WO1999055607A1

WO1999055607A1 - Opening wheel for high speed inserter

Info

Publication number: WO1999055607A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/007218
Authority: WO
Inventors: William R. Kline; Donald A. Glaser; Conrad L. Wempe
Original assignee: Kansa Corporation
Priority date: 1998-04-29
Filing date: 1999-04-01
Publication date: 1999-11-04

Abstract

A newspaper handling machine includes a transport assembly (22), a product support surface (24), an unacceptable product diverter (26), three secondary infeed stations (28, 30, 32), three main product infeed stations (34, 36, 38), and a vacuum source (268). The product infeed stations (34, 36, 38) include opener mechanisms (40) with each having an opener-pickup body (68), a vacuum transfer member (70), a rotary shaft (72), a stationary vacuum supply member (74), a vacuum belt assembly (76), a drive assembly (42), and a mounting frame (43). The opener body (68) is rotated by the drive assembly (42) and uses vacuum to pickup at least portions of products. Vacuum is transmitted to the opener body (68) from the vacuum supply member (74) through the vacuum transfer member (70) that rotates with the opener body (68).

Description

OPENING WHEEL FOR HIGH SPEED INSERTER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is broadly concerned with improved high speed inserters particularly designed for assembling newspapers and other publications. More particularly, the present invention relates to such high speed inserters wherein rotary opener wheels lift top sections of publications away from bottom sections thereof to insert other parts of the publications between the top and bottom sections. In preferred forms, vacuum is transmitted to the opener wheels through fixed vacuum plates, to rotary hubs, and into the opener wheels at their inner bore walls.

2. Description of Prior Art

It is frequently necessary to insert one part of a publication inside another or to lift part or all of a product. For example, advertising circulars are frequently placed inside of newspapers. To accomplish this, inserters have rotating opener wheels that lift a top section of a newspaper away from a bottom section thereof. While holding the top section away from the bottom section with a separation shelf, the advertising circulars are inserted therebetween.

To lift the top section, a vacuum is applied thereto through the opener wheel. The vacuum is typically transmitted to the wheel in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation through vacuum inlet openings in one of its flat faces. Specifically, a fixed block with a vacuum port in operative communication with a vacuum source abuts the flat face of the opener wheel. The vacuum is transmitted from the vacuum port to the openings in the flat face when the opener wheel is in a rotational position where the openings are aligned with the vacuum port.

While this configuration is generally effective to lift the top sections, the fixed block continuously rubs against the opener wheel generating excessive heat and causing both the fixed block and the opener wheel to wear prematurely. The continuous rubbing, and thus the heat and premature wear, is intensified by the vacuum because it draws the fixed block and the opener wheel closer together. The heat generated can cause severe burns and interfere with the operation of the opener wheel. As speeds -2- increase, so do the amounts of premature wear and heat generated. Thus, the present ^" configuration limits the speed of the inserter.

Further, the heat can distort the opener wheel and the fixed block, so that the vacuum is partially or completely lost between the fixed block and the opener wheel. This is especially problematic for thinner top sections where the vacuum is turned down to keep from picking up the bottom sections with the top sections. Any loss in vacuum substantially inhibits the capability of the opener wheel to pick up consistently the thin top sections thereby creating many unacceptable publications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above and provides an inserter with an improved opener-pickup mechanism having an opener-pickup body. By virtue of a unique vacuum transmission configuration, the improved opener mechanism increases the maximum operating speed of the inserter, extends the life of the opener body by avoiding premature wear, increases safety by avoiding excessive heat generation, and reduces the number of unacceptable products produced by the inserter.

The preferred opener mechanism of the present invention has an opener body rotatably mounted on a mounting frame with a plurality of pickup vacuum passages extending through the body. The passages interconnect vacuum pickup ports positioned on an outer pickup surface of the opener body with a vacuum inlet port positioned on a vacuum inlet surface of the opener body. A vacuum transfer member moves with the opener body and has a vacuum feed port connected with the vacuum inlet port to transmit vacuum to the opener body. In one embodiment, the opener body includes a ring-shaped opener wheel fixed on a shaft rotatably mounted to the mounting frame. The opener wheel has an inner bore wall comprising the vacuum inlet surface and an outer wall comprising the outer pickup face. A drive assembly continuously rotates the opener wheel. The vacuum transfer member preferably includes a hub fixedly mounted on the shaft with the opener wheel mounted around the hub, so that the vacuum inlet port of the opener wheel and the vacuum feed port of the hub communicate in a radial direction.

Preferably, a vacuum supply plate having a top portion and a bottom portion is also mounted around the hub with a variable compression force connection. The vacuum supply plate is fixedly coupled to the mounting frame, so that it is fixed relative to the hub and has a vacuum supply outlet port in intermittent radial communication -3- with a rotary vacuum port of the hub. The mounting frame also includes a timing " adjustment assembly to adjust a circumferential position of the vacuum supply outlet port whereby timed intermittent communication between the vacuum supply outlet port and the intermittent vacuum port is adjusted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multiple-station product processing apparatus in accordance with the invention including the preferred inserter;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an inlet end of the inserter of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the inserter of Fig. 2 taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front view in partial cross-section of an opener mechanism of the inserter of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a rear view in partial cross-section of the opener mechanism shown in

Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the opener mechanism of Fig. 4 taken along line 6-6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional front view depicting the operation of the opener mechanism as it engages a product;

Fig. 8 is a schematic sectional front view similar to that of Fig. 7, but illustrating the opener mechanism when it has fully engaged a product; and

Fig. 9 is a schematic sectional front view similar to that of Fig. 7, but illustrating the opener mechanism as it disengages a product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings, Fig. 1 depicts an elongated, in-line, multiple- station handling machine 20 that may be used for the processing of discrete articles such as newspapers. The machine 20 includes a transport assembly 22, a product support surface 24, an unacceptable product diverter 26, three secondary infeed stations 28, 30 and 32 and three main product infeed stations 34, 36 and 38. A complete inserter is formed by combining a main product infeed station 36 with a secondary infeed station 28, so that each inserter broadly includes an opener mechanism 40 (Fig. 2) and a separation assembly 44 (Fig. 3) with the opener mechanism 40 provided on the main infeed station 36 and the separation assembly 44 provided on the secondary infeed .4.

station 28. Because the inserters are substantially identical, they are described with reference to only one inserter.

In greater detail and with continued reference to Fig. 1 , it will be understood that the individual stations 28-38 of the machine 20 are positioned in an in-line adjacent relationship to allow unimpeded movement of product along the length of the machine

20, and to receive individual discrete articles such as newspapers and to process them by, for example, insertion of additional sections or advertising circulars. The diverter 26, which is no part of the present invention, operates to deliver properly assembled products to an accepted product conveyer 46, and to deliver improperly assembled or otherwise unacceptable products to an unaccepted product conveyer 48, all at high speed. In such processing, it is important to insert properly the additional sections into the previously assembled product to reduce the number of unacceptable products created.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the transport assembly 22 is conventional and includes a chain rail 50 and a continuous marginal roller chain 52 moving on the chain rail 50 along respective upper and lower runs traversing the length of the machine 20. The chain 52 supports a plurality of spaced push pins that move individual products in timed fashion along the length of the machine 20 through the inserters 28-38 and into the diverter 26. Referring to Fig. 2, the product support surface 24 includes a longitudinal channel 56 bifurcating the support surface 24. The push pins 54 extend through the longitudinal channel 56 to engage the products. The product support surface 24 also includes a stop or rest 58 at its bottom end and a hold down plate 60 adjacent the paper rest 58 to guide the products and inhibit product fly away during the insertion process.

Referring to Fig. 1, the diverter 26 is positioned at the downstream end 62 of the machine 20 and receives products into its inlet end 64 from the downstream secondary infeed station 32 . The diverter 26 removes unacceptable products and deposits them on the rejected product conveyor 48 and passes acceptable products through a discharge opening 66 onto the accepted product conveyor 46.

The main infeed stations 34, 36, 38 have platforms 67, 69, 71, respectively, for receiving stacks of products to be processed. Feeder/receiving mechanism (not shown) is used to individually deliver products from the stacks thereof into the machine for processing. The main infeed stations further include the opener- pickup mechanisms 40. As shown in Fig. 2, each opener-pickup mechanism 40 includes an opener-pickup body 68, a vacuum transfer member 70, a rotary shaft 72, a stationary vacuum supply member 74, a vacuum belt assembly 76, a drive assembly 42, and a mounting frame 43.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the pickup body 68 includes a ring shaped opener wheel 68 having an outer surface 78 that presents a product engaging outer pickup face.

Body 68 also includes an inner bore wall 80 presenting a vacuum inlet surface. The opener wheel has a flat front face 81 and an opposed flat rear face 83. Faces 81, 83 separate the pickup face 78 from the inlet surface 80. The outer pickup face 78 and vacuum inlet surface 80 are preferably arcuate and concentric. The pickup body 68 is generally solid and includes six pickup vacuum passages

82. Passages 82 extend between the outer pickup face 78 and the vacuum inlet surface 80 in substantially radial directions and terminate at vacuum pickup ports 84 that are circumferentially spaced around the outer pickup face 78 and arranged in three rows of two pickup ports 84. Ports 84 have threaded ends 86 that receive plugs (not shown) for closing the pickup ports 84 as desired. The pickup vacuum passages 82 extend inwardly to the vacuum inlet surface 80 where they open at respective vacuum inlet ports 88 that are circumferentially spaced around the inlet surface 80 and arranged in three rows of two inlet ports 88. Ports 88 are spaced from the vacuum pickup ports 84. Thus, the pickup vacuum passages 82 connect the vacuum pickup ports 84 to the vacuum inlet ports 88 to transmit vacuum therebetween.

The opener wheel 68 has a keyway channel 90 and a set screw channel 92 for attachment to the vacuum transfer member 70. A direct set screw 93 (shown schematically) threads into the set screw channel 92 and impinges on the vacuum transfer member 70. A key 94 fits into the keyway channel 90 and is held in place by a key set screw 91 (Fig. 6) threaded into a second set screw channel 96.

The vacuum transfer member 70 includes a vacuum transfer hub having an outer surface 98 that abuts the inner bore wall 80 of the opener wheel 68. Alternatively, the vacuum transfer member can comprise the rotary shaft. The vacuum transfer hub 70 includes vacuum transfer passages 100 extending axially through the hub 70. Vacuum feed ports 102 connect to the vacuum transfer passage 100 in the substantially radial direction, are circumferentially spaced around the outer surface 98 of the hub 70 and are preferably arranged in three circumferentially spaced rows with two feed ports 102 in each row. Three intermittent rotary vacuum ports 104 are positioned on the outer surface 98 of the hub 70 and connect with vacuum transfer passages 100. The intermittent vacuum ports 104 are also circumferentially spaced around the outer surface 98 of the hub 70. The vacuum transfer passages are closed from atmosphere with threaded plugs 106 threaded into front face 108.

The hub 70 is fixed to the rotary opener wheel 68 by the key 94. The key 94 fits into a hub keyway 110 and is held therein with the key setscrew 91. The key 94 allows the hub and opener wheel to be connected in only one orientation in which the inlet ports and the feed ports are circumferentially aligned. The hub 70 is further rotationally fixed to the opener wheel 68 by the direct set screw 93 which impinges on the outer surface 98 of the hub 70.

The rotary shaft 72, which is rotatably mounted to the mounting frame 43 and is part of the drive assembly 42, is fixed to the hub 70 by hub set screws 112, 114

(shown schematically). Thus, the rotary shaft 72 rotates opener wheel 68 via the hub 70. Cylindrical rotary shaft 72 extends between the opener wheel at its front end 116 and the drive assembly 42 at its rearward end 118 (Fig. 2). Rotary shaft 72 extends centrally through the hub 70 and the opener wheel 68. Also, the hub70 extends centrally through the opener wheel 68. Further, the opener wheel 68 and hub 70 comprise a pickup unit and, together with the rotary shaft 72, can be formed as a unitary piece.

The vacuum supply member 74 includes a vacuum supply plate having a top portion 120 and a bottom portion 122 mounted around the hub 70 with a variable compression force connector, generally designated 124. The vacuum supply plate 74 is positioned on the hub 70 adjacent to and spaced from the opener wheel 68.

Referring also to Fig. 2, the top portion 120 of the vacuum plate 74 is fixedly coupled with the mounting assembly 43 by a mounting plate 126 having a bottom flange 127 adjacent a top surface 129 of the top portion 120 and having an upright flange 131 with an upper slot 128 therein, so that it does not rotate with the hub 70.

The top portion 120 includes a pair of apertures 130, 132 (Fig. 5) therethrough, and the mounting plate 126 also includes a pair of apertures 134, 136 aligned with apertures 130, 132.

The bottom portion 122 includes threaded apertures 138, and a vacuum supply passage 142 extending from a vacuum supply port 144 defined on a flat face 146 of the bottom portion 122. The vacuum supply passage 142 connects with a vacuum supply outlet port 148 defined on an inner outlet surface 150 of the bottom portion 122. The inner outlet surface 150 abuts against the outer surface 98 of the hub 70 so that the vacuum supply outlet port 148 makes timed, intermittent connection with the intermittent vacuum ports 104. The vacuum supply outlet port 148 is preferably -7- elongated to connect with more than one of the intermittent vacuum ports ^' simultaneously.

The variable compression force connector 124 includes a pair of shoulder bolts 152, 154 extending through the apertures 130-136 in the mounting plate 126, through the top portion 120, and threading into the threaded apertures 138, 140 in the bottom portion 122. Compression springs 156, 158 are interposed between the heads 160, 162 of the shoulder bolts 152, 154 and the bottom flange 127, so that the compression force of the vacuum plate on the hub can vary, allowing relative movement between the top portion 120 and the bottom portion 122. The vacuum plate 74 is separated from the opener wheel 68 by a spacer 168 preferably made with nylon or another lubricating material. The spacer 168 is free to rotate with the opener wheel 68 or remain stationary with the vacuum plate 74. The vacuum plate 74 is mounted on the hub 70 with a tabbed washer 170 abutting against the vacuum plate 74. The tabbed washer 170 has a tab 172 protruding into a slot 174 formed in the outer surface 98 of the hub 70 so that the tabbed washer 170 rotates with the hub 70. A flat washer 176 is positioned adjacent to the tabbed washer 170 around the outer surface 98 of the hub 70, and a snap ring 178 is snapped in a snap ring groove 180 (Fig. 6) formed in the outer surface 98 of the hub 70 to hold the tabbed washer 170 and the flat washer 176 against the vacuum plate 74. Referring to Figs. 2, 3, and 7, the vacuum belt assembly 76 includes a continuous vacuum belt 182, a vacuum manifold 184, and a vacuum belt mounting frame 186. The vacuum belt 182 has a upper moving portion 188 which is substantially coplanar with the support surface 24 and has a plurality of holes 190.

The vacuum manifold 184 connects with a conventional vacuum source (not shown) and is mounted by the vacuum belt mounting frame 186 adjacent and below the upper portion 188. The vacuum manifold 184 operates to draw vacuum through the holes 190 of the vacuum belt 182.

The vacuum belt mounting frame 186 includes a plurality of substantially identical rotary pulleys 192 mounted on rotary shafts 194, 196. The vacuum belt 182 is mounted on the rotary pulleys 192, and the rotary drive shaft 194 is connected to a drive pulley 198 (Fig. 2) which is driven by the conventional main drive (not shown) of the machine 20. The drive shaft 194 is rotatably mounted in a pair of fixed downstream mounting blocks 200, 202 that are connected to the product support surface 24. The idler shaft 196 is rotatably mounted on a pair of fixed, upstream mounting -8- blocks 204, 206 that are also connected to the support surface 24. The mounting blocks 200-206 also mount inclined side rails 208, 210 on opposite sides of the vacuum belt. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the drive assembly 42 includes a drive sprocket 218 (Fig. 2) mounted on a drive hub 220 that is coupled with input shaft 222 by a key 214. The input shaft 222 extends into a right angle gear box 224 that transmits rotation to an output shaft 226 extending at a right angle to the input shaft 222. The output shaft 226 is rotationally fixed to the rotary shaft 72 thereby transmitting rotation to the rotary shaft 72.

The mounting frame 43 is attached to the machine support frame 228 (Fig. 2) and includes a timing adjustment assembly 216. The mounting frame includes an upper plate 230 and a lower plate 232 with alignment pins 234 extending therebetween. The drive assembly 42 is held by a casing 236 slidably mounted on the alignment pins 234 and attached to a threaded adjustment pin 238. The threaded adjustment pin 238 passes through the upper plate 230 and threads into the lower plate 232. A knob 240 is attached to the top end of the adjustment pin 238 whereby turning the knob 240 raises and lowers the casing 236 and hence the opener wheel 68.

The timing adjustment assembly 216 includes a slotted plate 242 mounted on the casing 236 having the output shaft 226 extending therethrough. An arcuate slot 244 in the slotted plate 242 receives an elongated timing rod 246. The timing rod 246 is held in the arcuate slot 244 by a conventional fastener 248 and extends to the mounting plate 126 of the vacuum supply plate 74 where it passes through the upper slot 128 in the mounting plate 126 to fixedly couple the vacuum plate 74 to the mounting frame. The arcuate slot 244 is preferably concentric with the opener wheel, hub, and rotary shaft. Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the secondary infeed stations 28, 30, 32 are for the most part conventional and include platforms 250, 252 and 254 respectively, which hold insert items for insertion into previously assembled products. The secondary infeed stations also include the separation assembly having a sword 256 extending above the support surface 24 and a separation ramp 258 inclined relative to the support surface 24. The separation ramp 258 is provided with a misfeed detection assembly 260 that is described in U.S. Patent Application having Serial No. 08/549,044 filed October 27, 1995 and entitled SPEAR MISSED OPEN DETECTION SYSTEM, hereby incorporated by reference.

Product handling machines of this general type and their components are described in U.S. Patents Nos. 4,526,356 and 5,125,637. In addition, further preferred -9- features of the machine 20 are described in pending applications for U.S. Patents S/N ^' , filed entitled NEWSPAPER FEEDER STRUCTURE FOR

HIGH SPEED INSERTER, S/N , filed entitled NEWSPAPER

RECEIVING AND OPENING WHEELS FOR HIGH SPEED INSERTER; these patents and applications are incorporated by reference herein.

OPERATION Referring to Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the overall operation of machine 20 is generally well understood and conventional. Therefore, a full description of this operation is unneeded, except to observe that the push pins 54 (Fig. 3) move individual products 262 through the main and secondary inserters and into the diverter 26, and that the detection assembly 260 determines which of the successively delivered products 262 are unacceptable.

Generally, products 262 passing under the opener wheel 68 are engaged by the outer pickup face 78. Vacuum is transmitted through the pickup ports 84 thereby lifting a top section 264 away from a bottom section 266 of the product 262. The top and bottom sections can be comprised of a single sheet or multiple sheets. As the product 262 continues to move through the machine 20, the top section 264 is released by the vacuum pickup ports 84 onto the separation ramp 258 that guides the top section 264 onto the sword 256 of the separation assembly 44. During all phases of operation of the machine 20, the machine's drive assembly

(not shown) operates to drive continuously the push pins 54 and operate the opener mechanisms 40 and the vacuum belt assemblies 76. Because the opener mechanisms 40 and vacuum belt assemblies 76 are substantially identical, their operation will be described with reference to only one opener mechanism 40 and only one vacuum belt assembly 76. To drive continuously the opener mechanism and the vacuum belt assembly, the machine's drive assembly (not shown) drives the sprocket 218 of the drive assembly 42 and the drive pulley 198 of the vacuum belt 182. The opener wheel 68 is preferably continuously rotated in the same rotational direction indicated by arrow 270. Prior to initiating such operations, the position of the opener wheel 68 is adjusted relative to the vacuum belt 182 and the paper rest 58 to handle properly the product 262 having inserts placed therein. Further, the rotational position of the opener wheel at which vacuum is transmitted to the vacuum pickup ports is adjusted to assure that vacuum is applied and released at the appropriate times.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, the position of the opener wheel relative to the paper rest 58 is adjusted by changing the position of the opener wheel 68 along the length of -10- the rotary shaft 72. This is accomplished by loosening the set screws 112, 114 and ^' sliding the opener wheel, hub, vacuum plate, and mounting plate along the rotary shaft. The timing rod 246 slides in the upper slot 128 of the mounting plate 126 allowing this adjustment. To adjust the gap 272 between the opener wheel 68 and the upper portion 188 of the vacuum belt 182 for the thickness of the product 262 to be processed, an operator turns the knob 240 on the threaded adjustment pin 238 to raise and lower the entire opener mechanism 40 except the mounting frame. To adjust the position of the vacuum supply outlet port 148, the fastener 248 securing the timing rod 246 to the slotted plate 242 is loosened and the timing rod is moved in the arcuate slot 244 to change the position of the vacuum supply outlet port 148 relative to the circumference of the hub and the intermittent ports 104.

Referring again to Figs. 7-9 to supply vacuum to the vacuum pickup ports 84, a vacuum source 268 (Fig. 2) provides a vacuum to ports 84 by way of the vacuum supply port 144 of the vacuum plate 74. The vacuum is then transmitted through the vacuum supply passage 142 to the vacuum supply outlet port 148. As the hub 70 rotates with respect to the vacuum plate 74, the intermittent vacuum ports 104 are sequentially brought into operative communication with the vacuum supply outlet port 148 when the opener wheel 68 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 7. In this rotational position, the vacuum is transmitted from the intermittent vacuum ports 104, through the vacuum transfer passage 100, to the vacuum feed ports 102 (Fig. 6), to the inlet ports 88, through the pickup vacuum passages 82, and to the vacuum pickup ports 84.

In the preferred embodiment shown, there are three intermittent vacuum ports 270A, 270B and 270C. Thus, a first intermittent vacuum port 270A is the first to come into operative communication with the outlet port 148, a second intermittent vacuum port 270B is the second to come into operative communication with the outlet port 148, and a third intermittent vacuum port 270C is the third to come into operative communication with the outlet port 148. Therefore, the top section 264 is initially lifted by the first intermittent vacuum port 270A and held against the outer pickup face 78, as shown in Fig. 8, until the third intermittent vacuum port 270C lifts the top section

264, and the first intermittent vacuum port 270A releases the top section 264 as shown in Fig. 9. As noted above, the vacuum supply outlet port 148 is elongated for connection with two of the intermittent vacuum ports at the same time.

As the top section 264 is lifted by the opener wheel, the vacuum belt, which translates at the same speed that the product is being moved by the push pins 54, holds -l ithe bottom section 266 down. Additionally, the hold down plate 60 (Fig. 2) of the support surface 24 holds down the folded end of the product 262. Thus, the opener wheel and vacuum belt cooperate to separate the top section 264 from the bottom section 266. As the hub 70 rotates between the top portion 120 and the bottom portion 122 of the vacuum plate 74 shown in Fig. 5, the springs 156, 158 of the variable compression force connection 124 allow the hub 70 to vibrate therebetween. Thus, the top portion 120 slides along the shaft of the shoulder bolts 152, 154 to prevent the vacuum plate from binding on the hub. The spacer 168 operates to separate the vacuum plate from the opener wheel, so that excessive heat is not generated in the operation of the opener mechanism 40. Without the excess generation of heat, the speed of the opener wheel and hence the speed at which the machine 20 operates can be increased, and premature wear of the opener mechanism components, namely, the opener wheel, hub, and vacuum plate is avoided. Additionally, without the generation of excess heat, the opener wheel is safe to touch and there is no loss of vacuum between the opener mechanism components, so that even thin top sections can be lifted away consistently from thin bottom sections.

Claims

-12-We claim:

1. A pickup mechanism for lifting at least a portion of a product, the pickup mechanism comprising: a movable pickup unit including a pickup body, the pickup body having a product engaging pickup face with a vacuum pickup port, a vacuum inlet port spaced from the vacuum pickup port of the pickup face, and a pickup vacuum passage operatively connecting the vacuum pickup port to the vacuum inlet port; a stationary vacuum supply member spaced from the pickup body and having a vacuum supply port for connection with a vacuum source, a vacuum supply outlet port in operative communication with the vacuum inlet port of the pickup body, and a vacuum supply passage operatively connecting the vacuum supply port to the vacuum supply outlet port; and a drive assembly operatively coupled with the pickup unit for movement of the pickup unit relative to the vacuum supply member whereby vacuum is transmitted from the stationary vacuum supply member to the pickup body.

2. The pickup mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the movable pickup unit further includes a vacuum transfer member fixed to the pickup body for movement with the pickup body, and the vacuum transfer member having a vacuum feed port in operative communication with the vacuum inlet port, a rotary vacuum port in operative communication with the vacuum supply outlet port, and a vacuum transfer passage operatively connecting the vacuum feed port to the rotary vacuum port.

3. The pickup mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the rotary vacuum port comprises an intermittent rotary vacuum port in intermittent operative communication with the vacuum supply outlet port, so that the vacuum inlet port is in timed intermittent operative communication with the vacuum supply outlet port of the stationary vacuum supply member.

4. The pickup mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly includes a rotary shaft fixed to the pickup unit to rotate the pickup unit with the rotary shaft. -13-

5. The pickup mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the pickup unit further comprises a vacuum transfer hub having a vacuum feed port in operative communication with the vacuum inlet port, a rotary vacuum port in operative communication with the vacuum supply outlet port, a vacuum transfer passage operatively connecting the vacuum feed port to the rotary vacuum port, and having the rotary shaft extending therethrough, and the vacuum transfer hub being fixed to the rotary shaft for rotation with the rotary shaft.

6. The pickup mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the pickup body comprises a ring shaped pickup wheel having an inner bore wall surrounding the vacuum transfer hub, the inner bore wall has the vacuum inlet port thereon, and the vacuum inlet port is circumferentially aligned with and in radial operative communication with the vacuum feed port of the hub.

7. The pickup mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the stationary vacuum supply member comprises a vacuum plate adjacent the vacuum transfer hub, and the rotary vacuum port operatively communicates with the vacuum supply outlet port in a radial direction.

8. The pickup mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the stationary vacuum supply member comprises a vacuum plate having a top portion and a bottom portion with the hub extending therebetween, and the rotary vacuum port is in radial operative communication with the vacuum supply outlet port.

9. The pickup mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the vacuum inlet port is in continuous operative communication with the vacuum feed port, the pickup vacuum passage comprises a substantially radially extending pickup vacuum passage, and the rotary vacuum port comprises an intermittent rotary vacuum port in intermittent operative communication with the vacuum supply outlet port. -14-

10. An opener mechanism for use in an inserter which inserts additional materials into previously assembled publications having top and bottom sections, the opener mechanism comprising: a generally solid opener body including an outer pickup face for contacting the top sections and having a vacuum pickup port for applying vacuum to the top sections to lift the top sections away from the bottom sections, a vacuum inlet surface having a vacuum inlet port, and a pickup vacuum passage operatively connecting the vacuum pickup port to the vacuum inlet port; a vacuum transfer member fixed to the opener body for movement with the opener body and having a vacuum feed port in operative communication with the vacuum inlet port to transfer vacuum to the opener body; and a drive assembly operatively coupled with the opener body for simultaneously moving the opener body and the vacuum transfer member.

11. The opener mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the opener body comprises a ring shaped opener wheel, the pickup face comprises an arcuate pickup face, the drive assembly comprises a rotary shaft having the opener body fixed thereto for rotation with the rotary shaft, and the drive assembly rotates the opener body in continuous revolutions in a single rotational direction.

12. The opener mechanism according to claim 10, further comprising a stationary vacuum supply plate having a top portion and a bottom portion mounted around the vacuum transfer member, and a variable compression force connection connecting the stationary vacuum supply plate to the vacuum transfer member.

13. The opener mechanism according to claim 12, wherein the variable compression force connection comprises at least one spring operatively positioned to permit the top and bottom portions to move relative to each other.

14. The opener mechanism according to claim 12, further comprising a mounting frame movably and adjustably mounting the opener body, and a spacer separating the stationary vacuum supply plate from the opener body. -15-

15. In a high speed product handling machine having at least one high speed ^" inserter for inserting additional materials into previously assembled publications having top sections and bottom sections, the machine having a support frame, a transport assembly for transporting the publications through the machine and the inserter, a support surface for at least partially supporting the publications as they are transported through the machine, at least one separation shelf in combination with the at least one inserter to hold the top and bottom sections of the publications apart while the additional materials are inserted therebetween, and an improved opener mechanism for initially separating the top and bottom sections of the publications, the improved opener mechanism comprising: a mounting frame attached to the support frame; an opener body movably mounted on the mounting frame and including an outer pickup face for contacting the top sections and the pickup face having a plurality of vacuum pickup ports for applying vacuum to the top sections to lift the top sections away from the bottom sections, a vacuum inlet surface having a vacuum inlet port, and a plurality of pickup vacuum passages operatively connecting the vacuum pickup ports to the vacuum inlet port; a vacuum transfer member moving with the opener body and having a vacuum feed port in operative communication with the vacuum inlet port; and a drive assembly mounted on the mounting frame and operatively coupled to the opener body for moving the opener body relative to the mounting frame.

16. The handling machine according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of vacuum inlet ports in operative communication with the pickup vacuum passages, and a plurality of vacuum feed ports in operative communication with the vacuum inlet ports; and wherein the drive assembly comprises a rotary shaft rotatably mounting the opener body to the mounting frame, at least two of the vacuum pickup ports are circumferentially spaced, and the vacuum transfer member comprises a hub mounted on the rotary shaft. -16-

17. The handling machine according to claim 16, further comprising a stationary vacuum supply member mounted on the rotary shaft and coupled with the mounting frame to fix the stationary vacuum supply member relative to the rotary shaft, and the stationary vacuum supply member having a vacuum supply outlet port; and wherein the hub has a plurality of vacuum transfer passages in operative communication with the vacuum feed ports and in operative communication with a plurality of intermittent rotary vacuum ports which are in timed intermittent operative communication with the vacuum supply outlet port of the vacuum supply member to sequentially supply vacuum to at least two circumferentially spaced vacuum pickup ports.

18. The handling machine according to claim 17, wherein the vacuum supply outlet port comprises an elongated port whereby vacuum is simultaneously supplied to more than one circumferentially spaced vacuum pickup port.

19. The handling machine according to claim 17, wherein the mounting frame includes a timing adjustment assembly for adjusting a circumferential position of the vacuum supply outlet port whereby the timed intermittent operative communication between the vacuum supply outlet port and the intermittent vacuum ports is adjusted.

20. The handling machine according to claim 15, further comprising a vacuum belt assembly opposite the opener body to hold the bottom sections down as the opener body lifts the top sections.