US1496726A - Sheet-ferding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

T, MYH'RUM SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM June 3, 1924.

Filed March l, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I i3 I June 3, 1924. I 1,496,726

T. MYHRUM SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed March l. 199.0 3 sheetssheet 2 .Fusie 3 1924.

T..MYHR`UM SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed March l. 1.920 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 l the sheet and holds the same suspended af- Patented .lune 3, i924.-

ir 'rr man arr in.

THOMAS MYHRUM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO CONTINENTAL CAN COM- PANY, OEE SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION F NEW YOP; l

v Application led March 1, 1920. Serial No. 362,615.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MYHRUM, a citizen of the United States, residing -at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of.

Illinols, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Feeding Mechanisms, 0f which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the iigures of reference marked thereon. p

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in sheet feeding mechanisms, and more particularly to a sheet feeding mechanism wherein a sheet is vseparated from a stack and is then moved edgewise into the machine operating thereon.

Prior to my invention, suction devices such as metal cups have been used for separating a sheet of metal from a stack of sheets, and means has been provided for moving the sheet edgewise while held by the suction cups. It has been foundin practice, however, that if a sheet is bent or ribbed or very uneven, the metal 'suction cup will not make an air-tight engagement therewith, and lthe sheet will not be picked up. It is well known that rubber suction cups will lift the sheet from the stack, but so' far asI am aware, it is impractical to move the sheet edgewise while held by the rubbersuction cup.

The object of the present invention is to provide means vwhich may be associated lwith yielding suction cups for lifting metal sheets from a stack, which means engages terthe suction cup has released the same, and which means is so constructed that the sheet may be moved edgewise on said sustaining'means into ,the machine which is to operate uponthe sheet. I

In the drawings 'which show byway of illustration, one embodiment of .the invention Figure 1 is an end view of a punching machine having my improved feeding mechanism applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view, more or less diagrammatic, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 -lof Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;'

Fig. 61 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of lFig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7--7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a view showing mlore or less diagrammatically the stack holder, the

means for separating the sheets 'from the stack, the sustaining means and the means for feeding the sheet endwise, the suction means being in contact with the sheet for lifting the same; and

Fig. 9`is a similar view but showing the sheets sustained by the magnets preparatory to the movement of the same edgewise into the machine which operates upon the same. A

While the invention is directed broadly to a sheet feeding means, it is particularly directed to feeding devices for removingmetal sheets, one at a time, from the stack holder and for feeding the sheets after being separated froml the stack holder edge' wise into the machine which operates upon the sheets. In the present embodiment of the invention, the machine operating upon the sheets'is shown as a die punching press. The machine illustrated in Fig. 1 is substantially the same character of machine as that shown and described in the patent granted to Charles D. McDonald, dated .March 7, 19Q5, Number 784,415. Said machine includes a supporting base 1 having standards 2 in which a main shaft 3 rotates. 'This main shaft -operatesthe punching die and also the feeding mechanism which feeds the sheets, step by step, through the machine. The sheets are directed to the feeding mechanism by means of guiding plates 4 and 5. 1

Mounted on the standards 2 is a stack holder 6, in which is placed a stack of metal blanks or sheets 7. The sheets are lifted, one at a time, from the stack holder, by a reciprocating plunger 8 carrying a cross head 9, and the sheets are fed into the receiving mouth between the guide plates 4 and 5 by feed fingers 10 carried by reciproso far described are substantially the same f as those shown in the patent above referred a valve 25 of the plunger type. .has an annular recess 26 Jformed therein, and when this valve is in the position shown in Prior to my invention, metal cups weremounted upon a cross head and connected to a suitable suction creating means' which operated to place the cups under vacuum after the same had been pressed against the sheet. lt has been found in practice, as above noted, that it the sheet is slightly bent, or the surface is, irregular for any reason, the metal lip ofthe cup would not unake contact with the sheet all the way around', and as a result, air would be admitted under? neath the lip of the cup and the cup would therefore fail to be put under vacuum and lift the sheet from the stack. 'llhe present invention contemplates the use of rubber suction cups, which,y as well known, will lift the sheet even though the surface is irregular or bent for the reason that the flexible lip of the rubbercup will conform to any irregularity in the surface of the sheetfthus making an airtight contact with the sheet so that the cup may be placed under vacuum and the sheet lifted. lt is also well known that the sheets cannot be slid edgewise while suspended by rubber suction cups, and there# fore the invention contemplates the use of magnets which are so associated with the idexible suction cups that' the sheet will be transferred by the suction cups to the magnets which holds the sheet brought in contact therewith suspended after it has been released bythe suction cups, and then the feeding in fingers may engage the sheet and move it edgewise on the magnets into the machine to be operated upon.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the cross head 9 is provided as herein shown with two suction cups 15 and 16. As clearly shown in llig. 2, there are two cross heads 9, 9, two feeding in lingers 10, 1() and two reciprocating rods 11, 11, carrying the lingers. rllhe cross head,9 is mounted on the end of the reciprocating plunger 8 and this reciprocating plunger 8 moves endwise in the suplporting bracket 17. Each suction cup as erein shown is formed oft rubber and is held on the cross head by a threaded bolt 18rwhich is ormed with a central opening 19 therethrough leading 'to a chamber 20 in the cross head. The chamber 20 of the cross head may be connected by a passage 21`to a passage 22 which leads to a passage 23 extending lengthwise of the plunger 8 and this passage is connected to asuitable pipe 24 which leads to a suction creating means. lntermediate the passages 21 and 22 there is Said valve Fig; 3, the annular recess 26 is out of register with the passages 21 and 22 and therefore these passages are disconnected. When,

` however, this plunger is moved endwise to the position shpwn in Fig. 8, then this annular recess jolns the two passages 21 and Iof the magnets, the va incarne 22. and thus the suction cup indicated at 16 and it the cup. is in contact with the sheet,

la vacuum will be created therein which will cause said suction cup to firmly grip/ and hold the sheet and lift it from the stack when the cross head is moved by the recip rocation of the plunger 8. rlhe suction cup 15 is similar in construction and is held by a threaded bolt 18 which is threaded into a cross head and this bolt is provided with a passage 19 which leads to a chamber 27. rllhe chamber 27 is connected with the passage 28 and this passage 28 may be connected with the passage 22. Said connection is controlled by a valve plunger 25, the annular recess 26 serving to connect these two passages 22 and 28 when the valve plunger is moved to the position shown in Fig. 8. 'The chamber 2O is also connected to a passage 29 land the passage 29 may be connected with a passage 30 leading to the atmosphere. Said connection is controlled by the valve plunger 31 having an annular recess 32. There is a passage 33 connected with the chamber 27 and this passage also may be connected by this valve plunger to the atmosphere either through the passage 30 or the passage 3d. Likewise the passage 29 may be connected to the atmosphere through this passage 3d.

From the above it will be apparent that when the cross head is moved to the position shown in Fig. 8, the suction cups will be brought into contact with the topmost sheet in the stack 7 and as the cross head forces the suction cups firmly into contact with the sheet, the rubber cups will yield slightly. The ends of the valve plungers 25 and 31 engage the sheet just a little before the l fill suction cups and as these plungers are moved e i endwise through the yielding of the suction cups to the pressure of the crossy head, the annular recess 26 will be brought into register' with the passages 21 and 28 and thus the suction cups will be connected with the suction creating vmeans and a vacuum created in each cup. At this time the plunger 31 is moved suilicient so as to close the connection between the passages 29 and 33 with the atmosphere. therefore be firmly gripped and as the cross head moves outwardly the valve plungers remain in the position to which they have been shifted by the sheet, the sheet will be carried by the cross head until it is brought into engagement with the supporting magnets which are indicated at 35. As shown in the drawings, there are four magnets 35. 'lhese magnets are of the horse shoe type and are similar in construction.. -The magnets are carried by a plate A3,6 which is secured by means of a bolt37 to a supporting bracket 38, there being a bracket Afor each magnet. d ust as the sheet is `beingo brought into range ve vplungers 25 and |lhe sheet will k i opened to the atmosphere.

31 engage the brackets 17 and are moved endwise so that the annular recess 26 is moved out of register With the passage 22 4 the same time, bythe movement of the plunger 31, the annular recess 82 registers With the passage 29 andthus each suction cup is This causes the suction cups to releasetheir grip upon the shee,y and the sheet Will be held suspended by the magnets. The suction cups move just slightly out ofrange of the sheet'so that it may be moved edgewise freely by the feeding in fingers 1 0, the magnets sustaining the sheet and permitting the edgewise movement thereof.

It will thus be seen that I have provided the means for feeding sheets which has all the advantages of the rubber suction cup for creating and lifting the sheet from the stack, and at the same time, has all the advantages of the metal cups as to free edgewise movement 'of the sheets, While in contact with the4 sustaining means. y.

It is obvious, of course, that minor changes in the details of construction and the varrangement of the parts may be` made Without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.l l

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

l. A sheet metal feeding mechanism comprising 'a yielding suction device for engaging the sheet and separating the same from a stack of sheets, magnetic means for receiving the metal sheets and holding the same suspended after the sheets are released by the suction device, and means for moving the suspended sheets edgevvise on said magnetic supporting means.

2. A sheet metal feeding mechanism comrising a reciprocating yielding suction cup for engaging a sheet and separating the same p from a stack of sheets, magnets for receiving the metal sheets from the reciprocating suction cup and holding the same suspended after the sheets are released by the suction cup, and means for moving the suspended sheets edgewise on the magnets.

3. A sheet metal feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocating `cross head, a plurality of yielding suction cups carried thereby, valves for controlling the connection of the suction cups to a suctlon'creating means, magnets arranged to engage the sheet after "it is separated from'the stack and for holding the same suspended after the suction means has released the same, and means for moving the sheet endwise on the magnet.

for' connecting said suction cup to a suction 'creating means or to the atmosphere, said valve mechanism being operated by the sheet to open the suction cup and connect the ,suction cup to the vacuum creating means, said valve mechanism being operated by the frame of the machine for connecting said suction cup to the atmosphere, magnets for engaging the sheet just prior to the connecting of the suction cup to the atmosphere whereby the sheetvvill be sustained by the magnets, and means for feeding the sheet edgewise on the magnets.

5. A sheet metal feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocating plunger, a frame supporting the same, a cross head carried by the plunger, a plurality of rubber suction cups carried by the cross head, reciprocating valves mounted vin the cross head and adapted to engage the sheet whereby the valves are shifted for closing the suction cups to the atmosphere and for connecting the suction cups to the suction creating means, and means for operating said valves when the sheet has been lifted from the stack for disconnecting said suction cups with the suction creating means and for connecting the same with the atmosphere, a series of magnets arrangedto engage the sheets just prior to the releasing ofthe same by the suction cups for sustaining the sheets, and

means for moving the sheets edgewise on the Y magnets.

6. A sheet metal feeding mechanism comlprising a stack holder, a reciprocatin'gpluneither to a suction creating means or to the atmosphere, said plunger valves being disosed and constructed so that said valves are shifted by the sheet when the suction cups engage the sheet for connecting the suction cups to the suction creating means and disconnecting the -same from the atmosphere, and means for engaging said valve plungers for shifting the same after the sheet has been separated from thelstack so that the suction cups are disconnected from the lvacuum creating means and connected to the atmosphere, a series of magnets arranged so as to engage the sheets just priorto the releasing of the sheet' from the suction cups and for holding the sheet susfingers may move the sheet endwise on the magnets' and into the operating machine.

7 .'A conveyor' for magnetic material including a suction member 'and a magnetic port for the sheets, a receiver, and pickingl means movable toward and froni the sheets, of stripping means arranged to strip the sheets from the picking means to sustain the same, and transfer means for transferring the sheets from the stripping means/to the receiver.

9. rlFhe combination With a suitable means for sustaining metallic sheets, and a ref ceiver, of a' picking means movable toward and from the sheets to pick the sheets suc` cessively, stripping magnets arranged on opposite sides of the picking means for stripping the sheets from the picking means, and means for shifting the sheets from the stripping magnets to the receiver.

l0. lin a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of suction cups adapted to pneumatically lift a sheet of material, and means disposed in the path of travel of said sheet to release the sheet. from said cups during the upstroke of the cups and hold said sheet 'when released from the caps.x

ll. ln a machine of the class described,

the combination of a plurality of reciprocatory suction cups adapted to lift a sheet of material, and means disposed in the path of travel -of a sheet lifted by the said cups forbreaking the seal between said sheet and the cups and holding said sheet when releasedfrom said cups.,

l2. ln a machine of the class described,

the combination of la sheet lifting device,

insegne means for reciprocating said device, means disposed in the path of and above a lifted sheet for separating said lsheet from said lifting device and holding said sheet in position to be transferred.

1.3.'ln a machine of the class described, the combination of reciprocatory sheet lifting apparatus, a feed channel, magnets disposed in alinement with said channel and in the path of a sheet lifted by saidl apparatus for separating said sheet from 'the lifting apparatus 'and' holding the same in alinement with said channel, and means for trans ferring said sheet from said magnets into said channel. t y

14. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of sheet lifting apparatus, magnets adapted to engage and hold a lifted. sheet, a feed channel, and' means for transferring said sheet edgevvise across said magnets into said channel, v

l5. lm a machine of the class described, the combinationV of a magnet, means 'jor bringing a sheet of metal and said magnet into co-operative relation, and means for rer4 moving said sheet edgewise from said net.,

16. ln a machine `of the class described, the combination of a plurality of magnets, means for disposing a sheet of metal the magnetic field of said magnets, a feed channel, and means for moving said sheet transversely of the magnets into said. channel i7. ln a machine of the class described,

the combination of sheet lifting apparatus,

a feed channel, transferring mechanism, and stationary means for controlling a sheet lifted by said lifting apparatus during transfer into said channelo ln testimony whereof l affix my signature.,

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