US2634972A - Sheet collating machine - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1953 w. M. KELLY SHEET COLLATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10, 1947 INVENTOR M/u mm M KELLY AT I'ORNEY www RNE

INVENTOR w. M. KELLY SHEET com/mus MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 WILL/7M M Knu 9 5M ATTO April 14, 1953 Flled Nov 10. 1947 April 14, 1953 w. M. K ELLY 2,634,972

SHEET COLLATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 m INVENTOR VV LLl/IM M K510 ATTORNEY April 14, 1953 w. M. KELLY SHEET COLLATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 10, 1947 April 14, 1953 w. M. KELLY SHEET COLLATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 10. 1947 mmx Patented Apr. 14, 1953 SHEET COLLATING MACHINE William M.'Kelly, Westfield, N. J assignor to John Confort, New York, N. Y.

Application November 10, 1947, Serial No. 785,020

17 Claims.

This invention relates to collating machines employing a plurality of substantially similar units arranged in a predetermined alinement, with conveyor means arranged beneath all of the units, with means in each unit for pickingup and delivering to the conveyor a predetermined sheet so that the deposit of the sheet from one unit will be upon a sheet delivered to the conveyor by a preceding unit. Still more particularly, the invention deals with a collating machine in which each unit has a pick-up and feed suction Wheel, with means controlling operation of the wheel so that the failure of delivery to a sheet to the conveyor from any unit will cause all units to be rendered inoperative insofar as the sheet pick-up mechanism is concerned. I

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views; and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side and sectional view showing end portions of a multiple unit collating machine, with mechanisms of the machine in what might be termed a starting position.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the various positions of a suction wheel in a cycle of operation.

Fig. 3 is a section on the broken line 33 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, with parts of the construction broken away.

Fig. 4 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows 4@ of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing only parts of the construction and with parts in section. I

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing parts in a difierent position.

Fig. 7 is a partial section on the line 'l-'| of Figl, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 8 is a face view of the structure as seen in Fig. 7, with parts broken away and omitted.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, showing only a part of the, construction and with parts in a. difierent position.

Fig. 10. is a view similar to Fig. 9. showing the parts in a different position.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line: H-!l of Fig. 9, showing the crank and pin in a different position.

Fig. 121s a section. on. theline l2l2 of Fig. 9.

FigiSiSa section onthe. line. Iii-l3 of Fig. 10. Fig. 1.4. is a plan view of the. structure as shown in Fig. awitn parts a'diiferent position;

iii

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing only a part of the construction on an enlarged scale with parts in a different position and with parts broken away; and

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view indicating the method of collating sheets by the units on the conveyor.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a simple, economical and relatively foolproof machine for collating sheets of any type or kind. In carrying out my invention, I provide a plurality of substantially similar units, any number of which may be employed, depending upon the requirements of the user. For illustrative purposes, I will refer in the present case to a Five Unit Machine by means of which five sheets may be piled one directly upon the other and delivered at one end of the machine.

According to the present invention, I provide five sheet pick-up and delivery units arranged longitudinally over a constantly rotating conveyor unit. All of the units are simultaneously operated to deliver a sheet, or other elements, to be collated, onto the conveyor and in so timing the operation of the conveyor that the sheet of one delivery unit is delivered directly upon a sheet previously delivered to the conveyor by the preceding unit. Further, the invention comprises the use of suction wheels at each unit with automatically actuated means controlling supply of suction to the wheel whereby in the event of the failure of any unit to operate, or deliver a sheet to the conveyor, suction is automatically shut-off to all of the units, thus rendering the machine inoperative to the extent of sheet delivery.

Considering Fig. l of the drawing, I have shown at 2!}, the framework of the machine, which may be constructed in units attached one to the other; or may comprise a single frame in which a predetermined number of units are arranged. In said figure, 2l-2l' generally identify two end units of the machine, the machine being broken away centrally, and between these units will be disposed three other units ina five unit machine. Each unit comprises a vertically movable bed or table 22-42 upon which the sheets 23-43 to be collated are adapted to rest. The beds 22 -22' are intermittently raised, as later described, to maintain the uppermost sheets in close proximity to suction delivery wheels 24 -24 adapted to deliver the sheets to feed belts Zo -'25 travelling over an inclined plate 26 -26' and beneath one of a numberof retaining fingers or rods 21-4? in delivery of the sheets to an end less conveyor 28 arranged within the frame of the machine and extending from one end unit to a point beyond the other end unit to deliver collated sheets onto a receiving table, not shown, as it forms no part of the present invention.

As each unit is of the same construction, the brief description of one unit will apply to the other and common references will be applied to both, except to the extent indicated above, in distinguishing the two units of Fig. 1, one from the other.

Each unit has upright frame members, as at 29, note Figs. 3 and 4 and in the upper portion of the frame members is supported a shaft 39 to the central portion of which the suction wheel 2| is secured. The shaft 39 extends throughthe frame and secured to one end is a sprocket 3| over which passes a chain, indicated by dot and dash lines at 32, the chain 32 passing around a sprocket 33 at the lower portion of the unit around an idler, as at 34 and then around another sprocket 35, note in this connection Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing.

Mounted between the frames 29 is a roller 35. which is rotated by the sprocket 35 through a gear 31 and a pinion 38 in driving the belts 25 of each unit. Mounted in the frame 20, adjacent the end unit 2| is a driven shaft 39 havin at one end a pulley 40, over which a drive belt 4| passes, the belt being driven from a motor, not shown. On the shaft 39 is a gear 42 meshing with a gear 43, constituting part of the sprocket 33 and by means of which the chain 32 is driven. On the shaft 39 is a sprocket 44 over which passes a drive chain 45 which passes around other and similar sprockets beneath each of the units in alinement with the sprockets 3'3 and the sprocket of the end unit 2| is shown at 44'. Suitable idlers engage the lower portion of the chain 45, one of which is seen at 46 to maintain the chain taut at all times. By reason of this construction, all units of the machine or the mechanisms thereof are driven in synchronism.

On the shaft 39 is secured a drum 4'! over which the conveyor 28 passes, suitable means commonly known in the art for maintaining the belt taut will be provided, but is not shown in the accompanying drawing.

The delivery belts 25 also pass over a roller 48 at the lower part of each unit, the belts also passing over belt crank idlers, as at 49, adjustable to maintain the belts taut at all times. The belt crank idlers 49 are adjustable on a shaft or rod 59 mounted in the frames 29. Mounted in the frames 29 i an open or lattice-work frame comprising two horizontal rods |52 and vertical rods 53, the latter having upwardly and forwardly extending platform portions 54 which guide and direct sheets from the pile 23 onto the delivery belts 25 above the roller 36 to insure feed downwardly between the belts and the rods 21, note in this connection Fig. 15 of the drawing.

Arranged above the forward end of each pile 23 between the frames 29 is a strip 55 supporting a plate or platform 55' cutout, as indicated at 56,

note Fig. 3, to receive the lower portion of the wheel 2| so that the lower portion of the wheel 2| extends below the lower surface of the plate or platform 55 to engage the uppermost sheet of the pile 24, as will clearly appear from a consid-- eration of Fig. 15 of the drawing. As a matter of fact, the lower surface of the wheel is at all times slightly spaced from the uppermost sheet of the pile, the sheet being picked-up to engage the surface of the wheel, by suction, as later described. Secured to the strip 55 centrally, is a forwardly and downwardly extending bracket 51, note Figs. 4 and 15, supporting at its lower end an adjustable screw 58 set in different positions of adjustment by a set screw 59 in controlling spacing of a curved spring 60 with respect to a button 6| mounted in the plate 26. This controls th feed of sheets by the belts 25 so that a single sheet only can pass through the adjustable control, adjustment being provided to compensate for sheets of diiferent thicknesses. If for any reason two sheets should be delivered to the control point defined by the spring 69 and button 6| and be jammed at this point, no sheet will be delivered to the conveyor or to a stop control mechanism, later defined, thus automatically stopping the 0peration of the respective units, in a manner later clarified.

Considering Fig. 4 of the drawing, it will be apparent that the guide strips or fingers 2i are disposed in alinement with the belts 25 in maintaining the sheets in position for delivery and other sheet supporting rods 62 may also be employed, particularly in support of wide sheets.

Supported between the frames 29 is a transverse rod 63 to which is secured, centrally thereof, a spring finger 64 having a bevelled end 65, note Figs. 5 and 6, the finger being disposed slightly beyond the lower outwardly curved ends 65 of the strip guides 27. Also mounted in the frames 29 is a transverse rod 61 to which is secured a lever 68 in which is pivoted a trip or control element 59, note in this connection Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The element 69 is in the form of a very thin and lightweight finger which normally extends to the surface of the sheet as it passes over the belts 25. the finger 69 being swung outwardly by the sheet, sufficiently to move the finger to a position out of engagement with the end 55 of the spring finger catch 64. Secured to the rod 61, at one side of the machine, is another lever 19 with which a long link II is coupled. The link H is pivoted at its upper end, as seen at 72, note Fig. 6, to a crank lever 13 pivoted in the frame, as seen at 74. The crank 13 carries at its free end a roller operating upon a cam 16 on the shaft 39. A spring Tl supports the crank 13 in constant engagement with the cam. The crank 13' carries a pin 18 Which extend through the frame 29, note Fig. 4, to operatively engage an actuating dog 19 in controlling engagement and disengagement with a trip rod actuating plunger 80. Note in this connection Figs. 5 and 6.

The dog 19 has a pivotal mounting, as at 8|, on one end of a L-shaped lever 82, pivoted in the frame, as seen at 83. The other end of the lever carries a roller 84 operating upon a cam 85, also on the shaft 39. A spring 86 maintain the lever 82 in constant engagement with the cam and a spring 81, note Fig. 4, is mounted on the pivot 8| and engages the dog 19 to normally urge the same in the direction of the plunger 89 to seat in a notch 88 in the upper end of the plunger 85. The dog E9 fits freely in the notch 68, the plunger Bil having stop means, as at 89, limiting upward movement thereof by the spring 99. The plunger operates in two guides and 92, the lower end of the plunger having a bevelled wall 93 adapted to engage a bevelled block 94 on a longitudinal trip rod 95. It will here be understood that the rod 95 extends longitudinally of the machine, being slidably mounted in suitable guides, as for example, at 96, note Fig. 1, and one of the blocks 94 is disposed beneath or in close proximity to the plunger 89 or each unit so that any one of the plungers can actuate the trip rod 95 t trip a pawl nism 98.

91. releasing an air control mechanism 98, later described.

The respective plungers 80 are actuated as and when a sheet fails to be delivered from the lower end of the delivery belts 25 ,onto the conveyor 28. In other words, if .at'the instant a sheet is sup posed to pass beneath the finger 69, a sheet does not present itself, the finger vI39 maintains the positionshown in Fig. 5, thus maintaining the dog 19 in the position shown in said figure, and when the cam 85 moves into the position shown in Fig. 6, the dog will be moved downwardly, actuating the plunger 30. which in turn engages the block 94 and moves the trip rod 95 to the right, tripping the pawl 91, thus allowing the mechanism 98 to automatically move from the position shown in Fig. -9 to the position shown in Fig. 1G. On the other hand, if a sheet is delivered by the delivery belts 25 to the-finger 69, the finger is thrown outwardly in the manner diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6, which operation actuates the link II, moving the pin 18 to the position shown in Fig. 6, during which operation the pin working on the surface of the dog I9, causes the dog to be tilted sufficiently to disengage the notch 88 so that in the downward movement of the dog, the dog passes freely by the plunger and the plunger is maintained in its raised inoperative position.

Returning for a moment to the first mentioned operation of the plunger 8i it will be apparent that the lever 13 is given its normal operation through the cam I6 at all times, but when the catch or finger G9 is maintained in the position shown in Fig. 5 and the lever '53 attempts to raise and swing the pin I8, this motion is checked by engagement of the finger 69 with the spring end 65,, thus holding the lever with the pin 18 substantialh in the position shown in Fig, 5, leaving the dog'lS in its operative position. Whereas, if the finger 6.9 is raised by the sheet beyond the spring end 65, the lever 73 is permitted to per form its normal function and the pin 78 will then tilt the dog, as previously stated.

Returning now to the wheel 2| of the respective units, each wheel is of the structure more clearly seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 15. The wheel has a wide peripheral portion in one side of which is arranged a circumferential arc-shaped groove 99 adapted to register with a suction nozzle I05 having a pipe or tube connection IE?! to the mecha- To distinguish the pipes or tubes one from the other, in Fig. 1, the tubes will be identified as I'ElI, Idl illl WI, and IiiI each tube leading to the respective units of the machine, the tubes I'M-Jill being shown as extending to the end units, illustrated in Fig. l.

The wheel'ZI of each unit also has a series of circumferentially spaced apertures I92 which are also adapted to register with the nozzle H36, each aperture I92 having a pair of communicating apertures I 03 opening through the peripheral surface of the wheel, as clearly seen in Fig. 3 andas indicated in part in Fig. 15. It will thus be apparout that if a suction prevails in the nozzle I00 and the apertures IE2, this suction exposed at the surface of the wheel will cause a sheet from the pile 23 to be drawn upwardly. As the wheel BI rotates, successive pairs of, apertures I93 will be brought into registration with the sheet to provide a successive series of sheet grippings and rotation of the wheel will advance the sheet to the left or in the direction of the delivery belts 25 for delivery of the sheet thereto, as will be apparent.

In Fig. 2 of thedrawing I have diagrammatically illustrateda cycle of operation of the wheel.

The wheel asit appcarsat the left in said figure is in the beginning of the sheet pick-up operation, thus roughly for one-quarter'revolution of the wheel, the sheet will be gripped and .fed to the left, .it being understood as each aperture 12 passes beyond the nozzle I 00, the suction is broken and the sheet released. The sheet is further stripped from the surface of the wheel by the plate 5 5 which guides and directs the sheet to the belts 25, the platforms 54 also aiding in this operation. After the last of the apertures I32 have passed the nozzle I00, the elongated recess '99 is brought into engagement with the nozzle, thus exposing the suction to atmosphere and rendering the wheel inoperative until it return to the gripping position, which is indicated at the extreme right of Fig. 2, when the above cycle of operation is repeated.

The suction mechanism 88 is shown in detail in Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive. On one side of the frame of the machine, is arranged an elongated block .IM having at its upper end a bearing por tion W5 beneath and to one side of which is another bearing portion I09, note Fig. 13 of the drawing. The block has between the bearing portions a long platform, the upper surface of which is indicated at IN. To this surface is secured a slide retaining strip 503 grooved to retain a slide valve Hi9 against displacement from the surface E61 while permitting movement of the slide valve #69 longitudinally of the block I94". The-block has an elongated recess Ito in the outer surface thereof in which is disposed at long coil spring EI! secured to the block at one end of the recess, as seen at 2, note Fig. 9, and to the slide 39, as indicated at H3. The spring HI is adapted to normally'maintain the slide I89 in its inoperative position, as seen in Fig. 10 of the drawing, whereas the slide is adapted to b intermittently advanced to the left to its fully operative position, as shown in Fig. 9, through a series of intermittent operations.

Projecting from the upper surface of the slide is a series of pins 5 Hi, the pin furthest to the left being normally disposed in position to be engaged by a crank. I I5 as the crank is rotated in advancing the slide step by step to the left until the slide has been fully advanced and the pawl 9? is forced into the notch H6 to check and hold the slide in its operative position, as seen in Fig. 9. In this figure is also shown the free end of the trip rod so which is adapted to engage a finger 97 on the pawl in moving the pawl into position disengaging the slide in the manner indicated in Fig. 10 of the drawing, the pawl 91 has another finger 9'?" engaged by a spring Ill, which normally urges the pawl into operative engagement or to seat upon the stop l is, which maintains the pawl in the position as shown in Fig. 9. V

The upper surface of the slide 569 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches Ht adapted to he engaged by a gravity pawl l2ii to hold the slide in its respective advanced. stages and until the pawl Si'l engages the notch H6, which maintains the slide in operative position during the contmued operation of the collator. The block I34 has T-shaped passages with which the pipes lfiI-Iill communicate, which passages open through the upper surface IQ! of the block and designated by the reference character 52 i, in Fig.

10 of the drawing and one of which is also shown 7 in Fig. 13. The other. branch of the passages opens through the outer side surface of the block and with which communicate suction pipes I22,

7 coupled with a suction line, and it is preferred that each pipe has its own pump for creating the suction. Thus it will be apparent that each unit of the machine is under independent control. When the slide I09 is in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 10, all of the passages I2I are open to atmosphere through the upper surface I01 of the block. However, as the slide is intermittently advanced to the left, successive passages i2! are closed by the slide valve, thus transmitting the suction to the respective pipes I9 I-l I to the units, putting the respective units into operation. Here it will be apparent that in starting operation of the machine, the first unit, that is to say, the one to the right end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, will be operated to deliver a sheet to the conveyor, then the second unit will be put into operation and then the fourth and fifth, so that after five cycles of operation of the machine, five sheets will be delivered by the conveyor to a receiving station.

Turning to Fig. 16 of the drawing, here is diagrammatically shown the conveyor, or broken sections thereof, and at the extreme left is shown the five sheets as delivered to the conveyor in completing the full cycle above referred to, the stack of five sheets being designated by the reference character I23. At this particular moment of machine cycle, on the conveyor will be deposited to the right of the pile I23, a pile of four sheets I24, a pile of three sheets I25, two sheets as at I26 and a single sheet, as at I21. In other words, after the first complete operation, each unit of the machine is, at all times, delivering a sheet to the conveyor and stacks of five sheets are transmitted by the conveyor to the receiving station thereafter in each cycle of operation of the machine.

Considering Fig. 9 of the drawing, it will be apparent that when the slide I99 reaches the extreme end of its travel from right to left, and is retained in this position by the pawl 91, the pawl or catch I20 is moved into a raised position by a raised cam portion I28 on the slide and is held in this raised position by a spring pressed ball I29, note Fig. 12, which drops into a recess I30 in the block I04. This maintains the pawl or catch I20 in raised position when the slide I09 is moved from the position of Fig. 9, to the position of Fig. 10, maintaining the pawl I20 out of engagement with the notches or recesses I I9. However, in the aforesaid movement of the slide I09, a raised cam portion I3I on the slide engages the pawl I20 and moves the same out of the held position in the recess I30 so as to rest upon the upper surface of the slide in order to again enter the various notches II9 when the slide is again moved to the left in the manner above stated.

Also arranged upon the slide I09 is another cam block I32 which is adapted to strike a blocking or control pin I 33 to automatically move this pin outwardly into inoperative position. The pin is clearly shown in Fig. 11. This pin has two circumferential grooves I34 and I35 adapted to be engaged by a spring pressed rounded pin I36. The pin I 33 is mounted in the crank II and is manually moved into the operative position shown in Fig. 11 so as to bring the pin into registering alinement with the pins II4, thus providing advancement of the slide I09 step by step in the aforesaid cycles of operation of the machine. However, upon completing full advancement of the slide valve I09, to the position shown in Fig. 9, the next turn of the crank I I5 will cause the pin I33 to be thrown outwardly into inoperative position with the groove I35 engaged by the spring pressed pin I36. The pin I33 remains in this position until it is again manually moved inwardly to start advancement of the slide I09. The block I04 has at its right end a pad I3'I of cushioning or shock absorbing material to take up the shock of the slide in movement into the position shown in Fig. 10.

The crank H5 is mounted on a shaft I38 supported in the bearing I05. Secured to the inner end of the crank shaft I38 is a'gear I39 which meshes with a gear I40 on a shaft I4I mounted in the bearing I06. Alsosecured to the shaft MI is a sprocket I42 over which passes a chain I43 which passes over a sprocket I44, note Fig. 3, on the shaft 39, thus providing a direct drive to the crank so that the crank is actuated in synchronism with the rest of the machine operation for advance of the slide valve, which puts all of the units of the machine into operation for the pickup and delivery of sheets.

The table or platform 22 of each unit has a pair of downwardly extending racks I45 at side portions thereof, note Fig. 3 and mounted in the frames 29 at each unit is a shaft I48 having a crank wheel Id! at one end thereof and at one side of the machine. 011 the shaft H56 in registering alinement with the pair of racks I45 are pins IE8. This construction provides for manual raising and lowering of the table 22, particularly in the operation of loading the sheets thereon or in setting the machine to bring uppermost sheets on the table in juxta-position to the wheel i2I.

In Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing, I have shown a sheet fluttering device I49 which is also indicated in Fig. 7, and shown in part in Fig. 15 of the drawing. The device comprises a nozzle tube 550 having a manually adjustable hood I5I at the upper end thereof controlling direction of a blast of air to the under-surface of the plate 55' and in the direction of the edges of the sheets in the pile 23, as will be clearly apparent from the structure indicated in Fig. 15. The hood I5I is pivoted to the upper end of the nozzle and coupled therewith is a link I52 to the lower end of which is attached a crank lever I53 on a rod I54. The rod extends through one of the side frames 29, as clearly seen in Fig. 3, and secured to the protrudmg end of the rod is a manually adjustable plate I55 having a clamp screw I56 for retaining the hood I5I in different positions of adjustment, the clamp screw I55 operating in an elongted arcshaped recess I51 in the plate I55. The nozzle I50 has a downwardly extending nipple portion I58 with which is connected a flexible hose I59 which extends to and is coupled with a corresponding nipple portion I 60 on a sleeve ISI, upon which is mounted a valve body I62. The sleeve IBI has a threaded mounting in the plate 29, as clearly indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawing. The valve body has a downwardly extending nipple I63 with which an air hose is adapted to be coupled for placing the nipple in oommuncation with a source of air supply, under pressure, as for example from a blower, the latter not being shown, as it forms no part of the invention.

Adiustably supported on the valve body IE2 is a control or regulating disc I 54 having a finger grip portion H55, note Fig. 8. The valve body I52 has an arc-shaped opening I56 and the disc 2 64 a cor responding opening I5! and by adjusting the 6.150 I54, the extent of the opening to atmosphere is controlled, and in this mannerthe pressure of air for fluttering the sheets can be sensitively regulated. The disc IE4 is rotatable about an ax1s I68, upon which is spring means I69 arate said air control mechanism to disable the same and render the suction wheels of all units inoperative.

3. A collating machine comprising an endless conveyor, a plurality of similar sheet delivery units arranged above and spaced longitudinally of the conveyor, each unit comprising a worksheet supporting table, a suction wheel arranged above and in close proximity to uppermost worksheets on the table, a sheet delivery mechanism forwardly of said wheel for delivering sheets onto said conveyor, the path of sheet delivery and the path of conveyor travel being in the same vertical plane automatically actuated means controlling suction supply to the wheels of the respective units, each wheel having circumferentially spaced means for picking up and feeding a sheet to the delivery mechanism, means for guiding the sheet from the wheel to said delivery mechanism, the delivery mechanism of each unit comprising feed belts for picking up and feeding the sheet one at a time for deposit onto said conveyor, means in said delivery mechanism adjustably controlling the delivery of sheets one at a time to said mechanism, and having means to successively actuate the several sheet delivery units for initial pack formation of the sheets, means at the discharge end of said mechanism actuated by a sheet discharged therefrom for maintaining the suction wheel in constant operation, a single air control mechanism at one end of the machine controlling all of said units, and said means of the air control mechanism comprising a slide valve normally controlling suction to the wheels of each unit and automatically breaking suction to said wheels upon the failure of the sheet delivery mechanism of any unit to deliver a sheet to the conveyor.

4. A collating machine comprising an endless conveyor adapted to be driven at constant predetermined speed, a plurality of similar sheet delivery units arranged above and spaced longitudinally of the conveyor, each unit being adapted to deliver a sheet onto the conveyor in such manner that delivery of sheets of successive units is upon the sheet delivered to the conveyor by the preceding unit in a preceding cycle of operation of the machine, the path of sheet delivery and the path of conveyor travel being in the same vertical plane sheet delivery of each unit comprising a suction wheel and a delivery mechanism, said wheel being adapted to pick-up the uppermost sheet of a pile in the unit and deliver the same to said delivery mechanism, a single air control mechanism on the machine controlling all of said units and said delivery mechanism having means actuated by a sheet de-.

livered therefrom, and in operative engagement with said air control mechanism, for maintaining the wheels of all units operative.

5. A collating machine comprising an' endless conveyor adapted to be driven at constant predetermined speed, a plurality of similar sheet delivery units arranged above and spaced longitudinally of the conveyor, each unit being adapted to deliver a sheet onto the conveyor in such manner that delivery of sheets of successive units is upon the sheet delivered to the conveyor by the preceding unit in a preceding cycle of operation of the machine, the path of sheet delivery and the path of conveyortravel being in the same vertical plane sheet delivery of each unit comprising a suction wheel and a delivery mechanism, said wheel being adapted to pick-up the upper most sheet of a pile in the unit and. deliver the same to said delivery mech-- anism, a single air control mechanism on the machine controlling all of said units said delivery mechanism having means actuated by a sheet delivered therefrom, and in operative engagement with said air control mechanism, for maintaining the wheels of all units operative, said air control mechanism comprising a single slide valve controlling suction of the wheels of all units whereby said units can be successively actuated for controlling initial pack formation of the sheets, means for holding the valve in operative position, and the sheet actuated means of each unit automatically maintaining said valve in operative position.

6. A collating machine comprising an endless conveyor adapted to be driven at constant predetermined speed, a plurality of similar sheet delivery units arranged above and spaced longitudinally of the conveyor, each unit being adapted to deliver a sheet onto the conveyor in such manner that delivery of sheets of successive units is upon the sheet delivered to the conveyor by the preceding unit in a preceding cycle of operation of the machine, the path of sheet delivery and the path of conveyor travel being in the same vertical plane sheet delivery of each unit comprising a suction wheel and a delivery mechanism, said wheel being adapted to pick-up the uppermost sheet of a pile in the unit and. deliver the same to, said delivery mechanism, a single air control mechanism on the machine controlling all of said units said delivery mecha nism having means actuated by a sheet delivered therefrom, and in, operative engagement with said air control mechanism, for maintain-- ing the wheels of all units, operative, said air' control mechanism comprising a, single slide valve: controlling suction of the wheels of all units whereby said units can be successively actuated. for controlling initial pack formation of the: sheets, means for holding the valve in opera-- tive position, the sheet, actuated means of each. unitautomatically maintaining said valve in operative position, and eachunit having means for automatically releasing the valve for movement. into inoperative position upon the failure of the delivery of a sheet to the conveyor by any one: of the units.

7. In a machines employing a plurality of simi'-- lar sheet pick-up and delivery units spaced lon-- gitudinally of and above conveyor means actu-- ated at a constant predetermined speed, each unit comprising means for supporting a stack; of sheets, a delivery, a rotatable suction wheel arranged above thestacl; and adjacent an uppermost sheet of the stack; for intermittently gripping the uppermost sheet of the stack and feeding the same to said delivery, the extent of in-- termittent gripping being synchronized with the feed requirements of the sheet for feed into the: delivery, means to then check intermittent grip-- ping of said sheet, said delivery of each unit delivering the sheet to the constantly operating conveyor means to deposit sheets of successive. units one upon the other on the conveyor means, the path of sheet delivery and the path of con-- veyor travel being in the same vertical plane said.

mechanism having means to successively actu-- ate the several sheet delivery units for initial.

pack formation of the sheets each delivery having means in operative engagement with said control mechanism and'controlled by passage. of a sheet therethrough controlling operation. of said suction wheel of all units, whereby the: failureof delivery of a sheetfrom. any one unit.

onto the conveyorwill automatically stop operafeed requirements of the sheet for feedinto the.

delivery, means to then check intermittent gripping ofsaid-sheet, said delivery of each unit delivering the sheet to the constantly operating conveyor means todeposit sheets of successive units one-upon the-other onthe conveyor means, the path of sheet delivery and thepath of-conveyor travel being in the same vertical plane said mechanism having means to successively actuate the several sheet delivery units for initial pack formation of the sheets'a single control mechanism for the wheels of all-units, eachdelivery having-means: in operative engagement withsaidcontrol mechanism and controlled by passage of a sheet therethrough controlling operation of said suction wheel of all units, whereby-the failure of deliveryof a sheetfrom any one unit onto the conveyor will automatically stop operation of the-suction'wheels-of all units, said control mechanism comprising a single control member normally maintained in operative position, and each unit having meansforindependently releasing said control member for movement into inoperative position;

7 9. A collatingmachinecomprising a sheet'conveyor, a plurality of sheet feed units spaced equallyalong said conveyor, sheet feeding mechanisms. for the various units comprising suction picker means, each said mechanism being timed in accor'dancewithv conveyor travel to remove asheet from the pile and deposit itupon the sheet carried forward from. ,the preceding unit by; the, conveyor, a vacuum system compris- 'ing separate conductors for each-ofsaid suction picker means, a bleed port in each; of said conductor s, a common control means-for said ports cgmprisinga valve disposedfor travel from an i ldprative position step by step to successive positions covering said ports one} after another td-thereby encrgiz'e the picker. means of succes-, sivejunitsuntil said valve occupies a final opera ati ve position in which all ports are covered, means for moving said valve step by step to cover said ports means for holding said valve in said final operative position, and means set in motion by the failure of any one of said sheet feeding mechanisms to function for releasing said valve from said holding means and moving it in a, single step to its inoperative position.

10. A collating machine comprising a sheet conveyor, a plurality of sheet feed units spaced equally along said conveyor, sheet feeding mechanisms for the various units comprising suction picker means, each said mechanism being timed in accordance with conveyor travel to remove a sheet from the pile and deposit it upon the sheet carried forward from the preceding unit by the conveyor, a vacuum system comprising separate conductors for each of said suction picker means, a bleed port in each of said concluctors, a common control means for said ports comprising a slide valve biased in one direction, means for advancing said valve step by step in the opposite directiontocover one-part for each cycle of the machine until all of said ports are covered, means for latching saidslide valve against movement when all of said ports have been covered, and means; set in motion by the failure ofanyone of said sheet feeding mechanisms for disengaging said latching means.

11. Incollating machines having a plurality of units, each unit having a suction actuated gripperwheel for gripping and delivering sheets ofthe units, a single valve member controlling suction operation;- of the gripper wheels ofall of the units, means normally-supporting the valve member in operative position to maintain suction supply to-the gripperwheels of all units, each unit having automatically actuated means for releasing the valve member-for movement into inoperative position to render the suction grippers of all units inoperative, said first named means comprising a crank having a constant drive, a pin on the crank, said pin-being manually movable into position operatively engaging a control means adapted to beset in motion by,

said trip rod fordisabling all-of said feeding mechanisms, each said feeding-mechanism comprises suction picker means; a vacuum system comprising separate-conductors for each of said picker means, a bleed port in each conductor; said control meanscomprising" a valve disposed for, travel from an inoperative posi-it'on step by step to successive positionscovering saidports one; after another to therebyenergi'zethe picker means of" successive units; until said valve occupies a final operative position in which all of said ports are: covered, means holding said valve in operative position, and means set in motion by the shifting-of, said trip rod for releasing said valve from said holding means and;

moving-itin a single step to its inoperative position.

13. A collatingmachine comprising a conveyor, a plurality of sheet feed units spaced along said conveyor, sheet feeding mechanisms for the various units functioning in timed relation to each other to remove sheets from their respective piles and deposit them upon the said conveyor, each of said feeding mechanisms comprising suction picker means, a vacuum system comprising separate conductors for each of said picker means, a bleed port in each conductor, a sheet detector means for each feeding mechanism, a trip rod disposed parallel to said conveyor, means controlled by any one of said detector means for shifting said trip rod, a control means adapted to be set in motion by said trip rod for disabling all of said feeding mechanisms, said control means comprising a slide valve, means for moving said valve step by step to cover said ports a latch for holding said valve at one end of its travel to cover all of said ports, and means biasing said valve toward the opposite end of its travel for uncovering said ports, said trip rod being adapted to release said latch, whereby all of said suction picker means may be disabled simultaneously.

14. A collating machine comprising a sheet conveyor adapted to be constantly operated, a plurality of sheet feeding units spaced equally along and above said conveyor, sheet feeding mechanisms for the various units comprising suction picker means, means for supporting a pile of sheets at each unit, each said mechanism being timed in accordance with conveyor travel to remove a sheet from the pile and deposit it upon the sheet carried forward from the preceding unit by the conveyor in forming packs delivered from the conveyor, said conveyor being of such length as to accommodate a variable number of said units, said units being equally spaced along said conveyor, the path of sheet feeding and the path of conveyor travel being in the same vertical plane, a plurality of unit drive means spaced along said conveyor consistent with spacing of said units, each of said units having a drive member engageable with its associated means, a vacuum system comprising separate conductors for each of said suction picker means, each of said conductors having a bleed port, an automatically operated sequence control mechanism for closing the ports of successive sheet feed units, and said mechanism closing step by step in the ports one after another in timed relation to conveyor travel until all ports are closed to energize the picker means of successive units one after another for initial pack formation of the sheets and the continued machine operation.

15. A collating machine, as defined in claim 14, comprising a sheet detector for each sheet feed mechanism, and means actuated by any one of said detectors for actuating the sequence control mechanism opening all of the bleed ports thus simultaneously disabling the picker means of all units.

16. In collating machines having a plurality of units, each unit having a suction actuated gripper for gripping and delivering sheets of the units onto a constantly moving conveyor in pack formation of the sheets, the path of sheet delivery and the path of conveyor travel being in the same vertical plane, a single valve member controlling suction operation of the grippers of all of said units, said valve member having a plurality of air control sections, each of which is connected to a gripper, means to initially actuate said sections successively for initial pack formation, means normally supporting the valve member in operative position to maintain suction supply to the grippers of all units in continuing formation of successive packs, and each unit having sheet controlled means for releasing the valve member for movement into inoperative position to render the suction grippers of all units inoperative.

17. A collating machine comprising a sheet conveyor ad-apted'to be constantly operated, a plurality of sheet feeding units spaced equally along and above said conveyor, sheet feeding mechanisms for the various units comprising suction picker means, means for supporting a pile of sheets at each unit, each said mechanism being timed in accordance with conveyor travel to remove a sheet from the pile and deposit it upon the sheet carried forward from the preceding unit by the conveyor in forming packs delivered from the conveyor, a vacuum system comprising separate conductors for each of said suction picker means, each of said conductors having a bleed port, a common control valve for said ports, manually controlled automatic means operating said valve step by step from a position in which all ports are open to positions for closing said ports of successive sheet feed units, the ports of the units being closed one after another in timed relationship to conveyor travel until all ports are closed to energize the picker means of successive units one after another for initial pack formation of the sheets and the continued machine operation, a sheet detector for each sheet feed mechanism, and means set in motion by any one of said detectors for shifting said control valve in a single movement to its original open position and thereby bleeding all of said conductors simultaneously for disabling the picker means of all units.

WILLIAM M. KELLY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 420,194 Gauchot Jan. 28, 1890 1,600,022 Van Heek Sept. 14, 1926 1,741,848 Kelly Dec. 31, 1929 1,986,671 Barkley Jan. 1, 1935 2,020,321 Kleinberg Nov. 12, 1935 2,145,520 McFarlane Jan. 31, 1939 2,167,470 West July 25, 1939 2,362,134 Honig Nov. 7, 1944 2,427,839 Davidson Sept. 23, 1947 2,471,060 Davidson Aug. 16, 1949

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