularly adapted to separating a printed newspaper prior to stuffing with inserts such as a TV guide, classified advertising, book review supplements, and the like.

Description

United States Patent Hart et al.

[54] METHOD FOR SEPARATING A BUNDLE OF PLURAL SHEETS [72] Inventors: Charles H. Hart, Nazareth, Par; George R. Cashau, Philipsburg, NJ.

[73] Assignee: American Newspaper Publishers Association Research Institute, Incorporated, Easton, Pa.

[22] Filed: Sept. 24, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 75,099

[52] US. Cl ..270/57 [51] Int. Cl ..B65h 5/30 [58] Field of Search ..270/55, 57,54

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 408,095 7/1889 Fowler et al ..270/41 881,305 3/1908 Curry et al ....270/57 1,616,061 2/1927 Nelson ....270/57 1,845,412 2/1932 Hathaway ....270/55 1 Feb. 1,1972

1,883,307 l0/l932 Livingston et al. ..270/55 3,052,463 9/1962 Snyder ..270/57 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 358,444 l/l962 Sweden ..270/57 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-L. R. Oremland Att0rneyDavid H. Semmes [5 7] ABSTRACT Method of separating a bundle of plural sheets of material, such as a folded newspaper, including lineally advancing the bundle in a vertical plane, rotatably grabbing the bottom edges of said bundle during said advancing, and pointedly probing the leading edge of said bundle at the top during said advancing so as to separate said sheets laterally from said vertical plane.

The method is particularly adapted to separating a printed newspaper prior to stuffing with inserts such as a TV guide, classified advertising, book review supplements, and the like.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEBFEB H972 3,638,936

SHEET 18F 41 IO WM// Mi l: 2

I A. LINEALLY ADVANCING A FOLDED NEWSPAPER i 2 l6 2 Z'T: mmmmgq f 1 11 j! 11 11 11 G B. ROTATABLY GRABBING THE BOTTOM EDGE WHILE ADVANCING IO I4 M 8 2 E 5 Y 3 I 2 6 l2 L 4: 4J4? g1 11 11 11 u 11- c- POINTEDLY PROBING MEMO THE LEADING EDGE CHARLES H. HART GEORGE R. CASHAU ATTORNEY PATENTED FEB -1 m7? 3.638.936

sun-:1 3 HF FIG. 4

INV ENTORS CHARLES H. HART GEORGE R. CASHAU ATTORNEY PAIENIEDFEh 1m 3.638.936 SHEET BF 4 mFLmmFL 2 INVENTOIS CHARLES H. HART GEORGE R. CASHAU M mm,

IIO

ATTORNEY v METHOD FOR SEPARATING A BUNDLE F PLURAL SHEETS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention In the newspaper industry, increased attention is being given to methods for stuffing the printed newspaper with inserts, such as classified advertising, TV guides, or other feature supplements. Conventionally, one to four inserts may accompany the daily and Sunday editions. The recent increase in post office bulk mailing rates has contributed to the popularity Fowler and Henkle 408,095 Curry and Linn 88l,30$ Nelson l,6l6,06l Hathaway |,845,4l2 Livingston, et al. l,fl83,307 Snyder 3,052,463

These references disclose separating the newspapers with mechanical spreaders and vacuum techniques.

Note especially Fowler who teaches the use of spreader rollers 28 (column 3, lines 1 -134 and column 4, lines 1-35) as well as a bottom spine 33 to separate the folds.

Curry uses a shaped guide, as well as lateral vacuum conduits for opening his top edges (see FIG. 3).

Nelson (column 2, line 25) uses rollers, V-trough and opener I7. Hathaway (FIGS. 38 and 40; page 7, lines 81-89) uses a horizontal probe 163.

Livingston uses a horizontal conveyor belt and a V-shaped opener.

Snyder uses a stationary horizontal plate 15, the newspapers being advanced in a horizontal plane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the folded newspaper is advanced in a vertical plane, such that its folded midsection is supported upon an endless belt. The bottom sides adjacent the folded edge are rotatably grabbed by a plurality of rollers rotatably synchronized with the speed of the advancing belt. During this advancing, the leading edge of the advancing newspaper is engaged by a pointed probe which parts the free top and bottom edges of the newspaper from the vertical plane. The free edges are thus separated prior to stufl'mg. The method is characterized by its continuous in-line technique, avoiding the necessity for large floor space, and its relative simplicity which avoids the necessity for large capital expenditllI'C.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the present method for separating a newspaper;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a proposed advancing mechanism;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation; showing the probing of the newspaper leading edge during advancing;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation of an adjustable probing device;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the positioning roller;

FIG. 6 is a top plan of the separating mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the support baffle; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan, showing the drive mechanism for the positioning roller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, the present method of separating a newspaper is schematically illustrated, newspaper 10 being advanced in a vertical plane by means of endless belt 12, then rotatably grabbed at sides adjacent the folded midsection by rollers 16 and pointedly probed at the leading upper edge by means of adjustable probe 14 which separates the folded sheets.

In FIG. 2, there is shown a fragmentary side elevation of a proposed mechanism for advancing newspaper 10 in a vertical plane, comprising an endless belt 12 mounted upon

rollers

108 and 110, supported respectively upon

shafts

76 and 86. These shafts may be supported in

identical bracket

78, 88 affixed to table ends 46. Belt 12 is mounted to rotate between adjustable

top side members

92 and 90. The newspaper guide baffle 18 includes a substantially vertical portion engaging the bottom part of the paper and a diverging upper portion 56 having an optical horizontal flange 58. Positioning and grabbing rollers 16 extend through cutouts 20 in the bottom edges of baffle 18 to engage the newspaper sides.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, rollers 16 may be identically constructed, for example, to have a bevel of 10, 4, and 0 on their sides, while being mounted upon shafts 22, secured to universal joints 24, in turn connected to drive shafts 26. Shafts 26 are secured to drive pulleys 28. The driving mechanism for roller 16 is illustrated in FIG. 8, shafts 26 extending through plate 44 to engage drive pulleys 28. Drivebelt 34 extends around the pulleys 28 and is tightened by means of pressurizing rollers 30. A motor 40 and

pulley arrangement

42, 36, and 34, using belts 38 and 39, may drive differential 32 to engage drive pulleys 28, so as to rotate rollers 16 synchronously with the speed of belt 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, belt 12 may be driven by motor 84, having drive pulley 86 and drive belt 82, engaging driven pull'ey attached to shaft 76.

The separating probe 14 is illustrated particularly in FIGS. 3

and 4, as including a teflon or like probing element 14, having a pointed end 58, pivotably supported upon shaft 60. A compression spring 62 may be secured at one end within shaft 60 and engaging knurled nut 64 at its top, so as to vary pressurization in a lateral direction upon the probe. Keyway 68, or the like, and locknut 66 provide for lateral adjustment of the probe in a variety of directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of belt 12 and according to the bulk of the paper being separated.

Bracket 70 in the shank of the shaft, compression spring 72, and locknut 74 enable angular adjustment of probe 14 to a variety of angles of attack of the newspaper leading edge.

As will be apparent, the distance of the probe from the end of the newspaper, the height of the probe point with respect to the height of the edge of the newspaper, as well as the lateral angle of the probe with respect to the axis of the advancing paper, and the vertical angle of the probe may be varied to accommodate different types of paper. Belt 12 speed and rate of rotation positioning rollers 16 may be varied to keep up with the printing press speed. Also, a stuffing baffle 52 having a slightly more divergent top 54 may be anteriorly positioned with respect to the bafile 18, wires, or like mechanism (not illustrated) may extend from the area of the probe 14 to the sides of channel 52, so as to hold the pages open as they are stuffed.

Positioning rollers 16 eliminate jamming on belt 12 and hold the newspaper down while it is being lineally advanced and during separating. In one construction, the probe 14 is constructed from Nylon round stock 1% inches in diameter, turned to a 60 angle at its probing end and maintained at a 20 upward angle from the horizontal for penetration of the advancing newspaper.

The rollers 16 are laterally adjustable to accommodate for different thicknesses of paper and under controlled spring tension by

adjustable tension spring

100, 102, and 104 on

shafts

94, 96, and 98.

Manifestly, the baffle, belt, rollers, without departing from the invention.

We claim:

1. Method for separating a folded newspaper having a plurality of sheets, comprising:

A. lineally advancing said newspaper in a vertical plane, such that the free top and bottom edges of said sheets are presented at the top of said plane and the folded midsection is presented at the bottom;

B. rotatably grabbing and advancing the bottom edges of the sides of said newspaper adjacent said folded midsection during advancing while applying a downward urging pressure thereon; and

C. pointedly upwardly probing the leading edge of said newspaper adjacent the free tops of said sheets, and simultaneously applying a downward force on the sheets so as to separate said sheets during advancing.

2. Method of separating a folded newspaper, as in claim 1,

wherein said lineal advancing is by means of an endless conand probe may be varied veyor engaging the folded midsection of said newspaper.

3. Method of separating a folded newspaper as in claim 2, wherein said grabbing of said bottom sides is synchronized with the speed of said advancing.

4. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 1, including varying the angle of probing with respect to the free top edges of said sheets.

5. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 1, including varying the lateral degree of probing with respect to the longitudinal axis of said advancing bundle, so as to accommodate bundles of varying thickness.

6. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim I, including varying the height of probing with respect to said free top edges of said sheets.

7. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 1, including:

D. laterally confining the sides of said newspaper while rotatably grabbing the bottom sides.

8. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 7, includmg:

E. continuously laterally supporting the sides of said newspaper sequentially of probing.

Claims

1. Method for separating a folded newspaper having a plurality of sheets, comprising: A. lineally advancing said newspaper in a vertical plane, such that the free top and bottom edges of said sheets are presented at the top of said plane and the folded midsection is presented at the bottom; B. rotatably grabbing and advancing the bottom edges of the sides of said newspaper adjacent said folded midsection during advancing while applying a downward urging pressure thereon; and C. pointedly upwardly probing the leading edge of said newspaper adjacent the free tops of said sheets, and simultaneously applying a downward force on the sheets so as to separate said sheets during advancing.

2. Method of separating a folded newspaper, as in claim 1, wherein said lineal advancing is by means of an endless conveyor engaging the folded midsection of said newspaper.

6. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 1, including varying the height of probing with respect to said free top edges of said sheets.

7. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 1, including: D. laterally confining the sides of said newspaper while rotatably grabbing the bottom sides.

8. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 7, including: E. continuously laterally supporting the sides of said newspaper sequentially of probing.