CA1245680A - Paper sheet separator - Google Patents
Paper sheet separatorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1245680A CA1245680A CA000484323A CA484323A CA1245680A CA 1245680 A CA1245680 A CA 1245680A CA 000484323 A CA000484323 A CA 000484323A CA 484323 A CA484323 A CA 484323A CA 1245680 A CA1245680 A CA 1245680A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- stack
- sheets
- flow passage
- magazine
- rigid surface
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims 2
- 230000003534 oscillatory effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007257 malfunction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A rigid airfoil surface and the exposed portion of the bottom sheet of a stack of flexible sheets in a magazine, form opposite passage walls of a venturi flow passage into which a flow of air is directed from a nozzle member. Collapse of the passage wall formed by the flexible bottom sheet is induced by the static suction pressure created at the throat of the venturi passage resulting in deflection of the exposed portion and separation of the bottom sheet from the stack in preparation for withdrawal by a gripper mechanism.
A rigid airfoil surface and the exposed portion of the bottom sheet of a stack of flexible sheets in a magazine, form opposite passage walls of a venturi flow passage into which a flow of air is directed from a nozzle member. Collapse of the passage wall formed by the flexible bottom sheet is induced by the static suction pressure created at the throat of the venturi passage resulting in deflection of the exposed portion and separation of the bottom sheet from the stack in preparation for withdrawal by a gripper mechanism.
Description
~ r2~ P~3 This invention re1ates to the separation of single sheets from a stack in preparation for withdrawal thereof during an automatic sheet handling operation.
The automatic withdrawal of single flexible sheets Erom a magazine stack by a mechanical gripper mechanism is well known, for example, in connection with the sheet collating operations in a "Phillipsburg Inserter'l.
In such apparatus, the bottom sheet of the stack at a collating station is deflected by a vacuum cup device and held separated from the stack by a pivoted finger in preparation for clamping of the separated portion of the bottom sheet to a gripper lever. The bottom sheet is thereby withdrawn by the gripper lever from the magazine and dropped onto a collating conveyor.
Such collating operations are shown, for example, in U.S. patent No: 3,371,331.
The use of pre6surized air flow for sheet separation is also known, as disclosed for example in U.S. patent Nos. 2,743,923, 2,806,696 and
The automatic withdrawal of single flexible sheets Erom a magazine stack by a mechanical gripper mechanism is well known, for example, in connection with the sheet collating operations in a "Phillipsburg Inserter'l.
In such apparatus, the bottom sheet of the stack at a collating station is deflected by a vacuum cup device and held separated from the stack by a pivoted finger in preparation for clamping of the separated portion of the bottom sheet to a gripper lever. The bottom sheet is thereby withdrawn by the gripper lever from the magazine and dropped onto a collating conveyor.
Such collating operations are shown, for example, in U.S. patent No: 3,371,331.
The use of pre6surized air flow for sheet separation is also known, as disclosed for example in U.S. patent Nos. 2,743,923, 2,806,696 and
2,979,329. In all of such prior art arrangements, the reliance on a remote source of suction pressure and/or moving parts in the sheet separating operation are sources of malfunction which reduces operational reliability, calls for relatively frequent repair and maintenance, and is costly to replace and install.
It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a les6 costly, more efficient and reliable sheet separating method and apparatus which avoids the use of mechanically moving parts.
In accordance with the present invention, an airfoil member is fixedly mounted in spaced underlying relation to the exposed portion of the bottom sheet of a stack within a magazine so as to form a venturi flow passage between a rigid airfoil surface and the exposed portion of the bottom sheet. Pressurized air is timely introduced through a nozzle member into the venturi flow passage at one end so that the resulting air flow induces a static suction pressure at the throat portion of the venturi flow passage.
Since one wall of the venturi flow passage is formed by the exposed portion of the flexible bottom sheet, the wall collapse~ under the induced suction pressure to downwardly deflect from the sltack. The bottom sheet when deflected contacts spaced ribs projecting upwardly from the curved surface of the airfoil member forming the opposite rigid wall of the venturi flow passage. The ribs thus limit deflection of the bottom sheet to maintain the venturi flow passage open and divide it into flow channels through which the air flow is directed from spaced discharge orifices of the no~le member onto the rigid airfoil surface upstream of the throat portion. The bottom sheet so deflected is engaged by the jaws of a gripper mechanism entering a recess in the airfoil member at the end of the stroke of the gripper mechanism.
Figure 1 is a par~ial top plan view showing the sheet separating device of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the sheet separating device shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a side section view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 3--3 in Fig. 1.
Figure 4 is a side section view similar to Fig. 3 showing the installed sheet separating device during one phase of an operational cycle of the associated machine.
Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are section views similar to Fig. 4 showing other phases of the operational cycle.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, Fig. 4 illustrates a typical installation for the sheet separating device 10 of the present invention. A vertical stack 12 of flexible paper sheets are gravitationally retained on a fixed bottom suppor~ 14 between front and rear walLs of a maga~ine or hopper 1~. A portion 18 of the botto~ sheet 20 of the stack is exposed and unsupported in spaced overlying relstion to the sheet separating device so that it may be deflected downwardly from the stack into operative alig~uuen. with th~ ja~s 22 and 2* of a gripper mecllanism including a gripper lever 26 pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 28 at a collating station of a "Phillipsburg" type of machine as aforemene~oned.
The bottom sheet 20 i6 thereby withdrawn from stack 12 by the gripper mechanism for deposit onto a collating conveyer (not shown).
Referring now to Figs. l, 2 and 3 in particular, the sheet separat-ing device lO includes a nozzle member 3~ having an upper flange portion 32 rece6sed to receive the forwArd edge portion of bottom support 14 of the magazine to which the flange portion is secured by fasteners 34. A vertical body portion 36 of the nozzle member depends from the flange portion with its upper edge 38 flush with the upper 6urface of the support 14 from which the exposed portion of the bottom sheet extends in overlying relation to an airfoil member 40 of the sheet separating device.
The airfoil member 40 has a depending flange portion 42 ~ecured by fasteners 44 to the body portion 36 of the nozzle member. Both the nozzle and airfoil member~ extend a substantial distance along the ~orward edge ~6 of the magazine support 14 in order to form a relatively wide venturi flow passage between the extended plane of the support 14 and a curved top surface 48 of the airfoil body portion 50 of the airfoil member. A plurality of flow directing ribs 52 project upwardly from the curved surface 48 in parallel spaced relation to each other. The upper edges 54 of the ribs extend from the upper edge 38 of the nozzle member along a rear curvature portion tangent to a forward curvature portion generally parallel to the curvature of the surface 48 when the airfoil and nozzle members are assembled as more clearly seen in Fig. 3. The curved surface 48 also extends forwardly from an exposed face 56 of the nozzle body portion and forms a rigid bottom wall of the venturi flow passage that is smooth throughout as shown. rl`his venturi flow passage is divided into flow channels 58 between the ribs 52. A
recess 60 is centrally formed between the ends of the airfoil body portion 50 to receive the jaws 22 and 24 of the gripper lever at the end of its oscillatory stroke a~ shown in Fig. 4b.
r3 Tne nozzle body portion 36, as more clearly seen in Fig. 3, includes an intake manifold 62 to which pressurized air is conducted by conduits 64 from any suitable source in timed relation to the oscillatory stroke of the gripper lever 26. A plurality of passage6 66 interconnect the manifold with air discharge orifices 68 on the face 56 of the nozzle body portion at one end of the venturi flow passage between the ribs 52.
Accordingly, air is discharged from the nozzle orifices 68 into the flow channels 58 of the venturi flow passage as jets in a direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 3 to impinge on the curved rigid surface 48 upstream of the throat of the venturi passage and below the flexible wall formed by the exposed portion 18 of the bottom sheet overhanging the support 14.
The venturi flow passage is shown in Fig. 4 prior to the introduc-tion of pressurized air from the nozzle member 30 while the gripper lever is at an intermediate location in its oscillatory stroke moving toward the stack of sheets. When the gripper lever is approaching the stack as shown in Fig.
4a, pressurized air is injected into the venturi flow passage formed between the airfoil member 40 and the bottom sheet 20. The flow of air 90 produced in the venturi flow passage creates a static suction pressure at its throat portion spaced from the support 14 and adjacent to the front wall of magazine 16 causing the passage to collapse and the bottom sheet to deflect downwardly from the stack as shown in Fig. 4a. Downward deElection of the flexible bottom sheet is limited by its contact with the ribs 52 to maintain the venturi passage channels open as shown. Once the bottom sheet contacts the ribs at the throat portion of the venturi flow passagel it continues to be deflected into contact with the ribs as shown in Fig. 4b because of the continued inflow from the nozzle orifices 68 below the rib edges 54 as shown in Fig. 3. As the end of a gripper stroke is approached, the jaws 22 and 24 open to receive the deflected portion of the bottom sheet and close to clamp the sheet to the gripper lever.
Movement of the gripper lever is then reversed in direction at the end of $ ,~
the 6troke with the bottom sheet clamped thereto as 6hown in Fig. 4c to withdraw the bottom 6heet from the stack. Flow of air from the nozzle member 30 is interrupted once the bo!tom sheet i6 clamped ~o the gripper lever until the next operational cycle again reaches the phase 6hown in Fig. 4a.
It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a les6 costly, more efficient and reliable sheet separating method and apparatus which avoids the use of mechanically moving parts.
In accordance with the present invention, an airfoil member is fixedly mounted in spaced underlying relation to the exposed portion of the bottom sheet of a stack within a magazine so as to form a venturi flow passage between a rigid airfoil surface and the exposed portion of the bottom sheet. Pressurized air is timely introduced through a nozzle member into the venturi flow passage at one end so that the resulting air flow induces a static suction pressure at the throat portion of the venturi flow passage.
Since one wall of the venturi flow passage is formed by the exposed portion of the flexible bottom sheet, the wall collapse~ under the induced suction pressure to downwardly deflect from the sltack. The bottom sheet when deflected contacts spaced ribs projecting upwardly from the curved surface of the airfoil member forming the opposite rigid wall of the venturi flow passage. The ribs thus limit deflection of the bottom sheet to maintain the venturi flow passage open and divide it into flow channels through which the air flow is directed from spaced discharge orifices of the no~le member onto the rigid airfoil surface upstream of the throat portion. The bottom sheet so deflected is engaged by the jaws of a gripper mechanism entering a recess in the airfoil member at the end of the stroke of the gripper mechanism.
Figure 1 is a par~ial top plan view showing the sheet separating device of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the sheet separating device shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a side section view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 3--3 in Fig. 1.
Figure 4 is a side section view similar to Fig. 3 showing the installed sheet separating device during one phase of an operational cycle of the associated machine.
Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are section views similar to Fig. 4 showing other phases of the operational cycle.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, Fig. 4 illustrates a typical installation for the sheet separating device 10 of the present invention. A vertical stack 12 of flexible paper sheets are gravitationally retained on a fixed bottom suppor~ 14 between front and rear walLs of a maga~ine or hopper 1~. A portion 18 of the botto~ sheet 20 of the stack is exposed and unsupported in spaced overlying relstion to the sheet separating device so that it may be deflected downwardly from the stack into operative alig~uuen. with th~ ja~s 22 and 2* of a gripper mecllanism including a gripper lever 26 pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 28 at a collating station of a "Phillipsburg" type of machine as aforemene~oned.
The bottom sheet 20 i6 thereby withdrawn from stack 12 by the gripper mechanism for deposit onto a collating conveyer (not shown).
Referring now to Figs. l, 2 and 3 in particular, the sheet separat-ing device lO includes a nozzle member 3~ having an upper flange portion 32 rece6sed to receive the forwArd edge portion of bottom support 14 of the magazine to which the flange portion is secured by fasteners 34. A vertical body portion 36 of the nozzle member depends from the flange portion with its upper edge 38 flush with the upper 6urface of the support 14 from which the exposed portion of the bottom sheet extends in overlying relation to an airfoil member 40 of the sheet separating device.
The airfoil member 40 has a depending flange portion 42 ~ecured by fasteners 44 to the body portion 36 of the nozzle member. Both the nozzle and airfoil member~ extend a substantial distance along the ~orward edge ~6 of the magazine support 14 in order to form a relatively wide venturi flow passage between the extended plane of the support 14 and a curved top surface 48 of the airfoil body portion 50 of the airfoil member. A plurality of flow directing ribs 52 project upwardly from the curved surface 48 in parallel spaced relation to each other. The upper edges 54 of the ribs extend from the upper edge 38 of the nozzle member along a rear curvature portion tangent to a forward curvature portion generally parallel to the curvature of the surface 48 when the airfoil and nozzle members are assembled as more clearly seen in Fig. 3. The curved surface 48 also extends forwardly from an exposed face 56 of the nozzle body portion and forms a rigid bottom wall of the venturi flow passage that is smooth throughout as shown. rl`his venturi flow passage is divided into flow channels 58 between the ribs 52. A
recess 60 is centrally formed between the ends of the airfoil body portion 50 to receive the jaws 22 and 24 of the gripper lever at the end of its oscillatory stroke a~ shown in Fig. 4b.
r3 Tne nozzle body portion 36, as more clearly seen in Fig. 3, includes an intake manifold 62 to which pressurized air is conducted by conduits 64 from any suitable source in timed relation to the oscillatory stroke of the gripper lever 26. A plurality of passage6 66 interconnect the manifold with air discharge orifices 68 on the face 56 of the nozzle body portion at one end of the venturi flow passage between the ribs 52.
Accordingly, air is discharged from the nozzle orifices 68 into the flow channels 58 of the venturi flow passage as jets in a direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 3 to impinge on the curved rigid surface 48 upstream of the throat of the venturi passage and below the flexible wall formed by the exposed portion 18 of the bottom sheet overhanging the support 14.
The venturi flow passage is shown in Fig. 4 prior to the introduc-tion of pressurized air from the nozzle member 30 while the gripper lever is at an intermediate location in its oscillatory stroke moving toward the stack of sheets. When the gripper lever is approaching the stack as shown in Fig.
4a, pressurized air is injected into the venturi flow passage formed between the airfoil member 40 and the bottom sheet 20. The flow of air 90 produced in the venturi flow passage creates a static suction pressure at its throat portion spaced from the support 14 and adjacent to the front wall of magazine 16 causing the passage to collapse and the bottom sheet to deflect downwardly from the stack as shown in Fig. 4a. Downward deElection of the flexible bottom sheet is limited by its contact with the ribs 52 to maintain the venturi passage channels open as shown. Once the bottom sheet contacts the ribs at the throat portion of the venturi flow passagel it continues to be deflected into contact with the ribs as shown in Fig. 4b because of the continued inflow from the nozzle orifices 68 below the rib edges 54 as shown in Fig. 3. As the end of a gripper stroke is approached, the jaws 22 and 24 open to receive the deflected portion of the bottom sheet and close to clamp the sheet to the gripper lever.
Movement of the gripper lever is then reversed in direction at the end of $ ,~
the 6troke with the bottom sheet clamped thereto as 6hown in Fig. 4c to withdraw the bottom 6heet from the stack. Flow of air from the nozzle member 30 is interrupted once the bo!tom sheet i6 clamped ~o the gripper lever until the next operational cycle again reaches the phase 6hown in Fig. 4a.
Claims (6)
1. In combination with a magazine holding a stack of flexible sheets exposing a portion of one of the sheets for separation thereof prior to withdrawal from the stack, the improvement residing in means for deflecting said one of the sheets from the stack, comprising rigid surface means for establishing a venturi flow passage with said one of the sheets externally of the stack, means for introducing fluid under pressure into the venturi flow passage causing deflection of the one of the sheets from the stack toward the rigid surface means, and flow directing means projecting from the rigid surface means for dividing the venturi flow passage into separate flow channels.
2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said projecting means comprises ribs limiting said deflection of the one of the sheets toward the rigid surface means.
3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said magazine includes spaced walls between which the stack is confined, said rigid surface means comprising a member having a curved surface, and means mounting the member in operative relation to the magazine with the curved surface spaced below the exposed portion of the sheet, the venturi flow passage being formed between the exposed portion of the sheet and the curved surface and having a throat region underlying the stack adjacent to said one of the walls of the magazine.
4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said fluid is introduced into said venturi flow passage in a discharge direction impinging the rigid surface means upstream of a throat region to induce a reduction in ambient static pressure externally of the stack along an unsupported portion of the stack causing deflection of said one of the sheets from the stack.
5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said magazine forms a bottom support on which the stack of sheets is gravitationally retained, said one of the sheets forming the bottom of the stack.
6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said flow directing means includes a plurality of spaced ribs projecting from the rigid surface means toward the stack.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000484323A CA1245680A (en) | 1985-06-18 | 1985-06-18 | Paper sheet separator |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000484323A CA1245680A (en) | 1985-06-18 | 1985-06-18 | Paper sheet separator |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1245680A true CA1245680A (en) | 1988-11-29 |
Family
ID=4130736
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000484323A Expired CA1245680A (en) | 1985-06-18 | 1985-06-18 | Paper sheet separator |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1245680A (en) |
-
1985
- 1985-06-18 CA CA000484323A patent/CA1245680A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |