US2690337A - Blank feeding apparatus - Google Patents

Description

J. HALAHAN ET AL BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS Sept. 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1950 FIG. I.

E X l5 TING DRIVING MEANS AND CLUTC INVENTORS JOHN HALAHAN THtODORE E ARONSON BY FLOYD A. LYON ATTORNEY J; HALAHAN El'AL BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS Sept. 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1950 w mm I 4 SM n d huHF hH w kw lta mil M mmmm ill ll l thi Z a m 0 w Q .mwmm Wm a u I mm... w. A 2&9. m l I .n 1. nunmwm J HMH R .I vw n a ww| E 9w WT I u mm 8 QM. mm mm ww P 1954 J. HALAHAN E-f AL BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 26, .1950' Patented Sept. 28, 1954 BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS John Halahan, Jackson Heights, Theodore F. Aronson, Valley Stream, and Floyd A. Lyon, Brookville, N. Y., assignors to Berlin & Jones (30., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 26, 1950, Serial No. 158,198

10 Claims.

This invention relates to feed mechanisms and more particularly to continuous automatic feed apparatus for feeding a stack of blanks. While the invention is particularly useful in envelope making machines, it is applicable at least in some of its aspects to other machines, e. g., printing machines, in which blank feeding apparatus is utilized.

In non-gravity blank feeding apparatus it has been necessary periodically to stop the automatic L processing machinery to which the blanks were being fed in order to replenish the supply of blanks. This discontinuity in feeding of the blanks has resulted in a mis-match with the rest Referring to Fig. 1, a stack of paper blanks of a type suitable for manufacture into envelopes rest on a lower carriage l I comprising a plurality of spaced rails 12. Posts I3 upstanding from the rails serve to align stack ID on the carriage. Carriage ll is periodically driven by motor [4 laterally in the direction of the arrow so that rails 12 mesh with rails l5 of an elevator It. A bell crank mechanism may conveniently be associated with motor Hi to impart reciprocal motion to the carriage. Runways I? provided on either side of carriage l I serve to guide the carriage into proper relation with alifting mechanism or elevator it with which carriage l l is mounted in tandem.

of the machinery which could and should operate 5 As soon as stack I has been carried by carcontinuously. riage ll into position on elevator it which is in It is the object of the present invention to overlower position the elevator is raised by means of come this mis-match by providing an automatic rack and pinion 18, I9 and chains fastened blank feed mechanism which permits the conto bars 23 on either side of the elevator. As shown tinuous operation of the processing machine. 20 in solid lines (Fig. 1), elevator I6 is in raised According to the invention, an elevator mechaposition and is holding a diminished stack of nism moves a stack of blanks towards a removal blanks 2i in position for an oscillating sucker arm mechanism which removes a blank from the mechanism, generally indicated at 22, to pick up stack. When the stack reaches a predetermined one end of the top blank and bring it into fricdiminished height a set of auxiliary supports 25 tional engagement with rotating rubber faced operate to take over the support of the diminrollers 25. These rollers project the successive ished stack and the elevator moves to another blanks in the direction of the arrow towards the position where a carriage having a second stack envelope making machine (not shown), Where the of blanks deposits them on the elevator. The blank is formed into a completed envelope. The elevator thereupon moves the second stack construction and operation of the sucker arm against what remains of the first and the auxiland rubber faced rollers are well known. The iary supports are withdrawn. means whereby the sucker arm controls the oper- While the invention is not limited to use on ation of rack and pinion l8, l9 and chain 29 to paper envelope blanks, it has proven particularly raise the elevator are also well known and will efiicacious in solving feed problems in certain not be described. types of envelope machines and will therefore After elevator It has been raised to a predeterbe described in greater detail as used in conjuncmined height, which means h t Stack 21 has tion with a rotary envelope machine. It has been b diminished a Certain amount, a p ty 0 found that the present invention increases by up tapered Support fingers 25 mounted 011 an upper to 56% the production of such a machine. or finger carriage 24 are driven forward by chain The mechanism and operation of the envelope 27 into meshing relation with rails 5 a d machine per se is familiar to those skilled in the @ammed p to take over pp Of t e emainart and therefore only so much of the existing s blanks from BleVatOl" up 8- machine will be described as necessary to undervator l6 drops to the position shown in dotted stand the invention. lines (Fig. l) to receive a new or second stack In the drawings, of envelopes from carriage ll. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the mechanism; he mechanism controlling the Operation f Fig. 2 is a side elevation on lines 2 -2 of Fig. 1; fin s 26 will b explained with r r n e to one Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the mechanism side of the finger mounting means. It is to be shown in Fig. 2; 5O understood that a similar mechanism is provided Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the mechanism of on the opposite side of the fingers. Fig. 2 in operated condition; and Referring to Fig. 2, a chain 21 driven by a 5 is a Schematic diagram of the electrical wheel 28 is fastened by a piece 30 to the forward circuit controlling the operation of the mecha- I edge of a slidable plate 29. Plate 29 is free to nism. move back and forth along a slot 3! in a side 3 guideway plate 32. sides of the finger carriage are given rigidity by a bar 33 extending therebetween. Slide plates 29 are held together by another bar 34 fastened to their rear ends. The rearward movement of plate 29 is checked by a stop 51 mounted on the rear end of guideway 32.

Two rollers 35 projecting from slide plate 29 roll in slot 3| while rollers 36 roll along the bottom edge of plate 32.

Fingers 26 are tapered at their front ends 31, while their rear ends are fastened to a bar 38 extending between plates 39 on either side of the fingers.

The front end of plate 39 is pivotally connected to parallel linkage member 50 at 4|. Link 40 is pivotally connected at 42 to a plate 43. The other end of plate 23 is pivotally connected at 34 to another parallel linkage member 45. Link 35 is pivotally connected to a mounting box 47 on a rod E8. Mounting 41 and bar 38 are welded or otherwise rigidly connected. Link 45 is pivotally connected at 50 to slide plate 29 and link 40 is pivotally connected at to the front end of this plate.

A lug 52 fastened to the lower left center of slide plate 29 is adapted to engage bottom end of leg 53 of link 45.

A spring '54 is connected at one end 55 to slide plate 29 and at the other end to a stud 56 fastened to plate 43.

A cam follower 68 extends from plate 39 and is adapted to engage cam 6| mounted on a bracket 62 extending from guideway 32.

-Referring to Fig. 4, the camming up operation of support fingers 26, as their carriage is moved forward to lift a diminished stack of. envelopes 2 I, will be explained. A suitable motor 'II (Fig. 5) drives chain 27 which by means of connection 30, pulls slide plate 29- forward. The fingers move forward in a horizontal plane until follower 66 engages cam 6|. The raising of follower 6i! raises plate 39 attached thereto. Plate 39, pivots parallel link to, clockwise about 5| to move plate 23 rearwardly. Plate 43 pivots link 45 at 5|] by exerting pressure against leg 53. Link 45 is pivoted at 50, to move in a clockwise direction and lift bar 48, which in turn lifts bar 38 to raise fingers 2% fastened thereto, into a plane parallel to that in which they are normally positioned.

. The sucker arm mechanism continues removing blanks from stack 2| and would normally by the existing elevator driving means and clutch generally indicated in housing 65 rotate pinion I9 to lift rack I8 when the sucker arm has to reach down below a certain distance for a blank. However, fingers 26 overlift stack 2| a sufiicient amount so that the sucker will not have to reach below said. certain distance until new stack I9 has been moved up under stack 2 I. The existing elevator drive may therefore be de-clutched permitting the elevator to fall to its loading position. After stack iii has been placed on the elevator it is raised by an auxiliary motor II I, the operation of which will be later described, until stack I 3 is adjacent the bottom of stack 2|, whereupon the auxiliary motor stops and the existing driving means under control of the sucker takes over the lifting of the elevator.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5, the electrical circuit controlling the operation of the device will be described. When elevator I6, carrying a stack of gradually diminishing blanks 2| has been raised to a predetermined position, a switch is actuated and closes a circuit energizing motor "H Guideways 32 on opposite a for driving the finger carriage forward. This circuit is traced from a source of power I2, conductors I3, l4, 15, contact 10', conductor 76, contact H, conductors 18, 19, motor H, conductors 89, 8| and back to the negative side of the source of power.

As soon as the finger carriage moves forward, a switch [I3 is operated to close contact H3 whereupon a release coil I26 of a lower latch relay is energized to release mechanical member I08 to close contact Hit-positive side power source conductors 73, 14, 15, contact II3, conductors II S, H5 contact H8, conductor II'I, contact 83' conductor I27 release coil I26, conductor 8| to negative side of power source 12.

As the carriage continues its forward movement, switches Ti and 83 are actuated. The opening of contact TI stops motor II and the closing of contact TI" energizes a latch coil 84 connected by member 84' to the armature of switch 85 of the upper latch relay. The closing of contact 85 reverses the subsequent direction of motor II by changing the polarity of the motor terminals. In addition, the closing of contact TI" completes another circuit to energize solenoid 82 which de-clutches the elevator drive permitting the elevator to fall by gravity.

The circuit for latch coil 84 may be traced as follows: Source of power "I2, conductors I3, "M, 15, contact I0, conductor 16 contact 11', conductors I26, I64 latch coil 84, conductors I05, BI and back to the negative side of the source of power.

A circuit for solenoid 82 is also closed in parallel with the circuitfor latch coil 84 from conductor I24 over contact I03, conductor I 02, solenoid 82, conductor Illi, contact H39 (closed when carriage II is in the out position), conductors IIii, 8| back to the negative side of the source of power.

Although the closing of contact 83" of switch 83 completes the circuit for the operation of an auxiliary elevator motor I I I, the motor does not drive the elevator since it has been de-clutched by the energization of solenoid 82. As previously described release coil I26 is controlled over contacts of switch 83.

When elevator I6 reaches its lower position, a contact 96" of switch 96 is closed to stop motor Ii i and energize motor I4 which moves carriage Ii in with a new stack of paper I0; source of power "I2, conductors I3, I4, motor I4, conductor 98, contact 96", conductors 39, 8|, back to negative side of source of power.

As carriage II star-ts in, Contact I28" of switch its is closed to maintain a circuit for motor I4 over power supply I2, conductors 73, "Hi, motor H3, contact I", conductors IIil, 8| back to the negative sideof source of power.

During the inward movement of lower carriage I i, switch I8! is actuated to complete a circuit which energizes the lower latch coil and opens the solenoid circuit. De-energizing the solenoid permits en-clutching of the clutch mechanism which connects motor I I I for lifting the elevator. The circuit for the lower latch coil is as follows: power supply 7-2, conductor 73, latch coil Hi8 (which opens contact I 03-by moving member I08 thereby opening the circuit of solenoid 82), conductor Hi3, contact I01, conductors 9'9,'-8I back to the negative side of the power supply.

When carriage II is in the in position so that its rails are meshing with the elevator, the carriage actuates switch I22 to energize auxiliary motor III; power supply 12, conductors 13, I4, I5 contact H3, conductors I I4, H5 contact IE6, conductor II E contact 83", conductor H8 motor III, conductor H9 contact I20, conductor I2! contact I22, conductors 99, 8| back to the negative side of source of power.

After elevator I6 rises a short distance sufficient to lift the new stack of blanks clear of carriage II, switch I20 is actuated to open contact I29 and motor III stops. At the same time, lower carriage II, which is being reciprocally driven by motor I4, is moved back out of the way of the elevator bars 23. As the lower carriage clears bars 23, switch I20 is again aotuated to close contact I 20' and motor III which drives the elevator is energized.

When the top of the new stack of blanks contacts the bottom of fingers 26, switch H6 is actuated to open the circuit of auxiliary motor Ill and close over contact H6 the circuit to energize motor II to retract the finger carriage: source of power 12, conductors I3, I4, I5, contact H3, conductors H4, H5 contact H6", conductor 19, motor H, conductors 80, BI back to the negative side of power.

The finger carriage upon reaching its back or out position actuates switch H3 to open the circuit of motor ll and energize release coil I23 of the upper latch relay to reverse the subsequent direction in which motor H will drive the finger carriage; source of power I2, conductors i3, I l, l5, contact H3", conductor I25, release coil H23, conductors I05, I06, BI to the negative side of the source of power.

When lower carriage H returns to its out position in which a new stack of blanks may be placed thereon, switch I is actuated to open the circuit of motor I4 by opening contact I".

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described there will be suggested to those skilled in the art changes, modifications and other uses for the invention. For instance, instead of feeding the blanks from the bottom up, they could be fed from the top down or otherwise moved to accommodate some other type of machine. It is therefore intended to limit the invention only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A continuous feed apparatus for a machine of the type described comprising an elevator having upper and lower positions, a stack of envelope blanks on the elevator, first means for picking the top blank in the stack, driving means for raising the elevator to feed blanks to said first means, support means, a first electrical motor for moving said support means in and out with respect to the elevator, a first contact operated by the elevator after it has been raised to a predetermined position to close a circuit for said first motor to move said support means in to take over support of the stack of blanks from the elevator, a second contact means operated thereupon permitting the elevator to descend to its lower position, a lower carriage, a second stack of envelope blanks on said carriage, a second electrical motor for reciprocally moving said lower carriage to in and out positions with respect to said elevator when the latter is in its lower position, a third contact operated by said elevator when in lowered position to close a circuit for said second motor to move the lower carriage in, a fourth contact operated by said lower carriage as it moves to in position closing the circuit of said elevator driving means whereby the elevator lifts the second stack of blanks from the lower carriage, and a fifth contact operated after the second stack has been raised a predetermined amount to close the circuit for said first motor whereby the support carriage is moved out to deposit the blanks remaining in said first stack on said second stack.

2. A device for supporting and raising envelope blanks or the like from one plane to another parallel plane and movable into a forward and rearward horizontal position insaid other plane comprising a plurality of tapered fingers, a first bar laterally attached to one end of said tapered fingers, a rod, rod housings connected to each end of said rod and connected to the extremities of said bar, first movable plates positioned one on each side of said tapered fingers, a cam follower connected to each of said movable plates, a rigid connection between said movable plates and said bar, a plurality of links, two legs mounted at an angle on each link, a pivotal connection between one leg of a first link and a forward portion of the first plates, second movable plates positioned below each of said first plates, a pivotal connection between the other leg of the first link and the forward portion of the second plate, a leg of a second link pivotally connected to the rear portion of said second plate, the other leg of the second link pivotally connected to the extremity of said rod, a slidable plate, a plurality of rollers connected thereto, a guide plate against which said rollers operate, a cam attached to said guide plate and adapted to cooperate with said cam follower, a second bar connecting the ends of said slidable plates, said first and second links pivotally connected to said slidable plate, a stop on said slidable plate adapted to limit the rotation of said second link, a spring connected between said slidable plate and said second plate, a stop on the end of said guide plate to limit the rearward movement of said slidable plates and associated parts, and means for moving the device to one of said positions whereby the cam will operate on the cam follower to move said first plate, and said second plate being pivotally connected to the other leg of said first link thereupon moves to operate said second link and raise the fingers into a plane parallel to their original plane.

3. A continuous feed apparatus for a machine of the type described comprising a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of sheets and movable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevated sheet feeding position, means for removing a sheet from said stack, means for intermittently elevating said platform to maintain said stack in sheet transfer relation with said first named means, a guide frame mounting a finger carriage for relative lateral movement into nested relation with said platform and for limited upward movement relative thereto whereby to take over support of said supply stack therefrom, means for conditioning said second named means to permit said platform to gravitate to said loading position, a ribbed carriage supporting a reserve stack of sheets and movable into nested relation with said platform when in said loading position for transfer of said I reserve stack thereto, means for elevating said gamete 7 i of the type described comprising" a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of' sheets and movable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevated sheet feeding position, means for removing a sheet from said stack, means for intermittently elevating said platform to maintain said stack in sheet transfer relation with said first named means, a guide frame mounting a finger carriage for relative lateral movement'into nested relation with said platform, said frame and finger carriage including co-actable means for raising said carriage relative to said frame upon movement thereof into nested relation with said platform whereby support of said stack is taken over by said finger carriage, means for conditioning said second named means to permit said platform to gravitate to said loading position, a ribbed carriage supporting a reserve stack of sheets and movable into nested relation with said platform when in loading positionfor transfer of said reserve stack thereto, means for elevating said platform with said reserve stack into abutting engagement with said finger carriage, and means for withdrawing said finger car-' riage and said ribbed carriage out of the path of said platform.

5. A continuous feed apparatus for a machine ofthe type described comprising a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of sheets and movable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevated sheet feeding position, means for removing the top sheet from'said stack, means for intermittently raising said platform to maintain said stack in sheet transfer relation with said first named means, a guide frame mounting a finger carriage for relative lateral movement into nested relation with said platform and for limited upward movement relative thereto whereby to take over support of said supply, stack therefrom, means for deactivating said second named means to permit said platform to gravitate to said loading position; a ribbed car'- riage supporting a reserve stack of sheets and movable into nested relation with said platform when in said loading position for transfer of said reserve stack thereto, means for initially elevating said platform to take over said reserve stack, means for withdrawing said ribbed carriage to normal position, means for elevating said platform to position said reserve stack in abutting engagement with said finger carriage, means for Withdrawing said finger carriage to normal position, and means for restoring intermittent control of said platform to said second named means.

6. A continuous feed apparatus for a machine of the type described comprising a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of sheets and movable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevated sheet feeding position, means for removing a sheet from said stack, releasable means for intermittently raising said platform to maintain said stack in sheet transfer relation with said first named means, a finger carriage including a guide frame therefor, pivoted linkage mechanism including roller means mounting said carriage on said frame for rela-- tive movement in a vertical and horizontal'plane,

said frame and carriage including co-actable means for raising said carriage relative to said frame upon movement thereof into nested relation with said platform whereby support of said stack is taken over by said finger carriage, means for releasing said second named means't'o permit said platform to descend to loading-position, a ribbed carriagesupporting a reserve stack of sheets andmovableinto nested relation with said platform when in loading position for transfer of said reserve'stack thereto-upon elevation of said platform, means for elevating said platform with said reservestack into abutting engagement with said finger carriage, means for restoring intermittent control of said-platform to said releasable means, and means for withdrawing said ribbed carriage and said finger carriage out of the patl'i'ofmovement of said platform.

'7. A continuousfeed apparatus for a machine of the type described comprising a ribbed platformsupporting a supplystaok of sheets and movable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevated sheet feeding position, reciprocable means for removing the top sheet from said stack, means under control of said reciprocable means" for elevating said platform intermittently to" maintain said stack in sheet transfer relation with said reciprocable means, a guide frame mounting a finger carriage for transverse movement'into-nested' relation with said platform and" for limited upward movement relative to said frame,-said frame and finger carriage includingcam and roller means for raisingsaid finger carriage upon movement thereof into nested relation with said platform whereby support of said supply stack is taken over by said finger carriage, means for deactivating said second named means. to permit said platform to gravitate. to said loading position, a ribbed carriage supporting a reserve stack of sheets and movable intoi nested relation with said platform when in loading position. for transfer or" said reserve stack thereto, means for elevating said platform with said reserve stack into abutting engagement. withisaidfinger carriage, means for withdrawingsaid ribbed carriage and said finger carriage out of the pathof movement of said platform, and meansfor'restoring control of said platformr to said: second' namedmeans.

8. Aicontinuous feed apparatus for a machine of: thetype described comprising a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of sheets and movablevertically. between a lowermost loading position and an elevated sheet feeding position, reciprocable means for removing the top sheet from said stack, means under control of said reciprocable means. for intermittently elevating said: platform to maintain said stack in sheet transfer relation with said reciprocable means, a guide framemountingv a finger carriage for lateral movement into nested relation with said platform upon' elevation ofsaid platform to a predetermined position relative to said reciprocable means; said frame and finger carriage including cam and roller means for raising said finger carriage upon movement thereof into nestedrelation with said platform whereby support of said stack is taken-over by said finger carriage, means under control of said finger carriage upon movement to stack supporting position for initiating release of said platform to said loading position, a'ribbedcarr-iage supoprting a reserve stack, means under control of saidplatform upon movement to: loading position for initiating movement of saidribbed carriage into stack transfer relation with saidplatform, means under control of said-ribbed carriage upon movement to stack. transfer position for initiating movement of: said" platform to raise said reserve stack into abutting; engagement with said finger carriage, and means -under'control of said platform and said'finger carriage: upon abutting engagement of said reserver-stack withi said finger carriage for restoring control of said platform to said second named means and withdrawal of said finger carriage to inactive position.

9. A continuous feed apparatus for envelope forming machines comprising a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of sheets and movable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevated sheet feeding position, a driven shaft, reciprocable means operable by said shaft for removing the top sheet from said stack, means under control of said reciprocable means for intermittently raising said platform to maintain said stack in sheet transfer relation with said reciprocable means, a guide frame mounting a finger carriage for relative movement into nested relation with said platform and for limited upward movement relative thereto whereby to take over support of said stack from said platform Without interrupting continuous sheet feeding operation, means under control of said finger carriage upon relative upward adjustment to stack supporting position for initiating movement of said platform to said loading position, a ribbed carriage supporting a reserve stack of sheets movable in a path normal to and into nested relation with said platform when in said loading position, means under control of said ribbed carriage for initially elevating said platform relative to said loading position to take over support of said reserve stack therefrom, means under control of said platform upon said initial movement thereof for withdrawing said ribbed carriage to inactive position, means under control of said ribbed carriage upon movement to inactive position for continuing elevation of said platform with said reserve stack into abutting engagement with said finger carriage, and control means operable by said finger carriage upon relative upward movement thereof in response to said reserve stack for restoring intermittent control of said platform to said second named means and for initiating movement of said finger carriage to inactive position.

10. A continuous feed apparatus for a machine of the type described comprising a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of sheets and movable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevated sheet feeding position, means for removing a sheet from said stack, means for intermittently elevating said platform to maintain said stack in sheet transfer relation with said first named means, a guide frame mounting a finger carriage for relative lateral movement into nested relation with said platform and for limited upward movement relative thereto whereby to take over support of said supply stack therefrom, means for conditioning said second named means to permit said platform to gravitate to said loading position, a ribbed carriage supporting a reserve stack of sheets and movable into nested relation with said platform when in said loading position for transfer of said reserve stack thereto, means for elevating said platform with said reserve stack into abutting engagement with said finger carriage, and means for withdrawing said finger carriage and said ribbed carriage out of the path of movement of said platform, said apparatus including a plurality of electric motors and a solenoid connected in a relay controlled circuit energizable in response to automatic control exercised on each of a plurality of switch elements in sequence by said ribbed platform, finger carriage and ribbed carriage as they move into and out of active position in timed relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date *580,942 Heywood Apr. 20, 1897 845,907 Tyden Mar. 5, 1907 1,807,864 Novick June 21, 1931 2,185,947 Neer Jan. 2, 1940 2,205,767 Lamb June 25, 1940 2,336,839 Blackstone Dec. 14, 1943 2,444,544 Thomas July 6, 1948

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