US2805855A - Forms decollator - Google Patents

Description

Sept' 10, 1957 e. E. SORNBERGER FORMS DECQLLATOIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March so, 1954 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 10, 1957 e. E. SORNBERGER FORMS DECOLLATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30, 1954 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent FORMS DECOLLATOR George Emerson Sornberger, Sanborn, N. Y., assignor to Moore Business Forms, Inc., Niagara Falls, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 30, 1954, Serial No. 419,841 a 8 Claims. (Cl. 271-21 This invention relates to deeollating machines and more particularly to machines for separating individual transfer or carbon strips and record sheets from long continuous interfolded strips of carbon and record paper.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machine of this general type in which a packet of zigzag interfolded strips of record and transfer material is automatically fed through the separating mechanism with the record sheets being automatically refolded in zigzag folded packets.

Many machines of this general type have been developed in which a plurality of separating and collecting mechanisms are provided, however, for the most part, those machines are rather complex as well as costly to construct. It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a decollating machine which is simpler and less expensive in construction and in which a single transfer sheet and record sheets are decollated, or by multiple runs, any reasonable number of record and transfer sheets are separated.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a machine of this general type in which the packet of interfolded strips which are to be separated lies in a plane above the refold platforms with friction rolls being provided to assist in moving and guiding the strips to their respective refolding platforms.

In the preferred embodiment, the invention contemplates the provision of a generally frusto-pyramidal frame having a feed shelf lying between the side members or panels thereof with two of the mutually facing inclined side-members extending above the feed shelf. A plurality of friction rolls are mounted adjacent the upper ends of these extended side portions and means are provided to drive the rolls. The individual record and transfer sheets are threaded over the rolls and guided along the inclined side members to refold platforms which extend outwardly from these side members and lie in a plane below the feeding shelf.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following more detailed description of one embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a rear elevational view showing a decollating machine embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view showing the upper portion of the present structure;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along lines 66 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 77 of Figure 5.

Referring particularly to Figure l, the main frame, which is designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is of a generally frusto-pyramidal configuration and comprises inclined side panels 11 and 12, a base member ice 13, a front panel 14 and a back panel 15. In the preferred embodiment, the frame is made of sheet metal, however, it will be understood that other similar materials could equally as well be used. The side panels 11 and 12 terminate at their lower ends in in-turned flange portions 16 and 16' respectively, while the front and back panels terminate in in-turned flange portions 17 and 17 respectively. The base member 13 is supported on these flanged portions and secured thereto by bolts 18 or the like. It is apparent that any number of these securing bolts can be used as may be necessary to rigidly secure the base to the upstanding panels. Secured to the under side of the frame preferably adjacent the four corners thereof are the feet 19 and 20, two of these being shown in Figures 1 and 2. These feet can be secured to the frame in any suitable manner as for example by means of the base-securing bolts 18.

The front and rear panels of the frame can be made in a single piece or in two pieces secured togethe'r along the center line 10 by any suitable means such as welding or the like. The front panel 14 is cut away at its upper end at a slightly downwardly inclining angle, while the back panel 15 extends the full height of the machine. A feed shelf 21 terminates in downwardly extending flanges 22 and 23 and is secured to the side, back, and front panels, adjacent the top of the front panel, by any suitable means such as welding or the like.

As can be seen particularly in Figures 1 and 5, the in clined side panels 11 and 12 extend above the front panel and terminate in ears or flanges 24 and 25 respectively adjacent the forward edges of these side panels. These flanges 24 and 25 extend inwardly toward the vertical center of the main frame to a point just short of meeting. An elongated horizontal supporting bar 27 is secured at the front of the main frame to the flanges 24 and 25 by any suitable means such as screws or bolts 28, with a second horizontal supporting bar 27' being secured in a like manner to the back panel 15. Portions of these supporting bars extend beyond the side frame member 11 with their extended ends being secured to the in-turned flange portions 29 of guide member 30.

A pair of rollers 31 and 32 are mounted on shafts 33 and 34 respectively which are suitably journalled between the elongated supporting bars 27 and 27 These rollers 31 and 32 lie in close proximity to each other with their peripheries lying adjacent the vertical center line of the front and back panels. A third roller 35 is positioned more remote from the first two mentioned rollers and is mounted on a shaft 36, which shaft is also suitably journalled in the supporting bars 27 and 27 adjacent their extended ends.

A pair of refold platforms 37 and 37 are secured adjacent the lower ends of side panels 11 and 12 respectively by any suitable means such as welding. These platforms form an angle of slightly less than with the upper portions of side panels 11 and 12 and have mounted thereon adjustable guide brackets 38 and 39. These brackets are conventionally mounted for adjustment as for example by means of bolts 40 and 41 carried by these brackets and extending through elongated slots in the platforms 37 and 37.

The friction rolls 31, 32 and 35 are driven by means of a motor 42, the drive being transmitted from the stub shaft 43 of the motor by any conventional means such as belts and pulleys. In the embodiment shown, a pulley 44 is secured to the end of stub shaft 43 the drive being through belt 45 to a pulley 46 which is mounted on a shaft 47 journalled to the main frame. Drive is transmitted from the shaft 47 to the respective shafts 33, 34 and 36 by means of a belt 48 running over pulleys 57 and 58 carried by shafts 34 and 36 and in contact with the under side of a pulley 56 carried on shaft 33. It can be seen therefore that rolls 32 and 35 will be rotated in a counterclockwise, direction as viewed in Figure 1 while roll 31 will rotate in a clockwise direction. The speed of rotation of therolls .can be regulated by any suitable mOtO1'1CGDtIO1 Sl1Ch-3S -.that shown in co-pending application Serial-No. .4l9,883, filed March 30, 1954, andshownin thepresent drawings in diagrammatic form at .49. V 7

As can be seenin Figure-1, aninterfolded strip of continuous transfer and record material is placed'in a zigzag-foldedpack 5,0 onvthe feed platform 21. It should be pointed out that the use of record sheets throughout this application ,generically refers to both .the original and copysheets. The first record sheet '51 is threaded over-the roll-31 while the first transfer sheet 52 is V threaded-oventhe roller 35. ln the event that only one set of record sheets: are to 'beseparated, the remaining record'sheet 53: is threaded ,ove r-theroller 32, while in the event that a plurality .of record sheets andtransfer strips are to be separated, the remaining record sheets and transfer strips would likewise .be threaded over the roller 32. It is readily apparent, therefore, that in operation, the continuous interfolded strip is advanced from the pack Silby means of the friction rolls 31, 32 and 35 anddue to the .fact that the rolls 31 and 32 lie in close proximity to each other, no appreciable separation takes place until the strips start over these rolls. The first record sheet .51 is guided along the side frame member 12 to the refolding shelf 37' where it is refolded into a zigzag pack 54, and atthe same time, the first transfer sheet 52 is guided by the .panel 30 downwardly into a collecting receptacle not shown. Meanwhile, the second record sheet 53 or as the case may be, the remaining transfer and record sheets, are guided by side frame member 11 onto the refolding shelf 37 where they are refolded into a zigzag pack v55. This refolding is insured due to the inclination of shelf 37 at an angle of less than 90 with respect to the side frame panels 11 and 12. It will be understood, of course, that in the event that more than 2 record and 1 transfer sheets are to be separated, the remaining packet 55 can again be placed on the feed shelf 21 and the operation repeated as many times as necessary until all of the record and transfer sheets are separated.

From the foregoing description of the present decollating mechanism and the operation thereof, it is apparent that applicant has eliminated many complex and costly features inhis present invention and provided a machine which is not only economically feasible but is efiicient and practical in operation.

Having thus described the invention, what-is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A mechanism for separating strips of material from a zigzag folded pack of material made up of a plurality of strips, said mechanism comprising means for supporting said pack, strip separating means positioned above said pack, and strip collecting and refolding means positioned below said separating means, said collecting and refolding means comprising a side wall extending upwardlyand a platformextending outwardly and upwardly from said side wall.

2. Aseparating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which said side wall inclines inwardly toward said separating means and away from said platform as it extends upwardly from said platform.

3. A mechanism for separating and collecting the component strips of material from a pack of continuous laminated multiple strips of said material, which comprises a supporting frame having two laterally spaced upright side panels, supporting means for said pack of laminated multiple strips carried by said frame and disposed inwardly of and between said panels, a strip separator disposed above said-pack supporting means and adjacent the upper endsof said side panels, said strip separator having separate means to receive and separate said strips from each other and discharge certain of said strips over the top of one of said side panels and other of said strips in the opposite direction over the top of the other side panel, and means supported by said frame outwardly of each of said panels for collecting the-respective separated strips.

4. The mechanism as set forth in claim 3 in which the strip separating means comprises a pair of parallel substantially horizontally disposed rolls rotatably mounted at the upper endsvof said side panels, said rolls being spaced a short distance apartand adapted to receive the multiple strip of material between them, with certain'of said componentstrips guided over one of said rolls and over the top of one side panel and other of said strips guided over the other roll and over the top of the opposite side panel. 7 v

5. The mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein said rolls are disposed in the same horizontal plane and in relatively close proximity to each other to receive the multiple strip rather closely between them so that they are not substantially parted before entering between the rolls for separation.

6. The mechanism as set forth in claim 3 in which the side panels are inclined slightly upwardly and inwardly toward each other to form a somewhat frusto-pyramidal framework, and also whereby the separated strips discharged by the respective rolls over the tops of the panels are guided by the downwardly and outwardly sloping walls of the panels to their respective collecting means.

7. The mechanism as set forth in claim 4 in which a third roll substantially parallel to the other two is positioned laterally outwardly of one of the. first named rolls and of the panel adjacent said first named roll, said third roll adapted to receive a still further separated strip constituting an intermediate lamination of the original multiple strip pack and discharge it at a point further from said side panel and outwardly of one of said first named strip collecting means.

8. The mechanism as .set forth in claim 4 wherein the multiple strip packsupporting means comprises a shelf supported by said side panels at an intermediate point vertical thereof, and said separated strip collecting means comprise shelves supported by said side panels externally thereof, the said last named shelves being disposed at the same level, which level is lower than that of the first named shelf.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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