Patent GB-190928191-A (GB)
Title: Sheet Feeding and Delivering Devices for Automatically Operated Typewriting Machines.
Inventor: FAIRWEATHER WALLACE
IPC: B41J23/26
Filed: 1909-12-02
Granted: 1911-02-02
Abstract: 28,191. Fairweather, W., [Underwood Typewriter Co.]. Dec. 2. Pile tables; sheet separators; delivery apparatus.-Relates to an automatic sheet feeding and delivery device for use with the automatic typewriter operator described in Specification 25,290/08, wherein a perforated strip 3 in passing over a tracker-board 6 controls pneumatics for striking the keys aod returning the carriage. (1) The sheets 15 are stacked on a pile table 16, which is secured by brackets 19 to the travelling platen-carriage 14. The table carries pivotally a tubular frame 24, which is provided with suction-cups 21 and is connected bya flexible tube 29 to a pneumatic 37, which is connected by a tube 34 to the tracker-board. The pneumatic is of the kind described in the abovementioned Specification, a n d comprises valves 31, 44 arranged so that, when the " sheetfeed perforation 37<a>, Fig. 10, in the perforatedstrip opens the tube 34 to the atmosphere, the tube 29 is put in communication with an exhaustchamber 31, the suction through the tube 29 ceasing when the perforated strip has advanced to close the perforation in the tracker-board. The return of the carriage is controlled as described in the abovementioned Specification, by a " carriage-return " perforation 37<b>, Fig. 10, which also controls a device for arresting the feed of the perforated-strip during the whole of the carriage return movement, the feed of the perforated-strip being re-started again when the carriage has reached the extreme righthand position. The "sheet-feed" perforation 37<a> is in alinement with the "carriage-return" perforation 37<b> so that the suction-cups are placed under exhaust during the whole of the return movement of the carriage, the suction ceasing when the perforated strip is re-started. The frame 24 is provided with an arm 57, which engages inclines 58, 70 adapted to lift the frame at both ends of the run of the carriage. During the return move ment, the arm 57 rides down the incline 70 and permits the cups to drop on to the top sheet, the incline 58 acting at the end of the return movement to lift the cups and the adhering sheets. When the feed of the perforated strip is re-started, air is admitted to the cups, and the sheet drops on to the paperapron 9 and is fed forward by the feed-rollers 10. The incline 70 prevents the suction-cups from resting on the sheets during the line-spacing movement of the platen, this being effected by means of the lever 64 and the device described in the above-mentioned Specification. The inclines 58, 70 are adjustably mounted by means of screws 71 in a bracket 73, Fig. 4, secured to the framework of the typewriter. The separation of the top sheet is facilitated as follows. The table 16 is inclined backwards and the foot-piece 17 is at acute angle to the table so that the sheets are slightly fanned out ; further the suction-cups describe a path which is approximately parallel to the foot-piece. Lugs 62 are provided at the front of the foot-piece to catch the lower sheets. The foot-piece is also formed with converging edges, along which the sheets scrape for a considerable part of their width. The exhaust is strong enough to cause the top sheet to buckle slightly into the cups, which for this purpose are formed of soft rubber and have very thin flexible lips. The constant vibration of the pile of sheets due to the starting and stopping of the carriage also tends to separate the sheets. The table 16 is provided with adjustable ribs 18 for confining the side edges of the sheets. (2) The sheets are delivered from the typewriter to a box 94 on the travelling carriage, by means of devices of the following character. The advancing sheet 60 is guided by the shelf 9 into the bight of the usual feed-rollers 77, and is then directed by a plate 82 into feed-rollers 83, 84 secured to spindles 87, 88, the spindle 87 being driven from the platen by gearing 91, 92, 93. When the sheet has passed through the rollers 83, 84, the bottom edge is engaged by toothed wheels 100, which are secured to the spindle 88 and serve to carry the sheet over the rollers 84 into the box 94. The foot-piece 102 is inclined to cause the sheets to pack into the box. The wheels 100 are slightly larger than the rollers 84. The plate 82 is adjustably pivoted by means of arms 85. The box 94 is provided with a cover 99 which guides the sheet into the box.