US2815947A

US2815947A - Sheet separating and feeding mechanisms

Info

Publication number: US2815947A
Application number: US345903A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter T Gollwitzer
Original assignee: Multigraphics Inc
Current assignee: AB Dick Co
Priority date: 1950-12-16
Filing date: 1953-03-31
Publication date: 1957-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1974-12-10

Description

De 10, 1957 w. T. GoLLwrrzER 2,815,947

SHEET SEPARATING AND FEEDING MECHANISMS Original Filed Dec. 16. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l \J@\ mk. Av .m lfJ MWI k O EWM JWT|IEMIJHIMT HLWIH N.,f...... l J if: www f kmh. k www E .II Qb\ it.

Dec. l0, 1957 w. T. GoLLwrrzER 2,815,947

SHEET SEPARATING AND FEEDING MEcHANIsMs Original Filed Dec. 16. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 De 10, 1957 w. T. GoLLwrrZER 2,815,947

SHEET SEPARATING AND FEEDING mcHANrsMs original Filed neg. 1e. 195o 4 sheets-sheet s l In van tor' Ua/ter' T Go//wl' er Dec- 10, 1957 w. T. GoLLwlTzER y 2,815,947

SHEET SEPARATING AND FEEDING MECI-LANISMS Original Filed Dec. 16. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent i() H SHEET SEPARATING AND FEEDING MECHANSMS Walter 'l'. Gollwitzer, Euclid, hio, assignor to Addressegraph-Multigraph Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Original application December 16, 1950, Serial No. 201,102, now Patent No. 2,710,406, dated June 7, 1955. Divided and this application March 31, 1953, Serial No. 345,903

4 Claims. (Cl. 271-10) This case is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 201,102, filed December 16, 1950, now 'Patent No. 2,710,406, of lune 7, 1955.

This invention relates to machines for producing business instruments such as checks, insurance premium notie-es, bills and the like.

Where hills, checks and the like are intended to be used in connection with a relatively large accounting system, it is quite comm-on to prepare these lbusiness instruments in the form of cards which may take the general form of the usual Holerith card. EIn machines of this character, it is, of course, essential to have the cards, upon which the printed and punched information is to be placed, fed into the machine in a reliable and yet simple manner, and an important object of the present invention is to simplify the feeding of `such cards into a machine of the aforesaid character. More specifically, it is an object of the present `invention to afford a card feeding mechanism that is yadapted for feeding single cards, double cards or pairs of related cards into the machine, and to enable this to be accompl-ished in a simple manner such that conversion of the machine from one type of operation to another may vbe easily accomplished.

'Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and lare illustrated in the accompanying -drawings which, by way of illustration, show la preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what l now consider to .be the best mode in which -I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may ibe made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

lln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a machine having a card feed Amechanism embodying the features of the invention;

iFig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the right 'hand portion of the machine, the cover plates being removed in some instances;

Fig. 3 is a front view taken partially in vertical section and showing ythe portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the transverse card feed and guideway.

The machine in general For the purpose of disclosure the invention is lherein illustrated as embodied in a printing machine 100 that is adapted to produce business instruments such as bills, checks and the like in the form of tabu'lating cards containing printed data, as well `as physically represented data afforded by means of perforations in the cards, and such documents in the form of cards C are produced from ice and under control of printing devices D that 4are passed through the machine. The machine has a main enclosed frame F that is supported on top of a lower base LB which in the present instance is mounted on casters 101. The lower base LB has access doors 102 afforded as parts of the usual enclosing cover plates, and the upper fname F is similarly provided with access doors 103 as well as other removable cover plates whereby access may be 'had to mechanism enclosed within the frame. The machine .frame F also affords a table top T that is relatively elongated and which has an elongated card guideway CG extended along what may be termed the forward edge portion of the table top. The cards C are supplied in Ia stack to a card magazine CM which in the present instance is adjustable as to its overall -size so as to provide for handling cards C of double or different length cards, and these cards C are discharged edgewise or in .a rear-ward direction one `by one from the bottom of the card magazine CM by means including card pickers CP, and into the card guideway CG. In the machine herein sh-own the cards are thereafter fed along the card guideway CG 'by means to be hereinafter described and into cooperation, first, with Aa punching unit PU, which produces the desired coded perforations in the card C, and such card C is thereafter advanced in a left-hand direction, as viewed in 'Fig 1, into a printing position beneath -a platen P whereby a printed impression may be made Vfrom the printing means of `a printing device D onto the card C, and the cardis thereafter released from printing posit-ion and is discharged through a micrometer sensing or Isafety device MS into a Icollector hopper K that is .afforded at the left-hand end of the machine as viewed in Fig. l.

The drive for the card picker CP, Figs. 2 and 3, includes 'an operating sleeve 260 mounted loosely on a shaft 26S, Figs. 3 and 4, and a gear 261 is loosely mounted on the shaft 265 adjacent the sleeve 260. This gear 261 is constantly driven by 4a pinion 262 fixed on a constantly driv-en shaft 222, as described in my aforesaid parent application. The gear 261 serves as the driving element of a one-revolution clutch CL-Z, the driven element of which is rotatively fixed to the sleeve 260, and this clutch is governed by -a solenoid SOL-2. The sleeve 260 has an eccentric 263 fixed thereon, and a connecting link 264 has a bearing surrounding such eccentric and lis operatively connected t-o the card p-icker, as will 'be described, so that whenever the clutch CL-2 is engaged for its -single revolution cycle, the card pickers CP will be driven through a card-feeding cycle.

The card gudewczy CG and related elements The card guideway CG -is defined along its rear edge by rear rails 480, Figs. 2 and 5, that are secured to the table top T. In that portion of the card guideway CG that tis opposite the card pickers CP, the forward edge of the card guideway is defined by a strip 481 as shown in fFig. 5, and the cards are advanced in a transverse `direction yby constantly Idriven

feed rolls

231 and 233 over the str-ip 481 and then are dropped into the card guideway `CG between the `

strips

480 and 481.

:In providing such constant drive for the

feed rolls

231 and 233, a sprocket 223 is fixed on the right hand end of the constantly driven shaft 222. An endless chain 224 extends about the sprocket 223 and upwardly over and about \a sprocket 225 that is fixed on a shaft 226, and the chain then extends rearwardly beneath an idler sprocket 227 and then upwardly and over a sprocket 228 from which it extendsdownwardly to the Isprocket 223.

The shaft 226 serves as a drive for a plurality of transverse feed belts 230 that are over a part of the card guide way CG opposite the card magazine CM. The feed belts 230 are arranged in relatively deep annularslots or shaft 234. The feed rollers y231 and 233 cooperate to continue the infeeding movement of each card C after the card has been projected for `a short distance from the magazine by the reciprocating card picker CP, and after discharge of thecard from the bight of the

rollers

231 and 233, the feed belts 230 become effective to complete the iii-feeding movement as will be described. Gear's 236, 237 and 238 meshed in series, are fixed respectively o n the

shafts

226, 234 and 232 to transmit drivefromthe constantly operated shaft 226. To the leftof theV card magazine CM, the forward edge of the card guideway is defined by `a continuation of the strip 481 that extends to the punching .unit PU, and by a similar strip,481-A that extends from the left hand side of the punching unity PU beneath the stop finger rocker 258 andA to a point just beyond the pulley 201. In the left hand portion of the card guideway CG, the forward edge ofksuch card guideway CG is defined by a rail that is fixed to the table top T, and on this rail, a mounting bar 4,83 is secured. This mounting bar 483 has a plurality of angularly arranged support brackets 484 arranged thereon and these brackets have skid rollers 485 rotatably supported thereon so as to tend to displace the cards laterally. in a forward direction and thereby maintain the samein engagement with the forward guide rail, while at the same `time holding such cards downwardly in engagement with the feedbelt 202. A plurality of guide shoes 486 are also secured to the mounting rail 483 so as to maintain the cards C in engagement with the feed belt 202m the spaces intermediate the skid rollers 485. The rear portion of the card guideway CG in the zone that is opposite the feed belt 202 is defined by a rear rail 488 that is secured to the table top T.

When the card C that is in its initial position in the card guideway CG opposite the card magazine CM is to ber advanced in a left hand direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, theconstantly driven card feed wheel 241, which has been in an elevated position, is moved downwardly into engagement with the card C by the action of its cam 241C and the card is thus advanced into position beneath the cardfeed wheel 242 which is at all times in its lowered position and which at this time has had downward pressure applied thereto by its cam 242C that is mounted on the cam shaft CS-2, The card is then advanced into the throat of the punching unit PU and its forward end moves on through this throat and under the card feed wheel 243 which at this time has downward pressure applied thereto. The card, however, comes to rest with its forward end beneath the stop finger element on `the rocker 2,58. The card C remains in this position and is held against the stop finger by the continued feeding action of the feed wheel 243, while the punching operation takes place, and the stop finger rocker 258 is raised just prior to completion of the withdrawal of the punching elements so that when such withdrawal releases the card, the card feed wheel 2,43 immediately starts the advancing movement of the `card into position beneath the card feed wheel 244 which continues such movement of the card and causes the forward edge of the card to move into position over the feed belt 202 which continues such advancing movement. With particular reference to the card feed wheels 241`to 244, it should beobserved that when a. card, is not in position beneath such wheels, these wheels engage free running idler rollers 489 that are disposed in position beneath slots in the card guideway.

The card, `rmlgazne and relater;x card feed means The card magazine CM is provided on the table top T forwardly` of the rightthand portion ofthe card guideway CG, andfthisl card .magazine lis definedon its forward edge by av plurality of upstanding stationary columns 525. In the present instance, the card magazine CM is constructed so that it may be 4arrangedto accommodate either a single length card C or a card D of double length and for this purpose provision is made for threading upstanding retaining pins 526 into threaded openings in the table top at positions which define either the single length card or the double length card. Three such mounting positions are provided, and these mounting positions are defined by tapped openings 526T, one such opening appearing in Fig. 2, while two pins 526 are shown in this figure. As thus set up, the card magazine CM is adapted to have cards placed therein in a stack between the two pins 526, and these cards may be advanced one by one from the bottom of the stack and laterally or rearwardly toward the card guideway CG through the operation of the card picker CP, as will hereinafter be described. It should be observed that on the rear side of the card magazine, upstanding columns 528 are afforded near the ends thereof and that these columns are supported by a rail 528R `that is spaced upwardly from the table top. The rail 528K carries a plurality of vertically adjustable members 528A so that the lower ends thereof may be adjusted with respect to upwardly and rearwardly sloping card guide blocks 528G to thus form a clearance throat or slot 5285 through which the lowermost card may be fed into the bight formed by the upper and lower feed rolls 231 and 233. In this regard it should be noted that the guide blocks 528G serve to elevate the advancing card to the `level of the front strip 431, and the bight of the feed rolls 231` and 233 is located at this level. Moreover, the lower feed roll 233 is recessed into the forward edge of the strip 481, as shown in Fig. 5 so that the card C is fed over this strip.

It shouldy be observed that the two feed belts 230 are afforded opposite each section of the card magazine, and the rear ends of such belts are supported on guide pulleys 53) that are supported on shafts 531, such shafts being held in spaced relation with respect to the shaft 230 by spacer bars 532. The belts 23) are recessed into annular grooves in the feed rolls 231 so that the feed rolls 231 act as normal feed rolls so long as the card is between such rolls. Rearwardly of the rolls 231, however, the feed belts 230 are effective with a feeding action on the cards so as to complete the in-fceding movement of the cards, and this action is attained by downward pressure of the belts toward the upper face of the rail 481. The belts 230 thus complete the rearward movement of the card so that it drops downwardly past the rear edge of the rail 481 and into the card guideway CG. As each card C is fed into the guideway, it passes into position under a guard plate 5,35 that maintains the advancing rear or leading edge of the card in engagement with the bottom of the card guideway, thus to assure that the card passes into position beneath the feed wheel 241, and two such guard plates 535 are provided in the present instance, and such guird plates are supported by means including support bars536 extended from the rear rail on the card guideway.

Rearwardly of the card guideway CG an elevated work or storage surface 537 is provided and this may be used as a supply source for cards C, two stacks of which are shown on this surface as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The .card picker mechanism CP is arranged to afford four reciprocable slides 540 that are mounted on guide bars 541 so as to be movable back and forth in slots 542 formed in the bottom of the card magazine. It will be observed that two slides 540 are provided in each section ofthe card magazine CM, and these slides are arranged so as to be in front-to-rear alignment with the respective upstanding columns 525. The columns 525 have clearance recesses 525C in their lower rear portions so that the. rear end portions of the slides 540 may move into `these Yrecesses when the slides 540 are at their most forward portions. These forward ends of the several slides have individual card engaging bars 545 fixed thereon, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and

these bars engage a slight distance above the adjacent surface of the slides 540 so that when the slides 540 are moved in a rear or card advancing direction, the bars 545 will engage the forward edge of the lowermost card and will advance the same forwardly and into engagement with the card feed belts 230. In this respect it should be observed that the reciprocating stroke of the slides 540 is relatively short and is terminated soon after a card C has been engaged by the feed rolls 531 and 533.

The reciprocating movements are imparted to the slides 540 by means associated with the operating link 264. Thus, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the upper forward end of the link 264 is pivotally 4connected to the end of an upwardly and rearwardly extending arm 550 that is xed on a rock shaft 551. This rock shaft is supported in bearings 552 that areA suspended from the lower face of the card magazine. The rock shaft 551 has a plurality of operating arms 553 fixed thereto and extended upwardly and forwardly into positions beneath the respective slides 540, and a roller 556 on the upper end of each arm 555 is arranged to ride in a vertical slot in a connecting bracket 557 secured to the lower face of the related slide 540. Thus, in a rotation of the sleeve 260, the link 264 is moved downwardly and is then returned in an upward direction to the position shown in Fig. 4 and in this reciprocation, the rock shaft 551 is operated through a rocking movement in which the slides 540 are first moved in a rearward direction through a card picking or ejecting stroke and are then returned to their retracted positions, as shown in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention affords an improved card feed mechanism for feeding cards into a printing or punching machine or the like, and that such card feed as afforded under the present invention is simple in character and reliable in operation. It will also be evident that this card feed, as afforded by the present invention, enables either single or double cards to be fed into the machine, and the arrangement of the card feed mechanism is such that it may be readily converted from one type of operation to another.

Thus, I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a printing machine having a sheet guideway along the plane of which sheets may be fed from an infeed position to successive operating positions along said guideway, a sheet magazine located at one side of said sheet guideway at said in-feed position, upstanding side rails extending above the plane of and defining the sides of said sheet guideway along the length thereof, sheet feed means in the form of engaged feed rollers having a bight above the plane of said guideway at said in-feed position between said magazine and the adjacent one of said side rails for feeding the sheets one at a time over said one of said side rails from said sheet magazine, means to advance sheets one by one into the bight afforded by said feed rollers, and means located in part over said one rail and in part over the plane of said guideway for applying continued feeding forces to the sheets at points located over said guideway to thereby continue the in-feeding movment of the sheets into said sheet guideway at said in-feed position, and said last named means being adapted to press said sheets downwardly into said guideway during such continuing infeeding movement thereof.

2. In a printing machine having a sheet guideway along the plane of which sheets may -be fed from an infeed position to successive operating positions along said guideway, a sheet magazine located at one side of said sheet guideway at said in-feed position, a first side rail extending above the plane of and defining the side of said sheet guideway adjacent said magazine, a second upstanding side rail defining the other side of said guideway, sheet feed means at said in-feed position comprising a card picker located outside of one of said side rails and constantly driven feed rolls located over said first side rail affording a bight for receiving the sheets from said card picker and for feeding the sheets one at a time over said first side rail from said sheet magazine and into said sheet guideway at said in-feed position, and a constantly driven belt operating between said feed rolls and said guideway for applying downward pressure to the sheets as the sheets emit from the feed rollers.

3. In a printing machine having a sheet guideway along the plane of which sheets may be fed from an in-feed position to successive operating positions along said guideway, a sheet magazine located at one side of said sheet guideway at said in-feed position, upstanding side rails extending above the plane of and defining the sides of said sheet guideway along the length thereof, a sheet picker associated with said magazine for feeding sheets one by one toward and over the adjacent one of said side rails, constantly driven feed rolls affording a bight and disposed in part over said one of said side rails and in part beneath said one of said side rails to receive sheets from said picker and continue the in-feed movement of such sheets, and feed belts driven by certain of said feed rolls and located in part over said one rail and in part over said guideway for applying downward pressure to and continuing the in-feeding movement of the sheets into said sheet guideway at said in-feed position.

In a printing machine having a sheet guideway along the plane of which sheets may be fed from an infeed position to successive operating positions along said guideway, a sheet magazine located at one side of said sheet guideway at said in-feed position, upstanding side rails extended above the plane of and defining the sides of said sheet guideway along the length thereof, a sheet picker associated with said magazine for feeding sheets one by one toward and over the adjacent one of said side rails, constantly driven feed rolls having a bight above lthe plane of said guideway and disposed in part over said one of said side rails and in part beneath said one of said side rails to receive sheets from said picker and continue the in-feed movement of such sheets, feed belts driven by certain of said feed rolls and located in part over said one rail and in part over said guideway for applying downward pressure to and continuing the in-feeding movement of the sheets into said sheet guideway at said in-feed position, a feed wheel located over said guideway at said in-feed position, and control means for said feed wheel operable to raise said feed wheel when a sheet is being advanced into said guideway by said feed belts, and to then lower said feed wheel to feed such sheet out of said in-feed position and along said guideway.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,295,123 Cheshire Feb. 25, 1919 1,980,725 Hartley Nov. 13, 1934 2,131,967 Peropat Oct. 4, 1938 2,132,415 Gollwitzer Oct. 1l, 1938 2,262,303 Stande Nov. 11, 1941 2,265,007 Ryan Dec. 2, 1941 2,479,060 Davidson Aug. 16, 1949 2,540,762 Smith Feb. 6, 1951 2,566,927 Carroll Sept. 4, 1951