US1584445A - Sheet-feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

May 11 1926.

C. F. FRAUEN BER'GER SHEET FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed Oct. 31 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 M L \w MN MW Q o n m. 5 i m fi Q INVENTOR I ATTORNEYS May 11 1926. 1,584,445

\ c. F. FRAUENBERGER v SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 31 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS May 11 19 26. 1,584,445

- C. F. FRAUENBERGER SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 51 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR w 5% m M41 BY W441 ATTORNEYS May 11 1926.

C. F. FRAUENBERGER SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Fild Oct. 31 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BY M ATTORNEYS Patented May 11, 1926.

means uuirsu stares earsnrorrics;

CARL F. FRAUENBERGER, F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO S. H. ROSENBERG, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SHEETFEEDIN G MECHANISM.

Application filed. October 31, 1924. Serial No. 747,028.

This invention relates to improvements in sheet feeding mechanism and, while the inr provements are capable of other applica tions, they are particularly designed for use with a cutting and creasing press.

A press of this type customarily has a substantially vertical bed with which a swingplaten cooperates and the face of the platen, when in sheet receiving position, lies at an angle to the horizontal. Prior feeders for this type of machine have operated a push the top sheet of vertical stack from a. magazine over the adjacent and highest edge of the platen and to slide it in place against the usual stops mounted adjacent the opposite and lowest edge of the platen. l i hilc this scheme solves, in one way, the problem of feeding a sheet from a vertical stack into an adjacent non-parallel and downwardly inclined platen, the solution is not ideal because whenever the forward and leading edge of the sheet meets the least obstruction it catches and, being pushed from the rear edge, becomes crumpled, creased or broken. ll hen it is attempted to pull the sheet by gripping its forward edge, the usual nipper mechanisms do not operate satisfactorily because they travel in a straight line parallel with the top of th stack and, when the nippcrs release the forward edge of the sheet, such edge, due to the inclination of the platen, is at best a considerable distance above the lower edge of the platen. Consepiently, when the sheet is released it has to drop a considerable distance in order to reach the platen and the sheet is very likely to become improperly positioned. While some range of free fall for the sheet is usually permitted, such range needs to be kept as short as possible because the movement of the sheet is not then positively controlled.

lhe main, object of this invention is to provide a sheet feeding'mechanism for the purpose described which includes nipper' mechanism to pull the sheet from the magazine to a position overthe platen, characterized in that the nippers move at first outwardly parallel with the face ofthe stack of sheets in the magazine and then swing downwardly until they become approximately parallel with the sheet receiving face of the platen and lie closely adjacent thereto at the time when the sheet is released to drop upon said face.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description and in the illustrative embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevational view showing the cutting and creasing press in associated relation with the sheet feeding mechanism of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar but fragmentary view, showing the parts, as positioned at the end of the sheet feeding movement;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elcvational view, with parts broken away, of the sheet feeding mechanism alone;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional elevational views taken on the lines -l-d and 5-5 of Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the sheet feed ing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the rear portion of the magazine; and

Fig. 8 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts as positioned during the approach of the nippers to the magazine.

Referring to these drawings; the invention is disclosed, by way of illustrative example,

in connection with a cutting and creasing press. Machines of this type are used generally in the art of making cardboard boxes and the like and are too well known to require detailed description and illustration herein. For the present purposes, it will suffice to state that the press comprises a frame A on which'is formed a substantially vertical bed Z), and a platen 0 which cooperates with the bed and is movable from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the sheet receiving position shown in Fig. 2. The p'laten c is provided with studs (Z one on each side thereof and these studs are connected by links 6 to crank pins f carried by gears g,

Gears 5/ are fixed to a shaft h, one near each end thereof, and are driven from pinions 1', fixed on the main drive shaft j of the press.

The mechanism for feeding sheets successively to platen c is mounted upon askeleton frame B which also functions as a magazine and receives a vertically movable platform upon which the sheets .9 are carried in vertically stacked relation. Associated vith frame B are suitable vertical guides, such as 11 and 12, (Figs. 8 and 7) for the stack of sheets and the top sheet of the stack is maintained at a predetermined level, such as that shown in Fig. 8, by means which cause the platform 10 .tobe moved step by step upwardly at each operation -of the :press. Such means include two elevator drums 18,- one on each side of frame B, which drums are fixed to ashaft 1%, rotatably mounted in the frame. Aneye 16 is lined to each drum and a cable 17 is looped through each eye,its two extensions passing upwardly over a sheave orsheave-s 1S,

and thence downwardly for connection 111 laterally spaced relation to platform 10.

- The elevator drums 13 are operated by the following mechanism. Fixed to shaft l l is a gear 19, driven by a pinion 20, which is mounted on a stud 21, fixed to frame B. Fixed to pinion 20 is a gear 22, driven by a pinion 28 to which is fixed a ratchet wheel the latter and pinion 23 being rotatable on a stud 25 fixed to frame B. A holding pawl 2G,-monnt'ed on frameB is associated with ratchet wheel as is also an actuating pawl 27, carried by an 'arm 28, pivotally mounted on stud 25. by a link 29 to a lever 30, which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on frame B and the connection of the link to the lever is preferably adjustable, as indicated, to enable the throw of pawl 27 to be varied, as desired. Lever 3G is connected by a link 31, to one of two similar levers'32, which are mounted intermediate their ends on a cross shaft 33 (rotatably mounted in frames B) and disposed oneat each end of the shaft. The lower ends of levers 32 are connected by a link 3% to the described crank pins (Z, whereby on each swinging movement of platen c, the platform 10 will be elevated on -step,the arrangement being such that thetop'sheet of the stack of sheets onthe platform'is maintained at a constant level.

The sheet feeding mechanism, whereby the uppermost sheet of the stack is removed I iron 35.

Arm 28 is connected ried to the platen. The transferring mechanism includes nippers which grasp the sheet 8, when positioned as described, and pulls it by its forward edge over the platen. The nippers reciprocate in guides and theguides are pivoted to swing in timed relation with the reciprocating movement of the nippers so that the latter carries not only the sheet forwardly but downwardly as well. By this arrangement the nippers, when they release the sheet, are so close to the platen that there is, as a practical matter, no chance for the sheet to become improperly positioned as it falls to the platen.

' The sheet separating and positioning mechanism will first be described'with particular reference to Figs. 3, s and 5. This mechanism functions to push the top sheet 8 forwardly from the position shown by full lines to thatshown by dotted lines in Fig. 8 and over the upper face of an angle Referring to Fig. 3, two shafts 36 and '37, one vertically above the other,

:rtend transversely across the magazine, well above the level of the uppermost sheet 8 therein, and are supported near their ends by brackets 38 secured to the upper faces of the top side barsof frame B. The lower shaft 37 is oscillated back and forth from one of the levers 32 and for this purpose has fixed to its forward end, outside bracket '38, a depending arm 39 which is connected by a link 40 to the lever 32 at the same point at which thedescribed link 31 is connected. Fixed to shaftr87 in laterally spaced relation and between the brackets 38 are two depending arms etl, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected to the rear ends of arms 42 which carry suitable sheet pushers 43, herein shownas small. sections of hack saw'blades. These pushers are moved back and forth over the stack of sheets but are held elevated above the uppermost sheet during their rearwardstroke and allowed to engage the uppermost sheet during their forward stroke, whereby the uppermost sheet 8 may be moved as above described.

The shaft 36 controls the raising and lowering of the-sheet pushers l3 and to this end has fixed thereto two forwardly extending arms @l-l, one'overlying each arm 42 and connected therewith by a suspension link The lower pivot pin (l6 of link L5 rides in. a long slot at? provided in arm 42, whereby the latteris free for its reciprocating movei'nent. Thesuspension link is restrained from swinging back and forth by a radius rod 48. As shown the latter is made of a wire, one end of which is coiled around shaft 37 and the other end of which is bent at right angles and passed through a hole in link 425. @n the -rearend of shaft 36 and outside the adjacent bearing 38 is a collar 4:9' 4) having a notch adapted to receive the inner end of a latch 51 pivoted at 52 to the adjacent bracke 38, whereby shaft 36 and thus the pushers 43 are held in the elevated positions illust ated. On collar 49 is fixed an arm 52 which is connected by a spring 53 to a pin 54 on latch 51, whereby the latch is urged toward collar 49 and'whereby the latter and shaft 36 can be turned downwardly when latch 51 is withdrawn from notch The raising and lowering of the pushers 43 is controlled from the shaft 37 which re ciprocates them. For lowering the pushers, a cam 55 is fixed to shaft 37 and located below collar 49 and in the path of latch 51. Cam 55 is arranged to engage latch 51 at the end of the rearward stroke of pushers 43 and to move the latch out of notch 50, whereby shaft 36 is turned by spring 53 and the pushers 43 forced into engagement with the uppermost sheet 8 of the stack. The pushers then move forwardly to advance the top sheet 8, as described, and, as they are thus moved, a finger 56, fixed to shaft 37, swings upwardly and aproaches a set screw 57 threaded in a collar 58 fixed on shaft 36. At or near the end of the forward movement of the pushers, finger 56 engages and moves the set screw 57 and causes shaft 36 to turn in a clockwise direction sufficiently to enable latch 51 to be drawn into place in notch 50, whereby the pushers are held elevated during their rearward strokes.

At the rear of the magazine (Fig. 7), is a knife 59, adjustably mounted in a bracket 60, which in turn is adjustably mounted on a bar 61, extending centrally and longitudinally of the magazine from its rear edge to a position substantially midway between the front and rear edges of the magazine. Bar 61 is spaced above the uppermost sheet 8 of the stack and is supported at one end from the rear cross member of frame 15 (Fig. 7) and at the other end by a cross member 62, (Figs. 6 and 8) which is connected at its ends to the side members of frame B. The knife is arranged to penetrate through several of the uppermost sheets of the stack and to thereby hold the underlying sheets from being carried forwardly with the uppermost sheet by frictional engagement. forwardly by the pushers 43, is ripped away from the knife but the mutilation of the sheet, thus caused, occurs in the margi which is later trimmed off. 7

The sheet removing means, whereby a sheet positioned by the pushers 43 is carried to the platen of the press, include two or more nippers which are moved to and fro by the levers 32, heretofore described. A shaft 63 extends between and connects the two levers 32 and is fixed at its ends to the latter. Intermediate the levers 32 are located nipper arms 64', which are mounted The uppermost sheet, when moved at one end on shaft 63 and are free to turn thereon. The other ends of the arms 64 are connected by a shaft 65 and are free to turn thereon. The ends of shaft 65 are connected to the forward ends of two slide bars 66, which are disposed one on each side of frame B. Each bar 66 is slidably mounted in ways formed in a guide piece 67 which is pivoted to frame B at 68. Gibs 69 (Fig. 8) serve to hold bar 66 in place in the guide piece 67. Each guide piece 67 is arranged to be swung on its pivot 63 by means of a slide 70 which is pivotally connected at its upper end by a pin and slot connection 71 to the side piece and is suitably mounted to slide vertically on frame B. Each lever 32 carries a path cam 72 with which a roll 73 on the lower end and on the outer face of the slide 70 is engaged. As the levers 32 start to swing counter-clockwise from the position illustrated in Fig. 3, the nipper arms 64 push on shaft 65 and cause bars 66 to be drawn forwardly in their guide pieces 67. The cams 72 do not at first lift the guide pieces 67 so that the shaft travels horizontally outward. Eventually, however, cams 72 cause the guide pieces 67 to be swung upwardly while the bars 66 continue to be drawn out further in guide pieces, with the result that the shaft 65 bcgins to travel downwardly as well as forwardly. Finally, the shaft 65 assumes a position, such as is shown in Fig. 2, wherein it'lies fairly close to the receiving face of platen 0 and near its inner edge, the bars 66 becoming approximately parallel to the bed of the platen.

The nippers are carried by shaft 65 whereby the leading edge of a. sheets is pulled along in the path described until it comes into a position such that it can safely be released with assurance that it will drop into proper position on the platen. Each nipper comprises a fixed jaw 74 formed as a part of the nipper arm 64 at a location close to shaft 65. The movable jaw 75 underlies jaw 74 and is an offset part of a lever 76 pivoted on shaft 65 adjacent arm 64. A spring 77 connects a pin 78 on the upper end of lever 76 to bar 64 and extends to hold jaw 75 in the open position illustrated in Fig. 8. The

n ooer end of lever 76 is also connected b a link 7 9 to the free end of a lever 80 mounted on shaft 63 and free to turn thereon. Pin '78 projects beyond. both sides of lever 76 and, on one side, overlies arm 64 and is adapted to engage therewith in a notch 81 to limit the degree of opening movement of the nipper jaw 75. lVhen jaw 75 is closed, a pin 82 on lever 80 engages arm 64 and prevents further movement thereof in a clockwise direction and, when lever 30 is thus positioned, the point. of pivotal connection between link 79 and lever 80 crosses the line connecting the centers of pin 78 and shaft 63 whereby the pull of spring 77 isin.- effective to open the jaw and the jaws are locked closed.

The jaw 75 is open as shown in Fig. 8, as it moves to the right and approaches the forward edge of sheet 8. As arms 32 near the end of their movement in the described direction, the ends of levers are carried into engagement with set screws 84:, adjustably mounted in upstanding relation on the cross bar 62, heretofore described. The rangement is such that arms 80- are moved far enough to close jaws '75 and they are thereafter held closed by the toggle link arrangement above described. Adjacent each nipper bar Get and fixed to shaft 63 is an arm carrying an adjustable abutment, in the nature of a set screw 86, which lies in the path of the rear end of a link 7 9. As the arms 32 swing to the left, as viewed in Fig. 8, the nipper arms naturally turn on shaft 63 and the angle between link 79 and set screw 86 decreases until the two finally engage at or near the end of the outward stroke of arms 32, whereby link 79 is pushed downwardly far enough to allow spring 77 to open j aw? 5 and release sheet 8.

In operation, the platen c oscillates continuously, thereby'moving the levers 32 in a similar fashion. The sheet separating means operates to position a sheet for the nipper mechanism during'the closing movement of the platen and during the same movement of the platen the nipper mechanism returns toward the magazine with jaws 75 in open position, as shown in Fig. 8. As the nipper mechanism nears the end ofits stroke, the uppermost sheet 8 ofthe stack is pushed out by the sheet separating mechanism into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8. The nipp'ers approach the sheet and jaws 75 are closed thereupon by reason of the abutment of stop 86 with the, crank arm 80. The latter is-moved, as described, to lock jaws 7 5 by a toggle action in closed position. This action occurs asthe platen 0 moves into engagement with bed I). As the platen moves away from its bed, the levers 32 push the nipper links or frames 64 toward the platen, and the leading ends ofsuch links, being connected to the slides 66 travel at first in a straight line parallel with the top face of the stack of sheets in the magazine. Eventually,

however, cam 72 comes into play and lifts the slidewaysinto inclined relation with said face and finally into positions more nearly parallel with the sheet receiving face of platen 0, whenv it is fully open and in sheet receivingposition. Thiscauses the nippers to dip downwardly and travel in a curved path until they finally approach very closely to the lowest edge of the platen. At such time. the stop 86 on arm 85' engages the crank arnrSO and breaks the toggle which holds? jaw 75 closeda Th Spring 77 then snaps jaw 75 open to release the sheet, which has to drop only a very short distance and can therefore, be positioned properly on the platen against stop 12 with reasonable certainty.

The sheet, carried by the platen 0 against bed Z), is removed by any suitable nipper mechanism, represented generally by reference letter 00. Inasmuch as the present invention, .relates entirely to the feeding of tie sheet, it has not been considered necessary to describe in detail the means for removing the sheets from the platen.

The inventionhas been disclosed herein, in an embodiment at present preferred, for illustrative purposes but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

\Vhat I claim is l. The combination with a press having a swinging platen opening toa sheet receiving position in which the platen is inclined to the horizontal and slopes downwardly toward its bed,.of a magazine adjacent thereto for holding a vertical stack of sheets to be fed to the platen, a lever pivotally mounted on said magazine and connected to the platen to continuously oscillate therewith, a slideway pivoted to the magazine and movable froma position substantially parallelto the top face of said stack to a position substantially parallel to the face of said platen, connections between said slideway and lever to move the former intermittently from the latter, a slide mounted in said slideway, a link connecting said lever to the forward end of said slide, and a fixed and a movable nipper aw carried by said link.

2. The combination with a press having a swinging platen opening to a sheet receiving position in which the'platen is inclined to the horizontal and slopes downwardly toward its bed, of a magazine adjacent thereto for holding a vertical stack of sheets to be fed to the platen, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said magazine one on each side thereof, and connected to the platen to oscillate therewith, a cross bar connecting the upper ends of said levers and fixed thereto, a'pair of slideways pivoted to said magazine one on each side thereof and connected to the adjacent lever to be moved thereby'during part of the oscillatory movement of the levers, a slide mounted to reciprocate in each slideway, a cross bar connecting the leading endsof the slides. a link connecting both said cross bars and free to turn on. the former, a nipper jaw pivotally mounted on the last named crossbar and cooperating, with an adjacent portion of said link to grip or release a sheet'placed therebetween,-a crank arm mounted to turn on the first named cross bar, a link connecting} said crank" arm and nipper jaw, said arm and link forming a toggle to hold the latter in closed position, an arm fixed on the first named cross bar and operable at the end of the oscillation of said levers in one direction to break the toggle and open the nipper jaw, a spring to hold said jaw in open position, and a fixed abutment engagetion to move it and cause the closing of said 10 mpper jaw.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CARL F. FRAUENBERGER.

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