Patent GB-190305692-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Printing and like Machines, in which a Succession of Sheets is Fed thereto.
Inventor: ADKINS ARTHUR
Filed: 1903-03-11
Granted: 1904-03-10
Abstract: 5692. Adkins, A., and Akester, B. March 11. Feeding sheets.- Relates to apparatus for feeding sheets from a pile to printing, ruling, gumming, and like machines. The pile of sheets is placed on a table 2 removably supported on a frame 4 mounted to reciprocate vertically. On the table are four pivoted pawls 5 engaging toothed rack-bars 7 pivoted on levers 6 on shafts 17, which also carry pairs of toothed quadrants 19 gearing with each other, so that the arms 16 all move in unison. The pawls 5 are connected by rods to short levers 9 which may be operated by a rod 13 to disengage the pawls from the racks 7 so that the table may be moved as desired. The racks 7 are moved vertically, to raise and lower the table, by pawls 20 on rods 21 operated by eccentrics 22 on the driving- shaft 23. The shaft 23 is driven alternately in opposite directions, and the eccentrics are clutched to it to move in one direction. The pawls 20 engage notches in arms 25 projecting from two of the quadrants 19, and, in order that the table may be lifted higher as the pile of sheets decreases, the downward movement of the arms 25 and levers 16 is regulated by a bar 26 resting on the pile and attached to bars 27 fixed on bars 28 connected by links 29 to the levers 16. Two suction bars 31, 31<a> are preferably used, and may be adjustable towards and from each other. In the arrangement shown, the bar 31 is fixed and the bar 31<a> is adjustable on guides 32 in a direction parallel to the table, a flexible bellows-like connection 34 being provided between the bars. The bars are connected with a suction pipe 35, from which the air is exhausted by a fan, the suction being cut off at the proper time to release the sheet, by a semi-tubular or equivalent valve operated by a jointed rod 43 &c. from a pin 41 on one of two rocking discs 42, fixed one on each end of the shaft 23. On each suction-bar is hung a loose plate or plates 46, which rest on the top of the pile, and prevent currents of air from passing under the suction bars and distributing the sheets. These plates are light, and move freely, so that they are held raised by a sheet adhering to the bars, and fall on to the pile as soon as the sheet is removed. As the table rises, the rear of the sheet is engaged by the suction bar 31<a>, the front end being held down by a transverse dropping-bar 47 carried by vertically-sliding rods 48. The lower ends of these rods 48 rest on levers 50 raised and lowered by arms loose on one of the shafts 17, to which arms the ends of the rods 21 are connected. The bar 47 is thus lifted off the pile and when the front end of the sheet has become engaged with the bar 31, the bar 47 drops suddenly on to pile. The front edge of the separated sheet is taken by grippers on carriages 58 arranged to reciprocate, parallel with the feed-board 53, in guides 52. The grippers are reciprocated by chains 55, the ends of which are attached to springs 56 passed round and attached to the rocking discs 42. The gripper fingers are operated by projections 64, 65 on the framing. The hoard 53 is perforated, and is in communication with the suction pipe 35<a>, connected with the pipe 35, so that the sheet dropped by the grippers is drawn against the board. The valve cuts off the suction to release the sheet on the board 53, and permit it to slide down to the pivoted front stop-bar 77. The sheet is registered sideways by a pusher, which moves it up to a fixed side stop. The pusher is adjustable on a slide operated by an incline on the end of a bar 74 engaging a cam 75. The front stop 77 is rocked,'to permit the sheet to pass to the machine, by a rod 80 operated by a cam 82 and a retaining-pawl operated by a stop on the rocking disc 42. Or the front stop may . be operated by a projection on the gripper bar.