US2110175A - Sheet feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

March 8, 1938. I R. REINARTZ 2,110,175

SHEET FEEbING MECHANISM F iled Jan. 10, 1936 s she ts-sheet 1 6 I I I Z. 6 fmge'rzfoi' jioberz'f Beam/Z52,

R. REINARTZ .SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM March 8, 1938.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 1Q, 1936 Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oincr SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM of Germany Application January 10, 1936, Serial No. 58,464 In Germany January 15, 1935 13 Claims. (Cl. 271-27) This invention relates to improvements in sheet separating and forwarding mechanism more particularly suitable for use in that class of sheet feeding apparati which are intended for handling sheets in superimposed relation, it being understood, however, that the invention may be applied with equal advantages to sheet feeding apparati where sheets are separated and forwarded individually in successive order.

I have found that in sheet feeding mechanisms where the sheets to be conveyed are separated from a stack by means which engage the sheets adjacent the lateral edges and then, after having advanced a sheet to forwarding means and released it, moves around the lateral edges of such sheet and beneath it in order to engage and separate the next following sheet, it is difiicult to maintain a gap between a separatedsheet and the top sheet of the stack adequate to permit the separating means to enter without obstruction beneath such separated sheet. Therefore it is one of the primary objects of my invention to provide simple and effective means whereby this can be accomplished effectively.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby a sheet, after having beenforwarded and released by the sheet separating means, will be raised above the latter and held in such position until .the separating means has entered the gap beneath it.

A further object is to provide means whereby the top sheet of a stack will be held down while the sheet separating means enters the gap between a previously separated sheet and said top sheet.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims.

A preferred form of mechanism embodying the principle of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings; in which:

Figure 1 shows the arrangement of the cooperating parts in front elevation;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the parts illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same parts;

Figures 4 to 8 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the successive steps whereby the purpose of my invention may be accomplished;

Figure 9 shows the preferred curvilinear path imparted to one of the members embodied in the mechanism, disclosed;

Figures 10 to 14 inclusive are plan views in which the sheet engaged by the suction means has been omitted and show merely the relative positions of the suction nozzle or nozzles and associated parts at different points of the cycle of operation, the positions corresponding respectively with those represented in Figures 4 to 8;

Figure 15 illustrates diagrammatically a modified form of operation of the separating means and cooperating member whereby a sheet is raised above said means;

Figure 16 is a partial section in front elevation of the mechanism whereby motion is imparted to the various cooperating elements of this device; while Figure 17 represents a side elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 16.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the suction nozzle I, one of which may be arranged adjacent each one of the front corners of a stack of sheets, as will be readily understood, is shown ina position ready to separate the top sheet from the stack 2. Said nozzle is mounted on an arm 3 secured to a shaft 4 by means of which it is given the required movements. Any suitable mechanism, such as is disclosed for example in my co-pending application for U. S. Letters Patent Serial No. 601,380, filed March 26, 1932, may be provided for pivoting said shaft, moving it slowly forward horizontally and then swinging it upwardly in order to present a sheet to the forwarding means and, after releasing said sheet, swing around its lat eral edge and down onto the next sheet to be separated. According to this form of construction, I provide a holder on which is mounted a rod 6 of any suitable form such as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The operation of this mechanism is as follows: When the suction nozzle l is about to engage the top sheet of the stack 2 as shown in Figures 4 and 10, the free end of the rod 6 is located adjacent the front edge of the stack 2 and in its lowermost position.

Preferably I also provide a hold-down finger 'l to cooperate with said rod in order to assure the required gap beneath a previously separated sheet and the top sheet of said stack. In Figure 4 this finger is shown in its lowermost position and immediately in front of the stack.

When, as is illustrated in Figures 5 and 11, the nozzle I together with the sheet 8 engaged thereby has advanced towards a sheet forwarding roller 9 or the like, the rod 6 as well as the finger 1 will simultaneously have reached a slightly raised position as shown. After the nozzle I has transferred the sheet 8 to said forwarding means, and as soon as said nozzle has moved sidewise beyond the lateral edge of the stack 2, the upward moveupon the nozzle together with the rodIi and said Figures 7 and 13, the suction nozzle I again begins to move inwardly and towards the stack to a position beneath the sheet 8, the rod 6 has been raised to an extent that the sheet 8 will be supported above said nozzle in order to clear the latter so that it may readily enter beneath said sheet and move down into engagement with the next following sheet. Simultaneously the topv sheet which is to be separated next will be held down momentarily by'said finger I, thereby assuring the required space for the suction nozzle to enter between the sheet 8 and said top sheet.

During the downward movement of the nozzle I, the rod I is again lowered so that it will pass said nozzle to its right, as viewed in Figures 8 and 14, and then beneath it to the left. Simultaneously the finger I is raised slightly, moved away from the stack and then lowered, wheremember I will again have reached the position shown in Figure 4. r

In order to more clearly indicate the curvilinear path followed by the rod 6 during its movement described with referenceto Figures 4 to 8,, I- have shown in Figure 9 merely the contour of said path with respect to the stack 2 and the forwarding roller 9.

' It willbe understood, however, that instead of moving to the right around the nozzle I from its position shown in Figure 7., the rod 6, by suitably changing its configuration and manner of mounting as will be described herein with reference to Figure 15, may be returned from above said nozzle to its original position shown in Figure 4 in a path to the left around said nozzle. The starting position of the rod 6 as shown in Figure 4 is preferred because in such position, namely'in front of the leading edge of the stack, the rod 6 does not interfere with the sheet to be raised by the nozzle I, and because the sheet by means of the nozzleI is brought into a position above said rod so that the latter during its upward movement is certain to engage the sheet from beneath. It is possible also to impart to the rod 6 a lateral movement in addition to its curvilinear movement, similar to the movement impartedto the suction nozzle'jl, so

that it will reach its position beneath thesheet from the side, similar to'the nozzle itself. Due to the smaller dimensions of said rod as compared with said nozzle, such an arrangement is readilypossible.

The finger I merely serves to improve the func-' tion of the mechanism described and does not form an essential part of my invention.

As indicated hereinabove, the mechanism whereby the reciprocating movements are imparted to the suction nozzles I may be of a construction similar to that disclosed in said 'copending application for U. S. LettersPat'entand in connection with which I make reference to Figures 16 and 17. a

, It will be seen that in Figure 16 certain parts, such as the shaft 2|, rack 29 and the shaft 3I, are shown swung away from their proper operative positions. This showing is "intentional in order to more clearly illustrate these and. their associated parts.

According to this preferred form of construction, a shaft 2| is supported by bearings |2I and I22. On said shaft 2| is secured a rock arm 28 which is provided with two bores which extend parallel to the shaft 2|. In one of said bores is arranged a rack 29 which by means of the gear segment 21 is moved to and fro within said bore, but does not rotate. Said rack 29 is connected with a shaft 3|, see Figure 17, which is arranged and may he slid within the 0 her bore by means of a bracket 30, in such a'ma ner that the shaft 3! will follow the longitudinal movement of the rack 29, but is able to simultaneously turn about its own axis. On the inner end of the shaft 3I is mounted the suction nozzle I which, as will be seen from the arrangement described, will make a combined movement, namely from right to left as viewed in Figure 16, turning upwards by pivot ing about the axis of shaft 3|, and swinging from left to right by pivoting about the axis of shaft 2|, see Figure 17.

The device just described derives its motion from the main shaft I08, this being accomplished in the following manner. By means of a longitudinal groove I23, Figure 16, and a key fastened to a flanged hub II, the shaft I 00 drives said hub which latter can be adjusted longitudinally of said shaft. The flange on hub I I is bolted onto a flange I24so that the angle of transmission may be suitably changed. The flange" I24 and a'pinion I2 are secured to a collar I3, said pinion driving another pinion I5 which is'carried by a shaft I6 which latter has its:bearings in bushings I1,

IIa. Three cams I8, I9, are keyed to the shaft produced by the cam I8. A gear segment 33 is,

loosely mounted on shaft 2|, whichsegment is formed with an arm carrying a roller 22 which rides over the cam I9. Said roller 22 is kept in contact with the cam I9 by means of a spring 24.

The segment 33 meshes with another segment 35 within the bore of which the shaft 3| is shifted lengthwise while it follows the rotary motion of the segment 35. This maybe accomplished by any suitable means such as a key-way'and key connection indicated in Figures 16 and 17. g

The cam I8 imparts. a rocking motion to the bell-crank lever 23, see Figure 17, which is loosely mounted on shaft 2|. On one arm of the bellcrank lever 23 is a rollerwhich is kept in contact with cam I8 by means of a'spring, the arrangement being similar to that described above in connection with cam I9 and its associated parts. The bell-crank lever 23 is rigidly secured, to a bevel pinion 25, see Figures 16 and 17, which meshes with another bevel pinion 26 mounted on a pivot I21 which is carried by the shaft 2| so that it will rock together with the arm 28. .The

bevel pinion 26 moves with the segment 21 which said rod 6 backward and forward and also up and down, as viewed in Figure 17. Said levers are pivotally mounted at I46.

It will be seen that lever I44 which carries the roller I42 is provided with an arm I47, the outer end of which is pivotally secured at I5I to the rod 6. Therefore, as the roller I42 follows the cam I40, the rod 6 will be reciprocated forward and backward. The arm I48 of the bell-crank lever' I45 is pivoted to a link I49 and the outer end of the latter is in turn pivoted to a lever I50 secured at I5I to said rod 6. By the roller I43 following the surface of the cam II, the arm I48 will be rocked up and down with the result that in addition to its forward and backward movement, the rod will be given an up and down movement, i. e. said rod will be moved in a vertical curvilinear path with relation to the suction nozzle 6, and cooperating with the latter in order to raise a sheet to thereby provide a space between a separated sheet and the top of the pile for. said suction nozzle to enter and engage and separate the next sheet.

According to this arrangement; the path of the rod 6 will be in a clockwise direction-asindicated in Figure 9. f

In Figure 15 I have indicated a modified manner of operation of the rod 6 whereby sheets after having been separated are raised and held above the separating member I in order that the latter may enter into the space provided for engaging and separating the next sheet on the pile 2.

According to this arrangement I have provided a cam I28 mounted on a continually rotating shaft I29. A roller I30-provided at the outer end of the bell-crank lever I3I pivotedat I32 rides over the surface of the cam I28. The other arm of the bell-crank lever I3I is pivoted to a link I33, the outer end of which link in turn is pivoted to the arm I34 of a second bell-crank lever I35 pivotally mounted at I36. According to this modification, the rod 6 is secured to the outer end of the arm I35 so that during the rotation of the cam M8, the lever I35 will move up and down as indicated by the arrow so that in order to raise a sheet above the suction separator I, the free end of the rod 6 will be moved backwardly i. e. to the right as viewed in Figure 15 and thereupon returned to its original position by moving to the left in front of said suction separator.

It will be readily understood that while I have illustrated some preferred forms of carrying my invention into effect, many modifications of the parts involved and arrangement thereof may be adopted with equal success and without departing from the principle of the invention, therefore I intend to cover any such modifications that will come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a sheet support, sheet forwarding means, sheet separating means for removing sheets from said support and transferring them to said forwarding means, and a member moving in a vertical curvilinear path andoperatively associated with said separating means to raise a sheet above the latter, after the leading edge of said sheet has been engaged by said forwarding means.

2. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a sheet support, sheet forwarding means, sheet separating means, movable around the lateral edge of a sheet engaged by said forwarding means to remove an underlying sheet from said support and transfer it to said forwarding means, and. a

member moving in a curvilinear path and operatively associated with said separating means to raise a sheet above the latter after the leading edge of said sheet has been engaged by said forwarding means.

3. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combina tion of a sheet support, sheet forwarding means, sheet separating means for removing sheets from said support and transferring them to said forwarding means, and a member moving upwardly from beneath said separating means to raise a sheet above the latter, after said forwarding means has engaged the leading edge of said sheet, and thereupon move dgwnwardly and past said separating means.

4. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a sheet support, sheet forwarding means,

sheet separating means for moving sheets from warding means, to thereby provide a space beneath said sheet for said separating means to enter and engage the next following sheet.

5. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a sheet support, sheet forwarding means, sheet separating means arranged to move around the lateral edge of a sheet to be forwarded and to convey sheets from said support and transfer them to said sheet forwarding means, and a member arranged to move in a closed curvilinear path and operatively associated with said sheet separating means to raise a sheet above the latter means after the leading edge of said sheet has been engaged by said forwarding means to thereby provide a space beneath said sheet for said separating means to enter and engage the next following sheet.

6. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a sheet support, sheet forwarding means, sheet separating means for conveying sheets from said support and transferring .them to said forwarding means, a member moving in a curvilinear path and operatively associated with said separating means to raise asheet above the latter after the leading edge of said sheet has been engaged by said forwarding means, and means cooperating with said member for holding down the top sheet on said support for maintaining a space above the latter while the preceding sheet is being forwarded.

7. In sheet feeding mechanism, the cofnbination of a sheet support, sheet forwarding means, sheet separating means for conveying sheets from said support and transferring them-to said forwarding means, a movable member operatively associated with said separating means, means for moving said member above said separating means after the leading edge of a sheet has been engaged by said forwarding means, for the purpose of raising and holding said sheet above said separating means and thereby maintaining a space between the said sheet and the top sheet on said support while the former sheet is being advanced by said forwarding means.

8. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a sheet support, sheet forwarding means, sheet separating means for removing sheets from said support and transferring them to said forwarding means, and a substantially horizontal rod moving in a vertical curvilinear path for the purpose of raising a sheet above said separating 7 Mon of a sheet support, sheet forwarding means,

means 'and supporting it after the latter has transfer ed the leading edge of a sheet to said for warding eans.

9. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combinasheet' separating means for conveying sheets from said support and transferring them to said forwarding means, and a substantially horizontal 'rod moving in a vertical curvilinear path and around said separating meansfor the purposeof raising a sheet above said separating means, and

thereupon returning to its starting position. 10. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a sheet support, sheet forwarding means,

reciprocating sheet separating means for convey-,

ing sheets from saidsupport and transferring them to said forwarding means, a movablemember operatively associated with said separating means, and means for moving said member above said separating means after the leadingedge of asheet'hasbeen engaged by said forwarding means, for the purpose of raisinga sheet above said separating means and supporting it during the return strokeof the latter in order to provide a space beneath said sheet to accommodate said separating means for engaging a successive sheet.

tion of a sheet support; sheet forwarding means, I sheet separating means arranged adjacent the,

11. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combinafront corners of a pile of sheets for conveying sheets from said support and transferring them i to said forwarding means, a member moving in a curvilinear path and operatively associated with said separating means to raise a sheet above the latter after the leading edge of "said sheet has been engaged by said forwarding means, and" means cooperating with said member for holding down the top sheet on said support for maintaining a space above the latter while said separating means enter between'the top of said pile and the sheet being forwarded.

12. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a sheet support, sheet forwarding means, sheet separating. means for removing sheets from said support and transferring them to said forwarding means, means for moving said separating means around the, lateral edges of a separated sheet,and a member moving in a vertical curvilinear path and operatively associated with said separating means to raise a sheet above the latter, after the leading edge of said'sheet has been engaged by saidforwarding means and while said separating means move around the lateral edges of a separated sheet to enter between the top of said pile and the sheet being forwarded.

13. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination of a sheet-pile-support, sheet-forwarding means, sheet-separating means, means to operate said sheet-separating means to cause it to re,-

move thesheets individually in succession from the top of the pile, transfer them in succession to said sheet-forwarding means and return to its initial sheet-removing position around the lateral edge'of the transferred sheet, a sheet-raising-member, and means to move said member to raise each sheet after its leading edge has been engaged by said forwarding means to facilitate the-entrance ofsaid separating-means beneath the sheet as it completes its passage around the lateral edge of the sheet. 7 l

' ROBERT REINARTZ.

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