US2578176A - Sheet collator - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet l A. DAGER SHEET COLLATOR Dec. 11, 1951 Filed Sept 17, 1945 KEN mwmm

- INVENTOR. ALBERT DHGEE;

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A. DAGER SHEET COLLATOR Dec. 11, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'ile'd Sept. 17, 1945 flTTOR/VEY.

v 2 WA ms 1 .SW- aw a wm A. DAGER SHEET COLLATOR Dec 11, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 17, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

FE a 141 BERT DH GER flTTORNEY- A. DAGER SHEET COLLATOR Dec. 11, 1951 5 Sheet-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 17, 1945 NR RA wwwwm UNI H INVENTOR.

A T TORNEY- ALBEKT D4653 MQIZI n s A @KMR Patented Dec. 11,1951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET COLLATOR Albert Dagen Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 17, 1945, Serial No. 616,713

6 Claims.

.The present invention relates to collators, and has for an object the provision of a collator adapted for use in printing or binding establishments, which utilizes little space, is readily moved from place to place in the shop, is of few parts and which is capable of manifolding multiple sheets rapidly and accurately.

At the present time it is customary to manifold sheets by hand or on large machines which are very expensive and beyond the means of the average printer. The present invention may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low figure, is capable of manifolding a number of sheets, as well as placing divider sheets between the manifolded sets, depending on the number of manifolded sheets to a book.

,An object of the invention is the provision of a collator which has its parts so arranged as to positively assure a proper and accurate manifolding operation.

Another object is the provision in a collator of means which prevents the gathering of in-- complete sets in the event that the sheets are not properly manifolded.

Another object is the provision in a collator of a simple and inexpensive means for stacking collater sheets in a receiving bin.

Another object of the invention is to so relate the various instrumentalities entering into the machine as to minimize inertia of moving parts.

A further object is the provision of a simple means, readily regulated by an operator, to control the insertion of a divider sheet after a se-- lected number of sets has been manifolded.

Another object of the invention isthe provision in a collator of means for depositing manifolded sheets in a bin and in a properly stacked relationship.

Another object is the provision of new and improved means for raising sheets from a supply bin and for delivering said sheets properly manifolded into a receiving bin.

Another object is the provision in a collator of various.instrumentalities for collating or mani'- mospherizing the suction feet;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the collator; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the collator show in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fargmentary side elevation of certain portions of the collator and shown on an enlarged scale from that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail on the line 44 of Fig. 3; r

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view'on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail illustrating a changed position of certain of the parts of the machine from a like portion shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of means for driving the conveyor belts of the collator;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the means shown in Fig. 8; v 1

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of suction feet for lifting paper to be manifolded;

Fig-11 is a fragmentary detail of means for at- Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation of elevator means for delivering sheets in manifold'ed order from. the conveyor belts to a receiving bin;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line |3-l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary elevation of means for controlling the insertion of divider sheets during a collating operation;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary, partially sectional view of counting mechanism which controls the insertion of a divider sheet between a preselected number of manifolded sheets; Fig. 16 is a fragmentary and partiaily sec-3' Fig. 18 is a wiring diagram of circuits employed in the present invention.

Briefly, the present collator contemplates a series of racks or bins within which are placed stacks of sheets which are to be collated. By

collation I mean sheetswhich are to be manifolcled; thus I may have two, three or any multiple number of bins, and sheets of various colors, weight or size may be placed in the bins, such as for instance white, blue, yellow, etc. Each bin has a stack of said sheets. Order books and the like often use sheets whichhave been manifolded. and as the manifolding of many sheets by hand is most'tedious and expensive the present machine offers the binder and printer a device-within his means and which will do the manifolding in a satisfactory manner. Initially the machine provides bins Within which, as stated, are placed the stacks of sheets to be manifolded. I provide means such as suction feet, connected with a suitable pump, which do not swing on an are but are raised and lowered in a given plane. The suction feet, when suction is applied individually, lift the sheets from the stacks. I provide a system of conveyors, one conveyor for each bin, adapted to move toward the sheet which has been raised by a suction foot, to receive said sheet, and deposit the same in a receiving bin. As suction feet may not always properly lift the sheets, due to irregular stack conditions of paper, I have provided a novel means which renders manifolding impossible when for any reason the sheets fail to be lifted properly by the suction feet.

In the present invention I have provided two means for assuring a proper manifolding operation. If for any reason a suction foot fails to properly lift one of the sheets from a stack, the vacuum to all of the suction feet is bled through a valve, and the means which causes reciprocatory travels of the conveyors is rendered inop- 'erative.

When manifolding, :it is customary after a given number of sets has been stacked, to place a divider sheet upon the top of the stack. This divider sheet functions to'indi'cate the number of manifolded sets in the stack and likewise may indicate a desired size for a book. To accomplish this, I have provided a novel means which may be pre-set to place a divider sheet upon or underneath'a stack of manifolded sheets.

Referring to the drawings and specifically to Figs. land 2, I have provided a frame I, which supports by means of posts 2, bins 3. In the showing there are three bins, arranged at different levels, as indicated at 4, and 6. Adjustable slides, designated generally as 1, are provided for each bin platform 8, and a pair of spaced apart angle'members 9 and 0 engage the side and front edge of 'astack ofsheets I I in a bin. These angle members may be adjustable as to spacing therebetween so as to accommodate for 'difierent widths of sheets. The uppermost bin may have sheets of white color, the next bin therebelow a stack of sheets l2, yellow in color, and the following bin a stack l3 of blue color. The bins are staggered in arrangement, as shown'in Fig. 1, the lowermost bin being forward of the-next'bin thereabove, and so on. Such an arrangement prevails regardless of the number of ascendingly related bins.

The frame I is so constructed as to properly relate each bin to means adapted to remove sheets from the bins. Thus the posts 2 "are mounted on the portion M of the frame, said portion I4 being bent to provide a vertical portion l5, followed by a horizontal portion 16 sub stantially parallel to portion 14. Immediately below the frame part l6 and mounted upon suitable foundation are a pair of pedestals i1 and f8, and journaled in said pedestals is a shaft iii. The shaft I9 carries a pair of cams 2c and 2i. Suitable means, designated generally as 22, rotates shaft l9. This means 22 may comprise a motor 23, which drives a reduction gearing indicated by the square 24, which in turn drives shaft 25, and suitable gearing not shown in turn furnishes the drive between shafts l9 and 25.

The cam 20 is adapted to actuate the means for raising the sheets from the several bins. This means, designated as anientirety by 26, includes anelevatorbar 27 the lowermost end of which carries a wheel or roller 28 for contact with the edge of cam 20. Ihe said bar is provided with a longitudinal slot 29 within which is positioned :1 lug or tongue 30. Said lug or tongue is adjustably attached to bracket 3|, see Fig. 3, the said bracket in turn being fastened by a suitable means 32 to the framing portion IS. The elevator bar is actuated by the cam 20, and the direction of bar movement is controlled by the lug or tongue 30.

The elevator bar carries one or more arms 34, the number of arms depending upon the number of bins. Each arm 34 is pivotally mounted by means 35 to the bar 21', see Fig. '7, and the angularity to be assumed by the arm relative to the elevator bar is controlled by adjustment means 36. This adjustment means includes an angular bracket 31, carrying a screw 33; one end of the screw engages the arm at some distance from the pivot point 35. The uppermost end of said arm carries a foot 39, commonly called a suction foot for the reason thatthe foot is adapted to communicate with a vacuum pump whereby when the foot is under sub-atmospheric pressure and'is brought into contact with the uppermost sheet of a stack in one of the bins, the sheetis lifted,

as shown in Fig. 7, and as hereinafter more fully detailed. While I may use single suction feet for each bin, yet in the present instance I have found it more expedient to use pairsof such feet. Thus, referring to Figs. 2 and 10, each arm 34 at its outermost end carries a transverse tube 40, and mounted on said tube are suction feet, one of which has heretofore been designated as 39, and

- the second of which, see Fig. 10, is designated 4|.

Each suction foot is provided with 'a transverse bore 42, in communication with tube 40, and'with a bore 43 in communication with bore 42 and at an angle thereto. The suction foot may be secured to the tube in any approved manner such as by screwthreading, as indicated at 44. A pipe 45 communicates through flexible tubing '46 with a connection 41 on arm 34, the connection in turn is secured to a tube 48 leading to the suction foot 39 and tube 40. Pipe 45 connects with a pump 49, such as a vacuum pump. When the cam 23 is'being rotated it is evident'that the 'cam will progressively raise'and lower the elevator bar 2'! in such a manner as to bring the aligned pairs of suction feet, as indicated at 39 and 4!, into engagement with the uppermost sheet of a stack in one of the supply bins. If there is reduced pressure in'the line leading to said feet, said feet will lift the sheet, oraportion thereof, upwardly,

: as shown in Fig. 7.

After pairs of suction feet have descended upon the uppermost sheet of several stacks of sheets and lifted the same, it is essential to remove the sheet and at the same time break the vacuum to the suction feet. To remove the sheets and deposit the same in the receiving bin, I have provided a plurality of belts. These belts are adapted to be arranged in pairs and in such a manner that two of the courses are'parallel and in juxtaposition. The belts are suitably carried by a framing designated generally as 53. This framing includes twomembers' 5| and 52, both provided with a base member 53 carrying front and rear wheels 54 running on a trackway 55, secured to framing member 16. Front and rear uprights 56 and 5'! are secured to the base member 53. Extending between the framing members 5! and 5E, and specifically-the uprights 56 and tl'thereof, are a plurality of front and rear shafts 58 and 59. The arrangement is such that there are pairs-of said shai'ts for each bin. By way of example, the uppermost bin 9 has a pair of closely related shafts 58, as indicated at 60 and 6|, for uprights 51, and a like pair of shafts secured to the uprights 56, as shown at 62 and 63. Carried on the shafts62 and 63 are a plurality of spaced by the suction feet, and to receive the said sheets between pairs of said contiguous belts, when the vacuumto said feet is broken.

. To reciprocate the said frame 50, means detailed in Fig. 3 is utilized. This means includes an arm I2 intermediately pivoted at I3 to a bracket I4, the bracket being secured to frame portion I5; one end of said arm carries a roller I5 .in. engagement with the edge of cam 2I, see

Fig. 6, while the opposite end of said'arm is pivoted to a link I6, the link in turn being secured at TI to a lock bar I8. The lock bar is held by means I9 to the framing portion I6 in such a manner as to permit the said bar to be reciprocated.- The lock bar is provided with a notch 80. The framing 50 carries a solenoid switch (H, the plunger .82 of which is adapted to be received within the notch 80 when the solenoid is not actuated to lift said element. This forms a releasable connection between the lock bar I8 and the framing 50, so that normally the cam 2! when rotated will reciprocate the framing. One or,

more coil springs 83 are secured between framing 50 and the framing portion I6 to normally urge said. framing 50 in one direction. Thus the cam 2I in its rotation works against the tension of said spring or springs 83.

To properly deliver the sheets to a receiving bin in manifolded order, chutes 84 are provided at the discharge end of each pair of belts. These chutes may include downwardly disposed and transversely extending metal pieces carried between the uprights 56 and so positioned as to direct paper downwardly as it is discharged between the two courses I0 and 'II of a pair of belts. No particular means is illustrated for supporting the said chutes other than the use of transverse bars which are attached between the members 56; and the transverse edge of said chutes adjacent the discharge portion for the belts is normally posi' tioned above the plane of the belt courses I0 and II, so that paper when discharged from between said belts engages theunder surface of a chuteri Each member 56 is provided with an outstanding bracket;05, between which extends a pair of shafts 86 and 81. Carried between the pair of members 56 and beneath the lowermost shaft for a pair of conveyor belt members is shaft 88.

Shafts 81 and 88 carry spaced apart pulleys 89 and 90 respectively, between which pulleys are continuous belts 9 I. Shaft 86 carries one or more pulleys 92, and shaft 59 is provided with one or more pulleys 93 in aligmnent with the pulleys 92,-

ing bin 85f-This receiving bin includes-a plat r? 9 Peer ess; 0rpe o eved e h u des..-

91. The guides 9'! move longitudinally of a pair of supporting legs 98, to the end that the said platform may lower as sheets are received thereon. The said legs 98 form a part of the. framing I. The framing members I6 extend downwardly at 99, and this portion is adapted to carry. means for assuring that the paper will be properly stacked in the receiving bin. This means includes a lever I00, swingingly mounted on a shaft IOI which extends between framing portions 99. The lever is provided with an angle piece I02, adapted to contact a transverse stop member I03 secured to the framing portions 99 to limit downward swing of the lever I00. Carried on a shaft I0! and upon opposite sides of the lever I00 are a pair of pulleys I04 and I05.

The outermost end of lever I00 carries a transversely positioned shaft I06, and mounted on said shaft are a pair of pulleys I01 and I08. Continuous belts I09 and IE0 are passed respectively around the pulleys I05 and I01 and pulley I04 and I08. The lever I00 carries a finger piece III, whereby the device may be swung about shaft NH. The belts on this device are positive- 1y driven by means of a pulley I I2 attached to one end of the shaft I0 I. The pulley in turn is driven by a continuous belt II3 communicating with a suitable drive means.

To assure that the manifolded paper in the receiving bin is properly aligned, it is stacked by what is known as a jogger II4, consisting of two members of identical construction, one for each side of the framing portions 99; for that reason one jogger will be described, the same numbers of reference applying to the other. The

jogger includes a pair of bent levers H5, pivotedat I I6 to the frame; one end of said lever is pivoted at II? to an elongated leaf H8, the said leaf having a depth sufiicient to contact the receiving bin at its highest position. A link H9 is secured between the framing and the leaf I I8. An arm I20 is pivoted at I2I to the outermost end of lever I I5. Lever I 20 has a bent end extremity I22, which overlies the framing portion I6. A coil spring I23 interconnects the outermost end of lever I I5 and the framing. Thus the tendency is to revolve both the lever H5 and the link II9 to move the leaf I I8 against the side edges of the manifolded sheets. However, the arrangement is such that the bend end I22 of arm I20 is engaged by the framing 50 during its movement so as to swing the "jogger away from the manifolded sheets and then allow the jogger to strike the manifolded sheets under spring tension.

Reference is made toFigs. 8 and 9 which illustrate one means whereby the conveyor belts 68 and 69 may be driven. This means includes a shaft I24 mounted in suitable bearings I25, I26 and I2'I attached to one of the posts 57 of frame 50. The shaft carries bevel gears I28, I29 and I30, which bevel gears mesh with further bevel gears I3I and I33 inclusive, secured to shafts 6!. A flexible cable I34 connects with shaft I24 and with the motor 23. The uppermost continuous belt of eachpair may be turned by mere friction, due to the presence of a sheet between the courses I0 and 'II, or as an alternative, intermeshing gears may be provided between the rollers to render the drive a positive one.

So far I have described a means which will lift individual sheets from supply bins for delivery between conveyor belts, which in turn de; liver the paper in a manifolded-or collated re-- ti nsh with n a re eiv bin. :Itisa n wn fact however thatraimechanism does not always function as intended, and I therefore provide certain means for insuring against faulty operation of :the macihne. I provide means for immediately preventing a collating operation of the machine in the event that the suction feet do not correctly and completely pick up paper for delivery between the conveyor belts. This means is illustrated in Fig. 10 and operates in conjunction with the magnetic switch shown in Fig. 3. One of the suction feet carried by tubular arm 46 is provided with an electrical switch I; said switch includes a strap I36 secured to but insulated from the suction foot at 31. This strap is provided with a bent end extremity I38. The suction foot is provided with a bore I39 conimunicating with bore :32, and confined within bore I 36 is a stud 40. The shank I4I of the stud is passed through said bore, and a head I42 on said shank may engage the end I38 when urged into such engagement by means of a coil spring I43 included between the head and the body of the suction foot. A wire I44 connects with strap I36, and the suction foot is grounded (as indicated) to the frame of the machine as an entirety to provide the other lead. The ground connection and wire I44 in turn communicate with a suitable source of current supply and with magnetic switch 8I. Reference is made to Fig. 18, wherein are shown three of the switches i355 with leads I45, indicative of the ground circuit, while the other leads are representative of lead I44; all of the leads I44 are in circuit with the coil of the magnetic switch BI and with the source of current supply, indicated at I46. When vacuum is established in the line 45 leading to the suction feet and sheets are engaged by said feet, the studs I46 are drawn inwardly, compressing springs I43, which movement breaks contact between the studs and the straps I35. If, however, a suction foot should fail to lift a sheet, the suction foot is atmospherized, which releases the stud and allows the head I42 to contact member I38 to complete a circuit through the magnetic switch 8|. Such action immediately raises the plunger 82 and releases the bar I8, with the result that the carriage 56 does not reciprocate on the frame I6. Upon reestablishment of the system the electric switch will again permit the plunger 82 to be received within the slot '86 of the lock bar, to the end that the conveyor frame maybe reciprocated.

When the suction feet lift the paper from the bins it is essential that at the moment the conveyor carriage moves forwardly to receive the sheets between the conveyor belts-that the'vacuum tosaid'suction feet be broken. I accomplish this by a valve I41, see Fig. 11. The valve includes a short length pipe I48 which is curved in part and provided with a seat portion I49. This pipe leads to the pipe 45, see Fig. 10. Pipe I48 carries a bracket I56, to which is pivoted at I5I bell-crank lever I52, having arms I53 and I 54. Arm I53 swingingly carries a plug I55. The bracket I56 is so formed as to have an angular extension at I56, between which extension and arm I54 is a coil spring I51. This coil spring normally urges the lever into such position as to close the valve, that is tosay, the plug I55 to be received on seat I48. One member 5'! of the conveyor frame is provided with'an angular bracket I58, and an adjustable screw I59 is passed thrcugh'one arm of said bracket for engagement with portion I54 of leverl'52. Thuswhen theconveyori'fr'ame has reacheda position adjacent during revolution of the wheel.

the supply bins, the screw I59 engages arm I 54' and swings the bell-crank lever I52 to raise the plug I from its seat, and in so doing atmos: pherizes the line 45 and bleeds thevacuum to the various pressure feet, thus releasing the paper; The elevator bar 21 is provided with an arm I60. and after the conveyor belts have received the paper therebetween in the manner illustrated for instance in Fig. '7, the elevator bar 21 starts its downward movement due to rotation of the cam 26, and the arm I66 will strike the plug carrying end of arm I53 to seat the plug. It is to be observed that the arrangement of the spring I51 with the lever I52 is such as to provide a toggle. In other words, the valve plug snaps closed to its seat or snaps open.

As the alternate'breaking of the vacuum to the suction feet would cause the switch elements to complete a circuit through the solenoid BI and might disturb proper operation of the conveyor frame by releasing said frame from the lockbar I6, I have provided means whereby when the sheet is properly raised by the vacuum feet the electrical circuit will be broken to the switch 81 just before the vacuum is broken to said feet, and

which circuit is immediately reestablished just after the vacuum line is reestablished to said suction feet. Such a means is shown in Fig. 18 and comprises an insulation wheel I6I', mounted either on shaft I9 or on an independent shaft I62, in turn driven by motor 23. This insulation wheel is provided with a segmental contact member I63, a brush I64 is adapted to'ride on the edge of the Wheel and to have engagement with segment I63 The segment may be grounded to the shaft I62. The 'said segment and the said brush or wheel I64 are placed in the circuit as illustratedin Fig. 18.

Forming a part of the present invention is means for placing divider sheets under or on a stack-of manifolded sheets. This means is illustrated in Figs. 15 to 17 inclusive. The mechanism provides a manually set counter, which will permit any number of sheets to be manifolded at a time, and after a selected number of completed manifold sets has been stacked in the receiving bin, the device will operate to place a divider sheet thereontop. Whereupon manifolding continues until a further divider sheet isrequired. The counter for this purpose includes a large diameter ratchet Wheel I65, mounted on a shaft I 65, the teeth of the wheel are numbered, as indicated at I61, starting from a zero indication I68, at which zero indication is'placed'a projecting pin I69. Mounted on shaft I66 isan arm 116' which maybe set atanynumbered'tooth desired" and which arm will actuate mechanism'to be hereinafter described so that a divider sheet may' be deposited in the receiving bin. Swingingly mounted on shaft I66 is a lever I'II, one end of which lever is connected by means ofa link II-Z to a spring actuated bell crank I73. One arm I14 of the bell crank is in position to be engaged by lug I15, secured to the framing '56; thus each time the framing moves in one direction the bell' crank is rocked to in turn move the lever I'II downwardly. Lever I'II pivotally carries a pawl I16, which is adapted to be so actuated as to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel I to revolve the wheel one tooth at a time for each complete reciprocation of the frame 50. When the lug I I5 strikes the arm I14 of the bell crank thepawl is revolved about its pivot point to position pawl arm I11" in'engagement with-a tooth of the ratchet and-revolve the ratchet; see dottc'd lines at [18.-

were

, 9 The pawl is urged to the dotted position by an arm I19 which is pivoted at I88 to the framing I. A coil spring I 8I is secured to the arm at one end and'made fast to some portion of the framing at its opposite end in such a manner as at all times to urge said arm into engagement with the pawl. Pivoted to the frame at I82 is a lever I83. This lever is normally urged to revolve in one direction by a, coil spring I84. This lever is adapted to have trip engagement with 1everI85. Lever I85 is pivoted to the frame at I86, and provided with a side extension I81, for engagement with end I88 of lever I83. An arm I89 is pivoted at I98 to the end of lever I85, and said'arm is provided with a side extension I9I adapted to contact with one edge of lever I85 to limit downward movement of said arm about its pivot I98. The outermost end of arm I89 is bent at an angle, as shown at I92. This end is adapted to contact, in one position, stud I89. A lever arm I 93 is pivoted at I94 to the framing; the short end of said lever has a portion I95 adapted to contact with end portion I96 of arm I83. Lever I85 is normally urgedto rotate in one direction by spring I98, to the end that the parts normally and prior to actuation, as stated in the operation, will assume the position shown in Fig. 15. A differential valve I99 includes casing 288, provided with two bores 28I and 282, in substantially right angular relationship', the bore 282 having a greater diameter than'bore 28I. A valve 283 seats at 284 to close entrance to bore 282. This valve is provided with a valve stem 285 which connects with a depressible head 286, weight of the head unseating the valve. Bore 28I communicates at one end with a tube 281 leading to suction feet, adapted to lift a divider sheet from a bin, while tube 288 is in communication with the pump 49 or main suction line. The long end of the lever I93 is positioned at I91 beneath the valve 283 to hold the valve seated. Thus the suction line has a through passage throughthe valve casing. In the present instance the shaft I68 is rotated in a direction counter to the rotation made by the pawl, by a spring. The shaft is provided with a pulley 289, about which is wound a cable 2 I8, one end of which cable is connected to a coil spring 2I I. As shown in Fig. 16, arm I18 has frictional engagement with the hub of the ratchet I65.

- In Figs. 12 and 13 I have illustrated a means for receiving sheets from between pairs of conveyor belts and depositing the said sheets in properly manifolded order within a receiving bin. Such a device may be used when a large number ofsheets is to be manifolded. Thus in Fig. 12, five sheets may be manifolded, the uppermost pair of belts being utilized for divider sheet purpose. In Fig. 1, three sheets are shown, and in this figure the uppermost bin might hold divider sheets and the other two bins sheets to be manifolded; the use of uppermost bin for divider sheets being optional.

' In either case the arrangement which has been described for Fig. 15 would be utilized, and the tube 281 would lead to the uppermost suction feet, while tube 288 has connection with the pump.

The structure of Fig. 12 includes a frame 2I2, which supports end shafts 2I3 and 2M. Sprockets H in spaced pairs are mounted on each shaft; and passed between the upper and lower pairs of said sprockets are continuous chains 2| 6 and '2 I1. The framing 2 I 2 is held in any suitable manner, such as by the uprights indicated at 2 I8, to a'supporting structure which may constitute 10 a receiving bin 2I9. Mounted between the pair of chains are spaced trays 228, each tray transversely extending between the chains and secured at 221, 222 to the links thereof. Immediately above and extending at an angle to each tray is one or more fingers. The spacing between the trays is such as to bring each tray into alignment with the middle course of the pairs of conveyor belts. The trays are mounted so as to have a downward inclination toward the chains, as-

best illustrated in Fig. 12. Shaft 2M carries either a pulley 228, see Fig. 13, or a sprocket, with means 225 for driving either the pulley or sprocket. Thedrive means for said shaft includes a clutch indicated at 228, the clutch being known as the one revolution type. This clutch is adapted to be operated immediately after the conveyor belt frame is moved adjacent the trays to receive sheets from between the said belts, whereupon, when the conveyor belt and frame moves away from said trays, the clutch is operated to move the chains BIG and 2II and carry the six racks, which have just received paper, downwardly for deposit of said paper within the receiving bin 2I9. The clutch is thrown out at this point and the other set of six trays at this time will assume a position for the receiving of additional sheets when the conveyor frame again moves toward said trays. The action of the clutch is of course intermittent and controlled by movement of the conveyor belt frame 558. It is to be realized that the uppermost conveyor belts will not always receive paper, because this particular pair of conveyor belts is used for divider sheets, and divider sheets are controlled by the means shown in Fig. 15.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention just described are as follows:

If we assume use of the machine illustratedin Figs. 1 and 2, the bins are filled with stacks of paper II, I2 and I3, which ordinarily are of different colors. The arrangement shown will provide for a book in which there is one original sheet and two copies or duplicates. Ordinarily, such a book contains carbon paper so that marks made upon the top sheet will be reproduced on two other sheets. It is here desired to manifold an original and two copies and to provide a plurality of such sheets in the order stated. When motor 22 is in operation the vacuum pump 49 is actuated and the shaft I9 is turned, which will rotate the cams 28 and 2I. The pairs of feed conveyor belts 68 and 69 will be moved, as will likewise the belts 9| and 94, by the flexible drive I 34. In addition, the belts shown at I89 and H8 will be in motion. As shaft I9 revolves, the cam 28 will raise and lower the elevator bar 21, to bring the suction feet 4| into engagement with the outermost sheet of the stack of sheets in each bin. During such movement of the suction feet the pump 49 is creating reduced pressure in the line 45 leading to said vacuum feet. During rotation of shaft I9 the cam 2I is rotated, and the construction of the cam is,

such as to cause movement of the conveyor belt frame 58 by reason of the lever arm I2 so as to bring the frame 58 forwardly toward the stock bins to position the pairs of conveyor belts adjacent each sheet raised by the suction feet to the position illustrated in Figs..3 and 7. When the frame is moved to a position adjacent the bins, the said frame, through the medium of the adjustable screw I59, strikes part I54 of lever arm I52 and lifts the plug I55 from its seat, breaking the vacuum to said vacuum feet, which of course releases the paper from thevaeuum feet and allows said paper to be received between the conveyor belts. The frame immediately commences movement away from the stock bins and the paper is passed under the chutes 84, between the belts SI and 94 and directed beneath the belts I99 and III]. This assures that the sheets will be directed against one end of the receiving bin 95. In the meantime. due to the motion of frame 56, the ends I22 of arms I29 are engaged, which rocksthe pairs of joggers i I4 to align the sides of the sheets within the receiving bin.

If one or more of the suction feet fails for some reason to lift a sheet of paper so that manifolding would not proceed properly, then the vacuum actuated electrical switch illustrated in Fig.10 would stop reciprocation of frame 59, and the vacuum to all of the vacuum feet would be broken and prevent delivery of incomplete sets of sheets to the receiving bin. It is evident that when a vacuum is created in the line 45 leading to the suction feet that plug I49 is drawn inwardly so that the head I42 of said plug is moved away from the contact arm portion I38.

'It is to be remembered that the circuit is such that lead I44 is in circuit with the disc IfiI shown in Fig. 13. The timing is such that the metal segment I63 completes the electrical circuit. leading to the various switches of the series of vacuum feet just after the vacuum feet have moved into contact with the uppermost sheets in the supply bins to thereby move the vacuum actuated plug I40 away from the contact arm I35, and each stud I49 will remain out of contact with said arm as long as the suc tion feet hold a sheet of paper. The disc IfiI continues to turn and the brush or wheel I94 moves off the segment IE3 at the moment the vacuum is broken to the vacuum feet, for at this time said sheets are received between the pairs of conveyor belts. This electrical circuit as just described is important, for the reason that, unless it is made and broken properly the magnetic switch 8i will be actuated to, release the frame from the lock bar I3, which would stop operation of frame 50. Switch 8! is only operated when, due to some defect in the manifolding operation, a vacuum foot does not properly lift a sheet or drops a sheet. If a vacuum foot drops a sheet, the plug M9 immediatelyv engages contact I38 under urgency of the spring M3, and an electrical circuit is established through segment I63, brush I 94 to switch 3|,

which lifts the plunger 32 from notch 89- and.

under urgency of springs 83, the frame 59 remains away from the supply bins. Thus the shaft I9 may continue to rotate but movement of arm I2 produces, no movementin the conveyor frame 50,.

The divider sheet mechanism is set by moving arm I10 to a desired graduation. After a number of sheets have been manifolded a divider sheet will be lifted from the bin and deposited within the receiving bin. If we assume that twelve sets of manifolded sheets are to be deposited within the bin 95 prior to placing a divider sheet thereover, the arm I10 would be moved to the indication marked 12, the parts ofsaid mechanism would be in the position shown in Fig. 15. The pawl I15 is moved each time the frame 50 makes one complete reciprocation, the part I15 striking the bell crank I14, which through the linkage I12 moves thev pawl carrying arm IIl downwardly.

Viewing Fig. l5, the pin I69 strikes the end' iii 12 I92 of lever I89 and moves lever I85 to the right to compress spring I98. The tripping element I8! of lever I85 will thereby be separated from tripping element I88 of lever I83, due to the fact that lever I83 is urged upwardly by coil spring I84. Thus the tripping element I38 will lie beneath the tripping element I81, and lever I93 will move counterclockwise to permit, a moving of valve 293 from its seat 294. The pawl I16 is actuated each time the frame 59, makes a complete reciprocation. The lever I83 'acts as. a retaining or holding pawl for the ratchet wheel I95, as end'ZIZ engages a tooth at a time to hold the, ratchet wheel against retrograde movement. As the ratchet wheel turns, the'preselecter lever I'll! will be brought into contact with holding pawl or lever I83, moving the same downwardly against spring I84. This releases end 2I2 from holding engagement with a tooth of the ratchet wheel. However, as the lever en gages part I95, lever I93 is moved to close valve 20 3v to its seat 20 3 and thereby establish a vacuum connection from the pump to the, vacuum feet through leads 291 and 298 As the shaft of the ratchet wheel IE5 is spring loaded, the moment the holding pawl is moved from tooth engagement, the wheel will rotate counterclockwise until the pin I69 strikes the end I92 of lever 89 to move lever I85 clockwise against spring 599. Such movement releases the latching elements I87 and I83 so that part I88 now lies beneath part I87, with the result that arm I93- revolves counterclockwise to release the valve- 29-3 from its seat 294, the lever I83 being actuated to bring the end 2I2 again into contact with the ratchet wheel teeth, under urgency of spring,-

I downwardly, the part. I88. moves from beneath;

par-t I81 to the top thereof so as to hold said pawl out of engagement with the teeth of. the:

ratchet, wheel until thev ratchet. Wheel. is moved back to itspreselected position.

The differential pressure arrangement for the valve I99 is such that the valve remains closed momentarily although the lever I93 is moved from valve engagement. When the line is atmospherized or the vacuum broken, due to the movement of the carriage 59, the valve 293 drops from the seat under gravity.

I claim:

1. In a collator, a supportingframe, a plurality of bins secured to said supporting frame and arranged at different elevations one above the other, a feed conveyor frame mounted for re-- ciprocation on said supporting frame, pairs of continuous belts the faces of the belts in. each pair being contiguous carried by said feed conveyor frame, and means for separating and raising the uppermost sheet in each bin and for releasing said sheets when said feed conveyor frame advances to position ends of said pairs of continuous belts adjacent the bins, the said raised sheets being received between said pairs-of belts.

2. In a collator, a stationary supportingframe,

a rotary feed conveyor mounted for reciprocation on said frame, an elevator bar and means for raising and lowering said bar; said bar providedwith spaced apart suction feet, a plurality of bins spacedly arranged one above the other and adapted to hold sheets of paper to be manifolded, the said suction feet overlying the uppermost sheets in said bins; pump means for effecting sub-atmospheric pressure to said suction feet when said elevator bar is lowered to position said suction feet over the uppermost sheet in each bin and to separate and raise said uppermost sheets when the elevator bar is raised; means for advancing the feed conveyor toward the sheets elevated by said suction feet to receive said sheets and for retracting the conveyor a distance less than the length of the sheets to be manifolded, and means actuated by the forward movement of said feed conveyor to atmospherize said suction feet when the said sheets are engaged by said feed conveyor.

3. In a collator, a plurality of bins arranged one above the other in spaced relationship, adapted to hold paper, suction feet for separating and raising the uppermost sheet from each bin and sub-atmospheric means leading to said suction feet, a vacuum operated electric switch carried by one of the suction feet for each bin, a feed conveyor for receiving sheets raised by said suction feet from each bin, means for advancing said feed conveyor toward the raised sheets in each bin, and for receiving the raised sheets, an electrical switch between said feed conveyor and said last named means, and electrical connections betweensaid vacuum operated electric switches on said suction feet and said electrical switch on said feed conveyor, adapted to operate the conveyor switch and stop movement of said feed conveyor toward said bins in the event that one of said vacuum feet does not lift a sheet of paper from a bin.

4. In a collator, a vacuum foot adapted to be lowered upon a stack of paper sheets and raised thereabove, means for effecting a sub-atmospheric pressure to said foot whereby the foot may separate and raise the uppermost sheet from a stack, and for atmospherizing the foot to release a sheet, a vacuum operated electrical switch carried by said foot, comprising a movable contact and a fixed contact, said movable contact normally being in engagement with said fixed contact when the foot is atmospherized and for moving the said movable contact from said fixed contact when the foot is under sub-atmospheric pressure.

5. In a collator, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, two cams mounted on said shaft, a bar in contact with one of said cams, suction feet carried by said bar, the said cam for said bar raising and lowering the bar during rotation of the cam to effect up and down movement of said suction feet, a plurality of bins arranged one above the other and adapted to hold sheets of paper to be manifolded, the said vacuum feet positioned inwardly from one edge of each bin and directly above the uppermost sheets, a conveyor frame and means between said conveyor frame and the second cam adapted to reciprocate the conveyor means toward and away from each bin when said second cam is rotated; means for effecting sub-atmospheric pressure to said suction feet during the lowering of said suction feet for contact with the uppermost sheets in said bins to separate and raise said sheets, and means actuated by the conveyor means when the conveyor means is positioned adjacent the raised sheets to effect release of said sheets from the suction feet.

6. In a collator, a pair of cams, means effecting rotation thereof, a bar in contact with one of said cams, suction feet carried by said bar, the said cam for said bar raising and lowering the bar during rotation of the cam to effect up and down movement of said suction feet, a plurality of bins arranged one above the other, and adapted to hold sheets of paper to be manifolded, the said suction feet being positioned inwardly from one end of ,each bin and directly above the uppermost sheet, a conveyor frame and means between said conveyor frame and the second of said cams adapted to reciprocate the conveyor frame toward and away from each bin a distance less than the length of the sheet to be manifolded; a vacuum operated electrical switch carried by one of the suction feet for each bin, a conveyor drive control solenoid between said feed conveyor and said means for reciprocating the conveyor, electrical connections between each vacuum operated electrical switch and said conveyor drive control solenoid; said electrical switches on said suction feet closing the electrical path to the conveyor drive control solenoid in the event a suction foot does not lift a sheet to actuate said solenoid and stop the reciprocation of said conveyor means.

ALBERT DAGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,432,890 Neely Oct. 24, 1922 1,524,213 Schubach Jan. 27, 1925 1,996,954 Elliott Apr. 9, 1935 2,088,468 Elliott July 27, 1937 2,260,582 Roethe Oct. 28, 1941 2,308,804 Dager Jan. 19, 1943 2,362,134 Honig Nov. '7, 1944 2,389,066 Leifer Nov. 13, 1945

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