Patent GB-270281-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to sheet feeding mechanism
IPC: B65H5/02
Filed: 1927-04-19
Abstract: 270,281. Smithe Machine Co., Inc., F. L., (Assignees of Novick, A.). April 28, 1926, [Convention date]. Sheet-separators; pile tables and supports.-Sheets are fed to gumming-machines for making envelope blanks, or to other machines, from a pack 30 suppcrted on edge on inclined bars 32 carried by machine frames 19, 21, the pack being pressed towards a pneumatic sheetseparator 39 by means of a bar 34 carried by blocks 35 which are moved by chains 163 on sprockets driven by mechanism controlled bv a sheet-holder 40. The separator 39 is adjustably secured to a bracket 48, secured by screws to a bail 50 which is mounted in trunnions 53 carried by lever arms 56 pivoted in each side frame and oscillated by spring-controlled lever-and-link mechanism controlled by cams 60 on a main cam-shaft 44. The cams 60 move the separators to and from the pile, and when in engagement with the pile other cams give the separator a tilting movement about the trunnions 53 and bend a small part of the front edge of the sheet and so separate it from the adjacent sheet. The separator in moving from the pack to continue the separating action brushes the front edge past two spring fingers which assist to prevent double feed. When the sheet is moved away from the pile, the holder 40 moves in between the separated sheet and the pile, and moves upon the pile to hold the sheets while the separated sheet is engaged by pins 87, attached to chains 83, of the conveying- mechanism. The holder 40 is given a bodily reciprocating movement to and from the pile, and also an oscillating movement about its pivot 123 by cam-and-lever mechanism operated from cams on the shaft 44. The movement of the chains 163 is effected by sprocket-gearing from a shaft 158 fitted with a ratchet 155 engaged by a holding-pawl 150, and an operating pawl 153 controlled by levers from the holder 40 and adapted to operate the ratchet when the pile needs advancing. The mechanism for operating the holder 40 includes an adjustable link composed of a screw-member with threads of opposite hand connected by a nut fitted with means to prevent accidental movement. Sheet carriers and guides.-Before each sheet is released from the separator the corners 178 formed between the seal flaps 43 and side flaps 179 are engaged by pins 87 each carried on the inside of a pair of chains 83 moving in a substantially triangular path around sprockets 84, 85, 86. The pins are arranged to have their speed reduced almost to zero as they engage the blanks, and as the sheets are carried forward by the pins they are guided by fixed guides 89, and by guides 90 integral with the pins 87. The sheets are finally engaged by slowly moving rollers 42 and are advanced in overlapping condition to gumming mechanism for treating the seals. Adjusting for different dimensions of sheet. The whole apparatus is constructed so that it can be adjusted for dealing with sheets of different width and height. The bars 32 are simultaneously adjustable by a shaft 182, Fig. 2. fitted at opposite ends with right and left hand threads 183, 184. Each pair of chains 83 is similarly adjustable by a double threaded shaft 210, and these chains are driven by bevel gearing splined to a shaft 118 in such a way as to permit oi lateral adjustment of the chains. The mechanism is similarly adjustable for dealing with sheets of different height by raising or lowering the bars 32 by racks 198. 199 and pinions 202, 203. The sheet-carriers are similarly adjustable by racks 226 and pinions 225.