EP0654431B1 - Apparatus for converting a sheet material feeder - Google Patents
Apparatus for converting a sheet material feeder Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0654431B1 EP0654431B1 EP19930118889 EP93118889A EP0654431B1 EP 0654431 B1 EP0654431 B1 EP 0654431B1 EP 19930118889 EP19930118889 EP 19930118889 EP 93118889 A EP93118889 A EP 93118889A EP 0654431 B1 EP0654431 B1 EP 0654431B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- sheet material
- feed drum
- feeder
- drum
- sections
- 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 - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
- B65H1/02—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles on edge
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
- B65H1/04—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile
- B65H1/06—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile for separation from bottom of pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
- B65H3/0808—Suction grippers
- B65H3/085—Suction grippers separating from the bottom of pile
- B65H3/0858—Suction grippers separating from the bottom of pile this action resulting merely in a curvature of each article being separated
- B65H3/0875—Suction grippers separating from the bottom of pile this action resulting merely in a curvature of each article being separated the final separation being performed by mechanical grippers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an apparatus for converting a collator conveyor sheet material feeder which receives signatures in an on-edge orientation to a collator conveyor sheet material feeder which receives signatures in a lying-down orientation.
- a known collator conveyor sheet material feeder has a hopper which holds sheet material in an on-edge orientation in which side surfaces of the sheet material are generally vertical.
- the sheet material is engaged by a rotatable feed drum.
- a transfer drum and an opener drum receive sheet material from the feed drum and open the sheet material.
- the opened sheet material is deposited on a saddle type conveyor.
- a known apparatus having this construction is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,180,255 issued December 25, 1979 and entitled Wiper System Inserter, which document represents the closest prior art.
- the present invention provides an improved collator conveyor sheet material feeder.
- the apparatus according to claim 1 converts the feeder from one which receives sheet material in an on-edge orientation to a feeder which receives sheet material in a lying-down orientation. It is contemplated that the apparatus may be utilized as a unit which is retrofitted to convert existing sheet material feeders.
- the apparatus for converting a collator sheet material feeder includes a pair of parallel side sections. Fasteners are provided to secure the side sections of the apparatus to side sections of the collator conveyor sheet material feeder.
- the converter apparatus includes a single sheet material feed drum which is disposed between and connected with the side sections. The single sheet material feed drum is the only sheet material feed drum disposed between the side sections of the converter apparatus.
- a known collator conveyor sheet material feeder 10 (Fig. 1) is utilized to feed sheet material onto a saddle conveyor 12.
- the feeder 10 includes a hopper 14 which is loaded with sheet material articles 16.
- the articles 16 are in an on-edge orientation in which side surfaces of the sheet material articles are generally vertical.
- a rotatable feed drum 20 has grippers 22 which engage folded lower edge portions of the sheet material articles 16.
- the feed drum 20 rotates in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1) and sequentially moves a folded leading edge portion of a sheet material article into engagement with a stop 24.
- the trailing edge portion of the sheet material article is then engaged by a transfer drum 28.
- the transfer drum 28 rotates in a clockwise direction and has grippers which engage the trailing edge portion of the sheet material article.
- An opener drum 32 cooperates with the transfer drum 28 to open the sheet material article in a known manner and deposit the sheet material article onto a saddle conveyor 12.
- the construction of the sheet material feeder 10 is the same as is disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 4,180,255. However, it should be understood that the feeder 10 could have other known constructions. It should also be understood that although the on-edge sheet material articles are moved to the feed drum 20 from the hopper 14, the sheet material articles could be fed to the feed drum from a conveyor apparatus similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,973,038.
- a converter assembly 40 (Fig. 2) constructed in accordance with the present invention, is used to convert the collator conveyor sheet material feeder 10 to a feeder which feeds sheet material 16 from a lying-down orientation in which side surfaces of the sheet material are generally horizontal.
- the converter assembly 40 includes a feed tray 44.
- the feed tray 44 includes a support plate 46 having a flat upwardly facing side surface 48. Although the upwardly facing side surface 48 of the support plate 46 has a slight downward slope, the side surface is considered as being generally horizontal. Sheet material articles are received on the plate 46 with side surfaces of the sheet material horizontal and folded edge portions of the sheet material toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2.
- the sheet material may be fed directly into the feed tray 44 by a loader conveyor assembly similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,904,191 or may be manually loaded into the feed tray.
- the feed tray 44 has a pair of side guides 52 and 54 (Fig. 4) which extend upwardly from the plate 46.
- a rear guide 58 has a registration surface 60.
- a guide surface 64 slopes forwardly (toward the right as viewed in Fig. 2) and downwardly to the generally vertical registration surface 60. The sloping guide surface 64 cams the trailing edge portions of the sheet material forwardly so that the sheet material is registered by the vertical registration surface 60 on the rear guide 58.
- a hopper loader such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,904,191
- the sheet material articles will be conducted into the feed tray at a location just above the upper edge portion of the rear guide 58.
- the location of the rear guide 58 relative to the support plate 46 can be adjusted to accommodate sheet material articles of different sizes.
- the side guides 52 and 54 can also be adjusted relative to the support plate 46 to accommodate different size sheet material articles.
- the hopper 14 (Fig. 1) is removed from the feeder 10.
- the converter assembly 40 is connected with the feeder 10.
- a single feed drum 66 in the converter assembly 40 is then operable to feed sheet material from a lying-down orientation in the feed tray 44 to the feed drum 20 in the collator conveyor sheet material feeder 10. If it is subsequently desired to utilize the collator conveyor sheet material feeder 10 to feed sheet material in an on-edge orientation, the converter assembly 40 is merely disconnected from the feeder and the hopper 14 reconnected with the feeder.
- the converter assembly 40 includes a plurality of vacuum suckers 70.
- the vacuum suckers 70 When the vacuum suckers 70 are in the initial position shown in Fig. 2, they engage and apply suction to a downwardly facing and generally horizontal side surface of a lowermost sheet material article in the feed tray 44. The suckers 70 are then pivoted downwardly, in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, to pull the folded edge portion of the lowermost sheet material article downwardly to a position in which it can be gripped by the feed drum 66.
- a lift hook 74 is swung in a clockwise direction from a retracted position offset to the right of the position shown in Fig. 2 to the engaged position shown in Fig. 2.
- the lift hook 74 When the lift hook 74 is in the engaged position, it extends between the downwardly deflected leading edge portion of the sheet material article engaged by the suckers 70 and the next succeeding sheet material article in the stack of sheet material articles. This enables the lift hook 74 to partially support the stack of lying-down sheet material articles disposed in the feed tray 44 as the lowermost article is withdrawn from the feed tray.
- a pair of grippers 80 and 82 are provided on the drum 66.
- One of the grippers 80 or 82, for example, the gripper 80 is then closed to grip the downwardly deflected edge portion of the sheet material article.
- a pinch roller 86 is provided in the converter assembly 40 to press the sheet material article against the feed drum 66 as the sheet material article is being moved downwardly toward the feed drum 20.
- a drive assembly 92 (Fig. 3) is provided to drive the components of the collator conveyor sheet material feeder 10 and the converter assembly 40.
- the drive assembly 92 includes a single toothed drive belt 94 which extends around a toothed drive wheel or gear 96.
- the gear 96 is connected with the feed drum 20 in the collator conveyor sheet material feeder 10.
- the belt 94 also extends around a circular toothed wheel or gear 98 in the converter assembly 40.
- the belt 94 engages other drive wheels to drive other components of the feeder 10 and the converter assembly 40.
- the converter assembly 40 includes a pair of side sections 100, 102 (Fig. 4) having parallel major side surfaces 104, 106, 108 and 110.
- the feed drum 66 has a pair of cylindrical sections 114 and 116 (Fig. 4) which are fixedly secured to a shaft 118 which is rotatably supported by the side sections 100 and 102.
- the drive wheel 98 is connected with one end portion of the shaft 118.
- Spacer bars 122, 124 and 126 extend between the side sections 100 and 102 and maintain them in a spaced apart parallel relationship.
- a sucker drive cam 132 rotates with the shaft 118 to raise and lower the suckers 70 in timed relationship with rotation of the feed drum 66.
- a lift hook cam 134 rotates with the shaft 118 to move the lift hook 74 (Fig. 2) between the retracted position in which it is spaced from the feed tray 44 and the engaged position in which it extends beneath a stack of sheet material articles in the feed tray 44.
- the side sections 100 and 102 have flat minor side surfaces 140 and 142 (Fig. 5) which engage flat minor side surfaces of side sections on the collator conveyor sheet material feeder 10.
- the minor side surface 140 of the side section 100 of the converter assembly 40 is disposed in flat abutting engagement with a minor side surface 146 (Fig. 2) on the side section 148 of the collator conveyor sheet material feeder 10.
- Fasteners 150 (Fig. 2) interconnect the side section 100 of the converter assembly 40 and side section 148 of the collator conveyor sheet material feeder 10.
- the fasteners 150 are bolts which extend through holes drilled in the side section 100 of the converter assembly 40 into threaded engagement with tapped holes formed in the side section 148 of the feeder 10. It is contemplated that other types of connections could be utilized if desired. For example, an overlapping plate type of connection could be used.
- the present invention provides an apparatus 40 and method for converting a collator conveyor sheet material feeder 10.
- the converter assembly 40 converts the feeder 10 from one which receives sheet material in an on-edge orientation (Fig. 1) to a feeder which receives sheet material in a lying-down orientation (Fig. 2). It is contemplated that the converter assembly 40 will be utilized as a unit which is retrofitted to convert existing collator sheet material feeders.
- the converter assembly 40 includes a pair of parallel side sections 100 and 102. Fasteners 150 are provided to secure the side sections 100 and 102 of the converter assembly 40 to side sections 148 and 156 of the sheet material feeder.
- the converter assembly 40 includes a single sheet material feed drum 66 which is disposed between and connected with the side sections 100 and 102.
- the single sheet material drum 66 is the only sheet material feed drum disposed between the side sections 100 and 102 of the converter assembly 40.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Feeding Of Articles By Means Other Than Belts Or Rollers (AREA)
- Collation Of Sheets And Webs (AREA)
Description
Claims (6)
- A collator conveyor sheet material feeder (10) which feeds sheet material from a hopper (14) to a saddle conveyor (12) with a feed drum (20), transfer drum (28) and opener drum (32), the sheet material in the hopper being in an on-edge orientation in which side surfaces of the sheet material are generally vertical, said collator conveyor sheet material feeder comprising first and second parallel and spaced apart side sections (148, 156), said collator conveyor sheet material feeder being characterized by replacing the hopper (14) by a converter assembly (40) having first and second side sections (100, 102) being fastened to the said side sections (148, 156) of the collator conveyor sheet material feeder (10) by fastener means (150) a feed tray (44) having a flat upwardly facing horizontal side surface (48) for receiving sheet material articles with side surfaces of the sheet material horizontal and folded edge portions of the sheet material being gripped by, a single sheet material feed drum (66) disposed between and connected with said first and second side sections (100, 102), of the converter assembly and rotatable about an axis extending perpendicular to said major side surfaces of said first and second side sections (100, 102), said single sheet material feed drum (66) being the only sheet material feed drum disposed between said first and second side sections (100, 102) so that the single sheets are transferred from the single sheet material feed drum (66) to the said feed drum (20), and spacer means (122, 124, 126) extending between said first and second side sections (100, 102) of the converter assembly for interconnecting said first and second side sections and maintaining said first and second side sections in a spaced apart and parallel relationship.
- An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including sucker means (70) connected with said first side section (100, 102) for sequentially engaging generally horizontal side surfaces of sheet material and pulling the engaged sheet material downwardly toward said single sheet material feed drum (66).
- An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including pinch roller means (86) connected with said first side section (100) for pressing sheet material against said single sheet material feed drum (66).
- An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said single sheet material feed drum (66) includes a plurality of gripper assemblies (80, 82) for sequentially engaging edge portions of sheet material while major side surface areas of the sheet material are generally horizontal and for moving the sheet material toward the feed drum (20) in the collator conveyor sheet material feeder (10).
- An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including a circular drive member (98) connected with said sheet material feed drum (66) and disposed on a side of said first side section (102) opposite from said sheet material feed drum and belt means (94) interconnecting said circular drive member and the collator conveyor sheet material feeder for transmitting drive force to said circular drive member.
- An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second side sections (100, 102) of the converter assembly each have parallel major side surfaces (104, 106, 108, 110) and at least one minor side surface (140, 142) which extends between said major side surfaces, said fastener means (150) secures said first side section (100) to a side section (148) of the collator conveyor sheet material feeder (10) with said one minor side surface (140) on said first side section (100) in abutting engagement with a minor side surface (146) of one of the side section of the collator conveyor sheet material feeder (10), said fastener means (150) secures said second side section (102) to a side section (156) of the collator conveyor sheet material feeder with said one minor side surface (142) on said second side section (102) in abutting engagement with a minor side surface of one of the side sections of the collator conveyor sheet material feeder.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP19930118889 EP0654431B1 (en) | 1993-11-24 | 1993-11-24 | Apparatus for converting a sheet material feeder |
DE1993623885 DE69323885T2 (en) | 1993-11-24 | 1993-11-24 | Apparatus for converting a sheet feeder |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP19930118889 EP0654431B1 (en) | 1993-11-24 | 1993-11-24 | Apparatus for converting a sheet material feeder |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0654431A1 EP0654431A1 (en) | 1995-05-24 |
EP0654431B1 true EP0654431B1 (en) | 1999-03-10 |
Family
ID=8213438
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19930118889 Expired - Lifetime EP0654431B1 (en) | 1993-11-24 | 1993-11-24 | Apparatus for converting a sheet material feeder |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0654431B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69323885T2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5921546A (en) * | 1997-06-02 | 1999-07-13 | Heidelberg Finishing Systems | Apparatus for decelerating sheet material while maintaining sheet registration |
US10988332B2 (en) * | 2017-08-31 | 2021-04-27 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Processing apparatus and feed unit |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3008706A (en) * | 1956-07-31 | 1961-11-14 | Harris Intertype Corp | Signature collator |
DE1243212B (en) * | 1966-03-17 | 1967-06-29 | Winkler Richard | Device for pulling flat, flexible workpieces into a further processing machine |
CH641112A5 (en) * | 1979-10-17 | 1984-02-15 | Grapha Holding Ag | FEEDER FOR PRINTED SHEET. |
US5026038A (en) * | 1990-05-17 | 1991-06-25 | Mccain Manufacturing Corporation | Signature feeder operable with either flat or standing stacks |
-
1993
- 1993-11-24 DE DE1993623885 patent/DE69323885T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-11-24 EP EP19930118889 patent/EP0654431B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0654431A1 (en) | 1995-05-24 |
DE69323885T2 (en) | 2001-02-22 |
DE69323885D1 (en) | 1999-04-15 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CA1323641C (en) | Method of and apparatus for outfeeding printed products arriving in an imbricated formation | |
US20090250869A1 (en) | Apparatus for aligning sheets through the use of stops disposed on a cylinder | |
DE4343146C2 (en) | Device for separating paper products, for example signatures and newspapers from a stack by means of a rotatably mounted gripper drum | |
US6923119B1 (en) | Sheet transport system for a rotary printing press | |
CA2110614C (en) | Process and apparatus for opening folded printing products | |
US5354043A (en) | Process and device for opening folded print products | |
US4886260A (en) | Method and apparatus for receiving folded printed products from printing machines or the like | |
US5265858A (en) | Apparatus for converting a sheet material feeder from on edge to bottom feed | |
EP0654431B1 (en) | Apparatus for converting a sheet material feeder | |
US6499735B2 (en) | Method and device for separating and transporting sheets of paper | |
EP2133295B1 (en) | Device and method for removing flat print products from a pile and transferring the print products to a running transport device | |
US20060288892A1 (en) | Method and device for transporting sheets to a sheet processing machine | |
CA2274337C (en) | Apparatus for processing flexible, sheet-like products | |
JPH1087090A (en) | Device for loading printing paper sheet to processing area | |
US4180259A (en) | Varying the drop of sheets into a hopper | |
DE3330681A1 (en) | METHOD FOR FAST FEEDING AND TRANSPORTING LEAF-SHAPED PAPER PRODUCTS AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD | |
EP0526946B1 (en) | Device for feeding single sheets or the like to a packaging, labelling or packeting machine | |
CN214934647U (en) | Delivery unit of collating machine | |
US6471205B2 (en) | Device for braking sample and defective sheets of a sheet-processing machine | |
US5921546A (en) | Apparatus for decelerating sheet material while maintaining sheet registration | |
JP2000062999A (en) | Method and apparatus for loading all folded printed paper sheets astride in gathering section | |
JPS61136855A (en) | Article conveyor | |
US4795144A (en) | Sheet material handling apparatus | |
EP0267365A1 (en) | Signature handling apparatus | |
DE102020107837B4 (en) | Sheet processing machine with a sheet separator |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19931211 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB LI |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19960927 |
|
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: HEIDELBERG FINISHING SYSTEMS, INC. |
|
GRAG | Despatch of communication of intention to grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA |
|
GRAG | Despatch of communication of intention to grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA |
|
GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
|
GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
|
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB LI |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 69323885 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 19990415 |
|
ET | Fr: translation filed | ||
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: AEN Free format text: DAS PATENT IST AUFGRUND DES WEITERBEHANDLUNGSANTRAGS VOM 30.06.1999 REAKTIVIERT WORDEN. |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed | ||
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: IF02 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20021021 Year of fee payment: 10 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20021119 Year of fee payment: 10 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CH Payment date: 20021126 Year of fee payment: 10 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20021128 Year of fee payment: 10 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20031124 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20031130 Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20031130 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20040602 |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20031124 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20040730 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST |