US3690650A - Method and apparatus for feeding sheet material into a hopper - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for feeding sheet material into a hopper Download PDF

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Publication number
US3690650A
US3690650A US99066A US3690650DA US3690650A US 3690650 A US3690650 A US 3690650A US 99066 A US99066 A US 99066A US 3690650D A US3690650D A US 3690650DA US 3690650 A US3690650 A US 3690650A
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Prior art keywords
sheet material
hopper
stack
delivering
delivered
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US99066A
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Inventor
Robert E Maier Jr
Joseph P Mcginnis
Paul R Simon
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AB Dick Co
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Harris Intertype Corp
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Assigned to AM INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED, A DE. CORP. reassignment AM INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED, A DE. CORP. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: HARRIS GRAPHICS CORPORATION
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    • 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F13/00—Common details of rotary presses or machines
    • B41F13/54—Auxiliary folding, cutting, collecting or depositing of sheets or webs
    • B41F13/64—Collecting
    • 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
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
    • B65H2301/421—Forming a pile
    • B65H2301/4213—Forming a pile of a limited number of articles, e.g. buffering, forming bundles
    • B65H2301/42134—Feeder loader, i.e. picking up articles from a main stack for maintaining continuously enough articles in a machine feeder

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT Apparatus which delivers sheet material such as signa- [52] Cl "g $i tures to a hopper from which the sheet material is sub- 511 Int. Cl... ..B65h 29/16,B65h 31/38 Sequemly del'vered other apparatus Such as a gatherer.
  • a conveyor delivers the sheet material to the [58] meld hopper to maintain a Pi e stack of sheet material therein. The material is delivered by the conveyor in bursts to facilitate the accumulation of the sheet [56] References Cited material within the hopper.
  • the apparatus further UNITED ST E PATENTS comprises one or more joggers which cyclically strike 3,522,943 8/1978 Swanson "271 mm.
  • the sheet material to be positioned within the hopper can comprise groups of signatures of the type which make up a magazine or sections of a newspaper such as the main section.
  • the invention can be used in conjunction with a hopper for feeding sheets of material to a book trimmer, a cover feeder of a binder, a newspaper stuffing machine, a mailing machine or a labeling machine.
  • the invention provides a method and apparatus for feeding signatures in bursts to a hopper from a supply of signatures in order to prevent the sudden placing of a mass of signatures in order to prevent the sudden placing of a mass of signatures upon those already in the hopper and to enable the hopper to position the signatures in the burst correctly within the hopper.
  • An apparatus constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention senses the lowering of the stack of signatures within the hopper beneath a predetermined size of stack.
  • the output signal from the sensing of the presence of a low level within the hopper activates a conveyor to deliver a stream of signatures in shingled form to the hopper.
  • the operation of the conveyor is interrupted to form bursts of operation having a predetermined duration and a predetermined period between successive bursts.
  • a level switch within the hopper is actuated whenever the stack of signatures within the hopper falls below a minimum level.
  • the signal from the level switch controls a timer which has a predetermined duty cycle of on and off periods.
  • the timer during its on period of operation activates the conveyor to deliver signatures to the hopper in a burst having a time duration which is a function of the on" period of operation of the timer.
  • the delivery of one or more bursts of signatures into the hopper actuates the level switch and terminates the operation of the timer and also the infeed conveyor.
  • the cycle is repeated whenever the level of signatures within the hopper falls below the predetermined level at which the sensing switch is actuated.
  • the invention further provides a method and apparatus for positioning the signatures of the bursts of signatures within the hopper.
  • One or more joggers each forming a wall portion of the hopper strike an edge portion of the signatures within the burst of signatures and cause rapid movement of each-signature within the hopper as each signature descends upon the supply of signatures already in the hopper.
  • blasts of gas such as compressed air are used to enable the signatures to move relative to the ones adjacent thereto by minimizing the contact and friction between adjacent signatures.
  • the blasts of compressed air enable the joggers to force the signatures into their proper position within the hopper.
  • the invention provides a method and ap paratus for placing bundles or stacks of signatures onto the conveyor which delivers the signatures to the hopper in accordance with the invention.
  • a supporting surface is pivotally mounted adjacent to the end portion of the conveyor opposite the end portion thereof which delivers the signatures to the hopper.
  • the supporting surface has an operable position in which the plane of the supporting surface is in alignment with and substantially coplanar with the surface of the conveyor. In the retracted position of the supporting member it extends downwardly from the end portion of the end feed conveyor.
  • FIG. I is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention showing the device for delivering signatures to a conveyor system, the conveyor system and its drives, and the hopper to which the signatures are to be delivered;
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section view of a hopper having a jogger in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section view of a drive for moving the jogger shown in FIG. 3 with a swinging motion;
  • FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the hopper including the jogger as shown in FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another embodiment of the hopper of the invention showing both the side jogger and the end jogger;
  • FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6 and showing the drive to the side jogger and end jogger of the hopper;
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the control circuit for producing the delivery of bursts of signatures by the conveyor.
  • the machine of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises hopper feeder 10 which is adapted to deliver sheet material such as signatures or sections of newspapers 11 to hopper 12 from which the signatures or newspapers are delivered to another machine.
  • hopper 12 delivers newspapers to the pockets 13 of a newspaper stuffing machine 14.
  • the newspapers are disposed with the fold of the newspaper adjacent to the bottom portion of a pocket with the result that the newspaper section assumes a V-shaped form into which inserts may be placed by the stuffing machine.
  • the hopper feeder is mounted upon frame 15 which is supported by rollers 16 which enable the hopper feeder to be moved with respect to the hopper whenever access must be had to the hopper for service or the like.
  • the frame of the machine supports table 17 across which extends a first conveyor 18 which can be an endless belt conveyor having one or a plurality of conveyor belts.
  • Table 17 provides a surface upon which bundles or stacks of newspapers can be placed for subsequent advancement by the hopper feeder toward hopper 12.
  • the hopper feeder can be provided with carrier 20 which is pivotally and slidably mounted with respect to table 17.
  • the machine operator places the stack upon bracket 20a of carrier 20.
  • newspapers 11 can be placed upon bracket 20a with the folded portion extending from right-to-left across each page of the section in a vertical position and extending into the drawing as viewed in FIG. 1.
  • the operator would then swing carrier 20 upwardly about its pivot 20b until the carrier is in a substantially horizontal position in which the upper surface of the carrier would be coplanar with the upper surface of table 17 and the upper reaches of the first conveyor.
  • carrier 20 eliminates the need for the operator to lift the stacks to the height of table 17 since the carrier supports a good portion of the weight of the stack as it is elevated into its operative position shown by dash lines in FIG. 1.
  • the pivotal mounting of the carrier reduces the overall length of the machine as compared to the same machine having a fixed infeed table in advance of conveyor 18.
  • Stack 19 on table 17 can have the folded portion of each of the sections of the newspaper contiguous with plate or back wall 22 extending vertically along the length of the machine.
  • first conveyor 18 Downstream of first conveyor 18 there is disposed second conveyor 23, the upper reach of which is substantially coplanar with that of conveyor 18.
  • the downstream end portion of the second conveyor is adjacent to the entrance portion of third conveyor 24 which is inclined upwardly in the direction of hopper 12.
  • the final or fourth conveyor 25 of the hopper feeder extends in a substantially horizontal direction adjacent to the entrance portion of the hopper.
  • the remaining conveyors can be of the endless belt type.
  • first conveyor 18 includes drive chain 18a coupling the conveyor to clutch 18b which in turn is connected to motor 18c.
  • Second conveyor 23 is provided with chain 23a, clutch 23b and motor 230.
  • Chain 24a, clutch 24b and motor 240 provide power for conveyor 24.
  • chain 25a, clutch 25b and motor 250 drive the fourth conveyor 25.
  • sensing devices 26, 27 and 28 such as sensitive electrical switches are disposed adjacent to the first, second and third conveyors, respectively.
  • switch 26 is disposed adjacent to the downstream end portion of the first conveyor
  • switch 27 is disposed adjacent to the elevated downstream portion of the second conveyor
  • switch 28 is disposed adjacent to the downstream portion of the third conveyor. In this way, switches 26 and 27 can sense the passage of the last newspaper of a stack with respect to the conveyors adjacent thereto.
  • hopper 12 includes bottom plate 120, side plates 12b and end plates 12c and 12d which form an enclosure into which the newspaper sections are to be delivered. Hopper 12 is supported by frame members l2e with respect to stuffing machine 14. A gatherer mechanism (not shown) removes the lowermost signature disposed upon plate 12a through a slot between the edge portion of plate 12a and the lower edge portion adjacent thereto of plate 12b and advances the lowermost newspaper section along guides 29 into pocket 13 of the stuffing machine.
  • a gatherer mechanism removes the lowermost signature disposed upon plate 12a through a slot between the edge portion of plate 12a and the lower edge portion adjacent thereto of plate 12b and advances the lowermost newspaper section along guides 29 into pocket 13 of the stuffing machine.
  • sensing switch 30 which has arm 31 extending through one of the side or end plates of the hopper at the position of the top of the desired predetermined size of stack of newspaper sections within the hopper.
  • normally closed switch 30 When the level of newspapers within hopper 12 is below the low limit, the contacts of normally closed switch 30 are in the closed position (FIG. 8). In the normally closed position of switch 30, relay 32 is energized. Switch 28 which is mounted adjacent to the elevated downstream position of third conveyor 24 is a normally closed switch and therefore when no newspapers are positioned upon switch 28, its contacts are closed. Switch 28 is connected to the winding of relay 33. As a result, the relay is only deenergized when the normally closed contacts of switch 28 are caused to be opened by the presence of newspapers along third conveyor 24 and overlying switch 28. Contacts 33a of relay 33 are normally closed and therefore these contacts are ,closed whenever newspaper sections are present along the third conveyor. Contacts 34 are part of a relay (not shown) for selectively energizing the entire machine and are closed whenever the system of the invention is to be operated.
  • Timer 35 which is connected in series with contacts 33a and 34, is adapted to produce predetermined periods of the opening and closing of timer contacts 35a. When the timer is deenergized by the opening of contacts 33a, contacts 35a of the timer rest in the opened condition. Timer 35 is adjustable for obtaining predetermined periods of the on time" of contacts 35a and the off time" of contacts 35a. By way of example, both the off time and the on time can be adjusted over a range extendingfrom approximately 0.2 to 10 seconds. Further, by way of example, a device which can be used as timer 35 is manufactured by Eagle Signal, a division of Gulf and Western Industries, Inc. of Davenport, Iowa and is described as Transistorized Timers, CG 100 Series.
  • hopper level switch 30 Since hopper level switch 30 is normally closed when there is an insufficient level of newspaper sections within the hopper, it can be seen that it enables timer contacts 35a to energize relay 32 whenever the hopper level switch is closed. In turn, relay 32 when energized closes the normally open contacts 32a-d which are connected to electric clutches 18b, 23b, 24b, and 25b, respectively. Consequently, the energizing of relay 32 enables the clutches to engage each of motors 18a, 23a, 24a, and 25a and thereby enable each of the four conveyors to be operated. As shown in FIG. 8, switches 26 and 27 control latching relays 180 which control contact 18d connected between contact 32a and clutch 1812.
  • relay 32 In a condition where there is an insufficient level of newspaper sections in hopper l2, relay 32 is energized and in turn contacts 32a-d are energized. In this initial condition, contact 18d is closed. With first conveyor 18 and second conveyor 23 operating, a stack 19 of newspaper sections can be advanced from the first conveyor over switch 26 to the second conveyor. First conveyor 18 continues to operate after the passage of the first bundle 19 across switch 26 due to the holding action of latching relays 18d until the second bundle arrives at switch 26. The latching relays are then actuated by the operation of switch 26 to open switch contacts 18d and cause the disengagement of clutch 18b to motor 18a. As a result, the first conveyor ceases to operate and holds the second bundle adjacent to the entrance to the second conveyor.
  • third conveyor 24 and fourth conveyor 25 With third conveyor 24 and fourth conveyor 25 operating, the first bundle of newspapers are carried away from the second conveyor. As soon. as the last newspaper in the first bundle has passed beyond switch 27, the operation of switch 27 actuates latching relays to close switch contacts 18d and cause clutch 18b of the first conveyor to be again engaged. As a result, motor 18a drives the conveyor and advances the second bundle of newspapers. The cycle continues as the third bundle of newspapers arrives at switch 26. The operation of switch 26 actuates latching relays 18c to open contacts 18a and cause the termination of the drive of motor 18a to the first conveyor. In this way it can be seen that a supply of bundles of newspapers to the third conveyor is maintained as long as the third and fourth conveyors are delivering newspapers to the hopper.
  • relay 32 is cycled on and off by timer 35.
  • the cycling of the third and fourth conveyors causes the newspapers to be delivered in bursts of predetermined duration and with predetermined time gaps therebetween. Consequently, the hopper receives the newspapers in bursts rather than in a continuous stream.
  • the hopper can be adapted to work a limited number of incoming signatures in a burst by striking an edge portion of each of the signatures because of the limited mass of signatures and the fact that the limited number do not press with excessive force upon one another and upon the signatures already in the hopper.
  • the delivery of a continuous flow of signatures especially where they are of a heavy nature, presents an excessive mass for the hopper to work upon and in addition causes the signatures to bear with excessive friction and pressure upon one another. Since the timer 35 can be conveniently adjusted for the duration of the on time and off time of contacts 35a, the bursts can be conveniently adjusted during operation to obtain a mode of operation in which there is a minimum of stoppages associated with the hopper or the gatherer.
  • the contacts of switch 30 open and thereby interrupt the circuit to relay 32 which actuates the drives to the conveyors.
  • the termination of the operation of the third and fourth conveyors prevents the delivery of sections to the hopper.
  • the termination of the operation of the third and fourth conveyors can be of a substantially short duration, although somewhat longer than the period of time between bursts.
  • several short bursts can occur with short time intervals therebetween, followed by a somewhat longer time interval before the next sequence of bursts.
  • the level of signatures in the hopper is a continuously changing level since the gatherer is continuously removing signatures from the bottom of the hopper while the hopper feeder is delivering one burst of signatures after another to the open top portion of the hopper.
  • the operation of switch 30 and the delivery of one burst after another results in the presence for a good portion of the time of a number of signatures which are being worked upon by the hopper which are descending upon the signatures already in the hopper.
  • operation with the bursts results in a dynamic type of operation rather than a simply interrupted but otherwise static type of operation.
  • Hopper 36 in FIG. 3 is an embodiment of hopper 12 of FIG. 1.
  • Signatures 11 such as the signatures of a book or magazine are advanced toward hopper 36 by fourth conveyor 25 which extends about idler roller 37 supported by shaft 38.
  • the hopper comprises side walls 39, end wall 40 and bottom plate 41 having a curved upper surface 410 which forms an opening with respect to the lower portion of end wall 40.
  • the signatures are removed by a gatherer mechanism, a portion of which is identified by reference numeral 42.
  • the gatherer includes device 43 for supporting the remainder of the newspaper sections as the bottommost section is removed by gatherer mechanism 42.
  • the signatures are caused to pass over the upper curved surface 44a of each of a plurality of joggers 44 which are continually moved with a swinging motion.
  • Inner surface 44b of each of the joggers is adapted to strike the trailing edge portion of each of the signatures in order to assist the descent of the signatures in the hopper and to urge the signatures to be stacked in the hopper evenly and flush against the inner surface of end wall 40.
  • the plurality of joggers 44 can include three joggers formed from comparatively thick plate-like material and disposed along shaft 45 spaced apart from one another (FIG. 5).
  • a block 46 attached to each of the joggers by screws 47 enables the joggers to be fixedly mounted along the shaft by means of clamps 48 which are secured to the blocks by screws 49.
  • a portion of the surface of the shaft is flat in cross section in order to locate the joggers mechanically to the shaft when clamps 48 are installed.
  • Curved surface 44a of each of the joggers is at a minimum radial distance with respect to the center of shaft 45 adjacent to the interior portion of the hopper and at a maximum radial distance adjacent to portion 446 of the jogger.
  • the radial dimension progressively reduces along the curved surface moving from portion 440 toward the interior of the hopper.
  • This con struction enables the joggers to assist the directing and the lowering of the signatures into the hopper since any portion of a signature in contact with a jogger gradually approaches the center of shaft 45 which is adjacent the bottom portion of the hopper as the portion of the signature moves along the curved surface.
  • the curved surface adjacent to portion 440 imparts a forward thrust to the signature as it is about to leave engagement with the joggers.
  • Joggers 44 are subjected to a reciprocating or swinging motion by being driven by cam 50 mounted upon shaft 38 adjacent to one end portion thereof.
  • Cam 50 which can be a substantially square cam with rounded corner portions has its surface 50a in engagement with roller follower 51.
  • the follower is pivotally mounted upon lever 52 which is clamped to shaft 45 by screw 53.
  • Spring 54 attached at one end by screw 55 to lever 52 biases roller follower 51 into engagement with surface 50a of the cam since the other end of the spring is secured by pin 54a to the frame of the machine.
  • cam 50 by means of roller follower 51 and lever 52 imparts a reciprocating or swinging motion to the joggers mounted upon shaft 45.
  • cam 50 is operated continuously and therefore the swinging of joggers 44 would be continu- Joggers 44 have been found to be particularly suited to the handling of signatures which have a substantial large dimension in a direction extending transversely with respect to the conveyor, that is at right angles to the-line of travel of the conveyor. Signatures having such a large transverse dimension occur typically where the printed matter of the signature is in a twoup array which is ultimately split when the gathering operations have been completed and the books assembled.
  • the hopper 36 can be used with an arm-gatherer.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 show hopper 56 which is another embodiment of hopper 12 of FIG. 1.
  • Hopper 56 is particu-' larly suited for delivering heavy signatures such as newspaper sections 11 to a high speed gatherer such, for example, as the type used in feeding a high speed newspaper stuffing machine.
  • the fourth conveyor or speeder belt 25 passes around idler rollers 57 mounted upon shaft 58.
  • the hopper for receiving the newspaper sections from conveyor 25 comprises bottom plate 59 having edge portion 590 thereof disposed adjacent to guide bar 60.
  • Side jogger 61 which forms a side of a hopper has its lower edge portion 610 extending spaced apart and parallel with respect to rounded guide 60.
  • the opening or space between the rounded guide and edge portion 61a of the side jogger forms the opening through which the newspaper sections are removed by a gatherer mechanism, a portion of which is identified by reference numeral 62 in FIG. 7.
  • end jogger 65 At the side of the hopper opposite to jogger 61 there is disposed fixed side plate 63. As shown in FIG. 6 plate 64 which extends vertically with respect to the hopper and for a portion of the distance between the side jogger and the side plate 63 forms an end wall portion of the hopper. At the opposite end of the hopper adjacent to conveyor 25, there is disposed end jogger 65 (FIGS.6and 7).
  • Jogger plate 67 is provided with a pair of supporting brackets 68 attached to the jogger plate. Lower end portion 68a of each of the brackets are pivotally mounted with respect to pins 69 which are mounted on hangers 70. In turn, the hangers are secured by clamps 71 to bar 72 which is a portion of the frame of the machine. In this way the side jogger can be swung about the axis defined by pins 69 and with respect to the interior of the hopper.
  • the drive for the side jogger originates with motor 73 which is coupled by belt 74 to pulley 75.
  • Pulley 75 is connected to shaft 76 which drives eccentric 77.
  • Eccentric 77 is provided with drive pin 78.
  • Link 79 is pivotally attached to pin 78 at one end thereof and to adjustment rod 80 at the other end thereof.
  • Rod end 81 connects arm 82 by means of pivot 83 to the side jogger by means of screw 84.
  • the rotation of shaft 76 drives eccentric 77 andthereby orbits pin 78.
  • the orbital movement of the pin is transmitted as a reciprocating motion to the side jogger.
  • End jogger 65 is provided with brackets 85 spaced apart and attached thereto.
  • the brackets are pivotally mounted with respect to frame member 86 by means of pin 87 extending through the brackets and an opening in the frame member.
  • link 88 coupled to an eccentric (not shown) which is similar to eccentric 77 a reciprocating motion is transmitted to push-pull cable 89.
  • rod 90 connected to the cable and rod end 91 pivotally connected to one of the brackets by pivot 92, a reciprocating or swinging motion is imparted to end jogger 65.
  • the eccentric for cable 89 which is spaced apart along shaft 76 from eccentric 77 is adjustably positioned in a circumferential manner with respect to shaft 76.
  • the sections can be effectively worked as they descend in the hopper if the side jogger and the end jogger are operated out of phase such as out of phase.
  • the result of an out of phase operation is that the section is subjected to alternate blows from the side jogger and the end jogger with the result that the sections assume a shimmy-like motion in a horizontal plane as the sections descend in the hopper.
  • This motion reduces the friction between adjacent sections and at the same time enables the two joggers to work the sections down into the hopper where they are ultimately flush against the lower por tion of the side jogger.
  • the lower portion of the side jogger has a minimum degree of reciprocating motion since it is nearest to the pivotal axis defined by pins 69.
  • Moving the side jogger with respect to a nominal position inclined toward the interior of the hopper assists in bringing the sections into a stack within the hopper which is tilted slightly to the right as shown in FIG. 7.
  • the angle of side plate 63 assists in forming the slightly tilted stack.
  • the inclination of bottom plate 59 as shown in 57 assists in presenting the bottommost section 11 to the gatherer mechanism and facilitates the removal of the bottommost section.
  • the jogging action of jogger 65 insures that the sections not only are subjected to a shimmy-like motion but also that the sections ultimately reside flush against plate 64 as the sections approach the lower portion of the hopper.
  • Hose 96 couples air valve 97 to the-manifolds.
  • Hose 98 connects an air supply (not shown) to the valve.
  • the motion required to operate lever 99 of the valve to open and close the valve is derived from pin 78 coupled to concentric 77.
  • rod end 100 couples pin 78 to pushpull cable 101.
  • crank 103 At the opposite end of the cable 101, it is coupled by rod end 102 to crank 103 having cam surface 104.
  • Crank 103 is pivotally supported about pin 105.
  • cam surface 104 is subjected to a swinging motion which in turn is transmitted to roller follower 106 attached to lever 99 of air valve 97.
  • valve 97 can be conditioned to deliver the blast of air at various times during the cycle of motion of the jogger plate. It has been found to be of advantage when handling heavy signatures such as newspaper sections to apply the blast of air as the side jogger plate moves toward the sections within the hopper so that they experience the floating action resulting from the air as they are worked by the side jogger plate.
  • a method of delivering sheet material to a hopper from which the sheet material is to be subsequently released the hopper being adapted to receive the sheet material adjacent one end portion thereof and to have the sheet material released from another portion of the hopper disposed at a distance from the one end portion, the hopper being adapted to support a stack of the sheet material with the surface of each sheet being substantially contiguous with the sheets adjacent thereto, the method comprising the steps of:
  • a method of delivering sheet material to a hopper in accordance with claim 1 in which the step of interrupting the delivering of the flow of sheet material for a predetermined additional duration comprises interrupting the delivering of the flow of sheet material for an additional duration which enables the flow of sheet material preceding the interrupting of the delivering thereof to be substantially delivered into the hopper.
  • a method of delivering sheet material to a hopper in accordance with claim 1 in which the step of deliver.- ing a flow of the sheet material toward the one end portion of the hopper comprises:
  • step of interrupting the delivering of the flow of sheet material comprises interrupting the conveying of the material on the one conveyor while maintaining the conveying of the material on the other conveyor
  • a method of delivering sheet material to a hopper in accordance with claim 5 in which the step of jogging by applying force substantially to an edge portion of the sheet material comprises applying a level of force which varies along the height of the stack of sheet material within the hopper and the sheet material being delivered which is in the hopper, the varying of the level of force enabling the sheet material to be directed to a substantially even and uniform stack.
  • a method of delivering sheet material in accordance with claim 4 in which the step of jogging comprises jogging the edge portion of the sheet material which is in a substantially parallel relationship with respect to the direction of flow of the sheet material being delivered.
  • a method of delivering sheet material to a hopper in accordance with claim 9 in which the step of supporting substantially an edge portion of the sheet material to which the jogging is applied comprises supporting the edge portion by engaging it with a reciprocating surface which extends substantially parallel to the surface of the sheet material.
  • a method of delivering sheet material to a hopper in accordance with claim 11 in which the step of jogging and the step of additionally jogging are actuated substantially out of phase with one another in order to cause the sheet material to move with a motion in the hopper resolvable into orthogonal components.
  • a method of delivering sheet material to a hopper in accordance with claim 13 in which the step of applying at least one blast of a gaseous fluid is applied substantially in phase with the jogging of the stack of the sheet material.
  • Apparatus for delivering sheet material to a hopper from which the sheet material is to be subsequently released the hopper being adapted to receive the sheet material adjacent one end portion thereof and to have the sheet material released from another portion of the hopper disposed at a distance from the one end portion, the hopper being adapted to support a stack of the sheet material with the surface of each of the sheet material being substantially contiguous with the sheets adjacent thereto, said apparatus comprising:
  • Apparatus for delivering sheet material to a hopper in accordance with claim 15 in which said means for delivering a flow of the sheet material toward the one end portion of the hopper comprises:
  • an additional conveyor having its entrance portion adjacent the exit portion of said conveyor and its exit portion adjacent the hopper, said additional conveyor conveying the sheet material from said conveyor to the hopper in response to the sensing by said sensing means of a stack of sheet material within the hopper less than the substantially predetermined size of stack, and i in which said means for interrupting the delivering of the flow of sheet material by said delivering means interrupts the conveying of the material on said conveyor while maintaining the conveying of the material on said other conveyor, whereby the additional conveying of the sheet material on said other conveyor delivers the flow of sheet material preceding the step of interrupting to the hopper.
  • Apparatus for delivering sheet material to a hopper in accordance with claim 17 in which said means for jogging cyclically applies force substantially to an edge portion of the sheet material within the stack and the sheet material being delivered which is in the hopper.
  • Apparatus for delivering sheet material to a hopper in accordance with claim 17 in which said means for jogging by applying force substantially to an edge portion of the sheet material applies a level of force which varies along the height of the stack of sheet material within the hopper and the sheet material being delivered which is in the hopper, the varying of the level of force bysaid jogging means enables the sheet material to be directed into a substantially even and uniform stack.
  • Apparatus for delivering sheet material to a hopper in accordance with claim 17 in which said means for jogging jogs the edge portion of the sheet material within the stack and the sheet material being delivered which is in the hopper, said jogging means extending transversely with respect to the direction of the path of flow of sheet material being delivered and adjacent the portion of the hopper adjacent to said delivering means.
  • a jogger for jogging the edge portion of the sheet material within the stack and the sheet material being delivered by said delivering means which is in the hopper, the edge portion extending in a substantially facing relationship with respect to the flow of sheet material being delivered by said delivering means;
  • an additional jogger for jogging the edge portion of the sheet material within the stack and the sheet material being delivered which is in the hopper, the edge portion to which the additional jogger is applied extending substantially parallel to the direction of flow of the sheet material being delivered by said delivering means.
  • Apparatus for delivering sheet material to a hopper in accordance with claim 22 in which said jogger and said additional jogger are actuated substantially out of phase with one another in order to cause the sheet material to move with a motion in the hopper resolvable into orthogonal components.
  • Apparatus for delivering sheet material to a hopper in accordance with claim 24 in which said means for applying at least one blast of a gaseous fluid is actuated substantially in phase with the jogging of the stack of the sheet material by said jogging means.
  • Apparatus for stacking sheet material in an oriented relationship with the edges in vertical alignment said apparatus including;
  • source means for providing a supply of the sheet material to be stacked
  • conveyor means for feeding signatures from said source means to the stack
  • control means for intermittently interrupting the drive of said drive means for intermittent predetermined period while a stack is being made whereby the interrupting of the drive of said conveyor means produces bursts of sheet material being delivered to the stack for stacking.
  • Apparatus including a hopper for receiving a flow of sheet material to form a stack within the hopper and for subsequently releasing the sheet material from the end of the stack opposite to which the sheet material is delivered, said apparatus comprising:
  • a laterally extending member for supporting the stack of sheet material which is in the hopper with one edge portion of said member forming an opening with the structure of the hopper through which the sheet material can be released
  • delivery means for delivering a flow of the sheet material to the hopper with the surface of each of the sheet material being generally parallel to the upper surface of the stack
  • plate means forming at least a portion of a wall of said hopper extending upwardly from adjacent said member, said plate means being pivotedly mounted with respect to said hopper adjacent the lower portion of said plate means with the pivot axis being substantially parallel to the flow of sheet material being delivered to enable the surface of said plate means adjacent to the interior of the hopper to be swung in a facing relationship with respect to the interior of the hopper and an edge portion of each of the sheet material,
  • said plate means further including a supporting surface on the upper portion thereof with said supporting surface being adjacent to the delivery end of said delivery means and generally aligned with the path of travel of at least an edge portion of the sheet material as it passes from the delivery means whereby said supporting surface engages and supports said sheet material as it is passing from the delivery means and before the sheet material descends toward the hopper, and
  • Apparatus including a hopper for receiving a flow of sheet material to form a stack within the hopper and for subsequently releasing the sheet material from the end of the stack opposite to which the sheet material is delivered, said apparatus comprising:
  • a laterally extending member for supporting the stack of sheet material which is in the hopper with one edge portion of said member forming an opening with the structure of the hopper through which the sheet material can be released
  • delivery means for delivering a flow of the sheet material to the hopper with the surface of each of the sheet material being generally parallel to the upper surface of the stack
  • plate means forming at least a portion of a wall of said hopper extending upwardly from adjacent said member, said plate means being pivotedly mounted with respect to said hopper adjacent the lower portion of said plate means with the pivot axis being substantially transverse to the flow of sheet material being delivered to enable the surface of said plate means adjacent to the interior of the hopper to be swung in a facing relationship with respect to the interior of the hopper and an edge portion of each of the sheet material,
  • said plate means further including a supporting surface on the upper portion thereof with said supporting surface being adjacent to the delivery end of said delivery means and engageable with said sheet material as it is passing from the delivery means,
  • said supporting surface comprising structure forming a curved surface extending transversely with respect to the path of the flow of sheet material being delivered and in which the radius of curvature of said curved surface decreases from adjacent the portion of said curved surface facing the flow of sheetmaterial to the portion of the curved surface facing the interior of the hopper,

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pile Receivers (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
US99066A 1970-12-17 1970-12-17 Method and apparatus for feeding sheet material into a hopper Expired - Lifetime US3690650A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US9906670A 1970-12-17 1970-12-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3690650A true US3690650A (en) 1972-09-12

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US99066A Expired - Lifetime US3690650A (en) 1970-12-17 1970-12-17 Method and apparatus for feeding sheet material into a hopper

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3690650A (de)
CA (1) CA962706A (de)
CH (1) CH545740A (de)
DE (1) DE2162918C3 (de)
FR (1) FR2118723A5 (de)
GB (1) GB1338018A (de)
IT (1) IT944087B (de)

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3880419A (en) * 1973-06-15 1975-04-29 Donnelley & Sons Co Apparatus for feeding printed sheets
US3881718A (en) * 1973-03-19 1975-05-06 Harris Intertype Corp Unstacking and shingling of sheet material articles
US3881716A (en) * 1972-02-17 1975-05-06 Harris Intertype Corp Combined newspaper press and stuffer, and method of forming newspapers therewith
US3908836A (en) * 1974-05-01 1975-09-30 Takashi Ikeda Apparatus for supplying sheets to a sheet processing machine in successive stacks
US3924845A (en) * 1973-12-10 1975-12-09 Harris Intertype Corp Collating method
US3945633A (en) * 1973-07-23 1976-03-23 Harris-Intertype Corporation Hopper loader
US4037734A (en) * 1976-03-05 1977-07-26 Tropicana Products, Inc. Method and apparatus for depalletizing
US4062532A (en) * 1976-04-23 1977-12-13 Koppers Company, Inc. Apparatus for feeding and transporting paperboard blanks
US4164348A (en) * 1977-09-26 1979-08-14 Harris Corporation Jogging apparatus
US4452441A (en) * 1981-09-17 1984-06-05 Rockwell International Corporation Newspaper stream forming device
US4453870A (en) * 1982-03-08 1984-06-12 The Mead Corporation Accumulator
US4458892A (en) * 1980-12-12 1984-07-10 Komori Printing Machinery Co., Ltd. Signature delivery devices for use in rotary printing presses
US4783065A (en) * 1983-08-31 1988-11-08 Graves Sr Glen L Feeder apparatus for feeding sheet material sections
US4901995A (en) * 1988-06-13 1990-02-20 Am International Incorporated Apparatus for use in forming sheet material assemblages
US5088711A (en) * 1990-08-27 1992-02-18 Newsome John R Machine for transporting and loading signatures
US5122030A (en) * 1988-09-13 1992-06-16 Heinz Schmeisser Method and apparatus for transporting can blanks and the like
US5197590A (en) * 1991-04-30 1993-03-30 Prim Hall Enterprises Inc. Hopper loader
US5222720A (en) * 1990-08-27 1993-06-29 Newsome John R Hopper with third lifter
EP0983950A2 (de) * 1998-08-31 2000-03-08 Multifeeder Technology, Inc. Automatische Vorrichtung zum Beladen von Produkten zur Verwendung bei einem Bogenanleger
US6247694B1 (en) 1999-12-17 2001-06-19 R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company Automated bindery log extension
US6427999B1 (en) * 1999-02-17 2002-08-06 Quad/Tech, Inc. Signature hopper loader apparatus and method
US20030184006A1 (en) * 2002-03-29 2003-10-02 Ferus Jon M. Hopper loader with lateral deblocking
US6637740B2 (en) * 2000-12-22 2003-10-28 O.M.G. Di Giorgio Pessina E Aldo Perobelli S.N.C. Loader of signatures or sheets for bookbindery feeder
US20040245716A1 (en) * 2003-05-21 2004-12-09 Bates Jerry L. Vertical pocket feeder
US20060180979A1 (en) * 2004-12-20 2006-08-17 Muller Martini Holding Ag Apparatus for feeding print products in a conveyed flow to a processing device

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES474384A1 (es) * 1977-11-28 1979-04-16 Mohn Ohg Reinhard Procedimiento y dispositivo para producir un mazo atado de pliegos de papel.
US4616815A (en) * 1985-03-05 1986-10-14 Vijuk Bindery Equipment, Inc. Automatic stacking and folding apparatus
US4966646A (en) * 1986-09-24 1990-10-30 Board Of Trustees Of Leland Stanford University Method of making an integrated, microminiature electric-to-fluidic valve
JPH0829850B2 (ja) * 1987-03-02 1996-03-27 三田工業株式会社 摩擦パッドの取付具
DE4238937A1 (de) * 1992-11-19 1994-05-26 Bosch Gmbh Robert Vorrichtung zum Aufnehmen und Abgeben von flachen Gegenständen in einer Verpackungsmaschine
FR2830242B1 (fr) * 2001-10-01 2004-06-11 Plus Dev B Procede et installation d'alimentation de machines ou lignes a haute cadence operant sur des objets plats

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US958798A (en) * 1909-04-02 1910-05-24 Robert Ernst Fischer Stacking mechanism for printing, folding, or similar paper-treating machines.
US1633937A (en) * 1925-08-13 1927-06-28 Tabulating Machine Co Card-feeding apparatus
US2273689A (en) * 1940-03-16 1942-02-17 Eugene F Boron Sheet stacker
US3422969A (en) * 1966-08-18 1969-01-21 Gen Corrugated Machinery Co In Apparatus for orienting case blanks
US3522943A (en) * 1968-03-27 1970-08-04 Donnelley & Sons Co Signature feeder for gathering machine

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Cited By (30)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3881716A (en) * 1972-02-17 1975-05-06 Harris Intertype Corp Combined newspaper press and stuffer, and method of forming newspapers therewith
US3881718A (en) * 1973-03-19 1975-05-06 Harris Intertype Corp Unstacking and shingling of sheet material articles
US3880419A (en) * 1973-06-15 1975-04-29 Donnelley & Sons Co Apparatus for feeding printed sheets
US3945633A (en) * 1973-07-23 1976-03-23 Harris-Intertype Corporation Hopper loader
US3924845A (en) * 1973-12-10 1975-12-09 Harris Intertype Corp Collating method
US3908836A (en) * 1974-05-01 1975-09-30 Takashi Ikeda Apparatus for supplying sheets to a sheet processing machine in successive stacks
US4037734A (en) * 1976-03-05 1977-07-26 Tropicana Products, Inc. Method and apparatus for depalletizing
US4062532A (en) * 1976-04-23 1977-12-13 Koppers Company, Inc. Apparatus for feeding and transporting paperboard blanks
US4164348A (en) * 1977-09-26 1979-08-14 Harris Corporation Jogging apparatus
US4458892A (en) * 1980-12-12 1984-07-10 Komori Printing Machinery Co., Ltd. Signature delivery devices for use in rotary printing presses
US4452441A (en) * 1981-09-17 1984-06-05 Rockwell International Corporation Newspaper stream forming device
US4453870A (en) * 1982-03-08 1984-06-12 The Mead Corporation Accumulator
US4783065A (en) * 1983-08-31 1988-11-08 Graves Sr Glen L Feeder apparatus for feeding sheet material sections
US4901995A (en) * 1988-06-13 1990-02-20 Am International Incorporated Apparatus for use in forming sheet material assemblages
US5122030A (en) * 1988-09-13 1992-06-16 Heinz Schmeisser Method and apparatus for transporting can blanks and the like
US5088711A (en) * 1990-08-27 1992-02-18 Newsome John R Machine for transporting and loading signatures
US5222720A (en) * 1990-08-27 1993-06-29 Newsome John R Hopper with third lifter
US5197590A (en) * 1991-04-30 1993-03-30 Prim Hall Enterprises Inc. Hopper loader
EP0983950A2 (de) * 1998-08-31 2000-03-08 Multifeeder Technology, Inc. Automatische Vorrichtung zum Beladen von Produkten zur Verwendung bei einem Bogenanleger
EP0983950A3 (de) * 1998-08-31 2002-12-04 Multifeeder Technology, Inc. Automatische Vorrichtung zum Beladen von Produkten zur Verwendung bei einem Bogenanleger
US7048111B2 (en) 1999-02-17 2006-05-23 Quad/Tech, Inc. Hopper loader apparatus and method
US6427999B1 (en) * 1999-02-17 2002-08-06 Quad/Tech, Inc. Signature hopper loader apparatus and method
US6247694B1 (en) 1999-12-17 2001-06-19 R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company Automated bindery log extension
US6637740B2 (en) * 2000-12-22 2003-10-28 O.M.G. Di Giorgio Pessina E Aldo Perobelli S.N.C. Loader of signatures or sheets for bookbindery feeder
US20030184006A1 (en) * 2002-03-29 2003-10-02 Ferus Jon M. Hopper loader with lateral deblocking
US7222844B2 (en) 2002-03-29 2007-05-29 Quad/Graphics, Inc. Hopper loader with lateral deblocking
US7011302B2 (en) * 2003-05-21 2006-03-14 Systems Technology, Inc. Vertical pocket feeder
US20040245716A1 (en) * 2003-05-21 2004-12-09 Bates Jerry L. Vertical pocket feeder
US20060180979A1 (en) * 2004-12-20 2006-08-17 Muller Martini Holding Ag Apparatus for feeding print products in a conveyed flow to a processing device
US7938391B2 (en) * 2004-12-20 2011-05-10 Müller Martini Holding AG Apparatus for feeding print products in a conveyed flow to a processing device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2162918B2 (de) 1979-03-08
GB1338018A (en) 1973-11-21
FR2118723A5 (de) 1972-07-28
CA962706A (en) 1975-02-11
IT944087B (it) 1973-04-20
CH545740A (de) 1974-02-15
DE2162918A1 (de) 1972-07-06
DE2162918C3 (de) 1979-10-31

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Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:HARRIS CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004227/0467

Effective date: 19830429

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Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:HARRIS GRAPHICS CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:005018/0144

Effective date: 19881006