US1501582A - Sheet separator - Google Patents

Description

E. CHESHIRE V SHEET SEPARATOR Filed April 25 192) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. CHESHIRE SHEET SEPARATOR Filed April 25,

1921 2 SheQtS-Sheet 3 EDWARD OESHIBE, OF BERLIN TOWNSHIP, WAD M i A COUNTY, WISCONSIN, AB-

SIGNOE TGHIEHLE PRINTING PRESS & MANUFACTURING 66., F CECAGO, ILLI- NOIS, A COBPQRATION OF ILLINOIS.

sm'r SEPARATOR.

Application filed April 25, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD CHESHIRE, a citizen of the United States, and a resi ,dent of Berlin Township, in the county of Waukesha and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet Separators, of which the 8, 1916, I have disclosed and claimed a suction foot for separating the top sheet from the remainder of a pile of stock, said foot having a suction opening in the lower side thereof and having such lower side formed to prevent the creation of vacuum spaces be tween the top 'and second sheets at the parts of such sheets embracing said suction opening, or to create between the first and second sheets an air chamber embracing the edge of said opening and in communication with the. atmosphere, the theory being that the formation of vacuum spaces between the top and second sheets, due to leakage of air through the top sheet into the suction opening of the foot, is avoided on account of air being admitted between the sheets. In said theory it is assumed that air space or spaces relatively large in size will be formed between the first andsecond sheets and at the proper time to compensate for any leakage of air through the top sheet into the suction opening of the foot.

In my present invention an entirely different theory and structure are involved. In the present case my theory is to provide at all times an exposed air space or spaces between the suction foot and the top sheet of paper, the suction opening of the foot being in direct communication with said exposed air space or spaces, when the foot is placed upon the. to sheet of material, so that any leakage 0? air will be from the air space or spaces over the sheet to the suction opening instead of a leakage of air through the top sheet. The suction will be sufficiently great to draw the top sheet of material up into a groove in the under surface of the foot but not strong enough to extend through the top sheet to draw the second sheet, especially in view of the Serial No. 464,432.

air leakage over the top sheet. The top sheet, as 1t recedes from the next sheet on the pile, gradually cuts oil communication between the suction opening of the shoe and the exposed air spaces above said top sheet. When the topsheet is drawn up completely into its limiting position within the suction groove, communication between the suction opening and exposed air spaces is cut off completel At this time, however, the top sheet at t e suction space is in a remote position with respect to the second sheet,

-whereupon said top sheet, efi'ectively separated from the second sheet, may be. fed to suitable impression means.

One object of the present invention is to facilitate the separation of sheet material in a simple and novel manner.

Another object is to provide a suction foot for separating sheet material and having means whereby suction will not extend through a sheet causing a second sheet to adhere thereto.

Another ob'ect is to provide a sim le,

compact, relia 1e and eficient suction oot adapted to meet the various requirements under service conditions.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showin a separating device constructed in accor ancewith my invention in position upon a pile of sheets;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the separating device, showing the position whlch the suction foot assumes when not in contact with the pile of sheets; f Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the suction oot;

Fig. 4 is a lon itudinal section through the suction foot, the section being taken on the line -4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; i

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the inner faces of one of the side walls of the suction foot holder;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, on Y tion being taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7, but only the front part of the foot being shown; and

,' chine in connection with which my present separating device has so far been used, the

- over the said flange.

cross bar 10, after rising from the pile, is given a forward movement, whereby the separated sheet is carried forward to other mechanisms. The cross bar 10 has a vertical flange 11, in the rear side of which are formed a number of conical depressions 12 for a purpose to be hereafter described.

Upon bar 10 is mounted the suction foot holder 13, whichis formed with a channel 14 fitting The holder is formed with a rearwardly extending hollow boss 15 into which fits a plunger 16, the conical end of which enters one or another of the conical depressions 12 of the flange 11, according to the position in which the holder 13 is placed lengthwise of the cross bar 10. The plunger 16 is pressed towards the flange 11 by a spring 17, but can be pulled outwardly by means of a latch lever 18 pivoted to it on the outside of the boss 15, .the lower end of such lever 18 engaging the 15, and the part of the lever above its pivot engaging an ear 19 on such boss. When it 18 desired to remove the holder 13 from the cross bar 10, the.'upper end of the latch lever 18 is manuall pushed forward, whereby the end-of the p unger 16 is released from the depression 12 of the cross bar 10, whereu on the holder 13, with the suction foot WlllC it carries, can be lifted off the cross bar 10, or can'be longitudinally moved thereon to some other desired lateral adjustment. It Wlll be observed that this removal or adjustment can be effected by the thumb andforefinger, the lever 18 being simply pinched towards the holder 13.

The suction foot comprises a shoe 20, to which is secured, by means of screws 21, a sole 22. The sole 22 has formed in its bottom face. near the edge which will be adjacent the front of the pile of sheets, a segment-shaped suction space of peculiar configuration. which space communicates, by means of a number of holes 23 with a suction chamber 24 formed within the shoe 20. A tube 25 enters the shoe and communicates with the suction chamber 24, which tube is connected, by means of hose 26 with a source of air suction. 1

The shoe 20 is formed, at its front part,

the vertical flange 11 of the cross' with a pair of laterally extendin pins 27, and, at its rear part with a pair 0 laterally extending pins 28, the pins 28 however, being on a higher level than the pins 27. The pins 27 are adapted to enter a pair of recesses 29 (Fig. 5) formed in the opposed faces of side walls 30 which form part of the holder 13 and extend therefrom in a forward direction. The pins 28 are adapted to rest in recesses 31 formed in the side walls 30, such recesses being formed so as to permit an upward and downward movement of the pins 28, and being formed with shoulders 33 against which the pins 28 rest when the suction foot is not in or near contact with the pile. When the cross bar 10 is.

lifted so that the suction foot is not in or near contact with the top of the pile, so that the rear pins 28 will rest upon the shoulders 33, the suction foot will be maintained in a position in which it slopes upward towards its front edge, as shown in Fig. 2. When, however, the cross bar 10 is lowered so as to bring the suction foot into contact with the top of the pile, the bottom of the foot conforms to the level of the top of the pile and rests lightly thereon, the bottom face of the cross bar 10 pressing on the top sheet.

When it is desired to remove the suction foot from the holder 13, this may be readily and quickly done by releasing the holder 13 from the cross bar 10, whereupon the pins 27 may be. pushed rearwardly in the recesses 29, thereby causing pins 28 to drop out of the recesses 31, and permitting the whole suction foot to be removed forwardly.

As the cross bar 10 descends onto the pile, the suction foot then being in the position shown in Fi 2, the rear ed e of such foot first strikes t e' top sheet, an suction being applied, a preliminary lifting of the front e ge of the sheet is effected. As the cross bar further descends,the suction foot tilts until its bottom face is horizontal (Fig. 1), resting lightly in that position while the cross bar 10 presses firmly down on the top sheet of the pile. The top sheet having become attached to the suction foot, the cross bar rises again. As the cross bar begins to rise, the front edge of the suction foot rises also, but the rear edge remains stationary until the pins 28 are engaged by the shoulders 33, the suction foot.then being again in a tilted condition. By this means, as will be seen, the front edge of the sheet is first peeled away from the balance of the pile before any bodily liftin of the whole sheet takes place, thereby o taining a moreefiicient separating action, especially at high speeds. This lifting of the front edge first also allows air to be efliciently blown in between the top and second sheets from-a blast nozzle 32 in such way as to introduce a film of air between such sheets and thus reduce t emes as the frictional and atmospheric resistance of the top sheet to being moved away. The arrangement of the nozzle 32 as shown, in combination with the preliminary liftin of the front edge of the sheet, has the et iect that should a second sheet by any chance be lifted with the first sheet, such second sheet would probably be blown away from the first sheet and fall back on the pile. The position of the pile, and of the separated top sheet, after the cross bar 10 has been lifted so as to remove the suction foot entirely from the pile, is shown in Fig. 2. From this it will be seen that the separated sheet is held in such position that if the cross bar 10 and the separating devices (ordinarily two) which-itearries are moved forwardly so as transfer the separated sheetto another part of the machine, the resistance of the atmosphere during the transit of the sheet, will be exerted against the lower surface of the sheet, thereby tending to maintain it in its condition of being attached to the separating devices.

The configuration of the segment-shaped suction space formed in the sole 22 of the suction foot will best be understood from Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 7. An arcuate groove 34,

having an inner lip 35 and an outer lip 36, which lips are located above the level of the bottom face of the sole 22, is formed 1n such sole in such way that the ends of the groove open at the front face of the sole. it is'in this groove that the holes 23, communicating with the suction chamber 25:, are formed, the series of holes 23 terminating short'of the ends of the groove. On the outside of the groove 34:, and connecting the lip 33 with the bottom face of the sole, is a concave channel 37. On the inside of the groove 34 is a second concave channel 38, which connects the inner lip 35 with a segment-shaped fiat porton 39, which is located slightly above the level of the bottom face of the sole 22, and below the level of the lips 35 and 36. The proportion and arrangements of these parts is sometimes varied, in

providing suction feet for use in connection with heavy paper, whichwill not permit of a very high degree of buckling, or exceed; ingly light paper, which may be buckled considerably. Q

When the suction foot first reaches the pile, suction being applied thereto, the whole segment-shaped space, including the channels 37 and 38, the groove 34, and the space below the fiat portion 39, is, in eficct, a large suction space, though the degree of suction is not high, owing to leakage at the front of the foot. As the part of the top sheet beneath this space rises thereinto, the degree of suction increases, owing to the de crease of the leakage areaat the front. nally the lifted portion of the top sheet, des

sition shown in Fig. 6, in which it has engaged the lips 35 and 36 and become sealed rmly thereagainst. When this sealing of the top sheet against the lips 35 and 36 takes place, the full degree of suction is, for the first time, applied to the sheet, but only at the, part between the lips 35 and 36. All other parts of the sheet, above and below, are completely out ofi' from suction and opened up to the atmosphere. This construction permits the use of a high and constant degree of vacuum, which is advantageous in many respects, among which is the insurance of definite action, and the absence of necessity of varying the degree of vacuum when papers having difi'erent characteristics are to be separated. An especial advantage lies in the firm holding of the paper when the latter is not only to be separated by the foot but afterwards to be bodily moved by it to another position.

The opening of the top sheet to the air, above and below, except only at the part between the lips 35 and 36, will readily be understood from Figs. 6 and "I. When, as above stated, the top sheet seals against the lips 35 and 36, further suction is immediately cut oil from the channels 37 and 38,

into which channels air. immediately flows from the open ends (Fig. 7). Thus when the separating action has been completed,

with the foot resting on. the pile, an airfilled space A has been formed, between the foot and the top sheet, in front of the suction space formed by the groove 34, a second similar air-filled space E has been formed behind the said suction space, and a third air-filled space C has heen formed, between the top sheet 40 and the second sheet 41, beneath and surrounding the said suction space. It will thus be seen that no condition of partial vacuum can exist between the suction foot and the top sheet at any place other than at the groove 34. Such a condition of partial vacuum, if not prevented, might, by leakage through the pores of the paper be communicated to the'space between the top and second sheets, and might result in the separation of two sheets instead of one only. It will also be seen that no condition of partial vacuum can be created between the top and second sheets, either below the suction space (created by the groove 34) or surrounding such suction space.

The placing of thefiat portion 39 slightly above the level oi the bottom face of the suction toot results in a quick initial lifting on the front edge of the top sheet, and a quick inrush of air below such edge, which is found to-be an aidto efl'ective separation at high speeds.

Having fully described my inventionwhat ters Patent is ignated 40 in the drawings reaches the po- 1. A separator foot formed with a portion for resting on the sheet, a suction spacea part of the sheet is lifted to engage said sealing edge, and a cavity adjoinin said sealing edge on the opposite side t ereof from said suction space, said cavity being disposed so as to be open to the atmosphere when a sheet is sealed against said edge.

2. A separator foot formed with .a portion for resting on the sheet, a suction channel having a sealing edge wholly disposed abovethe plane of said portion, and a cavity adjoining said sealing edge on the opposite side thereof from said channel, said cavity being disposed so as to be open to the atmosphere when a' sheet is sealed against said edge.

3. A separator foot formed with a portion for resting on the sheet, a suction channel having sealing edges wholly disposed above the plane of said portion, and cavities adjoining said edges on the opposite sides thereof from said channel, said cavities being disposed so as to be open to the atmosphere when a sheet is sealed against said edges.

4. A separator foot formed with a portion for resting on the sheet and with achannel opening at its ends at the front of said foot, said channel having sealing edges wholly disposed above the lane of said portion, whereby a part of t e sheet is lifted to engage said sealing edge.

5. A separator foot formed with a portion forresting on the sheet, a suction space opening at one end at the front of said foot and having a sealing edge wholly disposed above the plane of said portion, and a cavity opening at the front of said foot and adjoining said sealing edge at the opposite side thereof from said suction space.

6. A separator foot formed with a portion for resting on the sheet, a suction channel opening at its ends at the front of said foot and'having sealing edges wholly disposed above the plane of said portion, and cavities adjoining said sealin edges on the opposite sides thereof from said channel and opening at the front of the foot.

7 A separator foot having a sheet engaging face formed with a primary .suction space, said foot being formed with a secondary suction space within said primary space, the sealing edges of said secondary space being disposed aboye the plane of said s eet-engaging face.

8. A separator foot having a sheet-engaging face formed with a primary suction sfpace opening at the front of the foot, said oot being formed with a secondary suction space within said primary space, a sealing edge of said secondary space being disposed above the plane of said sheet-engaging face.

9. Aseparator foot having a sheet-engag mouse a ing face formed with a primary suction space, said foot being formed with a secondary suction space within said primary space, the sealing edges of said secondary space being dis osed above the plane of said sheet-engaging face, and with a cavity adjoining one of said sealing edges on the opposite side thereof from said secondary s ace, said cavit being open to the atmosp ere when a s eet is sealed against said edge.

10. A separator foot having a sheet-engaging face formed with a primary suction s ace openi at the front of the foot, said oot bein ormed with a secondary suction channe within said primary space and opening at the front of the foot, the sealing edges of said secondary channel being disposed above the plane of said sheetengaging face.

11. A separator foot having a sheet-engaging face formed with a primar suction channel within said primary space, the seal ing edges of said secondary channel being disposed above the plane of said sheet-engaging face, and cavities, opening at the front of the foot, adjoining said sealing edges on the opposite sides thereof from said channel.

13. A sheet separator com rising a support for being moved towar s and from a pile of paper, said support having a portion for pressing on the pile, and a suction foot rockably connected with said support so that one portion thereof normally occupies a lower plane'than another portion, whereby, upon said support being moved away from the pile, one portion of said foot will leave the pile earlier than the other portion.

14. A sheet separator comprising a support for being moved towards and from a pile of paper, said support having a portion for pressing on the pile, a suctionfoot, and means for rockably connecting said suction foot with said sup ort so that the rear art of said foot norma ly occupies a lower plane than the front part, and upon said support being moved away from the part of said foot will leave t e than the rear art.

15. A suction foot for separating one sheet of material from another, compri a ile, the front pile earlier I body having a suction opening and an air l-throu h the top sheet when thefoot is space permanently exposed to the atmoshere associated therewith, whereby suction initially will not extend through a sheet of material when the foot is brought into operative association therewith.

16. A suction foot for separating one sheet of material from another, comprising a body having a suction openin and an air space permanently exposed to t e atmosphere associated therewith and on the same side of the top sheet of material, whereby initially suction will not extend through the top sheet of material when the foot is brought into operative association therewith.

17. A suction foot for separating one sheet of material from another, com rising a body having a suction opening an an air space permanently exposed to the atmos here in communication with each other w hen the foot initially is brou ht into operative association with the top s eet, whereby air leakage is only from said air space to the suction opening.

18. suction foot for separating one sheet of material from another, comprismg a body having a suction opening and an all space permanently exposedto the atmosphere in communication with each other when the foot initially is brought into operative association with the top sheet, whereby air leakage is only from said air space to the suction openlng, and means whereby the top sheet may form a seal for the suction opening isolating the air space therefrom when said suction o ening through said suction,

groove, where y suction will not extend broug t into operative association therewith.

20. In a suction foot for separating one sheet of material from another, comprising a body having a suction groove, a suction opening normally communicating therewith, an air space permanently exposed to the atmosphere and normally in communication with said suction opening through said suction groove, whereby when the suction foot initially engages a sheet of paper air leakage is only from the air space through the suction groove to the suction opening, the top sheet thereby being drawn into the suction groove and separated from thenext sheet, said top sheet finally sealing. said suction opening from said airspace when the top sheet at the suction opening is remote from the second sheet.

21. A suction foot for separating one sheet of material from another, comprising a body having a main groove with a downwardly exterfdin projection forming a secondary groove within the first, said secondary groove forming an' air space permanently exposed to the atmosphere, a suction opening extending through said projection and initially being in vcommunication with said air space, whereby when the suction foot is brought into engagement with a sheet of material air leakage will be entirely over the top sheet, the latter thereby being drawn into the main groove for separating said top sheet from the next sheet.

22. A separator foot formed with a portion for resting on the sheet, a suction space in said foot, and air space within said shoe embracing said suction space and concentrically arranged with res ect thereto.

In testimony whereof I ave hereto afixed my signature.

EDWARD CHESHIRE. Witnesses:

Gnono J. BRuMMnR, Tnzeo. R. Foam.

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