The present invention relates to a device for loading signatures and the like to be applied to sheet loading machines for bookbinding use.
More specifically the device affords the possibility of progressively reducing, by partially narrowing the feeding line, the weight applied on the signatures being conveyed to the sheet loading assembly, as said signatures are advanced towards a locating conveyor belt.
As is known, in a bookbinding process the signatures, that is the already bent sheets to be printed upon, are picked by means of a sheet or signature loading assembly which conveys them to a processing apparatus.
The mentioned picking operation, on the other hand, is affected by drawbacks because of the practical difficulties associated with disengaging the signatures from one another.
There are known signature loading apparatus which are effective to suitably feed, by means of a conveyor belt, the thereinabove mentioned sheet or signature loading assemblies.
However, these loading apparatus are not able of satisfactorily operating, since they feed the mentioned conveyor belt, usually obliquely arranged, by means of supplying means entraining or pushing the signatures, adjoining one another and in close mutual contact, towards said conveyor belt by causing said signatures to fall, upon tilting, on the conveyor belt itself.
Thus, since a proper signature disengaging step is lacking, said signatures may be unevenly conveyed to the sheet or signature loading assembly with consequent interruptions in the operation of the system.