Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets one by one from the bottom of a stack of sheets comprising first and second spaced supports cooperatively supporting the bottom of a stack of sheets, the first support comprising a rotatable unit and the second support comprising a flat abutment member. The rotatable unit includes a plurality of juxtaposed rollers at least one of which is intermittently rotated to feed the lowermost sheet in the stack to a conveyor. The flat abutment member is adjustably supported for displacement to a selected predetermined stationary position. The rotatable roller is coupled to a suction device so that suction force is applied to the lowermost sheet in the stack in the course of intermittent rotation and the position of the roller with the conveyor belt is such that the suction will be substantially reduced when the sheet has been received by the conveyor belt.

Abstract: In a device for the synchronized introduction of sheets into a treatment machine, e.g. a printer-slotter or cutter for processing corrugated cardboard sheets, in which a reciprocating pusher pushes forward the lowermost sheet of a stack in a magazine between two stops and into engagement with feed rollers, the stack rests on the upper run of a set of endless belts, which upper run extends over a suction box which is maintained continuously under suction during forward movement of the pusher, the belts are driven forwardly to facilitate movement of the lowermost sheet from the bottom of the stack, and belts being immobile during the return movement of the pusher.

Abstract: A mechanism for positioning a control valve for an oscillating vacuum feeder which automatically adjusts the position of the control valve in relation to the width of the sheets to be fed. The mechanism includes at least one coupler member selectively engageable by the side guides which align the opposing marginal edges of the stack of sheets to be fed from a sheet supply hopper. The control valve, located within the oscillating vacuum feeder adjacent the outboard ports thereof, has an outwardly extending arm which passes through a longitudinal slot in the feeder. The arm is captured by the coupler member whereby movement of the side guides will be directly imparted to the valve through the coupler member to position the valve for controlling opening or closing of the outboard ports.

Abstract: A device for taking off slices sawn from rod-shaped material, having a take-off member which includes a holder and a conical flexible member. Between the holder and the conical member an annular element supports the conical element at some distance from its edge. By means of a vacuum, the center of the conical member is moved towards the holder and the edge is moved towards the slice just before the slice has been sawn entirely, and the slice is held by means of the vacuum.

Abstract: Vacuum feeder for feeding sheets having holes adjacent to a marginal edge of the sheets. Removable port-closure members are inserted through and close the feeder ports which are aligned with the holes in the sheets to be transported by the feeder.

Abstract: The inventive ink jet printing system is driven from a repertoire data storage medium such as perforated tape or cards, magnetic tape or cards, or the like, on which the stored data may be changed, updated, increased or decreased, or deleted in whole or in part. The data read from this storage medium is fed into a microprocessor which directs a ganged multiplicity of ink jet printing heads, to simultaneously printout a plurality of lines of type. A transport mechanism picks up and feeds paper, magazines, or the like through a printing station where the ganged ink jets print out responsive to the data supplied from the repertoire storage medium. A number of housekeeping functions are carried out simultaneously, to insure that ink is delivered to and collected from the nozzles of the printing heads.

Abstract: The invention is a high speed feeding method and apparatus for inserting products having a shorter flap portion folded over a longer body portion. The products may comprise single or multiple page signatures, or the like, for stuffing, including in-line inserting of pre-prints into newspapers after they leave the press or for directly inserting into the nip of paper webs where the sections are being brought together as multiple continuous webs. The flap enables positive sequential feeding of the products.A drum, rotated at high speed, adjacent a source of products, includes at least one cut-out for receiving a product flap, as synchronized straightening apparatus unfolds the flap and introduced the forward edge to a high speed nip for accelerating the product away from the source for sequential feeding. Novel conveyor apparatus opens newspapers, traveling at press speeds, to receive the inserts, or to receive a plurality of different inserts when more than one feeder is employed.

Abstract: A packaging machine includes oscillatable feeding means for withdrawing cartons from a hopper in sequence together with pusher means which engages withdrawn cartons and moves the cartons in sequence into cooperative relationship with conveyor means having transversely disposed spaced apart flight bars which move the cartons along a predetermined path so that leading end flaps of transversely disposed open ended cartons are disposed for engagement by static plows and so that a folding arm movable in a horizontal plane and through a clearance notch formed in each leading end flap may engage the immediately preceding trailing end flap so as to impart closing movement thereto. The machine may be readily converted for use with cartons of different sizes by suction means disposed on the oscillatable feeding means and arranged to provide suction pressure during every cycle or during alternate cycles only.

Abstract: A device for feeding sheets to another machine, said device having conveying rollers continuously rotating at the same peripheral speed as the receiving rollers of the fed machine. Gripper devices reciprocate toward and away from the conveying rollers to pick up a sheet and accelerate it to the peripheral speed of the rollers. The gripper devices are disengageably coupled to the conveying rollers to be driven thereby and to be actuated in time sequence with the fed machine.

Abstract: The apparatus is intended for use in conjunction with a rotary feeder having a stack magazine which contains packs of tube sections. The apparatus comprises pressure applying means acting on the tube sections, particularly in the form of laterally pivotally movable pressure-applying fingers, which bear on the uppermost pack of tube sections and are adapted to descend as the stack decreases in height. Actuating means are provided, which when the pressure-applying fingers have reached a position in which they are at a minimum distance from the suction rollers of the rotary feeder impart an outward pivotal movement to said pressure-applying fingers, raise them to an extent which corresponds to the height of the subsequently supplied pack or packs of tube sections, and cause the pressure-applying fingers to bear on said pack or packs. The pressure-applying fingers are removed from the stack in the plane of the tube sections upon which they press.

Abstract: A blank feeding device for feeding successive bottom blanks from a stack of blanks into adjacent processing machinery includes a feed table for supporting the stack of blanks thereon; a gate spaced above the feed table and defining an opening therebetween through which the bottom blanks are advanced into adjacent processing machinery; a reciprocating suction feeder beneath the stack for applying suction pressure to the bottom blank during the forward stroke of the suction feeder for advancing the bottom blank through the opening; and an adjustable backstop including a manually pivotable portion in contact with the trailing edge of the blanks in the stack for maintaining a portion of the weight of the stack off the bottom most blank and automatically positionable along the feed table to accommodate different size blanks.

Abstract: A mechanism for feeding blanks of corrugated cardboard and the like into a printing and container forming machine. The feeding mechanism includes a perforated suction head for moving individual sheets from a stack of sheets into the machine. The suction head includes a perforated plate and plenum chamber mounted on a tubular member which is telescopingly received over an open ended tubular support member, mounted on a hollow reciprocating shuttle. A valve is disposed at the shuttle end of the tubular support for connecting the shuttle to an evacuator and is actuable by a cam contoured such that the valve is actuated each time the suction head cycles. The blanks are supported with their forward ends at the shuttle and at their opposite ends by a universally adjustable support which compensates for warped blanks. A dump valve for venting the shuttle to atmosphere is operable in timed relation to the vacuum valve by means of a linear cam located adjacent the shuttle.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated mechanism for feeding envelopes or other similar stacked articles from a stacked position into a second position where stamping, gluing or the like may be performed. The feed mechanism includes a pneumatic cylinder having a fixed piston rod and a movable cylinder driven by a slide wheel mechanism in such a manner as to create a vacuum at a reciprocating, article engaging, slide shuttle when the cylinder is moved in one direction. When the cylinder is moved in a reverse direction the vacuum is released, allowing the article engaging shuttle to return to the stacked articles for reapplying the vacuum for removing an article.

Abstract: A sheet material seperator device that moves one sheet of material at a time from a generally flat, overlying stack of sheets of material by making contact with the lower sheet and thereafter breaking at least the forward portion of the first sheet away from the stack as the first sheet is transferred to a new location. The sheet material separator device includes a moveable first sheet contact member with a generally flat contact surface around a vacuum contact opening with a leading edge forward of a rearwardly positioned boundary line breaking portion. The sheet material separator device has a following surface positioned to prevent direct contact between the following surface and with the first sheet during the initial movement of the first sheet away from the stack. The first sheet contact member moves in an arcuate path away from the stack to separate the first sheet from the overlying sheet.

Abstract: An adjustable connection between a reciprocating rod and a rocker arm which is connected through a rotatable shaft to a linkage which shifts at least one feeding unit in a reciprocating feed stroke in response to movement of the rocker arm characterized by the rocker arm having a slot receiving a block which is pivotably attached to the end of the rod and which block is adjustably positioned in the slot to vary the effective length of the rocker arm and thus varies the length of the feeding stroke for the feeding unit. Preferably, the slot in the rocker arm lies on a line extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rod when the rocker arm is in one position so that one end of the feeding stroke of the feeding unit remains in a constant and fixed position relative to the device regardless of changes in the length of the stroke.

Abstract: For feeding blanks into, for example, a carton folding machine, blank feeder apparatus that includes a frame, blank support members having rear and intermediate portions that are forwardly and upwardly inclined and front portions that extend generally horizontally; a magazine for retaining the blanks in generally vertical stacked relationship on the support members, including hold down assemblies for resiliently urging the blank rear edge portions downwardly, and front escape bars; kicker assemblies for feeding the lowermost blank in the magazine forwardly, including endless chains having wedges thereon for lifting the adjacent part of the blank and a ledge adjacent the wedge to engage the blank rear edge to positively move the blank; feed rolls adjacent the front of the magazine to aid in moving the lowermost blank forwardly; and solenoid operated clutch mechanism for starting and stopping the drive to the feed rolls and the kicker assemblies.

Abstract: A feed apparatus for the input of a printing machine or the like having stationary and movable platform portions and upwardly extending adjustable guides, the forward end of the movable platform portion including a cavity portion which communicates with a source of suction pressure for gripping an article to be printed, and a guide member spaced from the cavity to form a space through which the forward edge of an article to be fed moves toward the printing machine. The subject feed unit also includes a drive for reciprocating the movable bed portion, and a timed valve for communicating the cavity to the source of suction pressure and an adjustable rod member to adjust the timing of the suction producing valve.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing the bottom sheets from a stack of sheets or inserting sheets at the bottom of a stack of sheets including an air plenum to provide an air cushion between the stack tray and the bottom sheet in the stack and vacuum feed means adapted for contact with the lead edge of a sheet to remove the sheet from the bottom of the stack or insert a sheet therein.

Abstract: A device for downwardly separating sheets, particularly cardboard blanks, from a pile of sheets or blanks, in rapid succession, by suction means, comprises a first and a second pusher system, one on one side and the other on the other side of the pile of sheets or blanks, at different heights. The two pusher systems are moved against respective sides of the pile so as to cause the individual superposed sheets or blanks to undergo alternate, lateral displacements along their mutual contact planes.

Abstract: Corrugated cardboard sheets are drawn individually from the bottom of a stack by two perforated, continuous belts downwardly bounding a receptacle space which is bounded in a forward direction by a gate. The front part of each belt under the receptacle space travels over a suction box while the rear part may be shifted between an operative position in which the front and rear parts are longitudinally aligned and an idling position in which the rear part is offset from the operative position downward and outward of the receptacle space.

Abstract: A transport mechanism for sheets of X-ray film includes a pair of cooperating rollers, at least one of which is hollow, between which the top sheet of a stack of sheets in a loading cartridge is transported to a location within the associated X-ray machine, where it is exposed. The attachment of the sheet of film to the hollow roller is aided by reducing the air pressure therein, providing suction to the film through a slot or slots in the periphery of the hollow cylinder. The drive assembly for the rollers includes various switches and relays, actuated automatically by cams or manually, for controlling the transport of the film into the X-ray machine and for delivering the exposed film to a developing machine.

Abstract: In a rotary transfer mechanism for transferring items from a dispenser station to receiver station including a stationary sun gear, a carriage rotatable with respect to the sun gear and having a planetary gear meshed with an idler gear which is meshed with the sun gear and pick-off arm means connected to and rotatable with the planetary gear, the improvement wherein the gear ratio of stationary gear with respect to planetary gear is 3:2 and the radial extent of the pick-off arm from the axis of the planetary gear is twice the pitch center distance between the stationary gear and the planetary gear. This provides movement of the pick-off arm to and from the dispenser station and receiver station in an arcuate path with the suction cup of the pick-off arm remaining outwardly directed with respect to the axis of the sun gear in all of its travel along a predetermined path.