Improvements in Paper-feeding Apparatus for use with Printing, Ruling, Folding, and other Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct., 189!!
COMPLETE SP.
CIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by DAVID HAMLIN BURRELL, of Little Falls, County of
Herkimer, State of New York, United States of America. Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Paper-feeding Apparatus for use with Printing,
Ruling, Folding, and other Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents
15 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
This invention relates to paper feeding machines which feed sheets of paper suc-
cessively from a pile to a printing press, ruling, folding, calendering or other machine
in which sheet paper is used. These machines consist essentially of a pile supporting
bed or table which is automatically raised as the sheets of paper are fed off, feed
fingers whereby the top sheet is removed, and carrying tapes whereby the removed
top sheet is delivered to the printing press or other machine.
The object of my invention is to produce a simple machine of this character which
is certain and reliable in its operation and which can be readily adjusted to feed
paper of different sizes.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved paper feeder.
Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the paper feeder on an enlarged scale...
Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the paper feeder viewed from the side opposite to
that shown in Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the driving mechanism in line x, x Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation of the paper feeder.
Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same.
Figure 9 is a sectional front elevation of the buckling mechanism with the buckling
finger removed.
Figure 10 is a sectional rear elevation of the buckling mechanism.
Figure 11 is a horizontal section of the buckling mechanism in line y, y
Figure 9.
Figure 12 is a sectional elevation of the regulating foot.
Figure 13 is a sectional elevation of the preliminary holding down finger.
Figure 14 is a transverse sectional elevation of the mechanism for raising the feed
table.
Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the device for locking the buckling
mechanism in place when adjusted.
Figure 16 is a top plan view of the same and connecting parts.
Figures 17, 18 and 19 are vertical transverse sections in lines x, x, y, y and z, z
Figure 15 respectively.
Figure 20 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the paper feeder showing the
manner of operating the feed fingers.
Figure 21 is a similar view showing the feed fingers in a raised position.
Figure 22 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of one of the feed fingers.
Figure 23 is a vertical cross section of the same in line v, v Figure 22.
Figure 24 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tape mechanism on an enlarged
scale.
Figure 25 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.
Figure 26 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same.
Figure 27 is a vertical section in line x, x Figure 14.

page_text: Like like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
A A¹ represent the upright side frames of the machine which are connected at
their upper portions by rods a, a¹ and at their rear ends by cross stays a², a².
B is the vertically movable feed table upon which the pile of paper is placed and
which is provided with laterally projecting screw nuts b b which are guided in
upright ways formed on the side frames. ¹¹ represent the vertical feed screws-
which work in the screw nuts bb of the feed table. The feed screws are provided
at their upper ends with bevel wheels 63 which are connected by a horizontal
transverse shaft 4 journalled at the upper ends of the side frames and having bevel
wheels b b which mesh with the wheels of the feed screws so as to actuate both feed
screws simultaneously. The bevel wheel 66 is provided with a handle so that it
can be turned by hand in adjusting the machine.
CC represent two movable frames carrying the buckling mechanism one of which
is arranged in a large machine on each side of the pile of paper, so as to buckle the
sheet simultaneously from opposite sides, while in a small machine a single buckling
mechanism may be used. These two buckling devices are identical in construction
and each is arranged on a carrying head c supported on the front end of a longi-
tudinal adjustable rod c¹. This rod is arranged in lugs c² ³ formed on a clamping
frame D which is capable of transverse adjustment on the cross rods a a¹.
с
E E represent the longitudinal cam shafts which support the cams of each buckler
and which are journaled with their front ends in the head c and with their rear ends
in bearings e e¹ e² formed on the lower sides of the clamping frames D, as clearly
shown in Figure 7.
ff represent spiral gear wheels which are mounted on a transverse horizontal
counter shaft F journaled in the side frames and which mesh with corresponding
spiral wheels f¹¹ mounted on the cam shafts E at right angles to the wheels ff. The
angles of the teeth in the two sets of wheels are reversed so as to actuate both
buckling devices and simultaneously buckle the sheet inwardly from opposite sides of
the sheet.
G Figures 4, 7 and 8 represents the buckling finger pivoted to the lower end of a
rack arm g and provided at its free end with a buckling roller g' which rests upon the
pile of paper.
A forward and backward movement is imparted to the buckling
finger and its roller may be journaled in the bifurcated front end of the buckling
finger in such manner that it is held against turning during the forward movement
of the buckling finger, so as to buckle the sheet of paper, and allowed to revolve
during the backward stroke of the buckling finger, or the latter may be provided
with a bearing pad of any other suitable construction.
The rock arm g carrying the buckling finger is pivoted at the upper end on a lug
projecting from the upper end of the head c and a rocking motion is imparted to the
arm by means of a crank g² secured to the end of the cam shaft and connecting with
an inwardly extending arm g³ of the rock arm g by means of a link g.
By employing this link connection between the crank and the rock armı, a fast
motion is imparted to the buckling finger in its forward stroke and a slow motion
during its backward stroke, while a pause is produced in the motion before beginning
a new stroke in order to allow the pushing out fingers to operate.
9" represents a tension rod which is pivoted with one end to the central portion
of the link g and passes with its free end through a swivel post secured to the
upper end of an upwardly extending arm g' formed on the buckling finger.
9 represents a spring surrounding the tension rod between the post 96 and a thumb
screw g by means of which the tension on the buckling finger can be regulated.
The link in moving the rock arm and buckling finger inwardly also moves the
tension rod inwardly, which latter, being pivoted on the link, travels in advance of
the rock arm g and slides through the post 96 thereby compressing the spring 98 and
creating a downward pressure on the buckling finger. The tension rod is provided
with a pin 90 which bears against the swivel post ge during its outward movement
and raises the buckling finger from the paper during its backward stroke.
H represents the preliminary holding down finger arranged at a short distance

page_text: in front of the buckling finger and against which the top sheet is buckled by the
initial portion of the forward stroke of the buckling finger G. This preliminary
holding down finger has a vertical movement toward and from the surface of the
pile of paper and is provided with actuating mechanism whereby it is held on
the pile of paper and lifted therefrom just before the advancing buckling finger
reaches it so as to allow the latter to pass underneath.
represents a horizontal rock shaft journalled in the inner lower portion of the
carrying head and is a slotted rock arm which is mounted on said shaft and
carries the preliminary holding down finger. The latter preferably consists of a
block of rubber or other elastic material seated in a socket 2 having a thumb
screw 3 whereby the rubber can be adjusted when worn. The socket is adjustably
secured on the rock arm by a clamping bolt secured to the socket and
passing through the longitudinal slot in the rock arm and held therein by a thumb
screw.
A rocking motion is imparted to the rock shaft h in one direction by means of a
cam mounted on the cain shaft in front of the carrying head and in the opposite
direction by a balancing spring . represents a sleeve surrounding the rock
shaft and provided at its front end with an arm 8 against which the cam h bears.
The balancing spring is secured with its ends to the arm 18 and the carrying head c
so that when the cam moves the arm, the spring will be strained. The sleeve 17
surrounding the rock shaft h is held in the carrying head by a collar and a set
screw.
10 represents a pin on the collar and " is a coil spring surrounding the rock shaft h
and bearing with its ends against the pin " and a similar pin 2 formed on a thumb
piece secured to the rock shaft h so that a connection and tension are maintained
between the rock shaft supporting the preliminary holding down finger and the sleeve
carrying the arm which be irs against the cam . This tension of the spring ¹¹ can
be regulated by means of the notches 14 on the thumb piece which engage over a
pin 15 secured to the rock shaft h. When the cam bears against the arm h* and
swings the upper end of the latter inwardly, the sleeve ' to which the arm is secured
is turned and creates a tension on the spring ", which tension is transmitted through
the rock shaft h to the preliminary holding down finger secured thereto and which
causes this holding down finger to bear heavily on the pile of paper.
The balancing spring his under tension continually but when the cam forces the
arm h inwardly, the tension of the balancing spring is increased so that when the
cam releases the arm 78 and thereby removes the pressure from the tension spring h",
the contraction of the balancing will raise the arm and also lift the arm carrying
the preliminary holding down finger from the paper by means of a stud h¹ which is
secured to the rock arm and engages in an opening in the arm he, as clearly shown
in Figures 10 and 11.
1 represents the gage or foot which rests upon the pile of paper and is arranged at
a distance from the preliminary holding down finger and beyond the range of move-
ment of the buckling finger. The foot I serves the double function of regulating the
upward feed motion of the table B and acting as a main holding down finger against
which the top sheet is buckled when the latter has been released by the preliminary
holding down finger.
The foot I has a vertical movement toward and from the pile of paper so as to
release the sheet. and allow it to be fed off from the pile.
i is a longitudinal horizontal rock-shaft arranged above the rock shaft / and journaled
in a bearing i formed on the carrying head c and in bearings 22, 3 formed on the
carrying side of the clamping frame D. is the rock arm which is secured to the
front end of the rock shaft i and carries the gage or foot I. The latter is preferably
composed of a block of rubber or other elastic material seated in a socket provided
with a screw shank passing through a flat sided nut adjustably secured in a slotted
arm by means of a thumb screw. The slotted arm is secured to the outer end
of the rock arm it, by a clamping bolt . 10 represents a cam mounted on the cam
shaft in the rear of the head c and is an intermediate lever mounted loosely on

page_text: the rock shaft and resting with its long arm 12 on the surface of said cam, while its
short arm is flexibly connected by a spring 14 to an upwardly extending arm
formed on the rock arm it.
When the cam bears upwardly against the long arm of the lever 11 as shown in
Figures 9 and 10 it causes the short arm to draw downwardly on the spring ¹ and
consequently causes the foot I to press firmly on the pile of paper. ¹³ represents a
balancing spring secured with its ends to the head e and the long arm of the
intermediate lever i for raising the foot I when the sheet of paper is to be fed off
from the pile. The balancing spring is continually under strain and this strain is
increased when the cam 10 moves the arm 12 of the lever i upwardly and strains the
spring so as to depress the foot I. When the cam releases the lever, the strain
on the spring is moved and the foot I is relieved.
The rock arm is provided with a pin against which the lower arm 13 of the
intermediate lever engages as it moves upwardly when the upper arm is released by
the cam and the balancing spring 15 contracts, thereby causing the arm i¹³ to raise
the foot I from the pile of paper and allowing the sheet to be removed.
J represents the vertically movable pile retaining finger which bears upon the
corner of the pile of paper in rear of the buckling device and holds the pile in
place while the top sheet is being removed. This pile retaining finger is secured at its
inner end to a horizontal rock shaft J arranged below the rock shafts Ehi, and
mounted in a bearing J2 formed on the lover side of the head c. j represents a sleeve
surrounding the rock shaft J' and provided at its front end with an arm against
which the cam bears. The sleeve surrounding the rock shaft J' is held in the
carrying bead c by means of a collar and set screw j. is a pin secured in the
collar and is a coil spring surrounding the rock shaft J and bearing with its ends
against the pin and a similar pin j formed on a thumb piece ja secured to the end
of the rock shaft so that a connection and tension are maintained between the rock
shaft carrying the pile retaining finger and the sleeve carrying the arm which bears
against the cam. The tension of the spring can be regulated by means of notches j
formed on the thumb piece, which engage on a pin to secured to the end of the rock
shaft J¹.
When the cam bears against the arm j and turns the sleevej, it creates a tension
on the spring which tension is transmitted through the rock shaft to the pile
retaining finger J and prevents the pile from being disturbed while the separated
sheet is being removed. When the cam releases the arın jl the tension on the
spring is removed and the pile retaining finger rests loosely on the top of the pile
so as to allow the advancing buckling finger to draw the sheet from underneath the
retaining finger.
jl is a short arm formed on the pile retaining finger and resting on a pin 12 formed
on the arm whereby the pile retaining finger is supported when the tension on the
latter has been removed. ¹³ is a forwardly projecting lug upon which the arm j
rests when all of the paper has been removed or when it is necessary to adjust the
machine.
The buckling mechanism is adjusted to sheets of different sizes as follows and as
most clearly shown in Figures 7 and 14-19.
dd represent two wedges arranged longitudinally on the upper side of each
clamping frame D one at the front end and the other at the rear end thereof. These
wedges are interposed between the lower side of the longitudinal rod c' and the upper
sides of the transverse rods a a¹ for the purpose of locking the clamping frame on the
transverse rods against transverse movement in the machine and at the same time
locking the longitudinal rod c against longitudinal movement in the clamping
frame. Each wedge is composed of a vertical outer portion which is bevelled on its
underside and a horizontal inner portion which lays flat on the top of the clamping
frame and is guided thereon longitudinally by a rib d¹ formed on the clamping frame
and bearing against the outer side of the horizontal portion of the w.dge, while the
inner side thereof bears against the contiguous inner side of the outer wedge as
represented in Figure 16, in which the longitudinal rod c¹ is omitted and indicated by

page_text: dotted lines. The two wedges on each frame are moved simultaneously in opposite
directions for clamping or releasing the parts by crank pins d² secured to the upper
side of the disc d³ and entering notches do in the horizontal portion d' of the wedges.
The disc is provided with a vertical shank d journaled in the clamping frame and
provided below the same with a handle by which it is turned. The shank d is fitted
rather loosely in the bearing in the clamping frame, so that it is capable of a limited
movement in the longitudinal direction of the wedges, whereby the shank can shift its
position or yield when one wedge tightens before the other and thus enable the other
wedge to tighten also, which would not be possible if the shank were fitted snugly in
its bearing. Upon releasing the wedges the buckling mechanism can be adjusted
longitudinally in the machine by sliding the rod c¹ and the rock shaft i E in the
clamping frame, and the buckling mechanism can also be adjusted transversely in the
machine by sliding the clamping frame on the transverse rods a a¹ so that by these two
adjustments which are affected at right angles to each other, the entire buckling
mechanism can be adjusted to the position of the corner of the pile on the table with-
out in any manner disturbing the relative adjustment of the different parts of the
buckling mechanism. The buckling mechanism is in this manner released or secured
in position by simply manipulating the handles d so that the operation of adjusting
the buckling mechanism is extremely simple.
The upper sides of the wedges are preferably tapered and engage in a correspond-
ingly tapered featherway in the lower side of the rod c¹ which prevents the latter from
rocking while allowing it to be adjusted longitudinally..
Each of the movable frames CC carrying the buckling mechanism is composed of
longitudinal supporting rods C and longitudinal rock shafts i and E all of which are
supported in suitable bearings on the clamping frame D so as to permit of longitudinal
adjustment of the buckling mechanism by sliding the rod and shafts in their bearings
in the clamping framo. The latter is supported on the transverse rods a a¹ and
counter shaft F so as to permit of transverse adjustment of the clamping frame
together with the longitudinal rod c', shafts i and E and the buckling devices
attached thereto. The lower spiral wheels ff are each provided with a key engaging
with a feather in the longitudinal cam shaft E so as to turn with the latter. The
bearings e el formed on the lower side of the clamping frame on opposite sides of the
spiral wheels f f confine these wheels and prevent longitudinal movement of
the spiral wheels f¹f when the shafts E are adjusted.
1
The upper spiral wheels ff are each provided with a key which engages with a
feather way formed in the transverse countershaft F so as to revolve with the same.
The bearings c2c formed on the clamping frame and supporting the counter shaft F
on opposite sides of each spiral wheel confine the latter and compel it to move
with the buckling mechanism and the clamping frame when the latter is adjusted
transversely.
The main supporting rod c¹ of the movable buckling frame is supported in
lugs c² 3 formed on each end of the clamping frame directly above the transverse
rods a a¹.
The mechanism whereby the feed table is raised automatically is constructed as
follows and as most clearly shown in Figures 3, 4, 7, 8 and 14.
O represents a rock arm which is mounted on the rock shaft i to which the main
holding down finger is attached. This rock arm is attached at the front end of the
clamping frame D and partakes of a rocking motion as the main holding down finger
moves toward and from the pile, and serves to regulate the upward feed motion of the
table B. The upper end of the rock arm O is provided with a roller o' which engages
against the lower side of a trip lever o². The latter is pivoted at one end to a
bracket secured to the clamping frame and provided at its free end with an
upwardly extending lug of which bears against the lower side of a transverse
horizontal locking plate o pivoted on the horizontal shaft 64 by means of perforated
lugs o o represents a locking elbow lever pivoted on the shaft 64 between the
rocking plate and the bevel wheel 6. The elbow lever is provided at its upper end
with a pawl of engaging with a ratchet rim o formed on the periphery of the bevel

page_text: wheel 6 and its lower arm is provided with a roller o¹ which is adapted to bear
against a cam o secured to the end of the counter shaft F in order to actuate the
ratchet wheel. The elbow lever is provided with a pin o12 which engages with an
upwardly extending arm o¹8 formed on the rocking plate o' which compels the
rocking plate and rocking elbow to rock in unison. The trip lever is provided on its
lower side with a notch o¹ and a curved path or face o¹ formed concentric with the
rock shaft i carrying the rock arm o and foot I.
As the foot I moves up and down on the pile of paper when the latter is at a
normal height, the roller o at the upper end of the rock arm O oscillates in the
concentric path on the lower side of the trip lever. The latter remains stationary
and holds the rocking plate and elbow lever in an elevated position so that the
roller o at the end of the elbow lever will be raised and held out of engagement
with the cam o¹¹. When a sufficient number of sheets have been fed off from the
pile of paper to necessitate raising the table, the foot I in bearing on the paper
descends to a greater distance owing to the removal of the sheets, and the end of the
arm carrying the roller o oscillates through a correspondingly larger are which causes
it to pass beyond the concentric path 016 and underneath the notch o¹ thereby
allowing the trip lever to drop down as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. The
descent of the trip lever permits the front end of the rocking plate to drop and the
latter carries the elbow lever with it, which causes the roller o to bear on the upper
side of the cam o". The latter in revolving raises the roller and the elbow lever
and causes the pawl 08 at the other end to move the ratchet wheel, whereby the
shaft is turned and the bevel wheels on the shaft are caused to turn the
feed screws and raise the feed table. This action continues until the table las
been raised to a position in which the foot I resting on the pile confines the oscilla-
tions of the rock arm to the concentric face of the trip lever, when the roller ol is
again held out of engagement with the cam o¹¹.
The rock arm O which actuates the feed table mechanism is mounted only on one
of the rock shafts i and the rocking plate o is of sufficient length, so that the
buckling mechanism can be freely adjusted transversely without disengaging the trip
lever from the rocking plate. The rock arm O is provided with a key old as
represented in Figure 27 which attaches the rock arm to the clamping frame and
which engages in a groove in the rock shaft so that the arm is compelled to rock
with the latter, but is prevented from moving lengthwise with the shaft when the
latter is adjusted in the clamping frame.
K represents the feeding fingers whereby the top sheet is removed from the pile
to the tapes L L which deliver it to the printing press or other machine. The free
end of each feeding finger is provided with a roller similar to that on the buckling
finger or a pad of rubber or other elastic composition seated in a socket k which tapers
downwardly so as to retain the pad. The socket is attached to the finger by a dove-
tail which engages over a dovetail shank on the finger and is held thereon by a set
screw k¹ as represented in Figures 22 and 23. The feeding fingers are pivoted to
the lower ends of depending rock arms which are adjustably secured at their
upper ends to a transverse horizontal rock shaft k³ journaled in bearings forined at
the upper ends of the side frames. A rocking motion is imparted to this shaft F
from the transverse shaft by a crank k secured to the end of the transverse shaft F
and connected with the rock arm of the rock shaft 3 by the link k as clearly
shown in Figure 3.
Each finger is provided with a pressure rod k pivoted with its lower end to the
finger and passes loosely with the upper end through a rearwardly projecting lug
formed on the rock arm, k². k³ is a coil spring surrounding the rod k below the
lug 8 and bearing with its ends against the latter and a screw nut k¹0 on the pressure
rod by means of which the pressure of the spring on the feed finger can be
regulated. The upper ends of the pressure rods terminate in hooks k¹¹ which project
over a transverse horizontal rocking plate k pivoted at its ends in bearings k¹³
secured to the rock shaft k³. A rocking motion is imparted to the rocking plate in
one direction by means of a cam k¹ which engages against a rock arm k¹³ secured

page_text: to the end of the rocking plate and in the opposite direction by a spring ko secured
with its ends respectively to the rock arm and the adjacent side frame, as
represented in Figures 2 and 20.
At the beginning of the forward stroke of the feed fingers the pressure of the
spring on the latter is greatest which insures a positive separation of the top sheet
from the pile. At the same time the roller on the front end of the rock arm k¹
bears on the abrupt rise of the cam k which lowers the rocking plate below the
hooks on the upper ends of the pressure rods, as shown in Figure 20. As the feed
fingers move forward, the angle between the feed fingers and the depending rock
arın supporting the same becomes more obtuse which causes the pressure of the
springs upon the feed fingers to be gradually reduced as the feed fingers continue
to move forward and allow the pressure rods to slide through the lugs k³. When
the feed fingers have nearly finished their forward stroke, the hooked ends of the
pressure rods bear upon the rocking plate. In the meantime the cam has revolved
and now presents the beginning of the descent to the rock arm 15 as shown in
Figure 21, which allows the spring 18 to suddenly draw down the rock arm 15 and
raise the rocking plate with the pressure rods resting by their books on the plate.
This causes the rods to lift the feed fingers from the paper the moment the feed fingers
reach the limit of their forward stroke.
By connecting the rock shaft and the feed fingers with the counter, shaft F in the
manner described, a slow motion is given to the feed fingers at the beginning of the
stroke, which enables them to separate and start the sheet of paper moving, and then
the speed of the fingers is gradually increased so that at the end of the stroke the
feed fingers and the sheet travel at the same speed as the tape wheels. The feed
fingers are then raised from the paper, whereby the former are prevented from
retarding the sheet as it is carried away by the tapes.
The pressure rods are preferably jointed by means of a screw threaded portion 18
and screw nut k¹ so that the height to which the feed fingers are lifted on the return
stroke can be regulated.
The rocking plate extends transversely underneath all of the hooks on the
pressure rods so that the feed fingers can be adjusted to any position laterally and
be raised simultaneously from the paper. The rocking plate is preferably provided
with a stiffening rib 20 arranged at right angles thereto.
F2 represents a longitudinal brace which connects the shafts F 6 and ³ and
rods a a¹ and prevents them from vibrating owing to their length.
M represents the main driving shaft journaled in bearings formed on the rear
sides of the side frames, and m is a sprocket wheel mounted on the shaft M to
which motion is transmitted from the printing press shaft N by means of a sprocket
wheel mounted on the latter and connecting with the wheel m by a sprocket
chain m. m² represents a gear wheel mounted on the opposite end of the driving
shaft, which transmits motion to the gear wheel m³ on the end of the counter shaft F
by means of an intermediate gear wheel m¹. The latter is mounted on the end of an
arm m pivoted with its upper end on a boss me formed on the side frame and
surrounding the counter shaft F so that the gear wheel m* can be adjusted concen-
trically with reference to the wheel m³ and allow the gear wheel m² to be changed for
a larger or smaller wheel in order to increase or diminish the speed of the buckling
mechanism. The arm m³ is provided with an arm m² having a slot me and m³ is a
pin secured to the side frame and passing through the slot m³ of the arm m³. m¹º is
a cam pivoted to the outer end of the pin m³ and bearing against the arm m³. The
cam is provided with a handle m¹ by means of which the cam can be loosened and
tightened when it is desired to shift the arm m³ to change gears on the driving shaft,
as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
The drive mechanism of the machine is preferably arranged adjacent to the side
frame A¹ and the mechanism for operating the feed table is arranged adjacent to the
side frame A so as to balance the working parts of the machine.
P Figures 24, 25 and 26 represents the lower delivery roller mounted on the
driving shaft M. L represents the lower carrying tapes running around the roller P,

page_text: thence forwardly and around the roller p thence rearwardly and around the roller p',
thence forwardly underneath the roller p and around a roller p2 and thence rearwardly
to the roller P. L' represents the upper carrying tapes which are arranged above the
lower tapes and run with their lower portions in contact with the lower tapes and
over the feed board L². The upper tapes L' run around wheels P¹ which are arranged
over the lower delivery roller P, and thence forwardly to the roller P2 which is
arranged near the delivery end of the feed board L². The latter supported on the
printing press or any other suitable frame R, and is connected with the paper feeder
by means of horizontal bars r r. Each of the wheels P¹ is journalled in an arm Q,
which is hung loosely upon the rear transverse rod a¹ and pressed downwardly by a
spring 9 which is secured to a collar q' and bears upon a cross bar q² of the arm Q, as
represented in Figures 8 and 20. The collar q¹ is secured to the rod a¹ between the
upper jaws of the arm Q by a set screw. Each wheel is provided with a tape guide q³
which is secured to an arm 9 projecting upwardly from the arm Q.
The wheels P' are mounted upon a shaft q which is journalled in the arms and
preferably made so thin that it will bend and yield so as to permit each wheel to
adjust itself to any inequalities that may exist in the paper. The shaft q³ is rotated
from the driving shaft M by gear wheels q° 9'.
1
The roller P2 around which the delivery portions of the upper carrying tapes run
is journalled in bearings q which are hinged at their front ends to base plates q which
are secured to the feed board L². The bearings are provided with set screws q⁰ by
which the roller can be raised or lowered so as to adjust the upper tapes with reference
to the lower tapes. The roller p² around which the delivery portions of the lower
tapes run is journalled in bearings p³ secured to the receiving end of the feed board,
and the intermediate rollers p p¹ are journalled in bearings p₁ p³ supported upon
longitudinally adjustable rods p arranged on each side of the tape mechanism.
rods p are supported near the feed board in swivelling bearings p' pivoted concentric
with the shaft of the roller p² and at their front ends by rollers p8 which rest on
curved guides secured to the horizontal bars r. The bearings p³ p³ of the inter-
mediate tape rollers p p¹ are capable of longitudinal adjustment on the rods p by
means of set screws p so that a proper tension can be put upon the lower tapes.
The
The uppermost surfaces of the rollers P p p² of the lower tapes and the incline of
the feed board are arranged in line so as to maintain the upper portion of the
lower tapes parallel with the lower portion of the upper tapes running in contact
therewith. The rods ps are secured in the swivelling bearings p7 by means of set
screws p10 which enables the intermediate rollers p p¹ to be adjusted longitudinally so
that the distance from the roller to the rear end of the feed board can be adjusted
to correspond to the length of the sheet of paper which is fed to the press. When
the sheet has been carried forward between the carrying tapes until it strikes the
front guides q" the rear portion of the sheet should clear the intermediate roller p
and drop into the depressed space p³ formed above the depressed portion of the
lower tapes. The sheet after dropping into the space p³ is carried forward by the
slight friction between the lower tapes and the sheet and between the sheet and
the upper tapes above the roller p² until it strikes squarely against all of the front
guides q¹¹.
The lower points of the interinediate rollers p p and the uppermost point of the
end roller p² are in line so that those portions of the lower tapes which run from the
roller pl to the roller p2 will bear lightly against the bottom of the roller p and
thereby prevent the sheet which has been dropped into the depressed space from being
carried backward and under the roller p.
In adjusting the intermediate rollers p p¹ back and forth in accordance with the
size of the sheet, the supporting rods p₁ of these rollers are moved longitudinally in
the swivelled bearings p' and the ends of these rods ascend or descend on the
incline. As the intermediate rollers approach the end roller p² the swivel bearings p
turn backwardly on the shaft of this roller whereby the intermediate roller p is raised
with reference to the roller p¹ so that in all positions of the intermediate rollers, the
upper surfaces of the rollers P p and p² are kept in line with each other and with the

page_text: upper inclined surface of the feed board by reason of this peculiar mounting of the
roller and the shape and angle of the inclines r¹. By thus keeping these rollers in
line a uniform contact between the upper and lower tapes is maintained in all positions
of the rollers. The lower surfaces of the intermediate rollers are kept in line with
the upper surface of the end roller p2 by reason of the supporting of the intermediate
rollers upon the rods p and the attachment of these rods to the bearings p' hung
upon the shaft of the end rollers so as to swing concentric therewith.
N represents the printing press shaft and N¹ is the clutch mounted thereon by
means of which the paper feeder is set in motion when the press and feeder are in
register so that the sheet of paper will be fed to the press at the proper time.
n represents a sprocket wheel mounted loosely on the shaft N and n¹ is a star wheel
pivoted to the front side of the same.
S represents a sleeve mounted upon the shaft N and engaging with its periphery in
one of a series of concentric notches formed in the periphery of the star wheel. In
the position of the parts shown in Figures 1 and 2 the sleeve S is withdrawn by the
hand lever N' and the clutch is thrown out of engagement.
The object of this clutch is to enable the paper feeder to be disconnected from the
press without disturbing the register of the driving mechanism between them, when
the press is being "made ready" during which operation the press is usually revolved
a few times for trial prints.
The operation of my improved machine is as follows.
The pile of paper being placed upon the feed table and the latter being raised to
the
proper height the pile retaining finger J, buckling finger G, preliminary holding
down finger H, main holding down finger or foot 1 and feed fingers K all rest upon
the top sheet. The buckling finger G in its forward movement draws the corner of
the top sheet from under the pile retaining finger J and buckles the corner of the
sheet against the preliminary holding down finger H thereby forming a short buckle
in the paper. Just before the buckling finger in its forward movement reaches the
preliminary finger, the latter is quickly raised from the top sheet thereby releasing the
top sheet between the buckling finger and the regulating foot I and allowing the former
to pass beyond the preliminary holding down finger. The buckling finger continuing
its advancing movement buckles the partly separated sheet against the foot and
separates the sheet the entire distance from the buckling finger to the foot 1. During
the last portion of the forward stroke of the buckling finger, the pile retaining finger
is caused to press on the corner of the pile and hold the same in place. The pressure
of the buckling finger on the paper is greatest at the beginning of the stroke which
insures a thorough separation of the top sheet. When the sheet has been separated
and set moving. by the buckling finger, the pressure on the latter is gradually
diminished so as to avoid disturbing the paper underneath and the pressure is least at
the end of the stroke. The buckling finger is moved forward at a comparatively
quick speed and returned at a lower speed. The object of this is to buckle the sheet
as quickly as possible and allow as much time as possible during the return stroke of
the buckling finger for the feed fingers and the tapes to remove the sheet from the
pile to the printing press.
The capacity of the paper feeder is dependent largely upon the forward speed of
the buckling finger and all the parts of the machine are regulated in accordance with
the speed of the latter.
When the buckling finger has reached the limit of its forward stroke, it is raised
from the paper and returned in its elevated position to the starting point where it is
again lowered on the paper and full pressure applied by the tension spring preparatory
to buckling another sheet.
The preliminary holding down finger and the regulating foot are pressed upon the
top sheet by springs which are strained by cams, thereby giving the finger and foot a
yielding pressure upon the paper, and they are raised therefrom by balancing springs.
These springs provide elastic supports for the finger and foot in both directions. The
-buckling finger is given a yielding pressure upon the paper by the spring.98 and a
B

page_text: positive upward motion away from the paper by the pin 9 formed on the rod 9.
Pressure is applied to the pile retaining finger by the cam when the top sheet is
being removed from the pile, which pressure is removed when the buckling finger
draws the sheet from under the pile retaining finger and allows the latter to rest
loosely on the sheet.
After the sheet has been buckled and separated the regulating foot I is lifted from
the top sheet and the feed fingers K begin their forward movement, seize the sheet
and present it to the rollers L L and carrying tapes P P¹. The pressure of the
feed fingers on the paper is greatest at the beginning of the stroke which ensures a
positive separation of the top sheet from the pile. When the sheet has been separated
by the feed fingers, the pressure on the latter is gradually relieved and is least at
the end of the stroke. A slow motion is given to the feed fingers at the beginning of
the stroke so as to enable them to start the sheet of paper moving, and then the
forward speed of the fingers is gradually increased so that at the end of the stroke
the feed fingers and sheet travel at the same speed as the tape wheels. By raising the
fingers from the paper they are prevented from retarding the sheet as it is carried
away by the tapes. The feed fingers are returned in an elevated position to the
starting point where they are again lowered upon the paper and full pressure is applied
to the fingers.
The sheet of paper is carried forward by the carrying tapes and delivered into the
depression P³ of the lower tapes in which the sheet rests momentarily until it is
aligned and registered by suitable mechanism. While the sheet is so resting and
being aligned, the next succeeding sheet is carried forward by the tapes and partly
overlaps the sheet in the depression before the resting sheet is carried away by the
nippers of the printing press T. By allowing one sheet of paper to overlap the
resting preceding sheet, the tape mechanism of the feeder is considerably shortened.
The object of employing two buckling devices arranged on opposite sides of the
machine is to enable sheets of larger dimensions to be fed than has been possible
heretofore by a machine employing a single buckling device.
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 combination with the buckling finger, of an arm to which the finger is
pivoted, a crank and link whereby said arm is oscillated, an actuating rod connecting
said link with the buckling finger, and a spring interposed between the actuating rod
and the buckling finger, whereby a gradually decreasing pressure is applied to the
buckling finger during its forward stroke, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination with the buckling finger, of a rock arm to which it is
pivoted, a rotating shaft provided with a crank, and a link connecting the crank with
the rock arm, whereby a quick forward movement and a slow backward movement is
imparted to the finger, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination with the buckling finger, of a rock arm to which the
finger is pivoted, a rotating shaft provided with a crank, a link connecting the crank
with the rock arm, and a rod connecting the link with the finger, whereby the finger
is depressed during its forward movement and elevated during its backward movement,
substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the holding down finger, of a tension spring connected
with the finger, and depressing mechanism connected with the spring, whereby the spring
is strained and the finger is depressed by the spring with increasing pressure, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the holding down finger, of a balancing spring by
which the finger is raised, a tension spring by which the finger is depressed, and
depressing mechanism connected with the tension spring whereby the tension spring
is strained and the finger is depressed, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the preliminary holding down finger, of a tension

page_text: spring h¹¹, a rotary sleeve provided with an arm 18 and the rotary cam h³ bearing
against said arm, whereby the tension spring is strained and the finger is depressed,
substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the preliminary holding down finger provided with
a pin ho, of a tension spring ", a rotary sleeve h provided with an arm ³ and
having an opening in which the pin he engages, a rotary cam 5 bearing against the
arm, a head c, and a balancing spring he connecting the arm h³ with said head,
substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the holding down finger provided with a pivot to
which it is secured and the bearing to which said pivot is secured, of a tension spring
coiled around said pivot and secured with one end to said bearing, a notched washer
to which the opposite end of the tension spring is secured and which is capable of
turning on said pivot, and a stop secured to the pivot on which the washer can be
locked for regulating the tension of the spring, substantially as set forth.
:
Ninth. The combination with the holding down finger and a rotating cam 2¹0, of
an intermediate lever against which the cam bears, a balance spring 21 connected
with the intermediate lever and a tension spring 14 connecting the intermediate lever
with the main holding down finger, substantially as set forth.
of
Tenth. The combination with the holding down finger and a rotating cam ¿¹º,
an intermediate lever against which the cam bears, a balance spring 15 connected
with the intermediate lever, a tension spring 14 connecting the intermediate lever
with the main holding down finger, and a stop on the main holding down finger
against which the intermediate lever engages for raising said finger, substantially as
set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with the pile retaining finger J provided with an
arm j, of the rock arm j provided with a stop 12 against which the arm
engages
and whereby the downward movement of the pile retaining finger is limited, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Twelfth. The combination with the pile retaining finger provided with an arm j",
of the rock arm j provided with a stop 12 against which the arm 16 engages, and
the head c provided with a stop j¹s on which the rock arm j¹ is supported, substantially
as set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination with the main holding down finger and the rock
shaft on which it is mounted, of a rock arm mounted on said shaft, a trip lever
which is normally held by said rock arm when the main holding down finger is in its
normal position and which is allowed to move out of its normal position when the
main holding down finger descends below its normal position, and a feed mechanism
which is set in motion by the trip lever moving out of its normal position, substantially
as set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination with the main holding down finger and its rock shaft,
of a rock arm O secured to said shaft, a trip lever o² provided on its underside with a
concentric face o¹ and a notch 014, and a ratchet feed which controlled by said trip
lever, substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination with the main holding down finger and its rock shaft,
of a rock arm O secured to said shaft, a trip lever o² provided on its underside with a
concentric face o¹ and a notch o¹, a rocking plate o resting on said trip lever, a
pawl lever connected with said rocking plate, and a ratchet wheel and feed screws,
substantially as set forth.
Sixteenth. The combination with a pile supporting table, of a buckling finger,
an auxiliary holding down finger arranged in front of the buckling finger, against
which the sheet is first buckled, a main holding down finger arranged beyond the
auxiliary holding down finger against which the sheet is buckled after the auxiliary
finger has been raised, and a feed device whereby the separated sheet is removed from
the pile, substantially as set forth.
Seventeenth. The combination with the pile supporting table, of a buckling finger
moving across the pile, an auxiliary holding down finger against which the sheet is first
buckled and which has a. vertical movement toward and from the pile, and a main

page_text: holding down finger arranged beyond the auxiliary holding down finger and, having a
movement toward and from the pile, substantially as set forth.
Eighteenth. The combination with the stationary main frame, the pile supporting
table and the feed fingers, of a movable frame arranged above said table and made
adjustable lengthwise of the machine, a buckling finger attached to said movable frame,
and an actuating shaft journalled in the movable frame, whereby the finger and its
actuating shaft are simultaneously adjusted lengthwise of the machine, substantially
as set forth.
Nineteenth. The combination with the stationary main frame, the pile supporting
table and the feed fingers, of a movable frame arranged above said table and made
adjustable lengthwise. of the machine, a buckling finger attached to said movable
frame, an actuating shaft journalled on said movable frame and moving therewith, an
inner holding-down finger against which the sheet is buckled and an outer holding
down finger bearing on the corner of the pile, both attached to said movable frame,
whereby the single adjustment of said frame the entire buckling mechanism is
adjusted lengthwise of the machine, substantially as set forth.
Twentieth. The combination with the stationary frame having transverse guides
or rods, of a clamping frame adjustably mounted on said rods, a buckling frame made
longitudinally movable in the clamping frame, and buckling mechanism mounted in
said buckling frame, whereby the buckling mechanism can be adjusted longitudinally
in the machine by adjusting it in the clamping frame and transversely by adjusting
the clamping frame on the transversed guides or rods, substantially as set forth.
Twenty-first. The combination with the stationary frame having transverse rods, of
a clamping frame adjustably mounted on said rods, a buckling frame provided with a
longitudinal rod which passes loosely through the clamping frame, and clamping
wedges interposed between the transverse rods and the longitudinal rod, substantially
as set forth.
Twenty-second. The combination with the stationary frame having transverse
rods, of a clamping frame adjustably mounted on said rods, a buckling frame provided
with a longitudinal rod which passes loosely through the clamping frame, clamping
wedges interposed between the transverse rods and the longitudinal rod, and a crank
disc and pins whereby the wedges are simultaneously operated, substantially as
set forth.
Twenty-third. The combination with the clamping frame and the buckling
mechanism, of a longitudinal shaft actuating the buckling mechanism and passing
loosely through the frame, a gear wheel mounted on said shaft and held against
longitudinal movement between bearings formed on the clamping frame, and a
transverse driving shaft journalled in the clamping frame and provided with a
gear wheel meshing with the wheel on the longitudinal shaft, substantially as set
forth.
Twenty-fourth. The combination with the clamping frame and the buckling
mechanism, of a transverse driving shaft passing loosely through the frame, a gear
wheel mounted on said shaft and held against transverse movement between bearings
formed on the clamping frame, and a longitudinal shaft actuating the buckling
mechanism and journalled in the clamping frame and provided with a gear
wheel meshing with the gear wheel on the transverse shaft, substantially as set
forth.
Twenty-fifth. The combination with the stationary frame provided with transverse
rods, of a clamping frame adjustably mounted on said rods, a transverse driving shaft
passing through the clamping frame, a gear wheel mounted on said shaft between
bearings on the clamping frame, a longitudinal shaft made adjustable in the clamping
frame, a gear wheel mounted on said shaft and held against longitudinal movement
between bearings on said frame, and a buckling mechanism actuated by said
longitudinal shaft, substantially as set forth.
Twenty-sixth. The combination with the stationary frame provided with transverse
rods, of a clamping frame adjustably mounted on said rods, a longitudinal rock shaft
passing loosely through the clamping frame, a rock arm O attached to the clamping

page_text: frame and provided with a key which engages in a groove in the rock shaft, a trip
lever resting on the rock arm and a table feed mechanism connected with the trip
lever, substantially as set forth.
Twenty-seventh. The combination with the transverse rock shaft, the depending
arms secured thereto and the feed fingers attached to said arms, of a rotating crank, a
link connected with said crank, and a rock arm secured to said shaft and connected
to said link whereby a forward movement of gradually increasing speed is imparted to
said fingers, substantially as set forth.
Twenty-eighth. The combination with the transverse rock shaft provided with
depending arins and the feed fingers pivoted to said arms, of the tension rods attached
to the feed fingers, and springs applied to said rods and bearing against the rock arms,
substantially as set forth.
Twenty-ninth. The combination with the transverse rock shaft provided with
depending arms and the feed fingers pivoted to said arms, of the tension rods attached
to the feed fingers, springs applied to the tension rods, and a lifting plate supported
on the rock shaft and engaging with the said tension rods, substantially as set
forth.
Thirtieth. The combination with the transverse rock shaft provided with
depending arms and the feed fingers pivoted to said arms, of the tension rods
attached to the feed fingers, springs applied to the tension rods, a lifting plate pivoted
on the rock shaft, a rock arm secured to said plate, and a cam and spring whereby
said plate is actuated, substantially as set forth.
Thirty-first. The combination with the feed finger, of a detachable socket open at
the top and contracted at the bottom and secured to the lower side of the finger,
and a removal pad or block seated in said socket, substantially as set forth.
Thirty-second. The combination with the feed finger provided at its end with a
dovetailed shank, of a socket open at the top and contracted at the bottom and
provided with dovetailed ways fitting upon said shank, a fastening screw whereby the
socket is held in position on the finger, and a pad or block seated in said socket,
substantially as set forth.
Thirty-third. The combination with the upper feed tapes, of lower feed tapes
having their receiving portions arranged contiguous to the upper tapes and inter-
mediate rollers, one arranged in front of the other, around which the lower tapes run
between their receiving and delivery ends, whereby the delivery portions of the lower
tapes are permanently depressed and the rear portion of the sheet is enabled to drop
directly from the intermediate rollers into the resting space so formed in the lower
tapes, substantially as set forth.
Thirty-fourth. The combination with the lower feed tapes, of a roller arranged at
the delivery end thereof, supporting bars pivoted concentric with said roller, bearings
attached to said bars, and intermediate rollers journalled in said bearings, substantially
as set forth.
Thirty-fifth. The combination with the lower feed tapes, of a roller arranged at
the delivery end thereof, bearings pivoted concentrically with said roller, supporting
bars made longitudinally adjustable in said bearings, intermediate rollers attached to
said bars, and guides supporting the free ends of said bars, substantially as set
forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.