GB1174271A - Sheet feeder. - Google Patents

Abstract

1,174,271. Feeding sheets. NORFIN Inc. 7 Feb., 1967, No. 5745/67. Heading B8R. General.-A stack of sheets 20 is supported on an air cushion with a portion of the bottom sheet exposed such that a movable vacuum member 56 may be moved into contact with the exposed portion of the bottom sheet to grip the sheet and feed it to rollers 8 and 9a whereupon the vacuum is released. Pile tables.-The sheets 20 are arranged on a table 3 and supported by air issuing from openings 33 in side guide units 22 and escaping through vertical grooves 32. Guide units 22 are adjustable by means of clamping screws 26 to accommodate various paper sizes and are supplied with compressed air via conduit 28. Bracket 21, angled to a point at its centre (Fig. 6) supports the central portion of the forward edge of stock 20, Fig. 7. Separators.-Rectangular plate 38 pivotally mounted at 39 and at 43 by way of swingable bar 41 carries vacuum member 56. A rotatable cam 47 bears against surface 46 providing vertical reciprocation of member 56. Roller 52 carried by cam 47 acts on cam follower 53 to provide horizontal reciprocation of member 56. Spring 51 biases plate 38 against the cam members such that when the latter are rotated the bottom sheet is separated from the pile and delivered to rollers 8 and 9, Fig. 11. Fixed to the shaft carrying cam 47 is a rotatable spool valve body connected to a vacuum pump 61 such that as member 56 is reciprocated vacuum and atmospheric pressure alternate at member 56. Detecting faulty feed.-Floating shaft 9 carries rollers 9a riding on feed rollers 8. Sensing plate 11 carries a contact which extends to engage a slot in the shaft 9, and plate 11 also communicates with a switch such that a lifting of the shaft 9 by rollers 9a causes a signal to be given or the device to be stopped. Sheet guides.-Angled plates 18 and 19, Figs. 1 and 2 guide the separated sheets away from rollers 8 and 9a. Air supplied through passages 33 may be humidified.