US951973A - Sheet-feeder. - Google Patents

Description

w. vH. SMITH.

SHEET FEEDER, PPLIUATIOH FILED su. 1a. nos;

l Patented Mar.15,1910. Y snBMs-susrr 1.

lllllll a Wmme# Y W. H. SMITH. SHEET FEEDER rrmonmn nm: nl. 1a. im.

Patented Mar.15,1910.

3 BXBBTB-BHBHT l.

Mnzen:

W. H. SMITH. SHEET FEEDER. nrLIoA'nox Hmm su. 1a. 190s.

Patented 15, 1910.

'- a enana-4mm a.

Witwen :s

- ,f7/if Riom Y UNITED sTATns PATENT Genion.

WALTER H. SMITH, OF NILES, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T THE HARRIS AUTOMATIC :PRESS COMPANY, 0F NILES, OHIO. A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

SHEET-FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Rial-.15, 1910.

Application filed January 13, 1908. Serial No. 472,085.

Niles. iii the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio. have invented certain new and useful liiipioi'cnicnts iii Sheet-Feeders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear. and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled iii the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

ln certain grades of printing it is necesary that thc stock be accurately fed to perfeci register. This is es ecially so where the stock has to be passer through the press more than once. The saine requirement expapci'-haiif lling machine.

means of which the stock is positioned by two operators in relation to certain marks or oints thereon so as to insure absolute uni 'ormity1 in register regardless of the number o times the stock may be fed to the paper-handling machine. On account of the time required to thus accurately position the stock I provide two diii'erent points for this purpose, the stock being taken alternately from each point vand transferred to a coinnion intermediate point where it may be taken up by the press cylinder. The pointers and guides G may be adjusted to suit different conditions. The means employed to transfcr the stock to a second position is ists: in feeding such stock to any kind of;

Since the edgcsi arc usually iuitriiiiincd the positioning of; each slice-t is dependent usually upon the; centering or alining of two or more marks thereon with certain pointers or guides.i

This necessarily involves considerable time and in consequence the output of a machine to which stock is thus positioned beforc being tedy is greatly limited. l

' l he primary obicct of my invention 1s to The invention will be hereinafter fully characterized bv the fact that the transferred sheet is first released and after it has been removed by the machine to which itis thus positioned a sccondsheet previously setto gage is then taken up and transferred, 'a third sheet in the meantime being set to perfeet register and ready to be transferred when the second sheet has been removed.

The stock transferrer is shown as comj posed of two sets of giippcrs f and 8, each' l set consistingr of two pairs, and each pair in provide simple and highly eliicient meansi E composed of thin metal. Any suitable g means may. beI employed for actuating the movable gripping members. Such members set forth and partially pointed out in thef claims.

ln the accom ianying drawings, Figure l is a plan View, showing my improvement applied to a printing.r press. Fig. i2 is an cnil View. Fig. 3 is u front elevation.

of the two seis are shown as connected together by rocker- arms 13, 14, upon which the rods of said movable gripping members Y are mounted. Thcsc rocker-arms are fast on f a common shaft haring its bearings in a to a printing` press, but it may be emp oyed in connection with any papcr-handl1ng inai i i i nected together so t track and bracket 1G of a carriage 17; which latter is t composed of upper and lower ortions ex- I have shown my improvement as ap )heil tending, respectivelabove an below the feed-table, and supported by a slide-bar 18 and rollers 19 movable on a track 20, said slide-liar being secured in any suitable manner to the main frame of. the machine. The gripping members 9 are supported by the lower portion of the cari-ia e while the upper portion thcrc'oflias gui e openings for the rods of gripping members 10. The movable gripper members are coni at after one set has` pointers 5 and straight edge guides 6 by vbeen moved to releasevva transferred sheet,

by the same agency the other set of grippers will be caused to grip a second sheet reviously set to register. The rocker-arm 3 is designed to be engaged by a lever 2l y, which is actuated by the upward movement of a rod 22 carryino' at its lower end a roller 23 which is engaged by acam 24: carried by the impression cylinder. This cam has two raised portions 25 and 26, the former of lesser length than the latter, so that when the roller is engaged lirst by the raised portion, Q5, the grippers will be rocked sufciently to release the sheet which has been positioned centrally in line with the impression cylinder and permit. its Withdrawal by the grippers of the impression cylinder, but when the greater of the two raised portions, 2G, engages such roller the other set of grippers will he caused to enffage a new sheet set to register on the feed-table. By thus deferring this engagement additional time is allowed for the o erator to place the f1 stock to register. A ter the grippers are closed against a sheet nreviously set to register .the carriage is shifted longitudinally to transfer such sheet to the central position and take up a second sheet at the other end of the table. This shifting ma be accomplished by any suitable means, ut that shown comprises an arm 27 mounted on a shaft 28 carrying a short arm 29 the end of which extends into a camroove 30 of a driven Wheel 31, said arm 2T eing slotted at. its upper end to engage a pin of the carringe. lVhen the latter is shifted it will carry. a sheet exactly as it was when set to register, and Without any deliection will posillon such sheet directly in theline of feed to the press or other machine. After the carriage is shifted, the rockenarm 13 is engaged by a second lever 21 the counterpart of lever Q1, which lever 21 is actuated by means exactly similar to that before described, and for this reason its parts are designated by corresponding reference numerals prime to those heretofore erigzloyed. First the grippers are actuated su ciently to release the transferred sheet, and by the time such sheet is taken up by the cylinder. the grippers are again actuated to close against a sheet positioned to register at the end ofthe feed-table to which the'carriage has been shifted. Thus ample time is allowed for each operator to carefully and accuratelyv position each sheet before the same is engaged by the grippers. Itis then transerred Without, loss of time. In this way the speed of the press. and hence its out ut, may be greatly increased. anu yet each s ieet once accurately adjusted to proper register retains its proper position even after eing transferred.

To insure quick and accurate movements of the grippers both in opening and closing I mount1 on shaft 15 a linger 32 which acts Vto close and open the gri members o against a beveled plunger 33 vertically-mova le in an arm o bracket 16, such plunffer being normally held in its lowered posit on by a spring 34. When thelrocker-arm 13 is actuated by either of the levers 2l or 2l' ers the plunger will be readily raised su ciently to allow the linger 32 to pass the oint thereof, whereupon the latter deseen s and the reverse side of the bevel of the plunger forces the grippers of the two sets in opposite directions with a quick spring-like action. This arran ement permits the movable each set of grippers to be slightly raised to release n sheet Without closing the other set of gri pers, the latter action being caused only w ien the rocherarrns make a complete Stroke by the engagement of the greater of the two raisedpor tions of the cams with the roller of the leveractuating rod.

lt should be stated that if it were not for the necessity of maintaining a clear space in front of the impression cylinder n single cam on the. impression-cylinder would suftice, but in that event the two levers 21 and 21 would have. to be mounted on a common shaft.

The operation although made clear by what has been said may be brietly summarzed as follows Assuming that the carriage is at the right, as shown in Fig. 3, and that stock is being' placed, one sheet at a time, at each end of the feed-table, and ac-- curately registered by the overhangin pointer and uide, when through the raise portion 26 0% the cam the lever 21 is actuated the rocker arm 13 is turned sufficiently to overcome the tension of the plungerspring and the sheet is seized by the grippers of set 8. lThereupon the carriage is quickliv shifted toward the left, and when through the raised portion 2.3 of the cam the lever Q1 is actuated the grippers of the set 8 are opened sufficiently to release the transferred sheet and permit it to be taken up by the machine to which it has been positioned without changeV of register. 'hen the raised portion 2G efiects the further actuation of lever 21 the grippers of set 7 will take up the previously registered sheet at the left hand end of the feed-table, and the carriage being shifted to its original position will transfer the second sheet to the intermediate point and then the grippers 8 will take up the third sheet. l Thus the machine transfers previously registered stock successively from opposite-points to a com 4mon orintermediate point ready to in- .troduced into-or taken up by a printing pref-fs or other paper-handling machine.

l claim as my invention:- y g 1. In combination, lined means for supporting separatepieces of stock at 'a pluA ralty of points, means atench point to ino n itoi'. to no when from me enable each piece of stock to be set to register. and means for siii-vessively engaging eat-h piene ot' pieiioiisly registered stock? from above iiiid Iii-low and transferringr the saine to a voiiinioii point without elianging the register thereof.

2. in combination, a fixed feed-table upon which separate pieces ot'rstoelt are designed to be plat-ed at dit'ferent points, means at eaeli point to enable the stoel( to be set to register, and means for snoeessii'elj.' engaging; each piece of previously registered stock from above and below and transferring: it to another point on the feed-table without damning; the register thereof.

25. in combination with a paperdiandling machine, a feed-table located transversely thereof and designed to support steelt :it or near its opposite ends, and means for engaging the `storlt from above and below and alternately transferring; it from eaeli end ot' the feed-table to an intermediate point to he talt'en np by said inzit-hiiie.

il. in t-onihinaiion with :i plurality of snpports loi' stonk. a i'eff-iYi-r tf whieh the .stia-k is disignifd to he tiaii li-rreil from Said snpport", upper and lower j fi'ippers for sin:Y

`apportsf means for shifting the position of the grippers4 to transfer the stoek engaged thereby to said ieieirer. and means for releasing the grippers. Y .Y

5. ln f -oinbiuaiion with a feedtable upon which stoel; is designed to be placed at different points. two set of iirippers for engaging. i't-- peiii\el}'. the stoel; ai opposite points, said grippers being composed of upper and lower members. means eonneeting the ;i'ippeis ol' the two sets. means for shiftingthe positions of the grippers t0 transfer the stoel: engaged thereby. and means for siicii-p ivelv operatingr the f zi'ippers to permit one .sf-t to release a tinnLferred sheet and the Hihi-r .set to engage another sheet.

17.*'l`lni-ombiiiation with ti feed table having: a loiig'itiiiliiial slot and designed to snpport stoel: at its opposite ends. grippei's coinprision` a movable member and a fixed menibi'r, one above and the other below the plane ot' the stoel; and both coint'iding with said slot, means i'or reeiproeatiner the giippers longitudinally of the feed table, and means for actuating the fiippers at the end of eaeh increment to release one sheet and ei;- gaee another.

'i'. ln combination with a feed-table having longitudinal slots and designed to snpport stoel: at its oppo-ite ends, two sets of gripper nach .set comprisingT a movable member and a fixed member. one above and the other below the feed-table and coincident with said slots. means for reeiproeating the riipezs longitudinally of the feed-table,

an` means for actnatimir the grippers at the end ot each movement so that after one set of rrippers has released ii sheet the other .si-,t wi l engage. :mother sheet.

h'. In eoiiihiniition with it feed table, de-

signed to support stock at different points,

Q a reciprocating carriage, upper and lower i in;r np sind ti'aiisferrinff the stoel:

gi-ippers mounted pn said carriage for taking np and transferring' the stock alternately from said opposite points, and means for actuating the grippeis at the end of each movement of Said carriage.

9. ln combination with a feed-table, designed to support stock at different points, a reciprocating carriage, two sets of grippers mounted on said carriage composed of upper and lower members, for taking up and transferring the stock alternately from said 0pposite points, and means for actuating the j frippers at the end of movement of said earriage.

l0. ln eombination with a feed table, designed to support stoel( at different points, a reciprocating vari-inge, upper and. lower grippers inoiiiited on said carriage Jfor takalternately t" rom said opposite points, said grippeis heing, respectively. above and below the plane ,of the stoel: while supported on the feed vi i.'el v engaging the stoel: at each of the i table. and means for causing the rrippers to release the sheet transferred b v them and tiien engage another sheet following such release.

1l, In combination with a feed-table, designed to support stock at dierent oints, :i reeiproeating carriage, two sets o grippers mounted on .said carriage composed of tippe-r and lower niembers,'t`or taking up and transferring the stock alternately from said opposite points, and means for tiret causing one set of grippers to release the sheet transferred by it. and then causing the other set to engage another sheet.

12. In combination with a feed-table, designed to support stoel; at different Joints, a reciprocating carriage, two sets o; grippers mounted on lnid eariiage for taking up and transferring the stock alternately from said opposite points, said grippers being t-oiiiposed of fixed and movable members,

meansv connecting the opposite movable members of the two sets, means foi'- nor nially `holding the members of one set ont of engageinentand the other set in engagenient. and means for eliiinginfr the positions of the nioabie members of both sets of grippers relative to their lixedmembers at the end of each movement of the carriage.,

12S. The combination with the feed-table having slots therein and supports for stock g at or near its opposite ends, of a reciprocatin;r carriage extending aboveand below said table, tito sets of grippers composed .each of movable and fixed members, saidlixed members being beneath the table and coincident with said slots, rocker-arms connecting the opposite movable Amenib'ens of the two sels of grippers, und means for engaging :mil actuating said ioclteinriiis at the ends of the iinvei of said czii'rizige.

1i. The combination with the feed-tabie having slots ibex-cin anni supports 'for stock :it or ncui' its opposite ends, of a reciprocating enriiuge extending above und below suid table, two `sets of grippers composed @zich of movable vund iixeil members, said iixed members being beneath the inble and coincident with said slots, rockcnnrnis connecting the opposite inoijziliie members of the two .-eis of gi'ippei's, levers for engaging inni :ietinitiner sniil io-k 1:ir1ns :it the ends' of the travel of .said viii-ringe` and ineens Yfor :ietnnting .sneii levers to enlise first the i'nting cni'riugc extentiiiie' brive and below :eid table. two sets of g'iippcrs composed cnt-h of movable :intl Viixetl members, sziitl tixetl nienibers being beneath the tzibe and coincident with siiiil slots. rocker-arms eonf meeting the oipositc movable members of the two sets o gripper:l a shaft supporting said rocker-arms und nionnted on said czirl ringe, u fin er carried by said shaft, a spring-impe led plunger with which said finger enga es for holding said rocker-arms in either o their two positions, and means for turning said shaft at the termination of each movement of the carriage.

16. In combination with a uper-hiindiing machine and ennis actunte thereby, of a feed-tabie upon which steek is designed to be placed at either side of the line of passage of stock to such machine, two sets of grippers for enga ing, respectively, the stock at opposite ein s of the table and transferring it to the i-ine of passage to the machine,

iongitudinnliy `of the feed-table, smid gr1ppers having movable members, rocker-arms connecting,r Athe opposite niovabie members, a .sh-Lift carrying said rocker-arms, levers for :i carriage for reciprocating said grippers shifting said rocker-arms at the terminotions of the movements of the carriage, andi'oiis actuated by said ciinis for moving Suid levers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Vitnessesz Riunioni) A. BREEZE,

.EUGENE W ITHERSTAY.

WALTER H. SMITH.

Images