Claims
- 1. Apparatus for feeding successive sheets from a stack thereof into the input end of a blank-forming device in timed relationship with the operating components of the device, and for rapid changeover and makeready of the feeding apparatus in order to handle sheets of varying dimensions, said feeding apparatus comprising:
- a shiftable pusher element; and
- means mounting said pusher element proximal to said input end of said device for selective reciprocal movement thereof between a retracted position and a forwardmost feeding position, and for adjusting the locations of said positions of the pusher element,
- said pusher element being operable during movement thereof between said retracted and forwardmost positions to engage the lowermost sheet of said stack and push the engaged sheet into the input end of said device,
- said mounting means including
- an elongated, threaded, axially rotatable, fore and aft extending screw;
- an elongated gear operably coupled and in axial alignment with said screw;
- means operably coupled with said screw for selective fore and aft translatory movement thereof;
- means operably coupling said pusher element and screw for maintaining the position of the pusher element on the screw during said fore and aft translatory movement of the screw, and for effecting relative movement of the pusher element on the screw during axial rotation of the screw; and
- drive means operably coupled with said screw for selective axial rotation thereof, said drive means including a drive gear having an outer surface operably engaging said elongated gear for selective rotation thereof and said screw, said elongated gear being slidable relative to said drive gear during said fore and aft translatory movement of said screw, said drive gear having a thickness substantially less than the length of said elongated gear whereby the elongated and driving gears remain in operative engagement during said fore and aft translatory movement of said screw.
- 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including motive means drivingly connected with said drive gear in order to effect said axial rotation of said screw.
- 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said means for selective fore and aft shifting movement of said screw comprising linkage arm means operably coupled with said screw, and motive means connected with said linkage arm means.
- 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including an elongated, fore and aft extending, generally U-shaped slider receiving said screw, said linkage arm means being connected with said slider.
Parent Case Info
This application is a division of application Ser. No. 07/924,625, filed on Aug. 3, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,222, which is a division of Ser. No. 07/835,534, filed Feb. 14, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,899.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0476626 |
Mar 1992 |
EPX |
2403600 |
Aug 1974 |
DEX |
59-133143 |
Jul 1984 |
JPX |
2145065 |
Aug 1983 |
GBX |
Divisions (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
924625 |
Aug 1992 |
|
Parent |
835534 |
Feb 1992 |
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