Patent GB-753345-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for delivering sheets, newspapers or the like in counted batches
IPC: B41F13/70
Filed: 1953-11-24
Abstract: 753,345. Sheet-delivery apparatus. ROE, J. E., and ST. CLEMENTS PRESS, Ltd. Feb. 24, 1955 [Nov. 24, 1953], No. 32643/53. Class 100 (1). Apparatus for delivering sheets, newspapers or the like in counted batches from a machine comprises a continuously - moving conveyer driven by the machine, a counter or batch detector arranged to be actuated by the sheets on the conveyer, and an intermittently-driven device adapted to receive a predetermined number of sheets, this device being connected to a gear train including two mating gears with teeth over only a part of their circumference and connected to one side of a clutch, operable by the detector, the other side of the clutch being connected to the machine. As shown, newspapers are delivered from a printing-machine by a conveyer C on to a continuously-moving conveyer belt 11c comprising spring bands passing around rollers 11a, 11b, the roller 11b being adjustable vertically by a hand wheel and gearing means. A roller 12b, driven by spring bands from a roller 12a geared to the shaft 11 of roller 11a, guides and spaces the newspapers on the belt 11c. The interceptor comprises paddle arms P1, P2 secured to a shaft 21 driven through interrupted gearing and a magnetic clutch. Pipes 44b lead compressed air from a rotary valve on the shaft 21 to nozzles at the tips of the paddles P1, P2. When there is no paddle to intercept the flow of newspapers, they pass on to two arms 13a pivoted at 13 and having extensions 13b adapted to be rocked by a striker 14 secured on the driven shaft of a conveyer roller 15a. In the position of rest, as shown, free running wheels 17 project above them. Abutments 18e, each of which is brought in turn to register a batch of newspapers on a conveyer 15c, are secured to a chain 18d carried by sprockets mounted on shafts 19a, 19b, 19c. The conveyer 15c comprises spring bands passing around roller 15a and pulleys 15b on the shaft 19c. The batches are finally removed by a conveyer 35c also comprising spring bands on pulleys 35a secured to the shaft 19a, which is driven, and a roller 35b (not shown). The drive within the apparatus is taken from the shaft 11 by means of chains and sprockets, with the exceptions of the shaft 12 and the paddle shaft 21, and the shaft 11 is driven by chain and sprocket from the conveyer C. A magnetic clutch 27 (not shown) controls the drive of a gear-box which is associated with the drive of the paddle-shaft 21 and controls the operational sequence of the apparatus. The gear drive in this box to the shaft 21 and a shaft which drives the shaft 19b of the abutment chain 18d, includes two mating gearwheels having teeth on only a part of their peripheries to cause a dwell in the drive to those shafts. Means for detecting each batch of newspapers comprises an electronic counting mechanism 43 which operates a switch in the circuit of the magnetic clutch 27 (not shown) ; or a switch may be operated by a newspaper which has been displaced by the printing- machine to denote the end of a batch. In operation, with a paddle P1 in the intercepting position as shown, due to the dwell in the drive thereto, the newspapers are fed by the conveyer 11c continuously beneath the roller 12b and the counter 43 on to the paddle. The paddles rotate in the direction of the arrow D, after about eight newspapers have been received on the paddle P1, and deposit the papers on the arms 13a which have been raised. The arms 13a are lowered, the papers rest on the free running wheels 17 and then fall down on to the conveyer 15c to abut one of the members 18e and build up into a pile. Newspapers from the conveyer 11c continue to fall on to the pile, during which time the paddle P2 first reaches the position Px where it is stopped temporarily by a cam-operated switch which breaks the magnetic clutch circuit. This circuit is completed again when the counter 43 indicates that the required number of newspapers has passed therebeneath on to the conveyer 15c, whereupon the paddle P2 is moved to intercept the first newspapers of the next batch. On movement of the conveyer 15c, the operative abutment 18e moves to a position below the level of the conveyer 35c whereby the batch of newspapers are transferred to the conveyer and carried away. Another abutment 18e moves into position to receive the next batch. Compressed air from the nozzles at the ends of the paddles P1, P2 lift up the first newspaper coming from the conveyer 11c on to the paddles, and air jets assist the feed of papers over the wheels 17. The newspapers are guided in their travel by wires 50 travelling around pulleys 52, 52a, a light steel rod 22, and end discs 20. The apparatus may include both the counter 43 and a switch operated by a displaced newspaper, but only one is operative at any particular time.