Electronic book verification system

Details Electronic book verification system Electronic book verification system

1999-03-02

2001-05-29

Skaggs, H. Grant (Department: 3651)

Sheet-material associating

Associating or disassociating

Signature associating

C270S052140, C270S052160, C270S052180, C270S052260, C270S052290

Reexamination Certificate

active

06237908

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to delivering signatures to a binding line to form books and, more particularly, to a system for electronically verifying the proper formation of such books.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, many large circulation periodicals have appeared which require rapid handling of portions of the periodicals consisting of signatures which are gathered for stitching, trimmed, bundled for minimum shipping costs, and shipped. A typical operation utilizes a multitude of packer boxes, each of which receives signatures seriatim from a signature supply means, opens each signature, and drops the signatures successively to straddle a gathering chain that runs in front of the packer boxes and carries the complete collection of gathered signatures to the stitcher. Moreover, because of the need for highly efficient plant operations, there has been a constant effort to increase the speed at which machines operate which has required the development of new techniques for handling the signatures at all stages of the binding process.
In addition to high speed operation, many large circulation periodicals are now demanding a degree of flexibility that has been heretofore considered impossible. This is particularly true, for instance, where the periodical wishes to produce a number of different versions of books by feeding different combinations of signatures to form such books, but this must be done without significant reduction in the cyclic rate of operation that would otherwise decrease plant efficiency thereby increasing costs while possibly failing to accommodate the high volume presently produced by the U.S. printing industry which requires that the most efficient possible use be made of manpower, equipment and plant space. Further, in order to avoid any increase in costs that might otherwise be attributable to new equipment, the equipment to achieve the aforementioned objectives should be relatively inexpensive and compatible with normal bindery lines.
As an additional problem, it has been widely recognized in the printing industry that mechanical calipers require significant make-ready time that decreases the efficiency of plant operations. This is particularly true for selectively gathered or customized books where there may typically be a large number of versions of a book requiring a large number of settings for the conventional mechanical caliper. As the need for flexibility has increased, there has been a corresponding recognition of the desirability of eliminating the use of a mechanical caliper while maintaining high quality production on a binding line.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the foregoing problems and achieving one or more of the resulting objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a bindery line having a plurality of signature feeders, each of which is operable to feed a signature therefrom. A collating conveyor passes by each of the signature feeders along a signature conveying path so as to be operable to receive the signatures which are being fed from the signature feeders in collated order to thereby form a book. A book finishing section is located downstream of the signature feeders to complete the book comprised of the signatures received in collated order after the collating conveyor has passed by each of the signature feeders in its travel along the signature conveying path. With this arrangement, the present invention comprises means associated with each of the signature feeders, the collating conveyor, and the book finishing section to ensure the proper formation of a book.
More specifically, the present invention includes means associated with each of the signature feeders at a point upstream of the collating conveyor for ensuring that a signature has been fed from the signature feeder to the collating conveyor. It also includes means associated with the collating conveyor adjacent each of the signature feeders for ensuring that signatures fed by the signature feeders have been properly received on the collating conveyor. Still additionally, the present invention includes means associated with the book finishing section at a point downstream of the signature feeders for ensuring that signatures received in collated order will not form a hanging book or a long book.
In a preferred embodiment, the means associated with each of the signature feeders comprises a missing signature detector and/or an incorrect signature detector and/or a double book detector. It is also advantageous for the means associated with the collating conveyor to comprise a missing signature detector and/or a conveyor jam detector. Still additionally, and in accordance with the invention, the means associated with the book finishing section preferably comprises a hanging book detector and/or a long book detector.
In a highly preferred embodiment, the bindery line has a plurality of packer boxes, each of which is selectively operable to feed a different signature therefrom, and the collating conveyor is then advantageously a continuous conveyor. The continuous conveyor is operable to receive different signatures which are selectively fed from the packer boxes to form a selectively gathered or customized book. With this arrangement, the invention preferably includes means responsive to conditions determined by the means associated with each of the packer boxes, collating conveyor, and book finishing section which is operatively associated with the bindery line.
With the present invention, the collating conveyor can comprise a gathering chain on a saddle binding line. Alternatively, the collating conveyor can comprise a conveyor belt on a square back binding line.
Preferably, the means associated with the signature feeders or packer boxes comprises a missing signature detector mounted generally in proximity to each of the signature feeders or packer boxes to determine whether any signature has been fed from the signature feeder or packer box to the collating conveyor. It is also highly advantageous for the means associated with each of the signatures feeders or packer boxes to comprise an incorrect signature detector mounted generally in proximity to the signature feeder or packer box to determine whether a correct signature has been fed from the signature feeder or packer box to the collating conveyor. It is further highly advantageous to have a double signature detector mounted generally in proximity to each of the signature feeders or packer boxes to determine whether a “double” signature has been fed from the signature feeder or packer box to the collating conveyor. Additionally, it is highly advantageous for the means associated with the collating conveyor to comprise a missing signature detector mounted generally opposite each of the signature feeders or packer boxes to determine whether a signature fed from the signature feeder or packer box has been received by the collating conveyor.
Still further, the means associated with the collating conveyor preferably includes a conveyor jam detector mounted generally opposite each of the signature feeders or packer boxes to determine whether signatures fed from the signature feeders or packer boxes are properly positioned on the collating conveyor. It is further highly advantageous for the means associated with the book finishing section to comprise a hanging book detector mounted generally adjacent the book finishing section to determine whether signatures received in collated order have proper lateral positioning therebetween. Still additionally, the means associated with the book finishing section preferably includes a long book detector mounted generally adjacent the book finishing section to determine whether signatures received in collated order have proper longitudinal positioning therebetween.
As for the means responsive to conditions which is operatively associated with the bindery line, this may advantageously comprise a visible indicator, an audible alarm, and/or a downstream shutoff capability i

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