US1428149A - Sheet-feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

APPLlCATIDN FILED AUG.30, |921.

' PatentedSept. 5, 1922,

3 SHEETS-SHEET l u Ik l his Atorngy.

' F. DE NHNICO. SHEET FEEDING MECHNISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG130|I92L ww. 70am MM m3 F m m P Nm jizz/evitar;

Hlllllllllllllil!IIIHEIH Ijlll F. DE MlNlco. y SHEET FEEDING MECHANISWIA APPLICAION FILED AUG.30, 192|. 1,428,149.

Ptented Sept.

V', 1922. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

` UNITED STATES 1,423,149 PATENT OFEICE FRANK nn MINIOO, OF Newy YORK, N. Y., AssIeNOR 'ro PoLLARD-ALMNG MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHEET-FEEDNG MEGHANISM.

Application filed vAugust 30, 1921. Serial .Nm 496,940.

. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Feeding Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sheet feedingl mechanisms'and has for its object to provide amechanism of the class specified, sim.-

ple in construction and rapid and accurate Iin operation. With these objects in vviewl my improvements comprise features illustrated in their referred embodiment in the accompanying rawings, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation on 'Y line 1--1 of Fig. 2, Of so much of an organ- -In the mechanism therein set sheets are separated successively from the ized sheet feeding machine as will suffice to illustrate my improvements.A Fig. 2 is a rear elevation partly in section on line -22 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations, similar to a portion of what is shown in Fig. 1, and illustrate successive steps in the operation of my improved mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detailelevation of a portion of what is shown in Fig. 1 with the parts in differ-- ent relative positions. All of the figures of the drawings are to the same scale.

' The present invention 'is in the nature of improvements `on the mechanism shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,232,662, granted on my inVention'July 10, 1917, and to which reference ma orth, the

stack by means applied near their upper edges and those upper edges are turned abruptly downward about a small roll. In the present mechanism the' sheets are separated successively from the stack by means applied near their bottom edges and those edges are turned upwardly in a large curve for engagement Aby subsequently acting members of the mechanism. While, with single sheets or thin periodicals, my earlier mechanism is highli7 successful, I have found that added facility and accuracy ill-handling thick periodicals is had with my present improved mechanism. y

Directing attention now to the drawings, a stack of sheets or periodicals 4 is supported on a pair of spaced-apart rails 5, 6 between which are a pair of spaced-apart eno.- less chains, as 7, supported on sprockets, as

be had.'

8, 9. The upper runs of said chains travel in' a plane slightly above the upper faces of rails 5, 6 so as to of the periodica place of feeding, one -at a time, to conveying mechanism. The upper ortion of the foremost periodical 3 of stac 4 is. supported by some convenient means, such as cross-rods 10, 11 reaching from side frame 12 to the opposite side frame 13. Rails 5, 6 and chains,

gently/urge the lower edges as"7, have their sheet engagingportions inclined downwardly toward the place of feeding, Awhereby the force of gravity is efficient to maintain the stack against rods 10, 11. The delivery ends of rails '5, 6 are inclined upwardly, as at 45a of rail 5, for supporting the periodical'as its lower edge is bent forwardly by the suction feed At its bottom, the rear end of stack 4 is engaged by pusher 14 which is .urged forwardly by weight 15 attached by cord 16 to carriage 17 in which said pusher. 14 isv pivoted at 62. Said carriage slides on ways, as 60, and may be retracted by handle 61. When replenishing the stack, additional periodicals may be set up behind pusher 14, and then the pusher' to the rear of the added supply, its counterweight 63' will right it into operative position.

. Shaft. 18, to which chain sprockets as 9 are.. fixed, is rotated intermittently to advance the upper runs of said chains in the direction of arrow by known means, such as a ratchet and pawl actuated from eccentric 2O fixed to shaft 19. For temporarily maintaining the front of stack 4, at the lower edge thereof, in suitable position' for the engagement and removal of the foremost sheet, arms 21, 22 are fixed to shaft 23 mounted for oscillation below theplace of feeding occupied by the lower end of sheet 3, Fig. 1. Said shaft 23 may be oscillated at .suitable predetermined times, through arm larn 29. Said arm has oscillatably mounted s forwardly toward theV y gether by equal gears 55, 56.

lconstantly urged downwardly by spring 57 in its free upper end pickers comprising suction noses 30, 30 for engagement with the front face of the lower end of foremost periodical 3 of stack 4. Said arm may be oscillated from the position of Fig. l, through that of Fig. 3, to the position of Fig- 4 and back again by means of eccentric 3l iixed to shaft 26.- Motion istransmitted from said eccentric 31 to rockarin 32 projecting from the hub of arm 29 by the usual eccentric strap arm` 33. Arm 29 and its transverse bearing 34 at its :free end, are of tubular construction and such tubular construction extends through the hub of said arm to tube 35 depending from the left hand portion, Fig. 2, of shaft 28. Said tube 35 may be connected to some known source of suction, not shown. For oscillating suction noses 30, 30 for maintaining operati-ve coaction with sheet 3 during the forward oscillation of arm 29, F ig. 1, the following means are provided: Said suction noses protrude from a common body 36 to which is fixed pinion 37. Fixed to the right hand portion of fixed shaft 28 is gear sector 38 and pivoted on hub 39 of arm 29 is oscillating men ber 40 having opposite gear sector portions 41, 42, the former meshing with pinion-3?, the latter with gear sector 38.

For receiving and advancing the periodicals one at a time, when delivered thereto by suction noses 30, 30 the *following means are provided: Fixed to upper shaft 19 and spaced-apart thereon are feed discs 43, .44, and theiebelow for coaction therewith, respectively, are discs 45, 46. These latter discs have mutilated peripheries which will be described more in detail hereinafter. Also said discs 45, 46 are peculiarly mounted as'follows: rlurning freely on shaft 26 are opposite sleeves 47, 48. [as these and the mechanisms carried thereby are substantially the same, a description of one will suliice for both. Sleeve 4T has projecting to the left therefrom arpa 4S and tothe right arm 50, Fig. l. J end.` pivotally mounted for rotation, disc 45, and fixed to shaft 51 of said disc is pinion 52. Fixed to shaft 26 is pinion 53 and pivotally mounted on arm 49 is intermediate gear 54, between and meshing with pinions 52 and 53. Shafts 19 and 26are geared to- Arm 50 is and `its downwardmovement is limited'by adjustable stop 58. By this organization it will he observed that, between` discs 45 and 46. Fig. 2, an open space is provided in which arm 29 swings for moving each successive periodical into the paths of discs 45, 46, respectively.

Discs 45 and 46 each have a maximum radius equal to the radius of its coacting disc above on shaft 19. Said discs 45 and 46 are alike, and directing attention par- Arrn 49 carries on its free ticularly to disc 45, it will be noted that about half of its periphery 45a, is of one maximum radius, and that an adjoining portion 45h. of about three eighths of the periphery, has a slightly less radius'7 and that between said portions is pocket 45 whereby peripheral portion 45a is provided with hook 45d at its leading end.

`To the right of discs 43 to 46, Fig. Vl, and slightly below their plane of coaction is table 59. Said table` extends to the left a short distance into the paths of discs 45, 46 and is suitably notched to give room for said discs.

The operation of my improved mechanism is as follows: A stack of sheets, pamphlets or periodicals 4, having been erected on rails 5, 6 with the upper portion of the right hand sheet 3 resting against rods l0, 11 and with pusher 14 `urged by weight 15 against the lower rear portion of the stack, shaft v26, which may be considered the main shaft, is started in rotation in clockwise direction, Fig. l. For the moment disregarding the position of sheet 3, the positions of the parts in Fig. 4, may be considered the initial position in the operation of the mechanism. and therein arms 21, 22 are shown in sus taining relation to the lower front portion of the stack. rlhe slight separation of the bottom portions of some of the sheets of the stack will thereupon be more or less closed up by the incremental advance of the feed chains, as 7. Arm 29 then oscillates from the position of Fig. 4 to that of F ig. l, suction noses 30, 30 swinging upwardly to present their operative mouths against the leading sheet 3, Fig. l. At the saine time arms 2l, 22 swing away from engagement with 4the lower iront portion of the stach, Fig. l,

thus leaving pickers 30, 30 free to move the lower portion of sheet 3 forwardlyto the right over the upwardly inclined ends 5a of rails 5, 6, and into the path of hooks 45 of dises 45, 46, Fig. Arm 29. continues its oscillation to the right. pickers 30. 30 release their hold of sheet 3 and hooks 45d lift the leading end of the sheet into engagement with the lower portions of the peripheries of upper discs 43, andinaxiinum radius portions 45il of discs 46 thereupon coact with the respective upper discs to grip and feed sheet 3 forwardly to the right therebetween, Fig. 4. ln the meantime "arms 2l,

swing back to sustain the lower forward bination of a pair of rails for supporting a stack of sheets on edge, the delivery ends of said rails being inclined upwardly for sustaining each sheet as delivered, oscillating means for intermittently supportingA the lower front portion of said stack, a pushei` slidably mounted for engagement with the lower portion of the rear of the stack, and means for urging said pusher to engage said stack, said pusher being pivotally mounted for folding to below said rails.

2. In sheet feeding mechanism the combination of two upper feed discs spaced apart, two lower feed discs similarly spaced apart for coaction with said upper discs respectively, said lower discs being movable ltoward and from said upper discs, means for urging said lower discs toward said up-y per discs respectively, said lower discs be-4 ing oppositely supported and actuated wherebyan open space is provided therebetween, each of .said lower discs having a portion of. its periphery of maximum radius for coaction with its'respective.upper'disc for advancing the sheets one by one and another portion of its periphery of less radius for freeing said sheetwhile still sustaining the sheet, each of said discs having a portion thereof cut away between said peripheral portions whereby the leading end of the portion of maximum radius is provided with a hook for engaging'and lifting the sheet into engagement with its respective upper disc, and means `located within said open space for delivering the lower portion of said sheets one at a time into the path of said lower discs.

f3. In sheet feeding mechanism the combination of means for advancing a stack of sheets on edge, two upper feed discs spaced apart, two lower feed discs similarly l spaced apart for coaction with said'u'pper discs respectively, said lower discs being independently-movable toward and from said upper discs respectively, means for urging' said lower discs toward said upper discs respectively, said lower discs being oppositely supported and actuated whereby an open space is provided therebetween, each of said lower discs having a portion of its periphery of maximum radius for coaction with its respective upper disc for advancing the sheets one by one and another portion of its periphery of less radius for freeing said 'sheet while still sustaining the sheet, each of said discs having a portion thereof cut away between said peripheral portions whereby the leading ,end of the portion of maximum radius is provided with a hook for engaging and liftingthe sheet into engagement with its respective upper disc, and an oscillating picker mounted for movement within said open space adapted .and actuated for engaging the lower portion of the foremost sheet of the stack and for moving said lower discs.

4. In sheet feeding mechanism the coinbination of means for advancing a stack of sheets on edge, two upper feed discsspaced apart, two lower feed discs similarly spaced portion into the path of said lower apart for coaction with said upper discs respectively, said lower discs being movable toward and from said upper discs, means for urging said lower ldiscs toward said upper discs respectively, said lower4 4discs being oppositely supported and actuated whereby an open space is provided therebetween, and means located within said open space for delivering the lower portions of said sheets one at a time into the path of said lower discs. i

5. In sheet feeding mechanism'the combination of means for advancing a stack of sheets on edge, two upper feed discs spaced apart, two lower feed discs similarly spaced apart for coaction with said upper discsrespectively, said lower discs being movable toward and from'said upper discs, means for urging said lower discs toward said upper discs respectively, said lower discs being oppositely supported and actuated whereby an open space is provided therebetween,

andan oscillating picker mounted for movediscs having a portion' of its periphery of maximum radius for coaction with its r spective upper discr for advancing the sheets one by oneand another portion of its periphery of less radius for freeing said sheet while still sustaining the sheet, each of said discs having a portion thereofcutaway between said peripheral portions wliereby the leading end of the portion of maximum radius is provided with a -hook for engaging and lifting the sheet into engagement with its respective upper disc, and means for delivering sheets one at a time from the stack advancing means into the path of said lower discs. 4

7. In sheet feeding mechanism the combination of means for advancing a stack of sheets on edge, two upper feed discs spaced apart, two lower feed discs similarly spaced apart for coaction with said upper discs respectively, said lower discs being independently movable toward vand from said upper dises respectively, means for urging said lower dises toward said upper dises respectively, each of said lower discs having a p0rtion of its periphery of maximum radius for eoaetion with its respective upper dise for advancing the sheets one by one and another portion of its periphery of less radius for freeing said sheet While still sustaining the sheet, each of said dises having a portion thereof out away between said peripheral Y ieeazio portions whereby the leading end. of the portion of maximum radius is provided with a hook for engaging and lifting the sheet into engagement with its respective dise5 and means for delivering sheets one at a time y from the stack advancing1r means inte the path of said lower dises,

1n witness whereof, l hereby aiiix my signature this 26th day of August, 192i, FRANK DE MNICO.

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