Interceptor for forming gaps in papers carried by a conveyor

Claim 2

In a conveyor for transporting a continuous stream of shingled papers, an interceptor for opening up gaps at predetermined intervals in said stream of papers, comprising: a paper lift disposed beneath the stream of papers, and operable when actuated to lift the papers clear of the conveyor; a vertically movable plunger disposed above said stream of papers, said plunger being operable to move downwardly to engage said papers when they are raised by said lift, said papers being pinched between said plunger and said lift, thereby stopping the papers thus contacted from being dragged along by friction of the underlying papers ahead; said plunger being carried by a head mounted on a pair of vertically swingable, parallel arms arranged one above the other, said plunger being held perpendicular to the top surface of said papers, and being slidable vertically with respect to said head; and spring-loading means extending said plunger downwardly, said spring-loading means being compressible when said plunger engages said papers, thereby exerting a yielding spring pressure on the papers.

Claim 3

In a conveyor for transporting a continuous stream of shingled papers, an interceptor for opening up gaps at predetermined intervals in said stream of papers, comprising: a paper lift disposed beneath the stream of papers, said lift comprising a first elongated member extending parallel to the line of travel of said papers, the downstream end of said member being movable vertically so that it can be elevated to lift the papers clear of the conveyor; a vertically movable plunger disposed above said stream of papers and mounted on a pair of vertically swingable, parallel arms arranged one above the other, one of said arms being fixed to a transverse shaft extending across the conveyor above the papers, said plunger being operable to move downwardly to engage said papers when they are raised by said lift, said papers being pinched between said plunger and said lift, thereby stopping the papers thus contacted from being dragged along by friction of the underlying papers ahead; a paper leveler comprising a second elongated member disposed above said stream of papers and extending parallel to the line of travel thereof, said second elongated member being swingably supported on a pair of parallel arms so that it can swing downwardly toward said first elongated member at the same time that the latter is elevated, said first and second elongated members cooperating to form a converging, wedge-shaped space into which the papers are crowded as the conveyor continues to advance; one of said parallel arms supporting said paper leveler being also fixed to said transverse shaft; and means for rocking said shaft at the same time said lifter is elevated, thereby lowering both said plunger and said paper leveler simultaneously.

Claim 4

In a conveyor for transporting a continuous stream of shingled papers, an interceptor for opening up gaps at predetermined intervals in said stream of papers, comprising: a paper lift disposed beneath the stream of papers, said lift comprising a first elongated member extending parallel to the line of travel of said papers, the downstream end of said member being movable vertically so that it can be elevated to lift the papers clear of the conveyor; a vertically movable plunger disposed above said stream of papers and mounted on a pair of vertically swingable, parallel arms arranged one above the other, one of said arms being fixed to a transverse shaft extending across the conveyor above the papers, said plunger being operable to move downwardly to engage said papers when they are raised by said lift, said papers being pinched between said plunger and said lift, thereby stopping the papers thus contacted from being dragged along by friction of the underlying papers ahead; a paper leveler comprising a second elongated member disposed above said stream of papers and extending parallel to the line of travel thereof, said second elongated member being swingably supported on a pair of parallel arms so that it can swing downwardly toward said first elongated member at the same time that the latter is elevated, said first and second elongated members cooperating to form a converging, wedge-shaped space into which the papers are crowded as the conveyor continues to advance; one of said parallel arms supporting said paper leveler being also fixed to said transverse shaft; and means for rocking said shaft at the same time said lifter is elevated, thereby lowering both said plunger and said paper leveler simultaneously.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said plunger is carried by a head mounted on said pair of vertically swingable, parallel arms said plunger being held perpendicular to the top surface of said papers, and being slidable vertically with respect to said head; and spring-loading means extending said plunger downwardly, said spring-loading means being compressible when said plunger engages said papers, thereby exerting a yielding spring pressure on the papers.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2, which further includes a transverse rock shaft disposed beneath said conveyor, said rock shaft having a first arm attached thereto which is connected by a link to said downstream end of said paper lift, and a second arm attached to said rock shaft which is connected by link means to said transverse shaft above said papers, whereby rocking movement of said rock shaft causes said paper lift to be raised and said plunger and paper leveler to be lowered simultaneously; and means for rocking said shaft.