US20010042958A1 - Apparatus for delivery of printed sheets of paper or the like in successive stacks - Google Patents
Apparatus for delivery of printed sheets of paper or the like in successive stacks Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20010042958A1 US20010042958A1 US09/855,615 US85561501A US2001042958A1 US 20010042958 A1 US20010042958 A1 US 20010042958A1 US 85561501 A US85561501 A US 85561501A US 2001042958 A1 US2001042958 A1 US 2001042958A1
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- Prior art keywords
- sheet holder
- sheets
- delivery fan
- delivery
- fan
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- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000002457 bidirectional effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000009432 framing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000008602 contraction Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001788 irregular Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008520 organization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000037303 wrinkles Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H31/00—Pile receivers
- B65H31/32—Auxiliary devices for receiving articles during removal of a completed pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
- B65H29/38—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by movable piling or advancing arms, frames, plates, or like members with which the articles are maintained in face contact
- B65H29/40—Members rotated about an axis perpendicular to direction of article movement, e.g. star-wheels formed by S-shaped members
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
- B65H2403/70—Clutches; Couplings
- B65H2403/72—Clutches, brakes, e.g. one-way clutch +F204
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2801/00—Application field
- B65H2801/03—Image reproduction devices
- B65H2801/21—Industrial-size printers, e.g. rotary printing press
Definitions
- This invention relates to an apparatus for rearranging sheets of paper or like material into stacks.
- the apparatus is incorporated with a printing press for delivery of printed sheets of paper in successive stacks on a delivery conveyor.
- a typical prior art apparatus in the field is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-121176. It includes what is known to the specialists as a delivery fan, a rotor having axial rows of convolute blades mounted thereon at constant circumferential spacings. Issuing from a frictional belt conveyor system one by one, printed sheets of paper are successively received one in each spacing between the blades of the delivery fan in rotation. The sheets revolve with the delivery fan until, approximately half a revolution later, they comes into successive abutment against a set of stop blades which are arranged interdigitatingly with the fan blades. Thereupon, with the continued rotation of the delivery fan, the sheets will be pushed out of the fan blade spacings and, thus falling off the delivery fan, deposited upon an underlying tray to be stacked thereon.
- Another important component of the delivery apparatus is a temporary sheet holder which is angularly displaceable radially outwardly of the delivery fan about the same axis therewith.
- the sheet holder When the sheets are stacked to a predefined height on the tray, the sheet holder will be turned to its working position between the delivery fan and the tray for temporarily receiving the sheets that are subsequently released from the fan.
- the sheet holder will be retracted away from under the delivery fan after the preformed stack on the tray has been carried away and a new tray positioned in its stead.
- the sheets that have been deposited on the sheet holder will fall off the same onto the new tray during the retraction of the sheet holder, and the sheets subsequent released from the delivery fan will fall onto the new tray and form another stack thereon.
- the present invention has it as an object to realize exact synchronism in angular displacement of the temporary sheet holder to its working position with the rotation of the delivery fan.
- Another object of the invention is to ensure that all the sheets that have fallen upon the temporary sheet holder smoothly come off the same upon its retraction.
- Still another object of the invention is to avoid any interference between the sheets falling off the delivery fan and the sheet holder traveling to its working position.
- the present invention may be summarized as an apparatus for delivery of sheets of paper or like material in successive stacks, comprising a delivery fan for receiving successive sheets from some infeed means while in rotation in a prescribed direction.
- the delivery fan is provided with abutment means to be hit by the sheets being carried thereby, the sheets on hitting the abutment means falling off the delivery fan with continued rotation thereof, onto underlying delivery means to be stacked thereon.
- a temporary sheet holder is angularly displaceable about the same axis as the delivery fan between a working position, where the temporary sheet holder temporarily receives the sheets falling off the delivery fan pending replacement of a preformed stack of sheets on the delivery means, and a retracted position, spaced upstream from the working position with respect to the rotational direction of the delivery fan, where the temporary sheet holder allows the sheets to fall from the delivery fan onto the delivery means.
- the temporary sheet holder is mounted to the shaft of the delivery fan via overrunning clutch means which prevent the temporary sheet holder from running faster than the delivery fan shaft from the retracted toward the working position, and which allow the temporary sheet holder to rotate independently of the delivery fan shaft from the working toward the retracted position.
- Resilient means act between the temporary sheet holder and a stationary part of the apparatus for biasing the former from the retracted toward the working position and hence for causing, in cooperation with the overrunning clutch means, the temporary sheet holder to travel at the same angular velocity as the delivery fan from the retracted to the working position.
- Drive means are provided for moving the temporary sheet holder from the working to the retracted position against the bias of the resilient means.
- the temporary sheet holder When the sheets falling from the delivery fan are being stacked on the delivery means, the temporary sheet holder is positively retained in the retracted position by the drive means. Then, unlocked from the retracted position upon stacking of a prescribed number of sheets on the delivery means, the temporary sheet holder tends to run faster than the delivery fan to the working position under the influence of the resilient means. Actually, however, the sheet holder is constrained by the overrunning clutch means to joint travel with the delivery fan at the same angular velocity therewith.
- the sheet holder includes a set of sheet holder prongs spaced axially of the delivery fan and each extending circumferentially of the delivery fan.
- Each sheet holder prong is made hollow, defining a plenum chamber therein, and has a suitable number of air exit openings formed least in its surface facing the delivery fan and, preferably, in part of its other surface facing away from the delivery fan.
- Air is also to be emitted from the sheet holder prong surfaces when the sheet holder is retracted from its working position.
- the sheets that have been deposited on the sheet holder during replacement of the preformed sheet stack are to fall by gravity from the sheet holder upon its retraction, in order to form another stack on the delivery means.
- FIG. 1 is an explanatory side elevation, with parts shown in section and parts shown broken away for illustrative convenience, of the apparatus embodying the principles of this invention
- FIG. 2 is an axial section through the delivery fan of the FIG. 1 apparatus, shown together with the temporary sheet holder and other means in the neighborhood of the delivery fan;
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a movable platform on which the sheets are to be stacked before being unloaded on a delivery conveyor, the platform being here shown together with means for horizontally moving the same between two required positions;
- FIG. 4 is an elevation of means for vertically moving the FIG. 3 platform between two required positions
- FIG. 5 shows partly in section and partly in elevation, how the temporary sheet holder is mounted to the delivery fan shaft and how it is driven between the working and retracted positions;
- FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of part of the drive means for the temporary sheet holder
- FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevation of each sheet holder prong, particularly showing the air exit openings formed in its inside surface facing the delivery fan;
- FIG. 8 is a section through the sheet holder prong, taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7 ;
- FIG. 9 is an elevation showing the outer side of the FIG. 7 sheet holder prong.
- FIG. 1 The general organization of the apparatus according to the invention, as adapted for stacked delivery of printed sheets in a printing press, will become apparent from a study of FIG. 1.
- It includes an infeed conveyor 1 shown as comprising two endless belts arranged face to face for frictionally engaging therebetween a row of printed sheets 2 to be delivered.
- Under the exit end of the infeed conveyor 1 there is rotatably mounted a delivery fan 3 for successively receiving the sheets 2 from the overhead conveyor. Itself of conventional make, the delivery fan 3 rotates in a prescribed direction, clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, for carrying the received sheets downwardly.
- a platform 4 Under the delivery fan 3 there is provided a platform 4 , movable both vertically and horizontally, for having the sheets 2 deposited from the delivery fan and stacked thereon. Further underlying the movable platform 4 is a delivery conveyor 5 which, as each complete stack of sheets is transferred from the movable platform 4 , carries the same away toward the next processing station. The sheets 2 falling from delivery fan 3 to movable platform 4 are guided by adjustable stacking guide means 6 .
- the reference numeral 7 generally denotes a temporary sheet holder for temporarily holding sheets while each complete stack of sheets is being unloaded from the platform 4 onto the delivery conveyor 5 .
- the present invention particularly concerns the construction of this temporary sheet holder itself and the means for causing its angular displacement between working and retracted positions about the axis of the delivery fan 3 .
- FIGS. 1 and 2 The construction of the delivery fan 3 will be best understood from FIGS. 1 and 2. Included is a shaft 8 having its opposite ends journaled in a pair of confronting framing walls 11 a and 11 b of the machine for rotation in the direction in which the sheets 2 are supplied from the overhead conveyor 1 .
- Sets of convolute blades 9 are affixed to the shaft 8 . Each set consists of four such blades, spaced axially of the shaft 8 , in this particular embodiment. Further a multiplicity of such sets of blades are arranged at constant circumferential spacings 9 a on the shaft 8 .
- a conventional drive mechanism for the delivery fan 3 Driven at a peripheral speed just slightly less than the speed at which the sheets 2 are fed in from the conveyor 1 , the delivery fan 3 receives one sheet in each spacing between its sets of blades 9 .
- FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 Reference may be had to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 for a consideration of the movable platform 4 together with its supporting and actuating means.
- the platform 4 is shown to be composed of a plurality of tines 13 extending in parallel spaced relationship to one another in a direction at right angles with the axis of the delivery fan 3 and all cantilevered to a yoke 12 .
- the yoke 12 together with the tines 13 is movable horizontally, and longitudinally of the tines, along a pair of guide rods 12 a and 12 b.
- a linear actuator shown as a rodless cylinder 14 is provided for such horizontal travel of the platform 4 .
- the platform 4 is movable not only horizontally but vertically, too. Toward this latter end the platform 4 as well as the guide rods 12 a and 12 b and the linear actuator 14 is mounted to a carriage 15 in the form of a rectangular frame.
- a pair of upstanding supports 16 are secured to the opposed inside surfaces of the noted pair of framing walls 11 a and 11 b for supporting a pair of upstanding lead screws 17 and a pair of upstanding guide rods 18 .
- the carriage 15 has on its opposite sides a pair of internally threaded lugs 19 in threaded engagement with the lead screws 17 , and a pair of hollow lugs 20 in sliding engagement with the guide rods 18 .
- drive means for joint rotation of the pair of lead screws 17 in the same direction include a bevel gearing 22 disposed midway between the pair of framing walls 11 a and 11 b and drivingly coupled to the lead screws 17 .
- the carriage 15 travels up and down between the solid-line and the phantom positions of FIG. 4.
- the stroke of the linear actuator 14 is such that the platform 4 travels between the position of FIG. 1, just under the delivery fan 3 and over the delivery conveyor 5 for receiving the sheets 2 falling therefrom, to a position displaced to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3, from under the delivery fan.
- the up-and-down stroke of the carriage 15 with respect to the lead screws 17 is such, moreover, that the platform 4 travels between the solid-line position of FIG. 1, in which the platform is nearly on a level with the upper flight of the delivery conveyor 5 , and the phantom position closer to the delivery fan 3 .
- the platform 4 can cyclically assume the following four positions: 1. An initial position, indicated by the phantom outline in FIG. 1, under and close to the delivery fan 3 , from which the platform 4 is to descend at the same rate as the sheets 2 are stacked thereon.
- the adjustable stacking guide means 6 comprise a leading end guide 24 for guiding the leading ends of the sheets 2 as they fall from the delivery fan 3 down onto the movable platform 4 or on the temporary sheet holder 7 , and a trailing end guide 25 for guiding the trailing ends of the sheets down from the delivery fan.
- the leading end guide 24 serves further as an abutment to be hit by the sheets 2 being carried by the delivery fan 3 , in order to arrest the angular travel of the sheets and hence to cause the same to be released from the fan with its continued rotation.
- the leading end guide 24 is composed of a set of tines 24 a , which are arranged interdigitatingly with the blades 9 of the delivery fan 3 and with the tines 13 of the platform 4 . All the leading end guide tines 24 a are affixed to a yoke 26 , FIG. 1, which is coupled fast to one end of a connecting rod 28 slidably extending through a stationary part 27 of the machine for longitudinal displacement in a horizontal direction at right angles with the axis of the delivery fan 3 . The other end of the connecting rod 28 is secured to a carriage 30 which makes threaded engagement with a lead screw 31 for travel in sliding contact with a guide rod 29 .
- the lead screw 31 is coupled to a drive motor, not shown, via a worm gearing 32 , thereby to be driven bidirectionally. Therefore, with the bidirectional rotation of the lead screw 31 , the carriage 30 will travel back and forth along the same.
- the position of the leading end guide 24 is thus horizontally adjustable relative to the delivery fan 3 , in order that the sheets 2 may hit the guide in an optimum position to be disengaged from the delivery fan and deposited on the platform 4 or on the temporary sheet holder 7 .
- the trailing end guide 25 is divided into an openable bottom section 25 a and an unopenable top section 25 b, both normally held in vertical alignment. Both sections 25 a and 25 b are jointly adjustably movable horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the delivery conveyor 5 , and the bottom section 25 a is additionally openable, that is, movable both upwardly and downstream of the delivery conveyor, from the solid-line to the phantom position in FIG. 1.
- a carriage 33 in threaded engagement with a lead screw 34 for sliding movement along a horizontal guide rod 33 a.
- the lead screw 34 is coupled to a drive motor, not shown, via a worm gearing 35 thereby to be driven bidirectionally.
- the carriage 33 has a pair of mounting plates 36 , one seen, of triangular shape secured to its opposite sides for immovably carrying the top section 25 b of the trailing end guide 25 in an upstanding attitude.
- a pair of carriers 37 are also mounted to the opposite sides of the carriage 33 for carrying the bottom section 25 a of the trailing end guide 25 .
- the carriers 37 are constrained to travel relative to the carriage along tracks that decline downwardly as they extend upstream of the delivery conveyor 5 .
- trailing end guide 25 as a whole is adjustably movable with the motor-driven carriage 33 longitudinally of the delivery conveyor 5 .
- the bottom guide section 25 a is further independently movable upwardly and downstream of the delivery conveyor 5 upon contraction of the cylinder 38 , for providing an exit for the stack of sheets on the delivery conveyor.
- the temporary sheet holder 7 and its associated mounting and actuating means, all forming the gist of the instant invention, are best depicted in FIG. 5, although the sheet holder itself appears also in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in more detail in FIGS. 7 - 9 .
- the temporary sheet holder 7 is angularly displaceable about the axis of the delivery fan 3 between the working position indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 5 and the retracted position indicated by the broken lines in the same figure.
- the retracted position is spaced upstream from the working position with respect to the rotational direction of the delivery fan 3 , which is clockwise as viewed in this figure.
- the temporary sheet holder 7 includes a pair of swing arms 47 which are proximally secured respectively to a pair of carrier rings 46 .
- These carrier ring 46 are concentrically mounted on the rotary shaft 8 of the delivery fan 3 via respective overrunning clutches 45 of familiar make which prevent the carrier rings from running faster than the delivery fan shaft in the rotational direction of the delivery fan, and which allow the carrier rings to run freely in the opposite direction.
- the complete sheet holder 7 is prevented from turning faster than the delivery fan 3 from its retracted to its working position but is free to run independently of the delivery fan from its working to its retracted position
- each sheet holder prong 50 is elongated circumferentially of the delivery fan 3 .
- the sheet holder prongs 50 should be so mounted to the carrier rods 49 as to be both readily dismountable and adjustably movable longitudinally of the carrier rods.
- the sheet holder prongs 50 have inside surfaces 51 which are spaced from the delivery fan 3 and which are arched concentrically with the delivery fan, with a radius of curvature more or less equal to that of the delivery fan.
- each sheet holder prong 50 is hollow and, as seen in a longitudinal section as in FIG. 8, thickest as its midportion, tapering toward both extremities.
- the thickest midportion of each sheet holder prong 50 is formed to include a boss 52 for engagement with the pair of carrier rods 49 .
- a clamp 53 is screwed at 54 to the boss 52 for fastening the sheet holder prong 50 to the carrier rods 49 . It will be appreciated that, so clamped and screwed to the carrier rods 49 , each sheet holder prong 50 is readily mountable to, and dismountable from, these rods and further independently adjustably movable along the same.
- the boss 52 has formed therein an air intake port 55 which is open to the interior of the hollow sheet holder prong 50 .
- a source of air under pressure not shown, communicates with the ports 55 of all the sheet holder prongs 50 via suitable piping and valving.
- the boss 52 has a pair of air passageways 55 a formed therethrough for intercommunicating the plenum chambers on both sides thereof.
- FIG. 7 reveals a multiplicity of air exit openings 56 formed in the inside surface 51 of each sheet holder prong 50 . Additionally, one or more, two shown at 56 a in FIG. 9, air exit openings are formed in the outer surface of each sheet holder prong 50 in the adjacency of its downstream end with respect to the direction of rotation of the delivery fan 3 .
- a pair of positioning rings 59 are rotatably mounted respectively on the carrier rings 46 via bearings 59 a for positioning the sheet holder 7 in the solid-line working position and broken-line retracted position of FIG. 5.
- Each positioning ring 59 has two lugs 60 a and 60 b formed in circumferentially spaced positions thereon and projecting radially outwardly therefrom.
- the first lug 60 a carries a stop 61 , preferably with a shock-absorbing capability, for abutting engagement with an abutment 58 on each swing arm 47 of the sheet holder 7 .
- the second lug 60 b on each positioning ring 59 is coupled to a drive mechanism 63 for jointly turning the pair of positioning rings between the two angular positions indicated respectively by the solid lines and the phantom outlines in FIG. 5. It will be noted from this figure that the second lug 60 b is operatively coupled via an adjustable length link 62 to a swing arm 64 which is mounted fast on a rotary shaft 65 for swinging through an angle of approximately 90 degrees with the bidirectional rotation of the shaft 65 .
- FIG. 2 best reveals that the shaft 65 , a part of the drive mechanism 63 for the positioning rings 59 , has its opposite ends rotatably journaled in the pair of framing walls 11 a and 11 b .
- One of the end journals of the shaft 65 extends outwardly of the wall 11 a and is operatively coupled to a double-acting, fluid-actuated cylinder 66 .
- the cylinder 66 is an air cylinder, having its pair of air chambers selectively placed in and out of communication with a source 68 of air under pressure via a solenoid-operated valve 67 . Also shown in this figure are a pair of limit stops 67 a and 67 b, both complete with shock absorbing means, for arresting the bidirectional rotation of the shaft 65 in desired angular positions.
- each positioning ring 59 is in the solid-line position of FIG. 5, retaining the temporary sheet holder 7 in its working position under the bias of the tension springs 57 , when the cylinder 66 is contracted.
- the pair of positioning rings 59 will turn counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 5, thereby causing, via the stops 61 acting on the abutments 58 on the swing arms 47 , the temporary sheet holder to turn in the same direction to the phantom retracted position of the same figure in opposition to the bias of the tension springs 62 .
- the temporary sheet holder 7 may be held retracted away from under the delivery fan 3 .
- the platform 4 may be held in the noted initial position indicated in phantom outline in FIG. 1.
- the sheets 2 will be successively received one in each of the spacings 9 a between the sets of blades 9 of the delivery fan 3 which is in constant speed rotation.
- the sheets 2 will turn with the delivery fan 3 into abutment against the leading end guide 24 thereby to be relatively expelled from between the blades 9 with the continued rotation of the delivery fan 3 .
- Falling down the leading end guide 24 the sheets 2 will be successively deposited and stacked on the platform 4 . As the stack builds up, the platform 4 will be lowered at a matching speed toward the unloading position on the delivery conveyor 5 .
- the solenoid valve 67 FIG. 6, is to be actuated automatically to cause contraction of the air cylinder 66 .
- the pair of positioning rings 59 will turn in the same direction as the delivery fan 3 but at a higher speed, bringing the pair of stops 61 from its broken-line to its solid-line position in FIG. 5. So far restrained in the broken-line retracted position by the stops 61 , the temporary sheet holder 7 is now free to turn clockwise to its solid-line working position under the bias of the tension springs 57 .
- the temporary sheet holder 7 is incapable of turning faster than the delivery fan 3 , because its pair of swing arms 47 are secured to the carrier rings 46 which in turn are mounted on the delivery fan shaft 8 via the overrunning clutches 45 . Consequently, urged by the tension springs 57 , the temporary sheet holder 7 will revolve at the same angular velocity as the delivery fan 3 , to the working position in which the abutments 58 on the swing arms 47 reengage the stops 61 on the positioning rings 59 .
- the temporary sheet holder 7 On being so driven to the working position, the temporary sheet holder 7 will have its set of prongs 50 placed under the delivery fan 3 to receive the sheets subsequently released therefrom. It is understood that air under pressure is being supplied into all the sheet holder prongs 50 at this time, the air outflowing through the openings 56 , FIG. 7, in the complete inside or upper surface of each prong and through the openings 56 a, FIG. 9, in the leading end portion of its outside or lower surface.
- the sheet holder prongs 50 will smoothly enter and travel between any two of the successive sheets falling from the delivery fan 3 , as the airstreams issuing therefrom spread them apart.
- the sheets subsequently released from the delivery fan 3 will be temporarily deposited and stacked on the temporary sheet holder 7 .
- the platform 4 will be pulled back from its unloading position to the retracted position past the leading end guide 24 , leaving the stack of sheets on the delivery conveyor 5 .
- the bottom half 25 a of the trailing end guide 25 may be opened by contraction of the cylinder 38 , and the delivery conveyor 5 set into operation, for carrying the stack of sheets to the next station.
- the top half 25 b of the trailing end guide 25 will stay unmoved and so serve to guide the trailing ends of the sheets falling upon the temporary sheet holder 7 .
- the platform 4 While the temporary sheet holder 7 is receiving the sheets from the delivery fan 3 , the platform 4 will be raised from its retracted to its standby position, and thence back to its initial position just under the sheet holder being held in its working position. Then the cylinder 66 , FIG. 6, of the positioning ring drive mechanism 63 will be extended, causing, via the adjustable length links 62 , the pair of positioning rings 59 to turn counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 5, a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the delivery fan 3 .
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Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to an apparatus for rearranging sheets of paper or like material into stacks. Typically, the apparatus is incorporated with a printing press for delivery of printed sheets of paper in successive stacks on a delivery conveyor.
- A typical prior art apparatus in the field is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-121176. It includes what is known to the specialists as a delivery fan, a rotor having axial rows of convolute blades mounted thereon at constant circumferential spacings. Issuing from a frictional belt conveyor system one by one, printed sheets of paper are successively received one in each spacing between the blades of the delivery fan in rotation. The sheets revolve with the delivery fan until, approximately half a revolution later, they comes into successive abutment against a set of stop blades which are arranged interdigitatingly with the fan blades. Thereupon, with the continued rotation of the delivery fan, the sheets will be pushed out of the fan blade spacings and, thus falling off the delivery fan, deposited upon an underlying tray to be stacked thereon.
- Another important component of the delivery apparatus is a temporary sheet holder which is angularly displaceable radially outwardly of the delivery fan about the same axis therewith. When the sheets are stacked to a predefined height on the tray, the sheet holder will be turned to its working position between the delivery fan and the tray for temporarily receiving the sheets that are subsequently released from the fan. The sheet holder will be retracted away from under the delivery fan after the preformed stack on the tray has been carried away and a new tray positioned in its stead. The sheets that have been deposited on the sheet holder will fall off the same onto the new tray during the retraction of the sheet holder, and the sheets subsequent released from the delivery fan will fall onto the new tray and form another stack thereon.
- An objection to this prior art apparatus is that the delivery fan and the temporary sheet holder are driven by different means comprising separate electric stepper motors. Difficulties have been experienced as a consequence in realizing strict synchronism in turning the sheet holder to its working position with the rotation of the delivery fan. In event the delivery fan and the sheet holder are driven out of synchronism, mutual interference has been easy to occur between the sheet holder and the sheets falling off the delivery fan. The frequent results have been the creasing or wrinkling of the sheets and the uneven or irregular stacking thereof.
- Another objection concerns the way the sheets temporarily deposited on the sheet holder are subsequently dropped therefrom onto the new tray when the sheet holder is angularly retracted about the delivery fan axis. The lowermost one of the sheets on the sheet holder has tended to stick to it so fast that the lowermost sheet has often failed to come off the sheet holder being retracted, again resulting in disorderly or uneven stacking of the sheets.
- The present invention has it as an object to realize exact synchronism in angular displacement of the temporary sheet holder to its working position with the rotation of the delivery fan.
- Another object of the invention is to ensure that all the sheets that have fallen upon the temporary sheet holder smoothly come off the same upon its retraction.
- Still another object of the invention is to avoid any interference between the sheets falling off the delivery fan and the sheet holder traveling to its working position.
- Briefly, the present invention may be summarized as an apparatus for delivery of sheets of paper or like material in successive stacks, comprising a delivery fan for receiving successive sheets from some infeed means while in rotation in a prescribed direction. The delivery fan is provided with abutment means to be hit by the sheets being carried thereby, the sheets on hitting the abutment means falling off the delivery fan with continued rotation thereof, onto underlying delivery means to be stacked thereon. A temporary sheet holder is angularly displaceable about the same axis as the delivery fan between a working position, where the temporary sheet holder temporarily receives the sheets falling off the delivery fan pending replacement of a preformed stack of sheets on the delivery means, and a retracted position, spaced upstream from the working position with respect to the rotational direction of the delivery fan, where the temporary sheet holder allows the sheets to fall from the delivery fan onto the delivery means.
- Characteristically, the temporary sheet holder is mounted to the shaft of the delivery fan via overrunning clutch means which prevent the temporary sheet holder from running faster than the delivery fan shaft from the retracted toward the working position, and which allow the temporary sheet holder to rotate independently of the delivery fan shaft from the working toward the retracted position. Resilient means act between the temporary sheet holder and a stationary part of the apparatus for biasing the former from the retracted toward the working position and hence for causing, in cooperation with the overrunning clutch means, the temporary sheet holder to travel at the same angular velocity as the delivery fan from the retracted to the working position. Drive means are provided for moving the temporary sheet holder from the working to the retracted position against the bias of the resilient means.
- When the sheets falling from the delivery fan are being stacked on the delivery means, the temporary sheet holder is positively retained in the retracted position by the drive means. Then, unlocked from the retracted position upon stacking of a prescribed number of sheets on the delivery means, the temporary sheet holder tends to run faster than the delivery fan to the working position under the influence of the resilient means. Actually, however, the sheet holder is constrained by the overrunning clutch means to joint travel with the delivery fan at the same angular velocity therewith.
- Exact synchronism is thus attained between delivery fan and temporary sheet holder. So driven to its working position, the sheet holder will seldom interfere with the sheets falling from the delivery fan, nor will an error easily occur in the number of sheets forming each stack.
- Another feature of the invention concerns the construction of the temporary sheet holder itself. The sheet holder includes a set of sheet holder prongs spaced axially of the delivery fan and each extending circumferentially of the delivery fan. Each sheet holder prong is made hollow, defining a plenum chamber therein, and has a suitable number of air exit openings formed least in its surface facing the delivery fan and, preferably, in part of its other surface facing away from the delivery fan.
- Air under pressure flows out all the openings in the sheet holder prongs at least when the sheet holder is traveling toward its working position. As the sheet holder enters between any two consecutive sheets falling from the delivery fan, the outflowing air will widen the space therebetween, making it all the more unlikely for the sheet holder to touch, much less wrinkle or otherwise damage, the sheets.
- Air is also to be emitted from the sheet holder prong surfaces when the sheet holder is retracted from its working position. The sheets that have been deposited on the sheet holder during replacement of the preformed sheet stack are to fall by gravity from the sheet holder upon its retraction, in order to form another stack on the delivery means. There is no risk of the sheets remaining stuck to the sheet holder prong surfaces, and so being carried away to the retracted position of the sheet holder, as air issues from the perforated prong surfaces.
- The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention and the manner of realizing them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will best be understood, from the following description taken together with the attached drawings showing the preferred embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 1 is an explanatory side elevation, with parts shown in section and parts shown broken away for illustrative convenience, of the apparatus embodying the principles of this invention;
- FIG. 2 is an axial section through the delivery fan of the FIG. 1 apparatus, shown together with the temporary sheet holder and other means in the neighborhood of the delivery fan;
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a movable platform on which the sheets are to be stacked before being unloaded on a delivery conveyor, the platform being here shown together with means for horizontally moving the same between two required positions;
- FIG. 4 is an elevation of means for vertically moving the FIG. 3 platform between two required positions;
- FIG. 5 shows partly in section and partly in elevation, how the temporary sheet holder is mounted to the delivery fan shaft and how it is driven between the working and retracted positions;
- FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of part of the drive means for the temporary sheet holder;
- FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevation of each sheet holder prong, particularly showing the air exit openings formed in its inside surface facing the delivery fan;
- FIG. 8 is a section through the sheet holder prong, taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7 ; and
- FIG. 9 is an elevation showing the outer side of the FIG. 7 sheet holder prong.
- General
- The general organization of the apparatus according to the invention, as adapted for stacked delivery of printed sheets in a printing press, will become apparent from a study of FIG. 1. It includes an infeed conveyor1 shown as comprising two endless belts arranged face to face for frictionally engaging therebetween a row of printed
sheets 2 to be delivered. Under the exit end of the infeed conveyor 1 there is rotatably mounted adelivery fan 3 for successively receiving thesheets 2 from the overhead conveyor. Itself of conventional make, thedelivery fan 3 rotates in a prescribed direction, clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, for carrying the received sheets downwardly. - Under the
delivery fan 3 there is provided aplatform 4, movable both vertically and horizontally, for having thesheets 2 deposited from the delivery fan and stacked thereon. Further underlying themovable platform 4 is adelivery conveyor 5 which, as each complete stack of sheets is transferred from themovable platform 4, carries the same away toward the next processing station. Thesheets 2 falling fromdelivery fan 3 tomovable platform 4 are guided by adjustable stacking guide means 6. - The
reference numeral 7 generally denotes a temporary sheet holder for temporarily holding sheets while each complete stack of sheets is being unloaded from theplatform 4 onto thedelivery conveyor 5. The present invention particularly concerns the construction of this temporary sheet holder itself and the means for causing its angular displacement between working and retracted positions about the axis of thedelivery fan 3. - Hereinafter in this specification the above noted
delivery fan 3,movable platform 4 with its supporting and actuating means, adjustable stacking guide means 6, andtemporary sheet holder 7 with its actuating means, will be discussed in more detail, in that order and under separate headings. Operational description will follow the discussion of the listed components. - Delivery Fan
- The construction of the
delivery fan 3 will be best understood from FIGS. 1 and 2. Included is ashaft 8 having its opposite ends journaled in a pair of confronting framing walls 11 a and 11 b of the machine for rotation in the direction in which thesheets 2 are supplied from the overhead conveyor 1. Sets ofconvolute blades 9 are affixed to theshaft 8. Each set consists of four such blades, spaced axially of theshaft 8, in this particular embodiment. Further a multiplicity of such sets of blades are arranged at constantcircumferential spacings 9 a on theshaft 8. - At10 in FIG. 2 is shown a conventional drive mechanism for the
delivery fan 3. Driven at a peripheral speed just slightly less than the speed at which thesheets 2 are fed in from the conveyor 1, thedelivery fan 3 receives one sheet in each spacing between its sets ofblades 9. - Movable Platform
- Reference may be had to FIGS. 1, 3 and4 for a consideration of the
movable platform 4 together with its supporting and actuating means. Theplatform 4 is shown to be composed of a plurality oftines 13 extending in parallel spaced relationship to one another in a direction at right angles with the axis of thedelivery fan 3 and all cantilevered to ayoke 12. Theyoke 12 together with thetines 13 is movable horizontally, and longitudinally of the tines, along a pair ofguide rods rodless cylinder 14 is provided for such horizontal travel of theplatform 4. - The
platform 4 is movable not only horizontally but vertically, too. Toward this latter end theplatform 4 as well as theguide rods linear actuator 14 is mounted to acarriage 15 in the form of a rectangular frame. A pair ofupstanding supports 16 are secured to the opposed inside surfaces of the noted pair of framing walls 11 a and 11 b for supporting a pair of upstanding lead screws 17 and a pair ofupstanding guide rods 18. Thecarriage 15 has on its opposite sides a pair of internally threadedlugs 19 in threaded engagement with the lead screws 17, and a pair ofhollow lugs 20 in sliding engagement with theguide rods 18. - At21 in FIG. 4 are seen drive means for joint rotation of the pair of lead screws 17 in the same direction. The drive means 21 include a
bevel gearing 22 disposed midway between the pair of framing walls 11 a and 11 b and drivingly coupled to the lead screws 17. Thus, with the synchronous, bidirectional rotation of the lead screws 17, thecarriage 15 travels up and down between the solid-line and the phantom positions of FIG. 4. - The stroke of the
linear actuator 14 is such that theplatform 4 travels between the position of FIG. 1, just under thedelivery fan 3 and over thedelivery conveyor 5 for receiving thesheets 2 falling therefrom, to a position displaced to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3, from under the delivery fan. The up-and-down stroke of thecarriage 15 with respect to the lead screws 17 is such, moreover, that theplatform 4 travels between the solid-line position of FIG. 1, in which the platform is nearly on a level with the upper flight of thedelivery conveyor 5, and the phantom position closer to thedelivery fan 3. - Thus, by being made movable both horizontally and vertically as above, the
platform 4 can cyclically assume the following four positions: 1. An initial position, indicated by the phantom outline in FIG. 1, under and close to thedelivery fan 3, from which theplatform 4 is to descend at the same rate as thesheets 2 are stacked thereon. - 2. An unloading position, indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 1, spaced downwardly from the initial position for unloading the stack of sheets on the
delivery conveyor 5. - 3. A retracted position horizontally displaced upstream of the
delivery conveyor 5, or to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, from the unloading position. - 4. A standby position spaced upwardly from the retracted position, to the same height as the initial position, ready to be thrust horizontally back to the initial position.
- Adjustable Stacking Guide Means
- With continued reference to FIG. 1 the adjustable stacking guide means6 comprise a
leading end guide 24 for guiding the leading ends of thesheets 2 as they fall from thedelivery fan 3 down onto themovable platform 4 or on thetemporary sheet holder 7, and a trailingend guide 25 for guiding the trailing ends of the sheets down from the delivery fan. Theleading end guide 24 serves further as an abutment to be hit by thesheets 2 being carried by thedelivery fan 3, in order to arrest the angular travel of the sheets and hence to cause the same to be released from the fan with its continued rotation. - As depicted in FIG. 3, the
leading end guide 24 is composed of a set oftines 24 a, which are arranged interdigitatingly with theblades 9 of thedelivery fan 3 and with thetines 13 of theplatform 4. All the leadingend guide tines 24 a are affixed to ayoke 26, FIG. 1, which is coupled fast to one end of a connectingrod 28 slidably extending through astationary part 27 of the machine for longitudinal displacement in a horizontal direction at right angles with the axis of thedelivery fan 3. The other end of the connectingrod 28 is secured to acarriage 30 which makes threaded engagement with a lead screw 31 for travel in sliding contact with aguide rod 29. The lead screw 31 is coupled to a drive motor, not shown, via aworm gearing 32, thereby to be driven bidirectionally. Therefore, with the bidirectional rotation of the lead screw 31, thecarriage 30 will travel back and forth along the same. The position of theleading end guide 24 is thus horizontally adjustable relative to thedelivery fan 3, in order that thesheets 2 may hit the guide in an optimum position to be disengaged from the delivery fan and deposited on theplatform 4 or on thetemporary sheet holder 7. - As indicated also in FIG. 1, the trailing
end guide 25 is divided into an openable bottom section 25 a and an unopenable top section 25 b, both normally held in vertical alignment. Both sections 25 a and 25 b are jointly adjustably movable horizontally in the longitudinal direction of thedelivery conveyor 5, and the bottom section 25 a is additionally openable, that is, movable both upwardly and downstream of the delivery conveyor, from the solid-line to the phantom position in FIG. 1. - For such joint horizontal travel of the trailing end guide sections25 a and 25 b, there is provided a
carriage 33 in threaded engagement with alead screw 34 for sliding movement along a horizontal guide rod 33 a. Thelead screw 34 is coupled to a drive motor, not shown, via a worm gearing 35 thereby to be driven bidirectionally. Thecarriage 33 has a pair of mountingplates 36, one seen, of triangular shape secured to its opposite sides for immovably carrying the top section 25 b of the trailingend guide 25 in an upstanding attitude. - A pair of
carriers 37, one seen, are also mounted to the opposite sides of thecarriage 33 for carrying the bottom section 25 a of the trailingend guide 25. Driven by a fluid-actuatedcylinder 38 on thecarriage 33, thecarriers 37 are constrained to travel relative to the carriage along tracks that decline downwardly as they extend upstream of thedelivery conveyor 5. - It is now apparent that the trailing
end guide 25 as a whole is adjustably movable with the motor-drivencarriage 33 longitudinally of thedelivery conveyor 5. The bottom guide section 25 a is further independently movable upwardly and downstream of thedelivery conveyor 5 upon contraction of thecylinder 38, for providing an exit for the stack of sheets on the delivery conveyor. - Temporary Sheet Holder
- The
temporary sheet holder 7 and its associated mounting and actuating means, all forming the gist of the instant invention, are best depicted in FIG. 5, although the sheet holder itself appears also in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in more detail in FIGS. 7-9. Thetemporary sheet holder 7 is angularly displaceable about the axis of thedelivery fan 3 between the working position indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 5 and the retracted position indicated by the broken lines in the same figure. The retracted position is spaced upstream from the working position with respect to the rotational direction of thedelivery fan 3, which is clockwise as viewed in this figure. - The
temporary sheet holder 7 includes a pair ofswing arms 47 which are proximally secured respectively to a pair of carrier rings 46. Thesecarrier ring 46 are concentrically mounted on therotary shaft 8 of thedelivery fan 3 viarespective overrunning clutches 45 of familiar make which prevent the carrier rings from running faster than the delivery fan shaft in the rotational direction of the delivery fan, and which allow the carrier rings to run freely in the opposite direction. Thus thecomplete sheet holder 7 is prevented from turning faster than thedelivery fan 3 from its retracted to its working position but is free to run independently of the delivery fan from its working to its retracted position - Extending between the distal ends of the
swing arms 47 are a pair ofcarrier rods 49 which are situated radially outwardly of thedelivery fan 3 for carrying a plurality, four shown in FIG. 2, of sheet holder prongs 50 in longitudinally spaced positions thereon. Eachsheet holder prong 50 is elongated circumferentially of thedelivery fan 3. Preferably, the sheet holder prongs 50 should be so mounted to thecarrier rods 49 as to be both readily dismountable and adjustably movable longitudinally of the carrier rods. The sheet holder prongs 50 have inside surfaces 51 which are spaced from thedelivery fan 3 and which are arched concentrically with the delivery fan, with a radius of curvature more or less equal to that of the delivery fan. - As pictured on an enlarged scale in FIGS.7-9, each
sheet holder prong 50 is hollow and, as seen in a longitudinal section as in FIG. 8, thickest as its midportion, tapering toward both extremities. The thickest midportion of eachsheet holder prong 50 is formed to include aboss 52 for engagement with the pair ofcarrier rods 49. Aclamp 53 is screwed at 54 to theboss 52 for fastening thesheet holder prong 50 to thecarrier rods 49. It will be appreciated that, so clamped and screwed to thecarrier rods 49, eachsheet holder prong 50 is readily mountable to, and dismountable from, these rods and further independently adjustably movable along the same. - The
boss 52 has formed therein anair intake port 55 which is open to the interior of the hollowsheet holder prong 50. A source of air under pressure, not shown, communicates with theports 55 of all the sheet holder prongs 50 via suitable piping and valving. Theboss 52 has a pair ofair passageways 55 a formed therethrough for intercommunicating the plenum chambers on both sides thereof. - FIG. 7 reveals a multiplicity of
air exit openings 56 formed in theinside surface 51 of eachsheet holder prong 50. Additionally, one or more, two shown at 56 a in FIG. 9, air exit openings are formed in the outer surface of eachsheet holder prong 50 in the adjacency of its downstream end with respect to the direction of rotation of thedelivery fan 3. - It has been stated in conjunction with FIG. 5 that the pair of carrier rings46 carrying the
swing arms 47 of thetemporary sheet holder 7 are mounted on thedelivery fan shaft 8 via the pair of overrunningclutches 45. Ahelical tension spring 57 extends between eachcarrier ring 46 and a stationary part 57 a of the machine for urging the carrier ring in the rotational direction of thedelivery fan 3. Thecomplete sheet holder 7 is thus sprung in that direction. - With reference to both FIGS. 2 and 5 a pair of positioning rings59 are rotatably mounted respectively on the carrier rings 46 via bearings 59 a for positioning the
sheet holder 7 in the solid-line working position and broken-line retracted position of FIG. 5. Eachpositioning ring 59 has twolugs first lug 60 a carries astop 61, preferably with a shock-absorbing capability, for abutting engagement with anabutment 58 on eachswing arm 47 of thesheet holder 7. Thesecond lug 60 b on eachpositioning ring 59 is coupled to adrive mechanism 63 for jointly turning the pair of positioning rings between the two angular positions indicated respectively by the solid lines and the phantom outlines in FIG. 5. It will be noted from this figure that thesecond lug 60 b is operatively coupled via anadjustable length link 62 to aswing arm 64 which is mounted fast on arotary shaft 65 for swinging through an angle of approximately 90 degrees with the bidirectional rotation of theshaft 65. - FIG. 2 best reveals that the
shaft 65, a part of thedrive mechanism 63 for the positioning rings 59, has its opposite ends rotatably journaled in the pair of framing walls 11 a and 11 b. One of the end journals of theshaft 65 extends outwardly of the wall 11 a and is operatively coupled to a double-acting, fluid-actuatedcylinder 66. - As shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. 6, the
cylinder 66 is an air cylinder, having its pair of air chambers selectively placed in and out of communication with asource 68 of air under pressure via a solenoid-operatedvalve 67. Also shown in this figure are a pair of limit stops 67 a and 67 b, both complete with shock absorbing means, for arresting the bidirectional rotation of theshaft 65 in desired angular positions. - It is understood that the
stop 61 on thefirst lug 60 a of eachpositioning ring 59 is in the solid-line position of FIG. 5, retaining thetemporary sheet holder 7 in its working position under the bias of the tension springs 57, when thecylinder 66 is contracted. Upon extension of thecylinder 66, on the other hand, the pair of positioning rings 59 will turn counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 5, thereby causing, via thestops 61 acting on theabutments 58 on theswing arms 47, the temporary sheet holder to turn in the same direction to the phantom retracted position of the same figure in opposition to the bias of the tension springs 62. - Operation
- Initially, the
temporary sheet holder 7 may be held retracted away from under thedelivery fan 3. Theplatform 4 may be held in the noted initial position indicated in phantom outline in FIG. 1. - Issuing one by one from the frictional belt conveyor1, the
sheets 2 will be successively received one in each of thespacings 9 a between the sets ofblades 9 of thedelivery fan 3 which is in constant speed rotation. Thesheets 2 will turn with thedelivery fan 3 into abutment against theleading end guide 24 thereby to be relatively expelled from between theblades 9 with the continued rotation of thedelivery fan 3. Falling down theleading end guide 24, thesheets 2 will be successively deposited and stacked on theplatform 4. As the stack builds up, theplatform 4 will be lowered at a matching speed toward the unloading position on thedelivery conveyor 5. - When a prescribed number of sheets are stacked on the
platform 4, as detected by a counter, not shown, thesolenoid valve 67, FIG. 6, is to be actuated automatically to cause contraction of theair cylinder 66. Thereupon the pair of positioning rings 59 will turn in the same direction as thedelivery fan 3 but at a higher speed, bringing the pair ofstops 61 from its broken-line to its solid-line position in FIG. 5. So far restrained in the broken-line retracted position by thestops 61, thetemporary sheet holder 7 is now free to turn clockwise to its solid-line working position under the bias of the tension springs 57. - However, the
temporary sheet holder 7 is incapable of turning faster than thedelivery fan 3, because its pair ofswing arms 47 are secured to the carrier rings 46 which in turn are mounted on thedelivery fan shaft 8 via the overrunningclutches 45. Consequently, urged by the tension springs 57, thetemporary sheet holder 7 will revolve at the same angular velocity as thedelivery fan 3, to the working position in which theabutments 58 on theswing arms 47 reengage thestops 61 on the positioning rings 59. - On being so driven to the working position, the
temporary sheet holder 7 will have its set ofprongs 50 placed under thedelivery fan 3 to receive the sheets subsequently released therefrom. It is understood that air under pressure is being supplied into all the sheet holder prongs 50 at this time, the air outflowing through theopenings 56, FIG. 7, in the complete inside or upper surface of each prong and through theopenings 56 a, FIG. 9, in the leading end portion of its outside or lower surface. The sheet holder prongs 50 will smoothly enter and travel between any two of the successive sheets falling from thedelivery fan 3, as the airstreams issuing therefrom spread them apart. The sheets subsequently released from thedelivery fan 3 will be temporarily deposited and stacked on thetemporary sheet holder 7. - In the meantime the
platform 4 will be pulled back from its unloading position to the retracted position past theleading end guide 24, leaving the stack of sheets on thedelivery conveyor 5. Now the bottom half 25 a of the trailingend guide 25 may be opened by contraction of thecylinder 38, and thedelivery conveyor 5 set into operation, for carrying the stack of sheets to the next station. The top half 25 b of the trailingend guide 25 will stay unmoved and so serve to guide the trailing ends of the sheets falling upon thetemporary sheet holder 7. - While the
temporary sheet holder 7 is receiving the sheets from thedelivery fan 3, theplatform 4 will be raised from its retracted to its standby position, and thence back to its initial position just under the sheet holder being held in its working position. Then thecylinder 66, FIG. 6, of the positioningring drive mechanism 63 will be extended, causing, via the adjustable length links 62, the pair of positioning rings 59 to turn counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 5, a direction opposite to the rotational direction of thedelivery fan 3. The stops 61 on thelugs 60 a of the positioning rings 59 will then act on theabutments 58 of theswing arms 47 of thetemporary sheet holder 7, causing angular displacement of this sheet holder from its solid-line working position to its broken-line retracted position, both shown in FIG. 5. Upon such angular retraction of thesheet holder 7, the sheets that have been stacked thereon will fall down onto theplatform 4. - At this time, too, air under pressure is being emitted through the
openings 56 in the complete inside surfaces of the sheet holder prongs 50. The stack of sheets on thesheet holder 7 will therefore not stick to these surfaces but will smoothly fall off onto theplatform 4. - Thereafter the foregoing cycle of operation will be repeated to form another stack on the
platform 4, as theplatform 4 is lowered in step with the gradual buildup of the sheet stack thereon. The openable bottom half 25 a of the trailingend guide 25 has been closed by this time, so that the sheets falling upon theplatform 4 will be guided by bothguides
Claims (6)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2000-148125 | 2000-05-19 | ||
JPP2000-148125 | 2000-05-19 | ||
JP2000148125A JP4497657B2 (en) | 2000-05-19 | 2000-05-19 | Sheet sorting set out device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20010042958A1 true US20010042958A1 (en) | 2001-11-22 |
US6394450B2 US6394450B2 (en) | 2002-05-28 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US09/855,615 Expired - Lifetime US6394450B2 (en) | 2000-05-19 | 2001-05-16 | Apparatus for delivery of printed sheets of paper or the like in successive stacks |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US6394450B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1155993B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4497657B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE60104936T2 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050242498A1 (en) * | 2004-04-30 | 2005-11-03 | Komori Corporation | Delivery |
US20070257427A1 (en) * | 2005-12-16 | 2007-11-08 | Ncr Corporation | Stacker wheel |
US20080185777A1 (en) * | 2004-05-11 | 2008-08-07 | August Hausler | Device and method for stacking sheets |
CN101565136A (en) * | 2008-04-23 | 2009-10-28 | 小森公司 | Transport apparatus |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US6575461B1 (en) * | 2001-12-05 | 2003-06-10 | Xerox Corporation | Single/double sheet stacker |
DE102004029170B4 (en) * | 2004-06-16 | 2007-05-03 | Man Roland Druckmaschinen Ag | Jib module for a printing machine |
DE102005038323A1 (en) * | 2005-08-11 | 2007-02-15 | Eastman Kodak Co. | Equipment depositing sheets in electro-photographic printing equipment includes radial air blower and outlet duct directing air against sheet to be deposited |
DE102005039433A1 (en) * | 2005-08-18 | 2007-02-22 | Eastman Kodak Co. | Sheet depositing device for e.g. electrophotographically operating printing machine, has blower arrangement having radial vent with air exit channel, where arrangement is used for application of air to sheet |
ITBO20060289A1 (en) * | 2006-04-14 | 2007-10-15 | Tech S R L S | STACKING DEVICE FOR KIDSKINS, NAPKINS AND THE LIKE. |
WO2010112794A1 (en) * | 2009-04-02 | 2010-10-07 | De La Rue International Limited | Apparatus and method for forming and strapping stacks of sheet documents |
US8157263B2 (en) * | 2009-06-17 | 2012-04-17 | Muller Martini Corp. | Adjustable stacker infeed |
CN103832866B (en) * | 2012-11-22 | 2016-08-03 | 山东新北洋信息技术股份有限公司 | Flaky medium stacking conveyer device and method |
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US2014933A (en) * | 1933-03-17 | 1935-09-17 | Goss Printing Press Co Ltd | Folding machine |
US3531108A (en) * | 1968-06-04 | 1970-09-29 | Control Data Corp | Document stacker and/or sorter |
JPS57138847U (en) * | 1981-02-24 | 1982-08-30 | ||
JPS5943762A (en) * | 1982-09-03 | 1984-03-10 | Toshiba Corp | Sheet recovery device |
JPS59172354A (en) * | 1983-03-16 | 1984-09-29 | Toshiba Corp | Paper sheet collecting unit |
JPS59182156A (en) * | 1983-03-31 | 1984-10-16 | Toshiba Corp | Paper-sheet recovering apparatus |
JPS6056768A (en) * | 1983-09-05 | 1985-04-02 | Toshiba Corp | Retrieving device for sheet |
JPS62121176A (en) * | 1985-11-20 | 1987-06-02 | Toshiba Corp | Paper sheet accumulating device |
DE4242885C2 (en) * | 1992-12-18 | 1996-01-25 | Frankenthal Ag Albert | Device for the scaled deposition of folded printed products |
DE19814694A1 (en) * | 1997-04-08 | 1998-10-15 | Fuji Electric Co Ltd | Banknote input device for automatic transaction device |
JP2952765B2 (en) * | 1997-10-06 | 1999-09-27 | 株式会社東京機械製作所 | Signature unloading device for folding unit for rotary press |
JP2935218B1 (en) * | 1998-05-26 | 1999-08-16 | 株式会社東京機械製作所 | A signature discharge pitch alignment device for a folder discharge device |
JP3010557B1 (en) * | 1999-04-09 | 2000-02-21 | 株式会社東京機械製作所 | Impeller device for discharge of folder |
US6131903A (en) * | 1999-07-20 | 2000-10-17 | Quad/Tech, Inc. | Signature stripping mechanism |
-
2000
- 2000-05-19 JP JP2000148125A patent/JP4497657B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2001
- 2001-05-16 EP EP01111826A patent/EP1155993B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-05-16 US US09/855,615 patent/US6394450B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-05-16 DE DE60104936T patent/DE60104936T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050242498A1 (en) * | 2004-04-30 | 2005-11-03 | Komori Corporation | Delivery |
US7591465B2 (en) * | 2004-04-30 | 2009-09-22 | Komori Corporation | Delivery |
US20080185777A1 (en) * | 2004-05-11 | 2008-08-07 | August Hausler | Device and method for stacking sheets |
US7624983B2 (en) * | 2004-05-11 | 2009-12-01 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Device and method for stacking sheets |
US20070257427A1 (en) * | 2005-12-16 | 2007-11-08 | Ncr Corporation | Stacker wheel |
CN101565136A (en) * | 2008-04-23 | 2009-10-28 | 小森公司 | Transport apparatus |
US20090267289A1 (en) * | 2008-04-23 | 2009-10-29 | Komori Corporation | Transport apparatus |
US7823882B2 (en) * | 2008-04-23 | 2010-11-02 | Komori Corporation | Transport apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US6394450B2 (en) | 2002-05-28 |
EP1155993B1 (en) | 2004-08-18 |
DE60104936D1 (en) | 2004-09-23 |
JP2001328761A (en) | 2001-11-27 |
JP4497657B2 (en) | 2010-07-07 |
EP1155993A3 (en) | 2003-05-07 |
DE60104936T2 (en) | 2005-09-01 |
EP1155993A2 (en) | 2001-11-21 |
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