Patent GB-189921485-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Feeding Sheets of Paper and the like to Printing Presses and similar Machines.
Filed: 1899-10-27
Granted: 1900-01-06
Abstract: 21,485. Lake, H. H., [Standard Machinery Co.]. Oct. 27. Feeding sheets.- Relates to machines in which a bank of feathered sheets 2, Fig. 7, is fed from an upper table through a throat formed between the guides 5 and feed-wheels 4 on to a feed-table 1, and from this the sheets are fed to the printing - machine cylinder &c. A by combing- rollers 10 and feedrollers 11, 12. In order to give access to the feeding &c. devices, the upper or supply table is formed in two sections 112 and 113, the latter being pivoted at 115 to the standards 30 mounted upon the rear portion 121 of the lower table. The section 113 is pivoted at each side at 117 to a supporting-brace 116 pivoted to a link 118 which is in turn pivoted to the standard 30. The section 112 is pivoted at 117 to the section 113, and is provided with extensions 120 which engage the braces 116. The section 112 may be thrown up on its pivots 117, as shown by dotted lines, without disturbing the sheets in the throat. The section 113 may also be turned upon its pivots 115. The rear portion 121 of the lower table is mounted to slide laterally, and is movable by a screw 126 so that it and the sheets may be adjusted laterally and in relation to the side registering-devices 4<a>. The part 1 of the table may be pivoted as at 127 to the frame 123 on which the rear part 121 slides laterally. The combing-rolls 10 are arranged, one at each side of the machine, on arms 16 pivoted on a constantly-running shaft 17 geared to the rolls 10. The combing-rolls are thrown into and out of action by a toggle &c. the shaft 18 of which is operated by an arm 27 connected by a rod 25 to a slide 24, Fig. 3. The slide 24 is moved forward at regular intervals to throw the combing-rolls into action, by a cam 33 on a shaft 32, which engages the roll 34 on the slide. A spring draws back the slide when it is released. The slide when moved forward is held in this position until released by the action of the front edge of the sheet, by an electromagnet attracting an armature 37 carried by a frame 38 pivoted on a sleeve on the shaft 32. The armature frame 38 is connected by a rod 39<a> to an arm 40 pivoted at 41 and having a slot 42 engaging a pin 43 on the slide 24. The magnet is disc-shaped and centered at 32 so that the armature 37 may slide over its periphery when the magnet is de-energized. Its electric circuit includes the wires a, b, generator B, contact-breaker 44, 45 operated by the sheet engaging the finger 45<a>, and contact-breaker 46, 47. The contact 47 is made and broken by an arm 51 pivoted at 50 and operated by an arm 49 and cam 48. The cam 48 keeps the circuit broken until the combing-rolls are lowered on to the sheets, when it permits the finger 47 to close the circuit. The circuit is broken when the front edge of the sheet reaches the device 45<a>, and the combing-rolls are then lifted by the retraction of the slide 24 when the armature 37 is released. The distance each top sheet has to be fed depends upon the feathering of the sheets or upon the distance between the edges of successive sheets, and this again depends upon the feed of the bank of sheets by the feed-rollers 4 and endless bands 7 &c. The operation of the feed-rolls 4 is varied according to the length of time the combing-rollers 10 operate, which depends upon the distance the top sheet has to be fed. The rollers 4 are driven by gearing actuated by a ratchet-wheel 62 and pawl 63 on a lever 64, operated by a rod 65 and crank 66 on the shaft 32. The action of the pawl 62 is controlled by a guard 68 pivoted on the shaft 61 and having a weighted extension 70 resting on a pin 71 on the lever 64. The guard 68 lifts the pawl 63 and keeps it lifted so long as the weight 70 can move with the pin 71 and lever 64. The guard and weight 70 are stopped, to permit the pawl to engage and move the wheel 62, by a pawl 74 operated by an arm 75 and cam surface 76 on the slide 24. In another arrangement for controlling the feed of the sheet by the rollers 4. the latter are driven by a train of gearing the action of which is varied by a rotating part thereof having armatures moving over a disc-shaped magnet in a circuit broken and closed by a contact controlled by a notch in the slide. When the magnet is energized, the armatures and rotating part carrying them are stopped, and the feed of the sheets is varied when necessary according to the length of time the combing-rolls are in action.