GB968178A - Air operated separator for stacked textile work pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

968,178. Feeding sheets and flat articles. SINGER CO. July 19, 1963 [July 30, 1962], No. 28583/63. Heading B6B. Apparatus for individually feeding textile workpieces W, Fig. 1, comprises a pneumatic cylinder and piston 8, 7 to support a stack 3 of the workpieces W, an aerofoil 19 mounted pivotally on a pair of air tubes 18 integral with a hollow rotatable shaft 17, the air being blown along the bottom surface of the aerofoil 19, Fig. 2, to separate the uppermost workpiece from the stack and the aerofoil being pivoted pneumatically by a cylinder 28 from a workpiece engaging position, Fig. 2, to a raised position at which the leading edge of the workpieee is presented to a separator wheel and tongue 36 and 39, respectively. Pile tables and supports for sheets.-In operation a timer 59, Fig. 1, actuates firstly a valve 55 of a low pressure compressed air supply to admit air through a tube 11 to the cylinder 8, thereby displacing upwardly a piston-rod 7 supporting a platform 6 with a stack 3 of workpieces W which are clamped against a bar 16. During an operating cycle or at the end of it the platform is lowered by admission of air through the tube 10. Sheet separating; sheet guides and smoothers.-Following raising of the platform a valve 53 of a high pressure compressed air is actuated to admit air through tubes 22, shaft 17 and tubes 18, which is discharged along the undersurface of the aerofoil 19 and upper surface of the workpiece W, in the direction of the arrow C, Fig. 2, causing the leading edge thereof to rise and the upper surface adhere to the curved end portion 21 of the aerofoil 19. Next, a low-pressure valve 56 is opened to admit air through a tube 29 to lower a piston-rod 27, Fig. 1, of a cylinder 28 so as to rotate the shaft 17 and pivot the aerofoil 19 from the workpiece engaging position to a raised position, whereby the aerofoil engages a bottom wall 32 of a guide 31, while the leading edge of the workpiece W, is directed into the space between the top and bottom walls 33, 32 of the guide 31, whereupon the air discharging from the tubes is stopped and the leading portion of the workpiece overlies the bottom wall 32 and a separator wheel 36. Next, the timer closes the valve 55, and opens valve 54 to admit air through tube 10 to the cylinder 8 to lower the platform 6 and release the workpiece from the clamp bar 16. Simultaneously, if high-pressure compressed air valves 52, 58 are opened to admit air to a nozzle 48 discharging air, Fig. 4, to separate the uppermost workpiece from the underlying workpiece and to operate a lever 42 through tube 47, piston 45 and rod 44 to lower a finger 39 to bias the leading portion of the working- piece W against the wheel 36, which pulls the workpiece from the stack and discharges it through the guide 31. Specification 931,046 is referred to.