Improvements in Paper-feeding Mechanism.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1594-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Paper-feeding Mechanism.
I, EDWARD DUMMER, of 82 Water Street, in the City of Boston, County of
Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Mechanical 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 mechanism for feeding sheets of paper, individually,
from a pile or bank of sheets, to a printing or other machine, the object of the
invention being to provide for a continuous supply and presentation of the pile or
bank to the device or instrument for removing each sheet from the pile or bank.
In the drawings, forming part of this Specification
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of so much of a paper-feeder embodying my
invention as is sufficient for illustration of the same.
Figure 2 shows a plan, and
Figure 3 a side view, of certain parts of the feeder.
The board A may be the feed-board of a printing machine, onto which is
delivered, by means of a cylinder B and roller C each sheet of paper, the sheet
having been seized at its edge by means of an instrument a called a
removed from a bank of sheets by said cylinder and roller.
"finger," and
The frame of the feeder is represented as fastened to the feed-board A by
means of bolts b, and composed of parallel side-pieces D held in suitable relation
to each other by transverse rods c. Having bearings supported by the frame is a
shaft d on which is secured a drum E. Parallel to this drum are rollers F, F, F,
and G, as many as may be deemed desirable. Parallel with the drum is a shaft e,
having rollers or pulleys H thereon. This shaft bas bearings f at the rear of a
stationary support or table I, which table is, preferably, horizontal. Extending
around each pulley H and the rollers F, G, is an endless band J, which will also
near to that surface as
extend over the upper surface of the table I and as
practicable, and bear against the drum E, or against that part of the bank of
paper K between the band and the drum. Held by the rods c are stationary
strips L provided with bows g thus forming a support having a curved portion.
There are rollers or pulleys M on a shaft h, also parallel with the drum E. An
endless band N extends between the bows g around each of the pulleys M and the
drum E, the upper part of the band being about on a level with the upper surface
of the straight part of the strips L. A roller O has journals, each of which is in
Each of the rollers F, G,
a slot in a stand i which is adjustable at side of the frame.
has journals in slots whereby these rollers may move towards or away from the
drum E. Each of the bearings f for the shaft e is a block so supported and
guided that this shaft and the pulleys thereon may move toward or away from the
drum E, the block being pressed to move the pulleys in the latter direction by a
spring j. The shaft h has movable bearings k and there are springs / whereby the
slack of the band N is taken up.
In operation, a pile or bank of paper is first formed so that the edge of each
sheet will project beyond the corresponding edge of the adjacent sheet. This may
be done by manipulating the bank in a manner well understood by those skilled in
the art. The bank is then laid on the table I and bands J. The drum E being
revolved the bank is wound partially around the drum, since it is pinched by and
between these bands and the drum. Another bank is prepared and laid upon the
bevel of the first bank, and on the table and bands, and the drum revolved, and
so on till the outer edge of the first or outer sheet is brought within range of the

page_text: "finger" a.
Thus the bank extends on the table I around the drum E and on the
strips Land bands N. The feeder being now set in motion, that is; the cylinder B
and roller C, as by means of a crank m, the drum E will be revolved, as required
for movement of the bank to bring the sheets successively within range of the
"finger" a, by means of a lever P, cam n on the shaft of the roller C, ratchet-
wheel on the shaft of the drum E, and pawl o pivoted to the lever. This lever
has an adjustable pivot p so that the motion of the drum and hence of the bank
may be gaged. At suitable and convenient intervals during the operation of the
feeder, and, therefore, during the operation of the printing or other machine fed
thereby, banks of paper may be laid on the table I to join and move with the bank,
being moved as above described. Thus neither the feeder nor the printing or other
machine need be stopped in order to supply paper thereto, but their action may be
continuous and uninterrupted.
The springs provide for movement of the rollers F, G, to and from the drum E,
that is, for different thicknesses of the bank, while causing sufficient pressure by
the bands J on the bank that it will be carried by the drum and bands when the
drum is revolved as above set forth.
The bands N will also aid in causing the required motion of the bank, while
partially supporting that part of the bank over the strips L. The roller G serves
à double purpose.
Not only are the bands J maintained in position thereby with
reference to the drum, but it also counteracts any curvature made in the sheets
caused by bending the bank around the drum. In other words, a sheet, having
been curved in one direction by the drum E is curved in the opposite direction by
the roller G. It will be noticed that the bank is reversed in passing from the
table I or lower support onto the strips L or upper support, so that the under sheet
of the bank on the table becomes the upper sheet of the bank on the strips.
Hence a bank may be simply laid on the table I as a continuation of the bank
already thereon at one end, while the sheets are being removed from the other end
of the bank, such removal being readily done since each sheet is taken from the
top or outer part of the bank.
Furthermore, by providing for a long continuous bank the distance which each
sheet projects beyond the adjacent sheet, or the "offset," so called, may be great
and yet there be a large quantity of paper in the feeder. Owing to the degree
of offset which may thus be obtained, each sheet may be brought into position
to be grasped by any suitable instrument other than the "finger" shown.
The main office of the roller O is to prevent the slipping back of the upper
sheet or sheets particularly when the upper sheet is under pressure by the "finger,"
or other instrument, this roller being adjusted, according to the length of the
sheets, so that revolving, on movement of the bank, by friction against the bank, it
will always bear on the bank at or near the edge of the uppermost sheet.
Though the bands J, together with the shaft e and pulleys M, were dispensed
with, the bank would be carried around the drum E by means of this drum and the
rollers F, G, (around the drum, located as shown) provided the bank be entered
between the drum and a roller. The bands are desirable, however, since a greater
quantity of paper may be placed in the machine at one time and the paper may
be supplied at times when most convenient for the operator. The bands N might,
in certain cases, also be of such material and of sufficient number as to serve the
purpose of the table I so that the latter might be dispensed with. S, also, the
paper operated upon might be such that the bands N would not be necessary,
since the bank would be pushed along the strips by action of the drum and rollers
thereat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
Claim 1. In a paper-feeder the combination of an upper and a lower support for
a bank of paper, a drum in suitable position with reference to the supports, and

page_text: rollers parallel to the drum, whereby on revolution of drum and rollers the bank
will be carried around said drum from the lower to the upper support, said feeder
being open at the rear above the lower support, whereby paper may be placed on
paper in the machine while in operation to effect continuous feeding, substantially
as set forth.
Claim 2. In a paper-feeder the combination of an upper and a lower support for
a bank of paper, a drum, rollers parallel to the drum, and a band extending about
said rollers, the position of said supports, rollers and band with reference to each
other being substantially as specified, whereby on revolution of drum and rollers
the bank will be taken from the lower support and carried around said drum onto
the upper support, the machine being open at the rear between said supports
whereby paper may be placed on paper in the machine while in operation to effect
continuous feeding, substantially as set forth.
Claim 3. In a paper-feeder the combination of a drum, rollers parallel to said
drum, an upper support, and a lower support, the rollers being parallel to each
other and located transversely to the supports and in such relation thereto that, on
revolution of the drum, paper will be carried from the lower support onto the upper
support, the upper support being curved, substantially as set forth.
Claim 4. In a paper-feeder the combination of a drum, rollers parallel to said
drum, a band extending around said rollers, and an upper and a lower support for
paper, said drum, rollers and supports being in such relation to each other that
paper will be carried from the lower onto the upper support on revolution of the
drum, the upper support being curved, substantially as set forth.
Claim 5. In a paper-feeder in combination with mechanism for removing a sheet
from a bank of paper, an upper curved support, a lower support for said bank, a
drum and rollers parallel with each other, and a band extending about said rollers,
said drum rollers and band being in suitable relation to each to reverse the bank,
substantially as specified.
Claim 6. In a paper-feeder the combination with mechanism for removing the
upper sheet of a bank of paper by friction on the edge-face of the sheet and
lifting the sheet from the bank, and with mechanism for supporting and conveying
said bank, of a roller to bear on said bank at or near the opposite edge of said
sheet to prevent the slipping of the sheet, substantially as specified.
Claim 7. In a paper-feeder the combination with mechanism for removing the
upper sheet of a bank of paper by friction on the edge-face of the sheet and
lifting the sheet from the bank, and with mechanism for supporting and conveying
said bank, of a roller to bear on said bank and roll on the bank on movement
of the bank, said roller being adjustable whereby it may be secured in position
at or near the edge of said sheet, substantially as specified.
Dated this Fourteenth day of March 1894.
EDWARD DUMMER.