AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES AND OTHER MACHINERY
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Franklin Fuller; of the City and State.
of New York, United States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, London, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC
PAPER FEEDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES AND OTHER MACHINERY." -A com-
munication from abroad by John Thomas Ashley, of Brooklyn, New
York, United States of America.
Sealed the 6th March 1874, and dated the 3rd December 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Franklin
Fuller at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 3rd December 1873.
I, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN Fuller, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings,
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES AND OTHER MACHINERY,"
a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in pneumatic paper-feeding

page_text: sheet at a time.
The first part of my Invention consists,―
First. In reciprocating suction fingers, which will pick up sheets of
paper from a pile of paper on a table or tray and carry them one at a
time over a feed board and deliver them in such relation to front guides
and front registering fingers that the latter will adjust the front edge of
each sheet squarely against said guides and in a proper position to be
taken hold of by grippers or other taking-off devices.
Second. In the arrangement on opposite sides of the supporting frame
of compound levers, which are actuated by cams on a driving shaft, and
which give forward and backward strokes to the picking-up devices and
a trunk to which they are applied and allow the same to rise and descend
times.
at the proper
Third. In the employment of telescopic pipes in combination with
adjustable picking-up fingers and a movable suction trunk.
Fourth. In vertically self-adjusting telescopic fingers for lifting the
sheets and allowing them to be freed from the pile by directing blasts of
air beneath them preparatory to moving them from the pile.
Fifth. In the employment of adjustable back fingers which will pick
up the sheets by their corners, and which are adjustable for sheets of
different sizes.
Sixth. In the employment of fingers which will pick up the sheets by
their edges and at the same time move the edges backward to free them
from the pile.
Seventh. In the employment on the reciprocating suction trunk of
valves for destroying and restoring the vacuum of said trunk, which are
so constructed as to be opened and shut with a quick positive movement
by stationary fingers on the supporting frame.
Eighth. In the construction of the pile tray with an uneven surface
which will break up the piles of sheets laid upon it and loosen them to
facilitate their removal.
Ninth. In arranging in the rear of a paper feeder one or more blast
pipes, fixed or adjustable, for the purpose of directing a blast of air

page_text: Second. In a vertically vibrating and longitudinally adjustable table
which is arranged beneath a device that will pick up sheets of paper
one at a time from a pile of sheets, and which when properly poised
with a pile of paper upon it will by the preponderance of one end over
the other move the pile up to the picking-up device as rapidly as the
sheets are removed from the pile.
Third. In supporting an oscillating bar to which the said table is
adjustably secured by means of journal boxes or bearings which are
both longitudinally and vertically adjustable, whereby the table can be
adapted to receive a greater or less number of sheets.
Fourth. In the combination of reciprocating gripers with a device
which will pick up sheets of paper one at a time from a pile of paper,
said gripers being arranged and operated to take the sheets from the
picking-up device and deliver them upon a feed board on which they are
properly adjusted and then carried off and delivered to a printing press
or other machine which it is required to feed with sheets of paper, one
sheet at a time..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Franklin Fuller in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 2nd June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN FULLER, of the City and State of New York, United States
of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Franklin Fuller,
Her special licence that I, the said Benjamin Franklin Fuller, my
exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Benjamin Franklin Fuller, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and law-

page_text: fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDER FOR PRINTING
PRESSES AND OTHER MACHINERY," a communication to me from abroad by
John Thomas Ashley, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin Franklin
Fuller, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Franklin Fuller, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following. statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings forming a part of this Specification :-
This Invention relates to improvements in pneumatic machinery for
feeding sheets of paper consecutively and with certainty to printing
presses, ruling machines, bag and envelope machines, and various other
kinds of machinery requiring to be fed with paper one sheet at

page_text: Fourth. In vertically self-adjusting telescopic fingers for lifting the
sheets and allowing them to be freed from the pile by directing
blasts of air beneath them preparatory to moving them from the
pile.
Fifth. In the employment of adjustable back fingers which will
pick up the sheets by their corners and are adjustable for sheets of
different sizes.
Sixth. In the employment of fingers which will pick up the sheets by
their edges, and at the same time move the edges backward to free them
from the pile.
Seventh. In the employment on the reciprocating suction trunk of
valves for destroying and restoring the vacuum of said trunk, and which
are constructed to be opened and closed with a quick positive movement
by stationary fingers on the supporting frame.
Eighth. In the construction of the pile tray with an uneven surface
which will break up the piles of sheets laid upon it and loosen them to
facilitate their removal.
Ninth. In arranging in the rear of a paper feeder a blast pipe or a
number of blast pipes fixed or adjustable for the purpose of directing
a blast of air beneath each sheet immediately its back edge is lifted
from the pile, and thereby free it from the succeeding sheet and allow
it to be carried off by the picking-up devices without disturbing the
succeeding sheet.
Tenth. In making the rear blast pipe or pipes adjustable, so that they
may be moved out of the way to allow the introduction and removal of
the pile tray.
Eleventh. In the employment of vertically adjustable and horizontally
arranged stripping devices for aiding the separation of the sheets from
the pile.
Twelfth. In arranging vertically adjustable and vibrating sheet
strippers in front of the pile of paper, for freeing one sheet from the
other while the fingers are in the act of picking up the sheets.
Thirteenth. In combining with the rear flexible stripping fingers
rigid strippers which will hold down the sides of the sheets and allow
the top sheet only to be drawn from beneath them.

page_text: Fourteenth. In the application of wires or raised ribs to the top
surface of the feed board, for preventing a too close contact of the sheets
with such surface while being drawn over it.
Fifteenth. In the employment of depressing fingers overhanging the
front guides or stops for preventing the cockling, wrinkling, or crumpling 5
the front edges of the sheets.
Sixteenth. In a front registering device which moves the paper to the
front guides and then remains stationary until a sheet is taken by the
carrying-off grippers.
Seventeenth. In a laterally vibrating registering arm which will 1
register one side of a sheet just before the said front registering
device registers the front edge of the sheet against the front guides or
acts in the reverse manner where the end of the sheet is registered
last.
In the Drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the first part 1
of this Invention; Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a longi-
tudinal section drawn to an enlarged scale; Figures 4 to 6 shew detached
portions of this part of my Invention.
A is the frame of a printing press, to one end of which is applied an
impression cylinder A¹ provided with grippers a, and on the opposite 2
end is supported the frame B of the feeding devices; B¹ is the pile tray;
between this tray and the impression cylinder A' is an inclined feed.
board A2 over which the sheets are carried one at a time and delivered
to the registering devices herein-after described. C is a horizontal
suction trunk which communicates by means of a flexible pipe with a 2
suitable exhausting engine, and which is held down upon two sashes b
by springs c connected to vibrating levers C¹. The said sashes are
moved vertically by cams d on a horizontal transverse driving shaft D,
and when the said sashes are raised to their full height the trunk C is
moved over the feed board A2 to the position indicated by dotted lines in 3
Figure 1. This movement of the trunk C over the feed board A² and
back to its position on the sashes is effected by means of the levers C¹
which are pivoted at 2 to the frame A, and which receive into their
upper forked ends the rounded extremities of the said trunk. C2, C3, are
levers which are pivoted at 3 to the frame A and are so bent that while 3.
their lower ends bear against the levers C¹ their upper ends will be acted

page_text: on by single throw cams d' on the shaft D once during each revolution
thereof. The return movements of the trunk C are given to it by
springs Os attached to levers C¹ and frame A.
For conducting the trunk C from a position in which it picks up the
sheets of paper from a pile on the tray B¹ to the cheeks of frame A,
extended way b¹ are formed on the sashes 6 and are brought in the
same horizontal plane as the upper edges of the said cheeks when the
sashes are fully raised.
The trunk C is provided with two front picking-up fingers E, E, and
two rear picking-up fingers E¹, E¹. The front picking-up fingers E, E,
are laterally adjustable and are secured by set screws e, e, to the
trunk C, and the interior of each finger communicates with this trunk
by means of a rectangular telescopic pipe e¹ which allows lateral adjust-
ment of the finger without breaking the connection. The picking-up
portions of the fingers E are allowed to receive free endwise movement
and are held out by springs f¹, as clearly shewn in Figure 6. When
air is exhausted from the trunk C, and this trunk is depressed so that
the opening f2 of section of touches the top sheet of a pile of paper, this
section will be brought suddenly back carrying with it the edge of the
said top sheet. This action takes place just previous to the upward
movement of the fingers with the trunk. The rear fingers E¹ are
pivoted to clamps g which are adjustable on the suction trunk C, so that
the rear ends of these fingers can be vibrated laterally, and by means of
set screws on the pivots they can be fixed rigidly to the clamps g at any
desired point. Each finger E¹ consists of three sections g¹, 92, 93³. The
tubular section g' is horizontal and communicates with the interior of the
trunk C by means of rectangular telescopic tubes c². Into the rear end of
each tube g¹ an adjustable rectangular tube g² is fitted; on the vertical
portion of this tube is applied an endwise movable picking-up tube g³
whose lower end is open, as shown in Figure 5. This latter tube g³ is
held down by means of a light spring 9' which will allow it to rise
suddenly while picking up the rear portion of a sheet.
#
The pile tray B¹ has a ridge or raised surface B² extending from its
front to its rear end, the object of which is to raise the pile of paper in
the centre and to allow its sides to slope, thus breaking up the pile by
loosening the sheets so that they can be more readily separated by the
picking up and stripping devices.

page_text: B3, B³, are the sideboards of the tray, which are laterally adjustable
for sheets of different widths. Near the rear end of each sideboard is a
vertical slide h capable of free up-and-down movements, and to its lower
end a flexible stripper h¹ and a rigid stripper h² are applied. The said
flexible stripper may be made of india-rubber or other suitable material
which will separate the rear edge of every top sheet from the succeeding
lower sheet during the act of lifting the top sheet, and the rigid stripper
acts as a pressing device at the side edge of the top sheet to keep the
same down while being drawn or stripped from under it. These devices
will descend as the height of the pile diminishes, and prevent more than
one sheet being lifted at a time.
F is a trunk or hollow bar which is connected by hinges to the rear
end of the frame B, and is arranged horizontally across the same. The
ends of this trunk are made tubular to connect with flexible pipes
which communicate with a suitable blast engine. F¹, F¹, are horizontal
nozzles which communicate with the interior of trunk I by means of
flexible pipes F2, and are adjustable endwise through eyes on standards F³.
These standards F3 are vertically adjustable, and are secured by means of
clamps i to the trunk F. The clamps i are adjustable in a direction with
the length of the trunk F for the purpose of setting the nozzles nearer
together or further apart.
Near each end of the reciprocating suction trunk C holes are made
through it, which are covered by valves j, and held open or closed by
friction in their hinges, or by means of springs or other means applied to
their edges or sides. These hinged valves have extensions j, j formed
on their outer sides and rear ends. The rear extensions are struck by
tongues on the frame B when the trunk C descends at the termination
of its rearward stroke, and valves ; are suddenly closed, and the
extensions j¹ are struck by bevelled tongues ¹ on the cheeks of frame A
at the termination of the forward stroke of trunk C, and the valves j
suddenly opened.
Between the rear end of the feed board A2 and the front end of the
pile tray B', when this tray is in its place against stops 4, is a vertically
adjustable board G, which is guided up and down by a fixed board G¹.
At the ends of this movable board G, and pivoted to it, are two taper
fingers, which present flexible teeth, preferably of india-rubber or
bristles, to the front edges of the pile of paper on the tray B', and

page_text: incline aganist and overhang the same, and operate as self-adjusting
strippers, and allow only one sheet at a time to be lifted from the pile at
the front end thereof.
Light springs may be applied behind the pivoted strippers above their
pivots for gently pressing their flexible teeth against the front edges of
the paper pile.
I also employ in addition to the inclined front edge strippers and tho.
rear corner strippers h³, ², two side strippers m, connected by pivoted
arms m¹ to the sideboard B³ of the tray B¹. These side edge strippers
rest upon the paper by their own gravity and are vertically self-
adjusting. They have serrated flexible edges, as shown in Figure 2,
applied to their bottoms for stripping the edges of the top sheet from the
succeeding sheet while the sheet is being lifted from the pile.
By referring to Figure 3 it will be seen that I leave a space 5 between
the pile tray and feed table to allow the front edges of the pile of paper
on the tray to droop somewhat and thus facilitate their separation singly.
The feed-board A2 has applied to its upper surface a number of longi-
tudinal ridges 6, which will prevent the adhesion of the sheets to this
table in consequence of friction or electrical attraction. These ridges 6
may be of wire, and may be connected together and made to communi-
cate with the earth for the purpose of conducting off any electricity
excited by moving sheets of paper rapidly over the said table.
At the front edge of the feeding board A² are the front guides n, on
which rest at times the front registering stops n¹. These stops are
applied.on the lower sides of forked holding-down fingers n², which are
secured to a rock shaft H, actuated by a cam or equivalent contrivance
not shown in the Drawings, so as to raise the stops n¹ at the proper time
and allow the grippers a to take a sheet and carry it off.
In front of the shaft H and arranged above it is a shaft I, which has a
toe o on one end and an arm o' acted on by a spring s on the other end.
On this shaft I are applied flexible registering fingers p, p, which work
between the ends of forked fingers n³ and upon the guides n, and adjust
the front edges of the sheets squarely against the stops n¹, and hold them
there until taken by the grippers a. The rocking movements are
imparted to the shaft I by means of the springs and a curved con-
centric lifter q on one end of the shaft J. The length of the lifter q is
Չ

page_text: such that it will cause the fingers p, p, to hold the edge of the sheet
against the stops n' a sufficient time for the grippers a to take it.
On the left hand side of the feed table A² is a device for registering
one side of the sheets previous to registering the front edges thereof, or
the side register may act last as the guide may choose. This device
consists of a lever r with a friction finger on one end; the said lever is
pivoted to a collar that plays loosely on a horizontal stud r¹. The lever r
is thus free to receive lateral and vertical vibration from cams t, t¹, on
the shaft J and a spring v on the shaft I. This spring presses the
front hooked end of the lever to the left and against a circular plate v¹,
and keeps it in a position to be acted on by the two cams t, t. The
shaft J has keyed on one end a belt wheel J¹, around which a belt
passes, the said belt also passing around a belt wheel J2 on the driving
shaft D.
According to the second part of my said Invention I provide
apparatus to pick up the sheets singly and deliver them in a proper
manner to printing presses and other machinery, and I also so construct
the feeder that the picking-up and feeding devices, as well as the
supports for the pile of paper and the single sheets taken therefrom,
are all adjustable for sheets of different sizes. This part of my In-
vention is illustrated in the following Figures of the Drawing.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of apparatus constructed according to
this part of of Invention; Figure 8 is a section on the line x, x,
Figure 9; Figure 9 is a top view of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a section
on the line y, y, Figure 9.
Figures 11, 12, and 13 shew detached portions of the said apparatus.
A, A, x, are vertical and horizontal portions of the frame which
supports the pile table A², the picking-up devices and the devices which
discharge the single sheets K is a frame which supports the feed board
and its attachments, and also the impression cylinder s of a printing
press. Above the horizontal portion A* of the frame is a horizontal
rectangular table A³, which has vertical guides at its four corners, and
is connected to vertical screws g, g, by means of brackets g¹. This
table a² is for the purpose of supporting a tray A¹, whereon is placed
the pile of paper from which the sheets are fed; consequently it is
necessary that the table should be slowly and regularly raised as the
sheets are successively taken from the pile. For this purpose I key.

page_text: on the lower end of each screw 9 a toothed wheel 9%, with which
engages a worm screw g³ on a horizontal shaft F. This shaft F has
its bearings in the vertical cheeks of the frame, and on one end of it
I place a ratchet wheel F¹ and a hand crank F³; a pawl f, which
engages with the said ratchet wheel is pivoted to the ends of the
arms ƒ¹‚ƒ³. The arm f* vibrates freely on the shaft F, and the arm f¹
is connected eccentrically by a wrist pin to the face of a chain wheel H,
as shown in Figure 7. The wrist pin O is secured to a slidez on the
face of the wheel H by means of a set screw z¹ which with gauge marks
and a pointer enables me to adjust for raising the pile of paper more
or less rapidly according to the thickness of the sheets used in the
feeder. The chain wheel H is keyed on one end of a horizontal
transverse shaft e; on the opposite end of this shaft is keyed a pulley E³.
Around the chain wheel H passes an endless chain belt H' which is
carried outside of the frames A and K and passed around another chain
wheel H keyed on the shaft S₁ of the impression cylinder S. The
peripheries of the two chain wheels are grooved and provided with
lugs, which prevent the slipping of the belt H¹. By these means
motion is transmitted positively from the shaft of the impression
cylinder S to the screws 9, 9, which raise and depress the table A²,
and the intermittent upward impulses given to this table can be
accurately timed with regard to the movements of the said impression
cylinder.
The upward movement given to the table A² must necessarily be
regulated according to the thickness of the sheets being fed, and the
extent of these movements may be regulated by the movable. wrist
pin O, or by any suitable adjustment applied to the pawl actuating
devices. The hand crank F' is for the purpose of rapidly running down
the table A³ and adjusting it for piles of different height; this
object can be effected by disengaging the pawl from the ratchet
wheel F¹. It will be seen that the screws 9, 9, and
the me-.
chanism which moves them are arranged outside of the frame A;
this arrangement leaves the space beneath the table A2 free from the
fly of the press and the flying sheet, and also enables me to work
the entire length of the screws that extend above the highest plane.
to which the table is moved. A' is the tray in which the pile of paper
is placed and properly adjusted. This tray is a flat board, having a
movable back and sides, within which the pile of paper is placed.

page_text: .
The front and rear edges of the board A' are bevelled, as shown in
Figure 8, and are embraced by clamps to which set screws 3, 3, arc
applied. By slackening these screws the side pieces a, a, can be
adjusted transversely and at any desired distance apart. The sido
pieces a, a, are slotted longitudinally; the slots receive screws that
extend through the horizontal portions of the standards a³ and receive
nuts a* on their upper ends. By slackening the nuts a* the standards a³
can be adjusted forward and backward. The two back standards a², a²,
are adjustably connected to a transverse slotted bar a¹, which is
adjustably connected to the slotted side pieces a, a, by means of screws
and nuts a³, a. If desirable the said standards may be connected
directly to the board A, which would be slotted for this purpose. The
said tray it will be seen is adjustable for any sized sheets of paper. It
serves a double purpose, that is to say, it enables the pressman to put
into the feeder a large number of sheets at one time with great facility,
and it also saves loss of time in adjusting a pile of paper to the centre
of the feeder, thereby insuring a proper uniformity of margin after the
sheets are printed. This nice adjustment could not well be obtained
by the aid of the eye of the pressman, but with my movable tray the
pressman can quickly and accurately adjust a pile of paper of any
given size in the tray, and then by simply sliding the said tray over
the table A² until it abuts against two stops b, b, near the front end of
the frame A, will know the pile of paper is in its proper place. This
desirable result is obtained by means of the aforesaid adjustable
standards b, b, and by having the tray fit snugly between the cheeks
A, A, of the frame, as shewn in Figures 9 and 10, the stops b, b, rise
perpendicularly from a horizontal transverse bar 6*, which is slotted
lengthwise. Through the slot pass two screws having binding nuts 62
on their upper ends for fixing the stops to the said bar 6* when they
are properly adjusted.
For picking up the sheets of paper one at a time and delivering them
between discharging rollers G¹, E, picking up devices are employed
which I will now describe.
B represents a hollow trunk which extends transversely across the
frame and is supported upon springs s¹ between vertical guides J¹ with
capability of a vertical bodily movement.
The guides grise from longitudinally reciprocating plates J which
rests on top of the cheeks A of the frame and are connected to these

page_text: cheeks by pins o and slots o¹. The plates J move longitudinally
carrying with them the trunk B, cach plate J is moved by the following
contrivance :-I is a vibrating arm pivoted at its lower end to a check A
and connected to the plate J at its upper end by a pin and slot. On the
shaft e is a cam shewn by dotted lines, Figure 7, which forces forward
the
upper end of the arm I once during each revolution of the shaft e,
thus moving forward the trunk B. The spring S² which is applied to
cach arm I forces back the trunk.
For the purpose of giving downward movement to the trunk Ba
vertically moveable hooked rod n¹ is employed on each side of the feeder
which has connected to it by a pin and slot a lever n². The curved arm
of this lever is raised once during each revolution of the shaft e by
means of a cam 1, which movement brings down the trunk B. These
parts are raised again by springs S¹, S². Near each end of the trunk B I
secure an eye 22* which receives a hook 2¹ when the trunk is moved
back, as shown in Figure 7, after which action the downward movement
of the trunk takes place as described. When the trunk is moved
forward the eyes 22* leave their hooks.
The trunk B has four nozzles d* on its upper side and two nozzles n
on its lower side near its extremities. To the nozzles n I attach a
flexible hose which communicates with a suitable exhausting engine.,
The nozzles d✶ have flexible hose d, d¹, which are attached to nozzles or
picking up fingers for the purpose of allowing air to be exhausted
from the said fingers through the trunk B. There are four fingers
represented in the Drawing, viz., two longitudinal side fingers, C¹, C¹, for
picking up the sheets along their sides, and two intermediate fingers C, C,
for picking up the sheets by their front edges. Any number of in-
termediate fingers may be used, and therefore I do not confine myself
to any particular number. Each one of the fingers form bellows, that is
to say, it is composed of two stiff boards connected by some suitable
flexible material. Each finger has perforations through its bottom for
the purpose of allowing atmospheric pressure from without to hold the
sheets up to said bottom when air is exhausted from the fingers. Each
finger is secured to the trunk B by means of jaws and a clamp screw 1
which jaw and screw take hold over ribs P, P, on the trunk. By these
means the fingers can be adjusted for sheets of paper of different
widths.

page_text: "
When a sheet has been lifted from the pile of sheets and moved
forward to the discharging devices G', E, it is necessary to destroy the
force of the exhaust at the moment the front edge of the sheet is
received in the bite of said devices. For this purpose I employ a
valve C¹ on an opening C through the trunk B. The long stem of this
valve is pivoted to the trunk and its extremity is so turned up as to be
alternately struck by two fixed stops B' rising from the cheeks A, as
shewn in Figure 7. The front stop is arranged to open the valve C¹
the moment the paper is taken hold of by the discharge rollers, and the
rear stop is arranged to shut the valve C¹ when the trunk reaches the
end of its back stroke, as shewn in Figures 9 and 10. The roller E
receives rotation from the pulley E² by means of a belt which passes
around this pulley and also around a pulley E¹ on one end of this roller.
The highest point of this roller E is in or nearly in the plane of a sheet
of paper when carried up to it, so that the front ends of the fingers C, C¹,
can pass freely over the said roller and between the devices C¹
If desired a flat. fixed surface may be substituted for the rolling
surface E, but for many purposes I prefer the single roller, or a number
of small rollers.
The top discharging devices or rolling dischargers G₁ are secured to
and adjustable on a shaft G. Each one of these dischargers G¹ consists
of two circular plates having a circular piece of india-rubber, cloth, or
other suitably flexible material i secured between them.
It is desirable to have the material directed outward, as shewn in
Figure 13, so that it will not only assist the roller E in moving the 1
sheets forward, but will also spread the sheets smoothly on the roller E.
In readily and accurately inserting the material i between its clamps h, h³,
I provide the concave clamp h and a short hub 3ª corresponding exactly
to the hole which is made centrally through the material i. I also form
a circular central depression with the convex face of the clamp h¹ cor-
responding in diameter to the hub 3". The material is then fitted over
The two
the hub 3ª, and thus centred with respect to the clamp h.
clamps h, h¹, are then confined by screws, and it is known that the
material is in the centre of them. I find it best to have the material as
thin as possible that it may run on the narrowest margin required; also a
to have the material i bear upon the sheets as lightly as possible, that is
to say, just enough to hold them upon the roller E. The sheets are

page_text: thus allowed freedom to run laterally either to the right or left between
two side guides L', L³, of the feed board L, and thereby the drawing of
each sheet to the required side guide is facilitated. This feature of my
Invention is a very important one, as the sheets are allowed perfect
freedom to run upon the feed board preparatory to being acted on by the
registering devices. The feed board L is directed downwardly from the
discharge rollers to a point near the impression cylinder S, as shewn in
Figure 8, and by narrow continuations on guide rests W, W, the front
edges of the sheets are supported while being moved from the feed board
proper to the grippers on the impression cylinder S.
The feed board of my apparatus consists of transverse bars m¹, two
of which are slotted longitudinally, and longitudinal, corrugated, or
ribbed strips m.
The strips m are secured to the two slotted bars m¹ by
means of screws m³, which allow the strips m to be adjusted laterally,
and held at any one desired distance apart. At each side of this feed
board is a guide L, consisting of a bottom, a top, and a side; the latter
is exactly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the impression
cylinder S.
The highest end of each guide L is flaring so as to receive under it
with certainty the front edge of every sheet of paper discharged by the
devices E, C¹. The side guides L', L', are adjustable laterally on the
feed board for shects of paper of different width, hence the necessity of
making the feed board between these guides in adjustable sections.
As the sheets leave the discharging devices they may be more or less
out of a straight line, and it is therefore necessary to adjust them on the
feed board preparatory to their being taken by the grippers of the press.
I accomplish this object by drawing one side edge of each sheet against
one side of the guides L', and almost simultaneously by drawing the front
edge of the sheet to the guides of the press. I employ revolving fingers t
composed of narrow strips of india-rubber or other flexible frictional
substance secured to clamps t², carried adjustably on their respective
shafts N, M. The finger tis applied on a horizontal shaft N, whose
bearing are in brackets L². These brackets L' are secured on the top of
each guide L' in such a position relatively to its inner edge that the
finger will impinge on the margin of a sheet of paper, and move the
edge of this margin up laterally against the longitudinal edge of the
guide L. The shaft N receives its rotation from the horizontal transverse
shaft M by means of beviled wheels p, p¹.

page_text: The feed board is pivoted at its upper end to the cheeks A, and sup-
ported at its lower end on the frame K. by brackets L³ and adjusting
screws; the lower end of the feed board is by these means adjustable
vertically for setting the guide rests W, W, to the face of the impression
cylinder S. The shaft M is supported by standards upon the frame K,
and has a spur wheel q keyed on one end, which wheel engages with the
teeth of another wheel q', whose shaft has its bearings in the standard q³.
The shaft of the wheel q¹ carries a chain wheel v on one end, to which
motion is communicated from a chain wheel on the shaft S₁ of the
impression cylinder by means of a chain band 2. The said chain band and
the two chain wheels are constructed like the chain band H and wheels
H, H, so that the band cannot slip. On the shaft M are two adjustable
registering fingers t, which are constructed like the registering finger t,
and arranged to work over the surfaces of the guide rests W. for the
purpose of drawing the sheets forward against the guides of the press to
deliver the front edge of each sheet properly to the grippers on the
impression cylinder S. These fingers and their guide rests W are laterally
adjustable to suit sheets of different widths.
In carrying into practice this part of my Invention I prefer to have
the trunk B remain at rest for a short period of time when in a depressed
position to insure the proper taking hold of the sheets before the trunk
rises.
For the purpose of printing both sides of the sheets I employ the two
side guides L³, one of which is used in passing the sheet over the feed
board the first time; then after turning over the sheet the other guide
is used. A finger carrying shaft N is applied in the bearings L³ on both
guides. The bevel wheels p¹ on the shaft M, which rotate the said
shafts N, are adjustable, so that either one of these shafts whose finger
is not required to act can be thrown out of gear and stopped. Or if
desired only one finger carrying shaft N may be used, and this shaft
changed from one pair of bearings L to the other pair, according to the
guide it is desired to use.
According to the third part of my said Invention my improved feeding
devices are further modified, as shewn in the following Figures of the
Drawing:-
Figure 14 is a top view of a machine with this modification of my said
..
11

page_text: Figure 17 is an elevation of one end of the said machine.
A, A, are the two vertical sides of the frame which contains the
devices for supporting and picking up the sheets, and T, T, are brackets
which extend out from the sides A. and support a shelf or feed board J,
on which the sheets of paper are delivered after being taken from the
picking-up device.
Near the front part of the frame and extending transversely across
from one side to the other of the same is a pneumatic picking-up device,
which will ensure certainty in the operation of picking up sheets of
paper from a pile by one sheet at a time. I prefer to construct this
device substantially as represented in the above Figures of the Drawing,
which I will now describe. D represents a piece secured to the upper
edges of the sides A, and which forms the top of a chest or bellows N,
whose sides and ends are made flexible, and whose bottom n is made of
two pieces hinged together at their ends. To the front parts of the
bottom pieces of this chest N and communicating with the interior
thereof are secured hollow fingers f, which are arranged at proper
distances apart, and perforated near their front ends through their
bottom sides. By means of a pipe connected to a nozzle d and to a
pneumatic suction engine air will be drawn through the fingers fand
through the chest N; and when a sheet of paper is held up to the
fingers f so as to close their perforations the bottom of the chest together
with the sheet will rise. Beneath this picking-up device I arrange a
table B, on which the paper to be fed from the machine is adjusted in a
pile. The table B is secured across a horizontal transverse rocking bar C
by a set screw c, which passes through a longitudinal slot 6 made through
this table, as clearly shewn in Figures 14 and 15. The rocking bar C has
its end bearings in journal boxes e, which are secured by clamp screws a
to the sides A. of the main frame. The journal boxes or bearings e as well
as the clamp screws a are applied in slots made through the sides A, so
that by loosening the said screws the table B with its rocking bar C
may be adjusted vertically or longitudinally, and again fixed at any
desired point. The front edge of the table B is arranged beneath flexible
strips g made of india-rubber or other suitable material, and secured on

page_text: the top of elevated portions E at the front end of the frame. After
arranging a pile of paper upon the front part of the table B the screw c
is loosened and the table is adjusted longitudinally, so that the part of it
in the rear of the bar C will slightly preponderate, and with a very gentle
pressure hold the front edge of the top sheet of the pile up against the
flexible strips g. The set screw c is then tightened and the machine is
ready for operation.
It will be seen that as sheet after sheet of paper is removed from the
pile the end of the table on which the pile lies will rise and continue to
do so until the last sheet has been removed. Also that as the front edge
of one sheet is removed from beneath the overhanging strips g another
sheet will take its place, thus keeping the highest sheet of the pile of
paper at one given distance from the picking up fingers f when they are
in position for picking up a sheet.
In the front of the table B and extending transversely across the main
frame is a rotary shaft G, carrying on its extremities pulleys p, over
which belts pass for rotating the said shaft. On this shaft G I secure a
number of rotary stripping wheels, which consist of flexible frictional
projections h of india-rubber or other suitable material fixed on hubs, as
shown in Figures 14 and 17. The flexible projections h may be made
like saw teeth or of any other shape best adapted to the purpose intended.
These rotary strippers are so arranged relatively to the front edges of the
topmost sheets on the pile of paper lying on table B that as they rotate
their points or extremities will successively strike and draw over the
edges of the paper, and thus operate as separators, and keep the front
edge of a sheet which is being lifted from the pile from lifting or
displacing the succeeding lower sheet.
If desirable similarly constructed strippers may be applied to the sides
of the frame A to operate upon both sides of the pile of paper.
When the picking-up device elevates a sheet of paper to the proper
height the said sheet is seized at its front edge by grippers L, and when
released from the picking-up device these grippers recede, carry with
them the sheet, and deliver it upon the board J. The said grippers are
attached to rectilinear reciprocating bars K, K¹, hinged together and
guided by slots or ways & made through the longitudinal ledges J¹, J², of
the board J. The board J will in practice be provided with an obliquely
arranged rolling or endless bed, which will move the sheets of paper as

page_text: they are received upon it both forward and laterally, and thus bring one
edge of each sheet squarely against one or other of the ledges J¹, J*,
which will properly adjust the sheet for its reception in a printing press
or other machine.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim in connection
with the first part of my said Invention,―
First. The reciprocating trunk with picking up fingers in combination
with a feed board, a pile tray or holder, the front registering devices,
and taking-off grippers, as herein described and for the purpose
specified.
Second. The vibrating levers applied outside of the frames and
actuated by a cam and spring for moving the trunk over the feed table,
as described.
Third. The telescopic pipes combined with picking up fingers, which
are adjustable on the trunk, as described and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The telescopic picking up fingers constructed substantially as
described for moving the sheets of paper independently of the movement
of the suction trunk.
Fifth. The pivoted and laterally adjustable picking up fingers at the
rear of the trunk, as herein described and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. The laterally adjustable picking up fingers in front of the
trunk and constructed with horizontally moveable sections, as herein
described and for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The air valve of the trunk constructed with extensions in
combination with the tripping tongues arranged substantially as described
for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The pile tray with an uneven bottom, as herein set forth and
for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The adjustable blast pipes arranged at the back of the feeding
machine for the purpose specified.
Tenth. The blast pipe trunk hinged and provided with a holding up
latch, as herein set forth and for the purposes specified.

page_text: Eleventh. The self-adjusting strippers applied to a vertical slide on
the side boards of the pile tray, as herein described and for the purpose
specified.
Twelfth. The vertically adjustable and vibrating strippers at the front
of the pile tray for the purpose specified.
Thirteenth. The rigid strippers combined with the flexible strippors
and slide, as herein set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fourteenth. The ribs or wires on the top surface of the feed board, as
herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
E
Fifteenth. The forked depressing fingers constructed and combined 1
with the front guides or stops, as herein set forth and for the purpose
specified.
'
Sixteenth. The vibrating registering fingers combined with the front
guides or stops and the said forked depressing fingers, and actuated as
herein described for the purpose specified.
Seventeenth. The laterally and vertically vibrating registering arm
arranged and actuated by cams and a spring, as herein described and for
the purpose specified.
And in connection with the second part of my said Invention,—
Eighteenth. A paper feeder having two elevating screws for the pile a
table arranged outside of the cheeks and operated by worm screws and
worm wheels, and a ratchet and pawl for the purpose of intermittingly
raising the pile of paper to the picking-up devices, as herein set forth.
Nineteenth. The moveable tray constructed with adjustable sides and
back for adapting it to sheets of different sizes, as herein set forth.
Twentieth. The picking up fingers arranged longitudinally in relation
to the sides of the feeder for picking up the sides of the sheets, as herein
set forth.
Twenty-first. The combination of the forwardly projecting finger or
fingers for picking up the front edges of the sheets with the longitudinal
fingers for picking up the sides of the sheets, as herein set forth.
Twenty-second. The guides in the longitudinally movable trunk
carriers in combination with the arms and cams for vibrating the said
arms and with springs, as herein set forth...

page_text: Twenty-third. The depressing hooks, the eyes, the levers, and the
springs and cams combined with the vertically movable trunk for
depressing the said trunk and its picking-up devices at the termination
of the back stroke of the same, as herein set forth.
21
31
11
11.1.
Twenty-third. The depressing hooks, the eyes, the levers, and the
springs and cams combined with the vertically movable trunk for
depressing the said trunk and its picking-up devices at the termination
of the back stroke of the same, as herein set forth.
Twenty-fourth. The flexible pipes combined with the adjustable
picking up fingers on the said trunk, as herein set forth.
And in connection with the third part of my Invention,―
Twenty-fifth. The self-adjusting table supported by means of an
oscillating bar and adjustable bearings, as herein described and for the
purpose specified.
Twenty-sixth. The flexibly pointed stripping wheels in combination
with the table, as herein described and for the purpose specified.
Twenty-seventh. The combination of the strippers with the feed table
and reciprocating grippers, as herein described and for the purpose
specified.
Twenty-eighth. A feed table, which is supported by oscillating
bearings and arranged beneath a paper picking-up device in combination
with fingers, against which the paper on the table is pressed by the
weight of the outer or rear end of the table, as herein described and for
the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Franklin Fuller, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-four.
5
B. FRANKLIN FULLER. (L.S.)
Witness,
WN. ROBT. LAKE.
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.