Patent GB-172970-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in sheet separating mechanism
IPC: B65H3/50
Filed: 1921-12-15
Abstract: 172,970. Christophel, C. E. Dec. 15, 1920, [Convention date]. Sheet-separators; pile-tables and supports for sheet-feeds; sheet-guides. - A sheet-separating mechanism of the kind described in Specification 165,323 which can be used in connection with sheet-forwarding devices of any kind comprises means for acting continuously on the edge of a pile to raise the edges of a portion of the top sheets, a rising and falling combing-roller which acts in conjunction therewith to straighten out the top sheet, and a sheet-gripper in the form of a suction device which is lowered to such a position that the straightening of the top sheet causes it to make contact with a sucker which is quickly raised as soon as the suction is effective whereby the lower sheets are prevented from adhering to the top one. A pressing device also assists to keep back the sheets below the top one, and this device is fitted with means for delivering an air blast below the top sheet. The separating devices are carried by a frame 5 which is vertically adjustable on a bracket 2 horizontally adjustable on a cross-bar 1 supported by the sheet-feeding machine. The various movements of the separating-devices are controlled from a shaft 11 driven by bevel gearing 12, 13, and a universal joint from a shaft 17. The edges of the sheets are acted on by a rotary preliminary separator 28 formed with segmental portions 29 provided with conical ends 30 and with angularly extended portions 31 which are brought into engagement with the under surfaces of the sheets and lift portions of said sheets which are retained in such position by the segmental portions 29. The separator 28 is driven by gears 23 .. 26, Fig. 9, from the shaft 11, the gears being arranged in a pivoted housing 19 adjustable about the shaft 11 by an arm 20 and screw 21. After the separator 28 has raised the edges, a conical combing-roller 38 is depressed into contact with the raised sheets and acts in conjunction with the conical ends 30 to straighten out these sheets and bring the top sheet into contact with a suction-cup 70 which seizes the top sheet. The suction-cup 70 is attached to an arcuate tube 68, Fig. 5, which can telescope in a chamber connected to a suction tube 59, the tube being normally extended by the action of a spring on an are-shaped bolt 75, Fig. 1, connected to the tube 68 and moving in a guide 76. As soon as the top sheet makes complete contact with the cup 70, the suction withdraws the tube 68 into its chamber, and the sheet adhering to the cup 70 is separated completelv from any sheets below it. Both the combing roller 38 and the suction device are moved to and from the pile by a camplate 49 on a lever which is oscillated by a. cam 47 on a. shaft 11. The roller 38 is mounted in a frame which oscillates about the shaft 11, and is driven by bevel gearing from this shaft. A curved sheet edge gauze 39 is fitted to the frame of the roller 38. The suction tube 59 is connected by a flexible tube 60 to the suction device and is adjustably connected to a lever 54 which is oscillated about the shaft 11 by the action of cam-plate 49 on a roller 55. The tube 59 can be arranged to cause the edge 62 of the suction device to press on the pile or to be arrested in a position just above the pile according to the nature of the sheets being operated on. After the top sheet has been separated as described above, a presser device 88<1> is brought on to the top of the pile and delivers a blast of air under the separated sheet. The device 88<1> is given a combined vertical and horizontal reciprocating movements by a reciprocating arm 82 operated by a lever 81 operated by a cam 93 and arm 92 with a fork which straddles the shaft 11 and is fitted with a plate 96 acted on by a spring- pressed rod 98. An angular slot 84 in the arm 82 causes the presser 88<1> to move horizontally as well as vertically. After the separating action of the suction device described above the suction device as a whole is raised to carry the sheet to the forwarding devices. Two separating devices may be employed at opposite edges of a pile of sheets. The pile is kept at a uniformlevel relatively to the preliminary separator 28.