GB972218A - Automatic sampler for sheet handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

972,218. Delivering sheets. CONSOLIDATED PAPERS Inc. Feb. 1, 1962 [Feb. 15, 1961], No. 3836/62. Heading B6H. Relates to apparatus for converting a paper web into reams of cut sheets and automatically extracting or diverting sample sheets from the delivery from the cutter, for inspection. According to the invention, sheets are diverted from the high speed delivery on to a carrier operating at least at the speed of the delivery by immediately and continuously pressing the leading edge into intimate supported contact with the carrier and continuously maintaining the leading edge and progressive portions of the rest of the sheet in such contact with the carrier throughout the area of diversion. Thus the sheets are diverted without delay or buckling. Sheets cut by a knife on a roller 21, Fig. 2, from a web supplied from a roll 20 are passed by tapes 48, 49, 50 to tapes 45, 47 and thence to slower moving tapes 71 which cause them to overlap, and into a layboy. Selected sheets are diverted by a pivoted gate 60 to tapes 44, 45 and thence to a layboy 150, Fig. 1a. The diverted sheets are pressed down against the tapes 50 by air jets 61, and when a sheet is diverted the tapes 71 are stopped by releasing a clutch and applying a brake. The sheets are assisted into the layboys by air from nozzles 64, 62. The jets 61, gate 60, clutch and brake are operated at predetermined times by electrical control means actuated by switches 98, 99 (not shown), and 115, and a photoelectric cell 125. The switches 98, 99 are operated by cams 96, 97 on a shaft 95 rotated from the shaft of the roller 21, the cams being angularly set with respect to the knife by a pawl and ratchet mechanism on the roller shaft. The switch 115 is operated by buttons 113 selectively placed on a belt 111 driven from the roller shaft. The switches control the jets 61 and gate 60. The photoelectric cell senses diverted sheets and controls the brake and clutch, which alternatively can be controlled mechanically or electromechanically by two further cams on a shaft driven from the shaft 95 and angularly set by a further pawl and ratchet mechanism on the shaft 95. The layboy 150 comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots up through each of which protrudes a finger 153, the fingers being laterally aligned and pre-set according to sheet length to act as front stops. Drag ropes 163 slow down the sheets as they enter. The layboy is movable laterally on wheels 167 to a position outside the machine to allow inspection of the diverted sheets.