US2400890A - Material handling and like apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 28, 1946.

Filed April 5, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l NM mm:

M E MW W WT Q INVENTOR I A #ugusfA 580/ May 28, 1946. A. A. SAUL MATERIAL HANDLING AND LIKE APPAFA'TUS Filed April 3, l94l 5 Shee ts-Sheet 3 R MN E R y m A :Hu H =5aa.525;5555525" INVENTOR 40305764 5290/ May 28, 1946. A. A. SAUL MATERIAL HANDLING AND LIKE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 5, 1941 May 28. 1946.

A. A. SAUL MATERIAL HANDLING AND LIKE APPARATUS Filed Aprii 3, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 QM, EN v w $1M Patented May 28, 1946 MATERIAL HANDLING AND LIKE APPARATUS August A. Saul, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Miller Printing Machinery 00., Pittsburgh, Pa., a cor-' poration of Pennsylvania Application April 3, 1941, Serial No. 386,651

24 Claims. (Cl; 271-75) This invention relates to material handling and like apparatus. It embodies a number 'of .improvement features in operating and control mechanism which may be employed in connection with material handling apparatus but which are also of great utility in other mechanisms and in the field of machinery generally.

The invention will be illustrated as embodied in material handling apparatus and specifically in sheet delivery apparatus for printing presses. Sheet delivery apparatus is apparatus for hantiling sheets relatively to a printing press while the press is in operation. While the word delivery is sometimes used to relate particularly to the handling of the sheets from the press after they have been printed or otherwise acted upon therein, in the presentapplication, unless the con text otherwise requires, the word delivery is used in a broader sense and applies to the handling of sheets or other material to a printing press or other mechanism acting thereon as well as handling the same away from such press or other mechanism.

The particular mechanism shown in the drawings is a sheet delivery mechanism for delivering sheets which have been printed or otherwise acted upon in a printing or like press away from such press and piling the same; The delivery mechanism is itself bodily movable toward and from the press. Such movement is through suitable control and operating devices and is accompanied by operation of connections between the delivery and press. Means are provided for initiating and terminating relative movements between the delivery and press in predetermined manner. The structure has a number of inter,- related novel mechanisms contributing to its utility and ease and efiiciency of operation.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Figure l is a side elevational view of sheet Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus, with a portion broken away;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal crosstion of the apparatus;

delivery apparatus with a portion broken away;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 1.;

Figure 3 structure of Figure 1 with parts omitted for the sake of clearness and showing certain parts in one operative position; A

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the parts ina different operative position; i

is a detail .view of a portion of the Figure 10 is a fragmentaryvertical transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken on the line X-X of Figure 11;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the apparatus, part being shown in horizontal cross section; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on the line XII--Xll of Figure 10. Y Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a printing press is indicated diagrammatically at 2 but is not shown in detail since the present invention does not relate to the press structure per se. The press may print upon sheets passed therethrough or it may be equipped with cutting and creasing blades or other instrumentalities for acting on the sheets. Adapted to cooperate with the press and deliver sheets therefrom is delivery mechanism designated generally'by reference numeral 3. The delivery apparatus, which will be hereinafter referred to simply as a delivery, comprises opposed side frame members 4 and cross frame members 5 connected together to support and contain the delivery mechanism. The delivery is separate from. the press and is adapted to be moved in a straight line toward and away from the press into and out of cooperative relationship with respect thereto. This provides a working space between the press and delivery. The delivery and press are relatively movable and while in the structure shown the press is stationarily mounted and the delivery moves over the floor the reverse might .be the case or the press and delivery might both move;

Extending away from the press and stationarily mounted upon the floor i a supporting and guiding track 6 upon which one side of the delivery is supported and guided through rollers l. The delivery and track have interfitting portions 8 and 9, respectively, as shownin Figure 2, to insure proper positioning of the delivery at all times and prevent tilting thereof. At its opposite side the delivery carries a wheel I!) through which it is supported directly upon the floor. The delivery has bearing H and I2, respectively, wherein are rotatively journaled shafts l3 and I4, respectively. The shaft I3 is connected through a universal joint I5 with a screw it extending toward the press, and the shaft is is connected through a universal joint I! with a screw l3 extending toward the press. Fixed to the shafts l3 and M are sprockets l9 and 20, respectively. Journaled in the delivery are stub shafts 2i and 22 carrying idler sprockets Z3 and 24, respectively. Mounted in the delivery is an electric motor 25 whose shaft 25 carries a bevel pinion 21. The bevel pinion 21 meshes with a bevel gear 28 fixed to adrlving shaft 29 journaled for rotation in the delivery and to which is also fixed a driving procket 35. A sprocket chain 3| meshes with the sprockets 3t, 23, I9, 20 and 25, as shown in Figure 2. The mountings for the idler sprockets 23 and 24 may be such that these sprocketsor one thereof may be shifted to suitably adjust the tension of the sprocket chain 3|.

The press 2 comprises a base 32 having fixedly mounted therein nuts 33 and 34 with which the screws l5 and [8, respectively, are in threaded engagement. The screws I 6 and iii are of the same size, hand and pitch and the sprockets l9 and 23 are of the same size, so when the motor 25 is operated both of the. screws 16 and 58 will turn in the same direction at the same speed and will cooperate in exactly similar manner with the respective nuts 33 and 34 through which they pass. Since. the nuts 33 and 34 are fixedly positioned in thepress base, driving of the screws by the motor 25 will inevitably result in movement of the delivery toward or from th press depending upon the direction in which the motor armature turns. Preferably the motor is a reversing motor so that it may be driven in either direction. Consequently when it is desired to move the delivery toward the press the motor is driven in one direction and when it is desired to move the delivery away from the press the motor is driven in the opposite direction.

Pivoted to the body of the delivery 3 by a cross shaft35 is a frame 35 carrying one end of each of a pluralityof endless conveyors, as will presently be described. The frame 36 is adapted to be swung about the pivot 35 from its generally horizontal operative position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, to its raised inoperative position as shown in Figure 4. Means are provided, as will presently be described, for raising the frame 36 automatically upon movement of the delivery away from the pres and for lowering the frame into operative position upon movement of the delivery toward the press.

The frame 36 comprises a pair of side arms 31, one of which is shown in Figure 1, each fixed to the shaft 35 which is rotatably carried by the delivery body. Extending between the arms 31' near the right-hand end thereof viewing Figure 1 and rotatably mounted therein are an upper shaft 38 and a lower shaft 39. These shafts are adapted to be driven from the press when the press is in operation and the delivery is in operative position relatively to the press. Mounted on the press cylinder 40 is a ring gear 3! (Figure 1). Due to scale limitations the teeth of the ring gear 4| andthe gearing cooperating therewith for driving the shafts 38 and 39 now to be described are not shown in Figure 1, but thepitch lines of th various gears are indicated by chain lines. Carried by the frame 36 and adapted when the delivery assumes operative position relatively to the press to mesh with the ring gear 4! is a pinion 52. The pinion 42 meshes with a gear 43 which in turn meshe with a pinion 44. The pinion M meshes with a gear &5 fixed to the shaft 39. The pinion A l also meshes with a gear 46 which in turn meshes With a gear 31 fixed to the shaft 38. The size and arrangement of the respective gears is such that when the cylinder ll turns in the counter-clockwise direction viewing Figure 1 the shaft 39 likewise turns in the counter-clockwise direction and the shaft 33 turns in the clockwise direction, the speeds being such that sheets passing from the cylinder to the delivery are carried forward at approximately the speed at which they are delivered from the cylinder. When the delivery is moved to inoperative position relatively to the press the pinion 4?. disengage's from the ring gear 4|.

Mounted in the delivery 3 is a pair of circular cross rods 48 and 49. Connected with the rod 48 at intervals therealong are brackets 55 each carrying an elongated support 5| extending generally horizontally away from the press. Each support 5| in turn carries a roller mountin 52 on which is rotatably mounted a roller 53. Connected with the rod 49 at intervals therealong are brackets 54 each carrying an elongated support 55 extending generally horizontally away from the press. Each support 55 in turn carries a V roller mounting 56 on which is rotatably mounted a roller 51. Each support 55 is slidable within its bracket 54 and is urged toward the left viewing Figure 1 by a coil spring 58 bearing between the bracket and a head 59 on the support. Similarly, each roller mounting 53 is resiliently urged toward the left viewing Figure 1 by spring means concealed withinthe corresponding support 5| and bearing thereagainst and also bearing against the roller mounting. Consequently each of the rollers 53 and 51 is resiliently mounted for limited movement generally horizontally toward and away from the press and is normally urged away from the press or toward the left viewing Fi ure 1.

Disposed about each of the rollers 53 and also about the shaft 38 i an endless belt 60. Disposed about each of the rollers 57 and also about an enlargement or roller 6| fixed to the shaft 39 is an endless belt 62. When the shafts 38 and 39 are driven the endless belt and B2 are likewise driven. The rollers 6| are of somewhat greater diameter than the shaft 38 and the rollers 5'! are of somewhat greater diameter than the roller 53. As indicated above, the mechanism for driving the shafts 38 and 39 is such that the belts 60 and 32 move at a speed substantially equal to the peripheral speed of the press cylinder. Sheets pass from the. press toward the left viewing Figure 1 between the belts 62 which lie below the sheets and the belts 60 which lie above them. The sheets normally rest upon the belts 62 and are conveyed away from the press toward the left viewing Figure 1 thereby, the belts 60 serving to insure that the sheets do not fly up during movement. The sheets are stripped from the press cylinder by strippers 53 fixed to a stripper shaft 64 operated in well known manner.

As'above explained, the frame 36 is pivoted to the delivery by the shaft 35, the frame being fixed to the shaft 35 which is free to turn in its bearings in the delivery. Also fixed to the shaft 35 and extendingtoward the left therefrom viewing' Figure 1 'is'an arm" 65' 'Eivoted t'o'the'arm 65 at 66 is a link ST which extends generally dowhwardly and is at its lower end pivotally con nectedht 68 m a lever 69having a fulcrum 10 in the delivery and the opposite end of which carries a cam following roller H. The presshas a stationary base 12 which carries an inclined cam 13 the upper active surface of which extends upwardly'and toward the left .y-iewing Figure In Figure 1 thedelivery is shown in operative position. When it is desired to move the delivery to inoperative position away from the press the motor is energized to turn'the screws l6 and I8'in a direction which will result in movement of the delivery toward the left viewing Figure l. .The entire delivery including the frameBS will move re'ctilinarly toward the left for a sub stantial distance while the frame "remains in fitted position relatively to the body of the delivery. Such movement will continue until the delivery reaches the position in which the follower H engages the cam 13. Further movement of the delivery toward the left is accompanied by riding of the follower H up the inclined cam 13 and consequent turning of the lever 69 about its fulcrum 70 in the clockwise direction viewing Figure 1. This results in pulling the link 61 downwardly and the link in turn through the arm 65 causes the frame 36 to pivot in the counter-clockwise direction about the axis of the' shaft 35. Thus, as the delivery moves toward the left the frame 36 isautomatically pivotally raised from'the posi: tion shown in Figures 1 and 3 to the position shown in Figured. When the frame is in the position shown in Figure 4 the follower ll has reached the top of the cam 13. Preferably the motor 25 will be stopped by means presently to he described when the parts are in the position shown in Figured, although the parts may be suitably designed toraise the frame higher if desired.

When the motor is operated in the opposite direction the delivery is moved'toward the right, which movement is accompanied by riding of the follower ll down the inclined cam 73 andconsequent swinging of the frame 36 generally in the clockwise directionabout the axis of the shaft from the position shown in Figure" 4 tothe position shown in'Eigures l and 3. Continued movement of the delivery toward the pressis unaccompanied by any relative movement be tween the delivery body and the frame 36 and the entire delivery moves rectilinearly into operative position relatively to the press.

When the frame 36 is swung up to the position shown in Figure 4 the tapes and are displaced to some extent around the shaft 35 The resilient mountings for the rollers 53 and 5'! come into play at this point, allowing such rollers due to the added tension on the tapes to move resiliently toward the right. 'When the frame 36 again assumes its normal or horizontal position the tapes assume their normal position, as shown in Figure 1, and the rollers 53 and .iTmovebac-k toward the left to their normal positions under the action of the springs in their mountings. The structure and operation of the frame 35 and the tapes to and 63 form the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 353,8'7l.

Mounted in the delivery for pivotal movement about a transversely extending pivot 14 is a lever 15 Pivoted to the'lever 15 at itslower end at 16 is a, link H having a hook-shaped end 18. The P s driving ar s s ee diaaemiee eellr i sers l a 1 t eshe wi h a ea 9 fired to a 1 1 t 81; e sd'iiib t9 th shaf 8' is e P Ze iiwh qhme hes wi a a 2 3 fir t a sha 814. Also listed to the shaft84 is a crank 85 to which is pivoted at 86 a connecting rod 81. The opposite end of the connecting rod 8] 'is carried by areciprocable crosshead having a crosshead pin '83 preferably carrying an anti-"friction roller as shown. Th'ehook 18 is adapted to hook over the crosshead pin 88. the parts are thus engaged operation of the press whichis accompanied by reciprocation of the crosshead pin (18 is also accompanied by oscillation of the lever {15.

Mounted irr'the delivery frame is a shaft 89 havingfixedthereto a manually operable control handle 90 which is positionedoutside the frame. Also fixed to the'shaft $5} inside the time is a piniontl. Mounted int'he delivery frame is a are 3 t when fi d a a seem t mesh: in with the pinion 9 l Thus turning of the hanill; causes through the pinion SI and the segment 93'tu'rning'of the shaft 52 through a limited angle. i H

Fined to the shaft 92 is an arm 534 Pivoted to the arm 94 at 95 is a link 96 having an elongated sic-t3! in its opposite end. A stub shaft 98 is mounted in the delivery and has a bell crank lever 99 turnably mounted thereon. The bell crank lever has a generally downwardly extending arm [fill having at'its extremity 'a pin lfli which enters the elongated slot 9'! in the link 96. The bell crank lever 99 also has a generally laterally extending arm I02 to'which is pivoted at I03 en l we r lre ten ne 1 lilwhi intu'rn is pivoted to the link 7;! at H15.

When the press and delivery are operating the cross-head pin 88 lies within the hook TSQas shown in Figures 1 and 3. When the delivery is to be mowed away from the press the handle. 99

v is turned two revolutions in the COHl'ltQIeQIQOkr wise direction, viewing'Figure 1. This, through the pihion 9i and the segment 93, causes rotation of the shaft 92 through a limited angle in the clockwise direction, viewing Figure 1. Such rotation the shaft 82 pushes the linkfifi toward the right against the pin l9! in the arm I60 of the bell crank lever 99 and turns such lever in the countepclockwise direction about its axis 98. This lifts the rod I94 which raises the link I! about its pivot '56 and disconnects the hook 18 from the crosshead pin 88, The link 17 is shown in Figure 4 as'thus raised. In this manner the delivery drive is disconnected from the press so that the delivery canbe moved away from the W3 When the delivery is to be moved back into cooperative relationship with respect to the press the handle 98 is first returned to the position shown Figure I. This lowers the link T1 to approximately the orientation shown in Figure 1 but as thus lowered the hook 78 is not engaged over the crosshead pin 8B. Upon movement of the delivery toward the press the inclined nose surface Hi6 of the link 7,? rides up on the crosshead pin 88;, thus raising the right-hand end of the link T l about its pivot i6. As the delivery continues movement toward the press the right-hand 6nd of the link TI is progressively raised until the hook 1 3 finally dropsdown over the crosshead pin $8. This movement of the link 7! is permitted by reason of the provision of the elongated slot 9 1 in the cases, for when the right-hand end of the link 11 is raised by engagement of the i i ieed ee e eerie-9e. it w the ro sr j d in. 33 ii2 1 p t :04. ts n e ns h h clockwise direction, during which movement the pin IBI simply slides freely in the slot 91. Also during operation of the mechanism when the crosshead pin 88 oscillates back and forth carrying the link 'II with it such oscillation is accompanied by slight up and down movement of the rod IEI I, which is permitted by the slot 91 which allowsthe pin IIlI to ride freely therein during such movement.

Fixed to the shaft 92 is an eccentric I01. Surrounding the eccentric II" is an eccentric strap I 08 forming one end of an arm I09 having an upwardly facing hook IIll at its opposite end. Mounted in the delivery frame is a stationary fulcrum pin I I I. The arm I09 has a lateral projection 2 which underlies the fulcrum pin III. The arm I09 is normally urged upwardly by a coil spring H3 connected to the arm at H4 and to the delivery frame at H5. The press has a latch plate IIB with which the hook H is adapted to cooperate to mechanically latchthe delivery to the press during operation.

As the parts are shown in Figure l the center of the eccentric I0! is generally to the left of the center of the shaft 92. As explained above in connection with the delivery driving mechanism, when the delivery is to be moved away from'the press the handle 90 is turned through two revolutions in the counter-clockwise direction viewing Figure 1 and this turning of the handle is accompanied by rotation of the shaft 92 to a limited extent in the clockwise direction. Such clockwise turning of the shaft 92 swings the eccentric upwardly and toward the right viewing Figure 1. But since the fulcrum pin III is stationary such swinging of the eccentric causes the arm I09 to pivot about the fulcrum pin III and the hook or latch I It moves downwardly and disengages from the latch plate IIG on the press. This severs the mechanical connection between the delivery and press and frees the delivery for movement away from the press.

When the delivery is away from the press and ready to be moved back toward the press the handle 90, eccentric It! and arm I69 are moved to the position shown in Figure 1. As the delivery approaches the press the inclined forward surface II'! of the hook Ill] rides down on the latch plate I I6. For reasons presently to be explained the delivery ordinarily stops a fraction of an inch away from the press so that it does not move quite far enough for the arm [09 to swing back up under the action of the spring H3 to engage the latch i-IZI over the latch plate Iifi as shown in Figure 1. When the parts are thus positioned the handle 90 is turned in the counter-clockwise direction somewhat less than two complete revolutions. This, as above explained, is accompanied by turning of the shaft 92 and movement of the center of the eccentric III'I generally upwardly and toward the right viewing Figure 1. But the lateral component of such movement moves the arm I99 as a whole to the right sufficiently for the latch I II! to clear the plate IIS and when this has occurred the spring H3 pulls up the latch into latching engagement with the plate H6. The handle 9!] is then turned back in the clockwise direction to the position shown in Figure 1, which swings the eccentric IIl'I downwardly and-toward the left. This tends to move the arm I09 to the left, but since the opposite end of the arm is firmly hooked or latched to the press the result is that during such clockwise turning of the handle 98 the delivery is by the arm I09 crank lever 99 to a limited extent in the counterthrough the eccentric I01 drawn up firmly and tightly against the press.

While only a single arm Hi9 and associated mechanism have been described above I prefer to employ two such arms, one adjacent each side of the delivery, the two arms being identical and operating synchronously. This causes the delivery and press to be drawn together firmly adjacent both side frames. The fastening mechanism is claimed in my divisional application, Serial No. 610,974, filed August 1'7, 1945.

It has been explained above that operation of the motor 25 in one direction or the other causes rotation of the screws IS and I8 to move the delivery toward or from the press. The motor circuit is controlled by four switches, one for closing the circuit to start the motor in one direction to. move the delivery out, a second for opening such circuitto stop outward movement of the delivery, a third for closing the circuit to start the motor inthe reverse direction to move the delivery in, and a fourth for opening such circuit to stop inward movement of the delivery. The delivery being in the out position, the handle 96 is turned in the clockwise direction to the position of Figure 1. Fixed to the shaft 92 is a pair of switch operating arms H8 and I I9. When the handle 90 is moved as above described the arm I I8 operates a switch I20 which closes the motor circuit to operate the motor in the direction to cause the delivery to move inwardly toward the press. The switch I20 is mounted on the frame of the delivery adjacent the shaft 92 and in position to be operated by the arm I I8 upon movement of the handle 90 as justexplained. The delivery continues its inward movement until a switch operating member I2! on the press operates a switch I22 on the delivery which opens said motor circuit and stops inward movement of the delivery toward the press. The switch I22 and switch operating member I2I are so positioned that the switch I22 is operated to stop ,the delivery a fraction of an inch before it reaches its fully operative position adjacent the press as above explained. Thereafter manipulation of the handle 90 as above explained draws the delivery up tight against the press.

When the delivery is to be moved out away from the press the handle 90 is turned to the position shown in Figure 4. This is done by turning the handle in the counter-clockwise direction from the position of Figures 1 and 3 through two revolutions. This causes the switch operating arm H9 (see Figure '7) to swing upwardly and operate a switch I23 carried by the delivery adjacent the shaft 92 to close the circuit which operates the motor in the direction opposite that in which the delivery is moved in toward the press. Consequently the delivery moves outwardly away from the press. This movement. as above explained, is accompanied by downward movement of the link 61. Such link carries a switch operating arm I24, which when the delivery has reached its full outward position operates a switch I25 carried by the delivery adjacent the link 61. Operation of the switch I25 opens the circuit and the delivery stops.

The handle controls the motor for moving the delivery, the driving connection between the delivery and press and the mechanical connection or latch for holding the delivery in place against the press. When the delivery is in, as shown in Figure 1, turning of the handle 90 through two revolutions in the counter-clockwise direction releases the latch H0, disconnects the I4I riding upon longitudinal tracks I42.

driving connections is and finally initiates oper-- ation of the motor to move the delivery out. The handle 90 also initiates operation of the motor. to move thedelivery in and positions the arm I and the link 11 to adapt them to cooperate with the press when the delivery movesjin. The delivery automatically stops a fraction of an inch short ,of its ultimateposition and again the same handle 00 simply by being turned somewhat less than two revolutions first in the counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 1 and then back in the clockwise direction to that same position causes the hook Hi) to draw the delivery firmly up against the press, this operation being accompanied by dropping of the hook 18 over the crosshead pin 66 to render the.

delivery operable from thepre ss drive. Thus a minimum of manualeffort isneeded to move the delivery toward and from the press. a

The lever 15 carries at its upper end a gear segment I26 which meshes with a pinion I21 fixed to a shaft I20. Also fixed to the shaft I28 isa gear I 29 and another gear I30. The gear I30 meshes with a pinion l3I fixed to a shaft I92. Also fixed to the shaft I32 is a pairpf sprockets I33, one adjacent each side frame. Carried by each of the side frames of the delivery is a stud I 34. Each stud I34 carries interiorly of the side framewith which it is connected a sprocket I65. Each sprocket I35 isin alignment with oneof the sprockets I36. A sprocket chain I36 at each side of the delivery meshes with one of the sprockets I33 and thealigned sprocket I35. Each of the sprocket chains I36 passes over idler sprockets I31, one or both of which may be adjusted for tensioningthe chain.

Each of the sprocket chains 136 has one or more special 1inks I38, the special links in the respective chains being positioned opposite each other. Each of such special links has ears I39 to which is connected a bracket I40 having rollers The opposed bracketsv I40 are connected by cross members I43 to form a; carriage oscillatable on the tracks. 142 by the sprocket chains I36. The oscillatory movement of the segment I26 is transferred through the, gear I21, the shaft I28, the gear I30, the pinion I 3|, the shaft I32 and the sprockets thenceto the carriage itself. Thus during operation of the mechanism the reciprocable delivery carriage moves back and forth longitudinally of the delivery and toward and from the press upon the tracks I42. The carriage carries sheet handling means including tapes I44 cooperating with the tapes 60 and 62 to receive and deliver sheets, but since such means form no part of the present invention they will not be described in detail. Suffice it to say that the reciprocable delivery carriage ordinarily receives a sheet from the tapes 60 and 62 upon each reciprocation thereof and delivers-the same to the delivery pile.

Meshing with the gear I29 is a segment I45 fixed to a sleeve I46. The sleeve I46 is journaled for angular oscillation upon a shaft I41. The sleeve I46 passes through the delivery side frame as shown in Figure 11 and carries at its outer end an arm I48. Since the segment I45 and the arm I46 are both fixed to the sleeve I46 they are to all intents and purposes unitary. The arm I46 carries a pawl I46 projecting laterally therefrom and engaging a ratchet I56 fixed to the shaft 41. The pawl is normally resiliently urged into engagement with the ratchet I50 by a coil spring II. Upon oscillation of the segment I45 E33 to the sprocket chains I36 and the pawl I49 advancstheratchet I50 and, consjequently, the shaft I41 to which it is fixed, step by step. Means forming no part of the present invention are provided. for adjusting the arc through which the pawl moves the ratchet upon each oscillation of the segmentl45, H 1

Fixed to the shaft I41 is a pinion I52, Such pinionmeshes with a gear 53 which, in turn, meshes with a gear I54 fixed to a sh'aft I55. Also fixed to. the shaft I 55.- is a bevel gear E56 meshing with .a. bevel pinion I51 fixed to a shaft I56 carry ing a worm I59 meshing with a worm wheel I60. lhe worm wheel I60 is mounted loosely for rotation upon a shaft I6I. Integral with the worm wheel I60 is a ratchet 200.. Fixed totheshaft I6I is an arm20I which pivotally carries at 202 a pawl 203engaging the teeth of the ratchet 200. The pawl 203 is urged into engagement with the ratchet 200 ,by a compression coil spring..204. Thus whenthe worm wheel I60, and the ratchet 20llintegral therewith turn in the countereclockwise direction viewing Figure 12 the ratchet. engages the pawl 203 and through such pawlturns the arm 26I therewith But since the arm 20l is fixedto the shaft I6I such turning of the worm wheel and ratchet also turns the shaft I6I. Also fixed to the shaft I6I is a. pair of drums 162,,one adjacent each side frame. A pair of cables is adapted to be wound upon and paid out byheach of said drums I62. 7 One of said cables I63. passes over a sheave I64 and thencedownwardly to the pile support I65. The other I66,of. said cables passes over a pair of sheaves I61 and IEiB and thence downwardly to the pilesupport I65. Thus through oscillation of the leverliijandthe mech-. anism above described the delivery pile support is lowered step bystep 1 Thegearing above described forlowering the pile support isenclosed within a casing 205 applied to the outside of the side frame of the delivery. The shaft I 6I extends .throughthe. casing 205 and has a reduced extremity 2.05 .provided with a pin 201. A handle is adapted to be applied over the reduced extremity v266and engagelwith the pin 201 to turntheshaft I6I in the counterclockwise direction viewing Figure 12, whereby manually to raise the pile; supportl65... When the'pile support is thus raised the vpawl263 simply passes over the teethof the ratchet200sothat the position- 0f such ratchet and .the. worm wheel I60 integral therewith is .notdisturbed.

Fixed to the shaft vI28 is a cam I69; Journaled in the. delivery frame ,isashaft I10. on which is loosely mounted for rotation ,an arm I1I carrying at its extremity a roller I 12 adaptedto lie against and follow the cam I69... The arm IN is urged down towardthe position invwhich the roller I112 engages thecaml69 by a tension coilspring 206 acting between the arm I1] and a pin 209 carried .2I5 pivoted to, the arm .I1'I and passing through an opening'2l6 near the upper end of the arm 2I0. The spring 2l.3 bears between the arm 2 I0 and thehub 2 I25, thereby urging the pin 2! i into contact with the finger ZIZ. r

A lo er operatingrod I14 is pivoted to each of the arms I13 at 211 and is adapted to be oscillatorily moved thereby in a directiongenerally longitudinally of the delivery upon oscillation of the shaft I10. Fixed to the shaft I10 is a generally horizontally extending arm I 15. I Such arm underlies an eccentric turnable cam-like stop member I16 fixed to a shaft I11 passing through the delivery side frame and having a control arm I18 fixedthereto and disposed outside the side frame. The position of the stop member I18 is determined by the position of the control arm I18 which may be moved to any one of a plurality of adjusted positions and maintained therein by means of a spring pin I19 in the arm I18 which may enter any one of a plurality of arcuately arranged openings I80 in a plate iBI fastened to the outside of the side frame. The stop member I18 determines the extent to which the shaft I10 may turn in the clockwise direction viewing Figure 1.

Connected with the jogger operating rods I14 are rear jogger carriers I82 carrying rear joggers I83. Each of the rods I14 is pivoted at I84 to a bell crank lever I85 pivoted to the frame at I 86 and having 'an arm I81 operating a transversely slidable rod I88. The respective rods I88 at opposite sides of the delivery move always in opposite directions, that is, both of such rods at any given time move inwardly or outwardly. Each rod I88 has fixed thereto a bracket 2I8 carrying a rearwardly extending rod 2I9 carrying side joggers I89 and the rear end of which rests upon a transverse member 220 and has a downturned extremity 22I positioned rearwardly of the memher 220. The delivery pile I90 is guided at its outer edge by stationary guides I9I and is adapted to be jogged in the usual manner by the rear joggers I83 and the side joggers I09.

The cam I69 oscillates continuously during opis riding from the high point to thelow. point of the cam I69 such turning will be interrupted when the arm I15 strikes the stop member I10. But since the arm 2 I0 is fixed to the shaft I10 the pin 2 will prevent the arm "I from following the cam I69 down to its lowest point, and the roller I12 will stop in mid air until it is engaged by the cam I69 upon the subsequent turning movement thereof in the clockwise direction viewing Figure l. 7 Through the mechanism above described oscillation of the lever 15 carrying the segment I26 operates the joggers while provision is made for adjustment of the amplitude of oscillation of the Joggers by a rapidly shiftable control member on the outside of the delivery frame. The Joggers are operated through an oscillatory cam and the means for controlling the amplitude of oscillation of the joggers predetermines the portion of the normally effective surface of the cam which operates'to move the joggers. The joggers are resiliently urged both toward and from the pile so that they will yield to any obstruction encountered in movement in either direction without damage thereto. This structure is described and claimed in my copending application Serial No.

' a 386,652, filed April 3, 1941, which has matured into lower end of the lever 15 is in its extreme righteration of the mechanism. When the roller I12 rides up on the high part of the cam I69 the arm I1I is swung in the counter-clockwise direction viewing Figure 1, and the spring 2I3 moves the arm 2I0, and with it the shaft I10 to which the arm 2I0 is fixed, in the counter-clockwise direction, thus moving the jogger operating rods to the left and moving all of the joggers inwardly toward'the pile. When the joggers strike the edges of the pile they are arrested thereby and movement toward the left of the rods I14 stops. This is true even if the roller I12 has-not yet reached the highest point of the cam I69 as the spring and pin connection between the lever Ill and the arm 2| 0 permits further swinging of the arm' "I without an accompanying turning of the shaft I10. When the roller I12 rides down onto the low part of the cam I69 the spring 208 pulls the arm I1I downwardly or in the clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft I10, viewing Figure. 1, and thus, through the engagement of the finger 2 I 2 against the pin 2I I, turns the shaft I10 in the clockwise direction and pulls the joggers outwardly away' from the pile. This outward movement of the joggers continues as long as the shaft I10 continues to turn. The extent to which such shaft may turn in the clockwise direction is determined by the position of the stop member I16. Thus the stopmember I10, which is controlled by thearm I18, controls the amplitudeof oscillation of the joggers. If it is desired that the amplitude of oscillation of the joggers be less than the maximum amplitude provided for by the'designof the cam I69, the control arm I18 is shifted to a position to swing the stop member I16 downwardly. When the shaft I10 turns in the clockwise direction in response to the action of the spring 208 during the'timethe roller I12 hand position, the reciprocable carriage carried by the sprocket chains I36 is at its extreme lefthand position. During operation of the delivery the carriage oscillates back and forth and its position always bears a predetermined relation to the its left-hand position viewing Figure 1.1 However, the crosshead pin 88 may stop in any position between the limits of its longitudinal travel when the driving motor circuit is opened.

In order to insure that when the delivery is to be moved away from the press the carriage will assume its left-hand position farthest from the press the lever 15 is provided with a cross pin I95. Fastened to the cross pin I95 and extending generally longitudinally of the delivery is a pin I96 which is loosely guided in an opening I91 in the delivery frame. A coil spring I98 surrounds the pin I 98 and bears between the pin I95 and the frame. When the press driving motor has been stopped and the delivery is to be moved away from the press and the handle is turned in the counter-clockwise direction as above explained to disconnect the hook 18 from the crosshead pin 88, if the reciprocable delivery carriage is not already in its left-hand position (corresponding to the extreme right-hand position of the crosshead pin 88), as soon as the portion I99 of the link 11 has been raised above the center of the crosshead pin 88 the spring I98 will push the lower end of the lever 15 toward the right until it strikes a limiting stop (not shown). When the lever I5 is in such position the carriage is in its extreme left-hand position. Y I

Consequently upon operation of the handle 90 when the delivery is to be moved away from the press the reciprocable delivery carriage is caused automatically to assume its extreme left-hand position most remote from the press regardless of the position in which the cr'oss'head pin 88 stops. If the crosshead pin 88 should stop at or near its extreme left-hand position viewing Figure lthe spring Hi8 Would operate as above described to move the carriage toward the left. Then when it should be desired to move the delivery back into cooperative relationship with respect to the press the link Tl would be lowered by operation of the handle 90' as above explained. Upon movement of the delivery toward the press the portion wt of the link 11 would ride up on the crosshead pin andthe hook 18 would become engaged therewith, as above explained, whenever the hook should reach the crosshead pin irrespective of the exact position of the crosshead pin and after engagement of the hook 18 with the crosshead pin the relative position of the parts of the drive would be fixed so that upon starting of the press driving motor the press and delivery would operate in proper synchronism. Thus the handle 98 not only controls the driving connection between the press and delivery, the latch for latching thepress and delivery together and the switches for starting the delivery moving motor, but its operation also results in movement of the reciprocable delivery carriage to its extreme left-hand position when the delivery is to be moved away from the press, as above explained.

The handle 90 has a grip portion ltz having an inwardly projecting pin I93 urged inwardly by a spring (not shown). The side frame carries a hollow outward projection 594 into which the pin N3 is adapted to project when the handle is stationary to hold it in position, To operate the handle the grip portion I92 is grasped and pulled outwardly and the handle turned and after completion of the turning operation thepin 93 is positioned opposite the hollow outward projection led and the grip portion !92 released to raising the frame carrying the conveyor which extends toward the press, as Well as the driving connections between the delivery and press, the

mechanical connectionstherebetween and the 010- erating means for said connections lie laterally of the apparatus between the outer surfaces of the side frames of the delivery. Indeed, the only operating mechanism projecting beyond the side framesis the pile support lowering mechanism, but thisrnechanism is of such nature that it can readily be enclosed within a casing. Thus, there are no moving parts exposed outside the side frames of the delivery which might cause damage or inconvenience in operation of the mechanism.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

from the base and position said"portion of the handlingmechanism 1 predeterminedly relatively to the base if the same is not already soposil tioned.

2. Material handling apparatus comprising a movable portion adapted to traverse a predetermined path in operation of the apparatus and to stop at any of a number of positions when operation of the apparatus is stopped and means operable after operation of the apparatus has been stopped efie'ctive to move said movable portion or the apparatus to a predetermined part of said path if said movable portion did not happen to stop at said part'of said path.

3. Material handling a paratus comprising op erating mechanism" for operating on materialand handling mechanism adapted to cooperate with the operating mechanism to handle the material, the handling mechanism comprising a movable portionadapted to traverse a predetermined path in operation of the handling mechanism and to stop at any of a number of positions when operation of the handling mechanism is stopped, the operating mechanism and handling mechanism" being, separatable when not in use, and means operable after operation of the handling mechanism has been stopped effective to move said movable portion of the handling mechanism to a part of said path distant from said operating mechanism if said movable portion did not happen to stop at said part of said path.

4. Material handling apparatus comprising a base, handling mechanism adapted to assume op erative and inoperative positions relativelyto the base, the handling mechanism having aportion adapted to assume positions at various distances" from the base in operation of thehandling mechanisni it and meansoperable to position said por-'- tion of the handling mechanism predeterminedly relatively to the base if the same is not already so' positioned and separate the handling mechanism and base so that the handling mechanism is in inoperative position relatively to the base.

5. Material handling apparatus comprising a base, handling mechanism adapted to assume operative and inoperative positions relatively to the base, the handling mechanism having carrying means adapted to move within the handling mechanism in operation of such mechanism, and means including a single control device for positioning the carrying means predetermine'dly within the handling mechanism if the same isnot already so positioned, and separating the hanand positioning the carrying means predeter minedly within the handling mechani m if-the same is not already so positionedl- '7. Material handling apparatus comprising a base, handling mechanism adapted when operative to be fastened to the base, the handling mechanism having carrying means adapted to move within the handling mechanism in operation of such mechanism, and means including a single control device for unfastening the ham dling mechanism from the base and positioning the 'ca'rrying means predeterminedly within the handling mechanism if the same is not already so positioned.

8. Sheet delivery apparatus comprising a base, delivery mechanism adapted when operative to be fastened to the base, the delivery mechanism having an oscillatable carrier, and means including a single control device for unfastening the delivery mechanism from the base and positioning the carrier predeterminedly within the delivery mechanism if the same is not already so positioned.

9. Printing or like apparatus comprising mechanism for printing or similarly operating on sheets, delivery mechanism for delivering sheets relatively to the first mentioned mechanism and adapted when operative to be fastened to the first mentioned mechanism but separatable therefrom when inoperative, the delivery mechanism having.

an oscillatable carrier, and means including a single control device for unfastening and separating the delivery mechanism from the first mentioned mechanism and positioning the carrier predeterminedly within the delivery mechanism if the same is not already so positioned.-

10. Material handling apparatus comprising material handling mechanism including movable material handling means, driving means for said material handling means mounted separately from said material handling mechanism and connectable with said material handling means, means for disconnecting the material handling means and driving means, separating the material handling mechanism and driving means and moving the material handling means to predetermined position relatively to the material han dling mechanism and a single control device for controlling operation of said last mentioned means.

11. Material handling apparatus comprising material handling mechanism including material handling means; driving means for said material handling means mounted separately from said material handling mechanism and connectable with said material handling means, means for fastening said material handling mechanism in operative relationship to said driving means, means for rendering inoperative said fastening means, disconnecting the material handling means and driving means and separating the material handling mechanism and driving means and a single control device for controlling. operation of said last mentioned means.

12. Material handling apparatus comprising material handling mechanism including material handling means, driving means for said material handling means mounted separately fromsaid trolling operation of said last mentioned means.

13. Sheet deliver apparatus comprising delivery mechanism including a carrier, driving means for the carrier mounted separatel from the delivery mechanism and connectable with the carrier, means for fastening the delivery mechanism in operative relationship to the driving means, means for rendering inoperative said fastening means, disconnecting the carrier and driving means, separating the delivery mechanism and driving means and moving the carrier to predetermined position relatively to the delivery mechanism and a single control device for controlling operation of said last mentioned means.

14. Material handling apparatus comprising a bodily movable portion, mean including motive means for moving'said portion in a predetermined path, a switch for rendering the motive means operative to move said portion in one direction, another switch for rendering the motive means operative to move said portion in the opposite direction and control means including a manually operable crank and a rotary control member operated by said crank and having means whereby upon movement of the crank to one position it operates one of the switches and upon movement of the crank to another position it operates the other switch.

15. Material handling apparatus comprising a frame, an oscillatable endless element carried by the frame, a gear segment also carried by the frame for oscillating said endless element, driving means separate from the frame and displaceable relatively thereto and a connection between said driving, means and said gear segment whereby said gear segment is oscillated, said connection bein readily disconnectable to permit relative displacement between said frame and said driving means.

16. Material handling apparatus comprising an oscillatable carrier, a gear segment for oscillating the carrier; driving means including an oscillatable crosshead and a connection between the gear segment and driving means pivoted to the gear segment and having a readily disconnectable connection with the crosshead.

1'7. In combination, driving mechanism and driven mechanism, said mechanisms being separatable, a driving connection between said mechanisms, means for fastening said mechanisms together, means for disconnecting said driving connection, means for unfastening said fastening means, means for separating said driving mechanism and driven mechanism and a single control device for actuating a plurality of the three means last mentioned.

18. In combination, driving mechanism and driven mechanism, said mechanisms bein separatable, a driving connection between said mechanisms, means for fastening said mechanisms together, means for disconnecting said driving connection, means for unfastening said fastening means, means for separating said driving mechanism and driven mechanism and a single control device for actuating all of the three means last mentioned' 19. In combination, driving mechanism and driven mechanism, said mechanisms being separatable, a driving connection between said mechanisms, means for fastening said mechanisms together, means for disconnectin said driving connection, means for unfastening said fastening means, means for separatin said driving mechanism and driven mechanism, an operating shaft and. connections with said shaft operable upon rotation thereof for actuating a pluralit of the three means last mentioned.

20. Material handling apparatus comprising driving means, material handling mechanism separatable from said driving means, said mechanism including an oscillatable carrier, an oscillatable endless driving element fordrlving said carrier and a connection from said driving element to said driViIlg means, said connection being severable upon separation of said material handling mechanism and driving means.

21. In combination, material handling apparatus, means for assembling the material handling apparatus with and separating the same from cooperating mechanism, a portion of the material handling apparatus being so constructed and arranged as to be generally vertically movable during relative assembling and separating movement between the material handling apparatus and the cooperating mechanism, and means for rendering inoperative said first mentioned means upon relative movement between the material handling apparatus and the cooperating mechanism, said second mentioned means being operated by said portion of the material handling apparatus when the same has been generally vertically moved to a predetermined extent.

22. Sheet handling apparatus for handling sheets relatively to a press or the like comprising side frame members, a reciprocable sheet handling carriage, endless conveyor means and means for reciprocating said carriage and driving said endless conveyor means disposed laterally of the apparatus within the space defined by the outer surfaces of the side frame members.

23. In combination, a pair of mechanisms adapted to cooperate when in assembled relationship and relatively bodily movable, means for relatively moving said mechanisms to assemble them, means for fastening said mechanisms together when in assembled relationship and a control device operable to initiate operation of said mean for relatively moving. said mechanisms to assemble them and operable when said mechanisms are in approximately assembled relationship to operate said fastening means to draw said mechanisms firmly together.

2 In combination, a pair of mechanisms adapted to cooperate when in assembled relationship and relatively bodily movable, means for relatively moving said mechanisms, a connection operable between said mechanisms when said mechanisms are assembled and a control device initiating relative movement of said mechanisms to assemble them and to separate them and also controlling said connection,

AUGUST A. SAUL;

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