Patent GB-665324-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in sheet-feeding mechanism
IPC: B65H9/00
Filed: 1949-06-30
Abstract: 665,324. Feeding sheets. FEENY, C. J. (Miehle Printing Press & Manufacturing Co.). June 30, 1949, No. 17288/49. Class 100 (i). A sheet - feeding apparatus, more particularly for a printing- machine, includes a feed-table carrying sheet - register means, and control means is provided at, and operable from, one side of the table whereby the table can be moved parallel to the path followed by the sheets, or angularly to this path and in the plane of the sheets, whilst the apparatus is in operation. Feed-tables.-The table 20 comprises a top board 21 over which sheets are fed by endless tapes supported on rollers. It is supported at the rear end by eccentrics 46, 47, Fig. 5, mounted in side frames 22, 23 of the table, which fit over stub shafts 50 carried by machine frame members 30, 31. Arms 48, 49 on the eccentrics are connected by links 52, 56, respectively, to arms 53, 58 mounted on a shaft 54. The arm 53 is secured directly to the shaft 54, but the arm 58, Figs. 2 and 7, forms part of an adjustment device consisting of two other arms 60, 61. The arm 61 is secured to the shaft 54, and clamped to the arm 58 by a screw 68; the arm 58 is free on the shaft 54 and clamped to the table frame 23 by a screw 63 ; and the arm 60 is secured to the shaft 54 and clamped to the frame 23 by a screw 66. By releasing the screws and suitably manipulating the arms 58, 60, the eccentrics can be adjusted to adjust the feed-table 20 angularly in, or parallel to, the plane of the sheets, whereby the front stops &c. carried by the table are adjusted bodily. The front end of the table 20 is supported on the machine frame by parallel depending links 79 (not shown). At the centre of the front end of the table 20 are two side guides 76, Fig. 2, between which fits a member 74 secured to the shaft 94 on the machine frame, whereby lateral movement of the table is prevented ; further, this member 74 acts as a pivot about which the angular movement of the table takes place. Sheet-registering.-(1) Side register. The table side members 22, 23 are cut-away at 33, Fig. 2, to provide recesses for rods 34, on which are adjustable side registering guides 35, supported by the machine frame. (2) Front register and slow-down devices. When a sheet is advanced over the table 20 by the feed-tapes, the forward edge is engaged by nozzles 36, Fig. 3, which guide it into contact with slow-down hooks 37, which effect preliminary front registration and then present the sheet to front stops 38. The nozzles, hooks, and stops are all carried by the feed table, and are therefore adjusted on movement of the table as described above. The front stops 38 are part of a structure 80 clamped on a transverse shaft 81 adapted for rotation and' bodily movement to impart a compound motion to the stops. The shaft 81 is freely mounted in brackets 82 integral with arms 83 pivoted to a table cross member 28, and these brackets are vertically reciprocated, against the action of a spring, by arms fixed to a shaft 87 which is oscillated by a link 96 and cam means 97, 98. Rotation of the shaft 81 is effected, against the action of a spring and rod means 114, 116, 117, by a cam 101 (not shown) acting through links and bell-crank means. The front stops are thus lifted vertically and swung to recede from the path of the sheet to permit the registered sheet to be transferred. On their return movement, the front stops 38 rise above the table 20 and thereby raise the trailing portion of the transferred sheet: this operation is assisted by top cover plates 78 provided on the stops. As shown, the registered sheets are transferred by a gripper cylinder 41 to the grippers of an impression cylinder 44 of a printing-press. Sheet-detectors.-Means for detecting the absence of a sheet and then tripping the printing-press comprises an arm 120, Fig. 3, pivoted on the cross member 28 and extending towards the front 24 of the feed-table 20, and adapted to be pulled downwardly about the pivot by a link operated from a rocking shaft once during the feed cycle. A pendulum feeler 125 pivoted to the arm 120 extends into the path of the sheets, and is pressed lightly by a spring so that its lower end rests over a fixed abutment. The leading edge of a sheet moving over the table contacts the feeler and swings it so that the lower end moves out,of alignment with the abutment whereby the arm 120 can be pulled downwardly and tripping does not take place. If a sheet is absent, the pendulum feeler prevents the downward movement of the pivoted arm, and tripping is effected. Specification 529,196 is referred to.