IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FEEDING PAPER TO PRINTING AND OTHER MACHINES, AND MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Richardson Dinsmore, of the City of
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and Frederick Hoyer, of Waterloo,
also in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND RELATING TO FEEDING PAPER TO PRINTING AND OTHER MACHINES,
AND MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Richardson
Dinsmore and Frederick Hoyer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patonts
on the 10th July 1880.
JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of the City of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, and FREDERICK HOYER, of Waterloo, also in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FEEDING PAPER TO PRINTING AND OTHER
MACHINES, AND MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR.”
Our Invention has for its object to simplify and render more reliable the action
of the appliances or mechanism for lifting or separating sheets of paper, sheet by
sheet, from bulk, and delivering or feeding such paper, sheet by sheet, by a
registered gauge or guide to machines, such as printing, lithographing, ruling, and
like machines.
Our Invention relates to,-
First. An attachment to a printing or other machine, being a mechanism for
feeding paper, one sheet at a time (from bulk), to such machine.
Second. A means of conveying and delivering the separated sheets, sheet by
sheet, to the printing or other machine, and to registering gauges for delivering the
paper uniformally to such machine.
Under our Invention the attachment or mechanism consists of a frame with
suitable mechanism for holding the paper in quantity or bulk, also for separating
the sheets and lifting them off the pile or bulk singly, one sheet at a time, and
inserting the leading edge between rollers which run the sheets down an inclined
table attached to the said frame, where they are adjusted previous to being taken
by the machine. The table on which the pile or bulk of paper is placed is parralel
and removeable. It is raised by means of four deep cut Archimedian screws, each

page_text: scrow moving simultaneously by means of a chain driven from a ratchet wheel, the
chain being passed round the bottom of each screw. These screws raise the table
with a parallel motion so as to compensate for the paper as it is fed, sheet by sheet,
from the pile to the printing or other machine. When the table has reached the
top position and all the paper has been used off it, the table can instantly be
withdrawn and another pile acted upon which has been placed on a second table
placed underneath the first table, and inserted underneath the first table previous
to its withdrawal, thereby keeping up a continuous feed when required. The
tables are provided with adjusting gauges to close on and hold the pile of paper,
being operated upon in the required position and prevent disturbance of the under
sheets by air suction. The separation of the sheets from the pile is assisted by one
or more pieces of rubber, which first drop on the front or leading edge of each
sheet. These rubbers are attached to a shaft which receives a rapid backward and
forward motion from a star shaped cam wheel placed in a suitable position. The
sheets of paper may be lifted from the pile or bulk by one or more open fans
placed underneath the canopy and over the paper. The vacuum or exhaust caused
by the rotating fans causes the paper to rise sheet after sheet towards an intervening
grating of endless cords stretched on two or more rollers, and retaining the sheets
in a suspended position. These rollers receive a motion from suitable gearing at a
-requisite-speed and time, whereby each sheet of paper as it is lifted from the pile
by the fan is run between other revolving rollers, which carry such sheets one
at a time onto and down to the front or adjusting edge of a front table, which is
formed as a grating, the bars of which run in the direction in which the paper travels.
In the slots between the bars of the grating run endless cords of gut or other suitable
material stretched on two rollers placed at or near the top and bottom edges of
the table. One or both of these rollers, are made by means of a lever frame acted
upon by a cam, to fall below the level of the table as each sheet has travelled forward
and been adjusted simultaneously on its side and leading edge, thus leaving the
sheet to rest on a rigid surface. As each sheet is taken from the table by the
printing or other machine, the rollers, with their travelling cords, again rise to
convey the next approaching sheet. To the travelling cords and grating there may
bo given a diagonal direction, either-to tho-right or left, which causes the side edge
of each sheet to come in contact with an adjustable side gauge, against which the
sheet slides until it has reached the front gauge or stop; or the cords may be caused
to travel parallel with the sheets, and an eccentric revolving india rubber disc
actuated by a shaft with suitable gearing is made to draw the edge of the sheet
against the side gauge or stop, at the same time the travelling cords accomplish
the adjustment on the leading edge of the sheet by means of the forward motion
thus imparted. In connection with this adjusting table or grating we place one or
more smoothers acting alternately as grippers, and which hold the sheet after
adjustment, as aforesaid, thus securing an accurate register, until the grippers or
other mechanism attached to the printing or other machine being supplied with
paper shall draw the said sheet away onto itself.
Another method which we may or can employ for lifting the sheets of paper
from off the table, as the peculiar necessities of varying machines make requisite, is 4
as follows:-We place at the side of the feeding machine a fan, and encloso the
same in a casing with slotted passages for the air to pass off. This fan revolves in
the mouth of a tube of suitable diameter, and when revolving it draws or exhausts
the air out of the said tube or a portion of the tube. We cut out longitudinally
and insert (or not, as shall best suit the work) a slip of perforated zinc or other
suitable substance, which may be removeable or not as found desirable. This tubo we
either revolvo on its own axis by suitable mechanism, or it remains stationary. In tho
former case as the tube revolves and as the part with the perforated zinc or opening
comes over the paper, the same is drawn up under such perforated opening through
the suction of the air, and the front edge of the paper being free is caught up against 5
an arrangement of plates or wires, and thus directed between the revolving rollers
already described, and is thus drawn off the revolving suction tube and fed down

page_text: the table or grating as before described. In the case where we employ such suction
tube in a stationary form we use one or more rollers, revolved by suitable
mechanism, clothed with rubber or other suitable substance, or having endless tapes
or threads, which are so adjusted as to prosent a flat surface over the said perforated
portion of the suction tube, which is positioned over the table supporting the
paper to be operated upon, and in such a manner that when the fan revolves the
suction causes the paper to rise upwards towards such orifice or perforated surfaces,
and to come against the said endless tapes, or threads, or the said rollers, and is fed
forward to the rollers which pass it onto the adjusting table or grating before
described; or this tube may be made of some perforated metal or material revolving
outside or enclosed in another tube with one or more longitudinal slots. Both tho
said tubes may revolve, or one may remain stationary, with or without intervening
pauses, the paper being drawn against the under surface for the time being of the
tubes, and during the period of rotation is thus fed forward to between the rollers,
giving onto the adjusting table aforesaid.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Richardson Dinsmore and Frederick Hoyer in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 10th January 1881.
JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of the City of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, and FREDERICK HOYER, of Waterloo, also in the County of Lancaster.
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FEEDING PAPER TO PRINTING AND OTHER
MACHINES, AND MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
86
Our Invention has for its object to simplify and render more reliable the action
of the appliances or mechanisin for lifting or separating sheets of paper, sheet by
sheet, from bulk, and delivering or feeding such paper, sheet by sheet, by a
registered guage or guide to machines, such as printing, lithographing, ruling, and
like machines.
Our Invention relates to,-
First. An attachment to printing or other machines, being a mechanism for
-feeding paper, one-sheet-at-a-time, from bulk to such machine.
Second. A means of conveying and delivering the separated sheets, sheet by sheet,
to the printing or other machine, and to registoring gauges for delivering the paper
uniformally to such machine.
Under our Invention the attachment or mechanism consists of a frame with
suitable mechanism for holding the paper in quantity or bulk, also for separating
the sheets and lifting them off the pile or bulk singly, one sheet at a time, and
inserting the leading edge between rollers, which run the sheets down an inclined
table attached to the said frame where they are adjusted previous to being taken
by the machine. The table on which the pile or bulk of paper is placed is parallel
and removeable. It is raised by means of a screw moving by means of a ratchet
wheel. This screw raises the table with a parallel motion so as to compensate for
-the-paper-as-it-is-fed, sheet-by sheet,-from-the-pile to the printing or other_machine,
When the table has reached the top position and all the paper has been used off it,
the table can instantly be withdrawn aud another pile acted upon, which has been
placed on a second table placed underneath the first table and inserted underneath
the first table previous to its withdrawal, thereby keeping up a continuous feed
when required. The tables are provided with adjusting gauges to close on and
hold the pile of paper being operated upon in the required position and prevent
disturbance of the under sheets by air suction. The separation of the sheets from
the pile is assisted by one or more pieces of rubber, which first drop on the front
or leading edgo of each sheet. These rubbers are attached to a shaft which receives
a rapid backward and forward motion from a cam placed in a suitable position.
The sheets of paper may be lifted from the pile or bulk by one or more open fans
placed underneath a canopy and over the paper. The vacuum or exhaust caused
by the rotating fans causes the paper to rise sheet after sheet towards an intervening
grating of endless cords stretched on two or more rollers and retaining the sheets
in a suspended position. These rollers receive a motion from suitable gearing at a
requisite speed and time, whereby each sheet of paper as it is lifted from the pilo
by the fan is run between other revolving rollers, which carry such sheets one at a
time onto and down to the front or adjusting edge of a front table which is formed
as a grating, the bars of which run in the direction in which the paper travels. In
the slots between the bars of the grating run endless cords of gut or other suitable
material, stretched on two rollers placed at or near the top and bottom edges of the
table. One or both of these rollers are made by incans of a lever frame acted upon
by a cam to fall below the level of the table as each sheet has travelled forward
and been adjusted simultaneously on its side and leading edge, thus leaving the
sheet to rest on a rigid surface. As each sheet is taken from the table by the

page_text: printing or other machine the rollers with their travelling cords again rise to convey
the next approaching sheet. To the travelling cords and grating thero may be given
a diagonal direction, either to the right or left, which causes the side edge of such
wheel to come in contact with an adjustable side gauge, against which the sheet
slides until it has reached the front gauge or stop, or the cords may be caused to
travel parallel with the sheets, and an eccentric revolving india rubbor disc, actuated
by a shaft with suitablo gearing, is made to draw the edge of the sheet against the
sido gauge or stop, at the same time the travelling cords accomplish the adjustment
of the leading edge of the sheet by means of the forward motion thus imparted.
In connection with this adjusting table or grating wo place one or more smoothers,
acting alternately as grippers, and which hold the sheet after adjustment, as
aforesaid, thus securing an accurate register until the grippers or other mechanism
attached to the printing or other machine being supplied with paper shall draw the
said sheet away onto itself.
Another method which we may or can employ for lifting the sheets of paper from
off the table, as the peculiar necessities of varying machines make requisite, is
as follows:-We place at the side of the feeding machine a fan, and enclose the same
in a casing with slotted passages for the air to pass off. This fan revolves in the
mouth of a tube of suitable diameter, and when revolving it draws or exhausts the
air out of the said tube or a portion of the tube. We cut out longitudinally and
insert, or not, as shall best suit the work, a slip of perforated zinc or other suitable
substance, which may be romoveable or not as found desirable. This tubo wo either
revolve on its own axis by suitable mechanism, or it remains stationary. In the
former case as the tubo revolves and as the part with the perforated zinc or opening
comes over the paper, the same is drawn up under such perforated opening through
the suction of the air, and the front edge of the paper being free is caught up against
an arrangement of plates or wires and thus directed between the revolving rollers,
already described, and is thus drawn off the revolving suction tube and fed down
the table or grating, as before described. In the case where we employ such suction
tube in a stationary form, we use one or more rollers revolved by suitablo mechanism,
clothed with rubber or other suitable substance, or having endless tapes or threads,
which are so adjusted as to present a flat surface over the said perforated portion of
the suction tube, which is positioned over the table supporting the paper to be
operated upon, and in such a manner that when the fan rovolves the suction causes
the paper to rise upwards towards such orifice or perforated surfaces, and to come
against the said endless tapes or threads or the said rollers, and is fed forward to
the rollers which pass it onto the adjusting table or grating before described; or
this tubo may be inade of some perforated metal or material revolving outside, or
enclosed in another tube with one or more longitudinal slots. Both the said tubes
may revolve, or one may remain stationary with or without intervening pauses, the
paper being drawn against the under surface for the time being of the tubes, and
during the period of rotation, is thus fed forward to between the rollers onto the
adjusting table aforesaid.
The beforegoing being the nature, object, and purposes of our Invention, we will
now proceed to describe more in detail how the same may be carried out into practical
operation, and for that purpose we have hereunto attached two Sheets of Drawings,
marked with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation, like letters being used to denote the same or corresponding
parts throughout the various views.
The Drawings are illustrativo of a method of carrying our Invention into
practice, and serve as an illustration of how the objects of our Invention may be
accomplished.
Figure 1 is a plan of an apparatus constructed according to our Invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken at X, X, Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 are outside elevations of Figuro 1.

page_text: "
Bating table A, with an adjustable mechanism or gauge B for holding the paper a in
quantity or bulk. The table A is set in suitable framework, and is carried by a
parallel motion," operated by the screw and ratchet wheel M, which latter receives
· motion from the lever N, as shown. C is a mechanism for separating the sheets of
paper a and lifting them off the pile or bulk singly, one sheet at a time, to enable
them to be sucked up by the exhaust, hereafter spoken of, and raised into the
position a', from whence they are led to the inclined table D, on which they are
adjusted previous to being taken by the printing or other machine. The adjustable
gauge B closes on and holds the pile of paper a in the required position, and
prevents disturbance of the under sheets by air suction. The primary separation
of the sheets of paper a is effected by the separator C, which has a serrated india
rubber facing which drops on the front or leading edge of each sheet. The
separator has a lifting and reciprocating motion, which is imparted to it by the
levers F and the grooved cam G. The sheets of paper are lifted from the pile on
the table A by the suction of one or more fans, the suction of which causes the 1
paper to rise sheet after sheet towards the mechanism that feeds the sheet to the
table D. In the arrangement shown in the Drawings the mechanism, which wo
employ for lifting the sheets of paper from the pile, consists of an exhaust fan,
which is placed in the casing H (and rotated by suitable means), the suction of
--which-leads-into the-hollow barrel-J which-rotates-within the casing K. The
barrel J is perforated, and when the exhaust sucks and draws up the paper into the
position shown at a², Figure 2, the rotation of the barrel J carries the sheet of
paper a forward onto the table D. The casing K is formed with a slot on the
underside at K, Figure 2, the width of which is adjustable by the guards K",
Figure 1. The discharge of air from the fan may be led through the passage L, 5
so as to act on the front edges and separate the sheets a of the pile of paper. The
table D is composed of a scries of interchangeable laths D¹ carried on the transverse
bearers D The outside laths are hinged or hooked onto the shaft E. The
shaft E carries a series of pulleys I, which are positioned between the laths D¹.
The shaft P carries a series of pulleys Q; the function of these pulleys I and Q
are to carry the endless bands or cords D¹¹ which come between the laths D', as
shown at Figure 1. To-adjust-the-sheets-of-paper on-the table D we use the cam
adjusters R, one on either side of the table, arranged so that one or other may be
in gear, and the laths to which they are attached being interchangeable with the
other laths of the table the gauge is capable of adjustment. To effect the adjust- 3
ment of the sheets of paper the endless bands D" are depressed, so as to leave the
paper on the lathe D' while the adjustment takes place; this depression is effected
through the bell crank lever S and the cam S¹. The cam adjusters R are worked
by the bevel gears T, either of which may be used, as shown at Figure 1.
In operation a lifting movement is given to the casing K and the barrel J, the 4
former of which telescopes into the casing H, as shown at Figure 3. This lifting
movement is imparted by the bell crank levers U and the cams V, which operato
as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Movement is given to the barrel J by the wheel Y
which works the pinion Z on the shaft of the barrel J. Part of the teeth of the
wheel Y at Y are cut away so as to permit free action for the barrel Y to rise and
fall. The dotted line K, Figure 4, represents the bottom position, and the full
line K the top position of the barrel J. The object of this lifting movement is to
raise the paper into the position shown at Figure 2, after it has been sucked up by
the exhaust into contact with the roller J. The paper is then in a position to be
fed onto the table D, which is effected by the inside roller J, which is then in a
position to be worked by the wheel Y. The paper is then received onto the endless
cords D", and is carried down the table under the holders W. While being
adjusted, and before forwarding to the printing or other machine, in lieu of the
holders W we sometimes employ a suction to keep the sheets of paper in position.
We effect this by perforating some portion of the table, and connecting such per- 5
orated portion with the exhaust fan in the casing H. We provide this connection

page_text: with a throttle valve, so that such suction is intermittently applied to the
underside of the paper. The sheets are removed from the table by the grippers of
the printing or other machines.
Having now described the nature, object, and purposes of our Invention, and
shown how the same may be put into practical oporation, we would have it under-
stood that wo disclaim all subject matter contained in the Specifications of Letters
Patent No. 3974, A.D. 1873, and No. 3762, A.D. 1876; but what we claim as our
Invention and secured to us by Lotters Patent as aforesaid is,―
First. The general arrangement and construction of mechanism for feeding paper
to printing and other machines, as herein described and sot forth.
Second. The general arrangement and construction of mechanism for feeding
paper to printing and other machines, as herein described and shown in the
Drawings hereto annexod.
Third. In mechanism for feeding paper to printing or other machines supporting
the compensating table, such as A, on a "parallel motion" operated by a screw
feeding movement worked by a ratchet gear, as herein described and shown in the
Drawings hereto annexed.
Fourth. The position and form of fan and fan casing and concentric suction tube,
as herein described and shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Fifth. The form of separator, and the method of working the separator C, and
the form of separator cam G, as herein described and shown in the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Sixth. Raising and lowering the casing K and the tube J for the purpose of
lifting the sheets of paper into the position shown at a³, as herein described and
shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Seventh. The arrangement of gearing the wheel Y with the pinion Z, and cutting
away a portion of the teeth of the wheel Y so as to permit the pinion Z to fall
clear thereof, as herein described and shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Eighth. Placing the exhaust fan in direct communication with the barrel J and
casing K, as herein described and shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Ninth. Retaining the sheets of paper on the table D for adjustment by means
of suction from below the table, as herein described and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Henry Richardson Dinsmore and
Frederick Hoyer, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighth day
of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
eighty one.