US2972477A

US2972477A - Carbon paper inserting machine

Info

Publication number: US2972477A
Application number: US495571A
Authority: US
Inventors: William B Austin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-03-21
Filing date: 1955-03-21
Publication date: 1961-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1978-02-21

Description

Feb. 21, 1961 w. B. AUSTIN 2,972,477 A CARBON PAPER INSERTING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 IKK/SZ 5 a l INVENTOR .a WILL/AM B. AUST/N Feb; 21, 1961 w. B. AUSTIN 2,972,477

CARBON PAPER INSERTING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTO R N EY Feb. 2l, 1961 W. B. AUSTIN CARBON PAPER INSERTING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1955 who,

CARBOI l?? LPAPER SHEET (Trucks-:R THn Cmo Papel) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNvENToR W/LL/AM B. AUS T/N BY La@ ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1961 w.B.AusT1N 2,972,477

CARBON PAPER INSERTING MACHINE Filed March 21. 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNvr-:NToR W/LL/AM B. AUS T/A/ BY I ATTO R N EY Feb. 2l, 1961 w. B. AUSTIN 2,972,477

CARBON PAPER INSERTING MACHINE:

Filed March 21, 1955 7 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR nf W/L/AM a. Ausr//v ATTORNEY Feb. 2l, 1961 w. B. Aus-NN 2,972,477

CARBON PAPER INSERTING MACHINE Filed Maron 21, 1955 7 sheets-sheet e INVENTOR W/LL/AM Br AUST/N ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1961 w. B. AusTlN CARBON PAPER INSERTING MACHINE I 7 Sheets-Sheet 'f Filed March 21, 1955 lNvENToR W/LL/AM B. AUST/N ATTORNEY view with Parts;

cannon Panna INsnRrrNo MACHINE William B. Austin, Ridgewood, NJ. (Recording & Statistical Corporation, 100 Ave. of the Americas, New York 13, NX.)

Filed Mar. 21, 1955, Ser.\No. 495,571 '17 Claims. (Cl. 27d- 58) This invention relates to carbon paper inserting machines for inserting sheets of carbon paper between the sheets of paper of a stock, of a group, or of a case. l Y An object of the invention is the provision of means for stacking sheets of paper and the provision of other means for interspersing a sheet of carbon paperor the like between each two adjacent sheets.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a paper handling machine, of suction cup means to conjointly handle a sheet of carbon paper and a sheet of paper, thicker than carbon paper by means of twin suction cups, one of which handles the sheet of paper only, and the other of which handles a sheet of carbon paper backed up or reinforced by a sheet of paper, or by the same sheet handled by said rst suction cup.

Yet another object of the invention is the Yprovision of means to rotatably support a roll of carbon paper, means to feed carbon paper from said roll, settable means to gauge the length of carbon paper taken from said roll, means to cut ofi' a gauged length of carbon paper from said roll, and means to deliver the cut olf length to a point spaced apart from said means to cut olf.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study, of Athis specification and the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings which are given-'to illustrate the invention and the method of practising it.

Figure 1 is an elevational view taken along the line 1 1 of Figure 2 and showing the relation between the carbon paper handling, cutting off and delivery means, and the stacking mechanism;

Figure 2 is an elevational View taken along the line 2 2 of Figure l, the carbon paper chute having been omitted for the sake of clarity;

Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 2, the top being on the left;

Figure 4 is an elevational view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure?, and showing my novel means of driving the carbon paper mechanism from the. stacking mechanism below;

Figure 5 is a View taken along the line 5 5 of Figure Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View ofthetwin suction cups, showing how one of them engages the paper and how the other engages the carbon paper backed up and reinforced by the paper;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing the method of clamping the main frame and the sub-frame in any adjusted relation;

Figure 8 is a plan view as seen along the line 8 8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is an enlarged detailed view of the clutch element as seen along the line 9 9 of Figure 8;

Figure l0 is an enlarged fragmeutal side elevational parts in section of a block 223 and associated ice Figure 11 is a detailed elevational view taken along the line 11 11 of Figure 10;

' Figure 12 is a circuit diagram showing the knife actu ating solenoid circuit.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic representation of mechanism for swinging the oscillating arms of the sheet feeding mechanism; v

r Figurel4 is a diagrammatic representation of mechanism for oscillating a shaft carried by the oscillating arms and in turn carrying twin suction cups; and

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic representation of driving and air control means.

Referring first to the upper portions of Figures 1, 2, and 4, my machine for handling rolls of carbon paper will first be described.

A frame comprised of a main end plate 10, and a second main end plate 11 held in spaced parallel relation therewith by means of spacer or

distance rods

12, 13, and V14 forms a support for the carbon paper mechanism. The end plate 1th has an extension 15 formed integral therewith and it has a vertical slot 16 formed therein with a semi-circular bottom 17, and it accommodates one end of a shaft 19, which supports a roll 9 of carbonv a er. p 'he end plate 11 has an extension 20 formed integral therewith, and this extension has a vertical slot (not shown) identical with the slot 16 with its semi-circular bottom to accommodate the other end of the shaft 19 supporting the roll of carbon paper. The shaft 19, Figure 1 has a drum '21 secured thereon to serve as a brake drum for preventing the carbon paper from over running.

Pivotally mounted on the plate 10 by virtue of being journaled on a stub shaft 22, is a lever 2.3. Pivotally connected to the upper end of the lever 23 by means of a clevis pin 2.4, extending through aligned holes in a bifurcated boss 26, is a braking sector 25, which has a frictional lining 27 in cooperative relation with the drum. A stud 2S, carried on the extension has one end of a spring 29 secured thereto, and the other end of said spring is secured to a stud 3i) carried by the lever 23, so that the lever 23 is urged in a clockwise direction about the stub shaft 22 by the spring 29.

` The lower end 31 of the lever 23 is bifurcated and carries a stud 32 upon which a roller 33 is journaled. Fixedly mounted on the

end plates

10 and 11 is a shaft 34, upon which a roller 35 is journaled.

Adjustable sub-frame carried a sub-frame comprising an end plate 36 and a similar end' plate 3S. The end plate 36 is in contact with the main end plate 1u, and likewise the end plate 38`is in contact with the main end plate 11.

Formed in the array of main and sub-frame end plates are aligned holes to accommodate a main shaft 37, see Figure Salso. The holes in the main plates 1t) and 11 carry

suitable bearings

41 and 42 respectively. Secured on the end plate 36 by means of cap screws 43 is a sector plate 44 which is arcuately notched to provide a depending portion 45 overhanging the main end plate 10, as shown in Figure 7. l i

Secured on the end plate 38 by means of cap screws 39 is a sector plate dil having a depending portion 46 overhanging the main end plate 11 in the same manner as the depending portion 45 does the main end plate 11.

Carried on the shaft 37 as best seen in Figure 3 is a feed disc assembly 4S, having a hub 47 embracing said shaft. Mounted on the end plate 36 is an index plate mounted onstuds or theplike 49 by means of screws 49a.

I Also carried on the shaft 37 adjacent to the feed disc v54 when it is desired to set the device to out carbon sheets a wanted length.

The indexing arm 53 has a tripping element 57 formed integral therewith and its function will presently be de scribed.

For drawing the carbon paper strip 125 from the roll v9, I provide a pair of cooperating rollers 58 and 6i) which frictionally engage the carbon paper strip or web v125. The axes of rollers 53 and 66 lie on a plane at 4least approaching the horizontal and they are geared together by a gear 55 on the roller 53 meshing with a gear 61 on the roller 6i). i

The roller 58 has a shaft 62 which is supported by aligned bearings in the main end plates 11i and 11. This .roller has spaced apart heads 6d and 65 on the shaft 62, and between these heads the roller is in the form of a firm tube of neoprene, rubber or the like. Secured on the shaft 62 are also secured twin spools or rings, and adjacent thereto are twin ratchet wheels 63 and 69. A pawl 76 engages the ratchet wheel 63.

The roller 6b has a shaft 71 which is supported by aligned bearings in the main end plates 11i and 11. rl`hese bearings are in spring loaded brackets which perform certain functions. .ileferrinU to Figure 4, a bearing bracket 76 has a bearing hole 75 therein formed preferably at a mid-point therein, and a second bearing hole near one end thereof. The shaft 71 of the roller 6i) is iournaled in the hole 75. A shouldered screw 'i7 is journaled in the second bearing hole and is screwed into the frame member A spring post 76 on the Vbracket has one end of a spring Si? connected thereto,

' and the other end of the spring is connected to a spring post on the frame member 38.

A second bearing bracket S3 has a bearing hole S1 therein into which the shaft 71 is journaled. (This is the vother end of the shaft 71 supporting the roller 60).

This bracket also has a second bearing hole in which a shouldered screw 82 is journaled. This screw is threaded into a tapped hole in the frame member 36. A spring post 3d is carried by said bracket, and one end of a spring 86 is connected to it. rhe other end of the spring 86 is connected to a spring post 11S. The combined urges of the springs and 86- maintain the rollers in frictional engagement with the web of carbon paper 125 between them and also maintains the

gears

59 and 61 on the rollers S and 6u respectively in mesh with one another and thereby prevents them from slipping. The

'carbon paper 125 after'passing between the rollers 58 and 6i?, passes through iongitudinal slot 7 formed in a movable knife member 3S, and thence it passes into a telescoped carbon paper guide array 13d, which will presently be described.

ooperating with the knife member 3? is a stationary knlfe member 5%, which may be provided with an angle iron brace member to prevent it from iiexing. The

`stationary knife member 35 is secured into the

frame

36, 33 in any suitable manner, for example, by means of screws 91 tapped into the

end plates

36 and 38.

A shaft 92 is journaled in suitable bearings such as the bearing 93 carried by the plate 33. Secured on the shaft 92 1s a curved supporting bar @e which is adjacent to a solenoid 95', to be presently described; and a second 'curved supporting bar Sie is also secured on the shaft 92 m spaced apart relation to the curved bar '94.

The movable knife 35 is supported by said curved supports in the rollowing manner. A plate member 93 hasja tongue portion G9 which extends V.into a slot 196 formed 'in the 4 curved support 914, as may be best seen in Figure 3, and is secured therein by means of a pin 161, passing through aligned holes formed in the support 94 and in the tongue portion 99. The curved support 96 has a slot 162 formed therein, and forming a working lit in said slot is a tongue portion 1M;- carried by a plate member 103. The tongue portion 104 is secured in the slot 1112 by means of a pin 1tl5, passing through aligned holes in the end of the curved support and a hole formed in said tongue, is a pin 105. The plates 9S and 163 are secured to the knife member 83 in spaced apart relation by means of screws 1116.

The solenoid comprises a frame 1117 carrying a solenoid winding 108, a base 113 has an angle portion 116 which is secured to the end plate 36 by means of screws. A plunger 169 is reciprocally carried in a passage formed within said Winding, and is joined to a connecting link 11d by a pin 115 (Figure 5), and the link and the plunger are normally urged to the left by means of a spring 111 which has one end connected to the pin 113 and the other end connected to the body through a pin or post 112, so that as the solenoid is energized (in a manner to be presently described) the plunger is urged to the right as viewed in Figure 5.

Fixed on the shaft 92 is a lever 115 which has its outer extremity 121 set into a passage 121i, extending through the link member 111i, and is pivotally secured therein by means of'a clevis pin 114 extending through aligned holes in member 111i and the portion 121 of the lever so that the movement of the solenoid plunger 109 to the right as described above into the solenoid winding causing the shaft 92 to move through an arc in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 5). This movement is imparted to the blade 88 through the

curved supports

94 and 96, and causes the blade 33 to move downwardly as seen in Figure 5, in cooperation with the stationary blade 89, thereby cutting off a predetermined length of carbon paper e from the carbon paper web 125.

A post 122 on the frame carries an adjustment screw 123 Vwith a locknut thereon for locking the screw in any adjusted setting, for example the screw as shown in Figure 5 is set to adjust the stoppage of the solenoid plunger to a most eicient normal position, through the lever 115.

The curved support 94 has hingedly connected thereto a screw 126 by a pivot pinv 12S. This screw passes through a hole in the movable knife 3S (see Figure 1) and a spring on the screw bears against the knife 88 and maintains it in contact with the stationary blade 89, and the tension of the spring may be adjusted by means of a nut 127.

The curved support 96 has hingedly connected thereto by means of a pivot pin 129, a screw 13@ which carries a spring 131 in contact with the knife 88 and retained .on the screw by an adjustment nut 132. The spring urges the knife 83 into cooperative engagement with the knife 89, and the tension of this spring is also regulated by the adjustment nut 132, Figure 4.

The telescoped carbon paper guide array, referred to above, may be best seen in Figures l, 3 and 4 and is generally designated by the numeral 13d, and is comprised of one inner telescoped member 135 and an outer and lower member 133. VThe member 135 has ears 136 on each end thereof, through which screws 137 pass to threadedly engage the

end plates

36 and 33 respectively.

The member 133 has ears 133 on each end thereof through which screws 139 pass to threadedly engage threaded holes in the

end plates

16 and 11. By this arrangement lthe chute 133 is continuous for all adjustments of the

sub-frame

36, 38 relative to and within the

main frame

10, 11. v

A boss V152 has a spring tightening stud 153 which cooperates with an internal hub (not shown) and carries afspring drum 155 having a spring therein which in any 'well known manner may be given any desired tension jand ocked by means of 'a'nut 156 to retain thef'sarn'e. The drum 155 is anged to carry a suitable at belt 157 which spans the drum 155 and the spool 150 with several convolutions to effect a desired follow up of the roller 58 under certain conditions.

A belt encircles the feed disc 48, and also has several convolutions about the spool 151, so that, due to the fact that the spool 150 and the spool 151 are lixed together, the tension of the spring drum 155 is imparted to both the feed disc 48 and to the roller 58.

A boss 159 has a spring tightening stud 160 which cooperates with an internal hub (not shown) and carries a spring drum 161 which may be set for a desired tension and locked in such setting by a nut 162. The drum 161 is grooved to carry several convolutions of a belt 163 thereabout.

A double grooved pulley 164 has a hub 165 which lits on the shaft 37, and one grooved portion 166 has the belt 163 secured thereto.

The other grooved portion 167 has a belt 168 making several convolutions about it above a point of securement and the other end of this belt has a loop 169 formed therein. The belt 168 passes diagonally down from the pulley 164, passes around an idler roller 171 on the vmain frame plate 11, which is journaled on a stud 72. The loop 169 embraces a shaft 170 to be presently described.

The pulley 164 has a pin 171 thereon which extends parallel to the shaft 37. A clutch element has a hub 172 and a ange 173 formed integral therewith. This element is fixed on the shaft 37, while the pulley 164 is free on the shaft, and the pin 171 clears the ange 173.

A pawl member 174 (Figure 9) is pivotally carried on theflange 173 by means of a shouldered screw 175 and it is urged outwardly (in a counter-clockwise direction) by a spring 177 against a stop pin 178 (Figure 9). The pawl 174 has a tail carrying a hole 270 adjacent to the shaft 37. One end of the spring 177 connects to the hole 270, and the other end engages a post 271 on the 4flange 173. The engaging end 176 of the pawl member cooperates with the pin 171 when the pulley 164 is rotated counter-clockwise (as viewed in Figure 4) due to the pull on the belt 16S as the shaft 170 is moved from the solid position to the dotted position shown in Figure 4. Now when the movement of the shaft 170 is from the dotted position, back to the solid position, the urge of the spring drum (which had been increased by the first movement just described) causes the belt 168 to be pulled back and kept taut. Thus the pull of the belt 168, ,as above described, is the only power I supply to the .carbon paper measuring and cutting device, with the ex- .ception of the power'delivered to the solenoid 108.

The above described mechanism can be set to deliver sheets of carbon paper cyclicly, and it may be used in combination with a collator in a manner to intersperse the carbon sheets between the sheets being collated.

An example of a collator and sheet stacker to cooperate with my carbon paper mechanism is described in Patent Number 2,639,917 which issued ,toY Keith S. Macey on May 26, 1953.

The frame of the collating portion yof the machine embodies a base (not shown) 'and end walls 181, and preferably has one or more intermediate walls parallel to end walls 181, but these are not shown in the drawing. All of the walls are joined by longitudinal members which mayinclude a pair of braces v(not shown) near the bottom of the machine and

solid bars

183 and 184 and a tubular bar 185.

Shafts

186 and 187 extend the full length of the machine, having bearings in the end walls 181 and preferably also in the intermediate walls. The shaft 186 rotates continuously, making one revolution foreach machine cycle. ln every cycle a sheet is fed lfrom the top` of each pile of sheets onto a tray 188 which runslengthjwise throughrthe machine. 'This tray has a longitudinal slot 189 through which4 a series of pins 190 extend: These pins which are spaced apart the same distance as th hoppers are mounted on an endless conveyor chain 191 which operates intermittently. It is advanced after each feeding operation a distance equal to the distance between one of said pins and the next succeeding one, whereby the sheets from the various hoppers are collected in stacks and delivered at the end of the upper run of chain travel. The sheets are fed by means of suction cups which will be presently described and one of the cups engages one of the sheets and the other cup engages a carbon sheet after it has passed down the chute 134 to the stack `of sheets and just as it is being cut off from the web, sothat the carbon is under control at all times.

As explained above the picking up, by means of a suction cup, of the carbon sheet backed up by the heavier sheet prevents the suction or vacuum from doing any damage to the carbon sheet, as would be the case if the carbon sheet were handled without the reinforcing effect of the heavier sheet.

An electric motor (not shown) drives a speed reducer, (also not shown) and the speed reducer via a belt 191 drives a shaft 193 and a second shaft 194. A shaft 193 and va second shaft which carries a sprocket (not shown) is spanned by a drive chain 195 and this chain in turn drives a sprocket 192. Between the sprocket 192 and the sprocket 191 is a one revolution clutch which is automatically actuated once during each machine cycle for advancing the chain a distance equal to the distance between successive pins 190. The shaft 186 is driven from the shaft 193 on a one to one ratio by means of the belt 269. I

A plurality of upwardly extending arms 198 are gen erally in the shape of the numeral 7 and are clamped to the oscillating shaft 187, for example, by means of the split boss and the cap screw shown. In the free ends of the arms 198, there is journaled a hollow shaft 170 which extends the length of the machine. This hollow shaft is closed at its ends and is subjected to negative pressure or vacuum by means of a eXible hose 200 which communicates with the shaft adjacent to the middle thereof. The otherend of the hose 200 is connected with the inlet side of a vacuum pump (shown in Figure 15). The shaft 170 opposite each hopper car# ries a pair of sucker supporting arms 201 each having twin sucker heads 199, 202 and these sucker heads are connected with the interior of the hollow shaft 170` by flexible conductors 203. In order to permit adjustment of the degrees of suction there is provided opposite each hopper a tting 204 to which the conductors 203 are connected and each fitting carries a needle valve 205.

1t is necessary to operate linkages by means of which the shaft 187 is oscillated to move the hollow shaft 170 from the full line position of Figure 4 to the dotted position thereof and back again to its normal position in each machine cycle. During this cycle the hollow shaft 170 is oscillated in the arms 198 to raise and lower the sucker heads at the proper points in the cycle, (one of these points being the position shown in solid-lines and the other being the position shown in dotted lines). The mechanism for accomplishing these movements per se forms no part of the present invention but means for effecting such movements are shown in Figures 13, 14 and 15, and will presently be described. The pile elev vating mechanism for maintaining the top of the pile at the proper level for cooperation with the sucker heads during the operation of the feederwill now be described.

The hopper for each pile comprises upper and lower side rails 207 and 20S which have holes to receive

longitudinal bars

184 and 185 and are clamped to those bars by

screws

209 and 210 extending across slots formed in the rails between the ends thereof and the holes for the

bars

184 and 185. These side rails 207 and 208 support, vby means of' suitable'fastenings, the upright -corners 211 ,of the hopper which constituter guides for VtheV 'front and side edges of thegpiled Atl.the rear of "2' the pile the rails 207 support short uprights 212 which are adjustable forwardly and backwardly to a limited extent. ln these uprights is mounted a rod 213 which supports a rear guide 214i that may be adjusted to a selected position along the length of the rod.

The tubular member 185 acts as an air blast manifold closed at one end and it has its other end connected by a conductor 215 to the outlet side of an air pump. At a point opposite each hopper a nipple 226 connects the tube 185 with a hose 2i7 which extends to the lower end of a pipe 218. The pipe 21S is supported ina block 219 which is adjustable along the tubular pipe i125. At

, its upper end the pipe 218 is provided with a slot 224? through which air is discharged against the sheets at the top of the pile for separating the upper sheets at the top of the pile. A plate 222 is movable up and down between and behind the corner members 2li of the hopper. Upon the plate 222 a sheet 223 of heavy cardboard the same size as the sheets of the pile may be placed. This plate is rigidly carried on the upper end of a rack 224 which is movable up and down in

guides

225 and 226 that are carried by a plate 227 which is bolted to one edge of a heavy plate or block 22S. These blocks are provided with holes to receive the brace bar 183. Each bloclr is slotted as at 229 and a screw 236 is mounted in the block and threaded at 23d in order to clamp the block firmly upon the brace bar. All of the blocks therefore are carried by the bar or shaft 183 and the pile supporting racks are in turn carried by the individual blocks. The shaft 226 extends through all of the blocks with a supplemental bearing in each block. An eccentric 23.3 is mounted upon and secured to the shaft 1&6 adjacent to each block 228, for'example by means of a set screw 234. lin bracing the eccentric near an extremity thereof is a ring 235 and the eccentric is free to turn within the ring; however in order to hold the two parts against relative movement lengthwise of the shaft 136, a set screw 23S projects through the ring and into a peripheralrgroove 236 formed in the eccentric. Welded or otherwise secured to the ring 235 is a pull rod 237 which extends upwardly through an opening 238 in a foot 239 forming a part of a feeler bar 24u that is guided for up and down movementby suitably shaped yokes 24d and 262 secured to rails 207 and 268, respectively. A collar 243 adjustably secured to the rod '237 underlies a washer 244 which Aengages the lower surface of the foot 239 and thus effects upward movement of the rod 237 to the feeler bar 24u. The upper end of the rod 237 carries an adjustable nut 245 which backs a washer that bears against the upper end of a coil spring 2do surrounding the rod, the lower end of the spring bearing against -a hat face on the upper side of a slidable washer 2e? with a convex lower surface that engages the foot 23% around the periphery of the hole 23%. Downward movement of the pull rod 237 therefore transmits force to the foot 239 through the spring 246 and if the foot is not free `to move the pull is absolved by the spring no damage can occur.

Bach block 2S cari" a stub shaft 247 upon which the hub 248 of an arm 2de is journaled and this arm `projects over the eccentric 233. On this arm, there is a projecting lug 25@ which is disposed beneath the head on the lower extremity of a screw 25T!` which is adjustably threaded into a threaded hole in the foot 239 and held in an adjusted position by means of a lock nut 252. The upper end of the feeler bar 2d@ has a horizontal extension 253 which overhangs the pile of sheets in the hopper and it is adapted to engage the top of the pile in the hopper when downward force is transmitted to the feeler bar Zeil by the ring 235.

Each time a sheet is fed forward off the pile the feeler bar 24() swings downwardly and engages the pile. As the operation continues the height of the pile becomes vvlower due to the removal of sheets therefrom. V"tl/'hen the lowered heightpofthe -pile allows the fieeler bar to descend low enough the screw 251 acts through the lug 250 and swings the arm 249 downward about its pivot 247, the

the rack. When this happens the upward movement of p the rack causes a second pawl 256 which is pivoted to the block 22S to snap under the next tooth of the rack and support the latter. The upper ends of the pawls 254 and '256 are pivotally connected with

plungers

257 and 253 which-extend through slots in the plate 57 and which are biased outwardly by springs 259 bearing against the heads of the plungers. The pawls are thus resiliently held in engagement with the toothed side of the rack.

in order to assist in the separation of the uppermost sheet of the pile when it is taken by the sucker heads, resilient wire fingers 261 may be mounted at the two front corners of the hopper. When the sucker heads pull the top sheet out from under these lingers and the carbon sheet from above these fingers, said lingers tend to retain the succeeding sheet on the pile and prevent it from adhering to and attempting to follow the top sheet. Removable screws 262 projecting through loops on the lingers serve to mount the fingers and permit them to be changed for other lingers having different characteristics to improve the sheet, separating action and to compensate for diierences in paper stock.

When it becomes necessary to replenish the sheets in a given hopper the operator may push in the

plungers

257 and 258 and permit the plate 222 to descend until a stop pin 263 on the rack engages the uppermost guide 225. The

plungers

257 and 258 are then released and the pile is built up to the desired height. Following this with the eccentric 233 turned to a position dialnetrically opposite to that shown in they drawing the rack 224 may be pushed up by hand to cause the top of the pire to engage the feeler rod extension 253. The wall of the hoppers thus iilled, the suction may be turned on in the hollow shaft 17d and with compressed air imposed upon the tubular member .185,.the motor may be started and the operation of all feeders may be begun. Directly after the rear edge of the sheet being fed passes beyond the extension 253 of the feeler bar, that bar is pulled down by the eccentric ring 235. If the stock being fed is light, a considerable number of reciprocations of the pull rod 237 ymay result merely in the compression of the spring 246 and the depression of the pawl 254 a distance insumcient to enable it to snap under the next lower tooth of the rack. in each cycle the eccentric raises the follower 255 slightly however and `causes the pawl 254 to push the rack upward a distance less than the spacing of the teeth after which it descends until caught by the pawl 256. A constant slight jogging of the rack therefore takes place which has a beneficial resultin jarring the sheets forward against the corner inem bers 2li of the hopper to maintain an accurate pile.

As soon as the level of the pile descends suiiiciently the screw 251, acting through the lug 25@ on the swinging arm 249, depresses the pawl 25d into engagement with the next lower` tooth, and the next upper movement of the eccentric Afunctions through the follower 255 to raise the pawl 254 and push the rails upwardly, the pawl 256 then snapsinto position beneath a lower tooth of the rack and supports it.k The operation continues until the plate 222 plenished. With the roll of carbon paper 9 positioned in the device Sat` the top and rotatable on the shaft Il@ the weblvi25-of this paper is carried downwardly, beneath the toller 33, and 'thenceA overftheA roller 35 and itis thenV passed downwardly between the feed rollers 58 and 6 and the end of the strip extends between the

blades

88 and 89 following which the solenoid 108 may be given one impulse to cause the knife 88 to advance toward its mate 89 and thereby the carbon paper is cut off even with the lower surface of the blade 89. Now with the indexing arm 53, a setting is made according to the length to which the carbon paper is to be cut. Such a setting is made by loosening the nut 55 and moving the indexing arm 53 to a desired position along the sector 50, the surface of the sector 50 being calibrated to 4facilitate. such settings. As the sheet stacking mechanism, with which my device cooperates, moves to transfer a sheet of paper from a stack to an adjacent station (an operation which will more fully be understood when the description of both mechanisms has been completed), the carbon web 125 passes between the knives `and down into the arcuate guide or chute 134. The portion of the web within the guide or chute 134 remains integral with the web until its leading edge reaches a point between the suckers or

suction cups

199, 202. At that instant the suction cup 199 is swinging down on the carbon paper, the solenoid 95 is energized to cut the sheet of carbon paper from the web. From this, it is quite evident that the desired sheet of carbon paper is at all times positively controlled-first it is mechanically controlled as the web is pulled olf the roll and as the leading edge of the web traverses the chute and up to the point where said leading edge reaches a point beneath the then descending suction cup 199. Then as the suction cup is taking over the control, the carbon sheet is cut off from the web, and the carbon sheet is reinforced by therheavier paper sheet at the top of the pile and is prevented from being ruptured by the suction.

Since the Macey patent referred to above does not show mechanism for oscillating the shaft 187 and the arm 198 carried thereby and for other movements and functions described in said patent, I have provided diagrammatic Figures 13, 14 and 15 and have incorporated in the circuit diagram Figure 12 a means on the cam for oscillating the suction cups, a pin 270 carried by a cam 271 which is keyed to and movable with the shaft 192. A bell crank 272 pivoted at 273 has an arm 274 the extremity 275 of which is curved upwardly to be engaged by the ypin 270. The bell crank 272 also has an arm 276 which carries a button 277 formed of insulation. A spring 278 urges the bell crank 272 n a clockwise direction, and spaced apart therefrom is a stop 279'. A contact arm 280 which may be formed of spring bronze for example carries a contact point 281. Mating with the contact point 281 is a contact point 282 carried by a contact arm 283. When the bell crank 272 is not actuated by the pin 270 the contacts 281 and 282 are open. On the `other hand when the bell crank 272 is engaged by the pin 270 the contacts are closed.l TheV contact arm 280 is connected via a fuse 284 to one side of a source ofpower 285. While the other side of said source is connected via a fuse 286 to a bus line 287 which has several parallel connections one of which is a connection 288 to one terminal of the winding of a relay 289, and the other terminal of the winding is connectedV via a wire 290 to the contact arm 283 and thus when the contact points 281 and 282 .are closed the relay is Y energized. However, when the machine comes to rest with the contacts closed, the winding on the relay together with a retarding copper slug 291 on the armature end of the winding cuts the circuit to the solenoid, which circuit is as follows:

The solenoid 108 which actuates the

knife

88, 89 for.

cutting oif a sheet of carbon paper from the carbon paper web has one terminal connected to the bus line 287 via a branch wire 292 and the other terminal isconnected via a branch wire 293 to a bus connection 294. This bus connection carries a contact 295 which is;con tacted by the relay arm 296 andthe relay arm in turn is connected to the wire 290 and consequently in'com- 10 mon with the second mentioned terminal of the relay winding and the contact arm 283. Connected in parallel with the

wires

290 and 294 are a high resistance 297 and a capacitor 298. The winding of the relay 289 has a high resistance and will not heat up even though it may be energized continuously for a long period of time. Also the solenoid must cause the

blades

88 and 89 to chop the carbon paper sheet off the web of carbon paper and immediately restore the blade 88 to its normal position and thereby keep the passage 134 of the upper end of the chute open so that the carbon paper web may enter and follow said passage 134. The circuit diagram in Figure l2 shows several other solenoid connections which are identical with the ones just described and it is believed unnecessary to repeat the description of the several identical solenoids the number of which will be in accordance with the number of stations on the'collating machine.

Now in order to oscillate the arm 198 of the Macey mechanism, which is-carried on a shaft 187, reference is made to Figure 13 wherein a lever 299 has a hub 300 which is keyed on the shaft 187, which is the main shaft carrying the oscillating'arms 198, by means of a key 301.

Keyed on the shaft 193 is a crank 302, by means of a key 383. The crank arm has a hole therethrough to aocommodate a clevis piny 304 which also extends through a corresponding hole in a connecting rod 305, and a clevis pin 306 extends through said hole and a second hole in alignment therewith formed in the extreme end of the lever 299. It will be understood that the crank arm 302 and the lever 299 are just beyond or they at least clear the end of the shaft 193, as the shaft is rotated. This arrangement may be more clearly seen in the diagrammatic representation, Figure 15. As the shaft 193 is rotated, for example by means of a motor 307 (Figure l5) it rotates a shaft 308 with a worm 309 keyed thereto. Meshing withV the worm 309 is a worm gear 310 which is keyed on a shaft 311. The shaft 311 carries in driving relation a star wheel 312 which forms a part of a clutch 313. The clutch 313 also includes a disk. 314 which lis keyed to a shaft 315. The disk 314 carries.

a stud 316 upon which a lever 317 is pivotally carried.` The lever 317 has a hook-like portion 318 on one endl thereof and connected to the portion 318 is one end of a: spring 319. The other end of the spring is connectedto a spring post 320 carried on the'disk 3,14.Y The disk 314 also carries a post 321 which constitutes a stop forl limiting the movement of the lever 317 about its pivot 316 in a clockwise direction. The hook portion 318 of' the'lever engages one of the teeth of the star wheel inl the manner shown-in dotted lines at 31811. Normallyr the hook portion 318 remains in engagement with one of the teeth of the star wheel 312 and a lever 322. Fixed. on a shaft 323 in the dotted position 322a and the motor through the medium of the worm 309, the worm v gear 310 and the shaft 311 drives the` shaft 315 due to the engagement of the lever 317 withthe star wheel 312 and while the clutch 313 s rotating the portion 324 projects beyond the periphery of the disk 314 due to the fact that the lever 322 is normally swung outof the path of the portion 324 and as this occurs a spur gear. 4325 which isl keyed on the shaft 315'drives a second spur gear 326 with which it is meshed and this gearwhich is keyed on the shaft 193 positively drives said shaft and in so doing it oscillates the arm 198 which carries'the `shaft 170. Thisv shaft supports va series of pairs of suc- "il tion cups at each extreme position ofthe suction cups necessary and such an arrangement is shown in Figure 1 4.

Referring now to Figure i4, the suction cups l and 233521y are carried in the holder tl. which is in turn secured on 4the shaft 170 independently of the swinging movements of the lever 198. As a matter of fact the machine may have two such arms 198 moving in unison and commonly supporting the shaft i7@ and with the shaft i journalcd in the extremities oi the elements 39d, suctioncup holders 2ML may be fixed on the shaft ,if/ti at thesame time a lever 327 may also have a split boss clamped onto the shaft 'i't? so that when this lever is moved upwardly or downwardly the holder 261 and the suction cups carried by the latter are moved in unison. Connected to the lever 327 by means of a clevis pin 323 extending through aligned holes is a connectingy rod 329, and the other end of the connecting rod is connected 'to alever 330 by means of a clevis pin 33t passing through aligned holes in the lower end of the connecting rod 329 and the upper right hand corner of the element 356.y

The shaft 193 also carries a cam 34d and this cam is keyed on the shaft R53 and carries

opposed lobes

341 and 342. As the shaft 393 rotates the

lobes

341i and 35,2 successively engage the roller 339 and cause the lever 330 to rock about its axis 332 and this movement, through the medium of the connecting rod Si?, is imparted to the lever 327, the shaft t7@ andthe suction cup holders carried thereby. Now when one of the lobes (the lobe Sdi for example) is in engagement with the roller 339 the suction cups E99 and 2% are in the position shown in Figure l, just picking up the sheet of paper and the sheet of carbon the latter which has just been severed from the carbon paper web l25. -Now when the cam lobe 342 is in engagement with the roller 339 the connecting rod 329 has movedto the position 32% shown in dotted lines and at the'same 4time the arm 193 has moved over to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. Now in the first position, as will hereafter be explained, the suction is'supplied to the suction cups 199 and Z'Zwhile in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure. 4, the suction has ceased and in its place has been substituted pressure to rapidly disengage the paper and the carbon paper from the respective suction cups.

As the stations (between the arms 19t? on the chain 1&1) along the surface i188 must be moved in denite time relation with the other elements, I provide a ruiter gear 343, and meshing with the miter gear 343 is a second miter gear 344- which is carried on Va shaft 345 and this shaft carries on its extremity a sprocket 346 with which the chain- 1915 is engaged, so that by this arrangement the stations are advanced along the surface in time with the other movements. The lever 322 on the shaft 323 which has been described above asl normally out of the path of the extremity 324 of the lever 3317. Now a handle 347 is fixed on the shaft 323 and it has a toggle arrangement 34S which functions to locli the lever 322k out or in. For example the solenoid 95 may throw the lever S'i' in to stop the machine whenever an automatic control thereon signaled the absence of one sheet or the presence of two sheets. As pointed out above, when said lever 322 is out, it keeps the machine running, and when permitted to go in it stops the machine on index at zero.V

Carried on the shaft is a pulley 349, anda belt 35% embraces and spans the pulley 34# and also a pulley 35E carried on the shaft 352 of a blower 353. A manifold 354 forms theinlet of the blower and is in turn connect. ed to a conduit 355 and Vthis conduit has a branch 356, which communicates with the atmosphere, while the valve 357v is in the position 357e, and when the valveis in the other posi-tion'indicated by the numeral'il, communication with the atmosphere is nullied. When the valve 357 pivoted at 353, for example, is .in its normal position indicated by the dottedline 357.,-t`ne branch 356 is notA under vthe,in luence of thev partialvacuumror negative 12 pressure. When in the dotted position shown at 35711 the branch 356 is `under the inuence of the negative pressure. Other branches may communicate with the conduit 355, for example a branch 359 may be connected to the conduit 355 and the connection may include a valve 369, which, when in the position shown at 364i excludes the suction or negative pressure from the branch 359. This valve when in the position 360o subjects the branch 359 to the inuence of the partial vacuum and this branch 359 is connected to the conduit Ziii which communicates with the interior of the hollow shaft.

The blower has an output conduit 36?. to which a distributing conduit 362 is connected. The conduit 352 has a branch 363, and spaced apart therefrom is a second branch 36d', both of these branches are open to the atmosphere, and connecting the conduit 362 to the conduit 355 isa branch conduit 365 which extends from the conduit 362 to they conduit 355 in a manner to be controlled by the valve 36d. This means that when the valve 360 is' in the position indicated at 36! by a solid line, positive pressure is delivered via the branch 359 and into the conduit 209. On the other hand when the valve is in the dotted position/'36061, the branch 359 and the conduit 200 vconnected thereto is removed from the influence of the pressure and is subjectedto the partial vacuum, and

also to the conduit 355. When the valve 366 by a solid line is in the position indicated at 366, pressure from the conduit 362 discharges into the atmosphere via the branch S63. When the valve is in the position indicated by a dotted line at 366e, the pressure is prevented from passing to the atmosphere via the branch 363'. The valve when in the position. shown by a solid line at 367 prevents air in the conduit 352 from passing into the conduit 355 and instead is delivered via the branch 364i and u connection to the conduit 362. On the other hand when the valve is in the position shown by a dotted line at 367a, air is prevented from entering the branch 35a and is delivered via the conduit 365 to the conduit Ziiwhen the valve 36d is; in a position from shutting ofi communication with the conduit 355 and thus air under pressure from the conduit 362 is delivered to the suction cups 99 and Zil and f thereby the sheets which were picked up by the suction cups and movedover to a position above the'tray E85 and thus the suction which was holding the sheets to Vthe cups is suddenly nullied and replaced by pressure and thereby the sheets are quickly released from the'suction cups.`

T he timing of the air system The

valves

357, 366, and 367 may be buttertly vane valves and they'ar'e timed for example as follows. At zero degrees of. any operating cycle in which case the machine is at rest, the valves 357 and 3615' are open to the atmosphere: Now at' approximately ten degrees after the next machinecycle star-ts, the valves A55'and 36) connect the suction to the conduit til andat substantially-the` same-time, the valves 36e-and .1,67 connect the pressure orwexhaust from the blower 353 to the conduit 262. Now at approximately one hundred eightly degrees after the startV of said cycle, the valve 357 connects the suction ,conduit to theatmosphere while 4the valves Zidi?, 367. and 366 connect the pressure or blowcrto the conduit 262. The cycle continues and at approximatcly two hundred ten degrees ofthe cycle ythe valves 35? and open so as lto subject the interiors of the conduits 355 and362 to theatmosphere. Each successive cycle will operate satisfactorily if they are duplicates of the cycle just described. p

lthough I have not'shown any means for operating these vvalves (the arrangement being schematic in l5), cams to operate these valves may be positioned on either the shaft 193 or the shaft 'M5 and such cams would have lobes thereon which would actuateV the valves specified above at thedegrees specified oftheoperating cycle V.of the machine.'`

Setting up for a specic size of carbon sheet The iirst step in making such a set up is to loosen the screws 39 (Figure l) thereby unclamping the plate 36 from the plate 10, and loosening the clamping screws 39 (Figure 4) thereby unclamping the plate 38 from the plate 11, and leaving the sub-assembly 36, 38 free to be rotated about the shaft 37 as an airis.

If the sub-assembly is rotated in a clockwise direction,- as viewed in Figure l, the guide 135 telescopes into the guide 133 for example, and the sub-assembly iS rotated in the proper direction (according to the length of the carbon paper to be severed from the web of carbon paper 125) and when a point is reached where the curved length within the

guides

133, 135 from the knife 88, S9 to a point between the

suction cups

199, 202 is the required length. The screws 39 are again tightened to retain that setting.

For lengths shorter than the telescoped length of the

guides

133, 135, remove these guides and set the assembly so that the distance between the

knife

88, 89 to the point between the suction cups is the required length, thus the device may be set up for a wide range of lengths. Incidentally the lengths referred to are actually the widths of the carbon sheets, while the length iS actually the width of the roll 9. i

The next step in the set up is to loosen the locking nut 55 and swing the arm 53, Figure l, over the scale 50 to a position where the pointer 54 is in line with (or over) an indication of the exact length desired, which also corresponds to the setting described in the first step, and this setting is retained by tightening the locking nut 55, and it controls the amount of rotation of the feed rolls 58 and 6i) (Figures l, 4 and 8).

When the pulling web 168 is pulled by the movement of the swinging arm it rotates the element 164 which is free on the shaft and carries a pin 171. This pin cooperates with the squared end 176 of the pawl 1745,V which is pivoted on stud 175 carried by the member 173 (theV latter being keyed on the shaft 37). Now as the element 164 is rotated by the pull of the web 168 it is moved in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 4) exactlyone revolution, or 360. On the reset half of the cycle, thepin 171 is rotating in an opposite or clockwise direction for 360 plus a slight additional clearance, so that when it comes to rest it is a fraction of an inch in front of the pawl 174. For an understanding of how the member 164 is rotated in a clockwise direction, reference is made to Figure 4 and as the reset half of the cycle starts, the member 29 with the suction cups is in the position shown in dotted lines and duringsaid reset cycle it moves to the position shown 'in solid lines` above the pile of papers, so that the pulling'web 168 is moved to the left, as seen in Figure 4, thence around the pulley 171 and up to and around the pulley portion of the` element 164, thereby allowing the latter to rotatein a clockwise direction under the urge of the belt member 163 which is powered by a spiral spring within the drum portion 161. f l

Referring now to Figure 1, the arm 52 iskeyed onr the shaft 37V by means .of the cap screw 51. The arm 52 carries a lug 141 and this lug engages a lug 144011 the bell crank 14) which is pivotally mounted on astud 142 carried Von the disk 4S.- As the shaftv 37 rotates, the arm 52 picksup the pawl 143 thereby rotating. the disk 48 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure l, until the end of the pawl 143 contacts the projection 57 of the set arm 53. This arm as-will be remembered, is locked and fixed due to the clamping action o-f the thumb screw 55 and therefore a slight rotation in a clockwise direction is -made by the bell crank pawl V143 and this causes the lug 146 to be moved-out of the path of the lug 141 carried by the arm 52. As aY result of this action, the disk d8 is disengaged or freed from the shaft 37. Now the angular movement traversed by the disk 48 under the pull of the belt 158 has caused tlaefeed rollers S8 and 60 to rotate Ysuch a distance that the sur, face travel of the rollers S8 and 60 has advanced the carbon web the exact distance for which the setting above described was made.

It must be borne in mind that the arm 53 is not keyed to or fixed on the shaft 37 and also that the disk 4S does not rotate instead it moves back and forth.

With the set-up as above described, the machine may be caused to operate as many cycles as necessary for the given size of carbon paper and when the device is to be set up for a different size, the sameprocedure as described above may be followed.

Although I have herein described, by way of example, one preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact details disclosed, as Vmany changes may be made in the arrangements shown and described, within the scope of the following claims.

1. In combination with sheet handling apparatus wherein sheetsv ofpaper are carried in stacks, means to support a roll of carbon paper and means to unreel a web therefrom, means to guide a leading edge of said web to a position on one of said stacks, a device operating cyclicly and comprising a suction cup for each stack of said papers for engaging, lifting and moving both the top sheet of said stack and another sheet positioned thereon, with a thin carbon sheet being positioned on a relatively stiff lower sheet, to another location, a second suction cup adjacent to and movable with said first suction cup, means to sever a sheet of carbon paper of a pre-determined length from said web as said second suction cup engages it adjacent to the leading edge thereof, and means to conjointly raise and move said suction cups, said top sheet and said sheet of carbon paper to said other location, and means to release said sheets to said other location and to return said suction cups to their initial positions and means for controlling the motion of the second suction cup so that it is coordinated with the cutting of the carbon, said carbon paper and paper sheet being moved together by both said cups.

. 2. In combination with sheet handling apparatus wherein sheets of paper. are carried in stacks, a device operating cyclicly and comprising a suction cup for each stack of said papers for engaging, lifting and moving both the top sheet of said stack and a fragile sheet that may be deposited thereon to another location, asecond suction cup adjacent to and movable with said first suction cup, means to support a roll of carbon paper, means to unreel a web of said carbon paper from said roll, cutting means adjacent to'said web, means to guide said web from the unreelingy means Vto a point on said stack beneath one of said cups, means to actuate said cutting means and sever a sheet of carbon paper of a pre-determined length from said web immediately after a leading edge thereofhas contacted said top sheet and immediately after it has been engaged by said suction cup adjacent to the leading edge of said carbon, and means to conjointly raise and move said suction cup, said top sheet and said sheet of carbon paper to said other location, and means to release said sheets and to return said suction cup to its initial position. v

3. In combination with sheet handling apparatus wherein sheets of paper are carried in stacks, a device operating cyclicly and comprising a suction cup for each stack of said papers for engaging, lifting and moving the top sheet of said stackand a fragile sheet that may be deposited thereon to another location, a second suction cup adjacent to andV movable with said first suction cup, both said cups being initially spaced apart from said sheet, means to support a roll of carbon paper thinner than said sheets, settable cutting means and controls therefor for controlling the length of a sheet of carbon paper to be cut from said web, means to guide said web to a point on said last stack beneath one of said cups, means under control of said settable means for severing a. sheet'of agrar?? carbon paper from said web at least as lsaid suction cup is engaging said carbon sheet near its leading edge, means to conjointly raise and move said suction cups, said top sheet and said sheet of carbon paper to said other location, means to release said sheets at said other location, and means to return said suction cups to their initial positions.

4. In combination with sheet handling apparatus wherein sheets of paper are carried in stacks, a device operating cyclicly and comprising a suction cup for each stack of said papers for engaging, lifting and moving the top sheet of said stack and any other thinner sheet that may be deposited thereon to another location, a second suction cup adjacent to and movable with said first suction cup and both being normally positioned in spaced apart relation to said sheets, means to support a roll of carbon paper, means to unreel a web of carbon paper from said roll, means including cutting means adapted to be preset for controlling the length of a sheet of carbon paper to be cut from said web, transporting rollers and guide means adapted to guide said web and to bring its leading edge to a point on said stack beneath at least one of said cups, means under control of said settable means for severing a sheet of carbon paper having a length substantially equal to said pre-set length as said second suction cup is in the act of engaging said carbon sheet adjacent to its leading edge, thereby insuring continuous control of said carbon until said cups engage the same; means to conjointly raise and move the suction cups, said top Sheet and the sheet of carbon paper to said other location, means to release said sheets at said other location by cutting oiiC the suction from said cups and delivering thereto a light pneumatic pressure, and means to return the suction cups to their initial positions.

5. In combination with sheet handling apparatus wherein sheets of paper are carried in stacks, a device operating cyclicly and comprising a suction cup for each stack of said papers for engaging, lifting and moving the top sheet of said stack to another location, a second suction cup adjacent to and movable with said first suction cup, means to support a roll of carbon paper, means to unreel a web of carbon paper from said roll, means adapted to be pre-set for controlling the length of a sheet of carbon paper to be cut from said web, an electrically actuated knife comprised of a pair of cooperative blades which are normally separated, guide means between said knife and said stack, transporting rollers engaging said web and adapted to guide it between said blades and through said guide means, control means for said electrical means made effective in time with the arrival of the leading edge of said web to a point on said stack beneath said sec-V ond mentioned suction cup; means to conjointly raise and move said suction cups, the top sheet of said stack, and the severed sheet of carbon paper to another location; means to supply negative pressure to both said suction cups, means to ccnjointly raise and move the suction cups and the sheets engaged thereby; said top sheet being engaged by said first suction cup, and the sheet of carbon paper, reinforced by said first sheet, being engaged by said second cup; means to disconnect said negative pressure from said cups and to momentarily supply positive pressure thereto, thereby rapidly releasing said sheets and allowing .hem to fall in said other location, and means to return the suction cups to their initial positions.

in combination with a collating machine wherein sheets of paper to be collated are arranged in piles said machine having a swinging arm operating cyclicly and carrying pairs of suction cups, means to supply a partial vacuum to said cups during a pre-determined portion of the cycle and means to momentarily supply air under pressure to said suction cups, a frame, means to support a roll of carbon paper for rotation on said frame, rotary dial means adapted to be set for controlling the length of a sheet ot carbon paper to be cut from said web, an electrically actuated knife comprised of a pair or eo operative shearing blades which are normally separated, guide means between said knife and said stack having its entrance aperture substantially in alignment with the space between Vsaid blades, transporting `roller means e11- gaging said web and adapted to propel it between said blades and through said guide means to a point adjacent to one of said suction cups, control means for said electrical means made effective in time with the arrival of the leading edge of said web to a point on said stack beneath said last mentioned cup, means to suppiy negative pressure to both said suction cups, means to conjointly raise and move the suction cups and the sheets engaged thereby; said top sheet being engaged by said first suction cup, and the sheet of carbon paper, reinforced by said rst sheet, being engaged by said second cup; means to disconnect said negative pressure from said cups and to momentarily supply positive pressure thereto, thereby rapidly releasing said sheets and allowing them to fall in said other location, and means to return the suction cups to their initial positions.

7. ln combination with a collating machine wherein sheets of paper to be collated are arranged in piles said machine having a swinging arm operating cyclicly and carrying pairs of suction cups, means to supply a partiai vacuum to said cups during a pre-determined portion of the cycle and means to momentarily supply air under pressure to said suction cups, a frame, means to support a roll of carbon paper for rotation on said frame, rotary dial means adapted to be set for controlling the length of a sheet of carbon paper to be cut from said web, a knife comprised of a pair of cooperative shearing blades which are normally separated, a solenoid having a movable member operatively connected to one of said blades for actuating the same, guide means between said knife and said stack having its entrance aperture substantially in alignment with the space between said blades, transporting roller means engaging said web and adapted to propel 'it between said blades and through said guide means to a point adjacent to one of said suction cups, control means for said solenoid made eiective in time with the arrival of the leading edge of said web to a point on said stack beneath said last mentioned cup, Vmeans to supply negative pressure to both said suction cups, means to conjointly raise and move the suction cups and the sheets engaged thereby, said top sheet being engaged by said first suction cup, and the sheet of carbon paper, reinforced by said rst'sheet, being engaged by said sec- 'ond cup; means to disconnect said negative pressure from said cups and to momentarily supply positive pressure thereto, thereby rapidly releasing said sheets and allowing them to fall in said other location, and means to return the suction cups to their initial positions.

8. The invention according to claim 6 in which said frame is comprised of two parts, one of which is xed and the other of which is movable for setting the device for handling longer or shorter carbon sheets.

9. The invention according to claim-8 wherein said frame is comprised of a main frame andsub-frame adjustably carried on said main frame and movable on an axis substantially coinciding with the axis of said rotary dial means.

l0. The invention according to claim 7 in which feed means for said rotary dial means is driven by flexible pulling means powered by said swinging arm,

1l. The invention according to claim l0 in which spring drum means operatively connect-:d to said tiexible pulling means functions to urge elements moved by said pulling means to their normal or reset positions during each operating cycle of the machine.

l2. The herein described method of handling thin carbon paper which comprises; the step of positioning a portion of a continuous web of said carbon; adjacent a paper web which Ais thicker than said carbon, whereby said carbon may be superimposed on said paper web; the step of subjecting a zone adjacent to the leading edge of said portion and a corresponding edge of said paper web to the influence of a negative pressure; the step of severing said portion from said web at the moment of application of said negative pressure, so that said portion is under positive control all the time; and the final step of simultaneously moving both said portion and said web from the position where said web was located to a wanted new position, said paper web being the thicker sheet and serving to carry the severed sheet from the carbon web and protecting the severed carbon web from damage and curling during handling by the application of said negative pressure when being transported by the application of said negative pressure.

13. In a device of the character described, means to hold and support a stack of cut sheets, one edge of the uppermost sheet in said stack being termed an index line, means to support a roll of carbon paper, means to withdraw a carbon web from said roll and advance the leading edge of said web over the surface of said stack substantially to said index line, cutting means to sever said web from said roll,I whereby said web will have a pre-determined length, a unitary structure supporting said advancing means and said cutting means, said structure being pivotally carried on said device, means to set said cutting means with respect to said index line in accordance with the length of carbon web desired, and means to move said carbon web and said uppermost sheet from said stack to a position adjacent thereto, and the pivot connection between said unitary structure and said device controlling the length of the sheet cut.

14. The invention according to claim 13, in which said means to move said carbon and said sheet are comprised of a moving arm carrying suction cups that are supplied with negative pressure, and means to remove said negative pressure from said cups and vto deliver thereto a light pneumatic positive pressure for overcoming said suction and quickly releasing said sheets to said position.

15. A device according to claim 13, in which a telescoped arcuate guide for said carbon web includes one element which is secured to said unitary structure and a cooperative element which is xedly connected to the support for said cut sheets.

l16. A machine for assembling carbon paper sheets with relatively stiff paper sheets, comprising a support for a pile of stili paper sheets, means for supporting a web of carbon papel', a feed chute through which said web of carbon paper is fed to said stiff paper sheets, means to cut a sheet of carbon paper from said web whereby the carbon paper sheet is superposed on the stiff paper sheet, a tray, having a longitudinal slot, in juxtaposition to said support, a plurality of spaced pins extending through said slot, a rotatably endless chain on which said pins are mounted, a plurality of spaced hoppers on said endless chain spaced apart the same distance as said pins, means for intermittently advancing said endless chain a distance equal to the spacing between said pins, suction means comprising two suction cups to remove sheets from said hoppers, one suction cup engaging a stii paper sheet and the other suction cup engaging a carbon paper sheet, and means for mov ing the suction cup means whereby an assembly of a stiff paper sheet and a carbon sheet is moved as a unit, the carbon sheet being backed up by the stift` paper sheet to prevent curling and damage to the carbon sheet.

17. A method of handling carbon sheets to prevent curling and damage thereof, which comprises feeding a web of carbon paper to a supply of stiff paper sheets, cutting said web of carbon paper into sheets and assembling said carbon paper sheets with said stili paper sheets so that the stiff paper sheets reinforce the carbon paper sheets, applying negative pressure to the assembly of stiff paper and carbon paper sheets with the stii paper sheets preventing thc rupture of the carbon paper sheet and transporting the assembly While the same is held by said negative pressure to a predetermined position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 953,063 Sheldon Mar. 29, 1910 1,748,988 Morris Mar. 4, 1930 1,962,630 Barber July 31, 1934 2,223,397 West Dec. 24, 1940 2,255,777 Jones Sept. 16, 1941 2,260,540 Schramm Oe. 28, 1941 2,621,040 Rinehart Dec. 9, 1952