Gathering device with variable static charging of books
View Patent ↗A gathering device for gathering books is provided including a gathering conveyor for transporting a book, a variable static charging unit having a voltage output providing a static charge to the book on the gathering conveyor and a controller connected to the variable static charging unit, the controller controlling the voltage output of the variable static charging unit.
1. A gathering device for gathering books comprising:
a gathering conveyor for transporting a book;
a variable static charging unit having a voltage output providing a static charge to the book on the gathering conveyor;
a controller connected to the variable static charging unit, the controller controlling the voltage output of the variable static charging unit; and
a sheet guide spaced from the gathering conveyor, the book traveling between the gathering conveyor and the sheet guide, the static charge being a function of the interaction between the sheet guide and the book.
2. The gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the gathering conveyor is a gathering chain.
3. The gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the gathering device is a saddle stitcher.
4. The gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the static charge is less than a static charge required to pin the book to the sheet guide.
5. The gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the book includes a plurality of pages and wherein the static charge applied is greater than or equal to a charge required to keep the pages from separating.
6. The gathering device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a pinner connected to the variable static charging unit and located on a side of the gathering conveyor, the pinner applying the static charge to the book.
7. The gathering device as recited in claim 6 wherein the pinner is a linear pinner.
8. The gathering device as recited in claim 6 further comprising a further pinner located on an opposite side of the gathering conveyor.
9. The gathering device as recited in claim 6 wherein the static charge is a function of a duration of time books are under the linear pinner receiving a static charge.
10. The gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the static charge is a function of a composition of the book.
11. The gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the static charge is a function of a size of the book.
12. The gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the static charge is based on predetermined tables or operator knowledge.
13. The gathering device as recited in claim 1 wherein the static charge is a function of a speed of the gathering conveyor.
14. The gathering device as recited in claim 13 wherein the controller determines the speed of the gathering conveyer from a sensor.
15. The gathering device as recited in claim 14 wherein the sensor is an encoder on a motor driving the gathering conveyor.
16. The gathering device as recited in claim 13 wherein the controller determines the speed of the gathering conveyer from a speed set for the gathering conveyor at a user interface.
17. A gathering device for gathering books comprising:
a gathering conveyor for transporting a book;
a variable static charging unit having a voltage output providing a static charge to the book on the gathering conveyor; and
a controller connected to the variable static charging unit, the controller determining a speed of the conveyor and controlling the voltage output of the variable static charging unit as a function of the speed of the conveyor.
18. A gathering device for gathering books comprising:
a gathering conveyor for transporting a book;
a variable static charging unit having a voltage output providing a static charge to the book on the gathering conveyor; and
a controller connected to the variable static charging unit, the controller determining a speed of the conveyor and controlling the voltage output of the variable static charging unit as a function of the speed of the conveyor and a function of book materials or size.