GB1179431A - Improvements in or relating to Feeding Sheet Material - Google Patents

Abstract

1,179,431. Feeding sheets. U.S.M. CORP. 26 Jan., 1967 [27 Jan., 1966], No. 3855/67. Heading B8R. Fabric sheets are fed in turn from the top of a stack by a pick-off means comprising a plurality of closely grouped coplanar points and mounted on an oscillatable member, the pick-up means first moving radially outwardly to sheet-engaging position, then in an arcuate path to draw the top sheet near its leading edge to a discharge position, then radially inwardly to discharge or after discharging the sheet on to a conveyer, and then backwards along an arcuate path to its initial position. The conveyer comprises driven belts 28, Figs. 1 and 8, running on pulleys 30 loose on a shaft 32 to which are secured keys 44 slidable in slots 40 in discs 34 each carrying a card cloth block 36 carrying wires 38 biased in pick-off direction. The shaft 32 is oscillated to produce the arcuate movement, the radial movement being produced by gravity, whereby the end of a sheet F is inverted over the bdts and lowered on to them. Air from vents 52 in a conduit 50 presses the sheet against the conveyer. In another form, Fig. 9, the shaft is oscillated sufficiently to deliver the sheet to a nip between conveyer belts 56, 60, it being carried away uninverted on the latter. Separation is assisted by a pneumatic fluttering means 54. In another form, Fig. 11, also producing sheet inversion, the radial movement is produced pneumatically, the card block being mounted on a holder 82 on the end of a piston-rod 76. A deflector 84 co-operates with a stationary deflector 86 to prevent the sheet being caught up by the belts as it is being separated. In another form, Figs. 17 and 19, a motor rotates a shaft 126 carrying a cam 128 having a projection 136 which rotates an arm 130 to oscillate a shaft 98 carrying arms 100 on which are mounted the pick-up means 102, whereby the sheet is moved uninverted on to belts 110, and a hold-down roller 142 drops on to the sheet. Leaf springs 152 co-operate with rollers on the bar 102, which rollers ride under the springs on the pick-off movement and over them on the return movement. The cam 128 controls a latch 106 to allow the bar 102 to descend to pick-up position, and at the same time opens a butterfly valve 164 of a pneumatic fluttering device.