Improvements in and relating to Feeders for Printing Presses and the like wherein the Stock is Fed Mechanically from the Bottom of a Pile or Stack thereof.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov.. 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Feeders for Printing Presses and the
like wherein the Stock is Fed Mechanically from the Bottom of a
Pile or Stack thereof.
I, JOHN FRANKLIN MCNUTT, Inventor, residing at No. 416, West Prospect
Street, Warren, in the County of Trumbull, State of Ohio, United States of
America do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is to provide mechanism for successively feeding
separate articles, especially paper bags, to a printing or other press. This I
accomplish by so mounting a pile or stack of articles, such as bags, that a carrier
moving back and forth beneath such pile or stack can be made to grasp the
lowermost bag or other article,, and, after withdrawing first one end from the
elevated rest or support, feed the bag or article forward to a printing press, or
the like, whereupon the carrier releases the bag or other article and is withdrawn
so as to engage the next bag or article of the stack now at the bottom of the
latter. When bags are being fed, the flap of the lowermost bag is freed or
separated, so as to be easily engaged, by means of a jet of air ejected by a
pneumatic attachment.
To the frame of the printing or other machine is attached a supplemental fiame
A shaft
having an outwardly-extended arm, a lateral arm, and a side arm.
supported by the central and side arms has keyed thereon a wheel formed with a
segmental toothed portion which meshes with a rack-bar of a yoke carried oy a
pitman, which latter is connected to and operated by the press. On the outer
end of this shaft is a crank arm. The central arm of the supplemental frame
sustains a rest or support for a pile or stack of bags or other articles. The bags
all have their bottom ends folded, and resting one upon the other, in such manner
that one flap of this folded end will always be presented rearward, away from
the press. Two parallel arms are mounted at one end on a rod projecting laterally
from the central arm of the frame, and at their other ends they support a trans-
verse rod on which is mounted a vertically-adjustable plate carrying at its lower
end a block of peculiar formation on which rests the forward end of the pile or
stack of bags. This pile or stack is supported at its other end by two parallel
rods which are carried by a vertically-adjustable plate mounted on the forward
end of a horizontally-adjustable plate secured to the central arm of the frame.
Guide-rods are provided for holding the bags or other articles in position, the
forward guide-rods having at their lower ends bowed plates, which, together with
the formation of the block on which the bags rest, aid in guiding the latter.
Mounted on this supplemental frame, and movable back and forth longitu-
dinally beneath the elevated rest or support for the pile or stack of bags or other
articles, is a gripper arm. This arm is fast at its lower end upon a shaft having
its bearings on the said supplemental frame, and so connected at one end,
through the agency of a series of links and pitmans, to the crank arm of the
shaft first hereinbefore mentioned and to the pitman which is connected to and

page_text: operated by the press, that the gripper arm is, in practice, given the following
movements: first, a short forward movement, second, a short rearward move-
ment, third, a full forward stroke, and fourth, a full rearward stroke. Mounted
on the upper end of this arm is a gripper which is composed of two jaws, the
lower member of which is under spring tension so that it is normally held against
the upper member. Mechanically operated means are connected to this lower
member so that during certain stages in the movement of the gripper arm the
lower jaw will be opened and held away from the upper jaw, while at a certain
pre-determined point such holding means will be released and the lower jaw will
close against the upper jaw. This latter is intended to occur at such time as
the flap of a bag is between the two jaws, and thereby the latter is caught and
held by the gripper. The opening of the jaws is designed to occur at that point
in the operation when the bag is delivered to the printing or other press, or to
the feeding mechanism thereof, so that as the bag is taken up by the latter, and
fed forward, the opening of the jaws releases all hold thereon. The spring set
down in the top of the arm and bearing upwardly on the gripper tends to hold
the upper member thereof against the underside of the pile or stack. This is
to insure the contact of the upper jaw against the lowermost bag so that, in the
short forward movement of the gripper arm, the lower projecting flap of the bag
will be in position to be overlapped by the two jaws of the gripper. Mechanism
is provided for lowering bodily the two jaws. This is intended to occur after
the bag has been engaged as last specified.
The mechanism first hereinbefore mentioned for effecting the opening of the
gripper jaws, and the holding thereof in an opened position, comprises a crank
shaft, carried by the gripper arm, connected by a pitman to an arm fast with the
lower jaw, the other end of said crank shaft being designed to engage an adjust-
able block mounted on a stationary arm extended upwardly from the supplemental
frame and paralleling one side of the gripper arm. This crank shaft carries a
nose which is designed to be engaged by a spring-held dog mounted on the
gripper arm. This dog holds the crank shaft in the position into which it is
moved in opening the gripper. A second spring-pressed dog, mounted in an
adjustable block on the before-mentioned stationary. arm, projects into the path of
travel of the dog before-mentioned so as to cause the latter to turn and release
the crank shaft at a pre-determined point thereby allowing. the gripper to close.
The mechanism for bodily lowering the gripper consists of a second crank shaft
mounted on. and carried by, the gripper arm, and connected at one end by
pitman to the lower jaw of the gripper, the other end of said crank shaft being
designed to be engaged by a cam having its bearing on the axial line of the
shaft carrying the gripper arm. This cam is connected by an adjustable rod to
an arm loose on a cross rod, said arm being designed to be engaged by a cam
fast on the shaft first herein before mentioned, that is, the shaft having a crank
arm on its outer end and having a wheel formed with a segmental toothed
portion.
a
Mounted, preferably on the rod last mentioned, is a pneumatic device, com-
prising a cylinder, a piston movable therein, and a hose or tubing extending from
the lower end of the cylinder in such manner that its discharge, when the piston
is depressed by any suitable means, will be directed against the underside of the
lowermost hag, on line with the end of the disengaged flap. Thus the air will
force this flap downward, and as the opened jaw gripper approaches the flap the
latter will be free to be engaged thereby.
In practice, in the initial forward stroke of the gripper arm, the upper gripper
jaw travels against the bottom of the stack of bags to a point beyond the free end
of the disengaged flap of the lowermost bag, or up to the fold thereof. At
this point the gripper is closed, holding the flap between the jaws. Then, as the
gripper arm is moved rearward a short distance and the gripper is pulled bodily
downward, the folded end bottom of the bag is entirely disengaged from the
forward support of the elevated rest, and in the full forward stroke of the gripper

page_text: arm,
as the folded end of the bag, that is, the flap thereof not engaged by the
gripper, passes to and is taken up by the press or feed mechanism thereof, the
gripper releases its hold, the lower jaw being opened at this time allowing the
bag to be drawn on to the press. The gripper arm'is then started on its rear-
ward stroke. As the gripper passes beyond, or is free of, the flap of the now
lowermost bag, the mechanism by which the gripper is bodily held depressed,
during a portion of the movement before described, is released, and the spring
bearing against the gripper elevates the latter. This raising of the gripper
against the underside of the stack occurs as the gripper arm approaches the limit
of its full rearward stroke. The gripper arm is then given a short initiatory
forward movement, sufficient to sandwich the flap between the two jaws on the
gripper. Simultaneously therewith these jaws are closed together, grasping the
flap, and the gripper is pulled downward bodily, as before described, and the
gripper arm is given a rearward movement sufficient to disengage the folded
end of the bag from contact with the forward support of the rest, where-
upon the gripper arm is then given its full forward stroke, all as fully before
described.
Although in the foregoing description reference has been made almost exclu-
sively to the feeding of paper bags, yet, it will be understood that, with changes
within certain lines, other articles mounted on an elevated rest or support may
be thus, one by one, disengaged from such support, and fed forward to a printing
or other press.
1000
Improvements in and relating to Feeders for Printing Presses and the
like wherein the Stock is Fed Mechanically from the Bottom of a
Pile or Stack thereof.
I, JOHN FRANKLIN MCNUTT, Inventor, residing at No. 416, West Prospect
Street, Warren, in the County of Trumbull, State of Ohio, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in feeders
for printing presses and the like.
The object of the invention is to provide mechanism for successively feeding
This I accomplish
separate articles, especially paper bags, to a printing press.
by so mounting a pile or stack of bags that a carrier moving back and forth
beneath such stack can be made to grasp the lowermost bag, and, after withdraw-
ing first one end from the elevated rest or support, feed the bag forward to a
printing press, or the like, whereupon the carrier releases the bag and is with-
drawn so as to engage the next bag of the stack now at the bottom of the latter.
A flap of the lowermost bag is freed or separated, so as to be easily engaged, by
means of a jet of air ejected by a pneumatic attachment.
The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out
in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved feeder. Figure 2 is a side
elevation showing the position of the gripper immediately before engaging a bag.

page_text: Figure 3 is a similar view showing the gripper in engagement with the bag.
Figure 4 is also a side elevation showing the position of the gripper as the bag
is engaged by the feed rolls. Figure 5 is a side elevation similar to Figure 2,
from the opposite side of the feeder. Figure 6 is an enlarged view, in perspec-
nive, of the carrier and gripper. Figure is an enlarged view, with parts broken
away, of the links by which the necessary movements are imparted to the carrier.
Figure S is an enlarged perspective view of the rear end of the main operating
pitman. Figures 9 and 10 are details. Figure 11 is a side view of the gripper.
Figure 12 is a bottom plan view thereof. Figure 13 is an enlarged view of
portion of the carrier, showing the mechanism for operating the gripper.
Figure 14 is a front edge view thereof. Figure 15 is an enlarged detail of said
mechanism. Figure 16 is a view in perspective of a portion of the support for
the stack of bags. Figure 17 is an inverted view, in perspective, of the folded
end or bottom of a bag.
Referring to the drawings, A designates a portion of the frame of a printing
press; a, a, the type-carrying and impression cylinders, and a the feed rollers
by which the stock is fed to the press, after the manner shown and described in
Letters Patent of Great Britain, No. 4177, of 1897, granted to Charles G. Harris.
B is a supplemental frame attached to press-frame A and having a central out-
wardly extended arm b, a lateral arm and a side arm 6**. This latter arm and
arm support a shaft, whereon is keyed a wheel 62 having a segmental toothed
portion 6 which meshes with an upper rack-bar 6 of a yoke carried by a
pitman 66. This yoke has a longitudinal opening 67 in its two parallel sides,
through which extends the shaft, the latter forming a guide and support for
the yoke. The other end of the pitman 6 is connected to a wheel, keyed
on one of the journals of the impression cylinder a¹. On the extreme outer end
of shaft is a crank-arm 69, which is given a back and forth swinging move-
ment by the engagement of the rack-bar and toothed segment of wheel 6. The
arm is elongated upwardly and sustains the outer end of the rest or support
for a pile or stack of bags, all of which have their bottom ends folded (see
Figure 17) and resting one upon the other in such manner that one flap of this
folded end will always be presented rearward away from the press. The extended
arm supports a rod 1, to the ends of which are secured the outer ends of two
parallel arms 2, the inner ends thereof supporting a transverse rod 3. The
extreme top of arm b is grooved to accommodate a horizontally-adjustable plate 4,
having a longitudinal slot 5 through which extends a screw 6. With the inner
end of this plate 4 is formed a perpendicular grooved plate 7, in the groove 7¹
of which is fitted a vertically-disposed plate 8. This plate can be adjusted on
plate 7 and is held in place by any suitable means, such as a screw 81.
Tower end plate 8 supports two horizontal rods 9, forming a rest for the open
ends of the bags piled or stacked in position. These rods are capable of sliding
adjustment, being secured to plate 8 by a lower horizontal plate 91, held by
screws 9
A small roller 9" is located between and supported by rods 9. This
latter roller enables the body-portions of the bags to be easily drawn from their
support. To a cross-rod 10, supported by plate 7, are adjustably secured arms 11,
which carry upright rods 12, forming guides for holding the pile or stack of bags
in position. A vertically adjustable plate 13 is held by a block 14, mounted
centrally on rod 3. To the lower end of this plate is secured a horizontal
plate 14", which supports the folded ends of the bags. An intervening space is
left between the ends of rods 9 and plate 14". The extreme ends of this plate 14"
are formed into downwardly inclined tongues 15, which serve to direct the travel
of the folded ends of the bags (after being grasped by the gripper) downward
toward the feed-rolls a². The bags are additionally supported and guided by
longitudinally bowed plates 16, attached to blocks 17, secured on the lower ends
of upright rods 18, carried by arms 19, adjustably secured on rod 3. Blocks 17
have grooves to accommodate the rods 18, (see Figure 9) so that a smooth inner
surface will be presented. By bowing or curving each plate 16 longitudinally
At its

page_text: of the length thereof a guide or support is provided for any depending portion
of a bag, and at the same time the latter is not crowded to an extent to interfere
with the feeding thereof to a press or the like.
of
Cis a shatt supported at its outer end by an upturned portion of arm
frame B, and at its inner end this shaft rests in a cylindrical bearing C, a depend-
ing portion of which is supported by frame arm b. (See Figure 1.) The
shaft is passed through an opening in an arm d, extended perpendicularly from
arm b
On the outer end of this shaft is an armi d', to the upper end of which
is pivotally connected one end of a link d², and to the other end of the latter is
connected one end of a second pitman, and also to this end of said link is
connected the lower end of a second link d The pitman d' is secured at its
rear end to a crank arm , while the upper end of link dis jointed to pitman b".
The arm dis, as stated, perpendicular to its base and extends upwardly some dis-
tance. Against one side thereof is adjustably held a block e, a binding screw e
thereof extending through a slot e in said arm. This lug at one end is tapered
or inclined, such taper being adjacent to the rear vertical edge of arm d. Against
a slotted boss of this armi, near the base thereof, is held a block E, which is
capable of adjustment. This block supports a pivoted dog ct, which is normally
heid raised by a spring, said dog being located at about the vertical centre
of arm d.
Fis an arm which constitutes the carrier for feeding the bags. It is keyed at
its lower end on shaft C and carries at its upper end a gripper designed to engage
one bag at a time and feed the same forward to the feed rolls of the press. The
upper end of this arm is widened laterally, and to the ends of said widened
portion are secured parallel plates f¹.
2
To
The gripper is composed of an upper jaw f2 and a lower jaw f³, each being
composed of two oar-blade-like plates. The plates of the upper jaw fat their
inner ends are preferably integral with a hollow sleeve f, from the centre of
which projects an arm f³, having at its outer end trunnions f, which loosely
fit in holes in plates f¹. A small coil spring f", set down in a recess in arm F,
presses upwardly against arm f³, tending to elevate the gripper. Through
sleeve extends a shaft f8, on the projecting ends of which are keyed the hub
ends f of the plates of the lower jaw. This shaft is capable of being partly
rotated, so as to move the lower jaw toward or away from the upper jaw.
depending bosses f10 of the lower jaw-plates are pivotally connected rods f12,
which are projected through openings in the lower ends of arms f, which are
secured at their upper ends to the undersides of trunnions fo. Coil springs f
encircling these rods and bearing against arms f³, tend to hold the lower jaw
closed against the upper jaw. From the hub end of one of the lower jaw-plates
extends a short arm f. To the outer end of this arm is pivotally connected
the upper end of a link f16, which at its lower end is connected to an arm f
of a short shaft f18, which extends through and is supported by a hollow hub f
of arm F. On the other end of this shaft is a second arm f20, which projects
rearwardly and carries at its free end a roller f, which is designed to engage
the tapered end of block e. When this engagement occurs, the rocking of
shaft 18 (as arm F is reaching the end of the forward stroke) will, through
link and arm f, effect the lowering of the lower jaw away from the upper
member, as against the tension of the spring f". The rod f12 being brought
nearly into a straight line between the hinge of the lower jaw and the ends of
arms f, the pressure is toward said hinge and the jaw is easily maintained in
its opened position. This avoids all binding of parts. As the lower jaw is
opened by the rocking of shaft f18 a short arm g on the latter is engaged by the
upper shouldered end of a spring-held dog G, carried on a boss g¹ of arm 1, the
lower end of said dog being in the form of a nose g. As the arm F is moved
rearward the nose g² depresses the spring-held dog e without any other result;
but as the arm F moves forward on, its first short stroke, the end of dog & being
raised by its spring into the line of travel of the dog G, the nose thereof will

page_text: 1
engage said dog e', and the dog G being turned on its pivot, as against its
spring, will trip shaft fis, and allow the lower jaw of the gripper to close
up against the upper member, grasping and holding the flap of a bag between
them. In this short movement of arm F the roller I will not engage block e.
In the initial forward stroke of arm F (see Figure 2) the upper gripper jaw
travels against the bottom of the stack of bags to a point beyond the free end
of the disengaged flap of the lowermost bag or up to the fold thereof, the
spring tending to elevate the gripper. At this point the gripper is closed,
holding the flap between the jaws. (See Figure 3.) This is effected by the
tripping of shaft f18. Then as the arm F is moved rearward a short distance the
folded end or bottom of the bag is entirely disengaged from the plate 14", and
in the full forward stroke of said arm, as the folded end of the bag-that is,
the flap thereof not engaged by the grippers-passes between and is taken up
by the feed-rolls, the gripper releases its hold, (see Figure 4) the lower jaw being
opened by the arm f20 of shaft 'f18 engaging block e. During this movement of
the folded end of the bag and up to the time the same is securely grasped between
the feed rolls, the other end of said bag is supported by the rods 9, preventing it
from dropping downward.
To effect the lowering of the gripper after it has grasped the bag flap and
then maintain it in a lowered position, so that it will travel on a nearly hori-
zontal path toward the feed-rolls, I provide a pitman , pivotally connected at
its upper end to a short arm ¹, depending from the centre of the sleeve fr
This pitman at its lower end is connected to an arm of a crank-shaft ², mounted
011 a stud ³ on one side of arm F. The other arm of this crank shaft has a
roller which is designed to be engaged by the inclined and shouldered end
of a cam h, loose on a boss or bearing C. This cam imparts to the shaft h²
the proper movements to insure the lowering of the gripper. To an arm ³ of
this cam is connected an adjustable rod, the other end thereof being connected
to an arm loose on a cross-rod, supported by arms b, 6**. With arm 48
is designed to engage a cam 10, fast on shaft b¹, said cam having a flat surface h¹
and a rounded surface .
A spring on rod tends to hold arm 8 in its normal raised position. As
the camo strikes against the arm 8 in the forward rotation of shaft 61, said
arm will be depressed, and through rod ½³, cam 7 is turned on its bearing so
that the incline thereof will elevate the engaged end of crank-shaft h2, which
through pitman h will draw the gripper downward. This occurs just as the fold
of the bag is being withdrawn by the closed gripper. This lowered position is
maintained by the cam 6 acting on crank-shaft h². The cam is held depressed
by rod during nearly the full rearward stroke of arm F, but fully resumes its
normal position under the tension of spring 1, before the short or initial forward
movement of said arm, the spring f elevating the gripper against the bottom
of the stack during the latter part of the full rearward stroke. The roller
during the latter part of the full rearward stroke drops to the lower portion of
cam surface, and as the cam is moved forward or raised at the same time that
arm F makes its short forward stroke the roll does not engage the surface h³
until arm F makes short rearward stroke after a bag is gripped, at which time
the cam is again depressed by cam 10 engaging arm ha
It will be noticed that the arm F, carrying the gripper, has the following
movements imparted to it through the agency of the segmental wheel, the rack-
bar, the pitman arm d¹, and the links 2, that is to say: A bag, having
been delivered to the feed-rolls and the gripper jaws opened the arm F is started
on its rearward stroke. As the gripper passes beyond, or is free of, the flap of
the lowermost bag it is raised by spring f, the cam 6 allowing the crank-shaft ³
to turn. This raising of the gripper against the underside of the pile occurs as
the arm Fapproaches the limit of its full rearward stroke. The arm F is then
given a short initiatory forward movement sufficient to sandwich the flap between
The two jaws. Simultaneous therewith the two jaws are closed together, grasping

page_text: the flap, and the gripper is pulled downward through the agency of crank-shaft h³
and cam 6 as the arm F is given a short rearward movement sufficient to dis-
engage the folded end of the bag from contact with and entirely free of the
forward support of the rest. Thereupon the arm F is given its full forward
stroke, presenting the folded end of the bag directly in line between the two
feed rolls. As this occurs the gripper is opened, releasing the bag, which is fed
to the press, and as the arm F starts on its rearward stroke with the gripper
opened the latter is held depressed until the arm approaches the full limit of
its rearward stroke, when the gripper will be raised, as before, into engagement
with the underside of the now lowermost bag, and the operation is repeated.
Thus it will be seen that the means described impart to the arm F an irregular
forward movement, that is, the arm after being moved forward a short distance
sufficient to sandwich the flap of a bag between the gripper jaws, is moved
rearward a short distance and then forward to the full limit of the forward or
delivery stroke.
To insure the free or unsupported flap of the lowermost bag being moved away
from the body portion,, so as to allow the upper gripper jaw to pass between it
and the body portion, I provide a pneumatic device I. (See Figures 1 and 5.)
This comprises a cylinder i, rigidly attached to cross-rod h³, and a piston i
fitted in said cylinder and normally held raised by a coil spring 2. To a lower
outlet opening is connected one end of a hose or tubing 23, which is extended
so that its discharge, when the piston is depressed, will be directly against the
underside of the lowermost bag on line with the end of the disengaged flap.
Thus the air will force said Hap downward, and as the opened jaw gripper
approaches said flap the latter will be free to be engaged thereby. To avoid
confusion in the other figures in the drawings, this tube is shown only in Figure 5
in which figure I have indicated a support for the outer end of the tube. This
support comprises a rod 4, supported by an arm, depending from rod 1. The
end of the tube is extended through a sleeve, adjustable on rod and having
an upwardly extended handle rod . The piston is depressed by a cam J, fast
on shaft and so positioned that air will be ejected just as the arm F reaches the
limit of its rearward stroke preparatory to the gripper engaging the flap of the
lowermost bag. The upward movement of the piston is limited by a stop bar j.
From what has been said it will be seen that I have produced simple and highly
efficient mechanism for feeding bags from a pile or stack thereof to a printing
or other press, one bag being fed at a time.
It will, of course, be understood that I do not confine myself to the con-
struction and arrangement of parts herein described.
Various changes may be made without departing from the scope of my inven-
tion, the essential feature of which is a carrier traveling back and forth beneath
a pile or stack of bags or other articles, with the lowermost member of which
such carrier is designed to engage, whereby one bag or other article at a time
will be freed first at one end and then mechanically fed to the press.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is―
1. In combination with an elevated rest for a pile of articles, such rest having
supports for the ends of said pile, a carrier movable longitudinally of said pile
and having means for engaging one of said articles and means for imparting to
said carrier, first, a short forward movement, second, a short rearward movement,
third, a full forward stroke, and, fourth, a full rearward stroke, substantially as
set forth.
2. In combination with an elevated rest for a pile of articles such rest having
supports for the ends of said pile, a carrier movable longitudinally of said pile
and having means for engaging one of said articles, operating means for impart-
ing to said carrier a short forward movement, means for causing said engaging

page_text: means to then engage one of said articles, said operating means then imparting
a short rearward movement to said carrier, then a full forward stroke, and then
a full rearward stroke, said engaging means being released at the end of said
full forward movement, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with an elevated rest for a pile of articles, such rest
having opposite horizontal supports for the ends of said pile, of a carrier movable
longitudinally beneath said pile and having means for engaging the lowermost
article thereof and means for imparting to said carrier, first, a short forward move-
ment, second, a short rearward movement whereby said article is withdrawn from
one of the supports, third, a full forward movement whereby such article is with-
drawn from the other one of said supports, and fourth a full rearward movement,
substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with an elevated rest for a pile of articles, such rest
having opposite horizontal supports for the ends of said pile, of a carrier movable
longitudinally beneath said pile, a gripper carried by said carrier for engaging
the lowermost article of such pile, means for imparting to said carrier, first, a
short forward movement, second, a short rearward movement, third, a full for-
ward stroke, and fourth, a full rearward stroke, and means for operating said
gripper, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with an elevated rest for a pile of articles, such rest having
opposite horizontal supports for the ends of said pile, of a carrier movable longi-
tudinally beneath said pile, a gripper carried by said carrier for engaging the
lowermost article of such pile, means for imparting to said carrier, first, a short
forward movement, second, a short rearward movement, third, a full forward
stroke, and fourth, a full rearward stroke, and means for closing said gripper at
the end of said short forward movement, and opening the same at the end of
said full forward stroke, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination with an elevated rest for a pile of articles, such rest having
opposite horizontal supports for the ends of said pile, of a carrier movable longi-
tudinally beneath said pile, a gripper carried by said carrier for engaging the
lowermost article of such pile, means for imparting to said carrier, first, a short
forward movement, second, a short rearward movement, third, a full forward
stroke, and fourth, a full rearward stroke, means for opening and closing said
gripper, and means for raising and lowering the same, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with an elevated rest for a pile of articles, such rest having
opposite horizontal supports for the ends of said pile, of a carrier movable longi-
tudinally beneath said pile, a gripper carried by said carrier for engaging the
lowermost article of such pile, means for imparting to said carrier, first, a short
forward movement, second, a short rearward movement, third, a full forward
stroke, and fourth, a full rearward stroke, means for closing said gripper at the
end of said short forward movement and opening the same at the end of said
full forward stroke, and means for raising said gripper during said full rearward
stroke, and lowering the same during the said short rearward movement, sub-
stantially as set forth.
8. The combination with an elevated rest, of, a shaft, an upwardly extended
arm carried by said shaft and movable beneath said rest, a gripper on the upper
end of said arm, means carried by said arm for opening and closing said gripper,
and a stationary member by engagement with which said means is operated,
substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with an elevated rest, of a shaft, an upwardly extended
arm carried by said shaft and movable beneath said rest, a gripper on the upper
end of said arm, a movable member carried by said arm and connected to said
gripper, and means with which said member is designed to engage for opening
and closing said gripper, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination with an elevated rest, of a shaft beneath said rest, an
upwardly extended arm carried by said shaft, a gripper on the upper end of
said arm, two movable members carried by said arm and connected to said

page_text: gripper, and means with which said members are designed to engage for opening
and closing and raising and lowering said gripper, substantially as set forth.
11. The combination with an elevated rest, of a shaft an upwardly extended
arm carried by said shaft and movable beneath said rest, a gripper on the upper
end of said arm, a trip carried by said arm for operating said gripper, and means
for operating said trip, substantially as set forth.
12. The combination with an elevated rest, of a shaft, an upwardly extended
arm carried by said shaft and movable beneath said rest, a gripper on the upper
end of said arm, means carried by said arm for closing said gripper, and means
for opening said gripper as the said arm reaches the end of its delivery stroke,
substantially as set forth.
.
arm extended
13. The combination with an elevated rest, of a shaft, an
upwardly from said shaft, a gripper on the upper end of said arm, having a
movable jaw, a rock-shaft on said arm connected to said movable jaw, means for
imparting an irregular, forward movement to said arm, and means for tripping
and locking said rock-shaft, substantially as set forth.
:
14. The combination with an elevated rest, of a shaft, an upwardly extended
arm carried by said shaft, a gripper on the upper end of said arm, means carried
by said arm for opening and closing said gripper, means for operating said shaft,
and means connected to said gripper for holding the same first elevated, and then
lowered, substantially as set forth.
15. The herein described feeder comprising a pivotally mounted arm, means
for operating the same, a gripper mounted on said arm having an upper jaw,
and a lower spring-pressed movable jaw normally held against said upper jaw,
a rock-shaft mounted on said arm and connected to said movable jaw, means for
operating said rock-shaft for opening said jaws, means for locking said rock-
shaft when said jaws are opened and means for tripping said rock-shaft and
allowing said jaws to close, substantially as set forth."
16. The herein described feeder comprising a pivotally mounted arm, means
and
for operating the same, a gripper having an upper jaw mounted on said arm,
a lower jaw pivoted to said upper jaw, a spring or springs tending to hold said
jaws closed, a short shaft to which said lower jaw is connected, an arm connected
to said shaft, a rock-shaft mounted on said pivoted arm connected to said. arm. of
said short shaft, means for operating said rock-shaft for opening said jaws, and
means for tripping said rock-shaft and allowing said jaws to close, substantially
as set. forth.
17. The herein described feeder, comprising a pivotally mounted arm, means
for operating the same, a gripper carried by said arm having a movable jaw, a
rock-shaft on said arm connected to said movable jaw, means for operating said
rock-shaft for lowering said jaw, a spring-held dog mounted on said arm for
engaging said rock-shaft when said jaw is lowered, and a trip for freeing said dog
and rock-shaft to allow said jaw to close, substantially as set forth.
18. The herein described feeder comprising a pivotally mounted arm, means
for operating the same, a gripper having an upper jaw mounted on said arr.
and a lower jaw pivoted to said upper jaw, a spring or springs tending to hold
said jaws closed, a short shaft to which said lower jaw is connected, an arm
connected to said shaft, a rock-shaft mounted on said pivoted arm connected to
said arm of said short shaft, means for operating said rock-shaft for opening. said
jaws, a dog for engaging said rock-shaft and holding said jaws opened, and a
second dog for tripping said former dog and releasing said rock-shaft, substan-
tially as set forth."
LA.
19. The herein described feeder comprising a pivotally mounted arm, means
for operating the same, a gripper having an upper jaw mounted on said arm.
and a lower jaw pivoted to said upper jaw, a spring or springs tending to hoid
said jaws closed, a short shaft to which said lower jaw is connected, an
fast on said shaft, a rock-shaft mounted on said pivoted arm connected to said
arm of said short shaft, a stationary arm extended parallel with said pivoted
arm

page_text: arm and having a projection with which said rock-shaft is designed to engage
for opening said jaws, a dog on said pivoted arm for engaging and holding said
rock-shaft, and a second dog mounted on said stationary arm and with which
said former dog is designed to engage for releasing said rock-shaft and closing
said gripper jaws, substantially as set forth.
20. The herein described feeder comprising a pivotally mounted arm, means
for operating the same, a gripper carried by said arm, means for opening and
closing said gripper, a crank-shaft mounted on said pivoted arm and connected
to said gripper, and means for operating said crank-shaft for raising and lowering
said gripper during the movements of said pivoted arm, substantially as set forth.
21. The herein described feeder comprising a pivotally mounted arm, means
for operating the same, a gripper carried by said arm, means for opening and
closing said gripper, a crank-shaft mounted on said pivoted arm, a link connect-
ing said crank-shaft to said gripper, a cam with which said crank-shaft engages,
and means for operating said cam, substantially as set forth.
22. The herein described feeder comprising an upwardly extended arm, a shaft
on which said arm is mounted, a cam mounted concentrically to said shaft, a
pivoted arm connected to said cam, a rock-shaft having a cain designed to engage
said arm, whereby said former cam will be operated, a gripper carried by said
upwardly extended arm, a crank-shaft on the latter connected to said gripper
and designed to be operated by said first mentioned cam, as and for the purpose
set forth.
23. The combination with a carrying arm, of a gripper mounted thereon com-
prising an upper jaw having lateral projections at its rear end, a lower jaw
pivoted to said upper jaw, arms secured to said projections and extended beneath
the pivot of said lower jaw, and springs interposed between said arms and said
lower jaw beneath the pivot of the latter, substantially as set forth.
24. The combination with a carrying arm, of a gripper mounted thercon cou-
prising an upper jaw having a hollow sleeve, a shaft extended through said sleeve,
à lower jaw fast on said shaft, arms projecting from said upper jaw, rods pivoted
to said lower jaw extended through said arms, springs encircling said rods, and
means for opening and closing said jaw, substantially as set forth.
25. The combination with the carrying arm having parallel portions at its
upper end, of the gripper comprising an upper jaw having trunnions pivotally
supported by said parallel portions, a lower jaw pivoted to said upper jaw and
having depending portions, arms secured to said trunnions, rods pivotally con-
nected to said depending portions and extended through said arms, springs
encircling said rods, and means for opening and closing said jaws, substantially
as set forth.
26. The combination with an elevated rest, of a carrier mounted below said
rest having a gripper, a shaft for imparting motion to said carrier having an
arm, a second shaft having a crank, a link and pitman connecting the latter to
said arm, a toothed wheel on said second shaft, a main operating pitman having
a rack-bar engaging said toothed wheel and a link connected to said pitman and
to said former link, substantially as set forth.
27. In a feeder of the character herein described, an elevated rest or support
comprising, at one end, a vertically-adjustable horizontally-disposed plate, and
adjustable rods having lower longitudinally bowed plates, and, at the other end,
horizontally-disposed rods extending toward said former rods, a roll supported
by said rods, and an adjustable support for said rods, substantially as set forth.
28. In a feeder of the character described, a rest or support for a pile of bags
having at one end a horizontally-disposed plate on which one end of said pile
rests, the ends of said plate being inclined downward and forward, whereby an
article removed from said plate will be guided downward in its forward move-
ment, as set forth.
29. In a feeder of the character described, a rest or support for a stack of
bags having at one end a horizontally-disposed plate, the ends of which are

page_text: inclined forward, and longitudinally disposed bowed plates, as and for the pur-
pose set forth.
30. In a feeder of the character herein described, an elevated rest or support
comprising at one end, adjustable rods having bowed plates at their lower ends,
and a vertically-adjustable horizontally-disposed plate having inclined ends, and,
at the other end, horizontally-disposed rods extending toward said former rods,
an adjustable support for said rods, a cross-rod on said support, and a series of
guide rods adjustably secured to said cross-rod substantially as set forth.
31. The combination with a frame having an upwardly extended arm, of a rod
supported by said arm, two parallel arms connected to said rod, a cross-rod sup-
ported by said arms, vertical rods on said cross-rod, flanged blocks on the lower
ends of said vertical rods having longitudinally disposed bowed plates, a ver-
tically-adjustable plate mounted on said cross-rod having a horizontal plate at
its lower end formed with inclined ends, a horizontally-adjustable support on
said arm of said supplemental frame, a vertically-adjustable plate attached to
said support and horizontally-disposed rods supported by said plate and project-
ing inward toward the press frame, a roll mounted on said latter rods, and a
feeder movably beneath said horizontally-disposed rods, substantially as set forth.
32. The combination with an elevated rest for a pile of bags, of a pneumatic
device comprising a piston and cylinder therefor, a spring in said cylinder against
which said piston bears, a tube leading from said cylinder, a support, means for
adjustably holding said tube to said support, and means for depressing said piston,
substantially as set forth.
Doted this 5th day of October 1899
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.