US3525517A - Sheet feeding apparatus - Google Patents

Sheet feeding apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3525517A
US3525517A US682252A US3525517DA US3525517A US 3525517 A US3525517 A US 3525517A US 682252 A US682252 A US 682252A US 3525517D A US3525517D A US 3525517DA US 3525517 A US3525517 A US 3525517A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
shaft
sheet
stack
sheets
rollers
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
Application number
US682252A
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English (en)
Inventor
Dennis E Toby
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AB Dick Co
Original Assignee
Multigraphics Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Multigraphics Inc filed Critical Multigraphics Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3525517A publication Critical patent/US3525517A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
    • B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators

Definitions

  • a horizontal tray supports a stack of sheets to be fed one at a time from the stack by a spaced pair of rotatable friction rollers.
  • the rollers are supported on a shaft mounted for free pivotal movement in a vertical direction so that the rollers engage the top sheet with equal forces and skewed feeding is prevented.
  • a member engages the shaft between the rollers and serves to both pivotally support the shaft, and also to rotate the shaft in order to advance a sheet.
  • the present invention relates to apparatus for feeding individual sheets from the top of a stack of sheets, and has for a primary object the provision of novel apparatus for feeding sheets without skewing.
  • Known sheet feeding assemblies may include a tray or table or other support upon which is placed a stack of sheets to be fed one by one.
  • Friction rollers, wheels or other feed members rest upon the top of the stack, and are rotated to advance the upper-most sheet from the stack into a copy making machine or other sheet utilizing apparatus.
  • the friction rollers or other members may be mounted on a shaft which is maintained in a fixed horizontal orientation and which is movable in a vertical direction so that the friction rollers continue to engage the uppermost sheet as the stack is diminished.
  • means are provided for rotating the shaft when it is desired to advance a sheet from the stack.
  • Skewed feeding results when one side of the sheet is fed faster than the other side so that the leading edge of the sheet is advanced at an angle away from the stack.
  • a skewed sheet can become fouled in the machine and cause jamming or the like. Even if the sheet does not become jammed, a copy produced on the sheet will be skewed in relation to the sheet.
  • Another object is to provide sheet feeding apparatus for preventing skewed feeding of sheets.
  • a further object is to provide new and improved sheet feeding apparatus wherein the forces applied by spaced sheet feeding members are equal and wherein the sheet supporting tray is fixed rather than pivotally mounted.
  • a sheet feeding apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention may include a tray mounted in a fixed, horizontal position for supporting a stack of sheets to be fed from the stack to a copying machine or the like.
  • a shaft carrying a spaced pair of sheet driving friction rollers is mounted above the stack in a direction transverse to the direction in which sheets are fed, and the shaft is vertically movable so that the friction rollers always rest upon the upper sheet of the stack.
  • the roller shaft is mounted for pivotal movement in a vertical plane so that the forces exerted by the rollers against the top sheet of a the stack are equalized and skewed feeding of the sheets can result, for example, when one of the feed rollers wears f that patent is highly satisfactory for the uses for which it is is prevented.
  • the shaft is engaged midway between the friction rollers by a combined driving element and pivotal support with which the shaft and rollers are rotated in order to advance a sheet.
  • the roller supporting shaft is hollow, and a concentric drive shaft is positioned within the roller shaft.
  • the combined driving element and pivot support couples the drive shaft to the center of the roller shaft for not only driving the roller shaft but also for allowing the roller shaft freely to pivot.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a sheet feeding apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the apparatus together with a supply of sheets to be fed;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, partly diagrammatic sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 illustrating the manner in which the sheet feeding members apply equal driving forces for advancing a sheet from an uneven stack of sheets.
  • the assembly 10 includes a tray or table 12 adapted to support a stack of sheets 14.
  • the sheets 14 are advanced one by one from the top of the stack by a pair of sheet driving members in the form of spaced friction wheels or rollers 16 and 18 formed of rubber or other material capable of frictionally engaging the sheets 14.
  • the friction wheels 16 and 18 are carried on a freely pivoted roller shaft 20 to the end that the friction rollers 16 and 18 act together and with equal force to advance the top sheet from the stack without skewing.
  • the tray 12 comprises a uniplanar element adapted to be supported on a pair of support bars 22 and 24 (FIG. 2) in a fixed horizontal position at the entrance to an automatic copying machine or other sheet utilizing equipment.
  • a sheet guide 26 between a pair of sheet propelling rollers 28 and 30 journalled for rotation in a pair of plates or walls 32 and 34 and serving to advance the sheets away from the apparatus 10.
  • the tray In order to guide the sheets 14 as they are advanced and to position the stack of sheets on the tray 12, the tray is provided with a pair of side rails or guides 36 and 38 preferably adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of sheet widths.
  • a pair of separator arms 40 and 42 are pivotally supported on the side rails 36 and 38.
  • Each of the arms 40 and 42 includes a forwardly extending portion 44 disposed alongside the stack of sheets, together with an inwardly portion 46 overlying the corners of the leading edge of the uppermost sheet.
  • each separator arm includes a downwardly extending portion 48 providing an abutment for the front of the stack.
  • the tray 12 is provided with a downwardly depending flange 50 (FIG. 2) supporting a switch 52 providing an indication when the supply of sheets 14 is depleted.
  • the forces applied by the friction rollers 16 and 18 are equal even though the tray 12 is mounted in a fixed horizontal position. Accordingly, the roller shaft 20 upon which the friction rollers 16 and 18 are mounted is free to pivot in a vertical direction so that the rollers can move to that position in which the forces applied by the rollers are equal.
  • this pivoting movement is provided for by means of a novel member 54 comprising a combined pivot support and drive element which not only pivotally mounts the shaft 20 but also imparts rotation to the shaft 20 when it is desired to advance a sheet from the stack.
  • the member 54 comprises a somewhat ball-shaped body snugly received within the hollow central portion of the shaft 20 midway between the rollers 16 and 18.
  • the rounded shape of the member 54 permits the shaft 20 to pivot about the member 54 so that, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, where the apparatus is shown with an uneven stack of sheets 14, the shaft can freely pivot to that position in which both the friction rollers 16 and 18 evenly engage the uppermost sheet of the stack.
  • the member 54 is drivingly related to the shaft 20.
  • the member 54 includes a pair of drive pins 56 received in slots 58 (FIG. 3) in the wall of the shaft 20. The pins 56 fit loosely enough in the'slots 58 so that free pivotal movement of the shaft 20 is not impeded.
  • the member 54 In order to rotate the member 54, the member 54 is mounted upon a drive shaft 60 concentrically received within the hollow shaft 20.
  • the drive shaft 60 is journalled for rotation in a pair of pivot links or arms 62 and 64 which arms are also pivotally related to a main drive shaft 66 (FIGS. 1 and 2) rotatably mounted in the walls 32 and 34.
  • the links or arms 62 and 64 permit the shaft 60 as well as the shaft 20 and rollers 16 and 18 freely to move in a vertical direction so that the rollers rest upon the top of the stack of sheets as the stack is depleted.
  • the main drive shaft 66 When it is desired to advance a single sheet from the top of the stack, the main drive shaft 66 is rotated by suitable means (not shown). Rotation is imparted to the drive shaft 60 by means of a drive belt 68 (FIG. 1) running on a pair of pulleys 70 and 72 attached respectively to the shafts 60 and 66.
  • the member 54 When the shaft 60 is rotated, the member 54 imparts rotation to the shaft 20 and thereby to the rollers 16 and 18.
  • the rollers 16 and 18 thereupon apply a force to the top sheet of the stack for advancing the sheet away from the apparatus 10. Since the shaft 20 is freely pivotable about the member 54, the forces applied to the uppermost sheet by the rollers 16 and 18 are equal and the sheet is fed without skewing.
  • the apparatus 10 includes a lift bar 74 for raising the separator arms 40 and 42 as well as the shaft 20 and rollers 16 and 18 away from the stacks of sheets in the tray 12.
  • the bar 74 extends through slots 76 in upwardly extending flanges 78 of the arms 40 and 42. Normally the bar 74 occupies the position illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein the separator arms rest upon the stack of sheets. When the bar is lifted, the separator arms 40 and 42 are pulled upwardly until they engage the shaft 20, at which time the shaft 20 is also moved upwardly away from the stack of sheets.
  • the bar 74 is retained in the raised position while the stack of sheets is replenished or replaced by resting the bar on shoulders 80 provided on a spaced pair of upwardly extending flanges 82 at the sides of tray 12.
  • the separator arms 40 and 42 as well as the shaft 30 and rollers 16 and 18 return to their normal positions.
  • Apparatus for feeding sheets from the top of a stack comprising a structure for supporting the stack of sheets in a horizontal position, a pair of sheet feed members engageable with the top of the stack at spaced regions along a line transverse to the direction of movement, a supporting structure for said pair of sheet feed members, and means mounting said supporting structure for pivotal movement about a point between said regions so that said sheet feed members are able to move to a position wherein said sheet feed members engage the top sheet of the stack with equal forces.
  • said pair of sheet feed members and said supporting structure comprising a pair of friction rollers and a roller shaft supporting said rollers.
  • said mounting means including drive means drivingly coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft thereby to advance a sheet from the stack.
  • An assembly for advancing sheets one by one from a stack of sheets supported in a generally horizontal position comprising:
  • first shaft overlying the stack of sheets; a second shaft concentric with said first shaft; a pair of friction rollers supported on said first shaft; means mounting both said shafts for free vertical movement so that said friction rollers are adapted to rest on the top sheet of the stack;
  • said first shaft having a hollow center
  • said second shaft being disposed within said first shaft
  • said pivotally and drivingly related means comprising a member on said second shaft within said first shaft midway between said friction rollers.
  • said member comprising a body snuggly received within said first shaft and about which said first shaft freely pivots; and at least one drive transmitting element extending outwardly from said body drivingly to engage said first shaft.
  • Sheet feeding apparatus for advancing sheets from the top of a stack in a given direction, comprising:
  • said shaft means for mounting said shaft so that it is free to pivot and move in a generally vertical plane, said mounting means including a member pivotally and drivingly engaging said shaft at a point midway between said pair of feed rollers.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)
US682252A 1967-11-13 1967-11-13 Sheet feeding apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3525517A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US68225267A 1967-11-13 1967-11-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3525517A true US3525517A (en) 1970-08-25

Family

ID=24738892

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US682252A Expired - Lifetime US3525517A (en) 1967-11-13 1967-11-13 Sheet feeding apparatus

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3525517A (it)
BE (1) BE723786A (it)
FR (1) FR1597607A (it)
GB (1) GB1232678A (it)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3907283A (en) * 1972-12-01 1975-09-23 Rank Xerox Ltd Sensing sheets on a support surface
US3936042A (en) * 1973-11-19 1976-02-03 Rank Xerox Ltd. Sheet feeding devices
US4030413A (en) * 1975-04-30 1977-06-21 Young Robert D Mechanisms for feeding documents from a stack thereof
US4319742A (en) * 1980-06-23 1982-03-16 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Sheet supply detector and indicator
US4625955A (en) * 1985-01-16 1986-12-02 Donald L. Snellman Sheet feeder
US4702466A (en) * 1983-04-20 1987-10-27 Dubois R Clark Sheet material feeder for copiers and other sheet processing apparatus
US20060151938A1 (en) * 2005-01-12 2006-07-13 Pitney Bowes Limited, Sheet material feeder
US20110310156A1 (en) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-22 Ramos Juan D Moving print media in a printer
US20170029225A1 (en) * 2014-03-24 2017-02-02 Plockmatic International Ab Device for feeding papers

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2571942A (en) * 1948-09-22 1951-10-16 Properzi Rudolph Machine for feeding paper

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2571942A (en) * 1948-09-22 1951-10-16 Properzi Rudolph Machine for feeding paper

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3907283A (en) * 1972-12-01 1975-09-23 Rank Xerox Ltd Sensing sheets on a support surface
US3936042A (en) * 1973-11-19 1976-02-03 Rank Xerox Ltd. Sheet feeding devices
US4030413A (en) * 1975-04-30 1977-06-21 Young Robert D Mechanisms for feeding documents from a stack thereof
US4319742A (en) * 1980-06-23 1982-03-16 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Sheet supply detector and indicator
US4702466A (en) * 1983-04-20 1987-10-27 Dubois R Clark Sheet material feeder for copiers and other sheet processing apparatus
US4625955A (en) * 1985-01-16 1986-12-02 Donald L. Snellman Sheet feeder
US20060151938A1 (en) * 2005-01-12 2006-07-13 Pitney Bowes Limited, Sheet material feeder
US7946574B2 (en) * 2005-01-12 2011-05-24 Pitney Bowes Ltd. Sheet material feeder
US20110310156A1 (en) * 2010-06-17 2011-12-22 Ramos Juan D Moving print media in a printer
US8746677B2 (en) * 2010-06-17 2014-06-10 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Moving print media in a printer
US20170029225A1 (en) * 2014-03-24 2017-02-02 Plockmatic International Ab Device for feeding papers
US9896287B2 (en) * 2014-03-24 2018-02-20 Plockmatic International Ab Device for feeding papers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1808272B2 (de) 1975-11-13
DE1808272A1 (de) 1969-08-14
BE723786A (it) 1969-04-16
GB1232678A (it) 1971-05-19
FR1597607A (it) 1970-06-29

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