US2071115A - Machine for handling sheets of material, labels, and the like - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1937. w, FLElscHER 2,071,115

MACHINE FOR HANDLING SHEETS OF MATERIAL, LABELS, AND THE LIKE Filed March 19, 1935 I INVENTOR. P401. 144/ 1 5/50/47? ATTORNEYS feeding means for transfer to another Till Patented Feb. 16, 1937 PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR HANDLING SHEETS OF MATERIAL, LABELS, AND THE LIKE Paul W. Fleischer, Weehawken, N. .L,

' New Jersey Machine Corporation,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey assignor to Hoboken,

Application March 19, 1935, Serial No. 11,113

12 Claims.

The invention'relates to machines for handling sheets of material such as paper sheets, labels and the like and more particularly to machines of the indicated type in which the sheets, labels or the like are individually removed in succession from a supply stack and conveyed to a point such as for instance, suitable mechanisms adapted to perform predetermined operations on said sheets, labels or the like. The invention contemplates particularly the improvement of the constructic-n and operation of the means for separating and removing the sheets, labels or the like from the supply stack in individual succession, and the provision of a simple mechanism for efiiciently performing such functions in operative association with an improved and eflicient means for maintaining the upper'end of the supply stack within certain predetermined levels relatively to said mechanism. Other more specific objects will appear'from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an example of the machine without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a machine embodying the novel devices; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, partly.

in section, showing in detail certain" features of said novel devices, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 may be considered as part of a gumming machine for the purpose of exemplifying the type of machines for which the novel arrangements are particularly adapted, it being understood, however, that this illustrated example is not intended to define the limits of the instant invention.

With this in mind the machine illustrated in the drawing comprises avertically movable table ill adapted to support a supply stack ll of sheets, labels or the like preferably arranged between upright guides l2, at least one of which may be adjustable toward and away from the other guide 12 to accommodate sheets, labels or the like of varying dimensions. The support or table III is carried by a vertically extending elevating bar l3 adapted to be automatically shifted upward at proper times in operative association with co-opcrating parts of the machine to maintain the upper end of the supply stack ll within certain predetermined levels relatively to the sheet separating and removing means. v

To exemplify this arrangement the elevating bar 13, in the illustrated example, is provided (01." TIL-62) with a vertical rack ll arranged in mesh with a pinion I I5 fixed upon a shaft l6 join-nailed for instance, in a housing I! suitably mounted in the machine of which it forms apart. The shaft It further carries a one-way ratchet wheel [8 adapted to be rotatably actiiated intermittently by means of a pawl l9, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter, any suitable means such as a conventional stop-pawl being providediif necessary, to prevent unintentional return movement of said ratchet wheel la; in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the pawl I9 is pivotally secured at 20 upon the one end of a rocking lever 21 loosely mounted upon the shaft l8. At its opposite end the lever 2| carries a projection which is illustrated in the form of a plate 22 fixed in place in any convenient manner as clearly shown in Fig. l; the purpose of the plate 22 or its equivalent and the operation of the mechanism so far described will be set forth more fully hereinafter. To insure a proper return of the lever 2| to its normal position, a spring 2|- may be provided for instance as illustrated in Fig.1. For the purpose of establishing said normal position, the lever 2| may be provided with a depending lug 2 I which carries an adjustable projection in the form of a screw 2l; the latter may be fixed in an adjusted position by a lock nut 2 I and is adapted to engage a fixed stop H! on the housing l1 to thereby arrest the pivotal movement of the lever 2| in one direction.

In the illustrated example. the transfer means for removing the upper terminal sheets, labels or the like from the supply stack I l, in individual succession, consists of a suction head 23 of suitable type connected, for instance, by means of a flexible tube 24 with a convenient source of suction; any conventional means may be provided for controlling the suction in the head 23 in proper operative timing with the associated elements of the machine. The suction head 23 as shown, may be carried by an arm 2Q fixed upon a rock-shaft 26 arranged to be operatively rocked in proper timing for instance, by cans of a lug 21 and link 28 operatively combined with a suitable cam or equivalent means in any conventional manner to effect the desired results.

In addition to being rocked the shaft 2t is adapted to be raised and lowered to properly 'manipulate the suction head 23 in the operation of removing successive sheets, labels or the like from the stack II, and said shaft 26 accordingly is journalled in members 29 asillustrated in Fig. 1; while only one member 29 is shown in the drawing, it will be understood that at least two such and their co-operating actuating means are included in the machine. The members 29 in the illustrated example, are provided with forked lower ends 30 which straddle a cam shaft 3| suitably journalled in the machine, and further carry rollers 32 which project into the cam grooves 33 v of cams 34 fixed upon the cam shaft 3 I: the properly designed cam grooves 33 by acting on the rollers 32 bring about the vertical movements of the members 29 and shaft 26 which are required in the operation of the suction head 23.

In the illustrated machine the sheets, labels or the like are carried from the stack over an inclined feed plate 35 suitably supported in the machine, and delivered, by the suction head 23 to co-operating feed rolls 36 and 3! rotatably mounted in the machine in any conventional manner. For purposes of illustration, the feed rolls 36 and 31 are shown in proximity to a guide plate 38 whereby the sheets, labels or the like being fed by the feed rolls 36 and 31 are guided into surface engagement with a roll 39 located in approximately surface engagement with a co-operating roll 40;.the rolls 39 and 40 -may, for instance, exemplify the gumming and adhesive transferring rolls respectively of a conventional gumming machine and may be journalled in the machine in any customary manner.

As the sheets, labels or the like are successively removed, by the suction head 23, from the stack II, the height of the latter will gradually decrease andthe level of the upper end thereof will become progressively lower; it accordingly becomes necessary to periodically elevate the table In in order to maintain the upper terminal sheet, label or the like of the stack H in proper position for engagement and removal by the suction head 23.

In the illustrated example the means whereby the periodic elevation of the table II) is automatically controlled includes a control member 4| provided with a conduit for an air blast for the purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. The control member 4|, in the illustrated example, is constructed in the form of a nozzle or tube suitably shaped as shown in Fig. 1 and fixed upon a rock-shaft 42 illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 and 3; as shown in Fig. 1 the control member 4| is arranged to contact the terminal sheet, label or 50 the like of the stack within the surface area thereof at a point adjacent to an edge of said terminal sheet, label or the like in the path of the upward movements of said stack The rock-shaft 42 at one end is journalled in any 55 convenient manner in the machine and at its other end is rotatably mounted in a stationary bearing 43 provided with an aperture or air-inlet 44 adapted to register with a corresponding aperture 45 in the shaft 42; the latter is formed with 50 an internal axial chamber 46 with which the aperture 45 is in communication and which itself is in open communication with the index member 4|.

While the illustrated example shows only one control member 4|, a plurality of such members may 65 be included in the machine, if necessary or desirable; in such case, all of said control members 4| will be mounted on the shaft 42 in open communication with the chamber 46 thereof. The aperture or air-inlet 44 of the bearing 43 is con- 7 nected with a suitable source of air under pressure in any convenient manner, and accordingly, as shown, may be formed in a boss 41 constituting part of the bearing 43 and adapted to receive one end of a tube 48 which leads to the aforesaid source 75 of air under pressure; the latter may comprise a Cal I r 2,071, 1 15 members in spaced opposed relation to each other blower or air pump or any other customary device. With the arrangement set forth the control member 4|, in addition to functioning as a device for controlling the automatic periodic elevation of the table l6 and stack II as will be explained more fully hereinafter, constitutes means for discharging a stream of air to prevent the dragging of the terminal sheet, label or the like during its removal from the 'stack II and for assisting the removal of such terminal sheet, label or the like without disturbing the remaining uppermost sheets of said stack as will also be more clearly set forth hereinafter.

The rocking of the shaft 42 in proper timed relation with the associated elements of the machine may be eflected in any suitable manner, as for instance, by means of an arm 49 fixed on said shaft 42 and connected through the medium of a rod 50 or the like with one member of a bell-crank leve'r 5|; the latter is suitably pivoted at 52 in the machine and has its other arm provided with a roller 53 adapted to ride upon the periphery of the cam 34, a spring 54 being associated with said lever 5| for maintaining said roller 53 in contact with the periphery of said cam 34 if necessary. As shown in Fig. l, the cam 34 is formed with a throw section 55 adapted to swing the index member 4| away from the top of the stack II at the proper predetermined intervals; the major peripheral portion 56 of the cam 34 permits the control member 4| to rest upon the top sheet, label or the like of the stack under normal conditions while the peripheral low section 51 of said cam 34 permits said control member 4| to swing downwardly when the top of the stack drops below a predetermined level, to automatically bring about an elevation of the table l0 and the stack H." To eifect this result at the proper time. and in the intended manner, the bell-crank lever 5| carries a pin 58 which projects into an elongated slot 59 formed in a link 60 near the one end thereof, said pin 58 and slot 59 exemplifying a lost motion connection between the actuating means for operating the control member 4| and the means for periodically actuating the stack elevating mechanism, or specifically between the bell-crank lever 5| and the link 60; the opposite end of said link 60 is pivotally connected with an operating member 6| loosely mounted on the shaft 42 and forming an integral part of or being connected with a depending lever62. At its lower end the latter is provided with a projection preferably in the form of an adjustable screw 63 and in any case located in registry with a bar 65 having its lower end cut away to provide a shoulder 66 as illustrated in Fig. 1. The bar 65 depends from and is pivotally connected at 61 with an arm 68 projecting from one of the members 29, said bar 65 by the action of the projection 63 being adapted to be swung from its normal position to the left in Fig. 1 to bring the shoulder 66 into registry with the plate 22 or equivalent projection carried by the rocking lever 2| to thereby bring about an elevation of the table In and stack in the manner to be more fully described hereinafter; the arm 68 is so dimensioned and the pivot 61 is so located that the bar 65, when free/to do so, will automatically assume a depending position in' which the shoulder 66 is out of registry with the plate 22 or its equivalent.

In the operation of the illustrated machine, the suction head 23 is actuated through the medium of the cam groove 33, rollers.32 and members 29, and by means of the lug 21, link 28 and associated mechanism, to successively pickup the uppermost sheet, label or the like from the stack H and deliver it to the feed rolls 36 and 31 by which said sheet, label or the like is transferred to the gumming roll 39 or its equivalent dependent upon the type of machine in which the mechanism is incorporated; it will be understood that, in the aforesaid operation of the suction head 23, the suction therein is automatically controlled in such a manner that the uppermost sheet, label or the like will be picked up and released in proper operative co-ordination with the co-operating elements of the machine. During its transfer from the stack H to the feed rolls 36 and 31 by the suction head 23, the uppermost sheet, label or the like of the stack ll assumes a position indicated approximately at a in Fig. 1 in which the control member or nozzle '4 I is located below the said sheet, label or the like a. It will be understood that the air blast referred to hereinafter is not on at the nozzle 4i while the roller 53 is on the portion 56 of the cam 34.

Because of the rotation of the cam 34 during these operations, the roller 53 passes from the portion 56 of the cam 34 to the throw section 55 thereof and. the latter by acting upon the roller 53 and its associated elements will, at the predetermined moment in the operative sequence, rock the shaft 42 on its axis and thereby swing the control member or nozzle 4! in a direction away from the top of the supply stack H, or upwardly and in an arc to the left in Fig. 1 from'the position illustrated in Fig. 1 to a point outside of the surface area of the terminal sheet of the stack ii, that is to a position out of the path of movement of the uppermost sheet, label or the like as it is raised by the suction head 23. The aforesaid rotation of said shaft 42 will at the same time bring its aperture 45 into registry with the aperture or air-inlet 44 and thereby open the connection between the. control member or nozzle 4! and the sourceof air under pressure with which the tube 48 is connected. As a resultof this, a stream of air or air blast will issue from the control member 4| and be discharged beneath the sheet, label or the like a being removed from the stack II; this stream of air will exert a lifting action on the aforesaid sheet, label or the like a sufiicient to completely free the latter and prevent it from developing a drag upon the next succeeding sheet, label or the like of the stack ii. As soon as the throw section of the cam 34 haspassed by the roller 53, the latter will drop therefrom to thereby rotate the shaft 42 in a reverse direction to shift the aperture 45 out of registry with the aperture 44 and cut off the supply of pressure air to the control member or nozzle 4!, and at the same time to swing the latter back into contact with the top of the stack Ii.

During these operative steps the pin 58 of the bell-crank lever 5! will move in the slot 59 without actuating the link in a manner to produce any-operative effect, and the bar 55 will partake of the vertical movements of the member 29, the shoulder 86 being out of registry with the plate 22 or its equivalent and having no operative effect thereon. When,.however, because of the successive removal of a sufficient number of sheets, labels r the like therefrom, the height of the stack II is recurrently reduced sufiiciently to bring the top thereof below a predetermined level, the roller 53 will drop from the throw section 55 of the cam 34 into engagement with the low section 51 thereof, thereby causing the bell-crank lever 5| to develop an abnormal movement on its pivot 52.

This abnormal pivotal movement will besuflicient to cause the pin 58 of said bell-crank lever 5| to engage the lower end of the slot 59 and exert a downward pull upon the link 60 which will be transmitted to the operating member SI and rock the same on the shaft 42 to thereby swing the depending lever 62 toward the left in Fig. 1; the projection or screw 530i said lever 62 will accordingly engage the bar and correspondingly swing the latter toward the left to bring its shoulder 66 into the path of the plate or its equivalent 22. As the. member 29 now moves downwardly carrying the bar 65 with it, the shoulder 66 will press downwardly upon the plate, 22 or its equivalent and thus will cause the lever 2| to be rocked on its pivot I6; this rocking of said lever 2| will cause the pawl iii to rotate the ratchet wheel l8 and its associated pinion i5 in a direction to raise the rack I4 so that the elevating bar i3 and with it the table It and stack I I will be correspondingly elevated. In this way the top of the stack II will automatically be again restored to a predetermined level for proper co-operation with the suction head 23 and'other associated elements. As soon as this elevation has taken place or when the roller 53 passes from the low section 51 of the cam 34 to the major portion 56 thereof, the pin 53 by engagement with the upper end of the'slot 59 will shift the link 60 upwardly and thus rock the operating member 64 and depending lever 62 in a direction to move the projection or screw 63 out of contact with the bar 65 back to the position shown in Fig. 1; the bar 65 being thus free to do so will automatically swing back to its normal position as soon as the member 29 again moves upwardly, and accordingly will shift the shoulder out of registry with the plate 22 or its equivalent. At this stage the spring 2 i will rock the lever 2| in a reverse direction back to'the position shown in Fig. 1, the pawl 19 simply riding over the teeth of the ratchet wheel I8 in a return movement to a new position ready for the next operation for again raising the table ill and and may be incorporated in any machine in which elements exemplified by sheets, labels orv the like are to be'individuallyremoved in succession from a supply stack and delivered to associated elements or co-operating mechanisms.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a machine including a support for a sup- 7 5 ply stack of sheets, labels or the like, transfer means for removing said sheets,'labels or the like from said stack in individual succession, and elevating mechanism for raising said stack support, that improvement which comprises a stationary bearing having an air inlet in connection with a source of air under pressure, a rockshaft journalled in said bearing and having an internal air chamber provided with an aperture normally out of registry with said air inlet, a control member on said rock-shaft arranged to engage the upper end of said supply stack and.v

constituting an air nozzle in open communication with the air chamber of said rock-shaft, actuating means operated in timed relationship with the transfer means for operating said rock-shaft to swing said control member in a direction away from the top of said supply stack and to shift said' aperture into registry with said air inlet whereby a stream of air is discharged through said control member beneath the sheet, label or the like being removed from said supply stack, and'means periodically operated by said actuating means at intervals predetermined by the recurrent reductions in the height of the supply stack to actuate said elevating mechanism whereby the top of said supply stack is restored to operative relationship with said transfer means.

2. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets, labels or the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, labels or the like from said stack in individual succession, and elevating mechanism for raising said stack support, that improvement which comprises a rock-shaft having an internal air chamber, a control member on said rock-shaft arranged to engage the upper end of said supply stack and constituting an air nozzle in communication with the air chamber of said rock-shaft, actuating means operated in timed relationship with the transfer means for operating said rock-shaft to swing said control member in a direction away from the top of said supply stack and for co-incidentally connecting the air chamber of the rock-shaft with a source of air under pressure whereby a stream of air is discharged through said control member beneath the sheet, label or the like being removed from said supply stack, and means periodically operated by said actuating means at intervals predetermined by the recurrent reductions in the height of said supply stack to actuate said elevating mechanism whereby the top of said supply stack is restored to operative relationship with said transfer means.

3. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets, labels or the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, label or the like from said stack in individual succession, and elvating mechanism for raising said stack support, that improvement which comprises a movable control member arranged to engage the upper end of said supply stack and constituting an air nozzle, actuating means operated in timed relationship with the transfer means for moving said control member in a direction away from the top of said supply stack and for coincidentally connecting said control member with a source of air under pressure whereby a stream of air is discharged through said control member beneath the sheet, label or the like being removed from said supply stack, and means periodically operated by said actuating means at intervals predetermined by the recurrent reductions in the height of said supply stack to actuate said elevating mechanism whereby the top of the supply stack is restored to operative relationship wit said transfer means.

4. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets, labels or the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, labels or the like from said stack in individual succession, and elevating mechanism for raising said stack support, that improvement which comprises a stationary bearing having an air inlet in connection with a source of air under pressure, a rock-shaft journalled in said bearing and having an internal air chamber provided with an aperture normally out of registry with said air inlet, a control member on said rock-shaft arranged to engage the upper end of said supply stack and constituting an air nozzle in open communication with the air chamber of said rockshaft, actuating means operated in timed relationship with the transfer means for operating said rock-shaft to swing said control member in a direction away from the top of said supply stack and to shift said aperture into registry with said air inlet whereby a stream of air is discharged through said control member beneath the sheet, label or the like being removed from said supply stack, a movable bar operatively associated with said transfer means and located normally in inoperative relation to said elevating mechanism, an operating member loosely mounted on said rock-shaft, a depending lever movable with said operating member, a link connected at one end with said operating member and provided at its opposite end with an elongated slot, and a pin associated with said actuating means and extending into said slot, said pin, by periodic engagement with the lower end of said slot predetermined by the recurrent reductions in the height of said supply stack, pivotally actuating said operating member to cause said depending lever to shift said bar into operative relation to said elevating mechanism whereby the latter is operated to restore the top of said supply stack to operative relationship with said transfer means.

5. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets, labels or the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, labels or the like from said stack in individual succession, and elevating mechanism for raising said stack support, that improvement which comprises a rock-shaft having an internal air chamber, a control member on said rock-shaft arranged to engage the upper end of said supply stack and constituting an air nozzle in communication with the air chamber of said rock-shaft, actuating means operated in timed relationship with the transfer means for operating said rock-shaft to swing said control member in a direction away from the top of said supply stack and for coincidentally connecting the air chamber of the rock-shaft with a source of an under pressure whereby a stream of air is discharged through said control member beneath the sheet, label or the like being removed from said supply stack, a movable bar operatively associated with said transfer means and located normally in inoperative relation to said elevating mechanism, an operating member loosely mounted on said rock-shaft, a lever movable with said operating member, a link connected at one end with operating member and provided at its other end with an elongated slot, and a pin associated with said actuating means and extending into said slot, said pin, by periodic engagement with the lower end of said slot predetermined by the recurrent reductions. in the height of said supply stack, pivotally actuating said operating member to cause said depending lever to shift said bar into operative relation to said elevating mechanism whereby the latter is operated to restore the top of said supply stack to operative relation with said transfer means.

'6. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets, labels or the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, labels or the like from said stack in individual succession, and elevating mechanism for raising said stack support, that improvement which comprises a movable control member arranged to engage the upper end of said supply stack and constituting an air nozzle, actuating meansoperated in timed relationship with the transfer means for moving said control memher in a direction away from the top of said supply stack and for coincidentally connecting said control member with a source of air under pressure whereby ablast of air is discharged through said control member beneath the sheet, label or the like being removed from said supply stack. normally inactive means controlling the operation of said elevating mechanism, and a link connected with said normally inactive means and having a lost motion connection with said actuating means whereby said normally inactive means is periodically actuated at intervals predetermined P by the recurrent reductions in the height of said supply stack to operate said elevating mechanism and restore the top of the supply stack to operative relationship with said transfer means.

' '7. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets, labels or the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, labels or the like from said stack in individual succession, and elevating mechanism for raising said stack support, that improvement which comprises a combined control and air discharge means, a compressed air supply conduit, mechanism for operating said combined control and air discharge means in timed relationship with said transfer means to periodically connect said combined control and air discharge means with said compressed air supply conduit to thereby discharge a blast of air beneath the sheet, label or the like being removed from, said supply stack, and means periodically operated by said mechanism at intervals predetermined by the recurrent reductions in the height of the supply stack to actuate said elevating mechanism and restore the top of said supply stack to operative relationship withsaid transfer means.

8. In a machine including a support for a supply stack of sheets, labels or the like, transfer means for removing said sheets, labels or the like from said stack in individual succession,'and elevating mechanism for raising said stack. support, that improvement which comprises a combined control and air discharge means, a compressed air supply conduit, and co-operating means for operating said combined control and air discharge means to periodically connect said 'combined control and air discharge means with said compressed air supply conduit to thereby discharge a blast of air beneath the sheet, label or the like being removed from the supply stack and for actuating the elevating mechanism at intervals predetermined by recurrent reductions in the height of said supply stack to restore the top of thelatter to operative relationship with said transfer means.

9. In a mechanism for periodically elevating a progressively decreasing stack of sheets, labels or the like, the combination of a compressed air supply conduit, an elevating control member cooperating with said progressively decreasing stack to maintain the upper end thereof at a predetermined level and provided with a conduit for t an air blast adapted to facilitate removal of terminalsheets, labels or the like from said stack, and a valve controlling said compressed air supply conduit and operated by said elevating control member to periodically connect its conduit with said compressed air supply conduit.

10. In a mechanism for elevating a progressively decreasing stack of sheets, labels or the like, an elevating control member co-operating with said progressively decreasing stack to maintaln the upper end thereof at a predetermined level and provided with a conduit for an air blast, means for operating said control member, and means operated by said control member for controlling an air blast through said conduit in timed relation-to the movements of said control member to prevent a terminal sheet being removed from the stack from developing drag on the next succeeding sheet thereof.

11. In a mechanism for elevating a vertical stack of sheets, labels or the like to compensate for' reductions in the height of said stack because of the-removal of upper terminal sheets therefrom, the combination of means operative at the forward edge of a terminal sheet of said stack for removing said terminal sheet therefrom, a control member adapted to contact the upper terminal sheet, label or the like within the surface area thereof at a point adjacent to said forward edge of said terminal sheet, labelor the like in the path of upward movement of said stack, said control member in co-operation with the progressively decreasing stack controlling the elevating mechanism to periodically restore the upper end of said stack to a predetermined level, and means for vertically moving said control member outside of the surface area of said terminal sheet, label or the like to prevent interference with the removal of upper terminal sheets, labels or the like from said stack.

12. In a mechanism for elevating a vertical stack of sheets, labels or the like to compensate for reductions in the height of said stack because of the removal of upper terminal sheets there- -a point adjacent to an edge of said terminal sheet,

label or the like in the path of upward movement of said stack, said control member in co-operation with the progressively decreasing stack controllingthe elevating mechanism to periodically restore the upper end of said stack to a predetermined level and being provided with a conduit for an air blast, and means for moving said control member outside of the surface area of said terminal sheet, label or the like to prevent interference with the removal of upper terminal sheets, labels or the like from said stack and coincidentally connecting the conduit of said control member with a source. of air under pressure to project a blast of air beneath a terminal sheet, label or the like being removed from said stack to facilitate said removal.

v PAUL W. FLEISCHER.

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