Patent GB-984751-A (GB)
Title: Machine for placing sheets in compartments in moving receptacles
Inventor: PEARCE LEWIS CASS
IPC: B65B25/14
Filed: 1961-03-06
Abstract: 984,751. Collating sheets. AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION. March 6, 1961, No. 8018/61. Heading B6H. [Also in Division B8] A machine has a conveyer for moving receptacles past a plurality of loading stations, and a plurality of sub-assemblies for loading sheet units (e.g. stacks of greetings cards) into the receptacles, the receptacles comprising a plurality of zones or compartments at least two in number along the path of the conveyer, and at least two in number transverse to the conveyer. The sub - assemblies are adjustable so that they may be aligned both longitudinally and transversely to deposit articles in selected receptacle zones. The machine makes up stacks of different cards. Receptacle feed.-The receptacles R (Fig. 1) are passed by opposed driving belts 278 through a machine D described in Specification 923,027 which fixes partitioning D, in the receptacle. The receptacles are forwarded by reciprocating pushers 166, 168 which move receptacles through stations CRS. The receptacles are supported during this movement by a fixed guide channel 162 and a guide channel 160 adjustably mounted on a support 124 so as to be able to deal with different sizes of receptacle. The pushers 166a, 168a are mounted on rods 166, 168 which are reciprocated longitudinally (i.e. along the length of the conveyer C). Each rod has a series of pushers mounted on it at intervals equal to the spacings of the stations CRS. The rod 168 (Fig. 5) is forwarded with the pushers 168a erected as shown, to forward the receptacle one step, while the rod 166 is returned after having been rotated through a right-angle to extend the pushers 166a in a horizontal direction. The rod 166 is then rotated to erect the pushers 166a which pushers are then used to forward the receptacle while the rod 168 is returned. Alternatively both rods may operate in tandem. Stack formation.- Sub - assemblies A1- A6 each include a number of superimposed sheet feeding devices Q (Fig. 11) which feed the greetings cards one from each device, by means of a suction feeder FS and through a pair of driven rollers 360 into a holder GS on a collating conveyer G to form a stack u. The apparatus is described in Specification 933,841. The conveyer G comprises pairs of fingers 332, 334 mounted on bars 326 on a conveyer chain 320; the ends of the bars 336, running in a guide channel formed by guides 330, 340; and a pair of side plates 344, 344<SP>1</SP> mounted for adjustment of the distance between them to enable the machine to deal with different sizes of cards. As the holders are conveyed upwardly past the devices Q, the cards are received with their front (usually embossed) face underneath. As the holders pass over the top of the conveyer the stack u is compacted. The compacting is further facilitated by the guides 338, 340 which converge slightly towards the downward side of the conveyer, i.e. to the left of Fig. 12. The  units u are ejected from the holders by a reciprocating pusher 362, Figs. 13, 14, 18 to rest on a pair of fixed guides 440, 440<SP>1</SP>.    Feeding stacks into receptacles.-When placing stacks in a zone remote from the conveyer G, e.g. R2, R4, Figs. 1, 18, the stacks u are pushed from the fixed guides 440, 440<SP>1</SP> on to a pair of shutter plates 442, 442<SP>1</SP>, the edges of the sheet units being engaged by the inner edges 442a, 442a<SP>1</SP> of the shutters, Figs. 13, 14, 18. The stacks are brought to rest against an adjustable stop 584 by means yet to be described and then the shutters 442, 442<SP>1</SP> are moved apart to allow the units to fall into a receptacle compartment in a receptacle below it. The units are pushed off of the fixed guides 440, 440<SP>1</SP> by one of a series of pushers 512 mounted on a pair of continuously rotating conveyer chains 508, 510. Each pusher comprised a back plate 514 attached to both chains 508, 510 and has a pair of arms 528, 536 pivotally mounted on pins 534, 538. The arms are connected for simultaneous rotation in opposite directions by pinions 532, 540 attached one to each arm The lower arm 528 is in the form of a helical spring the lower end of which engages the stacks u. The upper arm has a roller follower 536a which co-operates with a cam edge PMS to cause the desired rotation of the arms. The arms are urged to take up the position shown to the right of Fig. 18, by a coil spring 540 having one end attached to the arm 528 and the others end attached to a block 544 mounted on the plate 514. With the arms in this position the pusher is moved to the left, pushing a sheet unit u along with it until follower 536a reaches a portion 572c of the cam edge which is shaped to cause an Over-centre action on the arms to bring them into the position shown to the left of Fig. 18, the arm 528 having been retracted from its unit pushing position by the cam edge 564c. The cam edge PMS is formed from one face each, of a line of blocks 564 mounted on a clamping rod 558. When released, the blocks may be rotated about the rod 558 so that a further face of the block, a different distance from the rod forms the cam edge PMS. This allows the block 572, which has a U-shaped slot to fit round the rod, to be removed and placed in a different posi- _ tion. The blocks 564 displaced by this movement are rotated to form part of the cam edge 564b instead of 564c or vice versa. When placing stacks in a zone adjacent the conveyer G (e.g. R1, R3, Figs. 1, 18), the stack feed assemblies are adjusted by removing the fixed guides 440, 440<SP>1</SP>, disconnecting the drive of the pushers 512 and moving the stop 584 to the chain-dotted position of Fig. 18. The units are pushers straight on to the shutters 442, 442<SP>1</SP> to be dropped directly into the respective zone. General.-Each conveyer and the ejector arm 362 are associated with means to detect misplaced sheets liable to cause jamming. Such sheets operate electrical switch meane which stop the machine. The machine is fully adjustable for handling various receptacle or card sizes and arrangements of zones and compartments. Each sub-assembly A1-A6 is mounted for adjustment longitudinally relative to the conveyer C on racks 742, 746 (Fig. 1), and on a plate 750, rotation of a hand wheel 758 causing supporting pinions to roll on the racks while wheels 748 support the other end of the assemblies.