US1575891A - Collating device - Google Patents

Description

March 9 1926.

H. V. ASHBY COLLATING DEVICE Filed April 15. 1925 '4 sheets-sheet 1 March 9 1926.

H, v. Asl-:BY

COLLATING DEVICE Filed April 13. 1923 4 'Sheets-Sheet 2 March 9 9 i926. 1,575,89

H. V. ASHBY COLLATING DEVICE Filed April 13, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3- March 9 1926. l',575,89l

H. v. AsHBY COLLATING DEVICE Filed April l5, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented liflar. t9, 1926. i -UNHT STATES PATENT @FFHCO HARRY V. ASHBY, OF ERE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWARD 3B. ASHBY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COLLATING DEVICE.

Application filed April U13, 1923. Serial No. 631,920.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY V. A sHBY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Erie, in the county of Erie and State of e Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCollating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to machines for collating, or associating, sheets, signatures, etc. rlhe invention has forits general object the production of a machine of this kind which is of simple and rugged construction and thoroughly reliable in operation.

Briefiy stated, the machine according to 15 the present invention comprises two or more supports for piles f sheets and means for simultaneously taking a sheet from each pile and depositing'thern one on top of another as a group of sheets.

The objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the description taken in connection with the' drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the machine shownby Fig. 1, on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View on a still larger scale, showing more particularly the sheet lifting devices and the reciprocating sheet grippers.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, parts being broken away.

Fig. 6 is a detail side view showing a set of sheet gripping fingers and the mechanism for opening said lingers as they approach their sheet receiving position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a sheet receiving tray, illustrating a modification of the mechanism for reciprocating the sheet lifting nozzles.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating more particularly the means for transmitting power trl the various operating parts'of the machine.

Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views illustrating a sleeve valve and operating mechanism, for periodically placing the lifting nozzles in communication with the atmosphere.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section through a lifting nozzle and its associated parts.

Fig. 13 is a detail view illustratin devices for giving an alarm on failure of t e gripping fingers to receive a sheet.

, Fig. 14 is a view showing a cam for operating the gripping lingers when they ap- 6o proach their sheet-depositing position.

\ Fig. -15 is a longitudinal section through a sheet tray and illustrates devices-for positively disengaging the sheet from the gripper fingers. y

Fig. 16 is a top plan View of the structure shown by Fig. 15. y

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the operating parts of the machine are supported on a frame consisting of suitably connected side bars 1,'vertical supports 2 and an intermediate ioor 3. This frame is of an elongated rectangular form and has joui-naled adjacent the two end s thereof a pair of tape rollers 4 and 5 75 which carry a number of tapes 6, by means of which the sheets to be collated, or -associated, are conveyed to a sheet receptacle 7. Receptacle 7 has an inclined bottom 8 and a pivoted gate 9. The roller 4 is driven by 80 means of a belt 10, which passes over a pulley fixed to said roller and over a pulley 11.

adapted to be clutched to a counter shaft 12 see F igures 1 and.9). Counter shaft 12 1s preferably rotated by an electric motor S5 which is connected to said shaft by a belt For the sake of simplicity, the machine illustrated is adaptied to associate sheets in sets of only two. rIhe general principles of the machine shown, however, may of course be applied in the construction of machines adapted to associate any number of sets of sheets.

The sheets to be collated or associated are arranged in suitablepiles which are placed on trays 15 supported on the frame in slightly inclined position directly above the upper runs of tapes 6 and at suitable ydistances apart. These trays may consist simply of a flat plate having an upwardly extending portion formed on the lower edge thereof. For facilitating the lifting of the sheets from the trays by Amechanism which will be hereinafter described, the inner faces of the upwardly extending portions have secured thereon a number of narrow ariallel strips 16 against which the forwar edge of the sheet pile rests. These strips prevent the sheets from making close contact with 1w the face of the end plate 'and effect free communication between the edges of the sheets and the atmosphere, thus preventing the 'formationof a vacuum when a sheet is Ilifted, which would interfere with the lifting or might cause twol or more sheets to be lifted together.

Mounted to\ reciprocate up rand down above the lower end of each tray 15 isa set of vacuum nozzles 17, each set in the illustration comprising three nozzles. These nozzles are for the purpose of lifting the sheets singly from the trays and presenting them to reciprocating sheet grippers which will be presently described. 'Tliie nozzles are' adjustably mounted`on a transverse bar 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 12. These nozzles, which may be of soft rubber and of ageneral hollow hemispherical form, have vnecks which receive the lower ends of tubes 19 fixed in slides 20. The slides have parallel flanges 21 which engage the upper and lower sides of bar 18 and are secured against lateral displacement by pins 22 and fixed 1n adjusted positions by screws 23;` Flexible hose 24 connect the upper ends of tubes 19 with pipes 25 which are connected to des pending pipes 26, which in turn are'connected to piping 27 communicating with a vacuum pump 28 driven by an electrlc motor 29. The pipes 25 are secured 1n the upper ends of transversely aligned pillars 30, which are bolted to the side bars 1 of the frame. Each bar 18 has its ends slidable in vertical slots formed in the pillars 30 for reciprocation up and down. The train of mechanism for reciprocating the bars 18 comprises the following parts: A shaft 31, journaled in bearings secured to floor 3, is driven from the counter shaft 12 by means of a pulley 32 adapted to be clutched to the counter shaft, a pulley 33'keyed to shaft 31 and a belt 34 passing over these pulleys. A cam 35 fixed to shaft 31' engages a roller on a lever 36 which is fulcrumed at its lower end and is joined at its upper end toa bar 37, which extends longitudinally of the frame yand is suitably guided lfor reciprocation thereon. I

Socketed in the bar 37 are arms 38 which are rotatably mounted on the ends of shafts 39. Shafts 39 are journaled in extensions 4() of pillars 30 and each of said shafts has fixed thereon adjacent to the arm' 38. an arm 41, which extends parallel to arm 38 and has a lateral extension or flange A42 provided with a screw 43 adapted to engage the forv ward edge of arm 38. Each shaft 39 has fixed thereon a pair of arms 44 which have their free ends connected-to the respective bar 18 by means of links 45. :spring 46 maintains the roller of lever 36 in engagement with the cam 35. In the position of the parts shown in-Fg. 2 the nozzles 17 are resting on top of the pile of sheets in tray 15.

:temeer When the cam 35 turns sufficiently to 'bring the cam portion thereof opposite to the roller on lever 36, the spring 46 moves said lever quickly to the left, looking atFigs. 2 and 3, thereby moving the arm 38 into engagement with the screw op flange` 42 and -rocking shaft 39 in a direction to lift the s lows them to fall independently, so that the several sets of nozzles may, and do, fall different distances depending on the heights of the sheet piles in the several trays 15, irre,- spective of the throw of the operating mech anism. Due to the freedom of the nozzlesy tov adjust themselves on the sheet pile, the edges of the nozzles make agood contact with the top sheet, irrespective of the height of the'sheet pile, thus facilitating the creation of .a vacuum or suction in the nozzles and making positive and certain the: adhesion thereto of the sheet.

Means are provided for grasping thesheets when lifted by the nozzles and transferring them to the tapes 6. There is provided for this purpose a set of reciprocating sheet-gripping fingers for each set of nozzles. These fingers are mounted on bars 47 which extend longitudinally of the frame and reston rollers 48'fmounted in brackets secured the inner faces of pillars 30. In the illustration each set of gripping fingers consists of three pairs, each pair 'comprising an upper rotatable finger 49 and a lower relatively stationary finger 50. The lower fingers are secured to a transverse shaft 51 which is fixed tothe bars 47 The upper fingers 49 are fixed to a transverse shaft 52 which is rotatably mounted in the bars 47.

.A coiled spring' 53, surrounding the shaft 52 and fixed at one end to the shaft and at the other end to bar 47, tends to holdfingers 49 in engagement with fingers 50. Bars 47 are reciprocated to move the fingers towards and from the trays 15 by means of levers 54, which are fulcrumedat their lower ends on floor 3 and have their upper ends connected to bars 47 by means of links 55. The levers 54 are connected by links 56 to crank disks 57 secured to the ends of shaft 31. Thus the rotation of shaft 31 oscillates thc levers 54 andy -reciprocates the gripping fingers towards and from the sheet travs in timed rezlation to the up and down reciprocations of the lifting nozzles, the parts being constructed and arranged so that just after the nozzles have lifted a sheet, the fingers which temeer 'i are then open will receive the forward edge of the sheet and will thenclose to grasp the sheet firmly therebetween; then the fingers vwill move forward transferring the sheet to a position over the tapes 6, and when the .fingers approach the limit of their forward movement they will open and deposit the sheet on said tapes. The means for opening and closing the fingers as they approach the limits of their movements towards the trays comprise the following partsi An arm 58 having a laterally projecting pin carry- I ing a roller 59, is secured on the en'd of.i shaft-52. A cam plate 60 is pivoted at 61u on pillar and is urgedby a coil spring 62 to rest on a bracket 63 fixed to said pillar. Cam plate 60 has a notch 64 cut in its inner edge. When the fingers approach tray -15 the roller 59 rides over the tpper face Aof cam plate 60 and is thus moved by said cam plate to rotate shaft 52 and open the fingers (see F ig. 6). Further mdvement of the ngers cause the forward edge of the sheet whichhas been fitted by the nozzles to enter the throats defined by said fingers. Roller 59 then registers with notch 64, permitting coil spring 53 to rotate shaft 52 and grip j the sheet between the fingers. Vhen the fingers move forward, roller 59 contacts the lower face of cam plate 60. the latterv yielding upwardly to permit the pin to move past it. i j c rihe means for openingthe fingers to cause deposit of the sheet held thereby onto the tapesY comprises a cam plate`65 (Fig. 14) secured to the upper side of frame bar 1. `When the fingers approach their'forward limits of movement the rollers 59 ride up on cam plates65 causing rotation of shafts 52 and consequent opening of the fingers and release of the sheets held thereby.

After the sheet has entered the throats formed by the fingers and before the fingers start on their forward movement, the vacuum in nozzles`17 should be broken, so that the sheet may be withdrawn freely from said nozzles. Means are provided therefore for placing the nozzles in communication with the atmosphere penodially *during the operation of the machine and at the time just` after the sheet has been gripped by the 1ingers and before the latter begin their movement away from the nozzles. In the illustration this means comprises a rotating sleeve valve 67 which periodically places the piping 27 in communication with the atmosphere. Referring to Figs. 1, 10-and 11, the piping 27 is connected to a shortV depending section of pipe 68 by a T-fitting 69. Screwed on the lower end of pipesection 68 is a closure cap 70 and seated on this cap and surrounding the pipe 68 is a sleeve 71. As clearly ShoWn'=by Figs. 10 and 11, pipe 68 is provided with a vertical slit 72 and sleeve 71 is provided with a similar slit 73 l adapted to register with slit72. For operating sleeve 71 there is provided a cam 7 4 on shaft 30; a lever 75 fulcrumed at its lower end on f'loor 3, provided with an arm 76 yengaging cam 74 and connected at its upper end to one end of a link 76; and a bell lcrank 77 having one arm pivoted to the other end of link 7 6 and having its other arm connected to an arm 79 on sleeve 71 by a link 80. As will be observed from Fig. 10, the cam 74 has an abrupt shoulder 81 which will cause an abrupt rapid rotation of the sleeve 71 when the movement of the cam brings said shoulder in alignment with the upper edge of arm 7 6, permitting the spring -82 to move 75 quickly towards the right, as viewed in Fig. 10. This quick movement of the lever 75 towards the right brings the slits 72 and 73 in alignment, thus placing the nozzles in communication with the atmosphere. This occurs just after the roller 59 has moved through slot 64 and causes the sheet to be gripped by the fingers and before the fingers start; on their forward travel. ln order to prevent the formation of a high vacuum and consequent excessive load on 'the pump, there is provided a relief valve 27 of any suitable construction in the piping 27.

It is of course important in machines of this character that the associated sets of sheets should be complete, that is, that there should be no failure of any one or more of the sets of sheet feeding devices. Failure of a particular set of' feeding devices v,might occur by the failure of the nozzles to lift a sheet or by the failure of Dthe grippers to func-tlon properly orit might occur by reason of the fact that the pile of sheets cured a strip of brass 85, or other suitable i conducting material. A conductor 86 is secured at one end to plate 85 by a binding screw 87 and at its other end to the upper center sheet gripping finger 49. Finger 49 may be suitably insulated from shaft 52 by an insulating bushing 49a. Shaft 51 is grounded, `as indicated in Fig. 13. One terminal of the bell is connected to a metallic roller 88 which is rotatablyy'zsupported in a bracket 89 secured to pillar 30, the said roller being supported in such position that ,it will contact the plate 85 when the fingers are near their respective tray and just after yieldingly supported to have slight vertical movements, so as to make good contactzwith plate 85. The other terminal of the bell is connected to one pole of a source of energy which may be in a dry battery 88, the other pole of said source being grounded. It will be obvious from the connections described that when the fingers close to grip a sheet,

, if a sheet is not between the center gripping fingers 49 and rv5t), to insulate these fingers from each other, the circuit through the bell will be closed, thereby'apprising the operator of the failure. The operator may then stop the machine until the cause of the failure has been removed. The blocks 84 are positioned so that they come in contact with rollers 88 only after the fingers 49 have been raised to receive sheets; then if a sheet is not present between the fingers when they close, the circuit will be completed to ring the bell only for the short period of the forward movement of the fingers, while rollers 88 are in Contact withvstrips 85.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a modification of the mechanism for reciprocating the lifting nozzles. In this modification a bar.9O is supported for longitudinal reciprocation on each side of the machine and these bars are operated by suitable cam and lever mechanism from shaft 31. Fulcrumed on the und-cr side of each frame bar 1 is a bell crank having one arm connected by pin and slot with thev respective bar 9()l and having its other arm connected by a link 91 to the adjacent end portion of bar 18. The lost motionv provided by the pin and slot connection vbetween the bell cranks and thc bars 90 will permit the nozzles to fall by gravity different distances as required by the di ffcrent heights of the sheet piles in the trays.

For the purpose of positively disengaging the sheets from the grippers and rendering` certain their deposit on the conveyor tapes, Imay elnploy a device such as is illustrated by Figs. 15 and 1G. The device shown czxrlsts of a knocker adapted to be automatically actuated when the grippers approach their sheet depositing position. Referring to the specific construction illustrated, a shaft 92 is journaled in bearings secured to a depending lip formed on the rear edge of tray 15. This shaft has fixed thereon one or more arms 93, which have secure-d to their free ends a knocker 94. -ln the illustration two arms are shown. The linoclrers 94 may be constructed of lany suitable light material. Surrounding the shaft 92. adjacent one end thereof is a coil spring' 95. which is secured at one end to the shaft and at its other end to the bearing. The spring tends to hold the shaft in the positio`n shown by Fig. 15. with the. knocltcr in raised position. Rigidly attached to the shaft 92 are two cam arms 9G which extend down into thepath of the gripper shafts.

their sheet depositing position, the gripper shaft 52 rides along the under side of the arms 96 and thereby causes-the shaft 92 to 'rotate rapidly, thusy throwing down the knocker 94 and delivering a smart tap to the sheet just after the grippers have opened. Thus is effected a positive disengagement of the sheet and certain assurance that it will be deposited on the conveyor tapes.'

The operationof the machine will be clear 'from the foregoing description. It is only to be further noted that when the sheets have been simultaneously deposited by the gripping fingers on to the travelling tapes, the velocity of latter is sufficient to move all of the sheets past the sheet feeding devices which are next to the delivery end of the machine, before the sheet feeding devices deposit another set of sheets on said tapes.

v Various changes and modifications may of course be made in the machine illustrated without departing from the general operating principles thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desire-d to be secured by Letters latejnt is:

l. A collating machine, comprising a frame, means for supporting a pile/of sheets at cach of a plurality of spaced positions on' said frame, sheet conveying means mounted vertically below said supporting means adapted to convey sheets to a common point, sheet lifting devices for each pile of sheets, means for substantially simultaneously operating said devices to cause each to lift a sheet and hold same in elevated position, sheet grippers for each pile of sheets. means for operating said grippers in timed relation to said devices to cause them to simultaneously grasp the sheets held by said devices and then move forward to position the sheets over said conveying means, and means for causing said grippers to release the sheets substantially simultaneously as they approach the limits of their forward movements.

Q. A collating machine, comprising a frame, means for supporting a pile of sheets at each of a plurality of positions on said frame, sheet conveying means adapted to convey sheets to a common point, sheet lifting device for each pile of sheets adapted to lift sheets singly therefrom, and means for simultaneously transferring the sheets from said devices to said conveying means.

' said conveying means operating to move all the sheets deposited thereon away from the sheet supporting means before the next group of sheets is deposited.

P. A collating machine comprising a frame, a plurality of sheet. receiving trays mounted on said frame at longitudinally spaced points thereof, sheet conveying means mounted vertically below said trays, a set of sheet.

amasar lifting devices mounted above each tray to reciprocate up and down, and means for transferring sheets from said devices to said conveying means. y

4:. A collating machine, comprising a frame, a plurality of sheet receiving trays mounted on said frame at longitudinally spaced points thereof, sheet conveying means mounted vertically below said trays adapted to convey sheets to a common point, a set of sheet lifting devices above each tray mounted to reciprocate up -and down, means for reciprocating said devices and means opera-t,- ing in timed relation theretofor transferring sheets therefrom to said conveying means.

5. collating machine, comprising a frame, means for supporting a pile of sheets at each of a plurality @f spacedpositions on said frame, sheet conveying means mounted vertically below said supporting means adapted to convey sheets to a common point, a setof sheet lifting devices above each tray mounted to 'reciprocate up and down, a set of sheet grippers for each tray mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of said frame, and

`means for reciprocating said devices and grippers in timed relation to cause said A grippers to take the sheets presented thereto by said devices and-deposit same on said conveying means. v

6.' A collating machine, comprising a frame, means for supporting a pile of sheets at each of a plurality of longitudinally spaced positions on said frame, continuously running tapes below said trays adapted to convey sheets to a common point, devices for lifting sheets singly from said trays, and means operating in ytimed relation to said devices for transferring the sheets therefrom to said tapes simultaneously, said tapes having a suiicient velocity to move all the sheets deposited thereon away from the sheet supporting means before the next group of sheets is fed thereto.

7 A collating machine, comprising a frame a plurality of sheet receiving trays mounted on said frame at longitudinally spaced points thereof, sheet conveying means mounted vertically below said trays adapted to convey sheets to a common point, a trans versely extending set of vacuum nozzles mounted above each tray adapted'to reciprocate up and down, a set of sheet grippers for each set of nozzles mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of said frame, and means for operating said nozzles and sheet grippers in timed relation.

8. A collating vmachine, comprising a frame, a plurality of trays, each adapted to hold a-pile of sheets, mounted on said frame at longitudinally spaced points thereof.y a set 'of downwardly opening vacuum nozzles extending transversely above each set of trays and mounted to reciprocate up and down, a transversely disposed set of sheet gripping lingers for each tray mounted on said frame to reciprocate longitudinally thereof, means for reciprocating said nozi zles and gripping lingers in timed relation, means for automatically opening and closing said fingers as they approach the limits of their movements, means for releasing the vacuum in said nozzles as vthe sheets are gripped by said fingers, and sheet conve ing means mounted vertically below sa1d trays and lingers adapted to receive sheets from said fingers and convey same to a common point.

9. A collating machine, comprising a frame, a transverse horizontal rollenjournaled in said frame adjacent each end thereof, means for rotatin one of said rollers, tapes passing over saidg rollers, a plurality of trays each adapted to hold a pile of sheets mounted on said frame at longitudinally spaced points thereof and slightly above the upper runs of said tapes, a set of downmounted on said frame to reciprocate longitudinally therepf, means for reciprocating said nozzles and gripping lingers in timed relation, means for automatically opening said lingers as they approach the limits of their movement towards said trays and then closing said lingers on the sheets presented thereto by said nozzles, and means for opening said fingers as they approach the' limits of their movements away from the trays to deposit the sheets on said tapes.

l0. A collating machine, comprising a frame, a plurality of trays each adapted to hpld a pile of sheets mounted on said frame at longitudinally spaced vpoints thereof, a set of downwardly opening vacuum nozzles extending transversely above each set of trays and mounted to reciprocate up and down, a transversely disposed set of sheet gripping fingers for each tray mounted on said frame to reciprocate longitudinally thereof, means for reciprocating said nozzles and sheet gripping fingers in timed relation, means for automatically opening and closing said fingers when near the limitsof their movements towards and away from said trays, and sheet conveying means mounted vertically below said trays and fingers adapted to receive sheets from said lingers and convey same to a common point.

11. A collating machine, comprising a a frame, a plurality of sheet receiving receptacles mounted on said frame at longitudinally spaced points thereof, a transversely arranged set of sheet gripping fingers for each tray mounted on said frame to reciprocate longitudinally thereof, means for reciprocating said fingers, means for opening and closing said lingers when near Mil the limits of their movements towards and away from said receptacles, means for presenting sheets from said receptacles singly to said fingers as the latter approach the limits of their movements towards said receptacles, and sheet conveying means mounted vertically below said trays and fingers adapted to receive sheets from the latter and convey same to the common point.

12. A collating machine, comprising a frame, a transverse horizontal roller journaled in said frame adjacent each end thereof, means for continuously rotating one of said rollers, a series of endless tapes passing around vsaid rollers, a plurality of longitudinally spaced sheet receiving trays mounted 0n said frame slightly above the upper runs of said tapes, a pair of transversely aligned pillars having vertical slots mounted on the sides of said frame adjacent each sheet receiving tray, a transverse bar for each pair of pillars having ends slidable in the slots thereof, a plurality of downwardly opening nozzles secured to each bar, a transverse pipe securedto the upper ends of each pair of pillars, iiexible conduits connecting each pipe with its associated nozzles, means for creating a vacuum in said pipes, a pair of longitudinally extending bars slidably mounted on the sides of said frame, means for reciprocating said transL verse bar and longitudinal bars in timed relation, a plurality of pairs of transverse shafts mounted in said longitudinal bars, one pair for each sheet receiving tray, sheet 'gripping fingers mounted on said shafts, one shaft of each pair being fixed and the other rotatable and biased to hold the sheet gripping fingers closed, an arm fixed on each rotatable shaft having a laterally project-.

ing pin, a pivo-ted cam plate adjacent each sheet receiving tray having a slot in the inner edge thereof, said pin and the arm of the respective rotatable shaft being adapted to engage the upper face of said cam plate to open said gripping fingers to receive a sheet from the respective nozzles and then to move through said slot to cause said fingers to grip said sheet, cams mounted on said frame adapted to be engaged by the pins and the arms of said rotatable shafts when the latter approach the limits of their movesaid'rollers, a plurality of longitudinally,

spaced sheet receiving trays mounted on said frame slightly above the upper runs lof said tapes, a pair of transversely aligned\r-- pillars having vertical slots mounted on the sides of said frame adjacent each sheet rereiving tray, a transverse bar for each pair of pillars having ends slidable in the slots thereof, a plurality of downwardly opening nozzles secured to each bar, a transverse shafts to open and close said gripping fingers i when the latter are near their limits of reciprocating movements, and means for automatically releasing the vacuum in said nozzles when the sheets are gripped by said fingers.

14. A collating machine comprising a frame. means for supportingv a pile of sheets at each of a plurality of spaced positions on said frame, sheet conveying means mounted vertically below said supporting means adapted to convey sheets to a common point, a set of sheet lifting devices above each tray mounted to reciprocate up and down` a set of sheet grippers for cach tray mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of said frame. means for reciprocating said grippers and means operating in timed relation thereto for reciprocating said lifting devices, said last named means including a one-ma;v connection operating` to positively lift said devices but permitting the latter to fall by gravity until brought to rest by the respective sheet pile.

15. A collating machine, comprising a frame, means for supporting a pile of sheets` at each of a plurality of spaced positions or said frame, sheet conveying means mounted vertically below said supporting means adapted to convey sheets to a common point, a set of sheet lifting nozzles for each pile of sheets, means for simultaneously operating said nozzles to cause each set to lift a sheet and hold same in elevated position, said last named means including a one-Way connection operating to positively lift said nozzles but permitting them to fall by gravity different distances according to the heights of 'the sheet piles, sheet grippers for each pile of sheets, means for operating said grippers in timed relation to said nozzles to cause them to simultaneously grasp the sheets held by said nozzles and then move forward to position the sheets bine with devices for automatically lifting sheets singly therefrom, said tray comprising an inclined bottom board having an upwardly extending board secured to the lower edge thereof and provided on its inner face with a. plurality of narrow, upwardly extending strips, for the purpose described.

17. lna machine of the, class described, a trayA adapted to hold a pile of sheets, combined with a set of lifting nozzles reciproca-bly mounted the-reabove and adapted to lift sheets singly therefrom, satid tray'having an inclined bottom and having an end board secured to the lower edge thereof, the inner 'face of said.end board provided with vertical channels to eifect'free communication of the atmosphere with the forward edges of I the sheets held by said tray.

. spaced points thereof, sheet 18. A machine of the comprising in combination, a plurality of spaced supports adapted to carry piles of sheets, a receiving surface, sheet conveying tapes passing adjacent said supports and discharging on said surface, means operating at regular intervals to simultaneously take a sheet from each support and deposit the same on said tapes, and means to move said tapes at a velocity sufficient to move all of the sheets deposited thereon away from the supports before the next group of sheets is fed thereto. A

19. A collating machine, comprising a frame, a plurality of sheet receiving trays mounted on said frame at longitudinally conveyingmeans mounted below said 'trays adapted to convey sheets to a common point, a set of sheet lifting devices above each tray mounted to reciprocate up and down, a set of sheet character ldescribedL grippers for cach tray mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of said frame, means for reciprocating said grippers and lifting devices in timed relation, means for opening and closing said grippers when near the limits of their movements, and means for positively moving said sheets downwardly from said grippers subsequently to the opening thereof. i

20. A collating machine, comprising a frame, a plurality of sheet receiving trays mounted on said frame at longitudinally spaced points thereof, sheet conveying means mounted below said trays adapted to convey sheets to a common point, a set of sheet lift- .ing devices above each tray mounted to reciprocate up and down, a set of sheet grippers for each tray mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of said frame, means for reciprocatingsaid grippers and lifting devices in timed relation, means for opening and closinof said grippers when near the limits of their movements; and a knoclzer associated with each set of grippers and adapted to be actuated to deliver a smart tap on top of the sheet when the grippers are in sheet depositing position and have opened to release the sheet.

21. Ina sheet feeding machine, a frame, av sheet support thereon, a set of endless tapes mounted on the frame vertically below the sheet support, a set of grippers reciprocating onthe frame towards and away from the support, said grippers moving away from the support opposite to the movement' 80 of the upper runs of the tapesmeans for c transferring sheets from the support to the grippers and means for cooking and uncocking the grippers so that 4they will grasp the sheets and permit them to fall on the tapes.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

HARRY V. ASHBY.

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