GB923596A - Improvements in or relating to batching and delivery mechanisms - Google Patents

Abstract

923,596. Delivering sheets. WALKER (ENFIELD) Ltd. Sept. 22, 1959 [June 22, 1958], No. 16462/58. Class 100 (1). A sheet batching mechanism comprises a batch delivery device which normally receives sheets fed successively to it but when actuated delivers a batch of sheets so received, an auxiliary receiving device movable from a normal position to a second position in which it intercepts the feed of sheets to the delivery device and temporarily receives those sheets itself, the auxiliary receiving device transferring the sheets so received to the batch delivery device after delivery of the batch, and means for controlling the operation of the delivery device and of the auxiliary receiving device. As shown, the batch delivery device consists of an endless conveyer 22 which is normally stationary but which can be driven in an anticlockwise direction by an electric motor 26. A stop gate 27 which can be raised by means of a pneumatic ram 28 is positioned above the conveyer 22. Cardboard carton blanks are fed from a cutting and creasing machine by rollers 1, 2, on to a continuously moving conveyer 3 which comprises a plurality of laterally spaced endless belts. A horizontally reciprocable carriage 7 consists of a plurality of endless belts which can pass between the belts of the conveyer 3. The carriage 7 incorporates a free-wheel device whereby the endless belts thereof are driven in an anticlockwise direction when the carriage is moved bodily towards the rollers 1, 2, but are not driven when the carriage is moved in the opposite direction. The carriage is reciprocated by a linkage 12, 11, 16 connected to a driven, oscillating shaft 14, the link 16 being pivoted to the carriage in a way that allows it a small amount of angular movement in relation thereto. A sheet is transferred from the conveyer 3 on to the carriage 7 as the latter moves towards the rollers 1, 2, and is held on the carriage by means of a spring member 34 secured to the link 16. As the carriage moves in the opposite direction it carries the sheet with it to the position shown in Fig. 1. When the carriage changes direction again angular movement of the link 16 causes the member 34 to be raised so that the sheet on the carriage can be propelled over the end of the carriage and falls on to the conveyer 22. The front end of the sheet abuts against the stop gate 27 and as a pile of sheets grows on the conveyer it is squared up by side and end plates 29, 31 which are reciprocated towards and away from the centre of the pile by means of mechanical linkages such as 30. When a batch of the required number has been built up on the conveyer 22 the gate 27 is raised and the motor 26 is set in motion whereby the batch is carried to an operator at the left-hand end of the conveyer 22. An auxiliary carriage 37 normally disposed beneath the conveyer 3 and comprising an endless belt the action of which is similar to that of the belts of the carriage 7 is moved horizontally by means of a pneumatic ram 41 to a position above the batch on the conveyer 22 shortly before the gate 27 is raised. Thus while the conveyer 22 is being driven sheets falling from the carriage 7 pile up on the stationary belt of the auxiliary carriage 37. When the conveyer 22 stops moving and the gate 27 is back in place the arm 41 moves the carriage 37 back to the position shown, the belt thereof being driven in an anticlockwise direction so that the sheets thereon fall on to the conveyer 22. The machine is controlled by means of a cam-shaft carrying three cams and a ratchet wheel 44. The cams respectively operate valves in the air supply lines to the rams 28, 41 and a switch in the energizing circuit for the motor 26. The cam-shaft is rotated step-by-step by means of a pawl 45 carried by an oscillating link forming a part of a linkage 46 connected to the shaft 14. The cams are so shaped as to allow delivery of a batch once in each revolution of the cam-shaft. In a modification the conveyer 22 is replaced by a roller table pivoted about a horizontal axis near to one end and normally positioned at an angle slightly inclined to the horizontal, the end thereof remote from the stack of sheets being the higher. When the gate 27 is raised this end of the table is lowered by means of a pneumatic ram so that the batch slides down the table under the influence of gravity.