US3279786A - Pneumatic apparatus for individually separating flat items - Google Patents
Pneumatic apparatus for individually separating flat items Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3279786A US3279786A US375556A US37555664A US3279786A US 3279786 A US3279786 A US 3279786A US 375556 A US375556 A US 375556A US 37555664 A US37555664 A US 37555664A US 3279786 A US3279786 A US 3279786A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- suction
- article
- articles
- nozzles
- stack
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H11/00—Feed tables
- B65H11/002—Feed tables incorporating transport belts
- B65H11/005—Suction belts
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
- B65H3/12—Suction bands, belts, or tables moving relatively to the pile
- B65H3/124—Suction bands or belts
- B65H3/126—Suction bands or belts separating from the bottom of pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
- B65H3/56—Elements, e.g. scrapers, fingers, needles, brushes, acting on separated article or on edge of the pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
- B65H5/22—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by air-blast or suction device
- B65H5/222—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by air-blast or suction device by suction devices
- B65H5/224—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by air-blast or suction device by suction devices by suction belts
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
- B65H2406/30—Suction means
- B65H2406/32—Suction belts
- B65H2406/323—Overhead suction belt, i.e. holding material against gravity
Definitions
- This invention relates to apparatus for individually pulling flat items off a pile of such items, and, more particularly, to apparatus for individually pulling flat items off a pile of such items at a rate which is determined by the lengths of the items themselves.
- Some systems utilize complex photoelectric arrangements or sensing arrangements to sense the trailing edge of conveyed items so that a second document can be conveyed a predetermined distance behind the trailing edge of a first document. Apparatus for accomplishing this has heretofore been complex and expensive.
- a feature of our invention is the provision of apparatus for individually pulling fiat items olf a stack of such items comprising suction means for effecting a pull-off of the items wherein the suction supplied to the suction means is interrupted by the conveyed articles themselves.
- Guide 1 in the view of the drawing, guides the first article 2 of a stack 3 of flat articles to a predetermined position with respect to suction nozzles 4a positioned along side 4 of chamber 5.
- Perforated belt 6 is led past and between suction nozzles 4a and leading article 2 to a conveying system 7 via idler pulley 8 and driver pulley 9.
- Conveying channel 7 is formed by a portion of belt 6 in cooperation with another perforated belt 10.
- Suction nozzles 41 are connected to a source of suction air via flexible tube 11 which is disposed below channel 7 and connects chamber to a chamber 12.
- Chamber 12 has suction nozzles 13:: along side 13, in cooperative relationship with suction nozzles 14a disposed along side 14 of a chamber 15.
- Tube 16 connects chamber to a source of suction air 17.
- Arrows 24 indicate the flow of air from nozzles 4a to source 17.
- the flow of air through nozzles 4a passes via chamber 5 and tube 11 into chamber 12, from chamber 12 via cooperative nozzles 13a and 3,279,786 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 nozzles 14a to chamber 15, and thence via tube 16 back to the source of suction air 17.
- Rollers 18 and 19, around which belt 10 is disposed, are pivotally mounted via brackets 20 and 21, respectively, for movement towards and away from the conveying channel. Brackets 20 and 21 are spring urged (not shown) so that belt 10 is urged against belt 6. It is important to note that the distance between suction nozzles 4a and suction nozzles 14a is less than the length of the shortest article 22 to be handled by the system.
- suction is applied to nozzles 4a via path 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 from suction source 17 as can be seen by arrows 24.
- Article 2 is drawn to belt 6 and conveyed therealong in the direction of arrow 23 to conveying channel 7.
- the flow of suction air is effectively cut off as the article interrupts the flow of air between nozzles 13a and 14a.
- suction air is once again supplied to nozzles 4a, and the next leading article 2 is drawn to the belt for conveyance to channel 7.
- conveying path 7 need not include the pull-off belt 6 but could employ a second endless belt disposed around a pulley so that it is positioned opposite to roller 19.
- Apparatus for individually pulling flat articles away from a stack of such articles comprising: an article con veying system, means for applying suction to one of the articles in the stack to draw it into the conveying system including a source of suction and means forming a suction path between said source and said article, said suction path crossing said conveying path and being so located at said crossing point that an article along said conveying path at said crossing point cuts off the suction to the articles in the stack.
- Apparatus for pulling flat articles away from a stack of such articles and feeding them to the conveying path of a conveying system comprising:
- pneumatic connecting means connecting said source of suction air to said first article comprising means forming a pneumatic path across said conveying path of a selected position therealong so that articles passing said selected position will interrupt the connection of said source of suction air to said first article.
- Apparatus for individually pulling flat articles away from a stack of such articles and feeding them to a conveying system comprising:
- said second suction nozzles being disposed on a first side of the path of said conveying system and said third suction nozzles being disposed opposite to said second suction nozzles on the opposite side of said conveying path whereby conveyed articles are disposed between said second and third suction nozzles when they are at said selected position with respect to said conveying system.
- said connecting means comprises first, and second, and third chambers containing said first, second, and third suction nozzles, respectively; first tube means pneumatically connecting said first chamber to said second chamber; and second tube means connecting said third chamber to said source of suction air.
- Apparatus for individually pulling flat articles away from a stack of such articles comprising:
- pneumatic connecting means connecting said source of suction air to said first set of suction nozzles via a pneumatic path which crosses said conveying path at a second position, said pneumatic path being so dimensioned and positioned that conveyed articles interrupt the flow of suction air to said first set of suction nozzles when they are disposed at said second position.
- said connecting means comprises a second set of suction nozzles disposed adjacent said conveying path, a third set of suction nozzles disposed opposite said second set of suction nozzles on the other side of said conveying path so that the portion of said pneumatic path which crosses said conveying path is from said second set of suction nozzles through said perforated belts to said third set of suction nozzles.
- said pneumatic connecting means comprises first, second, and third chambers containing said first, second, and third sets of suction nozzles, respectively; first tube means pneumatically connecting said first chamber to said second chamber; and second tube means connecting said third chamber to said source of suction air.
Description
Oct. 18, 1966 HfFLlEGNER ETAL 3,279,786
PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUALLY SEPARATING FLAT ITEMS Filed June 16, 1964 AIR INVENTORS HORST FL/E GI E/Q WER IVER H/NZ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,279,786 PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUALLY SEPARATING FLAT ITEMS Horst Fliegner and Werner Hinz, Berlin, Germany, as-
signors to International Standard Electric Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 16, 1964, Ser. No. 375,556 Claims priority, application Germany, June 24, 1963, St 20,767 9 Claims. (Cl. 271-12) This invention relates to apparatus for individually pulling flat items off a pile of such items, and, more particularly, to apparatus for individually pulling flat items off a pile of such items at a rate which is determined by the lengths of the items themselves.
In many article sorting systems (such as mail sorting systems) means must be provided for feeding fiat items from a pile of such items to a conveyor for subsequent processing. Present feeding means suffer from various disadvantages. Most feeding apparatus pull the articles off the stack at a predetermined rate. Systems utilizing this apparatus work very well if the articles have a uniform length, however, if the articles are not uniform in length, the pull-off rate must be such that it will be appropriate for the longest article. Therefore, when shorter articles are pulled off, there is a large distance between adjacent articles.
Some systems utilize complex photoelectric arrangements or sensing arrangements to sense the trailing edge of conveyed items so that a second document can be conveyed a predetermined distance behind the trailing edge of a first document. Apparatus for accomplishing this has heretofore been complex and expensive.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide improved apparatus for individually pulling flat items ofl? a stack of such items.
It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus for individually pulling flat articles off a stack of such articles at a rate which is dependent on the lengths of the articles themselves and which is of a simple and inexpensive construction.
A feature of our invention is the provision of apparatus for individually pulling fiat items olf a stack of such items comprising suction means for effecting a pull-off of the items wherein the suction supplied to the suction means is interrupted by the conveyed articles themselves.
The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which there is shown a schematic view of article-feeding apparatus in accordance with our invention.
Suction nozzles 41: are connected to a source of suction air via flexible tube 11 which is disposed below channel 7 and connects chamber to a chamber 12. Chamber 12 has suction nozzles 13:: along side 13, in cooperative relationship with suction nozzles 14a disposed along side 14 of a chamber 15. Tube 16 connects chamber to a source of suction air 17. Arrows 24 indicate the flow of air from nozzles 4a to source 17. The flow of air through nozzles 4a passes via chamber 5 and tube 11 into chamber 12, from chamber 12 via cooperative nozzles 13a and 3,279,786 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 nozzles 14a to chamber 15, and thence via tube 16 back to the source of suction air 17.
The operation of our apparatus will now be explained. Initially, suction is applied to nozzles 4a via path 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 from suction source 17 as can be seen by arrows 24. Article 2 is drawn to belt 6 and conveyed therealong in the direction of arrow 23 to conveying channel 7. When the article is disposed between nozzles 13a and 14a, the flow of suction air is effectively cut off as the article interrupts the flow of air between nozzles 13a and 14a. When the trailing edge of the article passes these nozzles, suction air is once again supplied to nozzles 4a, and the next leading article 2 is drawn to the belt for conveyance to channel 7. Therefore, it can be seen that the article itself is used to interrupt the flow of air to prevent a subsequent pull-off until the conveyed article has passed a particular position along conveying path 7. This position is selected by the positioning of nozzles 13a and 14a. It is to be noted that conveying path 7 need not include the pull-off belt 6 but could employ a second endless belt disposed around a pulley so that it is positioned opposite to roller 19.
While we have described the principles of our invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of our invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.
We claim:
1. Apparatus for individually pulling flat articles away from a stack of such articles comprising: an article con veying system, means for applying suction to one of the articles in the stack to draw it into the conveying system including a source of suction and means forming a suction path between said source and said article, said suction path crossing said conveying path and being so located at said crossing point that an article along said conveying path at said crossing point cuts off the suction to the articles in the stack.
. 2. Apparatus for pulling flat articles away from a stack of such articles and feeding them to the conveying path of a conveying system comprising:
(a) guide means for guiding the first article in said stack to a predetermined position;
(b) pneumatic means disposed adjacent said predetermined position for pulling the first article off said stack and feeding it to said conveying system;
(c) a source of suction air; and
(d) pneumatic connecting means connecting said source of suction air to said first article comprising means forming a pneumatic path across said conveying path of a selected position therealong so that articles passing said selected position will interrupt the connection of said source of suction air to said first article.
3. Apparatus for individually pulling flat articles away from a stack of such articles and feeding them to a conveying system comprising:
(a) guide means for guiding the first article in said stack to a predetermined position;
(b) first suction nozzles disposed adjacent said predetermined position;
(c) a first perforated endless belt;
(d) means supporting said endless belt for movement along a predetermined path, said predetermined path passing between said first suction nozzles and said predetermined position to said conveying system;
(c) a source of suction air; and a (f) means connecting said source to said first suction nozzles for drawing the first article in said stack to said belt for feeding said first article to said conveying system including means responsive to the presence of an article at a selected position with respect to said conveying system for interrupting the connection of said source of suction air to said first suction nozzles.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said respon sive means comprises second and third suction nozzles,
said second suction nozzles being disposed on a first side of the path of said conveying system and said third suction nozzles being disposed opposite to said second suction nozzles on the opposite side of said conveying path whereby conveyed articles are disposed between said second and third suction nozzles when they are at said selected position with respect to said conveying system.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said connecting means comprises first, and second, and third chambers containing said first, second, and third suction nozzles, respectively; first tube means pneumatically connecting said first chamber to said second chamber; and second tube means connecting said third chamber to said source of suction air.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first suction nozzles are disposed on said opposite side of said conveying path.
7. Apparatus for individually pulling flat articles away from a stack of such articles comprising:
v(a) first and second perforated belts;
(b) means supporting said belts to form a conveying path between portions of said belts;
(c) guide means guiding the leading article of said stack of fiat articles to a first position adjacent a portion of a first side of said first belt;
(d) a first set of suction nozzles disposed opposite said first position on the other side of said first belt;
(e) a source of suction air; and
(f) pneumatic connecting means connecting said source of suction air to said first set of suction nozzles via a pneumatic path which crosses said conveying path at a second position, said pneumatic path being so dimensioned and positioned that conveyed articles interrupt the flow of suction air to said first set of suction nozzles when they are disposed at said second position.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said connecting means comprises a second set of suction nozzles disposed adjacent said conveying path, a third set of suction nozzles disposed opposite said second set of suction nozzles on the other side of said conveying path so that the portion of said pneumatic path which crosses said conveying path is from said second set of suction nozzles through said perforated belts to said third set of suction nozzles.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said pneumatic connecting means comprises first, second, and third chambers containing said first, second, and third sets of suction nozzles, respectively; first tube means pneumatically connecting said first chamber to said second chamber; and second tube means connecting said third chamber to said source of suction air.
References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,166,312 1/1965 Rehm 271-32 3,212,772 10/1965 Ward 27l35 X M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.
ROBERT B. REEVES, Examiner.
A. N. KNOWLES, Assistant Examiner.
Claims (1)
1. APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUALLY PULLING FLAT ARTICLES AWAY FROM A STACK OF SUCH ARTICLES COMPRISING: AN ARTICLE CONVEYING SYSTEM, MEANS FOR APPLYING SUCTION TO ONE OF THE ARTICLES IN THE STACK TO DRAW IT INTO THE CONVEYING SYSTEM INCLUDING A SOURCE OF SUCTION AND MEANS FORMING A SUCTION PATH BETWEEN SAID SOURCE AND SAID ARTICLE, SAID SUCTION PATH CROSSING SAID CONVEYING PATH AND BEING SO LOCATED
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEST20767A DE1177174B (en) | 1963-06-24 | 1963-06-24 | Arrangement for the separation and removal of individual flat documents from a stack of documents |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3279786A true US3279786A (en) | 1966-10-18 |
Family
ID=7458700
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US375556A Expired - Lifetime US3279786A (en) | 1963-06-24 | 1964-07-16 | Pneumatic apparatus for individually separating flat items |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3279786A (en) |
| BE (1) | BE649648A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH431571A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE1177174B (en) |
| NL (1) | NL6406997A (en) |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3406963A (en) * | 1965-12-03 | 1968-10-22 | Int Paper Box Machine Co | Timed bottom feed magazine |
| US3583341A (en) * | 1969-11-05 | 1971-06-08 | Blue Bell Inc | Cloth-sorting and garment-forming apparatus |
| US3649002A (en) * | 1969-01-31 | 1972-03-14 | Licentia Gmbh | Suction belt separator for flat items |
| US4775139A (en) * | 1982-10-25 | 1988-10-04 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Sheet handling device |
| US5074539A (en) * | 1990-09-11 | 1991-12-24 | Ward Holding Company, Inc. | Feeding sheets of corrugated paperboard |
| US6494446B1 (en) * | 1999-03-24 | 2002-12-17 | Nec Corporation | Paper feeder |
| US6575450B2 (en) * | 2001-01-30 | 2003-06-10 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Singulation mechanism |
| US6644659B2 (en) * | 1999-01-25 | 2003-11-11 | Bell & Howell Mail And Messaging Technologies Company | Sheet feeder apparatus and method with throughput control |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3166312A (en) * | 1962-04-28 | 1965-01-19 | Telefunken Patent | Conveying device |
| US3212772A (en) * | 1962-07-16 | 1965-10-19 | William F Ward | Feed for rotary box making machine |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1810171A (en) * | 1924-05-14 | 1931-06-16 | Cross Paper Feeder Co | Paper feeding machine |
-
1963
- 1963-06-24 DE DEST20767A patent/DE1177174B/en active Pending
-
1964
- 1964-06-19 NL NL6406997A patent/NL6406997A/xx unknown
- 1964-06-22 CH CH813764A patent/CH431571A/en unknown
- 1964-06-24 BE BE649648D patent/BE649648A/xx unknown
- 1964-07-16 US US375556A patent/US3279786A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3166312A (en) * | 1962-04-28 | 1965-01-19 | Telefunken Patent | Conveying device |
| US3212772A (en) * | 1962-07-16 | 1965-10-19 | William F Ward | Feed for rotary box making machine |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3406963A (en) * | 1965-12-03 | 1968-10-22 | Int Paper Box Machine Co | Timed bottom feed magazine |
| US3649002A (en) * | 1969-01-31 | 1972-03-14 | Licentia Gmbh | Suction belt separator for flat items |
| US3583341A (en) * | 1969-11-05 | 1971-06-08 | Blue Bell Inc | Cloth-sorting and garment-forming apparatus |
| US4775139A (en) * | 1982-10-25 | 1988-10-04 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Sheet handling device |
| US5074539A (en) * | 1990-09-11 | 1991-12-24 | Ward Holding Company, Inc. | Feeding sheets of corrugated paperboard |
| US6644659B2 (en) * | 1999-01-25 | 2003-11-11 | Bell & Howell Mail And Messaging Technologies Company | Sheet feeder apparatus and method with throughput control |
| US6494446B1 (en) * | 1999-03-24 | 2002-12-17 | Nec Corporation | Paper feeder |
| US6575450B2 (en) * | 2001-01-30 | 2003-06-10 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Singulation mechanism |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CH431571A (en) | 1967-03-15 |
| BE649648A (en) | 1964-12-24 |
| NL6406997A (en) | 1964-12-28 |
| DE1177174B (en) | 1964-09-03 |
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