US1883890A - Apparatus for feeding and aligning sheet material - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 25, 1932. F. s. FARLEY 1,883,890

APPARATUS. FOR FEEDING AND ALIGNINGfiHEET MATERIAL Filed Jan. 23, 1931 -2 Sheets-Sheet l 19 i, Z9 12 Z9 3 INVENTOR. WITNESSES Q FTazzczsSFarZey,

WWW Y ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1932. s, F L Y 1,883,890

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND ALIGNING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Jan. 23. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 10 FJGL 1/1 W S M FIG; I;

B 7 Z0 Z3 9 INVENTOR. WITNESSES fianc'z's SfZzrZe A TTORNEYS Patented Oct. 25, 1932 ,UNITEDFSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

" FRANCIS s. I'ABLEY, or maEN'roN. NEW JERSEY, AssIeNoa 'ro DANIEL MANsoN SUTHERLAND, .m, or MORBISVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND ALIGNING SHEET MATERIAL Application filed January 28, 1981. Serial No. 510,690.

My invention relates to feeding and aligning sheet material, as for the purpose of presentingit properly to trimming and cutting saws, and the like. The invention is especially advantageous for dealing with insulation building board, homogeneous hardwood board, paper, wood, and fiber pulp board, veneers, and other such materials; and I have hereinafter described and ex lained it with special reference to this use. arious advantages that can be realized through the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description hereinafter.

In the drawings, Fig. I is a plan view of an apparatus conveniently adapted for and embodying the invention.

Fig. II is a fragmentary side elevation of the sheet feeding devices of the machine and associated parts, several parts being in section as indicated by the line and arrows IIII in Fig. I; and

Fig. III is a fragmentary side elevation from they front of Fig. I.

In Fig. I, my feeding and aligning apparatus A} is shown arranged like a table in front of a trimming and cutting equipment 5, comprising saws 6, 6, 6 driven by individual electric motors 7, 7, 7 and located between suitably driven entrance and exit feed roll devices 8 and 9, which control the sheet S during the action of the saws thereon. My arpparatus 4 acts to assure presentation of t e sheet S to the entrance feed device 8 in proper definite alignment under all circumstances.

As shown in Fig. I, my feeding and aligning table 4 comprises a stop 10 for the edge of the fiber sheet S, associated with means or devices 11 for sustaining the sheet and feeding it along, and concurrently pushing or pressing it against the stop 10. To minimize friction with the edge of the sheet S, the stop 10 may consist of a series or line of upright rolls or rollers 12, preferably with stop walls 13 between them to prevent the leading corner of the sheet S from catching and blocking against a roll 12. The rollers 12 are mounted on vertical axes (studs or spindles) 14 secured to the horizontal flanges of angle multiplicity of, discs 11 presents important advantages over a series of mere ordinary 60 rolls, as will ap ear hereinafter. As shown in Fig. I, the discs 11 of adjacent shafts 16 are staggered.

As shown in Fig. II, the feed discs 11 are mounted on the shafts 16 between flanges 17, 5 18 suitably secured, to the shafts. Preferably, the discs 11 are of a resiliently yielding material that will adhere well by friction to a fiber sheet S. The material that I prefer for this purpose is sponge rubber such as is 7 used for the cushion backs of rubber stamps: it comes in sheets an inch thick from which the discs 11 can easily be cut. They can be cemented or vulcanized to the flanges 17, 18, or simply clamped between them and held from turning by mere friction.

In order that the sheet S may be pushed or crowded over against the stop 10 as it is moved along: the latter, provision is made for a movement of discs 11 toward the stop with the sheet resting on them. For their return movement, these discs 11 are relieved of the sheet S, preferably by allowing it to rest on a different set or group of the discs 11, and this other group may also be moved toward the stop 10 while the sheet is resting on them and the first group are out of contact with the sheet. By such alternate acwhile moving them to and fro, lengthwise,

toward and from the stop 10, or by having tion, or both.

the'discs 11 eccentric to their axes of rota- As shown in Fig. III, the eccentric relation of their axes of rotation is realized byhaving the discs 11 eccentric to the shafts 16,

rather than by mounting the shafts 16 in their bearings 19 to revolve eccentric to their own axes. The alternate action is secured by having the eccentric discs ll-of the two groups differently sct,preferabl v substantially or approximately 180 apart,so that the discs of the two groups rise and fall in alternation. Inother words, successive eccentrics in the general direction of feed of the material'are set 180 apart. Thus the sheet S is normally engagedand supported only by the eccentrics 11 of one group, while those of the other group are out of contact with the sheet,except of course, for brief 2o P riods when the eccentrics of the two groups are at mid-throw together, when the sheet S rests on all of the eccentrics concurrently.

- As already intimated, the to and fro movement of the discs 11 toward and from'the lower ends are pivoted at 22 on the machine slight up and down movement of the feedframe (Fig. II); This mounting results in a shaft 16 as it vibrates lengthwise i. e., the shaft rises on its movement to the left, toward l the sto 10, and is depressed as it recedes'to the rig t, awayfrom the stop. As it travels f I and III, the; lower shaft51 1s dnven by a sprocket and chain connection 52 to the enalong, the sheet S rises and falls a distance o about half the throw of the eccentric 11. The

feed shafts 16 are driven by corresponding drive shafts 25- journaled in bearings 26 on the frame of the machine. As shown in Figs. .II and III, the drive shafts 25 carry sprocket wheels 27 which engage acommon sprocket 5 chain 28 extending around sprockets 29, 30

suitably mounted in the machine frame. The

sprocket chain 28 may be driven by an electrio motor 31 through gearing 32-and a chain and sprocket connection 33' to the shaft 34 of the sprocket 30 (Figs. I and II). Intermediate idle sprockets .35 at suitable intervals sustain the active upper mad the chain 28 in engagement with the drive shaft sprockets 27. Any suitable driving connection 36 may be provided betweeneach' drive shaft 25 and its feed shaft 16 to permit lonl atter, such as a flexible disc joint. As shown in Fig. II, each suchjoint 36 comprises a drum 37 fast on the drive shaft 25, and a.

. flexible disc '38 marginally connected tothe drum 37 and centrally connected to the shaft 16. For this purpose,- the outer margin of tudinally' by anysuitab e actuatin For this purpose, the

37 and aflan ed rim 39 fittingover andsecured to the 11m, and its central portion is clam ed between flanges40, 41. on the shaft 16. f desired, these connections may alao be suitably cemented or vulcanized. The 7 disc 38 may be of any suitable-flexible material, such as that'preferred for the discs 11, as mentioned above.

The feed shafts 16 ma means, referabl on the drive shafts 25. shown 1n Fi I I, the cranks 42 on the drive shafts 25 be onging to the respective groups of feed shafts (i. e., the cranks 42 of successive drive shafts 25 in the general direction of feed) are set 180 apart, so that the feed shafts of the respective groups move toward and from the stopin alternation. For this purpose an eccentric or crank'42is shown at the end of each drive shaft 25, with a link connection 43 to one arm of a bell-crank lever 44 whose. other arm is the swinging link 20 that at 45 to a bearingblock46 onthe crank 42,

and the forked lower'end of the link 43 has a universal joint connection '47 to the forked endofjtheleverarm44.

At the front of. the-table 4isa feed device for passing the sheet S along the. cutting and trimming apparatus 5while definitely'maintaining itsalignment, consistingof cooperat- -ing pairs of feed discs 50,50, of t e same resilient character as the discs 11, concentrically mounted on shafts 51, 51. As shown in Figs.

trance feed device 8 of the cuttin and trimways 54 on the machine frame,-and an ad- {)113sting screw 55 serves to vary the pressure to" the eet matweenthe discs 50, 50 accordin thickness and character of the be vibrated longi- The revolving discs 11 carry the-sheets along toward the left (Figs. I and III) con tinuously. The set ofeccentrics 11 on which the sheet S'rests, at .any time moves only toward'the sto tinually pus ed over against the sto 10 and brought to adefinite alignment wit respect to thewhole'apparatus; After the edge of the sheet S comes in contact with the stop gitudinal and up and down movement of the. the m g n of he dis 11 yield and de- 10. Thus the sheet S is con- I fleet sidewise, under further thrust against the stop, an amount equivalent to their side I wise movement at each revolution. v

Having thus described myinvention, I

for feedingand aligning sheet material, comnaeaaao ward and from said stop, and means for su portin the material out of contact with said rolls 'uring their recessionfrom the sto 2. A aratus of the character descn for fee 'g and aligning sheet material, com- !Q prising'an alignin stop for the edge of the material, groups o revolving eccentric rolls for feeding the material along'said stop, the rolls of said ups being di erently set, so that some of zie -rolls carry the material while others are out of contact with it, and

means for vibrating said groups of rolls in alternation toward and from said stop and concurrentl raising and depressing them, rolls moving toward the'stop while supporting the material and receding while out of contact with it.

3,fA aratus of the character described for prising an aligningstop' for theedge of the material, groups of revolving eccentric rolls for feeding the material along said stop, the rolls of said groups beingdifierently set, so that some of the rolls carry the material while others are out of contact with it, and means for vibrating said groups of rolls in alternation toward. and from said stop, rolls moving toward the stop while supporting the material and receding while out of contactwith it. '4. Apparatus ofithe character described for feeding andaligning sheetmaterial, comprising an aligning stop for the edge of the material, revolving'eccentric rolls .for feeding the material along said stop, successive rolls in the general dlrection of feed of the material bein set 180 degrees apart, and means for vibrating the rolls toward and I from said stop, the alternate rolls in alternation with the rest, so that rolls move toward the stop while supporting the material and recede while out of contact with it. 5; Apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheet material, comprising an aligning stop for the edge of the material, groups of revolving feed shafts with adherent-edged eccentrics for feeding the material along said stop, the eccentrics of said groups being differently set, so that those of one group carry the material while those of another group are out of contact with it, and means for vibrating the groups of feed shafts in alternation toward and from said stop, so that eccentrics move toward the stop while supporting the material and recede while out of contact with it.

w 6. Apparaus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheet material, comprising an aligning stop for the edge of the material ;'groups of revolving feed shafts with eccentrics for feeding the material along said stop, the feed shafts of said mg and aligning sheet material, comgroups alternating alned the eccentricslof the respective groups in set 180 egrees apart; drive shafts in line with said feed shafts with actuating connections thereto rmitting longitudina movement of the eed shafts; and cranks on said drive shafts, withactuatmg connections to said feed shafts to wibrate them lengthwise toward and from said stop, said cranks being set 180 degrees apart onthe drive shafts of the two groups of feed shafts, and being co-ordinated with the eccentrics to cause the latter to move toward the stop while supporting the material and to recede while out of contact with it.

7. Ap aratus of the character described for fee ing and aligning sheet material, comprising an aligning stop for the edgeof thematerial, a group of revolving resiliently flexible eccentrics for feeding the material along and pushing it toward said stop,

a means for vibrating said eccentrics toward and from said stop, and means for supporting the material out of contact with said eccentrics during their recession from the stop. 8. Apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheet material, comprising an aligning stop for the edge of the material, groups of revolving resiliently flexible eccentrics for feeding thematerial along said step, the eccentrics of said grou s being differently set, so that some of t e eccentrics carry the material while others are out of contact with it, and means for vibrating said groups of eccentrics in alternation toward and from said stop, eccentrics moving toward the stop while supporting the material and receding while out of contact with it.

9. Apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheet material, comprising an aligning stop for the edge of the material, groups of revolving feed shafts with flexible rubber eccentrics for feeding the material along said stop, the eccentrics of said groups being differently set, so that those of one group carry the material while those of another groupare out of contact with it, and means for vibrating the groups of feed shafts in alternation toward and from said stop, so that eccentrics move toward the sto while supporting the material and rece e while out of contact with it. i

10. In apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheet material, the combination With an aligning stop for the edge of the material, of revolving feed shafts with eccentric discs thereon resiliently yielding in any axial direction, for feeding the material along and pushing it toward said stop.

11. In apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheet material, the combination with an aligning stop :for the edge of the material of, revolving feed shafts with eccentric discs of resilient,

' for vibrating said groups of rolls in alternation toward and from said sto and for elevating the rolls moving towar the stop and depressing the receding rolls.

13. Apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheet material, comprising an ali material, revo ving rolls for feeding the material along said sto and means for vibrating the alternate ro ls in alternation toward and from said stop, and concurrently raising and de ressing them.

14. paratus of the character described ing stop for the edge of the I them for concurrent v1 ration longitudinally toward and from said stop and up and down,

drive shafts for said feed shafts with flexible connections thereto permitting vibration of said feed shafts as aforesaid, and cranks on said drive shafts with actuating connections to said feed shafts to vibrate them, the cranks being set 180 degrees apart on the drive shafts of the two grou s of feed shafts.

In testimor%ewhereof, hereunto sign my name at nton, New Jersey, this 19 dayof January, 1931.

. FRANCIS S.

for feeding and aligning sheet material, comprising an aligning stop for the ed e of the material, groups of revolving rolls or feedin the material along said stop, said rolls being mounted for vi ration longitudinally toward and from said stop, drive shafts in line with said rolls, flexible sponge rubber disc joints connecting them to the rolls, to permit vibration of the rolls as aforesaid, while driven by the shafts, and cranks on said shafts with actuating connections to said rolls to vibrate them.

15. Apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheet material, comprising an aligning stop for the ed e of the material, groups 0 revolving rolls or feeding the material along said sto said rolls bein mounted for concurrentvi ration both longitudinally toward and from said stop and also up and down, drive shafts with connections to said rolls permitting vibration of said rolls as aforesaid-while revolving with the drive shafts, and means actuated by the drive shafts for vibrating said groups of rolls as aforesaid, both longitudinally and 7 up and down, in alternation.

Q prising an aligning stop for the ed 16. Apparatus of the character describedfor feeding and aligning sheet material, comprising an aligning stop for the edge of the material, groups 0 revolving rolls or feedin the material alon said stop, said rolls being mounted for vi ration longitudinally toward and from said stop, drive shafts in line with said rolls, flexible disc joints connectin them to the rolls, to permit vibration 0% the rolls as aforesaid, while driven by the shafts, and cranks on said shafts with altituating connections to said rolls to vibrate t em.

17. Apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheet material, comof the material, groups of revolving fee shafts [with rubber-ed ed discs thereon for feeding the material a ong said stop, bearings for

Images