Patent GB-910721-A (GB)
Title: Collating machine
IPC: B65H39/041
Filed: 1960-06-13
Abstract: 910,721. Sheet - collating apparatus. MESTRE, L. June 13, 1960, No. 20718/60. Class 100 (1). A collating machine comprises storage means having a plurality of pockets and movable to bring the pockets successively to a position where sheets are removed from the pockets, a depositing platform, a plurality of grippers carried by endless chains and movable between the storage means and the depositing platform, means for closing and opening the grippers at the storage means and depositing platform respectively, and control means for the opening means which effects opening of the grippers alternately at two spaced positions so that sets of collated sheets are deposited on the platform in staggered relationship. The machine has a main frame 26 on which is rotatably mounted a drum 27 having radial pockets therein open at the periphery for holding the sheets to be collated. A plurality of longitudinally spaced grippers is mounted on two parallel endless chains 52 which are supported by sprockets 53, 54, 55, and serve to pick sheets S singly out of successive pockets of the drum 27 and deposit them on a platform 14b, the sprocket 24 and drum 27 being driven synchronously by a motor 29. Storage drum.-The pockets in the drum are formed by partitions 36 and bases 39 which latter are adjustably secured to the side plates 37 of the drum so that different sizes of sheet may be accommodated in the pockets. Each pocket has a pair of pivoted clamping plates 41, 42, which are spring-biased so as to clamp the sheets in the pockets against one of the partitions 36 during three-quarters of a revolution of the drum and which carry cam followers 46. An arcuate cam plate 47 is secured to the frame 26 at the position where the grippers pick sheets out of the drum pockets and engages the cam followers 46 so that the clamping plates 41, 42 release the sheets in their respective pockets. Gripper mechanism ; gripper flyers.-The chains 52 carry one pair of grippers for each pocket of the drum 27. Each pair of grippers has a mounting bar 65 rotatably mounted in bearings 64, Fig. 6, secured to the chains 52. Each mounting bar has a pair of parallel arms 66 rigidly secured thereto, Figs. 6-9, in which arms a shaft 73 is journalled. A pair of arms 74 carrying rubber or like gripper pads 75 is secured to each shaft 73 and is biased towards contact with the bar 65 by a spring 76. A finger 78 is pivoted to each arm 74 and is spring-biased towards a closed position wherein a friction pad 80 thereon engages the pad 75. In a modified form of gripper the pad 75 is cylindrical and has longitudinal ridges on its periphery. A sleeve 90 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 73 and has arms 89 rigidly secured thereto. Each arm 89 is connected by a link 86 to a finger 78. The sleeve 90 has a third arm 91 which carries a cam follower 92 for engagement with a cam track 148, Fig. 4, near the platform 146, whereby the fingers 78 are moved to open position. A locking lever 94 is pivotally mounted at 95 on one of the arms 24 of each pair and is biased in an anti-clockwise direction by a spring 97 so that the lever abuts against a pin 101 carried by the adjacent arm 89. When the gripper is opened by the cam track 148 the pin 101 engages in a notch 96 in the lever 94 and the gripper is thereby locked in open position. The lever 94 carries a release trigger 98 which is engaged by a pin 99 mounted on the frame 26 at the position where a sheet is to be picked up from the drum 27. Such engagement causes the gripper to close. One of the arms 74 of each pair is extended to form a lever 104, Figs. 3, 9, which carries a cam follower 105. The follower 105 engages a cam track 106 which extends the full length of the upper runs of the chains 52, round the shaft of the sprocket 55 and half-way along the lower runs of the chains, and maintains the arms 74 in the position shown in Fig. 3 against the bias of the springs 76. When the follower 105 leaves the track 106 the arms 74 are pulled down into contact with the bar 65 by the spring. The angular position of the gripping mechanism in relation to the chains is altered before and after a sheet is picked up, by means of a plate 138 secured to one end of the bar 65 and carrying two cam follower rollers 139, 140 of different axial lengths, Fig. 6. The follower 140 engages in a cam track 142 after the associated gripper has passed round the sprocket 54 and the grippers are thereby held so as to point generally rearwards in relation to their direction of travel. This attitude is maintained until the gripper reaches a position near the lower end of the cam track 106 where there is a gap 144 in one side wall of the track 142, an abutment 145 being mounted on the wall where it recommences at the other side of the gap. Just before the roller 140 reaches the gap 144 the roller 139 enters a cam track 141 which extends downwards to swing the gripper to approximately a vertical position assisted partly by the roller 140 engaging the abutment 145. The roller 140 then reenters the track 142 which follows such a path in relation to the path of the chains 52 that the grippers are caused to point forwards towards the drum 27 and each gripper enters a pocket of the drum, the pad 75 pressing down on the top sheet of the pile of sheets in the pocket. As the paths of the gripper and pocket diverge the top sheet is drawn out of the pocket by the pad 75 and the finger 78 is closed on it by the pin 99. The rollers 139, 140 engage cam tracks 143 and 142c respectively while the associated gripper is picking up a sheet and guide the gripper until the roller 140 re-enters the track 142 beyond the sprocket 54. After gripping the top sheet of a pile in a pocket of the drum and while withdrawing the sheet from the pocket, the gripper is maintained at approximately the same level as the top of the pile by a pawl and ratchet device (Figs. 19-22, not shown), which restricts angular movement of the gripper under the influence of the spring 76. If a particular gripper is not to pick up a sheet in a particular cycle and is closed, by means described below, at the time of entry into its corresponding pocket a second cam follower on the lever 104 is caused to engage a cam secured to the frame 26 whereby the gripper is held above the level of the top sheet of the pile in the pocket. Sheet receivers; delivering in counted hatches.- The cam track 148, Fig. 4, is pivotally mounted at 149 on the machine frame and can be swung by means of a solenoid from the Fig. 4 position in which the cam follower 92 engages the portion 150a thereof, to a position in which the cam follower first touches the track at 150b. The moment of the gripper's opening depends upon the position of the track 148. In the Fig. 4 position of the track 140 sheets S are deposited upon the platform 146 in the lefthad side position, between a fixed abutment 233 and a movable abutment 226, but if the track is pivoted in a clockwise direction then the sheets are deposited in the right-hand side position between a fixed abutment 211 and a movable abutment 212, Fig. 11. The abutments 226, 212 are pivotally mounted being held in inoperative position by solenoids such as 214, Fig. 11, until the track 148 is in the appropriate position when they are allowed to fall into operative position under the influence of gravity. The machine is controlled by a disc 174, Fig. 2, rotatably mounted on the frame 26 and driven synchronously with the drum 27. The disc has three concentric circular rows of holes 180, 181, 182, one hole in each row corresponding to a pocket in the drum 27. The outer row controls the cam track 148 ; a pin 185 inserted in a hole in the row 180 closes a switch in the circuit of the solenoid operating the cam track 148 so that when the sheet from the pocket corresponding to the hole in which the pin 185 is inserted reaches the stacking station the position of the track 148 is changed and that sheet and subsequent sheets are stacked in staggered relation to those previously stacked. If only one pin 185 is inserted in the disc 174 then each staggered batch of collated sheets corresponds to a complete revolution of the drum 27. However, the collated sheets may be staggered after the drum has completed only a fraction of a revolution by inserting further pins in the row 180 spaced apart by a number of holes corresponding to the number of sheets required in a staggered, collated batch. The sheets in any one or more pockets of the drum may be omitted from the collated batch ; this is effected by the appropriate grippers being closed before they are inserted in the pockets, such closure being caused by the engagement of the trigger 98 with a movable abutment 192, Fig. 3. If a pocket is to be " missed " a pin 189 is inserted in the hole in the row 182 of the disc 174 which corresponds to that pocket. At the appropriate moment the pin 189 closes a switch in the circuit of a solenoid which moves the abutment 192 from the full-line to the dotted line or trigger engaging position. Pins 207 in the holes of the row 181 actuate a second solenoid which restores the abutment 192 to the fullline position when required. Faulty feed detection.-If the grippers pick up one or more sheets or a thicker sheet than usual or no sheet at all the machine is automatically stopped. Gauging means is mounted adjacent to the upper run of the chains 52 and near the sprocket 55. In order to ensure that the sheet (or sheets) to be gauged is carried by a single pair of grippers it is separated from the sheet carried by the following pair of grippers by means of two helical members 238, 260 mounted on driven rotatable cylinders 239, 261 respectively mounted on each side of the upper run of the chains 52. The members 238, 260 engage the edge of a sheet as it is being transported by the grippers and raise the sheet out of contact with the succeeding sheet. The helical member 238 is interrupted near a portio