Patent GB-190225663-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Sheet Feeding Machines.
Inventor: HADDAN REGINALD
Filed: 1902-11-21
Granted: 1903-01-15
Abstract: 25,663. Haddan, R., [American Paper Feeder Co.]. Nov. 21. Feeding sheets.-Figs. 7, 8, and 9 together show a sectional elevation of the feeding-machine, in which the sheet-separating devices are of the same general character as those descrihed in Specification No. 21,641, A.D. 1901. The sheets are separated and feathered forwards on the table 10 by combing-rolls 36, and a means for supplying and replenishing the feathered bank of sheets to the table 10 is shown in Fig. 7. This consists of a supply table 7 on side frames 8 having rollers 9 running upon guiderails at each side of the table 10. The sheets pass from the table 7 on to the table 10 through a curved guide-way formed between a roller 11, and guides 12<1> fixed on a bar 13 in the frames 8. On a rock-shaft 17 in the frame 8 are arms carrying a shaft 15 provided with rollers 14, which press the sheets on to the roller 11. On the shaft 17 are curved guides 18, which form continuations of the guides 12<1>. On the shaft of the roller 11 are wormwheels 19 engaging screw shafts 20. When supplying a bank of sheets to the table 10, the wheels 19 roll on the screws 20, the shaft of the roller 11 being then rotated by a screw 26, geared by bevel-wheels 27 to a short shaft having a crank-handle for rotating it. The rolls 14 are driven from the shaft of the roller 11. When the supply device is not being operated, the screw 26 acts as a lock for preventing rotation of the wheels 19, and, during the feed of the bank on the table 10 to the separating-devices, the wheels 19 act as nuts for the screws 20, which latter feed the frame 8 &c. forward with the bank of sheets. As the bank of sheets is reduced, the frame 8 approaches the separating devices, and its position will indicate to the operator when a fresh supply of sheets is required. The sheets are gradually fed forwards on the table 10 by tapes 2 on rollers 3, 4 driven by a worm 33 on one of the shafts 20. The shafts 20 are geared to rotate in unison, by a chain 31 and sprocket-wheels. The devices for separating the sheets consist of two combing-rolls 36, each advancing one side of the sheets, until it is thrown out of action by the operation of the front edge of the top sheet. The combing-rolls and their controlling and operating devices are duplicates of each other, so that a description of one of them is sufficient. The combing-roll is mounted on an arm 37 loose on the shaft 38 from which the roll is driven by gear wheels. The arm 37 is connected by a link 40 to a shaft 41 in arms 42 secured to a sleeve 43 loose on a shaft 44. The means for first lifting the roll 36 and stopping its action on the sheets, consists of an arm 45 loosely mounted on the hub of the arm 37, and connected to the shaft 41 by a pair of toggle-links 46, 47. The link 47 is secured to the shaft 41, and this is rocked to straighten the toggle, thereby pressing the end of the arm 45 on to the hank of sheets and raising the roll 36, by an arm 54 and link 53. When the means for delivering or feeding off the top sheet are about to act, the sleeve 43 is rocked to lift the shaft 41, and raise the arm 45 from the sheets. The link 53 is connected to a lever 52, connected by a spring 51 to the arm 42. When the lever 52 is released, the spring 51 operates to rock the shaft 41. The lever 52 is held by a latch 55, Fig. 11, engaging its lower end. The latch is carried by a sleeve on the shaft 58, and this sleeve is rocked to free the lifting-devices from the latch, by means of a pawl 60 pivoted on the sleeve, and a toothed disc 59 on the shaft 49. The pawl is normally out of the path of the teeth on the disc 59, but is moved into engagement by the operation of a finger 63 when the latter is raised by the front edge of the sheet. The finger 63 is secured to the rock-shaft 61, and projects into a slot in a plate 64 at the front end of the table 10. The sleeve 43 is rocked to lift the arm 45, by a cam 48 on the shaft 49, engaging the arm 50. The lifting- mechanism and latch 55 are re-set by means of a cam 65 continuously rotated by gear wheels from the shaft 49. The cam 65 engages a roller 66 on the lever 52. To avoid a sudden return of the latch and connected parts, a cam is provided on the shaft 49. While the top sheet is being removed, the remaining sheets are held from displacement by clamping-fingers 72, adjustably fixed on a shaft 73 carried in arms 74 secured to a sleeve 75 on a shaft 76, in bearing-blocks mounted to slide on the screw shafts 20, for adjusting the position of the clamping-fingers for different lengths of sheets. The blocks are caused to move in unison by gears on the shaft 75 engaging the screws 20, and are fixed in the adjusted position by a clamp 79 engaging a fixed rod 80. The shaft 73 is rocked as the arms 74 move up and down, by a link connecting an arm on the shaft 73 to one of the bearing-blocks. The mechanism for lifting the fingers 72 is so arranged that they are always lifted the same distance above the sheets, whatever the thickness of the bank may be. It consists of a pawl, having a constant throw, and arranged to engage and disengage a toothed segment on one of the arms 74. When the pawl is disengaged, the fingers are free to descend on to the pile, and when it is raised it engages one of the teeth on the segment and lifts the fingers. The pawl lever is lifted by a bar 89 carried by a pair of levers 90 connected by a rod 91, and operated by a rod 94, lever 93, and a cam on the shaft 49. The means for feeding-off the top sheet are so operated that they are substantially at rest when they grasp the sheet, and are again at rest when they deliver the sheet to the front stops or gauges, their movement being accelerated and then retarded. The top sheet is fed to delivery rolls 95, and passes over forwarding-rolls 103 to the front gauges 119. The rolls 95, 103 are geared together to rotate with the same surface speed by a chain 110 and sprocketwheels. Above the roll 95 are rollers 97 in arms 99 of a shaft 100 rocked to raise and lower the rollers by an arm 101 and pin 102 on the lever 93. Above the roll 103 are rollers 105 in arms 106 secured to a shaft 107 rocked by a cam. The rolls 95, 103 arc operated by a pinion on the shaft 96 engaged by a segment oscillated from a crank-pin on a wheel secured to the end of the shaft 49. The sheets are received and delivered when the crank-pin passes the dead centres, or when the rolls are reversing and are substantially at rest. The sheets pass over guides 120, 121 and under the guides 106, 122. The sheets are side-registered by a device of any suitable construction, and this is carried by transverse bar 125 reciprocated by a spiral segment. The operating-mechanism of the segment is so arranged that the movement of the bar 125 may be timed to register the sheets towards either side. The forward feed of the bank of sheets on the table 10 is effected by the screws 20, and is varied according to the lengths of time the combing-rolls 36 operation the sheets. One of the screw shafts 20 is rotated by ratchet gear, the pawl lever of which is operated by a slotted link pulled by a spring and connected to a crank-pin. When the arm 52 is operated to lift the combing- roll 36, a pawl is moved to engage a ratchet bar connected to the pawl arm, and thereby stop the feed movement of the latter. In a modified form of mechanism for lowering the combing-rolls, a ratchet connection is. introduced, whereby the combing-roll is always lifted substantially the same distance above the top sheet, whatever the thickness of the bank of sheets may be.