Patent GB-602784-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in collators for manifolding machines or the like
IPC: B41L1/00
Filed: 1945-12-06
Abstract: 602,784. Collating sheets. DAGER, A. Dec. 6,1945, No. 33041. [Classes 100(i) and 100(ii)] Sheets which are adapted to be collected in predetermined order to form manifold sheets are arranged in piles in spaced bins 4, 5, 6 arranged one above the other, and the sheets are fed simultaneously from the. piles by means of suction separators 39, Figs. 1 and 3, carried by a vertically reciprocating carrier 27 to which are pivoted carriers 34 for the separators. The separated sheets are fed between delivery belts 68, 69 mounted in a frame 50 which reciprocates on a Horizontal track, and just prior to the receiving of the sheets by the belts 68, 69 an adjustable screw 159 carried by an arm 57 of frame 50 operates toggle mechanism to open a valve 155, Fig. 11, which connects the vacuum line to atmosphere to release the sheets from the separators. The valve 155 is subsequently closed by a projection 160 on the carrier 27. The tapes 68, 69 carry the sheets on to other means for delivering the collated sheets to a receiving bin 95 which includes a lowered platform 96. These means are a shoot 84, belts 91, 94, and belts 109, 110 mounted in a frame 100 which can be moved by a finger piece 111 about a shaft 101. The sheets on platform 96 are acted upon by knocking- up devices 114, Fig. 2, not shown, mounted on swinging parallel levers actuated by the frame 50. The machine is driven by a motor 22 which drives a suction pump 49, and a cam shaft 19 fitted with cams for reciprocating the carrier 27 and frame 50, and a flexible shaft connected by bevel gearing to means for driving the belts 68, 69. Motion is imparted to the frame 50 by means of a reciprocating member 78, Fig. 3, linked to a lever 72 oscillated by cams on the shaft 19, and the bolt 82 which normally transfers motion to the frame 50 is withdrawn from a recess 80 in the member 78 if either of the suction separators fails to feed a sheet. Each separator is fitted with an electric contact which is maintained open by a plunger controlled by the air pressure in the separator when this pressure is sub-atmospheric. If, however, a sheet is not taken the pressure is atmospheric and the contact closes and energises a magnet 81 which withdraws the bolt 82 and so prevents advance of frame 50 to bring the delivery tapes into position to receive sheets from the separators. Means are provided for feeding a " divider" sheet between a set of manifold sheets, and these sheets are fed from the uppermost feed bin under control of a counting device which can be set to cause the number of manifold sheets between each divider to be regulated. A rotary switch cuts out the circuit to the magnet 81 except for the period when the suction separators normally carry the sheets. The delivery belts may deliver the sheets to trays 220 on intermittently moved chains 221, Fig. 12, which deliver a collated product to a receiver 219. The counting- device, Fig. 15, comprises a numbered ratchet wheel 165 which is rotated intermittently by a pawl 176 on a lever arm which is operated by a projection 175 on the carriage 50 at each reciprocation thereof. The wheel 165 is graduated and an arm 170 is set to a number thereon equal to the number of completed manifold sets to be fed between the feeding of the "divider" sheets. The setting of the arm 170 releases a catch 187 which normally holds a spring-controlled lever 183 in the position shown in Fig. 15, and lever 183 moves clockwise under action of a spring 184 and releases a valve lever 193 which opens a valve 203 causing action of the suction separator for the " divider " pile to be suspended. The lever 183 then acts to prevent reverse movement of the ratchet during its advance by pawl 176. At the end of the given number of actuations of the pawl the lever 183 is depressed by the arm 170 and the valve 203 is closed to cause actuation of the separator for the " divider " pile. A pin 169 on the ratchet wheel 165 releases the catch of the lever 183 permitting opening of the valve 203.