US2162580A - Sheet-handling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

L HOPKINS June 13, 1939.

SHEET-HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTGR. L/e wefiyn Hop/fins ATTORNEY.

June 13, 1939. L HOPKINS 2,162,580

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jiq. z.

INVENTOJQQ. L )e we Hyn Hop/fins BY ATTORNEY.

June 13, 1939. HOPKINS 2,162,580

SHEET HANDLI NG A PPARATUS Filed Aug. 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet s HVVENTUR.

L/ewe/lyn Hop/fins BY 49 Z9 CzujLuoiit llhizl4.

A TTORNEY.

June 13, 1939. L4 HOPKINS 2,162,580

SHEET-HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTGRQ L/e wel/yn Hop/r1713 BY MM mun A TTORNEY.

June 13, 1939. HOPKINS SHEET-HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTGR. Llewe/Zgr; Hop/fins ATTORNEY.

\ Patented June 13, 1939 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET-HANDLING APPARATUS Llewellyn Hopkins, Butler, Pa.

Application August 27, 1938, Serial No. 227,145

17 Claims.

are stucktogether can be discarded and the other sheets deposited on conveyors or the like. One object of my invention is to provide means for effectively removing sheets one-by-one from a stack, even though there is tendency of the sheets to adhere together through atmospheric pressure or otherwise.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved means for feeding sheets one-by-one from a stack.

A further object ofmy invention is to provide means for automatically throwing out or discarding sheets which adhere together during the removal of the sheets from a stack.

- Still another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of generally simplified and improved form which will operate rapidly and effectively in the feeding or sorting of sheets.

Some of the forms which my invention may take are shown in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalvview through the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof Fig. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale taken on the line IlIIII of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an 0 enlarged view taken on the line IV--IV of Fig, 2; t

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 4; Fig, 6 is a sectional detailed view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal view through one of the separating devices for the' marginal edges of the sheets; Fig. 8 is a view taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. I; Fig. 9 is a view showing the device of Fig. '7 in operating position; Fig. 10 is a plan tiew of the j separating blade of Fig-7; Fig. 11 is a schematic. view showing the arrangement of the control mechanism for various operating parts of the machine; Fig. 12 is, an 'elevationalsectional view of a modified form of sheet-separating apparatus, and Fig. 13 is a view taken on the line XIII-XIII- 01" Fig. 12.

As shown in Fig. *1, a framework II has journailed thereonidler rollers 16 along which packs of sheets H are moved to bring the pack into position above a table i8. The table I. at its corners carries depending-posts l9which telescopically fit within, upright guide members 2|.v A screw jack 2| engages the underside of. the table-at its central portion,,so that the table and the pack carriedthereby can be raised step-by-stepduring removal of the sheet from the pack, as hereinafter described. The nut 22 which engages with a jack screw carries a bevel gear wheel 23 with which a pinion 24 meshes. The pinion 24 is mounted on a shaft 25 which carries at its outer end a pinion 23 that meshes with a gear wheel 21, the gear wheel being provided with a handle 28 by which it may be manually turned to initially raise the table and thereby slightly lift the pack I! from the rollers i6.

A series of blades or edge separating devices are provided alongside each edge of the pack, in position to operate on the topmost sheet of the pack. These separating devices are designated generally by the numeral 29 and are shown more clearly in detail in 'Figs. 7 to 10. Each of the separating devices 29 is mounted upon a bar 3li which in turn is adjustably secured to the framework of the machine for adjustment toward and away from the edges of the pack, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. Each device is mounted upon a supporting plate 3i which is pivotally connected at 32 to the bar 30. An adjustable stop screw 33 is provided for eifecting proper alignment between the device and a pack, a spring 34 serving to yieldably hold the separating device against the stop screw.

The members 29 are allot similar construction and a detailed description of one will suflice for all. A hollow block 35 is secured to the plate 3! and. is provided with a removable cap plate 36. A slide block 31 is movable longitudinally within the block 35 and carries a blade 38 havinga sharpened nose portion or knife edge 39, that is adapted to be moved beneath the topmost sheet of a pack. A roller 40 is journalled in an arm 4i carried by the block 31 and which is pivotally mounted at 42. The roller 40 is positioned slightly in advance of the knife 39 so that when the block 31 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 7 toward that shown in Fig. 9, the roller will first engage the top of the packand thereafter the blade 39 will pass beneath the top sheet, moving the same to the position shown in Fig. 9.

In the position shown in Fig. 7; the roller is rigidly held against raising movement on its pivot. by means of the cap 36. If the vertical position of arm 4| that carries the roller is clear of the cover plate 36, so that when the top sheet is raised, as hereinafter explained, the roller can swing upwardly around its pivot 42 to be thereby disengaged from the sheet.

The vertical spacing between the roller 48 and the knife edge 38 is adjusted to correspond with the different sheet gauges, by an eccentric 48 upon which the roller 40 is mounted. Rotative adjustment of the eccentric 48 will, of course, raise or lower the roller relative to the knife blade. An extended hub of the cam is threaded to receive a nut 44 to clamp it in adjusted positions, the other end of the hub having a squared shank 45 which can be turned by a wrench.

When the blades are entering beneath the top sheet of a pack, blasts of air are introduced through the blades and beneath the sheet to assist in separating the sheets and to eliminate suetion which may result when the top sheet is lifted as will be hereinafter described. To this end. the knives are provided with passageways 46 that discharge at the forward edges of the knives and at their rear ends communicate with ports 41 that have constant communication with passageways-48 formed in the slide blocks 81. A pipe 49, to which air under pressure is supplied, communicates with each passageway 48, the side walls of the hollow blocks 35 having longitudinal slots formed to permitmovement of the pipes 49 with the slide blocks 31. Each slide 31 is reciprocated by a piston contained within an air cylinder 50, fluid pressure being admitted and exhausted at the opposite sides of the piston through pipe connections 5| and 52.

A cross head is provided at each end with slide blocks which are vertically movable in guide ways 56 carried by the stationary framework. The cross head is vertically supported by a pair of connecting rods 51 that are hung from crank arms 58 which are formed on a crank shaft 59, the crank shaft 59 being journalled in bearings 60 that are mounted upon cross beams 8|. The crank shaft carries a gear wheel 62 that has meshed engagement with a rack bar 68 formed on the end of a piston rod, that is connected to a piston within a cylinder 64, fluid pressure being admitted through pipes 65 and B6 to the opposite ends of the cylinder to effect actuation of the crank shaft 59. The cranks 58 are moved downwardly, thereby moving the cross head 55'downwardly, while admission of fluid pressure to the opposite end of the cylinder will effect raising movement of the cross head.

Four pairs of vacuum cups 61 are provided. Each pair of cups is mounted on extensions of a yoke 68 which has its legs extending upwardly through guide brackets 69 that are secured to the sides of the cross head. Springs Ill surround the legs of the endmost yokes and rest upon the tops of the'brackets 69 that are carried by the cross head, the springs engaging nuts on said legs, so that the yokes are yieldably urged upwardly. The yokes are all connected in unitary relation by a pipe 1|, so that they move as a unit and the intermediate yokes have gauge nuts I2 threaded thereon to positively limit downward movements of the yokes relative to the cross head 55. Those extensions of the yokes that carry the cups-61 are hollow and communicate with the cups and the pipe 1|.

Whenthe cross head 55 is moved downwardly to bring the cups 6! into engagement with the top sheet of a pack, compressive movement of the cups will cause the airto be forced therefrom beneath the edges of the cups. A check valve I3 (Fig. 6) is provided in the'base of the cups to prevent the air within the cups from being forced back into the bores of the yoke in the pipe during application of the cups to the top sheet.

After the cups have been applied to a sheet, as above described, the cranks 58 are actuated to raise the cross head 55 and the top sheet which will adhere to the cups 8! by atmospheric pressure. Owing to the inertia of the sheet and the vacuum cups, together with their yokes, springs 10 will be compressed somewhat during the initial stages of upward movement, the limit nuts 12 on the top of the intermediate yoke legs serving to positively limit the extent to which the springs 18 will be compressed. After the sheet has been completely lifted or pulled away from the pack and the inertia of the parts overcome, the cups and the sheet will be supported entirely by the springs 10, the stop nuts 12 then being clear of the cross head 55.

During the remainder of upward travel of the cross head 55, the sheet is weighed", so that if two sheets stick together, the weight will be such as to automatically discharge the sheet in one direction, while if a single sheet of proper weight is being raised by the cups, it will be automatically discharged in a direction to be fed to rolls. This weighing mechanism, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, comprises a rack bar 15 which is secured to the pipe 'II and extends upwardly through the cross head 55, and is vertically guided in a bracket 18 carried by the cross head. A pinion I1 is secured to a shaft 18 which is journalled on the bracket 16, and the shaft 18 carries a switch-operating arm 19 that durin movement of the shaft will actuate control switches 88 and 8|. Normally the arm 19 maintains the switch 8|] in closed position. Upon starting of raising movement by the crank arms 58, the cross head 55 will first move upward slightly without corresponding upward movement by the cups, with' the result that the rack 15 rotates the pinion TI to cause the arm 19 to release the switch 8|) and close the switch 8|. but one sheet is being raised by the cups at this time, the springs 18 will have sufllcient force to raise the vacuum cups and the single sheet toward the cross head 55, whereby the rack 15 is shifted upwardly relative to the cross head,

thus rotating the pinion l5 and swinging the arm back to its normal position where it closes the switch 80. Upon further movement of the cross head in its upward travel, the sheet is raised above the plane of take-out conveyors 82, which as hereinafter described, are swung into position beneath the sheet-to receive it when it is released from the cups.

Near the end of the upper travel of the cross head, the stem of a valve 84 carried by the cross head, engages a stop 85, which opens the valve and admits atmospheric air through a pipe 88 that is connected to the pipe H and thus relieves the vacuum within the cups and permits the sheet to drop upon the conveyors.

The conveyors 82 are disposed adjacent to the path of vertical travel of the sheet. Each conveyor comprises a series of rollers 8'! journalled in a channel bar 88, the bars 88 being carried on swinging arms that are hung on rods 90; the rods in turn, at their ends, are supported in brackets 9|, the brackets being slidably supported on cross rods 82 that are secured to the framework of the machine. The brackets 9| are keyed against rotating movement on the rods 92, as

shown in Fig. 4, and are adjustable longitudinally of the rods 92, being fastened at set positions thereon by set screws 93. The shafts of the rollers 81 have drive connection through bevel gear wheels 94 with a shaft 95, which shaft is journalled in the bearings formed in the bracket 89. The shafts 95 carry sprocket wheels 96 which are driven from a sprocket 91 that is formed unitarily with a sprocket 98. The sprocket 98 has driver-chain connection with a sprocket 99 that is formed unitarily with a sprocket I00, the sprocket I having drive-chain connection with a sprocket IOI on the shaft of a motor I02. The motor I02 is provided with an internal gear-reducing unit at I03; The unitarily-formed sprocket 99-I00 is journalled on the rod 90. The end brackets 89 have a crank arm extension I04 that is connected with a piston rod I05 which is operated by a cylinder I06. It will be seen that as fluid pressure is admitted to the opposite ends of the cylinder I 06 alternately, the brackets 89 will be oscillated to move the rollers 81 into and out of position beneath a sheet. Before the valve 84 is actuated through raising movement of the cross head, fluid pressure is, admitted to the upper ends of the cylinders I06 to cause the brackets 89 to be swung to the position shown in Fig. 1, with the rollers in position to receive the sheet when it is dropped from the cups. This movement of the conveyor 82 to sheet-receiving position is eifected by means of timing mechanism which controls raising of the cross head 55 and which also controls operation of the knife devices 38.

The timing mechanism is shown in Fig. 11 and comprises a motor-driven timer having a plurality of cams which operate fluid pressure control valves I01 to H3 inclusive. When the parts are in position for descending movement of the cross head to effect engagement by the vacuum cups with the top sheet of a pack, the valve I01 will be in open position admitting fluid pressure from the line I I4 through a pipe I I5 to the lower sides of the cylinders I06, thus holding the arms 89 and the conveyor rollers 81 in their outermost positions. Similarly, the knife members 38 are held in their retracted positions, because the valve I08 is in open position, admitting fluid pressure from the line I I4 through the pipe 52 to the outer end of the cylinder50, the air supply for the blast orifices of the knives being closed at valve I09. At this time the valve H0 is open to atmosphere and the valve III opened'by its cam to pressure line 4, thus admitting pressure through the pipe 86 to the cylinder 64 and causing the rack and pinion to be actuated to rock the crank shaft 59 so as to lower the cross head and the vacuum cups, the exhaust from the cylinder occurring at this time through the pipe 65. At about the time that the cross head has reached the limit of its downward movement, the valve I08 is closed, by its cam, to line pressure. and opened to atmosphere, while the valve H2 is opened by its timer cam to the line pressurefrom H4 so that the pistons within the cylinders 50 are actuated to move the rollers 40 and the knives 38 toward the pack. As the knives begin to penetrate beneath the top sheet, the valve I09 is actuated by its cam to establish communication from the line Ill to the pipe leading to the line 49 and to the interior of the knives, so as to provide the separating blast of air beneath the top sheet, as heretofore referred to.

At this time valve H0 is open to line pressure so that such pressure is admitted to thefront ratchet wheel I34 secured to the shaft I3I.

end of cylinder 64 to effect reverse movement to the crank shaft 59 and raising of the cross head 55. At the time the sheet has been thus lifted completely ofi'the stack, the valve I09 is closed to cut off flow of air to the interiorv of the knives. The knives during the early stages of raising movement of the sheet, are retained in their projected position to hold the next succeeding sheet of the pack down. After the top sheet has been lifted clear of the stack, the valve H2 is opened to atmosphere and the valve I08 is opened to line pressure, so as to direct fluid pressure to the front side of the cylinders 50 and retract the knives.

During this raising movement of the cross head 55 and after the sheet has been raised above the plane of the conveyors 82, valve I01 is opened to atmosphere and valve II3 opened to line pressure, so as to admit fluid pressure to the upper sides of the cylinders I06 and thereby rock the shafts 90, thus swinging the arms 89 and the rollers 81 to the position shown in Fig. 2 where they can receive the sheet which is released, as heretofore described.

A switch I20 is supported in the path of movement of the rack bar 63, whereupon during lowering movement of the cross head, the switch will be engaged by the rack bar and held in open position. During raising movement of the cross head, the switch I20 is released by the rack bar 63 and thereupon closes under spring pressure, thus establishing a point in the circuit for the motors I02. At this time if there is only a single sheet held by the cups, the arm 19 will mainficient expansive force to supportthe sheet), and.

the circuit being completed through the switch I20 will cause energization of the coil I2I of a reversing switch I22, whereupon the circuit for the motors I02 is completed and the said motors will, through the drive connections, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, effect rotation of the rollers 81 and discharge of the sheet through takeout rollers I24. Upon beginning of the next downward movement of the cross head, the switch I20 will be opened, thus causing stopping of the motors I02. If there are two sheets held by the suction cups during upward movement of the cross head, the weight thereof will hold the springs 10 compressed and the arm 19 consequently held in position to maintain the switch 8| closed (the switch I20 being closed during this upward movement, as above explained). A circuit will consequently be completed through the coil I of the reversing switch I22, whereupon a pawl arm I which is pivoted on a shaft I3I that is journalled in a bracket I32. The pawl arm I30 carries a pawl 133 which engages a The shaft I3I carries a bevel gear I which drives a -bevel gear wheel I38, that is secured to the shaft 25. Upon each retractive movement of the piston in the cylinder 64 and the rack bar 83, the bell crank I28 is swung to effect slight rotative movementof the shaft 25 through the connections just described, and hence rotation of the nut 22 of the screw jack, thereby raising the pack slightly so that the underside of the top sheet will be brought to the plane in which the knives 38 operate. After removal of all of the sheets of a pack, the table can be quickly returned to its lower position by unlatching the pawl I33 and turning the gear wheel 21 to lower the jack.

The apparatus can be adjusted to stacks of various widths, by longitudinal adjustment of the bars 30 on their supports, toward and away from the edges of the pack, and by similarly adjusting the brackets 9| on the rods 92.

From the foregoing it. will be seen that with the motor-driven timer in constant operation, the apparatus will automatically move through repeated cycles of operation, and during each cycle of operation will effect separation and lifting of the top sheets from the packs, and when a sheet has been fully raised, the discharge conveyor 82 will be brought into position beneath the sheet,

whereupon the sheet will be released and the conveyor set in motion to discharge the sheet. If two sheets are stuck together, the additional weight on the lifting elements will be such as to cause the conveyor to discard such sheets in the opposite direction. Upon discharging of either one sheet or two sheets which are stuck together, the cycle of operations will be automatically repeated. The properly separated sheets which are discharged between the rolls I24 can be advanced by other rolls or conveyor mechanism to rolls where a cold rolling operation is performed thereon, the apparatus thus serving not only as a sheet separating and sorting device, but as a feeder for cold rolls.

Referring now to Figs. 12 and 13, I show an apparatus for feeding sheets one-by-one from a pack mounted in approximately an upright position instead of in a horizontal position. In ,this instance the pack of sheets is represented by the numeral I40, and is supported in an inclined position by brackets I4I that are slidably mounted on a base I42. Each bracket has threaded connection with an indexing screw I43 that is journalled in an upstanding boss on the base I42. The screws I43 have bevel connection at I44 with a shaft I45. The shaft I45 is actuated by a pawl and ratchet mechanism I46, the ratchet arm thereof depending into position where it is engaged by a piston rod extension I41 of a piston contained within an operating cylinder I48.

The piston within the cylinder I48 is provided with a piston rod I49 on which is formed rack teeth I50 whichengage a gear wheel I5I, that is fixed on a shaft I52, which is journalled on the base I42. Arms I53 are secured to the rock shaft I52 and at their upper ends carry vacuum cups I54 in position to be forced against the outermost sheet of the pack I40 at points adjacent to the upper edge thereof. Adjacent to the upper edge of the pack are a series of sheet-separating devices I55 which are of the same structure as the separating devices of Figs. 7 to 10 except that they operate in approximately a vertical direction instead of horizontally. These devices serve to split the foremost sheet from thev next of the pack and to direct a blast of air behind it.

A series of conveyor rolls I56 are provided for receiving the sheets that are stripped from the pack and carried downwardly by the arms I53 into position just above the rolls, at which point the vacuum in the cups is relieved. Each roll I56 has bevel gear connection I58 with a shaft I51 that is constantly driven from a suitable source of power.

Timing mechanism'similar to that shown in Fig. 11 may be employed for controlling the supply of fluid pressure to the cylinder I48 that operates the swinging arms I53, the cylinders of the separating devices I55, and the air blast through the separating knives. When the cups I54 have been swung to their lower positions indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 12, the stems of valves I59 thereof will engage stop screws I60 to open the valves and admit atmospheric air to the cups, thus relieving the pressure and releasing the sheets to be carried away by the conveyor rolls I56. During lowering movement of a sheet, the extension rod I4I of the piston of the cylinder I48 which actuates the swinging arms I53, will strike the arm of the ratchet device and turn the screw I43 slightly so as to advance the pack-supporting brackets a distance approximately equal to the thickness of a sheet.

It will be seen that since the vacuum cups all engage the pack at points near only the upper edge thereof, downward swinging movement of the cups causes removal of the foremost sheet by a peeling or stripping action, so that if the sheets are stuck together somewhat at points below where they are initially separated by the knife devices I55, considerable separating force will thereafter be exerted. simply through the arcuate movement of the cups, such separating force being, of course, much greater and more effective than where a sheet is bodily lifted by suctional force applied simultaneously at various points throughout the area thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. Sheet handling apparatus comprising vacuum cups reciprocable vertically above a sheet pack, the cups being movable into engagement with successive top sheets of the pack and arranged to lift sheets vertically from the pack, means for relieving the vacuum in the cups when they have reached their upper limit of travel, a conveyor, means operable during upward travel of the cups, for shifting the conveyor into position to receive sheets released from the cups, and means operable upon further movement of the cups for removing the conveyor.

2. Sheet handling apparatus comprising vacuum cups arranged to engage the topmost sheet of a pack and to support the same in a horizontal plane when raised, means for vertically reciprocating said cups, means for automatically relieving the vacuum within the cups when they are adjacent to their upward limit of movement, conveyer devices movable laterally of the path of vertical movement by the cups, and means actuated through said movement of the cups for moving the conveyors into and out of position to receive sheets released by the cups.

3. Sheet handling apparatus comprising a vacuum cup device for removing the outermost sheets successively from a pack, a knife member, and means for moving the knife member behind the outermost sheet of a pack, in advance of sheet removing movement of the vacuum cup, for assisting in separating said outermost sheet from the rest of the pack.

4. Sheet handling apparatus comprising a v vacuum cup device for removing the outermost sheets successively from a pack, a knife member, and means for moving the knife member behind the outermost sheet of a pack, in advance of sheet removing movement of the vacuum cup,

for assisting in separating said outermost sheet from the rest of the pack, and means for directing a blast of air behind the sheet thus separated by the knife.

5. Sheet handling apparatus comprising a vacuum cup device for removing the outermost for directing a blast of air through the edge of the knife which enters behind a sheet.

6. Sheet handling apparatus comprising a vacuum cup device for removing the outermost sheets successively from a pack, a knife member movable behind the outermost sheet of a pack,

in timed relation to movement of the vacuum cup, for assisting inseparating said outermost sheet from the rest of the pack, and a guide device positioned outwardly of the knife, for engaging the face of the outermost sheet of the pack and serving to guide'the knife blade into position behind the rear side of said sheet.

7. The combination with means for removing sheets one-by-one from the exposedside of a pack, of a knife device, a slide block carrying .said device, means for reciprocating said block toward and from the edges of the sheets in a pack, and a guide member carried by said slide and positioned in advance of the knife and to be moved upon the outermost sheet, whereby the knife will be caused to penetrate the pack immediately behind the said sheet.

8. The combination with means for removing sheets one-by-one from the exposed side of a pack, of a knife device, a slide block carrying said device, means for reciprocating said block toward and from the edges of the sheets in a pack, a guide roller carried by said slide and having its axis positioned in advance of the knife and to be moved upon the outermost sheet, whereby the knife will be caused to penetrate the pack immediately behind the said sheet,

means for maintaining the roller againstdisplacement relative to the slide block when it is moving into position against the face of the sheet, and means effective when the roller has completed its movement on a sheet for releasing the roller to permit it to be swung aside when the sheet is being removed from the pack.

9. Sheet handling apparatus comprising a vertically-movable lifter for sheets, holding elements on the lifter for supporting the sheets in horizontal position when raised, laterally-spaced sheet-receiving members at two opposite sides of the path of lifting movement, and means operating in timed relation to lifting movements for moving the said members into and from sheetreceiving position.

10. Sheet handling apparatus comprising a vertically-movable lifter for sheets, holding elements on the lifter for supporting the sheets in horizontal position when raised, laterally-spaced sheet-receiving members at two opposite sides path.

11'. Sheet handling apparatus comprising a vertically-movable lifter for sheets, holding elements on the lifter for supporting the sheets in horizontal position when raised, sheet-receiving means normally positioned out of the path of lifting movement, and means automatically operable when the lifter is adjacent to its upper limit of movement, for moving the sheet-receiving means into position beneath a lifted sheet.

12. Sheet handling apparatus comprising a vertically-movable lifter for sheets, holding ele ments on the lifter for supporting the sheets in horizontal position when raised, sheet-receiving means normally positioned out of the path of lifting movement, means automatically operable when the lifter is adjacent to its upper limit of movement, for moving the sheet-receiving means into position beneath a lifted sheet, and

means automatically operable to release a lifted sheetfrom said holding elements.

13. Apparatus for separating sheets from a pack, comprising a knife member movable behind the outermost sheet of pack, a guide device positioned outwardly of the knife, for engaging the face of the outermost sheet of the pack, and serving to guide the knife member into position behind the rear side of said sheet, mechanism for removing the outermost sheet after entrance of the knife behind the same, and means for effecting movement of the said guide device away from the path of movement of the sheet during operation of said mechanism.

14. Sheet handling apparatus for removing the outermost sheets successively from a pack, comprising a guide member for engaging the exposed face of the pack, a knife device operatively associated with the guide member, the knife device being so positioned that it will enter behind the outermost sheet when the guide member moves against the exposed face thereof, means for moving the guide member and the knife device toward the pack, means for directing the guide member toward the pack in such path that the sheet-engaging area thereof is disposed rearwardly of the plane of the outermost sheet, and means for deflecting the guide member against the outermost face of said sheet, to thereby move the knife device to the rearmost plane of the sheet, when the guide member encounters the pack, whereby continued movement in a direction toward the pack will cause the blade to penetrate behind the outermost sheet.

15. Sheet handling apparatus for removing the outermost sheets successively from a pack, comprising a guide member for engaging the exposed face of the pack, a knife device operatively associated with the guide member, the knife device being so positioned that it will enter behind the outermost sheet when the guide member moves against the exposed face thereof, means for moving the guide member and the knife device toward the pack, means for yieldably maintaining the guide member in such path that the sheetengaging area thereof is disposed rearwardly of the plane of the outermost sheet, means for deflecting the guide member forwardly and against the outermost face of said sheet, to thereby move the knife device to the rearmost plane of the sheet, when the guide member encounters the pack, whereby continued movement in a direction toward the pack will cause the blade to penetrate behind the outermost sheet, mechanism for removing the outermost sheet after entrance of the knife behind the same, and means for effecting movement of the guide member out of the path of movement of the sheet during operation of said mechanism.

16. Sheet handling apparatus for removing the outermost sheets successively from a pack, comprising a guide member for engaging the exposed face of the pack, a knife device operatively associated with the guide member, the knife device being so positioned that it will enter behind the outermost sheet when the guide member moves against the exposed face thereof, means for moving the guide member and theknife device toward the pack, and means for yieldably maintaining the guide member in such path that the sheet-receiving area thereof is disposed rearwardly of the plane of the outermost sheet, the forward end of the guide member being of such form thatengagement thereof with the pack will deflect it forwardly of the outermost face of said sheet, to thereby move the knife device into the rearmost plane of the sheet, when the guide member encounters the pack, whereby continued movement in a direction toward the pack will cause the blade to penetrate behind the outermost sheet.

device and the knife device lie in planes inwardly of the plane of sheet separation, during movement toward the pack, the guide device being of such form that the said member will be deflected outwardly to the plane of the said face, when the guide device enters upon a pack.

LLEWELLYN HOPKINS.

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