Patent GB-268021-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to sheet-feeding mechanism and machines, for instance, duplicators provided therewith
IPC: B41L39/06
Filed: 1925-12-21
Abstract: 268,021. Gestetner, S., and Gestetner, Ltd., D. Dec. 21, 1925. Counting - apparatus; counters actuated by reciprocating mechanism; stop-mechanism; transfermechanism. - Sheetfeeding mechanism for stencil duplicating or other machines is constructed with counting- mechanism which can be set to co-operate with stopping - mechanism to stop the machine when a predetermined number of sheets has been fed thereby. The invention is described in connection with a duplicating-machine having sheet-feeding mechanism as described in Specification 266,773, [Class 100 (ii), Printing processes &c.], in which the sheets are fed by reciprocating pads 20, and the raising of the impression-roller carrier 56 to printing position is controlled by the presence of a sheet. The mechanism for raising the carrier comprises a reciprocating link 63, the lower end of which in the normal action of the machine acts on a pallet 74 on a bell-crank lever 75, which operates simultaneously two counting- mechanisms by reciprocating a member 81. An extension 116 on the carrier normally passes through a slot 118 in an extension 117 of the pallet 74, but if a sheet is not fed the extension 116 engages the extension 117 and the counting device is not operated. One of the counting- mechanisms comprises a series of discs 90 operated from a ratchet 86 on the spindle of the " units " disc rotated by a projection 85, Fig. 2, on the reciprocating member 81. The transfer mechanism comprises vertical spindles 84<a> - - 84f mounted on a stepped plate 83, each of the spindles except the last being provided with a wheel having one tooth and also a wheel having ten teeth. The discs 90 are fitted with an apertured cover through which an indication of the total number of sheets fed can be read. The second counting-mechanism is set to agree with the number of sheets required to be fed by means of knurled wheels 102<a> - - 102<d>, which operate spindles 98<a> - - 98<d>, fitted with number discs 99<a> - - 99<d>. The discs are returned to zero position by a lever 94 pivoted at 91 to the member 81. and controlled by a spring 95 and by a fixed inclined slot 92 in which the pin 91 engages. The lever 94 is reciprocated for each reciprocation of the member 81, and a ratchet 99<a> on the units spindle is normally operated by a projection 96<a> on lever 94. At every complete revolution of disc 99<a> a deep ratchet tooth permits a second projection 96<b> to operate the " tens " disc, the lever 94 being fitted with as many teeth 96<a> - - 96d as there are discs 99. When the discs 99<a> - - 99<d> all return to zero a projection 103 on the last disc releases a slide 105, which is normally pulled towards the left, Fig. 2, by a spring 108, from the restraining action of a pin 106, by moving the slide angularly about a pin 160<a>, thus moving the pin out of a narrow slot at rightangles to a slot 107. The slide 105 thus moves to the left, and it is coupled by a slot 108 to a lever 111 fitted with a cam which is caused to move into the path of the pin of a pin-clutchconnecting the shaft 10 of the feed mechanism to a gear-wheel 9 driven from the duplicating- machine. The pin 103 may also operate an electric cut-out device for the sheet-feed mechanism.