Patent GB-191330002-A (GB)
Title: Machine for Sorting, Counting, Piling, and Marking, in Counted Batches, Sheets of Paper and like Material, with or without means for Cutting the Sheets from a Web or Webs.
Inventor: VICKERY FREDERICK WILLIAM
IPC: B65H33/00
Filed: 1913-12-30
Granted: 1914-12-30
Abstract: 30,002. Vickery, F. W. Dec. 30. Cutting and perforating apparatus; deliveryapparatus; feeding webs.-In a machine for piling sheets of paper &c. in counted batches, (1) a counting-mechanism counts the sheets as they pass to a receiver and, after counting a predetermined number, operates a device for feeding a marking-sheet on to the top of the counted batch, (2) means are provided for detecting faulty sheets and either side-tracking them or passing them to the receiver and marking them with a special marking - sheet, at the same time interrupting the action of the counting-mechanism so that the faulty sheets are not counted, and (3) means are also provided for signalling when the receiver is full. The machine may also cut the sheets from a web or a number of superposed webs, in which case means are provided for inspecting the w e b before cutting and indicating approximately the places at which it will be cut to enable the operator to actuate the side-tracking mechanism at the correct time; means are also provided to indicate if the webs are running correctly. Fig. 1 shows a machine in which the sheets are cut from a web 4 fed by rolls 3 to longitudinal slitters 16 and transverse cutters 9, 9<a>, a lamp 2 being arranged behind the web 4 to enable faults to be detected. A number of indicators 8, carried by a band 8<a> driven from a roll 3 at the same speed as the web 4, are adjusted to indicate the position on the web at which the transverse cuts will be made, and indicators 13 show the position of the longitudinal slits. The band 8<a> is periodically driven by a one-turn clutch 12 controlled by an adjustable cam 10. The position of the slitters 16 and indicators 13 is determined by means of pointers 15, slidable on a shaft 19 and having arms 17 pointing to a rule 18. When a number of superposed webs is being cut, the side trimmings 47 from the slitters 16 are passed over guides 46, 45, so that the operator can see if the webs are running properly and detect sheets with faulty edges. The cut sheets pass over a glass table 20 having a lamp beneath, so that they may be further inspected. The side-tracker 7 is operated by moving either of two handles 5, 6, acting through intermediate mechanism which delays the opening of the side-tracker until the perfect sheets between the tracker and the faulty sheet have passed the tracker 7. The delaying - mechanism comprises a wheel 22, Figs. 1 and 4, provided with slidable pins 26. A cam on a shaft 23 driven from the knife 9 acts through ratchet mechanism 25<a> to rotate the wheel 22 so as to bring the pins 26 successively opposite to the end of a link 28 connected to a lever 30, which is oscillated by a second cam on the shaft 23. The pins are normally in the position shown in Fig. 4 so as to limit the inward movement of the link 28; but any predetermined pin may be pushed out of the normal position by a stud 35 attached to a wheel 34, which is moved axially by an arm 33 on a shaft 32 actuated by the handles 5, 6. When this pin reaches the link 28, it permits a greater inward movement of the link, so that a rod 120 connected to the upper end of the lever 30 pulls over a lever 14. A link 105 constantly reciprocated by a cam 118 is normally held clear of a pin 104 on a tracker-operating arm 101 by a pin 115 on an arm 114 on the shaft carrying the lever 14; but when the lever is operated as described above, the pin 115 is lowered so that the link 105 engages the pin 104 and opens the side-tracker 7 to reject the faulty sheet. Another cam on the shaft 23, acting upon a rod 40, prevents actuation of the shaft 32 while the wheel 22 is being advanced. The sheets are counted by the mechanism shown in Fig. 7, and comprising a ratchet-wheel 55 which is advanced by a pawl 58 one tooth for every sheet. The stroke of the pawl is adjustable so that, if a number of superposed webs are being cut, the wheel 55 may be advanced a corresponding number of teeth at each stroke. This adjustment is effected by adjusting a lever 69, Fig. 1, so as to act as a stop to the movement of a bar 70 carried by the pawl arm 59. The wheel 55 drives a chain 57, the number of links in which is equal to or a measure of the number of sheets required in each batch. The chain is provided with a pin 58 which, at each revolution of the chain, closes a circuit through contacts 65, 66 to excite a solenoid 67, Fig. 8, to operate a device which feeds a marking-slip on to the top of the batch. The counting- mechanism may be rendered inoperative by moving a rod 70<a>, Fig. 1, into engagement with a projection 70<b> on the bar 70. The counting- mechanism is also stopped when the side-tracker 7 is operated, by means of mechanism which moves a lever 73 into engagement with a projection 127 on the bar 70. To allow the counting-chain to be moved in the reverse direction if any counted sheets are subsequently removed, the chain is driven through a friction clutch 54, Fig. 7, and a second ratchet 53 and pawl 74, operable by hand, are provided. The marking- device, shown in Fig. 8, cuts off a length of marking-paper 80 and feeds it on to the counted batch. The feed-roll 78 is mounted on a shaft 75 operated by a one-turn clutch 76, controlled by a cam 92 and released by the solenoid 67. The feed-roller is provided with a cutting or perforating knife and coacts with a roller 79. The strip passes between a pair of rollers 82, 83 which are shaped to form a corrugation in the strip to strengthen it. When the feed-roll 78 only perforates the web, the roller 83 is driven. at a higher speed and is pressed on to the web to sever it completely by a cam 86 acting on a lever 84. Instead of controlling the marking- device electrically, the pin 58 on the counting- chain may act upon a lever controlling the clutch 76. When a number of superposed webs is being cut and the last sheet of the required counted batch is in a batch of superposed sheets, a marking-slip may be inserted both before and after the batch containing the last sheet, and, for this purpose, the clutch 76 may be allowed to remain in gear for two revolutions. Also to avoid side-tracking perfect sheets when a batch of superposed sheets contain a faulty sheet, the batch is piled on the receiver and marked with a special marking-slip. For this purpose, a separate marker using distinctively coloured paper may be employed, or the marker described above may be provided with 'an additional pair of rollers adapted to make a distinctive mark on the marking-slip. These marking-rollers are operated by a second clutch on the shaft 75 controlled by a second solenoid, which is energized by closing a switch 100 by the operation of the handles 5, 6. When this special marking-device is employed, the rod 120 is disconnected from the lever 14, so that the side-tracker is not operated. To signal when the receiver is full, the pile table is adapted to close a switch 130, 131 in a circuit containing a signal bell and also a second set of contacts closed by the pin 58 on the counting-chain. An additional means for showing if the webs are running correctly comprises a wheel 136, Fig. 1, resting on the web reel or its spindle so as to be driven by friction and driving a belt 137, which drives a second belt 139 operating a moving indicator 140.