Patent GB-245742-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for separating and removing sheets from a stack and simultaneously foldingthese sheets
IPC: B65H45/26
Filed: 1925-11-24
Abstract: 245,742. Winkler, A., and Dunnebier, M. Jan. 10, 1925, [Convention date]. Sheet-separators; pile supports.-The lowest or uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets is separated from the stack and is simultaneously folded by a process in which the sheet is gripped on both sides of and parallel to the desired line of fold by means of friction or suction means and is bulged or buckled, and the buckled sheet passed between a pair of rollers which complete the fold and deliver the folded sheet. In one form of apparatus. Fig. 1, the lowest sheet of a stack, which rests on a table 2 with an aperture 4, is separated from the stack by rubber covered rollers 5, 6, driven in opposite directions and mounted in levers 7 pivoted about a shaft 8 and fitted with an arm 11 with a roller 12 engaged by a cam 14 for moving the rollers 5, 6 into and out of contact with the stack. The roller 6 is mounted in spring-pressed sliding bearings. When the rollers 5, 6 engage the lowest sheet, the stack is released from the action of pivoted hooked supports 15 on shafts 17 operated by cams on the shaft 8 and lever-and-link mechanism. The supports 15 normally hold up the stack and after the sheet is bulged by the rollers 5, 6, the supports 15 move in between the separated sheet and the stack to prevent double feed. Double feed is also checked by the action of oscillating segments 22, 22<1> operated by helical gearing from a shaft 26 which is oscillated by a cam on shaft 8 acting on a crank-arm on the shaft 26. The segments 22, 22<1> act to assist the feed of the bottom sheet, but on reversal they act to move the ends of the next sheet away from the centre of the stack. The mechanism is adjustable for dealing with sheets of different sizes. The folding of the sheet is completed as it passes between the rollers 5, 6, and the folded sheet is delivered by guides 30, 31, and a conveyer such as rollers 32 co-acting with balls 33. As open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) the Specification describes other modifications. In one modification, Fig. 8 (Cancelled), the sheets are fed and buckled by oscillating rubber covered sectors 64, 65, and the fold is completed by rollers 67, 68. Rollers 69, 69', constantly driven, prevent double feed. In a further modification, Fig. 9 (Cancelled), the sheets are separated and bulged by suction cylinders 72 which rotate around fixed cylinders 70 connected to a vacuum and formed with slots 71 to enable the suction to act on the bottom sheet when apertures 73 in the drums 72 are passing by the slots 71. The fold in this case is completed by the cylinders 72. In a further modification, which is especially applicable for folding envelope or bag blanks, such as shown in Fig. 6 (Cancelled), along a line joining the bases 46, 46' of the bottom flap B and closing flap V. the blanks are fed from a stack by revolving rollers 37, 38 formed with friction segments 39, 39<1>, which separate the bottom sheets in succession with the aid of hooked supports 15, and continuously rotating rollers 60, 60<1> mounted in spring-pressed pivoted arms. The rollers 37, 38 do not complete the fold, but are formed with recesses 46, 40<1> in which a bulge in the partly folded blank is received. The partly folded sheet passes by a guide 63 and the bulge rests against a movable stop 42 arranged near a cylinder 41 which is adapted to complete the fold accurately along the line 46, 46<1>, as follows. The flaps B, V are on the lower side of the partly folded blank, and these are gripped to the cylinder 41 by means of curved flexible gripper members 44 carried by levers operated by rollers 53 and fixed cams 54. The blank is held lightly by a roller 43, until the grippers carry the blank past a roller 45 which presses back the upper part of the partly folded blank until it is carried by the grippers past the roller 45 and a further roller 47 which completes the fold accurately along the line 46, 46<1>. The folded product is delivered by tapes 48 and balls 49. Variations may be made in the devices, e.g., the frictional or suction sheet separating means may be formed on one only of the separating rollers; or they may be arranged to feed from the top of a pile. The means for folding envelope blanks accurately as described in connection with Fig. 4 (Cancelled), may be used in connection with the other modifications described. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.