US1349662A - Signature-fold-centering device - Google Patents

Description

M. CHRISTENSEN. SIGNATURE FOLD CENTERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13, I919- Patented Aug; 17, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN CHRISTENSEN, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO CHRISTENSEN MACHINE 00., 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

i SIGNATURE-FOLD-OENTERING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

Application filed neeemb ris, 1919. Serial No. 344,698.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN CHRISTENSEN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Racine, in the couutylof Racine and State of Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Si gnature-Fold-Centering Devices, of which the following is a description, reference being had tothe accompany are a part of this spec ing drawings, which iication. y

The present invention relates to CBItHJD new and useful. improvements in signature fold centering devices for boolcstitching machines and has for one of its objects to provide means for centering the folds of signatures or groups of signatures uponthe saddle sothat the same will be properly positioned to the signature stitcher.

1 Anotherobject of this invention is to provide means for guiding the signatures as they are fed to the stitching mechanism. a

A further object of the present invention is to provide means for guiding signatures along the stitching machine saddle, for centering the folds ofthe signatures upon the saddle and for frictionallyvholding the signatures during the stitching operation.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds my invention resides in the novel construction combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the 7 herein (:lescribed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best model have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of a book-stitching machine and one stitcher mechanism with my invention attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a lan view of my invention, parts being bro e11 away and in section and the said view being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fi 3 is a view looking at the rear end of the signature engaging portion of my invention.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing the numeral 5 designates generally a stitcher removablv and adjustably carried by the machine frame (5, i an inverted V signature'supporting saddle traversing the stitcher 5 and adapted to have groupsof signatures 8 fed there along to be stitched by the stitcher 5; and 9 designates generally my novel form of signature fold centering, guiding and holding means.

The signature fold centering member consists of aninverted V saddle or uide 10 adapted to be disposed over the saddle 7 and having a flared leading end 11 for guiding the signatures 8 between it and the saddle, and said member is secured to the lower end of a guide rod or bar 12 freely vertically movably in a pair of alined arms 13 formed on a supporting member .14 secured to either the stitcher 5 or the frame 6 by suitable fastening means 15. p

The rod 12 is capable of free vertical movement and the member all) is held from engagement with the saddle 7 in the event that a signature 8 is not disposed. between the end of said saddle by means of an adj ustable stop or set screw 16 carried by the upper end 17 of said rod and engageable with the frame 6 when the member-1O is at its entire lower limit of movement. Thus it will be seen that the signatures 8 which are fed along the saddle 7 by suitable feeding mechanism, not shown, are guided beneath the member: 10 by the flaring end 11 and that said member 10 has a slight frictional engagement therewith by reason of its weight and. the member 10 being shaped to correspond with the shape ofthe saddle will een ter the folds 8 of the signatures with re spect to the peak or apex 7 of the saddle and thus properly position the signatures to the stitcher. By reason of the weight of the member 10 engaging the signatiu'es and holding the same between it and the saddle, the signatures S will be held substantially firm while being stitched but this frictional engagement is not sufficient to prevent the ready movement of the signatures from the stitcher by the feeding mechanism.

T o assist in the positioning of the signatures and to prevent too great a frictional engagement ofthe member 10 with the signatures I provide a guide roll 18 journally mounted between a pair of up struck space ears or lugs 19 formed at the rear end of the member 10. The roll guide '18 is pro vided with a V channel shaped to correspond with the V of the member 10 and the saddle 7. As best shown in Fig. 3 the guide roll 20 engages with the signatures through the aperture formed between the space ears l9 and thus provides means for guiding the signatures and reducing the frictional engagement between the member 10 and said signatures.

The top bar 6, against which the adjusting screw 16 engages, is capable of vertical adjustment to adapt the stitehers 5 for different thicknesses of books, thereby simultaneously djusting my improved fold centering device, as will be obvious. As the adjustable feature of the bar 6 forms no important part of this invention, the manner of V the saddle,

, ersing the operating the same has not been shown.

"From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be readily apparent that I provide simple but efficient means for centering folds of signatures upon the saddle for guiding the'sfignatures and for holding the signatures and in their proper relation while being stitched.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a book-stitching machine, the combination with a stitcher and an inverted subtantially V-shaped signature supporting saddle traversing the stitcher, of a freely vertically slidabl-y mounted rod mounted above said saddle, and an inverted substan tially' V-shapefcl signature guide and fold centering member carried by the lower end of said rod and disposed over the saddle to engage the folds of signatures passing along said member having its forward end flared to guide the signatures therebeneath. I v

.2111 a book-stitching machine, the com bination with a stitcher and an inverted substantially v shaped signature saddle travstitcher, of a rod vertically slidably' mounted above the saddle, an inverted substantially V-shaped signature guide and fold centering member carried by the lower end of said rod and disposed over the saddle to engage the folds of signatures passing along the saddle, means on the forward end of said member for guiding signatures therebeneath, and means for at all times retaining the apex of said member in longitudinal' alinement with the apex of the saddle.

3. In a book-stitching machine, the combination with a stitcher, an inverted substantially'V-shaped signature supporting saddle traversing the stitcher, and the stitching machine frame, of a support mounted above said saddle, a rod vertically slidably carried by the support, an inverted si'ibstantially V- shaped guide and fold centering member carried by the lower end of said rod and disposed over the saddle to engage the folds of signatures passing therealong, a laterally directed portion carried by the upper end of said rod, and means carried by said laterally directed portion for engagement with the machine frame to limit the downward movement of said rod and fold centering member carried thereby.

4. I11 a book-stitching machine, the 00111- bination with a stitcher, and-an inverted V signature supporting saddle traversing the stltcher, of a support fixed jnxta-pose the stitcher, a rod vertically slidably carried by the support, an inverted V signature. guide and fold centering member fixed to the lower end of said rod and disposed over the saddle to engage the folds of signatures passing along the saddle, said member having its forward end flared to guide the signatures therebeneath, an annularly V channeled guide roll at the rear end of said member for guiding the signatures, and means at the upper end of said rod for limiting the downward movement of said member.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

MARTIN CHRISTENSEN.

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