Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Grapple – Fixed and moveable jaw
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-05-08
Kramer, Dean J. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Grapple
Fixed and moveable jaw
C294S099100, C198S803700, C271S204000, C271S277000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227589
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a gripper assembly for a conveying device for conveying “printed products”. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a gripper assembly.
For the purposes of the present application “printed products” includes paper and paper-like products, e.g., plastics, thin metal and metallized sheets, etc.
Conveying devices for conveying printed products such as newspapers, magazines or other like flat articles typically incorporate a plurality of gripper assemblies. These gripper assemblies operate to clamp a printed product to facilitate the pick-up and transportation of that printed product to another location where the gripper assembly opens, releasing the printed product to facilitate the drop-off thereof. For example, newspapers typically come off a printing press at a rate of about 75,000 copies per hour. After coming off the printing press, the individual newspapers must be transported to various pieces of equipment for further processing. This transportation is usually performed using a chain conveyor having a plurality of gripper assemblies attached thereto. The gripper assemblies pick-up and securely hold a newspaper by clamping the edge of the newspaper inserted into the gripper assembly. When the newspaper is to be deposited at the next piece of equipment for further processing, the gripper assembly releases its hold on the newspaper, which is dropped-off.
Gripper assemblies are typically spring biased to a clamping position. Accordingly, to facilitate the pick-up and drop-off of a printed product, the gripper assembly must be transitioned into an open position. The gripper assemblies are transitioned into an open position by the exertion thereon of an opening force. This opening force is imparted to the gripper assemblies using a variety of devices known in the art. Considering that the gripper assemblies are transitioned from an open to a clamping position repeatedly, one can easily recognize that wear and tear on both the gripper assemblies specifically and on the gripper conveyors generally can be reduced by minimizing the strength of the spring force biasing the gripper assemblies into the clamping position. Likewise, maintenance on the gripper assemblies specifically and on the gripper conveyors generally may be reduced by minimizing the strength of the force biasing the gripper assemblies into the clamping position.
Notwithstanding, the composition of printed products often varies. For example, newspapers typically have outer sections printed on a relatively rough paper having a high coefficient of friction making it easy to grip. Nevertheless, newspapers may also have one or more inner sections printed on a relatively smooth paper having a low coefficient of friction. Due to this low coefficient of friction, the inner section may tend to slip relative to the outer section of the newspaper while it is being held by a gripper assembly. In addition, the size and weight of printed products often varies. For example, the Sunday edition of a daily newspaper is often significantly larger and heavier than the average daily edition of the same newspaper. To exacerbate things, Sunday editions of daily newspapers frequently contain one or more inner sections printed on paper having a low coefficient of friction.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method for quickly and easily modifying gripper assemblies in a gripper conveyor to facilitate the handling of periodic editions of increased size and weight or of a composition which otherwise requires greater clamping strength to handle. That is, a method by which gripper assemblies may periodically be modified to provide increased clamping strength to facilitate the handling of periodic editions of increased size and weight or of a composition which otherwise requires such increased clamping strength.
To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a conforming biaser is provided for a gripper assembly for a conveying device for conveying printed products. The conforming biaser operates to increase the clamping force exerted by the gripper assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a gripper assembly for a conveying device for conveying single-sheet or multi-sheet printed products, preferably newspapers. Specifically, the present invention provides a gripper assembly with an increased clamping force to facilitate the handling of periodic large or heavy issues, for example, the Sunday edition of a daily newspaper. The invention also provides a method for modifying gripper assemblies to facilitate the periodic handling of such large or heavy issues.
In accordance with one aspect the present invention, a gripper assembly is provided, having: (a) a first gripper part, having a clamping surface and an external surface; (b) a second gripper part, having a clamping surface and an external surface; wherein the first gripper part and the second gripper part are connected together for pivotal movement about a common axis, the first gripper part being pivotable between an open position and a clamping position in which it cooperates with the second gripper part to clamp a printed product under spring force; (c) a spring element which is arranged between the first gripper part and the second gripper part and which biases the first gripper part into the clamping position; and (d) at least one conforming biaser, wherein the at least one conforming biaser conforms to the external surfaces of the first and second gripper parts and imparts a force biasing the first gripper part into the clamping position.
In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, the at least one conforming biaser slides into engagement with the external surfaces of the first and second gripper parts.
In yet another preferred embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, the force imparted by the at least one conforming biaser further operates to marry the conforming biaser to the external surfaces of the first and second gripper parts.
In still yet another preferred embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, the external surface of at least one of the first gripper part and the second gripper part has at least one elevated ridge, which at least one elevated ridge is preferably perpendicular to the common axis and preferably cooperates with the at least one conforming biaser to seat the at least one conforming biaser in a particular location on the external surface of at least one of the first and second gripper parts. More preferably, the external surface of at least one of the first gripper part and the second gripper part comprises at least two pair of elevated ridges. Still more preferably, the external surface of at least one of the first gripper part and the second gripper part comprises at least two pair of elevated ridges which are parallel to one another. Yet still more preferably, the external surface of at least one of the first gripper part and the second gripper part comprises at least two pair of elevated ridges which are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the common axis.
In yet another preferred aspect of this embodiment of the present invention, the at least one conforming biaser may be installed and removed from the gripper assembly without the use of tools.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for modifying a gripper assembly to facilitate the improved handling of periodic large or heavy issues of printed matter, for example, the Sunday edition of a daily newspaper, which method comprises the installation of at least one conforming biaser into a gripper assembly having: (a) a first gripper part, having a clamping surface and an external surface; (b) a second gripper part, having a clamping surface and an external surface; wherein the first gripper part and the second gripper part are connected together for pivotal movement about a common axis, the first gripper part being pivotable between an open position and a clamping position in which it cooperates with the second gripper part to clamp a p
Brown James E.
Simons Jeffrey R.
Chin Paul T.
Dechert
Kramer Dean J.
Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc.
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