US3829085A - Sheet feeding apparatus - Google Patents

Sheet feeding apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3829085A
US3829085A US00271066A US27106672A US3829085A US 3829085 A US3829085 A US 3829085A US 00271066 A US00271066 A US 00271066A US 27106672 A US27106672 A US 27106672A US 3829085 A US3829085 A US 3829085A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
suction
feed table
sheet
sheets
suction conduit
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
US00271066A
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English (en)
Inventor
W Jeschke
G Pollich
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.)
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Original Assignee
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE19712134834 external-priority patent/DE2134834C2/de
Application filed by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG filed Critical Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3829085A publication Critical patent/US3829085A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H9/00—Registering, e.g. orientating, articles; Devices therefor
    • B65H9/08—Holding devices, e.g. finger, needle, suction, for retaining articles in registered position

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT Apparatus for feeding sheets includes a feed table onto which the sheets are supplied. The front edges of the sheet are engaged by stops, and suction openings in the feed table precede the stops.
  • Suction conduit means which underlie the feed table in alignment with the suction opeings are operable between raised and lowered positions in sychronism with the operation of the apparatus whereby the underpressure applied to a sheet through the suction openings and suction conduit to hold down the sheet on the feed table is varied in synchronism with the operation of the apparatus as the feed conduit means is raised and lowered.
  • This invention relates to a sheet-feeding apparatus and more particularly to a sheet-feeding apparatus in which successive sheets which may partially overlap or which have no overlap are supplied to a feed table. Stops are provided at the forward edge of the feed table and a plurality of suction openings disposed in the feed table hold down the leading edge of the sheet. The arrangement is such that the incoming sheet is reliably guided under catch hooks on the front stops even at relatively high rates of feeding of the sheets, thereby assuring dependable and trouble-free alignment of the feed-in sheet.
  • Sheet feeding devices are known in which suction means are arranged in the plane of the top of a feed table to hold down the sheet on the feed table.
  • suction means include stationary turbulence or whirling chambers which are open at the top.
  • compressed air is fed in through an inlet which directs an air stream tangentially into the turbulence chamber.
  • the top of the feed table is provided with slots through which compressed air is blown in a direction toward the feed stops.
  • the slots are arranged such that the compressed air passing through the slots produces an underpressure which holds down the leading edge of the incoming sheet.
  • a disadvantage of this known arrangement is that in guiding the sheet under the hook-shaped front stops, unless the compressed air is carefully controlled, the leading edge of the sheet will flutter. Precise and exact control of the compressed air for producing the required under pressure, however, presents difficulties at printing speeds which'must be adjustable, for example, from 4,000 to 10,000 prints per hour. Accordingly, instability of the sheet cannot be avoided.
  • an absolutely flat condition of the sheet, which is pushed against the front stops is required on the feed table. 1
  • slots are provided in the feed table plate immediately ahead of the front stops.
  • a concave guide member is disposed underneath the slots and compressed air is blown against the guide member.
  • the guide member Byadjusting the guide member in relation to the arriving stream of air it is possible to vary the amount'of underpressure produced above the slots.
  • the concave guide member and the associated parts of this known sheet-feeding apparatus must be accommodated in the area where customarily the control devices for the front stops and pull guides are located. It is therefore extremely difiicult to mount this known apparatus for producing underpressure at the intended location underneath the feed table plate.
  • the same difficulties can be expected with this known arrangement as heretofore described in connection with other known apparatus as related to the generation of underpressure by compressed air.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple device which is operable to pull an incoming sheet immediately ahead of the front stops absolutely flat against the feed table platform and to place it without affecting the mobility of the sheet during the alignment process.
  • the aforementioned object is achieved by providing a plurality of suction openings arranged such that in the area of each group of suction openings a suction pipe opens at the bottom side of a feed table plate.
  • the end of each suction'pipe essentially covers up the associated group of suction openings, and the distance between the end of the suction pipes and the underside of the feed table plate is variable in accordance with the rate of feed of the sheets.
  • An advantage in one embodiment of the present invention resides in the fact that the suction pipes lead into a main vacuum line in which a regulating valve is provided.
  • the regulating valve can serve, on one hand, to provide an adjustment for obtaining the optimal underpressure, and on the other hand, to re-adjust the suction action when changing the type of sheets being handled, for example, when changing from cardboard to paper or to onion-skin.
  • Connecting the suction pipes to a main vacuum line makes it possible, in a very simple manner, to add or disconnect individual suction pipes depending on the width of the sheets being fed at any particular time.
  • FIG; 1 is a side elevational view of a sheet-feeding apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention showing the front stops lifted and the suction pipes in a raised position and with all known elements of the sheet feeder omitted;
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the control parts shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the embodiment in FIG. 1, but showing the first stops in a lowered position for aligning the sheet and with the suction pipes in a lowered position;
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a portion'of the suction apparatus
  • FIG. 5 is an elevational view partly in section of a portion of the suction apparatus.
  • FIG. 6 is a top view of a portion of the suction apparatus.
  • FIG. 1 shows sheets 2 which are supplied one by one to afeed table plate 1 of a sheet-feeding apparatus.
  • afeed table plate 1 At the lower end of the feed table plate 1 are located several front stops 3 having catch hooks 4 and which intercept the incoming sheet 2.
  • the front stops 3 are operated and the sheets are aligned by means of front stop member 5.
  • the front stops 3 are mounted on a shaft 6 rotatably in such a manner that an auxiliary gripper 29 provided above the feed table plate 1 is operable to grip the aligned sheet 2 and pass it on to agripper set 7 on a printing cylinder 8.
  • the sheet gripped by the gripper set 7 will hereinafter be referred to as the departing sheet
  • the shaft 6 is mounted on one end of a' pivotal lever 10 which is pivotalv about the shaft 25. At the same end of the pivotal lever 10, a suction pipe 11 is attached by,
  • the suction pipe 11 leads downwardly into a flexible connecting tube 13.,The free end 14 of the suction pipe 11 terminates at the underside of the feed table plate 1.
  • suction openings 15 show the suction openings 15 as circular holes. However, these suction-openings 15 may have other configurations, for example, they may be elongated holes.
  • the suction openings 15 are arranged and combined to form four groups 16 to 19.
  • Each of the groups 16, 17, 18, 19 is disposed immediately in front of one of the front stops 3.
  • One end 14 of each of a plurality of suction pipes 11 is located underneath each group 16 to 19 of the respective suction opening 15.
  • Each of the flexible connecting tubes 13 leading from the suction pipes 11 leads to a regulating valve 20 which is connected to an exhaust blower 22 via a flexible main vacuum tube 21.
  • the regulating valve 20 serves as an adjustment to obtain the optimum operating underpressure. For the handling of onion-skin paper, paper and cardboard, for instance, a different underpressure must be obtained.
  • each group 16, 17, 18, 19 of suction openings 15 can be accommodated, in a separate suction disc 23 which is inserted into a recess 24 in the feed table plate 1.
  • the suction discs 23 are made of a material having a low friction coefficient, for example, Teflon or Fluon.
  • Teflon or Fluon As a result the suction disc 23, which is flush with the upper surface and with the lower surface or underside of the feed table plate 1 presents a particularly low frictional resistance to the pulled-down sheet, whereby smearing of the printed underside of the sheet is avoided in cases where the ink is not sufficiently dry.
  • the suction pipe 11, in its suction position, has its end 14 located immediately underneath the suction disc 23.
  • the pipe end 14 in cooperation with the underside of the feed table plate 1, thereby serves as a highly effective control valve inasmuch as it is located immediately at the area where the suction is applied. In the open condition, this control valve, furthermore, has no additional flow resistance of any kind.
  • the cross-sectional area of each suction pipe 11 is made relatively large so that a large amount of air is drawn in but only a relatively small underpressure is produced. The extremely rapid action of the above described control valve also makes possible a substantial reduction of the already low underpressure in the operating cycle of the machine even at the highest feeding speeds that may occur.
  • the suction pipe 11 is attached to the lever 10.
  • the latter in turn is pivoted on the shaft 25 and is rocked through a predetermined angle by a cam 26 through a cam follower 27 in accordance with the operating cycle of the machine.
  • the catch hook 4 of the front stop 3 is lowered and raised.
  • the end 14 of the suction pipe 11 is also lowered and raised; the amount of travel between lowered and raised positions being indicated by the numeral 28 in FIG. 5.
  • the underpressure which is applied to the sheet above the feed table plate 1 is naturally lowest, if not zero.
  • thesheet is aligned by the front stops 3 and the pull guides and any other influence on the sheet during this part of the operating is undesirable.
  • the two outer of the four suction pipes 11 provided, as shown in FIG, 4 may be disconnected.
  • the inner suction pipes 11 may be disconnectedor regulated separately, particularly in cases where it is desirable to exert increased suction action on the corners of the sheet which, in many cases tend to deflect upwardly.
  • valves 30 are provided in the individual flexible connecting tubes 13 to control and regulate the suction applied through each suction pipe 11.
  • Sheets 2 are supplied one by one in rapid succession over the feed table plate 1 to the front stops 3.
  • the exhaust blower 22 draws off a considerable amount of air via the suction pipes 11 and the suction openings above the feed table plate 1.
  • a slight underpressure is produced above the feed table plate 1 which pulls the leading edge of the incoming sheet 2 absolutely flat against the upper side of the feed table plate 1.
  • the suction pipes 11 are in the position indicated in FIG. 1 in which the pipe ends 14 are disposed immediately under the feed table plate 1 so that air is drawn through the suction openings 15.
  • the cam 26 rocks the lever 10 to the position shown in FIG. 3 whereby the catch hooks 4 of the front stops 3 are lowered and the front stop member 5 aligns the leading edge of the sheet.
  • the suction pipes 11 are lowered, and
  • the front stops 3 are swung away by means of the shaft 6 so that the auxili- I arygripper 29, which has already gripped the leading edge of the sheet, can pass the sheet 2 to the gripper set 7 on the printing cylinder 8. While the departing sheet 9 is still being placed around the printing cylinder 8, the alignment of a new incoming sheet 2 has already started to take place.
  • the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and that other alternate embodiments may be used.
  • a separate control mechanism may be provided for the suction pipes.
  • the suction tubes may be arranged aheadof the movable catch hooks instead of ahead of the front stops.
  • opening means comprising holes in said table smaller than said suction end of said suction conduit means so that said suction end does not come in contact with said sheets, and actuating means for raising and lowering said suction conduit means so that said open suction end thereof travels between a lowermost and an uppermost position thereof located below said feed table in synchronism with the operating cycle of the apparatus, whereby the underpressure applied from said open end of said suction conduit means through said suction opening means to the sheet to hold the latter down on said feed table is varied in synchronism with the operation of the apparatus.
  • suction conduit means comprises a suction conduit having one longitudinal end thereof arranged in underlying alignment with said suction opening means in said feed table.
  • Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of groups of suction opening means are provided in said feed table and each group has a suction conduit associated therewith, the axes of said suction conduits being disposed generally perpendicular to the top surface of said feed table.
  • said actuating means comprises a pivotal lever for operating said stop means, said suction conduit means being mounted on said lever whereby said stop means are operable simultaneously with the raising and lowering of said suction conduit means.
  • Apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising cam means operating said pivotal lever in synchronism with the operating cycle of the sheet feeding apparatus.
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of suction opening means and suction conduit means are provided and means are provided for controlling the suction pressure in one or more of said suction conduit means.
  • Apparatus for feeding a succession of sheets comprising a feed table receiving said sheets, stop means at the front end of said feed table engaging the front edge of said sheets, suction opening means in said feed table preceding said stops, suction conduit means underlying said suction opening means in said feed table, and actuating means for raising and lowering said suction conduit means relative to said feed table in synchronism with the operating cycle of the apparatus, whereby the underpressure applied to the sheet to hold the latter down on said feed table is varied in synchronism with the operation of the apparatus, said suction opening

Landscapes

  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
  • Registering Or Overturning Sheets (AREA)
US00271066A 1971-07-13 1972-07-12 Sheet feeding apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3829085A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19712134834 DE2134834C2 (de) 1971-07-13 Bogenfördereinrichtung

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3829085A true US3829085A (en) 1974-08-13

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ID=5813456

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00271066A Expired - Lifetime US3829085A (en) 1971-07-13 1972-07-12 Sheet feeding apparatus

Country Status (12)

Country Link
US (1) US3829085A (xx)
JP (1) JPS517407B1 (xx)
AT (1) AT330812B (xx)
CH (1) CH546694A (xx)
CS (1) CS161662B2 (xx)
DD (1) DD98084A5 (xx)
DE (1) DE2134834B1 (xx)
FR (1) FR2146070A5 (xx)
GB (1) GB1337378A (xx)
IT (1) IT966922B (xx)
NL (1) NL146120B (xx)
SE (1) SE385572B (xx)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4029009A (en) * 1975-07-17 1977-06-14 Veb Polygraph Leipzig Kombinat Fur Polygraphische Maschinen Und Ausrustungen Printing machine construction
US4067436A (en) * 1975-11-18 1978-01-10 Molins Limited Apparatus for conveying articles
US4402266A (en) * 1981-05-08 1983-09-06 Komori Printing Machinery Co. Ltd. Front lay device for sheet-fed rotary printing presses
US4414896A (en) * 1981-03-07 1983-11-15 M.A.N.-Roland Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft Sheet-fed rotary prime and verso offset printing machine & method
EP1681253A1 (de) * 2005-01-12 2006-07-19 MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG Leitvorrichtung
US20100149298A1 (en) * 2001-01-10 2010-06-17 Seiko Epson Corporation Recording apparatus

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5245703U (xx) * 1975-09-29 1977-03-31
DE3438134A1 (de) * 1984-10-18 1986-04-24 M.A.N.- Roland Druckmaschinen AG, 6050 Offenbach Verfahren zum ausrichten und zufuehren von druckboegen an druckmaschinen

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2753184A (en) * 1951-09-03 1956-07-03 Backhouse Headley Towasend Sheet feeding mechanisms
US3140030A (en) * 1962-04-26 1964-07-07 Koppers Co Inc Vacuum device for pulling a continuous web

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB716880A (en) * 1951-09-03 1954-10-13 Headley Townsend Backhouse Improvements in or relating to sheet feeding mechanisms
JPS4211682Y1 (xx) * 1964-03-09 1967-06-30

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2753184A (en) * 1951-09-03 1956-07-03 Backhouse Headley Towasend Sheet feeding mechanisms
US3140030A (en) * 1962-04-26 1964-07-07 Koppers Co Inc Vacuum device for pulling a continuous web

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4029009A (en) * 1975-07-17 1977-06-14 Veb Polygraph Leipzig Kombinat Fur Polygraphische Maschinen Und Ausrustungen Printing machine construction
US4067436A (en) * 1975-11-18 1978-01-10 Molins Limited Apparatus for conveying articles
US4414896A (en) * 1981-03-07 1983-11-15 M.A.N.-Roland Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft Sheet-fed rotary prime and verso offset printing machine & method
US4402266A (en) * 1981-05-08 1983-09-06 Komori Printing Machinery Co. Ltd. Front lay device for sheet-fed rotary printing presses
US20100149298A1 (en) * 2001-01-10 2010-06-17 Seiko Epson Corporation Recording apparatus
EP1681253A1 (de) * 2005-01-12 2006-07-19 MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG Leitvorrichtung

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL146120B (nl) 1975-06-16
IT966922B (it) 1974-02-20
FR2146070A5 (xx) 1973-02-23
DD98084A5 (xx) 1973-06-05
CH546694A (de) 1974-03-15
ATA470072A (de) 1975-10-15
DE2134834B1 (de) 1972-09-14
GB1337378A (en) 1973-11-14
AT330812B (de) 1976-07-26
NL7208399A (xx) 1973-01-16
SE385572B (sv) 1976-07-12
CS161662B2 (xx) 1975-06-10
JPS517407B1 (xx) 1976-03-08

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