Patent GB-190918837-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Sheet-feeding Apparatus.
Inventor: DICK ALBERT BLAKE
IPC: B65H5/10
Filed: 1909-08-16
Granted: 1910-02-24
Abstract: 18,837. Dick, A. B. Aug. 18, 1908, [Convention date]. Feeding sheets.-Relates to apparatus for feeding sheets to printing, folding, and like machines, particularly stencil duplicators, and consists in means for accurately registering the sheets, and to means whereby the impression roller and the counting-apparatus are tripped should no sheet be present. The stencil drum c is adjustably secured by slots c<5> and screws c<6> to a spider c<4> which carries a wheel c in gear with a hand-operated driving- pinion c<1>. A scale c<8> and pointer c<7> are provided to facilitate adjustment of the drum C. The impression roller D is mounted in the ends of arms d and is held in contact with the drum C by springs d<2>. Mounted on a stub shaft E on the framing is a wheel e which gears with the wheel c, and, by means of a link e<1>, arm e<2>, and link e<4>, reciprocates a gripper-carriage F along guide-bars f<1>. A spring f<2> prevents backlash. Secured to the carriage F are two plates G, which extend upward through slots in the feed-table g<1>. A metal plate g<2> with bifurcated fingers g<3> connects the machine frames above the board g<1>. Secured to the plates G is a transverse plate H having forwardly-projecting fingers h forming the upper members of the reciprocating feed-grippers. The lower jaws of the gripper are secured to a shaft I and are normally pressed into contact with the upper jaws by a spring. On the end of the shaft I is a lever J, adapted, at the forward end of its travel, to engage a stop j, causing the grippers to open and release the sheet, while at the other end, a catch j<1> normally holding the grippers open, engages a stop j<3>, causing the grippers to seize the next sheet. The lower gripper jaws are provided each with a spherically-seated plate k<3> to give them an even bearing against the upper jaws. The stops L, to which the sheets are fed by band prior to their being taken by the grippers, are mounted on a shaft l<1> held forward in horizontal slots in the frame by springs l<2>. The shaft l<1> carries an arm l<4> in engagement with a member M, one arm of which is engaged at intervals by a cam m on the wheel e. After the sheet has been fed up to the stops L, these are withdrawn slight!y to position the sheet by the engagement of the gripper carriage, as it completes its return stroke, with the shaft l<1>. The stop L is then depressed by the member M, and the grippers close on the sheet and convey it to the printing-drum. The feed-board is attached to the end of the frame in a line with the plate g'. Its surface is grooved longitudinally and is provided with india-rubber bands extending transversely round the board, and adjustable side gauges for the sheets. The pressure roller D, although normally held in contact with the surface of the drum by a spring d<2>, is depressed at intervals by a cam on the spider c<4>, which is adapted to engage a roller N on a spindle n' in a bracket n on the arm d. In the spider c<4> is a recess n<2> with an inclined face n<3>, which moves the spindle n<1> laterally to carry the roller N clear of the cam on the spider c' and thus to allow the impression roller D to contact with the drum C. Should a sheet have been correctly fed, the stops L are prevented from rising on the next operation of the member m, and an arm O on the member M is thereby alined with a stud o on the spindle n<1>, preventing the roller N from returning into engagement with the cam. If however no sheet is present, the stop L rises, and the arm O is moved clear of the stud o, allowing the roller N to return to the cam and the roller D thus to be tripped. The counter P is operated by an arm carrying a pin p which engages in a notch p<5> or p<6> in the end of a lever p<1> pivoted to the arm d. The lever p<1> is oscillated by a pin p3 on the wheel c, but if the roller D is tripped so that the pin p is clear of the notch p<6>, the counter is not operated.