GB1455109A - Apparatus for counting a stack of sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

1455109 Counting sheets VACUUMATIC Ltd and G S DUTTON 12 Nov 1973 [24 Nov 1972] 54457/72 Heading G4D In apparatus for counting a vertical stack of sheets in which a counting head is moved downwardly along the corner of the stack, the head having an oscillating blade 72 which extends through the corner of the stack and separates individual sheets by suction through an orifice therein and a stripping pin 44 which describes an eliptical orbit around the blade and acts to transfer the separated sheets from one side to the other of the blade 72, the pin 44 is mounted eccentrically on a shaft 49 which in turn is eccentrically mounted in a cylinder 52. The pin is driven by an epicyclic gear-box 43 which includes a fixed gear ring 64 around which travels a pinion 56 on the shaft 49. The shaft 49 is thus rotated in the cylinder 52 which is itself rotated by means of a belt drive 41. The pin 44 is freely rotatable in bearings in the end of shaft 49. The counting head is pivoted at 22 to a block 19 carried by a leadscrew 17 which is driven by a motor (23, Fig. 1, not shown) whenever the head moves away from the horizontal as the blade climbs down the corner of the stack. The head is balanced about the block 19 by an adjustment 29. Mounted on the head is a second motor 33 which drives a pump 34 to provide the suction, which rocks the blade 72 through linkage 71 and which drives the belt 41.