Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Feeding Single Sheets of Paper to Printing Machines, Part of which Improvements is also Applicable to Separating Sheets of Paper from a Pile or Piles for other Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 14th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Feeding Single Sheets of
Paper to Printing Machines, Part of which Improvements is also
Applicable to Separating Sheets of Paper from a Pile or Piles
for other Purposes.
I. THOMAS RUDDIMAN JOHNSTON of 26 Charterhouse Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Map Publisher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows --
In separating sheets of paper from a pile and feeding them to various machines,
pneumatic lifters or separators have been employed, which have been caused to descend
on to the pile and then, by suction, separate and lift the top sheet, and in some cases,
the said pneumatic lifter or separator has been also the conveyor or feeder, whilst in
other cases, the pneumatic lifter has raised the top sheet a short distance and travelling
grippers have then siezed such sheet and carried and delivered it to the desired
position. These pneumatic lifters or separators and feeders are troublesome and
expensive and are found frequently to fail in action, and it is the object of my
invention to provide a cheap and reliable substitute for such pneumatic apparatus.
For this purpose I construct a lifter, separator or feeder, with one or more holders or
receptacles, in which I fix blocks of what is known as printer's roller composition, or
other like slightly adhesive preparation, which whilst being sufficiently adhesive to
ensure the siezing and lifting of a sheet of paper, is not moist enough to leave any
trace of it on the paper. These blocks of slightly adhesive material slightly project
from the face of the holders, and the latter are provided with means for offecting this
adjustment.
In applying my invention to power driven lithographic printing machines, my
object is to do mechanically, and by power transmitted through the printing machine
itself, what is at present manually done by the feeder, viz., to bring down from a heap,
single sheets of paper and feed each one at the proper time into the grippers of the
printing cylinder, every sheet occupying when gripped exactly the same position in
relation to the printing cylinder.
The apparatus and parts connected with it are constructed and operated somewhat
as follows: The upper part of the sloping portion of the feeding board is removed,
and a box is inserted for holding the paper, the upper edges of which are flush with
the face of the lower portion of the feeding board. The inner face of the lower side of
this box is parallel with the printing cylinder gripper, and the inner face of one of the
sides of the box, is not only at right angles with the lower side, but corresponds in
position to that of a fixed "side-lay."
The paper being placed in the box, the edge of every sheet resting against the lower
side of it, and that at right angles to it, the sheet lifters fixed on a bar, come down
and lift the uppermost sheet. These sheet lifters, when they have lifted the sheet
about a quarter of an inch clear of the box, stop for a short time, and the grippers of
a sheet-carrier then resting above, take the sheet from the sheet lifters, and the sheet-
carrier subsequently conveys it down to the gripper of the printing cylinder, which
latter shortly afterwards revolves and prints it, the sheet carrier returning for another
sheet, and so on.
The use of slightly adhesive material hereinbefore referred to, is also applicable in
other cases where it is required to lift or separate single sheets of paper from a pile or
piles of the same.
Dated this 14th day of March 1889.
THOMAS RUDDIMAN JOHNSTON.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Feeding Single Sheets of
Paper to Printing Machines, Part of which Improvements is also
Applicable to Separating Sheets of Paper from a Pile or Piles
for other Purposes.
I, THOMAS RUDDIMAN JOHNSTON of 26 Charterhouse Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Map Publisher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
In separating sheets of paper from a pile and feeding them to various machines,
pneumatic lifters or separators have been employed, which have been caused to descend
on to the pile and then, by suction, separate and lift the top sheet, and in some cases,
'the said pneumatic lifter or separator has been also the conveyor or feeder, whilst in.,
other cases, the pneumatic lifter has raised the top sheet a short distance and
travelling grippers have then seized such sheet and carried and delivered it to the
desired position. These pneumatic lifters or separators and feeders are troublesome
and expensive and are found frequently to fail in action, and it is the object of my
invention to provide a cheap and reliable substitute for such pneumatic apparatus.
For this purpose I construct a lifter, separator, or feeder with one or more holders or
receptacles in which I fix blocks of what is known as "Printers Roller Composition
or other like slightly adhesive preparation, which, whilst being sufficiently adhesive to
ensure the seizing and lifting of a sheet of paper, is not moist enough to leave any
trace of it on the paper.
These blocks of slightly adhesive material slightly project from the face of the
holders, and the latter are provided with means for effecting this adjustment.
In applying my invention to power driven overfed printing machines, my object
is to do mechanically and by power transmitted through the printing machine itself,
what is at present manually done by the feeder, viz., to bring down from a heap,
single sheets of paper and feed each one at the proper time into the grippers of the
printing cylinder, every sheet occupying, when gripped, exactly the same position in
relation to the printing cylinder.
The apparatus and parts connected with it are constructed and operated somewhat
as follows.
The upper part of the sloping portion of the feeding board is removed, and a box
is inserted for holding the paper, the upper edges of which are flush with the face of
the lower portion of the feeding board. The inner face of the lower side of this box
is parallel with the printing cylinder gripper, and the inner face of one of the sides of
the box is not only at right angles with the lower side, but corresponds in position to
that of a fixed "side-lay."
The paper being placed in the box, the edge of every sheet resting against the
lower side of it, and that at right angles to it, the sheet lifters, fixed on a bar, come
down and lift the uppermost sheet.
These sheet lifters, when they have lifted the sheet about a quarter of an inch clear
of the box, stop for a short time, and the grippers of a sheet carrier then resting
above, take the sheet from the sheet-lifters, and the sheet-carrier subsequently
conveys it down to the gripper of the printing cylinder, which latter shortly
afterwards revolves and prints it, 'the sheet-carrier returning for another sheet, and
80 on.
And in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.

page_text: Figure 2. 1s an end elevation of the same.
Figure 2* is a similar view drawn full size.
Figure 3. is a side view, and
Figure 4. is an end elevation of that part of the sheet-carrier which transmits the
necessary motions to it.
Figure 5. is a plan.
Figure 6. a sectional side view, and
Figure 7. a front view of one of the sheet-lifters and parts connected with it.
Figures 8. and 9. are respectively edge views of parts 1. 2. Figure 10 of the
cam H H showing the arrangement of the parts for causing the friction wheel of
the lever of the sheet-lifter bar to move from one path of its cam to the other.
Figure 10. shows the cams which move the sheet-carrier and the sheet-lifter-bar
drawn to half full size.
Figures 11 and 12 represent the sheet carrier in two different positions of its
grippers, and drawn full size.
Figure 18 is a cross section of the cams which move the sheet carrier and sheet
lifter bar.
Figure 14. is a side elevation ;
Figure 15. is a back view and
Figure 16. is a front view of the sheet-carrier grippers.
Figure 17. is a side elevation,
Figure 18. is an end elevation and
Figure 19. is a plan of the carrier bar and the sheet-carrier-lever-movers fixed
thereto.
Figure 20. is a side elevation and
Figure 21. is a front elevation of the flat bars with hooked ends of the sheet carrier
which are acted on by the rubber bands.
Figure 22. is a plan of the sheet carrying apparatus when it has just received a
sheet of paper at the paper box and its grippers have closed upon it.
Figure 23. is a plan of parts of the sheet carrier.
Figure 24. is a side elevation of the mechanism which moves the sheet-carrier as
seen when taking a sheet of paper from the box to the printing cylinder.
Figure 25. is a front elevation with parts broken away, of the stop pieces and
connections which when desired prevent paper being lifted from the box.
Figure 26. is a section showing an edge view of the oscillating central piece or
lever which connects those stop pieces and Figure 27. is an end elevation showing an
edge view of one of the stop pieces.
Figure 24. not only shows the sheet carrying apparatus when it is taking a sheet
down to the cylinder, but if the lever P be lying in the contrary direction, its form
when returning to the paper box.
The sheet-carrier-lever-movers are shown in their normal position at S and S', in
their position when opening the grippers at S8 and S° and in their position when
closing the grippers at So and S
The arrow A points the direction in which the cylinder revolves when a sheet is
being printed, the cylinder remaining fixed when the stone is returning and the racks
of the stone box are revolving the geared wheels B (in the opposite direction.
The dotted lines B and C indicate respectively the tops and bottoms of the teeth of
the wheels which revolve the cylinder, and are mounted on its shaft, and which also
entirely give motion to the feeding apparatus.
D₁ is a toothed wheel fixed on the shaft D and geared with one of the above
mentioned cylinder wheels B, C; and E is a toothed pinion also fixed on the shaft D
and giving motion to the toothed wheel F', on the shaft F of which, the cams G and H
are fixed. The cam G gives motion to the levers which move the sheet-carrier up
and down the feeding board, and the double cam H works the levers which move the
sheet-lifter-bar. The axles of these wheels, cams, and levers are supported in a
suitable frame J.

page_text: L' is a holder or sheet lifter containing a piece of the slightly adhesive com-
position L, of which letterpress inking rollers are inade, or other like preparation and
by means of the screw and plate 1, this composition can at all times be arranged
so as to very slightly project from the edge of the holder at L. This holder L is
fastened to a bar L, which stretches across the feeding board, and has several such
holders secured at intervals to it.
The ends of this bar L' are mounted in iron supports K', fixed to the box ✗
containing the sheets of paper, and are prolonged downwards, where they are provided
with circular projecting parts L, on which the levers M³ for raising and lowering the
sheet-lifter-bar 1 are mounted. Projections Land L³, at both ends of the sheet-
lifter-bar, fit against the iron supports K', and thereby prevent any lateral movement
on the part of this bar. The iron supports K' are seenred to the paper box in such a
position that their inner facos are flush with the inner face of the side of the box X.
The mechanism for raising and lowering the sheet-lifter-bar 18 with its sheet-lifters,
consists of the double cam H and H2, which, when it revolves in the direction of the
arrow H³, allows its portion H only to act on the wheel M' and which, when it
revolves in the direction of the arrow H, has only its portion H' in contact with the
same wheel. Figure 10 besides showing the cam G which moves the levers of the
sheet carrier, also shows the paths of the above mentioned double cam H1, H2.
The friction wheel M' is mounted in the end of the rod M², and this, at its lower
end, is in contact with the lever M³, which oscillates on the rod M*, and is moved up
and down in correspondence with the outline of the cam H H. The sheet-lifter-
bar being, either by its own weight or by means of a spring not shown in the
drawings, inclined to descend into the box, the cam H', H³, will more or less lift it,
according as it acts on the wheel M¹.
The cain path H is so made that the lovers M³ attached to the end L of the sheet-
lifter-bar L, permit the latter to descend with its sheet-lifters when the previous
sheet of paper taken down to the cylinder is being printed, and allow the shoot-lifters
to fix themselves to the next sheet, and the hollow in the cam path H' is such, as
shown in H figure 10, that the sheet lifter L can lift the last sheet in the box. The
cam, then continuing to revolve, brings the sheet lifter up again from the box, until
the sheet of paper comes to the position N', the portion of the cam path marked H
being then acting on the friction wheel M1; the grippers of the sheet carrier then
secure the sheet, as will be afterwards described, and when this takes place, the sheet-
lifter rises still further by means of the portion of the can marked H17, to detach itself
from the paper, and then remains in this position while the sheet-carrier is taking the
sheet down to the cylinder gripper.
To cause the sheet-lifter-bar to remain in its highest position, and not come down on
the sheet of paper when it is being withdrawn froin the box, just before the cum com-
mences its reverse movement, the wheel M leaves the path it has been following, as
shown in Figuro 8, the spring H preventing its return, and takes the other path H³,
when the cam revolves in the contrary direction.
This cam path H is of the full circumference of the cam, and the wheel follows it
until it comes to the spring EI", figures 9 and 10, when it again changes to the path
it first followed, the spring Hagain preventing its return as will be seen on
reference to Figure 8, when the wheel M in travelling on the path H in the direction
of the arrow on that path, comes to the spring H, the latter gives way and allows it
to pass, but immediately afterwards resumes the position shown in the drawing, thus
compelling the wheel M' when the cam commences to revolve in the opposite direction
to follow the path H². As shown in Figure 9 it again returns to the path H¹ in a
similar manner.
The wheel M will pass more or less into the hollow of the cam path H¹. according
to the amount of paper in the box, but the paper-lifters will always reach the paper
and then be lifted up exactly to the grippers of the sheet-carrier.
Thus should the box be full of paper and the sheet lifters L be resting on the top-
most sheet, the lifter bar L to which they are attached will only permit its portion i

page_text: to descend a very small distance.
The lever M will consequently act in a similar
manner and allow the rod M³ with its friction wheel M¹ to only partly descend, and M¹
will thus only slightly enter the hollow H of the cam H₁ and the smaller the
quantity of paper in the box the further will ' enter the hollow H'.
The sheet-carrier, which takes the sheet of paper from the sheet lifters L' and
conveys and delivers it at Y to the gripper of the printing cylinder (not shown)
consists chiefly of a rod O¹, figures 2, 5. 14, 15, 16, 22 and 23, stretching across the
feeding board and having on it, grippers 02. This rod is fixed to short brass tubes Pl
sliding on rods 0³, fixed at its upper end at K to the iron supports K¹ of the sheet-
lifter-bar, and at its lower end to brackets 0' fixed to the cross bar O* of the frame of
the machine. The movements of the sheet-carrier correspond with the movements of
the printing cylinder and its gripper. It is carried up and down the feeding board
by the action of the cam G and levers Q¹ and Q as follows. The path of the friction
wheel Q3 of the L lever Qis shown chiefly in figure 10, and this path is so designed
that shortly after the printing cylinder begins to revolve the lever Q¹ makes the
lever Qmove the sheet-carrier, with its open grippers, up the feeding board, with a
gradually increasing and then gradually decreasing motion, until it brings its part P
against the iron supports of the sheet-lifter at K². After letting the sheet-carrier
rest there for an instant, but sufficiently long to get the sheet of paper, it closes its
grippers, and then brings the sheet-carrier, with the same movements repeated in
reverse order, down to the printing cylinder gripper, where it again rests, and the
arm S opens the carrier gripper and releases the sheet as hereinafter described.
The grippers of the sheet-carrier are controlled as follows. The tubes P slide
on the rods O and the bar of the sheet-carrier is fixed at P³ to the tube P¹.
Through descending arms P attached to the tubes P¹, passes a rod P5, and this
rod also passes freely through the sheet-carrier-gripper 02 at 0, and to it are fixed the
parts of the grippers, so that when this rod is slightly turned in one direction or
the other, the grippers are opened or closed. On the end of this rod P are fixed
levers P, acted on by the lever movers S1 and S2 as the sheet-carrier-grippers are
receiving or delivering their sheet. On the wires P7 and P³ of the tubes Pl aro
placed flat bars P and P with hooked ends, these pieces being held in position by
the strong rubber bands P and P. Passing through the centre of each of these
flat pieces, are wires S3 and S4, fixed to a bar S, and to which the lever movers S¹
and S are fixed, and which has motion communicated to it, through its projecting
lever pins or studs S, by the lever Q, which is forked at its lower end Q. After the
tube P is carried to its highest position against the sheet-lifter-bar-support at K², or
its lowest position against the bracket 0 at 0³, the lever Q continues to move, and
carries the bar S still further upwards or downwards, and so brings the lover
movers S1 and S2 against the levers PP. But as soon as the lever Q begins to reverse
its action, the rubber bands P" and ", acting on the flat bars P and P10, bring the
bar S back to its central position, in which the lever movers S' and S² do not come
in contact with the lever P, and So continues in this position during the upward
and downward movement of the sheet-carrier being only moved from it, when the
tubes P1 of the carrier are arrested either above or below.
To describe the complete action of the apparatus.
The printing cylinder having commenced to revolve with a sheet already supplied
thereto, the sheet-carrier, with its connections S, P and O', being all at their lowest
positions, remain thus for a time, corresponding with the time given the cylinder
gripper to close. The movements produced by the cam G moving the levers of the
sheet-carrier, being of course repeated in reverse order, in the upward movement of
the sheet-carrier, to what they were in the downward, and then the lever Q² beginning
gradually to nove, permits the rubber bands P and P2 to bring back the bar S,
until its part S comes against the flat bar P" and the sheet-carrier-gripper-lever-
openers and closers S and S remain at each side of the sheet-carrier-gripper-levers P,
without acting on them, when the sheet-carrier is being moved upwards. The
lever Q continuing to act with a gradually quicker movement, and the cam H'
which acts on the lever M³ connected to the sheet-lifter-bar L, coming now into play,

page_text: the sheet-lifter-bar is permitted to lower itself into the paper box, where its
litters L' receive a sheet of paper, the cam H. continuing to act, raises the sheet-
lifter-bar to the position N', as the sheet carrier gradually stops against its highest
position K². But though the carrier stope. the lever Q continues to act and by
pushing the end S of bar S against the flat bar P, carrying the latter temporarily
away from the stops Ps and P and allowing lever mover S to come against the
lever P of the sheet-carrier-gripper-rod and move it so as to shut these grippers O',
this movement being assisted by the rubber bands R fixed to the tube P₁ at P and
to the levers of the sheet-carrier at P10. The portion H7 of the cam E of the sheet-
lifter then comes into action, and raises the sheet-lifter clear from the sheet of paper.
The friction wheel M¹ having now reached the cam path H³ the sheet-lifter remains in
this. its highest position, during the complete downward movement of the sheet-
carrier, and until it again approaches it, but the movements given the carrier by its
cam G through the levers Q and Q2 are now reversed, and the carrier brought down,
with the sheet of paper to the cylinder gripper, the carrier thon gradually stopping as
it comes into contact with boss O on the bracket 0* fixed to the machine frame, and
the lever Q continuing to act until it moves the flat bar Paway from stops P
and P18, and so permits the lever mover S to push the lever Pe, of the sheet-carrier-
grippers and so move O' away from 02 and so leave the sheet of paper in the gripper
of the printing cylinder, which then closes upon it.
The shaft U, to which the levers Qare fixed, oscillates in the frames J at J, and
the smaller rod U2 also joins the same levers together and steadies their movement.
The means used to adjust the movements of the lever Q" are shown in figures 1 and 2,
and are as follows. Working within the forked end of the levers Q, are crank
pins Qfixed ir certain positions by the plates Q and Q7 sliding in the levers Q³ and
jam-nuts Q³.
If these bent pieces be moved to the right or left, they will correspondingly make
the levers Q move further in one direction and less in the other than before. If
again the plates Q and Q, to which the crank pins are joined, be moved further up
or down in the levers Q3, the total movement of those levers will be increased or
decreased accordingly.
If it is desired at any time to cease feeding paper to the printing cylinder, whether
the machine is running or not, all that is necessary to accomplish this is, to pull out
the handles V, figures 1. 2, 25, 26, and 27 when the stop pieces V³ connected with
them, will prevent the lovers M³ from descending, and therefore the sheet-lifters
cannot enter the paper box.
The sheet-carrier may however continue to move up and down, but as it takes no
paper with it, this does not matter. The stop pieces V2, from their shape, can only
come under the levers M³, when the latter are full up, and therefore cannot cause any
breakage of parts, which otherwise might be done.
The pulling out of handle V at one side of the machine makes a similar part to V'
come also out at the other side, the two parts being joined together by a third part
or lever V³, which oscillates on its centre which is fixed to the middle of the lower
side of the feeding box.
In all machines, the rod M', on which the lever M³ oscillates, is carried across
to the other side of the machine, where it moves another similar lever.
In the larger machines, the geared wheels for giving movement to the cam G,
and the cam itself, would be in duplicate, one set at each side of the machine.
All the other parts of the sheet-lifter and sheot-carrier, and parts connected
with them, though only shown as at one side of the feeding board, are also at the
other side.
I would here remark that although I have described my invention as applied to a
power driven lithographic printing machine it is also applicable to other power
driven overfed printing machines.
The use of slightly adhesive material hereinbefore referred to, is also applicable in
other cases where it is required to lift or separate single sheets of paper from a pile or
piles of the same.

page_text: 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 power driven overfed printing machines the combination of a sunk paper
box at the upper part of the feeding board, a lifter consisting of a frame carrying
blocks of slightly adhesive composition, such as printers roller composition, and
receiving motion, whereby it is enabled to follow the level of the paper in the box,
and to lift a sheet of paper therefrom slightly above the level of the feeding board,
and a travelling carrier provided with grippers, which seize the paper raised by the
lifter and convey it down the feeding board and deliver it to the gripper of the
printing cylinder, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In power driven overfed printing machines, and in other machinery or apparatus,
a paper lifter, consisting of a block or blocks of slightly adhesive composition such,
for instance as printer's roller composition mounted in suitable carriers, for separating
and lifting a sheet or sheets of paper from a pile or piles, substantially as herein
described.
1000
THOMAS RUDDIMAN JOHNSTON.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
THOMAS RUDDIMAN JOHNSTON.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.