US3391928A - Sheet transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY E AL 3,391,928

SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 la INVENTORS.

Hana E. Mqwry and Guy Carr/cam BY WQZMZI/ July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY ET AL 3,391,928

SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 INVENTORS. v E. Maury and Ca m w Har Guy fried/0 Fig. 1a

July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY ET AL 3,391,928

SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I 1 Y l- INVENTORS.

Filed Oct. 8, 1965 July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY ET AL 3,391,928

SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 8, 1965 COfQ 64% INVENTORS. rry E. Mow/y and uy M Carri July 9, 1968 MOWRY ET AL 3,391,928

SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS.

Harry E. Mow/y and Guy I./ Carr/cam July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY ET A SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 Fig.6

INVENTORS. Harry E Mowry and BY Guy I! Carr/cola yam/15y July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY ET AL SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Oct. 8, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 I III lllllll] INVENTORS. Fl 7 Harry E. Heavy and BY Guy V Carricalo July 9, 1968 H. E. MOWRY ET L 3,391,928

SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 m um a? v m N r w 1M United States Patent 3,391,928 SHEET TRANSFER APPARATUS Harry E. Mowry, Ben Avon, and Guy V. Carricato,

Sharpsbnrg, Pa., assignors to Miller Printing Machinery Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 494,185 7 Claims. (Cl. 271-71) ABSTRACT OF THE DESCLGSURE Apparatus for handling sheets. The sheets are transferred from an edgewise relation one after the one to a generally spaced apart face to face relation by a rotatable first transfer member having diametrically opposed radially extending arms with sucker means at their extremities and a reciprocabie second transfer member having other sucker means for engaging the sheets. The sheets are engaged by the sucker means on the rotatable first transfer member and carried in an arcuate path to a location where the other sucker means on the reciprocable second transfer member engages the sheet and transfers the sheet to a receiver that supports the sheet in generally spaced apart face to face relation.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling sheets. It has to do particularly with apparatus for handling sheets freshly printed with ink to set the ink and control the moisture content of or otherwise treat the sheets, although features of the apparatus have general application.

For purposes of explanation and illustration we shall describe the invention as embodied in apparatus for advancing sheets immediately following printing to enable setting of the ink and conditioning the sheets thereafter. We advance the sheets continuously, first through drying means and thereafter through other conditioning means. During the drying step the paper may become dehumidified and we subsequently control the moisture content by humidifying the paper. However if in any case the moisture content of the paper after setting of the ink should be too high it can be dehumidified in our apparatus.

We advance sheets edgewise one after another at relatively high speed in the first part of our apparatus and thereafter advance the sheets while disposed in substantially parallel spaced apart relation at lower speed for treatment of the sheets such as humidification thereof. We provide automatic transfer means for transferring the sheets from their initial path in which they move edgewise one after another into their final path in which they are disposed in substantially parallel spaced apart relation. In the latter portion of the path of the sheets they are desirably hung from their upper edges. Provision is made to avoid creasing of the sheets by maintaining the gripped edges thereof substantially coplanar with the adjacent portions of the bodies of the sheets during transfer from the first portion of the path to the second portion of the path and throughout the second portion of the path.

We also provide means for delivering the sheets from the second portion of the path to a pile where they are piled or stacked atop one another and we maintain the gripped edges of the sheets and the portions of the bodies of the sheets adjacent the gripped edges thereof substantially coplanar while the orientation of the sheets from substantially vertical to substantially horizontal is being altered.

We provide oscillating or reciprocating means, preferably sucker means, for taking the sheets one by one from the first portion of the path and introducing them into the second portion of the path. Provision is also made for withdrawing sheets for inspection at the will of the operator before the sheets enter the second portion of the path.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in whic FIGURES 1a, 1b and 1c taken together constitute a side elevational view with portions cut away of the ap paratus (FIGURES la and lb should be considered as fitting together along the line XX and FIGURES lb and 10 should be considered as fitting together along the line YY despite the fact that for practical reasons there is a small difference in scale among FIGURES 1a, 1b and 1c);

FIGURES 2a and 2]) taken together along the line ZZ show a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1b and 10;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary detail view to enlarged scale to a portion of a chain and gripper assembly forming part of the apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the part of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line V-V of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line VIVI of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a diagram of the driving gears, sprockets and sprocket chains for our apparatus; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary View partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal cross section, of a portion of the structure shown in FIGURE 1b.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there are shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 1c elements of an offset sheet printing press. The press may be a conventional offset sheet printing press; however, those skilled in the art will understand that the invention is not limited to use with such a press but may be used with presses of other types. Those skilled in the art will further understand that in the form of press shown sheets are taken and advanced by the various cylinders by grippers which are operated to take and release the sheets in conventional manner. The structure of the printing press forms no part of our invention.

Sheets pass clockwise around transfer cylinder 2 and are taken by impression cylinder 3 around which they pass counterclockwise. The plate cylinder is shown at 4 and the blanket cylinder at 5. The printing couple is constituted by the impression cylinder 3 and the blanket cylinder 5. The sheets are printed as they pass around the impression cylinder 3 and engage the blanket cylinder 5 as is conventional in offset sheet printing. The printed sheets are taken by the transfer cylinder 6 around which they pass clockwise.

Our apparatus has supporting structure including side frames 7 in which is journaled a chill roll 8 having roll necks 9. Fixed to the necks of the chill roll 8 are sprockets 10. Sprocket chains 11 are trained about the respective sprockets 10. Each sprocket chain 11 is also trained about a sprocket 12 rotatably mounted in the supporting structure and a sprocket 13 carried by a delivery reel 13a rotatably mounted in the supporting structure and also is guided by guides 14, 15 and 16. The sprocket chains 11 operate in synchronism since the sprockets 13 are both carried by the delivery reel 13a which is driven from the press as illustrated by FIGURE 7 and later described. The sprocket chains 11 carry spaced apart transverse gripper bars having grippers mounted thereon which are operated in conventional manner as known by those skilled in the art to take sheets from the transfer cylinder 6 and advance them in the counterclockwise direction viewing FIGURE 10. The composite endless element comprising the sprocket chains 11 and the transverse gripper bars and grippers will be identified by 11a.

The sheets carried by the endless element 11a move toward the left viewing FIGURE 1c between an infrared dryer 17 and a reflector 18 to promote setting of the ink. The infra-red heat not only promotes setting of the ink but also penetrates the paper. This is of especial advantage when ink containing a volatile constituent is used. Some of the volatile constituent of the ink permeates the paper and thus initiates setting of the ink. The infra-red heat is effective in volatilizing such of the volatile constituent as has not permeated the paper.

When the sheets emerge from the infra-red dryer 17 substantially all of the volatile constituent of the ink which has not permeated the paper has been volatilized. The paper passes upwardly through a gas dryer 19 in which flames 19a are directed against the opposite faces of the paper to finally set the ink, and the flames burn volatile constituent which has been volatilized in the infrared dryer and any unvolatilized volatile constituent will be completely volatilized and substantially burned in the gas dryer. As the paper emerges upwardly from the gas dryer 19 the paper has at one or both faces thereof residue from the set ink, particularly when ink containing a volatile constituent is used. The residue tends to cling to and move along with the paper. It is sheared off by air knives 20 which direct generally blade-shaped air blasts against the faces of the paper at an angle in the direction opposite the direction of advance of the paper. The residue removed by the air knives is drawn off through ducts 21.

The endless element 11a carries the paper around the chill roll 8. At the time the paper reaches the chill roll 8 the ink has been set and the residue has been removed but the paper is hot and has been dehumidified in the dryers 17 and 19.

The endless element 11a has 'become heated in the dryers 17 and 19. To cool it off it passes through a cooling chamber 21a where it is sprayed with a cooling fluid, preferably water, through spray heads 2112. Cooling fluid, clinging to the endless element is removed by air jets 21c issuing from air bars 123. Thus by the time the endless element gets back to the delivery reel 13a it has been cooled and dried and is ready for the succeeding cycle.

A second chill roll 22 and a third chill roll 23 are disposed in cooperative relation with the chill roll 8 as shown in FIGURE 1b and are suitably mounted in the supporting structure and driven to rotate at the same surface speed as the chill roll 8. Each of the chill rolls 22 and 23 carries grippers which are operated in conventional manner and which take the sheets from the endless element 11a and carry them around the chill roll 22 in the clockwise direction and thence around the chill roll 23 in the counterclockwise direction. Each of the sheets passes around the chill roll 8 through almost half a revolution and around the chill roll 22 through somewhat less than half a revolution and around the chill roll 23 for either just a short distance or somewhat more than half a revolution depending upon subsequent operations as will presently be described.

Moisture is applied to each of the chill rolls 8, 22 23. Associated with each of the three chill rolls is a water fountain 24 from which water is delivered to the chill roll through a fountain roller 132, a ductor roller 25 and suitable cooperating rollers 130 and 131 as shown. The water fountains 24 and associated rollers for applying moisture to the chill rolls may be conventional but the rollers 130 are driven in a direction opposite that of each of the three chill rolls to clean the chill rolls while applying moisture. The amount of moisture applied to each chill roll may be controlled and regulated by control of the corresponding ductor roller 25. Thus under any particular circumstances the quantity of moisture delivered to the chill rolls may be increased or decreased and the quantity of moisture delivered to the respective chill rolls may be varied. The effect of passage of the sheets against the chill rolls is to cool and humidity the paper.

Provision is made for removing sheets for inspection at the chill roll 23. The means for performing that function are shown to enlarged scale in FIGURE 8. The chill roll 23 has spaced at intervals thereacross gripper pads 26 with each of which a gripper 27 of conventional construc tion operates. The grippers 27 are pivoted in the chill roll 23 by being fastened to a turnable shaft 28. An arm 29 fixed to the shaft 28 carries a cam follower roller 30. A cam 31 is mounted in the supporting structure of the apparatus and is adapted to be moved by the operator, as, for example, by solenoid operating means, selectively into position underlying the roller 30 and into position laterally offset from the roller 30. When the cam 31 is in position laterally offset from the roller 30 the grippers 27 remain closed. The normal operation of the grippers 27 to take sheets from the chill roll 22 and carry them somewhat more than half way around the chill roll 23 is accomplished by conventional mechanism which is not shown in the drawings but which is well known to those skilled in the art. When the cam 31 is moved by the operator into position under the roller 30, the roller 30 raises to the high point 32 of the cam as the chill roll 23 turns in the counterclockwise direction viewing FIGURE 8 which raises the arm 29 and opens the grippers 27.

An arm 33 is also fixed to the shaft 28. Pivoted to the end of the arm 33 at 34 is a bar 35. Pivoted to the bar 35 at 36 is an arm 37. Pivoted to the bar 35 at 38 is an arm 39. The arm 37 is fixed to a shaft 41 turnably mounted in the chill roll 23 and to which shaft lifters are fastened. The arm 39 is pivotally mounted in the chill roll 23 at 42 and has a cam extension 43 adjacent the periphery of the chill roll 23 as shown in FIGURE 8.

Fastened to a shaft 44 turnably mounted in the supporting structure are spaced apart separating fingers 45. Two downwardly extending arms 46 and 122 are fastened to the shaft 44. Arm 46 carries a cam following roller 47 positioned in transverse alignment with the cam 43. A rod 49 is pivoted to the arm 122 at 48. The opposite end of the rod 49 is pivoted at 50 to an arm 51 turnable about a fixed pivot 52 and with which arm is integrally associated a detent 53. The supporting structure turnably carries a shaft 54 on which is mounted an arm 55, and a rod 56 is positioned between and adapted to engage the under surface of the outer end of the arm and the upper surface of the detent 53. Arms 57 are fixed to the shaft 54, each arm 57 carrying a roller 58. A sheet receiving chute 59 is positioned to receive sheets delivered toward the left viewing FIGURE 8 at the top of the chill roll 23.

The grippers 27 are at all times urged toward closed or operative position by a compression coil spring 133 disposed about a rod 134 pivoted at 135 to an arm 136 fixed to the shaft 28. The outerend of the rod 134 extends through a bore in a bracket 137 mounted on the supporting structure. The spring 133 bears between a washer 138 which lies against the bracket 137 and a stop 139 near the end of the rod where it is pivoted to the arm 136. Thus the grippers 27 are maintained closed at all times except when means are operated to open them.

The arms 46 and 122 are urged inwardly of the chill roll 23 by a compression coil spring 140 disposed about a rod 141 pivoted at 142 to the arm 122. The outer end of the rod 141 extends through a bore in a bracket 142a mounted on the supporting structure. The spring 140 bears between a washer 143 which lies against the bracket 142a and a stop 144 near the end of the rod where it is pivoted to the arm 122. The stop 145 is carried by the supporting structure and the arm 122 is maintained against that stop by the spring 140 at all times except when the cam 43 acting through the cam following roller 47 turns the separating fingers 45 to their position nearest the axis of the chill roll 23.

The rod 56 is slidably mounted in guide brackets 146 and 147 carried by the supporting structure. A compression coil spring 148 acts between a head 149 on the lower end of the rod 56 and the guide bracket 147 to urge the rod 56 downwardly so that it always engages the detent 53.

The rollers 58 are at all times urged toward the surface of the chill roll 23 by a compression coil spring 150 disposed about a rod 151 pivoted at 152 to an arm 153 fixed to the shaft 54. The opposite end of the rod 151 extends through a bore in a bracket 154 mounted on the supporting structure. The spring 150 bears between a washer 155 which lies against the bracket 154 and a stop 156 near the end of the rod where it is pivoted to the arm 153. Thus the rollers 58 are caused to bear against the surface of the chill roll 23 except when they are raised by action of the rod 56 as will be presently explained.

As above stated, when the cam 31 is moved into position under the roller 30, the roller raises to the high point 32 of the cam 31 and opens the grippers 27 as the chill roll 23 rotates. counterclockwise movement of the arm 33 about the axis of the shaft 28 moves the bar 35 upwardly and to the right viewing FIGURE 8 which in turn raises the lifters and swings the cam 43 outwardly relatively to the circumstances of the chill roll 23. The timing is such that as the grippers 27 and lifters 40 are raised the outwardly projecting cam 43 engages the roller 47 and moves the separating fingers down so that the oncoming sheet may be projected over top thereof into the chute 59. Simultaneously the rollers 58 move down and press the sheet against the surface of the chill roll 23 to insure forward projection of the sheet after it has been released by the grippers. The lifters lift the oncoming sheet so that it passes over the grippers and over the separatingfingers and into the chute.

By the mechanism just described the operator may at his option at any time cause one or more sheets to be delivered to the inspection chute 59. Normally, when the cam 31 is offset from the roller 30, no sheets will be delivered to the chute 59 and all of the sheets will pass in the counterclockwise direction around the chill roll 23 for somewhat more than half the circumference of that roll where they are taken by mechanism now to be described.

Mounted for rotation in the supporting structure is a transverse shaft 60 carrying spaced apart transfer elements 61 each having two diametrically opposed arms 157. At the extremity of each of the arms 157 is a sucker 63 communicating through a port 64 with a vacuum line 65. Each of the vacuum lines 65 communicates with a rotary valve of conventional construction (not shown) through which suction is drawn through each of the suckers 63 from the time when it is straight up until it reaches the position shown in FIGURE 1b for the lower arm 157. The arms 157 of the transfer elements 61 take sheets from the chill roll 23 and deliver them to a series of reciprocating suckers 66 presently to be described.

Supporting arms 67 carried by a transverse rod 68 mounted in the supporting structure carry a series of crescent-shaped brackets 69 in which are journaled rollers 70 which may be generally star shaped or pointed. The purpose of the rollers 70 is to guide the trailing portions of the sheets as that are advanced by the arms 157 of the transfer elements 61. Thus as each set of arms 157 carries a sheet by its forward portion in the clockwise direction around the axis of the shaft 60 the sheet is guided by the rollers 70.

Each of the reciprocating suckers 66 is disposed at the extremity of a tube 71 pivoted at 72 to the extremity of a curved lever 73 fixed to a cross shaft 74 journaled for rotation in the supporting structure. Also fixed to the cross shaft 74 is an arm 75' pivoted at 76 to a link 77 which in turn is pivoted at 78 to a lever 79 pivoted at 80 to the supporting structure and carrying a roller 81 at its opposite end. The roller 81 follows a rotary cam 82 of a contour such as to cause oscillation of the lever 79. The rotary cam 82 is mounted on the neck of the chill roll 23 and rotates therewith.

Integral with each tube 71 is an extension 83 pivoted at 84 to a link 85 whose opposite end is pivoted at 86 to a bracket 87 carried by the supporting structure.

Rotation of the cam 82 oscillates the lever 79 which through the mechanism shown oscillates the arms 73 each of which in turn oscillates or reciprocates its sucker 66 along the path indicated in FIGURE lb. The tubes 71 are also connected with a rotary valve so that suction is drawn through the suckers 66 when taking a sheet from one set of arms 157 and that suction is maintained until the suckers 66 reach the position designated A in FIG- URE 1b at which time the sheet is taken by grippers presently to be described whereupon the suction is released and the suckers 66 return to the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 11; to receive the next sheet. Air jets 88 issuing from an air bar 880 are provided for urging the lower portions of sheets taken by the suckers 66 from the arms 157 downwardly and toward the left as indicated in FIGURE 1b to facilitate the subsequent conveying of the sheets hanging by their upper edges and in generally parallel relationship extending transversely of their path of advance beyond the position A.

Mounted in the supporting structure for continuous movement in a generally clockwise direction are four endless sprocket chains 89 carrying grippers as will presently be described. For simplicity one of the chains will be described and it will be understood that the other three chains are identical and function in similar manner.

Chain 89 meshes with a sprocket 90 on a shaft 91 and with a sprocket 92 fixed to a shaft 93 driven as will presently be described. The path of the chain is controlled by guides 94 and 95 shown in FIGURE 1b. The chain is shown to enlarged scale in FIGURES 3-6. Links of the chain spaced apart at equal intervals carry brackets 96 which project at right angles to the length of the chain, downwardly along the lower reach of the chain and upwardly along the upper reach of the chain. The lower reach is the active reach and the upper reach is the return reach. Pivoted to each bracket 96 is a gripper assembly designated as a whole by 96a. Each gripper assembly 96a comprises a gripper element 97 having a gripper 98, an arm 99 opposed to the gripper 98 and an arm 100 carrying a roller 101 and a cooperating element 102 having a gripper pad 103 and an arm 104 carrying a roller 105. A compression coil spring 106 is disposed between each arm 99 and the corresponding gripper pad 103 normally pressing the gripper pad 103 against the gripper 98 to close the gripper.

Thus it will be seen that each gripper assembly 96a is pivoted to turn about an axis 107 on bracket 96. The elements 97 and 102 of each gripper assembly 96a are normally maintained by the spring 106 in the relationship shown in FIGURE 3, i.e., with the gripper closed.

The parts of each gripper assembly 96a are weighted so that when the gripper assembly is free from external control it assumes by gravity the position shown at B and at C in FIGURE 1a. In other words, regardless of whether a gripper assembly is moving from right to left viewing FIGURE 1a along the lower reach of the chain or from left to right along the upper reach of the chain it is oriented as shown at B and C, i.e., with the gripper 98 and pad 103 extending straight downwardly so that a sheet gripped by the gripper will be suspended from its upper edge and will hang straight downwardly with the body of the sheet coplanar with the gripper upper edge.

Cam means are provided for controlling the grippers through the rollers 101 and 105. As a gripper assembly moving toward the right viewing FIGURE lb along the upper reach of the chain approaches the right hand end thereof its roller 105 enters a cam groove 108 in a guide 108a. The cam groove 108 communicates directly with a cam groove 120a in a cam 120. The cam groove 120a extends around the axis of the shaft 93, terminating at D (FIGURE lb). Each cam 120 is carried by a support 62. The purpose of the cam grooves 108 and 120a is to control the orientation of the gripper assemblies. The gripper element 98 and the gripper pad 103 of each gripper assembly are maintained in contact with each other by the spring 106 so the gripper assembly as a whole is free to turn about the axis 107. As above explained each gripper assembly is weighted so that when not influenced by any cam or cam groove it assumes the orientation shown at B and C in FIGURE 1a. The cam grooves 108 and 120a maintain each gripper assembly in generally the same orientation as the gripper assembly moves around the axis of the shaft 93 although causing the gripper assembly to tilt slightly to be in position to receive sheets presented thereto by the reciprocating suckers 66. As each gripper assembly approaches the position for receiving a sheet from the suckers 66 it is opened by the roller 101 riding up on a cam 109 (FIGURE 1b). The gripper assembly remains open while the forward edge of the sheet to be taken is presented between the gripper 98 and the gripper pad 103 thereof whereupon the roller 101 rides down the left hand end of the cam 109 viewing FIGURE 1b closing the gripper on the leading edge of the sheet. At the same time suction to the suckers 66 is cut off so that the leading edge of the sheet is transferred from the suckers 66 to the gripper assembly.

At about the same time a the gripper assembly grips the leading edge of the sheet and takes it from the suckers 66 the roller 105 passes out of the cam groove 120a at D (FIGURE 1b) so that thereafter the gripper assembly is free to assume its normal orientation caused by its weighting, i.e., the orientation shown at B and C in FIG- URE 1a. This is important because the sheets are being conveyed by the grippers hanging from their upper edges and to avoid creases in the sheets the bodies of the sheets should be coplanar with the gripper upper edges thereof. This condition is accomplished as shown in FIG- URE lb. The air blasts 88 assist in moving each sheet into generally vertical position. Thus the sheets are successively transferred by the reciprocating suckers 66 from the transfer elements 61 to the gripper assemblies 96a and during such transfer the gripped edge of each sheet and the portion of the body of the sheets adjacent the gripped edge are maintained substantially coplanar, avoiding creasing of the sheet.

The grippers carry the sheets hanging from their upper edges and in parallel relationship through a chamber 110 in which they are treated. If the particular ink being used has not been completely set prior to entry of the sheets into the chamber 110 the treatment may include completion of setting of the ink. Also if the sheets have not been sufiiciently humidified prior to entry into the chamber 110 they may be humidified in that chamber. Alternatively, if it should happen that the sheets have been too greatly humidified by the moistened chill rolls they can be dehumidified in the chamber 110. In any event the sheets move through the chamber 110 in parallel spaced apart relationship as shown in FIGURE 1b, eachsheet hanging from its upper edge and with the gripped upper edges of the sheets coplanar with the bodies of the sheets. The speed of advance of the sheets through the chamber 110 is relatively slow as compared with the speed of advance of the sheets when they are moving edgewise one after the other prior to being taken by the gripper assemblies 96a. This speed control of the sheets is one of the features of our process. Each sheet moves first at relatively high speed when the sheets are following each other edgewise and the speed is slowed when the sheets hang in relatively close parallel relationship while passing through the chamber 110. This is all accomplished from a single drive and each sheet passes smoothly from one portion of the apparatus to the next.

It is desired to pile the treated sheets. This is done upon a pile support 111 (FIGURE 1a). In order to pile the sheets each sheet has to be reoriented from vertical to horizontal position. As each sheet approaches thepile the body of the sheet below the gripped upper edge thereof engages a series of rollers 112 shown in FIGURE 1a mounted in a bracket 113 carried by the supporting structure. Engagement of the body of the sheet with a series of rollers causes the sheet to change orientation from vertical to an orientation approaching horizontal as illustrated in FIGURE 1a. At the same time as the body of a sheet is being thus reoriented its upper edge is-being consonantly reoriented by change of the angularity of the gripper assemblies carrying the sheet. Such change of angularity of the gripper assemblies is caused by riding of the rollers 101 of the gripper assemblies up an inclined cam 114 until they reach a level portion 115. The rollers 101 continue to ride along the level portion 115 which maintains the gripper assemblies in the orientation shown at E in FIGURE In. With the gripper assemblies in such orientation the sheets are carried along over the rollers 1-12 to a position overlying the pile support 111 each sheet with its gripped leading edge maintained substantially coplanar with the portion of the body of the sheet adjacent the gripped leading edge.

As a sheet reaches a position overlying the pile support 111 the roller 105 of the gripper assembly carrying the sheet enters a horizontal cam groove 116 whose purpose is to maintain the gripper assembly in fixed orientation. With the roller 105 in the horizontal cam groove 116 the roller 101 rides down a cam 117 as shown in FIGURE 1a opening the gripper assembly and releasing the sheet to fall upon the pile of sheets on the pile support 111. After the sheet has been released the roller 101 rides oil of the cam 117 and the roller 105 passes out of the cam groove 116 and the gripper assembly without any sheet assumes its normal position as above described and as shown at B and C in FIGURE la. It maintains that position until the roller 105 enters the cam groove 108 on the succeeding cycle.

The delivery may be conventional and provided with usual means shown in FIGURE 1a for progressively lowering the pile support as sheets are added to the pile. Also conventional joggers may be employed as known to those skilled in the art. Since the delivery per se may be conventional it need not be here described.

FIGURE 7 is a diagram of the drive for the apparatus. A gear 118 driven from the press drive rotates with the cylinder 6. For example, the rotary speed of the gear 118 may be 108 r.p.m. For gear 118 meshes with a gear 119 of equal diameter which rotates the delivery reel 13a. Also rotating with the delivery reel 13a are sprockets 13. Rotating with the chill roll 8 is a gear 121 of the same diameter as the gears 118 and 119. Rotating with the gear 121 are sprockets 10 of the same effective diameter as the sprockets 13. Each sprocket 13 and the corresponding sprocket 10 have a sprocket chain 11 meshing therewith.

The chill roll 22 has a gear 124 rotating therewith and the chill roll 23 has a gear 125 rotating therewith. The gears 124 and 125 are in mesh with each other and the gear 124 is in mesh with the gear 121. The gears 1-24 and 125 are of the same diameter as the gears 118, 119 and 121.

A gear 126 fixed to the shaft 60 and having the same eflec-tive diameter as the transfer elements 61 meshes with the gear 125. Also fixed to the shaft 60 is a sprocket 127. A sprocket 128 is fixed to the shaft 93. A sprocket chain 129 meshes with the sprockets 127 and 128, the diameters of the gear 126 and the sprockets 127 and 128 being such that the shaft 93 rotates at 25.7 r.p.m. Fixed to the shaft 93 are sprockets 92 and fixed to the shaft 91 are sprockets 90.0f the same effective diameter as the sprockets 92. Each corresponding pair of sprockets 92 and 90 has a sprocket chain 89 meshing therewith.

The sheet advancing mechanism in the form shown is such that when the sheets are advancing edgewise one after another they advance at a relatively high speed whereas when they are passing through the chamber 110 hanging by their upper edges in parallel relationship they advance at a relatively low speed.

Thus we provide for rapid and effective setting of the ink and control of the humidity of the sheets. Our apparatus is entirely automatic and the speed of the sheets is automatically controlled to slow them as they pass from the portion of the apparatus in which they are moving edgewise one after another to the portion of the apparatus in which they are hanging by their upper edges in parallel spaced apart relationship.

Features of the method herein disclosed are claimed in our copending application Ser. No. 494,183, filed of even date herewith.

While we have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for handling sheets comprising first means for initially advancing the sheets by moving them edgewise one after another, the first means including rotatable means with first sucker means for carrying the sheets in an arcuate path, second means for subsequently advancing the sheets by moving them in a second path in which the sheets are disposed in spaced apart generally face to face relationship, the second means including gripper means movable only in the second path, and substantially linearly reciprocable transfer means including second sucker means transferring the sheets from said arcuate path to the gripper means.

2. Apparatus for handling sheets as set forth in claim 1 in which said first means comprises a rotatably mounted transfer element having diametrically opposed arm members, said first sucker means positioned adjacent the end portion of said respective arm members, said first sucker means arranged to engage the leading edge of said sheets and advance said sheets in edgewise relation.

3. Apparatus for handling sheets as set forth in claim 1 in which said first means includes arcuate guide means for guiding the sheets transferred thereon in edgewise relation.

4. Apparatus for handling sheets as set forth in claim 3 in which said arcuate guide means includes roller members for guiding the trailing edge of the sheets transferred in edgewise relation.

5. Apparatus for handling sheets as set forth in claim 1 which includes roll means positioned adjacent to said first means, said first sucker means on said first means operable to engage the leading edge of the sheets from said roll means.

6. Apparatus for handling sheets comprising a first rotatably mounted transfer member having diametrically opposed arm members extending radially therefrom, said arm members having first sucker means positioned on their radial end portions, a second reciprocably mounted transfer member positioned adjacent to said first transfer member and having second sucker means, and said first and second sucker means operable to sequentially engage and transfer sheets in edgewise relation one after the other.

7. Apparatus for handling sheets comprising a first transfer member having a rotatably mounted shaft member, diametrically opposed arm members secured to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said arm members having sucker means on their radial end portions, said sucker means operable to advance sheets in edgewise relation one to the other by moving the sheets in an arcuate path, and a second transfer member having lever means to move other sucker means reciprocally in a substantially linear path for engaging the sheets and transferring the sheets from said first transfer member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,783,575 12/1930 MasDonald 271-79 2,355,697 8/1944 Bellache 27179 3,191,928 6/1965 Neiden 27179 X M. HENSON WOOD JR., Primary Examiner. R. A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner.

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