Stream aligner

Details Stream aligner Stream aligner

1999-05-07

2001-01-09

Valenza, Jospeh E. (Department: 3651)

Conveyors: power-driven

Conveyor system for arranging or rearranging stream of items

By laterally or vertically moving successive items in...

C271S240000, C198S803130

Reexamination Certificate

active

06170638

ABSTRACT:

This Application is directed to a device which aligns products being carried in a movable pocket; more particularly, it finds use in devices for receiving and transporting newspapers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The Invention will be described specifically with relation to the transportation of newspapers in pocket conveyors, but it is understood that it is not intended to be limited thereto. Conveyors comprising a plurality of pockets arranged serially have long been known. The pockets consist of two walls, usually hinged together at or adjacent their lower ends. The pockets have an open position, wherein a newspaper can be introduced therein, and a closed position, where the walls are adjacent each other and the newspaper is held therebetween. Commonly, each pocket receives a newspaper jacket, closes, and then reopens with a vacuum applied to the jacket. This causes the jacket to open for reception of one or more inserts.
As these devices are fed mechanically at high speed, it is not unusual for the newspapers to be off center in the pockets. As a result, a gripper picking up the newspaper from the pocket will not hold it in the center. Therefore, it will be unbalanced, thereby increasing the probability that it will be dropped. When this occurs, there is a substantial risk that the jacket will not be fully opened. Therefore, when the insert is fed into the pocket, it will at least partially damage the jacket so that the paper will have to be discarded. Should the malfunction be sufficient so that the jacket does not open at all, then the insert will fall into the pocket outside the jacket. Here, too, the paper will have to be discarded. In addition to the foregoing, misaligned newspapers can cause jamming of the entire machine, thereby requiring that it be stopped and cleared before production can continue.
When a standard sized newspaper is being handled, a pair of endless belts (one on each edge) is adjusted to bear against the side edges of the newspaper, thereby centering it within the pocket. However, when the newspapers are small, it is necessary to elevate them from the hinge so that they project into the cut-out in the pocket walls. This enables the gripper to grasp the paper and remove it from the pocket. If this is done, however, the endless belts are beneath the folded edge of the paper and therefore cannot be used for alignment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present Invention is intended to remedy the foregoing shortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object of the present Invention to center each newspaper in its respective pocket so that, when it is picked up by a gripper, the latter holds it midway between its sides.
A conveyor is provided for at least one pocket assembly which is adapted to be transported in a closed path. The assembly comprises a pocket having a first wall and a second wall hinged to the first wall. At least one of the walls is movable toward the other between a closed position, where the walls are adjacent each other, and an open position, where the walls are separated for receipt of the newspaper.
A first aligner is located adjacent the near side of the pocket and has a retracted position, wherein it is out of contact with the newspaper, and a forward position, spaced apart from the retracted position in a transverse direction toward the far side. When moving from its retracted position to its forward position, the first aligner bears against the near side of a newspaper located closer to the near side than the far side, and thereby centers it by moving it toward the far side.
A second aligner, substantially the same as the first aligner, is located adjacent the far side of the pocket. The second aligner operates in the same manner as the first aligner, except that it contacts the far side of the newspaper when it is off benter toward the far side and urges it toward the near side when moving into its forward position. As a result of the action of both aligners, the newspapers are centered within the pocket, regardless of whether they were misaligned toward the near side or toward the far side. Preferably, both aligners move inward into their forward positions simultaneously.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4058202 (1977-11-01), Reist et al.
patent: 4667809 (1987-05-01), Raybuck
patent: 4723770 (1988-02-01), Seidel et al.
patent: 4824307 (1989-04-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5823320 (1998-10-01), Seidel et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Stream aligner does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Stream aligner, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stream aligner will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2501950