Patent GB-266493-A (GB)
Title: Automatic feeders for platen presses
IPC: B41F1/28
Filed: 1925-12-24
Abstract: 266,493. Ackley, A., and Plum, S. H. Dec. 24, 1925. Pile tables and supports; sheet separators.- In an automatic sheet feeder for platen printing- machines in which the sheets 15, Fig. 1, are fed from a box 16 supported by a table 18 by means of pivoted suckers 53 carried by oscillating arms 75, 76, the means for operating the feeders for controlling the tripping of the press are mounted on the table 18. The table 18 is mounted on frames 19, 20 attached to the frame 3 of the platen machine, and the feeding and tripping means are operated from a connecting-rod 10, Fig. 7, which operates the impression mechanism, links 107, 98 being connected to the rod 10 for this purpose. The table 18 is mounted so that it can be swung aside about a pivot 21, Fig. 7, as described in Specification 219,758, and the separated sheets are deposited on a pivoted transfer table 66 as described in this prior Specification, the table 66 being pivoted to a support 68 on the table. The frame 75, 76 is oscillated by the link 98 acting through lever-and-link connections 97, 101, 90, 89, including a detachable connection to permit the frame to be idle when the machine is hand-fed. Each nozzle 53 is pivoted to lugs 55 on a hanger 56 capable of moving between lugs 58 on a support 57 carried by a shaft 72 mounted between the arms 75, 76. The lugs 55 are pressed outwards by a spring 59, and an extension spring 61 tends to move the nozzle 53 clockwise so as to turn up 'the front edges of the sheets as they are separated from the pile. The sheets are placed against central stops 34, and corner stops having inclined lips to prevent the sheets from sliding forward. For thick sheets, the corner stops may be replaced by stops comprising pivoted spring-controlled strippers 41, Fig. 12, with grooves 42 into which the strippers move as the top sheet is withdrawn. The stripper moves back under spring action to prevent double feed. Concave suction nozzles are used for thick sheets. The position assumed by the support 57 when in its sheet-receiving position, Fig. 9, is controlled by an arm 82 on shaft 72, which is moved clockwise by a spring, and by an adjustable screw 85 carried by the frame 76. As the frame moves to deposit 'the sheet on the conveyer 66 the support 57 is controlled by linkwork 79, 80, 81, and an adjustable screw engages the link 81 to control the final position of the suckers 53, which is indicated in Fig. 9<a>. The air pressure in the suckers is controlled by a pump 106 operated by link 107, and the pump - is connected to a valve chamber 109 fitted with ball valves controlling passages leading to the suckers 53, and to an air blast pipe 112 with nozzles 113 arranged in front of the pile. When the pump has nearly finished its suction stroke, a valve 119 in the chamber 109 is opened to release the sheet by means of a projection on a link 121 operated by the link 89 which swings the frame 75, 76. The link 121 normally slides through the valve without. operating it. The bed is mounted on an eccentric which can be operated by a lever 14 to trip the impression when desired. In connection with this lever 14, an automatic tripping- mechanism is employed to trip the press and stop the feed if a sheet fails to be fed correctly. This mechanism is substantially identical with that described in Specification 259,073, [Class 100 (ii), Printing processes &c.]. Specification 266,657 also is referred to.