SIGNATURE HANDLING APPARATUS

APPAREIL DE MANUTENTION DE DOCUMENTS

English Abstract

A signature handling apparatus includes a first conveyor
which sequentially moves signatures to a discharge station.
At the discharge station, the signatures are sequentially
transferred to a receiving conveyor. A corrugator assembly
is located at the discharge station to stiffen the
signatures by forming corrugations which extend between
leading and trailing end portions of the signatures.
Although the corrugations are only temporarily maintained in
the signature, the corrugator assembly is close enough to
the receiving conveyor so that a corrugation is maintained
in a signature as a leading end portion of the signature
moves to the receiving conveyor. Thus, the corrugator
assembly is spaced from the receiving conveyor by a distance
which is less than the distance between the leading and
trailing end portions of the signatures.

Claims

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THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:


1. A signature handling apparatus comprising first
conveyor means for sequentially conveying signatures, second
conveyor means for conveying signatures received from said
first conveyor means, said first conveyor means having a
discharge portion through which signatures sequentially move
from said first conveyor means to said second conveyor means,
and deformation means located at the discharge portion of said
first conveyor means for forming nonpermanent deformations
extending from a leading end portion of the signatures towards
a trailing end portion of the signatures, said second conveyor
means having pockets for receiving signatures, said deformation
means being spaced from said second conveyor means by a
distance which is less than the distance between the leading
and trailing end portions of the signatures to enable the
leading end portion of each one of the signatures in turn to
move into one of said pockets of said second conveyor means
while the one signature is engaged by said deformation means,
said deformation means cooperating with said signatures to
retain said deformations at least until said signatures are
received in one of said pockets of said second conveyor and
said signature is still in contact with said deformation means.


2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
second conveyor means includes a plurality of pockets which
are sequentially moved past the discharge portion of said


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first conveyor means, each of said pockets including surface
means for engaging a side surface of a signature while the
signature is engaged by said deformation means.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said
second conveyor means includes means for moving said pockets
along a continuous circular path at least a portion of which
is spaced from said deformation means by a distance which is
less than the distance between the leading and trailing end
portions of the signatures.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
second conveyor means includes a plurality of pockets which
are sequentially moved past the discharge portion of said
first conveyor means, each of said pockets including an
entrance portion through which the leading end portion of a
signature moves into the pocket and a bottom portion which
engages the leading end portion of the signature to support
the signature, said bottom portion of each of said pockets in
turn being spaced from said deformation means by a distance
which is greater than the distance between the leading and
trailing end portions of the signatures when a trailing end
portion of a signature moves out of engagement with said
deformation means so that the signature falls into the pocket.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said
second conveyor means includes means for moving the bottom


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portion of a pocket in a direction away from said deformation
means as a signature falls into the pocket.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further
including third conveyor means for receiving signatures from
said second conveyor means, said second conveyor means
including an array of pockets and means for moving said array
of pockets to move each pocket in turn along a path from a
loading position adjacent to said deformation means to an
unloading position adjacent to said third conveyor means.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said
second conveyor means includes means for rotating said array
of pockets about an axis extending parallel to the leading and
trailing end portions of the signatures.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
deformation means includes a roll having a first portion with
a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter
which is greater than said first diameter, said second portion
of said roll including surface means for resiliently
deflecting each of the signatures in turn to form a
corrugation in each of the signatures in turn.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
deformation means includes means for resiliently deflecting
each of the signatures as long as the signature is engaged by


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said deformation means and which disappears from each
signature after the signature moves through said deformation
means.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
first conveyor means includes a plurality of tapes which
engage opposite sides of each of the signatures in turn and
means for moving said tapes to move a signature disposed
between said tapes, said deformation means including means for
deflecting each of the signatures in turn while the signature
is disposed between and is being moved by said tapes.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said
deformation means includes surface means for engaging a side
surface of each of the signatures in turn and applying
deflection inducing forces against each of the signatures in
turn.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said
plurality of tapes includes first and second spaced apart
tapes each of which has a side surface for engaging the same
side surface of a signature, said means for deflecting each of
the signatures in turn including corrugator surface means for
engaging a side surface of each of the signatures in turn at a
location between locations where said first and second tapes
engage the side surface of each of the signatures in turn.


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13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said
side surfaces of said first and second tapes and the side
surfaces of the signatures which are sequentially engaged by
said first and second tapes move at the same speed during
sequential movement of the signatures through said deformation
means, said deformation means including means for moving said
corrugator surface means at a speed which is greater than the
speed of movement of the side surfaces of the signatures
through said deformation means whereby slippage occurs between
said corrugator surface means and the side surfaces of the
signatures as the signatures are sequentially engaged by said
corrugator surface means.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
deformation means includes a base, a layer of material having
an outer side for engaging each of the signatures in turn, and
hook and loop fastener means for releasably connecting said
layer of material with said base, said hook and loop fastener
means including a plurality of loops and a plurality of hooks
which are engageable with the plurality of loops to releasably
connect the layer of material with the base.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said
outer side of said layer of material is formed by a second
plurality of loops having the same construction as the
plurality of loops which are engageable with the plurality of
hooks.


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16. A signature handling apparatus comprising a roll, a
circular inner layer of material extending around said roll,
means for connecting said inner layer of material to said
roll, a circular outer layer of material extending around said
inner layer of material, surface means connected with said
outer layer of material for sequentially engaging a major side
surface of each signature of a plurality of signatures, and
hook and loop fastener means for releasably interconnecting
said inner and outer layers of material, said hook and loop
fastener means including a plurality of loops which are
disposed between said inner and outer layers of material and
which are connected with a first one of said inner and outer
layers of material and a plurality of hooks which are disposed
between said inner and outer layers of material and which are
connected with a second one of said inner and outer layers of
material, said plurality of hooks being engageable with said
plurality of loops to releasably interconnect said inner and
outer layers of material and accommodate limited compression
movement of said outer layers of material towards said inner
layers of material.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said
surface means includes a plurality of loops having the same
construction as the plurality of loops of said hook and loop
fastener means.



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18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16 further
including first conveyor means for sequentially conveying
signatures, second conveyor means for conveying signatures
received from said first conveyor means, said first conveyor
means having a discharge portion through which signatures
sequentially move from said first conveyor means to said
second conveyor means, said roll being located at the
discharge portion of said first conveyor means, said surface
means being sequentially engageable with side surfaces of
the signatures to form corrugations extending between
leading and trailing end portions of the signatures, said
roll beinq spaced from said second conveyor means by a
distance which is less than the distance between the leading
and trailing end portions of the signatures to enable the
leading end portion of each one of the signatures in turn
to move to said second conveyor means while the one
signature is engaged by said surface means.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said
roll includes a metal base having a cylindrical outer side
surface and an annular body of polymeric material
circumscribing said cylindrical outer side surface of said
base, said first layer of material being fixedly secured to
said annular body.

20. An apparatus comprising creaser means for forming a
longitudinally extending crease in a web, cutter means for



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sequentially cutting the creased web in a direction
transverse to a longitudinal axis of the crease to
sequentially form a plurality of signatures having leading
and trailing end portions which extend transversely to the
longitudinal axis of the crease, each of the signatures
having opposite major side surfaces extending between the
leading and trailing end portions of the signature, tape
means for sequentially engaging the opposite major side
surfaces of the signatures and moving the signatures to a
discharge station where the signatures sequentially move
out of engagement with said tape means, said tape means
including a plurality of spaced apart tapes having side
surfaces which engage one of the major sides of each of the
signatures in turn, corrugator means at the discharge
station for resiliently deflecting each signature in turn
to form a temporary corrugation which extends between the
leading and trailing end portions of a signature and which
disappears after the signature leaves said corrugator means,
said corrugator means being engageable with the one major
side of each of signature in turn at a location disposed
between said plurality of tapes, and a delivery fan wheel
having a plurality of elements which at least partially
define pockets having open outer end portions which are
movable along a circular path, said fan wheel being
rotatable about an axis which extends transversely to a
path of movement of said tape means at the discharge



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station, said outer end portions of said pockets being
spaced from said corrugator means by a distance which is
less than the distance between the leading and trailing end
portions of a signature during at least a portion of the
movement of the outer portions of the pockets along the
circular path to enable a leading end portion of each of
the signatures in turn to move through the open outer end
portion of a pocket while a portion of the signature is
engaged by said corrugator means so that said corrugator
means maintains the corrugation in the leading end portion
of the signature as the signature enters the pocket.


21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 20 further
including delivery conveyor means disposed adjacent to a
side of said fan wheel opposite from said discharge station
for receiving signatures from fan wheel.


22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said
corrugator means includes a roll, a circular inner layer of
material extending around said roll, means for connecting
said inner layer of material to said roll, a circular outer
layer of material extending around said inner layer of
material, surface means connected with said outer layer of
material for sequentially engaging a major side surface of
each signature of a plurality of signatures at a location
between said tapes, and hook and loop fastener means for



-34-

releasably interconnecting said inner and outer layers of
material, said hook and loop fastener means including a
plurality of loops which are disposed between said inner and
outer layers of material and which are connected with a first
one of said inner and outer layers of material and a plurality
of hooks which are disposed between said inner and outer
layers of material and which are connected with a second one
of said inner and outer layers of material, said plurality of
hooks being engageable with said plurality of loops to
releasably interconnect said inner and outer layers of
material.

23. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that
the deformation means includes a roll which has an area with a
first diameter and an area with a second diameter which is
larger than the first diameter, and the second area of the
roll furthermore has a shape-embossing means for the elastic
deformation of each signature.

24. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first
conveyor means includes a multiplicity of belts which are in
contact with the respective opposite sides of a signature, and
a means for moving the said belts in order to move a signature
situated between these belts, the deformation means including
a shape-embossing means for the deformation of each signature
while the latter is situated between the said belts and is
being conveyed by the said belts.


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25. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the
deformation means has a shape-embossing means for exerting
forces on one side surface of each signature.

26. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the
multiplicity of belts includes first and second belts, spaced
apart, each of which has a side surface for contact with the
same side surface of a signature and the deformation means for
the deformation of each signature includes a shape-embossing
means for contact with one side surface of each signature in
positions between which the said first and second belts are in
contact with the side surface of the respective signature.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the side
surfaces of the said first and second belts and the side
surfaces of the signatures which come into contact one after
the other with the said first and second belts move at the
same speed while being conveyed sequentially through the
deformation means; and wherein the deformation means includes
a means for moving the shape-embossing means at a speed which
is greater than the speed of movement of the side surfaces of
the signatures through the deformation means, slip arising
between the shape-embossing means and the side surfaces of the
signatures when these come into contact one after the other
with the shape-embossing means.


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28. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the
deformation means includes a base, a layer of material, the
outer side of which comes into contact with the respective
signatures, and a hook and loop fastening means for releasably
connecting the said layer of material to the said base, the
said hook and loop fastening means including a multiplicity of
loops and a multiplicity of hooks which can be connected to
the said loops, the said loops and hooks serving for the
releasable connection of the layer of material to the base.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the outer
side of the said layer of material is formed by a further
multiplicity of loops.

30. Folding mechanism of a web-fed rotary printing
machine according to claim 1 wherein the deformation means
includes a roll which is surrounded by an inner layer of
material, means for connecting the inner layer of material to
the said roll, a circumferential outer layer of material
extending around the said inner layer of material, a surface
means, connected to the said outer layer of material, for
sequential contact with the majority of a side surface of each
signature, and a hook and loop fastening means for connecting
the said inner and outer layer of material releasably to one
another, the said hook and loop fastening means having a
multiplicity of loops, which are situated between the said
inner and outer layers of material and are connected to a


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first one of the said inner and outer layers of material, and
having a multiplicity of hooks, which are situated between the
said inner and outer layer of material and are connected to a
second one of the said inner and outer layers of material, and
the said multiplicity of hooks being connectable to the said
multiplicity of loops in order to connect the said inner and
outer layer of material releasably to one another.

31. Apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the surface
means comprises a multiplicity of loops of the same nature as
the multiplicity of loops of the said hook and loop fastening
means.

32. Apparatus according to claim 9 including a first
conveyor means for sequentially conveying signatures and a
second conveyor means for conveying the signatures received
from said first conveyor means are additionally provided, said
first conveyor means having a discharge section through which
the signatures move one after the other from said first
conveyor means to said second conveyor means, said roll being
situated on the discharge portion of said first conveyor
means, said shape-embossing means coming into contact
sequentially with side surfaces of the signatures in order to
form deformations extending between the loading and trailing
end portions of the signatures, said roll being situated at a
distance from the said second conveyor means which is less
than the distance between the leading and trailing end


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portions of the signatures to enable the leading end portion
of each signature to move into the second conveyor means while
the signature is still in contact with the said shape-
embossing means.

33. Apparatus according to claim 30 characterised in
that the roll has a metal base with a cylindrical outer
surface and an annular body made of polymeric material which
screens the cylindrical outer surface of the said base, and
the said first layer of material is attached firmly to the
said annular body.

34. A signature handling apparatus comprising first
conveyor means for sequentially conveying signatures, second
conveyor means for conveying signatures received from said
first conveyor means, said first conveyor means having a
discharge portion through which signatures sequentially move
from said first conveyor means to said second conveyor means,
said first conveyor means including a first plurality of tapes
engaging a first plurality of rolls with a longitudinal run of
said first plurality of tapes extending between a first roll
of the first plurality of rolls at a location spaced from the
discharge portion of said first conveyor means and a second
roll of the first plurality of rolls at the discharge portion
of said first conveyor means, said first conveyor means
further including a second plurality of tapes engaging a
second plurality of rolls with a first roll of the second


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plurality of rolls disposed at the discharge portion of said
first conveyor means adjacent to the longitudinal run of said
first plurality of tapes at a location disposed between and
spaced along said first plurality of tapes from said first and
second rolls of said first plurality of rolls, and corrugator
means located at the discharge portion of said first conveyor
means for forming corrugations extending between leading and
trailing end portions of the signatures, said corrugator means
being mounted for rotation with said first roll of said second
plurality of rolls and being engageable with each of the
signatures in turn at a location spaced along said first
plurality of tapes from said first and second rolls of said
first plurality of rolls to form a corrugation in each of the
signatures in turn while a side of the signature opposite from
said corrugator means is in engagement with the longitudinal
run of the first plurality of tapes by pressing a portion of
each signature in turn into space disposed between tapes of
the first plurality of tapes at a location spaced from the
first and second rolls of the first plurality of rolls, said
corrugator means being spaced from said second conveyor means
by a distance which is less than the distance between the
leading and trailing end portions of the signatures to enable
the leading end portion of each one of the signatures in turn
to move to said second conveyor means while the one signature
is engaged by said corrugator means.


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35. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said
second conveyor means includes a plurality of pockets which
are sequentially moved past the discharge portion of said
first conveyor means, each of said pockets including surface
means for engaging a side surface of a signature while the
signature is engaged by said corrugator means.

36. An apparatus as set forth in claim 35 wherein said
second conveyor means includes means for moving said pockets
along a continuous circular path at least a portion of which
is spaced from said corrugator means by a distance which is
less than the distance between the leading and trailing end
portions of the signatures.

37. An apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said
corrugator means includes a corrugator roll having a first
portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a
second diameter which is greater than said first diameter,
said second portion of said roll including resiliently
yieldable surface means for resiliently deflecting each of the
signatures in turn to form a corrugation in each of the
signatures in turn.

38. A signature handling apparatus as set forth in claim
34 wherein a plurality of longitudinally extending spaces are
disposed between adjacent tapes of said first plurality of
tapes, said corrugator means including a cylindrical


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corrugation section which is aligned with one of the
longitudinally extending spaces between adjacent tapes of said
first plurality of tapes, said cylindrical corrugation section
having a cylindrical outer side surface which engages each of
the signatures in turn at a location aligned with said one
longitudinally extending space between adjacent tapes of said
first plurality of tapes.

39. A signature handling apparatus comprising a roll, a
cylindrical inner layer extending around said roll, means for
connecting said inner layer to said roll, a radially yieldable
cylindrical outer layer extending around said inner layer and
engageable with a major side surface of each signature of a
plurality of signatures, and a cylindrical layer of hook and
loop fastener means extending around said cylindrical inner
layer for releasably interconnecting said inner and outer
layers and for yieldably supporting said cylindrical outer
layer, said cylindrical layer of hook and loop fastener means
being disposed in a coaxial relationship with and being
disposed between said inner and outer layers, said hook and
loop fastener means including a plurality of loops which are
disposed in a cylindrical array between said inner and outer
layers and which are connected with a second one of said inner
and outer layers, said plurality of hooks being engageable
with said plurality of loops to releasably interconnect said
inner and outer layers.


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40. An apparatus as set forth in claim 39 wherein said
roll includes a metal base having a cylindrical outer side
surface and an annular body of polymeric material
circumscribing said cylindrical outer side surface of said
base, said first layer of material being fixedly secured to
said annular body.

41. A signature handling apparatus for use in handling
signatures having a folded edge portion disposed opposite from
an open edge portion, said apparatus comprising first conveyor
means for sequentially conveying signatures with leading and
trailing end portions of the signatures extending between the
folded and open edge portions of the signatures, second
conveyor means for conveying signatures received from said
first conveyor means, said first conveyor means having a
discharge portion through which signatures sequentially move
from said first conveyor means to said second conveyor means,
and corrugator means located at the discharge portion of said
first conveyor means for forming corrugations adjacent to the
open edge portions of the signatures and extending between
leading and trailing end portions of the signatures in a
parallel relationship with the folded edge portions of the
signatures, said corrugator means being spaced from said
second conveyor means by a distance which is less than the
distance between the leading and trailing end portions of the
signatures to enable the leading end portion of each one of
the signatures in turn to move to said second conveyor means


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while the one signature is engaged by said corrugator means
and to enable any tendency for the leading end portion of the
one signature to deflect as the leading end portion of the one
signature moves from said first conveyor means to said second
conveyor means to be resisted by the corrugation formed in the
one signature, said corrugator means including a base, a layer
of material having a cylindrical outer side for engaging each
of the signatures in turn, and resiliently yieldable fastener
means disposed radially inwardly of said outer side for
releasably connecting said layer of material with said base
and for yieldably supporting said layer of material to enable
said layer of material to resiliently deflect each of the
signatures in turn to form corrugations without permanent
deformation of the signatures.

42. A signature handling apparatus as set forth in claim
41 wherein said fastener means includes a plurality of loops
and a plurality of hooks which are engageable with the
plurality of loops to releasably connect the layer of material
with the base.

43. A signature handling apparatus as set forth in claim
42 wherein said cylindrical outer side of said layer of
material is formed by a second plurality of loops having the
same construction as the plurality of loops which are
engageable with the plurality of hooks.


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44. A signature handing apparatus for use in handling
signatures having a folded edge portion disposed opposite from
an open edge portion, said apparatus comprising first conveyor
means for sequentially conveying signatures with leading and
trailing end portions of the signatures extending between the
folded and open edge portions of the signatures, said first
conveyor means being operable to sequentially convey the
signatures along a path with the folded and open edge portions
of the signatures extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of
the path and with leading and trailing end portions of the
signatures extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of
the path, second conveyor means for conveying signatures
received from said first conveyor means, said first conveyor
means having a discharge portion through which signatures
sequentially move from said first conveyor means to said
second conveyor means, and corrugator means located at the
discharge portion of said first conveyor means for forming
corrugations adjacent to the open edge portions of the
signatures and extending between the leading and trailing end
portions of the signatures in a parallel relationship with the
folded edge portions of the signatures without permanent
deformation of the signatures, said corrugator means being
spaced from said second conveyor means by a distance which is
less than the distance between leading and trailing end
portions of the signatures, said second conveyor means
including first surface means for engaging the leading end
portions of the signatures while the signatures are engaged by


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said corrugator means to enable any tendency for the leading
end portion of a signature to deflect as the leading end
portion of a signature moves from said first conveyor means to
said second conveyor means to be resisted by the portion of a
corrugation formed in the signature, said corrugator means
including a roll, a cylindrical inner layer extending around
said roll, a cylindrical inner layer extending around said
roll, means for connecting said inner layer to said roll, a
cylindrical outer layer extending around said inner layer and
engageable with a major side surface of each of the signatures
in turn and remaining in engagement with the major side
surface of each of the signatures in turn until after a
leading end portion of the signature has moved into engagement
with said first surface means, and a cylindrical layer of hook
and loop fastener means extending around said cylindrical
inner layer for releasably interconnecting said inner and
outer layers and for yieldably supporting said cylindrical
outer layer to enable said cylindrical outer layer to
resiliently deflect each signature in turn without permanent
deformation of the signatures, said cylindrical layer of hook
and loop fastener means being disposed in a coaxial
relationship with and being disposed between said inner and
outer layers, said hook and loop fastener means including a
plurality of loops which are disposed in a cylindrical array
between said inner and outer layers, said hook and loop
fastener means further including a plurality of hooks disposed


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radially in a cylindrical array between said inner and outer
layers.

45. An apparatus as set forth in claim 44 wherein said
outer layer includes surface means for sequentially engaging a
major side surface of each signature of the plurality of
signatures, said surface means including a plurality of loops
having the same construction as the plurality of loops of said
hook and loop fastener means, said plurality of loops of said
surface means being disposed in a cylindrical array around the
outside of said layer.

46. A signature handling apparatus comprising first
conveyor means for sequentially conveying signatures, second
conveyor means for conveying signatures received from said
first conveyor means, said first conveyor means having a
discharge portion through which signatures sequentially move
from said first conveyor means to said second conveyor means,
said first conveyor means including a first plurality of tapes
engaging a first plurality of rolls with a longitudinal run of
said first plurality of tapes extending between a first roll
of the first plurality of rolls at a location spaced from the
discharge portion of said first conveyor means and a second
roll of the first plurality of rolls at the discharge portion
of said first conveyor means, said first conveyor means
further including a second plurality of tapes engaging a
second plurality of rolls with a first roll of the second


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plurality of rolls disposed at the discharge portion of said
first conveyor means adjacent to the longitudinal run of said
first plurality of tapes at a location disposed between and
spaced along said first plurality of tapes from said first and
second rolls of said first plurality of rolls, and corrugator
means located at the discharge portion of said first conveyor
means for forming corrugations extending between leading and
trailing end portions of the signatures, said corrugator means
being mounted for rotation with said first roll of said second
plurality of rolls and being engageable with each of the
signatures in turn at a location spaced along said first
plurality of tapes from said first and second rolls of said
first plurality of rolls to form a corrugation in each of the
signatures in turn while a side of the signature opposite from
said corrugator means is in engagement with the longitudinal
run of the first plurality of tapes by pressing a portion of
each signature in turn into space disposed between tapes of
the first plurality of tapes at a location spaced from the
first and second rolls of the first plurality of rolls, said
corrugator means being spaced from said second conveyor means
by a distance which is less than the distance between the
lading and trailing end portions of the signatures to enable
the leading end portion of each one of the signatures in turn
to move to said second conveyor means while the one signature
is engaged by said corrugator means, said corrugator means
includes a circular base, a circular layer of material
circumscribing said circular base and having a circular outer


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side for engaging each of the signatures in turn, and a
circular layer or hook and loop fastener means circumscribing
said circular base for releasably connecting said circular
layer of material with said base, said circular layer of hook
and loop fastener means being coextensive with a radially
inner side of said circular layer of material and including a
plurality of loops and plurality of hooks which are engageable
with the plurality of loops to releasably connect the layer of
material with said base.

47. An apparatus as set forth in claim 46 wherein said
circular outer side of said circular layer of material is
formed by a second plurality of loops having the same
construction as the plurality of loops which are engageable
with the plurality of hooks.

48. A signature handling apparatus as set forth in claim
46 wherein a plurality of longitudinally extending spaces are
disposed between adjacent tapes of said first plurality of
tapes, said corrugator means including a cylindrical
corrugation section which is aligned with one of the
longitudinally extending spaces between adjacent tapes of said
first plurality of tapes, said cylindrical corrugation section
having a cylindrical outer side surface which engages each of
the signatures in turn at a location aligned with said one
longitudinally extending space between tapes of said first
plurality of tapes to press a portion of each of the


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signatures in turn into said one longitudinally extending
space between adjacent tapes of said first plurality of tapes.

49. An apparatus as set forth in claim 46 wherein said
second conveyor means includes a plurality of pockets which
are sequentially moved past the discharge portion of said
first conveyor means, each of said pockets including surface
means for engaging a side surface of a signature while the
signature is engaged by said corrugator means.

50. An apparatus as set forth in claim 49 wherein said
second conveyor means includes means for moving said pockets
along a continuous circular path at least a portion of which
is spaced from said corrugator means by a distance which is
less than the distance between the leading and trailing end
portions of the signatures.

51. A signature handling apparatus comprising a roll, a
cylindrical inner layer extending around said roll, means for
connecting said inner layer to said roll, a radially yieldable
cylindrical outer layer extending around said inner layer and
engageable with a major side surface of each signature of a
plurality of signatures, and a cylindrical layer of hook and
loop fastener means extending around said cylindrical inner
layer for releasably interconnecting said inner and outer
layers and for yieldably supporting said cylindrical outer
layer, said cylindrical layer of hook and loop fastener means


-50-

being disposed in a coaxial relationship with and being
disposed between said inner and outer layers, said hook and
loop fastener means including a plurality of loops which are
disposed in a cylindrical array between said inner and outer
layers and which are connected with a first one of said inner
and outer layers and a plurality of hooks which are disposed
in cylindrical array between said inner and outer layers and
which are connected with a second one of said inner and outer
layers, said plurality of hooks being engageable with said
plurality of loops to releasably interconnect said inner and
outer layers, said outer layer including surface means for
sequentially engaging a major side surface of each signature
of the plurality of signatures, said surface means including a
plurality of loops having the same construction as the
plurality of loops of said hook and loop fastener means, said
plurality of loops of said surface means being disposed in a
cylindrical array around the outside of said outer layer.

52. A signature handling apparatus comprising a roll, a
cylindrical inner layer extending around said roll, means for
connecting said inner layer to said roll, a radially yieldable
cylindrical outer layer extending around said inner layer and
engageable with a major side surface of each signature of a
plurality of signatures, and a cylindrical layer of hook and
loop fastener means extending around said cylindrical inner
layer for releasably interconnecting said inner and outer
layers and for yieldably supporting said cylindrical outer


-51-

layer, said cylindrical layer of hook and loop fastener means
being disposed in a coaxial relationship with and being
disposed between said inner and outer layers, said hook and
loop fastener means including a plurality of loops which are
disposed in a cylindrical array between said inner and outer
layers and which are connected with a first one of said inner
and outer layers and a plurality of hooks which are disposed
in a cylindrical array between said inner and outer layers and
which are connected with a second one of said inner and outer
layers, said plurality of hooks being engageable with said
plurality of loops to releasably interconnect said inner and
outer layers, said apparatus further including first conveyor
means for sequentially conveying signatures, second conveyor
means for conveying signatures received from said first
conveyor means, said first conveyor means having a discharge
portion through which signatures sequentially move from said
first conveyor means to said second conveyor means, said roll
being located at the discharge portion of said first conveyor
means, said surface means being sequentially engageable with
side surfaces of the signatures to form corrugations extending
between leading and trailing end portions of the signatures,
said roll being spaced from said second conveyor means by a
distance which is less than the distance between the leading
and trailing end portions of the signatures to enable the
leading end portion of each one of the signatures in turn to
move to said second conveyor means while the one signature is
engaged by said surface means.


-52-

53. A signature handling apparatus comprising first
conveyor means for sequentially conveying signatures, second
conveyor means for conveying signatures received from said
first conveyor means, said first conveyor means having a
discharge portion through which signatures sequentially move
from said first conveyor means to said second conveyor means,
and corrugator means located at the discharge portion of said
first conveyor means for forming corrugations extending
between leading and trailing end portions of the signatures,
said corrugator means being spaced from said second conveyor
means by a distance which is less than the distance between
the leading and trailing end portions of the signatures to
enable the leading end portion of each one of the signatures
in turn to move to said second conveyor means while the one
signature is engaged by said corrugator means, said corrugator
means including a circular base, a circular layer of material
circumscribing said circular base and having a circular outer
side for engaging each of the signatures in turn, and a
circular layer of hook and loop fastener means circumscribing
said circular base for releasably connecting said circular
layer of material with said base, said circular layer of hook
and loop fastener means including a circular array of loops
extending around said base and a circular array of hooks
extending around said base, said circular array of hooks being
engageable with the circular array of loops to releasably
connect the layer of material with said base.


-53-

54. An apparatus as set forth in claim 53 wherein said
circular outer side of said circular layer of material is
formed by a second circular array of loops.

Description

~- 6 ~
' Z~06=472



( SIGNATURE HANDLING APPARATUS


Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to a signature handling
apparatus in which signatures (or sheets) are sequentially
transferred from one conveyor to another conveyor.
A known signature handling apparatus includes a tape
(or belt) conveyor which sequentially moves signatures to a
discharge station. At the discharge station, the
signatures are transferred to pockets of a fan wheel. The
fan wheel conveyor then conveys the signatures to a belt
(or tape) type delivery conveyor.
The speed of operation of this known signature handling
apparatus is limited by the ability of signatures to be
transferred from the tape conveyor to the pockets of the
fan wheel conveyor. This is because the signatures are
formed of one or more flexible sheets of material which
tend to deflect due to air resistance or turbulence and
allow the signatures to open and/or move in a direction


6472




other than the desired direction as they are transferred
from the tape conveyor to the fan wheel. This uncontrolled
transfer of signatures through mid-air between the tape
conveyor and the fan wheel limits the speed of movement of
the signatures, in at least one known signature handling
apparatus, to approximately 1,200 feet per minute.


Brief Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a new and improved
signature handling apparatus in which a first conveyor has
a discharge station at which signatures are transferred to
a second conveyor. In order to increase the speed at which
the signatures can move between conveyors, one or more
corrugations are formed in the signatures to stiffen the
signatures. Thus, a corrugator assembly is located at the
discharge station of the first conveyor and sequentially
forms corrugations extending between leading and trailing
end portions of the signatures to stiffen the signatures.
Since it is desired to have the signatures free of
corrugations after the transfer has been made from the
first conveyor to the second conveyor, the corrugator
assembly resiliently deforms the signatures to form
temporary corrugations which disappear after the signatures
have moved out of the corrugator assembly. To have the
corrugations maintained in the signatures during their high
speed movement between conveyors, the corrugator assembly


2~ ;472
--3



is spaced from the second conveyor by a distance which is
less than the distance between leading and trailing end
portions of the signatures. Therefore, during movement of
a leading portion of a signature through the space between
the two conveyors and during initial engagement of the
signature with the second conveyor, a trailing portion of
the signature is disposed in the corrugator assembly.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to
provide a new and improved signature handling apparatus in
which signatures are transferred from a first conveyor to a
second conveyor and wherein a corrugator assembly in the
first conveyor is spaced from the second conveyor by a
distance which is less than the distance between leading
and trailing end portions of a signature to enable the
leading end portion of a signature to move to the second
conveyor while the signature is engaged by the corrugator
assembly.


Brief Description of the Drawings
The foregoing and other objects and features of the
present invention will become more apparent upon a
consideration of the following description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a folder assembly
having a signature handling apparatus in which signatures
are transferred from a tape conveyor to a fan wheel;




t

2D06472
--4--



Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic illustration
of the relationship between a corrugator assembly at a
discharge station of the tape conveyor and the fan wheel as
a signature moves into the fan wheel;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged, somewhat schematicized view,
illustrating the manner in which a corrugation is formed in
a signature by the corrugator assembly;
Fig. 4 is an illustration depicting a signature having
a corrugation formed therein;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged schematic fragmentary sectional
view depicting the construction of a corrugating section of
the corrugator assembly of Fig. 3; and
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary schematic illustration of a
corrugation roll in an embodiment of the invention which
forms a plurality of corrugations in a signature.


Description of a Specific
Preferred Embodiment of the Invention
Folder Assembly
A diverter folder assembly 10 (Fig. 1) includes a
signature forming section 12 and a signature handling
section 14. Signature forming apparatus 16 in the
signature forming section 12 is operable to crease and cut
a longitudinally extending sheet material web 18. The
signature forming apparatus 16 includes forming rolls 22
which cooperate with a formerboard 19 to form a
longitudinally extending crease in the web 18 in a known


2006472


-' manner. Nipping rolls 24 and 26 press against the web to
further form the longitudinally extending crease in the web.
The creased web is moved through lead-in rollers 30 to
cutting cylinders 32 and 34. During each revolution of the
cutting cylinders 32 and 34, blades cut or sever the web in
a direction extending perpendicular to the crease to form
signatures 40 (Fig. 4) in a known manner.
, Each of the signatures 40 has a closed or creased edge
portion 42 (Fig. 4) which is disposed opposite from an open
edge portion 44. The signature has an end portion 46 which
is leading as the signature moves out of the cutting
cylinders 32 and 34 and an end portion 48 which is trailing
as the signature moves out of the cutting cylinders.
Opposite major outer side surfaces 52 and 54 of the
signature 40 are flat when the signature leaves the cutting
cylinders 32 and 34.
The signature handling apparatus 14 includes two
delivery sections, that is, a left (as viewed in Fig. 1)
delivery section 58 and a right (as viewed in Fig. 1)
delivery section 60. The left delivery section 58 includes
a first or tape conveyor 64 which accelerates the
signatures 40 received from the signature forming apparatus
12 to separate their leading and trailing end portions.
Diverter rolls 68 and 70 direct every other signature to
the left delivery section 58 and a second conveyor or fan
wheel 74.


2006472




In the right delivery section 60 tFig. 1), a first or
tape conveyor 76 cooperates with the tape conveyor 64 to
sequentially accelerate the signatures 40 received from the
cutting cylinders 32 and 34. The diverter rolls 68 and 70
enable the first or tape conveyor 76 to sequentially convey
every other signature to a second conveyor or fan wheel 78.
During operation of the folder assembly 10, the
diverter rolls 68 and 70 receive a steady stream of
signatures from the cutting cylinders 32 and 34. The
signatures are accelerated by cooperation between the tape
conveyors 64 and 76 to slightly separate the signatures
before they enter the nip between the diverter rolls 68 and
70. The diverter rolls 68 and 70 are rotated in timed
relationship with the cutter cylinders 32 and 34 and
alternately direct signatures to the left and right
delivery sections 58 and 60. Thus, if one signature is
directed to the left delivery section 58 by the diverter
rolls 68 and 70, the next succeeding signature is directed
to the right delivery section 60 by the diverter rolls.
When the diverter rolls 68 and 70 are in the position
shown in Fig. 1, they are effective to divert a signature
to the left delivery section 58. When the diverter rolls
68 and 70 have been rotated through 180 degrees from the
position shown in Fig. 1, the diverter rolls are effective
to direct a signature to the right delivery section 60.
The manner in which the diverter rolls 68 and 70 cooperate




~, P

_ 7




to sequentially direct signatures to the left and right
delivery sections 58 and 60 is known and will not be
further described herein to avoid prolixity of description.
The first or tape conveyor 64 in the left delivery
section 58 includes a plurality of spaced apart relatively
narrow upper tapes 82 which engage the major side surface
54 of a signature 40. Similarly, a plurality of relatively
narrow and spaced apart lower tapes 84 engage the opposite
major side surface 52 of the signature 40. The signature
40 is firmly held between the tapes 82 and 84 and moved at
a relatively high speed in a controlled manner by the tapes.
It should be understood that although only a single
tape 82 has been shown in Fig. 1, there are a plurality of
spaced apart tapes 82, specifically six tapes (see Fig. 3),
which engage the major side surface 54 of a signature.
Similarly, although only a single tape 84 has been shown in
Fig. 1, it should be understood that there are six spaced
apart tapes 84 (Fig. 3) which engage the major side surface
52 of a signature 40 at locations opposite to the locations
where the tapes 82 engage the signatures. The tapes 82 and
84 extend around guide rolls and grip opposite sides of a
signature 40 to convey the signature in a known manner
without slippage between the tapes and the signature.
In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the
second conveyor 74 is a circular fan wheel. The fan wheel
74 receives signatures from the tape conveyor 64. Thus,


Z~006472




the tape conveyor 64 has a discharge station 88 (Fig. 2)
where signatures move from the first or tape conveyor 64 to
the second conveyor or fan wheel 74. If desired, other
known types of conveyors could be substituted for the tape
conveyor 64 and/or fan wheel 74.
The fan wheel 74 includes a circular array of pockets
92 (Fig. 2) which extend radially outwardly from a hub 94.
The pockets 92 are formed by adjacent blades or fan
elements 96. The fan elements 96 cooperate to define open
outer end portions 100 of the pockets 92. The open outer
end portions 100 of the pockets 92 move along a circular
path, indicated by a dashed line 104 in Fig. 2. The axis
of rotation of the fan wheel 74 extends perpendicular to
longitudinal axes of the tapes 82 and 84.
When an open end portion 100 of a pocket 92 faces
upwardly and is adiacent to the discharge station 88, a
signature 40 moves into the pocket, in the manner shown
schematically in Fig. 2. After the fan wheel 74 has
rotated through approximately 180 degrees, the signature
moves out of the pocket, under the influence of gravity or
a mechanical stripping arm, onto a third or delivery belt
conveyor 108 (Fig. 1).
When a signature 40 moves into a pocket 92, in the
manner indicated schematically in Fig. 2, the leading end
portion 46 of the signature moves through the open outer
end 100 of the pocket. As the fan wheel 74 continues to


2006472
g

7~ rotate, in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, the
tape conveyor 64 moves the signature 40 downwardly in the
pocket 92. Thus, the tape conveyor 64 moves the signature
40 downwardly into a pocket 92 at a speed which is greater
than the speed at which the fan wheel 74 is moving the
pocket away from the discharge station 88.
As the pocket continues to rotate and the signature
moves downwardly into the pocket, a trailing end portion of
the signature 40 is released from the tape conveyor 64 at
the discharge station 88. The signature 40 then free falls
downwardly into the pocket 92 under the combined influence
of its momentum and gravity. As the signature 40 free
falls into the pocket 92, the leading end portion 46 of the
signature engages a closed inner end portion or bottom 112
of a pocket 92.
After a signature 40 has left the tape conveyor
assembly 64 and been received in a pocket 92, rotation of
the fan wheel 74 moves the signature around to a position
opposite from the discharge station 88. The signature then
falls out of the pocket 92 onto the delivery belt conveyor
108 (Fig. 1). The delivery belt conveyor 108 moves the
signature 40 out of the folder assembly 10.
The tape conveyor 76, fan wheel 78 and a delivery belt
conveyor 116 in the right delivery section 60 cooperate
with each other in the same manner as previously described
for the tape conveyor 64, fan wheel 74 and delivery belt




,

2~4~2

--10--

conveyor 108 of the left delivery section 58. Thus,
signatures 40 sequentially move from a discharge station
120 ~Fig. 1) of the tape conveyor assemb~y 76 to pockets in
a circular fan wheel 78. The signatures 40 are transferred
from the fan wheel 78 to the delivery belt conveyor 116.
The general construction and mode of operation of the
aforementioned components of the folder assembly 10 are
known. Thus, tape conveyors have previously been used to
convey signatures to fan wheels. The fan wheels have
previously been used to convey signatures to delivery belt
conveyors.
In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, it is
preferred to use two tape conveyor assemblies 64 and 76
with two fan wheels 74 and 78. However, a greater or lesser
number of conveyors could be used if desired. In addition,
conveyors of a type which is different from the illustrated
type of conveyors could be used if desired. For example,
the second conveyor 74 could include a linear array of
pockets. Of course, other known types of signature forming
apparatus 16 could be used if desired.


Corregator Assembly
In accordance with a feature of the present inventiOn,
a corruqator assembly 126 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is located at
the discharge station 88. The corrugator assembly 126
stiffens the signatures 40 by forming a corrugation 132




....

~ ~ t

2oo64~2

--ll--

(Fig. 4) in each of the signatures. The corrugation 132
extends from the leading end portion 46 of the signature 40
to the trailing end portion 48 of the signature.
The corrugation 132 stiffens the signature 40 and
causes the signature to remain closed and inhibits
deflecting during movement of the signature from the
discharge station 88 to the fan wheel 74 (Fig. 1). In the
absence of the corrugation 132, the signature 40 tends to
deflect and/or the leading end portion 46 of the signature
tends to open as the signature moves from the discharqe
station 88 toward the fan wheel 74.
By forming a corrugation 132 in each of the signatures
40 in turn, the signatures are stiffened. This inhibits
flexing of the material of the signature 40 so that the
signature tends to remain closed and inhibits deflection as
it moves from the discharge station 88 into a pocket 92 of
the fan wheel 74. Since the corrugation 132 stiffens the
signature 40 so that it tends to remain closed and inhibits
deflection as it moves through the space between the
discharge station 88 and the fan wheel 74, the signature 40
can be moved at a relatively high speed from the ~irst or
tape conveyor 64 to the second conveyor or fan wheel 74.
Thus, in one specific folder assembly, the addition of the
corrugation 132 enabled the speed of movement of the
signatures to be increased from approximately 1,200 feet
per minute to a speed of between 1,800 to 2,000 feet per
minute.




r ~ ~J

~o064q2
-12-



The specific speed at which a particular corrugated
signature 40 can be moved from the first conveyor 64 to the
second conveyor 74 will vary with many factors. Thus, the
speed at which the corrugated signature can move between
conveyors will vary with the thickness and/or flexibility
of the material of the signature. However, the speed at
which a particular signature 40 can be moved between the
conveyors is increased significantly by forming the
corrugation 132 in the signature. Since there are many
factors which affect the speed at which signatures can be
fed from the tape conveyor 64 to the fan wheel 74, it
should be understood that the present invention is not to
be considered as being limited to any particular signature
feed speed.
Although the corrugation 132 stiffens the signatures 40
so that they can be sequentially transferred from the tape
conveyor 64 to the fan wheel 74 at a relatively high speed,
the signatures should have flat major side surfaces 52 and
54 after the signatures have been delivered from the folder
assembly 10. Therefore, the corrugation 132 is temporary
and disappears after a signature 40 has moved into the fan
wheel 74.
To enable the corrugation 132 to disappear, the
corrugator assembly 126 resiliently deflects the signature
40 to form a corrugation without creasing or permanently
deforming the signature. After the signature 40 has passed


200~472


completely through the corrugator assembly 126, the natural
resilience of the sheet material forming the signature
causes the signature to return to its original
configuration. Thus, the corrugation 132 will disappear
after the signature has left the corrugator assembly 126.
The corrugation 132 remains in the signature 40 as long
as the signature is engaged by the corrugator assembly
126. This is because the corrugator assembly 126
resiliently flexes the material of the signature 40 to
establish and maintain the corrugation 132 in the signature.
The opening 100 (Fig. 2) to a fan wheel pocket 92 which
is to receive a signature 40, is spaced from the corrugator
assembly 126 by a distance which is substantially less than
the distance between the leading and trailing end portions
46 and 48 of the signature. Therefore, when a signature 40
enters the pocket 92 in the fan wheel 74, the corrugator
assembly 126 still engages the signature. This enables the
corrugator assembly 126 to maintain the corrugation 132 and
stiffen the signature 40 as the leading end portion 46 of
the signature moves through the space between the tape
conveyor 64 and fan wheel 74.
Controlled feeding of a signature 40 into a fan wheel
pocket 92 may be enhanced by maintaining the corrugation
132 throughout the large majority of the time during which
the signature is moving into the pocket. Thus, the
corrugator assembly 126 is close to the circular path 104


-- Zoo64q2
-14-



of movement of the outer end or tips 136 (Fig. 2) of the
fan elements 96. This enables a signature 40 to remain in
engagement with the corrugator assembly 126 during a large
majority of the time during which it is fed from the
discharge station 88 into a pocket 92.
When the trailing end portion 48 of a signature 40
leaves the corrugator assembly 126, more than fifty percent

! of the length of the signature between the leading and
trailing end portions 46 and 48 will be disposed in a
pocket 92 of the fan wheel 74. This means that the
corrugation 132 is maintained by the corrugator assembly
126 during the large ma]ority of the feeding of a signature
40 into a pocket 92. Therefore, the signature 40 remains
relatively stiff and easy to control.
When the trailing end portion 48 of a signature leaves
the corrugator assembly 126, the force on the signature to
establish the corrugation 132 is terminated. Therefore, at
this time, the natural resilience of the material of the
signature 40 starts to initiate elimination of the
corrugation 132. Although some slight residual of the
corrugation 132 may remain, by the time that the signature
40 has been deposited on the delivery belt conveyor 108
(Fig. 1), the corrugation will have substantially
disappeared.
The corrugator assembly 126 projects between the tapes
82 (see Fig. 3) to form the corrugation 132. The


6~7~
_ -15-



corrugator assembly 126 may have any one of many known
constructions. In the illustrated embodiment of the
invention, the corrugator assembly 126 includes a
corrugator roll 140. The corrugator roll 140 has a rigid
steel base 142 with cylindrical tape backing sections 144.
The metal base 142 also includes relatively small diameter
cylindrical intermediate sections 146 which are disposed
between and are coaxial with the tape backing sections
144. The corrugator roll 140 rotates about an axis which
extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the fan wheel
74.
A cylindrical outer side surface of each of the tape
backing sections 144 engages one side of a tape 82. The
tape backing section 144 presses the opposite side of the
tape 82 against a major side surface 54 of a signature 40
(Fig. 3). The surface speed of the tape backing section
144 and the speed of movement of the tape 82 is the same so
that there is no slippage between the tape backing section
144 and the tapes 82.
The base roll 142 of the corrugator assembly 126 is
driven in timed relationship with a tape backing roll 150
for the tapes 84. The metal tape backing roll 150 has
cylindrical tape backing sections 152 which engage the
tapes 84. It should be understood that although the
corrugator roll 140 and tape backing roll 150 appear to be
vertically aligned with each other in Fig. 3, they are


2oo64~2
-16-



actually vertically offset from each other in the manner
shown in Figs. 1 and 2. However, the rolls 140 and 150 may
be vertically aligned, if desired.
The corrugator roll 140 and tape backing roll 150 are
rotated in timed relationship with each other at the same
surface speed by meshing gears 156 and 158 (Fig. 3). The
gears 156 and 158 are secured to bearing support end
portions 160 and 162 of the rolls 140 and 150. The bearing
end support portions 160 and 162 are supported by an end
wall 164 of the folder assembly 10. The opposite end
portions of the shafts 140 and 150 are rotatably supported
on stationary stub shafts 166 and 168 which are connected
with a second side wall 170 of the folder assembly.
A cylindrical corrugation section 174 is disposed on
the corrugator roll 140 and projects between the tapes 82
into engagement with the signature 40. The cylindrical
corrugator section 174 has a larger diameter than and is
disposed in a coaxial relationship with the backing and
intermediate sections 144 and 146 of the corrugator roll
140. The cylindrical corrugator section 174 has a radius
which is greater than the sum of the radius of the tape
backing section 144 and the thickness of the tape 82.
Therefore, the corrugator section 174 projects past the
tapes 82 to resiliently deflect the signature 40 and form
the corrugation 132 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3.
In order to enable the corrugator section 174 to
resiliently deflect the signature 40 to form the corrugation


Zoo6472

-17-



132 without permanent deformation of the signature, the
outside of the corrugator section 174 is formed of a
flexible or forgiving material which does not crease the
signature 40. However, the corrugator section 174 applies
sufficient force against the signature 40 to resiliently
deflect the signature and form the corrugation 132. Since
the signature 40 is deflected as long as it is in
engagement with the corrugator section 174, the corrugation
132 remains in the signature 40 until the signature moves
out of engagement with the corrugator section.
The corrugator section 174 is disposed on a relatively
small diameter section of the base roll 142. Thus, the
corrugator section 174 is formed on a section of the base
roll 142 having the same diameter and axial extent as an
intermediate section 146 of the base roll 142.
The corrugator section 174 includes an annular
polymeric body or support ring 180 (Fig. 5) which is
secured to the base roll 142 for rotation therewith. The
annular support ring 180 has a cylindrical outer side
surface 182 with a radius which is approximately equal to
the sum of the radius of a tape backing section 144 (Fig.
3).
A resiliently deflectable crown section 186 (Fig. 5) is
secured to the support ring 180 and rotates with the
support ring and corrugator roll 140. The crown section
186, once secured to surface 182 of support ring 180, has


~006472
-18-



an outside radius which is greater than the sum of the
radius of the tape backing section 144 and the thickness of
the tape 82. Sufficient space is maintained between the
tapes 82 to enable the corrugator section 174 to project
past the tapes and form the corrugation 132.
The crown section 186 sequentially engages with
signatures 40 to form the corrugations 132. The cylindrical
crown section 186 is disposed in a coaxial relationship with
the support ring 180. The crown section 186 is radially
yieldable to enable a signature 40 to be resiliently
deflected to form the corrugation 132 without permanent
deformation of the signature.
The yieldable crown section 186 includes a cylindrical
inner layer 190 which circumscribes and is coaxial with the
support ring 180. The cylindrical inner layer 190 is
formed of cloth or fabric. The inner layer 190 is fixedly
secured to the support ring 180 by a cylindrical layer 192
of adhesive.
A cylindrical outer layer 196 (Fig. 5) is coaxial with
and circumscribes the cylindrical inner layer 190. The
cylindrical outer layer 196 is formed of a cloth or fabric
which is, to some extent at least, radially yieldable. The
outer layer 196 is releasably connected with the inner
layer 190 by a hook and loop type fastener 198 which is
disposed between the inner and outer layers 190 and 196.
The hook and loop type fastener 198 is releasable to enable


20064'72

--19--

the outer layer 196 to be disconnected from the inner layer
190 and replaced when the outer layer becomes worn by
engagement with signatures 40.
The hook and loop type fastener 198 includes a
plurality of hooks 202 which are fixedly connected to and
extend radially outwardly from the inner layer 190. The
fastener 198 also includes a plurality of loops 204 which
are fixedly connected to and extend radially inwardly from
the outer layer 196. The hooks 202 releasably engage the
loops 204 to interconnect the inner and outer layers. The
hooks and loops 202 and 204 are formed of a synthetic
material which causes them to adhere when they are pressed
together.
Although the hooks 202 have been shown as projecting
outwardly from the inner layer 190 and the loops 204 as
projecting inwardly from the outer layer, their positions
could be reversed. Thus, the hooks could project inwardly
from the outer layer and the loops could project outwardly
from the inner layer if desired. The hook and loop type
fastener 198 is of a well known construction and is
commercially available under the trademark "VELCRO". The
hook and loop type fastener 198 can, to some extent at
least, be compressed to allow the outer layer 196 to yield
or move toward the inner layer 190 under the influence of
forces transmitted to the outer layer 196 during the
formation of the corrugation 132.




v ~ 3
.... .

- - - 200~;4'72
-20-



- The crown section 186 has a signature engaging
cylindrical outer side 208 (Fig. 5). The signature
engaging outer side 208 is flexible to prevent permanent
deformation of a signature during the formation of a
corrugation 132. In the illustrated embodiment of the
invention, the cylindrical outer side 208 is formed by
resiliently deflectable loops 210 which project radially
outwardly from the outer layer 196. The loops 210 are of
the same construction as the loops 204 of the fastener 198.
The cylindrical outer side 208 of the crown section 186
yields minimum marking to the signature 40. However,
although the resilient outer side 208 having the
construction described herein is preferred, other types of
crown sections could be used, if desired. For example, the
corrugator section 174 could be a chrome plate wheel, a
circular brush, a circular plastic wheel, etc., if desired.
The outer side 208 of the crown section 186 (Fig. 5)
moves at a higher surface speed than the signature 40.
Therefore, there is slippage or sliding engagement between
the outer side 208 and the major side surface 54 (Figs. 3
and 4) of a signature as the corrugation 132 is formed.
This slippage results in a yieldable brushing type
engagement between the crown 186 (Fig. 5) on the corrugation
section 174 and a signature 40 to resiliently deflect the
signature without permanently deforming the signature. If
desired, the outer side 208 of the crown section 186 could
move at the same speed as the signature 40.


- ;Z006472

-21-



The construction of the crown section 186 of the
corrugator section 174 enables the outer layer 196 to be
readily disconnected from the inner layer 190 when the
outer layer becomes worn. Thus, the hook and loop type
fastener 198 can be readily released to enable a worn outer
layer 196 to be removed from the inner layer 190. A new
outer layer can then be readily connected with the inner
layer 190 by the hook and loop type fastener 198.
The crown section 186 could be formed with a different
construction if desired. It is also contemplated that the
corrugator assembly 126 could have other known
constructions. For example, the corrugator assembly could
have a stationary member which engages the signatures to
resiliently deflect the signatures.


Corregator Assembly - Second Embodiment
In the embodiment of the corrugator assembly 126
illustrated in Fig. 3, a single corrugator section 174
forms a single corrugation 132 in a signature 40. However,
it is contemplated that it may be desirable to form a
plurality of corrugations in each signature in order to
further stiffen the signature. In the embodiment of the
invention illustrated in Fig. 6, a plurality of corrugator
sections are provided to form a plurality of corrugations
in each signature. Since the embodiment of the invention
illustrated in Fig. 6 is generally similar to the




d

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embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-5,
similar numerals will be utilized to designate similar
components, the suffix letter "a" being associated with the
elements of Fig. 6 to avoid confusion.
A corrugator assembly 126a includes a corrugator roll
140a having a plurality of corrugator sections 174a. The
cylindrical corrugator sections 174a project radially
outwardly from cylindrical tape backing sections 144a by a
distance which is greater than the sum of the radius of a
cylindrical tape backing section 144a and the thickness of
a tape 82a. Therefore, the corrugator sections 174a
project between the spaced apart tapes 82a and are
effective to form a plurality of spaced apart corrugations
which extend between leading and trailing end poortions of
a signature at spaced apart locations on the signature.
Although three corrugator sections 174a have been shown in
Fig. 6, a greater or lesser number of corrugator sections
could be used if desired.
Each of the corrugator sections 174a has the same
construction as the corrugator section 174. Thus, each
corrugator section 174a has a polymeric support ring which
is secured to a metal base roll 142a. A resilient crown,
corresponding to the crown 186 of Fig. 5, is connected with
each of the support rings. Each of the crowns includes
inner and outer layers which are releasably interconnected
by hook and loop type fasteners. The crowns have outer
sides formed by loops, similar to the loops 210 of Fig. 5.


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Conclusion
The present invention provides a new and improved
signature handling apparatus 14 in which a first conveyor
64 has a discharge station 88 at which signatures 40 are
transferred to a second conveyor 74. In order to increase
the speed at which the signatures 40 can move between
conveyors 64 and 74, one or more corrugations 132 are
formed in the signatures 40 to stiffen the signatures.
Thus, a corrugator assembly 126 is located at the discharge
station 88 of the first conveyor 64 and sequentially forms
corrugations 132 extending between leading and trailing end
portions 46 and 48 of the signatures 40 to stiffen the
signatures.
Since it is desired to have the signatures 40 free of
corrugations 132 after the transfer has been made from the
first conveyor 64 to the second conveyor 74, the corrugator
assembly 126 resiliently deforms the signatures to form
temporary corrugations which disappear after the signatures
have moved out of the corrugator assembly. To have the
corrugations 132 maintained in the signatures 40 during
their high speed movement between conveyors 64 and 74, the
corrugator assembly is spaced from the second conveyor
assembly 74 by a distance which is less than the distance
between leading and trailing end portions 46 and 48 of the
signatures. Therefore, during movement of a leading
portion of a signature 40 through the space between the two




.. . . ..

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conveyors 64 and 74 and during initial engagement of the
signature with the second conveyor, a trailing portion of
the signature is disposed in the corrugator assembly 126.
The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of
the invention have related to one known type of corrugator
assembly 126 in which a rotatable corrugator roll 140 or
140a has been used to form one or more corrugations in a
signature. However, other types of corrugator assemblies
which do not permanently mark or deform a signature could
be used if desired. Thus, it is contemplated that the
corrugations could be formed by one or more stationary
guides which press against the signatures. Another way of
forming the corrugations would be to use air blasts. If
desired, offset tapes on opposite sides of the signatures
could be used to form the corrugations. Therefore, the
claim language setting forth the invention is not to be
construed as being limited to any particular type o~
corrugator assembly except where required by the specific
wording of a claim.

Representative Drawing