Sheet feeding mechanism

Claim 2

Apparatus for feeding discrete sheets which comprises a conveyor means having a conveyor run on which said sheets are to be transported and having means for engaging sheets deposited on said conveyor run; a supply magazine means for containing a plurality of said sheets, each of said sheets in said magazine means having first and second opposite edges extending generally in the direction of movement of said conveyor run, means for mounting said supply magazine means over said conveyor run; transfer means for successively withdrawing individual sheets from said supply magazine means and for depositing each thus withdrawn individual sheet on said conveyor run, said transfer means comprising at least one suction cup, means mounted beneath said conveyor run adapted to move said at least one suction cup upwardly through said conveyor run into engaging contact with the bottom one of said sheets in said supply magazine means and then to return said at least one suction cup downwardly through said conveyor run to deposit the withdrawn sheet on said conveyor run, and means for maintaining a vacuum in said at least one suction cup from the time said at least one suction cup contacts the bottom sheet in said supply magazine to the time the withdrawn sheet is deposited on said conveyor run; holding means for maintaining the position of the thus deposited sheet on said conveyor run until after said thus deposited sheet is contacted by said means for engaging, said holding means comprising first and second hold-down means, said first hold-down means being positioned to engage the upper surface of the first edge of the sheet deposited on said conveyor run and said second hold-down means being positioned to engage the upper surface of the second edge of the sheet deposited on said conveyor run; and means for actuating said holding means to contact said thus withdrawn individual sheet as the sheet is being deposited on said conveyor run comprising a first pair of horizonTally positioned shafts, means for mounting said first hold-down means on one of said first pair of shafts for rotation therewith, means for mounting said second hold-down means on the other of said first pair of shafts for rotation therewith, a second pair of vertically positioned shafts, means for moving said second pair of shafts at least generally vertically responsive to the vertical movement of said at least one suction cup, means responsive to the generally vertical movement of one of said second pair of shafts for rotating said one of said first pair of shafts, means responsive to the generally vertical movement of the other of said second pair of shafts for rotating said other of said first pair of shafts.

Claim 3

Apparatus for feeding discrete sheets which comprises a conveyor means having a conveyor run on which said sheets are to be transported and having means for engaging sheets deposited on said conveyor run; a supply magazine means for containing a plurality of said sheets, each of said sheets in said magazine means having first and second opposite edges extending generally in the direction of movement of said conveyor run, means for mounting said supply magazine means over said conveyor run; transfer means for successively withdrawing individual sheets from said supply magazine means and for depositing each thus withdrawn individual sheet on said conveyor run, said transfer means comprising at least one suction cup, means mounted beneath said conveyor run adapted to move said at least one suction cup upwardly through said conveyor run into engaging contact with the bottom one of said sheets in said supply magazine means and then to return said at least one suction cup downwardly through said conveyor run to deposit the withdrawn sheet on said conveyor run, and means for maintaining a vacuum in said at least one suction cup from the time said at least one suction cup contacts the bottom sheet in said supply magazine to the time the withdrawn sheet is deposted on said conveyor run; holding means for maintaining the position of the thus deposited sheet on said conveyor run until after said thus deposited sheet is contacted by said means for engaging, said holding means comprising first and second hold-down means, said first hold-down means being positioned to engage the upper surface of the first edge of the sheet deposited on said conveyor run and said second hold-down means being positioned to engage the upper surface of the second edge of the sheet deposited on said conveyor run; and means for actuating said holding means to contact said thus withdrawn individual sheet as the sheet is being deposited on said conveyor run comprising a first pair of horizontally positioned shafts, means for mounting said first hold-down means on one of said first pair of shafts for rotation therewith, means for mounting said second hold-down means on the other of said first pair of shafts for rotation therewith, a second pair of vertically positioned shafts, first and second vertically positioned sleeves, one of said second pair of shafts being positioned within and extending above said first sleeve, the other of said second pair of shafts being positioned within and extending above said second sleeve, each of said second pair of shafts having a clevis block secured to the upper end thereof and being provided with a spring positioned between and under compression by the respective clevis block and the respective sleeve, each of said second pair of shafts having a vertically extending slot therein, each of said sleeves having a pin therein extending through the slot of the associated one of said second pair of shafts to permit relative motion between each of said sleeves and the associated vertical shaft to the extent of the slot in the associated vertical shaft, means responsive to the generally vertical movement of one of said clevis blocks for rotating said one of said first pair of shafts, means responsive to the generally vertical movement of the other of said cLevis blocks for rotating said other of said first pair of shafts, and means for moving said first and second sleeves at least generally vertically responsive to the vertical movement of said at least one suction cup.

Claim 4

Apparatus for feeding discrete sheets which comprises a conveyor means having a conveyor run on which said sheets are to be transported and having means for engaging sheets deposited on said conveyor run; a supply magazine means for containing a plurality of said sheets, each of said sheets in said magazine means having first and second opposite edges extending generally in the direction of movement of said conveyor run, means for mounting said supply magazine means over said conveyor run; transfer means for successively withdrawing individual sheets from said supply magazine means and for depositing each thus withdrawn individual sheet on said conveyor run, said transfer means comprising at least one suction cup, means mounted beneath said conveyor run adapted to move said at least one suction cup upwardly through said conveyor run into engaging contact with the bottom one of said sheets in said supply magazine means and then to return said at least one suction cup downwardly through said conveyor run to deposit the withdrawn sheet on said conveyor run, and means for maintaining a vacuum in said at least one suction cup from the time said at least one suction cup contacts the bottom sheet in said supply magazine to the time the withdrawn sheet is deposted on said conveyor run; holding means for maintaining the position of the thus deposited sheet on said conveyor run until after said thus deposited sheet is contacted by said means for engaging, said holding means comprising first and second hold-down means, said first hold-down means being positioned to engage the upper surface of the first edge of the sheet deposited on said conveyor run and said second hold-down means being positioned to engage the upper surface of the second edge of the sheet deposited on said conveyor run; and means for actuating said holding means to contact said thus withdrawn individual sheet as the sheet is being deposited on said conveyor run comprising a first pair of horizontally positioned shafts, means for mounting said first hold-down means on one of said first pair of shafts for rotation therewith, means for mounting said second hold-down means on the other of said first pair of shafts for rotation therewith, a second pair of vertically positioned shafts, first and second vertically positioned sleeves, one of said second pair of shafts being positioned within and extending above said first sleeve, the other of said second pair of shafts being positioned within and extending above said second sleeve, each of said second pair of shafts having a clevis block secured to the upper end thereof and being provided with a spring positioned between and under compression by the respective clevis block and the respective sleeve, each of said second pair of shafts having a vertically extending slot therein, each of said sleeves having a pin therein extending through the slot of the associated one of said second pair of shafts to permit relative motion between each of said sleeves and the associated vertical shaft to the extent of the slot in the associated vertical shaft, means responsive to the generally vertical movement of one of said clevis blocks for rotating said one of said first pair of shafts, means responsive to the generally vertical movement of the other of said cLevis blocks for rotating said other of said first pair of shafts, and means for moving said first and second sleeves at least generally vertically responsive to the vertical movement of said at least one suction cup.

Claim 5

Apparatus for feeding discrete sheets which comprises a conveyor means having a conveyor run on which said sheets are to be transported and having means for engaging sheets deposited on said conveyor run; a supply magazine means for containing a plurality of said sheets, means for mounting said supply magazine means over said conveyor run; transfer means for successively withdrawing individual sheets from said supply magazine means and for depositing each thus withdrawn individual sheet on said conveyor run, said transfer means comprising at least one suction cup, means mounted beneath said conveyor run adapted to move said at least one suction cup upwardly through said conveyor run into engaging contact with the bottom one of said sheets in said supply magazine means and then to return said at least one suction cup downwardly through said conveyor run to deposit the withdrawn sheet on said conveyor run, and means for maintaining a vacuum in said at least one suction cup from the time said at least one suction cup contacts the bottom sheet in said supply magazine to the time the withdrawn sheet is deposited on said conveyor run; means for periodically activating said conveyor means, and means for reciprocating said at least one suction cup to withdraw the bottom one of said sheets in said supply magazine means; and holding means for maintaining the position of the thus deposited sheet on said conveyor run until after said thus deposited sheet is contacted by said means for engaging, said holding means comprising first and second hold-down means positioned to engage the upper surfaces of opposite edges of the sheet being deposited on said conveyor run; each said hold-down means comprising a first shaft, a hold-down bar, means mounting said hold-down bar on said first shaft for rotation therewith, a second shaft, means for longitudinally moving said second shaft responsive to the vertical movement of said at least one suction cup, and means responsive to the longitudinal movement of said second shaft for rotating said first shaft and the associated hold-down bar.

Claim 6

Apparatus for feeding discrete sheets which comprises a conveyor means having a conveyor run on which said sheets are to be transported and having means for engaging sheets deposited on said conveyor run; a supply magazine means for containing a plurality of said sheets, means for mounting said supply magazine means over said conveyor run; transfer means for successively withdrawing individual sheets from said supply magazine means and for depositing each thus withdrawn individual sheet on said conveyor run, said transfer means comprising at least one suction cup, means mounted beneath said conveyor run adapted to move said at least one suction cup upwardly through said conveyor run into engaging contact with the bottom one of said sheets in said supply magazine means and then to return said at least one suction cup downwardly through said conveyor run to deposit the withdrawn sheet on said conveyor run, and means for maintaining a vacuum in said at least one suction cup from the time said at least one suction cup contacts the bottom sheet in said supply magazine to the time the withdrawn sheet is deposited on said conveyor run; means for periodically activating said conveyor means, and means for reciprocating said at least one suction cup to withdraw the bottom one of said sheets in said supply magazine means; and holding means for maintaining the position of the thus deposited sheet on said conveyor run until after said thus deposited sheet is contacted by said means for engaging, said holding means comprising first and second hold-down means positioned to engage the upper surfaces of opposite edges of the sheet being deposited on said conveyor run; each said hold-down means comprising a first shaft, a hold-down bar, means mounting said hold-down bar on said first shaft for rotation therewith, a second shaft, means for longitudinally moving said second shaft responsive to the vertical movement of said at least one suction cup, and means responsive to the longitudinal movement of said second shaft for rotating said first shaft and the associated hold-down bar.

Claim 7

Apparatus for feeding discrete sheets which comprises a conveyor means having a conveyor run on which said sheets are to be transported and having means for engaging sheets deposited on said conveyor run; a supply magazine means for containing a plurality of said sheets, means for mounting said supply magazine means over said conveyor run; transfer means for successively withdrawing individual sheets from said supply magazine means and for depositing each thus withdrawn individual sheet on said conveyor run, said transfer means comprising at least one suction cup, means mounted beneath said conveyor run adapted to move said at least one suction cup upwardly through said conveyor run into engaging contact with the bottom one of said sheets in said supply magazine means and then to return said at least one suction cup downwardly through said conveyor run to deposit the withdrawn sheet on said conveyor run, and means for maintaining a vacuum in said at least one suction cup from the time said at least one suction cup contacts the bottom sheet in said supply magazine to the time the withdrawn sheet is deposited on said conveyor run; means for periodically activating said conveyor means, and means for reciprocating said at least one suction cup to withdraw the bottom one of said sheets in said supply magazine means; and holding means for maintaining the position of the thus deposited sheet on said conveyor run until after said thus deposited sheet is contacted by said means for engaging, said holding means comprising first and second hold-down means positioned to engage the upper surfaces of opposite edges of the sheet being deposited on said conveyor run; each said hold-down means comprising a first shaft, a hold-down bar, means mounting said hold-down bar on said first shaft for rotation therewith, a second shaft, means for longitudinally moving said second shaft responsive to the vertical movement of said at least one suction cup, and means responsive to the longitudinal movement of said second shaft for rotating said first shaft and the associated hold-down bar.

Claim 8

Apparatus for feeding discrete sheets which comprises a conveyor means having a conveyor run on which said sheets are to be transported and having means for engaging sheets deposited on said conveyor run; a supply magazine means for containing a plurality of said sheets, means for mounting said supply magazine means over said conveyor run; transfer means for successively withdrawing individual sheets from said supply magazine means and for depositing each thus withdrawn individual sheet on said conveyor run, said transfer means comprising at least one suction cup, means mounted beneath said conveyor run adapted to move said at least one suction cup upwardly through said conveyor run into engaging contact with the bottom one of said sheets in said supply magazine means and then to return said at least one suction cup downwardly through said conveyor run to deposit the withdrawn sheet on said conveyor run, and means for maintaining a vacuum in said at least one suction cup from the time said at least one suction cup contacts the bottom sheet in said supply magazine to the time the withdrawn sheet is deposited on said conveyor run; means for periodically activating said conveyor means, and means for reciprocating said at least one suction cup to withdraw the bottom one of said sheets in said supply magazine means; and holding means for maintaining the position of the thus deposited sheet on said conveyor run until after said thus deposited sheet is contacted by said means for engaging, said holding means comprising first and second hold-down means positioned to engage the upper surfaces of opposite edges of the sheet being deposited on said conveyor run; each said hold-down means comprising a first shaft, a hold-down bar, means mounting said hold-down bar on said first shaft for rotation therewith, a second shaft, means for longitudinally moving said second shaft responsive to the vertical movement of said at least one suction cup, and means responsive to the longitudinal movement of said second shaft for rotating said first shaft and the associated hold-down bar.

Claim 9

Apparatus for feeding discrete sheets which comprises a conveyor means having a conveyor run on which said sheets are to be transported and having means for engaging sheets deposited on said conveyor run; a supply magazine means for containing a plurality of said sheets, each of said sheets in said magazine means having first and second opposite edges extending generally in the direction of movement of said conveyor run; transfer means for successively withdrawing individual sheets from said supply magazine means and for depositing each thus withdrawn individual sheet on said conveyor run; holding means for maintaining the position of the thus deposited sheet on said conveyor run until after said thus deposited sheet is contacted by said means for engaging, said holding means comprising first and second hold-down means, said first hold-down means being positioned to engage the upper surface of the first edge of the sheet deposited on said conveyor run and said second hold-down means being positioned to engage the upper surface of the second edge of the sheet deposited on said conveyor run; and means for actuating said holding means to contact said thus withdrawn individual sheet as the sheet is being deposited on said conveyor run comprising a first pair of horizontally positioned shafts, means for mounting said first hold-down means on one of said first pair of shafts for rotation therewith, means for mounting said second hold-down means on the other of said first pair of shafts for rotation therewith, a second pair of vertically positioned shafts, first and second vertically positioned sleeves, one of said second pair of shafts being positioned within and exTending above said first sleeve, the other of said second pair of shafts being positioned within and extending above said second sleeve, each of said second pair of shafts having a clevis block secured to the upper end thereof and being provided with a spring positioned between and under compression by the respective clevis block and the respective sleeve, each of said second pair of shafts having a vertically extending slot therein, each of said sleeves having a pin therein extending through the slot of the associated one of said second pair of shafts to permit relative motion between each of said sleeves and the associated vertical shaft to the extent of the slot in the associated vertical shaft, means responsive to the generally vertical movement of one of said clevis blocks for rotating said one of said first pair of shafts, means responsive to the generally vertical movement of the other of said clevis blocks for rotating said other of said first pair of shafts, and means for moving said first and second sleeves at least generally vertically responsive to the vertical movement of said transfer means

Claim 10

Apparatus for feeding discrete sheets which comprises a conveyor means having a conveyor run on which said sheets are to be transported and having means for engaging sheets deposited on said conveyor run; a supply magazine means for containing a plurality of said sheets, each of said sheets in said magazine means having first and second opposite edges extending generally in the direction of movement of said conveyor run; transfer means for successively withdrawing individual sheets from said supply magazine means and for depositing each thus withdrawn individual sheet on said conveyor run; holding means for maintaining the position of the thus deposited sheet on said conveyor run until after said thus deposited sheet is contacted by said means for engaging, said holding means comprising first and second hold-down means, said first hold-down means being positioned to engage the upper surface of the first edge of the sheet deposited on said conveyor run and said second hold-down means being positioned to engage the upper surface of the second edge of the sheet deposited on said conveyor run; and means for actuating said holding means to contact said thus withdrawn individual sheet as the sheet is being deposited on said conveyor run comprising a first pair of horizontally positioned shafts, means for mounting said first hold-down means on one of said first pair of shafts for rotation therewith, means for mounting said second hold-down means on the other of said first pair of shafts for rotation therewith, a second pair of vertically positioned shafts, first and second vertically positioned sleeves, one of said second pair of shafts being positioned within and exTending above said first sleeve, the other of said second pair of shafts being positioned within and extending above said second sleeve, each of said second pair of shafts having a clevis block secured to the upper end thereof and being provided with a spring positioned between and under compression by the respective clevis block and the respective sleeve, each of said second pair of shafts having a vertically extending slot therein, each of said sleeves having a pin therein extending through the slot of the associated one of said second pair of shafts to permit relative motion between each of said sleeves and the associated vertical shaft to the extent of the slot in the associated vertical shaft, means responsive to the generally vertical movement of one of said clevis blocks for rotating said one of said first pair of shafts, means responsive to the generally vertical movement of the other of said clevis blocks for rotating said other of said first pair of shafts, and means for moving said first and second sleeves at least generally vertically responsive to the vertical movement of said transfer means

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for periodically activating said conveyor means, and means for actuating said transfer means during the time said conveyor means is inactive.

Claim 12

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further comprising means for periodically activating said conveyor means, and means for reciprocating said at least one suction cup to withdraw the bottom one of said sheets in said supply magazine means and to deposit the withdrawn sheet on said conveyor run during the time said conveyor means is inactive, said conveyor means being provided with means for engaging a deposited sheet upon activation of said conveyor means.