Patent GB-232670-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in sheet-feeders
IPC: B65H3/10
Filed: 1924-01-21
Abstract: 232,670. Frohn, L. J. Jan. 21,1924. Feeding sheets.-Sheets are fed to printing and like machines by a rotating suction member acting continuously on the sheets, which are preferably continuously advanced in fanned condition by tapes 17, 23 on upper and lower feed tables 14, 16, Fig. 11, and an intermediate set of tapes 29 passing over a drum 20, and rollers 24, 30, 31, 32, the last of which is mounted on a spring-pressed lever 33. Specification 232,900 is referred to. Sheet-separators. - The front sheets of the fanned-out pile are supported on guide plates 60, Fig. 2, on brackets 61 on a rod 62, from which are supported in an adjustable manner nozzles 57 for delivering air blasts to assist the separation of the sheets. The top sheet is separated and advanced by a suction feed wheel 38 with perforated rim 39, the perforations of which are successively brought into connection with a stationary suction mouth-piece 51 connected by pipes 53, 52 with a vacuum device, and capable of being put into connection with the atmosphere by a valve 72 operated by lever-and-link mechanism from a lever 68, which when operated to put the feed out of action, also raises fingers 65 which prevent the feeding of sheets when the suctionfeed is out of action. The wheel 38 is driven by gearing from a belt 49, the same gearing also operating feed rollers 43, 42 which advance the separated sheets to the printing or like machine. The rear edges of the fanned out sheets on the table 16 are acted on by an adjustable pile drag in the form of a series of pairs of resilient arms 131, 132, &c. carried by a rod 129 on an adjustable rod 125. The resilient arms are symmetrical with respect to the rod 125, and they decrease in length from the centre ones outwards. Pile-tables and supports.-The sheets are advanced continuously in fanned condition by the tapes 17, 29, 23. The tapes are advanced mtermittently as required by a ratchet-and-pawl mechanism which rotates the shaft 27 and hence the tapes 23 and a shaft 26, from which the tapes 29, 17 are driven by spur gearing. The ratchet 37 on shaft 27 is operated by a pawl 115, Fig. 2, on a bell-crank 105 which is oscillated by a cam 112 on the feed shaft 40 when permitted by stopmechanism controlled by a roller resting on the sheets above the central support 60, and acting to permit the operation of the ratchet 37 when the pile needs replenishing. The roller 73 and its rock-arm 74 control a finger 83 with a tip 84 which normally prevents a rod 87 from moving to the left in Fig. 1 under the action of a spring 92 acting on a lever arm 93 connected to rod 87, when permitted by a cam 100. When the roller 73 falls to a certain extent, the rod 87 is released and its movement to the left permits a rod 102 to move upwards, and thus allows the lever 105 to move in a clockwise direction under the action of a spring 110 when permitted by a cam 113 on the shaft 40. The ratchet 37 is operated on the return movement of lever 105. The pawl 115 is fitted with a pivot formed with two flat surfaces and a spring-controlled plunger engages the apex between these surfaces in the normal working of the pawl, but can be made to engage one of the flat surfaces when the pawl is to be held out of action. Sheet-guides.-The separated sheets are guided to the forwarding-rolls by guides 63 mounted on the rod 62.