US2360965A

US2360965A - Strip decollating machine

Info

Publication number: US2360965A
Application number: US349357A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ferdinand H Mosher
Original assignee: AMERICAN SALES BOOK CO Inc
Current assignee: AMERICAN SALES BOOK CO Inc; AMERICAN SALES BOOK COMPANY Inc
Priority date: 1940-08-01
Filing date: 1940-08-01
Publication date: 1944-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 1961-10-24

Description

'Ct 24 i944 F. H. MosHERv STRIP DEOLLATING MACHINE Filed Aug; .1. 1940 Miented Get. 24, 1944 s'rnn nscom'rmc moms Ferdinand H. Mosher, Niagara Falls. N. Y., as-

signor to American Sales Book Company, Inc., Niagara Falls, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware application Aug-ne i, 1940, serial. No. 349,357

1o claims. rc1. er1-2.1)

This invention relates to improvements in machines or apparatus for eifecting' the separation or decollation of strips of sheet material such as paper and the like that have been assembled in relatively superposed relation. While the improved apparatus is adapted for the decollation of assembled strips of various natures, it has -been designed andvis Vherein disclosed for use in separating record strips of paper and the like that have been assembled in manlfolding trans; fer relation with each other and with long continuous strips of carbon or transfer paper.

It is a general object of they invention to provide an improved strip decollating apparatus that is simple in construction and operation and yet n is effective in separating the strips from each vidualpacks, while at the same time, avoiding tearing ordamage to the strips when feeding thereof is stopped by the writing machine.

According to another feature of improvement ofthe invention the frictional strip engaging and separating members are in the form of constantly travelling belts arranged to lightly frictionally engage with the strips to cause separation and folding thereof, the belts being arranged to maintain the strips substantially straight transversely at the points of fold and to avoid longitudinalA flutes, depressions or ridges such as might interfere with the free refolding of the strips.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed description of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention, and will be in part obvious as the disclosure proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more comprehensive disclosure of the nature, objects and advantages of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary partially diagrammatic side elevation -of the improved strip separating apparatus as used in connection with a tabulating machine of known construction.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view .of the strip separating apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged Alongitudinal vertical section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detailed section' and elevation of one ofthe rotary supporting and driving members for the belts; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an assembly of record and transfer strips, such as used in the tabulating machine.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed de-i scription of the illustrative embodiment, the strip separating apparatusindicated generally at 6 is shown as being used in connection with a tabulating machine l. The tabulating machine or similar writing machine may be of known existing design and is equipped with a cylindrical rotary platen over which the record assembly 9 of record and transfer strips passes. Suitable writing mechanism including type characters is arranged to make inscriptions upon the record assembly supported upon the platen.

Assembly feeding mechanism it is mounted upon the tabulating machine for feeding the record strips from-a zigzag folded supply pack il over a strip guide l2 and thence around the platen to the feeding mechanism. From the feeding mechanism the strip assembly passes over an upper guide i3 from which it passes to the strip separating mechanism. The feeding mechanism ill may be of any well known type, that shown schematically including a series of feed pins mounted upon a exible traveling chain member and adapted to enter feed apertures provided in the strips; A pin feed mechanism of the typedisclosed in the Mabon Patent No.

2,171,003 issued August 29, 1939, is suitable for this purpose.

While the record assembly used may be variously formed, that shown is of the nature dis;

l closed in the Mabon patent above referred to 'vals with transverse weakened severance lines I 6 upon which the assembly may be zigzag folded into the supply pack. Longitudinal feed bands I1 are provided along one or both margins of the record strips, being separated therefrom by longitudinal weakened severance lines I8. The assembly strips may be secured together at the feed bands at intervals along the assembly. A

Since it is desirable to separate the feed bands I1 from the strips prior to decollation of the assembly, a feed band slitting or separating device I9, shown diagrammaticallyin Fig. 1, may be utilized. Such a feed band separating device is disclosed in the Mabon Patent No. 2,208,994. The strip assembly is shown as having two record strips with an interleavedcarbon strip, but it will be'understood that as many record strips as desired may be used with the necessary number of carbon strips and the decollating apparatus can be made with a suflicient number of pairs o f separating belts to accommodate the number of strips of the assembly.

The decollating apparatus has a suitable frame including upright frame members 20, longitudinal frame members 2l and transverse tie rods 22. Mounted in suitable bearings in the upper frame members 2I area plurality of rotary supporting members that may be made of wood or equivalent material. These rotary supporting members 23 are arranged in pairs the members of which are slightly spaced apart, and each member has a plurality of spaced grooves 24 forming seats for the strip separating lbelts 25. The bottoms of these grooves may be crowned slightly providing supporting and driving surfaces for the belts.

Mounted in appropriate bearings inthe lower longitudinal frame members 2I are lower rotary supporting members 26 for the belts 25. The lower rotary members are also arranged` in pairs similar to the upper rotary members 23 and are provided with belt grooves 24 similar to those in the upperv supportingmembers. The belts 25 are al1 of vsimilar construction and are preferably of materialadapted to have light frictional action upon theassembly strips. These belts may be made of rubber, either in the nature of rubber bands without a textile fabric base whereby they are readily extensible, or with a fabric base covered or impregnated with-rubber. The belts 25 have elongated reaches between the upper and lower rotary supporting members, and the inner elongated reaches of each pair run in the salme direction and are spaced apart a short distance to Aform .passageways 21 in which the respective assembly strips are received. These inner reaches of the belts are spaced apart slightly soas to receive the respective strips in free relation without gripping the strips, but the surfaces of the belts will run in light frictional engagement with the strips so as to urge them forwardly and downwardly through the passageways.

There are preferably a plurality of belts 25 for each assembly strip, the pairs being spaced apart longitudinally of the rotary supporting

members l

23 and 26 so as to provide direct engagement with .each strip at laterally spaced parts thereof. Also, the strip engaging reaches of the belts 25 are poat opposite sides or surfaces of the strips. -It will i be noted further that the elongated reaches of the belts at opposite sides of the passageways 21 are respectively substantially in alignment transversely of the path of the strips. In this manner the strips are maintained in flat or straight conwardly 4through the passageways 21.

dition transversely thereof as they move down- In other words, longitudinal bending of the strips to form longitudinal flutes, ridges, etc., is entirely avoided. This arrangement, as will be later seen, promotes the refoldI-ig of the separate strips in. separate zigzag packs.

The upper rotary supporting members 23 of each pair are interconnected for rotation in unison by means of intermeshing toothed gears 2l. Also, these upper rotary supporting members are connected for power drive to a small electric motor 28 by means of a driving belt 30 engaging groove driving pulleys 3l connected to the extend lng ends of one of the supporting shafts of each pair of rotary supporting members 23. Thus each pair of belt supporting and driving members is individually driven and the members of each pair are driven together in unison so as to drive the belts of each pair at the same speed.

Positioned beneath each of the passageways 21 for the record strips is a receiving compartment for such strips, including a bottom 32 and upright strip confining members 33. The respective passageways 21 are positioned intermediate the opposite sides of the receiving compartments.

When it is desired to separate the strips of an assembly, the record strips Il are threaded downwardly into the outer passageways 21 while the .carbon strip I5 is threaded into the intermediate `and tending to urge them downwardly toward the receiving compartments. As the writing on the strip assembly continues and the strips are fed forwardly they are urged downwardly through the passageways 21 due to the light yielding engagement of the belts upon the strips.

Since the passageways 21 are positioned intermediate the opposite sides of the receiving compartments for the record strips, said strips are caused to be refolded in zigzag packs 3l. This refolding is accomplished by the joint action of the belts, by gravity, and by the -transverse creases in the strips formed by the original folding thereof in the supply pack II-. Since there is only a light frictional engagement of the belts with the strips, the belts can continue their movement when the strips have been stopped by action of the feeding mechanism of the tabulator.` But there is a constant urging of the strips forwardly by the light frictional sliding engagement of the belts, this being insufcient to cause any tearing orv other damage to the strips.

Sincevthe carbon strips ordinarily are of the one-time type, it is not necessary to refold them in zigzag packs as in the case of the record strips, and a receptacle or receptacles may be provided for them -beneath the receiving compartment for the record strips. In' case it is desired to refold the carbon strip this can be done in thesame manner as described for the record strips.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim i as new and desire to secure by letters Patent is: 1. In an apparatus of the character described,

in combination, a plurality of travelling exible strip separating belts having elongated reaches positioned for frictional engagement with the opposite surfaces of a plurality of long continuous strips for separating and disposing said strips in separate parts, means for causing said traveling separating belts to have light yielding or sliding forwardly directed frictional engagement with the respective strips for yieldingly urging the latter forwardly, and means for driving said travelling belts in unison.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination,` a plurality of travelling exible strip separating belts having elongated reaches positioned for frlctional engagement with the opposite surfaces of a plurality of long continuous strips having transverse fold lines weakened to folding resistance for separating and disposing said strips in separate parts, said belts being arranged in pairs, the belts of which are positloned at oppositesides of the respective strips, and the pairs being spaced apart laterally of the strips with the said elongated reaches thereof respectively substantially aligned transversely of the strip path to facilitate strip folding, means for driving said travelling belts in unison, and strip receiving compartments respectively positioned below said pairs of belts into which the strips are respectively directed by said belts to be folded along said fold lines into zigzag folded condition.

3.' In an apparatus for decollating long continuous assembled strips, in combination, a plurality of flexible travelling belts arranged in pairs, the belts of each pair having elongated reaches running side by side in the same direction and being spaced apart to form passageways in which thestrips are respectively freely received for frictional engagement with the belts, and means for causing said pairs of traveling belts to have light yielding or sliding forwardly directed frictional engagement with the respective strips for yieldingly urging the latter forwardly.

e. In an apparatus for decollating long continuous assembled strips, in combination, a plurality of exible travelling belts arranged in pairs, the belts of each pair having elongated reaches running side by side inthe same direction and being spaced apart to form passageways in which the strips are respectively .freely received for frictional engagement with the belts, said .reaches of the respective pairs of belts being positioned substantially opposite to each other at opposite sides of said passageways and the pairs being spaced apart laterally of the strips with the said elongated belt reaches at opposite sides of said passageways respectively substantially aligned transversely of the strip path to facilitate strip folding, means for driving said belts in unison, certain of said assembled strips having transverse fold lines weakened to folding resistance, and strip receiving compartments respectively positioned below-said pairs of belts into which the strips are respectively directed by said belts to be folded along said fold lines into zigzag folded condition.

5. In an apparatus for decollating long.con tinuous assembled strips, in combination, a plurality of flexible travelling belts .arranged in pairs, the belts of each pair having elongated reaches running downwardly side by side and being spaced apart to form passageways in which the strips are respectively freely received for frictional engagement with the belts to effect strip advancement, certain of said assembled strips having transverse fold lines weakened to folding resistance, and strip receiving compartments positioned below said belts and the elongated reaches thereof in which the strips emerging from said passageways are respectively directed by said belts to be folded along said fold lines into zigzag folded condition.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a plurality of flexible strip separating travelling belts arranged in pairs, the belts of each pair having elongated reaches running downwardly side by side and being spaced apart to form passageways `in Awhich strips having transverse fold lines weakened to folding resistance are respectively freely received for frictional engagement with the belts to effect strip advancement, said reaches of the respective pairs of belts being positioned substantially Aopposite to each other at opposite sides of said passageways and the pairs being spaced apart laterally of the strips with the said elongated reaches thereof respectively substantially aligned transversely of the strip path to facilitate strip folding, means for driving said belts in unison, and strip receiving compartments positioned below said belts and the elongated reaches thereof in which the strips emerging from said passageways are respectively directed by said belts to be folded along said fold lines into zigzag folded condition.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a plurality of iiexible strip separating travelling belts arranged in pairs, the belts of each pair having elongated reaches running side by side in the same direction and being spaced apart to form passageways in which the strips are respectively freely received for frictional engagement with the belts, said reaches of the respective pairs of belts being positioned substantially opposite to each other at opposite sides of said Dassageways and extending downwardly to conduct the strips in a downward course, rotary supporting and driving members for the belts of each said pair interconnected for rotation in unison, and rotary supports foi` the extremities of said belts opposite to said rotary driving members.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a plurality of flexible travelling strip separating belts arranged in pairs, the belts of each said pair having elongated reaches running downwardly and having their strip engaging surfaces in opposing relation so as to form downwardly directed passageways in which the strips are respectively. received for frictional engagement with said belts, there being a plurality of said pairs of belts for each laterally of the strips, upper and lower rotary supporting members for said belts arranged in pairs for the respective pairs of belts for each strip, said rotary members of one pair for each strip being interconnected for rotation in unison and being driven to effect operation of the belts.

v9. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a plurality of flexible travelling strip separating belts arranged in pairs, the belts of each said pair having elongated reaches running downwardly and having their strip engag-` ing surfaces in opposing relation so as to form downwardlydirected passageways in which the strips are respectively received for frictional engagement with said belts, there being a plurality of said pairs of belts for-each strip spaced apart laterally of the strips', upper and lower rotary supporting members for said belts arranged in pairs for the respective pairs of belts for each strip spaced apart tional engagemelt 1 strip being.intox-amineetenr for rotation in unison and' being" 'drivento `uillerizionof the beltsi...

and strfnpreivngfeompartments respectively positioned heiowisad of-mtai'ysupporting g meximers.' ofalowep rtary spporting rumaenien@ the ,Y

tobeioidedin the Commitments.

traveling frietionalmexnbe'rs positionediorf 1 veiyfwifn@pinning4 of long continuous six-ips `forseparating and posing saidfstrips in separate parts, strip feeding mechanism for. feeding an assembly of said eoniunuousstripsl-with an intermittent or halting