Patent GB-358660-A (GB)
Title: An improved method of and apparatus for feeding sheets
IPC: B63G8/08
Filed: 1930-08-25
Abstract: 358,660. Feeding sheets. BREHMER, GEB., 107, Karl Heinestrasse, Plagwitz, Leipsic, Germany. Aug. 25, 1930, No. 25366. Convention date, May 3. [Classes 100 (i) and 100 (ii).] Sheet-separators; pile supports.-A sheet-feeding apparatus which is especially applicable for feeding sheets from inclined piles 1 to the conveyer of a sheet-collecting or signature-gathering machine, or to a folding or stitching machine, comprises means for successively separating the foremost sheet of the pile consisting of an oscillating rake member 14 carried by an oscillating shaft 20 which also carries a suction separator 10 mounted on a shaft 15 on levers 16 pivoted to arms 18 on the shaft 20. The shaft 15 also carries tensioning segments 11 which keep the foremost edge of the sheet taut as it is carried away from the pile to the position shown in Fig. 4, by the action of cam grooves in cam levers 19 which are freely mounted on the shaft 20 and are oscillated from a cam on the shaft 21 by lever mechanism similar to that which oscillates the shaft 20. From the position shown in Fig. 4, the rake 14 and the separate 10 are moved away from the pile and the separated sheet is moved to a vertical position whilst a sliding rake member 13 is moved across the bottom of the pile to complete the separation of the sheet. The member 13 is reciprocated by a rack 35 engaged by an oscillating pinion. The front of the pile is normally engaged by a hooked rake member 12 which is moved away from the pile to allow the separation of a sheet, and returns as the sheet is moved to a vertical position by the suction nozzle 10. The rake 12 is operated by a bell crank 26 oscillated by cam-and-lever mechanism from the shaft 21, and is controlled by a stationary guide 29. When the suction is released in the nozzle 10, the sheet falls by gravity and is directed by a guide 39 to the conveyer of a signature-gathering or like machine. The air-pressure in the nozzle 10 is controlled by an oscillating valve shown in section in Fig. 14, which is connected by link mechanism 38, 41, 42 with the shaft 20. When a port 81 connects with 79, 79<1>, the suction conduit 44 is connected by the tube 82 to the nozzle. When the sleeve 43 is rotated to connect the port 81 with one of a series of connected vent apertures 81, the sheet is released. The sides of the pile are engaged by registering members 3 carried by bars 4, one bar carrying a series of members 3 for a number of piles and the other bar carrying a similar number to engage the opposite edges of the pile. By means of a common pinion operated by a wheel 5 racks on the bars 4 can be adjusted so as to adjust both sets of members 3. The sheets are held down by upper fingers 6 carried by guides 25 which are also fitted with racks operated by a common shaft so that they can be adjusted simultaneously. Tripping-arrangements.- A calipering-mechanism is provided which acts on the separated sheet while in the guide 39, and which is adapted to stop the sheet-feeding machine and the associated machine, if a sheet is not fed correctly or if a double feed has taken place. The separated sheet is engaged by the two jaws 46, 47 of the calipering device, the movable jaw being operated from a cam on the shaft 21 and mechanism comprising a pitman 48, bell crank 49, yielding pitman 53, lever 51, pitman 54, and bell crank 52. The three-armed lever 51 is arranged so that the upper end 33 is normally positioned between adjustable projections 71, 72 on an apertured slide 55 when the calipers close on a sheet. The slide 55 is thus free to move downwards, and an arm 59 is moved out of the way of an arm 66 of a lever 65 which controls a pawl 64 pivoted to a freely mounted lever 62 which is oscillated from a cam on the shaft 21. If a sheet is not fed, or a double feed occurs, the slide 55 is prevented from moving downwards and the arm 59 holds the lever 66 and prevents the arm 65 from moving with the lever 62, which movement normally takes place under the action of a spring 65a, and the pawl 64 is thus allowed to engage a ratchet on a lever arm fixed to one end of the divided shaft 63 and a pitman 70 is thus operated to actuate a fork 69 which moves a sleeve on the driving shaft 60, the sleeve serving to operate an expanding ring coupling and thereby throw out the drive.