Jeffrey Hughes Simons

US Patent:

62275895, May 8, 2001

Filed:

Dec 7, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/456149

Inventors:

James E. Brown - Drexel Hill PA
Jeffrey R. Simons - Elkins Park PA

Assignee:

Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc.

International Classification:

B65G 4786

US Classification:

294104

Abstract:

A gripper assembly for a conveying device for conveying printed products. More particularly, a gripper assembly having: (a) a first gripper part, having a clamping surface and an external surface; (b) a second gripper part, having a clamping surface and an external surface; wherein the first gripper part and the second gripper part are connected together for pivotal movement about a common axis, the first gripper part being pivotable between an open position and a clamping position in which it cooperates with the second gripper part to clamp a printed product under spring force; (c) a spring element arranged between the first gripper part and the second gripper part, which spring element imparts a biasing force on the first gripper part which biases the first gripper part into the clamping position; and, (d) at least one conforming biaser which conforms to the external surfaces of the first and second gripper parts and which biases the first gripper part into the clamping position. The present invention also provides a method for modifying a conventional gripper assembly to facilitate the improved handling of periodic large or heavy editions, for example, the Sunday edition of a daily newspaper, which method includes the installation of at least one conforming biaser into a conventional gripper assembly, wherein the conventional gripper assembly comprises: (a) a first gripper part, having a clamping surface and an external surface; (b) a second gripper part, having a clamping surface and an external surface; wherein the first gripper part and the second gripper part are connected together for pivotal movement about a common axis, the first gripper part being pivotable between an open position and a clamping position in which it cooperates with the second gripper part to clamp a printed product under spring force; and, (c) a spring element arranged between the first gripper part and the second gripper part, which spring element imparts a biasing force on the first gripper part which biases the first gripper part into the clamping position.