US1428324A - Feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

SLCOOPER.

v FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLIQATION men JUNE 29, 1920.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

H (a W S. COOPER.

FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED :unzzs. 1920.

1,428,324, PatentedSept. 5,1922.

II SHEETS-SHEET 2.

S. COOPER.

FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED rum-:29, 1920.

Patented Sept. 5,1922.

ll SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

m W@\ W m w vww AM Q L Y n Ill/I I: x W W r r x r r r r 6 r Q. r k h S. COOPER.

FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1920.

o MM 6. 9 T 1 n 5 & f mw )WN WE K S w sm d 1 HHJH W 1 MN WMN ul WV M m m B QQM m... m\ Mm, ms 5% SLCOOPER.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED J'UNE29, 1920.

S. COOPER.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. 19-20.

Patented Sept. 5-, 1922.

11 SHEETSSHEET 8- S. COOPER. FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION men JUNE 29. 1920.

PatentedSept. 5,192.

l I SHEETS-$11! 9.

s. COOPER. FEEDING MECHANISM.

I XPPLICYATION FILED JUNE g9, 1920. 1,428,324. I PatentedSeptfi, 1922.

r1 SHEETS-SHEET \o.

jizaeizzb 1" W S. COOPER.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 29, I920.

324 Patented Sept. 5,

H SHEETS-4H! I l.

JZQZE UNI-T D45mm' PATENT oer-"ice.

SIMON coornn, or mooxnm, new as's enon. TO sr'EEnAuMArIc com la n? 'A consortrron or DELAVJARE. Q v

i rnnmne mncrmnrsia.

Application filed canoes, 1920. Serial No 392,759.

To all 101 10922, it may concern; 1 a 1 A i 1 Be it known that I, SIMON Coornn, a citi-j zen oft-he United States,v residingatBrooklyn, in the county of, Kings and "State of New York have invented new-and useful Improvements in 1 Feei'ling; Mechanism; 7 of which-the following a; full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference be ngghad to the accompanying drawing, forming a.

part ofthis specification. 1 My invention relatesto HHPI'OVBIDQIN'S in feeding machines and .the:flike,,-which are particularly adapted for the-handling of newspapers, pamphlets, vperiodicals magazines and similar articles, though my 1nvention is not necessarily limited in itsause -to these specific articles. 1

By means ofmy; present invention each article may be handled individually andwde'w livered as such toanotheizsassociatedizm'echanism or machine, such as an addressing andchine, with which a device embodying a conjunction. a

One object of my pmvideia feeding mechanism whereby the feeding-of articles, as individual units n'iay be automatically effected without interruption, the articles being delivered 11] pro);-

iniity to fceding rolls-from asource ,of sup ply that is intermittently drawn LlPOIlmby automaticaneans to supply a iCOllGOlLlOIlJ of such articles adjacent tosaid feeding rolls."

The feeding rolls serve to-automatically; and

independently deliver the articles as individual units from the collection'inimveifliately adjacent to said feeaihng rolls. This collection is replenished with articles from the ,nal source of supply by autoi'natic means cooperating with thefeeding rolls so-as to ensure a steady'and continuous ejectionof articles from my feeding me'chanism toany other machine, such as a mailing machine,

addressing machine, or a'wrapping machine that may be associated with the "feeding mechanism of niy present invention.

My present invention embodies affeeding mechanism that serves to del ver the articles in question to various machines wherein it may be desired orrequired toha'ndle andmanipulate the" articles individually. The feedin rolls incorporated in the I present embodiment of my feeding mechanismare adapted to operate continuously-1nrorderform \oifuny invention may be working "in present invention is to asteadysupply of such articles maybe (BXPGCU hlQUSlY,QJGCtBCl and submitted for subsequent handling without interruption.

The feeding rolls are automatically supplied with the individual articles which are dc vered to them from a collection ofsuch articles that is disposed immediately adjacent to :the feeding rolls. This collection of articles is maintained adequate at all times through the operation of automatic means which replenishes the collection adjacent to the feecing rolls from a large source of Another object of'my invention is to pro- VlClG a machine for automatically feeding newspa iers, periodicals and the like which incorporates a conveyor mechanism" that is intermittently operated ,in accordance with the size of the collection of articles that are subjectto immediate delivery as individual units to the feeding rolls. This conveyor mechanism is capable of handling the articles in-bnll: and ofautomatically deliverthem to a location adjacent to the feeding rolls a a v A further object of my invention is to Provide means in a machine of the character indicated above whereby the articles deliveredby the aforesaid cor eyor-ymecjhanism are automatically stacked or arranged in a suitable pile immediately adjacent to the feeding rolls, the height of this-pile or stack of articles serving to automatically regulate the intermittent operation ofthe said-conveyor mechanism. a I v A. further object of my invention'isto incorporate in a machine of this general type, means for automatically handling as individual units each of the articles COIIlprised in the pile ofarticles immediately adjacent to the feeding rolls, this handling of each article; as separate unit, being "continually effected irrespective of the intermittentdelivery of a plurality of such articles to this pile by the said conveyor mechanism. i

A further ob ect of my lnvent-ron 1s to provide automatic means for tamping the pile or stack of articles immediately adjacent to the feeding rolls in order to maintain the pile in regular order and to preclude disarrangement of the articles comprised therein. This tamping operation is performed by means that does not hinder or oppose the individual handling of each separate article and the subsequent delivery thereof to the feeding rolls.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine possessing the attributes stated above which will be simple and compact in construction, durable, effective and efficient in operation.

To the attainment of the foregoing objects and to the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the mechanism hereinafter more fully described and shown in the accompanying drawings that illustrate a machine embodying a form of my invention, and in which:

Fig. 1, is a side view in elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 1 and shows two successive positions, one in dotted lines and one in full lines, occupied by the members 35 and 39;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation and transversely of the view of Fig. 1 taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; a

Fig. 1 is a view, partially in cross-section and partially in elevation, of the conveyor ilrriechanism taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 5 is a plan View of a portion of the mechanism shown on the right-hand side of the figure illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a side view, partially in section, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 5, the view of F i 6, however, including portions of the mec anism not comprised in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 wherein several of the members are illustrated as occupying other positions which they may assume during the operation of my ma chine;

Fig. 8 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a mechanism incorporated in my machine which is placed in proximity of the stack of articles adjacent to the feeding rolls and serves to preclude more than one article being raised at a time for delivery to the feeding rolls;

Fig. 9 is a transverse view taken along the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, taken along the line 77 of big. 5;

Fig. 11 1s a cross-sectional view showing Fig. 14 is a View similar to Fig. 13, showing the pneumatic control mechanism of Fig. 13 in a different position;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line 15-15 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the arrangement of parts by means of which the grippm finger 102 of Figs. 6 and 7 is operate Fig. 17 is a View in elevation taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to that in Fig. 17 showing the elements comprised in Fig. 17 as occupying changed positions;

Fig. 19 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, taken along the line lei-14 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1515 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged View in elevation of a portion of the driving mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 22 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, taken along the line 2222 of Fig. 21; and

Figs. 23, 24 and 25 are views taken along the line 2323 of Fig. 22 and showing three different positions of the elements comprising the automatic means for actuating the conveyor mechanism embodied in my machine.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, a machine embodying a form of my invention is mounted upon a base or bed plate 25 and comprises two forward spaced side frames 26 which are bolted to the bed plate 25 and upon which a horizontal table 27 is mounted. A central supporting frame 28 and a rear supporting frame 29 likewise serve to mount and to firmly hold the table 27 in a fixed horizontal position.

The articles to be operated upon by my machine, which may be newspapers, sheets of papers, magazines, etc., represented at 73 in Figs. 6 and 7, are disposed upon the upper surface of the table 27 and in contact with transversely spaced conveyor chains 42 that travel in channels 43 which are cut longitudinally in the upper face of the table 27.

First, I will describe the mechanism for delivering the articles 73 to the portion of my machine where each article may be handled separately and automatically.

1 ,aeaeea A forward supporting bracket 30 and a rear supporting bracket 31 of Fig. l are positioned vertically on the same side of the table 27, as shown best. in Fig. 3. The brackets 30 and 31 provide bushings in which shafts 32 are journalled, each of said brackets supporting at its top and bottom the bushings for the said shafts. These four shafts 32 are disposed at he corners of a rectangle, such as is shown best in l Each shaft 32 extends through, and projects on both sides from, its associated bushingwhich is formed therein. Two sprocket wheels 33 are severally secured to the two projecting ends of each shaft 32, the inner group of sprocket wheels 33 lying in substantially the same vertical plane and likewise the outer group of sprocket wheels 33.

It will thus be observed that two groups of sprocket wheels 33 lie in two spaced parallel and vertical planes, as shown in Fig. 3, while the sprocket wheels of each group are similarly placed at the corners of a rectangle as shown in Fig. 2.. Two endless saroeket chains 34severally engage the perlpheries of the two groups of sproclitet wheels 33 thus forming two transversely spaced andparallel endless conveyor chains that travel around the peripheries of the two similar rectangles mentioned above.

The sprocket chains'34 are of the usual form of construction and support at spaced intervals (groups of fingers 35 that are mounted upon horizontal .y projecting shafts 36 which extend. through corresponding links of the two spaced sprocket chains 34 to which the shafts 36 are secured. The shatts 36 extend transversely over the table 27 and have the fingers 35 severally secured thereto, these fingers being spaced equally from one another upon the shafts 36, if desired.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the construction by means of which the links of the two endless chains 34 are retained in spaced relasprocket chains34 and a sleeve 38, through whichthe shaft 36 projects, is placed intermediate and in abutting engagement with the chains 34 therebymaintaining the chains in spaced relation to each other.

vShoes 39 of Figs. 1 and. 4, which are placed exteriorly of, and in contact with, the inner sprocket chain 34 and through which the shafts 36 extend are firmly secured to the shafts by means of pins 39. The shoes 39 are :idapted to slidingl the upper surfaces of; a horizontal angle iron member 44 which extends longitudinally of the table 27, as shown in Fig. 1. The angle iron-44is bolted to a side frame 45 that likewise ex- .tendslongitudinally of the table 27. The

side frame 45 is secured to the bracket supports 30and 31 by means of screw 46. The n-ojecting ends of theshafts 36adjacent to the shoes 39 extend transversely over the table 27 and to these portions of the shafts the fingers 35 are secured by any suitable means. The other ends of the shafts 36 which project through the outer sprocket chain 34 are likewise severally provided with shoes 40 that are firmly secured to the shafts 36 by means of pins The upper faces of the shoes 40 slidingly the under surface of a horizontal member 7 that entends longitudinally of the table 27 and is bolted to the brackets 30 and 31 by means of bolts 48. it will thus be observed that each of the shafts when travelling along the lower sides of the rectangles formed by the two endless sprocket chains 34, is maintained in a horizontal. position by reason of the ,engn ilent of he shoes 39 and 40 with the horizontal retaining members 44 and 47.

When'the fingers 35 occupy their lowest position, that is, when they are travelling along the lower sides of the rectangular configurat ons in which the two sprocket chains 34 are arranged, these fingers may be subjected to severe mechanical strains resulting from the weight of the articles 73 which the fingers 35 are adapted to engage and which are located upon the table 27 in order to be conveyed to the feeding mechanism of my machine. As will be hereinafter explained, the articles '73 which are delivered to the feeding mechanism of my machine are transferred thereto by means the lingers 35. Each of the shafts 36, therefore, when serving to deliver articles to the feeding mechanism, as hereinafter explained, will tend to become displaced from its horizontal position. but this is precluded since each of the shafts 36 is ful crumed on the angle iron 44 and restrained from movement out of its horizontal position by reason of the sliding engagement l ietween the shoe 40 and the member 47.

Each of the shafts 36 is rotatably mounted in the links comprising the chains 34 and the shoes 39 and 40 are firmly secured to the shafts 36. Likewise the fingers 35 are secured to the shafts 36. i

The shafts 36 are maintained in horizontal positions even when they are travelling along the two cues and the upper side of the rectangles formeiil by the endless sprocket chains 34. Two vertical angle irons 56 of p of the rectangle formed by the inner rocket chain 46 is slidingly engaged by the shoes 39 on its upper face. The horizontal angle iron 49 extends longitudinally of the table 27 and is bolted to the supporting brackets 30 and 31. A longitudinally extending member 50 also bolted to the supporting brackets 30 and 31 is slidingly engaged by the shoes 40 that are secured to the outer sprocket chain 3s. When the shafts are travelling along on the upper sides oi the rectangles they are maintained in their horizontal positions by means of the shoes 39 being tulcrumed on the upper face of the angle irons l9 and restrained from rocking movement by means of the shoes 40 being held by the member 50. T he brackets of serve to support the framework comprising the rectangles around which the two endless sprocket chains 34- travel and these brackets 51 are bolted to the supporting brackets 30 and 31 by means of bolts 52. Bracket-s 53, shown in Fig. 3, likewise serve to support the members comprising the rectangles and particularly the longitudinally extending and horizontal member 50 with which the shoes 40 slidingly engage as the two sprocket chains 3% travel along the peripheries of the rectangles.

A compression rod extends longitudinally oi" the 27 and connects the upper ends the supporting brackets 30 and Eli in order to maintain the rectangles rigid.

As the fingers 35 advance, the articles 73 that are to be delivered. to the feeding niechanism, it is necessary that the fingers 35. upon being released from contact with the articles, disengage therefrom in such a manner that the fingers will not tear or mutilate the articles. By referring to Fig. it will be seen how this is accomplished. As the shoe 39 disengages "from the angle iron 44 at the corner oi the rectangle, the weight of tl'. fingers 35, that are secured to the same sha 36 whereto the shoe 39 is secured, will cause the shoe to assume a new position by reason oil the fingers falling into substantially vertical positions as a result of gravity action. As a consequence, the lingers 35 will project downwardly when the shoe 39 disengages from the angle iron ll. At the same time, the shoe 39 is traveling around the sprocket wheel 33 which is disposed at the same corner of the rectangle. When the fingers are pointing vertically downward they will have no tendency to mutilate or disturb the articles which they have conveyed and subsequently released.

As the chain ii-l; travels upwardly, the shoe 39 will abut against the end 57 of the angle iron 56 that is vertically located at the end oi? the rectangle. is the shoe 89 engages the end 57, as shown by the dotted lines 01 Fig. 2, the shaft 36 to which the shoe 35) is secured will be rotated as the chain at 1 ,aeasaa ccn 'iues travel upwardly. Consequently, the ers 35 will be forced to such a posi tion that they will extend laterally and up \rardly from the end of the rectangle as shown in Fig. 1. Since the relative positions of tie s 39 and the fingers 35 are fired, after initial adjustment, the fingers 35 occup i such positions relative to the shoes 39, that the figers may readily engage with articles 73 located at the far end of the table as the chains Set, on their travel around the periphery of the rectangles bring the rs successively into contact with the articles be delivered to the teedingmechanism.

its hereinafter to be explained the travel the endless chains is brought about by s of a sprocket chain 168 of Fig. 3 that e: ges a sprocket wheel 168 which is mounted on the end of the shaft 32 upon which those sprocket wheels 33 closely adjacent to the feeding mechanism of my machine are located.

iiil'tcr the papers, magazines or other artis 73 have been delivered to the fore part oi the machine by the feeding fingers 35 and the conveyor chains 42, the articles 73 will engpged by two spaced-Joggers 58 (Fig. 5; as siown in r igs. 6 and It is, or course, understood that the conveyor chains 42 work in conjunction with the traveling fingers 35, as will later appear, in order that the articles "2'3 may be carried into proximity to the space provided by the walls 45 and partitions $5. The joggers 58 periodically tamp the upper exposed edges of the articles 73 thereby forcing the articles to arrange themselves into stacks that engage steps 59 which extend transversely of the table 27 and are secured thereto by means of screws 60.

The jogger-s act in unison and have imted to them an up-and-down or tampi motion by reason of their being connected to the cam mechanism illustrated in Figs. 5, 6. T and i2. Attention is first directed to Fig 12 wherein portion of a jogger lever 5: is shown whereto one of the joggers 58 is attached. The jogger lever 68 receives its 'tampin or up-and-down motion from a cam 61 that mounted upon a rotatable shaft 106 and has a cam guide-way 61 cut therein. A. roller 62 is adapted to travel in the guide-way 61" and serves to impart the proper motion to a cam lever 63, the roller being secured thereto by means of apin (Set. ,The cam lever comprises an extending guiding-rod portion which is embraced by a helical spring element 65. The helical spring element 65, which serves as a compression member, is interposed between the portion of the cam lever 63 that is immediately adjacent to the guiding-rod 65 and a block member 72 that is slidably mounted upon the guiding-rod 65. The block 72 is secured at the outer end of the met ane ide-rod portion by means ofthe nuts 12?. An a'rm 6 6 is pivotally secured: to the block 72'an'd is adapted to' slide therewith "as the block-72 compresses -the spring' fid The arm 66 is secured to a j o'gger'shaft 67 which is journalled in the side frame" 26" and is oscillated about its axisby reason of the motion irn artcd thereto hy the arm 665 as shown in igl The jog-gen arm-cs is bolt ed-to the jogger shaft 67 bymeans of'a bolt 69. The jog i arm fi8, asshown inFi'gs'; 6 and 7, has oltedto its outer extremity a jogger support 69 which is secured thereto by means of a bolt 70. The joggen58 is mounted upon the jogger support 69. and an adjusting bolt 71'; which extendsthrough thejogger armti8 and an a'rcuate slot formed in the jogger support 69 permits the adj ust ing of the relative osit-ionof the joggef1 58 B'y' referring't'o' igif3in' conjunction with Fig. 5 it will be obs'ei'ved that: the jogger-s 58 are mounted at spaced intcrvals upoii the rotatable shaft 67 to which they aresecuredf.

The force imparted? to" the joggers 58' by means of the cam61 ishushioned by'the{com'' pression spring 65 of Fig; 12 spring 65th'erefore protectsthef exposed edges of the articles 73= from being 't'amped too severely by meansof hun -resilient and intense blows that would otherwiseresult from the tamping action of the joggers"58 if t ee-0m pression spring 65 did" not serve to relieve the tamp'ing blows mmundiuy extreme Pr s e f When the articles T3havebeen tamped so that they occupy the positionsillustrated in Figs. 6 and7,"theup,per article 73 isbro'ught into contact with lif ers'f if(Fig. 3) which are spaced transversely ofi thetable 27 and are severally rovided with yafiiliim cup members 75 i V v i such a s rubberfwhich' ensuresah air-tight suction contact between thelift'ers 74' and the articles 73'asthey suceessively reach the upper and exposed positioiiat the top of the stack where each articlqin brought into direct contact with the vacuum-cups? 5.

As willbe hereinafter each of the lifters 74 is a hollow member: and com v tothem throu h a ,cam mechanism which is illustrated'in 5,10 Attention is directed to the structure shown in F1 10 wherein the lifter'M, shown in dotted lines,

pi iel ae me fi e e ei lif r e v umip m mb s are preferably made of a flexible material,

74 attains its lowest position: when i a; cana roller 85 occupies a; position at: the .center of the cusp formedin a cam-way 84 with which the-cam 83is' provided. Thecam 83 is-rotatably mounted upon the shaft 106. The cam roller 85' is attached by means of a pin" 85" toa cam-lever186and, in conjunction withthecam-Way 84, serves'to impart a n oscillating motionto'the cam-lever 86} The cam lever 86 is provided with a cam-lever rod 88 having a"shoul'der 87 formed thereupjon: Extending from the shoulder 87 is-a 'guide-rod 88- which extends; through an opening'formed'in a pin 89 (Figs. 5 and 11). A compressionspring- 101: embraces the outer projecting end' of the guide-rod 88' and is held in position and in compression by means of nuts 101="that are threaded to the extreme end of the guide-rodSSk The pin 89'is fiPmlYSBCHIGd'tO a rocker arm 90which is rotated by means of the motion imparted thereto by the rocking action of the camlever 86. As illustrated in Fig 11,'the'rocl er arm is keyed to a rotatable tuhular member 91 by means ofa lrey9f6l the tubular member 91 extending laterally from [the rocker arm 90 as" shown. a c j By reason of the mechanical connection made between the rocker arm 90and tlietu bul'armember 91 through themedium of the key 96, the tubular member 91 is rotated inunison with the rocking'of the rocker arm 90. The tubular iiiemb'e'r 91' projectsthrougli the support 26' into which'it is joiirnalled. A laterally extending tubular. portion 92' is formed on the tubular member 9 1 and to this portion 92 a tubular member is. secured; I V

referring to Figs. 6, 7 andlO it will be noted that the lifters 74 are secured to the tubular extension 97/ is/foreover, the hollow members 74: communicate with the tubular extension 97 which, in turn, communicates through the tubular portion 92 with the tubular member 91, of F ig. 11. Again the lifters 74', by means of their mechanical. connection with the, rocker arm 90,which mechan cal connection is furnished through the foregoing tubular members, move upwardly and downwardly as the rocker armQO is oscillated by the cam 83. The air in the tubular members 97,92 and 91, as well as the air. in the'litters 7;; and the vacuum cups 75 is exhaustedthroiigh apipe 94 WlllCh'lS connected through a valve mechanism, tobe hereinafter described, to any suitable vacuum-pipe. The pump 9 Lis provided with an elbow 94 thatis threaded intoa stationary nonrrotatable ferrule, 95 whichj inturn, is

socketed in the tubular member 91 as shown particularly in Fig. 11. A suitable packing 98 which is heldin position by means of a collar 99that is secured to the rocker arm 90 by means of screws 100, serves to maintain an airtight connection between the stationary pipe 94, the stationary ferrule95 and the rotatable tubular member 91. r

The lifters 74 whichv simultaneously engage the topmostarticle 7 3 at several spaced points serve to lift the article 73 as shown in Fig. 7 so that it may be delivered to feeder rollers 104. When the topmost article has been brought to a proper position by the lifters 74 the outer edge of the lifted article 73 is grasped between a finger 102 and a cushion member 103. both. of which are mounted upon the rotatable feeder roller 104. As soon as the article 73 has been grasped by the finger 102 itis necessary that the lifters 74 release the articles 73. This re lease is effected by admitting air into the lifters 74 which air is admitted through the pipe 94 and the tubular members associated therewith. It will be seen, therefore, that the lifters 74 should engage the topmost article 73 at the proper time, lift it upwardly and then release it in a suitable time interval thereafter. The mechanism by-which the lifters 74 are alternately evacuated ant supplied with air, in proper sequence and at the proper time intervals, is illustrated in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 to which'attention is now directed.

y A cam 107 that is keyed to shaft 113 (Fig. 3) is provided with a cam-way 107 that is traversed by a roller 121. The roller 121 is connected by a pin 122 to a regulating; plate 108. The regulating plate 108 is previded with a laterally-formed recess or chamher 109 which is adapted to bridge either a chamber 110 and a chamber 111 simultaneously in order to establish communication therebetween, .or to bridge the chamber 110 and a chamber 114 simultaneously for the same purpose. The chambers 110. 111 and 114 are formed in a block member 112 that is secured by means of bolts 11.2 to a portion of the, support 26. The chambers 110. 111 and 114 do not communicate -with one another except through .the agenc, of the chamber 109. The chamber 110 communicates directly with the pipe 94 which. in turn. is connected to all of the vacuum cup lifters 74. The chamber 111 is connected to a pipe 93 that extends to a vacuum pump or any other suitable evacuating mechanism. The chamber 114 is provided witha port hole 115 which communicates with the outer air. Theregulating; plate 1.08 is pivoted to a stub shaft 116 that extends through the frame 26 and'issccured thereto by means of nut 117. A. compression'sprinp; 118 is interposed between the regulating plate 108 and a collar 119 which is secured to the end of the stub shaft 116 by ascrew Thus the spring- 1-18 serves to p: ss the regulating plate against the ail'iacent and coactinu face of the block member- 112 thereby ensuring .a her metically sealed. sliding contact between the blockmember 112 and the adjacent face of the regulating plate 108. When the regu lating plate. 108'occupies the position shown in Figs; 13 and 15, the chambers 110 and 111 are in direct communication with each other through the chamber 109. As a consequence, the pipe and its associated. members are being evacuated through the pipe 93. "The cam 107 is so timed that when th lifters 7.4 are in con-tact with the topmost article '73, the regulating plate 108 occupies theposition shown in F ig. 13, thereby causinc; the lifters74 and their associate vacuum cups to beevacuated so as to hold the engaged article 73 in close contact with the lifters in order to deliver the articleto the feeding-rolls. ,VVhen the lifters 74 occupy the position as shown in Fig. 6 the regulating plate 108 .occupies the position shown in 13. After the engaged article 73 0 has been lifted up and fed to the feed rollers .104, the lifters 74 arepermitted to disengage from the article 73 by reason of the regulating plate 108 having. by this time, assumed the position shownin Fig. 14. In this instance. the chamber 109 formed in the regulating plate 108 affords direct commnnication betweenthe chambers 114 and 110. The. evacuating pipe 93 havingthus been disconnected from the pipe 94, which is now in direct communication with the outer air through the port hole 115, permits the lift crs 74 to disengagefrom the lifted article 7,3.

In order to preclude more than one article 751 being raised at the same time by the lifters 174, a separating knife75" of Figs. 8 and. 9 is provided. Referring to these figures, it will be observed that the separating knife 75" is mounted :upon a bracket 76 which is pivotally secured by means of a bolt '78 to a support 77 that in turn. is bolted to the side wall 4:1 by means of a bolt79. The elevation of theseparatingknife 7,5 may be adjusted by means of the bolt 7 9. The spring); secured. to a support 81 exerts a clownward pressure upon thepivoted arm 76 and thus restrains the separating knife 75"? from moving horizontally unless the arm 76 is moved manually. The support 81 is likewise secured to the side frame 45 by means of screws The articles 73,, as hereinbefore explained. are tainped by means of the joggers 58910 that they are brought into contact with the stops The level at which the stack of articles'73 is maintained is controlled. as will, be explained below. As the articles 73 are lifted from the stack in which they are comprised, the separating knife 7 5" scrapes on the exp'osededgre of the articles and thus precludes more than one article 78 being deliveredat the same time.

"When the lifters'z'l haveenga ged the article at'the top of' the stack and raised it to the proper position an edge of the article 73 is grasped between a finger102 and a cushion further rotation of the feed rollers 104 will assume the position shown by the dotted line 102 of 7. i l guide-way 141 permi the article 78 to slide from the feed rol and will direct the movement of the delivered articles as desired.

Referring now to Fi 6, T and 21 the feed rollers 140 are mounted upon a rotatab e shaft Fig. the ends of which are journallcd in floating bearing blocks 143 that are permitted to move upwardly and downwardly by reason o guide-ways cut therein which are slidi engaged by projcctions 144 which are integrally formed on the frame The bearing" locks .43 ea:- tend through openings formed in the frame 26 and are retained in position by means of the aforesaid projections 144.

Compression springs 145 are inserted be tween the bearing; blocks 143 and surfaces 146 which form the bottom of the openings in the frame 26 that contain the bearing blocks 143. The pressures exerted by the springs 145 firmly compress the rollers 149 against the serrated surfaces 139 of the feed rollers 104 thereby ensuring that the articles 73 as they pass through the feed rollers, will be firmly gripped. T he pressures exerted by the springs 145 upon the floating bearing blocks 143 may be regulated by means of bolts 147 and lock-nuts 148, said bolts engaging the bearing blocks 143 and extending through the frame 26.

From the foregoing description of the method of delivering the articles 7 3 severally to the feed rollers 104 and 140, it will be apparent that the articles could not be delivered at a sufficiently high rate to require the continuous operation of the conveyor chains 42 and the delivery fingers 35 of Figs. 1 and 3. In the present instance I have. therefore, provided means for intermittently operating,- the conveyor chains 42 and the delivery fingers 35 in order that a proper supply of articles 73 may be delivered to the lifters 74. The operation of the conveyor chains 42 and the delivery ting'ers 35 is regulated by the height of the stack comprising; the articles 73 that rests against the stops 59 of Figs. 6 and 7. In Fig. 6, a finger 149 secured to a rotatable shaft 150 by means of a bolt 151 engages the top of the stack of articles 73 and the finger 149 is the instrument by means of which 1 control the intermittent operation of the conveyor or delivery mechanism to the articles 73 to the stops 59.

Since the finger 149 engages the top of the stack of articles 7 it is obvious that the finger 149 must be lifted upwardly to release the topmost article 7 3 as it is engaged and raised by the lifters 74. In order to lift the finger 149 at the proper time so that the topmost article may be firmly grasped without opposition by the lifters 7 4, the finger 149 is actuated by the jogger cam 61, as shown in Fig. 12. In this figure it will. be observed that the shaft 150 to which the finger 149 is firmly secured is rotated by means of an arm 155 that is secured at its upper end to a block 154 (Fig. 5) by means of a stud 156 and a nut 157. The block 154 is slidingly mounted upon an extension 152 formed on the rod 152 that is connected to the cam lever 63 by means of a bolt 153. The block 154 abuts against a shoulder 159 formed on the rod 152 and a spring 158 cmbraces the extension 152 and controls the pressure exerted by the finger 149 from the stack of articles 7 3. The spring 158 will be compressed when the height of the stack of articles 78 is such that the finger 149 cannot travel freely the full distance downwardly as the cam 61 rotates. When the lifters 74 engage the topmost article 73 and raise it upwardly the finger 149 will be actuated by the jogger cam 61, as explained above, and will be raised at the proper time so that movement of the topmost article 7 3 will not be hindered. The actuation of the finger 149 is ensured by reason of the positive engagement between the shoulder 159 formed on the rod 152 and the slidable block 154 that is firmly pressed thereagainst.

When the level of the stack of articles 78 falls below a certain predetermined height the finger 149, by reason of its movement downwardly as the stack decreases, will cause a tripping finger 160, shown in Fig. 21, to engage a projection 161 formed on a latch 162. The finger 149 is firmly secured to the shaft 150 which extends through the frame 26 and on the outer end of which the tripping finger 160 is secured. The latch 162 is secured to a stub shaft 163 which likewise projects laterally from the frame 26. Then the projection 161 is sufficiently depressed by the tripping finger 160, the latch 162 will disengage itself from a projection 164 that is formed on a cam member 184, as will hereinafter appear. A tension spring element 169, having one of its ends secured to the frame 26 and the other embracing a pin 190 that extends laterally from the projection 164 to which the pin is secured, will pull the projection 164 downwardly as it is released by the latch 162. Since the pro jection 164 is a part of a cam 184 that is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 167, the cam 184 will be rotated by the action of the spring 169. When the cam 184 is moved by the spring 169 by reason of the disengagement of the latch 162 from the projection 164, a pawl 165 will engage a ratchet wheel 166 that is keyed to the shaft 167 as shown in Fig. 23. The pawl 165 has an oscillatory motion imparted to it and, as a consequence, it will engage the teeth on the ratchet wheel 166 in succession thereby rotating the shaft 167 to which sprocket wheels 168 of Figs.

6 and 7 are secured. The sprocket wheels 168 actuate the conveyor chains 42 that serve as a means for delivering the articles 7 8 to the teed rollers 104 and 146.

It will also be observed by referring to the right-hand side of Fig. 8 that a snaift 170 is also rotated by'the shaft 167, the former being provided with a gear 111 that meshes with a gear 172 keyed'on the end of the shaft 167. A sprocket wheel 169 is mounted on the shaft 170 and the chain 168 passes over the sprocket wheel 169 as ,well as the sprocket wheel 168 that is mounted on an extension of the shaft 82 which shaft is located immediately, adjacent to the feeding mechanism. 34 formin the rectangular configuration, shown in ig. 1, are rotated by reason of the sprocket chain 168 and, as a result, the delivery fingers 35 will thus serve to deliver the articles 73 to the feeding mechanism, as hereinbefore explained.

Attention is now directed to Figs. 22, 28, 24 and 25 in connection. with the mechanism illustrated in Fig, 21. The gearwheel 175, as will be hereinafter described, serves to transmit power through a link 179 that is pivotally secured to it by means of a bolt 180. The other end of the link 179 is piv otally secured to a rocker arm 181 by means of a bolt 182. As shown particularly in Fig. 22, the rocker arm 181 is provided with an integral extension 181 to which the pawl 165 is pivotally secured by means of a bolt 188. A compression spring 186 is contained in a recess formed in the extension 181 and serves to press the pawl 165 into p0sitive sliding engagement with the ratchet wheel. 166. As the gear 175 rotates the pawl 165 is given an oscillatory or back-andt'orth motion by reason of the link mechanism comprising the link members 179, 181 and 181.. A roller 185 is placed immediately adjacent to the pawl .165 and is rotatably mounted on the extension 181 so that as the roller 185 is moved the pawl 165 will likewise move. The roller 185 is .so positinned that it is adapted to be engaged by the cam 184. The cam 1184 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 167 as shown in Figs. .18, 24 and 25, by embracing a sleeve 18? that is formed integral with the ratchet wheel 166. The ratchet wheel 166 iskeyed to the shaft 167 by means 01" akey 188 that engages the sleeve 187.

The earn 184, in addition to being provided with the extension 164 is also provided with a projection 184. When the latch 162 is held in engagement with. the projection 164, as shown in Figs. 23 and 24 and which condition obtains when the stack of articles 78 has not tallen below a certain predetermined level, the projection 184 of the cam 184 occupies the position as shown. The pawl 165 in Fig. 24 is disengaged from The sprocket chains the ratchet wheel 166 by reason of the projection 184' of the cam elevating the roller 185 that is secured tothe pawl 165. In this position, the pawl 165 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 166 and. as a consequei'iee,

cannot rotate the shaft 167 which controls the "feeding or the articles 73 to the feed rollers as l iereinbefore described. As the gear wheel 175 cont nues to rotate the pawl 165 will periodically assume the positions shown in .Figs. 23 and 24. While the pawl is shown in engagementwith the ratchet wheel 166 in Fig, 28 the pawl has reached theend of its travel and consequently does jection 164 upwardly, the cam 184 precludes the pawl 1651mm rotating the ratchet wheel 166 as the pawl oscillates back and forth by means of the continued rotatio-nof the gear wheel 175. The mechanism will occ-upy the positions shown in Figs. 23 and 24 as long as the finger 149 has'not fallen to such a level as will cause the latch 162 to be disengaged from the projection 164 formed on the cam 184.

' When the stack of articles 7 3 falls below a certain level, the finger 149 will be substantially depressed and cause the tripping finger 160 to engage the projection 161 secured to the latch 162. Asiaconsequence, the latch 162 will become disengaged from the projection 164. The spring 169 will earn-1e the cam 184 to assume the position shown in Fig.25. ddlhen the cam occupies this position, the ro-ller'185 whichis adapted, when in contact with the cam 184, to hold the pawl 165 from operative engagement with the ratchet wheel 166, permits the pawl 165 to successively engage the several teeth formed on the ratchetwheel 166 and the pawl is given a rotatable oscillatory mo tion through the continuous rotating oi: the

gear Wheel 17 5.

It will be. observed by referring-to Figs. 22 and 25 that the cam 184 is periodically restored to the position indicated in Figs. 23 and 24 by reasonot the continuous rocking of the lever 181 whichisprovided with an integrally formed extension 189 that abuts against the pin 190 securedto the cam extension 164. Asthe lever 181 is rocked the cam 184 will be likewise rocked thereby extending the springelement 169, If the latch. 162 is restored to its normal position by beingreleased from engagement with the rocker finger 160, the latch will then engage the cam projection 164 and hold the cam in the positions shown in Figs. 28 and 24. However, it the latch 162 is still held in disengaged position as a result

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