US639960A - Pneumatic feeding-machine. - Google Patents

Description

Patenfed Deb. 25, I899.

W. CARTER. PNEUMATIC FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application 'flled Apr. 12, 1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 1,

(No Model.)

No. 639,960. Patented Dec. 26, I899.

.W. CARTER.

PNEUMATIC FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr." 12', 1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 639,960. Patented Dec. 26, I899. W. CARTER.

PNEUMATIC FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 12, 1899.) v (No Model.) 5 sheets-shaet 3.

No. 639,960. Patented Dec. 26, l899.": W. CARTER.

PNEUMATIC FEEDING MACHINE.

(Applicatiqn filed. Apt. 12, 1899.)

5 Sheets-$hee 4.

(No Model.)

'No. 639,960. Patented Dec. 26, I899.

I WUGARTER. I

rusunnc Fazmus mumms.

Apialication aim li -J12, 1899.)

6 sheats shee f 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFlCE.

' WILLIAM CARTER, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

PN EU MATIC F5501 N c-MAo i n E.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 639,960, dated December 26,1899.

' Application filed April 12,1899. Serial No. 712.122. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CARTER, lithographic printer, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 62 Bothwell Circus, Glasgow, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneu maticFeeding Mechanism for Feeding Sheets of Paper to Printing and other Machines, (for which I The features of novelty constituting the present invention are pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification, and in order that my said invention may be clearly understood I have hereunto appended five explanatory sheets of drawings, whereon- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the feeding mechanism. Fig. 2 is a. side view of the same. The mechanism is shown as attached to a Wharfedale printing-machine, which is broken away. Fig. 3 is a side view, and Fig.4 a back view,of the sheet-holder. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the mechanism for actuating the sheetholder. Fig. 6 is a plan and side view of the cradle of the sheet-holder. Fig. 7 is'a'section of the suction feed-roller. Fig. 8 is a plan of part of the feed-table. Fig. 9 shows a modification of the bellows-actuating mechanism. Fig. 10 shows an arrangement which may be used in conjunction with the suction-producer. Fig. 11 shows the invention adapted to an American overhead-feed two-revolution printing-machine or an ordinary lithographic machine.

-On the drawings the same reference-numerals wherever repeated indicate the same or similar parts.

1 is the frame of the printing-machine.

2 is the-frame of the feeding mechanism.

3 is the suction feed-cylinder.

4 are endless feeding-tapes running around the cylinder. v

5 are the snction'holes or cups of the cylinder.

6 is the cylinder-shaft.

7 is the suction-pipe, which cbmmunicates upon the shaft 11, by means of? pin let. p r

15is an endless chain (in dotted lines) passing around the wheel 12 and which can be driven from any suitable revolving shaft on the machine to which the sheets of paper are beingfed. a 16 is a cross-shaft provided with rubbertired'friction-wheels 17.

Sis an endless chain which drives the chain- I 13, fixed the locking- 18 is an air-blast pipe (supported by brack ets 18) arranged across the upper partof the machine.

19 are a series of blast-taps provided on the pipe 18, which latter can De-supplied with air underpressure from any suitable s0urce,f,' such as a small bellows, revolving fan, or the.

like. (Not shown.)

20 is the sheet-holder, which, as shown, is

preferably made in the form of a light slotted cast-metal frame having a series of alternate long and short fingers 21 22 at its upper end. The purpose of this alternation of long and short fingers is to vprevent adhesion of the sheets of paper together byatmospheric pressure orby electricity, as the consequent bending or ridgingup ot' the pack tends to separate the sheets slight] y (me from the other,whereby the paper is fa'nned out and the sheets slightly separated, so as to more readily admit air from the blow-pipe nozzles between the sheets, which much facilitates the pulling off of'the individualisheets by the suction device, and in addition the pile on insertion may be much more easily straightened and put into proper alinemeut for feeding than would be the case were not such fingers used. Theuse of these alternate long and short fingers is onlyof advantage when feeding thin papers, such as tissue, &c. This sheet-holder is held in an inclined position (nearly vertical) upon a cradle 23. (See also Fig. 6.) The pile of paper sheets to be fed to the machine is held in poof position laterally b I clamped in the proper position on the holder 35 ing at each side.

' the cross-bars 50 and alsoa cross-bar 52 at the center. Secured 6o locked into a. recess in, the

sition upon edge, resting upon rests 24:, projecting from a cross-barSl at the front of the holder, and are prevented frommoving out means of gages 25,

by screws passing through slots 26 in the holder and provided with butterfly-nuts 27 at their outer ends.

28 is an adjustingscrew operated by the hinged handle 29 and working inthe screwed nut 30, connected with the cross-bar 31, the bearing 35, and a foot-step inade 6n the bottom of the holder (seeFig. 3) for raising and lowering the cross-barand the rgsts attached :5 thereto in order to adjustthe holder for the reception of various sizes of paper sheets.- One projecting rest 2 t is preferably provided' on the bar 31 for each vertical slot 32 of the holder. Between the prongs of each rest 24 am air-blast pipe 37 may project, said pipes being perforated at their upper sides and be-. ing connected at their front ends to a crosspipe 33, to which air under suitable source (such as a bellows) is supplied through a flexible pipe 34.

38 are struts for supporting the holder. 39 are collars at the lower ends of these struts, which slide upon the guide-bars 40 of the cradle.

0 42 is a pinching-bar made with aseries of short arms or projections 41, against which the paper sheets are pressed or pinch-ed. 43 a is a second pinching-bar which is made with a series of ldng arms or projections 44, project- These bars 4-2 43 can be adjusted in position 45 at each end, provided with handrwheels 46. The bars slide at each end in slots *7 47, made 4:: in the side frames 1 and-2. The pinching-bars,

asclearlyshown at Figl-2, are held at an angle which exactly corresponds to the angle of inclination of the holder. h

The cradle, as shown at'Fig. 6, consists 'of 5 two bent bars 48 49, connected together at the ends. Both bars are bent downward at the center, while the bar 48 is also bent inward at the center. The-cradle is provided with or guide-bars 40'at the ends tothe under side-of this crossbar 52- is a rocking block 53,'which has a curved lower face (see-Figs. 2 and 5) adapted to rest in the curvedface 54 of the central frame 55 of the 55 machine. (See Fig; 5.) The bars. 4'8 4.) are a strap 00, securedtoa drum 61, Fig; 2, on across-shafts), provided withtorsion-springs 1 5 tending to revolve it in such a manner as pressure from a n y either nearer to orlfar- Y ther away from the holder by means of screws crumed in the side is first adjusted so as .to give it the to wind up the strap. The shaft 62 revolves in bearing-brackets on the frames 65 of the bellows 66. Instead of using torsion-springs spiral springs may be connected in any wellknown manner, so as'to act directly upon the straps 60, or weights may be attached to the ends of these straps. (See Fig. 11.) Each rack 59 has gearing with it atoothed segment 66, jointed to a link i7,which again isjointed to a slightly-curved lever (58', keyed to the shaft G9. The main shaft 11 has on it two cams 70, each of which acts upon a roller 71, connected to each segmenttl i. Near the center of the shaft 11 there is a cam 72,,which acts upon a roller 73, pinned to the upprend'- .pf a lever 74, also keyed on the shaft (J9. This mechanism, as will be hereinafter described, actuates the sheet-holder. I

In order to actuate the bellows, there is provided at each end of the shaft lla chain- .wheel 75, from which a chain 7ttpasses to a chain-Wheel 77, revolving on a pin, 78, se-

cured in the bellows-frame U5. Secured to the wheel 77 is asecond wheel from which an endless chain 79 passes around a wheel 80, revolving on a pin 81, secured adjustably in a slot 82 in the bellows-frame. Slidably fitted in each vertical slot 83'of the bellows-frame is a block 84, upon which is pivoted a twoarmed catch 85, whose one arm is pointed, so as to enter between the links of the chain 79, and whose other arm is provided with a roller 86, running upon a guide 87, curved sharply at its upper end. Each guide is secured to the bellows-frame.

The bellows 66 is supported between the side frames 65 and has at its lower side a shelf 51, upon which weights can be placed, so as to regulate the action of the bellows, and thereby control the suction of the feedcylinder.

The frame 88 of thefeed-table SS is jointed at each side to .a cra'nked lever '89, ful plates 22, carrying the feed-cylinder bearings. At its rear end the tableframe is furnished at each side with a shoe 91, provided with a bolt and nut 05, whereby it can be a justed i| 1 position in a slot 92, Fig-8, niade in each-side frame of the machine.

The endless feed-tapes run over guidc-roll-.

crs 93011 the cross-shaft 94.

The mmtus ope rundijs as follow; The table proper position and to stretch the tapes 4 by means of the sliding. shoes 91 and the slots'02, and when adjusted is locked in position by screwing up the nuts 95. After this has. been done the pile of-sheets is inserted in the holderflO (which forthis purpose is brought nearly to the horizontal position by disengaging the levers 58 from their recesses and then pulling the holder backward against the action of the spring 63) in the manner shownat Fig. 3, where 50 indicates thc'sheets; and the gages 25andrcsts 2-t'ad j listed, (the latter by means of the screw 28 and the former by shifting them laterally in the slots 26 and then clamping them in place by means of the butterflynuts 27,) and then the holderis pushed up into the position (nearly vertical) shown at Figs.-

2 and 3, which can easily'be done, owing to the fact that the block 53 of the cradle of the holder works ball-and-socket-wise upon the curved face 54 of the frame 55, and then the weighted levers 58 are locked into the recesses of the frames 2, so as to prevent the cradle swinging back out of position. it may here be stated that when the levers 58 are released from the recesses the powerful springs 63, acting upon the straps 60, while permitting the holder, with its cradle, to be turned upon the face 54, prevent it falling back entirely out of place.v The cradle being securely locked in position by the levers 58, the holder is slid along the guide-bars .40 until the pile of sheets presses against the pinching- bars 42 and 43, against which the sheets are held tightly by the action ofthe springs 63. The

machine is now set in .motion by clutching- (by the pin 14) theloosely-running driving chain-wheel 1 2 to the fixed wheel 13 on the shaft 11, whereupon said shaft is set in rotation, with the result that the chain 8 actuates the wheel 9 and shaft 6 and revolves the feedcylinder 3, while at the same time the chaingears 75, 75, 76, 77, 79, and 80 at each side I of the machine are set in motion. The running of the chain 79 carries up the finger of the block 84, and the block itself (whichis connected to the bellows 66) is caused to ascend the slot 83, with the roller on its arm 85 hearing against the gu'ide87. This ascension of the block 84 (one at each side of. the ma chine) com presses the bellows against the action of the weights on the shaft 51. When the block nearly reaches the top of the slot 83, the roller 86 of the arm 85 works around the curved upper end of the guide 87, with the result that the finger is disengaged from the chain 79, and immediately this disengagement takes place the weights of the bellows drop and expand the bellows suddenly, there- .by creating a sudden suction in the pipe 7 and the feed-cylinder. This sudden suction is timed to take place just as the suction-cups 5 of the feed-cylinder come opposite the upper end of the first sheet of the pile, with th result that the sheet is lifted and carried by the feed-cylinder directly onto the tapes 4. The rollers 17 assist ingrippingand feeding forward the sheets.

In order to insure that the sheets shall be easily lifted one at a time, it is necessary that the holder should be caused to recede slightly just at the moment when thesuction of the cups 5 acts upon the front sheet of the pile and during its process of removal, so as to relieve the pinching action and loosen' the sheets, and this receding movement is effected by the cam-and-rack mechanism. Each cam is shaped, as shown in full lines. at Fig. 5,

, so as to allow its roller 71 and toothed segmcnt 66 to move downward once in each and then, owing to the roller 73 of the arm 74 running against the reduced part of the cam,

to recede and remain in this position during about one-third of the revolution of the cam.

As the arm 74 is rigidly secured to the shaft 69 and as the arm 68 is likewise secured, it

follows that the said arm 68 receives a similar motion. As the cams have not a positive action springs (not shown) are employed to keep the rollers of the arms bearing against the faces of the cams. Now when the arm 74 is moved forward each arm 68, along with its segment 66, is also moved forward, and owing to the fact that each roller 71 at such times runs upon the entended part of its cam (see Fig.5) each segment is in engagement with its rack 59, whereupon it follows that each rack is moved forward--that is, caused to recede-thereby moving-back the holder on the guides 40 of the cradle and relieving thepressure on the paper sheets. When the reduced part of the cam 72 bears upon the arm 74; the racks and holder are free to move back again to their former positions under the action of the spring 63 and again press the} sheets against the pinching-bars 42 43.

When therollers 71 traverse the reduced parts of the cams 7 0, the segments 66 are moved out of engagement with the racks, so that at such times the holder is left entirely free, whereby an automatic forward feed under the action of the springs 63 is permitted, sufficient to compensate for the sheets as they are withdrawn one by one. This compensat ing movement of the holder is'timed, to take place just before the suctiou-cups 5 act upon the front sheet. of the pile. The blasts of air delivered through the nozzles 19 and perforated pipes 37 tend to separate or .blow apart the sheets, so as to reduce the likelihood of two or more sheets being lifted together by the suction-cups.

By making the holder with long and short projections 21 22 and slots 32 the sheets are not so liable to adhere to oneanother. This construction also reduces the weight of the holder.

Instead of using the arrangement shown at Figs. 1 and 2 for actuating the bellows a cam- I do action may be employed, as shown at Fig. 9.

The mechanism consists of a cam 100, which is of a comma shape, as shown, a bent lever 101, fulcrnmed at 102 on the side frame of the bellows, a link 103, anda sliding pin 104, working in thevertical slot .83 of the bellows-frame. A set of this mechanism is provided at each side of the bellows, and the pins 104 (which correspond to the blocks 84) are connected to the bottom of the bellows. The cams are secured on the cross-shaft ll. Owing to the pcculiarshapo of the cams 100 the pins are caused to ascend and compress the bellows slowly, and when each roller 106 reaches the point 107 of each cam the pins are allowed to fall suddenly, (under the action of the weights, as aforedescribedf) and thereby expand the bellows suddenly and produce a sharp and suction-cups 5.

If desired ,where the suction for the machine is derived from some outside source, such as an engine, and the suction is a instant one a bellows 108 may be connected with the suction-pipe, as shown at Fig. 10, so as to augment the sucking action at certain times, and thereby give the necessary sudden suction whenever a sheet is being removed from the pile. Connected with the bellows are the pipe 108 from the cngine'and the pipe 108 to the suction feed-cylinder 3, and this latter pipe is provided with a valve 109, operated, so as to open and close at the proper times, by suitable mechanism driven by the machine. The bellows 108 whenever the valve 109 is opened would, through the reduction of the vacuum produced by the opening of the valve, suddenly expand to a certain extent under the action of weightsfil at its under side, and therebyproduce a sudden suction at the suction-cups 5.

Should the feed-cylindcr miss a sheet, the

. blocks S4 of the bellows would fall right down to the bottom of the slotshti, which is a thing they never do when the machine is properly working, and would strike a lever 110, (see dotted 'lines, Fig. 2,) fulcrumed at 111 and connected to a trigger-112, which latter would be moved so as to actuate the usual checkaction of theprintirig-machine:

The arrangement for the American style of printing-machine, Figxil, is practically the same as fol-the English machines, but slightly altered in the arrangement of the parts. In this case the holder may be pulled forward by weights (30, attached to the straps 60, instead of by spriu Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In pneumatic mechanism for fcedingpaper sheets the combination of a reciprocating shect-holdcrand a rockablc cradle upon which the holder reciproczues, substantially as set forth.

2. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of a reciprocating shcet-holder, means for reciprocating the holder and a rockable cradle upon which the holder reciprocate-s, substantially as set forth.

In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of a reciprocating.- sheetholdcr, means for reciprocating the holder, a rochahlc cradle provided with pivots at each side andwith guidcs n ion which the holder rec? rocatcs, substantially as set forth.

i. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of a rcciprocatdecided suction at theots at each side, guides upon which the holden reciprocates, a cross-bar with rocking block which rocks upon a supporting-frame and hinged weighted levers for locking thecradle in position, substantially as set forth.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame for holding the paper to be fed, of pneumatic mechanism for feeding the paper sheets from the frame, a movable cross ba-r provided with a number of projections serving as rests or supports for the pile of sheets at ono'cdge, and a screw for raising and lowering the cross-bar, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame for holding the pa per to be fed provided with a plurality of vertical slots and with alternating long and short fingers at its upper end, of a movable rest for supporting one edge of the pileot' sheets, and a screw for raisingand lowering the rest, substantially assho\vn and described.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with pneumatic mechanism for feeding the paper sheets, ofa vertical or inclined sheet-holder consisting of a slotted frame provided at its upper end with longand short lingers, substantially asdescribcd and for the purposes set forth.

9. I In pneumatic mechanism forfecdiug pa pcrsheets, the combination of a movable sheet-holder, means for moving the holder and adjustable pinching-bars having projections or arms against which the paper is pinched, substantially as set forth.

10. In pneumatic mechanism for feedingpaper sheets the combination of a frame, a mov able holder carried by the frame, means for moving the holder, slots made in the frame, pinching-bars 42, i carried in the slots and screws for adjusting the pinching-bars in the slots rciativeiy with the holder, substantially as set forth.

11. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding papershceis the combination of a frame, a movable holdcr carried by the frame, racks fitted to the holder, means for pulling the holder forward and toothed segments operated by cam-and-levcr mechanism for moving the holder backward, substantially as set forth.

12. In pneumatic mccha n ism for feeding paper sheets thecombinnlion of a frame, a movable holder carried by the l'ramc, racks titted to theholder, strapsii lied 1 o ihr racks, springs acting upon the straps sons to pull tho holder forward and means for moving ilu lilllllui' substantially as set forth.

13. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of a frame, a movable holder carried by the frame, racks fitted to the holder,straps fitted to the racks, springs acting upon the straps so as to pull-the holder forward, segments gearing with the racks, levers linked to the segments, a cam for actuating the levers, and means for operating the cam, substantially as set forth.

14. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of a frame, a movable holder carried by-the frame, racks fitted to the holder, straps fitted to the racks, springs acting upon the straps so as to pull the holder forward, segments gearing with the racks, levers linked to the, segments, a cam for actuating the levers, means for operating the cam,

cams for moving the segments into and out .of gear with the racks and means for operat -l ing these cams, substantially as set forth;

15. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding pa; per sheets the combination of a frame, a rock-' able cradle carried by the frame, a movable holder which slides upon the cradle, means for pulling the holder forward and .toothed segments operated by cam-and-lever mechanism for moving the holder backward, substantially as set forth. 1

' 16. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of a reciprocating sheet-holder, a crossbar-31 fitted to the holder, rests forthe paper sheets on the cross-bar, means for raising and lowering thecross-bar on the holder, a series of perforated pipes fitted on the cross-bar and "means for causinga blast of air to issue through theperforations of the pipes, substantially as set forth.

- 17. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding papersheets the combination of a frame,- a suction device for feeding the sheets carried by the frame, a bellows for producing the suction, weights for expanding the bellows, chain and chain-wheel gear driven from a power-shaft for collapsing the bellows and means for connecting the chain-gear to the bellows, substantially as set forth.

18. In pneumatic mechanism forfeedingpaper sheets the combination of a frame, a suction device for feeding the sheets carried bythe frame, a bellows for producing the suction, weights for expanding the bellows, chain and chainavheel gear driven from a1 power-shaft for collapsing the bellows means for connecting the chain-gear to the bellows and means for automatically disconnecting the chaingear from the bellows whenever the j latter is collapsed so that the weights may suddenly act upon the bellows and producea sudden suction in the suction device, substantially as set forth.

19. In pneumatic mec anism forfeedingpaper sheets thercombinatomof-a frame, a-suction device for feeding the'sheets carriedb'y theframe, a bellows for. producing the suction, weightsfor expanding the bellows,

power-shaf t for collapsing the bellows, blocks connected to the bellows and escapement-levers pivoted on the blocks for connecting the chain-gear to the bellows and means for antomatically disconnecting the chain-gear from the bellows at certain times, substantially as set forth.

20. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of a frame, a suction device forfeeding the sheets carried by the frame, a bellows for producing the suction, a frame for the bellows, slots made in the frame, weights for expanding the bellows, chain and chain-wheel gear driven from a on the bellows working in the slots of the bel- 1ows-frame, pivoted escapement-levers each having two arms one of which can look into the chain-gear and the other being provided with a roller, and guides secured to the frame vers travel, substantially as set forth.

21. In pneumatic'mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of a frame, a rotating suction-cylinder carried by the frame, suction-cups on the cylinder, means for rotating the cylinder, a bellows for producing the suction, weights for actuating the bellows in one direction and cam mechanism for actuating the bellows in the opposite direc tion, substantially as set forth.

22. In pneumatic mechanism forfeedingpaper sheets the combination of a frame, a rotating suction-cylinder carried by the frame,

tating the cylinder, a'bellows for producing the suction, weights for actuatingthe bellows in one direction,levers connected with the bellows for actuating it in the opposite direction and cams for operating the levers so as to produce a sudden suction in the suction-cylinder when thesheets are being lifted, substantially as set forth.

23. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of a frame, a rotating swieifcylinder carried by the frame, suction-cups on the cylinder, chain-gear fori rotatingthe cylinder, a bellows for producing thes'uction in the cylinder, means for operating thebe1lows,a reciprocating sheet-holder,

m-eans' for reciprocating the holder, a rockgablercradle upon which the holder is carried inder, means for producing the suction in the chain and chain-wheel gear driven from a power-shaft for collapsing the bellows, blocks upon whichthe rollers of the escapement-le suction-cups on the cylinder, means for r0 tapes working. in conjunction with the cylcylinder, means for regulating the suction, for throwing the segments 66 into and out of the reciprocating sheet-holder 20, the cradle gear with the racks 59, substantlally as set 23 upon which the holder, is carried, means forth.

v for locking the oradlein position, racks 59 se- Signed at Glasgow, in the 'eountyofGlas 5 cured to the holder, means for pulling the g0\v,"Scotl and, this 29th day of March, 1899. I5

holder forward, segments 66 gearing with the Y '5 racks, levers 68 connected to the segments, a x I CAR 1 shaft GU carrying the lever G8, a lever '74 cmn- Witnesses: r nected to the shaft; U9, a cam 72 for operat- \VILLIAM GALL, Z0 in the lever 74: and shaft 69, and cams TU THOMAS GRACE.

Images