US3252699A - Intercalating machine for sheets - Google Patents

Description

May 24, 1966 o. MARANGONI INTERCALATING MACHINE FOR SHEETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16 1963 m N "J" O N I Q w f A $3 fix l a hwbwg kw L t %N% INVENTOR 0771 l7'a hfo 11 i BY Michael S. S'fflz'kef ATTORNEY y 1966 o. MARANGONI 3,252,699

INTERCALATING MACHINE FOR SHEETS Filed April 16 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,252,699 INTERCALATING MACHINE FOR SHEETS Oruero Marangoni, Via Procaccini 20, Milan, Italy Filed Apr. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 273,450 Claims priority, application Italy, Apr. 13, 1962, 7,671/ 62 6 Claims. (Cl. 270-58) This invention relates to an intercalating or sheet stacking machine and more particularly to a machine which forms one or more stacks from a plurality of sheets of different or distinct nature. The sheets are fed to the stacking stations of the machine by a conveyor and the machine is equipped with suitable synchronizing means and with a novel pneumatic pick up system to assure a completely self-contained operation.

In the graphic industry sheets containing different prints or sheets of different nature have to be stacked in a certain given order. A typical example is a pile of sheets requ-ired for the forming of calendars and almanacs; another example is a pile of sheets consisting of regular sheets with interlayers of carbon paper.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine which will perform any such intercalating or stacking job in a simple and reliable manner.

The machine according to the present invention includes a frame comprising three or more gatherers to which a reciprocating motion can be imparted relative to a stationary bed, and a plurality of compartments connected with each other to form an endless belt and movable jointly in one direction. Each of these compartments holds a stack of identical sheets and the sequence of sheets in the various compartments corresponds to the sequence in which they are supposed to be stacked in the gatherer.

The above compartments are movably supported below said bed. The sheets which are located in the compartments are picked up by vacuum pick-ups which are lowered in synchronization with the movement of the upper frame to pick up the required sheet from the respective compartment, and to lift the sheet so that the same can be deposited into the corresponding gatherer which in the meantime has been moved to be located below the respective pick-up.

For instance if 14 different sheets are to be stacked automatically in a certain predetermined order to form for instance a calendar, with one sheet for each month and a cover for back and front, 14 different stacks of sheets will be arranged in 14 compartments according to the required sequence, namely the back cover, the December sheet, the November sheet, and so on and finally the top cover. When the machine is put into operation the back cover will first be picked up by the vacuum pick-up from its respective compartment, it will be lifted and deposited into the gatherer. This is achieved by moving up the pickup holding the respective sheets and moving forward the respective gatherer which at the same time will drag along the whole row of compartments by one step so that the December sheet is now located below the pick-up which just lifted the back cover. After the back cover has been deposited on the gatherer, the gatherer is moved back to its original position and the respective pickup is now free to pick up the December sheet which is now aligned below the pickup. Similarly, sheets located in the following compartments are picked up and deposited into the respective gatherer in the predetermined sequence.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatically operating system which will adjust the vacuum of the pick-up to suit the paper which is being picked up. This means that the machine will adjust the vacuum according to the requirements of the paper or the cardboard to be lifted from the respective compartment by the vacuum pick-up.

Each compartment is equipped with an adjustable cam designed to control through suitable means, for instance through a cone valve, the vacuum to be used for lifting of the paper or cardboard stacked in that respective compartment.

A further object of this invention is to incorporate into this machine a special device designed to overcome the natural adhesion of sheets and thus to prevent that more than one sheet is picked up.

Other features and many of the advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description and considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is however, to be understood that the description and drawings are given only as a nonrestr-ictive example of the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the intercalating machine.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the same machine.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same machine.

FIG. 4 shows the adjusting device for control of the vacuum in the pick-up.

FIG. 5 shows details of the pawls engaging the chain which moves the compartments.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the arrangement of the windows in the compartments.

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken on line VIIVII of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a detailed plan view of the drive unit for the carriage and the pick-ups.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the same unit.

The intercalating machine according to the present invention includes a supporting frame 1 whereon a further frame 2 provided with parallel windows 3 is superimposed. Frame 2 holds also a plurality of gatherers 11 each mounted on the frame 2 adjacent to one of the windows 3. Frame 2 moves slidingly in relation to frame 1 by means of side rollers 2a along two L-shaped guides 2b, which are secured to the supporting frame 1.

The row of compartments 4 arranged side by side is slidingly supported below said frame 2. Each compartment is connected to two endless side chains 14 disposed to travel over pulleys 5. Two pairs of pulleys 5 are provided, one pair on either end of the frame for guiding the chains 14 along an endless path.

Posts 6 are mounted in pairs on the upper side of frame 1, each pair being spaced substantially equally from the other pair. Each of these pairs of posts 6 relates to one of the windows 3. Each post is provided with vertical guides in which is fitted the frame 8 which serves as a support for a plurality of suction pipes 9. The lower end of each suction pipe is equipped with a suction disc. The pipes together with their vertical guides are movable between an upper position and a lower position. In the lower position the suction discs are in contact with the sheet contained in the compartment 4 which at that time is aligned with the respective vacuum pick-up.

The vertical movements of the frame 8 holding the suction pipes is synchronized with the horizontal movement of the gatherers; more precisely, the suction discs or the vacuum pick-ups are moved downwardly only after the windows 3 have become aligned with the vacuum pick-ups thus allowing the vacuum pick-ups to freely contact the sheets located in the respective compartments and to lift the sheets from that compartment through the windows for subsequent depositing of the sheets into the gatherers 11.

The frame 2 which is slidingly supported on the upper side of the supporting frame 1 and which in turn holds gatherers 11 is provided with pawls 12 having their upper ends hinged at 12a to frame 2. The lower, pointed end 13 of each pawl is designed to engage with the links 106 of the respective chain 14 and to drivingly move this chain in one direction whereby the compartments 4 are also driven in the same direction. In FIG. the pawls are shown to be designed to drive said chain 14 in the direction of arrow B, whereas they will not move the chain 14 in the direction of arrow A. Thus an advance of the frame 2 in the direction of the arrow B will move the chain 14 the same distance as the frame 2 and pawls 12 have been moved.

Since the displacement of the upper frame 2 induces the movement of the chain 14 and of the compartments 4 and puts these compartments in a position in which the suction discs can be brought down to the compartment and can pick up the respective sheet for lifting the sheet and for depositing it in the respective gatherer, the complete movement of the machine is properly synchronized.

The frame 2 is driven by a crank and a set of linking rods. The crank 15 consists of a crank pin 16 fitted on a wheel 17 and driving a first rod 18. Rod 18 is pivotally connected with lever 19. Lever 19 is pivoted at 20 on the frame 1 and pivotally connects at its upper end with rod 21. The rod 21 is connected by means of a universal joint 22 with the frame 2.

Each of the supporting frames 8 is moved along the vertical guides of the posts 6 by a crank 23 to which the respective frame is connected by means of a connecting rod 24. The individual cranks 23 of the individual supporting frames are interconnected by means of sprocket wheels 25 and sprocket chains 26 and are arranged for simultaneous rotation.

The cranks 23 which induce the vertical movement of the frames 8 and the crank 17 which induces the horizontal movement of the frame 2 are driven by a speed reduction gear 30 (see FIG. 8) which is suitably connected to a prime mover 32 for instance by a V-belt drive 31. The output shaft of the speed reduction gear 30 drives a gear 33 which is constantly in mesh with two pinions 34 and 35 the rotational movement of which may be transmitted to associated shafts 34' and 35' through a pair of earns 36 acting against spring 37 located on shafts 34 and 35, respectively.

The cams are released by dogs 38 and 39 which in turn are operated by two separate pawls 40 and 41 firmly attached to wheel 33.

The pawls 40 and 41 are arranged in such a manner that only one dog at a time can be operated by its respective pawl. By this arrangement the two shafts 34' and 35' can be operated only one at a time. This means that one of the shafts can be put into operation only after the other shaft has been stopped. This arrangement is particularly important for synchronizing of the horizontal motion of the carrying frame 2 and the vertical motion of the frames 8 on which the suction pipes and suction discs are mounted.

An adjustable cam 50 fitted on one side of each compartment 4 is designed to adjust the suction of the pickups to the requirements of the paper or cardboard in the respective compartment. This is done for instance by means of a tappet 51 and of a cone valve 42 which are operated by the cam 50 of the respective compartment. In this manner, the cam 50 will adjust the suction to the requirements of the paper or cardboard from which the sheets 43 located in the respective compartment are made.

On both ends of each suction system 9 are provided suction discs 9' disposed to align with downwardly inclined windows 44 formed on both sides of each compartment 4. The vacuum in the suction cup 9' will force the air in compartment 4 to move through the windows as indicated by arrows in FIG. 7 and will thus create a vacuum by which all sheets 43 except the most upper one are held down in the compartment so that only the uppermost sheet is picked up by the suction discs. In other words, the side edges of the sheets 43 are held down by a downwardly directed air stream created by the vacuum. This arrangement has shown far better results than those obtained by other known devices, like for instance by a photocell device, a sequence meter or the like.

The operation of the automatic intercalating machine is clearly understandable from the description of the different components thereof. The principle applied in this invention is to synchronize the horizontal reciprocal movement of the carrying frame, the horizontal one directional movement of the compartment chain and the vertical reciprocal movement of the carrying frame 8 in a manner by which the sheets are picked up in sequence from the compartments and deposited in the gatherer in the required order.

It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to one embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An intercalating machine for assembling a plurality of different type sheets in a specific sequence into at least one stack from a plurality of other stacks each containing sheets of one type, and in which said other stacks are arranged spaced from each other in said sequence, said machine comprising, in combination, a support; frame means mounted on said support movable in one direction from one to another end position and in the opposite direction back to said one end position, said frame means being formed with at least one window for the passage of a sheet therethrough and being adapted to support said one stack laterally from said window; transport means mounted on said support beneath said frame and adapted to support the other stacks spaced from each other in said one direction, said transport means being intermittently movable in a direction parallel to the movement of said frame means; pick-up means mounted on said support movable in a direction transverse to said one direction be tween an upper and a lower position; drive means; first transmission means connecting said drive means with said frame means and said pick-up means to move said frame means between said end positions and to move said pickup means from said upper to said lower position and back to said upper position while said frame means is in one of said end positions in which said window is aligned with said pick-up means; and second transmission means for connecting said frame means to said transport means for moving the latter in said one direction during the movement of said frame means in said one direction to align a different one of said other stacks with said window during each movement of said frame means to 'said one end position.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transport means comprises an endless chain mounted on said support means for movement along a path parallel to said one direction; and a plurality of compartments connected to the chain for movement therewith and respectively adapted to support said other stacks.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first transmission means comprises first connecting means between said drive means and said frame means; second connecting means between said drive means and said pickup means; and means for alternatingly connecting said drive means to said first and second connecting means so that said drive means will drive said frame means while said pick-up means remain at standstill and vice versa.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 in which said second transmission means comprises at least one drive pawl pivotally mounted on said frame means and drivingly en 3,252,699 5 6 gaging said chain only during movement of said frame References Cited by the Examiner means from one to another of its end positions.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pick- UNITED STATES PATENTS up means includes suction means adapted to lift the upper- 2,542,089 2/1951 f r 27058 most sheet in the respective other stack by suction dur- 5 2,709,584 5/ 1955 Kleinberg 270-53 ing movement of said pick-up means from said lower to said upper position thereof. EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5, and including WILLIAM B PENN Examiner means in said compartments for regulating said suction means. 10 N. M. ELLISON, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN INTERCALATING MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT TYPE SHEETS IN A SPECIFIC SEQUENCE INTO AT LEAST ONE STACK FROM A PLURALITY OF OTHER STACKS EACH CONTAINING SHEETS OF ONE TYPE, AND IN WHICH SAID OTHER STACKS ARE ARRANGED SPACED FROM EACH OTHER IN SAID SEQUENCE, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORT; FRAME MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MOVABLE IN ONE DIRECTION FROM ONE TO ANOTHER END POSITION AND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION BACK TO SAID ONE END POSITION, SAID FRAME MEANS BEING FORMED WITH AT LEAST ONE WINDOW FOR THE PASSAGE OF A SHEET THERETHROUGH AND BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID ONE STACK LATERALLY FROM SAID WINDOW; TRANSPORT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT BENEATH SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE OTHER STACKS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER IN SAID ONE DIRECTION, SAID TRANSPORT MEANS BEING INTERMITTENTLY MOVABLE IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME MEANS; PICK-UP MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MOVABLE IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID ONE DIRECTION BETWEEN AN UPPER AND A LOWER POSITION; DRIVE MEANS; FIRST TRANSMISSION MEANS CONNECTING SAID DRIVE MEANS WITH SAID FRAME MEANS AND SAID PICK-UP MEANS TO MOVE SAID FRAME MEANS BETWEEN SAID END POSITIONS AND TO MOVE SAID PICKUP MEANS FROM SAID UPPER TO SAID LOWER POSITION AND BACK TO SAID UPPER POSITION WHILE SAID FRAME MEANS IS IN ONE OF SAID END POSITIONS IN WHICH SAID WINDOW IS ALIGNED WITH SAID PICK-UP MEANS; AND SECOND TRANSMISSION MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID FRAME MEANS TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOVING THE LATTER IN SAID ONE DIRECTION DURING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME MEANS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION TO ALIGN A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID OTHER STACKS WITH SAID WINDOW DURING EACH MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME MEANS TO SAID ONE END POSITION.

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