GB270572A - Sheet feeding machines - Google Patents

Abstract

270,572. Aldrich, L. K. Nov. 11, 1926. Sheet-separators.-Sheets are fed to printing, ruling, folding, and like machines by means of oscillating suction arms 14 which separate the top sheet from the pile 5 and buckle it slightly while raising it to a wheel 1 formed with suction ports 8, Fig. 8. The wheel 1 can be rotated continuously by driving its shaft 2 by a detachable crankconnection with a lever which operates the tableraising mechanism, or it can be oscillated by a reciprocating rack engaging a pinion when the machine with which the feeder is associated operates at timed intervals. In each case the wheel 1 takes the separated sheet while moving in a counterclockwise direction, and passes it on to feed rollers 6, 7 before the sheet is relieved of the suction action of the parts 8, which act in succession on different portions of the sheet as apertures 9 in the wheel move past a spring- pressed wood bushing 50 mounted in an arm 11 on a shaft 56, the bushing being saturated with oil and connected by a tube 33 to the main passage 28 of an air control device connected to a motor-driven suction pump. The suction arms 14 are connected by tubes 35, 36 to auxiliary passages 29, 37 of the air control device, and a sliding-valve 27 is operated by a lever 17, Fig. 2, on the shaft 15 of the arms 14 to cut off the suction to the arms 14 at the desired time. The air pressure in the conduits 28, 29 is controlled by providing vent apertures 42, 43 fitted with spring-pressed discs 39 having apertures of different sizes which can be registered with the apertures 42, 43. When the wheel 1 rotates continuously the bushing 50 registers with a curved slot 12 in the wheel to connect the pipe 33 to atmosphere to destroy the vacuum when the sheet has been taken by the rollers 6, 7. When the wheel 1 oscillates, the vacuum is destroyed by opening a relief valve 60, Fig. 2, by a pin 65 on the shaft 2 and a slotted link 66. Another hand-operated relief valve 69 is provided for breaking the vacuum at any time it is desired to stop the feed.