Multiplex Gathering Device and Method

• US 20100019434A1
• Filed: 05/20/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goss International Americas Incorporated (City of Shanghai)
• Original Assignee: Goss International Americas Incorporated (City of Shanghai)
• Inventors: Clarke, Thomas Bowen, Hammond, Charles Reif
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 270/58.80
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 1/12 Machines for both collating or gathering and permanently attaching together the sheets or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/08 Conveying between operating stations in machines conveyors in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/02 indicating an entity which is controlled, adjusted or changed by a control process, i.e. output
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/4311 Making personalised books or mail packets according to personal, geographic or demographic data
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/4454 Merging two or more streams
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/415 of job
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2513/42 Route, path
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2801/78 Mailing systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/60 diverting the stream into alternative paths B65H29/62 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 39/02 Associating,collating or gathering articles from several sources

Abstract

A multiplex gathering device is provided. The multiplex gathering device includes a first gatherer forming first gathered printed products on a first finishing line, the first finishing line having a trimmer and a second gatherer forming a second gathered printed products on a second finishing line, the second finishing line having a second trimmer. The multiplex gathering device also includes a collecting device which combines the first and second gathered printed products together, a first transporter transporting the first gathered products from the first line to the collecting device and a second transporter transporting the second gathered products from the second line to the collecting device. At least one controller is provided for the multiplex gathering device for controlling the first gatherer and second gatherer and for collecting the first and second printing products in a controlled manner on the collecting device.

A method for a multiplex gathering device is also provided.

Claims

1. A multiplexed gathering device comprising:

a first gatherer forming first gathered printed products on a first finishing line, the first finishing line having a trimmer;

a second gatherer forming second gathered printed products on a second finishing line, the second finishing line having a second trimmer;

a collecting device for collecting the first and second gathered printed products together;

a first transporter transporting the first gathered products from the first line to the collecting device;

a second transporter transporting the second gathered products from the second line to the collecting device; and

at least one controller for controlling the first gatherer and second gatherer, the first and second printing products being collected in a controlled manner on the collecting device.

2. The multiplexed gathering device as recited in claim 1 further comprising an additional hopper located adjacent to the collecting device for providing the collecting device with further products.

3. The multiplexed gathering device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a further gatherer and a further transporter for transporting further products to the collecting device.

4. The multiplexed gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first or second transporters are gripper conveyors.

5. The multiplexed gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first or second transporters are pin conveyors, chain conveyors or belts.

6. The multiplexed gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first transporter or second transporter transport first or second products after the first or second products are trimmed by the first trimmer or second trimmer respectively.

7. The multiplexed gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first transporter or second transporter transport first or second products before the first or second products are trimmed by the first trimmer or second trimmer respectively.

8. The multiplexed gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the collecting device includes a trimmer and a stacker for trimming or stacking the first and second products together.

9. The multiplexed gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first gatherer or second gatherer is a saddle conveyor or a perfect binder.

10. The multiplexed gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the collecting device receives the second product as a function of the first product so the first and second products can be finished together downstream.

11. The multiplexed gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first finishing line or second finishing line are capable of finishing products not transported by the first or second transporters.

12. The multiplexed gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first products are collected as a function of a master mailing list.

13. The multiplexed gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the second products are collected as a function of a master mailing list or a function of the first products.

14. A method for a multiplex gathering device comprising the steps of:

forming first gathered printed products on a first binding line;

forming second gathered printed products on a second binding line;

transporting at least one of the first gathered products from the first binding line to a collecting device;

transporting at least one of the second gathered products from the binding line to the collecting device; and

collecting the first and second gathered products in a controlled manner on the collecting device.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising the step of trimming the first or second products before the step of transporting the first or second gathered products, respectively.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising the step of trimming the first or second products after the step of transporting the first or second gathered product using a trimmer on the collecting device.

17. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the first products are collected in a controlled manner as a function of a master mailing list.

18. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the second products are collected in a controlled manner as a function of the first products or as a function of a master mailing list.

19. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising the step of finishing at least one first product or at least one second product not transported to the collecting device on a first or second finishing line connected to the first or second binding line, respectively.