AN IMPROVED PAPER FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ellery, of Albany, in the State of New York,.
United States of America, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PAPER FEEDING
DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES."
Sealed the 20th February 1880, and dated the 28th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Ellery at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1879.
CHARLES ELLERY, of Albany, in the State of New York, United States of America.
"AN IMPROVED PAPER FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES."
This Invention relates to devices for feeding to and piling the sheets of paper
delivered from printing presses, and it consists, -
Firstly. Of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described for
automatically feeding sheets of paper to printing presses.
Secondly. In the device hereinafter described for automatically collating the
sheets of paper delivered from a printing press.
To the frame-work of the paper feeder are attached ways for supporting the paper
holder and a sliding head for carrying the feeding mechanism of the device; it is
adapted to receive a reciprocating motion on guides which are secured to the
framework; at each end of the said sliding-head there is a standard provided with
lugs bored to receive guide rods that are attached to toes to which the ends of a
cross bar are secured; catch pieces pivoted to the lugs are provided with lips which
engage under the hereinbefore described cross-bar for the purpose of holding the
said crossbar and its attached parts up to their proper places while carrying a
sheet of paper forward to the press; the said lips are forced underneath the cross-
bar by springs secured to the standards. Brackets are attached to the cross bar,
on which they are adjustable sidewise, and to which they are secured by set-screws;
the said brackets are provided with ears which are bored to receive sliding tubes
having a slight vertical movement in the ears, and being kept down to their lowest
point of motion by springs interposed between the upper ears and collars; each of
the sliding tubes is provided at its lower end with a valve-casing consisting of a
short tube of lesser diameter than the sliding tube (so as to leave an annular space
between the two when fixed together) and a short hub which extends beyond the

page_text: end of the sliding tube; the said valve-casing has one or more apertures made
through its side near the valve seat and another opening extending downward in
line with the centre line of the tube; at the bottom end of the valve-casing and
surrounding an opening there is a ring of rubber or other suitable material (inserted
in an annular groove in the end of the said casing) for forming an elastic cushion
that will rest on the sheet of paper and form an air-tight joint therewith. A valve
is contained in the casing wherein it forms an air-tight joint with the valve seat;
a pendant pin is jointed to the valve and projects beyond the end of the casing
when the valve is closed. When the sliding tube is brought in contact with the
paper a pin forces the valve from its seat so as to open a continuous communication
through the herein before described openings from the lower end of the sliding tube
to the suction pipe hereinafter described; a plug is inserted in the top of the casing
to form an air-tight joint at that point and prevent the valve from being raised by
the vacuum formed in the tube. I provide a suction pipe leading from any suitable
pump which may be used for producing a vacuum in the sliding tube; a pliable
connection is formed between the said suction pipe and the sliding tubes by means
of a flexible tube which, by yielding, permits the sliding tubes to move in the
various directions they are required to take. A rock-shaft having its bearings in
the brackets secured to and above the guides is provided with an arm to which an
intermittent vibratory motion is given by means of a cam, or other suitable moving
device, attached to the printing press and so arranged that it will produce the
required intervals of rest and motion hereinafter described for the sliding head; the
rock-shaft is also provided with arms which are connected to the sliding head by
means of rods. Sliding buffers are attached to the lower ends of the guides for
receiving the impact of the sliding head; springs connect the said buffers to the
guides to serves as cushions for the buffers and restore them to their initial positions
when the sliding head is drawn back from them. A stop-cock placed in the suction
pipe is operated by an arm attached to the rock-shaft. A rock-shaft vibrating in
bearings placed underneath the guides is provided with an arm which receives a
vibratory motion from the printing press; the said rock-shaft is also provided with
wipers which engage under toes for the purpose of raising the cross-bar and its
attached parts. Trippers are arranged to strike the upper end of the catch pieco
so as to disengage the lips from the cross bar; the said trippers may be secured to
the guides or any other convenient stationary part of the device. Dogs pivoted to
the standards are arranged to engage with stops on the guides for the purpose of
retaining the sliding head at its rearmost position, whilst the cross bar and its
attached parts are dropped and raised; each of the said dogs is provided with a
pin which extends through an opening in the standard so as to engage with a stud
fixed in each of the toes, and so arranged that when the cross-bar has reached its
highest position the dogs, by the coaction of the studs and pins, will be raised clear
from the stops so as to leave the sliding head free to make its forward movement.
A paper-holder is supported by the ways and made detachable therefrom for the
purpose of putting in a supply of paper; the said paper-holder is provided with
side pieces which may be either stationary or adjustable; at the front edge of the
said paper-holder there is a series of separators for preventing the removal of more
than one sheet from the pile at one time; the said separators consist of a slotted
bracket and a sliding block which slides in the slot of the said bracket, and is
provided with a knife whose sharp point rests upon the top sheet of the pile, close
to the front edge thereof, and in such manner that each knife cuts a slight slit in
each sheet as it is raised from the pile, thereby permitting the knife to fall upon
the second sheet of the pile to hold it while the upper sheet is separated therefrom.
A cross-bar is adapted to move in slotted openings in the side pieces near the rear
of the paper-holder; the said cross-bar is provided with pointed knives which rest
upon the back edge of the upper sheet of the pile, and, as the upper sheet is drawn
out by the feeder, the knives cut slight slits in the back edge of the sheet, and in
so doing the resistance offered by the knives tends to strain the paper so as to
remove the wrinkles therefrom; after cutting the slits in the upper sheet the points

page_text: of the knives rest upon the next sheet so as to perfect the separation of the sheets.
A vibrating paper-holder is inserted in an opening in the platform or bed piece of
the collating device, which should be cut so as to permit the paper holder to move
freely; the said paper-holder has a quick vibratory movement, in a horizontal
plane, on a centre pin secured to the bottom of the paper-holder and working in a
bearing fixed in a cross-bar beneath the platform; the said paper holder is made in
the form of a pan, whose sides I preferably make of sheet metal; the lower part or
pit is inade to conform with the size of the sheets that it is to contain, and the
upper part has a flaring form. An arm is secured to the paper-holder beneath the
platform; the said arın is connected, by means of a rod, to any suitable revolving
or vibrating part of the printing press for the purpose of imparting a vibratory
motion to the paper-holder. A fly, of the form commonly used on printing presses,
for receiving and laying off the sheets delivered by the "tapes" is hinged to one
side of the platforın, and is vibrated on its hinges in the usual manner by a move-
ment derived from the press; stops are attached to the slats of the fly for the
purpose of stopping all the sheets of paper at a uniform place. Cushions are fixed
to the platform for the purpose of receiving the impact of the fly as it is thrown
over on said platform, and springs are also attached to the platform for the purpose
of aiding the cushions in performing their functions.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Charles Ellery in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd June 1880.
CHARLES ELLERY, of Albany, in the State of New York, United States of America.
"AN IMPROVED PAPER FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES."
This Invention relates to devices for feeding to and piling the sheets of paper
delivered from printing presses, and it consists,-
Firstly. Of the combination and arrangement of parts herein shewn and described
for automatically feeding sheets of paper to printing presses.
Secondly. In the device herein shewn and described for automatically collating
the sheets of paper delivered from a printing press.
Figure 1 is a plan view of my Invention; and Figure 2 is a vertical section of
same at the line x, x.
Figures 3, 4, and 5, enlarged and detached details of the tripping mechanism for
the cross bar and sliding tubes; Figures 6 and 7, enlarged and detached vertical
sections of the sliding tubes and valve casings; Figures 8 and 9, enlarged and
detached details of the separators; and Figures 10 and 11, enlarged and detached
views of the cross bar, and its separator knives.
As shewn in the Drawing A is the framework of the paper feeder, to which are
attached the ways a for supporting the paper holder; B, a sliding head for carrying
the feeding mechanism of the device; it is adapted to receive a reciprocating
motion on the guides C, which are secured to the framework A. At each end of
the said sliding head there is a standard D provided with the lugs d and d¹ bored
to receive the guide rods e that are attached to the toes e¹, to which the ends of the
cross bar E are secured. F, catch pieces pivoted to the lugs d, and provided with
lips f, which engage under the cross bar E for the purpose of holding the said cross
bar and its attached parts up to their proper places while carrying a sheet of paper
forward to the press; the said lips are forced underneath the cross bar E by springs f¹
secured to the standards D. G, brackets attached to the cross bar E, on which they
are adjustable sidewise, and to which they are secured by set screws g; the said
brackets are provided with ears g¹ that are bored to receive the sliding tubes H;
the said sliding tubes have a slight vertical movement in the ears g¹, and are kept
down to their lowest point of notion by the springs interposed between the
upper ears gl and the collars '; each of the sliding tubes H is provided at its
lower end with a valve casing I, consisting of a short tube of lesser diameter than
the tube H (so as to leave an annular space between the two when fixed together
as shewn in Figures 6 and 7), and a short hub that extends beyond the end of the
sliding tube; the said valve casing has one or more apertures i made through its
side near the valve seat i¹, and another opening extending downward in line
with the centre line of the tube. At the bottom end of the valve casing I, and
surrounding the opening 2, there is a ring is of rubber or other suitable material
(inserted in an annular groove in the end of the said casing) for forming an elastic
cushion that will rest on the sheet of paper, and form an air tight joint therewith.
J, a valve contained in the casing I, wherein it forms an air tight joint with the
valve seat ; a pendant pin jis jointed to the valve J, and projects beyond the
end of the casing I when the valve is closed, as shewn in Figure 6; when the
sliding tube is brought in contact with the paper, as shewn in Figure 7, the pin j
forces the valve from its seat, so as to open a continuous communication through
the openings i and from the lower end of the sliding tube to the suction pipe
hereinafter described; a plug it is inserted in the top of the casing I to form an air
tight joint at that point, and prevent the valve from being raised by the vacuum
formed in the tube H. K, a suction pipe leading from any suitable pump that may
be used for producing a vacuum in the sliding tube H. A pliable connection is

page_text: formed between the said suction pipe and the sliding tubes by means of the flexible
tube K', which by yielding permits the sliding tubos to move in the various directions
they are required to take. L, a rock shaft having its bearings in the bracket M
secured to and above the guides C; the said rock shaft is provided with an arm 7, to
which an intermittent vibratory motion is given by means of a cam or other suitable
moving device attached to the printing pross, and so arranged that it will produce the
required intervals of rest and motion, hereinafter described, for the sliding head
B. The rock shaft L is also provided with arms, which are connected to the
sliding head B by means of the rods 12. N, sliding buffers attached to the lower end
of the guides C for receiving the impact of the sliding head B; springs n connect
the said buffers to the guides C to serve as cushions for the buffers and restore
them to their initial positions when the sliding head is drawn back from them. O,
a stop cock placed in the suction pipe K and operated by the arm attached to the
rock shaft L. P, a rock shaft vibrating in bearings placed underneath the guides
C; the said rock shaft is provided with an arm p which receives a vibratory motion
from the printing press; the said rock shaft is also provided with wipers p' which
engage under the toes for the purpose of raising the cross bar E and its attached
parts. Q, trippers arranged to strike the upper end of the catch pieces F, so as to
disengage the lips f from the cross bar E; the said trippers may be secured to the
guides C or any other convenient stationary part of the device. R, dogs pivoted to
the standards D and arranged to engage with stops c on the guides C, for the pur-
pose of retaining the sliding bead B at its rear-most position whilst the cross bar E
and its attached parts are dropped and raised, as hereinafter described; each of the
said dogs is provided with a pin r that extends through an opening in the standard,
so as to engage with a stud e² fixed in each of the toes e¹, and so arranged that
when the cross bar E has reached its highest position the dogs R, by the coaction of
the studs e² and pins r, will be raised clear from the stops c, so as to leave the
sliding head B free to make its forward movement. S is a paper-holder supported
by the ways a, and made detachable therefrom for the purpose of putting in a
supply of paper; the said paper holder is provided with side pieces 8, which may be
either stationary or adjustable. At the front edge of the said paper-holder there is
a series of separators for preventing the removal of more than one sheet from the
pile at one time; said separators, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, consist of a slotted
bracket T and a sliding block t, which slides in the slot of said bracket and is pro-
vided with a knife t¹ whose sharp point rests upon the top sheet of the pile close to
the front edge thereof, and in such manner that each knife cuts a slight slit in each
sheet as it is raised from the pile, thereby permitting the knife to fall upon the second
sheet of the pile, to hold it while the upper sheet is separated therefroin. U, a cross
bar adapted to move in slotted openings in the side pieces & near the rear of the
paper holder; said cross bar (as shown in Figures 10 and 11) is provided with
pointed knives u that rest upon the back-edge of the upper sheet of the pile, and as
the upper sheet is drawn out by the feeder the knives cut slight slits in the back
edge of the sheet, and in so doing the resistance offered by the knives tends to
strain the paper so as to remove the wrinkles therefrom. After cutting the slits in
the upper sheet the points of the knives u rest upon the next sheet, so as to
perfect the separation of the sheets. 1 is the platform or bed piece of the
collating device. 2, a vibrating paper holder inserted in an opening in the plat-
form, which should be cut so as to permit the paper holder to move freely; the
said paper holder has a quick vibratory movement in a horizontal plane on a
centre pin 3, secured to the bottom of the paper holder and working in a bearing
fixed in the cross bar 4 beneath the platform; said paper holder is made in the form
of a pan, whose sides I preferably make of sheet metal; the lower part or pit 5 is
made to conform with the size of the sheets that it is to contain, and the upper
part 6 has a flaring form, as shown in the Drawing, for the purpose hereinafter set
forth. An arm 7 is secured to the paper holder, beneath the platform 1, which in
Figure 1 is broken away to exhibit said arm; the said arm is connected by means
of a rod 8 to any suitable revolving or vibrating part of the printing press for tho

page_text: 46
purpose of imparting a vibratory motion to the paper holder. A fly 9, of the form
commonly used on printing presses, for receiving and laying off the sheets delivered
by the tapes," is hinged to one side of the platform 1, and is vibrated on its
hinges in the usual manner by a movement derived from the press; stops 10 are
attached to the slats of the fly for the purpose of stopping all the sheets of paper at
a uniform place. Cushions 11 are fixed to the platform for the purpose of receiving
the impact of the fly as it is thrown over on said platform, and springs 12 are also
attached to the platform for the purpose of aiding the cushions in performing their
functions. The paper feeder and collating device are arranged in relation to each
other and to the printing press substantially as shown in Figure 2, in which Figure
the cylinder and part of the frame of the press are shown in dotted lines. The
operation of my Invention is as follows:-A pile of paper is first placed in the
holder S in such manner that the front edges of the sheets will rest against the
bracket T, the knives t' will then rest on the top sheet close to the front edge of
the pile, and the knives u of the cross bar U will occupy a similar position near the
rear edge of the pile. Vacuuin is formed in the suction pipe K by means
of a pump, preferably driven by power independent of the press.
The parts
of the feeding device, being in the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2, motion
is given to the rock-shaft L, whereby the stop cock O is opened, and the
sliding head B is carried back until the catch-pieces F strike the trippers to
disengage the cross-bar E; simultaneously with this disengagement all movement
of the sliding head B ceases, and the sliding head is held by the dogs R, as herein-
before described; at the same moment the cross bar E and its attached parts drop
down until the cushions 3 rest upon the upper sheet of the pile of paper; just
before attaining this position the pins j strike the paper and raise the valves J (as
shewn in Figure 7), thereby opening a communication to the suction pipe K, and
causing the upper sheet of paper to be held by atmospheric pressure against the
ends of the sliding tubes H; as soon as this is accomplished the rock shaft P is set
in motion, and its wipers p¹ force the cross-bar E upward until it is caught by
the catch-piece F; during the upward movement of the cross bar E the sheet of
paper adheres to the ends of the sliding tubes with sufficient tenacity to resist the
action of the knives t¹ while they are cutting the slits in the edge of the sheet to
produce its separation as hereinbefore described; just before the termination of the
upward movement of the cross-bar E the dogs R are raised, as hereinbefore
described, to release the sliding head B, which is then moved forward (by the action
of the rock shaft L) to carry the sheet of paper into a position where it will be
caught by the nippers of the press; near the termination of the forward movement
a stop cock O is closed, so that when the sheet is removed from the ends of the
sliding tubes the external air cannot penetrate the suction pipe K to destroy the
vacuum existing in that pipe beyond the stop cock. On the completion of the
forward movement of the sliding head the parts of the feeding device are restored
to the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2, and are ready for a repetition of the
operations just described.
As soon as the sheets are printed they are carried out of the press by the tapes
and are delivered to the fly 9 in the usual manner; each sheet as it is delivered
slides down the face of the fly until its lower edge rests on the stops 10; the fly
is then thrown over on its hinges until its face strikes the cushions 11, thereby
producing a slight shock that aids in dislodging the sheet from the face of the fly,
so that it will fall into the paper holder 2; if the sheet in dropping from the fly
falls squarely into the lower part 5 of the paper-holder it will need no further
manipulation, but if it falls so that any part of its edges rests upon the flaring
part 6 of the paper holder the vibratory motion of the holder shakes the sheet
down into the bottom or pit of the bolder, and as it moves down the flare on the
sides of the part 6 causes the sheet to shift its position, so that it will squarely
enter into the bottom part of the holder and be deposited in its place on the pile
with its edges even with those of the other sheets, and the pile will be laid up true
and square and in perfect condition for re-feeding to the press. This part of iny

page_text: Invention can also be readily applied to use for collating sheets of paper delivered
from paper machines and other machines of a similar kind.
I claim as the Invention,-
Firstly. The sliding head B arranged to reciprocate, as herein described, and
provided with a movable cross-bar E or other analogous device for carrying the
sliding tubes H, and adapted to move in a line at or about a right angle to the
plane of movement of the said sliding head, in combination with the catch pieces F
or other similar releasing device, essentially as specified.
Secondly. The combination with the sliding head B and cross bar E, arranged in
relation to each other and adapted to operate as herein described, of the wipers pl
and catch piece F, as and for the purpose herein specified.
Thirdly. The combination of the sliding head B with the buffers N and springs n,
as and for the purpose specified.
Fourthly. The detachable paper holder S provided with the separator knives t,
as and for the purpose herein specified.
Fifthly. The combination with the sliding head B, having a movable cross bar E
arranged to operate as described, and provided with sliding tubes H, having
valves J, as herein set forth, of the suction pipe K, stop cock O, and rock shaft Ļ,
provided with arms and 13, all substantially as herein specified.
Sixthly. The combination of the sliding tube H, valve casing I, and valve J,
constructed and arranged to operate essentially as herein specified.
Seventhly. The combination with the sliding head B provided with dogs R, and
the stops c of the movable cross bar E provided with studs e², arranged to engage
with the pins r fixed in said dogs, as and for the purpose herein specified.
Eighthly. The combination with the frame work A, provided with the ways a,
of the detachable paper holder S provided with the separator knives t', as and for
the purpose specified.
Ninthly. The combination with the paper holder S of the cross bar U provided
with the knives u, as and for the purpose specified.
Tenthly. The combination with the vibratory paper holder 2 of the fly 9,
arranged as herein described to deliver the sheets of paper into the said paper-
holder, as herein specified.
Eleventhly. The platform 1 provided with the cushions 11, and the fly 9 in
combination with the paper the holder 2 adapted to receive a vibratory motion, as
herein described and for the purpose specified.
Twelfthly. The vibratory paper holder 2, provided with the bottom part or pit 5
and flaring sides 6, as and for the purpose herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Ellery, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
CHARLES ELLERY. (Ls.)