GB719954A - Improvements in arrangements for feeding sheets or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

719,954. Feeding sheets. BLOCK & ANDERSON, Ltd., and HALL TELEPHONE ACCESSORIES, Ltd. March 24, 1953 [March 31, 1952], No. 8159/52. Class 100 (1). Pile tables; ; sheet-separators.- In a sheet-separating apparatus the pile table for the sheets is pivotally mounted at or near the end remote from that from which the sheets are delivered, and is urged upwardly at the free end by spring means controlled by an escapement which is itself controlled by a detector engaging the .top sheet of the pile, whereby the top of the pile is kept at a desired level. As applied to a duplicating-machine, the pile table 5 is pivoted about a fixed axis 3, and is urged upwardly at the back or delivery end by a roller 15 carried on one end 14 of a bell-crank lever secured to a shaft 16, the other end 17 of the lever being attached to a tension spring 18. A pile of sheets is placed on the table 5 between adjustable side plates 6 and the table depressed against the action of the spring 18 to bring the top of the pile to the level of a plate 10 which is secured to the machine frame. The shaft 16 is coupled to a shaft 28 through a number of gear-wheels and a one-way clutch, so that as the table 5 is moved, an escapement wheel 29 on the shaft 28 is rotated: the clutch allows free depression of the table 5. The rotation of the wheel 29 is controlled by a rocker 30 to which is attached a pendulum arm 31 carrying a weight 32. When the pendulum 31, 32 is free to swing, its natural frequency determines the rate of movement of the escapement wheel 29. The upward movement of the table 5 is arrested, when the top of the sheet pile is at the correct level, by the free end of a lever 34 embracing a pin 33 secured to the rocker 30. The lever 34 is pivoted at 35 and attached to a link 36 which is guided for vertical movement by a detector responsive to the position of the top sheet of the pile. As shown, this detector comprises a friction or combing roller 11 which feeds the sheets from the pile, the roller being carried by an arm 12 pivoted at 13 and driven by known means. An arm 40 secured to the arm 12 is adapted to engage a pin 39 on the link 36 so that if the roller 11 drops below a certain level the link is lifted to release the rocker 30 and allow the spring 18 to raise the table 5. A latch 41 on the arm 40 can engage in a notch 43 in a plate 42 to enable the roller 11 to be retained in a raised position during loading of the table 5. The lower part 10<SP>1</SP> of the fixed plate 10 slopes away from the table 5 and acts to register the sheet pile by displacing it rearwardly as the table rises. An adjustable trip, to prevent upward movement of the table just before the pile of sheets is exhausted and to operate an electric trip in the drive of the machine if the machine is driven electrically, comprises an arm secured to the shaft 16 adapted to operate a link which stops the rotation of the roller 11 and the machine when the arm has been rotated through a predetermined arc by the shaft 16.