A Pneumatic Apparatus for Lifting Off Sheets of Paper and Removing them from a Pile.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1900-Accepted, 10th Mar.,
1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Pneumatic Apparatus for Lifting Off Sheets of Paper and Removing
them from a Pile.
I, IVAN ORLOFF, of Fontanka 144, in the City of St. Petersburg, Russia,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is an apparatus which acts pneumatically and is
intended for lifting off single sheets of paper and removing them from a pile.
The apparatus may be employed for several purposes, especially for supplying or
delivering sheets of paper in machines for printing and working paper.
The pneumatic apparatuses hitherto suggested for such purposes have been
found so little reliable, that they were practically worthless. In contradistinc-
tion to this, the sucking and lifting off of the sheets is effected by the present
invention in a way which long practical experience and observation have proved
to be reliable, as the operation never fails, no misses arising nor several sheets
being lifted simultaneously. Moreover the present apparatus is exceedingly
simple.
The invention is based on the fact that the top sheet of a pile can be best lifted
by bulging the corner or edge of the same by gentle pressure with the finger,
slightly damped for this purpose, that is to say by subjecting the sheet to a
rubbing action from the edge towards the inside, under slight pressure applied
by the finger. Whilst hitherto this bulging of the paper when made use of in
sheet lifting apparatuses has been always performed by similar means as with
the hand, so that these means are generally designated as fingers, the present
invention essentially differs therefrom in that, although bulging is certainly
effected in connection therewith, it is brought about by means essentially different
from a mechanical finger, ciz. by suction.
The pile of paper lies as usual on a table, between fixed front stops or registers
and side stops, adjustable according to the size of the sheet, as also if necessary
between back stops, likewise suitably adjustable. Above the front edge of the
pile of paper extends a suction pipe which is adjustable forwards and backwards
and of a peculiar cross section. The shape of this pipe forms an essential part
of the invention.
The bore of the pipe is connected with an air-pump or a vessel in which there is
kept a vacuum, the said connection consisting of a flexible tube or a hose pipe
provided with a valve in such manner that when the valve is opened, the
atmospheric air rushes in through a series of narrow channels in the bottom of
the pipe, and sucking action draws up the uppermost sheet of the pile, so that
the edge of such sheet is closely pressed against the lower surface of the pipe
and the edge projecting beyond the pipe is simultaneously withdrawn from under
a flap, or spring bearing against the utmost edge of the pile of paper. The
pipe is now raised vertically, or the table with the pile of paper is lowered and
the flap or spring prevents the withdrawing of several sheets simultaneously,
as any sheets that may adhere to the sucked up sheet are held back on their edge

page_text: or stripped off from the uppermost sheet by means of the flap or spring. There-
upon the pipe performs an oscillating movement, in order to forward the lifted
sheet to a delivery table or bring it within the reach of a carrier, to release the
sheet and then to assume again its. initial position over the pile of paper.
For the purpose of releasing the sheet of paper the bore of the pipe is timely
and temporarily connected with the atmospheric air or with a receptacle contain-
ing compressed air, so that the sucked up sheet falls down or will be repelled
from the pipe. This can be effected by conveniently controlling the movement of
the above mentioned valve provided to this purpose with multiple ways, or by
means of a separate valve. The said means can be dispensed with if the sheet
be delivered to a gripper device so as to be positively grasped and stripped off
from the suction pipe."
A general description of the working of my invention having been given, the
'details which form the object of the invention will now be described.
The working bottom surface of the suction pipe is double-curved, outwards and
inwards, the convex portion lying on the paper in its initial position, until the
free edge or border of the top sheet is drawn or sucked up. In consequence
thereof a depression is formed below the convex portion of the pipe and the
sheets are ventilated or loosened at the free end to a certain depth of the pile
upon the pipe continuously striking or coming into contact with the pile of
paper, the entering of air between the sheets being thus permitted. By these
means the borders of the ventilated sheets assume at the same time a double-
curved form, the curvature being the greatest in the top sheet and becoming
less gradually, until at certain depth it fully disappears. The double curvature,
however, is nothing else then the first stage in an incipient bulging, precisely_as
is effected if the thumb and fore-finger be laid on the edge of the paper and a
stroking action inwards be commenced with the fore-finger under a slight pressure,
and with the thumb pressed on to the paper. The formation of such a bulging,
however, is practically the best means of separating one sheet from another, and
as now the bulging is completed by means of the air suction, the top sheet at its
edge is fully separated from the following sheet, being closely pressed against
the concave portion of the pipe. Thereby the front free edge of the sheet is bent
outwards, pushes away the following sheets and thus further assures the separation
of an individual sheet. Finally the spring or flap bent upwards at its end
cooperates in producing the same effect, as it bears against the utmost edge of
the sheets, and as soon as the top sheet undergoes the slightest withdrawal from
under the flap the latter acts as a brake or check on the following sheets;. but if
at any time several sheets should be accidentally acted upon simultaneously,
the flap strips off and causes to fall back all sheets not to be lifted by suction.
If it be desired to ensure the individual separation of each sheet until the whole
pile is worked off, a flexible intermediate piece is to be inserted between the
pile of paper and the table, in order that the bulging of the sheet edge may be
continued down to the final sheet.
The convex surface portion of the suction pipe does not need to be properly
curved. It may be flat or consist in a simple edge, provided only that whilst it
lies on the pile of paper the concave portion leave free the edge of the pile of
paper, and the edge of the sheet be clamped at the back, but not in front. As
concerning the suction channels it has been found that the bulging of the sheets
and their close contact with the working surface of the suction pipe are best
effected when these channels are arranged obliquely to the pile of paper, so as to
discharge near the passage of the concave portion to the convex portion, for
the reason that the bulging thus begins from inwards, the firmly held part of
the edge; and is continued outwards, the loose part of the edge. Moreover the
resistance of the paper against bending is greater near the spot where it is firmly
clamped than at its free end. Therefore the security against accidentally with
drawing a second sheet is greater when the suction action proceeds from inwards
to outwards then in the inverted direction. However, it has been found in practice

page_text: that the described arrangement of the suction channels is not indispensable, but
appears desirable only for certain sorts of paper.
For lifting off the adherent sheet it has been found most convenient to move
the suction pipe vertically with respect to the pile of paper, and as it is at the
same time of the greatest importance that in their initial position the pile of
paper and the suction pipe assume just the position required, that is to say the
edge of the sheet not being clamped on two lines, it is desirable, in order that
these conditions may be permanently maintained, that upon the lifting off the
sheet the suction pipe should be kept stationary and an upward and downward
movement be imparted to the table only. By these means, too, complicated
movements for the table as well as for the suction pipe are avoided, as the table
simply moves up and down and is stopped in its upwards movement by the
stationary suction pipe, whilst the latter is merely moved out of its position of
rest to the delivery table or within the reach of a carrier and back again into
its position of rest, which can be accomplished by a reciprocating, an oscillating
or a revolving movement.
When securing the suction pipe to rocking arms and arranging the rock shaft.
laterally with respect to the pile, so that owing to the swinging movement the
suction pipe is raised a certain distance almost vertically with respect to the pile,
no downwards movement is to be imparted to the paper table, the latter being
only to be continuously pressed upwards by means of a weight or a spring and
its upward movement being temporarily locked during the oscillation of the
suction pipe.
When placing the central shaft of the suction pipe above the edge or border
of the pile of paper, so that either a swinging movement or an intermittent
rotary movement can be imparted to the suction pipe, extending between two
discs, a vertically reciprocating movement of the paper table must be made use of.
This arrangement is specially effective in securing the separation of individual
sheets of paper, as the sheet undergoes a further bending around the working.
surface of the suction pipe when it performs its movement.
To this purpose it is
desirable to continue the working surface of the pipe by means of a bent sheet
metal plate, or by staves, wires or cords which extend between the two discs.
By providing a second suction pipe the intermittent rotary movement can be
limited to half rotations.
The invention can be advantageously employed for automatically feeding sheets
to printing presses or for supplying interleaf sheets between the fresh printed
sheets when delivered from a printing press, in order to prevent offset on the
delivery drum and the delivery tapes as well as on the piled sheets respectively.
The great simplicity of the present apparatus, its extension and action being
restricted to but one border or edge of the pile of paper, allows of several such
apparatuses, say up to four, being applied to one and the same paper pile, in
such a manner that they will work together in a determined succession to alter-
nately grasp the sheets on the several four edges and remove them in four
different directions. In this way a single pile of paper can be decomposed into
four separate piles.
A conveniently arranged double-acting apparatus can be made use of for auto-
matically removing offset sheets from a pile of paper composed alternately of
printed and offset sheets.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Ivan Orloff.

page_text: A Pneumatic Apparatus for Lifting Off Sheets of Paper and Removing
them from a Pile.
1, IVAN ORLOFF, of Fontanka 144, in the City of St. Petersburg, Russia,
Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to that class of sheet lifting and removing apparatus
which work pneumatically, and it may be applied for several purposes, especially
for delivering or supplying sheets of paper in printing presses or in other
machines for working paper.
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and yet reliable apparatus of
the said kind, and I attain this object by conveniently combining the usual
sucking action with a bulging action.
My invention is based on the fact that the top sheet of a pile can be best lifted
by bulging the corner or edge of the same by gentle pressure with the finger
slightly damped for this purpose, that is to say by subjecting the sheet to a
rubbing action from the edge towards the inside, under slight pressure applied
by the finger.
Whilst hitherto this bulging of the paper when made use of in sheet lifting
apparatus has been always performed by similar means as with the hand, so
that these means are generally designated as fingers, the present invention
essentially differs therefrom in that, although bulging is made use of in connec-
tion therewith, it is effected by means essentially different from a mechanical
finger, viz by suction.
In Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawing, the novel apparatus is illus-
trated in different stages of working, Figures 1ª and 1b showing modified details
thereof. Figure 6 is a plan view of the apparatus. Figure 7 shows the same in con-
nection with the impression cylinder of a printing press, for feeding sheets to the
print. In Figures 8 and 9, I have represented modified forms of my apparatus, and
in Figure 10 the same in connection with the delivery apparatus of a printing press
for feeding offset sheets between the printed sheets delivered. Figure 11 shows
a modified form of my apparatus serving the purpose of removing again the offset
sheets from a pile.
The pile of paper 1 is placed as usual on a table 2 between fixed front stops
or registers 3 and side stops 4, Figure 6, adjustable according to the size of the
sheet, as also if necessary between back stops 5, likewise suitably adjustable.
Above the front side of the pile of paper extends a suction pipe 6 which is
adjustable forwards and backwards and of a peculiar cross section Figures 1 to 5.
The shape of this pipe forms an essential part of my invention.
The bore 7 of pipe 6 is connected with an air-pump or a vessel in which is
kept a vacuum, the said connection consisting of a flexible tube or a hose pipe
provided with a valve in such manner that when the valve is opened, the
atmospheric air rushes in through a series of narrow channels 8 the bottom of
the pipe, and in the position of the latter represented, Figures 1 and 2, by sucking
action draws up the uppermost sheet of the pile, so that the edge of such sheet is
closely pressed against the lower surface of the pipe, Figure 2, and the edge
projecting beyond the pipe is simultaneously withdrawn from under a flap or
spring 9 bearing against the utmost edge of the pile of paper. The pipe G is
now raised vertically, or the table 2 with the pile of paper is lowered, as supposed
in the drawing, the uppermost sucked up sheet assuming successively the positions

page_text: shown in Figures 3 and 4, whilst the flap or spring in the position of Figure 3
prevents the withdrawing of several sheets simultaneously, as any sheets that may
adhere to the sucked up sheet are held back on their edge or stripped off from
the uppermost sheet by means of the flap or spring.
Pipe 6 then performs an oscillating movement, Figure 5, in order to forward
the lifted sheet to a delivery table or bring it within the reach of a carrier,.to
release the sheet and then assume again its initial position over the pile of
paper, Figure 1.
For the purpose of releasing the sheet of paper, the bore 7 of pipe 6 is timely
and temporarily connected with the atmospheric air, or with a receptacle con-
taining compressed air, so that the sucked up sheet falls down or will be repelled
from the pipe. This can be effected by conveniently controlling the above men-
tioned valve provided to this purpose with multiple ways, or by means of a
separate valve. The said means can be dispensed with, if the sheet be delivered
to a gripper device so as to be positively grasped and stripped off from the suction
pipe.
A general description of the working of my invention having been given, the
details which form its object now will be described.
As appearing from the cross section of pipe 6 its working bottom surface is
double curved, outwards at 10 and inwards at 11, the convex portion 10 lying on
the paper in the initial position of the pipe, Figure 1, until the free edge or border
of the top sheet is drawn or sucked up, Figure 2.
In consequence thereof, a depression is formed below the portion 10, and the
sheets are ventilated or loosened at the free end to a certain depth of the pile
upon the successive strokes of the pipe coming into contact with the pile of paper,
the entering of air between the sheets thus being permitted. By these means,
the borders of the ventilated sheets assume at the same time a double curved
form, the curvature being the greatest in the top sheet and becoming less gradually
until at a certain depth it fully disappears. This double curvature, however, is
nothing less than the first stage in an incipient bulging, precisely as effected if
the thumb and fore-finger be laid on the edge of the paper and a stroking action
inwards be commenced with the fore-finger under a slight pressure, and with
the thumb pressed on to the paper. The formation of such a bulging, however,
is practically the best means of separating one sheet from another, and as now
the bulging is completed by means of the air suction, the top sheet at its edge is
fully separated from the following sheet, being closely pressed against the concave
portion 11 of the pipe, Figure 2. Thereby the front free edge 12 of the sheet,
Figure 2, is bent downwards, pushes away the following sheets and thus further
assures the separation of an individual sheet. Moreover, the spring or flap 9
bent upwards at its end co-operates in producing the same effect, as it bears
against the outermost edge of the sheets, and as soon as the top sheet undergoes
the slightest withdrawal from under the flap, the latter acts as a brake or check
on the following sheets; but if at any time several sheets should be accidentally
acted upon simultaneously, the flap upon the pipe passing from the position in
Figure 2 to that in Figure 4 strokes off and causes to fall back all sheets not to
be lifted by suction.
If it be desired to ensure the individual separation of each sheet until the
whole pile is worked off, an elastic or yielding intermediate piece is to be inserted
between the pile of paper and the table, in order that the bulging of the sheet
edge may be continued down to the final sheet.
The portion 10 of the pipe does not need to be properly curved. It may be
flat as in Figure 1ª, or consist of a simple edge, Figure 1b, provided only that
whilst it lies on the pile of paper the portion 11 leave free the edge of the pile of
paper and the edge of the sheet be clamped at the back, but not in front. As
concerning the channels S, it has been found that the bulging of the sheets and
their close contact with the surface 11 of pipe 6 are best effected when these
channels are arranged obliquely to the pile of paper, so as to discharge near the
passage of portion 11 to portion 10, for the reason that the bulging thus begins

page_text: from inwards, i.e. the. firmly held portion of the edge, and is continued out-
wards, i.e. towards the. loose portion of the edge, as for instance in order to apply
the edge on surface 11 by means of the finger, the stroking should be obviously
performed in the direction from 10 to 11 and not in the inverted direction.
Moreover, the resistance of the paper against bending is greater near the spot
where it is firmly clamped than at its free end.
Therefore, the security against accidentally withdrawing a second sheet is
greater when the suction action proceeds from inwards to outwards than in the
inverted direction.
However, it has been found in practice that the described oblique arrangement
of channels 8 is not indispensable, but appears desirable only for certain sorts of
paper.
For the passage of the suction pipe with the adherent sheet from the position
Figure 3 into the final position Figure 4 it has been found most convenient
to move it vertically with respect to the pile of paper, as supposed in the drawing;
and as it is at the same time of the greatest importance that in their initial
position the pile of paper and the suction pipe assume just the position illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, that is to say, the edge of the sheet not being clamped on two
lines, it is desirable that in order that these conditions may be permanently
maintained upon the passing of the parts from the position in Figure 2 into that
shown in Figure 4, the suction pipe should be kept stationary and an upward and
downward movement be imparted to the table only. By these means too, com-
plicated movements for the table as well as for the suction pipe are avoided, as
the table simply moves up and down and is stopped in its upward movement by
the stationary suction pipe, whilst the latter is merely moved out of its position
of rest, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, to the delivery table or within the reach of a carrier
and back again into its position of rest, which can be accomplished by a recipro-
cating, an oscillating, or a revolving movement.
Figure 7 shows the invention applied to a printing press for automatically
feeding the sheets, the suction pipe assuming its delivery position in which the
sheet of paper is to be released from the suction pipe and carried along by means
of a suction channel 13, or by grippers 131 provided to the impression cylinder 14.
When securing the suction pipe to rocking arms and arranging the rock shaft
laterally with respect to the pile, as represented in Figure 8, so that owing to the
swinging movement the suction pipe is raised a certain distance almost vertically
with respect to the pile, no downward movement is to be imparted to the paper
table, the latter being only to be continuously pressed upwards by means of a
weight or a spring, and its upward movement being temporarily locked during
the oscillation of the suction pipe.
When placing the central shaft of the suction pipe above the edge or border of
the pile of paper, Figure 9, so that either a swinging movement or an inter-
mittent rotary movement can be imparted to the suction pipe extending between
two discs 15, a vertically reciprocating movement of the paper table must be
made use of. This arrangement is specially effective in securing the separation
of individual sheets of paper, as the sheet undergoes a further bending around
the portion 10 of the suction pipe, when it performs its movement. To this
purpose it is desirable to continue the working surface of the pipe by means of a
bent sheet metal plate 16, or by staves, wires, or cords 17 which extend between
the two discs. By providing a second suction pipe 6 the intermittent rotary
movement can be limited to half rotations.
The arrangement represented in Figure 9 can be advantageously employed for
automatically supplying interleaf sheets between the fresh printed sheets when
delivered from a printing press, in order to prevent offset on the delivery drum
and the delivery tapes as well as on the piled sheets respectively, as shown in
Figure 10. The sheet 19 carried along by the impression cylinder, say, by means
of suction at 18, and printed on its outside is transferred to the delivery drum 20,
for instance by suction at 21, when the suction channels 18 and 21 are in the

page_text: position 181, 21' indicated by dotted lines, in order to be finally delivered by
means of endless tapes 22. Before the drum 20 takes up the printed sheet, the
suction pipe 6 with the sucked up offset sheet, and a second suction channel 23
of drum 20 meet each other in the position 6, 23 indicated by dotted lines,
and in this position the offset sheet is transferred to the drum and then carried
along with it.
As then, as described, the printed sheet is received by the suction
channel 21 in its position 211, its printed side is secured against contact with
the drum and with the tapes 22 by the offset sheet, and in contact therewith it is
finally delivered to the delivery table by the tapes 22. Thus the printed sheets
are piled above each other with an offset sheet inserted between each two sheets,
and consequently cannot soil cach other. It will be obvious that instead of the
suction channels 18, 21, 23, the usual grippers can be made use of.
The great simplicity of the present apparatus, its extension and action being
restricted to but one border or edge of the pile of paper, allows of several such
apparatus, say up to four, being applied to one and the same paper pile, so as to
work together in a determined succession to alternately grasp the sheets on the
several four edges and remove them in four different directions. By these means,
a single pile of paper can be decomposed into four separate piles.
Figure 11 illustrates a conveniently arranged double acting apparatus of the
feature represented in Figure 8, which for instance can be made use of for auto-
matically removing offset sheets from a pile of paper, composed alternately of
printed and offset sheets. To this purpose, two suction pipes 6, 6 are fixed
between two bars 24 pivotted to rocking arms 27, 28, on rock shafts 25, 26. The
paper table 29 with the mixed pile 30 composed alternately of printed and offset
sheets is placed in the middle, and to the left and right there are placed
tables 31, 32, the one 31 for receiving the printed sheets, and the other 32, for
receiving the offset sheets. In the position of the apparatus indicated by dotted
lines, the suction pipe 6 takes off a printed sheet and carries it upon the next
oscillation of arm 27 on to the table 31, where the sheet will be released. The
suction pipe 6* at the same time having reached the right hand edge of the paper
pile 30, the following sheet, that is an offset sheet, will be sucked up.
If now pipe 6 swings back into its position represented by dotted lines, pipe 6*
with the sucked up offset sheet likewise swings back into its dotted position, to
deliver the offset sheet on table 32. Meanwhile, however, the suction pipe 6
has again sucked up a printed sheet on the left side of the pile of paper, and upon
its oscillation carries it on the table 31. Thus the mixed pile of paper 30 will
be successively decomposed, the printed sheets being assembled into a pile on
table 31 and the offset sheets into another pile on table 32. It is obvious that
any other of the movements described may be applied to the suction pipes, pro-
vided that the sheets of paper be grasped alternately on opposite sides and
accordingly delivered in opposite directions.
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. In an apparatus for lifting off and removing individual sheets from a pile,
the combination of means for simultaneously sucking up and bulging the upper-
most sheet to be lifted, substantially as described.
2. In an apparatus for lifting off and removing individual sheets from a pile,
the combination of means for simultaneously sucking up and bulging the upper-
most sheet to be lifted, and of means for retaining or stroking off the second and
the following sheets not to be lifted, substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus for lifting off and removing individual sheets from a pile,
the combination of a suction pipe extending above the pile, an excavated or
recessed working surface provided to the suction pipe to be presented to the pile
and a series of air passages provided in the wall of the suction pipe on the said
excavated or recessed working surface, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. In an apparatus for lifting off and removing individual sheets from a pile,
the combination of a suction pipe extending above the pile, a partially projecting
and partially excavated or recessed working surface provided to the suction pipe
to be presented to the pile so as to bear against the same but with its projecting
portion, and a series of air channels provided in the wall of the suction pipe on
its excavated portion, the said channels being preferably arranged in an oblique
direction with respect to the upper surface of the pile, substantially as and for
the purposes described.
5. In an apparatus for lifting off and removing individual sheets from a pile,
the combination of a plurality of suction pipes placed at different sides of the
pile, and arranged to alternately remove the lifted sheets in different directions,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
The 6th day of February 1900.
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Ivan Orloff.
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Ivan Orloff.