US2840373A

US2840373A - Sheet gauging apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2840373A
Application number: US580047A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Socke
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Primerica Inc
Priority date: 1956-04-23
Filing date: 1956-04-23
Publication date: 1958-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 1975-06-24

Description

June 24, 1958 J. E. socKE 2,840,373

SHEET GAUGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 25, 1956 5 Sheets-Shejet 1 N NN N N m +I-NX@ tg Q lil r\ Igi kx\ uw' IEI m N W m f iI;+" Y. w @i Q sa *Q .I ma@ mi. I i

:1 I l\ 1' --l II Li I I FQ I N I nvm/Tok JOHN E. SOCKE BY M/.L ,Lamm

ATTORNEYS June 24, 1958 J. E. socKE 2,840,373

GAUGING APPARATUS f ATTORNEYS June 24, 1958 J. E. SOCKE SHEET GAUGING APPARATUS JOHN E. SOCKE BY M /fml LN/@Www ATTORNEYS June 24, 1958 .1. E. sQcKE SHEET GAUGING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 23, 1956 INVENTOR.

JOHN E. SOCKE BY aww/? @femm ATTORNEYS Mmm S1 June-24, 1958 J. E. socKE 2,840,373

SHEET GAUGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23', 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l @ff l@ @7 INVENTOR.

4 Jol-m E. socKE BY M //mx famo/ www ATTORNEYS United States Patent-O SHEET GAUGING APPARATUS JohnvE. Socke, Pelham Manor, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y.,.a corporation of New Jersey Application April 23, 1956, Serial No. 580,047

13 Claims. (.Cl. 271-48) The present invention relates to a sheet gauging apparatus for machines in which sheet material is required to be located in an accurate predetermined position for treatment and has particular reference to a side gauge unit for locating a side edge of a sheet previously squaredagainst a cooperating edge.

The invention is particularly adapted to the registering r accurate positioning of sheets of material, for example, metallic sheets such as tin plate, black iron and the like for passage through sheet treating machines, such as lithographing machines, printing presses, slitters, scroll shears, and others for an operation upon the sheets. In such machines the sheets are located before treatment, usually by iirst squaring them up along their leading or trailing edgesV by two point squaring-up gauges and then shifting the sheets laterally along these gauges toand against a side gauge. The side gauging usually is effected at a point Well beyond the leading and trailing edges, often near the middle of the sheet, to compensate for greatly out of square side edges.

An object of the instant invention is theA provision of a gauging apparatus in which the sheet is readily shifted into accurate position relative to a side edge against a side gauge without buckling the sheet and without undue force against the gauge which would otherwise distort the sheet.

Another object is to accurately effect the registration of the side edge of the sheet without interfering with a continuous advancement of the sheet through the apparatus.

Another object is toeiect accurate registrationvof a irqice Figs. 7 to" 11 inclusive are schematic plan views illustrating the various stages of gauging a sheet, and

Figs. 12 to 16 inclusive are schematic elevational views corresponding respectively to Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate a side gauging unit A (Figs. 1 and 2) fitted to a conventional sheet slitting machine in which substantially rectangular sheets B are slit or cut into a plurality of narrow strips for use in making can or container bodies or other sheet metal parts. The cutting of the sheets B into strips is effected byfeeding the sheets into the bite of spaced pairs of side edge of a sheet without disturbing -a previously Y elfected gauging of a cooperating edge of the sheet.

Another object is to provide gauging devices which securely hold and positivelyy shift the sheet into registration-with a gauge point without otherwise disturbing the sheetV or interfering with its advancement along a predetermined path of travel. v

Numerous other objects and advantages of the inventionv will be apparent as it is better understood'from the following description, which, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, discloses-a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is atop planview of a sheet gauging apparatus embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the broken line 2-2 in Fig. l;-

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 in Fig. l., with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view takenV substantially along the broken line 4 4l in Fig. 3, with parts broken away; p

Fig. 5 is a sectionalV detail taken substantially along the line S-S in Fig. 4, with parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating principal parts of the apparatus with electrical and pneumatic devices which operate them; Y i

cooperating upper and lower conventional

rotary cutters

21, 22 mounted on aA pair of transverse, parallel cutter shaftsV 23, 24. which are rotatedk in unison in any suitable manner. The shafts 23, 24 are journaled in bearings formed in a frame 25 which constitutes the main frame of the apparatus.

The sheets Bas received. from the mill, often have their edges out-of-square. Hence in order to insure cutting full width strips from. the sheets, the sheets usually are squared-up or located relative to their leading edge C or trailing edge D and one longitudinal or side edge E, prior to slitting. ln the instant apparatus, the trail'- ing or feeding edge D of a sheet B is first aligned in parallelism with the cutter shafts 23, 24 by a pair of squaring-up elements 27 (Figs. l., 2, 8 and 13) and whilel this sheet edge D is retained in this position the sheet is gripped by gripper elements 28, 29 (Figs. 9 and 14) in the side gauging unit A and is shifted laterally, without disturbing the alignment of the trailing edge, to engage the side or longitudinal edge E of the sheet against a sheet registering gauge 31 which is unyielding during the side gauging operation as shownin Figs. 10 and 15. This locates they sheet laterally in a predetermined positionrelative to the slitting

cutters

21, 22 so that asrthe sheet. thereafter is passed between` the cutters, its outer out-ofsquare edges are trimmed off to produce edges square with, the trailing edge and simultaneously the sheet between its squared edges is cut into strips.

This gaugingv of the sheet is effected while the sheet is advancing toward the

cutters

21, 22, the side gauging taking place at a predetermined distance from the trailing edge D of the vsheet as shown in Figs. l and 10 and immediately yprior to the leading edge- C of the sheet entering into the `bite of the cutters as shown in Fig. l. Assoon as the sheet- B is fully gauged, i. e. located in its predetermined position, the

gripper elements

28, 29 release the sheet as shownl in Fig. 16 and the side gauge 31 moves away from the gauged side edge E as shown in Figs. ll and 16 so as to befree lfrom interference with this edge as the sheet advances into the

cutters

21, 22. When the trailing edge DV of the advancing sheet B during slitting is fully past the side gauge 31, this gauge returns to its original gauging position for a repeat gauging operation upon; the next incomingl sheet B as shown in Figs. 7 and l2. j

A sheet B to tbe gauged and slit, enters the apparatus in a horizontal position supported on a plurality of spaced and parallel support rails 35iV ('Figs. 1 and 2) and continuing rails 36 which together extend longitudinally of the apparatus rfor substantially its full length. T hese rails are supported on the main frame 25. In this horizontal position theA sheet B is advanced between a pair of spaced and parallel guide rails 38, 39 on the frame 25,V by a central endlessv chain` conveyor 41 having feed `dogs 42 Y located adjacent the entrance end of the apparatus (at "veyor operates inagroove 46formed in onefof thevsupport rails `35. The idler sprocket 44v is carried on aj short shaft 47 jourirlaledin'` a pair ofspaced bearing brackets.

48 attached to the ,main frame 25. The driving sprocket 45 is mounted` on adriving shafty49 whchextends across the frame 25 and at its ends is jourualed in `suitable bearings 51` in the frame. ,The drivingrshaft 49 preferably is connectedby an endless chain 53 (Fig.. 1) to the lower. cutter shaft 24, `through sprocketsv4, `55 mounted on the driving `shaft 49 andthe cutter shaft 24 respectively.V

The squaring-up .elements 27 preferably are permanently ma'gnetized gaugewblocks. which ,are carried` on a pair of spaced and parallel` endless chains 58 (Figs. 1 andl) disposed adjacent and` in parallelisrnwith and located one on each side of the conveyor 41.` These chains 58 operate over -driving sprockets 59 (Fig. 1) mounted on and rotating with the driving shaft 49 and over idler Sprockets 61 mounted on an idler shaft 62 located between the conveyor sprocket shafts 47, 49 and havingits endsjournaled in suitable bearings in the main frame 25. The upper runs of the chains 58 operate in grooves-64 formed in two of the sheet support rails 35.

The squaring-up chains 58 are `actuated in the conveyor 41 but ata slightly increased speed. operation, the conveyor 41, through one of its feed dogs 42 advances a sheet B in` unaligned relation between its guide rails `38,39 into a positioniover the squaring-up chains 58 so that as the sheet continues in its advancetime with While the roller gauge 31 is maintained in its temporarily fixed gauging position, the

gripper elements

28, 29 operate to shift the advancing sheet B toward the roller gauge 31 to locate the sheet side edge E against the gauge. The

gripper elements

28, 29 preferably are rollers which are disposed adjacent opposite faces of the advancing sheet B adjacent but inwardly of the sheet side edge E and are i" freely rotatable in the direction of the travel of the sheet B through frictional engagement with the sheet. There VareptwoV gripper rollers 29 located one on each side of f peripheries flush with this path of travel so as tofrictionment, the squaring-up elements 27 onA the chains 58 rotate n up over` the sprockets 61 and into position slightly behind the trailing edge D of Athegsheet. g

Since: the squaringup elements 27 travel in the same direction as the travel of the sheet and at a slightly faster speed thanthe feed dog 42 on the conveyor 41, they catch up with the sheet and engage againstits trailing edge D and advance theslicett'away fromtthe feed dog 42. The

`squaring-up elements 27 ,are aligned parallelrwithV the 'by locating this edge lin aso-called squared-up` position.

This squaring-np of thel trailing edge` of the sheet.' is effected quickly while the sheet is advanced by theelen ments 27 through; a comparatively short distance. n

With thetrailingledge D of the sheet thus squared-up, the squaring-up elements 27 continue to advance the sheet toward the

slitting cutters

21, 22 and in so doing advances the sheet past the side gauging unit A disposed at one side of` the apparatus adjacent the path of ytravel of the side edge E of thesheet as shown in Fig.

The gauging unit A contains the sheet 'registering side gauge 3l 'and the

gripper elements

28, 29 hereinbefcre mentioned. i The registering gauge `31 preferably is a grooved roller (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5) disposed with its axis in a vertical position adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the path of travel of the side edge E ofthe advancing sheet B. This roller gauge 31 is mounted on a vertical stud 66 secured in a horizontal bracket 67 attached to a piston rod 6B t (see Figs. 5 and 6) of apiston 69v disposed in a uid pressure cylinder 70 mounted on a bracket 71secured tothe main frame 25. A collart72 on the piston rod 68 engages against the end of the cylinder 701 and ally engage and partially support the sheet adjacent its side edge E as the sheet movesL past the gauging unit A.

These lower gripper rollers 29 preferably are free wheeling ball bearings for easy rotation and are mounted on shoulderedsleeves 75 ('Fig. '3.) and held in .place by locknuts 76 threadedly engaged on the sleeves. The sleeves 75 are slidably mounted on horizontal stationary shafts 77 disposed at right angles to the path ofV travel of the sheet B and carried in and projecting from bosses 78 formed in a housing 79 mounted on the gauge bracket 71. The sleeves 75 are yieldably heldin position against stop collars 81 on the inner projecting ends of the shafts, by compression springs82 which surround the shafts 77 and are interposed between the sleeves 75 and collars 83V carried on the shafts adjacent their support `bearings 78 asshown in Fig. 4.

The gripper rollers 28 which cooperate with the lower gripper rollers 29 are located above the path of travel of the advancing sheet B in spaced relation thereto to permit of free passage of the sheet between the upper and lower rollers. There are two upper gripper rollers 28 and they are located above and in vertical alignment with the lower gripper rollers 29 and like the rollers 29 are freely rotatable in the direction of travel of the sheet B. The upper gripper rollers 28 are mounted for free rotation on pins 85 (Figs. 3 and 4) carried in the outer free ends of a pair of oppositely extended vgripper-arms 86 which. are pivotally mounted side-by-side on a common stationary horizontally disposed pivot shaft 87 pro-v l jecting inwardly from and secured in a boss 88` formed in the housing 79. The pivot shaft 87 extends at right angles to the path of travel of the sheet B and is located directly` above the roller gauge 31 in verticalalignment therewith.

The gripper arms 8'6 are slidable along their pivotgshaft 87 to shift the sheet'Bas will be hereinafter explained. For this-purpose they arms 86 are confined -between a pair of spaced side `bearings 91 of a clevis'shaped `bracket 92 (Fig. 3) which extends across the arms. yThis lbracket 92 is connected by` a link 93 to a piston rod 94 (.see Fig. 6V)y of ay piston 95 in a huid pressure cylinder 96 mounted on the housing 79 as shown in Fig. 3. A stop collar`97 on the piston rod 94 inside the cylinder 96 engages against the end of the cylinder and normally isheld in this position by fluid pressure, preferably compressed air introduced into the cylinder to retain the upper gripper rollersV 28 in vertical alignment with the lower gripper rollers 29.

- The upper' gripper rollers `-28 are retained normally in spaced relation to the path of travel of a sheet B advancis heldno'rmally in this position by uid pressure, pref- 1 erably compressed `airintroducedinto the cylinder to hold v y `the roller gauge 31` in a predetermined gauging position (Figs. `4 `and 5) mwhich are secured in the bracketjfand ing below them, by a pair of tension springs'101 (Fig. 4) which are stretched between the gripper arms 86 `and the clevis shaped bracket 92. The springs 101 hold the arms up in a` predetermined positionwhich is adjustable through travel limiting set screws 102 threadedly engaged in lugs` 103` (see also Fig. 3) which project` up fromthe arms 86. Thesc'rews 102 engage against a web 104 which depends frnrthe.v clevis shaped bracket 92.

. In operation, as hereinbefore mentioned, the-shifting of the sheet side edge E into engagement with the roller side gauge 31 is effected by a gripping and lateral movement of the

gripper rollers

28, 29. As the first stage of this andere' movement, the upper gripper rollers 28 are pressed down against the advancing sheet B to grip or clamp the moving sheet against the lower gripper rollers 29.V The Vrollers rotate freely during this gripping action so as to prevent retarding/the advancement of the sheet. This gripping action takes place at a predetermined time in the travel of the sheet, preferably at a predetermined distance from the Vtrailing edge D of the sheet. A distance of about l inches from this trailingedge has been found to be satisfactory for sheetsapproximately 36 to 48 inches long. The timing of this gripping action is effected in time with-the advancement ofthe sheet ascontrolled by the advancement of the squaring-up elements 27.

The-gripping action of the upper gripper rollers 23 preferably is brought aboutby fluid-pressure on the gripper arms 86. For this purpose each arm 86 is connected to fluid pressure, preferably compressed air actuated bellows 106 (Figs. 3, 4 and 6) which are interposed between the arms and the clevis shaped bracket 92. The two bellows 106 are connected by air pipes 107 to a junction box 108 which in turn is connected to a pipe 109. The pipe 109 leads to and is connected to a sl-ide valve housing 111 (see Fig. 6) containing a slide valve 112 having a groove 113 which communicates normally with the endl ofthe pipe 109 and with a vent 114 in the valve housing. Through this communication with the vent 114 the interiors of the bellows 106 normally are open to atmospheric pressure and thereby have no effect on the gripper arms 86. In this normal position of the slide valve 112 it also cuts off communicationwith an inlet pipe 116 which connects the interior of the valve housing r111 with a main supply pipe 1'17 which leads from any suitable source of compressed air. A compression spring 11S interposed between the valve 112 and the adjacent end of the housing 111 yieldably retains the valve in its normal position.

Actuation of the slide valve 112y is effected in time with the advancement of the sheet B through cam actuated electric devices. For this purpose the valve 112 is provided with a stem 121 which extends through an end of the housing 11.1 and serves asv a movable core for a normally deenergized electric solenoid 122. One side of the solenoid 122 is connected by a `wire 124 to a source of electric current such as a generator 125. The opposite side of the solenoid is connected by a wire 126 to a normally open electric switch 127 having a wire 128 connected to the generator 125. v

The normally open switch 127 is closed for a predetermined length of time during each cycle of operation of the apparatus,'by an edge cam` 131 carried on and rotating with the sprocket shaft 49 (see also Figs. 3 and 4). When this switch 127 is closed, electric currentfrom the generator 125 flows alongk the circuit and energizes the solenoid 122 and thus `draws the core 121l into it. This shifts the slide valve 112 toward the rightl as viewed in Fig. 6. In its new position, the slide valve `112 uncovers the inlet pipe 116 and closes the vent 114, with the result that compressed air from the supply pipe 117.1iows into the valve housing 111, pipe 109., junction vbox 108, pipes 107 and bellows 106 to. expand the bellows and thereby force the gripper arms 86 downwardly to clamp the upper gripper rollers 28 against the moving sheet B and the lower gripper rollers 29 below it, as shown schematically in Fig, 14.

While'the edge cam 131.ho1ds.the switch 127 closed to retain the upper gripper rollers 28 in clamped position against the sheet, the rollers 2S are moved laterally to shift the side edge E of the clamped, longitudinally moving sheet into engagement with` the side gauge 31. This is effected by a shifting ofthe piston 95 in cylinder 96 and the clevis shaped bracket 92, toward the left as viewedV in Fig. 6. For this purpose the cylinder 96 near its ends is connected by pipes 133, 134 which lead to and are'connected with a valve housing 135V containing a slide valve 136 which directs compressed air into one or the other ofthe pipes 133, 134 from an inlet pipe 138 secured in the housing and connected to the main supply pipe 117. In its normal position as `shown in Fig.y 6, the slide valve 136 is disposed in the end of the housing at the left,andis yieldably held there by a compression spring140. interposed between the opposite end of the valve and the adjacent end ofthe housing. In this position, the valve 136, by way of a channel 14,1 in the valve, connects the pipe 133 with a vent 142 in the housing to vent the cylinder 96 in the space at the right of the piston 95. In this position of the slide valve 136, the pipe 134 at the left of the piston 95 is in communication with the inlet pipe 13S in the valve housing to admit air to the cylinder at the left of piston 95.

Shifting of the piston toward the left as. viewed in Fig. 6 is effected by a shifting of the slide valve 136 in a manner similar to the shifting of the slide valve 112. For this purpose the slide valve 136 is formed with a stem which projects out of the valve housing 135v and serves as a movable core for a normally deenergized electric solenoid 146 connected by a wire 147 to the wire 124 and by a wire 148 to a normally open electric switch 149 which in turn is connected by a wire 151 to the wire 128. The switch 149 is closedk at the proper time in the cycle of operation by an edge-cam 153 (see also Figs. 3 and 4) on the sprocket shaft 49.

The edge cam 153 is set in relation to the edge cam 131 so that the cam 153 closes the switch 149 While the cam 131 is holding its switch 127 closed. The closing of the switch 149 energizes the solenoid 146.y and lthus draws its core 145 into it, with the result that the slide valve 136 is shifted toward the right (as viewed in Fig. 6). This cuts olf the air-supply from pipe 134 and vents this pipe and the portion of the cylinder 96 connected thereto, through the vent port 142 in thehousing 135. This action also permits air under pressure from the inlet pipe 138 to flow through the pipe 133 into the cylinder 96 ahead of the piston 95 to push the piston outwardly toward the left as viewed in Fig. 6.k This movement of the piston ,95 carries with it the clevisfshaped bracket 92, the gripper arms 86, the gripper rollers 28 and the sheet B clamped against the lower gripper rollers 29. In this movement, the pressure of the upper gripper rollers 28 against the lower gripper rollers 29 cau-ses the sleeves 75 on which the lower rollers; are mounted, to slide outwardlyon their shafts 77 against the resistance Of the springs 82, and thereby permits the lower rollersto shift laterally with the upper rollers.

This lateral shiftingtof the sheet B, while it continues to advance toward the

cutters

22, 23, continues until the sheet side edge E engages against the side gauge roller 31 as shown schematicaly in Figs. l0 and l5. Since the

gripping rollers

28, 29 are spaced longitudinally of the normal sheet travel, the rollers while in sheet clamping position shift the sheet laterally along the squaring-up gauges 27 without leaving these gauges or turning the sheet out of square in any respect. The distance the sheet. is shifted laterally depends upon how much its side edge E is `out of square. A slight excessr travel of the

gripper rollers

28, 29 is providedrto insure positive engagement of the sheet edge against the side gauge 31.

Anyrexcess travel laterally causes a lateral slipping of the

rollers

28, 29 on the sheet while its side edge is against the gauge 31.

The side gauging of the advancing sheet B is timed to take place immediately prior to the leading edge C of the sheet entering into the bite of the

cutters

22, 23 as shown in Figs. l and 2. At this time when the side edge E engages against the side gauge roller 31, the upper gripper rollersV 28 are unclamped from the lower rollers 29 and both sets of rollers move inwardly to their original positions and also the side gauge roller 31 movesroutwardly to clear the sheet edge E as shown in Figs. 1l and 16, so that the side gauged sheet in its properly locatedposition is free and is advanced the short j Release andreturnof upper and lower gripper rollers 28, 29Yis veffected by the simultaneousopening of the two electric switches 127,149 through simultaneous ac-V tion of their edge cams'131,` 153. The opening of these

switches

127, 149 deenergizes their connecting solenoids 122, V146 and thereby permits the springs 118, 140 in the valve housings 111, 135 to return their slide valves 112, 136 to their original positions Vas shown in Fig. 6. Returnof the `slide valve 112cutsloff the compressed air from thebellows 106 and vents the bellows togcause the gripper rollers 28 to lift away from the gauged sheet B. The return of the slide valve 136 reverses the flow of the compressed air through the pipes 133, 134 and thereby returns the piston`95 inthe cylinder 96 and the bracket 92 and parts connected therewith, to their original position, as .shown inliig.` .6g The lifting `of the upper gripper rollers 28 slightly precedes the lateral shifting of the piston 95 teclear thelrollers above the sheet before they begin to move laterally inward so as to leave the sheet undisturbed `in its gauged position.

p The outward lateral movement `of the side gauge` roller 31 is effected by an outward movement (toward the left in Fig. 6)l of the piston` 697in its cylinder 70. This movementis effected by a reversal of the flow of compressed arwhich normally holds the piston in its position shown in Fig. 6. For this :purpose the cylinder 70 adjacent its ends is connectedby pipes 155,156 to a valve housing 157containing a slide valve 158 normally held at one end of the housing (at the left as shown in Fig. `6) by a compression spring 159 interposed between the opposite end of the valve and the adjacent end ofthe housing.

' Reversal `of this flow` of compressed airjto shift' the piston 69 and gauge roller 31 is effected by a shifting toward the `rightin `Fig. 6, of the slide valve 158. This is brought about by a valve stem 165 which projects out ofthe housing 157 and serves` as a movable core for a normally deenergized electric solenoid 1661 connected by a wire 167 to the generator wire 124 and bya wire 168' which is connected toa normally open electric switch 169 connected in turn by a wire 171 to the generator wire `128.` The switch 169 (see also Figs. 3 and 4) is closed at `the proper tirneby anedge cam 173` carried on the sprocket shaft -49 along 131, 153;, j l

The closing `of the switch 169 by rotation of the cam 173, energizes the solenoid 166 and thus draws. the slide valve `158 over to' the right (as viewed in Fig. 6)

`with the` `other `two edge cams g conveyor 41 and the squaring-up conveyors'SS. This completes thelcycle of operation of the apparatus.

'It is thought that theinvention and many of its attendantadvantages `willrbe understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made `in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope Y of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form` hereinbefore described Ybeing merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. In a sheet gauging apparatus, the combination of a sheet registering gauge for locating an edge of the sheet in a predetermined gauged position, a plurality of pairs of cooperating gripper elements disposed adjacent opposing faces of said sheet with said pairs of elements arranged in spaced relation along said faces of the sheet, means for eEecting relative movement of said elements towardsV one another for gripping said sheet between them, and means for shifting said gripping elements bodily toward said registering gauge to move the edge of said gripped sheet into engagement with said gauge, said pairs of gripper elements also preventing said sheet from turning in its plane during movement.

.2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said means for effecting relative movement between said gripper elements is a fluid pressure bellows.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said means for shifting` said gripping elements bodily is a uid pressure means.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperating gripper elementis provided with yieldable pressure means for returning said element upon release after a sheet gauging operation.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein there is provided two gripper elements operable against each face of said sheet and wherein said gripper elements adjacent one face of said sheet are carried on a pair of arms extending in opposed directions along said sheet and pivotally mounted in a carriage mounted for recipro- V cation toward and away from said gauge and `wherein and thus cuts oi the supply pipe 117 from `the pipe 156 t and connects it with thepipe `155 while ventingvthe pipe 156 "through the vent port 162. This reverses the` ow of air and thusshifts the piston 69 andthe gauge roller 31 toward the left (Fig.`l6). Theca'm`173 holds the switch 169 closed untilthe trailing edge D `of the gauged i `air from the supply-piper117landcauses the piston 69 to be pushed `back into. its original position `as shown in Fig. l6, to reset the'sidegauge roller 31 in its original,

position` for a repeatlgaugingoperation on the'neXt or subsequent'sheet advanced into position by the feed-in said means for shifting said gripper elements is connected to said carriage and wherein said means for effecting relative movement of said gripper elements toward each other adjacent opposed faces of said sheet are connected to said arms for actuating said arms and the gripper elements carried thereon in unison.

6. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said registering gauge is vmovable after each gauging operation and wherein` means are provided for moving said gauge for shiftingrsaid 'gauge away from said located sheet edge after a gauging operation and for returning said gauge for a repeat gauging operation.

7. The combination defined in claim l wherein there is provided advancing means for advancing the sheet into position adjacent said'registering gauge and wherein there is provided means for actuating said means for effecting' relative movement between said gripper elements and said means for shifting said elements bodily, in time with said 'advancing means to effect gauging of said positioned sheet.

8. Thev combination defined in claim 7 wherein said advancing means advances the sheet continuously along a path of travel adjacent said registering gauge and wherein said means for ghifting said gripper elements ,bodily isoperable while said sheet is advancing to effect lgauging of the sheet without `interrupting its advancement. Q 9.1 The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said registering gauge is movable after each gauging operation and wherein means are provided for moving said gauge away from said gauged sheet edge to provide for continuedfadvancem'ent of the gauged sheet without interference with said gauge.

10. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said 9 advancing means is provided with squaring-up elements engageable with a rear edge of the sheet for squaring the sheet along said rear edge and for propelling said squared sheet into position adjacent said registering gauge for gauging of a side edge of said sheet.

11. The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said advancing means is a sheet feeding conveyor and said squaring-up elements are carried on said conveyor.

l2. The combination dened in claim 7 wherein said pairs of gripper elements are provided with rollers for engagement with opposite sides of the advancing sheet, said rollers being mounted for free rotation by the advancing sheet in the direction of its advancement.

13. The combination defined in claim 12 wherein said means for shifting said pairs of gripper elements bodily toward said gauge is connected directly to one of said elements and the other of s 4id elements is mounted for tree sliding movement and is moved through gripping engagement with said rst mentioned gripper element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS