US2613930A - Sheet registering apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct, 14, 1952 H. T. BACKHOUSE SHEET REGISTERING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed 9, 1949 N Mm wmw N Oct. 14, 1952 H. 1'. BACKHOUSE 2,613,930

SHEET REGISTERING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 9, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 I I l [Ilium W """lllll 66 Tau/04mg Patented st. 14, 1952 SHEET REGISTERING APPARATUS Headley Townsend Backhouse, Sunningdale, England Application November 9, 1949, Serial No. 126;.264 In Great Britain November 12, 1948 6 Claims.

The invention relates to sheet registering apparatus of the kind which may constitute part of a printing machine or part of a machine for separating sheets from a pile and which embodies a lay-board or front plate on to which sheets of paper card or the like are fed in a continuous stream of partly overlapping sheets and means for engaging the front edge and,.it may be, also the side edge of each sheet in turn,.to effect registration thereof andfrom which board or plate the sheets are transferred individually after registration to a printing or other machine operating on single sheets.

It is desirable in apparatus of the above kind, and with a view to reducing the interval between the removal of successive sheets with, in the case of a rotary printing machine, a corresponding reduction in the ineffective parts of the circumference of the cylinder to which the sheets are transferred, to effect the registration of each sheet during the removal of the preceding sheet from the lay-board and it is known for this purpose to provide front and side registering devices operating beneath the sheet being removed, the sheets being supplied to the lay-board in partly overlapped relation. In order that devices operating in this way may be effective it is necessary to ensure that thesucceeding sheet does not adhere to the sheet being removed and is not carried into the printing or other machine with the latter sheet.

In my prior applications Ser. Nos. 62,249 and 62,251, .both filed on November 26, 1948, I have described a .scraper device constituting simple means for engaging the leading edge of each sheet as it approaches the registering position and to separate that edge from the overlying sheet being removed. The scraper device described in these earlier specifications may also serve as a smoother for the sheets at the front lays.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an even more efiective means for separatingthe front edge of each sheet from the overlying sheet.

With the above object in view the invention provides sheet registering apparatus of the-kind described above which has a scraper device arranged to move against the direction of the flow of sheets while scraping the undersurface of the sheet being removed and in such timed relation with the feeding of the sheets that the-device will meet and engage the front edge of a succeeding sheet as it approaches the registering position, the scraper device being arranged to engage said front edge to separate the edge from the overlyingsheet, and which apparatus also has the feature that the scraper device incorporates an air-nozzle arranged to direct a blast of air between the upper surface of the front portion of each succeeding sheet as it approaches the'front lay position and the under surface of each overlying sheet being removed. I

In one form of the apparatus accordingtdthe invention the scraper device consists of a memher having two arms at "an angle and p-ivotally supported about the free end of one of the arms (herein referred to as the support arm) below the layboard for oscillation about an axisparallel to the leading edge of the sheet to be engaged from a position in which the other arm (herein referred to as the scraper arm) extends upward- 1y towards'the underside of the sheet being removed to a position in which the scraper arm lies above and in a plane substantially parallel to the front portion of the succeeding sheet, the movement of the device as aforesaid being in a direction against the movement of the sheets and being followed by a return movement to the initial position, and means are included in the apparatus for oscillating the scraper device as aforesaid and in such timed relation with the feeding of the sheets that the free end of the scraper arm scrapes the underside of the sheet being removed as the next sheet approaches'the lays and the scraper arm reaches the limit of its movement as, or just before, the sheet reaches the lays.

It is preferred that in the form of the apparatus just defined, the air nozzle is located on the support arm adjacent the scraper-arm'an'd is arranged to direct a blast of air in the direction of the scraper arm and on the underside thereof.

One specific construction of sheet registering apparatus according to the invention and incorporated in a sheet feeding machine will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective'diagrammatic View of the feeding machine and also shows parts'of'an associated sheet separator and of a printing machine;

Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a view in the direction IIIIIIin Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a rear view of the apparatus;

Figure 5 is a plan of the apparatus;

Figure 6 is an under plan of the apparatus;

Figure 7 is-a section on the line VII-VIIi Figure 4; and

Figure 8 is a view corresponding to Figure of a modified form of the apparatus.

The feeding machine comprises conveyer tapes I driven from a roller 2 and arranged to convey sheets delivered from a pile 3 by suckers indicated at 4 over a table 5 to a layboard 6. The suckers l form part of a sheet separating machine which is of well known construction and is in accordance with British Patent No. 427,041, dated October 26, 1933.

The sheets are conveyed by the tapes in the form of a continuous stream l of partly overlapping sheets. Below the front end of the layboard there is a cross-shaft ill on which there are secured a number of scraper devices I I. The

machine and the scraper devices are constructed and arranged for operation in the manner described in my previously mentioned patent application Ser. No. 62,251, with the following important modification formingthe subject of the present invention and the addition of a detecting device forming the subject of my co-pending patent application Ser. No. 126,268, filed November 9, 1949.

The modification consists in the provision of air nozzles in the arm Ila of the several scraper devices H. These nozzles are in the form of two small holes which communicate through passageways 2| with the interior of shaft In which is tubular and which is, in use, connected to a source of compressed air.

The admission of the air to the nozzles is controlled by a suitable valve and is timed so that the air is on as the scraper devices ll move in the clockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 2, and the air tends to lift the sheet (a being removed away from the leading edge of the underlying sheet lb and to introduce air between the two sheets. The air is cut off before the scraper devices H reach the end of their movement, i. e. the position shown in Figure '7, and remains off during the anti-clockwise movement of the scraper devices. It may be turned on immediately the clockwise movement is begun or a little later.

The detector device comprises a spring pressed blade passing through a slot in the arm 1 lb and having at its lower end a hook 3| adapted to engage a companion hook 32 on an oscillatory arm 33 and to stop the operation of the machine should a sheet I fail to arrive at the appropriate time and to move the blade to the position shown from the chain line position. The detector device is described in greater detail in the aforesaid copending application Ser. No. 126,268 of which it forms the subject.

In an alternative construction shown in Figure 8 the air nozzles 20a are provided on the chamfered portion of the free end of the scraper arm and are supplied through ducts 20b formed in the arm.

The registration of the sheets is effected in the manner described in my previously mentioned patent application Ser. No. 62,251.

The present invention may also be applied to the printing machine described in my previously mentioned application Ser. No. 62,249.

The support of the scraper device may also serve as a front lay or gauge for effecting front edge registration of the sheets at the registering position.

I claim:

1. In a sheet feeding machine of the kind in which a succession of partly overlapped sheets are fed as a continuous stream over a layboard to a position where each sheet in turn is brought to rest and registration of the sheet is effected and from which board the sheet is then removed while the underlying sheet is approaching the registering position, the combination of a scraper device arranged to move against the direction of the flow of the sheets while scraping the undersurface of the sheet bein removed and in such timed relation with the feeding of the sheets that the device will meet and engage the front edge of a succeeding sheet as it approaches the registering position, the scraper device being arranged to engage the said front edge to separate the edge from the overlying sheet, means for moving the scraper device as aforesaid and an air nozzle incorporated in the scraper device for movement therewith, the nozzle being arranged initially to direct the air upwardly against the undersurface of the sheet being removed, and, as the scraper device moves as aforesaid, progressively to direct the air blast against the direction of flow of the sheets until the blast is directed between the upper surface of the succeeding sheet as it approaches the front lay position and the undersurface of the overlying sheet being removed.

2. In a sheet feeding machine of the kind in which a succession of partly overlapped sheets are fed by conveyor means and as a continuous stream onto a layboard to a position when each sheet in turn is brought to rest and registration of the sheet is effected and from which board the sheet is then removed while the underlying sheet is approaching the registering position, the combination of a scraper device arranged to operate below each sheet as it is removed from the layboard to scrape the lower face of the sheet, to engage the leading edge of a succeeding sheet as it approaches the lays to separate that edge from the sheet being removed, which scraper device consists of a member having two arms at an angle and pivotally supported about the free end of one of the arms below the layboard for oscillation about an axis parallel to the leading edge of the sheet to be engaged from a position in which the other arm (later referred to as the scraper arm) extends upwardly towards the underside of the sheet being removed to a position in which the scraper arm lies above and substantially parallel to the front edge portion of the succeedin sheet, the movement of the device as aforesaid being in a direction against the movement of the sheets and being followed by a return movement to the initial position, means for oscillating the scraper device as aforesaid and in such timed relation with the feeding of the sheets that the free end of the scraper arm scrapes the underside of the sheet being removed as the next sheet approaches the lays and the scraper arm reaches the limit of its movement just before the sheet reaches the lays, and an air nozzle incorporated in the scraper device for movement therewith, the nozzle being arranged initially to direct the air upwardly against the undersurface of the sheet being removed and, as the scraper device moves as aforesaid, progressively to direct the air blast against the direction of flow of the sheets until the blast is directed between the upper surface of the succeeding sheet as it approaches the front lay position and the undersurface of the overlying sheet being removed.

3. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of a scraper device, means for moving the device and a nozzle as claimed in claim 2 in which the nozzle is located on the first-mentioned arm aforesaid adjacent the scraper arm and is arranged to direct the air blast in the direction of the scraper arm and on the underside thereof.

4. In a sheet feeding machine the combination of a scraper device, means for moving the device, and a nozzle as claimed in claim 2 in which the nozzle is located at the free end of the scraper arm.

5. In a sheet feeding machine of the kind in which a succession of partly overlapped sheets of paper, card or the like are fed by conveyor means onto a layboard where each sheet in turn is registered and is then removed during registration of the next underlying sheet, the combination of a scraper device for separating the leading edge of each sheet from the preceding overlying sheet which scraper device comprises an angular hook-like member pivotally supported at the free end of one of its arms below the layboard for oscillation in timed relationship with the removal of the sheets from the board about an axis extending transversely of the board and from a position in which the free end of the other arm (which constitutes the scraper) lies below the path of the sheets being taken from the board to a position in which the scraper arm lies above, and substantially parallel to, the upper surface of the board and serves as a smoother for the sheet to be registered, means for oscillating the scraper device as aforesaid the arrangement being such and the movement being so timed in relation to the feeding of the sheets that during the movement between the two positions as aforesaid the free end of the scraper arm engages the undersurface of the sheet being removed with a scraping action and tends to engage and separate from the sheet the leading edge of the succeeding sheet should it be adhering thereto, and an air nozzle incorporated in the scraper device for movement therewith, the nozzle being located in the first-mentioned arm aforesaid adjacent the scraper arm and being arranged to direct an air blast in the direction of the scraper arm and on the inside thereof.

6. In a sheet feeding machine of the kind in which a succession of partly overlapped sheets of paper, card or the like are fed by conveyor means onto a layboard where each sheet in turn is registered and is then removed during registration of the next underlying sheet, the combination of a scraper device for separating the leading edge of each sheet from the preceding overlying sheet which scraper device comprises an angular hooklike member pivotally supported at the free end of one of its arms below the layboard for oscillation in timed relationship with the removal of the sheets from the board about an axis extending transversely of the board and from a position in which the free end of the other arm (which constitutes the scraper) lies below the pathof the sheets being taken from the board to a position in which the scraper arm lies above, and substantially parallel to, the upper surface of the board and serves as a smoother for the sheet to be registered, means for oscillating the scraper device as aforesaid the arrangement being such and the movement being so timed in relation to the feeding of the sheets that during the movement between the two positions as aforesaid the free end of the scraper arm engages the under surface of the sheet being removed with a scraping action and tends to engage and separate from the sheet the leading edge of the succeeding sheet should it be adhering thereto, and an air nozzle incorporated in the free end of the scraper arm arranged to direct a blast of air outwardly of the arm and in the general direction thereof.

HEADLEY TOWNSEND BACKHOUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,204,188 Pye Nov. 7, 1916 1,521,365 Frohn Dec. 30, 1924 1,624,787 Hallstream Apr. 12, 1927 2,184,229 Spiess Dec. 19, 1939 2,221,500 Upham Nov. 12, 1940

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