Patent GB-808756-A (GB)
Title: Feeding mechanism for envelopes and the like
IPC: B31B19/00
Filed: 1957-01-25
Abstract: 808,756. Feeding sheets. SMITHE MACHINE CO. Inc., F. L. Jan. 25, 1957 [Dec. 3, 1956], No. 2759/57. Class 100(1) An envelope blank feeding machine comprises means for initiating the separation of an outside blank from a stack, a pair of apertured rotating discs to assist separation and a conveyer comprising a roller arranged so that the separated blanks are deflected directly from the stack on to the curved surface thereof and are held thereon over a substantial part of angular movement of the roller. The blanks are supported in a stack 20 which rests mainly upon supporting and separating discs 22 carried and driven by shafts 23. Each disc has an opening 22a for the passage of a blank from top to bottom thereof. The stack is also supported by a roller 24 and by aligning and supporting rods 17. A further supporting device 28 and a sucker 30 move periodically into and out of supporting relation with the stack and a finger 32 extends into the stack for taking the weight of the stack off the device 28 and sucker 30. Initially the device 28 is located in stack supporting position and the sucker 30 moves upward toward stack supporting position as viewed in Fig. 4. The device 28 is them retracted and the margin of the bottommost blank is pulled by suction on to the sucker 30 which, when the device 28 has returned to supporting position, then begins to oscillate downwardly towards a feed cylinder 40. When the sucker has moved a certain distance the discs 22 start slicing through between the lowermost blank and the remainder of the stack. Operating in timed relation with the sucker 30 are deflectors 36 which are fully withdrawn when the sucker grips a blank but which move towards the cylinder 40 when the sucker moves down so as to deflect the blank towards the cylinder. Co-operating with the cylinder 40 are rollers 44 mounted on reciprocable arms 42 so that the rollers move over the periphery of the cylinder 40. As the blank is deflected on to the cylinder 40 suction is cut off from the sucker 30 and the rollers 44 are moved in timed relation up the surface of the cylinder so the leading margin of the blank passes beneath them. The cylinder 44 is rotated at such a speed that the blanks are fed in overlapping relationship. The blanks are guided round the cylinder by guides 48 and rollers 49 and pass between belts 56 and 46 and subsequently belts 56 and 72 to gumming apparatus 66 for gumming the marginal flap of the envelope blanks. The supporting device 28 and sucker 30 are driven from a continuously rotating shaft 76 having fast upon it a cam 78 which, through a follower 80, oscillates a crank 82 fast on a rock shaft 84, rockably mounted in a stationary sleeve 86. The shaft 84 has fast on it a crank 90 to which the sucker 30 is attached. Suction is applied to the sucker via a stationary valve member 94 mounted on the shaft 76. The valve member 94 has a passage 98 communicating with a source of suction, a passage 102 communicating through an elbow 104 and flexible hose 110, with the sucker 30, and an atmospheric passage 138. Communication of the sucker 30 with the source of suction is controlled by a rotary valve member 124 connected to the shaft 76 and provided with an arcuate slot 136. The member 124 is free to slide axially on the shaft 76 and is pressed against the member 94 by springs 132 located in an abutment member 130. A further cam 140 fast on the shaft 76 acts through a follower 142 to operate a crank 144 fast on a rockable shaft 146. A further crank 150 on the shaft 146 is connected through a link 152 to a slide rod 154 which forms part of the device 28. The rod is slidable in a fixed guide member 156. The deflectors 36 and roller carrying arms 42 are operated from a cam shaft 164. The shaft 164 has thereon a cam 168 which acts through a follower 170 carried upon a lever 174, pivoted on a shaft 176. An arm 182 of the lever 174 carries a pivot block 184 through which a rod 186, pivoted to the deflectors 36, extends. The deflectors are themselves pivoted on a shaft 166. The rod 186 includes a collar 192 which bears against the block 184 and a spring 194 which is held in compression against the block 184 by a nut 196 and washer 197, so that a yieldable connection is provided between the arm 182 and the rod 186. The arms 42 are pivotally connected to the arms 198 of a rocking lever 200. The lever 200 is supported on the shaft 176 and is operated by an arm 204 carrying a follower 206 which co-operates with a track cam 208 fast on the shaft 164.