Patent GB-189730005-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Paper Feeding Machines.
Inventor: DEXTER TALBOT CHAMBERS
Filed: 1897-12-18
Granted: 1898-11-12
Abstract: 30,005. Dexter, T. C. Dec. 18. Feeding sheets.-Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic representation of the machine, showing the relative positions of the several parts. The pile of sheets P is placed on a table 6 movable vertically and raised automatically to the proper height by screws 7 engaging lugs p on the table. The screws are operated by ratchet mechanism, the pawl of which is controlled by a shield moved by levers &c. connecting it to an arm having a roller 162 resting on the pile. At each rear corner of the pile is a buckling-roller 38 in an arm pivoted on a sliding carriage. Near each buckling-device is a holding-down foot 52<a> which is lifted from, or its pressure relieved from, the pile until the roll 38 has buckled the top sheet from under it, when it is again pressed down. Near or forming part of the foot 52<a> is an additional friction device constantly pressed, with light pressure, on the corner of the pile, to assist in holding back any sheets beside the top sheet which the buckling-roller may move. A blast of air is blown under the buckled sheets at the sides and rear of the pile, from nozzles 165, 77. Mounted on pivoted arms are narrow paper-retarding blocks 84 having rubber friction pads which assist in holding back the under sheets when two or more are fed forward together. Holding-down shoes or blocks 95 are lifted and pressed down on to the pile just behind the rear edge of each sheet as it is fed forward. These buckling and holding mechanisms and their operating-devices are mounted in adjustable brackets &c. on a movable part of the framing, so that they may be set to the required position for any size of sheet. The buckled top sheet is fed forward by two pairs of feeding-rolls 183 secured in arms pivoted in two sliding carriages. The feed-rolls are lifted when the front edge of the sheet reaches a certain position, or when the feed-carriage reaches the end of its forward movement, by a sliding rack mounted in the carriage. When the front edge of the sheet reaches the contact-devices 232, 235 the circuits of magnets 225 are broken and the feed-rollers 183 lifted. As each pair or set of feedrollers and its contact-device acts independently, the front edge of the sheet is squared. The feedrollers remain lifted until the end of their return or backward movement. The sheet is fed forward by the feed-rollers on to two sets of sheet separators, which further obviate the feeding of two sheets from the pile. Each set of separators comprises a lower retarding-bed 244 of hard rubber &c. in the plane of feeding, and an upper vertically and horizontally moving friction pad 260. The pad 260 is movable vertically in a carriage sliding horizontally, and is lowered on to the top sheet so as to feed it on during its forward movement, and is raised during its return movement. The guides for the sliding carriages of the feed-rollers 183 and separators 260 &c. are mounted on adjustable brackets sliding upon transverse bars of the frame, so that they may be readily adjusted. In case more than a certain number of sheets are fed forward, they close an electric circuit 374, 375 containing a magnet 361, which puts into operation mechanism by which the driving-clutch is disconnected and the machine stopped. At the front or delivery end of the machine are adjustable rods 453 for supporting the paper being fed off by the lower feed-rollers 403 and the drop rollers 402. The details and driving &c. mechanisms are fully described in the Specification and drawings ; and also an arrangement of gearing for gearing the apparatus to a folding-machine. Specification No. 30,406, A.D. 1897, is referred to.