Improvements in Apparatus for use in Feeding Paper to Printing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Feeding Paper to Printing
Machines.
I, JEAN WYSSA, of 16, Rue Etienne Dumont, Geneva, in the Republic of
Switzerland, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention consists in an apparatus which is intended to be applied to a
printing-press, upon which sheets of paper, which lie on the table at the top of
the machine, are to be seized one by one, carried over to the cylinder and left in
the grip of the latter exactly in a predetermined position in order to be printed.
In short the apparatus which may term pneumatic servo-layer or lifter for
printing-machines, is intended to perform the work of the workman who causes the
sheets of paper to pass into a printing machine.
This end is attained in my invention by the combination of the usual parts of
the printing-machine (which may be of any suitable type) with a double-acting
air pump, and with a series of dry-cups, which are connected with the said pump
by means of suitable tubes and which are supported by a device which is connected,
by means of suitable gears with a movable part of the printing-machine, in order
to move the dry-cups in a plane parallel to themselves, from the face of the table
carrying the paper to be printed, on to the cylinder, suitable means being provided
for causing the paper to be lifted by suction by the dry-cups when the latter lie
on the upper sheet of the stock of paper to be printed, and for stopping such suction
of the dry-cups when the same have performed the removal of the said sheet of
paper from the table to the cylinder.
The frame of the machine is provided with brackets and with a pump-cylinder.
The bracket on one side carries a cock or valve in which a vertical plug operates
the head of the latter constituting a valve-box for a second plug cock having an
horizontal axis. The head of the latter will in its turn act as a valve-box for a
plug cock, the horizontal axis of which is in a plane perpendicular to that of the
second plug-cock.
The third cock is provided with a tubular shaft, the other end of which is carried
in a bracket of a support which is provided on the opposite side of the machine.
The valve box of the first cock is connected with the inside of the cylinder of the
air-pump, by means of a suitable connecting tube.
The arrangement of cocks which has just been described is intended to allow the
tubular shaft to rotate in every direction and to pivot upon one of its ends when its
other end is taken out of the bracket, and also to allow the air-pump to be put
successively in and cat of connection with the inside of the tubular extension shaft
by means of the connecting tube. It is necessary to displace the said tubular shaft
and the parts connected therewith in order to examine the cylinder or to raise the
table.
The tubular shaft is provided with two branch-tubes a tube which is parallel to
the tubular shaft being secured to the ends of the said branch-tubes. Upon the

page_text: said tube there are provided dry-cups, the number of which may vary, each of the
said dry-cups having a corresponding hole in the wall of the tube.
A mechanism, which will be hereinafter described is provided to rotate the
tubular shaft so as to cause the cup carrying tube to oscillate, the cock being
arranged so as to remain open during such partial rotation of the tubular shaft.
On the other hand the air-pump, the piston of which is coupled to an arm of the
carriage of the press, is intended to exhaust the air from the tubes and consequently
from the dry-cups, from the moment when the cup carrying tube reaches the position
on the edge of the paper till it is restored to the position in which it has carried
the paper over to the cylinder. It follows therefroni that the paper which lies on the
table is lifted by the dry-cups, in order to be carried over from the said table to the
cylinder, and that when the paper comes within reach of the usual prongs of such
cylinder, it will be released from the dry-cups by the action of the air in the latter.
The dry-cups are composed of a body provided with an inward channel or variable
shape, said body being fitted on a sleeve of the cup carrying tube so as to rotate on
the latter in order to bring its channel either opposite the hole, which is provided
in the wall of the cup carrying tube and of its sleeve, or opposite a solid portion of
said wall; in the first case the dry-cup is in action in the second case it is out of
action, or rather it is only used for closing the hole. The tubular portion of the
body of the dry-cup surrounding the sleeve is split and may be tightened on the
latter by means of a screw. In order that the paper may adhere sufficiently to
the dry-cup when seized by it, the body of the latter is provided with a face con-
stituting a broad base in which there is provided a circular groove or depression
surrounding the mouth of the channel. Suitable openings establish a connection
between the latter and the depression. The dry-cup will thus lift the paper as if
its face were provided with a depression of same diameter as the largest diameter
of the aforesaid depression, and yet the circular projection which parts the latter
from the mouth of the channel acts as a support for the paper which is lifted so as
to prevent it from getting crumpled.
In order to prevent the lifting of more than one sheet of paper at a time by the
dry-cup, the apparatus should be arranged so that the dry-cup will press on the
paper at a certain distance from the edge of the same, which in combination with
the exhaustion, will cause, in the first place, the lifting of the edge of the upper
sheet and the introduction of air between such edge and the edge of the second sheet.
According as the paper to be lifted is more or less thick and consequently more or
less elastic, the dry-cup will have to bear nearer the edge or further from it and to
this end the body bears an arm upon which a support may be displaced. It will be
easily understood that the elasticity of the edge of the sheet of paper depends on
the thickness of the latter, and that, in order to obtain the desired result with a
given force of suction the distance between the point of the support and the edge
of the paper must be increased.
It will be understood that if the suction-process were to act through the pores of
the upper sheet, which might involve the lifting of two sheets at a time, the
elasticity of the paper would react and endeavour to set apart the edges of the two
upper sheets of paper. If such separation is effected, air is infiltrated between the
said sheets and the lifting of the second sheet is prevented. Moreover the support
being pressed on the paper will cause a certain undulation of the latter which will
contribute to introduce some air between the edge of the first and the edge of the
second sheet of paper. The inclination of the dry-cup pressing upon the paper to
be lifted may be regulated at will by means of a device which will be hereinafter
described.
The right hand end of the tubular shaft is provided with a pinion and a counter-
poise. The latter is intended to balance those parts of the apparatus which are
supported by the tubular shaft. The pinion gears with a toothed segment pivoted
in the bracket of the support, the said segment having an adjustable extension,
the length of which may be regulated by means of a screw. A. spring which is
secured on the one hand to the adjustable extension and on the other hand to a fixed

page_text: point on the frame of the machine, will bring again the dry-cups into contact with
the upper sheet of paper whatever the height of the paper-pile may be..
The lever or extension is connected by means of a rod to the upper end of a lever
which is secured upon a shaft, the latter being pivoted in a bracket. The said
shaft is provided with an arm provided with a roller which is within reach of the
edge of the carriage, the latter having a reciprocating motion. There is provided
on the side of the said carriage a rule which will be called the "guide" and which
is intended to act upon the arm in order to swing the lever and consequently the
segment, and so as to cause the partial rotation of the pinion and of the tubular
shaft. The "guide" is formed so that when the carriage moves forward, the arms
will be rocked and will operate the toothed segment which will cause the rotation
of the tubular shaft and bring the dry-cups into position within reach of the
cylinder. Then when the carriage is moved in inverse direction the roller moves
down the incline planes which will restore the cup carrying tube.
The cup carrying tube bears an arm adapted to rotate with friction upon it and
an arm which is fixed to the said cup-carrying tube. A set screw regulates the
angle which is formed by the arms which settle the angular position on the range
of holes of the cupcarrying tube with regard to the plane passing through the
axes of the tubes. The arm is moreover provided with a slot in which there is
secured the pivot of a lever pivoted to the table. The lever is intended to
cause the partial rotation of the cup carrying tube on its axis while passing from
one position to another, the face of the dry-cups being moved in a plane parallel
to themselves during such displacement of the cup carrying tube. By means of
the device which has just been described the inclination of the face of the dry cups.
may be regulated at will with regard to that face of the paper with which they are
brought into contact by the said device.
The table is provided with several guides which are curved concentrically to the
path of the dry-cup and which are intended to determine the position of the sheets
of paper. which are placed on the table. It is obvious that, owing to the circular
path which is described by the dry-cups, the latter would not seize every sheet of
paper at the same distance from its edge, and would consequently not lay it down
exactly on the cylinder, if the said sheets were to be piled up so as to form an edge
perpendicular to the table. But owing to the curve of the guides the upper sheets
of the pile will be seized by the dry-cups exactly at the same distance from their
edge as the lower sheets of the pile.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Feeding Paper to Printing
Machines.
I, JEAN WYSSA, of 16, Rue Etienne Dumont, Geneva, in the Republic of
Switzerland, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:--
This invention relates to an apparatus which is intended to be applied to a
cylinder-printing-press, upon which sheets of paper which lie on the table at the
top of the machine, are to be seized one by one, carried over to the cylinder and left.
in the grip of the latter exactly in a predetermined position in order to be printed..
This end is attained in my invention by the combination of the usual parts. of.

page_text: the printing-machine (which may be of any suitable type) with a double-acting-
air-pump, and with a series of dry-cups, which are connected with the said pump
by means of suitable tubes and which are supported by a device which is connected,
by means of suitable gear with a moveable part of. the printing-machine, in order
to move the dry-cups in a plane parallel to themselves, from the face of the table
carrying the paper to be printed, on to the cylinder, suitable means being provided
for causing the paper to be lifted by suction by the dry-cups when the latter lie on
the upper sheet of the stock of paper to be printed, and for stopping such suction
of the dry-cups when the device has performed the removal of the said sheet of
paper from the table to the cylinder.
.
The accompanying drawing shows by way of example ane method of carrying
out the said invention. th
Figure 1 is an end clevation of the apparatus adapted to a printing-machine a
few parts only of the latter being indicated diagramatically in the drawing. The
frame of the machine to which the supports A and B are secured, is not shown, C is
the carriage bearing the form; D is the table bearing the paper to be printed and E
is the cylinder of the printing-press.
Figure 2 shows a part of the apparatus when in the act of seizing the sheet of
paper to be printed...
.
1
Figure 3 shows the same part of the apparatus when in the act of delivering
over to the cylinder the sheet of paper which has just been transferred.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a part of the apparatus.
:
Figure 5 is an end elevation of the apparatus opposite to that one shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 6 is an elevation similar to that one shown in Figure 5 some of the parts:
being shown in section.
: .
Figure 7 is a plan-view of the left-hand portion of Figure 4.
Figure 8 is an elevation and
"
:1°
Figure 9 is a section on an enlarged scale of one of the dry-cups of the apparatus.
Figure 10 is a view from right to left of Figure 9 and
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the working of the dry-cups with regard to the paper
to be transfered.
In all the figures similar letters of reference refer to the same parts.
The frame of the machine (which is not shown in the drawing) carries on one
side the brackets A and B (Figure 1); and on the opposite side the bracket F.3
Figures 45 6 and 7 and the pump-cylinder G.(Figure 1).
The bracket F (Figures 4, 5 and 6) is provided with a cock or valve box H in
which fits a vertical plug or cock H' the head H2 of the latter constituting a valve-
box for a second plug cock / having an horizontal axis. The head of the latter
will in its turn act as a valve for a plug cock I, the horizontal axis of which is in
a plane perpendicular to that of the plug cock h.
The cock I is provided with a tubular extension or shaft J, the other end of
which is lodged in a bracket A1 of the support A. Figure 4 which is provided on
the opposite side of the machine.
The valve box H of the cock-H' is connected with the inside of the cylinder of 4
the air-pump G, by means of a suitable tube, which is indicated diagrammatically
in Figure 1 by the dotted line g.
The arrangement of cocks, which has just been described is intended to allow the
tubular shaft J,to rotate in every direction and to pivot upon one of its ends when
its other end is taken out of the bracket A', and also to allow the air-pump G to be
put successively in and out of connection with the inside of the tube by means of
the tube g. It is necessary to displace the tube J and the parts connected there-
with in order to examine the cylinder or to raise the table D.
The tube J is provided with two branch-tubes J and J²; a tube K which is
parallel to J being secured to the ends of the said branch-tubes. Upon the tube K5
there are provided dry-cups L, the number of which may vary, each of the said
dry-cups having a corresponding hole k in 'the wall of the tube K. In the drawing

page_text: (Figure 4) the tube K is provided with five dry-cups L, three of them being in;
and two of them out of action. Should the apparatus shown be used for transferring
small sized sheets, the three central dry-cups should be placed in operation and the
two end dry-cups out of operation.
A mechanism, which will be hereinafter described is provided to rotate the
tubular shaft J so as to cause the tube K to oscillate alternately from its position
shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 1, and then into that of Figure 3; and
inversely, the cock I being arranged so as to remain open during such partial
rotation of the tube J. On the other hand the air-pump G, the piston of which
is coupled to an arm c of the carriage C of the press, is intended to exhaust the
air from the tubes g J and K (consequently from the dry-cups) from the moment
when the tube K reaches the position shown in Figure 3 till it is restored to that
shown in Figure 2. It follows therefrom that the paper which lies on the table D
is lifted by the dry-cups L, in order to be carried over from the said table to the
cylinder E, and that when the paper comes within reach of the usual prongs of
such cylinder, it will be released from the dry-cups by the action of the air in the
latter.
The dry-cups are composed of a body L provided with an inward channel of
variable shape 1, Figure 9 said body being fitted on a sleeve K' of the tube K so
as to rotate on the latter in order to bring its channel 7 either opposite the hole k,
which is provided in the wall of the tube K and of its sleeve K¹, or opposite a solid
portion of said wall; in the first case the dry-cup is in action in the second ease
it is out of action, or rather it is only used for closing the hole . The tubular.
portion of the body of the dry cup L surrounding the collar K¹ is split and may
be tightened on the latter by means of a screw & Figures 8, 9 and 10. In order
that the paper may adhere sufficiently to the dry-cup when seized by it, the body
of the latter is provided with a face constituting a broad base in which there is.
provided a circular groove or depression 12 surrounding the mouth of the channel.
Suitable openings and establish a connection between the latter and the
depression. The dry-cup will thus lift the paper as if its face were provided
with a depression of the same diameter as the largest diameter of the depression 12.
and yet the circular projection which parts the latter from the mouth of the
channel acts as a support for the paper which is lifted so as to prevent it from
getting crumpled.
In order to prevent the lifting of more than one sheet of paper at a time by the
dry-cup, the apparatus should be arranged so that the dry-cup will press on the
paper at a certain distance from the edge of the same, which in combination with.
the exhaustion, will cause, in the first place, the lifting of the edge of the inner
sheet and the introduction of air between such edges and the edge of the second.
sheet. According as the paper to be lifted is more or less thick and consequently
more or less elastic, the dry-cup will have to bear nearer the edge or further from
it and to this end the body L bears an arm æ upon. which a support al may be dis-
placed as shown in Figures 9, 11 and 12. Figure 11 shows how the edge of the
upper sheet of paper is lifted by suction when the support is fixed quite close to
the body L, and Figure 12 shows how it is lifted when the support a is at a
distance from the body L. It will easily be understood that the elasticity of the
edge of the sheet of paper depends on the thickness of the latter, and that, in order
to obtain the desired result with a given force of suction the distance between the
point in the drawing and the edge of the paper must be increased as was done
in Figure 12, when such paper is thicker than that which is lifted in Figure 11.
It will be understood that if the suction-process were to act through the pores
of the upper sheet, which might involve the lifting of two sheets at a time, the
elasticity of the paper would react, and endeavour to set apart the edges of the
two upper sheets of paper. If such separation is effected, air is infiltrated between
the said sheets and the, lifting of the, second, sheet is prevented. Moreover the
support being pressed on the paper will cause, a certain undulation of the latter
"

page_text: which will contribute to introduce some air between the edge of the first and the.
edge of the second sheet of paper. The inclination of the dry-oup pressing upon
the paper to. be lifted may be regulated at will by means of a device which will
be hereinafter described (such inclination being exaggerated in Figure 11 and 12
in order to have the working better understood).
As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the right hand end of the tubular shaft J is pro-.
vided with a pinion J3 and a counterpoise J. The latter is intended to balance
those parts of the apparatus which are supported by the tubular shaft J.
The pinion J3 gears with a toothed segment M pivoted at a to the support A, the.
said segment M having an adjustable extension. M', the length of which may be
regulated by means of a screw m. A spring. N, which is secured on the one hand
to the piece M' and on the other hand to a fixed point n, of the frame of the machine,
will bring again the dry-cups into contact with the upper sheet of paper whatever
the height of the paper pile may be.
The lever or extension M¹ is connected by means of a rod O to the upper end of a
lever P which is secured upon a shaft Q the latter being pivotted in the bracket B.
"The said shaft Q is provided with an arm PI provided with a roller p which is
within reach of the edge of the carriage C, the latter having a reciprocating motion.
"There is provided on the side of the said carriage Ca rule or edge C which will be.
..called the guide and which is intended to act upon the arm P¹ in order to swing the
lever P and consequently the segment M as indicated in Figure 1, and so as to.
..cause the partial rotation of the pinion J3 and of the tubular shaft J, Figures 1, 2
and 3. The "guide" C¹ is formed so that when the carriage C moves forward in
the direction of the arrow 1, the arms P¹ and P will be rocked in the direction of
the arrows 2 and 3; the arm M in the direction of the arrow 4, and segment M
in the direction of the arrow 5, which will causo the rotation of. the
:shaft J in the direction of the arrow 6 and will bring the dry-.
cups L into the position shewn in Figure 3 that is to say within reach of the
cylinder E. Then when the carriage C is moved in the inverse direction with
regard to the arrow 1 the roller p goes down the incline planes f¹ and f2 which
will restore the tube K first to the position of Figure 1, and then to that of Figure 2.
The tube K bears an arm K³, Figures 1 and 2 adapted to rotate with friction.
upon it and an arm J5 which is fixed to the said tube K. A. set screw R regulates
the angle which is formed by the arms K³ and J5, which settle the angular position
on the range of holes k of the tube K with regard to the plane passing through the
axes of the tubes J J J and K. The arm K2 is moreover provided with a slot k².
in which there is secured the pivot s of a lever S pivotted at s¹ to the table D. The
lever S is intended to cause the partial rotation of the tube K on its axis while
passing from the position in Figure 2 into that in Figure 3, the face of the dry.
cups L being moved in a plane parallel to themselves during such displacement of
the tube K. By means of the device which has just been described the inclination
of the face of the dry cups may be regulated at will with regard to that face of
the paper with which they are brought into contact by the said device.
The table D is provided with several guides T which are curved concentrically
to the path of the dry-cup and which are intended to determine the position of the 4
sheets of paper which are placed on the table D. It is obvious that, owing to the.
circular path which is described by the dry-cups, the latter would not seize every
sheet of paper at the same distance from its edge, and would consequently not lay.
it down exactly on the cylinder, if the said sheets were to be piled up so as to form
an edge perpendicular to the table D. But owing to the curve of the guides T the
upper sheets of the pile will be seized by the dry-cups L exactly at the same
distance from their edge as the lower sheets of the pile.
The apparatus which has been described operates as follows:-
The parts being supposed to occupy the position shewn in Figure 1 and the
carriage C moving in the inverse direction to that shewn in Figure 1, the arm P¹ 5
will be raised progressively according as its roller p rolls along the incline plane fl.

page_text: and when it reaches the end of the latter and the roller p leaves it, the lever P¹ is
then completely raised and the segment M, being rocked in the inverse direction to
that shewn in Figure 1 will bring the tube J, and the dry-cups L' which are secured
to the latter, into the position shewn in Figure 2... During the motion which has
just been described, the piston G₁ of the air-pump will drive the air back
through the pipe g and the dry-cups until the opening of the said pipe be covered
over by it, which will occur the moment that the tube J reaches the position
indicated in Figure 2.
Then the stroke in the inverse direction of the carriage C will begin, the same
being then moved in the direction of the arrow 1, the piston G¹ exhausting the air
through the tube g and the dry-cups L which causes the adhesion to the latter of
the upper sheet of the paper pile lying on the table 1). Then the guide C¹ will
meet the roller p and will depress it first with its incline plane f¹ and then with
the incline f, and the segment M is oscillated in the direction of the arrow 5,
which will bring the tube K bearing the dry-cups L to which the sheet of paper X
is hanging into the position shewn in Figure 3 in which such sheet X is seized
by the usual prongs of the cylinder E which are not shewn in the drawing. During
this motion the exhaustion is still going on in the pump G until the parts have
reached the position shewn Figure 3.
Then the stroke of the carriage C, and consequently of the piston G¹ also, is
again reversed, and causing at same time the air to be driven back through the.
pump G and the tube K to be restored to the position shewn in Figure 1.
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. A pneumatic paper-lifter or layer for printing-machines, which is characterised.
by the combination of an air-pump connected to a movable portion of the printing-
machine, with a device composed of tubes which are connected to the said air-pump
and which are provided with dry-cups the latter being intended to be applied to
the sheets of paper to be transported, and of suitable devices actuated by means of
a movable portion of the printing-machine and arranged so as to cause the rocking
of the tube bearing the dry-cups, in order to bring the latter now into contact with
the sheets of paper to be transported, now within reach of the usual cylinder of
the printing-press, the whole being combined so that the air-pump will cause a
suction in the dry cups when they come within reach of the cylinder, and pressure
during the inverse stroke.
2. In the apparatus specified in Claim 1, a device for carrying the dry-cups which
is formed of the tubes J, J¹ J2 and K, having one of its ends connected to cocks:
constituting an universal joint, its other end being locked up in a bracket with
movable cover, so as to allow the latter to be released in order to remove temporarily
the apparatus from the cylinder and from the table of the machine when such
apparatus is out of work.
3. In the apparatus specified in Claim 1, dry-cups L, with channel 7, circular-
groove and holes 13 and 14, said dry-cups being intended to be rotated on the...
tube K, either so as to have their channel 7 corresponding to the hole of the latter
or closing it.
4. In the apparatus specified in Claim 1, dry-cups L having an adjustable..
support K.
5. In the apparatus specified in Claims 1 and 2 a device for controlling the angular-
position of the holes k of the tube K with regard to the plane passing through the
axles of the tubes J J and J².
6. In the apparatus specified in Claim 1, the combination of the pinion J³ which
is secured on the tubular shaft J, with the toothed segment M, the adjustable arm M³,
the connecting rod O, the levers P P¹ and the guide C₁ which is secured to the
carriage C of the machine.
7. In the apparatus specified in Claim, 1, the combination of the tubes J, J1 J2

page_text: and K with the arm K2 and the connecting rod S in order to cause the dry-cups to be
moved in a plane parallel to themselves.
. Dated this 15th day of December 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.