A New and Improved Means of Separating and Feeding Sheets of Paper and the like to Printing, Ruling, Folding, and like Machines Automatically.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th July, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
A New and Improved Means of Separating and Feeding Sheets of
Paper and the like to Printing, Ruling, Folding, and like Machines
Automatically.
WILLIAM BRIDGEWATER, 30%, St. Peter's Lane, Leicester, in the County
of Leicester, Engineer & Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus whereby the uppermost of a pile of sheets
is separated and advanced to the grippers tapes or other device of a printing
or other machine which deals with succesive sheets for printing ruling or
other purposes.
The apparatus consist of a suitable frame for carring rollers and operating
them as required.
The pile of sheets is placed on a suitable table a roller is supported across
the front edge of the pile which I will call No. 1 roller another roller which
I will call No. 2 is placed adjustable at a suitable distance from and parallel
to No. 1 roller.
A bar of suitable material is carried across the end of the pile and parallel
to the rollers No. 1 roller is made to rest with a little presure on the pile
roller No. 2 is then made to revolve a certain amount and with sufficient
presure on the pile to cause the top sheet to rise and form a kind of loop between
the two rollers No. 2 roller now cease to revolve and is made to press sufficiently
on the pile to prevent the sheet sliding back, at the same time the bar is made
to press on the end of the pile where the top sheet as been removed by the action
of No. 2 roller. The roller No. 1 may now be raised and the sheet will then
straiten itself out and reach over the pile or the roller No. 1 may be made to
revolve and carry the sheet out, and either or both rollers may be made to
carry the sheet out to the receiving tapes or other suitable means to carry the sheet
to the printing or other machines. The rollers may made of rubber or any
material having a frictional or roughen surface.
Dated this 14th day of October 1898.
WILLIAM BRIDGEWATER,
30 St. Peters Lane, Leicester.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Means of Separating and Feeding Sheets of
Paper and the like to Printing, Ruling, Folding, and like Machines
Automatically.
I, WILLIAM BRIDGEWATER, of 30, St. Peter's Lane, Leicester, in the County
of Leicester, Engineer and Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-

page_text: tion 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 apparatus whereby the uppermost of a pile of sheets
is separated from the pile and advanced to the grippers, tapes, or other device
of a printing or other machine dealing with successive sheets for printing, ruling,
folding or other purposes.
The apparatus consists of a suitable frame for carrying rollers and the means
for operating them as required. The pile of sheets is placed on a suitable
table in a desired position in relation to two parallel rollers which are adjust-
ably carried in the frame before mentioned. A bar of suitable material is
adjustably carried across the rear end of the pile of sheets parallel to the rollers.
The front roller is made to rest with pressure on the pile of sheets and the rear
roller is caused to partially revolve, pressing sufficiently on the pile to move the
top sheet and form a loop or arch between the two rollers. The rear roller
then ceases to revolve but continues to press upon the pile, thereby preventing
the top sheet from sliding back and at the same time the bar before mentioned
is lowered and presses on the rear end of the pile where the top sheet has been
moved away by the action of the rear roller.
The front roller may next be raised, allowing the top sheet to straighten out
when its front end will project over the pile; or instead of the front roller rising
it may be revolved to straighten out the sheet and carry it forward, and either
or both rollers may be caused to carry the sheet forward to the receiving tapes
or other suitable means for carrying the sheet to the printing or other machine.
If however the action of carrying the sheet out to the receiving tapes or the
like is effected by the front roller the rear roller is raised after the sheet has
been straightened to allow it to pass and the front roller still moves it sufficiently
to reach the tapes when the front roller is raised to allow the said tapes to
carry the sheet clear to the printing machine.
My invention will be understood by referring to the drawings accompanying
this specification, the same letters of reference indicating like parts throughout
the several figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus constructed in accordance with
this invention.
Figure 2 is a cross vertical section on the line Y Y of of Figure 3.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line Z Z of Figure 4 and Figure 4 is a
plan of the apparatus.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are cross sections hereinafter referred to illustrating the
operation of separating and carrying forward the top sheet of a pile of sheets.
Figures 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are face views of cams hereinafter referred to.
Figures 13, 14 and 15 are face view, end elevation and plan respectively of a
modification of the mechanism for revolving the rear roller and Figures 16
and 17 are views of modified mechanism for revolving the front roller.
Figures 13 to 17 inclusive are drawn to an enlarged scale.
The front and rear rollers lettered A and B respectively are made of soft
rubber or other material having a suitable frictional surface, or the periphery of
said rollers may be corrugated or otherwise formed or treated to increase the
frictional contact with the sheets; or the spindles may have a series of pneumatic
collars, placed thereover. The said rollers A B have spindles A¹ B₁ respectively
their ends passing through guides A3 132 formed in the frame C. The bell
crank levers a bare pivotted at ab to the said frame C.
The horizontal armis a² 2 of the said levers engage the lugs A³ ³ of
the collars A B respectively (which are loose upon the spindles A B) by means
of pins A* B*.
The vertical arms a 3 of the said levers a bare adjustably connected to the
horizontal rods A5 B5 the rear ends of the latter being connected to the
levers A B fixed on the rock-shafts A 137 respectively.
It will be seen upon referring to Figures 2 and 4 that similar sets of levers

page_text: and rods for supporting and raising the rollers A B are provided at each side
of the machine. The spindle A¹ of the roller A carries on one end a pinion D
which gears with the spur wheel D¹ loosely mounted on a stud fixed in
the frame C, and attached to the said spur wheel D is a pinion D2 gearing with
the gear segment E, pivotted at C2, the said gear segment being connected by
means of a rod E¹ (Figures 1 and 2) to the upper arm of a lever E³ pivotted
at C3; a roller e¹ on the lower arm of said lever rides on the periphery of the
cam e. Instead of the spur wheel D¹ and pinion D² being attached, they may be
free and the pinion D2 engage the wheel by means of a ratchet wheel and pawl
as hereinafter described with reference to Figures 16 and 17 but in an opposite
direction.
The spindle B of the rear roller B also carries a pinion F gearing with a
gear segment F" connected by a rod F2 to the upper arm of a lever F3 pivotted
at C' to the frame C and the lower arm of the latter carries the roller g' which
rides on the periphery of the cam g.
The stroke of the levers E2 and F3 and consequently the amount of revolution
given to the rollers A B can be regulated by the screws E3 and F* respectively,
and they are brought to their normal positions by springs E F or equivalent
means.
Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7 the pile of sheets having been placed in
position on the table h and the latter adjusted by means of mechanism herein-
after mentioned to keep the pile at the desired height so that the top sheet is
in frictional contact with the rollers A B, the roller B is partially revolved
(in the direction of the arrow, see Figures 3, 6 and 7) by reason of the roller gl
carried on the lower arm of the lever F3 passing onto the part 9 of the cam g
fixed on the driving shaft J (see Figure 1), the lever 13 thereby operates the
gear segment F to rotate the pinion F. This movement of the roller B will
move the top sheet of the pile and form a loop or arch across the sheet between
the two rollers A B as shown in Figure 6, and in dot and dash lines in Figure 3.
The roller A is stationary while the roller B is being revolved to form such
loop or arch.
The bar K is now lowered and pressed upon the pile of sheets. The said
bar K may be of any suitable material and shape and covered with any desired
material. The said bar is supported by resting upon sliding blocks hereinafter
mentioned.
Angle pieces L are fixed by screws L¹ to the said bar K. The bottom faces of the
said angle pieces L are inclined (see Figure 3) and bear upon the inclined upper
faces of blocks M adjustably carried upon the horizontal rods N. The latter are move-
ably carried in guides N¹ fixed on the frame C. The rear ends of the said rods N
are connected by rods Na to levers 0 fixed on the shaft P and one of the said
levers O has a lower arm 01 carrying a roller 02 which rides on the periphery
of a cam Q fixed on the driving shaft J. As soon therefore as the roller B has
formed the loop or arch in the top sheet, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the
cam Qwill immediately operate upon the lever O and rods N2 and N to draw
rearward the blocks M, allowing the bar K to descend in the adjustable guides K¹
and press upon the pile of sheets.
As it is necessary in some cases that a pressure greater than the weight of
the bar K should be put upon the pile of sheets levers Rare pivotted at R¹ to
Jugs K2 on the guides K¹. The bolts R2 are adjustable in the bosses R³ of the
levers R and are caused to press upon the bar K by the block M being drawn
rearward and pressing against the tails R. of the said levers R.
The cam S fixed on the shaft J will now actuate the lever S¹ fixed on the
rock-shaft A thereby actuating the levers A rods A5 and levers a and raise the
roller A to allow the top sheet to straighten itself, as shown in Figure 6, the
roller A then descends and is revolved (by the action of came on lever E³ causing
gear segment E to revolve the gears D2, D₁, D) carrying the partially removed
sheet still further to the tapes during which operation the roller B is raised as

page_text: 'before stated by means of the cam U to allow the sheet to pass under. The
cam S continuing to revolve will now by means of its connecting part raise the
roller A free of the top sheet to allow the latter to be drawn clear of the pile
by the grippers tapes or other means as before mentioned.
When adapting the apparatus for feeding the top sheet forward by a revolving
pressure of the front roller, the part t (see Figure 10) of the cam S is removed
and in this case the cam U is used as before stated to raise the roller B clear of
the pile.
It is obvious however that instead of using the roller A a bar capable of being
raised, only may be used and in such case the roller B will be made to revolve
to carry the top sheet clear.
It will be clearly seen that the bar K and blocks M may be adjusted in relation
to the rollers A B according to the size of sheets upon the table h.
The raising of the rollers A B with their spindles A¹ B₁ takes the pinions D F
out of engagement with the spur wheel D¹ and gear segment F1 and the
levers E F are drawn forward and backward respectively to their normal posi-
tions by the springs E and F as before stated.
When the rollers A and B are lowerd the pinions D F again engage with
the spur wheel 1) and gear segment F' and to ensure them gearing the teeth
are made sharp or fine at the top.
Instead of making the teeth of the gearing fine as just mentioned, the
respective parts may be formed with normal teeth by using the modified
mechanism shown in Figures 16 and 17 in which the pinion D and spur
wheel D gear through an intermediate wheel D* carried by means of links D**;
but instead of the pinion D2 being formed with or attached to the spur wheel 11
it will run loose on the stud C₁ and revolve the spur wheel D¹ by means of a
ratchet wheel V fixed to the pinion 12 being engaged by a pawl V₁ pivotted on
the side of said spur wheel D¹.
During the feed movement of the pinion D2 the pawl V₁ revolves the ratchet
wheel and spur wheel D¹ but upon the return movement of said pinion D the
pawl will become disengaged and pass freely over the teeth of the said ratchet
wheel V the roller A remaining stationary during the return movement of the
gearing; or instead of the teeth gearing the wheels may be geared together by
means of a chain.
It is obvious that in this case, so as to revolve the roller A in the right
direction the lower arm of the lever E2 must be made approximately at a right
angle with the upper arm so that the cam e will move the latter in the opposite
direction. The stop E3 and spring E would also be reversed.
The modified mechanism shown in Figures 13 to 15 for revolving the rear
roller B consists of levers W W pivotted on the pin X. The said pivot pin X
may be moveable in a slot formed in the frame C (shown by dot and dash lines
Figure 13) or a bracket may be fixed to the said frame C and the pin X moveable
in a slot in the bracket. Loosely carried on the said pin X is a double sprocket
wheel Y engaged by chains Y₁ passing from the sprocket wheels Y2 carried on
the side of pinion fi, and on spindle B. The pinion f¹ runs upon a stud f2 fixed
in the boss of link W the said stud being adjustable in a circular slot in the
frame C. In this case the spindle will not require the guide B³ in the frame as
it is regulated and kept in position by the links W Wi
As before mentioned the table h may be adjusted vertically in relation to
the rollers A B and in frictional contact therewith by any suitable means but
one form of such mechanism consists of levers 1, centrally carried by the
pillars 2, fixed on the bars 3, the ends of the latter being attached to the framing.
The ends of said levers 1 are attached to vertical levers 4 and 5 the former
being pivotted to lugs 6 on the underside of the table and the latter to lugs 7
on the sleeve 8. The said sleeve 8 is provided with a rack 9 which engages a
quadrant 10 which is fixed on the shaft 11 carried in the bosses 12 formed on the
bars 3. Fixed on one end of the said shaft 11 is a lever 13 upon which may be

page_text: adjusted the weight 14. As will be seen in Figures 2 and 3 as the pile of
sheets lessens the lever 13 will gradually fall, turning the shaft 11 and with it
the quadrant 10 thus lowering the sleeve 8 and levers 5 attached to the levers 1, 1.
As the sleeve 8 is lowered, as described, the outer ends of the levers 1, 1 are
raised together with the levers 4 attached to the lugs 6 on the underside of the
table h. It will be readily understood that the table h is steadied together with
the mechanism just described by the spindle 15 which passes into the tube 16
fixed on the hanger 17. The fork 18 is pivotted at 19 to the frame C, and engages
the sleeve 8 so that by means of the weight 20 the table h may be balanced when
it is free of the paper.
The mechanism just described for raising the table is based upon the principle
of the weigh bridge and no claim is here made to such mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The method of feeding the top sheet of a pile of sheets to printing and
other machines, which consists in forming a loop or arch across the said sheet
while the front of the sheet is held, so that the rear portion thereof is moved
forward, then holding the part of the sheet immediately behind the loop or arch,
and releasing or moving forward the front part of the sheet so that the loop
flattens or straightens, the front part of the sheet being thereby caused to project
over the front of the pile, substantially as described.
2. A feeding apparatus for printing and other machines comprising two rollers,
the front one of which is caused to press upon the top of a pile of sheets while
the rear roller is caused to partially revolve and feed the top sheet forward to form
a loop in the said sheet between the two rollers, and a bar or equivalent to press
upon the said pile immediately the loop is formed and during the time the top
sheet is being removed by the raising of the front roller to allow the top sheet
to straighten itself and be gripped and removed in the manner and for the
purpose described.
3. The modification of the apparatus in which after the loop is formed the top
sheet is removed by revolving the front roller and raising or revolving the rear
roller, substantially as described.
4. Feeding apparatus for printing and other machines constructed and operated
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of July 1899.