Improved Method and Means for Feeding Sheets of Paper and other Material to Printing, Ruling, Calendering and the like Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method and Means for Feeding Sheets of Paper and other
Material to Printing, Ruling, Calendering and the like Machines.
We, WILLIAM KERSHAW, of Roundhay Road, Leeds, Mechanic, WALTER CLIFF,
of Western Flatts, Wortley, Ironmaster, ROBERT CHORLEY, Cookridge Street,
Leeds, Printer, and ARTHUR l'ILKINGTON, of Bond Street, Leeds, Restaurant Man-
ager, all in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention refers to improvements in the method of, and mechanism for,
feeding sheets of paper or other material hereinafter referred to as paper, aingly
sheet by sheet to printing, ruling, calendening and the like machines, hereinafter
referred to as printing machines, from a pile of such sheets
The following is the improved method of feeding. The separation or partial
separation of the topmost sheet is effected in the first instance at the back end,
by fist raising the back part of the topmost sheet for example at the corners, so
as to expose and lay hold of the next sheet below; whilst the forward movement
of the top sheet is caused by pullers, pushers or rollers, operating at or near the
front edge of the sheet, so that the sheet, 18 drawn or pulled, rather than pushed
forward, towards the feeding rollers; whilst the sheets are successively fed from
the feeding apparatus in a fauned out or overlapping manner, so that the for-
ward pullers must be introduced beneath the last or bottom of the already par-
tially separated and partially moved forward sheets and over the topmost of the
as yet undisturbed sheets, prior to fust moving forward the last mentioned sheet,
the introduction of the foi ward pulleis being effected by means of an inclined
shield or equivalent device, preferably assisted by a blast of air suitably directed
At such times as the side pushers are buckling up the corners of the topmost of
the undisturbed sheets, the latter is held down by a pressure foot
The following 18 a description of the mechanism or apparatus, and for the
sake of clearness it is here premised, that the end of the feed apparatus nearest
to the printing machine is hereunder designated the forward end, and the opposite
end the back end
The back edge of the sheets are held fast during the proper intervals by the
above mentioned presser foot, which is pulled downwards by a spring, and raised
at the proper times by cam mechanism, which may be situated on the first motion
shait of the apparatus
The bending or buckling up of the back corners of a sheet may take place in
any possible direction, but we prefer to effect this by moving rubber pushers over
them towards the middle of the back edge The side pushers are carried from
biackets, which latter are adjustably carried on cross slides, so that their position
can be adjusted to the width of the sheets of paper The ends of the cross slides
are carried on two side longitudinal slide bars, on which they can be adjusted,
that the side pushers are over the back edge of the sheets The ends of these
longitudinal slide bars are caried from the upper ends of four vertical rods situ-
ated at the corners of the feeding apparatus, the vertical rods being raised and

page_text: lowered by cams and connections, so as to raise and lower the brackets carrying
the side pushers at the proper time The side pushers, conveniently formed of
rubber padded rollers, preferably fixed, are carried at one end of balanced levers,
pivotted in their respective biackets. An adjustable spring acting on the top
of the arm carrying the pusher, gives the necessary pressure
The movement of
the pusher over the corner of the sheet is caused by the rise and fall of the bracket
carrying the pusher, which varies the inclination of the lever carrying the pusher,
the rise of the bracket drawing back the pusher, and the fall of the bracket moving
it towards the centre.
To the same arm of the lever carrying the pusher is pivotted a bell crank pawl
like attachment, one aim of which is weighted, so that the vertical arm of the
attachment (which latter is hereinafter designated the corner panl), is pressed
lightly against or towards a depending projection of and from the bracket; (below
the lower end of which the vertical arm of the corner pawl slightly projects, until
such time as the depending projection or corner holder reaches the sheet), so
that as the bracket is lowered, the bottom of the said vertical arms presses upon
and holds the corner of the sheet, just exposed by the buckling up or pushing
inwards of the corners of the sheet above, which has just been effected by the
side pushers. The vertical aim of the corner pawl not only holds down the corner
of said sheet, but prevents the buckled up corners of the sheet above, when re-
leased, shooting beneath the depending projection or corner holder, before the
latter comes to rest upon the corners of the sheet just exposed
The above men-
tioned vertical bats may, if found necessary, be pulled down against the cam
which raise them, by springs A notch is provided on the inner side of the corner
holder, into which the vertical arm of the pawl drops, when the arm carrying
the side pushers is 1aised, and thereby holds the side pusheis 1aised, when de-
sired, as for example, when introducing a fresh pile of paper
The forward pushers are called on a cross bai, the ends of which are fitted in
Bide sliding brackets; and the latter fitted in slides, (formed in or attached to the
side frames of the feeding apparatus), along which they are reciprocated forwards
and backwards, by means of a slotted hinged lever, connecting rod and crank, or
equivalent means, from the first motion shaft The slides are so formed, that
during the greater portion of the forward and backward movements, the forward
pushers are held above and off the sheet of paper immediately beneath them, and
only lowered on to said sheet, so as to draw it forward, during the latter portion
of the forward movement To prevent the forward pushers acting on the said sheet
of paper during the first portion of the backward movement of the pushers, we
either provide meaus for hitting the pushers off the sheet of paper, or more prefel-
ably, we form the pushers as rolleib, which, by means of a ratchet wheel and
pawl, ale prevented from 1otating during the forward movement, whilst allowing
them to rotate, and thus roll over the sheet during the first portion of the back-
ward movement, when they are resting upon the paper
An hinged inclined shield with a suitably curved front edge is provided, so as
to cover the pushers, and to move to and fro with them The bottom edge of the
shield rests upon the sheet of paper, so that during the first part of the forward
movement, it catches beneath, and raises the back edge of, the sheet which has
been partially separated and partially (ze for a fraction of its length) moved
forward This catching may be facilitated, and we prefer to do so by means of
tongue piece or pieces, attached to the front edge of the shield; and by means
of a blast of air directed and inclined downwards towards or against the back edge
of said sheet We provide this air blast by means of a bellows; worked inter-
mittently by cam and lever mechanism and connections from the first motion
shaft of the apparatus, a flexible pipe of sufficient length leading to a nozzle fixed
in a suitable position, or carried by a cross bar carrying the side pusher brackets.
A 1olle on the underside of the inclined shield carries the weight of the shield
when the sheet has been caught and is being pulled forward by the feeding rolls
Or we may provide an inclined plane or planes at the side or sides of the table

page_text: carrying the pile of paper and at the forward end, so as to raise the shield at such
times, a side attachment or attachments being fitted, if necessary, at the side
or sides of the shield to slide upon said incline or inclines.
The feed rollers between which the fauned out or overlapping sheets pass, and
by which they are gradually and intermittently pushed up to the grippers of the
cylinder of the printing machine, or on to the carrying tapes, are rotated inter-
mittently by means of toothed gearing and pawl and ratchet mechanism and a
crank and connecting rod.
The table on which the pile of paper 19 carried, 18 itself carried on nut brackets
fitted on four vertical corner screws These screws are automatically rotated in
the following manner, as the as the pile of paper decreases in height, so as to
raise the table. The screws are connected by gearing with a shaft carried in a
horizontal bearing in one of the side frames On the end of this shaft is fixed
a ratchet disc, which is intermittently rotated through the angle between two suc-
cessive notches by means of a long connecting pawl rod and crank pin, fitted in a
disc mounted on the end of the first motion shaft, a pin at the free end of the
connecting rod catching against the notches in the ratchet disc A guide or sup-
port is provided for the free end of the connecting pawl rod This guide or support
is acted upon by a spring, which tends to draw the pin end of the connecting
pawl rod to one side and out of gear with the ratchet disc A hinged wedge
pawl is provided, which when allowed to fall, forces out the end of the connecting
pawl rod, so as to gear with the ratchet disc. So long as the height of the top
of the pile of paper is sufficient for proper feeding, this pawl is prevented from
dropping, by resting upon a spring pressed support, but if the table requires to
be raised, a compound lever device pushes the wedge pawl off said support causing
as described the engagement of the connecting rod pin with the ratchet disc The
long arm of one of the levels of the compound lever device carries a depending
projection or "feeler," which rests upon the top of the topmost sheet at the front
end, immediately behind the feed rollers By means of a rocking lever and spring
arms, the feeler or the end of the arm carrying it, is raised and depressed at the
proper times The spring Diessing arrangement of the just mentioned support for
the wedge pawl is provided, to permit of the end of the wedge pawl passing it,
when being raised by the connecting pawl rod.
Dated this 28th dow of Mor 1908
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
30, Park Row, Leeds, Agent for Applicants
Improved Method and Means for Feeding Sheets of Paper and other
Material to Printing, Ruling, Calendering and the like Machines.
We, WILLIAM KERSHAW, of Roundhay Road, Leeds, Mechanic. WALTER CLIFF,
of Western Flatts, Tionmaster, ROBERT CHORLEY, of Cookridge Street, Leeds, Printer,
and ARTHUR PILKINGTON, of Bond Street, Leeds, Restaurant Manager, all in the
County of York, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what man-
ner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement -
This invention refers to improvements in the method of, and mechanism for,
feeding sheets of paper or other material hereafter referred to as paper, singly
sheet by sheet to printing, ruling, calendering and the like machines, (hereinafter
referred to as printing machines) from a pile of such sheets.

page_text: The following is the improved method of feeding The separation or partial
separation of the topmost sheet is effected in the first instance at the back end,
by first raising the back part of the topmost sheet for example at the corners, so
as to expose and lay hold of the next sheet below. whilst the forward movement
of the top sheet is caused by pullers, pushers or rollers, operating at or near the
front edge of the sheet, so that the sheet is drawn or pulled, rather than pushed
forward, towards the feeding rollers; whilst the sheets are successively fed from
the feeding apparatus in a fanned out or overlapping manner, so that the foi-
ward pullers must be introduced beneath the last or bottom of the already par-
tially separated and partially moved forward sheets and over the topmost of the
as vot undisturbed sheets, prior to first moving forward the last mentioned sheet,
the introduction of the forward pullers being effected by means of an inclined
shield or equivalent device, preferably assisted by a blast a blasts of air suitably
directed At such times as the side pushers are buckling up the corners of the top-
most of the undisturbed sheets, the latter is held down by a pressure foot
The following is a description of the mechanism or apparatus, and for the
sake of clearness it is here premised, that the end of the feed apparatus nearest
to the punting machine is hereunder designated the forward end, and the opposite
cnd the back end
The back edge of the sheets are held fast during the proper intervals by the
above mentioned presser foot, which is pulled downwards by a sping, and raised
at the proper times by cam mechanism, which may be situated on the first motion
shaft of the apparatus
The bending or buckling up of the back corners of a sheet may take place in
any possible direction, but we prefer to effect this by moving rubber pushers over
them towards the middle of the back edge The side pushers are carried from
brackets, which latter are adjustably carried 011 a cross slide; so that
then position can be adjusted to the width of the sheets of paper The
ends of the cross slide are called on two side brackets moveable on
longitudinal slide bars, ou which the brackets can be adjusted, so that
the side pushers are over the back edge of the sheets The ends of these
longitudinal slide bars are carried from the upper ends of four vertical iods, situ-
ated at the corners of the feeding apparatus, the vertical rods being raised and
lowered by cams and connections, so as to raise and lower the brackets carrying
the side pushers at the proper time The side pushers, conveniently formed of
ubber padded 1ollers, preferably fixed, are carried at one end of balanced levens,
pivotted in the respective brackets An adjustable spring acting on the top
of the arm caving the pusher, gives the neñessary pressure
The movement of
the pusher over the corner of the sheet is caused by the rise and fall of the bracket
cari ving the pusher, which varies the inclination of the lever carving the pusher,
and at the same time imparts a partial rotation to the pusher roller, the rise of
the bracket drawing back the pusher, and the fall of the bracket moving it towards
the centre
To the same arm of the lever carrying the pusher, is pivotted a bell crank
paw l-like attachment, one arm of which is weighted, so that the vertical arm of
the attachment, (which latter is hereinafter designated the weighted catch), is
pressed lightly against or towards a depending projection of and from the bracket,
(below the low ei end of which the vertical aim of the weighted catch slightly
projects, until such time as the depending projection or corner holder or presser
foot caches the sheet), so that as the bracket is lowered, the bottom of the said
vertical arm presses upon and holds the corner of the sheet, just exposed by the
buckling up on pushing inwards of the corners of the sheet above, which has just
been effected by the side pushers The vertical arm of the weighted catch not
only holds down the corner of said sheet, but prevents the buckled up corners of
the sheet above, when released, shooting beneath the depending projection or
presser foot, before the latter comes to rest upon the coiners of the sheet just

page_text: exposed. The above mentioned vertical bars may, if found necessary, be pulled
down against the cams which raise them, by springs A notch is provided on the
inner side of the corner holder, into which the vertical arm of the catch drops
when the arm carrying the side pushers is raised: and thereby holds the side
pushers raised, when desired; as for example, when introducing a fresh pile of
paper By adjusting the cams, so that the two back ones of the four vertical rods
commence their downward movement prior to the other two, a slight longitudinal
movement may be imparted to the cross bar, which assists the separating move-
ment of the side pushers
The forward pushers are carried on a cross bai, the ends of which are fitted in
side sliding brackets; and the latter fitted in slides, (formed in or attached to the
side frames of the feeding apparatus), along which they are reciprocated forwards
and backwards, by means of a slotted hinged lever, connecting rod and crank, or
equivalent means, from the first motion shaft The slides are so formed, that
during the greater portion of the forward and backward movements, the forward
pushers are held above and off the sheet of paper immediately beneath them, and
only lowered on to said sheet, so as to draw it forward, during the latter portion
of the forward movement To prevent the forward pushers acting on the said sheet
of paper during the first portion of the backward movement of the pushers, we
either provide means for lifting the pushers off the sheet of paper, or more prefei-
ably, we form the pushers as rollers which by means of a ratchet wheel and
pawl, are prevented from rotating during the forward movement, whilst allowing
them to rotate, and thus roll over the sheet during the first portion of the back-
ward movement, when they are resting upon the paper
An hinged inclined shield with a suitably carved front edge is provided, so as
to cover the pushers, and to move to and fro with them The bottom edge of the
shield rests upon the sheet of paper so that during the first part of the forward
movement, it catches beneath, and raises the back edge of the sheet which has
been partially separated and partially (e for a fraction of its length) moved
forward This catching may be facilitated, and we prefer to do so by means of a
tongue piece or pieces, attached to the front edge of the shield, and by means
of a blast of au directed and inclined downwards towards or against the back edge
of said sheet We provide this air blast by means of a hellows. worked inter-
mittently by cam and lever mechanism and connections from the first motion
shaft of the apparatus, a flexible pipe of sufficient length leading to a nozzle fixed
in a suitable position, or carried by a cross bar carrying the side pusher brackets.
A roller on the underside of the inclined shield may be provided to carry the
weight of the shield, when the sheet has been caught and is being pulled forward
by the feeding rolls Or we may provide an inclined plane or planes at the side
or sides of the table carrying the pile of paper and at the forward end, so as to
raise the shield at such times, a side attachment or attachments being fitted, if
ueressary, at the side or sides of the shield to slide upon said incline or inclines
This part of our invention however, we do not find to be indispensible
The feed rollers between which the fanned out or overlapping sheets pass, and
by which they are gradually and intermittently pushed up to the grippers of the
cylinder of the printing machine, or on to the carrving tapes, are rotated inter-
mittently by means of toothed gearing and pawl and ratchet mechanism and a
crank and connecting rod.
The table on which the pile of paper is carried, 19 itself carried on nut brackets
fitted on four vertical corner screws These screws are automatically rotated in
the following manner, as the pile of paper decreases in height, so as to
raise the table The screws are connected by gearing with a shaft carried in a
horizontal bearing in one of the side frames On the end of this shaft is fixed
a ratchet disc, which is intermittently rotated through the angle between two suc-
cessive notches by means of a long connecting pawl 1od and crank pin, fitted in a
disc mounted on the end of the first motion shaft a pin at the free end of the
connecting rod catching against the notches in the ratchet disc A guide or sup-

page_text: port is provided for the free end of the connecting pawl 1od This guide 01 support
or the pawl rod itself is acted upon by a sping, which tends to draw the pin end
of the connecting pawl 1od to one side and out of gear with the ratchet disc A
hinged wedge panl 18 provided, which when allowed to fall, forces out the end
of the connecting pawl iod, so as to gear with the ratchet disc So long as the
height of the top of the pile of paper 18 sufheient for proper feeding, this pawl
prevented from diopping, by testing upon a spring pressed support, but if
the table requires to be raised, a compound lever device pushes the wedge pawl
off said support, causing as described the engagement of the connecting rod pin
with the ratchet disc The long arm of one of the lovers of the compound lever
device canos a depending projection or fecler" which rests upon the top of
the topmost sheet at the front end, immediately behind the feed rollers By
means of a locking level and spring arms, the feeler or the end of the arm carry-
ing it, is raised and depressed at the proper times The spring pressing arrange-
ment of the just mentioned support for the wedge pawl is provided, to permit of
the end of the wedge pawl passing it, when being raised by the connecting pawl
rod
And in order that our invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed may be more realily and clearly understood, we have annexed hereto
the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig 1 is an outside elevation of the left hand side of the feeder
Fig 2 is an outa de elevation of the night hand side of the feeder, the terms
ught and left hund referring to a position at the back of the machine
Fig is a vertical longitudinal mid section
Fig 4 is a half cross section on line A B of Fig 1 to 3
Fig is an enlarged view of part of Fig 3 shewing the inner side of the auding
blocks 17 and attachments, and
Fig 618 a plan corresponding to the same
Fig 718 a horizontal section on line CD of Fig 1
are the side frames of the machine
bis the main driving shaft, driven by any convenient means at the same speed
as the printing machine
is the table on which the pile of sheets & is placed
e are the feed roller shafts, and f the carrying tapes, for carrying the separated
sheets up to the impression cylinder of the printing machine
The mechanism for buckling up the back corners of the top sheet comprises.
are two long vertical side rods, and are two short vertical side rods, to
which the horizontal side rods z are attached, at the back end by pin joints J, and
at the front end by pin or socket joints These are all raised and lowered to-
gether by the cams 7 on the main driving shaft b, and the cams m' acting on the
underside of the cam blocks n secured towards the front end of the horizontal
side rods z The cams male secured on the rocking shaft p, which is rocked by
means of the lever q, connecting rod r. crank pin secured in the wheel t, which
latter gears with the wheel see Fig 1, on the end of the main driving shaft b.
v is a cross har, the ends of which are secured to the adjustable sliding blocks w,
fitted capable of beag slid on the horizontal side rods 1, so that the cross bar i
may be adjusted over the back edge of the pile of sheets d Two sliding blocks.c.
Figs 3 to 6 are fitted on the cross bar in an adjustable manner, so that they
can be adjusted with the depending presser feet 7, (see Fig 4) of the blocks .r,
immediately over the back corners of the pile of paper d A double arm / 's
freely hinged to the upper part of the foot, and caries at its longer end a rubber
covered roller 2. on which rests the end of a flat spring 3, for the purpose
of gning the necessary pressure on the paper and to pievent notation of the
roller 2 The spring 3 is attached to a hinged block 4, so that by means of the
set screw 5 the pressure of the spring on the roller 2 can be regulated. To the
opposite end of the arm is attached the vertical 1od 6, the depression of which
raises the roller 2 from the paper, and when raised sufficiently high, the weighted

page_text: catch 7, hinged between the double arm 1, catches in the notch 8 of the presser
foot and holds the roller 2 out of the way when a fresh pile of paper is being put
into position.
When the cross bar is in the raised position, the double arm 1 hangs down
nearer the vertical position; the then position of the roller 2 being indicated by
the dotted circle y, see Fig. 4 As the cross bar r descends, the roller 2 is pushed
towards the centre of the pile of paper, and at the same time rotated through the
angle a, which augments the buckling movement and moves the topmost sheet S¹
as indicated in Fig 4, and laying bare the corner of the next sheet S below, and
at the same time the presser foot z descends on to the exposed corner of the
sheet S and holds this sheet fast during the immediately following diawing for-
ward of the top sheet S¹ Before the end of the downward movement of the cross
bar however, the lower end of the catch 7 reaches the top of the sheet S2, and
acts both as a fulcrum to tilt up the long side of the double aim 1, raising the
roller 2 from the top of the sheet S₁, which might disturb the subsequent pulling
forward of this sheet, and also as a stop to prevent the corner of the buckled up
sheet S slipping back beneath the presser foot z, before this reaches the sheet S*,
as the pressure of the roller 2 18 being taken off the sheet S¹
The mechanism for drawing forward the top sheet 18 as follows
Two main side levers 10-11 are pivotted at 12 on the outside to the side
frames a, and are rocked by means of connecting rods 13, fiom crank pins 14,
secured in the wheels u on the ends of the main diving shaft b These side levers
are formed in two parts 10-11, which are hinged together at 15, the object being
to automatically adjust the stroke of the upper end of the levers to suit the pos:-
tion of the back end of the pile of paper
In the upper part of the side frames a two horizontal slide or guide races 16
are formed, having a widened and dropped portion at the front end towards the
feed rollers. Sliding blocks 17 or antifriction rollers 70 attached thereto are fitted
in the races 16, and connected to the upper ends 11 of the side levers by means
of a pin 18, secured in the sliding block 17; the pin 18 projecting through the
slot 19 formed in the upper end 11 of the mam side lever Stop brackets 20 cast
on or secured to the adjustable slid ng blocks w, limit the backward motion of the
sliding blocks 17 to suit the position of the back edge of the pile of paper. the
hinged joint 15 of the side levers permitting the connecting rods 13 to follow
the crank pins 14 to the full extent of their backward movement
A strong
spring 21 keeps the two parts 10 and 11 of the side levers in line at other times,
being sufficiently strong to overcome the friction and inertia of the sliding
blocks 17 in the slide races 16.
The sliding blocks 17 carry between them a rubber covered roller 22, see
Figs. 3, 5 and 6, which extends across over the pile of paper, and is provided
at one end with a small ratchet wheel 23. A catch 24, loosely hinged to the sliding
blocks 17, permits the roller 22 to rotate as it is drawn back with the sliding
blooks 17, but prevents its rotation during the forward movement This roller 22
moves forward above and out of contact with the topmost of the undisturbed
sheets, i.e. S1, Fig 4, and S³ Fig. 5, until the sliding blocks 17 reach the dropped
part of the races 16; when the roller 22 comes to rest on said sheet and causes
it to partake of its forward movement, whereby the front edge of said sheet 18 fed
into the grip of the feeding rollers e.
The feeding rollers are geared together by means of toothed wheels just in-
side the right hand side frame, and are rotated by means of the toothed wheel 25,
Fig. 2, on the end of the top roller shaft, toothed wheel 26 engaging with wheel 25.
ratchet pins 27 secured between the face of the wheel 26 and a pin plate 28, on
stud 29 carrying the wheel 28, a hook catch rod 30. reciprocated from a crank
pin 31 attached to the wheel 33, which is geared with the wheel on the end
of the driving shaft b
The feed rollers e deliver the sheets to the carrying tapes Fig 3, which carry
the sheets forward up to the impression cylinder of the printing machine. In,

page_text: order to keep down the carrying speed, the above geaning is so proportioned that
a sheet 18 carried forward ouly a short distance by each intermittent movement
of the feed rollers, so that the sheets are passed through and from the feed rollers
in a fanned out on overlapping manner sce S, S¹ and S³, Fig. 3 and St, S³ and S³,
Fig. 5 The fust for waid movement of each sheet therefore does not carry it
past the pile, but leaves it m most cases covering more than half the sheet next
below. It is necessary therefore to make provision for the passing of the diaw-
ing forward iolle 22 at the end of its next forward movement to act upon the
next succeeding sheet To eftect this, a triangular shaped lifter 34, see Figs 3,
5 and 6, 18 attached to a light rod 35, hinged at the ends in two plates 36, which
latter are hinged on the cross bai 37, carried by and between the sliding blocks 17
The plates 36 rest upon the top of the roller 22, and the front edge or apex of the
lifter 34 rests directly on the top sheet, see S, Fig 5, o1 is carried by a steel
strip 38 soldered on the upper side, the front end of which rests on the sheet
The lifter 34 is formed of very thin sheet metal, stiffened towards the front edge
by wie 39, The forward movement of each sheet is always more than sufficient
to bing the back edge of said sheet past the apex of the lifter 34 on the end of
the strip 38, when the sliding blocks 17 are in then realmost position On the
next foi ward movement of the sliding blocks 17, the stip 38 or the apex of the
lifter 34 slids on the topmost of the undisturbed sheets S'Fig 5, and on reaching
the back edge of the last of the sheets already moved forward S2, it enters beneath
the same and gradually lifts this and the overlying sheet on sheets S¹ up above
the drawing forward 1oller 22, as it moves forward
A further provision for preventing any disturbance of the sheets below by the
drawing forward of the top sheet consists of a holder 40, Figs 3 to 6, secured 19
the upper end of a vertical rod 41, sliding between guide bars 42, hinged on the
main shaft b
The rod 41 is raised by the cam 43, Fig 3, on the shaft b, and
depressed by the spring 44, Fig 4, at the proper times The object of hinging
the guide bars 42 is to enable them to be tilted back, when a fresh pile of pape
has to be inseited To accommodate the rise and fall of the table c, the bais 42
are fitted in a metal faced recess see Fig in the centre of the back edre of the
table c, said recess being opened or closed by tilting back or tilting upwards the
hinged plate 45. The bars 42 are also canned below the shaft b, and then lower
ends locked by a lever 46 hinged to one side frame at 17, and extending across
to the opposite frame for the purpose of steadying the bais 42 in a vertical posi-
tion The level 46 is dropped to permit the lower ends of the bars 42 to swing
inwards when a fresh pile of paper is to be put on the table.
The means for automatically raising the table consists of four vertical screws 49
actuated by the following mechanism
On one end of the shaft 49, Figs 1 and 7, which extends from side to side
across the machine, is fitted the ratchet plate 50, which is intermittently rotated
by means of the catch pin 51, and catch level 52 hinged to the side lever 10
Longitudinal shafts 53 and bevel gear connect the four vertical screws 48
to the cross shaft 49 An L shaped lever 55, hinged at 56, extends over the top
of the side fiame a honzontally inwards to the centre of the machine, near the
top edge of the front board 57, and carries at this end a feeler 58, Fig 3, which
drops upon the top of the sheets when the sliding blocks 17 are at the rear por-
tion of the stroke. The lower end of the vertical arm of the lever 55 enters an
opening in a horizontal web 59, cast on the loosely hinged cam lever 60, see
Fig 7 The cam lever 60 is fitted loosely on its pivot stud 61, so that the end
nearest the lever 55 can move slightly inwards when pressed by the end of the
lever 55 A spring button 62, Figs 1 and 7, tends to force the cam lever 60 out-
wards, as it is tilted upwards past it by the end of the catch lever 52 bearing
against the underside of the web 59 When rotating the ratchet plate 50, the
catch lever 52 rides upon a circular boss 63 behind the ratchet plate 50. 64 is
a flat spring to press down the cam lever 60 on the back stroke of the catch lever 52,
and acts on the upper side of the web 59 A belly shaped cam 65, formed on the

page_text: outside of the cam lever 60 and immediately beneath the web 59, tends to force
the catch lever 51 outwards, so that the catch pin 51 comes in line with the rat-
chet plate 50, whilst the flat spring 66 tends to press the catch lever 52 inwards,
so that the catch pin 51 passes inside behind and out of contact with the ratchet
plate 50.
When the top of the pile is sufficiently high, or the table is raised to the top,
the pile being exhausted, the feeler 58 cannot drop ás fai as it otherwise would,
so that the lower end of the lever 55 presses or holds the cam lever 60 inwards,
and keeps the belly cam 65 sufficiently far back to prevent it forcing the end of
the lever 52 outwards; so that the action of the flat sping 66 keeps the lever 52
and the catch pin 51 inwards, and the latter out of contact with the ratchet
plate 50; preventing any rotation of the latter, which would rotate the screws 48
to lift the table c. When the height of the pile is reduced sufficiently by removal
of sheets, the feeler 58 descends so far, that the lower end of the lever 55 presses
or holds the cam lever 60 outwards, and bings the belly cam 65 so far forward
that the latter forces the end of the catch lever 52, as the end of the same moves
forward past the cam, outwards; bringing the catch pin 61 into engagement with
the ratchet plate 50, which is thereby partially rotated, causing a slight rotation
of the screws 48, and a slight rise of the table
The mode of operating with the feeder is as follows-
The lever 46 Fig 3 18 diopped, and the hinge plate 45 18 thrown back, allowing
the holder 40 to be drawn back The rod 6 Fig 4, 18 depressed until the catch 7
rests in the notch 8 of the presser foot, and holds the roller 2 raised
The pile
of paper is then placed upon the table c, close against the front board 57, and
by means of the set screws 66, the cross bai Fig. 5 is adjusted over the back
edge of the pile By means of the set screws 67, Fig 4, the sliding blocks are
adjusted with the presser feet z over the back corners of the pile The bais 42
Fig 3 are then swung up and secured in position By means of the set screw 68,
the holder 40 is adjusted over the back of the pile The 1ollers 2 are dropped
upon the top sheet, and the machine can then be started
Immediately or slightly prior to the commencement of the forward stroke, the
bar commences to descend, and the 1ollers 2 to bend or buckle inwards the back
corners of the topmost sheet S₁ Fig 4; and when the bare has fully descended,
the presser feet z are resting on the exposed coiners of the second sheet S2, and the
rollers 2 are raised from the paper; after which the bar remains stationary for
rather more than half a revolution of the driving shaft b During this latter part
of the descent of the bar v, the holder 40 has been raised, so that the back end of
the topmost sheet has been freed By this time the carici slides 17 have reached
the commencement of the dropped portion of the races 16. and commence to fall
until the rubber covered rollei 22 rests upon the front part of the top sheet, and
draws the sheet forward with it; delivering it before completing the forward
movement into the grip of the feed rollers e, which have just commenced to rotate.
At this time the feeler 58 is held raised by a spring 69 Fig 3 attached to the
rocking shaft p, and bearing against the underside of the end of the lever 55
close to its attachment to the feeler; also the holder 40 has dropped on to the
top of the second sheet, immediately the first sheet has moved sufficiently far
from the back edge of the top sheet to be clear of the dropped holder 40
During the return of the sliding carriers 17 the roller 22 revolves over the
top sheet whilst in contact with it, but is raised from it as the carriers 17 leave
the dropped portion of the race so that the continued feed of the feed rollers
is not hindered As the sliding carriers 17 approach the back position, the rota-
tion of the feed rollers stops, leaving the top sheet still covering the greater part
of the pile, when the feeler 58 descends At the same time the cross bar v 18
raised, lifting the presser feet z, and diawing back the rollers 2 nearer the back
corners of the pile, and the holder 40 is dropped on to the back edge of the second
sheet S³ Fig 5.
On reaching the end of the back stroke, the cross bar again begins to descend,

page_text: and continues to do so during the first part of the forward stroke, the rollers 2
bucking or bending the back edge of the second sheet, so to expose the back
corners of the third sheet When the sliding canners 17 have advanced sufficiently,
which is soon after the commencement of the 101 said stroke, the front edge of
the stup 38, or the apex of the lifter 3+, reaches and passes beneath the centie
of the back edge of the top sheet, and in its further advance gradually lifts the
whole length or the back edge of the top sheet see S2 Fig. 5, which slides up the
incline of the lifter 34, and thus over the top of the roller 22 which is still moving
forward above and out of contact with the second sheet When the catlying
slides 17 therefore each the dropped part of the races 16, the 1oller 22 descends
on to the second sheet S, Fig. 5, and diaws it up to the grip of the feed 1olloise,
which have just commenced to evolve, and which then cairy forward both the
top and second sheets together, but with the top sheet S³ overlapping the front
edge of the second sheet S a considerable distance The other operations are
repeated as previously described, the diawing roller 22 however moving back
between the top and second sheets until clear of the advancing back edge of the
top sheet, and the back edge of the second sheet occupying when the feed rollers
stop, the position previously held by the back edge of the top sheet.
If the width of the sheets as measured across the feeder 19 considerable, two o'
more lifters 34 may be used in place of one The 1od 35 15 hinged in the hinged
plates 36 Fig 6, to permit the lifter 34 to be tilted over to the back of the roller
or bar 23, when inserting a fresh pile, but this is not essential, as the rod 35
may be attached close to the back edge of the lifter 34, and hinged duect in the
back sliding plates 17
The object of drawing the sheet forward, in place of pushing it forward, is to
avoid the liability or risk, which more particularly exists with thin and very
flexible descriptions of paper, of the bending or buckling of the sheet, which often
results in the sheets being twisted sideways, or of two sheets being fed forward
together The object of feeding the sheets in a fanned out or overlapping manner
is to reduce the speed of the forward movement of the sheets, since during each
revolution of the printing cylinder they then requne to move only a fraction
of the total distance from the pile to the pinting cylinder, otherwise the full
distance has to be moved at each evolution of the painting machine When
not fed fanned out, the speed of the printing machine is limited by the speed at
which the sheets can be carried forward when fed in a fanned out manner, the
speed is limited only by that at which the printing machine itself can be run
Now although both the fanning out or overlapping manner of feeding forward the
sheets, and the drawing forward instead of pushing forward of the topmost sheet,
have both been used before, it has not hitherto been found possible to employ
them together, the fanned out or overlapping arrangement having been used in
conjunction with the pushing forward of the sheets from the back and in such
cases it has been found, that the weight of part of the overlapping sheets on the
front of the pile has aggravated the bending or buckling tendency above referred
to
I am aware that prior to my invention feeders for printing machines have been
made, in which bending or buchling devices for separating one edge of the top-
most sheet and exposing part of the next sheet, pushing or drawing rollers for
pushing or drawing forward the separated sheets, automatically lifted tables, and
continuously or intermittently iotated feed rollers have been used, I do not there-
for claim a combination of such broadly, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is..
-
1. The method of feeding sheets to printing machines consisting in the part al
separation of the topmost of the undisturbed sheets at the back edge drawing
forward such partially separated sheet by operating on it near its forward edge

page_text: beneath the immediately overlapping sheet and diawing each sheet forward for
a portion of its length only at a time, so that the sheets are fed forward in an
overlapping manner substantially as and to the purposes herein set forth
called
2 In a feeder for printing machines the combination of 11sing and falling side
1ods blocks w adjustable on said rods and having stops 20 cross bar
by said blocks w blocks carried by and adjustable on said cross bar and cariy-
ang presser feet z and hinged amis 1 provided with bending on buckling rollers 2
reciprocating sliding caries 17 carrying drawing roller 22 sheet lifter 34 and
pins 18 rocking levels 10 11 in two parts 10 and 11 hinged together the upper
part 11 having slot 19 in which said pin 18 engages at spring 21 connecting
rods 13 crank pins 14 crank wheels and driving shaft 6 ali substantially as set
toith and shown.
3. In a feeder for printing machines, the combination with a reciprocated sheet
diawing bai or rollei 22 of a sheet lifter or litters 34 carried in an inclined posi-
tion in tiont of said bar or roller 22 and having its upper rear end extending over
or partially over said bar oi rollei 22 substantially us set forth and for the pur-
pose specified
4 in a feeder for printing machines the combination of reciprocating carrying
alides 17 drawing roller 22 ratchet wheel 23 hinged ratchet pawl 24 hinge rod 35
and triangular shaped sheet lifter 34 attached to said hinge rod 35, substantially
as set forth and foi the purpose specified.
5. In a feeder for printing machines the combination of rocking side levels 10-
11 formed in two parts hinged together and having each a slot 19 in the upper
end and flat spring 21 adjustable stop 20 reciprocating sliding carriers 17 connected
to said levers 10-11 by pins 18 engaging in the slots 19 horizontal slide races it
having dropped forward ends drawing roller 22 and inclined lifter 34 in front
of said roller both carried by said carriers 17 all substantially as described
In a feeder to printing machines the combination of reciprocating sliding
cariera 17 honzontal slide races 16 having dropped forward ends diawing
roller 22 canned by said carries 17 and inclined lifter 34 carried in front of said
roller 22 substantially as set forth and for the purpose specified.
7 In a feeder for pinting machines the combination of rising and falling cross
bai adjustable blocks and hinged arms 1 cari ying buckling or bending rollers
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
8 In a feeder for printing machines the combination of 118ing and falling cross
bai adjustable blocks with depending notched presser feetz and hinged arms 1
canying buckling or bending rollers 2 sud hinged catch 7 and adjustable spring 3
substantially as and for the purpose specified
9 In a feeder for printing machines the combination of intermittently rotated
feed rolleis e of comparatively short feed sliding carers 17 horizontal slide
races 16 having dropped ends drawing roller 22 carried by said carriers 17 and
inclined litter 34 cairied in front of said roller 23 substantially as set forth and
for the purpose specified
2
10. In a feeder for printing machines the combination of cam lifted vertical
rods g and horizontal side rods carried by said vertical rods blocks w adjustable
on said side 1ods cross bar caned by said blocks wo blocks adjustable on said
cross bar and having notched pressei feet z and hinged arms 1 carrying buck-
hing or bending rollers 2 and hinged catch 7 all substantially as described and
shown.
11 In a feeder for printing machines the combination of a rising and falling
rod 41 carrying an adjustable holder 40 rising and falling cross bai & adjustable
blocks with depending notched presser feet and lunged arms 1 carrying buck-
ling or bending rollers 2 and hinged catch 7 and adjustable spring 3 all substan-
tially as described and shown.
12 In a feeder for printing machines the combination of a screw lifted table o
a rising and falling rod 41 carrying an adjustable holder 40 guidebars 42 hinged
on a cam shaft b and fitting in a recess formed in or on the rear edge of said

page_text: table cam 43 and spung 44 for reciprocating said 10d 41 and lunge plate 45
closing said recess all substantially as described and shown
13 In a feeder fo: pinting machines the combination of table c screws 48
bevel gear 51 side shafts 53 cross shaft 49 ratchet plate 50 reciprocated catch
lever 52 catch pin 51 flat spring 66 hinged cam lever 60 having belly cam 65
and web 59 with opening in the free end hinged L shaped lever 55 with the lower
end of its vertical arm entering said opening and feeler 58 attached to the end
of its horizontal arm spring 69 attached to 1ocking shaft all substant'elly as set
forth and shown and for the purpose specified
14 In a feeder for printing machines the combination of locking side levers 10
catch lever 52 having thereon a catch pin 51 spring 66 ratchet plate 50 hinged
cam lever 60 having a side cam 65 and an opening in its free end hinged shaped
lever 55 having the lower end of its vertical arm entering said opening and
feeler 58 attached to the end of its horizontal am and 1ocking shaft p with spring
hifter 69 substantially as described and shown
15 In a feeder foi printang machines the combination of vertical rods 9 and
carrying horizontal side rods cam shaft 6 cams gear wheels u and crank
pins and the gear wheel connecting rod r lever q rocking shaft ? cams m and
cam blocks n on said side rods i all for the purpose of lifting and lowering the
side rods and its connections all substantially as set forth
2
Dated this 3rd day of March 1899
J CLARK JEFFERSON, FIPA,
30, Park Row, Leeds, Agent for Applicants.