EP0753475B1 - Feeding device for flat materials - Google Patents

Feeding device for flat materials Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0753475B1
EP0753475B1 EP96104381A EP96104381A EP0753475B1 EP 0753475 B1 EP0753475 B1 EP 0753475B1 EP 96104381 A EP96104381 A EP 96104381A EP 96104381 A EP96104381 A EP 96104381A EP 0753475 B1 EP0753475 B1 EP 0753475B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pinion
indented
clutch
drive
lever
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96104381A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0753475A3 (en
EP0753475A2 (en
Inventor
Giuseppe Bortolotti
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Olivetti Tecnost SpA
Original Assignee
Olivetti Tecnost SpA
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0753475A2 publication Critical patent/EP0753475A2/en
Publication of EP0753475A3 publication Critical patent/EP0753475A3/en
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Publication of EP0753475B1 publication Critical patent/EP0753475B1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
    • B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
    • B65H3/0638—Construction of the rollers or like rotary separators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
    • B65H1/02—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles on edge
    • B65H1/022—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles on edge with non-controlled means for advancing the pile to present the pile to the separating device, e.g. weights or spring
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
    • B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
    • B65H3/0653—Rollers or like rotary separators for separating substantially vertically stacked articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/56—Elements, e.g. scrapers, fingers, needles, brushes, acting on separated article or on edge of the pile

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for introducing materials dishes to be processed, such as sheets and / or envelopes, for machines using these flat materials, including a store in which a stack of said flat materials is arranged on a movable support plate and from which flat materials are extracted one by one and introduced into said machine, drive members arranged on a drive shaft so as to move the highest flat material in the stack to bring it into the machine, and a drive mechanism for the drive shaft meshing by through at least one intermediate pinion with a drive motor, this drive mechanism comprising a clutch device comprising a notched pinion whose toothing has two indented sectors, this pinion indented integral with the drive shaft being capable of meshing with the intermediate pinion, said indented sectors defining stop positions when they are opposite the intermediate pinion.
  • the object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and the invention is characterized for this purpose by the fact that said indented pinion comprises two openings in the shape of a circle segment arranged under the serration of the notched pinion and extending the notched sectors, these openings being intended to impart to the teeth under which they are arranged in radial elasticity so as to facilitate the gearing of the pinion notched with the intermediate pinion.
  • the clutch device comprises at less a clutch and retainer lever capable of cooperating with stops provided on the notched pinion, the device comprising a advancement mechanism with a requested advancement lever resiliently against a advancing cam so as to bring the lever clutch and retaining against the stops, when said sectors notched of the notched pinion are located opposite the intermediate pinion.
  • This construction ensures very reliable operation, while requiring a low number of components.
  • the device includes a control mechanism clutch constituted by a helical spring carried by a shaft integral with the intermediate pinion and having a free end capable of producing a rotation of the clutch and retaining lever during a reverse rotation of the engine drive so as to release the clutch and retaining lever from one or on the other of the stops and so as to release the notched pinion so that this the latter meshes with the intermediate pinion under the effect of the mechanism advancement.
  • a control mechanism clutch constituted by a helical spring carried by a shaft integral with the intermediate pinion and having a free end capable of producing a rotation of the clutch and retaining lever during a reverse rotation of the engine drive so as to release the clutch and retaining lever from one or on the other of the stops and so as to release the notched pinion so that this the latter meshes with the intermediate pinion under the effect of the mechanism advancement.
  • the device comprises a lever control, a first part of which is arranged so as to cooperate with the free end of said helical spring, a second part of which is capable of cooperate with the clutch and retainer lever to move the latter against the effect of an elastic element during a clutch control and one of which third part is capable of cooperating with portions of the notched pinion so as to brake the latter during a clutch command.
  • This provides a controlled and progressive clutch, while avoiding the emission of noise caused by a sudden click.
  • the drive shaft came in one piece with at least an actuating cam arranged so as to push back said support plate movable against the effect of elastic elements in a rest position, with said advancement cam, with at least part of the drive members and with guide elements for the sheets.
  • This construction allows very precise and inexpensive manufacturing of the drive shaft and its associated elements, for example in terms of injected plastic.
  • Figure 1 is a front view of the introducer and part of the printer on which the device is mounted.
  • Figures 2A, 2B and 2C show cross-sectional views of the device according to the plane II-II of FIG. 1, in three positions: 2A in the position of rest, 2B when selecting the sheet, 2C when aligning the sheet.
  • Figures 3A, 3B and 3C show cross-sectional views of the device according to the plane III-III of FIG. 1 in three positions: 3A in the position of rest, 3B when selecting the sheet, 3C when aligning the sheet.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of the right face of the device of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 5 is a view of a detail of FIG. 4.
  • Figure 6 is a plan view of the drive shaft.
  • Figure 7 is a view of the rear face of the device.
  • the introducer 1 illustrated in Figure 1 is removably mounted on a printer 2 of which only part of the frame 3, the transport rollers 4, the transport shaft 5 and the drive motor 58 are represented.
  • the device 1 may of course also be attached to the printer, a typewriter or any other device using flat materials, such as than sheets of paper, card stock, or envelopes.
  • the device 1 comprises a magazine 6 with a bottom 8 (fig. 2A), one front wall 9, two side walls fixed 10 and 11, and a support plate 12 on which a pile 14 of sheets, envelopes or all other flat materials may be arranged.
  • the support plate 12 is pivotally articulated on the side walls 10, 11 by means of two pivots 15 engaged in longitudinal openings 17 allowing a adjustment transverse to the axis of the pivots 15.
  • Three springs 16 urge the support plate 12 towards the drive rollers 20 mounted on a drive shaft 23.
  • This support plate 12 has a lateral guide mobile 25 for the sheets slidably mounted on the support plate 12 in a perpendicular direction to the direction of introduction of the sheets indicated by arrow 26.
  • the guide 25 serves as a lateral support allowing the proper introduction of all flat materials, sheets or envelopes, of different sizes.
  • the width of the introducer can thus be adapted to different formats of flat materials to introduce.
  • the support plate 12 is further subdivided in its lower half into three parts 27, 28, 29 separated by slots 30 and 31, each part being stressed individually by one of the springs 16 towards a drive rollers 20.
  • each part 27, 28, 29 can be moved relative to neighboring parts. So, we obtains a substantially identical application force from material to be introduced against the drive rollers 20 therefore a regular displacement of the material to be introduced for any width and thickness of this material.
  • the rear face of the bottom 8 of magazine 6 is provided with an auxiliary sheet support 34 retractable intended to serve as support for the upper part large leaves.
  • This leaf support 34 is in the form of an oblong plate 35 comprising at its free end an opening 36 used for gripping.
  • a retaining element in the form of a button 37 secured to the rear face of the bottom 8 of the store is engaged in an elongated slot 38 of the plate 35.
  • the button head 37 has a larger diameter than the width of the slot 38, the plate 35 is retained against the rear face of the bottom 8, but can slide along a direction parallel to slot 38 along a part in projection 40 provided on the rear face of the bottom 8.
  • the anterior wall 9 of the store has an inclined plane 45 making an angle predetermined ⁇ with a plane 46 parallel to the lower part of the bottom 8 of the store.
  • This angle is preferably chosen between 50 and 85 ° and very advantageously between 60 and 80 °. It is in the configuration illustrated in Figure 2A equal to 71 °.
  • the inclination of this plane 45 relative to the rear part of the front wall 9 is therefore located between 5 and 40 ° and is in Figure 2 equal to 19 °.
  • the inclined plane 45 includes three recesses 47 in which are bonded three strips 48 of a material to fibrils, such as a velvet-like tissue.
  • the depth of the recesses 47 is such that the upper part fibrils of the strips 48 appear above the surface upper of the inclined plane 45 so as to cooperate with the anterior edge of sheets or flat materials to introduce and retain these materials including the anterior edge penetrates between the fibrils of the bands to constitute retainers.
  • These bands 48 have a resistance to movement of a sheet which is a function the material of the fibrils used, their diameter, of their length, their density and the depth of penetration of the anterior edge of the leaf. Tapes 5 mm wide with a density of 18,000 fibrils / cm2 1.5 mm in length gives excellent restraint effect, when these fibrils exceed 0.5 mm the upper surface of the inclined plane 45.
  • the fibrillated strips 48 are embedded in the inclined plane 45 in positions located next to the drive rollers 20.
  • the most the top of the stack is moved away from the fibrils ( Figure 2B), while the following sheet and the others are held in place by the fibrils of the bands 48 without the need for retaining corners lateral, as is the case in the majority of known introducers.
  • the introducer includes a drive mechanism 50 very particular for the drive shaft 23.
  • This mechanism drive 50 includes a clutch control member 51 in connection with an associated clutch mechanism 52 to an anti-noise mechanism 53 and cooperating with a advancement mechanism 54.
  • the drive mechanism 50 is put into action by a pinion 57 secured to the transport shaft 5 of the printer and engaged with a drive motor 58 of the printer. It is understood that the introducer 1 could also be driven by a motor specific to the introducer.
  • the pinion 57 is engaged with a first pinion 60 of the clutch control member 51.
  • This first pinion 60 is integral with a second pinion 61 capable of cooperating with the teeth of a notched pinion 62 integral with the end of the drive shaft 23.
  • This indented pinion 62 includes two indented sectors 63 and 64 without toothing. When either of these two sectors 63,64 is opposite the second pinion 61, the drive shaft is not driven, but held in position by the retainer and clutch mechanism 52.
  • the notched pinion 62 includes two segment-shaped openings 65 and 65a of circle arranged under the teeth and extending the sectors notched 63.64 in a semester direction in Figure 4. These two openings 65, 65a give the toothing under which they are located a radial elasticity allowing an easy gear of the notched pinion 62 with the second pinion 61, even if two teeth of the teeth of these two pinions 61,62 are facing each other when clutching notched pinion 62.
  • the clutch and clutch mechanism 52 includes a first and second lever 66,67 pivotally mounted on the store thanks to a pivot 74.
  • the first lever 66 serves as a locking lever. It has one end with a retaining tooth 68 intended to cooperate with two openings 69.70 provided in a cylindrical skirt 71 integral of the notched pinion 62.
  • This first lever 66 is biased by a spring 72 against this skirt 71 so that its retaining tooth 68 slides on the outer surface of skirt 71 and enters one or other of the openings 69.70 to stop the notched pinion 62 against edges 111 and 110 and hold it when one or the other of the two indented sectors 63,64 is located opposite the second pinion 61.
  • the first lever 66 is also in contact with a fixed stop 73 integral of magazine 6.
  • the first lever 66 is controlled by the second lever 67 which includes a first end 75 cooperating with the clutch control member 51 and with a lateral extension 76 of the first lever 66 for moving the latter against the action of spring 72 and for release the retaining tooth 68 from one or other of the openings 69.70.
  • a second end 77 of the second lever 67 is intended to cooperate with two extensions 78.79 of the skirt 71 of the notched pinion 62 so as to brake this latest.
  • the second lever 67 is biased by an elastic curved part 80 against the fixed stop 73.
  • the clutch control member 51 is produced in the form of a clutch spring 92 wound on a shaft 93 secured to the pinions 60 and 61.
  • This spring 92 comprises at one of its ends a strand straight 94 intended to cooperate during a reverse rotation of the drive motor 58 with the first end 75 of the second lever 67 so that the latter acts on the first lever 66 to release the retaining tooth 68 from one or other of the openings 69.70 and to engage the drive of the drive shaft 23, when the first and second pinion 60,61 are rotated in a dextrous direction with reference to FIG. 4 corresponding reverse rotation of the drive motor 58.
  • the advancement mechanism 54 includes a cam 85 secured to the drive shaft 23 and having two projecting sectors 86.87.
  • a advancement lever 88 is pivotally mounted on magazine 6 and biased by a spring 89 against the cam 85.
  • the spring 89 is mounted between the free end of the advancement lever 88 and the magazine 6.
  • the cam 85 is arranged so as to stress the drive shaft 23 in rotation in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3A, when the drive shaft is in a position such that either of the scalloped sectors 63.64 of the indented pinion 62 is opposite the second pinion 61 and that the notched pinion 62 is therefore not driven by the second pinion 61, but blocked by the locking lever 66.
  • the drive rollers 20 are cam-shaped and have three sectors.
  • a first sector 100 has a coefficient high enough friction to separate and the highest leaf drive of the stack of sheets, a second sector 101 with a coefficient of friction low enough to allow the sliding of this sheet during an alignment phase when introduced into the printer and a third sector 102 offering clearance for loading leaves.
  • the high coefficient of friction sector 100 consists of a central elastomer coating 109 applied to a support 105 bordered by two cams 103 in plastic with lower coefficient of friction constituting the second and third sectors 101 and 102. Sectional view, the exterior surface of the covering made of elastomer 109 exceeds the cams 103 of plastic material over a sector of approximately 180 ° to enter contact with the highest leaf ( Figure 2B).
  • cams 103 exceed coatings made of elastomer 109 to come into contact with the leaf.
  • cams 103 are flattened to form said clearance and the elastomer coating 109 occupies a position of withdrawal.
  • the drive shaft 23 still includes six surfaces circulars 104 with a radius equal to or less than the smallest radius of the drive rollers 20. These circular surfaces 104 are intended for guiding the sheets between the transport rollers.
  • the drive shaft 23 is integral with each of its sides of an actuating cam 106 intended to cooperate with two lateral extensions 107 of the support plate 12 to push the latter back into the leaf rest and loading position (figure 2A).
  • the drive shaft 23 is made of injected plastic and comes from a part with cams 103, with supports 105 (fig. 2A) for the elastomer coating 109, with the six surfaces guide circulars 104, with the two cams actuator 106 to push back the support plate 12 and with the advancement cam 85 divided into two cams parallel.
  • This shaft 23 is guided in two bearings 108 (fig 1) of the magazine 6 and secured to the notched pinion 62.
  • the actuating cam 106 cooperates with the plate support 12 to push it back.
  • a stack of 14 sheets can be loaded in tray 6. Sheets are retained at their anterior edge by the retaining strips 48 with fibrils.
  • Cams 103 with low coefficient of friction drive rollers 20 are separated from the sheet the higher.
  • the protruding sector 86 of the advancement cam 85 ( Figure 3A) cooperates with the advancement lever 88, which requests the drive shaft 23 according to a direction of dextral rotation.
  • the drive shaft 23 is however held stationary by lever 66 ( Figures 4 and 5) whose tooth 68 is inserted into the opening 70 provided in the skirt 71.
  • the tooth 68 of the lever 66 actually stops against the left edge 110 of this opening 70 and retains the drive shaft 23 against the action exerted by the advancement lever 88 on advancement cam 85.
  • the first notch 63 of the notched pinion 62 is in look of the second pinion 61.
  • the motor 58 of the printer is rotated according to the opposite direction to the paper advance.
  • Sprockets 60 and 61 then rotate in a dextrous direction so that the straight strand 94 of the clutch spring 92 (fig. 4) comes into contact with the end 75 of the lever 67.
  • this spring 92 are tightened by a rotation dexter of the shaft 93 on which they are wound, the straight strand moves the lever 67 in a rotation senestre around the pivot 74, and the lever 67 drives lever 66 via the lateral extension 76 in its senestrial rotation movement.
  • the meshing of the notched pinion 62 with the second pinion 61 is performed adequately due to the elasticity radial toothing of the notched pinion in the vicinity of the clutch wheel thanks to the opening 65a provided under the teeth.
  • the motor 58 is then rotated in the direction of rotation corresponding to the progress of the transport of leaf.
  • Gables 60 and 61 rotate in a senestral direction and the notched pinion 62 and the drive shaft in a dextrous sense.
  • the cam projections 106 are released from the support plate 12 and the stack of sheets 14 is applied by the springs 16 against the drive rollers 20.
  • the sector to high friction coefficient 100 of the elastomer coating 109 comes into contact with the highest leaf from stack 14 and release this sheet from the retaining bands 48 to fibrils, while the other underlying leaves remain retained.
  • the selected sheet is then taken between the transport rollers 4 of the printer turning in the direction of transport advancement of sheet.
  • the sector 101 with a lower coefficient of friction cam 103 contacts the uppermost sheet which is then no longer advanced by the drive rollers 20 (fig. 2C).
  • the second indented sector 64 of the pinion indented 62 is opposite the second pinion 61, while that the projecting sector 87 of the advancement cam 85 cooperates with the advancing lever 88 to turn the drive shaft 23 in a dextrous direction to the Figure 3C.
  • the tooth 68 of the lever 66 enters under the effect of the spring 72 in the opening 69 of the skirt 71 of the indented pinion 62, so that the rotation of the pinion indented 62 is stopped since tooth 68 comes into abutment against the edge 111 of the opening 69.
  • This transport behind the selected sheet is made possible by the low coefficient of friction of the sector 101 of the drive rollers 20.
  • the selected sheet is taken obliquely between the rollers transport 4 of the printer, it is aligned perfectly by the reverse transport movement.
  • the motor 58 is put into operation. rotation in the direction of leaf transport, the tree 23 is rotated dexter. In reference in FIGS. 2C and 2A, the actuation cam 106 pushes back the support plate 12 behind to move the stack away from sheets 14 of the drive rollers 20, while the selected sheet is advanced by the rollers of transport 4 of the printer.
  • the indented sector 63 of the wheel notched 62 arrives opposite the second pinion 61 and the tooth 68 of lever 66 falls under the effect of spring 72 in the opening 70 of the skirt 71.
  • the drive shaft 23 is at this moment solicited in dextral rotation by the action advancement lever 88 on the projecting sector 86 of the advancement cam 85 so that the tooth 68 of the lever 66 is pressed against the edge 110 of the opening 70 of the skirt 71. This position therefore again corresponds to the initial rest position during which the impression of the selected sheet is performed.
  • This construction of the introduction device allows very reliable operation of the separation of the highest leaf, while having a number of weak components, and can therefore be manufactured at very low cost price.
  • the strips of fibrillated material 48 provide excellent restraint to sheets stacked in tray 6, while allowing easy separation from the highest sheet.
  • the drive rollers 20 with two coefficients of friction ensure reliable separation of the sheet the higher and at the same time serve as guiding elements during the alignment phase of the selected sheet.
  • the support plate 12 divided over a portion of its height in three parts 27,28,29 allows an application regular sheets against the drive rollers 20 for any width of these sheets.
  • the introducer only includes one transverse shaft from one piece with the rollers transport 20, the actuating cams 106 to control the movement of the support plate 12 and the advancement cam 85 allowing the engagement of the device during the clutch. Since this tree can be made in injectable plastic, manufacturing and assembly of this piece is very easy and priced at comes back weak.
  • the indented pinion 62 associated with the two levers 66.67 allows due to its elaborate construction a control reliable of all rotational movements of the shaft while giving the device a functioning quiet.
  • the device also has a retractable leaf rest 34 in one piece and functioning simple and safe, while being very cost effective low.
  • This construction also allows the manufacture of almost all the components by injection of plastic material, which makes a cost price possible very low.
  • the low number of these constituent elements ensures very fast and low-cost assembly and repairs complicated.
  • the embodiment described above is in no way limiting and that it can receive any desirable modifications inside of the framework as defined by the independent claims.
  • the strips 48 can be made of any material with fibrils straight, curved, with hooks adapted to retain leaves. The number and their dimensions can be chosen depending on the applications of the introducer.
  • the drive shaft could have a number different from drive rollers and surfaces in elastomer of these could be replaced by plastic surfaces with streaks transverse intended to drive the sheet.
  • the clutch of the drive shaft could be made up of any other mechanical or electrical element, for example by means of an electromagnet.
  • the support plate 12 instead of being subdivided into three parts could include another number of parts likely to be moved relative to each other to others.
  • the sheet feeder may well understood to be used for any machine using materials dishes, such as printers, typewriters, copious, scanner, etc.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne un dispositif d'introduction de matériaux plats à traiter, tels que des feuilles et/ou des enveloppes, pour machines utilisant ces matériaux plats, comprenant un magasin dans lequel une pile desdits matériaux plats est disposée sur une plaque de support mobile et duquel des matériaux plats sont extraits un à un et introduits dans ladite machine, des organes d'entraínement agencés sur un arbre d'entraínement de façon à déplacer le matériau plat le plus élevé de la pile pour l'amener dans la machine, et un mécanisme d'entraínement pour l'arbre d'entraínement engrenant par l'intermédiaire d'au moins un pignon intermédiaire avec un moteur d'entraínement, ce mécanisme d'entraínement comprenant un dispositif d'embrayage comportant un pignon échancré dont la denture présente deux secteurs échancrés, ce pignon échancré solidaire de l'arbre d'entraínement étant susceptible d'engrener avec le pignon intermédiaire, lesdits secteurs échancrés définissant des positions d'arrêt lorsqu'elles se trouvent en regard du pignon intermédiaire.The present invention relates to a device for introducing materials dishes to be processed, such as sheets and / or envelopes, for machines using these flat materials, including a store in which a stack of said flat materials is arranged on a movable support plate and from which flat materials are extracted one by one and introduced into said machine, drive members arranged on a drive shaft so as to move the highest flat material in the stack to bring it into the machine, and a drive mechanism for the drive shaft meshing by through at least one intermediate pinion with a drive motor, this drive mechanism comprising a clutch device comprising a notched pinion whose toothing has two indented sectors, this pinion indented integral with the drive shaft being capable of meshing with the intermediate pinion, said indented sectors defining stop positions when they are opposite the intermediate pinion.

Le document EP 0.464.785-A2 décrit un dispositif d'introduction du type précité. Lorsque dans ce dispositif connu le pignon échancré engrène avec un pignon d'entraínement sous l'influence d'un mécanisme d'avancement, il arrive que les dents des deux pignons se rencontrent face à face. L'engrènement des deux pignons ne s'effectue alors que très difficilement, de façon que les pignons sont rapidement déteriorés. Dans certaines positions, le dispositif peut même être bloqué.The document EP 0.464.785-A2 describes an introduction device of the type cited above. When in this known device the indented pinion meshes with a drive pinion under the influence of a advancement mechanism, it happens that the teeth of the two gables meet face to face. The meshing of two pinions is then only very difficult to make, so that the pinions are quickly deteriorated. In certain positions, the device can even be blocked.

La présente invention a pour but de remédier à ces inconvénients et l'invention est caractérisée à cet effet par le fait que ledit pignon échancré comprend deux ouvertures en forme de segment de cercle agencées sous la denture du pignon échancré et prolongeant les secteurs échancrés, ces ouvertures étant destinées à conférer à la denture sous laquelle elles sont agencées une élasticité radiale de façon à faciliter l'engrenage du pignon échancré avec le pignon intermédiaire.The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and the invention is characterized for this purpose by the fact that said indented pinion comprises two openings in the shape of a circle segment arranged under the serration of the notched pinion and extending the notched sectors, these openings being intended to impart to the teeth under which they are arranged in radial elasticity so as to facilitate the gearing of the pinion notched with the intermediate pinion.

Ces caractéristiques assurent un engrènement élastique facilité dans toutes les positions des dentures des pignons échancrés et intermédiaires. La longévité et la fiabilité du dispositif est ainsi considérablement augmentées. Un blocage du dispositif peut être évité pour toutes les positions des dentures des pignons. En outre, l'engrènement s'effectue de façon douce et silencieuse.These characteristics ensure an elastic mesh facilitated in all the positions of the teeth of the notched and intermediate gears. Longevity, life expectancy and the reliability of the device is thus considerably increased. A blockage of device can be avoided for all positions of the pinion teeth. In in addition, the meshing is carried out in a gentle and silent manner.

Selon un mode d'exécution préféré, le dispositif d'embrayage comporte au moins un levier d'embrayage et de retenue susceptible de coopérer avec des butées d'arrêt prévues sur le pignon échancré, le dispositif comprenant un mécanisme d'avancement présentant un levier d'avancement sollicité élastiquement contre une came d'avancement de façon à amener le levier d'embrayage et de retenue contre les butées d'arrêt, lorsque lesdits secteurs échancrés du pignon échancré se trouvent en regard du pignon intermédiaire.According to a preferred embodiment, the clutch device comprises at less a clutch and retainer lever capable of cooperating with stops provided on the notched pinion, the device comprising a advancement mechanism with a requested advancement lever resiliently against a advancing cam so as to bring the lever clutch and retaining against the stops, when said sectors notched of the notched pinion are located opposite the intermediate pinion.

Cette construction assure un fonctionnement très fiable, tout en nécessitant un nombre de composants faible.This construction ensures very reliable operation, while requiring a low number of components.

Favorablement, le dispositif comprend un mécanisme de commande d'embrayage constitué par un ressort hélicoïdal porté par un arbre solidaire du pignon intermédiaire et présentant une extrémité libre susceptible de produire une rotation du levier d'embrayage et de retenue lors d'une rotation inverse du moteur d'entraínement de façon à dégager le levier d'embrayage et de retenue de l'une ou de l'autre des butées d'arrêt et de façon à libérer le pignon échancré pour que ce dernier s'engrène avec le pignon intermédiaire sous l'effet du mécanisme d'avancement.Favorably, the device includes a control mechanism clutch constituted by a helical spring carried by a shaft integral with the intermediate pinion and having a free end capable of producing a rotation of the clutch and retaining lever during a reverse rotation of the engine drive so as to release the clutch and retaining lever from one or on the other of the stops and so as to release the notched pinion so that this the latter meshes with the intermediate pinion under the effect of the mechanism advancement.

La mise en action du mécanisme d'embrayage est ainsi réalisée de façon sûre et peu compliquée.The engagement of the clutch mechanism is thus carried out safe and uncomplicated.

Selon une variante avantageuse, le dispositif comprend un levier de commande dont une première partie est agencée de façon à coopérer avec l'extrémité libre dudit ressort hélicoïdal, dont une seconde partie est susceptible de coopérer avec le levier d'embrayage et de retenue pour déplacer ce dernier contre l'effet d'un élément élastique lors d'une commande d'embrayage et dont une troisième partie est susceptible de coopérer avec des portions du pignon échancré de façon à freiner ce dernier lors d'une commande d'embrayage.According to an advantageous variant, the device comprises a lever control, a first part of which is arranged so as to cooperate with the free end of said helical spring, a second part of which is capable of cooperate with the clutch and retainer lever to move the latter against the effect of an elastic element during a clutch control and one of which third part is capable of cooperating with portions of the notched pinion so as to brake the latter during a clutch command.

On obtient ainsi un embrayage contrôlé et progressif, tout en évitant l'émission de bruit provoqué par un encliquetage subit.This provides a controlled and progressive clutch, while avoiding the emission of noise caused by a sudden click.

De préférence, l'arbre d'entraínement est venu d'une pièce avec au moins une came d'actionnement agencée de façon à repousser ladite plaque de support mobile contre l'effet d'éléments élastiques dans une position de repos, avec ladite came d'avancement, avec au moins une partie des organes d'entraínement et avec des éléments de guidage pour les feuilles.Preferably, the drive shaft came in one piece with at least an actuating cam arranged so as to push back said support plate movable against the effect of elastic elements in a rest position, with said advancement cam, with at least part of the drive members and with guide elements for the sheets.

Cette construction permet une fabrication très précise et bon marché de l'arbre d'entraínement et de ses éléments associés, par exemple en matière plastique injectée.This construction allows very precise and inexpensive manufacturing of the drive shaft and its associated elements, for example in terms of injected plastic.

D'autres avantages ressortent des caractéristiques exprimées dans les revendications dépendantes et de la description exposant ci-après l'invention plus en détail à l'aide de dessins qui représentent schématiquement et à titre d'exemple un mode d'exécution.Other advantages emerge from the characteristics expressed in the dependent claims and the following description of the invention further in detail using drawings which represent schematically and as example of an execution mode.

La figure 1 est une vue de face du dispositif d'introduction et d'une partie de l'imprimante sur laquelle le dispositif est monté.Figure 1 is a front view of the introducer and part of the printer on which the device is mounted.

Les figures 2A, 2B et 2C représentent des vues en coupe transversale du dispositif selon le plan II-II de la figure 1, dans trois positions : 2A en position de repos, 2B lors de la sélection de la feuille, 2C lors de l'alignement de la feuille.Figures 2A, 2B and 2C show cross-sectional views of the device according to the plane II-II of FIG. 1, in three positions: 2A in the position of rest, 2B when selecting the sheet, 2C when aligning the sheet.

Les figures 3A, 3B et 3C représentent des vues en coupe transversale du dispositif selon le plan III-III de la figure 1 dans trois positions : 3A en position de repos, 3B lors de la sélection de la feuille, 3C lors de l'alignement de la feuille.Figures 3A, 3B and 3C show cross-sectional views of the device according to the plane III-III of FIG. 1 in three positions: 3A in the position of rest, 3B when selecting the sheet, 3C when aligning the sheet.

La figure 4 est une vue latérale de la face droite du dispositif de la figure 1.FIG. 4 is a side view of the right face of the device of FIG. 1.

La figure 5 est une vue d'un détail de la figure 4.FIG. 5 is a view of a detail of FIG. 4.

La figure 6 est une vue en plan de l'arbre d'entraínement. Figure 6 is a plan view of the drive shaft.

La figure 7 est une vue de la face arrière du dispositif.Figure 7 is a view of the rear face of the device.

Le dispositif d'introduction 1 illustré à la figure 1 est monté de façon amovible sur une imprimante 2 dont seule une partie du bâti 3, les rouleaux de transport 4, l'arbre de transport 5 et le moteur d'entraínement 58 sont représentés. Le dispositif 1 pourra bien entendu également être solidaire de l'imprimante, d'une machine à écrire ou de tout autre appareil utilisant des matériaux plats, tels que des feuilles de papier, du papier cartonné ou des enveloppes. Le dispositif 1 comporte un magasin 6 avec un fond 8 (fig. 2A), une paroi antérieure 9, deux parois latérales fixes 10 et 11, et une plaque de support 12 sur laquelle une pile 14 de feuilles, d'enveloppes ou de tous autres matériaux plats peuvent être disposés.The introducer 1 illustrated in Figure 1 is removably mounted on a printer 2 of which only part of the frame 3, the transport rollers 4, the transport shaft 5 and the drive motor 58 are represented. The device 1 may of course also be attached to the printer, a typewriter or any other device using flat materials, such as than sheets of paper, card stock, or envelopes. The device 1 comprises a magazine 6 with a bottom 8 (fig. 2A), one front wall 9, two side walls fixed 10 and 11, and a support plate 12 on which a pile 14 of sheets, envelopes or all other flat materials may be arranged.

La plaque de support 12 est articulée pivotante sur les parois latérales 10, 11 au moyen de deux pivots 15 engagés dans des ouvertures longitudinales 17 permettant un ajustage transversal à l'axe des pivots 15. Trois ressorts 16 sollicitent la plaque de support 12 en direction des galets d'entraínement 20 montés sur un arbre d'entraínement 23.The support plate 12 is pivotally articulated on the side walls 10, 11 by means of two pivots 15 engaged in longitudinal openings 17 allowing a adjustment transverse to the axis of the pivots 15. Three springs 16 urge the support plate 12 towards the drive rollers 20 mounted on a drive shaft 23.

Cette plaque de support 12 comporte un guide latéral mobile 25 pour les feuilles monté de façon coulissante sur la plaque de support 12 suivant une direction perpendiculaire à la direction d'introduction des feuilles indiquée par la flèche 26. Le guide 25 sert d'appui latéral permettant l'introduction adéquate de tous matériaux plats, feuilles ou enveloppes, de différentes dimensions. La largeur du dispositif d'introduction peut ainsi être adaptée à différents formats de matériaux plats à introduire.This support plate 12 has a lateral guide mobile 25 for the sheets slidably mounted on the support plate 12 in a perpendicular direction to the direction of introduction of the sheets indicated by arrow 26. The guide 25 serves as a lateral support allowing the proper introduction of all flat materials, sheets or envelopes, of different sizes. The width of the introducer can thus be adapted to different formats of flat materials to introduce.

La plaque support 12 est en outre subdivisée dans sa moitié inférieure en trois parties 27, 28, 29 séparées par des fentes 30 et 31, chaque partie étant sollicitée individuellement par l'un des ressorts 16 en direction d'un des galets d'entraínement 20. Comme la plaque de support 12 est fabriquée en un matériau élastique, par exemple de la matière plastique, chaque partie 27, 28, 29 peut être déplacée par rapport aux parties voisines. Ainsi, on obtient une force d'application sensiblement identique du matériau à introduire contre les galets d'entraínement 20 donc un déplacement régulier du matériau à introduire pour toute largeur et épaisseur de ce matériau.The support plate 12 is further subdivided in its lower half into three parts 27, 28, 29 separated by slots 30 and 31, each part being stressed individually by one of the springs 16 towards a drive rollers 20. Like the support plate 12 is made of an elastic material, for example of plastic, each part 27, 28, 29 can be moved relative to neighboring parts. So, we obtains a substantially identical application force from material to be introduced against the drive rollers 20 therefore a regular displacement of the material to be introduced for any width and thickness of this material.

En référence à la figure 7, la face arrière du fond 8 du magasin 6 est munie d'un appui-feuilles auxiliaire 34 escamotable destiné à servir d'appui pour la partie supérieure de feuilles de grande taille. Cet appui-feuilles 34 se présente sous forme d'une plaque oblongue 35 comportant à son extrémité libre une ouverture 36 servant à sa préhension. Un élément de retenue sous forme d'un bouton 37 solidaire de la face arrière du fond 8 du magasin est engagé dans une fente allongée 38 de la plaque 35. Comme la tête du bouton 37 présente un diamètre plus grand que la largeur de la fente 38, la plaque 35 est retenue contre la face arrière du fond 8, mais peut coulisser suivant une direction parallèle à la fente 38 le long d'une partie en saillie 40 prévue sur la face arrière du fond 8.With reference to FIG. 7, the rear face of the bottom 8 of magazine 6 is provided with an auxiliary sheet support 34 retractable intended to serve as support for the upper part large leaves. This leaf support 34 is in the form of an oblong plate 35 comprising at its free end an opening 36 used for gripping. A retaining element in the form of a button 37 secured to the rear face of the bottom 8 of the store is engaged in an elongated slot 38 of the plate 35. As the button head 37 has a larger diameter than the width of the slot 38, the plate 35 is retained against the rear face of the bottom 8, but can slide along a direction parallel to slot 38 along a part in projection 40 provided on the rear face of the bottom 8.

Lorsqu'on désire sortir l'appui-feuilles 34 de la position escamotée représentée en traits mixtes à la figure 7, on coulisse le bord latéral 39 de la plaque 35 le long de la partie en saillie 40 vers la gauche. Quand le bouton 37 a atteint l'extrémité droite de la fente, il suffit de tourner la plaque 35 de 90° vers le haut. Dans cette position, la plaque 35 repose par son bord inférieur 41 sur la partie en saillie 40. Pour permettre la rotation de la plaque 35, le bord inférieur 41 de cette dernière présente un angle arrondi 42 en quart-de-cercle ayant son centre confondu avec le centre du bouton 37. Cette construction particulière de l'appui-feuilles assure un fonctionnement fiable tout en nécessitant un minimum de composants, permettant ainsi un prix de revient très modeste.When you want to remove the leaf support 34 from the position retracted shown in phantom in the figure 7, the lateral edge 39 of the plate 35 is slid along from the protruding part 40 to the left. When the button 37 has reached the right end of the slot, just turn the plate 35 90 ° upwards. In this position, the plate 35 rests by its lower edge 41 on the protruding part 40. To allow rotation of the plate 35, the lower edge 41 of the latter has a rounded angle 42 in a quarter-circle having its center confused with the center of the button 37. This construction particular support of the sheets ensures operation reliable while requiring a minimum of components, allowing thus a very modest cost price.

En référence aux figures 1 et 2A, la paroi antérieure 9 du magasin présente un plan incliné 45 faisant un angle prédéterminé α avec un plan 46 parallèle à la partie inférieure du fond 8 du magasin. Cet angle est de préférence choisi entre 50 et 85° et très avantageusement entre 60 et 80°. Il est dans la configuration illustrée à la figure 2A égal à 71°. L'inclinaison de ce plan 45 par rapport à la partie arrière de la paroi antérieure 9 se situe donc entre 5 et 40° et est dans la figure 2 égale à 19°.Referring to Figures 1 and 2A, the anterior wall 9 of the store has an inclined plane 45 making an angle predetermined α with a plane 46 parallel to the lower part of the bottom 8 of the store. This angle is preferably chosen between 50 and 85 ° and very advantageously between 60 and 80 °. It is in the configuration illustrated in Figure 2A equal to 71 °. The inclination of this plane 45 relative to the rear part of the front wall 9 is therefore located between 5 and 40 ° and is in Figure 2 equal to 19 °.

Le plan incliné 45 comprend trois creusures 47 dans lesquelles sont collées trois bandes 48 d'un matériau à fibrilles, tels qu'un tissu du genre velours. La profondeur des creusures 47 est telle que la partie supérieure des fibrilles des bandes 48 apparaít au dessus de la surface supérieure du plan incliné 45 de façon à coopérer avec le bord antérieur des feuilles ou des matériaux plats à introduire et à retenir ces matériaux dont le bord antérieur pénètre entre les fibrilles des bandes pour constituer des organes de retenue. Ces bandes 48 présentent une résistance au déplacement d'une feuille qui est fonction de la matière des fibrilles utilisées, de leur diamètre, de leur longueur, de leur densité et de la profondeur de pénétration du bord antérieur de la feuille. Des bandes d'une largeur de 5 mm présentant une densité de 18'000 fibrilles/cm2 d'une longueur de 1,5 mm donnent un excellent effet de retenue, lorsque ces fibrilles dépassent de 0,5 mm la surface supérieure du plan incliné 45.The inclined plane 45 includes three recesses 47 in which are bonded three strips 48 of a material to fibrils, such as a velvet-like tissue. The depth of the recesses 47 is such that the upper part fibrils of the strips 48 appear above the surface upper of the inclined plane 45 so as to cooperate with the anterior edge of sheets or flat materials to introduce and retain these materials including the anterior edge penetrates between the fibrils of the bands to constitute retainers. These bands 48 have a resistance to movement of a sheet which is a function the material of the fibrils used, their diameter, of their length, their density and the depth of penetration of the anterior edge of the leaf. Tapes 5 mm wide with a density of 18,000 fibrils / cm2 1.5 mm in length gives excellent restraint effect, when these fibrils exceed 0.5 mm the upper surface of the inclined plane 45.

Tel que visible à la figure 1, les bandes à fibrilles 48 sont encastrées dans le plan incliné 45 dans des positions situées en regard des galets d'entraínement 20. Lorsque ces derniers sont entraínés, la feuille la plus haute de la pile est déplacée en se dégageant des fibrilles (figure 2B), tandis que la feuille suivante et les autres sont retenues en place par les fibrilles des bandes 48 sans qu'il soit nécessaire de prévoir des coins de retenue latéraux, comme cela est le cas dans la majorité des dispositifs d'introduction connus. Il est en outre également possible de munir le bord antérieur du plan incliné 45 avec des lames ressort montées dans six ouvertures 49 prévues dans le plan incliné 45 et servant d'éléments de retenue supplémentaires.As shown in Figure 1, the fibrillated strips 48 are embedded in the inclined plane 45 in positions located next to the drive rollers 20. When the latter are trained, the most the top of the stack is moved away from the fibrils (Figure 2B), while the following sheet and the others are held in place by the fibrils of the bands 48 without the need for retaining corners lateral, as is the case in the majority of known introducers. It is also possible to provide the front edge of the inclined plane 45 with spring blades mounted in six openings 49 provided in the inclined plane 45 and serving as elements of additional deductions.

En référence aux figures 1 à 5 , le dispositif d'introduction comprend un mécanisme d'entraínement 50 très particulier pour l'arbre d'entraínement 23. Ce mécanisme d'entraínement 50 englobe un organe de commande d'embrayage 51 en liaison avec un mécanisme d'embrayage 52 associé à un mécanisme anti-bruit 53 et coopérant avec un mécanisme d'avancement 54.Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the introducer includes a drive mechanism 50 very particular for the drive shaft 23. This mechanism drive 50 includes a clutch control member 51 in connection with an associated clutch mechanism 52 to an anti-noise mechanism 53 and cooperating with a advancement mechanism 54.

Le mécanisme d'entraínement 50 est mis en action par un pignon 57 solidaire de l'arbre de transport 5 de l'imprimante et en prise avec un moteur d'entraínement 58 de l'imprimante. Il est bien entendu que le dispositif d'introduction 1 pourrait également être entraíné par un moteur propre au dispositif d'introduction.The drive mechanism 50 is put into action by a pinion 57 secured to the transport shaft 5 of the printer and engaged with a drive motor 58 of the printer. It is understood that the introducer 1 could also be driven by a motor specific to the introducer.

Le pignon 57 est en prise avec un premier pignon 60 de l'organe de commande d'embrayage 51. Ce premier pignon 60 est solidaire d'un second pignon 61 susceptible de coopérer avec la denture d'un pignon échancré 62 solidaire de l'extrémité de l'arbre d'entraínement 23. Ce pignon échancré 62 comprend deux secteurs échancrés 63 et 64 dépourvus de denture. Lorsque l'un ou l'autre de ces deux secteurs 63,64 est en regard du second pignon 61, l'arbre d'entraínement n'est pas entraíné, mais maintenu en position par le mécanisme de retenue et d'embrayage 52.The pinion 57 is engaged with a first pinion 60 of the clutch control member 51. This first pinion 60 is integral with a second pinion 61 capable of cooperating with the teeth of a notched pinion 62 integral with the end of the drive shaft 23. This indented pinion 62 includes two indented sectors 63 and 64 without toothing. When either of these two sectors 63,64 is opposite the second pinion 61, the drive shaft is not driven, but held in position by the retainer and clutch mechanism 52.

Tel que visible aux figures 4 et 5, le pignon échancré 62 comprend deux ouvertures 65 et 65a en forme de segment de cercle agencées sous la denture et prolongeant les secteurs échancrés 63,64 dans le sens senestre à la figure 4. Ces deux ouvertures 65,65a confèrent à la denture sous laquelle elles sont localisées une élasticité radiale permettant un engrenement aisé du pignon échancré 62 avec le second pignon 61, même si deux dents des dentures de ces deux pignons 61,62 se trouvent face à face lors de l'embrayage du pignon échancré 62.As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the notched pinion 62 includes two segment-shaped openings 65 and 65a of circle arranged under the teeth and extending the sectors notched 63.64 in a semester direction in Figure 4. These two openings 65, 65a give the toothing under which they are located a radial elasticity allowing an easy gear of the notched pinion 62 with the second pinion 61, even if two teeth of the teeth of these two pinions 61,62 are facing each other when clutching notched pinion 62.

Le mécanisme de retenue et d'embrayage 52 comprend un premier et un second levier 66,67 montés pivotant sur le magasin grâce à un pivot 74. The clutch and clutch mechanism 52 includes a first and second lever 66,67 pivotally mounted on the store thanks to a pivot 74.

En référence aux figures 4 et 5, le premier levier 66 sert de levier de blocage. Il comprend une extrémité pourvue d'une dent de retenue 68 destinée à coopérer avec deux ouvertures 69,70 prévues dans un jupe cylindrique 71 solidaire du pignon échancré 62. Ce premier levier 66 est sollicité par un ressort 72 contre cette jupe 71 de façon que sa dent de retenue 68 coulisse sur la surface extérieure de la jupe 71 et pénètre dans l'une ou l'autre des ouvertures 69,70 pour arrêter le pignon échancré 62 contre des bords 111 et 110 et le maintenir lorsque l'un ou l'autre des deux secteurs échancrés 63,64 se trouve en regard du second pignon 61. Dans cette position, le premier levier 66 est en outre en contact avec une butée fixe 73 solidaire du magasin 6. Le premier levier 66 est commandé par le second levier 67 qui comprend une première extrémité 75 coopérant avec l'organe de commande d'embrayage 51 et avec un prolongement latéral 76 du premier levier 66 pour déplacer ce dernier contre l'action du ressort 72 et pour dégager la dent de retenue 68 de l'une ou l'autre des ouvertures 69,70. Une seconde extrémité 77 du second levier 67 est destinée à coopérer avec deux prolongements 78,79 de la jupe 71 du pignon échancré 62 de façon à freiner ce dernier. En position de repos, le second levier 67 est sollicité par une partie recourbée élastique 80 contre la butée fixe 73.With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first lever 66 serves as a locking lever. It has one end with a retaining tooth 68 intended to cooperate with two openings 69.70 provided in a cylindrical skirt 71 integral of the notched pinion 62. This first lever 66 is biased by a spring 72 against this skirt 71 so that its retaining tooth 68 slides on the outer surface of skirt 71 and enters one or other of the openings 69.70 to stop the notched pinion 62 against edges 111 and 110 and hold it when one or the other of the two indented sectors 63,64 is located opposite the second pinion 61. In this position, the first lever 66 is also in contact with a fixed stop 73 integral of magazine 6. The first lever 66 is controlled by the second lever 67 which includes a first end 75 cooperating with the clutch control member 51 and with a lateral extension 76 of the first lever 66 for moving the latter against the action of spring 72 and for release the retaining tooth 68 from one or other of the openings 69.70. A second end 77 of the second lever 67 is intended to cooperate with two extensions 78.79 of the skirt 71 of the notched pinion 62 so as to brake this latest. In the rest position, the second lever 67 is biased by an elastic curved part 80 against the fixed stop 73.

En référence à la figure 4, l'organe de commande d'embrayage 51 est réalisé sous forme d'un ressort d'embrayage 92 enroulé sur un arbre 93 solidaire des pignons 60 et 61. Ce ressort 92 comprend à une de ses extrémités un brin rectiligne 94 destiné à coopérer lors d'une rotation inverse du moteur d'entraínement 58 avec la première extrémité 75 du second levier 67 de façon que ce dernier agisse sur le premier levier 66 pour dégager la dent de retenue 68 de l'une ou l'autre des ouvertures 69,70 et pour enclencher l'entraínement de l'arbre d'entraínement 23, lorsque le premier et second pignon 60,61 sont mis en rotation dans un sens dextre en référence à la figure 4 correspondant à une rotation inverse du moteur d'entraínement 58.Referring to Figure 4, the clutch control member 51 is produced in the form of a clutch spring 92 wound on a shaft 93 secured to the pinions 60 and 61. This spring 92 comprises at one of its ends a strand straight 94 intended to cooperate during a reverse rotation of the drive motor 58 with the first end 75 of the second lever 67 so that the latter acts on the first lever 66 to release the retaining tooth 68 from one or other of the openings 69.70 and to engage the drive of the drive shaft 23, when the first and second pinion 60,61 are rotated in a dextrous direction with reference to FIG. 4 corresponding reverse rotation of the drive motor 58.

Lorsque les pignons 60,61 tournent dans un sens sénestre correspondant à une rotation en avant du moteur 58, le brin 94 bute contre l'extrémité 75 du second levier 67 sans cependant avoir une action sur ce dernier.When the pinions 60,61 rotate in a senestral direction corresponding to a rotation in front of the motor 58, the strand 94 abuts against the end 75 of the second lever 67 without however having an action on the latter.

En référence à la figure 3A, le mécanisme d'avancement 54 comprend une came 85 solidaire de l'arbre d'entraínement 23 et présentant deux secteurs en saillie 86,87. Un levier d'avancement 88 est monté pivotant sur le magasin 6 et sollicité par un ressort 89 contre la came 85. Le ressort 89 est monté entre l'extrémité libre du levier d'avancement 88 et le magasin 6. La came 85 est agencée de façon à solliciter l'arbre d'entraínement 23 en rotation suivant le sens des aiguilles d'une montre à la figure 3A, lorsque l'arbre d'entraínement se trouve dans une position telle que l'un ou l'autre des secteurs échancrés 63,64 du pignon échancré 62 est en regard du second pignon 61 et que le pignon échancré 62 n'est donc pas entraíné par le second pignon 61, mais bloqué par le levier de blocage 66.Referring to Figure 3A, the advancement mechanism 54 includes a cam 85 secured to the drive shaft 23 and having two projecting sectors 86.87. A advancement lever 88 is pivotally mounted on magazine 6 and biased by a spring 89 against the cam 85. The spring 89 is mounted between the free end of the advancement lever 88 and the magazine 6. The cam 85 is arranged so as to stress the drive shaft 23 in rotation in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3A, when the drive shaft is in a position such that either of the scalloped sectors 63.64 of the indented pinion 62 is opposite the second pinion 61 and that the notched pinion 62 is therefore not driven by the second pinion 61, but blocked by the locking lever 66.

En référence aux figures 1, 2A et 6, les galets d'entraínement 20 sont en forme de came et comportent trois secteurs. Un premier secteur 100 présente un coefficient de frottement suffisamment élevé pour effectuer la séparation et l'entraínement de la feuille la plus élevée de la pile de feuilles, un second secteur 101 avec un coefficient de frottement suffisamment bas pour permettre le glissement de cette feuille lors d'une phase d'alignement lors de son introduction dans l'imprimante et un troisième secteur 102 offrant un dégagement pour le chargement des feuilles. Le secteur à coefficient de friction élevé 100 est constitué par un revêtement central en élastomère 109 appliqué sur un support 105 bordé par deux cames 103 en matière plastique à coefficient de friction plus faible constituant le deuxième et le troisième secteur 101 et 102. Vue en section, la surface extérieure du revêtement en élastomère 109 dépasse les cames 103 en matière plastique sur un secteur sensiblement de 180° pour entrer en contact avec la feuille la plus élevée (figure 2B).Referring to Figures 1, 2A and 6, the drive rollers 20 are cam-shaped and have three sectors. A first sector 100 has a coefficient high enough friction to separate and the highest leaf drive of the stack of sheets, a second sector 101 with a coefficient of friction low enough to allow the sliding of this sheet during an alignment phase when introduced into the printer and a third sector 102 offering clearance for loading leaves. The high coefficient of friction sector 100 consists of a central elastomer coating 109 applied to a support 105 bordered by two cams 103 in plastic with lower coefficient of friction constituting the second and third sectors 101 and 102. Sectional view, the exterior surface of the covering made of elastomer 109 exceeds the cams 103 of plastic material over a sector of approximately 180 ° to enter contact with the highest leaf (Figure 2B).

Sur le secteur 101, les cames 103 dépassent les revêtements en élastomère 109 pour entrer en contact avec la feuille. Sur le secteur 102, les cames 103 sont aplaties pour former ledit dégagement et le revêtement en élastomère 109 occupe une position de retrait.On sector 101, cams 103 exceed coatings made of elastomer 109 to come into contact with the leaf. On sector 102, cams 103 are flattened to form said clearance and the elastomer coating 109 occupies a position of withdrawal.

L'arbre d'entraínement 23 comprend encore six surfaces circulaires 104 d'un rayon égal ou inférieur au plus petit rayon des galets d'entraínement 20. Ces surfaces circulaires 104 sont destinées au guidage des feuilles entre les galets de transport.The drive shaft 23 still includes six surfaces circulars 104 with a radius equal to or less than the smallest radius of the drive rollers 20. These circular surfaces 104 are intended for guiding the sheets between the transport rollers.

Finalement, l'arbre d'entraínement 23 est solidaire à chacun de ses côtés d'une came d'actionnement 106 destinée à coopérer avec deux prolongements latéraux 107 de la plaque de support 12 pour repousser cette dernière dans la position de repos et de chargement des feuilles (figure 2A).Finally, the drive shaft 23 is integral with each of its sides of an actuating cam 106 intended to cooperate with two lateral extensions 107 of the support plate 12 to push the latter back into the leaf rest and loading position (figure 2A).

En référence à la figure 6, l'arbre d'entraínement 23 est constitué en matière plastique injectée et venu d'une pièce avec les cames 103, avec les supports 105 (fig. 2A) pour le revêtement 109 en élastomère, avec les six surfaces circulaires de guidage 104, avec les deux cames d'actionnement 106 pour repousser la plaque de support 12 et avec la came d'avancement 85 divisée en deux cames parallèles. Cet arbre 23 est guidé dans deux paliers 108 (fig 1) du magasin 6 et solidaire du pignon échancré 62.Referring to Figure 6, the drive shaft 23 is made of injected plastic and comes from a part with cams 103, with supports 105 (fig. 2A) for the elastomer coating 109, with the six surfaces guide circulars 104, with the two cams actuator 106 to push back the support plate 12 and with the advancement cam 85 divided into two cams parallel. This shaft 23 is guided in two bearings 108 (fig 1) of the magazine 6 and secured to the notched pinion 62.

Le fonctionnement du dispositif d'introduction est le suivant. En position de repos illustrée aux figures 2A et 3A, la came d'actionnement 106 coopère avec la plaque de support 12 pour la repousser. Une pile de feuilles 14 peut être chargée dans le magasin 6. Les feuilles sont retenues à leur bord antérieur par les bandes de retenue 48 à fibrilles. Les cames 103 à coefficient de friction faible des galets d'entraínement 20 sont écartés de la feuille la plus élevée. Le secteur en saillie 86 de la came d'avancement 85 (figure 3A) coopère avec le levier d'avancement 88, qui sollicite l'arbre d'entraínement 23 suivant un sens de rotation dextre. L'arbre d'entraínement 23 est cependant retenu immobile par le levier 66 (figures 4 et 5) dont la dent 68 est insérée dans l'ouverture 70 prévue dans la jupe 71. La dent 68 du levier 66 bute en fait contre le bord gauche 110 de cette ouverture 70 et retient l'arbre d'entraínement 23 contre l'action exercée par le levier d'avancement 88 sur la came d'avancement 85. La première échancrure 63 du pignon échancré 62 se trouve en regard du second pignon 61.The operation of the introducer is the next. In the rest position illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3A, the actuating cam 106 cooperates with the plate support 12 to push it back. A stack of 14 sheets can be loaded in tray 6. Sheets are retained at their anterior edge by the retaining strips 48 with fibrils. Cams 103 with low coefficient of friction drive rollers 20 are separated from the sheet the higher. The protruding sector 86 of the advancement cam 85 (Figure 3A) cooperates with the advancement lever 88, which requests the drive shaft 23 according to a direction of dextral rotation. The drive shaft 23 is however held stationary by lever 66 (Figures 4 and 5) whose tooth 68 is inserted into the opening 70 provided in the skirt 71. The tooth 68 of the lever 66 actually stops against the left edge 110 of this opening 70 and retains the drive shaft 23 against the action exerted by the advancement lever 88 on advancement cam 85. The first notch 63 of the notched pinion 62 is in look of the second pinion 61.

Lors d'une commande d'introduction de feuille, le moteur 58 de l'imprimante est mis en rotation suivant le sens inverse à l'avancement du papier. Les pignons 60 et 61 tournent alors suivant un sens dextre de façon que le brin rectiligne 94 du ressort d'embrayage 92 (fig. 4) entre en contact avec l'extrémité 75 du levier 67. Comme les spires de ce ressort 92 sont ressérées par une rotation dextre de l'arbre 93 sur lequel elles sont enroulées, le brin rectiligne déplace le levier 67 suivant une rotation sénestre autour du pivot 74, et le levier 67 entraíne le levier 66 par l'intermédiaire du prolongement latéral 76 dans son mouvement de rotation sénestre.During a sheet feed command, the motor 58 of the printer is rotated according to the opposite direction to the paper advance. Sprockets 60 and 61 then rotate in a dextrous direction so that the straight strand 94 of the clutch spring 92 (fig. 4) comes into contact with the end 75 of the lever 67. As the turns of this spring 92 are tightened by a rotation dexter of the shaft 93 on which they are wound, the straight strand moves the lever 67 in a rotation senestre around the pivot 74, and the lever 67 drives lever 66 via the lateral extension 76 in its senestrial rotation movement.

La dent 68 du levier 67 est ainsi dégagée du bord 110 de l'ouverture 70 et le pignon échancré 62 et l'arbre 23 sont mis en rotation dextre sous l'effet du levier d'avancement 88. Cette rotation est freinée du fait que la seconde extrémité 77 du second levier 67 entre en contact avec le prolongement 79 du pignon échancré 62, ce qui permet un embrayage et un engrènement freiné et progressif du pignon échancré 62 avec le second pignon 61 évitant l'émission de bruit. Le levier 67 coopérant par freinage avec le pignon échancré 62 constitue ainsi le mécanisme anti-bruit 53.The tooth 68 of the lever 67 is thus released from the edge 110 of the opening 70 and the notched pinion 62 and the shaft 23 are rotated dextrally under the effect of the advancement lever 88. This rotation is slowed down because the second end 77 of second lever 67 comes into contact with the extension 79 of the notched pinion 62, which allows a braked and progressive clutch and engagement of the indented pinion 62 with the second pinion 61 avoiding the emission noise. The lever 67 cooperating by braking with the notched pinion 62 thus constitutes the anti-noise mechanism 53.

L'engrènement du pignon échancré 62 avec le second pignon 61 s'effectue de façon adéquate du fait de l'élasticité radiale de la denture du pignon échancré au voisinage de la roue d'embrayage grâce à l'ouverture 65a prévue sous la denture. The meshing of the notched pinion 62 with the second pinion 61 is performed adequately due to the elasticity radial toothing of the notched pinion in the vicinity of the clutch wheel thanks to the opening 65a provided under the teeth.

Le moteur 58 est alors mis en rotation suivant le sens de rotation correspondant à l'avancement du transport de feuille. Les pignons 60 et 61 tournent suivant un sens sénestre et le pignon échancré 62 et l'arbre d'entraínement suivant un sens dextre.The motor 58 is then rotated in the direction of rotation corresponding to the progress of the transport of leaf. Gables 60 and 61 rotate in a senestral direction and the notched pinion 62 and the drive shaft in a dextrous sense.

En référence à la figure 2b, les saillies de cames d'actionnement 106 sont dégagées de la plaque de support 12 et la pile de feuilles 14 est appliquée par les ressorts 16 contre les galets d'entraínement 20. Le secteur à coefficient de friction élevée 100 du revêtement en élastomère 109 entre en contact avec la feuille la plus élevée de la pile 14 et dégage cette feuille des bandes de retenue 48 à fibrilles, tandis que les autres feuilles sous-jacentes restent retenues. La feuille sélectionnée est ensuite prise entre les rouleaux de transport 4 de l'imprimante tournant dans le sens de l'avancement du transport de feuille. Après une rotation de sensiblement 230° de l'arbre d'entraínement 23 depuis la position de repos, le secteur 101 à coefficient de friction plus faible des cames 103 entre en contact avec la feuille la plus élevée qui n'est alors plus avancée par les galets d'entraínement 20 (fig. 2C).Referring to Figure 2b, the cam projections 106 are released from the support plate 12 and the stack of sheets 14 is applied by the springs 16 against the drive rollers 20. The sector to high friction coefficient 100 of the elastomer coating 109 comes into contact with the highest leaf from stack 14 and release this sheet from the retaining bands 48 to fibrils, while the other underlying leaves remain retained. The selected sheet is then taken between the transport rollers 4 of the printer turning in the direction of transport advancement of sheet. After a rotation of substantially 230 ° from the drive shaft 23 from the rest position, the sector 101 with a lower coefficient of friction cam 103 contacts the uppermost sheet which is then no longer advanced by the drive rollers 20 (fig. 2C).

Après une rotation de sensiblement 270° de l'arbre d'entraínement, le second secteur échancré 64 du pignon échancré 62 se trouve en regard du second pignon 61, tandis que le secteur en saillie 87 de la came d'avancement 85 coopère avec le levier d'avancement 88 pour tourner l'arbre d'entraínement 23 suivant un sens dextre à la figure 3C. A ce moment, la dent 68 du levier 66 entre sous l'effet du ressort 72 dans l'ouverture 69 de la jupe 71 du pignon échancré 62, de façon à ce que la rotation du pignon échancré 62 soit arrêtée étant donné que la dent 68 entre en butée contre le bord 111 de l'ouverture 69.After a substantially 270 ° rotation of the shaft drive, the second indented sector 64 of the pinion indented 62 is opposite the second pinion 61, while that the projecting sector 87 of the advancement cam 85 cooperates with the advancing lever 88 to turn the drive shaft 23 in a dextrous direction to the Figure 3C. At this time, the tooth 68 of the lever 66 enters under the effect of the spring 72 in the opening 69 of the skirt 71 of the indented pinion 62, so that the rotation of the pinion indented 62 is stopped since tooth 68 comes into abutment against the edge 111 of the opening 69.

Suit alors une phase d'alignement, lors de laquelle le sens de rotation du moteur 58 est inversé pour reculer la feuille sélectionnée jusqu'à ce que son bord antérieur ne soit plus pris entre les rouleaux de transport 4 de l'imprimante, mais repose sur la zone de contact entre les rouleaux de transport 4.Then follows an alignment phase, during which the direction of rotation of motor 58 is reversed to reverse the selected sheet until its front edge does not either more caught between the transport rollers 4 of the printer, but rests on the contact area between the transport rollers 4.

Ce transport en arrière de la feuille sélectionnée est rendu possible grâce au faible coefficient de friction du secteur 101 des galets d'entraínement 20. Au cas où la feuille sélectionnée est prise obliquement entre les rouleaux de transport 4 de l'imprimante, elle est alignée parfaitement par le mouvement de transport inverse.This transport behind the selected sheet is made possible by the low coefficient of friction of the sector 101 of the drive rollers 20. In case the selected sheet is taken obliquely between the rollers transport 4 of the printer, it is aligned perfectly by the reverse transport movement.

Lors de ce mouvement de transport en arrière pour l'alignement de la feuille, les pignons 60,61 sont entraínés suivant un sens dextre à la figure 4. A la fin de ce mouvement, le brin rectiligne 94 du ressort d'embrayage 92 (figure 4) entre donc de nouveau en contact avec l'extrémité 75 du levier 67 qui est mis en rotation sénestre autour du pivot 74. Il amène en rotation avec lui le levier 66 dont la dent 68 se dégage du bord 111 de l'ouverture 69. L'arbre d'entraínement 23 étant sollicité en rotation dextre par le levier d'avancement 88, l'engrènement des dentures du pignon échancré 62 et du pignon 61 s'effectue de manière contrôlée sous l'effet de freinage anti-bruit dû à l'action de l'extrémité 77 du levier 67 sur le prolongement 78 de la jupe 71 du pignon échancré. Cet engrènement est en outre facilité par l'élasticité radiale de la denture du pignon échancré résultant de l'ouverture 65 prévue sous la denture du pignon échancré.During this transport movement backwards for alignment of the leaf, the pinions 60,61 are driven in a dextrous direction in Figure 4. At the end of this movement, the straight strand 94 of the clutch spring 92 (figure 4) therefore again comes into contact with the end 75 of lever 67 which is rotated in the semester around pivot 74. It brings the lever into rotation with it 66 whose tooth 68 emerges from the edge 111 of the opening 69. The drive shaft 23 being rotated dexter by the advancement lever 88, the meshing teeth of the notched pinion 62 and pinion 61 is effected in a controlled manner under the anti-noise braking effect due to the action of the end 77 of the lever 67 on the extension 78 of the skirt 71 of the notched pinion. This meshing is further facilitated by the radial elasticity the toothing of the notched pinion resulting from the opening 65 provided under the teeth of the notched pinion.

Après cette phase d'alignement le moteur 58 est mis en rotation suivant le sens de transport de feuille, l'arbre d'entraínement 23 est mis en rotation dextre. En référence aux figures 2C et 2A, la came d'actionnement 106 repousse la plaque support 12 en arrière pour éloigner la pile de feuilles 14 des galets d'entraínement 20, tandis que la feuille sélectionnée est avancée par les rouleaux de transport 4 de l'imprimante.After this alignment phase, the motor 58 is put into operation. rotation in the direction of leaf transport, the tree 23 is rotated dexter. In reference in FIGS. 2C and 2A, the actuation cam 106 pushes back the support plate 12 behind to move the stack away from sheets 14 of the drive rollers 20, while the selected sheet is advanced by the rollers of transport 4 of the printer.

Simultanément, le secteur échancré 63 de la roue échancrée 62 arrive en regard du second pignon 61 et la dent 68 du levier 66 tombe sous l'effet du ressort 72 dans l'ouverture 70 de la jupe 71. L'arbre d'entraínement 23 est à ce moment sollicité en rotation dextre par l'action du levier d'avancement 88 sur le secteur en saillie 86 de la came d'avancement 85 de façon que la dent 68 du levier 66 soit sollicitée contre le bord 110 de l'ouverture 70 de la jupe 71. Cette position correspond donc de nouveau à la position initiale de repos pendant laquelle l'impression de la feuille sélectionnée est effectuée.Simultaneously, the indented sector 63 of the wheel notched 62 arrives opposite the second pinion 61 and the tooth 68 of lever 66 falls under the effect of spring 72 in the opening 70 of the skirt 71. The drive shaft 23 is at this moment solicited in dextral rotation by the action advancement lever 88 on the projecting sector 86 of the advancement cam 85 so that the tooth 68 of the lever 66 is pressed against the edge 110 of the opening 70 of the skirt 71. This position therefore again corresponds to the initial rest position during which the impression of the selected sheet is performed.

En résumé une sélection et introduction de feuille se fait de la manière suivante :

  • embrayage du dispositif d'introduction par rotation en arrière du moteur 58,
  • entraínement de la feuille la plus élevée par les galets d'entraínement 20 par rotation en avant du moteur 58,
  • débrayage du dispositif d'introduction,
  • alignement de la feuille par rotation en arrière du moteur 58 suivi d'un embrayage du dispositif d'introduction,
  • dégagement de la plaque support et débrayage du dispositif d'introduction par rotation en avant du moteur 58.
In summary, a selection and introduction of a sheet is done as follows:
  • clutch of the introduction device by rotation behind the motor 58,
  • drive of the highest sheet by the drive rollers 20 by rotation in front of the motor 58,
  • disengagement of the introducer,
  • alignment of the sheet by rotation behind the motor 58 followed by a clutch of the introduction device,
  • release of the support plate and disengagement of the introduction device by rotation in front of the motor 58.

Cette construction du dispositif d'introduction permet un fonctionnement très fiable de la séparation de la feuille la plus élevée, tout en comportant un nombre de composants faible, et peut de ce fait être fabriquée à un prix de revient très bas.This construction of the introduction device allows very reliable operation of the separation of the highest leaf, while having a number of weak components, and can therefore be manufactured at very low cost price.

Les bandes de matériau à fibrilles 48, du genre velours, confèrent un excellent effet de retenue aux feuilles empilées dans le magasin 6, tout en permettant la séparation aisée de la feuille la plus élevée.The strips of fibrillated material 48, of the velvet type, provide excellent restraint to sheets stacked in tray 6, while allowing easy separation from the highest sheet.

Les galets d'entraínement 20 à deux coefficients de friction assurent une séparation fiable de la feuille la plus élevée et servent en même temps d'éléments de guidage lors de la phase d'alignement de la feuille sélectionnée.The drive rollers 20 with two coefficients of friction ensure reliable separation of the sheet the higher and at the same time serve as guiding elements during the alignment phase of the selected sheet.

La plaque de support 12 divisée sur une portion de sa hauteur en trois parties 27,28,29 permet une application régulière des feuilles contre les galets d'entraínement 20 pour toute largeur de ces feuilles.The support plate 12 divided over a portion of its height in three parts 27,28,29 allows an application regular sheets against the drive rollers 20 for any width of these sheets.

Le dispositif d'introduction ne comprend qu'un seul arbre transversal venu d'une pièce avec les galets de transport 20, les cames d'actionnement 106 pour contrôler le mouvement de la plaque de support 12 et la came d'avancement 85 permettant l'engrènement du dispositif lors de l'embrayage. Etant donné que ce arbre peut être fabriqué en matière plastique injectable, la fabrication et le montage de cette pièce est très facile et d'un prix de revient faible.The introducer only includes one transverse shaft from one piece with the rollers transport 20, the actuating cams 106 to control the movement of the support plate 12 and the advancement cam 85 allowing the engagement of the device during the clutch. Since this tree can be made in injectable plastic, manufacturing and assembly of this piece is very easy and priced at comes back weak.

Le pignon échancré 62 associé aux deux leviers 66,67 permet du fait de sa construction élaborée un contrôle fiable de l'ensemble des mouvements de rotation de l'arbre d'entraínement tout en conférant au dispositif un fonctionnement silencieux.The indented pinion 62 associated with the two levers 66.67 allows due to its elaborate construction a control reliable of all rotational movements of the shaft while giving the device a functioning quiet.

L'ensemble des opérations de sélection et d'alignement de feuille est obtenu grâce à deux inversions du sens de rotation du moteur d'entraínement 58 de l'imprimante.All selection and alignment operations of leaf is obtained thanks to two inversions of the direction of rotation of the printer drive motor 58.

Le dispositif présente en outre un appui-feuilles escamotable 34 en une seule pièce et d'un fonctionnement simple et sûr, tout en étant d'un prix de revient très bas.The device also has a retractable leaf rest 34 in one piece and functioning simple and safe, while being very cost effective low.

Cette construction permet en outre une fabrication de presque tous les éléments constitutifs par injection de matière plastique, ce qui rend possible un prix de revient très bas. Le nombre faible de ces éléments constitutifs assure un montage et des réparations très rapides et peu compliquées.This construction also allows the manufacture of almost all the components by injection of plastic material, which makes a cost price possible very low. The low number of these constituent elements ensures very fast and low-cost assembly and repairs complicated.

Il est bien entendu que le mode de réalisation décrit ci-dessus ne présente aucun caractère limitatif et qu'il peut recevoir toutes modifications désirables à l'intérieur du cadre tel que défini par les revendications indépendantes. En particulier, les bandes 48 peuvent être constituées par tout matériau présentant des fibrilles droites, incurvées, à crochets adaptées à retenir les feuilles. Le nombre et leurs dimensions peuvent être choisis en fonction des applications du dispositif d'introduction.It is understood that the embodiment described above is in no way limiting and that it can receive any desirable modifications inside of the framework as defined by the independent claims. In particular, the strips 48 can be made of any material with fibrils straight, curved, with hooks adapted to retain leaves. The number and their dimensions can be chosen depending on the applications of the introducer.

L'arbre d'entraínement pourrait comporter un nombre différent de galets d'entraínement et les surfaces en élastomère de ces derniers pourraient être remplacés par des surfaces en matière plastique comportant des stries transversales destinées à entraíner la feuille.The drive shaft could have a number different from drive rollers and surfaces in elastomer of these could be replaced by plastic surfaces with streaks transverse intended to drive the sheet.

Au lieu d'être commandé par une inversion du moteur 58, l'embrayage de l'arbre d'entraínement pourrait être constitué par tout autre élément mécanique ou électrique, par exemple au moyen d'un électro-aimant.Instead of being controlled by a motor reversal 58, the clutch of the drive shaft could be made up of any other mechanical or electrical element, for example by means of an electromagnet.

La plaque de support 12 au lieu d'être subdivisée en trois parties pourrait comprendre un autre nombre de parties susceptibles d'être déplacées les unes par rapport aux autres.The support plate 12 instead of being subdivided into three parts could include another number of parts likely to be moved relative to each other to others.

Le dispositif d'introduction de feuilles pourrait bien entendu être utilisé pour toute machine utilisant des matériaux plats, telles qu'imprimantes, machines à écrire, copieuses, scanner, etc.The sheet feeder may well understood to be used for any machine using materials dishes, such as printers, typewriters, copious, scanner, etc.

Claims (6)

  1. A device for feeding flat items (14) to be processed, such as sheets and / or envelopes to machines (2) using such flat items, including a feeder (6) into which a pile (14) of said flat items is placed on a movable support plate (12) and from which the flat items are drawn one at the time and introduced into said machine (2), drive members (20) being arranged on a drive shaft (23) in such a manner as to move the flat item at the very top of the pile to convey the same into the machine (2) and a drive mechanism (50) for the drive shaft (23) engaged via at least one intermediate pinion (60, 61) with a drive motor (58), this drive mechanism (50) including a clutch device (52) with an indented pinion (62) of which the teething has two indented sectors (63, 64), this indented pinion (62) integral with the drive shaft being capable of engaging with the intermediate pinion (61), said indented sectors (63, 64) defining stop positions when they face the intermediate pinion (61), characterised in that said indented pinion (62) includes two openings (65, 65a) having the shape of arcs of a circle and provided beneath the teething of the indented pinion (62) as extensions of the indented sectors (63, 64), these openings (65, 65a) being designed for conferring to the teething below which they are located a radial resiliency for facilitating the engagement of the indented pinion (62) with the intermediate pinion (61).
  2. A feeding device according to claim 1, characterised in that the clutch device (52) includes at least one clutch and hold lever (66) capable of co-operating with abutment stops (110, 111) provided on the indented pinion (62), the device including a forward motion mechanism (54) having a forward motion lever (88) urged resiliently against a forward motion cam (85) in such a manner as to bring the clutch and hold lever (66) against the abutment stops (110, 111) when said indented sectors (63, 64) of the indented pinion face the intermediate pinion (61).
  3. A feeding device according to claim 2, characterised in that it includes a clutch control mechanism (51) comprised of a helical spring (92) carried by a shaft (93) integral with the intermediate pinion (61) and having a free end (94) capable of producing a rotation of the clutch and hold lever (66) upon a reverse rotation of the drive motor (58) in such a manner as to disengage the clutch and hold lever (66) from one or the other abutment stop (110, 111) and to release the indented pinion (62) so that the same may engage the intermediate pinion (61) by the effect of the forward motion mechanism (54).
  4. A feeding device according to claim 3, characterised in that it includes a control lever (67) of which a first part (75) is arranged in such a manner as to cooperate with the free end (94) of said helical spring (92), of which a second part is capable of co-operating with the clutch and hold lever (66) for moving the same against the effect of a resilient element (72) during a clutch actuation and of which a third part (77) is capable of co-operating with portions (78, 79) of the indented pinion (62) in such a manner as to slow down the same during a clutch actuation.
  5. A feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the drive shaft (23) is integral with at least one actuator cam (106) arranged in such a manner as to urge said movable support plate (12) against the effect of resilient elements into a rest position, with said forward motion cam (85), with at least a portion of the drive members (20) and with guide elements (104) for the sheets.
  6. A feeding device according to claims 4 and 5, characterised in that the drive members (20), the cams (85, 106) and the indented pinion (62) are arranged on the drive shaft in such a manner that:
    in a position of rest, a first protrusion (86) of the forward motion cam (85) is urged resiliently by the forward motion lever (88), the first of the abutment stops (110) of the indented pinion (62) is engaged with the clutch and hold lever (66), the first of the indented sectors (63) of the indented pinion faces the intermediate pinion (61), a protrusion of the actuator cam (106) urges the support plate (12) away from the drive members (20), a third sector (102) of the drive members (20) of which the outer surface is recessed with respect to a first and a second sectors (100, 101) of the drive members is placed facing the pile of flat items (14),
    in a first part of a drive phase after the disengagement of the clutch and hold lever (66) from the first of the abutment stops (110), through a reverse rotation of the drive motor (58), the forward motion cam (85) is driven by the forward motion lever (88), the teething of the indented pinion (62) becomes resiliently engaged with the intermediate pinion (61), the protrusion of the actuator cam (106) is disengaged from the movable support plate (12), a first sector (100) with a coefficient of friction which is higher than that of the second sector (101) of the drive members (20) is in contact with the pile of flat items (14),
    in a second part of the drive phase, the first sector (100) of the drive members (20) drives the highest flat item while disengaging the same from holding members (48) through a forward rotation of the drive motor (58),
    in a stop and alignment phase, a second protrusion (87) of the forward motion cam (85) is urged resiliently by the forward motion lever (88), the second of the abutment stops (111) of the indented pinion (62) is engaged with the clutch and hold lever (66), the second of the indented sectors (64) of the indented pinion (62) faces the intermediate pinion (61), the second sector (101) of the drive members (20) is in contact with the pile of flat items (14), which makes it possible to align the highest flat item through a sliding motion,
    in a fist part of a final phase, after the disengagement of the clutch and hold lever (66) from the second rest and stop abutment (111), through a reverse rotation of the drive motor (68), the forward motion cam (85) is driven by the forward motion lever (88) and the teething of the indented pinion (62) engages the intermediate pinion (61),
    in a second part of the final phase, the protrusion of the actuator cam (106) urges the support plate (12) away by a forward rotation of the drive motor until the drive shaft is in the position of rest.
EP96104381A 1995-07-10 1996-03-20 Feeding device for flat materials Expired - Lifetime EP0753475B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH2000/95 1995-07-10
CH200095 1995-07-10
CH02000/95A CH690853A5 (en) 1995-07-10 1995-07-10 Device for introducing flat items.

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0753475A2 EP0753475A2 (en) 1997-01-15
EP0753475A3 EP0753475A3 (en) 1998-01-14
EP0753475B1 true EP0753475B1 (en) 2001-12-19

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96104381A Expired - Lifetime EP0753475B1 (en) 1995-07-10 1996-03-20 Feeding device for flat materials

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US (1) US5711519A (en)
EP (1) EP0753475B1 (en)
CH (1) CH690853A5 (en)
DE (1) DE69618095T2 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0753475A3 (en) 1998-01-14
CH690853A5 (en) 2001-02-15
DE69618095D1 (en) 2002-01-31
DE69618095T2 (en) 2002-07-11
EP0753475A2 (en) 1997-01-15
US5711519A (en) 1998-01-27

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