Improved Automatic Apparatus or Attachment for Feeding Letter- press or Lithographic Printing Machines or Folding, Ruling, Calendering, Label-making or other Machines of a like Nature with Paper or other Material.
Year: 1888

page_text: The decision of the Comptroller-General, of the 12th day of October 1892, allowed,
under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883, an Amendment of this
Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Automatic Apparatus or Attachment for Feeding Letter-
press or Lithographic Printing Machines, or Folding, Ruling,
Calendering, Label-making or other Machines of a like Nature
with Paper or other Material.
.
I, EDGAR. ARNOLD PALLISTER, of 2, Wade Street, Leeds in the County of York,
Machine Maker and Printer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
My Invention has for its object the separation of paper or other material in single
sheets from the bulk or pile and the feeding of letter press or lithographic printing
machines, or folding, ruling, calendering, label-making or other machines of a like
nature with such paper or other material sheet by sheet, singly without the constant
attendance of an operator.
My improved apparatus comprises a fixed table supported by suitable framework
and attached or unattached to the printing or other machine upon which the paper or
other material, to be treated. is placed.
The paper or other material is automatically separated from the bulk or pile sheet
by sheet singly by the reciprocatory movement of suitable guides and a crossbar (for
convonience called a separating bar) furnished or dressed with sand-paper or glass-
paper, or sand-cloth or glass-cloth. I may use emery cloth or paper, pumice stone,
corrugated or rough metal, metal filings in any compound, brick or stone dust in
any compound, pottery, earthenware or anything containing, any of the constituent
parts of the beforementioned substances or any of them or composition of any nature
having a biting but not an adhesive action. Or I may use a bar composed entirely
of the beforementioned substances or any of them.
The reciprocating movement is communicated by or from any suitable reciprocating
part, crank or cam of a printing or other machine to which my improved apparatus is
applied.
In the backward movement of the separating bar furnished or dressed as before
mentioned it operates upon the top sheet of paper or other material and withdraws
it singly from the pile by pressing and then sliding or drawing it backwards against
a fence fixed on, the table, upon which the pile is mounted. This bends such single
sheet until it becomes clear of a lip or holding-device at the front end of the pile.
The lip.or.holding-device is automatically raised in manner hereinafter. described to
allow of the withdrawal, of such sheet and, when the sheet is released. the lip or
bolding device is lowered and takes its hold upon and keeps in place the remaining
sheets of the pile.
The bent sheet, being released, from the pile resumes its, straight form and is
drawn or brought forward by the separating. bar furnished or dressed as aforesaid
over the lip or holding-device a suitable distance. It is then removed; drawn, or
carried to the fence or reception-device of the printing or other machine by means
of a roller the periphery of which is furnished or dressed. with any of the substances
with which the separating bar. may be. furnished or dressed, as. hereinbefore referred

page_text: to. The roller has a reciprocatory movement in suitable guides and is actuated by
corresponding movements in the printing or other machine to which this apparatus
may be fixed or applied. The roller has a rotatory motion in one direction only
which takes place during its hackward movement but is stationary (in a rotatory
sense) when moving in the opposite or forward direction conducting the sheet to
the printing or other machine.
I may use instead of the said roller. a bar furnished or dressed as aforesaid and
suitable mechanism to place it on the separated sheet of paper, or other material to
remove, draw or carry such sheet to the fence or reception device of the printing
or other machine and to lift the bar therefrom as required.
Ι provide a table to support the separated sheet whilst being removed drawn or
carried by the said roller in its non-rotatory state to the said fence or receiving-
device. Such table is hinged and telescopes in order to compensate for the varying
distance between the top sheet of the pile of paper or other material and the said
fence or receiving device, and the bottom sheet of such pile and the said fence or
receiving-device; as in the former case the table will be in a sloping position and
in the latter case it will be horizontal or nearly so. The table is thus automatically
lengthened and shortened in unison when the apparatus is working.
When the separated sheet has reached the aforesaid fence or reception device
the end of the table nearest to such fence or reception device is automatically raised
and the sheet is thus placed in position for being seized by the part or parts of the
printing or other machine to which this apparatus is fixed or applied.
.
The raising and lowering of the said lip or holding-device is effected at the
required time by suitable mechanism by lifting a slide (the upper part of which is
wedge shaped) in combination with a friction roller placed in the bight formed by
and between such wedge shaped part and the face of the slide attached to the said
lip, the frame of which slide is fixed under the table.
The wedge shaped part is automatically moved in either direction up or down at
the required time by or from some reciprocating part or parts of the printing or
other machine to which this apparatus is attached thus releasing a sheet and holding
the remaining ones as required and hereinbefore referred to.
Dated this 25th day of October 1888.
EDGAR ARNOLD PALLISTER..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improved Automatic Apparatus or Attachment for Feeding_Letter
Press or Lithographic Printing Machines, or Folding, Ruling,
Calendering, Label Making, or other Machines of a like Nature
with Paper or other Material.
I EDGAR ARNOLD PALLISTER of 2 Wade Street Leeds in the County of York,
machine maker and printer 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:
My Invention has for its object the separation of paper or other material in single
sheets from the bulk or pile, and the feeding of letter press, lithographic printing
machines, or folding, ruling, calendering, label making or other machines of a like
nature with such paper or other material, sheet by sheet singly without the constant
attendance of an operator.
My Improved apparatus comprises a fixed table supported by suitable frame work
and attached or unattached to the printing or other. machine, upon which the paper or
other material to be treated is to be placed.
The paper or other material is automatically separated from the bulk or pile, sheet
by sheet singly by the reciprocating movement of suitable guides and a cross bar, (for
convenience hereinafter called the separating" bar), furnished or dressed with sand
paper or glass paper, or sand cloth or glass cloth. I may use emery paper, or paper

page_text: pumice stone, corrugated or rough metal, metal filings, or any substance or com-
position of a nature having a biting but not adhesive action, or I may use a bar
composed entirely of the before mentioned substances or any of them, which can be
used in such form.
The reciprocating movement is communicated by or from any suitable reciprocating
part, crank, or cam of a printing or other machine to which my improved apparatus
is applied.
In the backward movement of the separating bar, furnished or dressed as before
mentioned, it operates on the top sheet of paper or other material and withdraws it
singly from the pile by pressing and then sliding or drawing it backward against the
fence fixed on the table upon which the pile is mounted. This bends such single
sheet until it becomes clear of a lip or holding device at the front end of the pile.
The lip or holding device is automatically raised in the manner hereinafter described,
to allow of the withdrawal of such sheet, and when the sheet is released, the lip or
holding device is lowered and takes its hold upon and keeps in place the remaining
sheets of the pile; the bent sheet being released from the pile resumes its straight
form and is drawn or brought forward by the separating bar, furnished or dressed as
aforesaid, over the lip or holding device a suitable distance. It is then removed,
drawn or carried to the fence or reception device of the printing or other machine by
means of a roller, the periphery of which is furnished or dressed with any of the
substances with which the separating bar may be furnished or dressed as herein before
referred to. The roller has a reciprocating movement in suitable guides, and is
actuated by corresponding movements in the printing or other machine to which this
apparatus may be fixed or applied. The roller has a rotary motion in one direction
only, which takes place during its backward movement but is stationary (in a rotary
sense), when moving in the opposite or forward direction conducting the wheel to the
printing or other machine.
I may use instead of the said roller, a bar furnished or dressed as aforesaid, and
suitable mechanism to place it on the separated sheet of paper or other material, to
remove, draw or carry such sheet to the fence or reception device of the printing
machine, and to lift the bar therefrom as required.
I provide a table to support the separated sheet whilst being removed, drawn or
carried by the said roller in its non rotary state to the said fence or receiving device.
Such table is hinged and telescopes in order to compensate for the varying distance
between the top sheet of the pile of paper or other material and the said fence or
receiving device, and the bottom sheet of such pile and the said fence or receiving
device, as in the former case, the table will be in a sloping position and in the latter
case it will be horizontal or nearly so. The table is thus automatically lengthened
and shortened in unison when the apparatus is working.
When the separated sheet has reached the said fence or reception device, the end of
the table nearest to such fence or reception device is automatically raised, and the
sheet is thus placed in position for being seized by the part or parts of the printing
or other machine to which this apparatus is fixed or applied.
The raising and lowering of the said lip or holding device is effected at the required
time by suitable mechanism, which lifts a slide, (the upper part of which is bevelled
or wedge shaped), in combination with a friction roller placed in the bight formed by
and between such wedge shaped part and the slide attached to the said lip; the frame
of which slide is fixed under the table. The wedge shaped part is automatically
moved in either direction up or down at the required time by or from some
reciprocating part or parts of the printing or other machine to which this apparatus
is attached, thus releasing a sheet and holding the remaining ones as required, and
hereinbefore referred to.
In one arrangement of my improved feed apparatus, I make the back edge of the
lip 'slightly inclined instead of parallel to the front edge, and cause the separating
bar in the latter part of its backward motion to move more quickly at one end
than at the other, so that the front edge of the separated sheet, when just clear
of the 'lip is parallel to the inclined edge of the lip, and the separating bar in the

page_text: first part of its forward motion is again moved more quickly at the same than at
the opposite end, until both the separating bar and the front edge of the separated
sheet are again parallel to the front edge of the lip. This arrangement not only
bends the sheet of paper but also gives a twist to it when separating it from the
sheet and such twisting of the paper facilitates its separation from the pile.
And in order that my Invention may be more clearly understood I have annexed
hereto the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrating my Invention as applied to a
letter press printing machine.
Fig. 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, and Fig. 3 a back end elevation of my
improved feed apparatus in all of which the saine letters are used to indi ate the same
parts. Fig. 3 is drawn to illustrate the modified form of my improved apparatus' just
above referred to, and does not therefore correspond in all respects accurately with
Figs. 1 and 2.
The fixed table a is supported by the overhanging frame & attached to one end of
the frame e of the printing machine. Upon this table the paper or other material to
be fed to the machine is placed, the position of the paper being indicated by dotted
lines d in Fig. 1.
•
e is the separating bar, furnished or dressed on its underside or edge with sand
paper, glass paper, or sand cloth or glass cloth, or emery paper or cloth, or other
suitable material as above described. The bar e is mounted or held at the ends
between the vertical guides f, to which a reciprocating motion is given from the cam g
on the shaft by means of the links i and levers j and k mounted or keyed on the
shaft 1, the end of the lever carrying a runner which fits in a corresponding groove
in the cam g.
m is the lip or holding device attached to the cross bar a, which latter is attached
to the upper end of the vertical plate o. This fits with its bevelled edges between the
vertical flanges of the brackets, and the lifting slide q immediately in front of.it.
The lifting slide is fitted capable of sliding in grooves in the same vertical flanges
of the brackets p. The upper edge of the lifting slide is bevelled on the inner
side, and on or between this bevelled edge and the face of the vertical plate o rests
a friction or biting roller r, which when the lifting slide q rises becomes jammed or
fastened between the plate o and the slide 7, and thereby causes the vertical plate o
and with it the cross bar and its connections, to rise with the lift of the lifting
plate. When the lifting plate moves downwards, the hold or bite of roller
loosened, allowing the plate o and the lip m to drop until the lip again rests upon and
is supported from the top of the pile of paper. The lifting slide is raised, and
lowered by means of the bell crank lever's and the cam g, one end of the lever s
carrying a runner fitting in a groove in the cam g. This arrangement. permits of the
lip m being raised just the necessary amount above the top sheet of paper, whatever
may be the height of the pile of paper on the table.
21
is
The bar e is raised at the proper time from the separated sheet of paper to be fed
forward, by means of runners t'attached to the underside of the bar e at or near, the
ends. These runners & roll or ride along the runner bars or slides attached to the,
ends of the cross bar n and which are suitably shaped on their upper surfaces. It will
be evident that though the runners t serve to reduce the friction, they may be,
dispensed with, the bar e being raised by merely sliding it over the bars u.
is the roller for feeding forward the sheet of paper to the fence, or reception device
of the printing machine. The roller v is fitted in bearings capable of sliding in the
vertical guides we attached to the rack x of the printing machine. The roller is raised
from and lowered on to the paper at the proper moment by means of the vertical
rods y, which catch beneath and lift the bearings in the vertical guides w. The rods y
are actuated by corresponding movements in the printing machine, or by means of a
special cam mounted on the cam shaft and suitable lever and link connections. Or
the mechanism for raising and lowering the feed roller v may be dispensed,with,

page_text: where the apparatus is so arranged that the sheet of paper is fed sufficiently far
forward to permit the roller to roll over or on to it for a short distance as the rack r
is completing its travel in the backward direction. A ratchet wheel z attached to one
end of the axlo of the roller and a pawl a hinged to the bearing carrying the same
end of the axle, permits the roller to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow,
but prevents any rotation in the opposite direction.
is the telescopic or sliding table hinged at its upper end to the cross bar » or the
lip m, and supported at the other end, or rather kept at a fixed distance from the
fence or receiving device of the printing machine, by means of pins fitting in
the vertical guides c resting on the sides of the table frame d. This arrangement
keeps the upper end of the table at the proper varying height to receive the single
sheet of paper to be fed over it, and allows of the table being automatically
lengthened and shortened according to the height of the pile of paper on the table a.
el is a fence which can be adjusted in a suitable position at the back of the table a.
are hangers or brackets bolted to the under side of the table a for carrying the
ends of the lever and cam shafts and h. g is a chain wheel keyed on the cam
shaft for the purpose of imparting motion to the same.
The action of the machine (commencing with the ri-ing of the lip m) is as follows:-
This The rise of the lip releases the top sheet of paper, which is drawn or pushed back-
wards against the fence e' by the latter part of the backward motion of the "separating"
This later drops
bar e, until the front edge of such sheet is clear of the lip m.
immediately and at the same moment that the separating bar e reaches its extreme
backward position. The forward motion of the separating" bar e then allows the
separated sheet first to resume its straight form, and afterwards draws or pushes it
forward, the front edge of the sheet rising over the lip m, and passing forward until
it is over the telescopic table and directly below the feeding roller e, which imme-
diately afterwards drops on to it, and at the same moment begins to move forward
with the rack a of the printing machine; the "separating" bare having now moved
to the extreme end of its forward motion and been raised from the separated sheet by
The rotary
the runners & mounting the higher part of the runner bars or slides u.
motion of the feed roller being prevented by the pawl a', the separated sheet of
is carried forward down the telescopic table b', until
position to be
paper
seized by the gripping device of the printing machine. The reversal of motion of
the rack of the printing machine now carries back the roller e, which as it is not
now prevented by the pawl a¹ and the ratchet wheel, rotates or rolls over the sheet
of paper without any tendency to hold it fast or draw it back.
is in a
In the modified arrangement previously referred to, by which the paper or top sheet
is not only bent but also twisted, a separate cam is provided on the cam shaft for
actuating each of the levers giving a reciprocating movement to the vertical guides f
as shewn in Fig. 3. In this case the lever shaft is preferably divided into two
separate short shafts and 4, one towards each side of the feeding table. Figs. 4
and 5 are separate views of these cams shewing the corresponding grooves therein.
The inclined edge of the lip m is indicated in Fig. 1 by dotted lines. The bearings
or the vertical guides f carrying the ends of the separating bar e are modified in con-
struction, so as to allow the necessary said play for permitting the ends of the
separating bar to take up the inclined position herein-before referred to.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
-
In feeding mechanism or apparatus for letter press, lithographic and like
machines:-
1° The employment of a reciprocating "separating "bar (moved either parallel
to itself or more quickly at one-end than at the other) for separating the top sheet
from the bulk or pile by bending or buckling-up-(and in some cases also twisting)
sneh ton sheet of paper.

page_text: -The combination with a "separating" bar carried in vertical reciprocating
guides of runner-bars-or slides-substantially as and for the-purpose herein-set forth.
3° 1. The combination of the lifting plate 9 provided with an upper bevelled edge,
the vertical plate o and the biting bar or wedge for the purpose of raising and
allowing the lip m and runner bars or slides u to drop or fall substantially as herein
set forth.
2. In conjunction with the apparatus referred to in the preceding claim, the separating
bar carried in vertical reciprocating guides in combination with the runner bars or slides
substantially as described for the purposes herein specified.
4° 3. The telescope table hinged and supported at its upper end to the cross bar n
or lip m substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
5° The feeding roller-mounted in vertical-guides-and rotable in one direction
substantially as and for the purpose herein-set forth.
6°-The-use-of sand paper, glass paper, emery paper; sand cloth or glass cloth, or
of-composition-conted with sand, glass or emery powder for covering the bars;
rollers, or other separating or feeding mechanism for the purpose of obtaining a
biting-but-net-adhesive action-ou the paper or other material to be-separated-or fed.
4. The general arrangement and construction of mechanism substantially as herein
described and illustrated forming my improved automatic feeding apparatus for letter
press printing, lithographic, label and like machines.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1889.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON, A.R.S.M. Wh. Sc.,
2, East Parade, Leeds, Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Automatic Apparatus or Attachment for Feeding Letter-
press or Lithographic Printing Machines, or Folding, Ruling,
Calendering, Label-making or other Machines of a like Nature
with Paper or other Material.
I, EDGAR ARNOLD PALLISTER, of 2, Wade Street, Leeds in the County of York,
Machine Maker and Printer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be'as
follows:-
My Invention has for its object the separation of paper or other material in single
sheets from the bulk or pile and the feeding of letter press or lithographic printing
machines, or folding, ruling, calendering, label-making or other machines of a like
nature with such paper or other material sheet by sheet, singly without the constant
attendance of an operator.
My improved apparatus comprises a fixed table supported by suitable framework
and attached or unattached to the printing or other machine upon which the 'paper or
other material to be treated is placed.
The paper or other material is automatically separated from the bulk or pile sheet
by sheet singly by the reciprocatory movement of suitable guides and a crossbar (for
convenience called a separating bar) furnished or dressed with sand-paper or glass-
paper, or sand-cloth or glass-cloth. I may use emery cloth or paper, pumice stone,
corrugated or rough metal, metal filings in any compound, brick or stone dust in
any compound, pottery, earthenware or anything containing any of the constituent
parts of the beforementioned substances or any of them or composition of any nature
having a biting but not an adhesive action. Or I may use a bar composed entirely
of the beforementioned substances or any of them.
The reciprocating movement is communicated by or from any suitable reciprocating
part, crank or cam of a printing or other inacline to which my improved apparatus is
applied.
In the backward movement of the separating bar furnished or dressed as before-
mentioned it operates upon the top sheet of paper or other material and withdraws
it singly from the pile by pressing and then sliding or drawing it backwards against
a fence fixed on the table upon which the pile is mounted. This bends such single
sheet until it becomes clear of a lip or holding-device at the front end of the pile.
The lip or holding-device is automatically raised in manner hereinafter described to
allow of the withdrawal of such sheet and when the sheet is released the lip or
holding device is lowered and takes its hold upon and keeps in place the remaining
sheets of the pile.
The bent sheet being released from the pile resumes its straight form and is
drawn or brought forward by the separating bar furnished or dressed as aforesaid
over the lip or holding-device a suitable distance. It is then removed, drawn or
carried to the fence or reception-device of the printing or other machine by means
of a roller the periphery of which is furnished or dressed with any of the substances
with which the separating bar may be furnished or dressed as hereinbefore referred
io. The roller has a reciprocatory movement in suitable guides and is actuated by
corresponding movements in the printing or other machine to which this apiparitus
may be fixed or applied. The roller has a rotatory motion in one direction only
which takes place during its backward movement but is stationary (in 'a rotatory
sense) when moving in the opposite or forward direction conducting the sheet to
the printing or other machine.
1 may use instead of the said roller a bar furnished or dressed as aforesaid and
suitable mechanism to place it on the separated sheet of paper or other material to

page_text: remove, draw or carry such sheet to the fence or reception device of the printing
or other machine and to lift the bar therefrom as required.
I provide a table to support the separated sheet whilst being removed drawn or
carried by the said roller in its non-rotatory state to the said fence or receiving-
device. Such table is hinged and telescopes in order to compensate for the varying
distance between the top sheet of the pile of paper or other material and the said
fence or receiving device, and the bottom sheet of such pile and the said fence or
receiving-device; as in the former case the table will be in a sloping position and
in the latter case it will be horizontal or nearly so. The table is thus automatically
lengthened and shortened in unison when the apparatus working.
When the separated sheet has reached the aforesaid fence or reception device
the end of the table nearest to such fence or reception device is automatically raised
and the sheet is thus placed in position for being seized by the part or parts of the
printing or other machine to which this apparatus is fixed or applied.
The raising and lowering of the said lip or holding-device is effected at the
required time by suitable mechanism by lifting a slide (the upper part of which is
wedge shaped) in combination with a friction roller placed in the bight formed by
and between such wedge shaped part and the face of the slide attached to the said
lip, the frame of which slide is fixed under the table.
The wedge shaped part is automatically moved in either direction up or down at
the required time by or from some reciprocating part or parts of the printing or
other machine to which this apparatus is attached thus releasing a sheet and holding
the remaining ones as required and hereinbeforo referred to.
Dated this 25th day of October 1888
EDGAR ARNOLD PALLISTER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Automatic Apparatus or Attachment for Feeding Letter
Press or Lithographic Printing Machines, or Folding, Ruling,
Calendering, Label Making, or other Machines of a like Nature
with Paper or other Material.
I EDGAR ARNOLD PALLISTER of 2 Wade Street Leeds in the County of York,
machine maker and printer 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 :-
:-
My Invention has for its object the separation of paper or other material in single
sheets from the bulk or pile, and the feeding of letter press, lithographic printing
machines, or folding, ruling, calendering, label making or other machines of a like
nature with such paper or other material, sheet by sheet singly without the constant
attendance of an operator.
My Improved apparatus comprises a fixed table supported by suitable frame work
and attached or unattached to the printing or other machine, upon which the paper or
other material to be treated is to be placed.
The paper or other material is automatically separated from the bulk or pile, sheet
by sheet singly by the reciprocating movement of suitable guides and a cross bar, (for
convenience hereinafter called the "separating" bar), furnished or dressed with sand
paper or glass paper, or sand cloth or glass cloth. I may use emery paper, or paper
pumice stone, corrugated or rough metal, metal filings, or any substance or com-
position of a nature having a biting but not adhesive action, or I may use a bar
composed entirely of the before mentioned substances or any of them, which can be
used in such form.
The reciprocating movement is communicated by or from any suitable reciprocating
part, crank, or cam of a printing or other machine to which my improved apparatus
is applied.
In the backward movement of the separating bar, furnished or dressed as before
mentioned, it operates on the top sheet of paper or other material and withdraws it

page_text: singly from the pile by pressing and then sliding or drawing it backward against the
fence fixed on the table upon which the pile is mounted. This bends such single
sheet until it becomes clear of a lip or holding device at the front end of the pile.
The lip or holding device is automatically raised in the manner hereinafter described,
to allow of the withdrawal of such sheet, and when the sheet is released, the lip or
holding device is lowered and takes its hold upon and keeps in place the remaining
sheets of the pile; the bent sheet being released from the pile resumes its straight
form and is drawn or brought forward by the separating bar, furnished or dressed as
aforesaid, over the lip or holding device a suitable distance. It is then removed,
drawn or carried to the fence or reception device of the printing or other machine by
means of a roller, the periphery of which is furnished or dressed with any of the
substances with which the separating bar may be furnished or dressed as hereinbefore
referred to. The roller has a reciprocating movement in suitable guides, and is
actuated by corresponding movements in the printing or other machine to which this
apparatus may be fixed or applied. The roller has a rotary motion in one direction
only, which takes place during its backward movement but is stationary (in a rotary
sense), when moving in the opposite or forward direction conducting the wheel to the
printing or other machine.
I may use instead of the said roller, a bar furnished or dressed as aforesaid, and
suitable mechanism to place it on the separated sheet of paper or other material, to
remove, draw or carry such sheet to the fence or reception device of the printing
machine, and to lift the bar therefrom as required.
I provide a table to support the separated sheet whilst being removed, drawn or
carried by the said roller in its non rotary state to the said fence or receiving device.
Such table is hinged and telescopes in order to compensate for the varying distance
between the top sheet of the pile of paper or other material and the said fence or
receiving device, and the bottom sheet of such pile and the said fence or receiving
device, as in the former case, the table will be in a sloping position and in the latter
case it will be horizontal or nearly so. The table is thus automatically lengthened
and shortened in unison when the apparatus is working.
When the separated sheet has reached the said fence or reception device, the end of
the table nearest to such fence or reception device is automatically raised, and the
sheet is thus placed in position for being seized by the part or parts of the printing
or other machine to which this apparatus is fixed or applied.
The raising and lowering of the said lip or holding device is effected at the required
time by suitable mechanism, which lifts a slide, (the upper part of which is bevelled
or wedge shaped), in combination with a friction roller placed in the bight formed by
and between such wedge shaped part and the slide attached to the said lip; the frame
of which slide is fixed under the table. The wedge shaped part is automatically
moved in either direction up or down at the required time by or from some
reciprocating part or parts of the printing or other machine to which this apparatus
is attached, thus releasing a sheet and holding the remaining ones as required, and
hereinbefore referred to.
In one arrangement of my improved feed apparatus, I make the back edge of the
lip slightly inclined instead of parallel to the front edge, and cause the separating
bar in the latter part of its backward motion to move more quickly at one end
than at the other, so that the front edge of the separated sheet, when just clear
of the lip is parallel to the inclined edge of the lip, and the separating bar in the
first part of its forward motion is again moved more quickly at the same than at
the opposite end, until both the separating bar and the front edge of the separated
sheet are again parallel to the front edge of the lip. This arrangement not only
bends the sheet of paper but also gives a twist to it when separating it from the
sheet and such twisting of the paper facilitates its separation from the pile.
And in order that my Invention may be more clearly understood I have annexed
hereto the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrating my Invention as applied to a
letter press printing machine.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, and Fig. 3 a back end elevation of my
improved feed apparatus in all of which the same letters are used to indicate the same
parts. Fig. 3 is drawn to illustrate the modified form of my improved apparatus just
above referred to, and does not therefore correspond in all respects accurately with
Figs. 1 and 2.
The fixed table a is supported by the overhanging frame-b attached to one end of
the frame c of the printing machine. Upon this table the paper or other material to
be fed to the machine is placed, the position of the paper being indicated by dotted
lines d in Fig. 1.
e is the separating bar, furnished or dressed on its underside or edge with sand
paper, glass paper, or sand cloth or glass cloth, or emery paper or cloth, or other
suitable material as above described. The bar e is mounted or held at the ends
between the vertical guides, to which a reciprocating motion is given from the cam g
on the shaft by means of the links i and levers j and mounted or keyed on the
shaft 7, the end of the lever k carrying a runner which fits in a corresponding groove
in the cam g.
m is the lip or holding device attached to the cross bar n, which latter is attached
to the upper end of the vertical plate o. This fits with its bevelled edges between the
vertical flanges of the brackets p, and the lifting slide q immediately in front of it.
The lifting slide q is fitted capable of sliding in grooves in the same vertical flanges
of the brackets p. The upper edge of the lifting slide q
bevelled on the inner
side, and on or between this bevelled edge and the face of the vertical plate o rests
a friction or biting roller r, which when the lifting slide q rises becomes jammed or
fastened between the plate o and the slide q, and thereby causes the vertical plate o
and with it the cross bar n and its connections, to rise with the lift of the lifting
plate. When the lifting plate q moves downwards, the hold or bite of roller ris
loosened, allowing the plate o and the lip m to drop until the lip again rests upon and
is supported from the top of the pile of paper. The lifting slide q is raised and
lowered by means of the bell crank levers and the cam g, one end of the lever s
carrying a runner fitting in a groove in the cam g. This arrangement permits of the
lip m being raised just the necessary amount above the top sheet of paper, whatever
may be the height of the pile of paper on the table.
The bar e is raised at the proper time from the separated sheet of paper to be fed
forward, by means of runners t attached to the underside of the bar e at or near the
ends. These runners t roll or ride along the runner bars or slides u attached to the
ends of the cross bar n and which are suitably shaped on their upper surfaces. It will
be evident that though the runners t serve to reduce the friction, they may be
dispensed with, the bar e being raised by merely sliding it over the bars u.
y
is the roller for feeding forward the sheet of paper to the fence or reception device
of the printing machine. The roller is fitted in bearings capable of sliding in the
vertical guides attached to the rack a of the printing machine. The roller is raised
from and lowered on to the paper at the proper moment by means of the vertical
rods Y which catch beneath and lift the bearings in the vertical guides w. The rods
are actuated by corresponding movements in the printing machine, or by means of a
special cam mounted on the cam shaft hand suitable lever and link connections. Or
the mechanism for raising and lowering the feed roller may be dispensed with,
where the apparatus is so arranged that the sheet of paper is fed sufficiently far
forward to permit the roller v to roll over or on to it for a short distance as the rack.
is completing its travel in the backward direction. A ratchet wheel z attached to one
end of the axle of the roller vand a pawl a' hinged to the bearing carrying the same
end of the axle, permits the roller to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow,
but prevents any rotation in the opposite direction.
is the telescopic or sliding table hinged at its upper end to the cross bar n of the
lip m, and supported at the other end, or rather kept at a fixed distance from the

page_text: fence or receiving device of the printing machine, by means of pins fitting in
the vertical guides c¹ resting on the sides of the table frame d. This arrangement
keeps the upper end of the table at the proper varying height to receive the single
sheet of paper to be fed over it, and allows of the table 6 being automatically
lengthened and shortened according to the height of the pile of paper on the table a.
el is a fence which can be adjusted in a suitable position at the back of the table a.
fare hangers or brackets bolted to the under side of the table a for carrying the
ends of the lever and cam shafts and h. g' is a chain wheel keyed on the cam
shaft for the purpose of imparting motion to the same.
e,
"
The action of the machine (commencing with the rising of the lip m) is as follows:-
This rise of the lip releases the top sheet of paper, which is drawn or pushed backwards
against the fence et by the latter part of the backward motion of the "separating'
This latter drops
bar until the front edge of such sheet is clear of the lip m.
immediately and at the same moment that the separating bare reaches its extreme
backward position. The forward motion of the "separating" bare then allows the
separated sheet first to resume its straight form, and afterwards draws or pushes it
forward, the front edge of the sheet rising over the lip m, and passing forward until
it is over the telescopic table and directly below the feeding roller v, which imme-
diately afterwards drops on to it, and at the same moment begins to move forward
with the rack of the printing machine; the "separating" bar e having now moved
to the extreme end of its forward motion and been raised from the separated by
The rotary
the runnerst mounting the higher part of the runner bars or slides u.
motion of the feed roller being prevented by the pawl a', the separated sheet of
paper is carried forward down the telescopic table 6, until it is in a position to be
seized by the gripping device of the printing machine. The reversal of motion of
the rack of the printing machine now carries back the roller v, which as it is not
now prevented by the pawl y and the ratchet wheel z, rotates or rolls over the sheet
of paper without any tendancy to hold it fast or draw it back.
In the modified arrangement previously referred to, by which the paper or top sheet
is not only bent but also twisted. A separated cam is provided on the cam shaft for
actuating each of the levers giving a reciprocating movement to the vertical guides f
as shewn in Fig. 3. In this case the lever shalt is preferably divided into two
separate short shafts and 1', one towards each side of the feeding table. Figs. 4
and 5 are separate views of these cams shewing the corresponding grooves therein.
The inclined edge of the lip m is indicated in Fig. 1 by dotted lines. The bearings
or the vertical guides f carrying the ends of the separating bar e are modified in con-
struction, so as to allow the necessary said play for permitting the ends of the
separating bar to take up the inclined position herein-before referred to.
Having now particularly described. and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
-
In feeding mechanism or-apparatus for letter press, lithographic-and like
machines.
1° The employment of a reciprocating "separating" bar (moved either parallel
to itself or more quickly at one end than at the other) for separating the top sheet
from the bulk or pile by bending or buckling up (and in some cases also twisting)
such top sheet of paper.
2° The combination with a separating" bar carried in vertical reciprocating
guides of runner bars or slides substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
3º The combination of the lifting plate provided with an upper bevelled edge,
the vertical plate o and the biting bar or wedge r for the purpose of raising and
allowing the lip m and runner bars or slides u to drop or fall substantially as herein
set forth.
4° The telescope table hinged and supported at its upper end to the cross bar n
5 or lip m substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

page_text: 5° The feeding roller mounted in vertical guides and rotable in one direction
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
a
6° The use of sand paper, glass paper, emery paper, sand cloth or glass cloth, or
of composition coated with sand, glass or emery powder for covering the bars,
rollers, or other separating or feeding mechanism for the purpose of obtaining
biting but not adhesive action on the paper or other material to be separated or fed.
7° The general arrangement and construction of mechanism substantially as berein
described and illustrated forming my improved automatic feeding apparatus for letter
press printing, lithographic, label and like machines.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1889.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON, A.R.S.M. Wh. Sc.,
2, East Parade, Leeds, Agent for Applicant.