US3401930A

US3401930A - Machine for receiving and translating sheet material for trimming, slicing, scoring or perforating

Info

Publication number: US3401930A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lewis H Bishop
Original assignee: PIERCE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT CO
Current assignee: PIERCE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT CO
Priority date: 1965-10-24
Filing date: 1965-10-24
Publication date: 1968-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 1985-09-17

Description

Sept. 1 6 1.. H. BISHOP 3,401,93

MACHINE FOR RECEIVING AND TRANSLATING SHEET MATERIAL FOR ERIMMING, SLICING, SCORING OR'= PERFORATING Filed Oct. 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR:

Lewis H. Bishop Attorneys T i T Sept. 17, 1968 L. H. BISHOP 3,401,930

' MACHINE FOR RECEIVING AND TRANSLATING SHEET MATERIAL FOR TRIMMING, SLICING, SCORING OR PERFORATING Filed Oct. 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 F i g. 3 MNVENTOR.

- Lewis H. Bishop Attorneys Sept. 17, 1968 L. H.- BISHOP 3,401,930

MACHINE FOR RECEIVING AND TRANSLATING SHEET MATERIAL FOR TRIMMING, SLICING, SCORING OR PERFORATING Flled Oct 24 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 6'

INVENTOR. Lewis H. Bishop BY Attorneys Sept. 17, 1968 op 3,401,930

MACHINE FOR RECEIVING AND TRANSLATING SHEET MATERIAL FOR TRIMMING, SLICINGW SCORING OR PERFORATING Filed OCC. 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 u I NVENTOR.

N Q Lewis H. Bishop BY Afrorneys Sept. 17, 1968 L. H. BISHOP 3,401,930 MACHINE FOR RECEIVING AND TRANSLATING SHEET MATERIAL FOR TRIMMING, SLICING, SCORING OR PERFORATING 6 SheetsSheet 6 SHEET SCORING SLICING,

' L. H. BISHOP OR PERFORATING INVENTOR. Lewis H. Bishop Attorneys Sept. 17, 1968 MACHINE FOR macmvme AND TRANSLATING MATERIAL FOR TRIMMING,

Filed Oct. 24. 1965 United States Patent 3,401,930 MACHINE FUR RECEIVINGAND TRANSLATIN SHEET MATERIAL FOR TRIMMING, SLICING, SCORING 0R PERFORATING Lewis Bishop, San Carlos, Calif., assignor to Pierce Specialized Equipment Company, San Mateo, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,732 4 Claims. (Cl. 271-52) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for receiving and translating sheet material for trimming, slicing, scoring, or perforating the paper includes a feed table formed of rotating rods serving to accelerate paper received thereon and moving in a given direction. A guide member engages the leading edge of the paper and rotating canted wheels positively engage the leading edge of the sheet being fed and urge it into registration with the alignment guide while feeding the sheet unit into sheet treating means, such as a rotary cutting blade. The leading edge of the sheet unit so engaged by the rotating feeding wheels is positively engaged between the lowermost of a stack of rotating balls disposed above an associated one of the feed wheels. As the sheets are fed through the sheet slicing means, such as the rotary blade, the subdivided parts of each sheet unit are cammed laterally apart and carried forward on a creeper table. The accelerating rollers of the feed table operate at a speed and include a path length whereby each sheet unit fed is quickly advanced away from the next succeeding sheet unit whereby sheets are fed one at a time across the feed table and through the sheet slicing blades. Above the sheet units a jet blast of air serves to retain the sheet units adhered to the rollers of the feed table.

This invention relates generally to machines for receiving individual units of sheet material moving along a path in a given direction and for accurately translating the units in another direction laterally of the path to present a side edge of the sheet units as the leading edge for further processing of the sheet in the second direction. The invention is particularly useful in the preparation of printed forms and the like wherein delivery of the forms is taken from collating equipment for subsequent perforating, scoring, trimming or severing at nonstandard dimensions.

An especially useful application of the equipment herein relates to trimming forms of standard dimension to non-standard lengths. In the preparation of business forms, a large proportion of the forms which are prepared can be cut to finished size on collating equipment as generally used.

Where forms are ordered in odd sizes, ordinarily they must be cut down from sizes prepared on the collator. In many printing shops, the preparation of these oddsized jobs constitutes something of a bottle-neck, but for reasons of customer service, these jobs cannot be ignored.

Certain improved paper cutters have been suggested for minimizing these difficulties but with limited success.

One machine for perforating, scoring or slicing batches of business forms into selected dimensions is shown and described in my U.S. Letters Patent- 3,122,040. In the above patent, batches of forms are manually positioned in a feed hopper and run through rotary knives, or, if desired, perforators or scoring means, which engage the forms along a line normal to the leading edge being fed through the equipment. Inasmuch as each batch of forms can be manually positioned in the hopper, any one of the four edges of the forms can be presented and properly registered with the rotary knives.

"ice

It is a general object of the present invention to improve upon the prior machine and system of handling and producing individual units of sheet material. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine adapted to take delivery of forms from the collator cut-off and to feed them in 'a manner whereby they can be trimmed, cut, perforated or scored transversely of that dimension thereof corresponding to the direction of movement of the forms moving out of the collator cut-off. I Y

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for receiving individual units of sheet material moving along a path in one direction and for accurately translating the units to move in a direction laterally of the path so as to present a side edge of the sheet units as the leading edge for further scoring, perforating or slicing in the second direction.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of improved apparatus of the kind described wherein means are provided for laterally separating the severed portions of forms which are run through the machine.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an improved positive alignment means which serves to accurately register the leading edge of those forms which are to be severed whereby the line of severance will be disposed in exact parallelism to the registered leading edge of the forms, or to transverse lines of printing on the sheet units where the collator cut-oft is untrue and needs corrected trimming.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine wherein sheet units are handled in an improved manner to provide enhanced accuracy of registration in presenting same to perforating, scoring and slicing means.

Yet another object of the invention includes the provision, in apparatus of the kind described, of means for improved weight loading ofthe positive sheet engaging and aligning means.

An additional object of theinvention is the provision of a machine of the kind described arranged so as to provide separation between successively received units being treated so that each is separately prepared.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, when considered in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of apparatus according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation end view, partially broken away, of apparatus according to FIGURE 1 taken along the line 2-2 thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation section view of apparatus according to FIGURE 1 taken along the line 33 thereof;

FIGURE 3A is an enlarged detailed view in section taken along the line 3A-3A of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of apparatus according to FIGURE 1 taken along the line 4-4 thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation section view of apparatus according to FIGURE 1 taken along the line 5-5 thereof; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detailed view in section taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the direction changing and alignment means of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

The following description relates primarily to the trimming of standard dimensioned forms to non-standard lengths. As used herein, the term sheet unit is intended to include those multi-part forms, though not of a single sheet thickness, commonly prepared by collating several sheets together with or without interleaved carbon sheets as, for example, in the manufacture of so-called snapout" forms. On the other hand, a sheet unit can consist of a single sheet of material such as a paper or the like as might be delivered from any type of paper converting machine which delivers paper in sheet form for further processing after delivery, such as a printing press, die cutting machine, laminating machine, etc. For convenience of expression, the term collator as used herein is intended to include any type of collator or other paper converting machine.

The equipment as referred to above, in general, is arranged to be disposed as a single unit to take delivery of the outflow of sheet units emanating from the collator cut-off and to translate and feed them laterally into registration with rotary cutting knives or the like. When the sheet units are to be severed, the individual sheet units will be laterally separated and delivered to a conventional creeper table.

The machine is positioned between the collator cutoff and the creeper table and serves to accelerate the sheets rapidly in their direction of delivery from the collator until engaged by positive alignment means whereby the leading edge of each sheet unit is engaged and directed into parallel registration with the line of severence of the rotary knives, perforators or the like.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there is provided a continuous uninterrupted flow of sheets from the collator to a receiving area (such as provided by the collator cut-ofi delivery platform). The system entails precision trimming, perforating, slicing or otherwise treating each sheet unit individually along lines extending transversely of the direction of delivery of the sheet units from the collator. Where the collator cut-off is not perfectly true, the sheet unit can be adjustably registered to cause cutting, perforating, etc. to occur parallel to the printed lines or other desired alignment.

A delivery table, layboy or other suitable means defining a platform is shown at for presenting a flow of sheet units 11 moving in a given direction 12, as from a collator. Delivery table 10 includes a lay edge or side guide 15 which serves to generally align the side edge 14 of a sheet unit 11.

As shown best in FIGURE 2-5, the apparatus comprises a generally table-like framework constructed to include end and

side panels

16, 17, respectively, arranged in a rectangular box-like configuration with vertical legs 18 disposed at the corners. End and

side panels

16, 17 are reinforced and braced by angle iron braces 19.

Sheet feeding means including feed rollers is arranged along the upper side edge of the table-like framework in position to take delivery of sheet units 11 moving across the delivery table 10. The sheet feeding means is disposed across the direction 12 of flow of the sheet units so as to engage their leading edges 21. In one arrangement the feed rollers 26 make a light skidding friction contact with the sheet unit prior to cut-off of the latter. Af-ter cut-off the unit 11 is freed to be fed onward by rollers 26.

As shown best in FIGURES 2 and 3, the sheet feeding means includes a pair of end support plates 22, 23 carried by the main framework of the machine at opposite sides of delivery table 10. A deflector plate 24 is rotatably supported above the path of the sheet units so that it can be disposed at a selected angle to form a throat leading into laterally spaced vertically disposed pairs of feed rollers 26. The construction of feed rollers 26 is substantially the same as the feed rollers disclosed in the above identified patent and, therefore, will not be further elaborated upon herein other than to observe that the rollers are driven about vertically spaced

parallel axles

27, 28 by a variable speed drive means, now to be described. They are driven fast enough to provide an initial acceleration to each of the sheet units 11. In certain applications it may be desired to perforate, score or slit each sheet unit as it passes through the rollers 26 and means for doing so may be mounted on

shafts

27 and 28. The variable speed drive means is best shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 and includes an ably supported by a pair of channel members 31 secured to the frame of the machine. The motor rotates an output shaft which is coupled by a clutch 32 into a gear box 33. Gear box 33 serves to supply a variable speed output which appears on shaft 34 to which is affixed a belt driving wheel 34'. The wheel 34' is coupled by a belt drive 35 to a wheel 36 afiixed to axle 28 to rotate same, the feed rollers 26 thereby rotating in opposite directions to engage and feed sheet units 11 from left to right as shown in FIGURE 2.

The gear box ratio can be varied in suitably known manner by the adjustment arm 37 which is provided with a clevis 38 threaded to be received on an adjustment screw 39. Rotation of screw 39 in either of its opposite directions serves to rotate arm 37 accordingly to vary the gear ratio and thereby adjust the speed of the gear box output 34. Screw 39 can be rotated by the rotatable crank 41 (FIG- URE 4) via a pair of bevel gears 42 and the reach rod 43. The manual crank 41 is conveniently located, as is switch 30, within reach of an operator stationed at location 44 (FIGURE 1) where he can conveniently observe the outflow of sheet units moving along table 10 and also monitor the further movement of sheet units across an acceleration feed table 46.

The feed table 46 is disposed downstream of the feed rollers 26 so as to take delivery of sheet units 11 from the feed rollers and further speed them up to separate each from the next. Table 46, therefore, is referred to hereinafter as an acceleration table. In general, acceleration table 46 includes a series of conveyor rollers 47 axially disposed substantially normal to the direction of arrow 12 and spaced in parallel relation along the direction of arrow 12.

Thus, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, rollers 47 of the acceleration table are journalled at their opposite ends in a pair of channel members 48, 49. Each channel member 48, 49 is serrated along its upper edge to form a series of tabs 51 which offer a slight resilience when installing and axially adjusting rollers 47. Bearing means are employed to journal the ends of rollers 47 in tabs 51 and further description is not believed necessary. Rollers 47 are suitably mounted so that they can be driven in unison by means, now to be described.

In order to drive rollers 47 in unison, the gear box output 34, such as a stub shaft, is coupled to drive a belt 52 to rotate a drive spindle 53 shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. Spindle 53 is journalled in angle member 19 and extends through the end panel 16. Spindle 53 carries a pulley 54 which drives a belt 56 disposed to rotate each of the acceleration rollers 47 by a friction drive arrangement.

Thus, the upper stretch 57 of belt 56 is disposed between a line of pressure rollers 58 each mounted for rotation on its own spindle, and the lower periphery of each of the rollers 47. Pressure rollers 58 are disposed between each successive pair of conveyor rollers 47. Pressure rollers 58 are disposed to cause the upper stretch 57 of belt 56 to move slightly out of a straight line as it passes between the pressure rollers 58 and rollers 47 and to bear upwardly against rollers 47. In this manner, the acceleration table rollers 47 are driven at the same speed. Thus, feed rollers 26 and acceleration table rollers 47 serve to quickly speed up the movement of each sheet unit 11 as it enters thereon so as to separate each from the next. The pulleys of the belt drive arrangement are dimensioned such that the peripheral speed of the conveyor rollers is faster than that of feed rollers 26 whereby each sheet unit is further accelerated for purposes described further below.

Conveyor rollers 47 serve to carry each sheet unit forwardly in the direction of arrow 12 and, beneath a pair of laterally spaced anti-buckling bars 59. Bars 59 serve to prevent sheet units from buckling upwardly during their movement across table 46. Bars 59 are slidably positionable laterallyof the direction of arrow 12. Air jet clamp means also is provided and includes a pipe 60 having a plurality of holes 60a through its lower side, the holes 60a preferably being inclined in the direction of sheet unit travel across table 46. The pipe is adjustably mounted in spaced relation over table 46 and between bars -59. Pipe 60 is connected to a source (not shown) of air under pressure.

Means forming a registration guide across the path of sheet units moving in the direction of arrow 12 engage, and register with, the leading edge of each sheet unit 11. Inasmuch as the sheet units are to be laterally translated, the guide means serves to define a second direction of movement for the sheet units which is substantially normal to the first direction 12. The side edge 14 of each sheet unit becomes the leading edge as each is fed into rotary cutting knives, perforators, scorers or the like.

Accordingly, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 6, a registration guide member 61 is disposed along the upper side edge of table 46 opposite the feed rollers 26. Registration guide member 61 is a channel member formed to include an elongated lower leaf 62 and an upper leaf 63. Leaves 62 and 63 are bent to form an acute angle therebetween which serves to define a registration edge 64 against which the leading edge 21 of each sheet unit can be aligned for feeding the side edge 14 thereof into rotary cutting knife means located at the upper end of table 46 as shown in FIGURE 1. The upper edge of leaf 63 is bent upwardly to form a sliding way 66 whereby the bars 59 are supported to slide thereon, as by means of the channelled support extensions 67.

Means for supporting guide member 61 whereby registration edge 64 can be varied to accurately define the direction of desired movement of the sheet units into the cutting knives has been provided. Thus, where the collator cut-off is providing an untrue transverse cut the registration edge 64 can be adjusted to true up the sheet unit being prepared. Thus the rotary knives can cut on the square or off-square.

The opposite ends of member 61, as shown in FIGURE 1, are supported (FIGURE 3) by an inverted I-shaped adjustable assembly 68, 69, respectively, wherein the legs of the I can be adjustably spaced. Assemblies 68, 69 are of like construction and therefore reference is to be made only to one of the two.

An angle member 71 extending along the left edge of table 46 in FIGURE 1 is secured, as by welding, for example, to the upper edge of table 46. The longer leg 72 of assembly 68 is bolted to extend upwardly from angle member 71. The lower end of the shorter leg 73 isriveted, as by the rivet 74, to carry the upwardly extending way portion 66 of registration guide member 61 (FIGURE 6). Thumb screws 75 are adapted to engage the transversely extending support arm 76 to provide adjustable spacing between

legs

72, 73. As thus arranged, the

legs

72, 73 can be spaced apart as desired and by suitably adjusting the spacing between the

legs

72, 73 of each assembly, the registration edge 64 can be accurately aligned.

Inasmuch as the rotary knife means for slitting, perforating or scoring sheet units has previously been described in my prior US. Patent 3,122,040, as shown, for example, in FIGURE 5 thereof, further description herein is not believed warranted beyond the brief mention of various of the elements thereof sufficient to aid in a clear understanding.

Accordingly, a rotary knife blade 77 cooperates with a rotary die wheel 78, each of which is mounted upon a

journalled shaft

79, 81, respectively, for rotation therewith. A guard 82 consisting of a transparent pane mounted upon hinges 83 lies above the rotary cutting knives 77. Sheet feeding means (FIGURE 6) or

feed rollers

84, 86 respectively in the form of pull wheels and pull rollers are mounted for rotation with their respective supporting

axles

79, 81. Rotary perforators and scorers can also be similarly disposed.

Means for driving the last named sheet feeding means independently includes a belt drive and motor arrangement as previously described above with respect to the drive means for feed rollers 26. Independent control of the speed adjustment of each is advantageous since, as is later noted, it is intended that each sheet unit be clear of the acceleration table before aligning the next sheet unit with the rotary knives. Thus, where edge 14 is quite short and edge 21 remains standard, less feeding time is required at feed rollers 26 than at feed rollers 84.

Thus, there is shown a switch for the motor 87, and a drive belt 88 coupled to the output of a gear box 89, controlled by a reach-rod operated by adjustment crank 91 (FIGURE 1). Crank 91 serves to operate a speed adjustment screw 92. From the foregoing description as well as from that appearing in the above identified patent, it will be readily evident that motor 87 serves to drive the

feed rollers

84, 86 whereby sheets are fed therebetween. As they pass between

rollers

84, 86 the cutting knives 77 cooperate with the cutting dies 78 to slit the sheets along their direction of movement. Knives 77 are readily spaceable on their supporting shafts by means of a single set screw (not shown) extending radially through the hub 93 of each. Dies 78 are similarly adjustable.

Positive acting alignment means now to be described serve to engage and urge the leading edge 21 of each sheet unit 11 against the registration guide edge 64 so as to ensure effective registration therewith. The positive acting alignment means further serves to translate the sheet units 11 to move in a direction normal to that defined by arrow 12.

The alignment means is shown best in FIGURES 5 and 6 and includes a series of alignment rollers 93, each of which is afiixed on an axle 94 journaled for rotation in pillow blocks 95. Rollers 93 are canted in common at a slight angle, for example, on the order of 5, to the registration edge 64. The periphery of each roller 93 includes a cylindrical portion 93a and a bevelled portion 96. Portion 93a lies substantially in the plane defined by the tops of conveyor rollers 47 so as to receive a sheet unit 11 thereon. Thus, the plane of the acceleration table as defined by the tops of conveyor rollers 47 is substantially tangent to the periphery 93a of alignment rollers 93 so as to lead the edge 21 of each sheet unit into engagement with the periphery of the alignment rollers. Cylindrical portion 93a of each roller 93 extends upwardly through openings 97 formed in the lower leaf 62 of member 61. Preferably the cylindrical surface 93a is formed of a soft elastomeric material (such as rubber or synthetic elastorner) to provide increased friction and to cushion the forces applied by the ball follower means now to be described.

In order to further ensure positive engagement of the sheets being fed, spherical balls 98, preferably of steel, but which may be constructed of glass, or other hard material are loosely disposed for rotation in circular openings 99 formed in upper leaf 63 of a diameter permitting balls 98 to ride upon portion 93a.

It has been found particularly desirable to further weight load the steel balls 98 variously with selected weights depending upon the sheet material being fed and the position of the alignment assembly in the series. A selected number of additional steel balls 101 are carried above and in freely rotatable contact with balls 98 by means of the open ended tubes 102 located directly above and in line with balls 98. Tubes 102 are carried in L-shaped supporting brackets 104 and are selectively vertically adjustable by means of the thumb screws 103.

As will be readily evident from the description shown in FIGURE 6, any number of additional balls 101 can be employed by dropping them into tube 102 so as to select the weight to be applied to the sheet engaging balls 98. Thus, where additional weight is to be applied, balls 101 can be merely dropped into the tubes 102. It will be further evident that all of the balls 98 and 101 can be readily removed by raising the tubes 10'2 sufficiently to permit removal of the balls 98, 101.

As explained further below, the first of the series of balls 98 is positioned to engage the margin ofeach sheet 7 unit at the corner defined by edges 21 and 14. The weight loading of this first ball can advantageously be greater than the Weight applied to later balls 98 of the series as explained further below.

Means serving to drive the alignment rollers 93 in unison so as to move the sheet units both towards the guide edge 64 and also in the direction defined by guide edge 64, serve to feed the sheet units into the rotary knives 77 as shown best in FIGURES and 6. Motor 87 drives a drive belt 105 which is coupled through pulley 106 to drive a belt 107. Belt 107 is trained over a pulley 151 which is atfixed to one of the axles 94 to drive the same. A gear belt 152 is passed over gear pulleys, such as sheaves 108 aflixed to each of the axles 94. Pressure rollers 109 are spaced substantially midway between the innermost adjacent pair of sheaves 108 and serve to urge the upper run of belt 152 into frictional engagement with these sheaves 10 8, the outermost sheaves being positively engaged by the tension in the belt 152. Each pressure roller 109 rotates on a spindle 111 mounted to a suitable frame member so as to dispose rollers 109 directly over the line of sheaves 108.

From the foregoing, it will be readily evident that clockwise rotation of belt 107, as shown in FIGURE 5, will serve to cause rollers 93 to direct the leading edge 21 of each sheet unit at an oblique angle into the alignment edge 64 and to laterally translate the sheet unit whereby edge 14 becomes the leading edge as it enters into the rotary knives, perforators, scorers or the like.

As shown best in FIGURES 6 and 7, the plurality of alignment rollers 93 are disposed as a series extending toward the

feed rollers

84, 86 and are closely adjacent the guide edge 64 (FIGURE 6). It has been found particularly desirable that the first of the series of positive acting alignment rollers 93 be located so as to engage the margin of each sheet unit 11 in the general region 112 thereof (FIGURE 1) as defined by that corner formed by the intersection of edge 21 and edge 14. Accordingly, the first of the positive alignment assemblies 90 has been so disposed. In this manner, notwithstanding the fact that the sheet unit may approach the guide edge 64 cocked at an angle, by first engaging the sheet unit at region 112, the sheet unit will be permitted to swing into alignment with guide edge 64. If region 112 is ahead of the trailing corner region 115, then the trailing corner along edge 21 remains free to swing into registration with edge 64. If region 115 precedes region 112 the opposite is true.

To insure entry and firm engagement of region 112 between ball 98 and portion 93a of the first alignment roller 93, weight loading of the latter can preferably be greater than for subsequent alignment assemblies 90, or equal to the second assembly 90 and then diminishing. Further, the weight loading can advantageously be gradually diminished from one assembly 90 to the next whereby positive engagement occurs immediately and is retained until just preceding entry into

feed rollers

84, 86.

A sufiicient number of the alignment assemblies 90 has been provided 'so that they extend up to a region adjacent the feed rollers 84 to give positive aligning engagement of the sheet unit continuously until the sheet unit becomes engaged by the

feed rollers

84, 86 thereby ensuring continued parallelism in the feeding of each sheet.

It is further preferred that the peripheral speed of the conveyor rollers 47 and the alignment rollers 93 be capable of being driven at speeds such that, when considered with the path length between the feed rollers 26 and feed rollers 84 and their respective speeds that each sheet unit 11 leaves the feed rollers 84 before the next subsequent sheet unit 11 leaves feed rollers 26. In this manner, each sheet unit is separated from the next and run through the rotary knives 77 without interference from following sheets.

As each unit 11 is fed to the knives, conveyor rollers 47 continue to urge the unit into the alignment rollers to quicken the registration with edge 64 thereby permitting greatest possible sheet feeding speeds to be obtained.

During the movement of sheet units towards the rotary knives 77, any tendency for them to buckle upwardly can be resisted by a whisker 117 selectively positionable along the length of a transverse shaft 119.

Separating partitions 114 extend in the same direction of movement as the sheet units moving through the rotary knives 77. Partitions 114 are disposed downstream of the feed rollers 84 whereby the severed portions of the sheet units are separated laterally one from the other after they have been slit.

Each partition 114 is formed to include a face cam portion 116, the pitch of which becomes progressively greater for each successive partition spaced further removed from that partition 114 serving to guide the earlier leading edge 21 of the sheet unit. As a sheet unit passes through the rotary knives 77 and is servered, the severed portions move ahead until contracting the face cam portions 116. Cam portions 116 are sufficiently far removed from the rotary knives so that as the severed portions contact cams 116 the severance will have been fully completed. At that point, the severed portions are moved laterally a limited amount in order to aid in the subsequent gathering of the severed portions. The portion are retained flat by means of the whiskers 117 and paperweight rollers 118 carried upon a shaft 119 loosely journalled and permitting veritcal movement in slots 121 of the mounting brackets 122 at each end of shaft 119.

Partitions 114 are supported upon a shaft 123 and are selectively spaced as desired by means of the thumb screws 124. Partitions 114 extend sufiiciently beyond the feed rollers 84 whereby partitions 114 can overhang the delivery ramp 126 of a creeper table 127 of conventional construction. Thus, as is known, a creeper table 127 can employ a drive motor 128 serving to slowly move a cyclic belt 129. Thus, the creeper table 127 and belt 129 provide a delivery area for taking delivery of the severed portions of each sheet unit after it is fed through the rotary knives 77.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that odd sized forms and other types of sheet material can be readily processed for slitting, perforating or scoring, or otherwise preparing same in a direction parallel to the leading edge 21 thereof as they are received from a delivery platform or table such as is found at the output cut-off of a collator apparatus.

I claim:

1. Sheet handling apparatus comprising a feed table for receiving and conveying a flow of sheet units moving in a first direction, said feed table including a series of parallel spaced rollers extending transversely of said direction, means for driving said rollers to convey said sheet units in said direction, rotary sheet treating means having a blade mounted for rotation in a second direction substantially normal to said first direction and disposed to engage the sheet units moving in the second direction, a registration guide extending in said second direction and disposed across the path of sheet units moving in said first direction, said guide serving to engage and register an edge of each sheet unit with the second direction prior to feeding same to said rotary treating means, at least one of said conveyor rollers being disposed adjacent said guide and driven to continuously urge each sheet unit toward said guide during registration of the edge thereof with the guide, and positive alignment means, adjacent said guide, acting at a slight angle to said second direction to engage and feed said sheet units in said second direction toward said rotary sheet treating means while simultaneously urging said sheet units toward and into positive registration with said guide.

2. Sheet handling appartus for receiving, from a delivery platform, an outflow of sheet units moving in a given direction and for conveying and registering the sheets in alignment with, and for feeding same to, rotary blade means disposed to engage and treat the sheets along a line transversely of said direction, the apparatus comprising first sheet feeding means adapted to be positioned to take delivery of sheet units from the delivery platform, said feeding means being disposed across the direction of fiow of said sheet units and serving to engage the leading edge of the sheet units as they move in said direction and to move said sheet units further along said direction, an acceleration table disposed downstream of the first sheet feeding means to take delivery of sheet units therefrom and accelerate each said sheet unit in said direction to separate the sheet units one from the next in said direction, said acceleration table including a series of conveyor rollers axially disposed to extend substantially normal to said direction and spaced in parallel relation along said direction, means for driving said rollers in unison at a peripheral speed serving to accelerate each sheet unit in said direction upon receipt thereof from said first sheet feeding means and disposed to carry said accelerated sheet units forwardly in said direction, means forming a registration guide across the path of said sheet units to engage and register the leading edge of each she t unit therewith, said guide serving to define a second direction of movement for said sheet units substantially normal to said first direction, at least one of said conveyor rollers being disposed adjacent said guide and driven to continuously urge each sheet unit toward said guide to register the edge thereof with the guide, second sheet feeding means and rotary blade means disposed to feed and treat said sheet units in said second direction and deliver same to a receiving area, positive alignment means adjacent said guide means for aligning said sheet units with said second direction prior to feeding same into said rotary blade means, said alignment means serving to engage said leading edge of each sheet unit moving in said first direction and laterally translate same to move in the direction of said leading edge, the last named direction corresponding to said second direction, said positive alignment means being canted to act at a slight angle to said second direction to engage and urge said leading edge of the sheet units against said registration guide while moving said sheet units therealong.

3. Sheet handling apparatus for receiving, from a delivery platform, an outflow of sheet units moving in a given direction and for conveying and registering the sheets in alignment with, and for feeding same to, rotary blade means disposed to engage and treat the sheets along a line transversely of said direction, the apparatus comprising first sheet feeding means adapted to be positioned to take delivery of sheet units from the delivery platform, said feeding means being disposed across the direction of fiow of said sheet units and serving to engage the leading edge of the sheet units as they move in said direction and to move said sheet units further along said direction, an acceleration table disposed downstream of the first sheet feeding means to take delivery of sheet units thereform and accelerate each said sheet unit to separate the sheet units one from the next, said acceleration table including a series of conveyor rollers axially disposed to extend substantially normal to said direction and spaced in parallel relation along said direction, means for driving said rollers in unison at a peripheral speed serving to accelerate each sheet unit upon receipt thereof from said first sheet feeding means and disposed to carry said accelerated sheet units forwardly in said direction, means forming a registration guide across the path of said sheet units to engage and register the leading edge of each sheet unit therewith, said guide serving to define a second direction of movement for said sheet units substantially normal to said first direction, second sheet feeding means and rotary blade means disposed to feed and treat said sheet units in said second direction and deliver same to a receiving area, positive alignment means adjacent said guide means for aligning said sheet units with said second direction prior to feeding same into said rotary blade means, said alignment means serving to engage said leading edge of each sheet unit moving in said first direction and laterally translate same to move in the direction of said leading edge, the last named direction corresponding to said second direction, said positive alignment means being canted to act at a slight angle to said second direction to engage and urge said leading edge of the sheet units against said registration guide while moving said sheet units therealong, said positive alignment means comprising a plurality of alignment rollers each disposed to rotate in a plane disposed at said slight angle, the plane of the acceleration table being substantially tangent to r the periphery of said alignment rollers to feed the leading edge of sheet units into engagement with said alignment rollers, and means for driving said alignment rollers to move the sheet units both toward said guide and said second sheet feeding means, means including freely rotatable spheres disposed above, and in engagement with, the periphery of the alignment rollers to receive each said sheet unit between the roller periphery and a sphere riding thereon, and means for selectively weight loading said spheres into engagement with the periphery of said alignment rollers, the last named said means comprising container means open at the bottom holding one or more additional spheres loosely above, and supported for free rotation upon, the first named spheres, the weight of said additional spheres serving to provide said weight loading.

4. In sheet handling apparatus for translating sheet units moving in a given direction to move in another direction substantially normal thereto, feeding and aligning apparatus comprising means forming a feed table to support the sheet units moving thereacross in a plane, means forming a registration guide disposed to extend in the last named direction across the path of said sheet units, means serving to transfer the sheets in said first direction into engagement with said guide, a plurality of relatively narrow wheels disposed adjacent said guide and said plane, the periphery of said wheels being beveled and substantially flush with said plane to engage said sheet units adjacent said guide for advancing said sheet units in the second named direction, said wheels being mounted for rotation upon axles inclined at a relatively narrow angle in a substantially horizontal plane with respect to the first named direction to urge the sheet units into said guide while advancing the sheet units therealong, and means serving to urge the edge of the sheet units into engagement with the wheels, the last named means comprising a hollow upstanding container open at the bottom and adapted to carry a stack of balls, the bottom-most ball being disposed to ride upon the periphery of one of said wheels to form a nip therewith for receiving the edge of a sheet unit therein, the additional balls thereabove serving to provide weight loading thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,872,424 8/1932 Drake 198-105 2,124,855 7/1938 Hitchcock 271-52 2,181,241 11/1939 Kleem 271-52 2,249,186 7/ 1941 Spiess 271-52 2,539,401 1/ 1951 Carl et al. 83-105 X 2,674,456 4/ 1954 Gibson 271-52 3,122,040 2/ 1964 Bishop 83-94 3,148,877 9/1964 Brearley 271-52 3,207,017 9/1965 McCain 83-105 X FOREIGN PATENTS 937,511 9/ 1963 Great Britain.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

M. L. AIEMAN, Assistant Examiner.