US1700300A - Sheet-handling device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 29,1929.

' v J. 5. GREENE SHEET HANDLING DEVICE Filed Feb. 9, 192'!- 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' 6 n w W T m m Ian. 29, 1929. J. S. GREENE snnm' HANDLING DEVICE Filed Feb. 9, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 wz'sATTORNEYS a cfoiiz 5'. 572267 3 Jana 29, w u V J. 5. GREENE sn za'r HANDLING mavxcs Filed F619T 9, 1927 4 Sheets-Shae? 3 OQO OOOOO INVENTOR 5. 0

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. .zAT oRNEYs Patented Jan. 29, 1929 uiTEn STATES PATENT FFEQE.

J'QHN S. GREENE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSEGNOR TO PHOIQSTAT CQRPORA- TION, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE IELANLD, A CDRPGRATREN 93G IRE-Z0313 ISLAND.

SHEET-HANDLING DEVICE.

Application filed February T 1e present invention relates to photography, and more particularly to apparatus for conveying prints through a definite path, such as through successive baths for treatment. lit is also in the nature of an improvement upon the apparatus disclosed and claimed in my prior Patent No. 1,421,079 issued June 27, 1922, and my prior application #111,659 filed May 25, 1926.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for disengaging prints or sheets from conveying means and for depositing them at a definite location after the treatment has been completed; which will.

" operate with certainty; which will insure quick and positive disengagement of a print from the conveyor with a minimum of mutilation of the print or sheet; which will be automatic in action; which will not require attention or supervision by an attendant or operator; and which will be relatively simple, dependable, durable and inexpensive.

Other objects will be in part obvious in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will. be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible'embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of photographic apparatus ofthe commercial or copying type, to which has been attached print releasing means constructed in accordance with the invention; the print releasing means being shown in the poised or set position ready for operation;

Figure 2 is a plan of the same;

Figure is a side elevation on a larger scale, of the print releasing means at about the instant when it become active to release a print;

Figure l is an elevation similar to Figure 8, but showing the relative positions of the parts just after the kicker member has disengaged a print from the impaling means Figure 5 is a sideelevation of aportion of the print rel asing mechanism; and

Figure 6 is an end elevation of a portion of the print releasing mechanism.

Similar reference characters refer to sim 9, 1927. Serial No. 166,878.

ilar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there shown a pair of parallel endless flexible members positioned between the side walls 8 and 9 and connected together by one or more cross bars 11; the endless members and thecross bars constituting what may be referred to as an endless conveyor. The members 10 may be of any suitable construction such as endless chains, and they may be guided through a desired path of travel by suitable pulleys or sprockets 12- so that the bars 11 may move successively into and out of suitable chambers or tanks (not shown) as disclosed in my priorpatent hereinabove referred to. After leaving the last tank or chamber the bars are conducted over a receptacle 13, as shown in Figure 1, in which the prints are to be deposited.

Each cros bar 11 is provided with one or more spears or pins 14 for piercing or impaling and carrying therewith a sheet or print 15. The impaling, members preferably extend from their respective bars in the direction of travel of that section of the conveyor formed by the-endless members and the cross bars, in order that any drag on the p "lists will not cause them to be pulled over the ends of the pins on which they are im paled.

Each section of the conveyor, after passing over the receptacle 13, passes over the pulley or sprocket 12 and returns above and in spaced relation to the stretch of conveyor which is directly over the receptacle 13.

A shaft 16 extends between and is rotatably supported by the side walls 8 and 9 preferably above the upper stretch of conveyor. Arms 17 are rigidly mounted onthe shaft 16 adjacent the opposite ends thereof and have portions which normally extend downwardly in parallel relationfto the endless members, and between the endless members and the walls of the apparatus, and portions which extend inwardly between the upper and lower stretches of the conveyor to points between the endless members. A, Uashapcd DIGTl'ilJGl is secured by one of its arms to the tree end of each ot the inw rdly extending portions of the arms 17. The other arms of the members 20 are connected by a bar or rod 2-1. Thedistance between the U-shaped membcrsj20 is less than the distance between the endless n1 inhers 1.0, so that the hm and the U- shaped members may pass between the planes of the two endless members.

The arms 17, U-shaped members and connecting bar 21 together serve, and may be hereinafter described as a kicker or striker member or device. The U-shaped members are positioned with their open ends facing forwardly, or in the direction of their travel. during a striking operation which is the di rection of travel of the lower stretch of the conveyor, so as to clear each cross bar 11 by embracing it when the bar 21 passes between the endless members in order to strike the print or sheet carried by that particular bar 11, as shown in Figure 4.

An arm or lever 22 rigidly moimted upon and depends from the shaft 16 at one side of the apparatus, and its free end is pivotally attached by a pin 23 to one end of a lever or link 24' which is in turn pivotally attached by a pin 25 to an intermediate portion of a link or lever arm The member 26 is pivotally attached at one end by means of a pin 27 to a suitable bracket 30, and at its other end to one end of a helical tension spring 31 which is normally under tension and which has its other end anchored to a suitable stationary part of the apparatus above and at one side of the pin 27, as inclicated at 32. The links or lever arms 22 and 24 are of such length that when they are in alignment the spring 31 and link or arm 26 extend downwardly out of alignment.

When the members 22 and 24 are in alignment or in substantial alignn'lent, as shown in Figure 3, the spring 31 and the arm 26 will he outof alignment and the tension on the spring increased. There will be a ten dency for the spring and member 26 to return to a position of alignment and when the members 22 and 24 are thrown past dead center to the position shown in Figure 3 the pin 5 car ied by the member 24 will. be held in eontact with the arm 54 of the bell crank lever 53. The arms 17 of the kicker member are so fixed upon the shaft 16 with respect to the lever 22 that the cross bar 21 of the kickor member will be held above the plane of the cross bars 11 on the lower stretch of the conveyor and the upper portions of the U- shaped members will be held below the lower plane of the cross bars 11 on the upper stretch of the conveyor when the pin 55 is held. against the arm 54.

An arm 34 is formed integrally with arm 22 which is rigidly mounted on shaft 16 and extends upwardly in. substantial alignment with the downwardly extending portion of an arm 17 The member 34 is provided at its free end with a roller 35 which is adapted for contact, when in certain positions, with a plane face 36 of an arm 37 of a bell crank lever 40. The bell crank 40 is pivoted at 41 and provided with a substantially horizontally extending arm 42 provided at its outer end with a bearing face 43. A bracket 44 is rigid- 1y mounted on a. wall of the apparatus and provided at one end with an upwardly extending arm 45 and at its other end with a portion which is slotted vertically for the reception of a set or abutment screw 46. The set screw 46 is adapted to bear upon. the face 43 of the arm 42 and adjust the bell crank 40 about its pivot. A helical tension. spring 47 is attached at its ends to the upper ends of the arm 37 of the bell crank 40 and the arm 45 of the bracket 44.

A shaft 50 is pivotally mounted in a suitable bracket 51 attached to a wall of the apparatus. An arm or trigger 52 is fixed on the shaft 50 and extends upwardly into the path. of travel of the cross bars 11. in the lower stretch of the conveyor, adjacent an endless member as shown in Figures 3 and 4. A bell crank lever 53 is also rigidly mounted upon the shaft 50 for oscillation therewith and one arm 54 of the bell crank is adapted to engage with a pin 55 which is carried by the lever 24, as pointed out above. When a cross bar 11 strikes the trigger 52 the shaft 56 and bell crank 53 are rocked, the arm 54 urges the pin 55 forwardly and shifts the levers 22 and 24 from the position shown in Figure 3 past dead center, whereupon the spring 31 will snap the levers 22 and 24 further in the same direction and carry the kicker member into embracing relation with the particular cross bar 11 which actuated the trigger. The roller 35 carried by the arm 34 is thrown forcibly against the face 36 of the arm 37 and the blow is cushioned by the spring 47 which tends to return the kicker to its poised or set position and prevent the.

U-shaped members and the rod carried thereby from striking or interlocking with the cross rod 11. The spring 47 transmits to the released kicker an oscillating or vibratory motion which tends to work the print or sheet off of the impaling means relatively more gradually and with less danger of tearing than when the print is removed by a single stroke of the kicker. The normal tension of the spring 31 and the position of the an-- choring means 32 are such that in the absence of the spring 47 the lever 26 and spring 31 would assume a neutral position innnediately after the kicker was snapped into an operative position and the kicker would not be given an oscillating movement. The posi.- tion and action of the spring 47 are such that the movement of the bar 21 of the kicker mechanism confined to substantially a single plane parallel to the lower stretch of the conveyor, and the major part of the path of travel of the kicker during its oscillation lies behind the cross bar 11. The oscillations are sutliciently rapid to insure a series of con tacts between the bar 21 and the sheet before the sheet carrying bar can move out of range of the kicker.

The striking movement of the kicker member will be from the rear and in the direction of travel of the lower stretch of conveyor so as to strike any print carried by the actuating bar, drive it forwardly of the bar and thus push it off of the impaling pins. The print will thereupon drop into the receptacle 13. The other arm of the bell crank 53 carries a counterweight 56 which returns the trigger 52, the arm 54 and the shaft 50 to their normal positions immediately upon their release. An abutment screw 57 may be threaded through the bracket 51 for engagement with the bell crank to limit its return movement and for varying the initial position of the bell crank, and arm 54 to adjust the locking tendency of the toggle levers 22 and 2d.

The shaft 16 has also rigidly mounted thereon a reset arm 60 which depends within the path of the cross bars 11 after the latter have actuated the trigger 52 to release the kicker member; preferably in the path of the bars in the upper stretch of the conveyor. The engagement and operation of the reset arm 60 by a cross bar 11 causes a movement of the shaft 16 in a direction to move the kicker member out of the path of the other cross bars 11 which are moving toward the release mechanism. The shaft 16 in moving the kicker member to its reset position also shifts the members 22 and 24: past dead center and places the pin in contact with the arm 54: where it is held by the action of the spring 31 as shown in Figure 3. All parts are so arranged and adjusted that in case toggle levers 22 and 24: fail to lock, the pin barll pushes against the rear portion of the U-shaped member and the parts all yield without breaking to permit the bar to pass.

Adjacent the print release mechanism,

b 'ackets 61 are mounted on the walls of the ner, such as in the prior patent referred to,

and at a certain point in their travel the prints or sheets are engaged (as by the means of my prior patent referred to above) over the impaling points 14, so that the prints or sheets will be drawn through a definite path by the conveyor, which path may include any number of developing, fixingand washbaths for the prints.

After the prints have been carried through the desired course they approach the position shown in Figure 1. Vi/hen the cross bar 11 carryinga print. 15 is engaged by the trigger 52, the shaft 50 and the bell crank will be rocked and the latter acting upon the pin 55 will shift the toggle levers 22 and 24 through the dead center position, whereupon the spring 31 will snap the kicker member and arm 34 from the'position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4t causing the U- shaped members to embrace the bar 11 and the roller 85 to strike the face 36 of the arm 37. he spring 31 and arm 26 are thrown up wardly out of alignment and they tend to seek a position of alignment as a result of which the kicker mechanism is given an oscillating or vibratory movement which is maintained by the action of thespring 4;? which throws the arm 34 and the connected kicker mechanism backward in attempting to resume its normal position. The length of time for which the vibratory motion of the kicker mechanism continues, and the force and rapidity of the motion, and the length of the successive strokes of the bar 21 may be variedto some extent by altering the relative lengths of the various arms or levers and the strength and tension of the spring members, as will be obvious to one skilled in the art. The bar 21 strikes the print carried by the bar 11 and carries it forward on the impaling pins. The mechanism may be so regulated that the print will, in most instances, be removed When struck once by the bar 21; however such regulation is not, as a rule, desirable as the paper or other material comprising the sheet or print is wet and soggy andtends to cling closely to the impaling pins and if the bar 21 is permitted to travel too far forwardly of the bar 11 the pushing action of the said bar 21 will be converted to a pulling action with a consequent tearing of that portion of the sheet which extends above the impaling pins or mutilation of the sheet by folding it about the bar 21. The bar 21 may also swing into the path of travel of the bar 11 and become interlocked with the said bar 11 and the pins carried thereby with consequent damage to the apparatus.

The desirable length of original kicker stroke permits the bar 21 to dislodge the print from its original set position and move it forwardly on the impaling pins, the follmving strokes are less violent and the bar 21 grad ually urges the print off of the impaling pins in such manner that there is no tearing or mutilating action. The provision of positive means'for causing ti 0 bar 21 to strike each print a number of times eliminates any necessity for the removal of the print by means of a single stroke and permits such regulation of the kicker stroke that any possibility of an interlocking of the bars 11 and 21 and pins 14 is avoided.

"During continued movement of the con- ,veyor the cross bar 11 will engage the arm and reset the kicker mechanism in the manner explained. The action is thus automatic and the print or sheet is disengaged by pushing it off the impaling means in such a mannor there is no tearing or mutilation. The receptacle 13 may, if desired, contain a final fixing or Washing liquid or it may constitute merely a receiving basket.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that there is herein provided an apparatus Which embodies the features of this invention and achieves the objects thereoi including many practical advantages. A sheet handling device is provided which is dependable in action and by means of which the sheets may be re moved from impaling means automatically and Without mutilation.

As many possible embodiments might be made oi? the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device oi the class described in combination, means for conveying a sheet, means for imparting a positive forward movement to said sheet for removing the sheet from said conveying means, and means for guiding said conveying means to and confining it Within the effective range of said sheet removing means to prevent displacement of said conveying means by said removing means.

2. In a device oi? the class described in combination, means for conveying a sheet, means for removing the sheet from said conveying means, and means for imparting an oscillatory movement to said sheet removing means.

3. In a device of the class described in combination, means for conveying a sheet, and means for intermittently engaging With said sheet to remove it from said conveying means.

4. In a device oi the class described in combination, means for conveying a sheet, means for removing said sheet from said conveying means, and spring means for oscillating said sheet removing means.

5. In a device out the class described in combination, means for conveying a sheet, means for removing said sheet from said con veying means, means operated by said conveying means for actuating said ren'ioving means, and means for preventing dis ')lacement of said conveying means by said actuating means. 1

('3. In a device oi the class described, in combination, means for conveying a sheet, means for removing said sheet from said conveying means, means for actuating said removing means, means operated by said conveying means for resetting said removing means, and means for preventing displacement of said conveying means by said resetting means.

7. In av device of the class described, in combination, means for conveying a sheet, means for removing said sheet from said conveying means, means operated by said co'nveying means for actuating said removing means, means for preventing displacement of said conveying means by said actuating means, means operated by said conveying loans for resetting said sheet removing means, and means for preventing displacement of said conveying means by said resetting means. i

8. In a device of the class described, a conveyor having a bar provided with impaling means for carrying a sheet, means actuated. by said. bar for releasing said sheet, and means tor oscillating saic. sheet releasing means.

9. In a device of the classdescribed, a conveyor having a bar provided with impaling means for carrying a sheet, means actuated by said bar for releasing said sheet, means for oscillating said sheet releasing means, and. means actuated by said bar for resetting said sheet releasing means. I

10. In a device of the class described,- a

kicker device normally held in an inoperative position, means for releasing said kicker device and means for oscillating said kicker device. 11. In a device of the class described, a kicker device normally set in an inoperative position, means for releasing said kicker device, means for oscillating said kicker device, .and means for resettin said kicker device.

12. In a device of the class -described, in combination, means for conveying a sheet,

spring operated means for engaging said sheet to remove it from said conveying means, and spring operated means for oscillating said sheet removing means.

13. In a device of the class described, a conveyor provided With means for impaling and carrying a sheet, means actuated by said conveyor for removing said sheet from said impaling means, and means for oscillating said sheet removing means.

14. In a device of the class described, in combination, means for conveying a sheet, means for removing said sheet from said conveying means, means for confining said conveying means within the efiectiverange of said removing means, and means for oscillating said removing means.

15. In a device of -he class described, in combination, means for conveying a sheet, guide means for said conveying means, means adj acentsaid guide means for removing said sheet from said conveying means, means for moving said removing means to an operative position, and means for oscillating said removing means.

16. In a: device of the class described, in combination, means for conveying a sheet, means for removing said sheet normally held in an inoperative position, means "for moving said removing means to an operative position, and means for oscillating and maintaining said removing means in an effective position.

17. In a device of the class described, in combination, a conveyor provided With sheet impaling means extending substantially in the direction of travel of said conveyor, oscillating sheet removing means adapted for contact with the rear face of a sheet carried by said impaling means, and means for confining the movement of the sheet contacting portion of said removing means to substantially a single plane.

18. In a device of the class described, a conveyor provided with means for carrying a sheet, sheet removing means pivoted adjacent said conveyor and having a member adapted for contact With a sheet carried by said conveyor; said removing means being normally held in an inoperative position, resilient means for moving said member into contact With said sheet, and resilient means for limiting the movement of said member and for causing said member to make a series of contacts With said sheet.

19. In a device of the class described the combination With sheet releasing means, of means for oscillating said releasing means, said means serving additionally to confine said releasing means Within the effective range of the sheet to be released.

20. In a device of the class described, in combination, means for conveying a sheet in suspension, means for striking said sheet belOW a point of suspension to release it from said conveying means, resilient means for actuating said striking means, and means for oscillating said striking means to provide.

a series of effective striking operations.

JOHN S. GREENE.

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