IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SHEETS OF PAPER TO PRINTING AND OTHER LIKE MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I FREDERICK HOYER of 59 Cornwallis Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SHEETS OF PAPER TO PRINTING AND
OTHER LIKE MACHINES to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements on former Letters Patent granted
to me No 7 A.D. 1883.
My Invention has for its object certain improvements in apparatus for feeding, or
delivering sheets of paper from bulk, to printing and other like machines sheet by
sheet. The apparatus consists as follows. In a suitable framework I mount a table
upon which the paper to be fed to the printing, or other machine is placed. At one
end and over this table, there is mounted an oscillating cylinder which serves as a
suction, or lifting cylinder and is exhausted by a fan driven from any suitable
means. The cylinder has a flattened portion, which is perforated and which portion
when in position for picking up the paper is horizontal with the pile of paper. The
table is lifted by a cam and lever mechanism up to the cylinder for each "pick-up,"
and then lowered. The cylinder receives its oscillating motion from a cam and
rack and pinions. As each sheet of paper is lifted and oscillated it is fed into a
gripping device mounted on a travelling chain, or frame on suitable mountings and
has an intermittent motion. The gripper takes hold of the sheet and draws it
forward and when sufficiently far fed forwards, releases the sheet, which then falls
onto a tray of glass, or other suitable material having a highly polished surface,
which may be plain grooved, or fluted. This tray has a forward motion imparted
to it by cam, or other suitable gear, which feeds the sheet up to front gauges, the
side gauging being effected by a pushing, or drawing motion, from whence it is
taken by the machine for printing or other purpose in the usual manner. For tho
purposes of separating the sheets, the air, which is drawn through the cylinder and
fan is forced up and through regulated openings in an air chest, or chests, which
blows onto the edges of the paper and separates the sheets, the blowing being
Prine B77

page_text: regulated by valves to act before and after the chest is lifted, at the same time
giving the sheets time to settle after blowing.
To hold the sheet steady at its lower end for delivery to the printing machine,
I provide a holding device worked by a cam. Thus when the sheet has been.
adjusted, or registered the cam moves the device, which may consist of a plate, up
to, or onto the sheet and nips and holds it in its registered position until it is ready
to be taken by the printing machine.
The feeding up of the table being effected in manner similar to that described in
my former Letters Patent N° 7 A.D. 1883 aforesaid.
Dated this third 1001

page_text: I FREDERICK HOYER, of 59 Cornwallis Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SHEETS OF PAPER TO PRINTING AND
OTHER LIKE MACHINES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements on former Letters Patent granted
to me N° 7 A.D. 1883.
My Invention has for its object certain improvements in apparatus for feeding, or
delivering sheets of paper from bulk to printing and other like machines sheet by
sheet. The apparatus consists as follows. In a suitable framework, I mount a table
upon which the paper to be fed to the printing, or other machine is placed. At one
end and over this table, there is mounted an oscillating cylinder, which serves as a
suction, or lifting cylinder and is exhausted by a fan driven from any suitable
means. The cylinder has a flattened portion, which is perforated, and which portion
when in position for picking up the paper is horizontal and parallel with the pile of
paper. The table is lifted by a cam and lever mechanism up to the cylinder for
each pick up and then lowered. The cylinder receives its oscillating motion from a
cam and rack and pinions. As each sheet of paper is lifted and oscillated it is fed
into a gripping device, mounted on a travelling chain, or frame on suitable
mountings and has an intermittent motion. The gripper takes hold of the sheet
and draws it forward and when sufficiently far fed forwards, releases the sheet,
which then falls onto a tray of glass, or other suitable material having a highly
polished surface, which may be grooved, or fluted. This tray has a forward motion
imparted to it by cam, or other suitable gear, which feeds the sheet up to front
gauges, the side gauging being effected by a pushing, or drawing motion from
whence it is taken by the machine for printing or other purpose in the usual
manner. For the purposes of separating the sheets the air which is drawn through
the cylinder and fan is forced up and through regulated openings in an air chest,
or chests which blows onto the edges of the paper and separates the sheets, the
blowing being regulated by valves to act before and after the sheet is lifted, at
the same time giving the sheets time to settle after blowing.
To hold the sheet steady at its lower end for delivery to the printing machine,
I provide a holding device worked by a cam. Thus when the sheet has been
adjusted, or registered, the cam moves the device, which may consist of a plate, up
to, or onto the sheet and nips and holds it in its registered position until it is ready
to be taken by the printing machine.
The feeding up of the table being effected in manner similar to that described in
my former Letters Patent No 7 A.D. 1883 aforesaid.
The beforegoing being the nature, object and purposes of my Invention I will
now proceed to describe more in detail how the same may be carried out into
:

page_text: practical effect, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of Drawings making
a part of this Specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked
thereon, like letters and figures being used to denote the same, or corresponding
parts throughout the various views and figurés.
thereon, like letters and figures being used to denote the same, or corresponding
parts throughout the various views and figurés.
1
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure I is a sectional elevation of an apparatus with my improvements applied
thereto.
--
Figure 2 is a front side elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a back side elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a detail of the gripping device and gripping operating mechanism.
Figure 6 is a detail showing the gripper and releasing mechanism.
Figures 7. 8 and 9 are details of the registering device.
Figures 10 and 11 are details of pneumatic blowing chests.
With the view of explaining the nature and functions of the several parts
constituting my present Invention I have shown them combined in an apparatus
constructed substantially under my former Patent N° 7 A.D. 1883
The apparatus
and parts are as follows and the features which constitute my present. Invention
being claimed in the claiming clauses of this Specification.
On reference to the Drawings it will be seen that A is the frame of the machine.
B is the main driving shaft, which receives motion from the printing machine
through the bevel gear B¹. C is the table on which the pile of sheets of paper rests.
The table C is carried by the screwed rods C¹ positioned one on each side of the
table. D and E are air blowing chests. D¹ is the fan for supplying the chests with
air and it is driven by a band from any suitable means. F is the pneumatic sheet
lifting cylinder, which is flattened on one portion, which portion is perforated and
is exhausted by the fan D¹. G is a secondary shaft which receives an intermittent
rotary motion from the main shaft B through the wheels G G³, a portion of the
teeth of the wheel G₁ being cut away to give the necessary rest to the shaft G. this
is the ordinary stop gear as applied to folding machines and is not shown in detail
in the Drawings. The pneumatic lifting cylinder F receives oscillating motion
through the rack and pinion gear F and cam F2. H are paper the grippers and
they are mounted on a chain H¹ and are driven from the shaft G by the band H.
I is the delivery table provided with rollers i¹³ over which run the tapes . The
roller is driven by a band from the secondary shaft G.
It will be observed I have described the delivery table I as fitted with the rollers
and tapes such as those described in the Specification of my former Patent No 7
A.D. 1883, but I would state that this table I may be made with a highly polished
surface, plain, grooved or fluted, in which case the tapes and rollers are dispensed
with and the sheet is delivered onto and travels to the front gauges down the
slippery surface of the inclined table I.
•
P is a gate which is provided to primarily straighten the sheets in passing down
the table I, the bars R of the gate rest upon the table I and the gate is raised from
the table by a cam which is fixed upon the shaft B and which raises the gate from
the table at the desired time. J are the side wiper registering devices. L is a cam
for raising and lowering the table C, which is effected through the lever L¹, link L'
lever L levers L' and rods C. The levers L' and lever L³ are mounted and keyed
on the shaft L'.
The above being a general description of the main parts of the machine I will
Dow describe the manner in which they operate and feed the paper from bulk sheet
by sheet to the printing, or other machine.
The pile of paper a is placed on the table C the weight M resting upon the pile.
The machine being set in motion the table C with its paper pile a is raised from
its lower position up to the pneumatic lifting cylinder F, the flat perforated portion

page_text: of which will be about parallel with the paper; the suction in the cylinder F raises
a sheet of paper; whilst the table and paper are in this position air is blown onto
the front edges of the top sheets of the pile a through the chest D in order to
separate the top sheet from the pile and to separate any sheets that may adhere to
the uppermost sheet, which is being held by the cylinder F; the table C is then
lowered and the blast of air cut off by the valve d. The blowing is applied only
to a portion of the edges of the sheets through the chest D, namely to one side, or
the other, or about the centre portion; this partial blowing separates the sheets
quickly and allows the sheets which may have adhered to the upper sheet to settle
quickly on the pile, which result is not effected by blowing onto the entire edges of
the sheets. The whole pile of paper a being again steady and the upper sheet only
being held by suction to the cylinder F and the table in its lower position, the
gauge weight M is then raised from off the pile a and the cylinder F is caused to
oscillate and take the position as shown in Figure 1, carrying with it the top
sheet a¹ with its leading edge projecting upwards, the back edge being thus drawn
clear of the weight M. The weight M is then allowed to fall and rest again on the
pile a, at the same time the gripper H takes hold of the projecting edge of the
sheet a¹ and travelling along conveys the sheet onto the tapes is of the delivery
table I. The sheet when fully on the travelling tapes is released from the
gripper H and the travelling tapes convey the sheet to the gate P which
primarily straightens the sheet. The gate P is then raised off the table I and
the sheet is conveyed by the tapes 2 to the usual front registers of the printing
machine (not shown in the Drawings) the table I taking the place of the ordinary
feed table of the printing machine. The sheet is registered to one side, or the other
by the side registers J as required. The tapes are stopped and the table I is
raised in the usual way to the printing machine grippers and the sheet is taken
away by them. After the table has been lowered and a sheet removed the edges
of the sheets of the pile of paper a are blown upon by the blast coming from the
chest E the whole width of the sheets which helps to separate the sheets from one
another and to smooth and readjust any sheets that may have been disturbed in the
withdrawal of the preceding sheet before being taken by the cylinder F.
Having now described the general operation of feeding the sheets to the printing
machine, I will now proceed to describe fully the detail of the features of this my
present Invention.
The suction, or lifting cylinder F is constructed with a flattened portion f which
is perforated, and which flattened portion f when in position for picking up the
paper is parallel with the pile of paper a.
The grippers H of which there are two sets are shown in detail at Figures 5
and 6. Figure 5, shows the gripping operation and mechanism. Figure 6 shows
the releasing operation and mechanism The grippers consist of a fixed lip land a
moving lip. The lips are carried by the rods 13 and 1 which are connected to
the chains H¹. The rods 13 and 1° extend across the apparatus and the grippers H
are adjustable thereon to suit different widths of paper. The rod is square and
carries a bracket 3 on which is loosely mounted the lever which is provided with
a projecting pin (as shown at Figure 6º). The cylinder F is provided with a
projection H³ and a projecting cam n is provided on the table L
In operation presume the cylinder F to have brought a sheet of paper a¹ with its
leading edge in the position shown at Figure 5, in which position the travel of the
gripper H has been arrested, and it is ready to receive the sheet. The movement
of the cylinder F places the leading edge of the paper between the lips of the
gripper and the projection H³ on the cylinder F comes in contact with the pin
and throws back the pin and lever 15 thereby allowing the gab ended tappet 17 to
fall by the action of a spring 16. The tappet is fixed onto the rod and thus
causes the lip of the gripper H to close onto the leading edge of the sheet of
paper a¹ and grip the sheet between the lips ll¹. The grippers H then resume
their forward motion and carry the sheet of paper forward over the table I until
the pin comes in contact with the-cam n, by means of the small anți friction

page_text: .
roller n¹ riding over the cam. n the pin is raised and comes into contact with
the tappet which it lifts, and so also lifts the lip of the gripper H and releases
the paper, the pin takes a position in the gub of the tappet and thus holds the
gripper H open against the spring 16 until the gripper has travelled round into
position to take another sheet of paper and be again closed by the action of the
projection H³ in manner as before described.
The front side registers are illustrated in detail at Figures 7. 8 and 9 and consist
of the brackets h which bear upon the table I and are carried by the shafts h¹ and h³,
the shaft h being held at each end by the brackets h³ which are attached to the
table I. The brackets h are held in position by set screws. On the shaft h¹ is
mounted the lever h*, which when the shaft h¹ is rocked by the cam j and lever j
it lifts and lowers the gripper onto the paper, which comes between it and the
angle registering plate j³. The shaft ho has a to and fro motion, which is imparted
to it by the crank K. The crank K is operated by the cam K' on the shaft B and
rod K which receive motion from the shaft B. Thus the sheets of paper are fed
onto the angle registering plate j³ first receiving a pushing motion; when, the
gripper is lowered and grips the sheet against the angle registering plate, which
then receives its drawing back motion carrying the sheet back with it into final
position before being removed by the printing machine mechanism: the table I is
then raised as usual to meet the grippers of the printing machine and as these catch
the sheet the gripper j is raised and releases the sheet which is then drawn off into
the printing machine. By this arrangement I combine the pushing, or drawing
motion for side registration and for use as a holding device as provided for in my
Provisional Specification and as above stated I provide a means whereby the sheets
of paper are to be held in position after registration for delivery to the printing
machine.
In reference to the blast chests D and E suction cylinder F and fan D¹ it will be
seen that the fan D' communicates with the cylinder F by means of the pipe F³ and
the air drawn through the cylinder .by the fan D¹ is forced up the pipe Da which is
bifurcated into the two pipes D³ D' which lead respectively to the air blast chests E
and D, the. latter one of which has openings in its face which are provided with
shutters de (see Figures 10 and 11) so that any desired number of the openings at
any portion of the chest can be closed, or partially closed as desired, by this means
the blast of air can be delivered onto any desired portion, or portions of the front
edges of the sheets to effect separation in the manner before set forth. The pipe D³
is provided with a valve d' which corresponds with the valve d and which is
operated by the cam d³ to cut off, or let on the blast at the required time; also the
pipe D is in like manner provided with a valve d' which is operated by the cam d³
and which cuts off, or lets on the blast at the required time. The suction is
governed by the valve p which is operated by the lever p¹, which is connected to
the lever på of the valve p by the rod p³. When the valve p is open the end of the
valve lever p is caught by the bell crank lever p' as shown, the closing being
effected by a projection q mounted on the cylinder F which as it rotates catches on
the underside of the lever p* and disengages the lever p' which then falls and thus
the valve p is closed and remains closed until the valve is again operated by the
cam.
•
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
First The use in combination with apparatus such as herein described of a
gripping device (such as H) for the purposes described substantially as set forth.
Second The use of an oscillating suction cylinder (such as F) provided with a flat
perforated portion (such as f) as and for the purposes set forth.
Third The use in combination with apparatus such as herein described of a
registering device (such as J) whereby the sheets are pushed sideways and then
drawn back into position as and for the purposes set forth,

page_text: Fourth The combination with apparatus such as herein described of the pneumatio
chest D and pneumatic chest E operating as set forth for the purposes specified.
Fifth The use in combination with apparatus such as herein described of a device
(such as J) whereby the sheets of paper are held in a registered position for
delivering to printing, or other like machines, as set forth.