IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING FEEDING MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF STEAM OR OTHER LETTER-PRESS PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
Year: 1858

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Mark Mason at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th October
1858.
I, MARK MASON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SELF-ACTING FEEDING MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF STEAM
OR OTHER LETTER-PRESS PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES," to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to a self-acting apparatus or machine to be used
for the purpose of feeding in the sheets of paper which are required for the
service of printing machines, whether these machines are driven by hand,
steam, or other power.
For this purpose the following machinery is employed:-A table is con-
structed about four feet square, on which the sheets of paper required for
printing purposes are placed preparatory to their being pushed forward to the
machine by the action of the self-feeding apparatus. The movements of this
machine or apparatus are derived from the printing machine itself, but if it is
found necessary to work it by hand, the actuating rod is detached from the
machine. The sheets of paper which are placed upon the table may be 8 or
9 inches thick, the table being recessed for their reception; at the centre of
the table underneath the paper is a fine threaded screw, which is used to push
up the paper slowly as it is required for the printing machine. This screw,
being worked by a tappet or other motion connected to the actuating rod

page_text: which runs along the side of the table; there are also four upright pillars
placed underneath the paper one at each corner. Above the table is a T cross
bar which slides horizontally in a slotted guide frame, which is supported by
an upright frame at one end of the table; three arms are hinged to this cross
bar at the end next the printing machine and projecting towards it, their lower
ends resting on the sheets, these ends being supplied with fine points which
take hold of the paper, so that when the cross bar advances the sheet is pushed
forwards to the printing machine. When the cross bar is brought back it
raises two bent levers, which have their centres of suspension in the upright
frame, and are provided with composition knobs or other adhesive substance
at the bottom which adhere to the paper, and detach it from the rest of the
sheets ready to be pushed forward by the points on the projecting arms.
Between these bent levers, which are provided with a spiral spring on their
under surface to bring them down, is fixed a holding down lever of the same
shape as the other two levers, and operated upon by a catch jointed to the T
cross bar in such a manner that it is raised before the ascent of the two
adhesive levers, and it also falls before they do, and holds the paper down.
Underneath the T cross bar, at the end opposite to the printing machine, a
rack is placed, attached to a sector or other suitable contrivance, which is
operated upon by the actuating rod, the T cross bar receiving a reciprocating
motion to & from the machine, carrying forwards the sheets in its advance,
and lifting the levers with another sheet, when it recedes, ready to be carried
forward in a similar manner.