US2742281A - Literature nesting device - Google Patents

Description

A. E. WHITECAR LITERATURE NESTING DEVICE April 17, 195B 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 6, 1952 R R mm m .l W L 1 m N A4 \mm M. o w. AVQMH m V& r F r $1 I k Ev w. ow o N. m o 0 0 O O J mom fi H 8 8) I: mm mm N mm I l on mm mm mm 9 mm 8 EM Fiwr ATTORNEYS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 6, 1952 .R 3 T E mn V H mw E N E M ATTORNEYS April 17, 1956 A. E. WHITECAR LITERATURE NESTING DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 6, 1952 mm 3 T Y H E M H 0 Iwu I a A N W April 17, 1956 A. E. WHITECAR LITERATURE NESTING DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 6, 1952 INVENTOR. ALTEN E. WHITECAR ATTORNEYS April 7 1956 A. E. WHITECAR 2,742,281

LITERATURE NESTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 6, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 4 &

INVENTOR. ALTEN E. WHITECAR "aw-MM ATTORN EYS United States Patent LITERATURE NESTING DEVICE Alten E. Whitecar, Westville, N. J., assignor to Smith,

Kline & French Laboratories, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 6, 1952, Serial No. 313,221 ltlClaims. Cl. 270-55 This invention relates to improvements in collating and inserting machines of the type used, for example, in mail advertising departments. These machines collect a plurality of sheets of paper or cards from separate bins or magazines, assemble the various sheets at one point or station, and there insert them in an envelope. Various other attachments common to these machines provide for automatic sealing of said envelopes, printing or applying of postage stamps thereto, and stacking of finished envelopes ready for mailing.

Other features common to these machines provide electrical and mechanical means to automatically shut off the mechanism in the event of any failure at any station in the machine.

Since this invention does not replace any of these features but rather utilizes all of them and provides for an improvement, they will be discussed as briefly as is consistent With clarity. Reference may be had to patcuts, and particularly to Patent No. 2,325,455, dated July 27, 1943, for a fully detailed disclosure of a machine of this type.

The object of my invention is to provide a station in a mail inserting machine in which folded sheets may be fed into the collating mechanism, and provide mechanism to partially unfold each of said sheets successively among many manufacturers to send letters to professional people such as doctors or engineers, introducing new articles or materials available to them, and enclosing withing the folds of said letter, cards suitable for alphabetical filing to provide ready reference after the letter is disposed of. i

By way of illustration and in order to more clearly point out the improvement provided by this invention,

an embodiment of the improvement will be described as applied to the machine disclosed in Patent No. 2,325,455, hereinafter referred to as the reference machine. The improvement comprises an additional insert supply station provided at one end of the machine so as to become the first source of supply for inserts. At this station prefolded sheets are fed to a conveying means and the upper fold of said sheet is lifted to asubstantially vertical plane while the bottom fold is held horizontal. In this position it is advanced by the conveying means to the other stations where subsequent inserts are depositedon top of the bottom fold by the reference machine elements.

It might be pointed out at this time that the conveying means on the reference machine moves intermittently, pausing before each supply station to receive an addi- Width in that two pauses of a conveying means occur within its limits. In the first half of this added station a folded insert is deposited on the conveyor table in the.

usual manner. A pair of hold down pads like those provided on the reference machine between insert stations are supplied on either side of a folded insert depositing arm. These pads are cam operated to lightly hold the folded sheet while it is being advanced by the conveyor. In the second half of the station, the sheet is unfolded as previously mentioned. This is done by means of vacuum cups. One pair is set flush in the conveyor table which holds down the bottom half of the folded sheet while the other pair, mounted in a rocker arm which is adapted to oscillate through. a are about a point 'at the edge of the conveyor track, liftsthe upper half of the folded sheet to a substantially vertical po-' sition. I

In order that the vertical portion of the folded sheet is deposited out of line with the remaining inserts, .a separate conveying means is provided which is synchronized and operates parallel to and simultaneously. with the conveying means of the reference machine.

This offset is slight enough dimensionally to permit the subsequent inserts to partially overlap the horizontal porcups unfold the first insert is made to reciprocate longitudinally by means of a cam, so that'it passes in front of the uplifted portion of theinsert sheet and supports it, and retracts out of the path of the sheet lifting rocker arm when it descends to pick up the next sheet. I

A space is provided between the final insert supply station and the envelope inserting station where the first insert is refolded. In this space a reciprocating member pushes the folded sheet and its enclosed cards or. sheets back in line with the original conveying'means which then feeds it into the inserting station where itisslid into an envelope'in theusualmanner. s l

This embodiment of the invention will 'be further clarified by the following description and drawingsin which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved machine; Figure 2 is a plan view of the improved machine with some of the detail omitted to permit a clearer disclosure of the new features; g

Figure 3 is a perspective drawing schematically illus-.

trating the power transmission for the entire machine;

Figure 4 is a perspective ofthe new end stations at which the folded sheets are fed into the machine; Figure 5 is a fragmentary crosssection through the conveyor table taken on the plane 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective of the folded insert stop mechanism; v t v Figure 7 is atypical cross section through one of the standard insert stations taken on line ;7-7 of Figure 2; Figure .8 is an elevation showing the .valvetoperating mechanism for the insert selectors of the firjststation;

Figure 9 is a perspective of the refolding and assembling station of the new machine;

Figure 10 is a section taken on, the plane indicated by the line 10-10 in Figure 2;

Figure ll is a vertical section showing the mechanism which operates the unfolding arm; and

Patented Apr. 17, 1956 Figure 12 is a fragmentary section showing the stock pile at zone 39A and its associated mechanism.

As previously stated, the improved embodiment will be described as applied to the reference machine.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2,- the machine has a structural framework on which is mounted-an insert conveying table 12 and an adjustable envelope conveying table 14. Under the tables 12 and 1.4, on a platform 16, drive motor 18 is provided with necessary transmissiori to operate all the various collating and control mechanisms, to be more fully described later. On a second platform 20 a vacuum system 22 is mounted with its separate motor 24, pump 25, vacuum tank 26 and muffler 27. All of these elements are as in the reference machine.

Mounted adjacent table 12 are the several insert supply stations. The new and improved station for feeding folded inserts to the conveyor table is indicated generally by the numeral 30. The remaining insert stations,

identical with those of the reference machine, are indicated bythe numerals 32. At the end of these insert stationsis the nevi assembling and folding station indicated at 34 and best seen in Figure 2.

On-table 14 is mounted the envelope supply station 40, an envelope opening device 42, seen in Figure 2, the sealed envelope deposit station 44 and the envelope conveying means 45. Secured to table 12, but projecting onto table .14, is the inserting mechanism 46 and a moisture applying station 48. All of these elements are fully disclosed in the reference machine.

Reference to. Figure 3 will show thepower transmission which operates these various stations and which provides motive power for the various operations performed by the added mechanisms which comprise the invention- The main drive motor 24 drives a gear reduc'er unit 50 by means of a V-belt 52. The output shaft 54' of this reducer unit 50 projects from both sides of said unit and from it are driven the various shafts and elements hereinafter-described. On shaft 54, to' the left as viewed in Figure 3, is a sprocket 56 and a crank arm 58. link 60 is pivotally connected to crank 53, transmitting a reciprocating motion to an arm 62A of a Y shaped member 62, rotatably mounted on a shaft 64. A

' second arm 62B of said Y-shaped member 62 has suitably secured thereto a pawl 66 which cooperates with a four toothed star wheel 68, which, in turn, is keyed to the previously mentioned shaft 64. The crank 58, arms 62A and 62B of member 62, and star wheel 68 areso proportioned as to impart an intermittent rotational motion to -the shaft 64 at a rate of 90 of rotation for each revolution of the reducer shaft 54. Also "keyed, or suitably secured, to shaft 64 is a bevel gear 70, eperativ'ely engaged with mating gear '72 on a shaft 74. From shaft 'l '4 is obtaincdthe intermittent motion of " conveyor chains 80, 82, 84'which' feed insert material from station and stations 32 in a manner to b'e described hereinafter.

The third arm 62C of member 62 is pivotally .connected to a'cr'a'nk arm 90 by means of link member 92. Slot 94 in crank 90 permits adjustment of the amount of motion imparted to crank arm 90 by the arm 62C. Crank arm 90 is keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft 96, thus imparting toit an oscillating motion. To shaft.

side of gear reducer 50 has secured thereto a sprocket 110. A sprocket chain 112 drives sprockets 114 and 116 and 18 carried by idler sprocket 117. Sprockets 114 and 116 are secured to an upper cam shaft 11.8 and a 7 lower cam shaft 120, respectively.

The upper cam shaft 118 is also extended to provide power. to operate elements at station 30 as it does at stations 32.

Because station 30 is located nearer the front of the machine than the other stations 32, the auxiliary cam shaft 1113A is provided. It is driven from shaft 118 by means of sprocket chain 119 on'the sprockets 114A and 115, as seen in Figures Z'and 3.

To add the new station 30 to the reference machine of Patent No. 2,325,455, it is necessary to alter the conveyor table 12 in the following manner. The machine must belen gthened at the right-hand end, as viewed in Figure 1, a distance about equal to two of the insert stations 32: The conveyor chain 80 is terminated at the 'first of the insert stations 32 on the right, and a chain 82 is added which extends to include the two zones 33A and 30B of insert station 30 (see Figure 4). On the left-end of the machine conveyor chains 80 and 82 extend to include an insert refolding station 34 after the last insert station 32.

A third conveyor chain 84 is added to run parallel to chains 30'and 82, starting at the folded insert station 30 with the chain 82 and terminating at the last insert station 32.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that the conveyor chains 86 and 82 are driven by the intermittently .rotated shaft 74 by means of sprockets 74A and 7413. A sprocket 740 on shaft 74 drives a jackshaft 140 by means of cooperating sprocket 140A and chain 140B. Secured to jackshaft 140 is a sprocket 84A which drives the chain 84. This arrangement is used so that the upper passes of the chains 80, 82 and 84 are the taut or drive sides and all move simultaneously.

With this conveyor arrangement it is possible to feed the folded inserts for conveyance on the pair of chains 32 and 84 while the single sheet inserts are fed for conveyance on the chains 89 and 82. Thus, it will be seen that the inserts may all overlap but the vertically held portion of the folded sheet is transported without interfering with the subsequent insert feeding mechanisms.

New folded sheet feed (station 30) is situated at the rear of zone 39A for the folded sheets.

The lower forward end of said magazine is open at 150A (see Figure 7) and under-this opening is a pair of vacuum powered insert selectors 130 which are reciprocated to, and from the said opening by means of a cam 131 on the lower cam shaft as seen in Figure 7, a typical station; t 1

The insert selectors are adjustably secured to U- shaped bracket levers 132, which are pivotally mounted between stockpiles 150 at 133. One such bracket is used for each pair of stockpiles 150 at stations 32.

However, because the stockpile at zone 30A is located nearer the front of the machine than the other stations 32, a separate bracket 132A is provided advanced with the stockpile 150 at this station to occupy the same relative postion as the other brackets 132 occupy at stations This relationship is illustrated in the fragmentary section shown in Figure 12. The bracket lever 132A is pivotally supported at 133A.

Connected to each U-shaped bracket lever 132 and 132A is a downwardly directed arm 134 which carries a connecting rod 135 pivoted thereto. A connecting rod 135A of greater length'is used with bracket 132A to compensate for its advanced position.

Fixedly secured to shaft 136 are levers 137 which are also pivotally connected to connecting rods 135. Lever 137A is fixedly secured to shaft 136 and pivotally connected to push rod 138 which carries the cam follower 131A. The cam follower 131A is actuated by the cam 131 on cam shaft 120 which rotates once for each cycle ofthe machine. The tension spring 139 is connected to lever 140, which in turn is fixedly secured to shaft 136. Spring 139 and lever 140 act to use shaft136:

to bias the cam follower 131A against "131.

Each pair of vacuum cups 1.30 is connectedto a header 141 by means of a flexible tube 142. The header 141 is connected to a control valve.143 by means of pipe 141A. Since the vacuum cups 130 at station 30 and stations 32 operate simultaneously, all can be operated by the single control valve 143. Petcocks 142A permit shutting off vacuum to individual stations when they are not being used.

The valve 143 is operated by cam 144 as shown in Figure 8. Cam 144 is secured to shaft 120 and actuates a cam follower arm 145 which is pivotally mounted to the valvebase plate 146. A spring 145A holds the cam follower 145B against the cam 144; A connectin g rod 147 transmits" the motion from the follower arm 145 to the valve operating member 143A. 'Pipe 148 connects the valve 143 with the vacuumsystem 22.

Valve 143 causes vacuum tobe applied to selectors 130 atthe top of their stroke. At thispoint'selectors 130 are adjacent the opening in'the bottom of themagazine 150. Thus, by means of the vacuum,- selectors 130 grasp the bottom folded insert from the stockpile and the rocker shaft by means of crank arms 151A andlSlB on adjacent'ends of shafts 96 and 96A, respectively, and the pivotally mounted connecting link 151. 7

The gripper 152A at station 30A-is openedand closed by a rocker shaft 153A journaled at one end in the gripper arm 98A and at the other end in crank arm- 151B. A crank arm 154 and link 155 transmits the rocking .motion of rocker shaft 153A to the movable jaw of gripper 152A, to open said gripper. A tension spring 156 normally holds the gripper closed. Y t I The movement offrocker shaft 153A is obtained by means of cranks 157Aand 157B secured to the adjacent ends of rocker shafts 153A and 153respectively, and connecting link 158. The rocker'shaft153 opens the gripper jaws at the insert stations 32. I I

The operation of rocker shaft 153 will be understood by referring to Figure and the reference patent.

A cam 159 on cam shaft 118 operates a pushrod'160 by means of cam follower 160A. Pushrod 160 is-pivotally attached to a wiper cam 161 which is rotatably mounted at 161A, so thatthe rotation of cam 159 oscillates said wiper cam 161. A cam follower 162 rides across the surface of wiper cam 161 when the crank 90 oscillates to rock the shaft 96, which supports the gripper arms 98.

The wiper cam follower 162 is mounted on a lever arm 163 keyed to the shaft 153 which shaft pivots in the arm of crank 90 and in the several gripper arms 98. Crank arms 154 and links 155 transmit-the rocking motion of the shaft 153 to the movable jaws of grippers 152 opening them in timed relationship with theswing of gripper arms 98. i v 7 Referring again to'Figure 4 and Figure 5, it should be 'noted that the folded sheets F are stacked in magazine 150 with the folded edge forward so that the gripper 152A grasps it to transport the sheet to'the conveyor.

When the gripper 152A passes between insert selectors 130 and grasps the paper, the vacuum in selectors 130 is shut off at valve 143 and the sheet is swung out over the conveyor table 12 and deposited over the conveyor on shaft-168m which pads 164 are secured toproduce this action. These pads prevent displacement of the sheet while it is being advanced by the conveyor.

Matched pairs of fingers 170 on the conveyor chains 82 and 84 then advance the sheet F to zone 30B. A guide member 172 is mounted on the table 12 with a slight angularity so that the sheet F is pushed forward slightly While in transit so that it is in front of ,a pusher bar 174 at zone 30B. i

A stop finger 176 projects upwardly through an opening in the table 12 to stop the sheet F in proper position for the unfolding mechanism. This finger is retracted when the sheet is advanced by the conveyor to the first standard insert station 32 by means of a cam 178 on cam shaft 118A. Figure 6 illustrates the mechanism which operates this stop finger 176. Finger 176 is mounted on the short upper arm 180A of a Cshaped member 180. The long lower arm 18013 is pivotally supported on pin 180C to any suitable brackets 180D suspended from the bottom of the conveyor table 12. To a downwardly projecting member 180E, a spring 182 issecured to bias the finger 176 upwardly. A hook 184 on the end of an arm 186A of bell crank 186engages the arm 180B of member 180. Bell crank 186 is pivotally mounted at 188 and the arm 1868 is provided with the cam follower 189 which is biased against cam 178 by the tension of spring 182. Thus rotation of cam 178 causes said stop finger to rise and descend through the opening in the conveyor table in timed relationship with the other mechanisms at zone Referring now to Figure 4, after the folded sheet F is stopped at zone 30B, the pusher bar 174, which has a U-shaped end 174A which passes around shaft 118A pushes it forward by action of cam 190 on shaft 118A and cam follower 192 secured to end 174A. A spring 194 biases follower 192 against said cam. This action pushes the folded edge of sheet F up to the vertical side of guide member 200 which extends parallel the conveyor chains to the last insert station 32.

When sheet F? is in position at station 303, the sheet unfoldingmechanism. 201 is timed with the machine to be actuated. Figure 11 illustrates this mechanism.. A cam 202 on shaft 118A oscillates a cam follower 208 on lever 204 which is pivoted at 206 to any suitable part of the frame 10. A spring 204A biases the cam follower 208 against the cam 202. A link 210 connects lever 204 to an arm 212A of a segment gear 212 pivotally mounted to the frame 10 at 214. Segment gear 212 meshes with a second segment gear 213 which is secured to a shaft 216 journaled to the table 12 in close proximity to the guide member 200. Keyed to shaft 216 are arms 217 which are connected at their outer ends by a rod 218.

Adjustably fastened to this rod 218 is the T shapedvunfolding arm 219. Fastened in the cross bar of the unfolding arm 219 are thesuction cups 220 on the ends of tubes 220A. These tubes are connected to a small header 220B to which is connected the flexible tube 221.

A second pair of correspondingly located and spaced suction cups 222 are set flush in the table 12 at station 3013 which are interconnected by a tube or pipe 223. Suction cups 222 are positioned so that they will be slightly offset from suction cups 220 when they are lowered.

The tubes 221 and 223 are connected to a vacuum valve 224 shown in Figure 8. Vacuum valve 224 is opfirst Standard insert station 32, a retaining member 230 (see Figure 5) is provided to hold up the lifted fold. Retaining member 230 supports the uplifted portion of the first insert past all the succeeding insert stations. Retaining member 230 also has a horizontal leg 230A which serves to hold the horizontal portion of the insertdown and in line as the conveyor advances it from station to station.

Figure 5 and braces 232A shown in Figure 10. A second member 234 of L shaped cross section is supported slightly above table 12 and serves as a guide member for subsequent inserts N from stations 32. It will be seen in Figure 5 howthese inserts N overlap the first insert F.

Referring again toFigures 4 and 5, at the end of the retaining member 230, adjacent section30B, are two reciprocating retainer strips 240 and 242. The strip 240 slides in the vertical plane of the retainer 230 in which a slot 244 is provided to partially support said slidable strip. The horizontal strip 242 is suspended above the table 12 by'braeket 246, between members 230A and 234. The

bracket 246 is also secured to vertical strip 240 holding" them together. Bracket 246 is further secured to rod 248 and is reciprocated by asecond rod 250, which is secured to rod 248 by a clamp 249.

One end of said rod 250 is pivotally connected at 252 to a crank member 254; Crank 254, pivotally secured at 255, is rocked by a link 256 connected to a cam follower 258, which is in contact with a cam 260 on shaft 118A, as best seen in Figure 4.

Thus by properly setting the cam 260, the retainer strips 240 and242 are causedto move to the right, that is into the zone of section 30B, and engage the upstanding portion of sheet F after it has been unfolded by the unfolding arm 201. So, when the vacuum is shut off in the suction cups 220, the sheet F is held'unfolded until the conveyor chain moves it to the first standard insert station 32, where it is retained by the fixed members 200, 230, 230A and 234. At the first standard insert station 32, a gripper arm 98 deposits an insert N between the guide members 234 and 270 overlapping the bottom horizontal portion of insert F. This sheet is transported to successive stations 32 to receive additional inserts N by the conveyor chains 80 and 'At these stations 32, the operations are the same as those described in the reference machine in Patent No. 2,325,455. All the stations 30 and 32 are provided with controls 280 for shutting off the machine, as shown in Figure 7, but omitted in the other figures for clarity.

. The. shutoff control 280 consists of an oscillating knife edge 281, a' crank arm 282 and an adjustably fixed roller The knife edge 281 is a part of'a pivotmember 281A which is mounted on rocker shaft 281B. 'Shaft 28113 is oscillated or rocked by means of a cam and follower arm not seen in these figures but fully disclosed in the patent previously referred to.

The upper or long arm of crank 282 is provided with a grooved blade receiving member 282A, which normally receives and supports the knife edge 281 in the normal operation of the machine. The crank 282 is pivotally mounted to the machine at 284 and a spring 285 urges it in a counterclockwise direction. This biases a roller 282B against the adjustably fixed roller 283.

The rollers 2823 and 283 extend into the path of the insert F or N so that said insert must pass between them when beingtransported by the gripper 152A. 7 U Therefore, the lower roller 283 may be adjusted so that the blade receiving member 282A is not in position to interrupt the motion of the oscillating blade 28 1 when Retaining member 230 is supported above the conveyor table 12 by. means of bracket 232 '-best seen in there is no insert'between the said rollers or when there are too'many inserts between said rollers, as when two or severalinig'ht be stuck together. I

when ther'ight'thickiie'ss of insert is between said roll- 61s the bladerecei ing member 282A is in position to interr'upt the motion of the knife edge 281.

. Ari eleiftric'switch285is associated with the oscillating pivot meihb'er 281A so that, if the knife edge 281 is not intercepted by the blade receiving member 282A, said switch 285 is opened, deenergizing the electric circuit which operates the machine. 7

A finger 2820 is provided on crank 282, which is in the path of thegripper arm 98, 98A so that said arm abuts finger- 282C separating rollers 282B and 283 until arm 98, 98A has reversed its direction and drawn an insert between said rollers 282B and 283. Thus is prevented damage to the inserts from striking the rollers.

Referring particularlyto Figure 9, at the last station 32L the refolding operation of insert F is started. It is accomplished by terminating the vertical leg of supporting member 230 and gradually bendingthe vertical leg of guide member 200 backward to a horizontal position as will be seen in Figures 9 and 2. This refolding operation straddles thelast insert station 32L and the assembling station 34. ,To prevent the bent portion of guide member 200from camming the insert F out of proper position the horizontal portion of the retainer 230A is extended to assembling station 34 in the form of a fiat spring steelstrip. 290. The refolding is actuated by the advancemerit of the sheet through this zone by the conveyor chains 82 and84. As previously mentioned, the chain 84 terminates at this station after delivering the folded insert to the assembling station 34. V Y

A hold-down pad 164A (see Figure 2), pivotally secured, is provided at the asesmbling station 34 to assure completere'folding. Pad 164A is actuated by a cam 165A on cam shaft 118 which acts on cam follower arm 162B secured to pad 164A. It also prevents displacement of the sheet during its advance by the conveyor.

Adverting to Figure 9, the assembling is done by means of the reciprocating member 300 which is a strip of metal folded over to form a narrow V-shaped cross section. One side of the V-shaped strip 300 rests in the plane of table 12 while the other side inclines toward the rear of the machine. The said strip 300 extends longitudinally across the front of station 34. A link 302 recessed in the surface of table 12 transmits the reciprocating action produced by the cam 304on thecam shaft 118 and the cam follower 306 on the' end of said link 302. A spring 308 holds the cam follower 306 against cam 304.

The V-shapedmember 300 grasps the folded edge of the refolded insert F, drawing the unfolded edge up against the guide member 270, thus assembling all the inserts into a single fpackage within the folds of insert F.

The conveyor chains 80 and 82 then advance the package of inserts to the inserting station 46 where the arm 77 transfers it into an opened envelope at station 42. The operation of the envelope supply station 40, the opening mechanism 42,-the inserter 46 and the moisture applying device 48 are all known to the art and need not be repeated. Postage may be applied. in this region and the finished unit stacked at the deposit station 44 ready for mailing. Y

What is claimed is:'

1. In a literature nesting machine a magazine adapted to hold ,folded sheets, a conveyor having a substantially horizontal conveying surface, means to transfer a folded sheet from said magazine to said conveyor, means to open said folded sheet, means adjacent said conveyor to maintain said folded sheet open as it is advanced by the conveyor, a second magazine adapted to hold inserts, means to transfer an insert from said second magazine to a position between the leaves of said folded sheet, means to .space said insert from the fold of said sheet, and

means to close said folded sheet to bring its leaves together. i

2. In a literature nesting machine a magazine adapted to hold folded sheets, a conveyor having a substantially horizontal conveying surface, an oscillating gripper arm adapted to transfer afolded sheet from said magazine to said conveyor, means to open said folded sheet, means adjacent said conveyor to maintain said folded sheet open as it is advanced by the conveyor, asecond magazine adapted to hold inserts, a second oscillating gripper arm adapted to transfer an insert from said second magazine to a position between the leaves of said folded sheet, means to space said insert from the fold of said sheet and means to close said folded sheet to bring its leaves together.

3. In a literature nesting machine a magazine adapted to hold folded sheets, a conveyor having a substantially horizontal conveying surface, means to transfer a folded sheet from said magazine to said conveyor, a guide member being substantially coextensive with said conveyor and adapted to engage an edge of said folded sheet, an

oscillating pusher bar adapted to push said folded sheet against said guide member, means to open said folded sheet, guide means adjacent said first mentioned guide member and adapted to maintain said folded sheet open, a second magazine adapted to hold inserts, means to transfer an insert from said second magazine to a position between the leaves of said folded sheet, means to space said insert from the fold of said sheet and means to close said folded sheet to bring its leaves together.

4. In a literature nesting machine a magazine adapted to hold folded sheets, a conveyor having a substantially horizontal conveying surface, means to transfer a folded sheet from said magazine to said conveyor, a guide member being substantially coextensive with said conveyor and adapted to engage an edge of said folded sheet, an oscillating pusher bar adapted to push said folded sheet against said guide member, means to open said folded sheet, a second magazine adapted to hold inserts, means to transfer an insert from said second magazine to a posi- ,to hold folded sheets, a conveyor having a substantially horizontal conveying surface, means to transfer a folded sheet from said magazine to said conveyor, a guide memher being substantially coextensive with said conveyor and adapted to engage an edge of said folded sheet, an

oscillating pusher bar adapted to push said folded sheet against said guide member, means to open said folded sheet, a second magazine adapted to hold inserts, means to transfer an insert from said second magazine to a position between the leaves of said folded sheet, means to space said insert from the fold of said sheet, said first mentioned guide being developed to form an acute angle to effect the closing of said folded sheet to bring its leaves together, a V-shaped member extending from the terminus of said first mentioned guide, a second guide opposite said V-shaped member, and means to move said V-shaped member towards said second guide to complete the assembly of said folded sheet and said insert. V

6. In-aliterature nesting machine a magazine adapted to hold folded sheets, a conveyor having a substantially horizontal conveying surface, means to transfer a folded sheet from said magazine to said conveyor, an arm having suction means adapted to engage the top leaf of said folded sheet, means to oscillate said arm in a vertical,

plane, said suction means being adapted to release said folded sheet when said arm has opened the sheet, a second suction means adapted to engage the lower leaf of said sheet during the opening of said sheet by said arm, means adjacent said conveyor to maintain said folded sheet open as it is advanced by the conveyor, a second magazine adapted to hold inserts, means'to transfer an insert from said second magazine to a position between the leaves of said folded sheet, means to space said insert from the fold of said sheet and means to close said folded sheet to bring its leaves together.

7. In a literature nesting machine a magazine adapted to hold folded sheets, a conveyor having a substantiallyv horizontal conveying surface, means to transfer a folded sheet from said magazine to said conveyor, an arm having suction means adapted to engage the top leaf of said folded sheet, means to oscillate said arm in a vertical plane, said suction means being adapted to release said folded sheet when said arm has opened the sheet, reciprocating guide means adapted to engage the inner surface of said top leaf of the folded sheet to hold the folded sheet open after the arm has opened said folded sheet, fixed guide means in advance of said slidable guide means to maintain said sheet open, a second magazine adapted to hold inserts, means to transfer an insert from said second magazine to a position between the leaves of said folded sheet and means to close saidfolded sheet to bring its leaves together.

8. In a literature nesting machine a magazine adapted to hold folded sheets, a conveyor having a substantially horizontal conveying surface, means to transfer a folded sheet from said magazine to said conveyor, an arm having suction means adapted to engage the top leaf of said folded sheet, means to oscillate said arm in a vertical plane, said suction means being adapted to release said folded sheet when said arm has opened the sheet, reciprocating guide means adapted to engage the inner surface of said top leaf of the folded sheet to hold the folded sheet open after the arm has openedsaid folded sheet, fixed guide means in advance of said slidable guide means to maintain said sheet open, a second magazine adapted to hold inserts, means to transfer an insert from said second magazine to a position between the leaves of said folded sheet, means to space said insert from the fold of said sheet, and means to close said folded sheet to bring its leaves together.

9. In a literature nesting machine a magazine adapted to hold folded sheets, a conveyor having a. substantially horizontal conveying surface, means to transfer a folded sheet from said magazine to said conveyor, an arm having suction means adapted to engage the top leaf of said folded sheet, means to oscillate said arm in a vertical plane, said suction means being adapted to release said folded sheet when said arm has opened the sheet, reciprocating guide means adapted to engage the inner surface of said top leaf of the folded sheet to hold the folded sheet open after the arm hasopened said folded sheet, fixed guide means in advance of said slidable guide means to maintain said sheet open, a second magazine adapted to hold inserts, means to transfer an insert from said second magazine to a position between the leaves of said folded sheet, means to space said insert from the fold of said sheet, and means to close said folded sheet to bring its leaves together, said fixed guide means being developed to form an acute angle to effect the closing of said folded sheet to bring its leaves together.

10. In a literature nesting machine a magazine adapted to hold folded sheets, a conveyor having a substantially horizontal conveying surface, means to transfer a folded sheet from said magazine to said conveyor, an arm having suction means adapted to engage the top leaf of said folded sheet, means to oscillate said arm in a vertical plane, said suction means being adapted to release said folded sheet when said arm has opened the sheet, reciprocating guide means adapted to engage the'inner surface of said top leaf of the folded sheet to hold the folded sheet open after the arm has opened said folded sheet,

fixed guide means in advance of said slidable guide means tov maintain said sheet open, a secondmagazine adapted V to hold inserts, means to transfer an insert from said second magazine to'a position between the leaves of said folded sheet, means to'space said insert from the fold of said sheet, and means to close said folded sheet to bringits leaves together, said 'fixed guide means being developed to form an arcuate angle to effect the closing of said folded sheet to bring its' leaves together, a V-shaped member extending from the terminus of said first mentioned fixed guide means, a second fixed guide means opposite said -shaped member and means to move said V-shaped member towards said first fixed guide means to eompletethe said'insert.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Molyneaux Feb. 10, 1914 1,179,002. Gitzendanner Apr. 11,1916 2,149,462 Oppliger Mar. 7, 1939 2,208,345 Rosebush July 16, 1940 2,325,455 'Williams July 27, 1943 2,461,573 Schweizer Feb. 15, 1949 assembly of said folded sheet and

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