US1741451A - Feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 31, 1929.

w.-w-. wwmsou FEEDING IIOBAIISI rum M1123, 1:21 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 31, I929. wjw. DAVIDSON FEEDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Dec 33;, 1929.. w. w. DAvmsoN FEEDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 23, 1927 Dec. 31, 1929. w. w. DAVIDSON 1,

FEEDING MECHANISM Filed July 23, 192'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan /2752 z/d 222 wamwa zs I I Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF1cE WILLIAM WARD DAVIDSON, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO DAVIDSON MANU- I EAC'JTURING COMPANY, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN FEEDING mncnamsm' Application filed July 23,

adaptable for feeding-blanks of different finish and stiffness.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A blank feeding machine embodying my invention and improvements comprises the various features, combinations of features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

ments, shown in conjunction with the co- In the accompanying drawings in which my invention is fully illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a feeding mechanism embodying my invention and improveoperating parts of an automatic addressing machine;

Fig. 2 a vertical section taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fi 2 an enlarged detail section taken substantially on line 2-- a of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a section taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4.- is an enlarged detail sectional view,

substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 1, showing means for actuating the separator roll shaft, avratchet gear forming part thereof being omitted;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view, substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the means for actuating'the separator roll shaft and including said ratchet gear;

Fig. 6 a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 1; and

table 10 having stencil guides 11' extending 1927. Serial N'o. 207,934.

transversely thereof. A vertically reciprocating platen or pressure plate 12 is mounted centrally on the table 10 below the stencil guides 11 and provided with a cam roller 13 riding upon the periphery of a cam arm 14 fixed to a rocker shaft 15 mounted under the table 10, as best shown in Fig. 2. The rocker shaft 15 is operated by means of a rocker arm 16 thereonconnected by a link 17 with the drive shaft of the addressing machine which thus operates to periodically rock the shaft 15 and consequently elevate and depress the platen or pressure plate 12.

Stencils 18 are automatically fed through the guides'll by the normal operation of the addressing machine.

Co-operating with the stencils 18 and the platen 12 is a combined pressure and inking roll 19 mounted on one arm 20 of a bell crank lever, the other arm 21 of which is connected by a bolt 22 with one end of a link 23, in turn connected with the rocker arm 16, as shown. The roll 19 co-operates with an inking roll 24 of the addressing machine.

The mechanism heretofore described are parts of an automatic addressing or stencilmg machine, operating in the usual Way to automatically imprint addresses from the stencils 18 on envelopes or other blanks placed under said stencil guides. Said mechanism forms nopart of the present invention, except in so far as the same co-operates with the mechanism to be presently described.

The rocker shaft 15 carries a pair of rocker arms.25 pivotally connected with the ends of bent links 26 having notches 27 interchangeably engaging bolts 28 on depending lugs 29 on a reciprocating carriage 30.

The reciprocating carriage 30 is mounted to reciprocate on rollers 31 running in slots 32 in suitable guide bars 33 having securing flanges 33' secured to the table 10, said carriage 30 bein thereby mounted to reciprocate toward and from the stenciled guides, above described. The notches 27 permit of adjustments of the carriage 30 to vary the points at which the carriage stops on its approach to the stencil guides.

A pack box or receptacle 34 is mounted on the carriage 30' at a forward and downward inclination as indicated, the bottom of said receptacle being extended at 35 at the lower end of the receptacle to cbnstitute a guide for the blanks 36 as they are fed from the receptacle. For convenience said plate may be A v upper edges of the blanks 36 to hold them in such tilted positions, Weights 36 being'slidably mounted on the edges of the inclined sides of the receptacle 34 to normally advance the pack of blanks 3'3 downwardly in the receptacle.

The gauge bar 37 is carried by a vertical bar 38 slidable against a supporting bar 39 and adapted to be adjust'ably clamped thereto by the clamp 40, said supporting bar 39 being mounted on a transverse bar 41 of the carriage 30.

By this arrangement it will be noted that the gauge bar 37 may be independently adjusted to vary the tiltof the pack of envelopes 36 or to suit different sizes of envelopes.

It will also be noted that the gauge bar 37 is arranged at a slight inclination to the top edges of the pack of envelopes 36, which inclination facilitates feeding of the envelopes downwardly in the receptacle and insures uniform positioning of the endmost .envelope in the pack.

A separator roll 42 in the form of two roller sections is'mounted .on a transverse shaft 43 projecting through slots 44 in the sides of the carriage 30. As best shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 43 at one end has hearings in rocker arms 45 and at the other end in a single rocker arm 45, said mounting permitting of independent adjustment of the separator roller 42 toward and from the separator plate 35. The rocker arms 45 and 45 are fixed to a transverse rocker shaft 46 carrying an operating arm 47 connected with an adjusting screw 48, as best shown in Fig. 6, whereby the positions of the separator roller 42 may be adjusted as desired.

Intermittent rotation in a direction to project blanks 36 from the pack box 34, indicated by the arrows in Figs. 3 and 4, is adapted to be imparted to the separator roll shaft 43 by means as follows (see particularly Figs. 1, 4 and 5) Mounted on the separator roll shaft 43, so as to turn freely thereon, are a ratchet wheel 49 and a gear or pinion 50, said ratchet wheel and gear being connected so as to turn together. Also, secured to said separator roll shaft 43, so as to rotate therewith, is a disk 52, pivoted to which are pawls 51 which are adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 49 and are maintained yieldingly in engagement therewith by springs 51', in a usual ,manner. Pivotally connected at 55 to a post 56 on the table '10 is a rack bar 54, the teeth of which are maintained in engagement with the teeth of the gear or pinion 50 by a yoke-shaped bracket 53 mounted to turn vious that, as the carriage 30 reci rocates in operation, the rack bar 54, th'roug its engagement with the gear or pinion 50, will impart rotation to sand-gear or pinion-in opp osite direct-ion, and that, with the relation shown (see particularly Fig. 5), rotation of said gear corresponding to movement of they carriage 30 away from the stencil guidesll will cause the teeth of the ratchet wheel 49 to en age the pawls 51 pivoted tothe disk 52, there y imparting rotation to said disk 52, the separator roll shaft 43 to which said disk is secured, and to the separator roll 42 secured to said shaft, with said gear or pinion 50, in a direction to advance a blank in the pack box, resting in contact with the separator roll 42 so that it will project at the forward end of the pack bqx beyond the end of the separator plate 35, as shown in Fig. 2.

On the forward movement of the carriage, that is, its movement toward the stencil guides 11, the spring pawls .51 will run freely Over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 49, thus per mitting idle movement of the gear.v or pinion 50 under the influence of the rack bar 54.

Co-operating with the separator roll 42 are lower and upper pull-out rolls 57 and 59v secured to shafts 58 and 60, respectively, the relation bein such that, when the carriage 30 is at the imit 'of its forward movement, that is, of its movement towardthe-stencil guides 11, the front .end of the blank 36 which has been advanced by the separator roll 42 on the preceding rearward stroke of the carriage 30, as explained, will be between the pull-out rolls 57 and 59 and in position for engagement by said pull-out rolls.

The shaft 60 is mounted 'at each end in bearing blocks 61 vertically slidable in slots 62 on the sides of the carriage 30 and normally held depressed with the upper pull-out roll 59 in contact with the lower pull-out roll 57, by means of compression springs 63, as best shown in Fig. 6. The lower shaft 58 is extended at one end and is provided with a grooved pulley 64, as best shown in Fi 1, adjusted to which is a constantly driven elt, not shown, whereby said shaft 58 and the lower-pull-out roll 57 are constantly driven in the direction of' the arrow on Fig. 3, as

will be readily understood. 1 By this arrangement the pull-out roll sections 59 are normally held in operative con tact with the lower pull-out roll 57, as will be readily understood.

Longitudinal cam bars 65 are mounted at their rearward ends on supporting brackets 66 on the guide bars 33, said cam ars being set to constitute tracks for rollers 67 on the shaft 60, said tracks being set at such an elevation that when the rollers 67 are resting thereon the roller sections 59' are raised out of contact with the roller 57 but when the rollers 67 run off from the forward ends of the tracks 65, the roller sections 59 are depressed by the springs 63 into operative contact with the co-operating lower pull-out roller .57 to engage a blank delivered between said pull-out rollers b the separator roll 42, forcibly advancing the same into the addressing mechanism. The length of the cam,

bars 65 is such that the roller sections 59 are tion said blank's for printing by the addressheld elevated durin the time when the front blank is being fed%)y the separator roll 42 as above described, during the rearward movement of the carriage 30 but toward the end of the forward movement of said car- A are so ositioned with reference to the gauge 716i t e addressing machine that the blanks 36 are advanced thereby into contact with the gauge 71, which is set to properly posiing machine, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The operation of the parts is so timed that a blank will be thus fed into position between the pressure roller 19 and the platen 12 of the addressing machine as to receive the proper impression from the proper stencil 18, as will be readil understood.-

The gauge 71 is carried by an arm 72 having a longitudinal slot 73, slidably fitted to fixed guide member 74 being connected by a rod 75 with a reciprocating bracket 76 mounted at the edge of the table 10, as shown.

The bracket 76 carries a roller77 contacting with a star wheel 78 on a shaft'7 9. The shaft 79 carries a ratchet-80 co-operating with a ratchet arm 81 carrying a spring pawl 82.

' I? The ratchet arm 81 is connected by a rod 82' with stud 83 pivoted on the rocker arm 16, the rod 82 sliding freely through said stud and being provided with stop shoulders 84 as indicated.

A tension spring 85 is connected, as shown, with the bracket 76 for normally holding said bracket and said'gauge 71 in retracted positions, the construction being such that iminediatel after each blank is addressed, as above descri ed, the gauge 71 is quickl thrown forward to kickor project an ad ressed blank out from under the stencil guides 11along the top of the table 10 and beneath the lower pullout roller 57, which is positioned above and in such close proximity to the table top that it will engage blanks thus delivered beneath it, and eject them from the machine into a suitable rack 86 provided for the purpose. It will thus be seen that each blank from the pack in the receptacle 34 will be individually fed into the addressing or stenciling machine and automatically ejected therefrom.

In the preferable construction shown, an idle roll 87for convenient reference designated the ejector*rollis mounted to co-operate with the driven pull-out roll 57 bein positioned at the opposite side of said pul -out roll from the pull-out roll 59. Said ejector roll is secured to a shaft 88 mounted so that said roll will be freely movabletowards and from the pull-out roll 57 and is maintained normally, yieldingly in contact therewith by springs applied thereto, all substantially in t e same manner as the pull-out roll 59. Also, like said pull-out roll 59, the ejector roll preferably comprises a plurality of sections which are separately adjustablelen thwise of the shaft 88, that is transversely of the machine.

The device may be readily adjusted to various kinds and sizes of blanks by adjusting the gauge bar 37 relatively to, the separator plate, the tilt at which the blanks 36 are held being varied for blanks of various materials and degrees, of stiffness and finish, their inclination being varied towards the horizontal for separating thicker and stiffer blanks and retracted, and the pull-out roller 57, when fully advanced, and in so proportioning said pull-out roller 57 ,that the distance between in such relation that rotation of said pullout roll will flick the end of the blank around. said roll so that the blank will rest flat upon the table top 10.

the gauge bar 71 when in normal position, an?

Also, to insure engagement of the rear end of said blank with the pull-out roll so that it will be flicked around said pull-out roll, said roll preferaby is provided with lengthwise corrugations 89 with which the ends of the blanks will engage as said roll rotates, and be carried downward onto the table 10, as stated.

The mechanism-disclosed will operate with great efliciency and accuracy in feeding and ejecting blanks.

The specific form and arrangement of parts disclosed is a simple and efi'ective one for the purpose.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and "modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for separating and feeding blanks, the combination-of a blank recep tacle, blank separatin means comprising a separator plate which orms the bottom of the blank receptacle, a separator roll mounted in said blank receptacle, means for supporting blanks in edgewise positions on the separator plate with the front blank in contact with the separator roll, means for advancing the blanks towards said separator roll, means for imparting rotation to said separator roll, pullout rolls mounted to move toward and away from each other and in association with the blank separating means, and means for imparting said movements to said pull-out rolls. 2. In a machine for separating and feeding blanks, the combination of a blank receptacle, blank separating means comprising a separator plate which forms the bottom of the blank receptacle, a separator roll mounted in said blank receptacle, means for supporting blanks in edgewise positions on the separator plate with the front blank in contact with the separator roll, means for advancing the blanks towards said separator roll, means for imparting rotation to said separator roll, pullout rolls to receive said projected blanks,

' means for continuously driving one of said pull-out rolls, an idle roll movable towards and away from said continuously driven roll and adapted to be actuated intermittently by contact therewith, and means for imparting movement to said idle roll towards and away from said driven'roll.

3. In combination a machine for separating blanks, a stop which defines the position of the blanks in the machine, said stop being movably supported, blank separating means,

pull-out rolls mounted in position to receive blanks therefrom and to advance them into contact with the stop which defines the posip )L tion ofthe blanks in the machine, the relative positions of said stop and pull-out roll being such that, when the advancin end of-a blank is in contact with said stop its opposite end will rest incontact with the surface of said pull-out roll proximate said stop, rotation of said pull-out roll operating to flick the con tactin end of said blank to the opposite side of said pull-out roll, an idle. ejector roll mounted adjacentsaid pull-out roll and in such close proximity thereto that saidpullout roll and ejector roll will engage and eject blanks delivered between them, means for delivering blanks fed to the machine between said pull-out roll and ejector roll, and means for imparting movement to said stop in a dlII'fCtlOII to impel a blank between the ejector ro s.

4. In combination, in a machine for separating blanks, a stop which defines the position of the blanks in the machine, said stop being movably supported, blank separating means, pull-out rolls mounted in position to receive blanks therefrom and to advance them into contact with the stop which defines the position of the blanks in the machine, the relative positions of said stop and pull-out roll being such that when the advancing end of a blank is in contact withsaid stop its opposite end will rest in contact with the surface of said pull-out 'roll' proximate said stop, rotation of said pull-out roll operating to flick the contacting end of said blank to the opposite side of said pull-out roll, an idle ejectorroll mounted adjacent said pull-out roll and in such close proximity thereto that said pull-out roll and ejector roll will engage and eject blanks delivered between them, means for delivering blanks fed to the machine between said pull-out roll and ejector roll; a spring holding said stop in normal position, a star wheel mounted to impart discharge-motion.

5. In combination, in a machine for operat-.

ing on blanks, a movable stop which defines the postion of the blanks in the machine, pullout rolls mounted. in position to advance blanks into contact with said stop and in position to be fed by the opposite side of one of said pull-out rolls, and means for operating said stop to force said blank back into withdrawing engagement with said pull-out roll.

6. The combination as specified in claim 5 in which the stop is held in normal position by a spring, a star-wheel is mounted to impart discharging motion to said stop, and means are provided for actuating said star-wheel.

7-. Blank feeding and ejecting means comprising a driven roll, idle rolls at substantially opposite sides thereof adapted to hold driven roll and the idle roll at the correspondblanks to be ejected between said driven roll ing side thereof, and means for delivering and idle roll.

8. Blank feeding and ejecting means as specified in claim 1, in which the stop which defines the position of the blanks is movable, and which comprises means for imparting movement thereto in a direction to deliver a fed blank between the driven roll and idle roll.

9; Blank feeding and ejecting means as specified in claim 1, in which the sto which defines the positions of the blanks 1s movable, and which comprises a spring which holds said stop in normal position, a starwheel mounted to impart a discharge move ment to said stop, and means for actuating said star-wheel. L I Y 10. In a machine for separating and feeding'blanks, the combination of a blank receptacle, blank separating means comprising aseparator plate which forms the bottom of the blank receptacle, a separator roll mounted in said blank receptacle, means for supporting blanks in edgewise position on the separator plate with the front blank in contact with the separator roll, means for advancing the blanks towards said separator roll, means for imparting rotation to said separator .roll, and a gauge. plate which extends from a point above the separator roll lengthwise over the blank receptacle in po-' sition to engage the upper edges of the blanks contained in said receptacle, operating to hold their lower edges in vcontact with the separator plate and to support them at de' sired inclination to the separator plate.

11. Ina machine for separating and feedgauge plate diverging rearwardly at a slight angle to the separator plate.

12. In a machine for separating and feeding blanks, the combination of a blank re- (:eptacle, blank separating means comprising ase arator plate which forms the bottom of t e blank receptacle, a separator roll,

mounted'in said blank receptacle, means for supporting blanks in edgewise position on the separator plate with the front blank in contact with the separator roll, means for advancing the blanks towards said separator roll, means for imparting rotation to said separator roll, and a gauge plate which extends from a point above the separator roll lengthwise over the blank receptacle in position to engage the upper edges of the blanks contained in said receptacle operating to hold their lower edges in contact with the separator plate and to support them at a desired inclination to the separator plate, said gauge U plate being vertically adjustable.

13.- In a machine for separating blanks, the combination of a reciprocating member, a pack receptacle mounted thereon constructed and arranged to carry a pack of blanks to be fed, and means carried by said recipro:

eating member for automatically vdischarging a blank at each reciprocation.

14. Feeding mechanism as specified in claim 13, in which means are provided whereby the discharging means is operated by the reciprocations of said reciprocating member.

15. Feeding mechanism as specified in claim 13, in which a stationary rack bar is operatively connected with said discharging means for operatingthe same.

In witness that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I afiir; m signature this 18th day, of July, A. D .,.192;.

. WM. WARD DAVIDSON.

ing blanks, the combination of a blank receptacle, blank separating means compris-- mg a separator plate which forms the bottom of the blank receptacle, a separator roll mounted in said blank receptacle, means for supporting blanks in edgewise posit-ion on the separator plate with the front blank in contact with the separator roll, means for advancing the blanks towards said separator .roll, means' for imparting rotation to said separator roll, and a gauge plate which extends from a point above the separator roll lengthwise over the blank receptacle inposition to engage the upper edgesof the blanks

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