Apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books and the like
United States Patent [1 1 Vulcano 1 APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING COVERS FROM PAPERBACK BOOKS AND THE LIKE [75] inventor: Vincent N. Vulcano, New York,  
 [73] Assignee: Campu-Sort Systems, lnc.,  
 Brooklyn, NY.  
 [22] Filed: Mar. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 344,487  
 [52] US. Cl. 83/1; 83/79; 83/100;  
 [51] Int. Cl. B26d 7/06 [58] Field of Search 83/925 MG, 418, 152, 417, 83/100, 1, 79  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Apr. 8, 1975 Primary E.taminerFrank T. Yost AIIOTHC), Agent or Firm-Gottlieb, Rackman, Reisman and Kirsch [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books and the like includes a supply of paperback books and a chain belt disposed on a frame for conveying the paperback books from the supply serially along an operative path on the frame. A mechanism for rotating the cover of a paperback book away from the remainder thereof and maintaining the cover in such position is provided, said mechanism including a suction device for initially moving the cover away from the remainder of the paperback book. A cutter in the path on the frame for severing the cover of a paperback book adjacent to the binding thereof while the cover is in its aforesaid position is included. The apparatus further includes a cutting blade for mutilating the paperback book after the cover has been removed and an embossing mechanism for providing an identifying symbol on the removed cover 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 81% SHEET l 0F 4 APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING COVERS FROM PAPERBACK BOOKS AND THE LIKE This invention relates to an apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books and the like. Although at present the invention has its greatest utility with paperback books. in fact. the apparatus may be utilized to remove covers from magazines. pamphlets. catalogs. hard-cover books. and from other similar printed matter. Thus. the term &#34;paperback books. as used herein. shall include all such printed material which has a cover.  
  It is an accepted practice in the paperback book industry that if a retailer decides. having held some paperback books for a period of time. that for some reason he does not desire to carry these books on his racks any longer. he can return the unsold books to his paperback wholesaler for credit. The wholesaler. in turn. passes these returned books back to the distributor. who. in turn. passes them back to the book publisher. unless they can be otherwise sold. Relatively large transportation costs are involved in moving paperback books from one location to the other and the cost of sorting and handling such books is also significant. To reduce these costs. it has been found desirable to use the cover of the paperback book as a voucher. Under this system. the cover is detached from the book and is sent back up through the line of distribution so that the retailer. wholesaler. distributor. and publisher get appropriate credit for each cover returned.  
  To make this system operate properly. the industry has for some time felt a need for an apparatus for automatically. efficiently and quickly removing covers from paperback books so that the covers can be gathered together and sent through the several levels of distribution to the publisher for appropriate credit. At the same time. it is desirable that the remaining portion of the paperback book. that is. the paperback book without its cover. be mutilated so that it cannot be sold at retail by secondhand dealers in competition with the original paperback books for which the publisher has already given credit.  
  Apparatus which generally satisfy the foregoing requirements are disclosed in application Ser. No. 92.350. filed November 24. 1970. (now US. Pat. No. 3.722.342) and application Ser. No. 238.190. filed Mar. 27. 1972. (now US. Pat. No. 3.808.931) in the name of the present applicant herein and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. As described in application Ser. No. 92.350, there is provided an apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books which includes means for supplying such paperback books to a loading station. At the loading station. the books are transported. one after another. by a two chain conveyor along an operative path. A cover plow is in the path and deflects and opens the cover of any book brought to it to a plane substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the book. A cutter is also in the path and severs the cover from a book at the binding. this severing operation taking place when the cover is in its mentioned &#34;open position. Then. the paperback book falls into a set of wheels which multilate the book and which dump it into a receptacle. A different receptacle is provided to receive the severed covers. Ejector means are provided for ejecting those books from which the covers have inadvertently not been severed.  
  As described in application Ser. No. 238.l90. there is provided an apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books which includes means for supplying paperback books. one after another. to a loading station. At this station. suction means partially rotates the cover of the book at the loading station away from the remainder of the book. Conveyor means then moves the paperback book serially from the loading station along a path. While such movement is proceeding. a cover deflector keeps the cover in its position rotated away from the remainder of the paperback book. The conveying means transports the book to cutting means. which severs the cover from the book adjacent to the book binding. Sorting means places the covers in one bin and the coverless books in another bin.  
  Notwithstanding the apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned applications. there exists the ever-present need to provide apparatus having improved operation and less complex configuration. For example. although it is desirable to provide an apparatus having an ejector mechanism for ejecting books whose covers have not been severed (as generally disclosed in application Ser. No. 92.350). there exists the need to provide an ejector mechanism which is less complex in configuration than that disclosed in said mentioned application. Similarly. although it is desirable to provide a suction mechanism for partially rotating the cover of the book away from the remainder ofthe book (as generally disclosed in application Ser. No. 238.190). there exists the need to provide a suction mechanism which is less complex in configuration for the reason that less complex designs tend to decrease manufacturing costs and. quite often. result in improved operation of the apparatus.  
  Further. since the severed covers act as vouchers and. therefore. have a monetary value. there exists a need to provide an apparatus having means for automatically embossing or otherwise marking the severed covers with an identifying symbol which may identify the covers with a particular retailer. distributor. wholesaler. or the like. Such means also serves to prevent thefts of covers and their sale to others in the publishing distribution industry.  
  Still further. although the apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned applications have operated relatively satisfactorily (and certainly have provided advantages over manual stripping). some difficulties have been encountered. For example. it has been found that the set of wheels in the apparatus disclosed in application Ser. No. 92,350 (which wheels are provided to mutilate the book) have. on occassion. jammed&#34;. As a result thereof. not only are the books not mutilated. but time must be taken to stop the apparatus. unjam the wheels. and then restart the same.  
  Accordingly. it is a broad object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books and the like.  
  A more specific object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books which includes an improved suction mechanism.  
  Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books which includes an improved multilating mechanism for rendering the books unsaleable after the covers have been removed.  
  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books having an improved structure for ejecting those books whose covers have not been severed. so that such books can be recycled.  
  Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books which includes means for embossing the covers of the paperback books with an identifying symbol thereby preventing thefts of the covers.  
  These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing an apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books and the like which includes means for supplying paperback books. one after another. to a loading station. At the loading station. suction means partially rotates the cover of the book away from the remainder of the book. The suction means includes a support for spring-biasing a pivot arm for moving at least one suction element to an inoperative position. A camming mechanism pivots the pivot arm such that the suction element moves to an operative position wherein the suction element engages the book cover. The suction element is then caused to mote back to its inoperative position by the springbiascd pivot arm thereby carrying the book cover away from the remainder of the book. The suction at the suction element is then reduced and the book is allowed to travel serially away from the loading station by con veying means which moves the paperback book along a supporting shelf attached to the frame of the apparatusv While such movement is proceeding. a cover deflector keeps the cover in its position rotated away from the remainder of the paperback book. The sup porting shelf is constructed and arranged to extend only partially along the frame and has a gap. such that ifthe cover has not been rotated away from the remainder of the paperback book by the cover deflector, the book falls through the gap into an appropriate receptacle. A paperback book whose cover is properly rotated by the apparatus is transported. by conveying means. to cutting means which severs the cover from the book adjacent to the book binding. The book with its cover removed is transported to a book multilating means which includes a jagged saw blade for mutilating at least a portion ofthe pages of the book. The mutilating means also includes a shield. which prevents the operator from accidentally contacting the saw blade. and a suction mechanism for collecting the dust which is produced as the book is mutilated. After mutilating. the coverless and mutilated book is deposited into an appropriate receptacle. The cover ofthe book. which has previously been severed. is transported to a stamping or embossing mechanism. provided to stamp or otherwise engrave the severed cover with an appropriate identifying symbol. and the stamped cover is deposited in an appropriate receptacle.  
  Other objects. features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred. but nonetheless illustrative. embodiment of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. wherein:  
  FIG. I is a three-quartered front perspective view of an apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books according to the present inventionk the apparatus having its apparatus cover substantially broken away and removed.  
  FIG. 2 is a three-quartered rear perspective view of the apparatus, the apparatus having its apparatus cover substantially broken away and removed;  
  FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary three-quartered rear perspective view of the apparatus. showing the suction means.  
  FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the apparatus. taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. showing the paperback book supply means, the loading station and the suction means of the apparatus.  
  FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the apparatus. taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. I and looking in the direction of the arrows. showing the cutting means and the mutilating means of the apparatus. and,  
  FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the apparatus. taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. I and looking in the direction of the arrows. showing the stamping or embossing means of the apparatus.  
  Referring now to the drawings and. more particularly. to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof. an apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books and the like according to the present invention is generally designated I0. Apparatus 10 includes a flat. elongated. tilted frame plate 12 (see FIG. 4) to which most of the remaining components of the apparatus are fixed. As will be subsequently described. paperback books B are slid along frame plate 12 from one side of apparatus I0 to the other and from left to right as viewed in FIG. 1. Accordingly. the frame plate defines an operative path along which the paperback books are conveyed. The frame plate 12 is supported on an appropriate frame I4 which rides on rollers 16 which may be included to allow a degree of mobility for apparatus 10. The apparatus includes an apparatus cover 18, which may be carried by or made part of frame 14. provided to cover the internal components of the apparatus. Cover 18 is removable in order to provide access to the internal components of apparatus 10.  
  Supply means feeds the paperback books. one at a time, to a loading station at one end of the aforesaid path. The supply means includes an inclined book chute 20 fixed to the frame plate 12, the chute 20 including a pair of upright side walls 22 for guiding the paperback books in their movement towards the loading station. Although the paperback books may simply slide down towards the loading station under the influence oftheir own weight on the inclined chute. it is desirable to convey the paperback books in the supply chute 20 towards the loading station. For this purpose. parallel conveyor belts 24 are trained between pairs of rollers 26. the top reach of belts 24 constituting the major portion of the bottom supporting surface of chute 20. The belts are coated with a low-friction coating such as Teflon and are driven via an appropriate gear mechanism. generally designated 28 (see FIG. 1). which includes a pinion 30 so as to drive the belts in the direction A (see FIG. 4) causing the paperback books to descend toward the loading station. Gear mechanism 28 is driven by a main drive motor. generally designated 32, which is mounted rearwardly of frame plate [2. The paperback books are loaded on chute 20 in an orientation such that the bindings BS of the books are upward and so that the covers C of the books are near est the frame plate 12 (see FIG. 4). The supply means. including the chute 20 and the conveyor belts 24, moves the books towards the loading station at one end of the operative path. one at a time.  
  Conveyor means moves the paperback books. one at a time. from the loading station along the frame plate 12, along the operative path. and from left to right as seen in FIG. I. In this movement. the paperback books B lean against the frame plate 12 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). the bottom edges E of the books riding along a shelf. generally designated 34. extending along the operative path and fixed to and protruding perpendicularly from frame plate I2. Shelf 34 includes a shelf element 34a and shelf element 34!; disposed, respectively. at the left and right of apparatus II) as viewed in FIG. I, between which exists a gap 31. Thus. shelf 34 is not continuous along the entire length of frame plate 12 but. rather. there exists a segment of travel for books B along frame plate 12 at gap 3| in which the books are not supported along shelf 34. This segment of travel. defined by the space between shelves 34a. 34b. is provided. as will be explained hereinafter. to eject those books whose covers C have not been rotated from the remainder of the paperback book by cover deflector means hereinafter described.  
  The conveyor means. which moves the paperback books one at a time along the operative path. includes an endless-loop chain belt 36 (see FIG. 4 and the dashdot representation of the chain in FIG. I). driven in the direction indicated by arrows F and G in FIG. 1. The chain belt 36 carries a number of equally spaced book pushers 38. each such book pusher including a blade 40 (see FIG. 4) which is adapted to contact a book adjacent to its binding. The chain belt 36 is trained along a number of gears 42 situated so that the chain belt 36 has a lower reach. as indicated by the dash-dot line 44 in FIG. I, which runs generally parallel to shelf 34. The reach 44 is located by these gears. such that when a book is on shelf element 34a. the blades 40 of book pushers 38 contact and push the book from left to right as seen in FIG. I. One of the gears 42a may be an idler gear which is spring loaded to a desirable amount of tension on the chain belt 36. One of the other gears, 42b. desirably the gear at the right hand end of apparatus as seen in FIG. I, is journaled for rotation in a support 43 and in frame plate I2 and is adapted to be driven by the main drive motor 32 in order to drive chain belt 36. One ofthe other gears 42c. desirably the gear at the left hand end of the apparatus as seen in FIG. I, drives a pinion gear 44 which cooperates with another pinion gear 46 (see the left hand side of apparatus 10 in FIG. I) thereby driving pinion via gear mechanism 28, to drive belts 24 of chute 20.  
  Means are provided to retain paperback books moving along the operative path. from left to right as seen in FIG. 1, snuggly against the frame plate 12. To this end. a wheel 48. located near chute 20. has its shaft biased by a bracket 50 so that the periphery of the wheel presses against a portion of the frame plate 12. Therefore. any book passing under the wheel 48 will be pressed against plate [2. Other wheels 52. 54. having respective brackets 56. 58, are also included along frame plate I2 ofapparatus I0 in order to keep the paperback books pressed against frame plate 12. (Wheel 54 and its bracket 58 have been shown pulled away from frame plate 12 in order to show the details of the construction ofthe rest of the apparatus). Additionally. apparatus [0 includes a shield 60 supported by a bracket 62 which is provided. as explained hereinafter. primarily for safety purposes in shielding the saw blade of the mutilating means. However. shield 60 also functions to press books against the frame plate. In order to further direct and press the books against the frame plate. apparatus I0 is provided with elongated spring blades 64, mounted on chute side wall 22 by bracket 66, which act on any paperback books passing beneath them. In a similar manner. additional elongated spring blades. such as spring blade 68 disposed near wheel 54, may be provided in order to press the paperback books passing beneath the spring blades against frame plate 12.  
  Retention means enables the apparatus to accommodate paperback books of mixed thicknesses which may range from a book of approximately one-half inch thickness to a book of one-and-a-half inches thickness. without adjustment by a worker. For this purpose. bracket 66, fixed to side wall 22 of chute 20. carries a flexible protruding finger 70. Protruding finger 70 extends into a doorway 72 formed by side wall 22, the doorway being sized to permit movement of a paperback book through the side wall without interference. Protruding finger 70 is spaced from frame plate I2 such that it overlies the interface between the book at the loading station and the book immediately next to it chute 20. Accordingly. when the conveyor urges the paperback book at the loading station along the frame plate I2, the conveyor will impart sufficient force to the book at the station to overcome the resistance of protruding finger 70 and the finger will bend out of the way. However. since the conveyor applies force only to the paperback book at the station via pushers 38 carried by the chain belt. only the paperback book at the loading station will actually move along the operative path. Should any friction between the book and the loading station immediately behind it in the chute cause this latter book to attempt to move along the operative path. its movement will be resisted by protruding finger 70. By this arrangement. only one book will be transported by chain belt 36. regardless of its thickness and regardless of the thickness of the uppermost book. It should be noted that the book pushers 38 are positioned by chain belt 36 which. in turn, is positioned by gears 42 sufficiently close to the frame plate so that the book pushers always contact only the book at the loading station. In a similar manner. protruding fingers 70&#39; (see FIG. I) may be mounted on chute side wall 22 to protrude into doorway 72 to assist finger 70 in insuring that only one book is transported from the loading station at a time.  
  Suction means. generally designated 74, is provided adjacent to the loading station for bending the cover C of the book at the loading station partially away from the remainder of the book. Referring to FIG. 3, suction means 74 includes two parallel suction tips or elements 76, desirably made of a rubber-like material and shaped in the form of a suction cup. which are operatively connected. by appropriate vacuum conduits 78, to a manifold 80. The vacuum conduits 78 extend through an opening 82 defined in frame plate I2 (see FIG. 3) such that the suction tips 76 are adapted to engage the cover C of the paperback book B which is at the loading station and disposed on the other side of frame plate 12 (see FIG. 4). As will be explained hereinafter. suction means 74 is supported for pivotal movement in order to move suction tips 76 back and forth in the direction indicated by the double arrow D of FIG. 4. Thus. the suction tips 76 are caused to move between an operative position (illustrated in FIG. 4 by the suction tips) in which the suction tips engage the cover C of the paperback book at the loading station and an inoperative or retracted position (indicated by cover C shown in dashed-line in FIG. 4).  
  As indicated in FIG. 4. as suction tips 76 move from the operative position to the retracted or inoperative position. the suction tips function to rotate or bend cover C away from the rest of the book causing the cover to cross-over pins 84 which are mounted between the loading station and frame plate l2 on a pin mounting bar 86 (see FIG. 3}. Thus. suction means 74 functions to move cover C from the right-hand side of pins 84 to the left-side of pins 84, as represented by cover C in FIG. 4. In order to facilitate the movement of the cover across the pins (from right to left in FIG. 4). the pins 84 may be formed to include a sloping top pin surface 840. In order to further facilitate the movement of the cover across the pins. the paperback book B at the loading station advantageously rests against an abutment bar 88. which is secured to frame plate 12. such that the cover C of the book does not lodge itself against pins 84.  
  As to the specifics of the suction means. suction means 74 includes a pivot arm 90 which is connected. at the lower end thereof, to manifold 80. A stop 92, which is connected. via a fastening member 94, to a stop arm 96. is fastened to the other end of pivot arm 90. Stop arm 96 extends transversely of pivot arm 90 and is adapted to abut the rear of frame plate 12. near the top thereof. Pivot arm 90 is caused to rock or pivot about a pivot pin 98 which is journaled between two pivot pin supports 100 mounted on the back of frame plate l2 and serves to move the suction tips between the operative and retracted or inoperative positions.  
  Specifically. bias springs 102, which are connected. at one end thereof. to the bottom of manifold 80 and at the other end thereof. to an L-shaped support arm I03 which extends outwardly from frame plate 12. are provided to bias the pivot arm to cause suction tips 76 to normally be in the retracted or inoperative position. Thus. under the action of springs 102. pivot arm 90 is pivoted in a direction to move manifold 80 away from frame plate l2. This causes the suction tips 76 to move to the inoperative or retracted position (illustrated by cover C in FIG. 4). n the other hand. pivot arm 90 is caused to pivot about pivot pin 8 causing the manifold 80 to move toward frame plate 12 (and stop arm 96 to move away from the frame plate) by the action of gears 104. 106 which rotate in opposed directions causing cumming means carried by gear 106 and pivot arm 90 to pivot the pivot arm.  
  Specifically. drive gear 104 is caused to rotate. for example. by the rotation of a gear shaft 108 which is coupled to gear 104, the shaft driven by a gear mechanism (see FIG. 2). Gear mechanism 110. in turn. may be driven off gear 42c driven by main drive motors 32 via chain belt 36. As gear 104 rotates. it engages gear 106 and causes gear I06 to rotate in an opposed direction about a gear shaft 112 which extends from frame plate 12.  
  Affixed to gear 106., for example. by pins 114 (see FIG. 3) is an internally-facing cam 116 (see FIG. 4). Cam 116 is adapted to engage a cam follower [18, the latter fastened to pivot arm 90 by a fastening pin (not shown) which passes through the cam follower and is secured to ears 120 which extend from the pivot arm.  
  In operation. cam ll6 peridically engages cam fol lower 118 as gear 106 rotates. As a result thereof, pivot arm 90 moves against the bias of springs 102 causing manifold to move to the right. as viewed in FIG. 4. and the suction tips 76 move to their operative position to engage cover C of the paperback book B which is at the loading station. As gear 106 continues to rotate, cam 116 clears&#34; cam follower 118 and pivot arm 90. under the influence of bias springs 102. pivots in a direction such that manifold 80 is caused to move toward the left. as viewed in FIG. 4. Accordingly. the suction tips 76 are moved to their retracted or inoperative position. Further movement of the suction tips is prevented when stop arm 96 reaches frame plate 12.  
  As the suction tips 76 move from their operative position. shown in solid line in FIG. 4, to their retracted or inoperative position (indicated by cover C in FIG. 4). the suction tips carry the cover of paperback book 8&#39; across or over pins 84 such that the cover is bent or moved relative to the rest of the book. To this end. manifold 80 is connected. via a vacuum conduit [22, to a source of vacuum. such as a vacuum pump 124 (see FIG. 2). Thus. the vacuum&#34; provided from vacuum pump 124 at the manifold is connected. via lines 78. to the suction tips 76 enabling the suction tips to carry the cover C across pins 84.  
  It will be appreciated that once the cover has been moved across pins 84. as indicated by the cover C&#39; of FIG. 4. the suction of the suction tips should be reduced to release the cover in order to allow the book and cover to be transported from the loading station along the rest of the operative path. In order to accomplish this. suction means 74 automatically reduces the suction at suction tips 76 when the tips reach their retracted or inoperative position. Specifically. suction means 74 includes a flexible manifold extension 126 which is connected to manifold 80 by an appropriate fitting 128 disposed at one end of the manifold extension. the other end of the manifold extension having a cap 130. Manifold extension 126 is constructed such that the body 132 of the extension is formed by a tight continuous helical wire 134. The helical wire 134 provides an air-tight body for manifold extension 126 when the manifold extension is in its &#34;straight&#34; or unflexed position. generally illustrated in FIG. 3. However. when the suction tips are moved to their retracted or inoperative position. the manifold extension. and more particularly. the body portion 132 thereof. hits a pin 136 which is adjustably mounted on support 103 by an adjustably movable support ring 140 which may be slid along support 103 to a desired position and then held in place by a tightening nut 142. When the body portion 132 of the flexible manifold extension hits pin 136 (which has been adjusted to be at a position corresponding to the retracted or inoperative position of the suction tips). the flexible extension breaks&#34; at coiled wire [34 thereby opening manifold 80 to atmospheric pressure. As a result thereof. the suction provided at suction tips 76 is nullified thereby allowing the cover (and the rest of the paperback book) to be moved by the pushers 38 from the loading station along the operative path.  
  It should be noted that as cam 116 engages cam follower l18. causing pivot arm to carry manifold 80 to the right as viewed in FIG. 3. the manifold extension moves away from pin 136, the helical coil 134 springs back to provide an air-tight body 132. and suction from vacuum pump 124 is again provided at suction tips I76.  
  As the paperback book B starts to move from the loading station of the supply means. under the influence of pushers 38 carried by chain belt 36, the top of the cover adjacent binding BS rests against abutment 88 (see FIG. 4) while the bottom of the cover has been pulled away from the rest of the book so as to be to the left-hand side of pins 84 (see FIG. 4). Once the cover is to the left of pins 84, the cover is thus directed to a cover deflector I44 (see FIG. 2] which is provided to further open and deflect the cover of a paperback book away from the remainder of the book, as the book is conveyed from the loading station through its operative path along the frame plate I2.  
  The deflector includes an inclined wall I46 (see FIG. I) which gradually increases in height immediately adjacent to the loading station, and an elongated high wall I48 which runs from approximately the center of plate [2 towards its right hand end as seen in FIG. I, terminating in a downwardly-slanted discharge portion I50. An elongated slot I52 (see FIG. is formed in the cover deflector I44. As will be described in greater detail subsequently, the cover deflector I44 engages each paperback book between its cover and the remainder of the book so that as the paperback book passes along the operative path. the cover is rotated to and maintained at an approximately 90 orientation with respect to the remainder of the book.  
  As indicated by reference numeral I54 in FIG. I, abutment bar 88, upon which the top of the cover rests when the book is at the loading station (see FIG. 4), tapets to guide the top of the book towards frame plate 12 as the cover C of the book reaches inclined wall I46. As the cover moves towards the top of inclined surface I46, it is directed to the high wall 148 of cover deflector I44 by an upwardly extending guide I56 (see FIG. 2) which channels the cover into the elongated slot I52 defined between high wall I48 and the top I58 of the cover deflector (see FIG. 2). A micro-switch I60, shown schematically in FIG. 2., may be provided to count the number of covers that are fed into the cover deflector since this number corresponds to the number of covers that will be severed from their respective paperback books.  
  Since only those covers directed into cover deflector I44 are severed from their books, it is important to eject&#34; those paperback books whose covers have not been directed into the deflector for one reason or another, in order to recycle them. To this end, and as previously mentioned, there exists a portion of travel of the paperback book along frame plate I2 at which the book edge E does not rest on shelfelement 340 or shelf element 341; and, therefore, at which the book is not primarily supported by the shelf. During this portion of travel of the paperback book, that is, along gap 31, the paperback book is supported primarily by the cover deflector, that is, between high wall 148 and the top I58 of the cover deflector. It has been found that insertion of the cover of the paperback book into this portion of the cover is sufficient to support the paperback book as it travels from shelf element 34a to shelf element 34b. This is due, in part, to the fact that the paperback book is oriented to &#34;lean on tilted frame plate I2 and thus the cover does not slip out of the cover deflector.  
  It will be appreciated, however, that those books whose covers are not within the cover deflector will not be supported by the cover deflector during such travel. Accordingly. those books are &#34;ejected by falling under their own weight as these books reach the gap 31 between shelf elements 34a, 34b. The ejected books, which may fall into appropriate bins or receptacles or the like, may have their covers severed by hand or, in the alternative, more desirably may be reinserted into chute 20.  
  As to the books&#39;whose covers have been directed into the cover deflector, cover cutting means, generally designated I62, is situated along the operative path above shelf element 34b to sever the cover from the remainder of the book. The cutting means includes (see FIG. 5) a cutting wheel I64, having a scissors-edge periphery I66, mounted for rotation on a shaft I68. The shaft is journaled for rotation through a cover cutting housing I which forms part of cover deflector I44 (see FIG. 2). As indicated in FIG. 5, shaft 168 is journaled to pass through frame plate I2. The cutting wheel I64 bears against an anvil wheel 172 which is fixed to a shaft 174 mounted for rotation through cover cutting housing I70 and frame plate 12. The shaft I68 of cutting wheel 164 and the shaft I74 of a anvil wheel I72 are interconnected for rotation in opposed directions by a gear I76 on the shaft 168, which meshes with a gear 178 fixed to the anvil wheel shaft I74. A sprocket is also fixed to the cutting wheel shaft I68. and is driven via a chain belt I82 from main drive motor 32. Specifically, chain belt I82, which is illustrated in dashdot line in FIG. 2, is disposed to the rear of frame plate I2 and is driven off main drive motor 32 by appropriate gears 33, 35, 37.  
  To ensure the proper cutting of a cover, the cutting wheel I64 is mounted for movement along its shaft I68 to a limited degree, such movement being enabled by a key and a key slot (not shown) defined on the shaft and the wheel. A coil spring I84 circles a protruding end of the shaft I68 and is maintained in position between a head I86 on the shaft and the cutting wheel I64. The coil spring 184 biases the cutting wheel I64 so that its edge I66 contacts the outer face of the anvil wheel I72, causing cutting of a cover C by scissors action.  
  After the cover C is separated from the paperback book by the action of cover cutting means I62, the coverless book is transported to a book mutilating means, generally designated I88. Book mutilating means I88 includes a jagged saw blade having teeth 192. The blade has a plane of rotation generally perpendicular to frame plate I2 and is located such that the teeth I92 of the blade pass through a slot I94 defined in the frame plate (see FIG. I and FIG. 5). A shaft I96 is connected to shaft I90, the shaft being journaled for rotation on a shaft mounting member I98 (see FIG. 5) which is secured to the back of frame plate 12. The shaft passes through a vacuum duct 200 which, as explained hereinafter, is provided to withdraw the paper dust&#34; which is produced as saw I90 mutilates the pages of the paperback book. Blade shaft I96 is driven by a mutilate and vacuum motor 202, mounted to the rear of frame plate 12(see FIG. 2). The shaft I96 is ro tated by a belt 204 which is connected between a shaft pulley 206 and a motor pulley 208. Thus, as motor 202 rotates. it drives belt 204 which, in turn, rotates shaft 196 to drive saw blade 190. Motor 202 may also drive vacuum pump 124, the source of suction for suction mechanism 74.  
  Vacuum duct 200. provided to withdraw the paper dust which is produced as saw blade I90 mutilates the paperback book. is constructed to fit about frame plate slot I94 to cover the part of saw blade I90 that extends to the rear of frame plate 12 (see FIGv S). A vacuum pump 210 (see FIG. 2) is provided. which includes a vacuum hose 212 connected between the pump and vacuum duct 200. By way of example, hose 212 may fit over a nipple 214 formed in the duct. The paper dust. withdrawn from duct 200 by vacuum pump 2l0. is collected in an appropriate bag or other receptacle 2l4. coupled to the vacuum pump 210 via a hose 216 (see FIG. 2). Advantageously. bag 214. which is mounted on frame I4 of apparatus I0, is disposable thereby allowing the bag to be discarded as it fills up with paper dust.  
  For safety purposes. apparatus I is provided. as explained hereinbefore. with a shield wheel 60 which is spring-biased toward frame plate I2. As indicated in FIG. 5. shield wheel 60 includes a groove or cut-out 218. defined along the periphery of the shield. which groove is adopted to fit over that portion of saw blade 190 which extends to the left or front of frame plate I2, as viewed in FIG. 5. Thus. shield wheel 60 prevents a worker or other user of apparatus from contacting the rotating saw blade 190 at those times when a paperback book is not disposed at mutilating means I80. As the paperback book reaches mutilating means I88, the book is inserted between shield wheel 60 and cutting blade I90. with the shield being moved away from frame plate 12 (see FIG. 5). As the mutilated book leaves the mutilating means 188. the shield wheel 60 returns to contact frame plate 12. thereby shielding saw blade I90 until the next time that a book reaches the mutilating means. Not only does shield wheel 60 function to shield blade 190., but. additionally. the shield wheel functions to hold or bias the paperback book at the mutilating means against saw blade I90 thereby insuring that the saw blade will mutilate the paperback book. In this regard. it should be noted that saw plate I90 is set only to mutilate. i.e. cut. the first few pages of the paperback book. i.e. blade I90 need destroy the only first ten or twenty pages or so of the book. since destruction of the first few pages usually insures that the coverless book cannot. as a practical matter. be resold to the public. A deeper cut would only mean additional but unnecessary sawdust.  
  Referring to FIGS. I. 2 and 6. a stamping or embossing mechanism generally designated 220 is provided to stamp or brand&#34; the severed cover C&#34; with an appropriate identifying symbol utilized to identify the severed cover with an appropriate distributor, retailer or the like. As indicated hereinbefore. it is advantageous to provide such an identifying symbol on the severed cover since the severed covers act as vouchers&#34; for the paperback books and. therefore. the severed covers have a real monetary value. The stamping or embossing mechanism. which is located at the right-hand side of apparatus I0 as viewed in FIG. I. includes a housing, generally designated 222, having an upper half 222a and a lower half 222b. Upper housing 2220 is secured by appropriate fastening means 224 to an upper mounting panel 226 which is secured to the top of frame I4 while lower housing 2221) is secured. via fastening means 224. to a lower mounting panel 228. which is secured to the lower part of frame l4 (see FIG. 1). Upper mounting panel 226 and lower mounting panel 228 are sized to define an exit opening 230 (FIG. I) through which the severed cover exits. after it has been stamped or otherwise engraved by stamping mechanism 220. After exiting opening 230. the covers fall, by way of gravity. into an appropriate cover receptacle (not shown).  
  Referring to FIG. 6, stamping or embossing mecha nism 220 includes a pressure wheel 232 which is disposed within upper housing 2220. Pressure wheel 232 is rotated by a shaft 234 which is journaled for rotation in the upper housing. Similarly, stamping mechanism 220 includes an engraving or stamping wheel 236, which is disposed in lower housing 222b and is rotated by a shaft 238 which is journaled for rotation in the lower housing. Pressure wheel 232 and stamping wheel 236 are disposed in registering relation and are adapted to rotate in opposed directions by a gear 240 attached to shaft 234. which meshes with a gear 242 fixed to shaft 238. A sprocket 244 is also fixed to shaft 234 and is driven. via chain belt I82 (see FIGS. 2 and 6). Ac cordingly. the cover C&#34;. inserted into the stamping mechanism 220. is stamped or embossed with an identifying symbol. such as a reference number 50324&#34; (see FIG. 6). the cover then exiting the stamping mechanism via exit opening 230.  
  In order to provide a more complete description of apparatus I0, a typical operational sequence will now be described.  
  Paperback books B are first loaded on the chute 20 of apparatus [0. with their binding BS up. their edges E opposed to their bindings abutting the bottom wall of the chute. and their covers C being oriented toward frame plate I2. The books are urged toward the loading station at the lower end of chute 20 by the continuous rotation of conveyor belts 24 which make up the major portion of the bottom wall of chute 20.  
  At the loading station, suction means 74 operates upon the paperback book to partially rotate its cover away from the remainder of the book. Specifically. gears I04 and I06 of the suction means rotate in opposed directions causing cam 116, fastened to gear I06, to engage cam follower 118, which is mounted on pivot arm 90. This causes pivot arm 90 to pivot. about pivot pin 98. causing manifold to move. against the action of bias springs 102, toward frame plate 12. Consequently. the suction tips 76 move toward the cover C of a paperback book at the loading station and the tips engage the cover when they reach their operative or extended position.  
  As cam II6 clears cam follower IIS. pivot arm is pivoted by bias springs I02 such that manifold 80 moves away from frame plate I2. As a result thereof. the cover C of the paperback book is moved by the action of the suction provided at suction tips 76. relative to the rest of the paperback book. and. specifically. the cover is moved over pins 84 so that the bottom edge of the cover is disposed between pins 84 and frame plate 12 (see cover C&#39; in FIG. 4). Thus. the suction means functions to rotate the cover such that the cover is directed to the cover deflector.  
  As the suction tips 76 reach their retracted or inoperative position. pin I36, carried by support arm I03, hits flexible extension 126 breaking or bending the body I32 of the manifold extension and opening helical coil I34. This. in turn. reduces the suction at suction tips 76 thereby allowing the cover (the rest of the paperback book) to be transported along the operative path of the apparatus. Stop 92 and stop arm 96 (see FIG. 3). which are carried by pivot arm 90. function to abut frame plate 12 thereby preventing further move ment of the pivot arm under the action of bias springs 102.  
  The book at the loading station is now engaged by a pusher 38 carried by the chain belt 36. and the book is pushed from the loading station along the operative path defined by frame plate 12. Protruding fingers 70 and 70&#39; function to allow one book and one book only. to leave the loading station and move along the operative path. As such. the book is guided towards frame plate l2 by the tapered portion 154 of abutment 88, the book being biased towards the frame plate by spring blades 64 disposed on chute 20. During the rest of the operative path. the paperback book is biased against frame plate 12 by wheels 48. 52 and 54, as well as by shield wheel 60 and additional spring blade 68.  
  As the pusher moves the paperback book along the path. various portions of the cover deflector 144 engage the cover. between the cover and the remainder of the paperback book. Specifically. as the book moves from left to right in FIG. 1, first the inclined wall 146 starts to rotate the cover and then the cover is directed by guide 156 into elongated slot 152 formed between the top 158 of the cover deflector and the high wall I48 of the cover deflector. In this position. the cover is at right angles to the pages of the book (see FIG. lf. by some chance. the cover is not guided into cover de flector I44. for example. if suction means 74 does not rotate the cover. then the paperback book will be automatically ejected due to the fact that the book will not be supported by the cover (in the cover deflector) at gap 3] as the book travels between shelf element 344: and shelf element 34b. Paperback books whose covers have been directed into cover deflector 144 are counted by micro-switch 60 located along the cover deflector path.  
  The cover moves along slot 152 (at right angles to the rest of the pages of the book) until the book reaches cover cutting means [62 which is disposed above shelf element 34b. At this point. the action of the cutting wheel 164 against the anvil wheel 172 severs the cover from the remainder of the book. the severing of the cover taking place where the coverjoins the book bind- The coverless book is pushed further along shelf element 34b. biased against frame plate 12. until it reaches the book mutilating means I88 wherein the book is directed against saw blade 190 by shield wheel 60 and spring blade 68. Shield wheel 60 also functions to shield or otherwise cover saw blade I90 (when a book is not at the blade) thereby providing a safety feature for the apparatus. The saw blade mutilates the first few pages of the book thereby rendering the book unsaleable. A vacuum provided from vacuum pump 210, withdraws the paper dust produced by the action of the saw blade. the paper dust being directed from vacuum duct 200 into a disposable collecting bag 2l4. The covcrless and mutilated book is pushed further along the frame plate until it reaches the discharge portion of shelf 3417. at which point it slides down the shelf to an appropriate receptacle (not shown).  
  The severed cover which has been cut from the paperback book by cutting means 162, is transported to stamping or embossing mechanism 220 wherein pressure wheel 232 bears against stamping wheel 236 to stamp or emboss an identifying symbol on the severed cover. The stamped, severed cover exits apparatus 10 at exit opening 230. the covers thereafter being collected in an appropriate cover receptacle (not shown).  
  It will thus be seen that an apparatus has been provided which automatically strips covers from books in an efficient and continuous manner. The apparatus need only be tended by a single worker who is required to load the paperback books on a supply chute. The aforesaid apparatus enables retailers. wholesalers and distributors to quickly sever covers from paperback books and then to use the paperback book covers as vouchers to enable them to receive credit for the U11- used paperback books. The covers are stamped with an identifying symbol to preclude others from using the severed covers as vouchers. while the paperback books are mutilated to preclude their sale once the cover has been removed.  
  Obviously. numerous modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example. although apparatus 10 has been described as including an apparatus cover 18. it can be appreciated that such cover may be omitted. if so desired. This is especially true since saw blade is shielded by shield wheel 60. Similarly. it will be appreciated that suction means 74 need not be constructed with two suction tips but. rather. any desired number of suction tips may be provided. Still further, any number of pins 84. over which the cover of the paperback book is moved by the suction means. may be provided or. in the alternative. the pins may be replaced by a continuous. low wall. Accordingly. numerous embodiments of the present invention are contemplated within the above teachings as delineated by the scope of the appended claims.  
 What is claimed is:  
  I. An apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books and the like comprising means adapted to receive a supply of paperback books and for directing said paperback books to a loading station. a frame. means for conveying a paperback book from said loading station serially along an operative path on said frame. cover deflector means for rotating the cover of said paperback book away from the remainder thereof and for maintaining said cover in a position swung away from the remainder of said paperback book. cutting means for severing said cover of said paperback book adjacent to the binding thereof while said cover is rotated away from the remainder of said paperback book. and means for mutilating at least part of the pages of the said paperback book subsequent to the removal of said cover thereof. said mutilating means including saw means adapted to be in said operative path and extending at least partially through said frame.  
  2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mutilating means includes vacuum means for collecting the paper dust produced by said saw means.  
  3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mutilating means includes shield means biased for movement towards said frame. said shield means adapted to cover the extending part of said saw means and further adapted to move away from said frame as said paperback book reaches said saw means.  
  4. An apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books and the like comprising means adapted to receive a supply of paperback books and for directing said paperback books to a loading station. a frame. means for conveying a paperback book from said loading station serially along an operative path on said frame with the binding of said paperback book generally facing upwardly. cover deflector means for rotating the cover of said paperback book away from the remainder thereof and for maintaining said cover in a position swung away from the remainder of said paperback book. cutting means for severing said cover of said paperback book adjacent to the binding thereof while said cover is rotated away from the remainder of said paperback book. and suction means adapted to engage said cover of said paperback book while said paperback book is at said loading station for moving said cover relative to the remainder of said paperback book thereby directing said paperback book to said cover deflector means. said suction means including at least one suction clement adapted to move between an operative position wherein said suction element engages said cover and a retracted position wherein said cover is moved to a position to be directed towards said cover deflector means spring means for biasing said suction element toward a retracted position. camming means for moving said suction element from said retracted position to said operative position. said suction means further including a pivot arm adapted to pivot toward and away from said frame. a vacuum manifold operatively coupled to said suction element and mounted on said pivot arm. and means for abutting said vacuum manifold when said suction element is in said retracted position to open said vacuum manifold thereby reducing the suction at said vacuum element to allow said paperback book to move from said loading station and for providing the suction at said vacuum element when said suction element moves toward said operative position.  
  5. An apparatus for stripping covers from paperback books and the like comprising means adapted to receive a supply of paperback books and for directing said paperback books to a loading station, a frame. means for conveying a paperback book from said loading station serially along an operative path on said frame cover deflector means for rotating the cover of said paperback book away from the remainder thereof and for maintaining said cover in a position swung away from the remainder of said paperback book, cutting means for severing said cover of said paperback book adjacent to the binding thereof while said cover is rotated away from the remainder of said paperback book. and an elongated shelf along which said paperback book is adapted to slide. said elongated shelf defining a gap along said operative path such that said paperback book is ejected if said cover is not within said cover deflector means.