US3677537A - Apparatus and methods for feeding sheets of material from stacks with one side in vertical registration - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for feeding sheets of material from stacks with one side in vertical registration wherein the method comprises stacking the sheets flat on a generally horizontal support with the bottom of the lowermost sheet in contact with lateral propulsion means, exerting a vacuum on the lowermost sheet from beneath sufficient to significantly increase the force of contact between the lowermost sheet and the said lateral propulsion means and preferably sufficient to deflect the lowermost sheet around the propulsion means to a limited degree, simultaneously propelling the lowermost sheet from beneath by the propulsion means laterally against a side guide and thereafter propelling the lowermost sheet forwardly while in contact with the side guide. The apparatus comprises a generally horizontal support having at least one vacuum chamber open at the top of the support, the support and chamber conveniently being defined by a plurality of spaced apart, generally upstanding flat bars, means for generating a vacuum communicating with the said chamber, power driven lateral propulsion means in proximity to the chamber, said propulsion means projecting above the top of the support and engageable with the bottom of the lowermost sheet of the stack. The said propulsion means conveniently being a power driven rotatable roller positioned within the chamber between spaced apart bars, a side guide engageable with the side edge of the lowermost sheet in the direction of lateral propulsion, and means for propelling the lowermost sheet forwardly while in contact with the side guide, said means being conveniently a reciprocating feeder bar.

Description

United States Patent Hawthorne [451 July 18, 1972 William C. Hawthorne, 218 Phelps Road, Ridgewood, NJ. 07450 22 Filed: March 26, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 128,480

[72] inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. ..27l/29, 271/44 A [51 Int. Cl. ..B65h 1/06, B65h 3/08 [58] Field oISearch ..27l/29, 32, 44 R, 44 A,52,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,201,361 10/1916 Schwerdtle ..27l/29 Primary ExaminerEdward A. Sroka Attorney-Popper, Bain, Bobis & Gilfillan [57) ABSTRACT Apparatus and methods for feeding sheets of material from stacks with one side in vertical registration wherein the method comprises stacking the sheets flat on a generally horizontal support with the bottom of the lowermost sheet in contact with lateral propulsion means, exerting a vacuum on the lowermost sheet from beneath sufficient to significantly increase the force of contact between the lowermost sheet and the said lateral propulsion means and preferably sufficient to deflect the lowermost sheet around the propulsion means to a limited degree, simultaneously propelling the lowermost sheet from beneath by the propulsion means laterally against a side guide and thereafter propelling the lowermost sheet forwardly while in contact with the side guide.

The apparatus comprises a generally horizontal support having at least one vacuum chamber open at the top of the support, the support and chamber conveniently being defined by a plurality of spaced apart, generally upstanding flat bars, means for generating a vacuum communicating with the said chamber, power driven lateral propulsion means in proximity to the chamber, said propulsion means projecting above the top of the support and engageable with the bottom of the lowermost sheet of the stack. The said propulsion means conveniently being a power driven rotatable roller positioned within the chamber between spaced apart bars, a side guide engageable with the side edge of the lowermost sheet in the direction of lateral propulsion, and means for propelling the lowermost sheet forwardly while in contact with the side guide, said means being conveniently a reciprocating feeder bar.

8 Claim, 5 Drawing figures Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,537

3 Shee cs-Sheet 1 IIVVENTOR M. T. HAWTHORNE POPPER, BAl/V, 808/5 8 GlLF/LLA/V ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,537

3 Sheets-Sheet F1 FIG. 2

Patented July 18, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet APPARATUSANDME'I'HODSPDRFEHJINGSHEEISOF MATERIAL FROM STACKS WITH ONE SIDE [N VERTICAL REGISTRATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the corrugated cardboard arts, it is common practice to feed sheets of cardboard into machines which stamp and diecut them for folding into canons or other shapes. Such machines are well known in the art.

It is necessary to feed sheets of uncut cardboard into such blanking machines. It is common practice to stack sheets of cardboard one above the other in a generally horizontal plane, the stack resting upon a feeder table. A feeder bar is engageable with the lowermost sheet of cardboard propelling it forwardly along the top of the feeder table and into the nip of a pair of rollers in the blanking machine.

In order to stamp, die-cut, print or otherwise manipulate the sheet of cardboard precisely, it is necessary to size or dimension the cardboard sheet precisely feeding it into the machine with a high degree of constant registration.

Unfortunately, existing machinery for the manufacture of sheet cardboard cannot dimension each sheet precisely. Thus, means must be provided in the blanking machine for trimming the cardboard to a precise size.

Existing feeder tables, however, do not provide means for bringing at least one side edge of each sheet of cardboard in registration with each of the other sheets as it feeds into the machine. Rather, the stack of cardboard rests upon an ordinary feeder table having means merely to propel the lowermost sheet into the nip of the lead rollers. Side guides on the stack must be spaced apart a distance at least as wide as the widest sheet of the stack. As a result, each sheet of cardboard must be trimmed in the blanking machine on both lateral side edges to dimension the cardboard precisely and, from that point, bring it into precise registration with dies, folding devices and the like. This results in the loss of the trimmed portions on both sides of the sheet.

lt is among the objects and advantages of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for feeding sheets of material such as cardboard into a blanking machine wherein one lateral side edge of each sheet is in registration with every other sheet as it feeds into the blanking machine thereby requiring trimming on only one side edge as distinguished from existing machinery and feeder tables which require trimming on both side edges.

The method of feeding disclosed and claimed therein includes means for propelling the lowermost sheet of the stack laterally against a side guide. Preferably, the lateral propulsion means are at least one and preferably a plurality of rollers seated within recesses or chambers in the feeder table and projecting slightly above the top plane of the table, being engageable to the bottom of the lowermost sheet. While such propulsion means would tend to drive the lowermost sheet laterally against the side guide, this will not occur with the speed and certainty required by the timing of the reciprocating feeder bar propelling the sheet forwardly into the nip of the rollers. The feeder must operate very rapidly which leaves an extremely short period of time for the lowermost sheet to adjust against the side guide before the feeder bar forces it to the rollers. Thus, means must be provided to insure a highfrictional contact between the lateral propulsion means and the bottom of the lowermost sheet.

It is among the further objects and advantages of the present invention to provide a vacuum in proximity to the lateral propulsion means which draws the lowermost sheet downwardly into firm contact with the propulsion means. In addition, the vacuum tends to slightly deform the IOWemlOSt sheet around the lateral propulsion means or rollers insuring a near positive contact and extremely rapid movement laterally to the side guide.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A method for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack with one side of the sheets in vertical registration when feeding forwardly comprising stacking the sheets flat on a generally horizontal support with the bottom of the lowermost sheet in contact with lateral propulsion means, exerting a vacuum on the lowemiost sheet from beneath sufficiently to significantly increase the force of contact between the lowermost sheet and the said lateral propulsion means, simultaneously propelling the lowermost sheet from beneath laterally against a side guide, and thereafter propelling the lowermost sheet forwardly while in contact with the side guide.

A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising a generally horizontal support having at least one chamber open at the top of the support, means for generating a vacuum in the said chamber, lateral propulsion means in proximity to the chamber, said propulsion means projecting above the top of the support and engageable with the bottom of the lowermost sheet in the stack, a side guide engageable with the side edge of the lowermost sheet in the direction of lateral propulsion, and means for propelling the lowermost sheet forwardly while in contact with the side guide.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The objects and advantages aforesaid as well as other objects and advantages may be achieved by the methods and apparatus claimed herein, a preferred embodiment of the apparatus being illustrated in the drawings in which:

FIG. I is a view in perspective of a pneumatic, trim-saving feeder;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the feeder taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the effect of vacuum on the lowermost sheet in contact with power driven rollers;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view of the feeder taken along line 3-3 in FIG. I looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partially broken away view in perspective of an adjustable side guide illustrated in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partially broken away view in perspective of an alternate form of adjustable side guide.

Referring now to the drawings in detail the feeder comprises a support 1 l fabricated from a plurality of generally upstanding, flat rectangular bars. The support consists of a front wall 12, a pair of side walls 13 and 14 and a rear wall IS. The support is also provided with a plurality of spaced apart spacing bars [6, 16 extending between the front wall 12 and rear wall 15. The spacing bars 16 define a plurality of chambers 17 open atthetopofthe support 11.

Each of the chambers 17 is provided with an opening 18 communicating with a vacuum manifold 19. The vacuum manifold 19 is connected to a suitable source of vacuum.

Alternate chambers are provided with friction rollers 20, 20 mounted on shafls 21 extending between the front wall 12 and the rear wall 15 of the support 11. Each of the shafis 21 extends through the rear wall 15 and is provided with a terminal bevel gear 22.

A main drive shaft 23 is mounted behind the rear wall 15 of the support 11 extending through ends of the spacing bars 16,16. The drive shaft 23 is provided with bevel gears 24, 24 which are engaged with the respective bevel gears 22 on shafts 21 carrying the rollers 20.

One of the shafts 21 extends through a closure wall 25 parallel to rear wall 24 and is provided with a sheave 26. Sheave 26 is coupled through belt 27 to a drive pulley 28 on a motor 29. Thus, motor 29 drives each of the rollers 20 in the same direction.

A pair of reciprocating bed slides 30, 31 are mounted on opposite sides of the support 11. The bed slides are coupled to and carry a feeder bar 32. The reciprocating bed slides 30 and 31 and the feeder bar 32 are conventional and need no further detailing. In addition, a plurality of front feed gates 33, 33 are positioned above and spaced away from the front wall 12 of the support 1 l. A pair of nip rollers 34, 34 are located in front of the front wall 12 of the support H. The front feed gata 33, 33 and nip rollers 34 are conventional and need no further detailing. In addition, a side wall guide 35 is provided over the support 11 on one side thereof which is conventional and which lends support to the stack of sheet mounted on the sup port I 1.

On the side of the support 11 opposite the guide 35, a second, adjustable guide 36 is located. The entire guide 36 is slidably mounted on a support bar 37 by means of a suitable collar 38 and thumb screw 39. Thus, the entire guide 36 is laterally movable transverse to the support 1 l.

The guide 36 is comprised of a pair of parallel, spaced apart plates 40, 40 defining a central slot 41. Spacing blocks 42, 42 are secured to the plates 40, 40 at opposing ends.

Each of the plates 40, 40 are provided with slots 43, 43 in the top edges thereof in opposition to each other.

An insert 44 is slidably mounted in the slot 41 and suspended by a transverse bar 45 in the top thereof extending through the opposed slots 43, 43. In order to stabilize the insert 44 against rocking on the shaft 45, a stabilizing block 46 is mounted on the top of the insert 44 and extends across the top of the plates 40, 40.

The bottom of the insert 44 is provided with a nylon block 47. The insert 44 and nylon block 47 extend beneath the bottom edge 48 of the plates 40, 40.

The combined effect of the rollers 20, 20 and the vacuum in chambers 17 on the lowermost sheet of cardboard 49 is best illustrated in FIG. 2. The lowermost sheet 49 is drawn downwardly against the top edges 50, 50 of the spacing bars 16. However, the topmost edge of each of the rollers 20, 20 projects above the top edges 50 of the spacing bars 16. As a consequence, the lowermost sheet of cardboard 49 is drawn downwardly over the topmost edge of the rollers 20 deforming the cardboard slightly at that point. The vacuum not only increases the force of contact between the roller 20 and the cardboard 49 but makes that contact at an angle which enhances the frictional engagement therebetween. In this regard, the surface of the roller 20 may be provided with a rubber or other frictional sheet 51. As a consequence of the forceful and intimate contact between the lowermost sheet 49 and the rollers 20, the lowermost sheet 49 is rapidly propelled laterally until its side edge engages the nylon block 47 on the bottom of the insert 44 in the adjustable guide 36. This then defines the farthest extent of lateral movement of the lowermost sheet 49. The engagement between the sheet 49 and the rollers 20 is so efficient from the standpoint of propulsion, the sheet 49 is rapidly propelled the usual very short distance between its edge and the nylon block 47 certainly in good time before the reciprocating feeder bar 32 engages the rear edge of the sheet 49 to propel it forwardly into the nip rollers 34, 34.

The sheet 52 above the lowermost sheet 49 is gravity fed downwardly to the support 1 l as the lowermost sheet 49 is fed forwardly into the blanking machine. Sheet 52 then becomes the lowermost sheet and is moved laterally to engagement with the nylon blocks 47 on the bottom of the inserts 44 of the adjustable guide 36.

It should be noted that the guide 36 is adjustable for varying widths of the cardboard sheets from front to back. The farthest extent of reciprocation of the feeder bar 32 is adjustable to accommodate for differing widths from front to back. In order to accommodate for a longer stroke of the feeder bar 32, the insert 44 may be moved forwardly or rearwardly from slot to slot 43, 43 so that the feeder bar 32 will not strike the bottom of insert 44. It should also be noted that more than one insert 44 may be employed if necessary to insure a long enough guide surface.

An alternate form of side guide is illustrated in FIG. 5. The side guide consists of an upper rail 52 and a lower rail 53 parallel to the upper rail 52. The upper rail 52 is rigidly attached to a mounting member 54 which is in turn secured to the principal apparatus. The lower rail 53 is pivotally mounted to the supporting member 54 at one end. A side guide wall 55 is rigidly mounted to the lower rail 53 extending upwardly to one side of the upper rail 52. A friction hinge $6 is secured between the upper and lower rails 52 and 53.

The lower rail is also provided with a cam surface 57 at its end opposite the support 54.

In operation, the guide wall 55 which may be moved rearwardly or forwardly on the bottom rail 53 provides an abutment surface for the feed stock. In the event that the reciprocating feeder bar 32 encroaches upon the lower rail 53, it will engage the cam surface 57 pivoting the lower rail 53 upwardly folding the hinge 56 and preventing damage to the feeder bar 32.

The foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The component parts have been shown and described. They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similar function; such substitutes may be known as proper substitutes for the said components and may have actually been known or invented before the present invention.

I claim:

1. A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising,

a. a generally horizontal support having at least one vacuum chamber open at the top of the support,

b. means for generating a vacuum in the vacuum chamber,

c. lateral propulsion means in the support, at least a portion of said lateral propulsion means projecting above the top of the support and engageable with the bottom of the lowermost sheet of the stack,

d. a side guide engageable with the side edge of the lowermost sheet in the direction of lateral propulsion, and

e. means for propelling the lowen-nost sheet forwardly while in contact with the side guide.

2. A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising,

a. the structure in accordance with Claim 1 in which b. at least a portion of at least one vacuum chamber lies on opposite sides of the lateral propulsion means.

3. A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising,

a. the structure in accordance with Claim 2 in which,

b. the lateral propulsion means are at least one driven roller mounted on the feeder, a portion of the top of the roller extending above the top of the support.

4. A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising,

a. the structure in accordance with claim 3 in which b. the said side guide is adjustably movable both along the axis of lateral propulsion and along the axis of forward propulsion.

5. A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising,

a. the structure in accordance with claim 4 in which b. the support consists of a plurality of spaced apart, generally upstanding bars extending generally parallel to the axis of forward propulsion of the sheets. the said bars defining open-taped chambers therebetween,

c. at least one of said rollers being mounted in one of the chambers, and

d. vacuum generating means connected to at least one chamber on opposite sides of the roller.

6. A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising,

a. the structure in accordance with Claim 5 and b. vacuum generating means connected to at least one of the chambers having a roller mounted therein.

7. A method for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack with one side of the sheets in vertical registration when feeding forwardly comprising,

IOI045 (H64 6 a. stacking the sheets generally horizontally on a generally in contact with the side guide.

horizontal support with the bottom of the lowermost 8. A method for feeding sheets of material from the bottom sheet in contact with lateral propulsion means, of a stack with one side of the sheets in vertical registration c. exerting a vacuum on the lowermost sheet from beneath when feeding forwardly comprisi g.

sufficiently to significantly increase the force of contact 5 the method in mdame with Claim 7 in which,

between th l we sheet d h id l mpromb. the lowermost sheet is deformed downwardly from a Sion means, horizontal plane on opposite sides of the lateral propuld. simultaneously propelling the lowermost sheet from means at Partially in respome the Vacuum beneath laterally against a side guide, and thereone. thereafter propelling the lowermost sheet forwardly while 10 It r

Claims (8)

1. A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising, a. a generally horizontal support having at least one vacuum chamber open at the top of the support, b. means for generating a vacuum in the vacuum chamber, c. lateral propulsion means in the support, at least a portion of said lateral propulsion means projecting above the top of the support and engageable with the bottom of the lowermost sheet of the stack, d. a side guide engageable with the side edge of the lowermost sheet in the direction of lateral propulsion, and e. means for propelling the lowermost sheet forwardly while in contact with the side guide.

2. A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for fEeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising, a. the structure in accordance with Claim 1 in which b. at least a portion of at least one vacuum chamber lies on opposite sides of the lateral propulsion means.

3. A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising, a. the structure in accordance with Claim 2 in which, b. the lateral propulsion means are at least one driven roller mounted on the feeder, a portion of the top of the roller extending above the top of the support.

4. A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 3 in which b. the said side guide is adjustably movable both along the axis of lateral propulsion and along the axis of forward propulsion.

5. A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 4 in which b. the support consists of a plurality of spaced apart, generally upstanding bars extending generally parallel to the axis of forward propulsion of the sheets, the said bars defining open-taped chambers therebetween, c. at least one of said rollers being mounted in one of the chambers, and d. vacuum generating means connected to at least one chamber on opposite sides of the roller.

6. A pneumatic, trim-saving feeder for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack comprising, a. the structure in accordance with Claim 5 and b. vacuum generating means connected to at least one of the chambers having a roller mounted therein.

7. A method for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack with one side of the sheets in vertical registration when feeding forwardly comprising, a. stacking the sheets generally horizontally on a generally horizontal support with the bottom of the lowermost sheet in contact with lateral propulsion means, c. exerting a vacuum on the lowermost sheet from beneath sufficiently to significantly increase the force of contact between the lowermost sheet and the said lateral propulsion means, d. simultaneously propelling the lowermost sheet from beneath laterally against a side guide, and e. thereafter propelling the lowermost sheet forwardly while in contact with the side guide.

8. A method for feeding sheets of material from the bottom of a stack with one side of the sheets in vertical registration when feeding forwardly comprising, a. the method in accordance with claim 7 in which, b. the lowermost sheet is deformed downwardly from a horizontal plane on opposite sides of the lateral propulsion means at least partially in response to the vacuum exerted thereon.

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