Hopper loader for feeding vertical signatures to bindery equipment
US6017029A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 21, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 21, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H1/02
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A hopper loader apparatus for transferring and separating individual signatures of sheet material from a vertically aligned, parallelepiped shaped stack of such signatures. The separated, individual signatures may then be subjected to handling operations such as stapling or stitching. The hopper-loader has a first, downwardly inclined, planar conveyor, a second upwardly inclined, planar ramp conveyor which separates individual signatures from the stack and moves the signatures at a faster speed than the first conveyor. An included angle is formed between the first and second conveyors which ranges from about 125.degree. to about 145.degree. . Signatures are delivered to a pocket having spaced side walls and having a floor comprising a third intermittent indexing conveyor which sequentially moves the individual signatures away from the second conveyor and makes them available to stapling or stitching equipment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.