Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
W~ ~]/09802 PCT/US90/07546
ARTICLE SEPERATING AND DILIVERING APPARATVS 2 0 ~ 7 2 0 9
Back~round Of The Present Invention
This invention relates to a multiple point
delivery apparatus ~or separating an~ delivering a
series of articles to a plurality of discrete receiving
devices.
In the forming of printe~ articles, a series
of the articles are formed and subsequently
assembled. The forming of the articles preferably
involves an on-line system in which a web of indefinite
length is passed through printing, cutting and fonming
a~paratus to form the individual articles. Ihe
printing, forming and processing can normally be
completed in high speed in-line apparatus. The
articles from the in-line apparatus are normally
discharged at a rate in excess of that which can be
incorporated in the final processing, such as assembly,
stacking or the like. To maintain the on-line
operation, various separating systems have been
propo~ed for receiving of the in-line articles as
produced and diverting of the articles into two or more
streams thereby permitting a reduced rate of final
assembly and processing. A widely proposed system
includes a belt conveyor system havinq an in-line path,
and one or more angulated of~set paths. Diverting
members selectivelY move into the path of the incoming
single supply stream to selectively divert selected
articles from the in-line path to one o~ the alternate
paths. For example, U.~. Patent 4,666,14fi which issued
May 19, 1987, discloses a vertical stream or flow
system having a diverting system including a vertical
in-line belt conveyor and an angulated offset belt
conveyor. A segmental deflector moves thrugh the
vertical path and deflects alternate articles into the
offset path. A bull-nose guide between the two
conveyors also guides the articles into the alternate
pathO British patent 1,2~8,969 of October 14, 1970
discloses a horizontal conveyor for movinq sheets in a
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Wo91/0980~ 2~720~ PCT/US90/07546
horizontal path through a divertinq ~ap. An angled
conveyor at the end of the gap transports the sheets
from the horizontal path. A pair o~ oppositely
rotating diverters move through the belt and gap to
enga~e the sheets and divert and then in the alternate
paths. UOS. Patent 3,391,777 which issued ;luly 9,
196~, discloses a similar system with pad-like members
movable between two horizontal levels and a single
diverter for supportin~ the sheets in one path and
havinq an enlarged cams ~or raising the wheel to the
alternate path. European patent application number
024465n, published November 11, 1987 also discloses a
sheet cutting and diverting apparatus.
With the increasing speed sDecifications used
in printing lines and other high speed processing
lines, the demands on the smooth controlled movement of
printed paper sheets or articles and the like has
placed greater demands on the design of separating and
diverting equipment. In particular, the product must
be positively moved throughout the system to establish
and maintain smooth, reliàble flow of product with
minimal damage and product waste. This requires very
care~ul synchronization between the movement of the
mechanisms involved including in-feeding, transport
through the divertinq mechanism and withdraw of the
product from the divertin~ mechanism.
Summary o~ the Present Invention
The present invention is a high speed multiple
point delivery apparatus including an in-feed belt
conveyor and a multiple point diverting unit with a
pair of conveyor units having diverging delivery
paths. The of~set conveyor unit may have the path
extended upwardly or downwardly with respect to the
horizontal path. The horizontal belt unit includes a
continuous top belt conveyor and an interrupted bottom
belt conveyor. The top belt unit includes a short
initial section and a downstream section spaced from
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the initial section. The downstream spacing of the top
belt conveyor section defines a sheet path with a
diverting gap. ~iverting elements pass through the gap
supporting the sheet into one or the other of the
conveyor units The bottom conveyor unit has an
initial section formed as a common portion for the
initial section of the horizontal conveyor unit, and
belt conveyor projecting downwardly from the initial
section. The pair of diverters have one or more
diverting segments having a smooth circular cam surface
and rotate with their axis located with respect to the
respective paths to pass the cam surface through the
horizontal and offset paths essentially at the
downstream end of the diverting gap. The diverters and
sheet move with a generally match surface speed and
preferably with the diverters at a somewhat greater
surface speed. The cam segment has a circumferential
length substantially greater than the length of the
gap, and establishes an increased time within the gap,
and maintains maximum support of the sheet within the
gap. The cam segment preferably has a total length
equal to about three times the length of the diverting
gap. ~he cam surface moves to engage the leading end
of the sheet as it moves into the gap. The axis of
rotation of the lower cam segmental diverter is
essentially vertically located with respect to the axis
of the in-feed end of the conveyor belt of the
horizontal conveyor unit. The forward projecting end
of a sheet or article is immediately picked up by the
curved cam surface and smoothly transferred in the
horizontal path. Alternately, the upper curved cam
surfaces divert the sheet into the conveyor belts of
the offset conveyor at the inlet end of the belt or
run.
Applicant has found that the location of the
gap and the particular conveyor arrangement in
combination with the appropriate location with the
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divertinq members has produced a reliable and effective
hiyh speed multi-point delivery system for on-line
application in the printinq art particularly adapted
for application in the high speed printing and graphic
artsO
In accordance with another feature, the
various basic components of the line are formed as
separate building modules, with the modules
particularly constructed to allow assembly of the
modular components into various processing systems.
Generally, basic to the modular construction
is the forming of self-contained modular units having
appropriate supporting side frame structures supporting
the working components and related to other modules to
secure th0 frame structures into abutting relationship
to form particular machines. Generally, all modular
units are formed with essentially flat vertical planar
end edges, which can be directly connected by
connection portions which are mirror images. The edges
preferabl~ have corresponding spaced horizontal holes
for boltinq of the frames in abuttinq engagement.
This modular construction allows the
completely separate self-contained structures each
havinq its own drive input for operating the
corresponding elements The drive inputs can be
interconnected to each other to form a common drive
assembly or separately driven depending upon the
application and combination to which the several
components are aDplied.
Brief Description Of The Drawings .
In the drawinqs:
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an
apparatus constructed in accordance with the present
invention for receiving of a series of sheet members
from a cutter unit and deliverinq of the formed sheets
into a plurality of deliverv points,
,
'~ 91/09802 ' PCT/~9~7~4
;~,
F;g. ~ is a fragmentary plan view of the
diverting unit shown in Fig. 1 with the divertin~ unit
shown in a developed illustration to more clearly show
the drive connection;
Fig. 3 is a vertical section illustrating the
position of the diverters; and
Fig~ 4 is a view illustrating the modular
construction of the several machines forming a web
processing line, such as shown in Figs. 1-3~
~ escription Of The Illustrated Embodiment
Referring to Figs. 1 and ~, a line is shown
for processing a pair of side-by-side webs 1 o~
indefinite length to form a plurality of individual
sheets 20 The sheets may be single elements or folded
multiple paDer elements and the terminology sheets is
used herein to generallv refer to all such elements and
the like. The webs moving in parallel in a common
horizontal plane. The webs 1 pass through a multi-
point delivery sYstem in which sheets ~ from each web
section are delivered to a pair of vertically stacked
downstream receiving stations ~ and 4, and receiving
stations 5 and 6. The slit web is passed through a
rotary sheeter ~ which is operable to cut successive
lengths of the webs 1 an~ la to form and discharge the
sheets 2 in a horizontal plane. A coupling belt
conveyor 9 has its upstream end located immediately
adjacent the discharge location of the sheeter and
transports and delivers the sheets into the multiple
point delivery apparatus 10. The multiple point
delivery apparatus ln, in its association with the
other elements, ~articularly forms the subject matter
and embodiment of the present invention.
The unit ln includes a horizontal conveyor
unit 11 mounted in-line with the couplinq belt conveyor
. As shown in Fig~ 2, the flow path for sheets 2 and
2a are symmetrical in the machine, and the receivinq
station ~ is hehind station ~ in Fig. 1, as shown by
WO91/09802 PCT~US90/07546 -
~ 6
breaking away a portion of the station 3. An offset
conveyor unit 12 has a downwardly pro~ecting conveyor
portion 13 for receiving o sheets 2 and transport of
the sheet downwardly for discharge into the receiving
stations 4 or 6, with web 1 moving into stat:ion 4, and
web la moving into station 6, as shown by the broken
away portion of station 4 in Fig. 1. The horizontal
and downward paths are illustrative only, and the paths
may be oriented with a horizontal and upward path or as
a combination of an upward path and of a downward
path. The ends o~ the horizontal and of~set conveyor
units 11 and 12 are shown couPled to a transfer or
discharge conveyor unit 14 and 14a, respectively.
These latter sections provide for horizontal transfer
or movement o~ the correspondin~ sheet ~ to the
respective aligned receivinq stations and typically mav
provide for known shin~ling o~ the sheets which are
then fed to a batching and stacking apparatus, not
shown.
Generally, the present invention is
particularly directed to the construction of a four
point delivery unit ln including the coupling conveyor
9, and the associated equipment is briefly described
~or purposes of overall illustration, and description
and explanation of the illustrated embodiment of the
invention.
The rotary sheeter is of a known construction
and inclu~es a pair of vertically stacked cuttinq rolls
16 and l~a having appronriate knife units 17 for
cuttinq successive lateral lengths o~ the web.
The coupling belt conveyor 9 provides a
positive sheet movement from the sheeter R into the
multiple point delivery unit ln. The coupling belt
conveyor q consists of an endless top belt 21 and a
generally similar bottom endless belt 22. The belts
are supported by a plurality o~ spaced rolls 24 and
24a, with abuttin~ horizontal runs 23 in-line with the
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20~72~
discharge path from the sheeter 8 and driven in proper
relationship to transfer the sheets 2 from the cutter
to the delivery unit 10. In the illustrated system, at
least one of rolls 24 and 24a of the rolls supporting
the belts ~1 and 22 is couple-3 to each other by a drive
belt 25 which is also coupled to a common drive belt,
not shown, for the several components of the sheet
forming anA delivery system.
As shown in Fig. 1, the conveyor belts 21 and
~2 consist of a pluralitY of laterally spaced belts
mounted for Darallel guided movement over the guide
rolls for maintaining the parallel runs 23 in close
spaced frictional enqagement with the opposed surfaces
of the sheets 2. The rolls 24 and 24a for the
respective belts provi~e a common synchronized movement
of the belts for corresponding movement of the sheets 2
from the sheeter ~ into the multiple point delivery
unit 1~. Although the separate coupling conveyor 9 may
provide a particularly useful and optimal transfer of
the separated sheets, the sheets may be directly fed to
the infeed end of the conveyors 11 and 12 of multiple
point delivery unit or apparatus ln. The conveyor 9
may also be formed integral with the respective belts
of the conveyor units 11 and 12 forming a common input
station, as presently described.
Each of the conveyor units 11 and 12 includes
similar laterally spaced endless belts. A plurality of
horizontal sheet diverters 27 and a similar pluralitv
of o~fset diverters 2~ are rotatablY mounted to the
opposite vertical sides of the conveyor units 11 and
12. The rotatinq diverters 27 and 28 rotate between
the belts of conveyor units 11 and 12 and engage the
sheets ~ moving through the deliverY unit 1~ to
establish movement of alternate sheets through the
horizontal conveyor unit 11 or alternately through the
inclined conveyor unit 1~. Each of the diverter units
is similarlv constructed and shaped.
WO91/09802 PCT/US90/~7546
2 ~ ~7 2 ~ 8
Referring to Figs. 1 and ~ each diverter 27
is a generally bow-tie shaped member having similar pie
shaped sections or segments 29 and 3~ projecting
radially in diametrically opposite directions from a
common bearinq hub 31. The outer peripheries of the
segments 29 and 3n have a common radius. The hubs 31
are rotatably mounted on a common drive shaft 3~ with
the peripheral surface moving in the ~irection of the
sheets 2 and at an angular velocity related to the
linear speed of the sheets 2. Generally, the diverter
surface speed is equal to or slightly greater than the
sheet surface speed. The axis of the shaft 32 is
located with resPect to the radius of the segments to
locate the surface passing throuqh the horizontal plane
of the conveyor unit 11.
~ iverters 2~ similarly move between the belts
of the conveyor unit 11 and directs the sheets
downwardl~ onto conveyor unit 12.
Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, the
conveyor units 11 and 12 are both endless belt
conveyors extending from immediately adjacent the
discharge end of the coupling conveyor unit 9 and
includinq a common input section 33 transporting
sheets 2 from the coupling conveyor 9 into the delivery
unit 1~. The common input section 3~ defines a short
horizontal run to support the sheets as they move into
the apparatus, and as previously described mav be
coupled directly to the di~charge side and feed rolls
of the rotary sheeter ~.
Conveyor unit 11 includes a horizontal top
belt 34 which extends from the couplinq unit 9
throughout the length of the delivery unit ln including
the input section 33, with a horizontal run 34a~ A
horizontal bottom belt 35 is mounted in downstream
relation to the common innut section 33 and defines a
diverting space or gap 36 within the length of the
delivery unit ln and particularly the conveyor unit
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~ 91/09802 PCT/US9~/07546
9 20~72~
11. The belts 34 and 3~ define a horizontal flow path
for transport of the sheets through the common input
section 33, gap 36 and the belt 35 of the delivery
unit. The incoming sheet 2 to be transPorted alon~
this path is supported by the lower diverter 27 during
its movement through the gap 36 for horizontal movement
through conveyor unit 11. In high speed processing of
sheets from a sheeter, the velocity of the sheets are
such as to establish a horizontal movement of the
sheets 2 into the diverting gap 36. However, sheet 2
must be supported and guided to maintain smooth and
uninterrupted flow of the sheet.
Referrinq to Fi~o 3, the inclined conveyor
unit 12 for traRsport of sheets 2 from the horizontal
flow path includes a bottom endless belt 37, the
upstrea~ end of which constitutes the input part of the
common input section 33. As previously noted, the
belts 34 and 37 forming input section 33 may be
extended through the cutter a~paratus to replace the
separate coupling belt conveyor shown in the drawings.
The belt 37 incluces an inclined belt portion or run 38
which projects at an angle downwardly from the upstream
end o~ the diverting space or gap 36. An inclined
conveyor top belt 39 is mounted in parallel operative
relationshiD with the inclined portion of belt 37 and
provides a belt convevor for grasping and carrying of a
sheet 2 downwardly through the delivery unit and
through the discharge conveyor 14a. A sheet 2 to be
carried bv the inclined conveyor unit 12 is ~uided onto
the inclined portion o~ the conveyor unit 1~ and into
the oDposed belts 3~ and 39 by the top mounted or upper
diverters 2~.
Thus by synchronized rotation of the diverters
27 and 2~, alternate sheets 2 move along the horizontal
conveyor unit 11 to discharge unit 14 (shown in Fig. 1)
and the alternate inclined conveyor unit 12 and the
discharqe unit 14a. The sheets 2 may be transferred in
W09l/09802 ~\ PCT/IS90/07546
a single path by inactivatinq the appropriate diverter
unit and operating the other diverter unit at the
proper speed.
Referrin~ to Fi~. 1, the dischar~e unit 14a
includes an endless toD belt 4n located immediately
adjacent the bottom end of the inclined belt portion or
run 3~ o~ the conveyor unit 1~ anA extends outwardly
therefrom. A bottom belt 41 projects outwardly as an
extension o~ the ~ottom belt structure 37 and in
opposed aligned relation with the belt 4~. The belts
40 and 41 provide transfer of the diverted sheet 2 as
it is moving from the inclined belt portion 3~. The
discharge unit 14a has belt 41 operating at a
relatively slow speed to reduce the speed of the sheet
thereon and following high speed sheet 2 moves over the
tail portion to shingle the sheets for transfer to a
batcher and the like.
The formed sheets 2 initially pass
successively into the coupling section 9, which may be
driven at an increased speed relative to the rotary
cutter to insure complete separation of the sheets at
the infeed end of the multiple point delivery unit
10. The sheets are qraDsed by belts 21 and 22 to
firmly and positively transport the sheet product into
the deliverv unit. In Fig. 3, a sheet ~ has been
passed into the delivery unit and has its tail end in
the incoming belt section 33 and its leadinq edge
already into the ~ownstream portion of the o~fset
conveying unit 1~ as defined by the belt 37 and the
opposed belt 39. It thus passes downwardly through the
diverter ga~ 36.
The u~per diverter 2~ is shown rotated
signi~icantly into gap 3~ with the center of the one
segment 3n' approachinq alignment with the roll at the
inlet end of the belt 35. The cam segment 3~' thus
positively moves the sheet 2 onto the belt ~7.
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9~/Og802 PCT/US90/~75~6
The alternate sheet followinq the sheet shown
in Figs l and 2 enters the incoming belt section 31 and
common belt section 33 into the diverting qap 36 after
segment 3~' has moved from the qap. ~imultaneously,
the rotation of the diverter 27 moves its segment 29
upwardly into the diverter gap. The incoming end of
sheet ~ moves into the gap with the cam member 2~ still
approaching the gaP 36. Sheet 2 may tend to dro~ down
with the inclined portion but will still have a very
distinct horizontal extension. The surface of cam 29
moves into the gap immediately adjacent to the upstream
end of the gap and rotates upwardly. Its radius is
such that it moves into close spacement to the upper
run of the belt and directs the sheet into the
horizontal path adjacent the top belt 34. The sheet is
thereby transported into the belts 34 and 35 and
discharged into the transfer conveyor 14. Just Prior
to the leading edge of the rotating diverter ~7
entering the gap, a short unsupported section of the
sheet exists between the input section 33 and the
diverter seqment 29, and may tend to drop slightly.
The cam se~ment rapidly rotates into the gap 36 and the
sheet moves into engagement with the smooth curved
surface of the diverter 27, whi~h ca~ries the sheet
upwardly to positively locate the leading edqe into the
plane define~ by the upper and lo~er belt runs of the
belts.
Referring to the horizontal diverter 27, its
axis of rotation is essentially horizontally aliqned
with respect to the axis of the small rollers 4R
supporting the stacked input ends of the horizontal
conveyor belt 35 and the inclined belt 39. The cam
surface of diverter 27 moves through the gap and enters
the plane of the horizontal conveyor unit ll
tangentially to the belt and essentially at the
qrasping or gripping portion of the to~ belt 34 and the
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WO91/09802 c~ PC~/US90/07~46
12
bottom belt 35 o~ the conveyor unit ll to quide sheet 2
into and through the gap.
The upper diverter 28 similarly functions with
respect to the inclined conveyor unit 12. Again, the
large cam sur~ace 29' and 30' moves into the gap 36
immediately downstream of the offset support for the
discharge end of the input section 33. The axis of the
common support sha~t 32' for diverter 2R is located
such that the radius surface moves into tangential
engagement with the inclined belt essentially in line
with the supporting roller adjacent 28 at the input end
of the upper belt 39 of the unit l~ to assure continued
flattening and forcing of the sheet 2 into gradual and
progressive movement between the belts for smooth
uninterrupted acceptance by the conveyor unit 12.
In the illustrated embodiment o the
invention, the upper conveyor belt of the unit ll is a
single elongated belt unit havin~ a bottom run
extending throughout the length of the delivery unit
ln. The upstream end of the bel~ is supported by an
appropriate guide roll 43. The downstream end is
supported by a similar roller 44.
The bottom belt of unit ll is similarly
constructed with a continuous upper run in opposed
abuttin~ o~erative en~agement to the bottom run of the
upper belt. The bottom belt is supported at its
forward most end by a relatively small roller 48
dictated by the small available spacing between the
upper unit ll and the lower un;t 12 at the end of gap
3fi. Again, the transfer run is a continuous run with
the downstream end coupled to the driven roller 49 for
synchronized movement of the belt. The return run
passes over appropriate idler rollers 50 to maintain
the desired tensioned movement of the belt.
The inclined belt movement includes the sinqle
continuous helt from the common input section 3~ and
the downwardly inclined portion or section 3~. The
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lower belt 37 has its upstream end supported on the
roller 51 aliqned with the corres~onding roller 43 for
the lower belt of unit 11. It extends ~ownstream in a
similar manner to the in~lined portion. A small roller
is provided just downstream of an idler roll 51a and
provides for smooth turning of the belt downwardly into
the inclined direction where the belt then extends
downwardly to a driven roller 53 for guided driven
movement along the inclined linear path. The return
run of the lower belt of unit 12 again passes over
appropriate idler rollers 54 and in a upper return roll
to redirec~ the unit into the horizontal direction to
the upstream guide roller.
The upper belt 39 of the unit 12 has its
upstream end locate~ in ali~nment with the upstream end
of the lower belt of the upper unit 11 and is supportecl
by the similar small roller 56 adjacent roller 48. The
return run passes over suitable idler and guide rollers
and a generally lower driven roller 57 to provide the
~esired synchronous movement with ~he other belts.
~ oth of the upstream ends of the individual
belts of the upper unit 11 and the lower unit 12
located between the inclined belt and the horizontal
belt of the respective units are located to minimize
the lenqth of the gap 3~ while maintaining of
appropriate support of the belting.
A common drive belt 5~ is wrapped about the
drive rollers 49 and 53 for conveyor units 11 and 12.
In addition, a belt 59, shown in Fig. 1, interconnects
the drive to the coupling conveyor unit 9 and the main
drive for the delivery unit to establish and maintain
synchroniz~d movement of the various conveying
devicesO The opposite ends of shafts for rollers 49
and 53 are respectively gear coupled to the shafts of
rollers 44 and 57 to drive the related upper belts of
the conveyors 11 and 12 respectively, as at ~9a in Fig.
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WO91/~9802 PCT/US90/07~46
2 ~i~7 2~ 14
The diverter units are positivelv ~ear
driven. As shown in Fig. 2, the sha~ts 32 and 32' are
coupled to end meshing ~ears 6~ and 61. The upper gear
61 is coupled through a gear train 6~ to the main belt
drive 6~ for the machine to establish and maintain
synchronous movement of total mechanism and thereby
providinq controlled high speed movement of the paper
sheets or products through the apparatus.
The delivery unit 1~ is driven in timed
relation to the sheeter 8 using a timed belt drive
system, with the diverters 27 and 2R separately gear
driven. With appropriate construction, the diverters
may be driven with the timinq belts coupled to the
basic timin~ belt drive system.
The invention provides a highly satisfactory
multiple point delivery system particularly adapted for
the graphic arts.
As previously discussed, the diverter can be
constructed with the alternate sheet paths in other
offset orientations. For example, a combination of a
horizontal run or ~ath and an u~wardl~ spaced run or
path may be provided.
The horizontal unit ll would include a
horizontal conveyor with a lower belt extended through
the delivery unit 10. A horizontal top belt would be
mounted downstream in relation to a common input
section to define a top diverting space or gap within
the length of the delivery unit 10. The upper diverter
would hold the sheet onto the belt for transport along
this path. The diverter primarilv functions to move
the sheet from the path of the sheet movin~ from the
sheeter, and de~ending on the particular applica~ion,
the horizontal unit could operate without the upper
diverter in the e~bodiment under consideration.
In this alternate embodiment, inclined
conveyor unit would include a toP endless belt with the
input end part of the common input section and an
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inclined belt portion or run projectin~ at an angle
upwardly from the upstream end of the diverting space
or gap~ An inclined conveyor lower belt would be
mounted in spaced relation to the common input section
33 and in parallel operative relationship with the
inclined portion of the top belt to provide a belt
conveyor for grasping and carry~ng a sheet 2 upwardly
through the delivery unit and through the second
path. A sheet ~ to be carried by the inclined conveyor
unit is guided by the lower diverter portion of the
offset conveyor unit. The lower diverter 2~ would be
constructed with its axis located in general vertical
alignment with the inlet end and with the cam moving
into enga~ement with the leading ed~e of the sheet to
deflect the sheet smoothly uPwardly into and throuqh
the conveyor unit 12. Further, the vertically arranged
conveyor units 11 and 12 could be constructed diverging
conveyor units to alternately move the sheets upwardly
and downwardly with respect to the incominq path of the
sheets 2.
The combination of the illustrated embodiment
with the re.latively short gap, the relatively large
segmental portions of the diverter and the
interrelationship and location o~ the engagement with
the belt structures adjacent to the opposed belting
produces a highlY desired and smooth and effective
movement of the sheets through the multiple point
~elivery unit.
As shown in Fig. 4, the various basic
components of the structure are preferably formed as
building modules with the modules particularly
constructe~ to allow assembly of components as in Fi~.
1. The structure is such that the components can be
separate~ and individually comhined in other
combinations.
In FiqO 4, six modules are shown including a
conventional sheeter unit 7~, a signature cutter unit
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WO91/09802 2 ~ ~7 2 ~3 9 PCT/US9~/~7~46 ~
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71, a diverter unit 72, a shinglin~ unit 73, a batcher
unit 74 and an exit receiver unit 75. Basic to the
modular construction is the forming of each of the
individual components as a more or less self
contained units, each having appropriate supporting
side frames extending parallel to each other and to the
flow path through the line, as at 76. The workinq and
web transfer components are mounted between the side
frames of each unit to define an inlet end and
discharge end~ The side frames are specially
constructed to accom~odate direct connection of the
several modules such that when a module is to be
assembled with another module, it is merely necessary
to secure the frames firmly in position and thereby
provide for apPropriate flow of the web and/or sheet
members through the line.
The module 7n is connected in the upstream end
of the line to form successive sheets from a flat
single layer web or module 71 is connected to the
diverter for forming signatures from a moving folded
web. The two modules 70 and 71 are shown as typical
alternate machines used with the other illustrated
modular apparatus.
Referring particularly to module 70, the
machine has spaced side frames 77. Each side frame 77
is a plate member havin~ a flat vertical edge 78 in
which three vertical spaced threaded openings or holes
79, 80 and 81 are formed. Each hole 79-81 extends
horizontally on the downstream edge 78 of the frame
77. The signature cutter module 71 and frames 77 rest
on the floor 8~ to suPport the structure. The mo~ule
71 is similarly constructed with its side frames 83
formed from similar plate members having flat vertical
edges 84 with a pair of threaded openinqs, 86 and 87 on
the edge. The holes 86-87 in the frame plate members
R3 are space~ in accordance with holes 8n and 81.
Frame plate members 83 are shown supported on a bottom
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~ 1/09802 i P~T/US90/07~46
2~72~
pad or leq unit 8~ to locate the cutting paths of
modules 70 and 71 in a common discharge plane.
The diverter side frames 89 are plat:e members
having a flat vertical edge 90 at the upstream end of
the plates. Three attachment openings 91 are located
adjacent the upstream portion, with horizontal edge-
wise holes 9?., 93 and 94 extendinq ~rom the three
openin~s 91. The openings and particularly holes 92-94
are spaceA to mate with the holes 79-81 o~ module 7
and the holes 8~-87 of module 71.
The downstream ends o~ the diverter frames 89
are similarly formed with a flat vertical edges 95.
Each ed~e has three vertical spaced threaded edge holes
~6, 97 and 98. In the diverter assembly shown, the
horizontal batchin~ device includes a T-shaped frame 99
having a cross frame 100 aligned with the horizontal
path through the apparatus. The upstream end of the
cross bar portion has top and bottom flanges lnl and
102, each having an edge attachment hole 1~ and 1n4
aligned with the top threaded hole 96 in the diverter
frame 89 for attachment to the diverter unit 72. The
holes 96 are aligned with the cutter module attachment
holes 8~ and 86 and i~ the diverter is not used, the
shinglinq frame is directly attached to the cutter
module 7n or 71. The stem 104 of the T-shaped frame 99
rests on the floor and is preferably secured thereto.
As shown, the slow tape 105 o~ the shinglinq conveyor
is supPorted at the upstream end on a bracket l~fi
extendinq ~rom frame 99 and within the diverter frames
89 and at the downstream end within the shingling
~rames 99. A ton fast tape 107 is supported on a
pivoted bracket ln~ and support the intermediate runs
o~ the shinqlinq conveyor belts in cooperative
ali~nment with the horizontal conveyor of the
~iverter.
An auxiliary hat-sha~ed bracket ln8 is secured
to the lower portion o~ the diverter ~rame 89 and
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WO91/09802 PCT/US90/07~46 ~
2 ~ D27 2, ~
supports the upstream end of the shingling conveyor 109
adjacent to the inclined diverter conveyor, as shown.
The bracket 1~ has apertured end flanges 11~ which are
bolted to the edge o~ the diverter frames ~9 as by bolt
openings 111. The downstream portion of conveyor 1~9
is supported by arms 11~. The arms 112 support the
belt pulleys and sUPport rolls and pro~ect into the
stem to locate the discharge end of the conveyor within
the stem.
The batcher unit 74 and the exit receiver unit
75 are mobile devices. An upper conveyor 11~ and a
lower conveyor 114 for transfer of the proce~sed sheet
elements are similarlY prov;ded in the batchin~ unit
for similar transfer from the aligned shinglin~ units
to the exit receiver 75, The batcher is moved into
position without necessity of physical connections.
The lower conveyor unit 114 has a forward
extended arm 115 to project the conveyor through the
stem and into proper coupling to the shingling unit.
The lower conveyor belt is not installed within
respective frames or support structures if the diverter
unit 72 is not a part of the line, or if the diverter
is to be operated without activating of the downward
diversion of alternate sheets.
The respective modules permit maximum
flexibility in providing sheet-element batching
systems.
In the illustrated embodiment of the
invention, all of the frames are thus formed with
essentially flat vertical ~lanar surfaces, and each
unit is specially formed as a self-standinq assembly
with the relatively heavy frame plates to the operator
side and drive side of the apparatus. The various
rotary components are rotatably mounted in suitable
bearinq structures on and in the frames in accordance
with ~nown practice. The frame en~ edges with the
threaded holes spaced to couple the several units, each
~'~.`S91/09802 PCT/~S90/~7~6
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2~72~9
o which has the flow path related to the threaded
holes provides a simple, effective and reaAily
fabricated modular line or system.
This modular construction allows the
completely separate self-contained structure, each
havin~ its own drive input for operatinq the
correspondinq elements. The drive inputs can be
interconnected to each other to form a common drive
assembly or separately driven dependinq upon the
application in combination to which the several
components are aPplied.
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