US2817519A - Sheet feeding device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 24, 1957 H. P. BECK SHEET FEEDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, 1953 INVENTOR. .HAROLD P. BECK ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1957 H. P. BECK SHEET FEEDING DEVICE 3 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1953 H W B ATTORNEY SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Harold P. Beck, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Michigan Application June 8, 1953, Serial No. 360,182

4 Claims. (Cl. 271-29) The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device and has particular application to the feeding of checks, paper currency and the like.

The sheet feeding art has been confronted with a number of problems for which no completely satisfactory solutions have yet been proposed. For example, there has long been a need for an automatic sheet feeding device which will reliably feed from a large pile or stack of sheets one and only one sheet in each feeding cycle. In prior sheet feeding devices it has been necessary to limit the size of the stack to insure reliable operation. Another problem has been the inability of prior devices to feed sheets that are badly bent, torn or otherwise mutilated.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel sheet feeding device which overcomes the limitations of the prior art mentioned above.

More specifically, it is an object to provide an automatic sheet feeding device which operates reliably irrespective of the number of sheets in the magazine, and which is capable of feeding both good and mutilated sheets with equal facility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device capable of feeding sheets and especially checks and paper currency in the fit and unfit categories.

Still another object is the provision of a novel magazine in which a plurality of sheets are stacked and from which only the terminal sheet is fed in the absence of calibrated restraining mechanisms.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a magazine having a novel arrangement of structure so as to prepare the terminal sheet for feeding while the sheets stacked thereabove are positioned and restrained from feeding.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device whereby the terminal sheet to be fed will be caused to assume a desired shape before it is fed from the magazlne.

Still a further object is to provide a sheet feeding device which is simple in operation, and one which is capable of performing its desired function on both new and mutilated sheets or an interspersed combination thereof.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of examples, the principle of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the sheet feeding device,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1 with a part of the drum shown in section,

Fig. 3 is a partial front view of the device showing the shape which the terminal sheet assumes as it is being fed from the magazine,

Fig. 4 is a partial side view of the device taken sub- States Patent 2,817,519 Patented Dec. 24, 1957 stantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 5 showing the shape which the terminal sheet assumes as it is fed from the magazine,

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the device in which the arrangement of the parts can be seen more clearly with some of the structure partly broken away.

Referring to the drawings, the suction mechanism generally designated by the numeral 6 consists of a rotating drum 8 mounted about a frame 10. The drum is provided with at least one set of suction ports 12 on its periphery; however, as shown in the drawings, more than one set of ports may be spaced there-on; each set of ports constituting a cycle of the feeding operation. Provided on the drum are means in the form of grooves or recesses 13 to aid in the removal of the sheets from the drum at any desired point of its rotation, as will be explained later. Supplying the suction of the ports 12 is a suction receiving chamber 14 which periodically communicates with a continuous source of suction 16 by way of apertures 15. The source of suction 16 is connected to a suction head 18 having a large aperture 19 intended to communicate with the chamber 14 when the chamber is aligned therewith. Provision is made for the continued application of suction to the ports 12 by an arcuate aperture 20 in the head 18. As the chamber 14 rotates past the aperture 19, suction continues to be supplied to the ports 12 by the communication of the chamber 14 and the arcuate aperture 20.. The length of time that suction is supplied to the suction ports 12 is, therefore, determined by the arcuate length of aperture 20.

Positioned in proximity to or adjacent the drum is a novel magazine for receiving a stacked plurality of sheets which are to be fed therefrom one at a time. The magazine is generally designated by the numeral 22, and it consists of a pair of sides 24 and 26 and a backing member 28 to interconnect the two sides. The sides are slotted to permit access to the lower portion of the magazine. In the base or lower portion of the magazine is means 30 shown in the form of a plate member for supporting the stack of sheets. The plate 30 has a longitudinally shaped opening 31 defined therein by sides 32 for effecting a longitudinal bend in the terminal sheet of the stack preparatory for feeding. For the want of a better description the opening 31 will be described herein as throat shaped. The sides of the throat taper outwardly toward the leading portion of the magazine and are joined at their apex in approximately the first third of the leading portion of the plate 30.

Cooperating with the plate and with the throat shaped opening are a pair of spaced retaining shelves 34 overlying a portion of the suction mechanism and spaced therefrom. The shelves 34 have a slight upward rise and are curved to conform to a portion of the periphery of the underlying suction drum 8 so that the sheet supporting surfaces of the shelves 34 extend toward the leading edge of the magazine 22 in a plane above that of the plate 30 to aid in effecting the longitudinal bend of the terminal sheet of the stack and to permit the placement of the plate 39 and its opening 31 closer to the rotating suction ports 12. Each one of the pair of retaining shelves 34 is formed as a continuation of the sides of the opening 31 and of the plate 30. As shown in the drawings, the retaining shelves are formed integral with the plate, yet it is within the contemplation of the invention to form the shelves as separate members which may be suitably connected or united with the plate. The leading ends of the shelves 34 extend up to the trailing edge of an abutment or restraining member 36.

The abutment or restraining member 36 is provided for restraining all but the desired terminal sheet from feeding from the magazine 22. The restraining member 36 is mounted in the leading portion of the magazine and is interconnected to the plate by sides 24 and 26. Extending downwardly from the restraining member 36 is an extension or finger 38 which approaches the drum 8 but is spaced therefrom. The finger 38 is defined by cut-away portions 37 on the restraining member 36 and is spaced longitudinally from the rear of the opening 31. The finger 38 being narrower in width than the space between the shelves 34 is laterally spaced between and forward of the shelves 34. Finger 38 extends below the sheet supporting surfaces of the adjacent shelves 34.

To provide for the counting of the sheets as they are fed from the magazine 22, a sensing finger 40 makes contact with the drum and is connected by a conductor 41 to any well known counter. When a sheet passes beneath finger 40, the contact which the finger makes with the drum is broken. The breaking of the contact or the raising of the finger ofi the drum will serve to actuate the counter.

Predeterminately positioned at a point about the circumference of the drum is a means 42 for removing the sheet from the drum at any desired point of its rotation. The means 42 is shown in the drawings as taking the form of a stripper plate having fingers (not shown) which fit into and cooperate with the recess 13. The sheet, which up to this point is held to the drum by suction, is stripped by the member 42 and deposited on the lower delivery belt 43. Belts 43 and 44 are so spaced that each frictionally bears against the sheet to move the same to a receiving chute or hopper 46.

Operation In the following description, as each set of suction ports 12 carries a terminal sheet away from the magazine, the operation will be termed a cycle. The sheets are placed in the magazine 22 and are aligned by the sides, the backing member and the restraining member 24, 26, 28 and 36, respectively. As the drum 8 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow, the aperture 15 nears the source of suction 16. When the apertures 15 and 19 are aligned, the suction ports 12 will be substantially under the throat shaped opening 31 and will, because of the suction, create a pull on the bottom side of the terminal sheet. As shown in Fig. 5, it will be seen that the leading central portion of the terminal sheet conforms to the contour of the drum about the ports 12 while the sides of the sheet are caused to rise or thrust upwardly by the action of the retaining shelves 34 and the opening 31. The upward movements of the sides of the terminal sheet thereby raise upwardly the sheets which are stacked thereabove. The stacked sheets are, in turn, moved above the space between the bottom of the finger 38 and the drum 8.

The drum 8 continues to rotate with the leading portion of the terminal sheet now covering one set of ports (see Figs. 4 and 5). While the terminal sheet passes between the shelves 34 and the abutment finger 38, the upturned sides or edges of the sheet pass through the cut-away portions 37 which define the finger 38. The remaining raised sheets in the magazine, having been moved upwardly, are now restrained from feeding by the finger 38. The terminal sheet is held to the rotating drum by virtue of the suction being supplied to the aperture 15, first by its alignment with aperture 19, and subsequently by its alignment with the reduced arcuate aperture 20. It will be noted that the length of aperture 20 will determine the period of revolution during which suction will be applied to the drum and during which the sheet will be held to the drum. Accordingly, the length of the aperture may be as long as desired. The sheet is retained on the drum until the stripper 42, cooperating with recesses 13, strips the sheet from the drum and causes it to be deposited on the lower belt 43. The lower belt 43, in cooperation with belt 44, moves the sheet and deposits it in the receiving chute or hopper 46.

It is obvious from the foregoing that a distinctly novel operation is performed on the terminal sheet of the stack during each cycle of feeding. The creation of a longitudinal bend in the leading portion of the terminal sheet before the same has been removed from the magazine facilitates the feeding of only the terminal sheet during each feeding cycle, without regard to the number of sheets in the magazine and their mutilated condition,

thereby fulfilling the above stated objects of the invention.

Although a preferred manner of supplying suction to the ports 12 has been disclosed, it should in no way limit the invention. Other means, for example, communicating valves provided within the drum and in the suction supply, or a suction pump arranged within the drum, are also applicable.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for sequentially feeding sheets from a stack and which includes a suction mechanism having means to be coupled to suction producing means, said suction mechanism traveling a path near a terminal sheet of said stack, a magazine for said stacked sheets comprising sheet supporting means having a central opening therein extending longitudinally of the sheets and having side portions defining the longitudinal edges of said opening, said side portions being spaced apart by a distance slightly less than the width of a sheet at the leading end of said magazine, whereby the terminal sheet of the stack is given a longitudinal bend at its center and is raised at its edges by said side portions as said suction mechanism withdraws the terminal sheet from the magazine, and a restraining element in the leading end of said magazine spaced longitudinally from the trailing edge of said opening and laterally between said side portions for restraining all but the terminal sheet from leaving said magazine.

2. In a device for feeding sheets one at a time from the bottom of a stack and which includes a suction mechanism having means to be coupled to suction producing means, said suction mechanism traveling in a given path beneath the lowermost sheet of the stack, a magazine for supporting said stacked sheets comprising spaced members having supporting surfaces which are adapted to support the leading end portion of said stack at points on the bottom thereof which are spaced apart by a distance slightly less than the width of a sheet, whereby the bottom sheet is unsupported between said members for the greated portion of its width, and a restraining memher at the leading end of said magazine having a portion extending between and below the supporting surfaces of said spaced members in proximity to the path of the suction mechanism for preventing all but the bottom sheet from leaving said magazine.

3. In a device for feeding sheets from a stack, means for supporting the stack of sheets at points close to the side edges of the terminal sheet, leaving the terminal sheet unsupported for the greater portion of its width at the leading end thereof, a suction mechanism having means to be coupled to suction producing means, said suction mechanism traveling a path in slightly spaced relation to the unsupported portion of the terminal sheet, thereby to impart a longitudinal bend to the terminal sheet and cause its edges to be raised by said supporting means as the terminal sheet is withdrawn from the stack by said suction mechanism, and a restraining member 5 at the leading end of the stack for preventing all but the terminal sheet from leaving the stack.

4. In a device for sequentially feeding sheets from a stack and which includes a suction mechanism having means to be coupled to suction producing means, said suction mechanism traveling a path near to and underlying a terminal sheet of said stack, a magazine for said stacked sheets comprising sheet supporting means having a central opening therein extending longitudinally along part of the length of the stacked sheets and having side portions defining the longitudinal edges of said opening, said side portions being spaced apart by a distance slightly less than the width of a sheet at the leading end of said magazine, and said side portions having sheet supporting surfaces which have an upward rise near the leading edge of said magazine so that the terminal sheet of the stack is given a longitudinal bend at its center and is raised at its edges by said upwardly raised side portions as said underlying suction mechanism withdraws the terminal sheet from the magazine, and a restraining member at the leading end of said magazine having a portion extending between and below said sheet supporting surfaces of the side portions and in proximity to the path of the suction mechanism for preventing all but the bottom sheet from leaving said magazine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,175,807 Jones Mar. 14, 1916 2,033,849 Mudd Mar. 10, 1936 2,259,672 Waller Oct. 21, 1941 2,568,069 Herr Sept. 18, 1951

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