Patent GB-823158-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for delivering sheets, newspapers or the like in counted batches
IPC: B65H33/16
Filed: 1956-04-18
Abstract: 823,158. Delivering sheets in counted batches. ROE, J. E., and ST. CLEMENTS PRESS Ltd. March 25, 1957 [April 18, 1956], No. 11742/56. Addition to 753,345. Class 100(1)  An apparatus for delivering sheets, newspapers or the like in counted batches according to the parent Specification is modified in that the batch detector means consists of an electro-mechanical counter adapted to operate the clutch and comprising a sprocket wheel mounted above the conveying path prior to the interrupting device, and an electro-magnet mounted above the sprocket wheel so as to allow only limited rotation thereof as each sheet, newspaper or the like passes thereunder. Sheets are conveyed by a spring band conveyer 11a between rollers 11, 12 and on to one of four paddles P 1 , P 2'  P 3 , P 4  arranged on transverse bars 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d respectively, which bars are secured across two chains 16 carried by sprocket wheels 14a, 14b. The batch detector or sheet counting device comprises a sprocket wheel 12a (Fig. 4) mounted so as to run freely on the same shaft as the roller 12 and between two parts of the roller, the teeth of the sprocket wheel forming pole faces which are attracted to the pole face of an electro-magnet 22 positoned above the wheel. The wheel has a. diameter slightly smaller than that of the roller 12 and has the same number of teeth as there are sheets'in a batch. The roller 12 flattens each sheet on either side of the sprocket wheel leaving a slightly raised portion, the leading edge of which engages the lowest tooth of the wheel and rotates it one step, the following sheet engaging the next tooth and so on. When the wheel completes one revolution a cam 21 associated with it operates a microswitch. The paddles are moved intermittently by a gear train (not shown) which includes two co-operating gears having no interengaging teeth over a part of their circumferences, and which is connected to one side of a magnetic clutch operable by the microswitch associated with the batch detector. Sheets are fed on to the paddle P 1  as it descends to the position P 1x  at which position the clutch is automatically disengaged by a cam-operated switch on the gear box as described in the parent Specification and the paddle remains stationary, the paddle P 2  being in the position P 2x , until the batch detector indicates that a batch has been delivered thereto and re-engages the clutch. When the paddle P 2  reaches the position indicated in full lines movement of the paddles is interrupted by the gear train arrangement described above, after which the process is repeated in respect of paddles P 2  and P,. When the paddle P 1  reaches the position P 1x  it passes between the two parts of a split-belt conveyer 15 leaving the assembled, squared-up and counted batch of sheets on the conveyer. In a modification the paddles may deposit the counted batches on an inclined surface leading to the disposal conveyer. Each paddle has a convex sheet-receiving surface which helps to prevent the sheets from running up the back portion of the paddle which is at an angle to the receiving arm. The wheel 12a may have a number of teeth which is a multiple of a number of sheets in a batch, in which case the cam 21 would be shaped so as to actuate the microswitch more than once for each revolution of the  wheel.