AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING PAPER TO PRINTING PRESSES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING
PAPER TO PRINTING PRESSES."-A communication from abroad by Olof
Nilson, of Red Wing, Minnesota, United States of America.
Sealed the 26th May 1871, and dated the 28th March 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th March 1871.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS
FOR SUPPLYING PAPER TO PRINTING PRESSES," a communication, to be as
follows:-

page_text: In practising the said Invention I use a suction apparatus, a laterally
oscillating pipe, and a series of cups connected to and communicating
with the said pipe; from this pipe the air is exhausted by a common
air pump, and causes one sheet of paper to adhere closely to the mouth
of the cups; at the same time a moveable table is caused to drop a
little from the cups holding the sheets; then another pipe is placed
parallel with the oscillating pipe; this second pipe is provided with
several perforations opposite the table, from which currents of air pass
under the raised sheet of paper, separating it from the other paper lying
on the table; then the oscillating pipe moves forward and delivers the
sheet to grippers; at this instant the suction, ceases and the paper is
released from the cups. A frame supports with suitable bearings the
printing cylinder, which has a face plate. An eccentric pin fastened to
the said face plate imparts motion through a connecting rod to a cross
lever pivotted to a bearing fastened to the frame. The said cross lever
operates the piston rod of a force pump'; the other end of the said cross
lever operates the piston rod of a suction pump. The cross lever also
operates the laterally oscillating pipe which extends across the frame
above the feed table, and is supported at one end by a lever arm. This
pipe is moved so as to bring it alternately to the paper lying upon the
table and to the cylinder. A flexible pipe fastened to an elbow joint on
'the oscillating pipe connects the same through the medium of a stop-
cock and connecting pipe with a reservoir or vacuum chamber, which is
connected through another pipe with the vacuum pump. The cups or
short tubes have an inclined position while resting with their back edge
on the paper; these cups are brought in this position when in action to
suck the top sheet from those beneath it, thus making a space between
the two sheets for the admission of air from the blowing pipe. I place
· the blowing pipe in front of the paper on the table, and direct through
a number of small openings jets of air between the sheet raised by the
cups and the pile below, whereby the upper sheet is separated through
its entire length from those beneath, and also kept partly suspended over
'the other sheets while being drawn over to the cylinder; this blowing
pipe receives compressed air from the force pump. The sheet which has
been carried along by the means described is released when delivered to
'the grippers on the printing machinery. To effect this object I close
the cock with a rod which acts on an eccentric pin on the plug of the
cock. This rod receives its motion through two parallel levers pivotted
to the frame. The table is made to oscillate around an axis parallel to

page_text: that of the cylinder, and as soon as a sheet of paper is caught by the
inclined cups or short tubes its front end drops and leaves a space
between the upper sheet and the next one for the admission of air from
the blowing pipe, and thereby assists the separation of the top sheet
from the others. To effect this dip or dropping of the table I fasten to
it a lever which is provided with a segmental bearing. Below this a
circular plate with a small indentation is pivotted to the frame, and is
connected by an eccentric pin and link to a lever which is pivotted to
the frame and kept in contact with the surface of a cam. The revolution
of this cam creates an oscillating motion of the circular plate, thus
giving to the table the desired dip. When the aforesaid lever bears on
the depressed surface of the cam again the table is relieved and resumes
its original position; being slightly overbalanced at the back end. I use
an attachment to the aforesaid suction apparatus, the object of which is
to "square" and gauge the released sheet of paper and carry it to the
grippers of the press cylinder in such position that the edge of the paper
will always be delivered parallel to the axis of the cylinder whatever
deviation from that line may have been committed in placing the pile on
the feed table: The suction tubes in this case are stationary, and are
attached to the vacuum pipe, on which they may be made to slide to
any distance apart to suit different widths of paper. The suction tubes
have their mouths cut obliquely at an angle of about 45 degrees in order
to raise the inner edge of the sheet. I use carriers consisting of two
parts; one part sliding in a vertical groove cut in the other part, and
provided with a projection or toe, between which and a flange on the
other part the sheet of paper is clamped for conveying it to the press
cylinder. These carriers slide on rods, the distance between which can
be adjusted to suit different widths of paper, and they are made to
operate simultaneously by means of the rod to which they are secured,
and which receives a reciprocating motion from the printing press
machinery. A pin is attached to the sliding part of the carrier. In
the forward motion of the carrier to grasp the sheet this pin travels up
an incline, thereby raising the sliding part, which having passed the
said incline drops and clamps the edge of the paper, carry the same
across the table to the stationary gauges, against which the edge of the
paper is brought up parallel to the axis of the press cylinder, a light rod
or bar at the same time holding down the paper evenly, and preventing
the creasing or bending of its edge against the gauges. At the same
time as the carriers having dropped the gauged sheet return to grasp a

page_text: second one laterally adjusting clamps grasp the sheet left by the carriers,
and pull it up to side gauges; they then recede, and the sheet is caught
by the grippers of the press cylinder. To produce this lateral back-and-
forth motion of the clamps and their opening and closing at the proper
instant they are fastened by a hinge joint to slides connected together
by a yoke, which receives its proper motion from the printing press
machinery. To raise and let fall the clamps I use a bent spring attached
'to the side gauges, and working against a bent pin on the clamp; the
said clamp is raised in its forward movement and allowed to drop when
the pin has passed a certain point on the spring, allowing the paper to
become clamped between the clamp and slide.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th May 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her 'most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year
of our Lord. One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING PAPER TO PRINTING PRESSES," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Olof Nilson, of Red Wing, Minnesota,
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said

page_text: Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months.next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said. William, Robert: Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
This Invention relates to a method of feeding paper to printing presses'
by machinery.
In practising the said Invention. I use a suction apparatus and a.
series. of cups connected. to and communicating with a pipe, from the
latter. the air is exhausted by a common air, pump, and one of the sheets.
of paper (which are carried on a moveable table) is thereby caused to
adhere closely to the mouth of the cups at the same time the
moveable table is caused to drop a little from the sheet held by the cups;
another pipe is. placed. parallel with the aforesaid pipe, and provided
opposite the table with several. perforations, from which currents of air.
are emitted, and pass under the raised sheet of paper separating it from.
the other sheets lying on the-table; then the said sheet is delivered to..
the grippers of the printing press, at this instant the suction ceases, and
the sheet is released from the cups..
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
Figure is a side elevation of a machine embodying this Invention ;;
Figure 2. is a front elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a section of the
suction and blowing pipes,, showing their position with regard to the
table; Figure 4 shows an arrangement of mechanism for operating the
feed table; Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, illustrate modifications of my Invention.
Dherein-after explained.. In Figures. 1, 2, 3, 4, the same letters indicate
the same parts..
A frame A supports in suitable bearings a the printing cylinder B,..
which has a face plate C fastened on one end of its shaft 6; an eccentric
pin e fastened to the said face plate imparts motion through a connecting,
rod D to a cross lever E pivoted to a bearing e' which is fastened to. the
frame A. One end of the said cross lever operates through the pin e³.
the piston rod f of a force pump F. The other end of the said cross.

page_text: lever operates through the pin e³ the piston rod g of a suction pump G.
The upright end e of the cross lever B supports and operates a pipe H,
which extends across the frame above the feed table I, and is supported
at one end by a lever arm E¹. This pipe H by means of the cross lever E
is moved alternately over the paper lying upon the table I and close to
the cylinder. A flexible pipe H¹ fastened to an elbow joint / on the
pipe H, connects the same through the medium of a stop-cock K and
connecting pipe with a reservoir or. vacuum chamber. L, which is
connected through the pipe 7-with the vacuum pump G. To facilitate
the sucking up of the paper sheets I provide the pipe H with a number
of cups or short tubes which will lift one sheet of paper, carry it
forward and deliver it to the grippers on the press, the said tubes or
cups ¹ have an inclined position while resting with their back edge on
the paper, being inclined upward away from the paper towards their
front edge at an angle of about 45 degrees. These cups are brought in
this position when in action to suck the top sheet from those beneath it,
thus making a space between the two sheets for the admission of air
from the blowing pipe T in front of the table I. I place the pipe F¹ in
front of the paper on the table I and direct through a number of small
openings fjets of air between the upper sheet (which is raised by the
cups) and the pile below. The upper sheet is thus separated through
its entire length from those beneath, and also kept partly suspended over
the other sheets while being drawn over to the cylinder. By this means
the parts are caused to work very easily, and all danger of tearing the
damp sheets asunder is obviated. The pipe F receives compressed air
from the pump F. When the cross lever E and pipe H are moved
into the position shown by dotted lines, the sheet which has been carried
along by the means described is released when delivered to the grippers
or the printing machinery. To effect this object I close the cock K
with a rod which acts on an eccentric pin on the plate K¹ forming
a part of the plug of the cock K. The rod ² receives its motion through
two parallel levers M, M¹ pivotted at m, m², to the frame A and connected
laterally by a link m² which is pivotted to them so that the motion of onc
lever necessitates a like motion of the other. The eccentric pin e¹ on
the revolving face plate with the above-described lever, arrangement
produces and communicates to the rod 2 the movement necessary to
open and close the cock K with the proper intervening pauses. The
parting and removal of the top sheet is greatly facilitated by the table I.
This table is made to oscillate around an axis parallel to that of the
•

page_text: cylinder, and as soon as a sheet of paper is caught by the inclined cups or
short tubes its front end drops and leaves a space between the upper
sheet and the next one for the admission of air from the blowing pipe Fi
and thereby assists the separation of the top sheet from the others. To
effect this dip or dropping of the table I, I fasten to it a lever i which
is provided with a segmental bearing ". Below this a circular plate N
with a small indentation n' is pivotted to the frame A at n, and is con-
nected by an eccentric pin n³ and link N¹ with pivot n³ to a lever O,
which is pivotted to the frame at o, and kept in contact with the surface
of a cam P by a spring of fastened to it and to the frame. The cam P is
but slightly convex at p, while the other part of it is circular and con-
centric with its axis, the revolution of this cam, which is fastened to
the shaft 6 imparts an oscillating motion to the cam N. This oscillation
causes the circular part of the cam to come in contact with the friction
plate and communicates its own motion to it, thus giving to the table I
the desired dip as represented in Figure 4 by the dotted lines. When
the lever O bears on the surface p of the cam P again the plate N is in
such a position that the indentation n' is parallel with the friction
plate, thereby relieving the table I, which resumes its original position,
being slightly overbalanced at the back end.
When the machine is to be operated the paper is put on the table I
with the front edges at a suitable distance from the pipe F¹. By the
action of the revolving face plate C and connecting rod D on the
cross lever E the tubes or cups h¹ are brought in contact with the top
sheet of paper, at the same time the cock K is opened in the manner
already described, and the vacuum chamber Ļ through the commu-
nications K, K, H, H³, immediately sucks the same sheet up to the
mouths of the tubes . At this instant the table I drops and parts
the paper sheets, leaving a space between the top sheet and those
beneath it and jets of air from the openings in the pipe F are directed
between the upper sheet and those below it, the table I remaining down
until the sheet is drawn off. As soon as the paper is brought over to
the cylinder B, the suction in the pipe H is stopped by the action of
the cock K which shuts off the communication with the vacuum
chamber L, it is then grasped by the grippers of the printing press, and
there worked in the ordinary manner.
In Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, I have illustrated an attachment to the above

page_text: grippers of the press cylinder. To produce this lateral back-and-forth
motion of the clamps J and their opening and closing at the proper
instant they are fastened by a hinge joint to the slides K working in
grooves on the table 'F. The slides K are connected together by a
yoke L (to give a simultaneous motion to the clamps J) and as well
as the rod D receives its proper motion from a wheel N or other suitable
gearing connected to the printing press machinery. To raise and let
fall the clamps J any suitable arrangements may be devised, one of
which is shown in Figure 7, where a bent spring attached to the side
gauges M and working against a bent pin g on the clamp J raises
the said clamp in its forward movement and allows it to drop when
the ping has passed a certain point on the spring , allowing the
paper to become clamped between the clamp J and the slide K; this
latter position of the clamp J is indicated by dotted lines in Figure 7.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I claim,―
First. Raising the upper sheet of paper from the pipe by moveable or
stationary suction or vacuum pipes, and separating it entirely from the
said pile by a current of air forced through another pipe substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Second. The combination of the pump G, chamber L, pipes and k,
cock K, with its moving pipes H and H', pump F, and pipe F¹,
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Third. The combination of the dipping table I with the friction cam ¿¹
friction plate N, connection N¹, lever O, and cam P, substantially as
and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fourth. The carriers C and laterally adjusting clamps J in com-
bination with the suction tubes A and vacuum pipe B, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the carriers C constructed as described with
the incline G for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The combination of the bars I with the gauges H, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. The arrangement shown in Figure 7 for operating the lateral
clamps J.
Eighth. The combination of the carriers C, rods E and D, lateral
clamps J, slides K, gauges H, M, and bars I, each with the other or

page_text: others, and all with the suction apparatus and oscillating feed table;
and all operating substantially as described and for the purpose herein-
before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L:S.)