Patent GB-438235-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machine for separating and feeding blanks
IPC: B65H7/12
Filed: 1934-12-28
Abstract: 438,235. Feeding sheets. DAVIDSON, W. W., 737, West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, U.S.A. Dec. 28, 1934, No. 37142. Convention date, Jan. 22. [Class 100 (i)] In a continuous sheet-feeding device for printing, folding, and like machines, a fannedout pile is advanced over a feed table D, Fig. 2, which is pivoted near a friction separating roller 19 which separates the sheets in succession from the pile in co-operation with a calipering or retard member G which is set at a distance from the roller 19 to permit of the passage of one sheet only at a time between the members G, 19. Means for varying the alignment of the space between the separator and the caliper and also for varying their distance apart are provided. The separated sheet is advanced to a machine B by means of driven feed rollers 56 co-operating with upper drop-rollers 57 or with rollers which are maintained in contact with the rollers 56 continuously by spring pressure. Sheet conveyers F may be arranged to advance the sheets to the machine, or the rollers 56, 57 may feed direct to the machine. The pile is registered against adjustable side guides 13 and may be advanced towards the separating roller 19 by means of bands 17 passing around rollers 18<1>, 18, which are advanced intermittently by pawl-and-ratchet mechanism which is controlled in accordance with the position of the roller 19. The roller 19 is carried by arms 21 on a shaft 22 fitted with a counterbalance weight 24, and an adjustable link 53, Fig. 3, connects an arm 23 on the shaft 22 with a cam 51 freely mounted on the shaft 6 of the roller 18. The cam 51 controls a pawl 48 on an oscillating member 49, and prevents engagement of the pawl 48 with a ratchet 47 when the pile is not in need of advancement. The member 49 is connected by a link 50 with an oscillating lever arm 26 by means of which the roller 19 is rotated intermittently. The lever 26 reciprocates a rack 25, which is secured in an adjustable position in a slot 46 in the lever 26, and the rack 25 oscillates a pinion 28 acting through a one-way clutch 34 to drive gears 32, 31 for rotating the shaft 20 of the roller 19 intermittently. The clutch is preferably of the kind described in Specification 207,519, [Class 100 (i)]. The lever arm 26 is oscillated from the machine B by means of a crank 37, link 36 and a lever 35 which can be connected to the lever 26 by means of a clutch 42 operated by a lever 41. The lever 26 is connected by an adjustable yoke 82 to a lever arm 72 formed with flat surfaces 73, 74 connected by an inclined surface 75. A projection from the upper feed roller 57 is supported in turn by the surfaces 73, 74 and the roller 57 is thus allowed to drop to feeding position under the spring action, or is raised therefrom. The rollers 56, 57 move the sheet faster than the roller 19, and the clutch 34 permits the roller to move faster than its driving-gear. The caliper device G preferably consists of a cylindrical outer portion 89 of hard rubber secured to a metal core or bushing which projects at both sides of the outer portion. The caliper is non-rotatable and is secured by bolts 96 to a yoke 94 which is adjustable by means of a micrometer screw 97 to vary the distance of the device G from the roller 19. The yoke is carried by a block 91 secured by a set-screw 92 to a bar 90 secured to the arms 21 in which the roller 19 is mounted, so that when once set the device maintains its position relatively to the roller 19. The device G is adjustable transversely of the machine. In a modification, Fig. 11, which is especially applicable to feeding sheets in a continuous stream to a commercial folding machine, the separating roller 19 is driven continuously and the forwarding rollers 56, 57 also are maintained continuously in engagement. The rollers 56, 19 are driven by belts from a shaft 106 which also operates crank-and-lever mechanism for oscillating the pawl-carrying member for operating the ratchet for advancing the pile. The cam 51 for controlling the ratchet is of different form from that shown in Fig. 3. In a further modification, Fig. 15, which is especially applicable for dealing with stiff sheets, envelopes, &c. in which it is desirable for the sheets to rest at an angle to the belts 17, the caliper device is mounted in extensions of plates 126 which are circumferentially adjustable about the axis of the roller 19 and are held in place by clamping screws 128 co-operating with segmental slots 127 in the plates 126. The tape rollers 18 are sectional and extend beyond the caliper G so as to prevent sagging of the blanks under the weight of the roller 19. Guiding lugs 133 are provided for the tapes 17. The ratchet for advancing the tapes 17 is arranged at the loading end of the pile table D in this case. In a further modification, Fig. 20, the sheets are supported on an inclined plate 141 which is pivoted to studs secured to arms 21 by which the caliper device G is adjustable circumferentially of the roller 19. The plate 141 is supported by a fixed rod 143, and guide fingers 145, supported by a rod 147 moving with the arms 21, direct the separated sheets to the forwarding rollers 56, 57. The other modifications described can be adapted to permit the pile to advance solely by gravity means, by putting the advancing means out of action and inclining the pile table D to the desired angle.