Patent GB-370528-A (GB)
Title: Method of and apparatus for opening folded sheets, which are either separate or inserted one within another, at a predetermined place and for removing a predetermined number of folded or unfolded sheets from a stack of sheets
IPC: B65H3/28
Filed: 1931-01-20
Abstract: 370,528. Opening folded sheets; feeding sheets; signature gatherers. WINKLER, A. and DœNNEBIER, M., Neuwied, Germany. Jan. 20, 1931, No. 1942. [Class 100 (i).] Folded sheets, either single or in units consisting of a number of folded sheets inserted one within another, are opened for use, for example, in newspaper stuffing machines, by bulging the free corners of one leaf for a single sheet or successively bulging the free corners of consecutive leaves in the case of multiple sheets until the required place of opening is reached, so that the usual collecting blade and an additional sheet can be inserted. Similar apparatus may be used for separating unfolded or folded sheets from a pile in sets containing a predetermined number of sheets. The pile of folded sheets is supported on an inclined table 1, Fig. 1, with one of the folded corners pointing downwards adjacent to devices as described in Specification 362,675 for feeding successive signatures from the pile comprising reciprocating needles 16 and rotating cam plates 15 which bend down the separated sheet into an opening 19<1> in a roller 19. On the continued rotation of the roller 19 the signature is gripped between the roller 19 and a larger roller 17. The opening means is mounted adjacent to one of the free corners of the folded sheets to one side of the table 1 and in one form consists of a rotating disc B having a number of radial suction-openings 2, Fig. 4, which can be closed by screwed plugs 3 so as to limit the number of openings in operation to the number of leaves of each sheet which have to be turned down in order to reach the place of opening where an additional sheet is to be inserted. As shown in Fig. 4, three openings 2 are operative and three leaves W1, W2, W3 are turned down thereby, whereupon a blade 32 is moved between the leaf W3 and the succeeding leaf. In order to keep the signature open at the required place as the signature is fed between the rollers 19, 17, guides 33 are provided which act until the opened signature is received on the usual rail 38 of the stuffing-machine table 37 ready for the entry of the collecting blade 39. Two spaced toothed discs 34 co-operate with the roller 17 to feed the sheet on to the table 37. The disc B is fixed to a sleeve 6 rotatable on a tubular shaft 4 connected to an air pump and having an opening 5 communicating with the radial openings 2 in turn as the disc B rotates. The shaft 4 is adjustably fixed in a sleeve 71 integral with arms 7 mounted on a shaft 23, and has a worm wheel 8 fixed thereto between the arms 7 whereby the disc B is rotated from the shaft 18 of the roller 17. A roller 30 on the sleeve 71 runs on a cam 31 fixed to the shaft 18 so that the disc B is moved to the position shown dotted, Fig. 1, while the opened sheet is being fed to the table 37. The suction disc B may be replaced by a disc having a number of removable rubber studs or removable needles. When it is desired to separate a predetermined number of folded or unfolded sheets from a pile, the needles.16 are replaced by a rotary disc B, and the disc B at the side of the table 1 dispensed with. Also, the devices may be adapted to act on the top of a pile instead of the bottom as shown. Specification 362,675 is referred to.