US2827291A

US2827291A - Paper feeding device

Info

Publication number: US2827291A
Application number: US555043A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence A Wilson; Charles E Branscomb
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 1955-08-22
Filing date: 1955-12-23
Publication date: 1958-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 1975-03-18

Description

March 18, 1958 1.. A. WILSON ET AL 2,827,291

PAPER FEEDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 23, 1955 II/III/I/IIIIIIIII/II/IIIIIIIII/IIIIIIII/IIIIIII/I/IlW/I.

GLF- A LAWRENCE A. WILSON CHARLES E. BRANSCOMB AGENT Unite States Patent PAPER FEEDKNG DEVICE Lawrence A. Wilson, Apalachin, and Charles E. Branscomb, Johnson City, N. Y., assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 23, 1955, Serial No. 555,043

3 Claims. (Cl. 271-45) This invention relates to a paper feeding device and more particularly to a clutching means for rapidly initiating movement of a sheet of paper at rest.

This application is directed to an improvement which is disclosed but not claimed in common assignees copending application, Serial No. 529,750, filed August 22, 1955.

In many applications, particularly in the record controlled accounting machine field, it is desirable to stop the feeding of a record sheet or card leaving the sheet at rest at some operating station along the feed and then at some fixed or variable time later to continue feeding of the sheet. Accordingly, it is the main object of the present invention to provide a simple and efficient method for restarting the movement or feed of a sheet.

According to the invention, a continuously running endless tape type of conveyor is used and means under control of electromagnetic forces are provided for suitably clamping a loose sheet or record card to the surface of the tape to restart movement of the sheet.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the tape conveyor is caused to pass between a movable shoe of ferromagnetic material and a device comprising means for subjecting the shoe to electromagnetic forces. The record sheet rests lightly on the tape, the shoe serving to pinch the sheet between same and the tape for movement therewith.

Several highly desirable features may be found in an endless conveyor system employing the magnetic clutching means illustrated in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. For example, there are no mechanical linkages or connections between the two portions of the magnetic clutching device except the magnetic flux lines themselves, and consequently record sheets may be fed into the clutching station from any one of several directions. Another important feature is that sheets of varying thickness can be accommodated with a single setup of the clutching means. Also, since at least one portion of the clutching means is yieldable to a certain extent in a direction opposed to the clutching action, the probability of sheet or card jams occurring at the clutching station is greatly decreased.

It has also been found that the present invention possesses the desirable feature of being able to im art a quick start to the record sheet due to the fact that there is very little mass to be moved. With the present invention the sheet is clutched quickly without having to wait for undue mechanical motions to occur.

Another desirable feature resides in the fact that possible clutch wear is reduced to a minimum because the clamping action is distributed over the surface of a long tape. It is also possible, if desired, to employ a plurality of these clutches along a single endless tape.

Finally it has been found that the invention works equally well on different kinds of paper as well as on record cards either with or without perforated holes therein.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in 2,827,291 Patented Mar. 18, 1958 the accompanying drawing, which discloses, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.-

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a conveyor of non-magnetic material, such as nylon, which is mounted in the form of an endless tape or belt between two cylinders 2 and 3. At least one of the cylinders is driven so that the tape moves continuously in a clockwise direction.

Mounted adjacent to the inner surface of the tape is an electromagnet 7 which may be connected to a suitable direct current source 8 through a switch 9. A suitable bar 10 of non-magnetic material having a low coefficient of friction is fastened to the magnet and serves as a pressure bar for the tape.

Mounted adjacent the outer surface of the tape and opposite the electromagnet 7 is a thin ferromagnetic shoe or plate 15. The magnetic plate is fastened to a member 16 which has a pivot connection, through a slot 17 and stud 18, with a pair of links 19 pivoted on a fixed stud 20. The record sheet 11 is fed in at right angle to the direction of tape feed and passes between the tape and the plate 15 until it strikes a pair of fixed stops 12. A low pressure retaining finger 13 is provided which may pinch the sheet to a suitable bedplate to overcome any frictional force that may be normally exerted on the sheet by the continuously moving tape and the sheet is supported at rest.

When it is desired to move the record sheet, switch 9 is closed and the sheet will be firmly clamped between the moving tape and the movable magnetic plate. The sheet will be moved to the right by the tape and magnetic plate, the plate also moving along by virtue of its slotted connection, and subsequently the sheet will be fed on to the next station by rollers 14 and the cylinder 2. When the switch is opened, the shoe assembly will be returned to its normal position by springs 21 in readiness to feed another sheet.

It is clear that a rapid and effective start of the record sheet is easily accomplished since only the mass of the record sheet plus the slight additional inertia of the thin ferromagnetic shoe need be moved. It is also possible, by slowing down or stopping the tape drive, to use the present device as a decelerating or braking mechanism for sheets in motion.

It should be understood that the circuit switch means should not be limited to the manually operated key type shown but that any suitable selective switching means could be used, such as cam controlled contacts or the like. Also, the continuously moving conveyor need not necessarily be an endless tape or strip but could be a driven roller against which the sheet could be pinched by the ferromagnetic shoe.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a continuously moving conveyor strip, electromagnetic means adjacent one side of said strip, a clutching device operable by said electromagnetic means, means for movably supporting said clutching device adjacent the other side of said strip, means for supporting a sheet at rest between said strip and said clutching device, said clutching device being movable into engagement with said sheet under control of said electromagnetic means and also movable with said sheet and strip upon engagement therewith, means for selectively operating said electromagnetic means to effect movement of said sheet by said strip and means connected to said clutching device for restoring same in a direction opposite to the movement of said strip upon termination of operation of said electromagnetic means.

2. In a device of the'class; described, a continuously moving conveyor strip, electromagnetic means adjacent one side of said strip, a shoe adjacent the other side of said strip, support means for said shoe including a pivot and slot connection supporting said shoe for movement toward said strip under control of said electromagnetic means and for movement with said strip upon engaging same, means for supporting a sheet at rest between said shoe and said strip, and means 'for selectively operating said electromagnetic means to move said shoe against said sheet and strip to effect movement of the sheet by said strip and shoe.

3. In a device 'of the class described, a continuously moving conveyor strip, electromagnetic means adjacent one, side of said, strip, a shoe jacent the other side of said strip, a stationary support element, a pivot and slot connection "between said shoe and element for supporting said shoe for movement toward said strip under control of said electromagnetic means and for movement with said strip upon engaging same; means for supporting a sheet at rest between said shoe and said strip, means for selectively operating said electromagnetic means to move said shoe against said sheet and strip to efiect movement of a the sheet by said strip and shoe, and yieldable means for" restoring said shoe in a direction opposite to the movement of said strip upon termination of operation of said electromagnetic means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,561,063 Dunlap Nov. 10, 1925