Patent GB-718066-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to paper feeding mechanisms
Inventor: BROIDO DANIEL
IPC: B65H3/08
Filed: 1952-05-02
Abstract: 718,066. Feeding sheets. BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd. May 2, 1952, No. 11154/52. Class 100(1). Registering, separating, and forwarding.- Sheets are separated from a stack 1 by at least one suction nozzle 8 which is lowered into suctional engagement with the top sheet, and then moved horizontally to the left to bring the sheet into alignment with a fixed stop, such as the side of a hopper 32 for the stack, the horizontal movement being greater than necessary to align the sheet, and the suctional force exerted on the sheet by the nozzle being such that the nozzle can move relatively to the sheet. The stack 1 rests on a plate 6 supported by a rod 5 which is moved upwards continuously or intermittently by known mechanism to keep the level of the stack approximately constant. The stack 1 may comprise sheets of different sizes. When the nozzle 8 has completed its rearward horizontal movement, where it is close to the edge of the top sheet 22, it is tilted to raise the rear edge of the sheet, and then given a second rearward movement, combined with a lifting and tilting back to vertical, to bring it to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7. The front edge of the sheet is thus withdrawn from beneath two spring fingers 33 which rest on the stack. In this position, an auxiliary suction nozzle 44 is brought against the underside of the sheet: this will retain the lower of two sheets if double separation has occurred, but suctional force exerted on a sheet will not be as great as that exerted by the nozzle 8, so that normally the further movement of the sheet by the nozzle 8 is not impeded by the nozzle 44. The nozzle 8 now moves forward to the position shown in chain-dotted lines, Fig. 7, and the front edge rides over the fingers 33 and is thus guided between a pair of feed rolls 55. The grip exerted by these rolls is sufficient to overcome the grip of the sheet by the nozzle, and the sheet is fed forward by these rolls and two other pairs of feed rolls to a position where it drops on to a transverse conveyer belt. If two sheets have been separated from the stack by the nozzle 8, the lower sheet is left with the rear edge extending beyond the wall of the hopper 32, and the nozzle 8, on its next rearward cycle, merely engages and moves that sheet so that its rear edge abuts and is aligned by two U-shaped stops 43, and the sheet is then removed in the normal way on the forward stroke of the nozzle. Two presser-plates on oscillating arms 34 are arranged to rest on the top of the stack for a period before a sheet is separated therefrom. Air-blasts may also be directed at the rear edges of the sheets after the nozzle 8 has been tilted. The nozzles 8 and 44, and the presser-plates, are controlled by cams on a main drive shaft 21 which also drives the feed rolls such as 55. The nozzle 8 is carried by a bracket 9 which is given vertical, pivotal, and horizontal movements by links 11, 12, 13, each of which is operated by a cam. The nozzle 44 is carried by arms 45 pivoted about a shaft 35 on a sleeve which is rocked by a link 48, and the presser arms 34 are secured to the shaft 35 which is rocked by a link 38. The nozzle 44 has two outlets provided with rubber pads, and is connected to the same suction pump as the nozzle 8. The nozzle 8 could have a metallic operative face which is either larger or smaller than the main tubular portion thereof, and has a metal strip or wire across the face to prevent inward bulging of the sheets. To assist separation of sheets from the stack, the nozzle 8 may carry a depending member which contacts the top sheet, and the nozzle is tilted about this point of contact. The transverse conveyer belts (Fig. 3, not shown), on which the sheets are deposited are arranged inclined to an adjustable registration plate, so that the moving sheets are aligned at their front edges.