Improved Apparatus for Feeding Sheets of Paper to Underfed Cylinder Letterpress Printing Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 16th May, 1890-Accepted, 21st June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Feeding Sheets of Paper to Underfed
Cylinder Letterpress Printing Machines.
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 the process of printing by the ordinary Underfed Cylinder Letterpress Printing
Machine, sheets of paper are fed at regular intervals from a heap lying on the outer
portion of the feeding board, to front and side lays, or to points on the inner and
hinged portion of the same board, the end of this latter nearest the impression
cylinder shortly afterwards rising a short distance, and bringing the edge of the sheet
of paper close to the under surface of the cylinder, the grippers of which then secure
it. The cylinder then revolves and brings the sheet against the surface of the type,
which has previously been inked and so an impression is printed.
The object of my invention is to do by means of a mechanical apparatus what is at
present done by hand, viz., to take single sheets of paper from a number of sheets,
and feed them in regularly and accurately to an Underfed Cylinder Letterpress
Printing Machine.
My apparatus is entirely supplemental to the existing machine, and consists
generally of a supply box lying on and fixed to the outer feeding board into which a
number of sheets are laid and into which a bar carrying a number of holders, each
containing an adhesive composition, descends at regular intervals. The adhesive
composition attaches itself to the front edge of the uppermost sheet of paper, and as
the bar carrying the holders immediately afterwards rises, the sheet is lifted out of
the box, and is then seized by mechanical grippers secured to another bar, which at
once moves with the sheet down to the front-lay of the feeding board, where it
deposits it, and where by the rising of the end of the feeding board, as with hand
feeding, it is taken by the grippers on the cylinder of the Letterpress Printing
Machine. The carrier grippers then return to the box for another sheet and so on.
A toothed wheel is fixed on the same shaft as, and revolves the printing cylinder,
by motion conveyed to it by a toothed rack. The inner portion of the feeding board
is hinged as usual and it has a front lay.
Immediately after a sheet of paper is laid against this front lay the hinged part of
the feeding board rises and the front lay drops from its centre of movement thus
permitting the front edge of the sheet of paper to come against the blanket of the
cylinder to which it is at once firmly held by the grippers of the cylinder. The
aforesaid toothed wheel makes a complete revolution first in one direction taking the
cylinder with it, and then another in the opposite direction and by suitable gearing
gives motion to a large cam in such manner that at every revolution in either
direction of the toothed wheel, on the cylinder shaft, the large cam is compelled
to make a similar almost complete revolution.
In the supply box the sheets of paper to be printed are placed with the front edge
of every sheet against the inner front of the said box and the edge at right angles to
the front edge either against the side of the box, if a large sheet is being printed, or
against a board placed within the box, if a smaller sheet is being printed and the
centre of the cylinder be desired to be used. Into this box at regular intervals
descends the lifter bar carrying several lifters each containing a piece of adhesive
composition and when this composition comes in contact with the uppermost sheet of
paper it adheres to it and the lifter bar being immediately afterwards raised, the sheet
paper is withdrawn from the box.
of
On guide rods fixed at both sides of the machine, slide carrier frames having at

page_text: their ends nearest the cylinder, sockets for carrying a rod which connects them
together, and which also carries the sheet-carrier-grippers. These carrier-grippers
consist of a fixed main piece and a moveable gripper which holds the sheet of paper
against the fixed main piece. To open and close these grippers, motion is conveyed
to them by means of an operating rod also supported by the fixed main pieces and
when this rod revolves about 90° in either direction, it moves levers fixed thereon to a
similar extent. These levers are connected by bars, to the grippers by pins and the
points of these pins being in contact with a part of a certain shape, projecting from
the sides of the main piece are bound to follow the faces of these pieces as the
operating rod is revolved and thus make the grippers follow a corresponding path,
and so cause them to carefully take hold or release the sheet as required, a rubber
band on each gripper helping to accomplish this. As the sheet of paper is rising out
of the box, the sheet carriers with their grippers open approach and rest exactly over
its front edge and this being brought against them, the grippers then close on the
sheet, and the lifter bar with its lifters then rising further, frees itself from it. The
sheet carriers then take the sheet down to the front edge of the feeding table and
leave it there, returning for another.
To give motion to the levers, which move the sheet carriers to and fro between the
box and the front lay of the feeding board, two paths of the aforesaid large cam are
used one path for bringing the sheet from the box to the cylinder, and the other path
for the return of the sheet carriers to the hox. The said paths convey motion to the
carriers through a bent lever fitted with a friction wheel which lever gives motion to
a straight lever whose forked end works in connection with the frames of the sheet
carriers. The path for bringing the sheet from the box is so designed that almost
immediately after the toothed wheel on the cylinder shaft begins to reverse its motion,
the sheet carriers begin to come down towards the cylinder, and when they gently
reach it, they deposit the sheet and afterwards retire a short distance before the
feeding board rises, so that it cannot come into contact with them. As the cam comes
to the end of its movement in this direction the friction wheel of the bent lever
changes from the said path to the path for returning the sheet carrier to the box and
the toothed wheel of the cylinder now revolving in the opposite direction and taking
the cylinder and sheet of paper to be printed with it, the sheet carriers continue to
move towards the box and there receive another sheet as already described. To
permit of the bent lever changing from the one path to the other the end of its lower
arm is a separate piece capable of moving laterally about a connecting bolt.
To shut and open the grippers of the sheet carriers the forked ends of the carrier
traversing levers which carry within them the pins of operating sliding pieces continue
to move a short distance after they bring the sheet carriers to their position at the box
or the cylinder taking these pins with them.
When the sheet is brought down to the cylinder it is now necessary to release
it, and therefore to open the grippers of the carriers, for this purpose the carrier
traversing levers continue to move a short distance, as they are not fixed directly to
the carrier frames though joined to them through certain other parts now to be
described. When the sheet is brought down its full distance the carrier traversing
levers have brought the pins of the operating sliding pieces to a certain position, and
the carrier frames gently against adjustable nuts on the guide rods.
The carrier traversing levers then move a short distance further carrying the pins
with them and the ends of the operating sliding pieces push the gripper releasing
sliding pieces carried by the carrier frame a corresponding distance. The projecting
ends of these gripper releasing pieces coming in contact with the parts fixed at
both ends of the gripper releasing rod revolves this rod a distance of about 90°, and
thus opens all the sheet carrier grippers. The carrier traversing levers then begin
their reverse movement, and the projecting ends of the gripper releaser resume their
former position, leaving the grippers open and they remain so during the upward
movement of the carrier and until another sheet is fed to them from the box. A
similar movement then takes place there, the carrier traversing levers after bringing
the sheet carriers gently against adjustable nuts at the upper ends of the guide rods,

page_text: move the pins of the carrier operating sliding pieces a short distance further and so
canse the projecting parts of the gripper closing sliding pieces to push the parts for
opening and closing the gripper back to their former position and so close all the
grippers. When the traversing levers begin their reverse movement the gripper
closing slides return to their first position, leaving all the grippers closed until the
sheet reaches the cylinder and is there released. Springs are employed to bring the
parts back to their normal position and suitable guides keep the movements true.
To operate the lifter bar and lift the sheet of paper out of the box other two paths
on the aforesaid large cam are used. The shape of these paths gives movement to a
sliding rod through a friction wheel in contact with the cam, and the lower end of this
sliding rod acts on one end of a lever. This lever is fixed on an axle which works a
similar lever at the other side of the machine and is supported by brackets which also
support the sliding rod.
The other ends of the levers are forked and carry within them projecting portions
of a cross bar and thus lift this bar up and down according to the movements given to
the levers by the cam.
The one path of the cam is so made that during the upward movement to the paper
box of the sheet-carrier it permits the sheet lifters to come down on the topmost sheet
of paper and then raises them so that the sheet comes against a fixed part of the
sheet carrier grippers.
The lifters then cease moving while the grippers of the sheet-carrier are being
closed, but as soon as this takes place they again rise about inch, so as to release
their hold of the sheet. The friction wheel of the sliding rod then changes from
the first mentioned path to another path of the cam and as the latter path is of one
radius, the sheet lifter remains up, until the sheet carrier again approaches the paper
box. Gates or switches are used for changing the path of the wheels working
against the cam, the friction wheel of the carrier operating lever traversing one
path pushes open the spring gate or switch and is consequently forced to traverse
the other path when the cam begins its reverse movement.
There are four such
gates or switches on the cam two to permit of the friction wheel of the carrier
lever changing its path at the commencement and end of the forward and backward
movement of the cam and two to permit the friction wheel of the lifter rod to do the
same. The lifter rod is not in two parts but is capable of lateral movement in one
direction, within its bracket so allowing its friction roller to follow either path.
Two frames one at each side of the machine, support the working parts of the
feeder and are secured to the machine at any convenient place. To give rigidity
to them, the carrying brackets are connected together by a cross bar. The carrier
traversing levers are fastened to a cross rod which is supported in the frames. To
further steady the movement of these levers they are joined together lower down by a
cross rod. To adjust the length of movement of the carrier traversing levers the
pin which is moved by the forked end of the lever operated by the cam is capable
of adjustment on the carrier traversing lever in two directions. The adhesive
composition used, is 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
and is capable of being adjusted in the holders.
When it is desired to stop the feeding of sheets, stops, one at each side of the
machine, connected together so as to move simultaneously are placed in position to
prevent the sheet lifters from entering the paper box.
The apparatus otherwise goes through its movements as before, but no paper is
delivered.
Guides fixed into the sides of the paper box compel the sheet lifter to act
accurately.
Dated August 16th 1889.
ANTONA12

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Feeding Sheets of Paper to Underfed
Cylinder Letterpress Printing Machines.
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 be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
In the process of printing by the ordinary Underfed Cylinder Letterpress Printing
Machine, sheets of paper are fed at regular intervals from a heap lying on the outer
portion of the feeding board, to front and side lays, or to points on the inner and
hinged portion of the same board, the end of this latter nearest the impression cylinder
shortly afterwards rising a short distance, and bringing the edge of the sheet of paper
close to the under surface of the cylinder, the grippers of which then secure it. The
cylinder then revolves and brings the sheet against the surface of the type which has
previously been inked and so an impression is printed.
The object of my invention is to do by means of a mechanical apparatus what is at
present done by hand, viz. to take single sheets of paper from a number of sheets, and
feed them in regularly and accurately to an Underfed Cylinder Letterpress Printing
Machine.
My apparatus is entirely supplemental to the existing machine and consists
generally of a supply box lying on and fixed to the outer feeding board into which a
number of sheets are laid and into which a bar carrying a number of holders each
containing an adhesive composition, descends at regular intervals. The adhesive
composition attaches itself to the front edge of the uppermost sheet of paper, and as
the bar carrying the holders immediately afterwards rises, the sheet is lifted out of
the box, and is then seized by mechanical grippers secured to another bar, which at
once moves with the sheet down to the front-lay of the feeding board where it deposits
it, and where by the rising of the end of the feeding board (as with hand feeding) it
is taken by the grippers on the cylinder of the Letterpress Printing Machine. The
carrier grippers then return to the box for another sheet and so on.
And in order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings fully to describe the same.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of a Cylinder Letterpress Printing Machine
with my invention applied thereto.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a diagram representing the four paths of the large cam wheel.
Figure 4 is a plan of part of the lever which conveys motion to the feeding
apparatus and which works in contact with two of the paths on the face of
the cam.
Figures 5 and 6 are a side view and plan of one of the carrier 'grippers which
hold the sheet when it is being carried from the box to the printing cylinder.
Figure 7 shows in plan one of the gates on the cam, which change the path of the
wheels working against its face, and
Figures 8 and 9 are respectively a side elevation and plan of one of the carrier
grippers and some of the parts connected therewith drawn full size.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A represents the toothed wheel fixed on the shaft of the printing cylinder and
which revolves the latter by motion conveyed to it by a toothed rack the pitch line of
which is represented at A². The printing surface of the cylinder is indicated at A³.
A is the inner portion of the feeding board which is hinged as usual at A, and has a
front lay A. Immediately after a sheet of paper is laid against this front lay, the
hinged part of the feeding board rises, and the front lay drops from its centre of
movement A', thus permitting the front edge of the sheet of paper to come against
the blanket of the cylinder at A8, to which it is at once firmly held, by the grippers
(not shown) of the cylinder.
The toothed wheel A¹ makes a complete revolution, first in one direction taking the

page_text: cylinder with it and then another in the opposite direction. The pinion B' is geared
with it and makes three revolutions each way to every one made by the toothed
wheel A. At the other end of the shaft B, carrying the toothed pinion B', is another
pinion B² of smaller diameter, which gears with a toothed wheel C² fixed to the axle C
which carries the large cam C Every three revolutions of B2, causes the
cam C to make almost a complete revolution or in other words every revolu-
tion in either direction of the toothed wheel A¹, on the cylinder_shaft, compels
the large cam to make a similar almost complete revolution.
In the supply
box DP fixed to the outer feeding board the sheets of paper to be printed
are placed, the front edge of every sheet, being brought against the inner front D2 of
the box and the edge at right angles to the front edge, either against the side D³ of the
box, if a large sheet is being printed, or against a board, not shown in the drawings,
placed within the box if a smaller sheet is being printed, and the centre of the cylinder
is desired to be used. Into this box at regular intervals descends the lifter bar H¹
carrying several lifters. H2, each containing a piece H³ of adhesive composition and
when this composition comes in contact with the uppermost sheet of paper it adheres
to it and the lifter bar H being immediately afterwards raised, the sheet of paper is
withdrawn from the box.
On guide rods L' fixed one at each side of the machine to brackets L2 and L³
secured to its frame, slide carrier frames LA, having at their ends nearest the cylinder,
sockets for carrying a rod L which connects them together, and which also carries the
sheet carrier grippers L. These carrier grippers as shown in Figures 5 and 6 consist
of a fixed main piece L6 and a movable gripper L' which holds the sheet of paper
at L against the fixed main piece L. To open and close these grippers motion is
conveyed to them by means of an operating rod L also supported by the fixed main
pieces L and when this rod revolves about 90° in either direction, it moves the
ievers Lo fixed thereon to a similar extent. These levers are connected by the bars L"
and pins L2 to the grippers and the points of these pins being in contact with cam
pieces L3, of the shape shown projecting from the sides of the main piece L' are bound
to follow the faces of these cam pieces, as the operating rod L is partly revolved, and
thus make the grippers follow a corresponding path, and so cause them to carefully take
hold of or release the sheet as required, a rubber band I on each gripper helping to
accomplish this; the position of the gripper after the sheet is released and the corre-
sponding position of the levers L10 are shown by dotted lines in Figure 5.
The pins L and grooves L help to make the grippers work accurately.
As the sheet of paper is rising out of the box, the sheet carriers L with their
grippers open, approach and rest exactly over its front edge, and this being brought
against them, the grippers L' then close on the sheet and the lifter bar H¹ with its
lifters H2 then rising further, frees itself from it.
The sheet carriers then take the sheet down to the front edge of the feeding table
and leave it there, returning for another.
To give motion to the levers which move the sheet carriers to and fro between the
box and the front lay of the feeding board, two paths E and F of the cam U³ are used,
the path E for bringing the sheet from the box to the cylinder, and the path F for
the return of the sheet-carriers to the box. The said paths E and F convey motion
to the carriers through a bent lever M' with its friction wheel M2, which lever gives
motion to straight levers N', whose forked ends N2 work in connection with the
studs O² of the sheet carriers.
The path E for bringing the sheet from the box is so designed that almost imme-
diately after the toothed wheel A¹ on the cylinder shaft begins to reverse its motion,
the sheet carriers begin to come down towards the cylinder and when they gently
reach it, they deposit the sheet and afterwards retire a short distance, before the
feeding board rises, so that it cannot come in contact with them. As the cam comes
to the end of its movement in this direction, the friction wheel M² of the bent lever M¹,
changes from the path E to the path F for returning the sheet carrier to the box, and
the toothed wheel A' of the cylinder now revolving in the opposite direction and
taking the cylinder and sheet of paper to he printed with it, the sheet carriers

page_text: continue to move towards the box, and there receive another sheet as already
described.
To permit of the bent lever M' changing from the path E to the path F the end of
its lower arm is a separate piece M³ capable of moving laterally about a connecting
bolt M. To shut and open the grippers of the sheet carriers, the forked ends N2 of
the carrier traversing levers N', which carry within them the pins 02 of operating
sliding pieces O', continue to move a short distance after they bring the sheet carriers
to their position at the box or the cylinder taking these pins with them, the distance
of movement being shown at the box end as from 02 to 02 and at the cylinder end
as from 20 to 20
When the sheet is brought down to the cylinder it is now necessary to release it
and therefore to open the grippers of the carriers, for this purpose the carrier
traversing levers N¹ continue to move a short distance as they are not fixed directly
to the carrier frames L though joined to them through certain other parts now to be
described. When the sheet is brought down its full distance the carrier traversing
levers N1 N2 have brought the pins 02 of the operating sliding pieces O¹ to the
position shown at O2C and the carrier frames L gently against the adjustable nuts L"
on the guide rods. The carrier traversing levers N' then move a short distance further
carrying the pins from 020 to 02B and the ends 04 of the operating sliding pieces O¹
push the gripper releasing sliding pieces P¹ carried by the carrier frame a corre-
sponding distance. The projecting ends P2 of these gripper releasing pieces, coming
in contact with the parts L18 fixed at both ends of the gripper releasing rod L³,
revolves this rod a distance of about 90°, and thus opens all the sheet carrier grippers.
The carrier operating levers N¹ then begin their reverse movement, and the pro-
jecting ends P³ of the gripper releaser resume their former position, leaving the
grippers open, and they remain so during the upward movement of the carrier and
until another sheet is fed to them from the box. A similar movement then takes
place there, the carrier operating levers N¹ after bringing the sheet carriers gently
against the adjustable nuts L" at the upper ends of the guide rods move the pins 0²
of the carrier operating sliding pieces O¹ from 0 to 02 and so cause the projecting
parts P³ of the gripper closing sliding pieces P₁ to push the parts L18 for opening and
closing the grippers back to their former position, and so close all the grippers.
When the operating levers begin their reverse movement the gripper closing
slides P³ return to their first position, thus leaving all the grippers closed, until
the sheet reaches the cylinder and is there released. Rubber springs P and Po
are employed to bring the parts back to their normal position and wires L20
and L fixed to the brass pieces L' at L2 and L23 and the wires 06 and 07 fixed to
the pieces 01 keep the movements true.
To operate the lifter bar H', and lift the sheet of paper out of the box, other two
paths J and K on the cam C¹ are used. The shape of these paths gives movement
to a sliding rod Q', through a friction wheel Q2 in contact with the cam and the
lower or forked end Q³ of this sliding rod acts on the end Q of the lever Q³.
This lever is fixed on a cross axle Q which works a similar lever at the other side
of the machine and is supported by brackets Q7 which brackets also support the sliding
rods Q. The other ends of the levers Q are forked, and carry within them projecting
portions H of a cross bar H¹, and thus lift this bar up and down according to the
movements given to the levers by the cam.
The one path K of the cam C is so made that during the upward movement to the
paper box of the sheet carrier it permits the sheet lifters H2 to come down on the top-
most sheet of paper and then raises them so that the sheet comes against the part L³
of the sheet carrier grippers Lº.
The lifters then cease moving while the grippers of the sheet carrier are being
closed, but as soon as this takes place, they again rise about inch so as to release
their hold of the sheet. The friction wheel Q2 of the sliding rod then changes from
the path K to the path J of the cam and as the latter path is of one radius
throughout, the sheet lifter remains up until the sheet carrier again approaches the
paper box.

page_text: Figure 7 is a diagram showing one of the gates or switches for changing the path
of the wheels working against the cam, the friction wheel M² of the carrier operating
lever traversing the path E, pushes open the spring gate or switch E² and is conse-
quently forced to traverse the other path F when the cam begins its reverse movement.
There are four such gates or switches on the cam (as shown also at E2, F2, K²,
and J2, two to permit of the friction wheel M² of the carrier lever changing its path
at the commencement and end of its forward and backward movements, and two to
permit the friction wheel Q3 of the lifter rod to do the same. The lifter rod Q is not
in two parts as is the case with lever M¹ but is capable of lateral movement in one
direction, within its bracket, as shown by the dotted lines at Q³ so allowing its
friction roller Q2 to follow either path.
In the following description of the cam paths Figures 1 and 3 are referred to.
Figure 3 is a diagram showing the paths of the working portion of the cam C³,
from A to B10, a smaller portion see Figure 1, contained between those letters not
being used. In the path E, which moves the sheet carrier down to the cylinder,
its portion E³ corresponds with the position of the lever N' after it has closed the
grippers of the sheet carriers, and when the reverse movement for bringing the sheets
down to the cylinder is just going to begin. E shows the portion of the cam path
by which this movement is given. Es shows the portion of the cam path which causes
the carriers gradually to slow and E that portion which causes the carriers to stop,
the levers then continue to move and open the sheet carrier grippers by the action of
the part E7 and are then caused to begin their backward movement by the part E³, so
as to prevent the feeding board when rising from striking the sheet carriers and the
wheel M² changes its path as the lever stops its movement at E.
When the cam
wheel reverses, the levers N move slowly by the action of the part F3 of the cam path
until the carriers L stop above the paper box the wheel of the lever being then on
the part of the cam, and while the sheet of paper is being brought against the
carriers they are caused to rest by the part at F5 and the levers are again caused to
move forward by the part F to close the grippers, and the wheel M2 finally changes
its path at F to the path from which it started.
The path K of the cam causes the sheet of paper to be lifted from the box, through
its action on the wheel Q, rod Q' and lever Q. As shown in Figure 1 it has brought
the lifter bar H to its full height, and while the carrier is taking the sheet to the
cylinder it thus keeps it, the wheel Q running then on the path J of the cam, this
path having an equal radius throughout and a large sheet of paper being thus
permitted to run out of the box without touching the sheet lifter.
At the completion of the movement of the cam wheel in this direction, the wheel Q²
changes at the switch or gate J2 from the path J to the path K and when the cam
wheel reverses it traverses this latter path, and as it comes to K³ the sheet lifters
gradually descend into the box and at K reach if necessary the lowest sheet, which
at K is lifted out of the box, and against the sheet carriers which at the same time
are there to receive it, and the lifters there rest an instant at K while the grippers of
the carriers are being closed but finally rising a quarter of an inch at K' to free the
lifters entirely from the sheet.
The wheel then changes its path at K² to the path J.
Two frames R there being one at each side of the machine support the working
parts of the feeder as shown and are secured to the machine at any convenient
place.
To give rigidity to them the carrying brackets L³ are connected together by a cross
bar joining them. The carrier operating levers N' are fixed to a cross rod N³ at N₁,
this rod N3 being supported in bearings at the top of the frames R and caused to work
steadily therein by means of the washers N³ and No.
To further steady the movement of these levers they are joined together lower down
by a cross rod N'.
To adjust the length of movement of the carrier operating levers N1, the pin N°
which is moved by the forked end of the lever M' is capable of adjustment in two
directions being secured to the levers N¹ by the plates No and N¹º, and the nut N¹³,

page_text: If the pin N is moved up towards the rod N³ the nut N13 being loosened at such time
it is evident, the movement of the bent lever M¹ being always the same, that the
levers N¹ will move through a greater distance and in like manner if the pin is lowered,
through a smaller distance.
If again the length of movement is correct but the sheet carriers going too far at
one end of their movement, and a corresponding distance too short at the other end,
their movement can be adjusted by loosening the nut N13 and moving the pin No more
or less to one side or the other.
Any number of lifters can be placed on the bar H' and any number of carriers on
the bar L' but care must be taken that these are spaced so as not to come against one
another. The adhesive composition H³ used is the same as that described in the
specification of Patent granted to me No. 4461 of the year 1889 and is capable of
being adjusted in the holders H2 by the screws H and plates H.
The cam C' as shown in Figure 1 is in the position it is in when the cylinder has
printed a sheet and come to the end of its movement in that direction and the lever N¹
corresponds. The sheet carrier is shown by the full lines at the top of its course and
as just having gripped a sheet of paper ready to start on its journey towards the
cylinder, but the dotted lines show the sheet carrier in the position it occupies, when
the sheet has been brought down to the cylinder and is going to be deposited, the
dotted fork N2 of the lever N¹ and pin 02B, showing their position after this has taken
place.
To keep the lever M² against the cam the spring M³ fastened to the lever at M and
to the frame at M7, is used, and if necessary springs are also used to keep the wheels Q²
against their cam paths.
The axle Q is carried across the machine and moves a corresponding lever to Q³
which acts to move the bar of the sheet lifters at its other end.
When it is desired to stop the feeding of sheets, the piece S₁ is moved up by its
thumb piece S2 into the position shown in Figure 1 and as it also moves through its
rod S a corresponding piece at the other side of the machine, the sheet lifters are
prevented from entering the paper box.
The apparatus otherwise goes through its movements as before, but no paper
is delivered.
Guides H fixed into the sides of the paper box compel the sheet lifters to act
accurately.
The dotted circle M24 shows the lowest position of the bent lever wheel M² and the
dotted circle M2B shows its position relatively to the cam when the cam wheel is
revolved its full distance.
The dotted circle QA shows the highest position of the wheel Q and the dotted
circle QB its position relatively to the cam when the latter is fully revolved.
I will now describe the movements of the apparatus during the feeding of a sheet
of paper.
When the cylinder revolves and is printing the sheet already delivered to
it, the sheet carrier Le being acted on by the lever N which is moved by the lever M'
working on the path F of the cam 0³, moves up towards the paper box and as it
approaches it, the sheet lifters H2 descend into it, pick up the topmost sheet and bring
it against the sheet carriers. The grippers of these latter are then closed by the
levers N continuing their movement and so causing the parts P3 to partly revolve the
rod L°. As soon as the grippers are closed the lifters rise clear of the sheet and
continue up while the sheet is running out of the box which it now does, the wheel A¹
of the cylinder having begun its reverse movement, and the wheel M2 of the lever M³
now running on the path E of the cam. When the sheet reaches the cylinder, it is
there deposited, and the sheet carriers moved away again from the cylinder before the
inner portion of the feeding board rises.
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 :-
1. The arrangement and combination of apparatus for feeding sheets of paper to

page_text: Underfed Cylinder Letterpress Printing Machines substantially as herein shown and
described.
2. In apparatus for feeding sheets of paper to Underfed Cylinder Letterpress Printing
Machines the combination of paper box, sheet lifters fitted with adhesive composition,
sheet grippers and carriers running on guide rods, to and from the cylinder and cam
paths, levers and connections for operating such carriers and for opening and closing
the grippers all arranged and operating substantially as herein shown and described.
3. In apparatus for feeding sheets of paper to Underfed Cylinder Letterpress Printing
Machines the combination of sheet lifters, carriers and grippers so arranged and
operated that on a sheet of paper being lifted from the paper box the carrier and open
gripper are in position to receive it, the gripper is then closed on its lower edge, the
carrier and gripper are then caused to descend on guides to the cylinder, where the
grippers are opened and the sheet of paper delivered to the cylinder grippers
substantially as herein shown and described.
4. In apparatus for feeding sheets of paper to Underfed Cylinder Letterpress Printing
Machines the peculiar construction and arrangement of sheet lifters, carriers and
grippers and the method of operating the same substantially as herein shown and
described.
Dated May 16th 1890.
T. R. JOHNSTON.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.