IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN CONNECTION WITH FEEDING PAPER OR OTHER MATERIAL TO PRINTING AND OTHER MACHINES AND MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1886

page_text: I, FREDERICK HOYER, of 55 Cornwallis Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN CONNECTION WITH FEEDING PAPER OR OTHER MATERIAL
TO PRINTING AND OTHER MACHINES AND MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR to be
as follows:-
My Invention has for its object certain improvements in and in connection with
feeding paper, or other material to printing and other machines and mechanism
employed therefor whereby the action of such mechanism is rendered more effective
and reliable and the cost is reduced.
To the above end my Invention consists in the following improvements hereafter
more particularly described, and which used together constitute a machine for
the above purposes. A particular construction and action of front blower for
separating the edges of the sheets of the pile of paper to be acted upon. A
particular form of table for carrying the pile of paper. A particular construction
and action of back gauge which is fitted upon the pile table so as to compensate
for the backward movement of the sheets of paper during the action of lifting
hereafter described, so as to prevent the danger of breaking, or creasing the sheet
during such backward movement. An appliance for acting upon and a means of
separating the rear edges of the pile of paper. A smoother over the pile to
prevent the sheets being curled back by the blast. A means of elevating the table
carrying the pile of paper. A particular form and cycle of movement of suction
chamber, or appliance by which the sheets of paper are lifted sheet by sheet from
the pile of paper and delivered to the tapes, or equivalent device by which the
A means of
sheet of paper is delivered to the printing, or other machine.
obtaining a second, being an under suction, upon the underside of the lifted sheet,
or sheets, so that if more than one sheet be lifted by the lifting suction chamber, this
under suction acts to hold such adhering sheet back against the forward movement
of the lifting suction chamber. A means of causing the sheet of paper to adhere to

page_text: the tapes, or equivalent device which delivers the sheet to the printing or other
machine. The use of a fluted, or grooved delivery table and a pusher to be used
instead of tapes, or grippers for delivering the sheet at the front gauges. A means
of registering the sheet of paper on the above mentioned delivery table, or on the
tapes with accuracy.
The above set forth appliances are all mounted on a suitable framework in
conjunction with an air exhaust and blowing apparatus and rods, levers, cams,
eccentrics, driving shafts and pulleys, as usual and common to this type of
apparatus.
I will now describe the appliances according to my present Invention indi-
vidually and their functions.
The front blower, or blast chest This consists of a chamber having suitable air
supply ducts from a blowing fan; these ducts being provided with suitable valves
for controlling the blast of air. The front, or blowing face of the chamber is
constructed as follows: namely it is provided with diagonal leads and blowing
orifices whereby the blast is delivered in streams converging towards each other.
The blowing face of the chamber extending across the whole machine and being of
greater width than the pile of paper to be acted upon, so that the outside currents
of the blasts will diagonally strike the front corners of the pile of paper. This
feature of my Invention is an important one, inasmuch as the leading edges of the
sheets of the pile of paper are when "trimmed by the guillotine" often burred
into each other, or curled up, or down and the sheets are thus difficult of
'separation; by the blast striking the pile of paper diagonally on the side of the
corners as well as the front, I. secure a means of striking the side edges of the pile
which may not be thus burred together, or curled up, or down and I thus gain
passage for the separating blast between every sheet. The upper portion of this
blowing face, namely the portion which acts on the paper while being lifted by the
suction cylinder is provided with interspaced blowing orifices, namely the orifices
are so positioned that the lower orifices act only on a portion of the edge of the
paper and the upper orifices act on the other portions of the edge of the paper: the
diagonal nature of the leads may be confined to the lower portion of the blast
chamber face only, the upper, or interspaced portion being direct leads. The
blowing chamber may be divided to secure this. The blast of air through the
whole of the face of the blowing chamber is of an intermittent, or pulse nature.
The carrying table. This is constructed with a laterally corrugated surface on
which the pile of paper rests. These corrugations of the table facilitate the
buckling of the sheets under the backward movement of the suction chamber
hereafter described and tends to avoid the breaking of the sheet when thus bent,
or buckled.
The particular construction and action of the back gauge consists in making the
back gauge to swing, or have a backward movement, as when treating thin classes
of paper they are particularly apt to break when buckled, but by allowing the
back gauge to give when the paper is shoved against it, this danger of the paper
to break is overcome.
The separator for the rear edges of the pile of paper consists of a cross bar
which rests on the top of the paper at the rear end of the pile and has a slight
rotary movement and upward lift,
The smoother consists of a grid over the pile of paper to prevent the paper being
curled back by the blast.
.
The means of elevating the table consists of a parallel motion actuated by a
single screw with a self acting upward feed, such self acting feed being known to
this type of machine.
The suction lifting chamber and its cycle of movement. This consists of a
ohamber, or casing the underside of which is formed with a suction orifice curled
up at the front. This suction chamber is connected by suitable ducts to a suction
fan and is carried by brackets which have horizontal movement on other brackets,
having vertical movement, so that the following cycle of movement can be given
I

page_text: to the suction chamber which is positioned immediately behind the blowing chest
and over the front edge of the pile of paper, the sheets of which are to be lifted
and extends across the machine. Presuming the suction to be on and the upper
sheet of the pile of paper to have been drawn by such suction to the suction
orifice of the chamber the front of which is curled up the chamber receives a
backward movement, taking with it the upper sheet of the pile of paper and
slightly buckling it over the pile. This buckling together with the diagonal blast
before mentioned effectually separates the upper sheets of paper. The suction
chamber with the sheet thus adhering is then lifted by an upward movement
being given to the chamber, after which the chamber receives a forward horizontal
movement up to the face of the blowing chest; it then has a second vertical move-
ment up the face of the blowing chest, during which the edge of the paper is
operated upon by the blast from the upper part of the blowing chest, which blast
acts to separate any second adhering piece. After the upward movement past the
blowing chest, the lifting suction chamber has a further forward horizontal move-
ment which brings the sheet in contact with the under suction before referred to
for detaching any second, or under sheet, which by chance may still be adhering to
the sheet sucked against the lifting chamber, this forward movement continuing
brings the leading edge of the paper onto the delivery table, tapes, or grippers,
which on the suction being cut off from the lifting chamber conveys the sheet of
paper to the printing machine.
The second, or under suction consists in providing a suction chamber above the
blast chamber. This under suction is brought to bear upon the moving sheet, or
sheets and the chamber may be fixed, or have a rotary or oscillating movement and
is connected by a duct or ducts to the suction fan. This suction chamber withdraws
any sheets of paper which may adhere to the sheet being lifted which withdrawn
sheet is then pushed back by appliances on the chamber to its original position
on the pile of paper, so as to be ready for the next action of the lifting suction
chamber.
To cause the sheets of paper to adhere to the delivery tapes and to ensure their
carrying action, I provide a third suction chamber, or trough open to the under
surface of the tapes, so that as the lifting suction chamber passes the sheet it holds
over the suction trough, the suction is cut off from the lifting chamber and at the
same instant the suction is opened on this under suction trough, which acting on
the sheet delivered onto the tapes running over its orifices draws the sheet down
against such tapes, which are then started running. The sheet of paper is thus
caused to move down the table to the front register and also comes under the
action of the side register, which having operated the tapes are stopped by clutch,,
or equivalent movement. The orifice of this under suction chamber may be open
to the tapes, or covered in with a perforated top, which however must be well sunk
below the tapes. The under suction chamber above described may be modified ast
follows namely the said chamber may be provided with a revolving perforated.
cylinder working within it, which will act on the sheets in the place of the tapes.
above mentioned and cause the sheet to move forward down the table. The sheet
in this case will however only be partially delivered and its further movement
I then complete by employing a cross bar, provided with tufts of fine hair, or other
equivalent material. This cross bar is adjustable and so are the tufts and it moves
over the delivery table which is fluted, or grooved; the tufts of hair press against
the back edge of the sheet and impel it forward until it is delivered against the
front gauges and the side register then operates, the tufts of hair not impeding the
side thrust, or draw. As soon as the side register is completed, the cross bar with
its tufts moves back to the position ready for another sheet.
The means of registering the sheet of paper on the delivery tapes, or table with
accuracy consist as follows: I employ the apparatus described in former Letters
Patent granted to me No. 8190 A.D 1884 particularly illustrated in Figures 7. 8
and 9 of the Drawings of the Specification of such Letters Patent, but with this
apparatus I employ a ball and socket joint in connection with the lever, giving the

page_text: pushing and drawing movements to the apparatus on the table for registering the
sheet, and I further separate the foot piece over which the sheet passes and by
which the pushing movement is given and attach such foot piece by a set screw
and nut working in a slot and made moveable by the action of one, or more other
set screws which push forward this foot plate so that the finest adjustment can be
given to it and the register can be regulated to a nicety which is a great essential
in colour printing where several colours have to be put on the same sheet and to
secure the second or following colour to fall in its right place.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in Connection with Feeding Paper or other
Material to Printing and other Machines and Mechanism
Employed therefor.
I, FREDERICK HOYER, of 55 Cornwallis Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 has for its object certain improvements in and in connection with
feeding sheets of paper, or other material to printing and other like machines and
apparatus employed therefor, whereby the action of such apparatus is rendered
more effective and reliable and the cost is reduced.
The following is a description of my Invention in such full, clear and distinct
language as to enable anyone skilled in the art to which it belongs to put the same
into practice, reference being had to the accompanying sheets of Drawings which
make a part of this Specification and to the letters and figures of reference marked
thereon, like letters and figures being used to denote the same, or corresponding
parts throughout the Drawings.

page_text: The class of machine with which the above set forth appliances are used is that
in which the sheets of paper are lifted sheet by sheet by suction from a pile of
paper and delivered by tapes as lifted to the printing, or other machine. My said
improved appliances are all mounted on a suitable frame work in conjunction with
an air exhaust and blowing apparatus and valves and rods, levers, cams, eccentrics,
driving shafts and pulleys as usual and common to this type of apparatus.
I will now describe the apparatus and the appliances and their features
reference being had to the Drawings. A is the frame work of the apparatua
B is the exhaust fan. C is the exhaust chest connected to the fan B by the
duct C' and connected to the lifting suction chamber a by the expanding duct C
D is the main shaft of the apparatus. D¹ is the bevel wheel gear by which motion
is imparted to the main shaft D. E is the delivery table of the apparatus. These
parts are common to machines of this type.
to be
I will now describe the construction and functions of the appliances according
to my present Invention. b is a front blowing, or blast chest. This consists of a
chamber having suitable air supply ducts from a blowing fan and provided with
a valve b¹ for controlling the blast of air. This blast of air is obtained from the
discharge of the exhaust fan B through the duct B¹. The front, or blowing face
of the chamber b is constructed as shown in Figures 8. 9 and 10 with diagonal
openings, or leads and blowing orifices 6' whereby the blast is delivered in streams
converging towards each other. The blowing face of the chamber b extending
across the whole machine and is of greater width than the pile of paper
acted upon so that the outside currents of the blast of air passing through the
leads will diagonally strike the front corners of the pile of paper d. This
feature of my Invention is an important one inasmuch as the leading edges of the
pile of paper d are when trimmed by the "guillotine" often burred into each
other, or curled up, or down and the sheets are thus difficult of separation. By
causing the blast of air from the blowing chamber b to strike the pile of paper d
diagonally on the side of the front corners as well as on the front, I secure a
means of striking the side edges of the pile which may not be thus burred
together or curled up, or down and I thus gain a passage for the separating blast
between every sheet. The upper portion of the blowing face of the chamber b
namely the portion which acts on the paper while being lifted by the suction
cylinder a is provided with interspaced blowing orifices 63, namely the orifices b³
are so positioned that the lower orifices b³ act only on a portion of the edge of the
paper d and the upper orifices 63 act on the other portions of the edge of the
paper d, thus giving an intermediately directed blast. The diagonal nature of
the leads is confined to the orifices 6* the orifices 63 having direct leads. The blast
of air through the whole of the face of the blowing chamber b is of an itermittent,
or pulse nature which is effected by the valves b¹ operated by the rod and lever
and spring pawl connection 6' worked by a cam 65 on the main shaft D. The top
of the chest b is partitioned off at 6 to form a suction chest. e is the table for
carrying the pile of paper d. This I preferably construct with a laterally corru-
gated surface on which the pile of paper d rests. These corrugations of the
table e facilitate the buckling of the sheets of paper d under the backward
movement of the suction chamber a hereafter described and tends to avoid the
breaking of the sheet when thus bent, or buckled. f is the back gauge on the table e
for the pile of paper d. When feeding thin paper I make this back gauge f as
shown at Figures 1 and 2 with the vertical part hinged and I work it from the
shaft n by the rod f¹ so that it may have a backward movement, so that when
treating classes of paper, which are particularly apt to break when buckled the
back gauge will give way when the paper is shoved against it, thus overcoming
the danger of the paper breaking. g is a separator for the rear edges of the pile
of paper d. It consists of a cross bar which rests on the top of the paper d at the
rear end of the pile. This separator is carried by the arm g¹ on the shaft g' which
receives a rocking motion from the lever e' to which it is connected by the rod g³,

page_text: This rocking motion of the shaft g gives the separator g an intermittent upward
movement and by attaching the separator g off its centre to the arm gl as shown,
it has also a slight forward rocking movement. The separator g also acts as a
gauge weight and brings into action the ratchet gear by means of the rod 6º and
the slotted arm 60. The lever e7 receives motion from the cam e on the main
shaft D. The table e is actuated, or raised to compensate for the feed of paper by
means of the screws e¹ the feeding action of which is obtained by means of the
bevel wheel gear e carried by the shaft e³ operated by the ratchet gear e receiving
motion from the rocking arm e and the rod ee which receives motion from the
lever and the came on the main shaft D. Instead of using the ratchet gear as
just described to actuate the shaft e³ and bevel wheel gear e as shown at Figure 2
the shaft e may be worked by the gear shown at Figure 14. This gear consists
of a friction strap and disc e' on the shaft e³. This strap e turns the shaft e³ on
the upward movement of the rode which is worked by a cam e³A on the main
shaft D. The strap has two projections e one of which rests on the end of the
rode and the other is connected to a spring e" which keeps the other projection
on the strap in contact with the rod e³. Thus the table is raised by the action
of the cam e³A to compensate for the feed of paper. h is a rocking bar, or guard
on the front of the blowing chamber b. It is carried and worked by the bell crank
levers and the rod h' from the lever j. As the suction chamber a moves back it
is raised and returns to its normal horizontal position as the suction chamber a
passes forward to deliver the sheet of paper. ³ is a guard placed over the pile of
paper to prevent the sheet being displaced when a strong blast is used. The
lifting chamber a consists of a chamber, or casing which extends across the
apparatus. The underside of the chamber a is formed with a lip a¹ curled up at
the front, the bottom of which is provided with a suction orifice, or orifices. One
end of the suction chamber a is connected to the expanding duct C' and thereby
to the suction chamber C and to the exhaust fan B. The suction chamber a is
carried by the two horizontal brackets i one end of which is carried by the vertical
levers and the other end of which has horizontal movement on the vertical
carrying brackets k which have vertical movement. The horizontal movement of
the brackets and the suction lifting chamber a is caused by the cam l on the
shaft D which imparts movement to the lever m and through the shaft n to the
levers j and the brackets i. Vertical movement is imparted to the brackets k by
the levers e' which are worked by the cams ea on the main shaft D. The suction
chamber a is positioned immediately behind the blowing chest b and over the front
edge of the pile of paper d the sheets of which are to be lifted. Presume the
suction to be on and the upper sheet of the pile of paper to have been drawn by
such suction to the suction lip a¹ of the chamber a, the chamber a receives a
backward movement by the action of the cam and the levers j, the suction
chamber a taking with it the upper sheet of the pile of paper d and slightly
buckling it over the pile. This buckling together with the diagonal blast
through the orifices 63 of the chamber 6 effectually separates the upper sheets of
paper. The suction chamber a with the sheet of paper thus adhering is then lifted
by an upward movement of the brackets k obtained from the levers e¹ and cams eª
After being raised the chamber a receives a forward horizontal movement up to the
face of the blowing chest, where there is a momentary rest given by reason of the
shape of the cams to allow any second sheet which may be adhering to drop off
(or this rest may be given when the sheet has been lifted to the full height before
it moves forward to the feed table). It then has a second vertical movement up
the face of the blowing chest, during which the edge of the paper is operated upon
by the blast from the upper orifices 63 of the blowing chest b which blast acts to
separate any second adhering sheet. The backward stroke of the chamber causes
the bar to be raised so that any superfluous adhering sheets may fall back onto
the pile d, which is further ensured by an under suction from the chamber be
through the orifices 67, the chamber 6 being connected by a duct to the chest C.

page_text: After the upward movement past the blowing chest b the lifting suction chamber a
has a further forward horizontal movement which brings the leading edge of the
sheet of paper onto the tapes t of the delivery table E and on the suction being
cut off from the lifting chamber a the sheet of paper is conveyed by the tapes & to
the printing machine.
To cause the sheets of paper to adhere to the delivery tapes t and to ensure their
carrying action, I provide a second suction chamber, or trough u which extends
across the machine just behind the table E. This trough u is open at the top to
the under surface of the tapes t so that the lifting suction chamber a places the
leading edge of the sheet of paper over the suction trough u the suction is cut off
from the lifting chamber a and at the same instant the suction is opened to the
suction trough which acting on the sheet delivered onto the tapes t which pass
over the trough u draws the sheet of paper down against the tapes t which are
then started running by the tape operating gear J. The suction trough u is con-
nected to the suction chamber C by the duct C3 and is provided with orifices u¹ on
its under side and a regulating shutter valve u². The top of the trough u is pro-
vided at each end with adjustable shutters us to enable the width of the open
portion of the trough to be regulated to suit different widths of paper. The suction
through the duct C is regulated by a valve and spring C which is worked by a
rod C³ operated by a cam on the main shaft D. The sheet of paper is then caused
to move down the table to the front register and also comes under the action of
the side register hereafter described. In some instances, for example in lithograph
printing, the table E is required to be set at a considerable incline and there is
considerable danger of the sheets of paper buckling. in their passage down the
table. To obviate this objection I continue the suction trough u down the table E
by the branches x, or I provide the lower end of the table E with a suction trough
similar in all respects to the suction trough u. This suction trough holds the
paper and prevents the paper buckling by coming too suddenly against the front
register.
The suction chamber u above described may be modified as follows, namely the
chamber may be provided with a revolving perforated cylinder working within it,
which cylinder will act on the sheet of paper in the place of the tapes t above
mentioned and cause the sheet to move forward down the table E; the sheet in
this case will however only be partially delivered and its further movement I then
complete by employing a cross bar z provided with pushers z' having tufts of fine
hair z. This cross bars is adjustable and so are the tufts 22 and it is moved over
the table E (which is fluted, or grooved) by means of the bell crank lever 2³
worked by the rod z and a cam on the main shaft. The tufts of hair z³ press
against the back edge of the sheet and impel it forward until it is delivered against
the front gauges and the side register then operates. The tufts of hair a' do not
impede the side thrust, or draw of the side register and as soon as this is com-
pleted the cross bar with its tufts 2 moves back to the position ready for another
sheet.
The side register by which the sheet of paper is accurately adjusted on the
delivery tapes t or table E consists as follows. I employ the apparatus described
in former Letters Patent granted to me No. 8190 dated 26th May 1884 and parti-
cularly illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the Drawings of the Specification, but
with this apparatus I employ a ball and socket joint 1 with the lever 2 giving the
pushing and drawing movements to the appliance 3 on the table E for registering
the sheet and I separate the foot piece 4 over which the sheet of paper passes and
by which the pushing movement is given and attach such foot piece by set screws 5
the foot piece 4 working in a slot 6 and made moveable by the action of the set
screws which push forward the foot plate 4 so that the finest adjustment can be
given to it and the register can be regulated to a nicety which is a great essential
in colour printing where several colours have to be put upon the same sheet, and to
secure the second, or following colour falling in its right place.

page_text: Instead of operating the feeding tapes by gear of the ordinary construction as
shown at Figure 3 I prefer to use the device shown at Figure 3A and in detail at
Figures 20, 21 and 22. In this case the belt J which drives the tape rollers is
driven intermittently by the disc J which is loose on the main shaft D, the disc is
provided with catch pieces J' and the intermittent motion is given by a lever J³
which is fixed on the shaft D and revolves with it. At the end of this lever J³
there is a lever pawl J' so positioned by a spring J that one end of it comes
against one of the catch pieces J* as it revolves and thus turns the disc J until the
lever pawl J comes in contact with a cam J which is provided on the frame A
and which throws the lever pawl J' out of gear with the catch J2 so that it passes
over the catch J' and does not move the disc until it comes in contact with the next
catch piece J thus giving intermittent motion to the disc J and belt J¹,
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 the separating of sheets of paper operated upon in apparatus of the type
herein described the employment of a pulsatory or intermittent blast of air
operating substantially in the manner herein set forth.
2. In the separating of sheets of paper operated upon in apparatus, of the type
herein described the employment of a diagonally directed blast or blasts of air
operating substantially in the manner set forth.
3. In the separating of sheets of paper operated upon in apparatus of the type
herein described the employment of a diagonally directed pulsatory, or inter-
inittent blast, or-blasts of air operating substantially in the manner set forth.
4. In apparatus of the type herein described constructing the front blower (b)
thereof so as to effect first a diagonally directed blast onto the front and front
corners of the pile of paper and then an intermediately directed blast onto the front
edge of the pile of paper, such blasts being of an intermittent, or pulsatory nature,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
5. The method of separating and feeding sheets of paper in apparatus of the type
herein described substantially herein set forth which consists in first pneumatically
lifting the sheet; then imparting to it a backward movement over the pile of paper;
then an upward movement and then a forward movement up to the face of the
blowing chest; then a second upward movement up the face of the blowing chest ;
then a further forward movement whereby the sheet is brought and delivered to
the feeding, or conveying devices or mechanism, operating in connection with the
blasts of air as herein described and for the purposes specified.
6. In the separating of sheets of paper operated upon in apparatus of the type
herein described imparting to the top sheet of the pile a backward movement by
the pneumatic lifting suction chamber substantially in the manner set forth.
7. In apparatus of the type herein described constructing the paper carrying
table e with a laterally corrugated surface, substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
8. In apparatus of the type herein described a back paper pile gauge (such as f)
arranged and constructed to operate substantially in the manner and for the
purposes set forth.
9. In apparatus of the type herein described the back paper pile gauge ƒ con-
structed and operated substantially as described and as shown in the Drawings
hereto annexed.
10. In apparatus of the type herein described arranging and constructing the
gauge weight (g) to act as a separator for the rear edge of the pile of paper by
imparting to it a slight rocking movement substantially as and for purposes set
forth.
11. In apparatus of the type herein described constructing the suction chamber (a)
with a curled up lip and suction orifice substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.

page_text: 12. In apparatus of the type herein described the use of a second, or under
suction chamber (such as 6º) connected by a duct to the suction fan substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
13. In apparatus of the type herein described the use of a guard (such as h) to
prevent the sheet of paper being deranged when blown upward from the pile of
paper and whereby a stronger blast can be used and better separation effected.
14. In apparatus of the type herein described the use of a suction chamber (such
as u) on the delivery table to cause the sheet of paper to adhere to the feed tapes,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
15. In apparatus of the type herein described the use of the pushing device set
forth with reference to Figure 23 for the purposes described.
16. In apparatus of the type herein described, the use in combination with the
side register of an adjustable foot piece whereby the finest adjustment can be given
to the side register, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
17. In apparatus of the type herein described the construction and arrangement
of apparatus for feeding paper, or other material to printing, or other machines sub-
stantially as set forth with reference to the Drawings hereto annexed.
18. In apparatus of the type herein described the tapes operating device con-
structed substantially as set forth with reference to Figures 34 20. 21 and 22 of
the Drawings.
19. In apparatus of the type herein described, the pile table feeding device
constructed substantially as set forth with reference to Figure 1ª of the Drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1886.