Method and Apparatus for Diverting Printed Products into Three Streams

Abstract

A diverter for receiving printed products in a single stream and diverting the printed products into a plurality of streams is provided. The diverter includes a first rotating body rotating about a first axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the first axis. Each circumferential section of the first rotating body extends radially a different distance from the first axis. The diverter also includes a second rotating body rotating about a second axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the second axis. Each circumferential section of the second rotating body extends radially a different distance from the second axis. The first and second rotating bodies divert the printed products into three separate streams at a diverting area between the first and second axes. The diverter also includes a steeple positioned downstream of the diverting area. A method for diverting printed products in a folder, a printing press, a method for adjusting a diverter and a steeple for a diverter are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A diverter for receiving printed products in a single stream and diverting the printed products into a plurality of streams comprising:
 a first rotating body rotating about a first axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the first axis, each circumferential section of the first rotating body extending radially a different distance from the first axis;   a second rotating body rotating about a second axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the second axis, each circumferential section of the second rotating body extending radially a different distance from the second axis, the first and second rotating bodies diverting the printed products into three separate streams at a diverting area between the first and second axes; and   a steeple positioned downstream of the diverting area.   
     
     
         2 . The diverter recited in  claim 1  wherein the steeple is arranged and configured to assist the first and second rotating bodies to divert printed products into each of the three different streams. 
     
     
         3 . The diverter recited in  claim 2  wherein the steeple includes a first surface for guiding the printed products along a first of the three streams, a second surface for guiding the printed products along a second of the three streams and a third surface for guiding the printed products along a third of the three streams. 
     
     
         4 . The diverter recited in  claim 3  wherein the steeple includes a fourth surface, the third and fourth surfaces defining a slot in the steeple. 
     
     
         5 . The diverter recited in  claim 1  wherein the steeple is stationary. 
     
     
         6 . A method for adjusting the diverter recited in  claim 1  comprising:
 diverting printed products with the diverter into three separate streams, the first rotating body including at least one first lobe having the first, second and third circumferential portions of the first rotating body and the second rotating body including at least one first lobe having the first, second and third circumferential portions of the second rotating body; 
 removing the first lobes from the first rotating body and the second rotating body; 
 providing at least one second lobe on each of the first and second rotating bodies, the at least one second lobe of the first rotating body including two circumferential sections extending radially different distances from the first axis, the at least one second lobe of the second rotating body including two circumferential sections extending radially different distances from the second axis; and 
 diverting printed products with the diverter into two separate streams. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method for diverting printed products in a folder comprising:
 guiding a first printed product from an input stream along a first surface of a steeple to divert the first printed product to a first stream;   guiding a second printed product from the input stream along a second surface of the steeple to divert the second printed product to a second stream; and   guiding a third printed product from the input stream along a third surface of the steeple to divert the third printed product to a third stream.   
     
     
         8 . The method recited in  claim 7  wherein the third surface and a fourth surface of the steeple define a slot in the steeple and the third printed product is passed through the slot to the third stream. 
     
     
         9 . The method recited in  claim 8  wherein the first printed product is guided along the first surface of the steeple by a first rotating body, the second printed product is guided along the second surface of the steeple by a second rotating body and the third printed product is guided along the third surface of the steeple by at least the first rotating body. 
     
     
         10 . A steeple for a diverter diverting printed products comprising:
 a first guide section including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface arranged and configured for guiding printed products along a first diverting stream; and   a second guide section including a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface arranged and configured for guiding printed products along a second diverting stream, the second surface and the fourth surface defining a slot for guiding printed products along a third diverting stream.   
     
     
         11 . A diverter for receiving printed products in a single stream and diverting the printed products into two streams comprising:
 a first rotating body rotating about a first axis and including first and second circumferential sections positioned around the first axis, the circumferential sections of the first rotating body extending radially different distances from the first axis;   a second rotating body rotating about a second axis and including first and second circumferential sections positioned around the second axis, the circumferential sections of the second rotating body extending radially different distances from the second axis, the first and second rotating bodies diverting the printed products into two different streams at a diverting area between the first and second axes; and   a steeple positioned downstream of the diverting area, the steeple including a first guiding surface for guiding signatures along a first of the two streams and a second guiding surface for guiding signatures along a second of the two streams, the second guiding surface arranged and configured as a first plane perpendicular to a second plane passing through the first and second axes.   
     
     
         12 . The diverter recited in  claim 11  wherein the first circumferential section of the first rotating body extends a greater radial distance from the first axis than the second circumferential section of the first rotating body and the first circumferential section of the second rotating body extends a greater radial distance from the second axis than the second circumferential section of the second rotating body, the first and second rotating bodies being phased with respect to one another such that the first circumferential section of the first rotating body aligns with the second circumferential section of the second rotating body to guide printed products in the first stream and the second circumferential section of the first rotating body aligns with the first circumferential section of the second rotating body to guide printed products in the second stream. 
     
     
         13 . The diverter recited in  claim 12  wherein the first circumferential section of the first rotating body extends a different radial distance from the first axis than the first circumferential section of the second rotating body extends from the second axis and the second circumferential section of the first rotating body extends a different radial distance from the first axis than the second circumferential section of the second rotating body extends from the second axis.