US2626800A

US2626800A - Sheet delivering apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2626800A
Application number: US39764A
Authority: US
Inventors: George A Martin
Original assignee: Dexter Folder Co
Current assignee: Dexter Folder Co
Priority date: 1948-07-20
Filing date: 1948-07-20
Publication date: 1953-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1970-01-27

Description

Jan. 27, 1953 MARTlN 2,626,800

SHEET DELIVERING APPARATUS Filed July 20, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR BY $04 Q. 7mm 26 32. 00M 6% ATTORNEY 7, 1 3 G. A. MARTIN 2,626,800

SHEET DELIVERING APPARATUS Filed July 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 27, 1953 I UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET DELIVERING APPARATUS George A. Martin, Pearl River, N. Y., assignor to Dexter Folder Company, Pearl River, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 20. 1948, Serial No. 39,764 8 Claims. (01. 271-68) This invention relates to sheet handling apparatus, and more particularly to sheet delivering apparatus for delivering and piling sheets of tin plate and other metallic or relatively heavy sheets as the same are discharged from a printing press, coating machine, bufling and cleaning machine, drying or baking oven, rolling mill, inspecting machine, trimming machine, and various other processing machines.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved sheet, delivery of novel, simple, and durable construction that will rapidly deliverand evenly pile sheets of tin plate or other metallic material without scratching their surfaces or otherwise injuring the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pile delivery for metal or other relatively heavy sheets wherein the successive sheets are caused to move on a substantially horizontal plane until they are completely over piling position, whereupon said sheets will bodily fall fiatwise one on top of the other without relative sliding movement and form an even pile thereof, and each succeeding sheet will be prevented from dragging along the upper surface of a preceding delivered and piled sheet.

Another object is to provide an improved pile delivery for sheets of tin plate or the like magnetic material having novelly arranged rotary magnetic and non-magnetic means for advancing the successive sheets under positive control and causing the same tomove on a substantially horizontal plane into space over piling position.

Another obi ect is to provide novel rotary means for advancing and transversely bowing sheets of tin plate or the like flexible'magnetic material through magnetic gripping action applied there- Another object is to provide a pile delivery for sheets ofa magnetic character having pile lowering mechanism and novel control means therefor so constructed and arranged that magnetic forces may be utilized in theoperatlon of said means and control thereby of said pile lowering mecha- A further object is to provide a pile delivery for sheets of magnetic material having a pile supporting elevator which is mechanically lowered step by step and controlled by novel magnetic means disposed in magnetic" relation to and under the influence of the pile of such sheets.

A still further object is to provide in a pile delivery for'metal or other relatively heavy sheets novel self-acting sheet Jogging means for accurately aligning the successive she'etsas they arepile'd so as to form an'evenpile thereof."

Still another object is to provide in a pile delivery for metal or other relatively heavy sheets a novel sheet actuated sheet jogging device which is actuated by each succeeding sheet in process of delivery to eil'ectively jog or align each preceding sheet delivered to and resting on the pile.

The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detail description when the same is read in connection with the accompany'ing drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, thatthe drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a sheet delivery embodying the present invention and including a pile elevator. said view being taken on the line l--l of Fig. 2; r

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the sheet delivery shown in Fig. 1 looking from the right thereof, certain of the parts having portions broken away ior purposes of clearer illustration;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing the drive for the rotary sheet advancing means; I y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of magnetic control means for the pile elevator lowering mechanism, said means being shown in the, position it occupies when lowering of the pile elevator and pile of sheets thereon by said mechanism is effected;

Fig. 51s a top plan view, partly in section, of the magnetic control means, shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of one of the front sheet jogging devices shown in Figs. 1 and 2, certain of the parts having portions broken away for. purposes of clearer illustration; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the side sheet jogging devices shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown one form of sheet delivery embodying the present invention which is particularly adapted for delivering and piling sheets of tin plate as the same are received from a combined drying or baking oven and sheet turnover unit employed in the processing or making of metal articles or containers. It will be understood, however, that the sheet delivery disclosed herein may "be advantageously and effectively employed in connection with other-machines for delivering and piling sheets of'tinplateor other metal sheets of a magnetic or non-magnetic character; as well as cardboard or other relatively heavy non-metallic sheets as the same are discharged from said machines.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sheets of tin plate pass in succession from the baking oven and turnover unit with their treated surfaces uppermost onto a horizontally disposed endless conveyor III which advances said sheets away from said unit to a pile delivery II to be hereinafter described wherein the sheets are piled one on top of the other in an orderly pile for further handling thereof. Conveyor Ill comprises a plurality of transversely spaced and parallel endless belts I2 the rear ends of which pass around a suitable roller or rollers (not shown) located adjacent the discharge end of the sheet turnover mechanism. The front ends of belts l2 pass around a plurality of rollers I3 which are fixed in spaced relation on a transversely extending shaft I4. This shaft I4 is journalled at its opposite ends in suitable bearings provided in side plates I5 that are secured to the inner surfaces of two transversely spaced rear uprights I6 and project forwardly therefrom. Uprights I6 form part of the pile delivery frame which includes two transversely spaced similar front uprights I1, said uprights being bolted to the machine foundation and connected together by side members I8 and I9. The front uprights II are connected together at the tops thereof by a stay shaft 20, and the rear uprights I6 are connected together at the tops thereof by a stay shaft 2!, and at vertically spaced points below the belt roller shaft I4 by

cross members

22 and 23.

The belts I2 are continuously driven to advance the sheets of tin plate in a continuously moving procession from the baking oven and turnover unit to the pile delivery II, and said operation may be effected, as desired, directly from said unit or from a separate source of power, such as, an electric motor carried by the pile delivery frame and connected by suitable known means with the belt roller shaft I4.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, novel rotary means are provided adjacent the forward end of conveyor ID for further advancing and progressively bowing and stiffening the successive sheets of tin plate in a longitudinal direction through application of magnetic forces applied to the lower surfaces of the sheets at spaced points across the same, and for causing each sheet to move straight forward on a substantially horizontal plane into space until approximately the entire sheet is disposed over piling position. In this manner the successive sheets are advanced under positive control to piling position, each succeeding sheet is made self-supporting and prevented from draggin along and marring the upper surface of a preceding delivered and piled sheet, and upon reachingiling position the successive sheets will bodily fall fiatwise one on top of the other in an accumulated pile thereof.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, said rotary sheet advancing and bowing means comprise a plurality of permanently magnetized rollers, there being an intermediate roller 24, and

outer rollers

25, 25. Rollers 24, 25 are adjustably secured on a shaft 26 in spaced relation and such that the north and south poles of the intermediate roller 24 are reversed with respect to the north and south poles of the outer rollers, 25, 25 whereby the magnetic forces between the intermediate and the outer rollers are repelling instead of attracting in order to insure magnetic sheet gripping eflect of said rollers. Shaft 25 which is made of bronze, brass or other nonmagnetic material extends transversely of the pile delivery adjacent the belt roller shaft I4 and is J'ournalled at its opposite ends in suitable bearings provided in the side plates I5. The upper portions of the permanent magnet rollers 24, 25 lie in substantially the same plane as the upper reaches of belts I2, and the diameter of said rollers is substantially the same as the diameter of the belt rollers I3 including said belts. It will be understood that the number and size of permanent magnet rollers may be varied as desired.

The permanent magnet rollers 24, 25 are of the general type disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,228,913, granted January 14, 1941, and each of said rollers includes a hollow permanent magnet 21 (Fig. 2) loosely engaged over the nonmagnetic shaft 26 and having a north and south pole as indicated at N and S, respectively. Associated with and contacting the opposite ends of permanent magnet 21 is a pair of circular shells 28 formed of soft iron or other suitable magnetizable material and having horizontal sheet engaging rims 29 which project toward each other and are spaced at their inner ends. Shells 28 are secured to shaft 26 and clamp the permanent magnet 21 therebetween for rotation by said shaft as a unit, said shells, due to their engagement with opposite ends of said magnet, also havin north and south poles which produce magnetic fluxes across the rims 29 and cause the sheets of tin plate to adhere thereto when moved into engagement therewith by belts I2. The inner surfaces of rims 29 are bevelled to prevent contact of said rims with magnet 21 and thus insure proper distribution of the magnetic forces to shells 28.

Permanent magnet rollers 24, 25 are driven continuously and at a surface speed slightly faster than the surface speed of belts I2 so that the successive sheets will be withdrawn more rapidly from said belts, thereby increasing the relative spacing between each leading sheet and the next following sheet and providin more time for accurate piling thereof as hereinafter described. For this purpose, the driven belt roller shaft I4 has fixed thereon adjacent one end thereof a spur gear 30 (Fig. 3) which meshes with and drives an idler gear 3I that is journalled on a stud 32 secured in any suitable manner in the adjacent side plate I5. Idler gear 3I meshes with a spur pinion 33 which is smaller than gear 30 and is fixed on and drives shaft 26. Permanent magnet rollers 24, 25 are thus driven continuously by shaft I4 in the same direction as belts I2 and at a faster surface speed than the surface speed of said belts through gears 30, SI and pinion 33.

Disposed outwardly of the outer

permanent magnet rollers

25, 25 and adjustably secured to shaft 25 for rotation therewith and adjustment therealong are two truncated cone-shaped rollers 34 (Fig. 2) which are non-magnetic and of a size such that the inner smaller diameter thereof is substantially the same as the diameter of rollers 24, 25. It will thus appear that as each advancing sheet of tin plate leaves the belts I2 and passes over the continuously rotating, transversely spaced

rollers

24, 25, and 34, the opposite side edge portions of the sheet will engage the coneshaped rollers 34 and the intermediate portion of said sheet will be magnetically attracted and I drawn downwardly into engagement with the permanent magnet rollers 24, 25, thus bowing up opposite sides of the sheet as indicated in broken lines at A in Fig. 2. Under these conditions and upon contin' 24, 2|, and 84,; each sheet magnetically adhering to rollers 24, 2! is further advanced thereby under positive control into space over piling position. progressively bowed as it is advanced soz'thatthe extended or leading portion thereof isitiifened in alongitudinal direction; Iirr this manner the extendedor leading portion of each rotation of rollers advancing. sheet is made self-supporting and prevented from bending or curvingdownwardly under its own weight "toward'the pile support, thereby providing for the sheets.

accurate ilatwise piiing of Cooperating in a novelmannerwith' the-per manent magnet rollers, 28 are'upper spring pressed pressure rollers 24 8 1 and 2) which are so located with respect to said magnet rollers that the axes thereof are not directly above and in the same vertical plane as the 'axis of the magnet rollersbut are somewhat rearward of said latter axis as clearly shown in Fig. 1. By virtue of the pressure rollers II and the described location thereof, the trailing portion of each advancing and stiffened sheet is engaged by said rollers at a point rearwardly of the magnet rollers '24, 2!. In this manner the trailing portion of the advancing and stiifened sheet is helddown by pressure rollers II and said sheet is prevented. from swinging or pivoting bodily about the magnet rollers 24, 2 5 in a downward direction. thus causing the sheet to move straight forward ona substantially horizontal plane as indicated in broken lines .at B in Fig; l which further provides for accurate .fiatwise Piling of thesheets without scratching .or marrlng ,the surfaces fthereof Pressure rollers 35 also aid in effectively bowing the sheets through engagement'of the same with said sheets at the outer magnet rollers 28, 2| and adjacent the cone-shaped rollers 84.

. As herein shown, the pressure rollers .88 are of the rubber tire type to prevent scratching or markingof the sheets, and are Journalled at the free ends of forwardly extending bifurcated arms 36 which are. loosely mounted on a shaft 21.

Arms II are yieldingly urged downwardly byadlustable compression springs as which are disposed between the furcations' of said arms and other arms I! associated therewith and'adiust-- ably secured to shaft 81 for movement there'- along with arms to various positions. Arms 30 are provided on the lower surfaces thereof with forwardly and downwardly inclined thin webs 4| which guide the leading edge of each verticaily'extending bars 42 by bolts 48 which pass through suitable openings in said armsand are threaded into-suitable threaded openings in the upper ends of said am; Bars 42 are secured at their lower endstothe cross member '22.

By loosening bolts 42. 4|, shaft I'harr'ns it and same pressure rollers tl may be'r'oekedj forwardly and rearwardly as a unitabout said bolts to locate said pressure rollers inthe proper rearwardposition with respectto the magnet rollers 24, II.

w en tneftraumg' portion crease a vancedjby the magnet rollers 24, 2! moves out of engagementwith the pressure rollers 2!,

sheet begins to swing downwardly, said trailing portion of the sheet, howeven'stiil being under the magnetic influence of the magnet rollers will 1 continue to adhere to said rollers and, hence, the sheet will simultaneously be moved forwardly and downwardly at the trailing edge thereof around a portion of the periphery of the magnet rollers, thus maintaining the sheet substantially horizontal; as shown in broken-lines at C in Fig; 1, and removing the trailing portion thereof from the-path of the next or oncoming sheet to prevent interference therewith. When the delivered downwardly moving sheet reaches a position substantially coplanar with the axis'of rotatiorr'ofthe magnet rollers 24, 28, said sheet. is stripped from said rollers by strippers herein- 1 after referred to, whereupon it falls iiatwise by gravity a'reIatively short distance onto a piling platform or'skid 44 upon which the successive sllileets are piled one upon the other in an orderly p I As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the platform or skid 44 is removably' supported on a pile elevator which is preferably but not necessarily of the general type disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,218,401, granted October 15, 1940. This elevator includes a U-shaped frame or support 45 which carries the platform 44 and which is open at thejfront thereof to receive a portable truck for unloading of said platform and the pile of sheets thereon from said elevator through the front" of the delivery. I"or amore detaileddescription of the construction of the U-shaped support .4! reference may be had to my abovementioned, Patent No. 2,218,401.

Disposed slightly forward of the rollers 24, 25 and supported on the

cross member

22, 23 of the delivery frame by means of forwardly extending bars 4| is a metal plate or apron 41 provided on the 'front surface thereof with two transversely spaced, vertically extending pile guides 44 against whichthe-successlvely delivered sheets are lo g d as hereinafter described, and against which the rear side of the pile of delivered sheets bears during lowering of said pile and the elevator by mechanism to be presently described. Secured to the upper end of apron 41 and serving as a continuation of the pile guides .40 are strippers n which are made of brass or other non-magnetic material and have portions extending upwardly and rearwardly at an angle tangent with the periphery of the magnet rollers 24, 2| and to. a point substantially in line with the axis of engage in. the teeth of sheaves I i that are fixed on and rotated. by shafts I2 at opposite sides of the delivery frame. These shafts I2 are journalled in suitable hearings in brackets II and 44 which are secured to the uprights It and I], respectivelyr l'ixed on shafts l2 adjacent brackets It right and left handworm gears whichmesh with right and left hand worms II that are fixed on a shaft l'l extending transversely of'the deliveryframeand iournalied in suitable-bearings in theba'ackets l3." I

Shaft 81 is intermittently rotated in the prope direction'to impart step by step downward move-. merit to thesupport 4| and pile of delivered sheets thereon, and this intermittent rotation .of shaft "is preferabbeflected"bylpawl and ram mechanism of the general type disclosed in the United States Patent No. 2,230,633, granted February 4, 1941, to Leo C. Williams. This pawl and ratchet mechanism includes a pawl carrier 58 loosely mounted on shaft 51 and which has a pawl 59 pivoted thereon and adapted, under certain conditions, to engage a ratchet 69 that is fixed on said shaft. Pivotally connected with pawl carrier 58 is one end of a link 6| the opposite end of which is pivotally connected with a crank pin 62 secured in an idler spur gear 63 which meshes with and is continuously driven by a smaller spur gear 64 that is fixed on the opposite end of the driven belt roller shaft 14. Idler spur gear 63 is journalled on a stud 65 which is secured in the adjacent rear upright Hi. It will thus appear that through oscillation of pawl carrier 58 by the described driving connections therefor with gear 63, and through engagement of the oscillating pawl 59 with ratchet 60, the shaft 51 and worms 56 thereon will be intermittently rotated as pointed out above. Under these conditions worm gears 55, shafts 52 and sheaves I at opposite sides of the delivery will likewise be rotated inwardly toward each other, thus lowering chains 50 and the support 45 and pile of sheets thereon.

In order to maintain the top of the pile of delivered sheets at a selected minimum distance below the magnet rollers 24 and 25, the elevator and its operating mechanism are, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, magnetically controlled by magnetic means preferably constructed, mounted, and operated as follows.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the rear surface of apron 41 is a bracket 66 (Figs. 1, 2, and 4) which has pivotally mounted thereon at 61 an arm 68 that extends upwardly from said bracket along and in close proximity to said apron. Arm 68 is formed of brass, bronze or other non-magnetic material. Secured to the front side of arm 68 adjacent the upper end thereof is a vertically extending permanent magnet 69 which is U- shaped in top plan view or horizontal cross section (Fig. 4), thereby forming north and south poles, indicated at N and S, respectively. which are transversely spaced with respect to the vertical movement of the pile of sheets and are of an appreciable length in a vertical direction. Magnet 69 is exposed to the sheets of tin plate delivered to and piled on support 45 through a suitable opening I6 provided in apron 41, and said magnet is so positioned on arm 68 that the lower end thereof is located substantially at the desired normal level of the top of the pile of sheets on support 45. It will be noted that by virtue of the vertically disposed magnet 69 with transversely spaced poles the magnetic circuit through said poles flows in a horizontal plane and substantially parallel with the surface of the piled sheets, thus providing for a more accurate and sensitive control of the elevator operating mechanism.

Pivotally connected to the upper end of arm 68 is the front end of a rearwardly extending connecting rod II (Figs. 1 and 4) the rear end of which is pivotally connected to the free end of a vertically extending arm I2. This arm 12 is secured to the inner end of a short cross shaft 13 which is journalled adjacent its opposite ends in suitable hearings in brackets 14 secured to the cross member 22 of the delivery frame (Figs. 1 and 2). Secured to shaft I3 at its outer end is a rearwardly extending arm 15 to the free end of which is pivotally connected the lower end of a vertically extending connecting rod 16. The upper end of rod 16 is pivotally connected to the rear end of a forwardly extending latch 11 which is pivoted as at 19 on a bracket 19 secured to and depending from the stay shaft 2|. The front end of latch 11 projects over a pawl mask which is loosely mounted on shaft 51 adjacent ratchet 60 and is yieldably connected with the pawl carrier 58. Pawl 59 extends across ratchet 60 and normally rests on pawl mask 80 out of engagement with said ratchet. A light extension spring 8I having one end connected to arm 15 and the opposite end connected to cross member 22 is provided to yieldingly urge said arm downwardly, whereby latch I1 is normally held out of engagement with pawl mask 80 and magnet 69 is normally held a short distance away from the ear vertical projection of the pile of delivered sheets on support 45, as shown in Fig. 1. An adjustable stop 82 secured in cross member 22 and engaged by arm 15 limits the downward movement of said arm and provides for proper setting of latch 11 and magnet 69 in their normal inoperative positions, as described.

At the beginning of the operation, the pile support 45 and empty platform 44 thereon are rapidly raised by suitable mechanism (not shown) connected with worm shaft 51 until the upper surface of said platform is slightly below the lower end of magnet 69. Prior to this raising of support 45 and platform 44, the pawl mask 80 is shifted to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, by a fork 83 so that a bevelled annular flange on said mask will lift the pawl 59 out of engagement with ratchet 60 if said pawl is not already disengaged therefrom. Fork 83 is engaged in an annular groove in pawl mask 80 and is fixed on a transversely extending shift rod 84 which is slidably mounted in suitable openings in the brackets 53 and is operated in any suitable manner.

When the support 45 has been initially positioned as above described, and with no sheets of tin plate on platform 44, the magnetic circuit through the laterally spaced vertical legs of magnet 69 will flow through the air. Under these conditions, magnet 69 will remain in the position shown in Fig. l, and latch 11 will be held up above the path of movement of mask 86 so that the latter, pawl carrier 58 and pawl 59 will oscillate idly and no downward movement will be imparted to the support 45. As the sheets of tin plate drop one after another onto platform 44 and the pile thus formed progressively increases until the top thereof is adjacent the upper end of magnet 69, said magnet, because of the presence of this pile of magnetic material, is magnetically attracted and swung about its pivot 61 toward said pile of tin plate sheets, as shown in Fig. 4. Thereupon, latch 11, through the described connections therefor with magnet 69, is swung downwardly into engagement with pawl mask 80 to stop rotation of the same and enable pawl 59 to engage and drive ratchet 60 and shaft 51 to lower the support 45 and the pile of tin plate sheets thereon through continued oscillation of pawl carrier 58. Lowering of the support 45 and pile of tin plate sheets thereon continues until the top of said pile has reached a point adjacent the lower end of magnet 69 at which time the magnetic circuit will again flow through the air and said magnet will no longer be under the magnetic influence of the pile of tin plate sheets. Springs 8| then acts to return magnet 69 to its original inoperative position, whereupon latch 11 is raised out of engagement with pawl mask 80. The pawl carrier 58, pawl 59 and mask 80 will then oscillate idly until it is again necessary to lower the support 45- and pile of sheets thereon; whereupon T the above =described operations 'of'. the pawl and I ratchet'control means arerepeated. adjust-'3 able stop 85 carried by magnet. arm 68 and'engageable with apron 41 limits the movement of' magnet 69 toward thepile of'sheetsand prevents direct contact of *said magnet with said pile in operative position. a

Inaccordance'with another aspect of themvention, sheet jogging devices of novel construe generally at 86, 86 are employed atthe front of the delivery,'and a single sheet Jogging device indicated generally at 81 is-employed at each side of said delivery. The front sheet Jogging.

devices

86, 86 are identical in construction, mounting and operation, and the side

sheet jogging devices

81, 81 are identical in-construction, mounting and operation, therefore, 'a description In the. illustrated embodiment two sheet Jogging devices indicated of one' of said front jogging devices and of one of said side jogging devices will suflice. for both of the same.

- As' herein shown; the front sheet jogging devices 86, are supported on an auxiliaryframe' comprising side members 88 and a front'cross member 89. This cross member 89 is secured tobrackets 99 'slidably mounted on the side 'mem-' bers 88. The cross member 89 and

sheet jogging devices

86, 86 carried thereby and hereinafter described in detail are therefore adjustable rearwardly and forwardly along the side members 88 and may be secured in any desired position of adjustment thereon by thumb screws 9| or the like. The auxiliary frame is pivotally mounted at the rear thereof, as indicated at 92, on hangars 93 secured to and depending from a shaft 94 whichextends transversely of the delivery frame and is secured at its opposite ends to the side.

members I8, I9 of said delivery frame. The auxiliary frame is supported at the front thereof by laterally projecting pins 95 secured. in the front uprights II. It will be noted that the pivotal mounting of the auxiliary frame enables said frame and the

sheet jogging devices

86, 86 carriedthereby to yield upwardly in the event the elevator is accidentally raised too high, thus preventing damage to said sheet jogging devices through engagement of the pile supporting platform'44 therewith.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6 of the drawings,

' each front sheet jogging device 86 comprises a pair of spaced vertically extending arms 96 which are loosely mounted for pivotal movement on the cross member 89 of the auxiliary frame and connected together at their lower extremities by a block 91 welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. Arms 96 are adjustable along cross member 89 and may be secured in any desired.

position of. adjustment thereon by a thumb screw 98- which is threaded into a collar 99 engaged over said cross member and disposed between said arms. Collar 99 is provided with two angularly related pins I99 and IN which are adapted to be engaged by a cross pin I92 secured in and extending between the arms 96. Pin I99 is utilized to limit the swinging movement of the sheet Jogging device in a rearward or clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, and pin I9I is utilized to support said sheet jogging device when the latter is swung forwardly and upwardly out of operative position to permit unloading of the pile of delivered sheets fromthe. elevator through I the front of the delivery.

Pivotally mountedon apin I93secured in and extending, between .theearms 96 adjacent the iowerends thereof isa vertically extending plate I94 provided on' the;,-front side thereof with a bearingblock I95 to receivejthepivotpin I99, said block being located below the center of said.

plate so that the latter is overbalanced and will tend to swing downwardly by gravity relative to' rear side of plate I94 and around the upper and lower ends of said plate is a thin metallic band I96 formed of a suitable wear resisting resilient material such as, spring steel, and disposed between said band and, said plateis acushion pad I91 of asuitable material, such as, for example,

sponge rubber; Pad. I91 extends the full length-- of plate I94 and said pad and band I96 are secured to said; plate by machine screws I98. The portion of plate I94 disposed above bearing block I95 is slightly offset rearwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, so that pad I9! is spaced from said plate for a major portion of thelength thereof,

thus enabling said pad to also yield bodily-relative to plate I94 and thereby increasethe effective cushioning action thereof. Arms 96 are further weighted by a weight I99 which is adjustably secured to a forwardly projecting pin II9 that is, in turn, secured in the tie block 91.

In the initial operation of the pile delivery, the described.

sheet jogging devices

86, 86 are moved along the side members 88 and cross member 89 to positions approximate the length and width of the sheet when the same is resting on the platform 44 and engaged with the rear pile uides 48. A few sheets are then delivered to the platform 44 and evenly piled thereon by manually moving the same rearwardly into engagement with the pile guides 48 and laterally Under these conditions, the upper end portions of theinclined plate, cushion pad and band units I94, I91, I96 will be spaced from the magnet rollers a distance equal to the length of the sheet. the lower end portions of said units at the point of contact with the pile will be spaced from the rear pile guides 48 a distance equal to the length of the sheet, and the arms 96 in tending to return to their natural vertical positions by gravity and the action of the weights I99 will press said units against the pile and hold the same in their intended inclined poistions. The pressure of the plate, cushion pad and band units I94, I91, I96 may be increased as desired by movingthe weights I99 forwardly along pins II9.

Accordingly, as each sheet is moved forwardly and downwardly by magnet rollers 24, 26 as hereinbefore described, the front edge of saidsheet contacts the bands I96, thus checking the sheet against any furtherforward movement, said bands yielding under this impact and thereby preventing damage to said edge. As the sheet is stripped from the magnet rollers 24, 29 and drops flatwise toward the pile, it moves in a forwardly and downwardly inclined direction along the inclined stripper 49 and band I and along the pile guides 48 onto the pile and to a final position thereon withthe rear edge thereof engaged with the pile guides 48 and the front edge in line with the front edges of the previously delivered an p l Sheets- Thus each sheet is deposited on the pile without sliding forwardly or rearwardly relative to the previously delivered underlying sheet, and an even piling of the sheets is automatically obtained. It will be noted that each forwardly and downwardly moving sheet, upon initial contact thereof with the bands I06, tends to swing the plate, cushion pad and band units I04, I01, I06 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, thus causing the lower end portions of said units to tap or impart a rearward thrust to the preceding delivered topmost sheet or sheets on the pile, whereby engagement of the same with the pile guides 48 and even piling thereof is further assured.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 7, each of the side sheet Jogging devices 91 comprises a thin metallic plate III formed to provide a vertically extending pile engaging portion I I2, an outwardly ofiset vertically extending attaching portion H3. and a downwardly and inwardly inclined portion I I4 connecting the portions H2 and H3. Plate III is suitably secured by the attaching portion II3 thereof to two longitudinally spaced vertically extending bars I I5 which are supported and guided at their upper ends for floating movement in vertical and horizontal directions in suitable enlarged openings II 6 formed in a bracket II1. This bracket II! is slidably mounted on shaft 94 and on a similar shaft II9 which extends transversely of the delivery in spaced parallel relation with shaft 94 and is secured at its opposite ends to the side members I8, I9 of the delivery frame.

Bracket III may be of any suitable construction and as herein shown is formed of two outer plates II9 and I20, a centrally disposed inner spacer block I2I, and two end spacer blocks I22, said plates and blocks being bolted together as a unit, and said spacer blocks forming between them the openings IIB. Plates II9, I20 and end blocks I22 are provided with suitable axially aligned openings to receive shafts 94 and H9. Downward movement of bars H5 relative to bracket H1 is limited by short pins I23 which are suitably secured in the upper ends of said bars and normally engage the upper side of said bracket to properly position the plate III vertically so that the portion I I2 thereof extends a short distance below the normal level of the top of the pile of sheets on support 49. The portion I I2 of plate I II extends substantially to the same level as the axis of rotation of magnet rollers 24, 29, at which level is located the inclined connecting portion I I 4 of said plate.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the plate H9 of bracket II! at opposite ends thereof and depending from said plate are two narrow plates I24 which are provided adjacent their lower ends with suitable opening to slidably receive therein short rods I 25. These rods I29 are formed at their outer ends with enlarged heads I20 and are externally threaded at their inner ends to receive adjusting and lock nuts I21 and I29, respectively. Surrounding rods 12! between plates 12 I24 and a justing nuts 121 are compression coil springs 29 for yieldingly urging said rods axially inwardly toward the center of the delivery.

Secured in the heads I20 ofrods I25 and extending longitudinally across the outer sides of bars H5 is a rod I30 having Journalled thereon two anti-friction needle bearings I3I which are held in engagement with said bar by the action of springs I29. It will thus appear that the floating mounting of bars I I9 and the anti-friction bearings I3I enables said bars to freely yield upwardly in the event the elevator is accidentally raised too high, thus preventing damage to the sheet jogging device 01 through engagement of the pile supporting platform 44 with the plate III of said device. It will also appear that the floating mounting of bars H5 enables pivoting or canting of said bars relative to bracket II1 under the action of springs I29.

Journalled in suitable bearings in the side members I9, I9 of the delivery frame and extending inwardly and outwardly of said side members are externally threaded shafts I32 which are threadedly engaged in suitable threaded openings provided in the plates II9, I20 and spacer blocks I2I of the brackets II1 of the

sheet jogging devices

81, 81. Shafts I32 have their inner ends reduced and Journalled in suitable bearings in plates I33 secured to the shafts 94, H9, and the outer ends of shafts I32 have fixed thereon handwheels I34. Axial movement of shafts I32 is prevented in one direction by plates I33 and in the opposite direction by collars I35 fixed on said shafts adjacent the inner sides of the side members I8, I9.

In operation, the side

sheet jogging devices

81, 81 are adjusted inwardly toward each other by rotating the handwheels I34 and threaded shafts I 32 in the proper direction until the portions II2 of plates III engage opposite sides of the pile of tin plate sheets on platform 44 and springs I29 are somewhat compressed. Under these conditions, the plate portions II2 will engage the uppermost sheets of the pile under a yielding pressure. and will be spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the sheets being handled. The pressure of the plate portions I I 2 on the pile may be varied, as desired, by adjusting the tension of springs I29 by means of the adjusting nuts I21. In order to hold the plates III against outward yielding movement relative to bars I I 5 adjustable stops I39 are provided in the lower end of said bars, said stops being also utilized to adjust the portions I I2 of said plates so that they are parallel with the vertical projection of the pile.

As each stiffened sheet of tin plate is advanced by magnet rollers 24, 25 in a horizontal plane over piling position, as hereinbefore described, said sheet passes between th attaching portions II3 of the plates III. When the advanced sheet is moved downwardly by magnet rollers 24, 25 and is stripped from said rollers by strippers 49, said sheet falls flatwise toward the pile between the portions II2 of plates II I and, hence, drop onto the pile without sliding relative to the next preceding or underlying sheet on the pile and into position such that the side edges thereof are in accurate alignment with the side edges of the previously delivered and piled sheets.

The magnetic control means for the pile elevator operating mechanism disclosed herein is not claimed in the present application for the reason that it forms the subject matter of a divisional application Serial No. 278,444, filed March 25, 1952. The sheet 'jogging devices are notclaimed; inthe present application for the reason that they also form the subject ,r'natterl a While the present invention is herein illus.-

tratedarid described in connection with the,.de.-,

livering and piling of sheets of tin .plate as; the,

same are discharged from a! combined drying oven and sheet turnover-unitgit is equally adapt,-

ed for the delivering and piling oftin plate, as I well as, other relatively stiif sheetsoi a magnetic character as the same are discharged fromvar-i'e 1 ous other instrumentalities acting on such sheets:

Additionally, by merely substituting one of many.)

known' mechanical pile elevator control me'cha-f' nisms forthe magnetic control means herein illustrated and described, the present invention, 2

without further modifications, may also be employed for the delivering and piling of metal sheets of a non-magnetic character, as well as, cardboard and other sheets of similar relatively stiif non-metallic material.

Further, various changes may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts of the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will now be clear to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be expressly understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof herein illustrated and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sheet delivery, a.pile support, driven rotatable magnetic means disposed above said support at one side thereof for receiving and conveying sheets of magnetic material in suc-' cession forwardly over said support and then downwardly toward said support through application of magnetic forces applied first to the underside of said sheets and then to the trailing edges of said sheets, and stripper means forstripping the successive sheets from said magnetic means during downward movement thereof. said stripping means being effective to strip the downwardly moving sheets from the magnetic means when the trailing edges of said sheets reach a position substantially coplanar with the axis of rotation of said magnetic means.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a sheet support, driven rotatable magnetic means disposed at one side of said support for receiving and advancing sheets of magnetic material in succession to said support through magnetic gripping action on the underside thereof, and means cooperating with said magnetic means and acting only on the underside of the sheets for causing the opposite side edge portions of each sheet to curve upwardly when said sheet is magnetically attracted to and gripped by said magnetic means. I

3. In a sheet delivery, a sheet support, driven rotatable magnetic means disposed at one side of said support for receiving and advancing sheets of magnetic material one after another to said support through magnetic gripping action on the underside thereof, and rotatable non-magnetic means associated with said magnetic means and acting only on the underside of the sheets for holding the opposite side edge portions of the successive sheets above the plane of said magneticmeans.

whereby said sheets are caused to bow transversely when magnetically attracted to' and r pp d by said magnetic means.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a

magnet rollers .arrangedat oneside of said sup-.

port for receiving and advancing sheetsof'mag netiemmaterial tin succession,- to said support'j' through. magneticgripping action on -the underside thereof, andother;non-magnetic'rollers arranged coaxially with .said ,magnet rollers, outwardly of attracted to and gripped bysaid magnet rollers.

5..In a sheetdelivery, a-pile support, driven shaft-idisposed above said support at one side thereof, a plurality of permanentmagnet, rollers flxedon and rotated by said shaft for receiving and advancingv sheets of magnetic material one after another to said support through magnetic gripping action on the underside thereof, and

truncated cone-shaped rollers of non-magnetic material fixed on said shaft outwardly of said magnet rollers for holding the opposite side edge portions of the successive sheets above the plane of the magnet rollers, whereby said sheets are transversely bowed when magnetically attracted to and gripped by said magnet rollers to stiffen the-same in a longitudinal direction.

6. In apparatus of thecharacter described, a pile support, driven rotatable magnetic means disposed above said support at one side thereof for receiving and conveying sheets of magnetic material in succession forwardly over said support and then downwardly toward said support through application of magnetic forces applied first to the underside of said sheets and then to the trailing edges of said sheets, means wholly disposed beneath the sheets and cooperating with said magnetic means for transversely bowing the successive sheets to stiffen the same in a longitudinal direction during forward movement thereof, and stripper means for stripping the successive sheets from said magnetic means during downward movement thereof, said stripper means being effective to strip the downwardly moving sheets from the magnetic means when the trailing edges of said sheets reach a position substantially coplanar with the axis of rotation of said magnetic means.

'7. In apparatus of the character described, a horizontally disposed pile support, driven rotatable means disposed above said support at one side thereof for receiving and advancing sheets one after another into space over said support, said means comprising axially spaced lower feed rollers and cooperating axially spaced upper pressure rollers normally disposed with their axes rearwardly of the axes of said feed rollers, means mounting said pressure rollers for movement forwardly and rearwardly to various selected positions with respect to said feed rollers, and means cooperating-with said rotatable means for transversely bowing the successive sheets to stiffen the same (from the front rearwardly as they are advance I 8. In a sheet delivery, a horizontally disposed.

shcet support, a plurality of driven permanent 7s ers for transversely bowing the successive sheets to stiflen the same from the front rearwardly as they are moved forwardly by said magnet rollers and for holding each advancing and stiffened sheet against pivotal downward movement about the peripheral surfaces of said magnet rollers, said means comprising non-magnetic truncated cone-shaped sheet-bowing rollers arranged coaxially with said magnet rollers outwardly of the latter and a plurality of upper spring-pressed non-magnetic sheet-holding rollers normally engaged with said magnet rollers and disposed with their axes rearwardly of the axes of said magnet rollers, and stripper means for stripping the successive sheets from said magnet rollers during downward movement thereof toward said support, said stripper means being effective to strip the downwardly moving sheets from the magnet rollers when the trailing edges of said sheets reach a position substantially coplanar with the axis of rotation of said magnet rollers.

GEORGE A. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENT Name Date Kneeland Nov. 27, 1877 Smith et al. July 10, 1883 Reifl'el Mar. 15, 1892 Neckerman Mar. 3, 1925 Evans et al. Oct. 2, 1928 Bing May 14, 1929 Mudd Oct. 5, 1937 Buccicone et al. May 9, 1939 Hormal June 20, 1939 Turner Oct. 30, 1945 Liefier Jan. 22, 1946 Case Aug. 27, 1945