Sheet feeding apparatus

Claim 2

A sheet feeding apparatus for delivering sheets of material, one at a time, to a given location from a stack of such sheets at another location, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising carriage means reciprocally mounted for substantially horizontal movement above the stack between a retracted position adjacent to the stack and an advanced position in front of the stack, carriage operating means operatively coupled to said carriage means for movement thereof between said retracted and advanced positions, pickup means reciprocally mounted on said carriage means for substantially vertical movement between raised and lowered positions with respect to the stack, pickup operating means releasably engaging said pickup means for movement thereof between said raised and lowered positions, and control means for causing said pickup operating means to engage said pickup means for movement thereof to said lowered position to grasp the top sheet of material of the stack, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to move said pickup means to said raised position, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to be released from said pickup means, thereafter causing said carriage operating means to move said carriage means to said advanced position to deliver the top sheet to the given location, and thereafter causing said carriage operating means to retract said carriage until said pickup means is again in releasable engagement with said pickup operating means preparatory to a subsequent cycle.

Claim 3

A sheet feeding apparatus for delivering sheets of material, one at a time, to a given location from a stack of such sheets at another location, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising carriage means reciprocally mounted for substantially horizontal movement above the stack between a retracted position adjacent to the stack and an advanced position in front of the stack, carriage operating means operatively coupled to said carriage means for movement thereof between said retracted and advanced positions, pickup means reciprocally mounted on said carriage means for substantially vertical movement between raised and lowered positions with respect to the stack, pickup operating means releasably engaging said pickup means for movement thereof between said raised and lowered positions, and control means for causing said pickup operating means to engage said pickup means for movement thereof to said lowered position to grasp the top sheet of material of the stack, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to move said pickup means to said raised position, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to be released from said pickup means, thereafter causing said carriage operating means to move said carriage means to said advanced position to deliver the top sheet to the given location, and thereafter causing said carriage operating means to retract said carriage until said pickup means is again in releasable engagement with said pickup operating means preparatory to a subsequent cycle.

Claim 4

A sheet feeding apparatus for delivering sheets of material, one at a time, to a given location from a stack of such sheets at another location, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising carriage means reciprocally mounted for substantially horizontal movement above the stack between a retracted position adjacent to the stack and an advanced position in front of the stack, carriage operating means operatively coupled to said carriage means for movement thereof between said retracted and advanced positions, pickup means reciprocally mounted on said carriage means for substantially vertical movement between raised and lowered positions with respect to the stack, pickup operating means releasably engaging said pickup means for movement thereof between said raised and lowered positions, and control means for causing said pickup operating means to engage said pickup means for movement thereof to said lowered position to grasp the top sheet of material of the stack, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to move said pickup means to said raised position, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to be released from said pickup means, thereafter causing said carriage operating means to move said carriage means to said advanced position to deliver the top sheet to the given location, and thereafter causing said carriage operating means to retract said carriage until said pickup means is again in releasable engagement with said pickup operating means preparatory to a subsequent cycle.

Claim 5

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carriage operating means includes a pneumatic cylinder and a piston rod fixedly attached to said carriage means.

Claim 6

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pickup means has substantially no horizontal movement as it is being vertically moved between the raised and lowered positions thereof.

Claim 7

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pickup means includes at least one suction cup adapted to be pressed onto the top sheet of the stack.

Claim 8

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pickup means includes at least one rod and two end pieces respectively secured to the ends of said rod, said end pieces being reciprocally mounted on said carriage for substantially vertical movement between said raised and lowered positions, and a plurality of gripping units carried by said rod and being axially adjustably located thereon.

Claim 9

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising an adjustable retaining mechanism including a pair of laterally spaced apart plates disposed substantially parallel to each other, means for mounting said plates for reciprocal movement toward and away from each other, and means for locking the position of the plates at a selected spacing therebetween, said plates being adjusted to be spaced slightly outwardly respectively from the sides of the stack.

Claim 10

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 6, wherein said mounting means includes at least one outwardly directed rod at each side of the frame, and a pillow block secured each side of the frame and slidably receiving the associated rod, said locking means including a thumb screw to secure the rod at a selected position with respect to the pillow block.

Claim 11

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a table for the stack, and means for automatically elevating the table as the stack becomes depleted.

Claim 12

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 8, and further comprising means for permitting said platform to be elevated only when both said carriage operating means and said pickup operating means are at rest.

Claim 13

The sheet feeding mechanism of claim 1, and further comprising a brush having its bristles in contact with an edge of the stack to facilitate separation of the individual sheets of the stack while said pickup means iS raising the top sheet.

Claim 14

A sheet feeding apparatus for delivering sheets of material, one at a time, to a given location from a stack of such sheets at another location, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising a frame, carriage means reciprocally mounted on said frame for substantially horizontal movement above the stack between a retracted position adjacent to the stack and an advanced position in front of the stack, carriage operating means having a housing operatively secured to said frame and having a moving element operatively coupled to said carriage means for movement thereof between said retracted and advanced positions, pickup means reciprocally mounted on said carriage means for substantially vertical movement between raised and lowered positions with respect to the stack, pickup operating means having a housing operatively secured to said frame and having a moving element releasably engaging said pickup means for movement thereof between said raised and lowered positions, and control means for causing said pickup operating means to engage said pickup means for movement thereof to said lowered position to grasp the top sheet of material of the stack, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to move said pickup means to said raised position, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to be released from said pickup means, thereafter causing said carriage operating means to move said carriage means to said advanced position to deliver the top sheet to the given location, and thereafter causing said carriage operating means to retract said carriage until said pickup operating means is again in releasable engagement with said pickup means preparatory to a subsequent cycle.

Claim 15

A sheet feeding apparatus for delivering sheets of material, one at a time, to a given location from a stack of such sheets at another location, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising a frame, carriage means reciprocally mounted on said frame for substantially horizontal movement above the stack between a retracted position adjacent to the stack and an advanced position in front of the stack, carriage operating means having a housing operatively secured to said frame and having a moving element operatively coupled to said carriage means for movement thereof between said retracted and advanced positions, pickup means reciprocally mounted on said carriage means for substantially vertical movement between raised and lowered positions with respect to the stack, pickup operating means having a housing operatively secured to said frame and having a moving element releasably engaging said pickup means for movement thereof between said raised and lowered positions, and control means for causing said pickup operating means to engage said pickup means for movement thereof to said lowered position to grasp the top sheet of material of the stack, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to move said pickup means to said raised position, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to be released from said pickup means, thereafter causing said carriage operating means to move said carriage means to said advanced position to deliver the top sheet to the given location, and thereafter causing said carriage operating means to retract said carriage until said pickup operating means is again in releasable engagement with said pickup means preparatory to a subsequent cycle.

Claim 16

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 11, wherein said carriage operating means includes a pneumatic cylinder secured to said frame and a piston rod operatively coupled to said carriage means, and said pickup operating means includes a pneumatic cylinder secured to said frame and a piston rod releasably engaging said pickup means.

Claim 17

A sheet feeding apparatus for delivering sheets of material, one at a time, to a given location from a stack of such sheets at another location, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising a frame, carriage means reciprocally mounted on said frame for substantially horizontal movement above the stack between a retracted position adjacent to the stack and an advanced position in front of the stack, carriage operating means having a housing operatively secured to said frame and a moving element operatively coupled to said carriage means for movement thereof between said retracted and advanced positions, pickup means reciprocally mounted on said carriage means for substantially vertical movement between raised and lowered positions with respect to the stack, biasing means for urging said pickup means normally to the raised position thereof, pickup operating means having a housing operatively secured to said frame and having a moving element releasably engaging said pickup means for movement thereof between said raised and lowered positions, and control means for causing said pickup operating means to engage said pickup means and to move downwardly to move said pickup means against the urging of said biasing means to said lowered position to grasp the top sheet of material of the stack, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to move upwardly and thereby enable said pickup means to move to said raised position by the urging of said biasing means, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to be released from said pickup means, thereafter causing said carriage operating means to move said carriage means to said advanced position to deliver the top sheet to the given location, and thereafter causing said carriage operating means to retract said carriage until said pickup operating means is again in releasable engagement with said pickup means preparatory to a subsequent cycle.

Claim 18

A sheet feeding apparatus for delivering sheets of material, one at a time, to a given location from a stack of such sheets at another location, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising a frame, carriage means reciprocally mounted on said frame for substantially horizontal movement above the stack between a retracted position adjacent to the stack and an advanced position in front of the stack, carriage operating means having a housing operatively secured to said frame and a moving element operatively coupled to said carriage means for movement thereof between said retracted and advanced positions, pickup means reciprocally mounted on said carriage means for substantially vertical movement between raised and lowered positions with respect to the stack, biasing means for urging said pickup means normally to the raised position thereof, pickup operating means having a housing operatively secured to said frame and having a moving element releasably engaging said pickup means for movement thereof between said raised and lowered positions, and control means for causing said pickup operating means to engage said pickup means and to move downwardly to move said pickup means against the urging of said biasing means to said lowered position to grasp the top sheet of material of the stack, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to move upwardly and thereby enable said pickup means to move to said raised position by the urging of said biasing means, thereafter causing said pickup operating means to be released from said pickup means, thereafter causing said carriage operating means to move said carriage means to said advanced position to deliver the top sheet to the given location, and thereafter causing said carriage operating means to retract said carriage until said pickup operating means is again in releasable engagement with said pickup means preparatory to a subsequent cycle.

Claim 19

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 13, wherein said biasinG means includes at least one compression spring intercoupling said pickup means to said carriage means.

Claim 20

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 13, wherein said carriage means includes a frame and at least one block, said block having a vertical extending bore therethrough, and further comprising a headed bolt passing through said bore and engaging said pickup means, and said biasing means includes a spring between said retaining means and said block and encircling said bolt.

Claim 21

Sheet feeding apparatus for delivering sheets of material, one at a time, to a given location from a stack of such sheets at another location, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising a frame, carriage means reciprocally mounted on said frame for substantially horizontal movement above the stack between a retracted position adjacent to the stack and an advanced position in front of the stack, carriage operating means having a housing operatively secured to said frame and a moving element operatively coupled to said carriage means for movement thereof between said retracted and advanced positions, pickup means reciprocally mounted on said carriage means for substantially vertical movement between raised and lowered positions with respect to the stack and having keeper structure, biasing means for urging said pickup means normally to the raised position thereof, at least one arm for releasably engaging said keeper structure and being swingably mounted to move said pickup means between said raised and lowered positions, a motor having a housing operatively secured to said frame and having a moving element operatively coupled to said arm for causing swinging movement thereof, control means for causing said arm to engage said keeper structure and to swing downwardly to move said pickup means against the urging of said biasing means to said lowered position to grasp the top sheet of material of the stack, thereafter causing said arm to swing upwardly and thereby enable said pickup means to move to said raised position by the urging of said biasing means, thereafter causing said arm to be released from said keeper structure, thereafter causing said carriage operating means to move said carriage means to said advanced position to deliver the top sheet to the given location, and thereafter causing said carriage operating means to retract said carriage until said arm is again in releasable engagement with said keeper structure preparatory to a subsequent cycle.

Claim 22

Sheet feeding apparatus for delivering sheets of material, one at a time, to a given location from a stack of such sheets at another location, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising a frame, carriage means reciprocally mounted on said frame for substantially horizontal movement above the stack between a retracted position adjacent to the stack and an advanced position in front of the stack, carriage operating means having a housing operatively secured to said frame and a moving element operatively coupled to said carriage means for movement thereof between said retracted and advanced positions, pickup means reciprocally mounted on said carriage means for substantially vertical movement between raised and lowered positions with respect to the stack and having keeper structure, biasing means for urging said pickup means normally to the raised position thereof, at least one arm for releasably engaging said keeper structure and being swingably mounted to move said pickup means between said raised and lowered positions, a motor having a housing operatively secured to said frame and having a moving element operatively coupled to said arm for causing swinging movement thereof, control means for causing said arm to engage said keeper structure and to swing downwardly to move said pickup means against the urging of said biasing means to said lowered position to grasp the top sheet of material of the stack, thereafter causing said arm to swing upwardly and thereby enable said pickup means to move to said raised position by the urging of said biasing means, thereafter causing said arm to be released from said keeper structure, thereafter causing said carriage operating means to move said carriage means to said advanced position to deliver the top sheet to the given location, and thereafter causing said carriage operating means to retract said carriage until said arm is again in releasable engagement with said keeper structure preparatory to a subsequent cycle.

Claim 23

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 16, and further comprising at least one rod rotatably mounted on said frame for rotating about its longitudinal axis, said arm being anchored to said rod and being swingable as said rod is rotated.

Claim 24

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 16, wherein said arm has a forked portion for engaging said keeper structure.

Claim 25

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 16, wherein said arm has a slot in the free end thereof, said keeper structure including an upstanding bar and at least one laterally extending pin carried by said bar, said slot being longitudinally aligned with said bar and being movable to a position wherein said bar is disposed in said slot and has a portion disposed above said pin, said arm being swingable in a predetermined direction to press against said pin end thereby move said pickup means against the top sheet of the stack.

Claim 26

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 19, wherein said keeper structure further includes an upper pin carried by said bar and located above said lower pin, said upper pin being engaged by said forked portion to assist in raising said keeper structure when said arm is swinging in an opposite direction.

Claim 27

Sheet feeding apparatus for delivering sheets of material, one at a time, to a given location from a stack of such sheets at another location, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising a frame, carriage means reciprocally mounted on said frame for substantially horizontal movement above the stack between a retracted position adjacent to the stack and an advAnced position in front of the stack, carriage operating means having a housing operatively secured to said frame and a moving element operatively coupled to said carriage means for movement thereof between said retracted and advanced positions, pickup means including elongated support structure and a plurality of spaced-apart suction cup units suspended therefrom and a plurality of keeper structures attached to said support structure, said support structure being reciprocally mounted on said carriage means for substantially vertical movement of said suction cup units between a raised position with respect to the stack and a lowered position pressed against the top sheet of the stack, biasing means for urging said suction cup units normally to the raised position thereof, a plurality of arms respectively releasably engaging said keeper structures and being swingably mounted to move said pickup means between said raised and lowered positions, a motor having a housing operatively secured to said frame and having a moving element operatively coupled to said arms for causing swinging movement thereof, control means for causing said arms to engage said keeper structures and to swing downwardly to move said pickup means against the urging of said biasing means to said lowered position to press against the top sheet of material of the stack for retention of such top sheet, thereafter causing said arms to swing upwardly and thereby enable said pickup means to move to said raised position by the urging of said biasing means, thereafter causing said arms to be released from said keeper structures, thereafter causing said carriage operating means to move said carriage means to said advanced position to deliver the top sheet to the given location, and thereafter causing said carriage operating means to retract said carriage until said arms are again in releasable engagement with said keeper structures preparatory to a subsequent cycle.

Claim 28

Sheet feeding apparatus for delivering sheets of material, one at a time, to a given location from a stack of such sheets at another location, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising a frame, carriage means reciprocally mounted on said frame for substantially horizontal movement above the stack between a retracted position adjacent to the stack and an advAnced position in front of the stack, carriage operating means having a housing operatively secured to said frame and a moving element operatively coupled to said carriage means for movement thereof between said retracted and advanced positions, pickup means including elongated support structure and a plurality of spaced-apart suction cup units suspended therefrom and a plurality of keeper structures attached to said support structure, said support structure being reciprocally mounted on said carriage means for substantially vertical movement of said suction cup units between a raised position with respect to the stack and a lowered position pressed against the top sheet of the stack, biasing means for urging said suction cup units normally to the raised position thereof, a plurality of arms respectively releasably engaging said keeper structures and being swingably mounted to move said pickup means between said raised and lowered positions, a motor having a housing operatively secured to said frame and having a moving element operatively coupled to said arms for causing swinging movement thereof, control means for causing said arms to engage said keeper structures and to swing downwardly to move said pickup means against the urging of said biasing means to said lowered position to press against the top sheet of material of the stack for retention of such top sheet, thereafter causing said arms to swing upwardly and thereby enable said pickup means to move to said raised position by the urging of said biasing means, thereafter causing said arms to be released from said keeper structures, thereafter causing said carriage operating means to move said carriage means to said advanced position to deliver the top sheet to the given location, and thereafter causing said carriage operating means to retract said carriage until said arms are again in releasable engagement with said keeper structures preparatory to a subsequent cycle.

Claim 29

The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 21, and further comprising at least one rod rotatably mounted on said frame for rotating about its longitudinal axis, said arms being anchored to said rod and spaced apart thereon and being swingable as said rod is rotated.