US2693957A

US2693957A - Envelope machine

Info

Publication number: US2693957A
Application number: US232340A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ormonde P Welsh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-06-19
Filing date: 1951-06-19
Publication date: 1954-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1971-11-09

Description

Nov. 9, 9 .4 o. P. 'WELSH ENVELOPE MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1951 Nov. 9, 1954 0. P. 'wELsH 2,693,957

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed June 19, 1951 3 Sheets-Shet 2 J4 k2 5 I 74 IN V EN TOR.

Nov. 9, 1954 o, WELSH 2,693,957

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed June 19, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet s I INVENTOR.

ammdej? Maw 2w BY United States Patent Ofiice 2,693,957 Patented Nov. 9, 1954 ENVELOPE MACHINE Ormonde P. Welsh, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application June 19, 1951, Serial No. 232,340

11 Claims. (Cl. 271-12) This invention relates to envelope making machines, and more particularly to apparatus for feeding envelope blanks to a high speed automatic machine.

Cost considerations make high speed operation desirable in the manufacture of envelopes. This high speed operation, in general, presents problems in the handling of envelope blanks, and particular problems in feeding the envelope blanks from a stack to the first envelope forming stage of the machine.

The envelope blanks in high speed machines must be moved to successive forming operations at the rate of several hundred blanks per minute and must be moved one at a time at predetermined intervals in a continuous manner. If the blanks are not properly separated or spaced at accurate intervals, succeeding steps in the forma tion of the envelope may be interfered with and as a result, an envelope may be imperfect.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for feeding envelope blanks; more particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved feed apparatus for feedirlilg an envelope to high speed envelope forming mac mes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for feeding envelopes to high speed envelope machines which will feed the blanks from a stack one at a time.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a feed apparatus which will feed envelope blanks from a stack at uniform predetermined intervals in a continuous manner at a high rate.

In conjunction with the preceding object, it is a further object to provide an apparatus for feeding envelope blanks of the type set forth in which additional blanks can be added to the stack without interrupting operation of the feed apparatus.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to indicate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view with certain parts broken away of an envelope blank feeding apparatus made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line,2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial view in vertical section showing the manner in which an envelope is grasped and removed from the stack;

Figure 4 is a partial view in vertical section substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 and showing the envelope blank adjacent the suction block in the uplifted position;

Figure 6 is a view in vertical section and showing another embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 and illustrating the manner in which this form of the invention withdraws an envelope blank from the stack.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 through 5 thereof, it will be seen that the feed mechanism comprises generally a frame 10, an envelope blank stack support 12, a suction block 14,

a pair of

suction wheels

16 and 18, and a pair of

feed belts

20 and 22.

The form of envelope 24 illustrated in the drawings includes a seal flap 26, a pair of

side flaps

28 and 30, a front 32 and a bottom flap 34. The envelope blanks 24 are supported in a substantially vertical position with the seal flap 26 disposed upwardly. The stack support 12 includes a pair of

support bars

36 and 38 which extend the length of the stack 40 of blanks and engage the blanks substantially midway along the edges of the bottom flap 34. The forward or right hand end of the bars 36-38 are pivotally mounted as by levers 41 on a movable base 42. The rear end of the bar 36-38 is provided with depending legs 44 which have an eccentric 46 journaled therein. The eccentric 46 is mounted upon a shaft 48 supported in the movable base 42. The base 42 is mounted upon and slides along a member 50 which is attached to the frame 10. Movement of base 42 along member 50 is obtained by rotating a threaded rod 52 which engages a leg 54 integrally attached to base 42. By this construction the

support bars

36 and 38 can be moved inwardly and outwardly, toward and away from each other whereby to accommodate various sizes and shapes of blanks 24.

As is best seen in Figure l, the

support bars

36 and 38 are inclined downwardly to the right whereby to support the blanks 24 at an angle of from 10 to 15 with respect to the vertical. This position of the blanks at an angle with respectto the vertical facilitates moving the blanks along the bars 36-38 toward the suction block 14 and the suction wheels 16-18. Movement of the blanks 24 to the right is also facilitated by the action of eccentric 46. The shaft 48, upon which eccentric 46 is mounted, is driven by means of a belt 56 from a drive pulley 58. When shaft 48 is rotated, the eccentric 46 moves the rear ends of the support bars 36-38 upwardly and downwardly.

A pair of holding and

guide bars

60 and 62 engage the envelope blanks at a point adjacent the junction of the bottom flap 34 with the front 32. The forward ends of the bars 60-62 are turned inwardly to form

holding fingers

64 and 66, respectively, which engage the forwardly facing surface of the envelope blank which is adjacent the suction wheels 16-18. The fingers 64-66 retain the envelope blanks in operative position.

The seal flap 26 of the forward envelope lies against the face of suction block 14 and is supported thereby. Block 14 is, in turn, slidably mounted in a frame 68 adjustably mounted on frame 10 by means of a T- shaped section 70. Means is provided for reciprocating suction block 14 in a direction parallel to the surface of the adjacent blank 24 in the form of a wheel 72 rotatably mounted upon the frame 68 and an arm 74 which has one end thereof pivotally connected to block 14 as at 76. Wheel 72 is driven in a clockwise direction by means of a belt 78 which is driven by pulley 58. Upon rotation of wheel 72, the suction block 14 will be reciprocated within its mounting on frame 68. The face of the suction block adjacent the envelope blank stack 40 is provided with a suction port 80 which is connected to a suitable vacuum apparatus through hose 82. Suitable valve mechanism is provided so that suction is applied to port 80 when suction block 14 is in the lowermost position (see Figure 4), the suction being applied while the suction block 14 moves upwardly to the position shown in Figure 5, at which time the suction is turned off.

To insure that only one envelope blank is lifted by suction block 14, a suitable gate 84 is provided. Gate 84 includes a gate member 86 mounted upon a support 88 which is, in turn, received on a threaded rod 90. One end of rod 90 passes through a portion of support 88 and has a nob 92 aflixed thereto. The other end of rod 90 passes through a frame member 94 which is attached to frame 68. By turning nob 92, the gate member 88 can be moved toward or away from the surface of suction block 14 whereby to adjust the distance therebetween. The distance between the gate member 86 and the forward face of block 14 is adjusted so that only a single blank can be moved therethrough at one time. This distance can be adjusted for various thicknesses of envelope blanks: A spring 96 is disposed between frame 94 and support 88 to hold these members in adjusted position.

A single blank 24 is removed from the stack in the following manner. When. thesuction block 14 is in the position shown in Figure 4, i. e., in the lower position, suction is applied to port 80 through hose 82... This suction grabs the blank disposed against the suction block 14 and holds the blank against the block. Block14 then begins to'move upwardly and carries the adjacent'envelope blank with it. The upper edge. of the. blank. being ;moved passes in front of'gate member 86;.and if another envelope blank is adheringto the blank'being lifted, it will be stopped bygate member 86. At the uppermost point of movement of block 14, the lower edges of the bottom flap 34 will have cleared the ends of'fingers 6466fas is shown in Figure 5.. The envelope blank so raised can 'now be grasped by the ports in

suction wheels

16 and 18 and drawn outwardlyaway from the retaining finger '6466 whereby to remove this blank from the stack.

The

suction wheels

16 and 18 are mounted .upon a.

shaft 98 which inturn is jo'urnaled in frame .10. The suction wheels.16 and 18 are substantially identical. in

construction and; accordingly, only the structure .of;

wheel 16 will be described in detail. A plurality of mov-- able suction ports 100 are provided around the periphery of the wheel 16, each port being provided with. suitable.

valves and connections to the suction mechanism. Normally, the ports 100 are withdrawn to .theperipheryof f wheel 16 and are .held 'there by suitabletension. means. Means is provided for moving .the suction ports outwardly beyondthe periphery of wheel 16 in the form of arms 192. wheel as at. 184 and carries to the other. end thereof a cam engagingmember 1&6; Member 106 is in contact with a substantially helically shaped cam lltkwhich serves to pivot each arm 102'outwardly .once duringthe revolution of wheel 16. Cam'110 is so positioned that the ports 100 are moved.loutwardly when the-ports approach the foremost blank 24 in. stack40'and rapidly retracted as they move past the point of tangency betweenthe foremost. blank and wheel 16; Suction is .applied. to the portslOt) simultaneously withtheir -movement' outwardly, whereby the active or .outwardly'positioned port graspsthe foremost bla'nk24. Asyis best. shownin Figure 3, the'motion ofsuction block ;,14;and"suc-'

tion wheels

16 and 18 is so synchronized that the active ports of the suction. wheels 16'and118 engage the-ens velope blank when the SllCilOIlfblOCk 14 is 'in. its uppermost position.

Referring .to Figures 2. and 4, it will beseennthat the suction wheels '16 .and 18.are spacedapart and '.con-;

tact .the side flaps .28 and 30. Suctionwheels' '16 'and '18'. rotate in-acounter-cldckwise direction'asseenin'Fig ures 1 and 3 and, therefore, carryth'e foremost envelope:

blank downwardlyaway from'thestack lil and the :suction block 14.

As the activ'exports. 190. carry 'the associated-blank.

downwardly, the ports'are retractedand draw the blank against the feed .belt'20. Aftenthe suction to:.port 100-.

is removed, the feed; belt '26 carries-theblank' down-- wardly into .contactwith the feed belt 22. Feed'belt'.20-.. lies against one .face of .the envelope blank and feed belt.

22iliesagainst thev otherface'of the blank whereby to grasp'the blank between the belts. Referring to Figures: 1 and 2, it will be seen that the feed belt 29 is'in the. form of a closed loop'and is'carried by a roller 112' for the portionx of the path about roller114, from roller,

114 to roller 128, their paths parting on the upper .por-. tiomof roller128. It will be .seenthat the ,blanks. will befed between the two feed belts 2i! and 22 downwardly about roller 114, then upwardly into contact with roller 128' and from roller128 they are discharged to atirning section generally designated .by .the numeral 134.--

Each arm 102. is pivoted on .the suction.

Timing section 134 includes a pair of timing belts 136 having, a plurality of ..timing pins 138 ..mounted. ther.eon.. and extending upwardly therefrom. The timing pins 138 contact the trailing edgesof the side flaps 28 and 30 of the envelope blanks and serve to space the envelope blanks at predetermined intervals along the timing chains 136. The timing chains 136 carry the properly spaced envelope blanks to the succeeding forming operations.

The overall operation of the envelope blank feeding mechanism is as follows. The nob 92 is turned to space the gate member 86 away from the forward face of the suction blockI14-a distance which will permit movement of .but a singleenvelope blank across the end of 'gate member 86; The various drives are then set into operation, and-the suction is applied to the ports in block

14'and'the suction wheels

16 and 18. A quantity of envelope blanks are then placed in the stack 40, the endmost blank being supported on its forward face by. the. finger 6466. and..along, its ,upper edge by the suction, block 14... As suction. block 14 begins to move.upwardly from! the. position showm in Figure 4, the suctionv is applied "to. port 80whereby to grasp the endmost envelope blank... Continuedtmove: ment of suction block 14'upwardly carries the .adja-. cent envelope blank upwardly past the forwardedge. of. gate member 86. When. suctionblock 14.rcaches the uppermost portion ofitsstrokeas seen in Figure, 5, the lower edges of the bottom flap '34 have cleared the finger 6466, and it is at this timethat a pair. of ports in the

suction wheels

16 and 18. aremoved outwardly into engaging position with the suction. ap: plied. thereto. Immediately upon. engaging. the en.- velope'blank, the suction ports 190 arewithdrawn. to the right'asviewed in Figures 1 and3'and therebya bring the envelope blank out of'engagementwithlthe, fingers 6466. Upon continued rotation of the. suction wheels 161and 18 in a'counterclockwise direction, the blank is drawn into contact with feed belt 201' and. then into.contact with feed belt 22. Thesuction inthe active ports 160 "willhave been removed,' and'the feed belts 20 and '22 will carrythe envelope blank. to. the timing section 134.

The movement of the suction block 14 and the,rota-. tion of the suction wheels, 16 and 18.are synchronizedso that another blank is removed from stack 40 as soon as the upper edge of the preceding envelope blank loses contact with

thesuction wheels

16 and 18." This arrangement provides for-continuous overlapping of the envelope. blanks as they are removed'fr'om the. stack; 40."

There is shown inFigures 6 and! .a second modification ofia feed mechanism embodying theprinciples of the present invention, Th'is'form ofthe invention iri-. cludes a stack support 140; a reciprocating suctionwheel 142, a rotating suction wheel '144, a feed belt 146'and'a timingsection 148. The support for stack 40 includes a stationary base 150 upon which is, .pivotally, mounted. floor 152, the point of "pivot being at 154.. Theshaft.

156 is journaled in base 150 and has mountedlthereon,

an eccentric cam 158.. The upper surface ofcam 158'." contacts the lower side of floor 152"thereby to.oscillat,e. floor 152.in a vertical direction .at the .rear end'tlrereof. A pairioflowerside support arms 160'and 162iare pr0-. vided to contact the edges of;th"ebottom.flap3..34,'.andtjapair of upper support arms 164 and.j166'support the. edges of the sidefiaps 2.8and .30.-respecti.vely.- Means is provided for adjusting the support .arms inwardlyandoutwardly, i.e., toward andaway from each. other, .in; the formof a screw rod .168.journaled in the 'base 150. Rotation of screw rod 168 moves :the support. arms 160' through 166 "either toward each other .or away; from each other. Vertical adjustment. of .the arms .164 and ,166-.-is obtained by means of a nob170.(only.one h'avingbeen: shown).

The forwardly disposed ends of the support arms 16(i162 have formed thereon inturned. fingers 172.; and 174 which lie against and support the forward. sur face ofthe endmost envelope blank. The. structureand function of fingers 172.174 aresubstantially identical with the structure and function: offingers 6466. described above.

The upper end of the endmost .envelope-blankin stack- 4% lies against the surface of-thenreciprocating suction wheel 142. Formed on the periphery of wheel 142 is a.. suction port .176 having suitable connections toa suction. line 178'.upon whichflthe .-wheel.1421is mountedu The.

wheel 142 is reciprocated or oscillated by means of a toothed rack 180 which contacts a toothed gear 182. Movement of rack 180 upwardly and downwardly oscillates the wheel 142. Vertical movement of rack 180 is obtained by means of an eccentric cam 184, which is driven at a suitable rate. Contact between rack 180 and the surface of cam 184 is maintained by means of a spring 186, which is connected between an arm 188 on rack 180 and the frame of the feed mechanism.

Suction is applied to port 176 when wheel 142 is rotated to its lifted position in the counterclockwise di-- rection. Drive mechanism including the cam 184 and the rack 180 then moves the wheel 142 in a clockwise direction with the suction applied to port 176 whereby to lift the endmost blank upwardly as shown in the drawings. Referring to Figure 7, it will be seen that the lower edges of the bottom flap 34 clear the ends of the fingers 172174 when the blank is in the upward or lifted position. At this point of the operation, a suction port 190 in wheel 144 engages the blank adjacent the lower edge thereof. Wheel 144 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, and therefore reverses the direction of the movement of the blank and moves it downwardly and around its periphery. Four suction ports 190 are provided to insure that a suction port is available for all sizes of envelopes and to provide for overlapping of adjacent envelopes. Suitable valve connections are provided to apply and remove suction from the ports 190.

Wheel 144 carries the blank downwardly into contact with the drive belt 146. A pair of

rollers

192 and 194 in cooperation with a tensioning roller 196 support and drive the feed belt 146. Roller 192 is positioned adjacent the lower edge of the stack 40 and near the periphery of wheel 144 whereby to urge belt 146 against the periphery of wheel 144 at this point. Each blank as it is withdrawn from stack 40 is pressed between the dri e belt 146 and the periphery of wheel 144 and is carried by the movement of these members past roller 194 and onto the timing section 148.

Timing section 148 includes a pair of spaced apart timing

chains

198 and 200 on which are mounted a plurality of timing pins 202. The chains 198-200 are supported upon a plurality of sprocket wheels such as wheel 204. The edges of pins 202 engage the trailing edge of the side flaps 28-30 whereby accurately to position the blanks with respect to each other upon the timing sectlon.

The reciprocating wheel 142 and the rotating wheel 144 are synchronized so that the blanks are fed from stack 40 in overlapping position. The shaft 156 is rotated by means of a pulley 206 driven by belt 208 whereby to jog the stack 40 and urge it downwardly toward the wheel 144 in the manner explained above.

It will be noted that in both forms of the invention additional envelope blanks can be added to stack 40 without interrupting the feeding of blanks from the stack to the envelope forming machine. The blanks are fed, one at a time, from stack 40 at a high rate of speed, the blanks bein positively controlled at all times. In addition, the blanks are fed at uniform predetermined intervals in a continuous manner at an overlapping relationship. Suitable adjustments have been provided for accommodating various sizes and shapes of envelope blanks.

Although certain preferred embodiments of the in vention have been shown for purposes of illustration, it is apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention is, accordingly, not to be limited to the particular structures shown and described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of the blanks comprising generally horizontal and inclined means for supporting the stack with the plane of the blanks disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, means for supporting a lower endmost blank in said stack, said support means including means for gripping and moving the lower endmost blank in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stack, and suction means for gripping said blank and moving the blank in a direction opposite to the direction of movement imparted by said first gri ping means whereby to remove said blank from the stack, said first mentioned gripping means being constantly disposed in position to support succeeding blanks in the stack while the endmost blank is being removed from the stack.

2. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks comprising generally horizontal and inclined means for supporting the stack with the plane of the blanks disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, means for supporting a lower endmost blank in said stack, said support means including suction means for gripping the lower endmost blank, means for moving said suction means in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the stack, a rotatably mounted second suction means for gripping said blank after movement of said first suction means, and means for rotating said second suction means in a direction opposite to the initial direction of movement of said blank whereby to remove said blank from the stack, said first mentioned gripping means being constantly disposed in position to support succeeding blanks in the stack while the endmost blank is being removed from the stack.

3. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of the blanks comprising means for supporting the stack with the plane of the blanks disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, arms engaging the blanks at one end of the stack to retain the blanks on the stack, a first gripping means for disengaging the endmost blank from said arms, and a suction gripping means for moving the disengaged blank away from said arms and said first gripping means whereby to remove said blank from the stack.

4. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of the blanks comprising means for supporting the stack with the plane of the blanks disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, arms engaging the lowermost and endmost blank to retain the blanks in stacked relationship upon the supporting means, suction means for gripping said endmost blank adjacent the upper edge thereof, means for moving said suction means to lift said endmost blank out of engagement with said arms, a second rotatably mounted suction means for gripping the disengaged blank and drawing the blank outwardly away from the stack, and means for rotating said secand suction means to move said blank downwardly away from said first suction means and said arms whereby to remove said disengaged blank from the stack.

5. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of blanks comprising generally horizontal and inclined means for supporting the stack with the plane of the blanks disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, means for supporting a lower endmost blank in said stack, said support means including suction means for gripping the lower endmost blank, means for moving said suction means in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the stack, a gate positioned adjacent the edge of the blank in the direction of movement of said suction means, said gate permitting only one blank to be moved by said suction means, second suction means for gripping said blank after movement of said first suction means, and means for moving said second suction means in a direction opposite to the initial direction of movement of said blank whereby to remove said blank from the stack, said first mentioned gripping means being constantly disposed in position to support succeeding blanks in the stack while the endmost blank is being removed from the stack.

6. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of the blanks comprising means for supporting the stack with the plane of the blanks disposed at an angle with respect to the horizontal, arms engaging the lowermost and endmost blank to retain the blanks in stacked relationship upon the supporting means, suction means for gripping said endmost blank adjacent the upper edge thereof, means for moving said suction means to lift said endmost blank out of engagement with said arms, a gate positioned adjacent the edge of the blank disposed in the direction of movement of said suction means. said gate permitting only one blank to be moved by said suction means at a time, a second suction means for gripping the disengaged blank and drawing the blank outwardly away from the stack, and means for moving said second suction means to move said blank downwardly away from said first suction means and said arms whereby to remove said disengaged blank from the stack.

7. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of the blanks comprising means for supporting the stack withxther-planevofihe blanks 1disposediat famanglet for gripping said endmost blank adjacent theupper edge thereof, means-for moving said suction means to lift said endmost blank out of engagement with said arms, a second suction means for gripping the disengaged blank and drawing the-blank outwardly away from thestack, and a feed belt positioned adjacent said second suction'means tocarry the disengagedblank away fromthe stack.

8. An: apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a stack of'theblankscomprising means for supporting the stack with the-plane of the blanks disposed at an angle with respect vto the. vertical, arms engaging .the lowermost andtendmost blank to retain the blanks in stacked relationshipnpon thesupporting means, suction means forgripping said endmost blank adjacent the upper edge thereof, means for movingsaid suction means to lift said endmost blank'out of engagement with said arms, a pair ofisuctiort wheels mounted to contact said blank at points spaced apart longitudinally thereon-and below the point of'i'contact: with, said suction means, suction ports in said suction': wheels for gripping'the disengaged blank and drawinguthetblank. outwardly'away from the stack, and means for rotating said suction'wheels gripping said blank tot-move :said blank downwardly away from said suction means and said arms whereby to remove said disengaged blank from the stack.

9. An apparatus for feeding envelope blanks from a :stack'of the blanks comprising means for supporting thestack' with theplane of the blanks disposedat an angle with respect to the vertical, arms engaging the lowermost zand endmost blank to retain theblanks in stacked'relationship upon the supporting means, a suctioncblock-mounted for reciprocation in a direction substantiallyparallel to and .adjacent'said lowermost and endriiost blank, means for moving said suction block to lift said: endmost blank out of engagement with said arms;awsuction wheel forgripping the disengaged blank and-udrawing'the blank outwardly away from the stack, and: means for rotating said suction wheel to move said blank-downwardly away from said-suction block and saidarms thereby to remove said disengagedblank from the stack.'

10; An-apparatus for-"feeding'envelopeblanks from a stackz. Of'i blanks 2 comprisingzmeans rfor supporting 5 the stack withatheplane of rthe blanksadisposed at an angle" with respect to the ;hbrizontal,=. arms .engaging'the lower-- most and endmost b1ank:.to retainuthe :blanks 'in' stacked 'relationship uponthessupporting:means,'.an oscillating suction wheel for gripping the endmost blank adjacent the upper edgethereof; means for oscillating said suction wheel with the suction appliedtoilift: said endmost blank" out of engagement with said arms; a second suction wheel for gripping the disengagedblank and .drawing'the blank outwardlyaway from the stack; and means fonrotating said second suction 'wheel toxmove the blank down'-'v wardly away from said"oscillating:suction'wheel and 'said' arms whereby to remove-saiddisengagedrblanks fromrthe I v stack.

varms, a suction-wheel mounted adjacent'said' endmost blank and below said suction means a muvable suction" port mounted in said suctionrwheel for reciprocation in a direction substantially radially withtrespect-tothe suc-' tion wheel; means for moving said suction port outwardly and applying suction thereto to gripthe blank'di'sengaged by said suction'rneans, and means forrotating said suc-: tionwheel to move said-blank downwardly 'away' 'from" said suction means and said arms wherebydo-remove'" said disengaged blankfrom-the-stack;

References Cited in thefile of-this patent UNITED STATES'PATENTS" Number Name Date-- 768,673 Morton Aug. 305190. 4 805,158 Sage-t. Nov.-21,- 1905';

1,418,117 Widell' May-30;- 1922 1,929,766 Barkley Oct. 10,- 1933- l,939,193 Winkler Dec. 12;' 1933 2,163,732. Kleineberg June 27; 1939 2568;069: Herr. Sept. 18,-1951-