GB595922A - Improvements in automatic sheet feeding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

595,922. Feeding sheets. HOE & CO., Ltd., R., ROBINSON, Ltd.. E. S. & A., and BATTEY, A. P. July 9, 1845, No. 17458. [Class 100 (i)] To enable a sheet-feeding apparatus to work continuously the pile is maintained normally at a predetermined level by one automatically operated support and when this support reaches a given level the pile is transferred to a secondary support which continues the raising while the main support is refilled and advanced again to a position in which it again acts to effect the raising. As shown in Fig. 1, the main raising means consist of chains 4 attached to a support 1<1> for a pile board 1 on which rests a temporary support 2 carrying the pile 3. At a given level pivoted pawls 5 are moved aside against spring or gravity action and return so as to engage the underside of the support 2. The outward motion of one pawl 5 rotates a shaft 14 by means of an arm 11 and a ball-and-socket connection with an arm 13, and rotation of shaft 14 operates a trip member 18 which releases a catch 22 serving to control a mask device 26 arranged to prevent engagement of a pawl 27 with the teeth of a ratchet 28. The pawl 27 is oscillated from the machine being fed, and when the mask is rendered inoperative the pawl rotates the ratchet 28 and finally rotates also a ratchet 29 of smaller diameter when a gap in the teeth of ratchet 28 permits, and ratchet 29 is fixed to a shaft 10<1> geared by worm gearing to pinions 9 geared to racks 8 on the rods 7 which carry the pawls 5. The pile 3 is thus advanced by the rods 7 until a new pile is placed on the board 1 and moved into contact with the temporary support 2. The support is then withdrawn, and the pawl 27 put out of action when the chains 4 are made subject to the normal raising action under pile control. In a modification, Fig. 4, the support 2 is taken by bars 36 on chains 32 driven by sprockets 33 which are geared together and are driven by variable speed gear which can be set to synchronize with the associated machine, or can be driven under control of feelers resting on the pile, and this mechanism may be the same as that which controls the chains 4. Toothed gears or screw may replace the chains 32.