Imaging apparatus and methods for bindery systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9944477-B2
Application number	US-201615276562-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

Imaging apparatus and methods for bindery systems are disclosed. An example method includes engaging a signature assembly with an end of a separator to cause 1) a first page of the signature assembly to be disposed on a platform and 2) a second page of the signature assembly to be disposed on the side of the platform; drawing the first page toward the platform; and imaging the first page when the first page is on the platform.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method, comprising:
engaging a signature assembly with an end of a separator to cause 1) a first page of the signature assembly to be disposed on a platform and 2) a second page of the signature assembly to be disposed on the side of the platform;
drawing the first page toward the platform; and
imaging the first page when the first page is on the platform.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein drawing the first page toward the platform includes drawing the first page toward a moving conveyor.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein drawings the first page toward the platform includes drawing air through apertures of the moving conveyor.

4. The method of claim 1 , further including transitioning the first page relative to the platform.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein transitioning the first page relative to the platform includes moving a conveyor relative to the platform.

6. The method of claim 1 , further including determining a presence of the signature assembly approaching the platform.

7. The method of claim 6 , further including, in response to determining the presence of the signature assembly approaching the platform, initiating drawing air through the platform to enable the first page to be drawn toward the platform.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signature assembly is a first signature assembly, further including:
engaging a second signature assembly with the end of the separator to cause 1) a first page of the second signature assembly to be disposed on the platform and 2) a second page of the second signature assembly to be disposed on the side of the platform;
drawing the first page of the second signature assembly toward the platform; and
imaging the first page of the second signature assembly when the first page of the second signature assembly is on the platform.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first signature assembly has a first title and the second signature assembly has a second title.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein imaging the first page of the first signature assembly includes positioning a printer a first distance from the platform and imaging the first page of the second signature assembly includes positioning the printer a second distance from the platform.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first signature assembly has a first thickness or trim size and the second signature assembly has a second thickness or trim size.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including trimming the first signature assembly and trimming the second signature assembly.

13. The method of claim 12 , further including stacking the first signature assembly and the second signature assembly in an order to maximize a postage discount rate.

14. The method of claim 8 , further including determining an order to produce signature assemblies including the first signature assembly and the second signature assembly.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the order includes determining a co-mailing order to maximize a postage discount rate.

16. An apparatus, comprising:
means for engaging a signature assembly with an end of a separator to cause 1) a first page of the signature assembly to be disposed on a platform and 2) a second page of the signature assembly to be disposed on the side of the platform;
means for drawing the first page toward the platform; and
means for imaging the first page when the first page is on the platform.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the means for drawing the first page toward the platform includes means for drawing the first page toward a moving conveyor.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the means for drawings the first page toward the platform includes means for drawing air through apertures of the moving conveyor.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , further including means for transitioning the first page relative to the platform.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the signature assembly is a first signature assembly, further including means to produce the first signature assembly and another signature assembly in an order to maximize postage discount.

Assignees

• Donnelley & Sons Co
• Lsc Communications Us Llc

Inventors

• Wyble Ty Daniel
• Rose Todd Tracy

Classifications

• B65H5/30

  Opening devices for folded sheets or signatures · CPC title

• B65H2511/22

  Distance · CPC title

• B65H2511/51

  Presence · CPC title

• B65H2301/4311

  Making personalised books or mail packets according to personal, geographic or demographic data · CPC title

• B65H5/021

  by belts · CPC title