Sheet feeder

Oct 9, 1928.

1,686,595

E. W. BELLUCHE

SHEET FEEDER

Original Filed March 12, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US1686595A_D0001.tif" />

Oct 9, 1928.

1,686,595

E. W. BELLUCHE

SHEET FEEDER

Original Filed March 12, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US1686595A_D0002.tif" />

Oct 9, 1928.

1,686,595

E. W. BELLUCHE

SHEET FEEDER

Original Filed March 12, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US1686595A_D0003.tif" />

Oct. 9, 1928.

1,686,595

Sheets-Sheet 4

E. W. BELLUCHE

SHEET FEEDER

Original Filed March 12, -1925

<img file="US1686595A_D0004.tif" />

Oct 9, 1928.

E. W. BELLUCHE

SHEET FEEDER Original Filed March 12, 1925

1,686,595

Sheets-Sljeet 5

<img file="US1686595A_D0005.tif" />

Oct 9, 1928. 1,686,595

E. W. BELLUCHE

SHEET FEEDER Original Filed March 12, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 6

<img file="US1686595A_D0006.tif" />

Oct. 9, 1928.

1,686,595

E. W. BELLUCHE

SHEET FEEDER

Original Filed March 12, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 7

<img file="US1686595A_D0007.tif" />

Oct 9, 1928.

1,686,595

E. W. BELLUCHE

SHEET FEEDER

Original Filed March 12, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 8

<img file="US1686595A_D0008.tif" />

Oct. 9, 1928. 1,686,595

E. W. BELLUCHE

SHEET FEEDER

Original Filed March 12, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 9

<img file="US1686595A_D0009.tif" />

Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

1,686,595

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

ELMER-W. BELLUCHE, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO DEXTER BOLDER COMPANY, OP NEW YORK, N. Y.j A CORPORATION OF HEW YORK.

SHEET FEEDER. Original application filed Marell .12, 1925, Serial No. 14,991. Divided and this application filed January 22,

1927. Serial

- . This present application, for patent is a division of my United States-Letters Patent No. 1,618,632 dated February 22,1927.

My invention relates to machines for sepa;> rating and feeding successive sheets to a printing-press or other like machine, and I have embodied the novel features of my improvements in a sheet feeder of the type known as “continuous feeders” in which a hi bank of feathered or fanned-out sheets of paper is gradually carried along the feed board to: the separating and feeding devices where the leading ends of the sheets are then acted on by mechanisms for further separati > ing and advancing the individual sheets to a conveyor mechanism which carries such separated sheets, one by one, to the printing press or other machine.

The objects of my invention .are, among '-’p other things, to embody in a sheet feeder of this class certain novel features in the feeding devices employed for separating anclforwarding the individual sheets from the fanned-out bank whereby the construction and operation '•'i are simplified and macle more certain and effective. ~ . . .

A further object of my invention is to. embody in the feeder an improved form of oscillating suction separating, and feeding-off :a> device which may be. arranged in pairs across the feeder for successively separating and forwarding the successive sheets, the operation of which is controlled by a cut-out or trip finger located adjacent the conveyor mech’ anism which finger limits the effective, for. ward movement of the oscillating suction feeding device, coupled with an improved device to hold the cut-out finger luted out of the path of the advancing sheet after such 3!> finger has acted to stop the forward swing of the suction, feeding device and also cut off the suction therefrom to release the sheet.

. A further object is to provide improved devices in conjunction with the mechanisms ·!*» for intermittently forwarding the bank of sheets along the feed-boar cl so that when .the suction is cut-off from the suction feed-wheel for any reason, the bank feed mechanism is automatically locked by the continued move^5:1 ment of the feeder so as to prevent the bank from being improperly advanced beneath, theNo 162,708.

suction feeding devices while the latter are idle and.not separating and feeding the individual sheets.:

A further object is to provide associated 5·’ devices connected with, the movable conveyor frames projecting forwardly over the feedboard and with the operating clutch which controls the movements of the feeder so that such conveyor frames cannot be raised out of operative position until the clutch is released from engagement, and furthermore such disengaged clutch cannot be brought into position for operative engagement to start the feeder until the conveyor frames are lowered into their operative position along the feedboard. My improved sheet-feeder also embodies other advantageous features of novelty and ; improvement in which the various operating .7 parts embodied therein are greatly simplified in form, arrangement and interaction, and are therefore more' sensitive arid effective in operation and otherwise better adapted for use, all of which will be hereinafter described, and then, particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

. The accompanying drawings show my im- . provements in their pref erred embodiment in a continuous sheet-feeder; suclw improve- so ments, however, are not to be restricted to any . particular:type, of sheet-feeder, as these features of invention.may be embodied and used in various forms; of feeders with similar advantages and results. 85

Of the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation, of the feeder showing its relation to a printing-press and also some of the ; improvements embodied in the feeder;

Fig. 2 is a.side elevation view of part of the g₀conveyor mechanism and control devices for. the bank .feed, the view looking from the right of Fig. 3; _ . b _; -,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3—3 of Fig·. 2 looking in the direction g·, of'.he arrows;

Figs. -1 and 5 (combined) show the top plan views of the sheet separating devices, conveyor. mechanisms and associated parts;.

. .Fig. 6 .is a side elevation view looking, from ioo the left of Fig. 3 certain parts being omitted.;

Fig.. 7 is a. sectional elevation taken on the

1,686,595 line 7—7 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the clutch and its connections with clutch control s rod;

Fig. 9 is a detail side elevation showing the clutch in engagement and the conveyor frames lowered;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the clutch released and locked and the conveyor frames raised; .

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the suction feed wheel and cut-out finger -with, bank feed, control mechanisms on the line 15 11—11 of Figure 3;

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the suction feed-wheel and cut-out finger on the line 12—-12 of Fig. 11;. .

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 20 13—13 of Fig. 12 showing.the adjustable cam to control the timing of. locking the bankfeed mechanisms;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged section taken on the line 14—14 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a detail section taken on the line 15—15 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, showing, the suction feed-wheel and cut-out as the wheel begins its forward move30 ment;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16 showing positions of the several parts at the end of the cycle after the sheet has moved the cut-out finger which is thereafter held lifted 35 out of the path of the sheets;

Fig. 18 is a detail perspective view of the drive gear for the suction feed?wheel;

Fig. 19 is a detail perspective view of the cams and their associated devices to control 40 the operation of the bank feed mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a detail side view of bank feed mechanism free to operate and the suction connected with the feed-wheel;

Fig. 21 is a detail view showing the bank45 feed mechanism locked and also the suction cut-off from the feed-wheel;

Fig. 22 is an enlarged detail sectional Anew . taken on the line 22—22 of Fig. 3 showing the suction control valve;

^; Fig. 23 is a detail section on the line 23—23 of Fig. 22; and

Fig. 24 is a detail perspective view of the suction control valve elements. .

Similar numerals refer to similar parts 55 throughout the several figures.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3; the cylinder 39 of a printing-press or other like machine has the front stops 40 arranged above the cylinder 39 in proximity to the for60 ward section 41 of the inclined feed-board, Avhich section 41 is secured, to the brackets 42 affixed to the cross-bar 43 journalled in sideframes 44 (only one being shown in Fig. 1) . RearAvardly adjacent to section 41 is the feed65 board section 45 secured to the brackets 46 affixed to the cross-bar 47 which is also journalled to the side frames 44 as shown in Fig, 3. To the rear of section 45 is the feed-board 48 proper mounted on the standards. 49 (only one being shown in Fig. 1), over which board 70 48 move, a series of feed-tapes 50 passing around suitable pulleys 51 and 52 journalled in suitable brackets secured;to the board 48 and standards 49 respectively as shoAvn,

The bank of fanned-out sheets of paper on 75 the feed-board 48 is forwarded to the sepa-. rating devices hereinafter described by being placed on the tapes -50 passing over the top surface of the feedffioard 48. The forward pulley 51 is mounted on the cross shaft 53 so ’which carries the ratchet 54 to be operatively engaged by the pawl 55 pivoted to the rock- , lever 06 journalled to the shaft 53 as shown in Figs. 1 and 20. The lever 56 is reciprocated by certain mechanisms hereinafter described «’> to intermittently rotate the pulley .51 and advance the tapes 50 as shown by the arrow in Fig-1 to forward the bank of sheets to the separating devices as required. The main head 57 of the feeder comprises 00 the side frames 58 and 59 (Fig. 3) which are. . held rigidly in vertical position by the tie-bar 60 affixed thereto and extending across the feeder. The flat bottoms of the frames-58 and 59 are adapted.to slide on the parallel runway »5 plates 61 and 62 respectively secured to the feed-board 48. To the rear ends of. the side frames 58 and 59 are attached the rack-bars 63 (only one being.shown in Fig. 1) ; these rack-bars 63 are similarly constructed and ex- mo tend rearwardly in . substantial parallelism above the feed-board 48 as shown in Figs. .4 and 5. The rear ends of the racks 63 pass through holloav blocks 64 fastened to the feed-. board 48 above the standards 49 and the 105 cross-shaft 65; journalled in the blocks 64 carries the gears 66 which .mesh 'with the teeth of the rack-bars 63 as shown in Fig. 1. The . shaft 65 may be rotated in either direction by the crank-handle 67 to advance, or withdraw no the main head 57 sliding on the plates 61 and 62 in the feed-board 48 (Fig. 3),

When the.head 57 is to be retracted to .the . rear position 'shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the. sheet, convey or frames 68 pivoted on the 115 tubular bearings 69 secured to the side frames 58 and 59 (Fig, 3) are first swung upwardly and held in elevated position by mechanisms hereinafter described. Such arrangement, it Avill be observed, enables the forward sections 120 41 and 45 forming the movable feed-board resting on the.side-frames 44 to be separately lifted out of alinement with one another into : their dotted line positions (Fig. 1). It will be seen that a simple and effective mechanism 125 has been provided for advancing and retracting the main head 57 while allowing the pivoted conveyor frames 68 to be raised off the feed-board sections 41 and 45 which may be separately elevated to give a maximum space 130

1,680,595 3 for free access to the printing-press cylinder 39 in making ready, or the' section 45 may alone be elevated, so as to allow the operator to use the section 41 in its full line position as a feed-board when feeding the sheets by hand to the press-cylinder 39.

The mechanism for separating and advancing the individual sheets from the fanned-out bank comprises in the present embodiment the oscillatable suction feed-wheel 70 (Figs, fl13)which acts to separate and forward the top sheets from the bank until the front or leading edge of the advancing sheet acts to move a cut-out or trip finger which inaugurates the action of devices to stop the forward oscillation of the feed-wheel .70, combined, with devices to cut-off the suction from such feed-wheel at predetermined intervals in the cycle of operation to release the sheet to be thereafter seized by the sheet-grippers and conveyed to the front stops 40 above the presscylinder 39.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3, 5, 11-18, the feed-wheel 70 having a series of perforations 71-formed..in. its periphery is journalled with its hub 72 rotating on the bushing 73 mounted on the hub 74 of the gear 75. The hub 74 is journalled on the stubshaft 76 affixed to the wheel bracket 77 which is carried by the depending bracket 78 secured to the tie-bar 60 as shown in Fig. 3. The gear 75 is detachably secured to the wheel 70 by the following devices best shown- in Figs. 11, 16, 17 and 18-: The inner face of the gear 75^; carries the pivoted clog 79 Which is urged inwardly toward the hub 74 by the spring 80 bearing on the end of the dog and the annular collar 81 integral .with the gear 75, The nose 82 of the dog 79 is adapted to engage removably with the notch 83 cut in tlie outer surface of the feed-wheel hub 72,.Fig. 16 showing the dog 79 engaged with .the notch 83 on the forward stroke and held in spring-pressed, frictional contact, and Fig.-17 showing the dog out of engagement, the gear 75 being free to rotate independently of the wheel 70.

Motion is imparted to the gear 75 to partially rotate same and so oscillate the feedwheel 70 in each cycle of the machine by the. following -mechanism-best shown in-Figs. 3,4, 5, 6 and 7: The drive shaft 84 journalled in the sleeve 85 in the bracket 86 secured to the side-frame 58 by the tie-shaft'87 is actuated from a suitable source of.power. The shaft 84 carries the bevel gear-88'which drives the bevel gear. 89 loose on the main cam-shaft 90 supported at its outer end by the bushing 91 secured to the bracket 86 (Fig. 3)-.- The gear 89 is operatively connected with a clutch mechanism, best shown in Figs. 3, 4,- 6 and 8. The rock-lever 92 is pivotally mounted on the gear 89 at 93, one lever end carrying the roller .94 adapted to bear upon the circular member 95 keyed to the shaft 90 (Fig. 3). The compression spring 96 coiled about the rod 97 pinned to the opposite end of the lever 92 between the collar 98 secured to the gear 89 and the collar 99 adjustably secured to the rod 97 by a set-screw normally -maintains the roller. 94 in the circular notch 100 cut in the periphery of the clutch member. 95 so that the latter is driven by the gear 89; the main camshaft 90 keyed to the clutch member 95 thereby is revolved to operate the feeder.- The outer clutch member 101 is loosely journalled on the hub 102 of the clutch member 95 (Fig. 3) . Projecting into the arcuate slot 103 of the member 101 is the screw pin 104 fastenedto tlie clutch member 95. The pin .104 carries one end of the pull coil spring 105 which is fastened at the other end by pin 106 to the clutch member 101. The clutch member 101 carries-the notch 107 cut in its periphery which is adapted to be engaged by the tip of the rock-lever 109 journalled on the stubshaft 110 secured to the bracket 86 (Fig. 3). When.the clutch-is operatively.connected the tip of the lever 109 is maintained adjacent the periphery of the clutch member 101 with the roller 94 engagedin the notch 100 through the force of the compression spring 96; when the tip of tire rock-lever 109 is swung to the right (Fig. 10), it is locked in the notch 107 and so prevents tlie clutch member 101 from rotatmg. The continued rotation of the gear 89 thereupon forces the roller 94 out of the notch 100 and on to the periphery of the clutch, member 95 which is thereby shifted relatively to tlie clutch member 101 against the tension of the spring 105 in which the clutch members 95 andlQl.are disconnected with the gearroller 94 riding on the periphery of the clutch member 95. The. hand-controlled mechanisms for operating the rock-lever 109 to connect and disconnect the clutch · members at will so as to start or stop the sheet feeding and· conveyor, devices will be hereinafter de-, scribed. ··..

Means are provided to oscillate the feedwheel 70 from the main cam-shaft 90 which is constantly rotated from the power shaft 84 when the feeder is in operation by the mechanisms just described and such means are best shown .'in Figs. 3,. 4, 6 and 7^:: Keyed to the cam-shaft 90 is the hub 111 of the outer cam 112 ; adjacent the cam 112 and mounted on the hub 111 is.the inner cam 113 secured to the cam 112 by the set-screw 114 in pr-edeter. mined position (Fig. 3). Journalled on tlie stub-shaft 87 is the sleeve 115 having integral therewith the rock-arm 1161 carrying·'.the pivoted · roller 117 which engages the cam 112 ; also integral· with .the sleeve 115 is the rock-frame· 118 carrying tlie· pivoted -roller 119 which engages the cam 113^; as' shown in Figs. -6 and 7. 'The iOllersT17:and 119 are joined by the connecting bar 120 which is pinned: to the pivots of these cam-rollers 117 and 119. The arms 121. and 122: of the rockframe 118 carry On their ends the. segmental no

1,680,595 sitely-disposed spring-pressed pins 153 and 154 carried by the hub 147 to adjust the normal position of the shaft 145 as required in fixing the position of the cut-out finger in the guide plates 137 and 138 to secure a variable adjustment of the timing of the cut-out.

Adjacent the. hub 147 and loosely journaled on the shaft 145 is the collar 155 carrying the L-shaped bracket 156. Secured to the forward face of the bracket 156 by screws 157 is the flat spring cut-out or trip finger 158 having its lower end forked to pass in its lowered position in the slots i ! l and 142; the lower end of the bracket 156 has the cap-screw 159 tapped therein with the head of the screw 159 bearing against the under,surface·of..finger 158 tp adjust same. Keyed.to the shaft 145 by the pin 160 is the. sleeve 161 having the curved arm 162 bearing against the tip of the cap-screw 163 threaded in the lug. 164 of the bracket 156. The top of this bracket rack, 123 secured thereto by the screws 124 and 125 respectively. The teeth of the rack 123 mesh with the gear 126 fastened to the rock-tube 127 extending across the feeder and sleeved about the cam-shaft 90 and rotatably supported thereon by the bushing 128 and bearings 69 (Fig. 3). The cams 112 and 113 are so timed with each other as to impart an oscillating movement to the rack 123 which in turn oscillates the rock-tube 127 through the connecting gear 126. The gear 75 is oscillated to and fro by the gear 129 keye.d to the rock-tube 127 as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the gears 75 and, 129 being preferably .contained within the gear guard 130 having a supporting arm 131 secured-to the cross-suction-tube 132 (Figs. 4, 5 and 12). secured in the two conveyor frames 68 on the sides of the feeder.

Suction is applied to the inner face of the rim of the feed-wheel 70 from the suction-tube 132 through the hollow arm 133 having the 156 has the ears 165 formed thereon which suction shoe 134 formed at its outer end, carry the cross-pin 166 to which is pivoted the which shoe has the transverse slot 135 to reg- forward end of the rod 167. the upper rear ister with the perforations 71 of the feed- ' end of-which passes slidingly through the wheel 70 as shown in Figs. 3, 11, 12 and 13.

Adjustably secured to the arm 133 is the slotted' bracket 136 carrying: the upper slotted guide-plate 137 which is arranged at a suitable distance from the . lower slotted guide plate 138 to form a horizontally disposed guide passage for sheets of different thickhesses; the lower plate 138 is fastened to the cross-rod 139 by screws 140 as shown in Figs.

³⁵ 11, 12, 16 and 17. The ends of the rod 139 are secured to the conveyor frames 68. The plates 137 and 138 are formed with elongated superposed slots 141 and 142 at their forward ends as shown. The front edges of the sheets forming the fanned-out bank 152 are kept, separated by a blast of air from a series of holes 143 cutin the. cross-pipe. 144''carried . by the conveyor frames 68 and connected with any suitable air pump, not shown.

Means are provided to arrest the forward movement of the oscillating feed-wheel 70 when the leading edge of the separated topsheet has been advanced .between the guideplates 137 and 138 in proximity, to the .slots50 141 and 142 as shown in Fig. 16 which mechanism may be widely varied in structure and operation. In the present embodiment best shown in its details in Figs. 11-17, the rock shaft 145 is arranged between the bracket 77 and the gear guard 130, one end of the shaft 145 being journalled in the guard 130 as shown in Fig. 7’, shaft 145 lias secured thereto by the pin 146 the hub 147 which fits against the circular plate 148 integrally formed in the bracket 77.; the plate 148 carries two diametrically opposite concave-headed plugs 149 and 150 and similar concave-headed plug 151 adjacent the plug 150. (shown.in dotted lines in Fig. 15) which are adapted to be engaged by two oppo75

85'

1)11 hole 168 cut. in the cross-pin 169. journalled in the sleeve 170 integral with the rock-arm 171 pivoted to the pin 172 fastened to the bracket 77, as shown in Fig. 12. The outer rear end of the rod 167 carries the adjusting collar 173, and coiled about this rod 167 between the adjustable collar 174 and the. pin 169 (Fig. 12). is the compression spring 175 which tends to push the rock-arm 171 clockwise (Figs. 16 and 17) when the cut-out finger 158 has been moved to the left by the advancing separated sheet. Secured to the pin 172. .is the rockpawl 176 adapted to engage the ratchet 177 fastened to the hub 72. of the feed-wheel 70 as shown in Figs. 3 and 18, when the rockarm 171 is swung from its Fig. 16 to its Fig, 17.position, this engagement causing an immediate cessation of the forward movement of the air-wheel 70 by forcing the pivoted dog 79 out of the notch 83 and so disconnect the H'¹gear 75 whenever the leading edge of the sheet actuates the finger 158. to the left out of the guide plate slots 141 and 142. Fig. 16 shows the position of the cut-out finger 158. and its associatediparts just aathe wheel 70 has start- U5 ed its clockwise revolution with the top sheet between the guide-plates 137 and 138. Fig. 17 shows the'position of the same parts at. the end of the cycle of the feed-wheel 70 after the top sheet has been advanced to move the ¹²⁰cut-out finger 158^: out of its path and with the. .14; the opposite encl of this pawl. 176 in engagement with the ratchet. 177 to arrest the forward revolution of the feedwheel 70. .

The cut-out finger 158 is held out of eri- ¹²⁵gagement with the advancing.sheet and afterwards reset while the pawl 176 is also disengaged from the ratchet 177 during the reverse rotation of the gear 75 by the following devices best shown in Figs. 11-14 and 16-18: ¹⁸⁰

JIHI

105

1,686,595 5 ter against the port 191 with the cap 198 limiting the outward movement of the sleeve. ..

The passage 190 is connected by the passage 199 to the cross-pipe 200 of .the hand-media- . nism controlling the suction best shown in 70 Figs. 2, 3, 22, 23 and 24: The pipe 200 is secured on the inner side of the side-frame 59 by the nut 201 (Fig. 22) and has the diametri.cally-opposite slots 202 cut therein to register with similarly-cut slots. 203 formed in the 75 hand knob-barrel 204 rotatably sleeved on the end of the pipe 200 as shown in Figs. 22 and 24. The cap-screw 205 threaded in the outer end of the pipe 200 closes same to atmosphere and holds the barrel 204 snugly against 80 the collar 206 adjustably secured to the pipe 200 by the set-screw 207. The collar-206 has the radial slot 208 cut .therein adapted to limit the rocking movement of the barrel 204 by engaging with the pin 209 attached to 85 the inner end of the barrel 204; the outer face of the collar.206 has two holes 210 and 211 adapted to be engaged by. the spring-pin 212 slidably secured in the inner end of the barrel 204 as shown, in Fig. 24. The barrel to 204 also has affixed thereto the arm 213 which actuates certain devices connected. with the bank-feed control hereinafter to be described. When the. barrel 204 is rocked by hand so that the arm 213 is in its vertical “off” position 95 (Fig. 23), the slots 202 and 203 are in register so as to break the suction by equalizing to atmosphere, while these slots 202 and 203 are out of register when the barrel 204 is rocked, to the “oh” position, shown by dotted lines ion in Fig. 23 to again make the suction by cutting off the pipe 200 from atmosphere, the.: spring-pin 212 releasably holding the barrel in either position through its engagement with the holes 210 and 211. By such means 105 the . operator can manually control the suction on the. wheel 70 during the operation of the feeder..

The revolutions, of the valve-plate 192 successively intermit the suction applicable no to the suction shoe 134 in suitable timed relationwith the oscillations of the feed-wheel. 70 in each cycle, and the relative position of such plate 192 on. the cam-shaft 90 may be . varied by any suitable means to change the 115 timing of such intermitting of the suction to the-wheel 70 to pick up the. sheets.

Air: under pressure is applied'to the airblast pipe 144 by means of the hose 214 connected with the usual air-pump (not shown). 120 . Improved devices are provided in conjunction with the mechanisms for advancing the bank of sheets. 152. along the feed-board 48 _;so .that when the suction is cut-off from the suction feed-wheel 70 for any reason the bank 125 feed' mechanism is- automatically locked by the continued movement of the feeder so as to prevent the sheets comprising the bank . 152 from being improperly advanced beneath the feed-wheel while the latter is idle and 130

Integral with the sleeve 161 is the straight arm 178 to which is secured the rock-plate 179 by the screw 180. The plate 179 rocks with the shaft 145 and comprises the upper arm 5 181 and the lower arm 182. Fastened to the inner-side of the gear 75 are the spaced-apart pins 183 and 184 carrying the rollers 185 and 186 respectively which rollers are adapted to engage respectively the arms 182 and 183 of i&lt;) the rock-plate 179 as shown in Figs. 16 and 17 as. the gear 75 is normally oscillated by the tube 127. When the roller 186 engages the arm 182 the finger 158 is raised with the . spring 175 compressed and forcing the pawl 15 176 into engagement with the ratchet 177 as shown in Fig. 17. When the gear 75 is. reversely rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, the roller 185 engages the upper arm 181 (Fig. 16) and resets the cut-out finger 158 be· re tween the slots 141 and 142 while the anticlockwise movement of the. bracket 156 pulls the rod 167 and rock-arm 171 to the left to raise the pawl 176 from engagement with the ratchet 177, the spring 175 on the rod 167 re preventing any clashing of the parts during the normal oscillations of the wheel-gear 75, the reverse rotation again bringing: the pivoted spring dog 79 into locking engagement with the notch 83. , . .

to The sheets from the farined-out bank 152 . adhere to the exterior surface of the fetalwheel 70 through the perforations 71. opposite the suction shoe-134 as shown in Fig. 11, and are separated and advanced by the. forward re movement of the feed-wheel 70 between.the guide plates 137 and 138 as shown in Fig. 16 in position for the leading edges of the sheets to be seized by the sheet-conveyor grippers and carried to the press cylinder 39 by mech•re anisms hereinafter described.

The mechanism to apply suction to the suction shoe 134 resting on the inner rim of the feed-wheel 70 to pick up the successive top sheets and also to. shut off the suction from the re shoe 134 after the forward movement of the wheel 70 has been arrested by the engagement of the pawl 176 with the ratchet 177 is best shown in the present embodiments in Figs. 2, 3 and. 5: The side-frame 59 has the port 187 ^;,il formed therein which is connected by the hose

188 (Fis. 5) with any suitable air-exhausting. device not shown. The port 187 is connected by the passage 190 to the . cross port 191 formed in the side frame 59 to be opened and 'to closed alternately by the. semicircular plate

192 fastened to. the cam-shaft 90 (Fig. 3). The port 191 is connected to the hollow sleeve 193 slidably carried in the conveyor frame 68, which sleeve 193 has the port 194 registering •·ο with the passage 195 leading to the suctiontube 132 which is connected to the hollow arm 133 and suction-shoe 134 when the .frames 68 are in lowered position as shown in Figs. 10 and 12. The spring 196 coiled about the stem 65 197 of the sleeve 193 normally forces the latβ 1.686.506 not separating and advancing the top sheets between the guide-plates 137 and 138 as hereinbefore described.

. The bank 152 is advanced by the tapes 50 5 when the dock-lever 56 carrying the pawl 55 is moved forwardly. Such rock-lever 56 is operatively engaged by the link 223 having the rear end formed with the lug 224 (Fig. 20) Vhich contacts operatively with the end 10 of the lever 56, yet permits the main head 57 to be racked back free from the bank-feed control mechanisms now to be described. The link 223 is pinned to the lower arm 225 of the rock-lever 226, journalled on the pipe 15 200 (Fig. 22); the upper arm 227 of the lever 226 carries the cam roller 228 which is adapted to ride on the cam 229 fast to the main cam-shaft 90 (Figs. 2, 3 and 20), The spring 230 fastened to the feed-board 48 and 20 the rock-lever 56 normally maintains the lever 56 against the lug 224 and also holds the cam-roller 228 on the cam 229.

Referring to Figs. 3, 11, 13, 19-21, the rock-cam 230^a.is sleeved on the hub 72 of the 25 feed- wheel 70 and is adjustably secured thereto by set-screws 231 passing through arcuate slots 232 formed in the cam 230^a (Fig. 13) by which, the position of the cam 230^a may be varied. Such cam 230^a rotates with the wheel 70 30 and controls the timing of the devices for locking and unlocking the bank-feed-actuating mechanisms. The cam 230^a engages the ^: cam-roller 233 pinned to the lower end of the rock-lever 234 pivoted to. the cross-pin 235 35 mounted in the bracket 77 (Fig. 13). The roller 233 rides on the cam 230^a by gravity : exerted by the weight of the pivoted rocklever 234 (Fig.. 19). Integral with the lever 234 is the projection 236 which engages the 40 roller 237 pinned to the arm 238 adjustably mounted on the rock-sleeve 239 enclosing the tie-tube 240 extending' across the feeder. Secured to the rock-sleeve 239 is the arm .241 carrying the cross-pin 242 projecting out45 wardly (Fig. 19) and adapted to ride against . the inclined face 243 of the link 244 pivoted to the depending arm-213 carried by the suction-control barrel valve 204 heretofore described (Figs. 22-24). The link 244 carries 50 the stud 245 slidably engaged in the slot 246 . formed in the: link 247 (Fig. 2) which is pinned to the end of the clog 248 (Fig. 19) journalled on the tie-tube 240; The link 223 carries the locking lug 249 which may be 55 adjustably secured to the link 223 by the screws 250 (Fig. 19), the lug 249 engaging with the tip of the dog 248 when lowered (Fig. 21) . Normally the roller .233 rests on the low part of the cam 230^a so as to ppsi60 tion the dog 248 thereby preventing the bank from feeding.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 20, the bank-feed mechanism is free , to.operate in each cycle, through the recipro⁶³ cations of the link 223 as actuated by the cam

229. ' The cam 230^a is sb positioned on the suction wheel 70 that when this wheel starts its forward stroke to separate and advance the top sheet, the roller 233 bears on the low: part of the cam 230^a and the dog 248 is in its 70 lowered position to engage the lug 249. If the sheet strikes the cut-out finger 158 before the high part of the cam 230^a engages , the roller 233, the wheel 70 and cam 230“ stop their forward movement and the bank is pre- 75 vented from feeding. Should-the wheel 70 require more than a predetermined period to feed the sheet to the finger 158, the cam 230“ will revolve far enough to raise the roller 233 and so lift the dog 248 and allow the bank- 80 feed mechanisms to operate. By these devices the bank feed is governed by the length of time or distance required for the feed- , wheel 70 to advance the sheet to move the cutout finger 158. · 85

When the suction is cut-off from the feedwheel· 70 by turning the hand-knob barrel valve 204: clockwise, the link 244 is likewise moved'to. the left to its Fig. 21 position by which the pin 242 will not engage the dink 244 and raise same. Hence, when the suction is shut off while the feeder is in operation, the pin 242 will not engage the link 244, : though such pin is lif ted in each cycle. The dog 248 is lowered by means of the slotted ⁹⁵link 247 to the rear of the lug 249 when the roller 233 rides on the high part of the cam 230“ which throws the arm 238 to the right as shown in Fig. 21. By these devices the bank-feed is automatically locked against op- loo eration with the cam-roller 228 held out of the low part of the cam 229 by the continued movement of the feeder whenever the operator actuates the hand-knob valve 204. to cut off the suction from the wheel 70. A reverse 105 movement of the valve 204 by which the suction is restored will at once lift the tip of the lock-arm 248 from locking engagement with the lug 249 to bring the parts to their Fig. 20 position with the bank-feed free to operate HO in the normal operation, of the feeder as has been hereinbefore described..

The operation of my sheet-feeder is sub- stantially as follows: When the bank of fannedmut sheets 152 is lying on the. feed-- H5 board 48 with the top margins resting on the.. hinged plate 386 and guide plate 138, the suction applied to the suction shoe 134 through the perforations 7Ϊ of the feed-wheel 70 picks up the top sheet, the air blasts from the pipe ¹²⁰144 tending to. separate the front edges of. the top sheets (Fig. 11). As the wheel 70 is rotated in a forward clockwise direction . by the oscillating gears 75 and 129 actuated by the rock-tube 127, the top sheet is sepa- ¹²⁵rated and advanced between the guide plates 137 and 138 as shown in Fig. 16 until the leading edge contacts with the cut-out or trip finger 158 which normally-hangs vertically with its forked end. in the slots 141 and ¹³⁰

1,686,595

142. The advancing sheet moves finger 158 to the left (Figs. 16 and 17) which movement immediately throws the pawl 176 into lockr ing engagement with the ratchet 177 secured 5 to the wheel 70 as has been hereinbefore described. Such pawl and ratchet engagement causes the pivoted dog 79 to ride , out of the notch 83 on the hub'74 and so disconnects the wheel 70 from its actuating gear 75 which 10 completes its normal oscillation to the position shown by the rollers 185 and 186 in Fig. 17 with the arm 182 swung to the left to hold the cut-out finger raised from the path of the sheet. As the gear 75 is reversely rotated the 15 dog 79 is brought back into engagement with the notch 83 to oscillate the wheel 70 m its backward idle stroke, which movement also lifts the pawl 176 from the ratchet 177.and resets the cut-out finger in its Fig. 16 position 2o through the engagement of the roller 185 with the arm 181 as has been heretofore described.

The foregoing constructions embody the essential principles of my invention as a preferred embodiment in a continuous sheeti’·' feeder, but various changes may be made in the structural details and in the types of sheet-feeders in which such constructions are ’ installed for example, a pile-feeder, without departing from the scope of my improveC&lt;) ments. However the foregoing is sufficient. to disclose the underlying principles and .advantages as particularly applied , to a sheetfeeder of the continuous type.