Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6655681
-
Patent Number
6,655,681
-
Date Filed
Thursday, September 14, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 2, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Davidson, Davidson & Kappel, LLC
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 271 279
- 271 296
- 271 299
- 271 223
- 271 85
- 271 82
- 271 204
- 271 206
- 270 5214
- 270 522
- 270 5823
- 270 5801
- 270 5818
- 270 5819
- 270 5828
- 270 5806
- 270 58025
- 414 7905
- 414 7906
- 414 7904
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A sheet material conveying apparatus includes a plurality of pockets, each pocket including a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket when the pocket is stationary so as to define a set height. A sheet delivery section delivers sheet material into the pockets and a release station for releases the sheet material from the pockets. A reset station automatically resets the pockets to the set height. A method and a sheet material pocket are also provided.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a sheet conveying apparatus, for example, for conveying newspapers, and more particularly to a sheet conveying apparatus having pockets moving on a track. The present invention also relates to such pockets and to a method for conveying such pockets.
2. Background Information
U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,416 describes a sheet material conveying apparatus with a plurality of pockets moveable around a track to accept sheet material from sheet material feeders. These pockets permit for example a first outer section of a newspaper to first be fed into the pockets by a first sheet material feeder, and then an inner newspaper section to be inserted between the folds of the first outer newspaper section.
The apparatus of the '416 patent uses a lift cam 20 to move a semicircular actuator gear 150 to rotate a drive shaft 110 so as to set a height for pocket feet 90 arranged on racks 80. A pawl and rachet mechanism prevents the pocket from opening. The sheet material can then be accepted and inserted into the pockets.
To deliver the sheet material, the pawl and ratchet mechanism can then be released by a trip cam 22. Tracks 80 move to a lower position through a biasing spring, so that feet 90 release through operation of a driver cam 130. The sheet material in the pocket can thus move out of the pocket from the bottom to be further conveyed or to be stacked.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,888 purports to describe pockets moveable along an endless path. Each pocket is provided with two vertically adjustable stops mounted displaceably in a pocket carrier. A guide member purportedly can be set to vertically adjust the stops as the pockets are moved along the endless path.
These patents do not provide setting devices directly on the pockets for setting when the pockets are stationary.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to permit the pockets to be set to a desired height while stationary.
The present invention provides a sheet material conveying apparatus comprising a plurality of pockets, each pocket including a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket when the pocket is stationary so as to define a set height, a sheet delivery section for delivering sheet material into the pockets, a release station for releasing the sheet material from the pockets, and a reset station for resetting the pockets to the set height.
The present invention permits the pockets to be set while stationary to the set height and to operate continuously at the set height. To change a pocket height, the apparatus is stopped and the setting devices for each pocket are changed to a new height. The reset station may include a movable resent incline ramp which is then also set for the new height, and may also include a lock engagement device.
Each pocket includes a lock device for the setting device, the lock device including a lock ring with a single point ratchet and a pawl for interacting with the lock ring.
The setting device preferably includes a height indicator fastened to a semicircular or reset gear, which is attached to a reset cam follower. A knob gear has an outer gear section geared to the semi-circular gear and rotatably fixed to a shaft which can set the height of the pockets. The lock ring fits around the shaft, and the knob gear is selectively engageable with the lock ring, by sliding of the knob gear axially with respect to the shaft. When the lock ring engages the knob gear, both elements rotate together. When the knob gear is disengaged from the lock ring by sliding the knob gear, for example, manually, the lock ring is free to rotate about the shaft, while the knob gear remains rotationally fixed with respect to the shaft.
The semicircular gear preferably is spring-loaded in a direction which causes the fingers to drop to a bottom of the pocket and release. The unlocking of the lock mechanism at the release station thus causes the fingers to release and to release any sheet material in the pocket.
The present invention also provides a sheet material pocket comprising a first wall, a second wall spaced apart from the first wall so as to define a sheet receiving area, at least one finger movable with respect to the first wall for defining a pocket bottom, the at least one finger releasable so that the pocket bottom opens, a shaft connected to the at least one finger for moving the at least one finger, a knob gear rotationally fixed with respect to the shaft and slidable with respect to the shaft, and a lock ring selectively engageable with the knob gear.
The present invention also provides a method for setting a height of a plurality of pockets comprising the steps of:
individually setting the height of each of the plurality of pockets using a setting device on each of the plurality of pockets so as to define a common set height;
locking the setting device on each of the plurality of pockets using a single point ratchet; and
moving the pockets in an loop.
The method preferably includes providing a first set of sheet material to the pockets while the pockets are moving, and then providing a second set of sheet material to the pockets.
The method also advantageously may include the step of releasing the pockets so that the sheet material may be delivered, for example, to a delivery station.
The setting device preferably is spring-loaded to force a downward movement and release of the fingers, so that a setting which causes the pocket bottom to move upwardly operates against the spring-loading.
The method further may include setting a height of a reset ramp to correspond to the common set height, and that a reset cam follower of the setting device interacts with the reset ramp to return the fingers to the common set height. A lock engagement device can then lock the fingers in place. The step of setting the reset ramp height to correspond to the common set height is highly advantageous, otherwise the locking device may bang or damage the single point ratchet, or even reset the pockets to an improper height.
The present invention provides a simple method and device for resetting pocket height and permits for manual resetting of a pocket height.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below by reference to the following drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
shows a schematic view of a sheet material conveying apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2
shows a partial side view of a pocket according to the present invention, with certain elements omitted for clarity purposes;
FIG. 3
shows a partial perspective view of a pocket according to the present invention with certain elements omitted for clarity purposes;
FIG. 4
shows another partial perspective view of a pocket according to the present invention with certain elements omitted for clarity purposes;
FIGS. 5 and 6
show more detail of the setting device for setting a finger height according to the present invention;
FIG. 7
shows more detail of the lock mechanism of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 8
shows more detail of the release station of
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 9
show more detail of the reset station of FIG.
1
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1
shows a schematic view of a sheet material conveying apparatus
100
having an endless track
101
for transporting a plurality of pockets
10
in direction
17
. Each pocket
10
includes fingers
90
for defining a pocket height, an individual height setting mechanism
8
and a releasable lock mechanism
9
for the height setting mechanism
8
.
At a setting area
1
, each pocket
10
can be set, for example manually, by the setting mechanism
8
to move the fingers
90
to a desired height, for example for receiving 10½ inch folded products. The pockets
10
are stationary during setting, and the setting can occur outside the setting area as well, for example by an operator moving about track
101
. Alternatively the pockets could be moved to the setting area, the apparatus stopped, and each pocket set.
After a pocket is set to a desired height, the setting mechanism
8
is then locked in place by the lock mechanism
9
so that the pocket height is set. After all the pockets are set, the pockets
10
are moved to pass beneath a first sheet material feed station
2
where, for example, a folded cover section
6
of a newspaper or other printed product is delivered into the pocket
10
. At a second and optional sheet material feed station
3
, a second section may be inserted between the cover section
6
to form a final printed product
7
.
The pockets
10
can then pass a release station
4
which releases lock mechanism
9
. Setting mechanism
8
, which is spring-loaded, then releases the fingers
90
so that the bottom of pocket
10
opens, and the products
7
are delivered, for example to a conveyor belt
11
.
As pockets
10
continue past release station
4
, pockets
10
pass through a reset station
5
which includes a movable incline reset ramp
25
for interacting with a reset cam follower
156
of setting mechanism
8
and a lock engagement device
35
for locking lock mechanism
9
. The pockets
10
, which are preferably all set to a common height, are then reset to the common height by the reset ramp
25
, and locked into place by lock engagement device
35
engaging lock mechanism
9
.
FIGS. 2
,
3
and
4
show more details of pocket
10
. Pocket
10
has an upper rear wall
54
and an upper front wall
52
, in between which is an opening
56
for accepting sheet material, as well as a side wall
44
. Pocket
10
also may have a lower rear wall
64
and a lower front wall
62
. Slidable with respect to wall
52
is a rack
80
, on which fingers
90
are supported. The fingers
90
are supported on rack
80
by a pivot
96
attached to a first section
92
of finger
90
. A second section
94
of finger
90
can define a pocket bottom when fingers
90
are in a closed position. Rack
80
includes teeth
82
(
FIG. 4
) which interact with a gear
122
of a pinion
120
(FIGS.
3
and
4
), which also includes a release cam
130
. Pinions
120
are located on a shaft
110
rotatably supported in walls
44
and
46
. At the wall
46
(
FIG. 4
, not fully shown to improve clarity), an end
111
of shaft
110
connects to a setting knob gear
140
. Knob gear
140
has an interior surface which ensures that knob gear
140
rotates in a fixed relationship with shaft
110
. However, knob gear
140
can slide axially with respect to shaft
110
for selective interlocking with a lock ring
160
(interior to gear
140
and visible only in FIG.
4
), which forms part of lock mechanism
9
. Lock mechanism
9
also includes a pawl
209
for interacting with a single ratchet on the exterior of ring
160
. Knob gear
140
is shown in
FIGS. 2
,
3
and
4
only in part, with a knob for manually pulling and turning the gear not being shown. The details of knob gear
140
and its interaction with lock ring
160
will be described in more detail with respect to
FIGS. 5 and 6
.
FIG. 3
shows how fingers
90
extend through the front wall. Release cam
130
can interact with a release surface
100
(
FIG. 4
) of finger
90
located in an opening
86
between teeth
82
when fingers
90
are fully lowered, so that the fingers rotate away from the rear wall and release any products in the pocket
10
. Release of the fingers
90
is similar to the release of the feet in U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,416, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
FIG. 2
shows knob gear
140
interacting with a semicircular setting gear
150
having a pocket height indicator
19
, which may include numbers or other identification data next to the shown markings. On one side of semicircular gear
150
is a reset cam follower
156
held rotationally at an axis
154
.
A marking
18
on wall
46
provides a stationary reference point for indicator
19
. The
FIG. 2
setting shows a highest possible pocket setting. By rotating knob
140
in
FIG. 2
counterclockwise when lock mechanism
9
is disengaged, an operator can lower the pocket fingers
90
since shaft
110
is likewise rotated. Semicircular gear
150
and indicator
19
thus likewise rotate about axis
152
so as to indicate the height of the fingers and thus the setting of the pockets.
As shown in
FIG. 4
, semicircular gear
150
is attached to a spring
158
to spring-load gear
150
in a direction
151
, as also shown in FIG.
2
.
An operator selects a proper setting by pulling the knob gear
140
outwardly so as to disengage from lock ring
160
and rotating knob gear
140
, which is rotationally fixed with respect to shaft
110
. The lock ring
160
remains held in place by pawl
209
, and shaft
110
is free to rotate with respect to lock ring
160
. Pawl
209
is in a locked upward position and interacts with a single ratchet on a lock ring
160
. Once the rotation of knob gear
140
, while disengaged from the lock ring
160
, moves the fingers to the desired location, the operator releases knob gear
140
so that knob gear
140
again is rotationally fixed to lock ring
160
, for example through star gearing. The pocket is thus set to a new height.
FIG. 5
shows an exploded view of the details of knob gear
140
. End
111
of shaft
110
fits in interiorly toothed hole
147
of knob gear
140
. End
111
is fixed to a screw
145
which abuts knob gear
140
through a spring
146
. Knob gear
140
thus can be pulled against the force of spring
146
in the direction of arrow
240
so as to slide axially with respect to shaft
110
, however always remaining rotationally fixed with shaft
110
.
Interior to knob gear
140
with respect to shaft end
111
is lock ring
160
, which interacts fixedly through an interior star gear
163
with an exterior star gearing
143
of knob gear
140
when knob gear
140
is not pulled axially against the spring force of spring
146
. When pulled axially against the spring force (i.e. to the left in FIG.
5
), knob gear
140
releases from lock ring
160
, which then is freely rotatable about shaft
110
due to a smooth inner surface section
162
which rests on shaft
110
.
Knob gear
140
has a knob portion
142
for permitting an operator to firmly grip the knob gear
140
and pull and turn the gear
140
. External gear teeth
141
interact with semicircular gear
150
(FIG.
2
). Thus rotating knob gear
140
causes semicircular gear
150
to rotate.
Lock ring
160
has a single ratchet
164
on an external surface, which can interact with a pawl
209
, as shown in FIG.
7
. An extension
210
extends outwardly from pawl
209
, for permitting pawl
209
to move between an upward and a downward position. The pawl may be spring-loaded to favor one position, or to click into both positions.
FIG. 8
shows the release station
4
, which moves pawl
209
of lock mechanism
9
downwardly to a released position as a pocket passes station
4
in direction
17
. Pawl
209
thus moves away from ratchet
164
, by the interaction of a sloped surface
304
of station
4
forcing extension
210
downwardly. Once pawl
209
moves downwardly, lock ring
160
moves counterclockwise (FIG.
7
). This counterclockwise movement occurs because of the spring loading of semicircular gear
150
in direction
151
(FIG.
2
), which rotates knob gear
140
counterclockwise (FIG.
2
). Since shaft lock ring
160
, knob gear
140
and shaft
111
are all rotationally fixed at the release station, they all rotate together. Shaft
111
thus moves fingers
90
downwardly through gear
122
and rack
80
until cams
130
cause the fingers to open and release the sheet material in pocket
10
.
Once released, the pockets
10
are in a position A as shown in
FIG. 9
, with the reset cam follower
156
at a top position. As pocket
10
moves past reset station
5
, reset cam follower
156
is forced downwardly by incline ramp
25
to original set position B. Because the reset ramp
25
is set to the proper height, the single ratchet
164
of lock ring
160
is in the proper position at the bottom of ramp
25
for a lock engagement device
35
to move the extension
210
of pawl
209
upwardly and engage ratchet
164
. The pockets
10
thus are properly reset for continuous operation around track
101
without any stopping or cessation necessary.
The reset ramp
25
preferably should be set to a height corresponding to a common pocket height of all pockets. Reset ramp
25
can be moved incrementally in direction
225
. Thus if the pockets
10
are all reset for a different pocket height, reset ramp
25
should be moved to a position corresponding to the different pocket height. Dotted lines in
FIG. 9
show a midway reset ramp position for a different pocket height. In this case, the cam follower
156
is not moved as far downwardly, so that the fingers are not moved upwardly as much and the pocket height (depth) is greater; for example, resetting the height for 12 inch folded products instead of 10½ inch folded products.
If the ramp is not set for a proper reset height, the pawl
209
will not engage directly at the single ratchet and thus the ring will rotate until the pawl contacts the single ratchet. This rotation may cause damage to lock ring
160
(if the ramp is set too low).
Operation of the apparatus
100
may be summarized as follows:
With the apparatus in a stationary position, for each pocket
10
, knob gear
140
is pulled out and disengaged from lock ring
160
and then turned to set indicator
19
to the desired pocket height for fingers
90
with pawl
209
in an engaged position. The height should be the same for each pocket
10
. The knob gear
140
is then released, so that the lock ring
160
is again rotationally fixed with respect to knob gear
140
and shaft
110
. All of the pockets
10
thus are locked at their desired set height. The incline ramp
25
is then set to correspond to the common height for the pockets.
The pockets
10
then receive sheet material from delivery stations
2
and
3
. When ready for release, the pockets pass by release station
4
, which causes the pawl
209
to release and the pocket fingers to move downwardly and release the indexed or collated sheet material
7
.
The pockets are then reset at reset station
5
, by cam follower
156
moving downwardly along ramp
25
to move the fingers
90
up to the proper height. Lock engagement device
35
moves pawl
209
back to lock lock ring
160
and the fingers
90
in the proper height.
The apparatus can thus continue operating at the set height. If a new set height is desired, the machine is stopped and each pocket
10
and the incline ramp
25
reset to a new height.
“Ramp” as defined herein can include any cam shaped for moving a cam follower in a desired direction. “Ratchet” as defined herein can include any stop for a pawl or similar device to a pawl.
Claims
- 1. A sheet material conveying apparatus comprising:a plurality of pockets, each pocket including a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket when the pocket is stationary so as to define a set height; a sheet feed section for delivering sheet material into the pockets; a release station for releasing the sheet material from the pockets; and a reset station for automatically resetting the pockets to the set height.
- 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the reset station includes a movable reset incline ramp and a lock engagement device.
- 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each pocket includes a lock device for the setting device.
- 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the lock device including a lock ring with a single point ratchet and a pawl for interacting with the lock ring.
- 5. A sheet material conveying apparatus comprising:a plurality of pockets, each pocket including a setting device for adjusting a height of the pocket when the pocket is stationary so as to define a set height; a sheet feed section for delivering sheet material into the pockets; a release station for releasing the sheet material from the pockets, and a reset station for automatically resetting the pockets to the set height; wherein the setting device includes a reset gear and a height indicator fastened to the reset gear.
- 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein a reset cam follower is attached to the reset gear.
- 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the setting device includes a knob gear having an outer gear section geared to the reset gear and rotatably fixed to a shaft which can set the height of the pockets.
- 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 further including a lock ring fitting around the shaft, the knob gear being selectively engageable with the lock ring by sliding of the knob gear axially with respect to the shaft.
- 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein the lock ring has a single outer ratchet for engaging with a pawl.
- 10. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the reset gear is spring-loaded in a direction which causes fingers of the pocket to drop to a bottom of the pocket and release.
- 11. A sheet material pocket comprising:a first wall; a second wall spaced apart from the first wall so as to define a sheet material receiving area; at least one finger movable with respect to the first wall for defining a pocket bottom, the at least one finger releasable so that the pocket bottom opens; a knob gear for moving the at least one finger; and a lock ring selectively engageable with the knob gear.
- 12. The pocket as recited in claim 11 wherein the lock ring has a single ratchet at an outer surface.
- 13. The pocket as recited in claim 11 wherein the lock ring is freely rotatable about a shaft when not engaged with the knob gear.
- 14. A method for setting a height of a plurality of pockets comprising the steps of:individually setting the height of each of the plurality of pockets using a setting device on each of the plurality of pockets so as to define a common set height; locking the setting device on each of the plurality of pockets through a single point ratchet; and moving the pockets in an endless loop.
- 15. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising providing a first set of sheet material to the pockets while the pockets are moving.
- 16. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising providing a second set of sheet material to the pockets.
- 17. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising releasing the pockets so that the sheet material may exit the pockets.
- 18. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the setting device is spring-loaded to force a downward movement and release of the fingers.
- 19. The method as recited in claim 14 further including setting a height of a reset ramp to correspond to the common set height, a reset cam follower of the setting device interacting with the reset ramp to return the fingers to the common set height.
- 20. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising manually rotating a lock ring having the single point ratchet.
US Referenced Citations (5)