US939177A - Sheet-feeding machine. - Google Patents

Description

Bf R. STICKNEY.

SHEET FEEDNG MAGHINE.

APPLLQAHON FILED JUNE so, 1909.

Patented NOV. 2, 1909;

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

f77, ven/071' JQ 1.4075216 y.

B. R. -STGKNBY.

SHEET FEEDNG MAGBINE.

APPLIQATION FILED JUNI: 30,1909.v

939,1 '77. Y l Ptented Nov, 2`, A1.909.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2,

im 'Hillilllih Imm-m fnvenwr B. R. STIGKNEY. SHEET FEEDING M HIBLl APPLIGA'HONPILED JUNE 3011909.

. Patented Nam-2, 1909.

3 S-HEETS-SHE'ET 3.

Y Y r n HLIUM LIIVLIHW C AHH; li

lli'

UNITED STATES PATENT onirica..

BENJAMIN R. STICKNEY, OF TICQNDEROGA, YORK, ASSIGNRY OF NE=HALF '.TID

. JOSEPH E. RALPH; OF JOLIET', ILLINOIS.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN R. STICK- Nnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ticonderoga, in the county of Essexand State of New York, have invented new andI user'ul Improvements in Sheet-Feeding- Mation. Y

This invention relates to that class of machines which are used for feeding sheets of paper from a stack or pilec to a` printing press or other apparatus; and it has for its object to produce a simple and eiiieient mechanism for this puI'pGS. f,

I [n the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a sheet feeding mechanism embodying invention. Fig. 2 is fa front' view thereof with the withdrawing rolls removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. t is a section on line 4-4 of Fig.- 1,*and Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

As illustrated, the main frame of the machine includes side platesA and Al which mayform integral extensions of the frame of the printing press or other apparatus y, o which the sheet feeding mechanlsm is applied; but when necessary er desirable the sheet feeding mechanism in its entirety may be constructed and supported independently of other apparatus.

The side plates A and A are connected together by ahorizontal frame comprising transverse bars a, a and a2, which are connected together by two longitudinal bars as, the latter being located near the side plates A and A. The bars a and a. are bolted or otherwise secured to the side plates, but the barl v ?,terminates' at its juncture with the longitudinal bars a, as best shown in xtendin'g across the bars a, a and a2, are a series of slats Bwhich constitute thebed or support for a stack or pile of paper, the individual sheetsV of which' are to be successively fed to the printing press or other apparatus, said slats being spacedv apart to receive between them the sheet advancing bands C which engageY the bottom sheet .of the stack and advance it to the withdrawing rolls D and E.

Mounted beneath the bar a is a rock shaft f, and mounted on said shaft are two levers F and F which extend forwardly of the shaft, and which carry two rolls c and c', said rolls being mounted between the levers Specfreation of Letters Patent.

Application 'lec June 30,

chines, of which the following is a specifica-- Patented Nov. 2;Y i909. 1909. sern Naissance.

.with their ends journaied therein.' :Around said rolls are mounted a series of endless which, when the levers are elevated, as shown in Fig. 4c, project Slightly above the plane of the slats B iir'position to frictionally engage the bottom sheet of vthe stack and advance it to the vwithdrawing rolls. v'Said bands are arranged to occupy the spaces between the slats B during the sheet advancing operatien, and to then drop down below the slatsv to.' release the sheet from frietional contact during the operation of the withdrawing rolls which puit the sheet from beneath the stack vand deliver it to the printing press or other-apparatus. The Vlevers F and F areraised and lowered for i raising and lowerin the bands C by means of cams AGr 'mounts on the main driving shaft H ot the machine, each of said levers being provided with 'an anti-friction roller g which rests on one of the cams G, as shown shaped that they will raise the levers F and Ff once in everylrevoiutiomthe period'of elevation being about onefthird of the complete revolution, this., in the machine shown, be-

ing suilicient to. advance the sheet to the Y withdrawing rolls.

The rolls c and c" are positively'rotatedby V,means of a gear' g mounted on the shaft H, said gear meshing with a gear g2 mounted on lthe lever F, the gear g2 in turn meshing with a pinion gdon each of the rolls c and c. The gears g and g2 are provided with teeth of sufficient length lto permit the levers F and F to be raised without separation ot the gears, the rolls and c being constantly driven during the operation cf the machine, the direction of rotation being Ysuch as will cause the upper portions of the bands to trzlilvel in the direction of the withdrawing ro s.

Mounted above the slats B are a series of endless bands J which cooperate with the sheet advancing bands C to separate .the lowermost sheet of the stack of paper from the next adjacent sheet or sheets; and these bands I term the sheetseparating bands.

Said bands are Vmounted on rolls j and y" journaled at their ends in coupling blocks 7'2, the latter being adjustably supported4 by i brackets al secured to the main frame of the machine. The two relis j and y" are arranged one above the other with the upper bands G, preferably composed of rubber,

roll j slightly to the rear of the lower roll so as to provide for adjustments of the bands J with reference to the bands C, as will be hereinafteil explained.

n the machine illustrated, there are six sheet advancing bands C, and cach operates in conjunction with a sheet separating band J, the latter being arranged to engage the bands C at a point slightly in advance ot' the stack or pile ot' paper from which the sheets are fed. 'lhe bands J are intermittently moved iii a direction opposite to the direction of movement ot' the bands (.1, and for this purpose l provide the roll with a ratchet wheel /c which is engaged by a spring pressed pawl lc mounted on a lever lt. b'aid lever is pivotally mounted on the roll j concentric with the axis of the i'atcliet wheel and extends rearwardly and downwardly therefrom toa point above the driving shalt H.. At its outer end said lever carries an antifricton roller 102 which rests on a cani k mounted on the sha'ft H,- said cani being so shaped and positioned with respect to the cams Gr that the lever K will be raised just after the cams Gr have raised the levers F and F. rthe pawl le being in engagement with the ratchet wheel la, an upward movement of the lever l will cause said wheel to be rotated for moving the roll y' and bands J in a direction opposite to the advancing movement of the bands C. A pawl j* mounted on the .coupling block; j: engages the ratchet wheel is and holds it and the bands J against movement in ai'opposite direction when the lever K descends. A spring /c4 is mounted between the lever l and a part of the frame of the machine to 4insure a prompt return movement of said lever.

When the levers F andi" are raised by the cams Gr, the bands C engage the bottom sheet of the stack and advance it to the withdrawing rolls D and'E, and when the sheet reaches the bands J, which are then in .contact with the .bands C, said bands J are moved in a direction opposite to the travel of a the sheet, so that should more than a single sheet be advanced by the bands C, the bands J will separate the sheets by holding back the extra' sheet or sheets; the two sets of bands cooperating in a manner identical to the action of the 'thumb and finger of the;

hand when slipped one over the other for' separating two or more sheets.

It sometimes happens 'that two or morcisheets will be so stuck together that they cannot be readily separated by the bands C and J, and to prevent the possibility of two or more sheets passing to the withdrawing rolls, l provide additional bands L which are mounted on the rolls y' and y" in spaoesbetween the 'bands J. Two such bands are shown, and this will be suthcient in most instances, but a greater number may be provided wheu found necessaryB These bands L The coupling blocks jt which directlysup j portthe rolls j and j are each secured to a bracket at by a single screw oi` bolt a5, the bolt being located midway between the journaled ends of the rolls. The coupling blocks may theretorebe angularly adjusted with reference to the supporting brackets and 'locked thereto in any desired angular position. Thisangular adjustment is provided for regulating the l'iictional engagernci'it ol the bands J with thc sheet advancing bands (l. 0n referring to Fig. 4, it will be seenI toward or from the bands C, this adjustment being initially necessary to a proper working of the machine.

The witlidrawing rolls D and E have their ends journaled in the traine plates A and A', a sliding box e being provided at each end of the upper roll lil so that thc two rolls may be maintained in proper yielding contact. At or near the ends of the rolls I provide yokes M, the two arms of which are pivotally connected together Vas at m. The outer ends of the arms are ar ranged to bear on the rolls to hold them in yielding contact, a bolt m2 and spring m operating to hold and press the arms together, asclearly shown iii-Figs. i and 5.

The withdrawing rolls are driven by a ear P on the main shaft-ll, which, through intermediate gears p, 7i and y2 drives a pinion p3 on the end of roll D. The gears p andp are mounted on the traine plate A, but the gear pis mounted on an adjustable arm g, said arin being provided with a slot g for the reception of a bolt g2 which sccures the arm to the plate A. The purpose of this arrangement is to permit gears of different sizes to be placed between the 'gear p and the gear 723, so that thespeed of the withdrawing rolls may bechanged accord-v ing to the size of the sheets to be fed. Nhen it is necessary to change the speed of the withdrawing rolls, the gear'p2 is removed from the arm q and another ot different size is placed thereon and the arm adjusted accordingly, as will be understood.

The bed of the njiachinc is provided with adjustable guides between which the stack or pile of paper is placed, said guides serv :ition the sheets with ref-A ing to properly p erence to the :Seeding mechanism. Guards that 'the fi'ictional contact may be increased or diminished by moving the lower roll 7'V v geen?? 1i aie provided for 1 preventing the steek from contacting with the bends J andi.

The operation of the machine is as ollows: A. stachV or pile of paper having been placed between the guidesY ii. the niain driving shaft ie eet in motion in any snit-able manner. i show a sprocket wheei H mount` ed on the end of said shaft which may be driven by a chain from the Source of power. During each revolution of the driving shaft, the sheet advancing bands C will be raised and iowered as hereinbeore explained, the bande being constantly driven for advancing the bottom sheetoi the pile to the withdrawing rolls. When seid bende are raised they rictionally engage Said sheet and move it forward beneath the separating bands J, vthe iatter at the proper momentmoving back against the advancing sheet to seperate it from the nef/rt adjacent sheet or sheets which may have been moved forward by the movement of said bottoni sheet. The Inoveinent o the bottom sheet is continued until its forward end is engaged bythe withdrawing vol-1s D and E, At that; moment the advancing bande C drop away from the sheet so that its forther advance is eiiected wholly by the i itiidrawing rolls free efroijn the friction of Said bends. therefore ee from any liability of being` torn or mutilated. The Speed of the withdrawing rolls iniist be sniiicient to withdrew the sheet entiieiy from the stack before the bends C are again elevated, and it .will therefore be understood that the Speed must be regulated to Suit the sizeY of sheets being fed by the machine, this being effected by chang ing the size of the geni7 p2, as aiready eX- plained. Should 'two or mole sheets be stool; together so that they cannot be' separated by the bands J, the' will be prevented from passing to thewithc rawing rolls bythe bands L, in which easeY the machine must. be stopped until Seid sheets are removed.

The machine may be run at high epeed, and it will be obviousV that the eed wii be the seine regardless oi the Size of the sheets being fed.

{aving thus described my inventionwhat I claim as new and desire to Secure by Leb ters Petentis,

i. ln machine for stack or Pile, the combination oi pair of withdrawmgrolis, e sheet advancing-fdevice adapted to eng-nge a sheet and advance it from the stack or pile toseid withdrawing rolls and then move away from lsaid sheet,V and en inteemittentlg,7 movabie sheet separating device movabie in a direction opposite to the travei'oi the sheet end adapted to cooperate with the sheet advancing device for eeparatingV theadvancing sheet from the next adjacent sheet or sheets.

2 in a machine' for feeding Sheets from a stackY or pile, the' combination ot a pair ot i by seid roii' adapted to eo The Sheets are feeding sheets from a i withdrawing roi', a, sheetedveneing devine I adapted to engage e sheet andedvence it to t said rolls and then `move from said g sheet, an intermittently inovabie Sheet sepe-V l rating device Inovabie in a direction oppo) site to the travei of the sheet and adapted to cooperate with the sheet advancino device for separating the advancing sheet from the next adjacent sheet or sheets, and ineens foi' relatively changing the speed of operation of the withdrawing rolle and sheet advancing device. Y

3. In e machine for feeding sheets ironia stach or piie the combination of e pain of withdrawing rolle, a, constantly rotating sheet advancing device inovabie toward andA from the stack or pile and adapted to' engage i e sheet and advance to the withdi'awingl rolls, and an intermittently rotating' sheet separating device having an intermittentA Pof Y'tating movement in e direction opposite to the travelV the sheet and adapted to engage therewith for separating; it troni the nextedjeeent sheet or sheets,

in e machine for feeding sheetsY freinasteck or piie, the combination of a paie of withdrawing roiis, a seriesY of continnonsiy moving endless bends adapted 'to frictionaly engage a Sheet and advance :it from the stack or pile to the withdrawingroiis'a'nd. then linove away from the. Sheet, and a eer:- ond sefies of endlees bands intermittentiy movabie in a direction opposite te the travel f of the sheet, saidY second set oi' bands being @dented to operate against the sheet advancing bende for separating the advancing sheet from the next adjacent sheet or sheets` t 5. In i machine for feeding Sheets from e Steck or pile, the combination of e peiiT ot withdrewing roiis, a support 'for a Steck or pile of peper, av series of endless traveling;v bands adapted to be moved into contact with i the bottom sheet of th stack ofpepei' ai'- ranged on seid suppoift for ndvnncing the sheet to the withdriiwingroiis and to there aftei" move away there ioni, e seconi of endiess bende mounted above Said snpportzind edapted to tiictionaiiy engirge the' advancing sheet, and menne for intermittently moving said second eet eirbends in :t direction opposite to the trevci of the sheet. Y

Sr in a machine for feeding' sheets from e stack`V ot pile, the eonihiinition of :i piiir ot withdrawingrrolie, a of endless trafveling linde adapted to be moved into Contact with the bottom Sheet ot' aY stack of paper iiirrzingeii on seid support for moving it to the withdrawing relie and to then nieve away from said sheet., :i roil mounted above the plane oi the paper euppoit and adjustable with reiirence thereto, Seid reti beingTv intermittently rotated in a. direction oppoeite the direction oit the moving sheet-a series of endloes bends caried t with. the

paper support, a Series sheet advancing bands for separating the advancing sheet from the next adjacent sheet or sheets, and additional bands' also carried by said roll above a portion of the paper support for the purpose specified.

7 In a sheet feeding machine, the combi` nation of a pair of withdrawing rolls, a paper support, a series of continuously moving bands adapted to frictionally engage the bottom sheet of a stack or pile of paper arranged on said support and advance it to said rolls and to thereafter move away therefrom, a pair of rolls above the plane of the paper support, blocks connecting said rolls to ether at their ends, brackets supporting said blocks, the latter being angularly adjustable with reference to the brackets, a series of bands mounted on said rolls and adapted to coperate with the sheet advancing bands for separating the advancing sheet from the neXt adjacent sheet or sheets, and means for intermittently moving said bands in a direction opposite to the travel of the sheet.

8. In a machine for feeding sheets from a stack or pile, the combination of withdraw.

ing rolls, a paper support, a pair of levers, rolls carried by said levers, a series of endh less bands carried by said rolls, a driving shaft, a cam on said shaft adapted to cause said levers to move toward and from a stack of paper on said support, said bands beimT adapted to frictionall engage a sheet of paper and advance it* rom the stack or pile to the withdrawing rolls, a gear on said shaft and suitable` gears on one of said levers meshing therewith for roiating the belt carrying rolls, and a series of endless bands adapted to coperate with the sheet advancing bands for separating the advancing sheet from the next adjacent sheet or sheets, said

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