US3664661A - Letter feeder,synchronous friction type - Google Patents

Letter feeder,synchronous friction type Download PDF

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Publication number
US3664661A
US3664661A US69560A US3664661DA US3664661A US 3664661 A US3664661 A US 3664661A US 69560 A US69560 A US 69560A US 3664661D A US3664661D A US 3664661DA US 3664661 A US3664661 A US 3664661A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
letter
letters
feed
wheel
fed
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
US69560A
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English (en)
Inventor
Horace W Weeks
John R Frazier
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.)
NCR Voyix Corp
National Cash Register Co
Original Assignee
NCR Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of US3664661A publication Critical patent/US3664661A/en
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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
    • B65H3/04—Endless-belt separators
    • B65H3/045—Endless-belt separators for separating substantially vertically stacked articles
    • 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
    • B65H3/52—Friction retainers acting on under or rear side of article being separated
    • B65H3/5246—Driven retainers, i.e. the motion thereof being provided by a dedicated drive
    • 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
    • B65H5/06—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by rollers or balls, e.g. between rollers
    • B65H5/062—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by rollers or balls, e.g. between rollers between rollers or balls
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
    • G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
    • G06K13/08—Feeding or discharging cards
    • G06K13/10—Feeding or discharging cards from magazine to conveying arrangement
    • G06K13/103—Feeding or discharging cards from magazine to conveying arrangement using mechanical means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/30—Orientation, displacement, position of the handled material
    • B65H2301/32—Orientation of handled material
    • B65H2301/321—Standing on edge
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
    • B65H2403/40—Toothed gearings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/20—Location in space
    • B65H2511/22—Distance
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/20—Location in space
    • B65H2511/22—Distance
    • B65H2511/224—Nip between rollers, between belts or between rollers and belts

Definitions

  • the feed wheel is rotated at varying angular velocities, so that the leading portion of the elastomeric member engages a letter to be fed at a low velocity, and the trailing portion of the elastomeric member discharges the letter at a higher velocity.
  • the low velocity at engagement reduces the scrubbing action on the letters being fed and reduces wear on the feed and stripper wheels.
  • This invention relates to an apparatus of the synchronous type for singulating and feeding media, like letters, one at a time from a stack to a utilization device, like a coding device or a letter sorter.
  • a basic mechanism used in mechine handling of mail is a feeding device.
  • the feeding device is used to feed letters which are generally stacked on a long edge to a utilization device like a coding device or a cancelling machine.
  • a utilization device like a coding device or a cancelling machine.
  • One of the basic requirements of a feeding device is that it singulate the letters and feed them one at a time to a utilization device. It is also necessary that the feeding device be capable of handling a variety of letter sizes and thicknesses.
  • the present invention is a first invention.
  • the feed wheel means includes a feed wheel, which is mounted in a frame means for rotation in a horizontal plane and has an elastomeric member mounted around a portion of the periphery of the feed wheel, so that the elastomeric member engages the letters along a line which is parallel to the long edges of the letters.
  • a drive means rotates the feed wheel at varying angular velocities, so that, when the elastomeric member first contacts a letter to be fed, it is travelling at a low velocity, and, by the time the letter is discharged by the elastomeric member, it is travelling at a high velocity.
  • the stripper wheel means includes a stripper wheel which is mounted in the frame means for rotation in a horizontal plane and is rotated at a constant velocity in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the feed wheel.
  • the stripper wheel is mounted on a spring-loaded pivot arm to facilitate the handling of letters of varying thicknesses.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of the feeding apparatus of this invention showing the leading edge of a letter entering a feed area where a feeder wheel means and stripper wheel means are placed in opposed relation.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 showing a letter about to leave the feed area and enter a receiving means.
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing details of a drive means for rotat ing a feeder wheel of the feeder wheel means.
  • FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a universal-type coupling used to drive the stripper wheel means.
  • F IG. 5 is a side elevational view of the coupling shown in FIG. 4 and is taken from the direction marked A in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of the feeding apparatus of this invention.
  • the apparatus includes an input means 10, a feed area 12, a feed wheel means 14, which is placed in opposed relation with a stripper wheel means 16, and a receiving means 18.
  • the input means .10 includes a flat horizontal area or table 20 having a rectangular opening 22 therein.
  • An endless belt 24, travelling in the direction indicated by the arrow 26, is positioned near the opening 22, so that its upper moving surface extends into the opening 22 to move a stack of letters towards a feed fence 27.
  • the feed fence 27 is a vertical wall which is arcuately shaped near the entrance to the feed area 12, as shown in FIG. 1. As the belt 24 moves, it tends to align one edge (the leading edge) of the letters against the feed fence 27.
  • the moving belt 24 has a center line, which is positioned at an angle a (FIG. 1) of about five degrees relative to a guide bar 28.
  • the belt 24 also assists in moving the letter towards the guide bar 28 due to the angle at which the center line of the belt 24 is positioned relative to the guide bar 28.
  • the letters (only one, marked 30, being shown in FIG. 1) are stacked vertically, with their long edges positioned horizontally, and are also assisted in their movement towards the bar 28 by a spring-loaded arm 32.
  • the arm 32 has one end fixed to a bushing 34, which is slidably mounted on a bar 36, which is suitably fixed to the table 20.
  • -A conventional constant-tension spring unit 38 whose extensible member 40 is secured to the arm 32, is used to maintain a constant tension on the stack of letters to move them towards the bar 28.
  • the input means also includes an endless belt 42, which is used to feed the letters to the feed area 12.
  • the endless belt 42 is mounted on two rollers 44 and 46, which are rotated at uniform velocity in the direction of the arrows 48 by conventional drive means (not shown).
  • the guide bar 28 has a suitable slot therein to permit the belt 42 to pass through the bar 2 8 and engage the letter immediately adjacent to the bar 28 and move the letter 30 to the left (as viewed in FIG. 1) to the feed area -12.
  • a letter 30 is shown in the process of entering the feed area 12 in FIG. 1. This letter 30 is positioned on its long edge and is viewed from above, so that its thickness is shown in FIG. 1.
  • the feed wheel means 14 includes a feed wheel 52, which is fixed to a vertically-aligned shaft 54.
  • the shaft 54 is rotatably mounted in a conventional bearing unit 56 (shown in FIG. 3), which is secured to the flat area or table 20 by fasteners 58.
  • the shaft 54 is restrained against axial movement by a shoulder 60 thereon, which abuts against the upper bearing 62 (FIG. 3) of the unit 56 and a bushing 64.
  • the bushing 64 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 54 and is positioned between the lower bearing 66 of the unit 56 and a guide block 68.
  • the shaft 54 is fixed to rotate with the guide block 68 by a set screw 70.
  • a suitable hole 72 in the table 20 provides clearance for the bushing 64.
  • the guide block 68 has a radially-aligned slot 74 therein, as shown, into which a cam roller 76 is positioned.
  • the cam roller 76 is rotatably supported on a shaft 78 perpendicularly upstanding from a crank arm 80, as shown in FIG. 3, and the crank arm is driven by a shaft 82, whose axis of rotation is offset from the axis of rotation of the wheel 52 by a distance d.
  • the shaft 82 is conventionally driven at a constant rate.
  • the feed wheel means 14 has a letter-engaging surface, which is constructed as follows.
  • the wheel 52 has an arcuately-shaped rim 84 upstanding from a portion of the perimeter of the wheel, as is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • Two pins 86 and 88, upstanding from the feed wheel 54, are positioned near the ends of the rim 84, which has a plurality of equally-spaced, axially-aligned recesses 90 therein.
  • a relatively thick, endless, elastomeric band 92 is wrapped around the rim 84, around the pins '86 and 88, and around a bushing 94, which is mounted on the shaft 54, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the band 92 has equallyspaced, axially-aligned projections 96 positioned on the side thereof which engages the rim 84. These projections 96 extend along the axial length of the band 92 and are arcuately-shaped in cross-section, so as to fit into the recesses 90, which are complementary in shape to receive them.
  • the stripper wheel means 16 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a wheel 98, which is fixed to a shaft 100 to rotate therewith.
  • the shaft 100 is rotatably mounted in an arm 102 having one end pivotally mounted on a shaft 104 secured perpendicularly to the table 20.
  • the free end of the arm 102 is apertured at 106 to permit a stop pin 108 to pass therethrough.
  • the pin 10 8 has an enlarged head 1 10 to act as a stop and is adjustable to control the extent to which the arm 102 will pivot counter-clockwise (as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3) under the influence of a spring 112, whose compression can be adjusted.
  • the shaft 100 is connected to a universal-type coupling 114, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
  • the coupling 114 is commercially available and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,224,224, which issued Dec. 21, 1965, on the application of Peter Kudriavetz, Jr.
  • the coupling .114 is made of flexible urethane with metallic ends for coupling to shafts and has the general shape shown.
  • the shaft I100 is secured to one metallic end 116 of the coupling, and the other metallic end 118 is secured to a driving shaft 120', which is rotated at a constant rotational velocity by a conventional drive means (not shown).
  • the universal-type coupling 114 is needed to handle misalignment between the shafts 1,00 and when the arm 102 moves away from the head of the stop pin 108 due to a letter 30 being fed as shown in FIG. '2.
  • the stripper wheel is rotated clockwise (as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2), which is a direction opposite from the direction of rotation of the feed wheel 52.
  • the stripper wheel 98 has an elastomeric band 122 located around its periphery.
  • the band .122 has an axial length equal to the axial length of the elastomeric band 92, shown in FIG. 3, and the center of the band 92 as measured in the axial direction, the center of the band 122 similarly measured, and the center of the belt 42 as measured in an axial direction all lie in a common plane, which is parallel to the table 20.
  • the receiving means designated generally as 18, is best shown in FIG. 2 and includes two endless belts 124 and 126.
  • the belt 124 is supported on a roller 128, which is fixed to a vertically-aligned shaft 130, and the belt 126 is similarly supported on a roller 132, which is fixed to a vertically-aligned shaft 134.
  • the rollers 128 and 132 are spaced apart from each other to provide a throat area 136 for receiving letters from the feed wheel 52.
  • the shafts and 134 are driven at the same constant speeds by conventional means (not shown) to rotate the rollers 128 and 132 in the directions shown by the arrows there on.
  • a third roller 138 is fixed to a shaft 140, which drives the roller 138 in the direction shown by the arrow thereon.
  • the shaft 140 is driven at a constant velocity by conventional means (not shown).
  • the roller 138 forces the belts 124 and 126 together, so as to sandwich a letter therebetween and transport it to a utilization device like a coder, 21 facer-canceller, etc., not shown.
  • the surface speed of the belts 24 and 42 of the input means 10- is thirty inches per second.
  • the shaft 82, which drives the feed Wheel means 14, is rotated at a constant rate of 600 revolutions per minute, and, because of the crank (78, "80) used to rotate the feed wheel 52, the feed wheels surface velocity as measured on the elastomeric band 92 will vary between about 85 inches per second and about 140 inches per second.
  • the surface velocity of the belts 124 and 126 of the receiving means 18 is about inches per second, which is slightly higher than the maximum discharge velocity from the feed wheel 52.
  • the clearance between the elastomeric band 92 on the feed wheel 52 when it is opposite the stripper wheel 98 is 0.004 inch.
  • the distance between centers of the roller 138 and the feed wheel 52 is equal to or less than the minimum length of letter which is to be fed by the apparatus to avoid a free-floating letter. Because the apparatus is synchronous, only one letter will be fed for each revolution of the feed wheel 52. This rate is six hundred letters per minute.
  • the elastomeric band 92 on the feed wheel 54 passing through the guide bar 28 cannot be longer than the minimum length of letter to be fed, and the rate at which the band 92 is exposed through the slot in the guide bar 28 is such as to provide a pitch of fourteen inches. That is, the leading edge of a letter received at the receiving means 18 follows the leading edge of the next preceding letter by fourteen inches.
  • the coefficient of friction of the elastomeric band 92 is about four times greater than the coefficient of friction on the band 122 on the stripper wheel 98.
  • the surface velocity of the stripper wheel 98 as measured on the band 122 is thirty inches per second and is in a direction opposite to the velocity of the elastomeric band 92 on the feed wheel 52.
  • the letters are positively driven throughout the feeding apparatus.
  • the stripper wheel means 16 prevents the passage of a letter until the elastomeric band '92 approaches it.
  • the band '92 engages a letter, it is travelling at a low velocity, about eightyfive inches per second, to minimize scrubbing the surface of the letter during contact.
  • the letter 30 is driven to the left (as viewed in FIG. 1), while the letters next in line to be fed are prevented from moving with the letter 30 by the stripper wheel means 16.
  • the band 92 does not extend completely around the periphery of the feed wheel 52, a thick letter (like 0.25 inch thick) can easily enter the feed area 12 and can easily be accommodated by the apparatus.
  • the trailing edge of the band 92 on the feed wheel 52 engages a trailing portion of the letter 30, the letter 30 has been accelerated to a velocity of about 140 inches per second.
  • a synchronous-type feeding apparatus for feeding letters of various sizes and thicknesses to a receiving means, comprising:
  • feed wheel means and a stripper wheel means positioned in opposed relation at said feed area to receive therebetween letters from said input means and to discharge the letters singly to the receiving means;
  • said feed wheel means comprising:
  • a feed wheel rotatably mounted on said frame means to rotate in a horizontal plane; an elastomeric member having leading and trailing portions and extending around a portion of the periphery of the feed wheel to engage a letter along a line parallel to the long edge of the letter and transfer it to the receiving means; and variable velocity drive means for rotating the feed Wheel so that the letters being fed thereby will be gradually accelerated from the time that the leading portion of the elastomeric member engages a letter to be fed until the time when the letter leaves the trailing portion of the elastomeric member;
  • said stripper wheel means including:
  • a stripper wheel mounted on said frame means for rotation in said horizontal plane and having a letter-engaging periphery to engage the letters being fed;
  • variable velocity drive means for rotating the feed wheel includes:
  • crank member having an axis of rotation offset from the axis of rotation of said shaft and having a member adapted to fit into said slot and rotate said lever.
  • a synchronous-type feeding apparatus for feeding letters of various sizes and thicknesses to a receiving means, comprising:
  • a feed wheel means and a stripper wheel means positioned in opposed relation at said feed area to receive therebetween letters from said input means and to discharge the letters singly to the receiving means;
  • said feed wheel means comprising:
  • a feed wheel rotatably mounted on said frame means to rotate in a horizontal plane
  • an elastomeric member having leading and trailing portions and extending around a portion of the periphery of the feed wheel to engage a letter along a line parallel to the long edge of the letter and transfer it to the receiving means;
  • variable velocity drive means for rotating the feed wheel so that the letters being fed thereby will be gradually accelerated from the time that the leading portion of the elastomeric member engages a letter to be fed until the time when the letter leaves the trailing portion of the elastomeric member;
  • said stripper wheel means including:
  • a stripper wheel mounted on said frame means for rotation in said horizontal plane and having a letter-engaging periphery to engage the letters being fed;
  • said drive means for rotating the stripper wheel including a universal coupling to accommodate the pivoting of the stripper wheel while it is rotated.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
US69560A 1970-09-04 1970-09-04 Letter feeder,synchronous friction type Expired - Lifetime US3664661A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6956070A 1970-09-04 1970-09-04

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US3664661A true US3664661A (en) 1972-05-23

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US69560A Expired - Lifetime US3664661A (en) 1970-09-04 1970-09-04 Letter feeder,synchronous friction type

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US (1) US3664661A (enExample)
CA (1) CA939401A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2127725A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2095080A5 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1285846A (enExample)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4084807A (en) * 1975-09-12 1978-04-18 Rank Xerox, Ltd. Paper feeding roller
EP0060596A1 (en) * 1981-03-13 1982-09-22 ELETTRONICA SAN GIORGIO- ELSAG S.p.A. Device for individually separating flat objects, especially postal correspondence and the like, and spacing them at constant distances apart
US5409204A (en) * 1993-08-27 1995-04-25 Duchossois Industries, Inc. Singulator assembly having a buffer with a biased arm

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4084807A (en) * 1975-09-12 1978-04-18 Rank Xerox, Ltd. Paper feeding roller
EP0060596A1 (en) * 1981-03-13 1982-09-22 ELETTRONICA SAN GIORGIO- ELSAG S.p.A. Device for individually separating flat objects, especially postal correspondence and the like, and spacing them at constant distances apart
US5409204A (en) * 1993-08-27 1995-04-25 Duchossois Industries, Inc. Singulator assembly having a buffer with a biased arm

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1285846A (en) 1972-08-16
DE2127725A1 (de) 1972-03-09
FR2095080A5 (enExample) 1972-02-04
CA939401A (en) 1974-01-01

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