Patent GB-190816887-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Sheet-feeding Apparatus.
Inventor: FREEMAN RUFUS ALGERNON
Filed: 1908-08-11
Granted: 1909-07-29
Abstract: 16,887. Freeman, R. A. Oct. 1, 1907, [date applied for under Section 91 of Patents &c. Act, 1907]. Feeding sheets.- The pile of sheets 1 is placed on a table 2 carried by chains 55 which pass around sprocketwheels 56 and are actuated at intervals determined by a feeler resting on the top of the pile by gearing from a ratchet - wheel 57. A coacting pawl 58 is mounted on a rod 70, which is reciprocated by a cam 72 and spring 71 except when it is prevented from returning into contact with the cam 72 by the engagement of the finger 73 with pawl 69. The pawl 69 is connected by a rod 68 to a bell-crank 65 on a shaft 64, which carries an arm 63 engaging with a vertical rod 60 supporting a roller 59 resting on the top of the pile. The roller 59 is intermittently depressed on to the pile, against the action of a spring encircling the shaft 64. by a link 66, connected to a lever 8 oscillated by a cam 9. As soon as the pile falls below a certain level, the roller 59 falls so far that the pawl 69 is disengaged from the finger 73 allowing the pawl 58 to recede and engage the next tooth of the wheel 57. The separating - means comprise combing-devices 10 at the back and feeding-off rolls 34 at the front of the pile, mounted respectively on shafts 23, 23<1> in a carriage 20 reciprocated along guides 22 in the main frame by a link 24, lever 25, and eccentric 26. The combing-device 10 consists of a number of rollers freely mounted in a frame, which is carried by a lever 13 pivoted to an arm 14 and is pressed on the pile by adjustable springs 15, 17. The combing-device 10 is adjusted longitudinally of the carriage 20 by means of bevel-gearing 31 and screws 30 engaging lugs 29 on the ends of the shaft 23. The levers 13 carrying the combing-devices, and the levers 35 carrying the rolls 34, are provided respectively with rolls 28, 41 adapted to engage adjustable cam-surfaces 27, 42, on opposite sides of the freely-sliding bar 44. This bar is carried along during the forward motion of the carriage 20 by the grip of the rolls 28, 41, until it is arrested by a stop 46 engaging shoulders thereon, after which the rolls ride on to the camsurfaces 27, 42 and lift the feeding-means. The feeding-off rolls 34 are of rubber, and are freely mounted in slotted arms 35 provided with sharp edges, which, during the forward motion of the arms 35, engage the roll 34 and stop its rotation. The roll 34 rotates freely on the return movement of the arm. During the return motion the rolls 28, 41, which contact with the cam-surfaces and so hold the feeding-means 10, 34 out of action, carry the bar 44 backwards until it is arrested by the stop 46. The rolls 28, 41 then run off the cams and allow the feeding-devices to again engage the pile ready to feed another sheet. In front of the combing-devices are located friction pads 48, adjustable by means of screws 53 and pressed on to the pile by adjustable springs 51. The feeding action may be arrested by turning down a stop 77 to engage and' arrest the bar 44, so that the rollers 28, 41 ride continually on the cams 27, 42 and hold the feeding-devices out of action. Should more than one sheet be fed off, a sector 75 is moved causing a detent 74 to engage the bar 44 and arrest the feed. After being separated, the sheet is conveyed by a drop roller 5 operated by levers 6, 8 and a cam 9 on to a series of tapes, which deliver it to the machine.