Rotary signature transfer device

• US 6,736,061 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shanghai Electric (Group) Corporation (City of Shanghai)
• Original Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag
• Inventors: Caunter, Nicholas J., Wamsley, Richard D., Krieg, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld, Andrew H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FERGUSON SAMRETH, MARISSA LIANA
• Application Number:
  US10/155,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20030217656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 101/227, 101/232, 101/480, 101/365, 101/408, 101/409, 101/231, 101/228, 198/644, 198/369
• US Class Current: 101/227
• 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 2301/44714 carried by rotating members
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/4479 Saddle conveyor with saddle member extending in transport direction
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2402/54 Springs, e.g. helical or leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2403/543 producing cycloids
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/06 the grippers being carried by rotating members
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 5/32 Saddle-like members over which partially-unfolded sheets or signatures are fed to signature-gathering, stitching, or like machines

Abstract

A signature transfer device includes a rotating arm rotating about a first axis and a first gripper rotatably mounted on the rotating arm about a second axis, the first and second axes being parallel, the first gripper having a first gripper finger and a second gripper finger. An actuator is connected to the first gripper for opening and closing the first gripper as a function of the angle of the rotating arm about the first axis, and a compression spring connects the first gripper finger and the second gripper finger, the compression spring being compressed when the first gripper and the second gripper finger are apart.

Claims

1. A signature transfer device comprising:

a rotating arm rotating about a first axis;

a first gripper rotatably mounted on the rotating arm about a second axis, the first and second axes being parallel, the first gripper having a first gripper finger and a second gripper finger;

an actuator connected to the first gripper for opening and closing the first gripper as a function of the angle of the rotating arm about the first axis; and

a linear compression spring connecting the first gripper finger and the second gripper finger, the compression spring being compressed when the first gripper and the second gripper finger are apart;

the first gripper finger including a support rod extending through the second gripper finger, the support rod supporting the compression spring.

2. The signature transfer device as recited in claim 1 wherein the actuator is a cam follower interacting with a cam on the arm.

3. The signature transfer device as recited in claim 1 further including a second gripper rotating about the first axis.

4. The signature transfer device as recited in claim 3 wherein the first and second grippers are supported rotatably on the a rotating arm rotating about the first axis.

5. The signature transfer device as recited in claim 1 wherein the compression spring is compressed less than 10% of an uncompressed length when the first gripper is closed without a signature.

6. The signature transfer device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first gripper includes a support, the first and second gripper fingers and the cam being rotatable with respect to the support.

7. The signature transfer device as recited in claim 6 wherein the first and second gripper fingers are geared together.

8. The signature transfer device as recited in claim 1 wherein the support rod has a removable nut at one end to support one end of the compression spring.

9. The signature transfer device as recited in claim 6 wherein the spring extends through the rotating arm.

10. The signature transfer device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a first pulley fixed to the first gripper and rotatable with respect to the arm, a fixed pulley, and a belt connecting the first pulley and the fixed pulley.

11. The signature transfer device as recited in claim 1 wherein the fixed pulley surrounds a central shaft driving the arm.

12. A printing press comprising:

a print unit for printing a material,

a conveyor for moving a plurality of signatures formed from the material in a first direction, and

a signature transfer device for transferring signatures downstream of the conveyor, the signature transfer device having a rotating arm rotating about a first axis and a first gripper rotatably mounted on the rotating arm about a second axis, the first and second axes being parallel, the first gripper having a first gripper finger and a second gripper finger, an actuator connected to the first gripper for opening and closing the first gripper as a function of the angle of the rotating arm about the first axis, and a linear compression spring connecting the first gripper finger and the second gripper finger, the compression spring being compressed when the first gripper and the second gripper finger are apart;

the first gripper finger including a support rod extending through the second gripper finger, the support rod supporting the compression spring.

13. The printing press as recited in claim 12 wherein the printing press is a web printing press, and further including a folder for forming signatures from the web.