Automatic machine for feeding and sewing signatures in books

Abstract

A book sewing machine having an incorporated automatic feeder is disclosed. The automatic feeder has two stacks of signatures and acts to remove one signature from each stack simultaneously. The two signatures are both opened and then placed directly astride a sewing saddle of the sewing machine. The sewing saddle carries means for adjusting the spacing of the two signatures, and means for holding the two signatures in place as the sewing saddle moves to the sewing position where the two signatures are both sewn in one operation and then passed for further processing. One embodiment incorporates an automatic paster which applies paste to the signatures adjacent their backbones prior to placing them on the sewing saddle.

I claim:  .[.1. In a book sewing machine of the type having: 
     
        said feeder part and said sewing machine part..].  8. .[.The book sewing machine of claim 1 wherein there are provided:.]. .Iadd.In a book sewing machine of the type having: a sewing machine part for sewing signatures to form a book, said sewing machine part including:   sewing devices,   a sewing saddle, and   means for moving said sewing saddle reciprocally between a first position adjacent said sewing devices and a second position remote from said sewing devices, and a feeder part including   means for holding a stack of signatures to be sewn into books,   means for removing said signatures from said stack thereof,   means for opening said signatures along the line of the central backbone fold thereof, and   conveyor means for transferring said signatures to said saddle, the improvement wherein:   said means for moving said sewing saddle operates to move said saddle in a direction transverse the ridge thereof onto which engages the central backbone fold of said signatures,   said opening means operates on said signatures as they are moved along by said conveyor,   said conveyor means operates to transfer said sewing saddle, and there are provided means for synchronising the movement of said feeder means with said reciprocating movement of said sewing saddle, .Iaddend.   two said means for supporting stacks of signatures on said feeder part,   gripper means for withdrawing one signature from each of said stacks and for transferring said two signatures simultaneously onto said conveyor means,   opening means for simultaneously opening both said signatures, and   means for simultaneously placing said two opened signatures astride   
     
     
        adjacent parts of said sewing saddle. 9. The book sewing machine of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.8 .Iaddend.wherein there are further provided, adhesive applying means operating to apply an adhesive to one of the outer faces of said signature adjacent the backbone fold thereof, prior to   
     
     
        placing said signatures onto said sewing saddle. 10. The book sewing machine of claim 8 wherein there are further provided, adjustment means on said sewing saddle, said adjustment means operating to adjust simultaneously the positions of said two signatures after they have   
     
     
        been placed on said sewing saddle.  11. The book sewing machine of claim 10 wherein, there are further provided, holding means on said sewing saddle, said holding means operating after said adjustment means having adjusted the position of said two signatures on said sewing saddle to hold said signatures in position as said sewing saddle moves to said first position at which said signatures are sewn.