US1161630A - Paper-feeding machine. - Google Patents

Description

T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION 'FILED OCT. 16. 1913.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I6. 1913.

11 61 mm, Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

N FILED 0CT.16, I913.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

mm w

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16. l9|3v 6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE, APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16. 1913,

6 SHEETS SHEET 5- Patented Nov. 23, 1

H 9 1 1 9 MM.

T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED oct. 16, m3,

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

EmmiNH TALBOT C. DEXTER, 0F PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DEXTER FOLDER COMPANY, OF PEAR-L RIVER, NEW YORK, CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PAPER-"FEEDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters ra'tent.

Application filed October 16, 1913. Serial No. 795,486.

1/ 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Tanno'r C. Dnxrnma citizen of the United States. and resident of Pearl River, county of Rockland, State of New York, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Paper-Feeding Machines, of which the following is a full and clear specification. i This invention relates to feeding machines in which provision is made for varying the diration of the period of activity of sheet-feeding means such as sheet-combing instrumentaliti-es which are periodicall y moved into andout of engagement With the top sheet of a pile of sheets which are to be fedby the machine. Such sheet-combing instrumentalities are adapted to impart simultaneous feeding movements of different magnitudes toa plurality of sheets of a pile, the uppermost sheet being subject to the greatest displacement, and those underlying it being displaced in successively lessening amounts. lnthis manner; an eflicicnt separation of the sheets is effected.

It is customary in machines of this character to provide a sheet-actuated device for terminating the action of the sheet-combing devices, an example of such a device being shown and described in Patent No. 1,098,279 granted to (leorge A. Martin May 26th, 191+.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide improved means for regulating the sheet-feeding action. Toward the attainment of this object. my invention contemplates the provision of simple and cliicient means for regulating the pressure exerted by the tail drag to make such pressure correspond with the conditions surrounding the sheet-combing or other sheetfeeding instrumcntality. 'lhus should the period of activity of the sheet-combing instrumcntality be prolonged unduly in eli'ecting the desired arrangement of the sheets the apparatus will o wrate automatically to reduce the pressure exerted by the tail drag and the sheet-con'ibing action will thus be facilitated. Such automatic reduction of pressure to facilitate the feeding action, may produce the desired effect entirely within a single period of activity of the sheet combing. mechanism thus-preventing a miss in the sheet feeding o 'icration. or. if the movement of a sheet is delayed to such an extent that a miss feed cannot be avoided,

the sheet will be fed off during the following combing period since the reduced pressure will continue in effect during the said following period of combin i Other objects of invention will appear.in the specification and be pointed out in the appended claims. reference being had to the accompanying drawings which exemplify my invention.

In the drawings. Figure 1 is a top plan view of a feeding machine embodying my improvements: Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the same. parts being broken away and parts shown in section; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same: Fig. 4 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale of the forward portion of said feedmg machine; Fig. 5 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 3, the. parts being shown in changed positions: Fig. 6 is a similar side elevation showing some of the parts in still other positions.

Referring more particularly to the drawings which show the preferred embodiment of my invention. within the side frames 1 (see Fig. 1) is journaled a shaft 2. Rotatably mounted upon the shaft 2, are the sleeves 3 which are spaced laterally and serve to carry the lever arms 4. within the outer ends of which are journaled the combing wheel shafts 5. Keyed to these shafts are spaced combing wheels 6 which constitute in the present embodiment of my invention, sheet-feeding instrumentalities which are adapted to be periodically moved into and out of contact with the top sheet of a pile P. Sprocket chains 7 are provided for transmitting power from sprocket wheels keyed to the shaft 2 to sprockets mounted on the shafts 5, the combing wheels 6 being thereby adapted to be rotated continuously during the rise and fall of the lever arms 4. which carry them to and from the pile of sheets. As shown in Fig. l. the combing wheels 6 are spaced laterally with reference to the pile of sheets, so that as the sheet is fed forward thereby to the front gages (not shown on the drawings) their periods of activity will serve toadvance either cdgc more or less with respect to the other edge to bring about a proper register of the sheet. For this purpose. each edge of the paper combing devices is provided with suitable sheet-actuated means for controlling lhc duration of the period of activity of such dcjournaled at one end in a cam 12 and has its other end journaled in a support (not shown), keyed to a sleeve 13 which rotates freely upon the shaft 8. The 'cam 12 is also keyed to the sleeve 13 so that whenever the pawl 10 engages the segmental ratchet 9, the cam 12 is caused to rotate. Running upon the cam surface of the cam 12, is a roller 14 which is journaled upon a pin 15, carried by the lever arm 16, said lever arm being keyed to the sleeve 3, which carries the lever arms 4. Depending from the oscillatory the combin wise oscillation o shaft 11, is a pendulum 17, there being one of these pendulums for each sheet-feeding instrumentali'ty. In consequence, whenthe free edge of the top sheet on the pile reaches the pendulum 17, the pawl 10 is thrown into engagement withthe ratchet 9, the result being that durin the next counter-clockthe shaft 8, the cam 12 displaces lever arm 16 and serves to elevate wheel 6 on that side. After both pendu ums 17 have thus been actuated,

the sheet is ready to be fed off by any suitable drop roller mechanism or similar device. During the time which the sheet is being fed from the pile the cam 18 which is keyed to the cam shaft 19 acts on a cam' roller 20 carried by the lever arm 21, which is also keyed to the sleeve 3.

' Referring now to Figs. 3, 5 and 6, keyed to the cam shaft 19 on each side of the machine is another cam 22 which cooperates with a cam roller 23 carried by the upper arm of a cam lever 24, which is pivoted on a rod 25. The lower arm of the cam lever 24 carries a laterally projecting pin 26 which operates in a slot 27 in one end of a connecting rod 28. The other end of said connecting rod is pivotally connected at 29 with the forward end of an operating bar 30 which is reciprocably mounted in a bracket 31 which depends from each side frame 1. The rear end of the operating 'bar 30 on each side carries an upright 32 within which is threaded a bolt 33 with its head extending forwardly to adapt. it at certain times to engage a roller 34 carried by the outer end of a lever arm 35. Lever arm 35 is keyed to a rock shaft 36. Keyed to the same rock shaft 36 is another operating arm 37 to which is pivoted one end of a cam bar 38. The other end of each cam bar 38 is pivotally connected at 39 with an arm 40 which is pivoted on a rod or stud 41 carried by the lower end of a depending bracket is transmitted to the presser foot.

arm 42 which is mounted on each side rail 43. Also mounted upon the rails 43 are collars 44 within which are mounted the oppositev ends of a tie rod 53 (see Figs. 1 and 2). Journaled on this tie rod on each side of the machine is a sleeve 54. Keyed to each sleeve 54 is an oscillatory lever arm 55 to the outer end of which a pawl 57 is pivoted at 56 (see Fig. 5), said pawl being adapted to engage the ratchet teeth on a rod 51, which is slidably mounted in the outer end of the lever arm 55. Depending from the tie rod 53 are laterally spaced brackets 45 which serve to support a rod 47. Journaled on the rod 47 below the hub portion of the lever arm 55 is the shank portion 48 of a presser-foot or tail drag 49, which is pivoted at 50 to the shank 48. The ratchet rod 51 has its lower end pivoted at 52 to the shank 48 so that any pressure which is exerted by the pawl on the rod 51 At the same time whenever the pawl 57 is raised, the presser foot does not partake of its upward movement. The lever arm is provided with a rearwardly projecting portion 58. to which is pivoted at 59, the upper end of a spring rod 60 which slides in the lug 46 under the action of a spring 61. An ad ju'stable tension device 85 which is mounted on the rod 47 adjacent each of the shanks 48, exerts a downward pressure on said shank and the presser foot carried thereby and under normal running conditions this pressure is augmented by the pressure due to a spring 61 to be referred to presently. Also keyed to the sleeve 54, is the hub 62 of a cam arm 63', the outer end of said cam arm being provided with a cam roller 64 which is adapted to coiiperate with the cam bar 38, as the occasions arise for varying the pressure exerted by the presser foot 49. A depending projection 65 has pivoted thereto at 66, one end of a spring rod 67 which extends through an aperture in the offset end of a support 68 which is readily secured to the side frame 1. A suitable spring 69 serves to impart a yieldable pressure to the operating bar 30 so that the device which positively engages the bar 30 to render it inoperative can be made readily effective by the following sto lever mechanism. Pivoted upon a pin 0 which projects laterally from the bracket 31, is a stop lever 71 which acts as a dog to engage in a notch 72 in the upper edge of the operating bar'30. The other end oflthe dog 71 is rovided with a in 73 which runs in the slot 74 in the lower end of a link 75, the upper end of said link being pivotally connected at 76 to one of the radial arms 4. which carry the combing wheel shaft Suitable and etlicientmeans for returning the cam bar 33 to its normal inoperative position after it has been moved by the opcrating bar 30, may be provided as follows. A cam 77 which is keyed to the cam shaft 19, cooperates with a cam roller 7 8 on the upper arm of a cam lever 79 which is also pivoted on the pin or rod .25. The lower arm of the cam lever 79 has pivoted thereto one end of the resetting bar 80, said resetting bar being adapted to rideon a roller 81 which is journaled upon the inner lateral face of the operating bar 30. The rear-v wardly projecting end of the resetting bar 80 is provided with an upwardly deflected portion 32 and a horizontal portion 83 which is recessed at 84 to form a shoulder 84 which is adapted to strike the stud 34 upon which roller 34 is journaled, when the resetting bar 80 is in lowere-d position. After the cam bar 38 has been moved into operative position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pressure due to spring 69 tends to retain it there until shoulder 84' strikes the stud 34to return the cam bar 38 to lowered position.

The operation of the mechanism hereinbefore described will now be readily understood.

It will be evident that each of the combing wheels 6 will be positively. retained in elevated position during suchtimes that the roller 20 travels on the outer run of cam18 and that they will be permitted to operate upon the bank of sheets while said roller 20 travels over the inner run of cam 18, provided that the top sheet does not in, the meantime actuate the pendulum 17 and cause the combing wheels to be lifted.

During the normal working of the sheetcombing instrumentalities, if the sheets are being presented at suitable intervals, the pressure exerted by the presser foot 49 will remain substantially constant under the resilient action of the adjustable tension device 85 as well as the additional pressure due to spring 61. Under these conditions, the combing wheels 6 will be raised at such intervals relatively to the timing of the cam 22 that the dog 71 will d'op into engagement with the notch 72 pri r to the forward movement of the operating bar 30 under the action of the spring 69, thus preventing the forward movement of said bar which would otherwise be permitted by the cam roller 23 on the cam lever 24 reaching its inner course on the cam 22. When, however, the duration of the period of activity of the combing wheel 6 is prolonged by reason of the difficulty met with in securing the necessary spacing of the forward edges of the sheets, the upward movement of the combing wheel 6 is delayed until after the cam roller 23 has moved inwardly and permitted the operating bar 30 to move toward the right under the action of spring 69. In consequence, the bolt 33 engages the roller 34 carried by the lever arm 35 and imparts a taneous return movement of the bars 30 and v pressure-reducing position until it is auto matically returned to normal inoperative position. By an inspection of Figs. 3, 5, and 6', it will be noted that cam rollers'23 and 78 will mount to the outer runs of cams 22 and 77 respectively at about the same instant. From Fig. 3, it will be seen that the for ward movement of. the bar 30 will draw the cam roller 81-(see also Fig. 2) farther under the reset lever causing the rear end thereof to be elevated as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In consequence, upon the simul- 80, the shoulder 84 will be above the stud 34; so that the cam bar 38 is permitted to remain in elevated position. If under these conditions the movement of the sheets becomes too free, the timing of the upward movements of the combing wheels will automatically occasion the dog 71 to again engage with the notch 72, thereby locking the operating bar 30. As a result the reset bar 80 will be lowered on its next forward movement and upon its next return movement, the shoulder 84 will engage the stud 34' and return the cam bar to inoperative position shown in Fig. 3. As a consequence, the easing up in pressure for one sheet will be sustained for succeeding sheets unless the movements become so free as to again auto.- matically lock the operating bar 30. On the other hand it will be seen by an inspection of Fig. 3 that the cam roller 23 reaches the inner run of cam 22 considerably ahead of the arrival of the cam roller 20 on the outer runof cam 18. .It may easily happen therefore that after the delayed movement of a sheet has caused the operating bar 30 to relieve the pressure on tail drag 49, its subsequent accelerated movement brings it into proper registry to be delivered prior to the action of-cam 18 which lifts the combing wheel 6. i I claim: p 1. In a feeding machine, the combination of sheet-feeding means, sheet-actuated means for determining the period of activity of said sheet-feeding means, a tail drag, and means governed by said sheet-actuated means for varying the pressure exerted by said tail drag upon the pile from which sheets are being fed, the governing action of said sheet-actuated means being transmitted by said sheet-feeding means, to said pressure varying means.

' 2; In a feeding machine, the combinatlon f 1 sheet feeding means, sheet actuated means for determining the period of activity of said sheet-feeding means, a tail drag,

' p and means governed by said sheet-actuated means for varying the pressure exerted by said tail drag upon the pile from wh ch sheetscare being fed, said tail drag being proyided with a pressure foot and means for said 1 tail drag upon the pile from which sheets are being fed, said sheet-feeding means being moved into and out of engagement with the top sheet of a pile under the control of said sheet-actuated means, said pressure-varying means being dependent upon the movement of said sheet-feeding means; Y

4. In a feeding machine, the combination of sheetfeeding means, sheet-actuated means'for determining the period of activity of said sheet-feeding means,-a tail drag, and means governed by said sheet-actuated means for varying the pressure exerted by said tail drag upon the pile from which sheets are being fed, said pressure-varying means including mechanism for reducing I the pressure of said drag upon the pile and means operated by said sheet-feeding means for rendering the pressure-reducing mechanism inoperative.

5. Ina feeding-machine, the combination of sheetfeeding means, sheetactuated means for determining the period of activity of said sheet-feeding means, a tail drag,

and means governed by said sheet-actuated .means for varying the pressure exerted by said tail drag upon the pile from which sheets are being fed, said pressure-varying means including a part suitably mounted and connected up with said tail drag to reduce the pressure exerted thereby upon the pile and another part operated by said sheetfeeding means for rendering the first said part inoperative.

6. In a feeding machine, the combination of sheet-feeding means, sheet-actuated means for determining the period of activity of said sheet-feeding means, a tail drag, and means governed by said sheet-actuated meansfor varying the pressure exerted by said tail drag upon the pile from which sheets are being fed, said pressure-varying means including a part suitably mounted and connected up with said tail drag to reduce the pressure exerted thereby upon the pile and another part operated by said sheetfeeding means for rendering the first sad part inoperative, said other part being suitably connected to said sheet-feeding means to partake of its movement to and from the top sheet of the pile and adapted to engage the first said part.

'7. In a feeding machine, the combination of sheet feeding means, sheet actuated means for determining the period of activity of said sheet-feeding means, a tail drag, and means governed by said sheet-actuated means for varying the pressure exerted by said tail drag upon the pile from which sheets are being fed, said pressure varying means including a part suitably mounted and connected up with said tail drag to re-' duce the pressure exerted thereby upon the pile and another part operated by said sheetfeeding means for rendering the first said part inoperative, said other part being suitably connected to said, sheet-feeding means to partake of its movement to and from the top sheet of the pile and adapted to engage the first said part, the first said part being -provided with yieldable means for imparting the pressure reducing movements to said automatically operated means and said otherpart being adapted to block the movement of the first said part.

8. In a paper feeding machine, the combination with automatically controlled sheetseparating devices, said devices being adapted to impart simultaneous feeding movements of different magnitudes to a plurality of sheets, automatically adjustable means for constraining the, movements of said sheets, and means for adjusting the effect of said sheet-constraining means, said adjusting a means being adapted to automatically 1ncrease the sheet-constraining effect under a relatively short period of activity of said sheet-separating devices and to decrease such sheet-constraining eflect under a relatively long period of activity of said sheet-separating devices.

9. In a feedingmachine, the combination with a tail drag, of yieldable means for pressing said tail drag upon the top sheet of a pile, means for varying the pressure exerted by said yieldable means, sheet-feeding means movable into and out of engagement with the top sheet of a pile of sheets to be fed, means for connecting said sheet-feeding means to said pressure-varying means, said connecting means being adapted to operate said pressure-varying means to reduce the pressure exerted by said tail drag \vhenthe period of activity of the sheet-feeding means is relatively long, and sheet-actuated means for determining the duration of the period of activity of said sheet-feeding means.

10. In a feeding machine, the combination of a sheet-combing instrumentality, means for moving it into and out of engagement with the. top sheet of a pile, sheet: actuated means for determining the duration. of the period of activity of said sheetcombing instrumentality, a tail drag, yieldable pressure-exerting. means for pressing the tail drag down onto the pile of sheets, and means under the control of said sheetactuated means for modifying the pressure exerted by said pressure-exerting means to correspond with the period of activity of said sheet-combing instrumentality, said tail drag including a pressure foot pivotally mounted and under the action of said pressure-exerting means, said pressure-exerting means including a resiliently mounted lever, and means for adjustably connecting said lever to said pressure foot.

11. In a feeding machine, the combination of a sheet-combing instrumentality,

means for moving it into and out of engage-- ment with the top sheet of a pile, sheet-actuated means for determining the duration of the period of activity of said sheet-combing instrumentahty; a tail drag, yieldable pressure-exerting means for pressing the tail drag down onto the pile of sheets, and means under the control of said sheet-actuated means for modifying the pressure exerted by said pressure-exerting means to correspond with the period of activity of said sheet-combing instrumentality, said tail drag including a pressure foot pivotally mounted and under the action of said pressure-exerting means, said pressure-exerting means including a resiliently mounted lever, and means for adjustably connecting said lever to said pressure foot, said adjustable connecting means comprising a rod having one end pivotally connected to said pressure foot, said rod being provided with ratchet teeth, and apawl pivotally mounted on said lever and cooperating with said ratchet teeth.

12. In a feeding machine, the combination, of a sheet-combing instrumentality, means for moving-it into and out of engagement with the top sheet of a pile, sheet-actuated means for determining theduration of the period of activity of said sheet-combing instrumentality, a tail drag, yieldable pressure-exerting means for pressing .the tail drag down onto the pile of sheets, and means under the control of said sheet-actuated means for modifying the pressure exerted by said pressure-exerting means to correspond with the period of activity of said sheet-combing instrumentality, said pressure-modifying means including a bar which is movable into'and out of engagement with a part of said pressure-exerting means, a power-transmitting bar which transmits power to the first said bar under a predetermined period of activity of said sheet-combing instrumentality and a device under the control of said sheet-actuated means which controls the activities of said "power-transmittingbar. i

, 13. In a feeding machine, the combination of a sheet-combing instrumentality, means for moving it into and out of engagement with the top sheet of a pile,'sheetactuated means for determining the duration of the period of activity of said sheet-combing inmitting bar, yieldable means for driving a said bar, and means under the control of said sheet-actuated means for blocking the movement of said power transmitting bar.

14:. In a feeding machine, the combination oi a sheet-combing 'instrumentality, means or moving it into and out of engagement with the top sheet of a pile, sheetactuated means for determining the duration of the period of activity of said sheetcombing instrumentality,'a tail drag, yieldable pressure-enerting means for pressing the tail drag down onto the pile of sheets, and means under the control of said sheetactuated means for modifying the pressure exerted by said pressure-exerting means to correspond with the period of activity of said sheet-combing instrumentality, said pressure-modifying means including a power transmitting bar, yieldable means for driving said bar, and meansunder the control of said sheet-actuated means-for blocking the movement of said power-transmitting bar, said blocking means including a lever movable into and out of locking engagement with said power-transmitting bar, and a link for connecting said lever with the sheet-combing instrumentality to .partake of the rise and fall thereof.

15. In a feeding machine, the combination of a sheet-combing instrumentality, adapted to move into and out of engagement with the top sheet of a pile, sheet-actuated means for controlling the period of activity of said instrumentality, a power-transmitting bar reciprocably mounted under resilient pressure, a tail drag under normally constant pressure, a cam bar adapted to be moved into and out of position for reducing the pressure exerted by said taildrag, means adapted to deliver power from said power transmitting bar to said cam bar, a pivotally mounted lever adapted to engage said ower-transmitting bar and a link connectmg said lever to said sheet-combing instrumentality to partake of the rising and fall-' ing movements thereof.

v 16. In a feeding machine, the combina-' tion of a sheet-combing instrumentality adapted to move into and out of engagement with the top sheet of a pile, sheet-actuated means for controlling the period of activity of said instrumentality, a power-transmitting bar reciprocably'mounted under re.

silient' pressure, means for reciprocating said bar, a tail drag under normally constant pressure, a cam bar adapted to be moved into and out of position for reducing the pressure exerted by said-tail drag,

meansadapted to deliver power from said power transmitting bar to said cam bar, a pivotally mounted lever adapted to engage said power-transmitting bar, and a link .con-

7 necti ng said lever to said sheet-combing instrumentality to partake of the rising and falling movement thereof, said means comprising a crock shaft, a lever arm carried thereby and connected to said cam bar, and a second lever arm carried by said rock shaft in position to be engaged by said powertransmitting bar adjacent one end of its movement.

17. In a feeding machine, the combination of a sheet-combing instrumentality adapted to move into and out of engagement (with the top sheet of a pile, sheet-actuated means forcontrolling the period ofactivity of said instrumentality, a power-transmitting bar reciprocably mounted under resilient pressure, means for reciprocating said bar, a tail drag under normally constant pressure, a cam bar adapted to be moved into and out of position for reducing the pressure exerted by said tail drag, means adapted to deliver power from said power transmitting bar to said cam bar,.a pivot- -ally mounted lever adapted to engage said power-transmitting bar, a link connecting said lever to sald sheet-combing mstrumentality to partake of the rising and fallin movements thereof, and a reset bar adapte to return said cam bar to normal inoperative position. i

1,8. In a paper feeding machine, the combination with automatically controlled sheet combingdevices, tail drags operating upon the rear of abank of sheets, and normally inoperative means controlled by the interval 20. In a feeding machine, the combination of sheet-feeding means adapted to be in active operation on the top sheet of a pile for a predetermined period of time, sheetactuated means for terminating the operation of said sheet-feeding means before the expiration of such predetermined period, a tail drag, means for varying the pressure exerted by said tail drag to regulate the velocity of said sheet under the action of said sheet-feeding means, and means operated by the sheet-feeding means under a normal period of activity for rendering the pressurevarying means inoperative.

TALBOT o. DEXTER.

Witnesses:

WVM. A. COURTLAND, WM. E. Kxierrr.

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