Patent GB-741244-A (GB)
Title: Machine for separating and removing sheets from a pile
Inventor: TEBBS GEORGE WILLIAM
IPC: B65H1/30
Filed: 1952-04-15
Abstract: 741,244. Feeding sheets. BACKHOUSE, H. T. April 13, 1953 [April 15, 1952; July 9, 1952], Nos. 10068/53 (Divided out of 741,226), and 17309/52. Class.100 (1). Pile supports; sheet-separators.-In apparatus for separating sheets from a pile by separator mechanism which descends as the pile diminishes, as claimed in Specification 741,226, the pile supporting means and the separator mechanism are both arranged to be raised together, whereby a new pile may be introduced beneath the old, the sheet-separation being uninterrupted during this operation. The invention is described as applied to the apparatus described in Specification 741,226, wherein the sheetseparator and the sheet-remover are arranged for co-operation no matter whether the sheetseparator is moving upwardly or downwardly relatively to the frame support. As shown, sheets separated from a pile 20 by suckers 140 are placed between the jaws of grippers 151 mounted, on endless chains 150, the grippers carrying the sheets upwardly to conveyer belts 21 which forward the sheets in an overlapping stream to a printing &c. machine. The separator mechanism is carried by cross-bars on two guide blocks, such as 36, slidable vertically in uprights 24, 25, the blocks 36 being lowered automatically, under the control of a feeler, as the pile diminishes. Slidable on the uprights are two side brackets, such as 200, connected by a cross-shaft 202 having pinions engaging rack teeth on the uprights, the shaft having a releasable pawl and ratchet one-way brake 205, and adjustable vertically by a handle 206. The brackets 200 have vertical racks 208 engageable by depending pawls 209 when the blocks 36 of the separator mechanism have descended low enough. Each bracket 200 has a pivoted bar 212 carrying two pawls 213 adapted to engage under the pile board 220 which normally rests on a stool 214. When the pile 20 is diminished to such an extent that the pawls 209 engage the racks 208, the separating mechanism is raised manually using the hand wheel described in Specification 741,226, or by rotating a handle 222 on a pinion shaft 95, whereby the brackets 200 and the diminished pile 20 are also lifted. The pile can be lifted to the upper position shown in chain lines, the separating mechanism continuing to operate during the upward movement and in the new position. A second pile on a second board is built on the stool 214, the unit consisting of the separator mechanism and brackets 200 is lowered until the original pile board and the sheets remaining thereon seat on top of the new pile, and the original board is then withdrawn to allow any remaining sheets to fall down on to the top of the new pile. Finally, the pawls 209 are released manually from the racks 208, and the brackets 200 are lowered, by rotating the hand wheel 206, ready to support the new pile. The stool 214 has removable and adjustable side stacking gauges 215 thereon. In one modification there is no stool, the new pile being wheeled into position on a truck; or the new pile may be built on a board supported on rearwardly-extending rails (Fig. 3, not shown) and then slid into position. In another modification (Fig. 4, not shown) the stool 214 is replaced by two fixed brackets arranged between the brackets 200. The pile board 220 may be replaced by a series of laths, in which case the pawls 213 on the brackets 200 are replaced by a bar.