GB999935A - Sheet feeding mechanism having corner and centre stack restrainers - Google Patents

Abstract

999,935. Feeding Sheets. A. B. DICK CO. Dec. 6, 1963 [May 1, 1963], No. 48316/63. Heading B6B. In a sheet-feeding apparatus comprising means for separating the topmost sheet from a stack, the sheets in the stack are restrained at the front corners by horizontal flanges on vertically slidable members, and all the sheets, except the topmost one, are restrained from forward movement by a restraining member positioned in front of the stack adjacent the centre thereof. As described, the apparatus is associated with a duplicator, or like printing machine, the stack of sheets being supported on a table which is raised automatically as the stack is depleted, and the sheets are separated from the stack by a pair of friction rollers spaced apart on a non-rectangular drive shaft. Adjacent the front of the stack and secured to the frame of the duplicator is a vertical plate 52, Fig. 4, on which are mounted two members 36 which have bent-over lips adapted to rest on the front comers of the stack, and the centre restraining member 64. The corner members 36 are substantially as described in Specification 873,747. The member 64 comprises a vertical blade which is slotted vertically at 82, and has a pin connection with a horizontal slot 54 in the plate 52. The lower end 72 of the member 64 has pins 74 which engage a horizontal slot 68 in an adjusting plate 66, which is on the opposite side of the plate 52 the latter having a wide horizontal slot 70 to allow the pins 74 to pass freely therethrough. The adjusting plate 66 is guided for vertical movement on the plate 52 by a pin-and-slot connection 90, 88, and has two inclined camming slots 102 which are engaged by pins 100 on a plate member 94 provided with a handle 96 and supported on the plate 52 by the pins 100 which engage horizontal slots 98 in the plate 52. Thus, when the plate 94 is moved horizontally, the centre restraining member 64 is moved vertically, and the top edge can be adjusted to hold back all the sheets but the topmost one during the separating action. The two comer members 36 have pin connection with the slot 54 to allow limited vertical movement, and they rest under gravity on the front corners of the stack; their lips are slotted at 46 for sliding engagement with side guides for the stack of sheets. In a modification, the centre restraining member 64a, Fig. 6, is slidable vertically on a carrier plate 116 which has lugs 120 engaging horizontal slots in the main fired plate 52a. The member 64a has a vertical gear rack 132 secured thereto and engaged by an elongated pinion 140 and a gear rack 142 engaging the pinion 140 can be moved by screw-thread means operable by a knob 152 to cause vertical adjustment of the centre restraining member 64a.