US1072846A - Sheet-feeding mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

J. P. GOODRIDGE.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21, 1905. 1,072,846.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. P. GOODRIDGE.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 00121, 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

J; F. GO ODRIDGE. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 21, 1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

\2 Inventor,

P a? WW1!!! ,Jitar Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

J. P. GOODRIDGE. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION IILED 00w. 21. 1905.

1,972,846, Patented Sept. 9, 1913,

6 SHEET3SHEET 4.

flavaadii m- Amm n J. F. GOODRIDGE. SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 001'. 21, 1905.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

JAMES F. GOODRIDGl-E, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

Application filed October 21, 190 5. Serial No. 283,739.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. Goomnncn, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Sheet-Feeding Mechanism, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts] My invention aims to provide means for feeding'a'llkinds of flexible sheets, and is particularlyhintended for the delivery of single sheets,'suc h aspaper, to a printing press or the likcin \vli-atis known as jobbing work, which, as itsv name signifies, embraces a wide range of general printing, embossing, scoring, and like operations. It- IS customary to do all the-feeding for this kind of work by hand, in view of the lack of sufficiently adaptable, positive, and quickly adjustable mechanism for the purpose. Accordingly I have devised mechanism possessing suilicientmechanical adaptability and readiness of adjustment tomeet the requirements ofthe job printer, my mechanism accommodating itself automatically to operating on material of such varying characteristics in thickness, texture, dimensions and quantity as are met with in the general job printing business. It does not waste the operators time getting it ready; is positive in itsoperation, and is adapted to all kinds of material so that there is no misfeeding and oiling of sheets; no stopping is required or replenishing the stock, and it is adapted equally Well to long or short runs of work; it has delicate operation without the usual delicate mechanical appliances, and hence it does not require that constant care and readjustment during operation which would otherwise be necessary. The complementary machine, with which it is used, may be of any suitable type, and it is also useful as a separate machine,- for counting, distributing and collating sheets in any de- -sireu order.

I have shown my invention as applied to a printers use, the stack being vertical,

as this form is usually preferred.- The.

sheets are automatically combed forward and the overhanging ,top sheet is then picked up. separated vertically from the pile, lifted bodily forward, and fed positively thence to the complemental machine (whatever it may be). After each combing action, the overhanging top sheets are gently pushedbackand restored automatically in traly vertical stack formation. The sheets are taken one by one from the top of the stack, the stack is automatically raised (although the comber and pick-up mechanisnrarc arranged to automatically accommodate themselves to quite a variation of height and thickness). The sheet is positively held in all its shifting moremcnts, it therefore becoming unnecessary to grip the entire sheet, so that in the preferred form of my invention the sheet is operated upon adjacent. one corner thereof, all the feeding mechanism overhanging or embracing that side and the adjacent portion of the sheet or stack, so the latter may extend to any distance in the opposite direction. As the stack grows small, the operator, withoutstopping the machine in any degree, supplies more sheets at the bottom beneath said stack and these are.

at once coupled to the automatic raising mechanism;- and in this way the stack becomes practically endless.

Besides the abovennentioned basic features of my invention, I have devised a large number of relatively minor details which coiiperate therewith and form the subject matter of varioussub-combinations hereinafter claimed along with. the leading features which are claimed more broadly.

In the drawings, in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of myinvention,-Figure 1 is a right-hand side e1evation ofthe machine, parts being bro-ken away for clearness of illustration; Fig. 2 is aloft-hand side elevation thereof; Fig. 8 is a front end View of the complete 1nachine; Fig. 4 is a top plan View thereof, parts being omitted for the sake of clearness; Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary \iews. in end and side levation respectively. of the carrier-brac t; Figs..7 11 are views of the automat-i stcck-'1aising mechanism. Figs. 7 and 10 bowing respectively, in top plan, the mechanism out of feedinq positionand in feeding position, Fig. l) shou ing the mechanism in side: elevation. while Figs. 8 and 11 are fragmentary details of the. immediately adjacent parts: Fig. 19. is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the rock shafts and adjacent parts; Figs. 13-15 are views of the clamping mechanism. Fig.

l3 being a section on the line 13,1 3 of Figs. 14 and 17, and Figs. 14 and 15 being fragmentary views in top plan andside elevation of the clamping and stripping levers; Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 13 showing a slightly different construction; Figs. 17 and 18 are sectional views showing the main elements of the feeding mechanism, Fig. 17 showing the parts in the position assumed when the top sheet has just been engaged, and Fig. 18 showing saidtop sheet removed; Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional. det-a'rlof the comber on the line 19, 19, Fig. 18; Figs. 20 and 21 are sectional views on lines 20, and 21, respectively, Fig. 3; and Fig.22 isa cross-sectional detail on the line ;22, Fig. 21.

In the particular embodiment'of my invention herein shown, I have shown the mechanism mounted in a frame composed of opposite side frames 1, 2 connected by a cross bar 3 and base plate 4. The paper or other sheet material to be fed is shown as arranged in a vertical stack, two bodies thereof 6, 7 being herein shown, although it;

- will be understood that my invention is applicableto arranging the stack of paper inclined or horizontal instead of .vertical, within the scope of the broader of the claims hereinafter contained. The stack of paper is held in a stack or hopper composed of a rear fence 8 which is L-shaped extendingforwardly at its lower end 9 in dove-tailed engagement with the base plate 4, and itself grooved at 10 to receive a clamp 11 tightened by a bolt 12 for securing a front fence 13 whose vertical bars 14 extend upwardly parallel to the corresponding bars 15 of the rear fence .8, and both'provided with side flanges 16, 17 to form a side guard to hold the stack of paper in desired position. At the'right-hand, front side of the stack the frame has a projecting, vertical T shaped way 18 and at the opposite side of the stack a. guide flange 19 for cooperating with the stack supports, which comprise, as herein fi'shown, two carriers 20, 21 each having a *"Xlowercross bar 22 and an upper cross bar 23 separated therefrom vertically to provide an opening 24 and standing forward therefrom, as shown in Fig. 20, for receivingand supporting a removable bottom plate 25 provided with a hand hold 26 and stop 27. Each carrier 21 has a heavy, depending guide portion 28 provided at its edgewith a rack29for engaging a gear 30 on the shaft of an adjacent hand wheel 31 mounted'on a projecting shaft 32 and movable outwardly against astop 33 and inwardly to interlocked and driven position against a'shoulder 34. provided Withlugs or pins-35 fitting'corresp'onding recesses 36 in the adjacent end of the gear 30,whereby the stack supports may be either raised by hand, when the hand wheels and their gears are in the full line position Fig. 21, or raised automatically when in the opposite position locked with the rotating shaft 32. The way 18 is cut awayat its lower end,':as indicated at 37,"and the guide flange 19 terminates at As the paper in the hopper becomes nearly 1:

exhausted, a fresh carrier frame 21 is, put in place in the manner just stated, the support ing plate 25 is then inserted and a body of paper 7 is stacked thereon, whereupon the stack of sheets 7 and support are run up by hand into engagement with the'bott-om of the upper stack-support and then the hand wheel 31 is shoved forward into its locked position. Thereupon the supporting plate 25 of the upper stack-support is Withdrawn from the upper body 6 of paper, the upper carrier-frame 20 is then released and raised.

upwardly out of engagement with the ways 18, '19- and set; aside for use in like manner.

when a new supply of paper is needed. Inv

this way the stack is being constantly replenished from the bottom withoutdisturbing or stopping the machine in any manner. This permits the feeding to be continuous. In feeding the paper fromthe top ofthe stack, the desired object is to positively sepa-- rate a single sheet of"paper without fail,

from the stack at each feeding I movement,"

and for this purpose-I provide t-he mechanism shown in Figs. 1,2, 1218. Above the stack, adjacent the front thereof, is a rotary combing 'wheel 39, which is arranged to bear down in contact with the top of the stack for offsetting the upper sheets, as

shown clearly in Fig. 18,. the duration of the combing actionbeingfixed so that the paper is advanced to approximately a fixed point each time, whereupon the comber 39 is caused to raise from the stack, and'at thev same tlme a clamping or presser arm drops on top of the paper and holds theadjacent I sheets in their relative offset positions, with the top-most sheet 41 overlapping the one beneath it. Thereupon a pick-up or lifting finger 42 drops and delicately engages the sheet with its bent end 43 see Fig. 18. Meanwhile a reciprocating feed plate-44 has been moving forward and as its forward lip 45 nears the front edge of the stack, the

pick-up finger or raising device 42 is lifted intocarrying position or'clamping engagement with the forward edge of the sheet- 41, clipping it as in a vise against the under side of the arm 40,.which is bifurcated at 46 to receive the device 42. Continued raising of the picloup finger, also raises the lever or arm'40 and carries the topsheet 41 with it, thus separatingit from the rest of the'stack and holding it immovably. The feedplate wept as otherwise required by the appended continues to advance and enters its pointed end 4-5 beneath the sheet, as shown in Figs. 13 and 16.

As stated, the sheet it is heldimmovahly as in a vise between the members 40 and 43, and, as the plate 44 advances its slant ing front edges, see Fig. 4, gently separate the restof the sheet at either side of the lip 45, permitting the sheet to be wholly separated from the stack and supported on the laterally extended ends of said plate at, so that the. sheet is embraced by said plate and a clampingdevice or finger 4:7 pivoted onv a bracket 48 projecting upwardly from said plate. During the last portion of the advancing movement of the feed plate 41, a plate or tapper 49 swings against the offset edges of the released sheets left by the separation of said sheet 41 and restores them to accurate, vertical alinement. .Justas this movement is completed, the clamp finger 47 is brought into clamping engagement with the forward edge of the sheet 41, the clamp arm 40 is raised slightly, the released pick-up.finger 42 moves away into its upward position, as shown in Fig. 2, and the feed plate 44 starts on its return movement carrying the sheet 4:1,held accurately clamped, which it delivers to feed rollers 50, 51., the latter being automatically separated slightly to receive the sheet, as shown in Fig. 18, Thereupon the clamping finger 4 7 rises, releasing the sheet 41, and the feed rollers close on the sheet, and carry it forward into the printing press or other complementary machine. The foregoing cycle of operations continues without interruption.

Various kinds of mechanical movements can be employed in carrying out the leading features of my invention; as above outlined, with-out: departing from the spirit and scope of-my' invention, broadly considered, and accordingly itwill be understood that in the following more detailed description I am not limited to the constructional details exclaims. 1

Power is derived from a main shaft- 52 provided with a belt-pulley The comher 39 is continuously rotated by a belt 54 en eaged with a pulley 55 at on end on the shaft 52, and at-.its other end with a driven pulley 56 on one end of a shaft 57 provided atits opposite end with a gear 58 connected by idlers 59, 60with a gear (31 on the shaft of said comber 39 or mounted in a swinging they should cling arm 62. see Figs. 2 and 4, fast on a shaft (53 in axial alinement with the shaft: 57, see Figs.- 4 and 12. The shaft (33 is provided at its outer end with a rocker arm (54 pivotally connected at by a slot. connection 66 to a rod 6? controlled by a cam (38 on the shaft 52 operating on a roll 69 carried by said rod 67 which is slotted at 70 to straddle the shaft 52 and permit free movement. The foregoing construction permits the comber 39, in the downward position, to rest its weight on top of the pile of sheets, the slot 66 in the rod 67 allowing a back lash in..the connection, so that the comber wheel 39 can accommodate itself to any normal'variation in the height of the stack or in the thickness of the sheets, and yet the cam action is positive, so that the timing of the combing action is accurate and certain. it will be understood that the eomber itself may be widely varied in construction, although I prefer to employ a rotary wheel or pair of disks containing peripheral rollers 71, as best shown in Figs. 18 and 19, as this construction most nearly approaches in its results the combing action .commonly performed by hand feeders, who, when they desire to offset the sheets, so that one sheet at a time can bemore readily sepa 'at'ed from the stack, commonly use a smooth, slightly resisting hand device which they rub gently over the top of the stack of paper in the same encral manner as contem )lated in m r invention. At this point, it may be well to note that in general I aim to make my mechanism conform as nearly as possible to the usual hand methods, my invention residing in providing means for accomplishing the results automatically instead of by hand and for accomn'iodating one machine to all the varying requirements of the jobbers work.

The clamping or presser arm 40 constitutes another important feature of my invention. This arm carries opposite stripper fin ers 72 one at each side nvoted at 7-3 and limited in their downward movement by stops 74 being delicately pressed downward by spri 'igs 75 retained in studs 76. The result. is that when the arm 40 is raised from the stack, these stripper fingers 72 cooperate with the pickup device 42 to strike against the upper side of the top sheet, thereby tapping and jarring or striking the succeeding sheets away from the top sheet (in case thereto by reason of static electricity or otherwise), and also serve to bend or arch the. paper, as shown clearly in Fig. 13, thereby perinitt'ing more or less air to get between the sheet 41 and the adjacent sheet of the stack. This aids in preventing the clinging of the two together and facilitates the separation of the sheet 4-1, upon the entrance of the lip 45. The arm 40 is cmiiteiwveighted and is fasten a sleeve shaft- 77 surroumling, for convenience, the shaft (33 and providedwvith an adjustable collar 78 to which is attached. a spring 79 fast at its other end to the hub of a lever 80 provided with a slot 81 for engaging a pin 82 projecting from said shaft 77, see Fig. 3. The lever 80 is pivoted at 83 to av rod S-i provided with a roll 85 engaged by a cam St'. The stop pin 82 bears such relation to and at its outer end has a slot 103 loosely oted at 121 on an arm 122 extending from 'lever 101 which is pivotallyconnected with set position of the top-most sheet -11, while returning the combed portion of the paper' the slot 81 that the arm 40 is always raised to the same height, but when the arm 40 moves in an Opposite direction thespring 79 comes into play and by its tensionholds the arm 40 down yieldingly. The tension of said spring can be adjusted by regulating. the collar 78 to give desired pressure to the arm 40..

The pick-up finger or clamping device 42 which coiiperates with the arm 40 is carried by a block 87 pivoted in the free end of an arm 88 rocked up and down by a rock shaft 89 journaled in a carrier arm 90, see Figs. 46, extending rigidly from a fixed rod 91, said rock shaft being operated by an arm 92 whose roll 93 engages a cam 94 on a shaft 95 driven by miter gears 96, 97, shaft 98 and gears 99, 100, the latter being fast on the main shaft 52. The angular portion of the pick-up finger 42 is controlled by a the outer end of the block 87 by a stud 102,

embracing a pin 104 on the free end of a crank 105 rocked by a shaft 106. The lever 101 is normally held so that the forward end of its slot 103 engages said pin 101 by means of a spring 107 fast on the arm 88 and bearing down on the inner end of the block 87, whereby the pick-up device 42 is always free to yield to the left, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18, for automatically accommodating itself to whatever may be the offyet remaining under the positive control ofthe coiiperating levers 88 and 101 as to its general position, and especially as to its pinching or holding movement. The shaft 106 is supported in thecarrier arm 00, see Fig. 6, and operated by an arm 108 whose roll 109 engages the under side of the cam 94, said cams and connections mentioned being so shaped and proportioned as to give the resulting motions previously described.

Reciprocal motionis given to the feed plate 41 by a crank 110 formed in the shaft 52, connected by a rod 111 to a ever 112 pivoted at its lower end in the frame at 113 and at its upper end to a link 11 1 for operating a slide 115, on ways 110 ofthe frame, which carries said plate 4 1. The clamping finger 47 is rocked by a lever 117 whose roll 118 is in a position (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4) to engage the offset flanges or ledges 119 of a rocking lever 120 when the feed plate 44 is in its extreme positions, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18. The lever 120 isvpivthe fixed bracket or hanger 90, and is operated by a double acting cam 123 on the shaft 95, driven as already described. While various means may be employed for stack to its original position after the top sheet has been separated, such as a reverse motion of the combing wheel 39 or other device, I prefer to employ the tapper or vibrator plate 49. This plate is pivoted at 124 and 125 on the upper end of the rear fence 15 and is operated by a rod 126 pivoted thereto-at 127 and to the outer end 128 of a lever 129 pivoted at 130 to the main frame and carrying a roll 131 at its inner end engaged by a cam 132 on the main shaft 52 for transmitting the desired vilntatory motion for tapping back the sheetls. The cam 132 is so timed in relation to th'e travel of the feed plate 4.4. that the pushingback action on the paper takes place di -rectly prior. to the full, backward position 'by means of a spring 14-2 secured to the arm 137, see Figs. 1, 2 and 4-.

The sheets are kept automatically at the required level to coiiperate properly with the comber 39 and the presser arm, pickup arm, feed plate, etc, by means of worm and worm wheel arrangements, which not' only serve to lift the paper stack, but also to lock it or prevent its settling. on the inner ends of the shafts 32 are mounted worm wheels 143 engaging worms 144 on a shaft 145 mounted in brackets 140, 14-7 of the main frame, said shaft having fixed on its upper end a ratchet wheel 148 adapted to be engaged by a pawl .149 loosely'pivoted in the free end of a bell-crank lever 150 operated bya pitman 151 connected to a pin 152 projecting cccentrically from a collar 153 onthc upper end of the shaft 95 justabove the cam 91 so that every time said shaft 95 is rotated the pawl l-l-9 is reci proca ted. the ratchet wheel 118 or not, depends upon the height of the paper, and hence the op-' lVhether this pawl engages the paper as follows: Projecting rigidly upward from the pivoted arm (52 whichcarrics the comber 39, is a bracket 154 having a fixed arm 155 provided at its end with a depending portion .or lip 156, which, therefore, swings back and forth'wvitlrthe cor responding movements of the comber 39, and hence, as the combcr falls lower and lower with each successive feed of paper, the

.arm 155 and hp 150 move farther and farther to the right, Figs. 1, 710, and the hp 156 is thereby gradually brought into the path of a projection 157 extending uppath of the oscillating arm 155; The movements of the pltman 151 and the arm 155 are SO timed that said arm swings forward,

just in time for its lip 156 to catch and retain the projection 157 of the pawl 149,

so as to render the latter inoperative unless the paper has become below normal, in which case said lip is swung farther to the right, Figs. 7-10, as shown in dotted lines in .Fig. 9, thereby permitting the pawl 1 19 to become active and operate the \vorin114 and worm wheel 143, which in turn rotate the gears 30 and lift the rack'bars 29 and their stack'supports 20-25.

In Fig. 16, instead of showing the strip pers separate, as shown at 72 in Fig. 13, I have shown the stripper action as secured by forming the outer end of the arm 40 curved on its under side 161 so that. its outer edges 162 serve to bend the paper downwardly, as shown at 4:1, in very much the same manner as in the other embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 13. And in this connection, I wish to have it clearly understood that my invention in general may beembodied in a wide variety of mechanical constructions, and that I have merely undertaken herein to show that form of embodiment which I consider the best for general purposes and particularly the .best forjobbers work which requires delicacy of operation without delicacy of construction, as the usage is apt to be rough and severe. V

In use, let it be'supposed that the machine is empty- The operator first inserts the carrier 20 at the points 37, 38 to engage the ways 18, 19 and lifts the same until the rack 29 thereof has engaged the gear 30- of the lower operating device, whereupon the same is raised slightly by the hand wheel131 and then locked in position by pushing in on the hand wheel. tom plate 25 is then inserted and is held by too cant-alive? action of the offset parts 22, 23. ()n this bottom 25 is placed a stack of paper and the carrier is then run up by hand or machine untilat the proper height to be engaged by the comber 39. The machine is then started in action and the continuously rotating comber ol'l'sots the upper sheets, as-sllown in Fig. 17, whereupon the pick-up linger 42 descends from its position shown in Fig. 2 to its position shown in Fig. 18, resting yieldingly and delicately againstthe front edge of the topmost. sheet, It is then lifted into positive pinching engngren'mnt with the front edge of the top The botward, as shbwn in Fig. 17, and its lip 45 enters beneath the arched or stripped sheet, as shown in' Figs. 13' and 16. As said feed plate has" almost reached its forwyrdmost position and the top sheet has been almost entirely stripped from the stack, the vibrating plate or tapper 49 comes into operation, pushing back the remaining otl'set sheets and alining them properly for succeeding feeding movements. This plate also serves to retain the stack in proper formation while the top sheet is being fed. As this operation takes place, the clamp finger 417 is brought into operation and serves'to clamp said top sheet 41 firmly against the feed plate, the ,presser arm 40 and pickup finger 42 are disengaged from said top sheet and moved into the position shown in Fig. 2, and the feed plate carries the paper from the stack to the rolls 50, 51, which have meanwhile been separated to re ceire the same. As said teed rolls are During the latter part of the aforesaid movements, the comber has again dropped upon the stack and offset the sheets, and the pick-up finger has lifted and clamped the topmost sheet, ready for the return movement of the feed-plate.

The feeding continues until the stack is lowered materially, whereupon the combcr falls sufficiently to cause the arm 155 carried thereby not to interpose its lip 156 in -the path of the constantly reciprocating pawl 1 19, whereupon the autonmtic mechanism connected therewith becomes operative for rotating the worm shaft- 145 and thereby automatically lifting the stack to proper position without interruptimi of the feeding of the sheets therefrom. When the stack has become more or less cxl iaustcd. the operator inserts another (iiirrier frame 21 in place beneath the ways 1H, 1!) and engagcs it therewith in the same manner as the previous carrier frame 20, inserts a, botloin-support 25 therein and places thereon a second stack 7 of sheets whi h he raises by the hand wheel 31 against the bottomasup wrt 25 of the upper stack (5, lhcrcupon pulling out said upper plate 25 so as to bring the two stacks (i and 7 together. The l'rcding continues without interruption being properly attended to by the ailtonnitic nn-chanism already described. hleauuhile the operator (listing-Wes the upper gear Cit) and its hand \vhechdfi from the clutch pins 4 35 of the shaft 32 and runs up the carrier 20 until it is entirely'free from the guides 18, 1t), thereupon removing the same to he subsequently used beneath the carrier 21 for a third stack of sheets the same as before.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the operation of my mechanism is continuous and is adapted to all classes and character of work such as are metwith in jobl-ing work. Extremely thin sheets can be fed with equal facility the same as thicker sheets and small sheets as well as large sheets. The comber adjusts itselfirrespective of the thickness of the sheets and operates only long'enough to offset the sheets, doing so asnearly as possible the sam -as is ordimain cause heretofore of preventing automatic feeders from being commonly-employed by jobhers.

Viewing l ig's. 53' and -l-. it will be seen that the eombeix lifting and stripping mechanism. nml feeder are all supported at one side only of the machine so that the sheets ran project as far as required in the opposite direction: and as all the feeding movements of the sheets are accomplished r. bite the individual sheet is tirmly clamped or held agaiir-a shifting movement. it heeomt-s comparativetv unimportant that the sheet is grasped mainly at one corner.

l ha \e shown the feed plate -.tl.as extending a considerable distance from its support to the. opposite side of the machine. see

l ig. l, and it will be understood that this and other p rtions of the ma hine. \vill be varied to sHit. the preferem'es or requirements in special cases. i

llaving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i

t. A sheet-feeding mechanism, comprising means forsupporting a stack of sheets, and feeding mechanism supported at one side of and overhanging said staclflthe ma-.

chine affording a. free and llll()l) tl'llt'tt(t spat-e at the rear and side of said overhanging feeding n'u'chauism for permitting free t'eedin'g llltn'tlllt 'llt of sheets of varyingsivles, said feedingmechanism including a comber for otl'settiug the outer end sheets. clamping means llor engaging and picking up the outermost sheet. and a feed 1 late' 'u'ovided with means f r engaging and positively feeding forward said pickedatp sheet.

2. A sheet feeding mechanism, comprising means for supporting a stack of sheets,

and feeding mechanism supportediatcne side of and overhangingsaid stack, including a comher for offsetting the outer end sheets, clamping means for engaging'and picking up the outermost sheet, a feed plate pro- .vided with means for engaging and posi tively feeding forward said picked-up sheet, and a tapper for restoring the stackto normal position afterthe. feeding operation overhang said stack, feedingmechanism"ear.

ried by said (wet-hanging support in position to leave an unrestrictedSpaceon all but the one supported side, forsaid' stack of. sheets to extend horizontally I'freely, substantially without limit in three directions, said feeding mechanism including-a projecting presser arm extendingfrom the overbanging portion of said support to engage] the top side of a sheet, and cooperating means to engage the underside of the sheet in opposition to said prss'er arm;

.5. 'In a sheet-feeding mechanism, means for supporting astaek of sheets, a yielding pick-up linger for engaging andilifting the front edge of the end sheet, means cotiperat-' ing with saidfinger forgrasp'ing'said sheet immovable, means for entering beneath sa'id sheet and engaging tl e same, and means for releasing said pick-up fingerfrom said sheet when so engaged. v p

(3. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, means for supporting a stack of sheets, a pick-up device for engaging and. lifting the end sheet. a presser arm, and mechanism for moving said device yieldingly forward against the front edge of said'sheet, and up 'ardly with said sheet against said presser arm. t. i

T In a sheet-feedingmechanism, means for supporting a "stack of sheets, a presser arm. a. 'picleup tinger normally extending transversely across the edge. of the paper when in cal'r \'ing position. and means for swinginyfsaid linger toward 'said arm and raising said linger intoengagenlent with said arm, said linger havingalient endfonpinclr ing the sheet against' said pfesseHirm.

S. In a sheet-feeding mechanism. means for supporting a stack of sheets, a presser arm. a pickup linger. and means for swinging said tinger vieldingly toward said arm and raising said tinger into engagement with said arm, said finger having a bent end for pinching the end sheet against said presser arm.

9. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, means for supporting a stack of sheets, and sheet separating means comprising a presser arm provided with means at its opposite sides for depressing the adjacent portions of a sheet, and means cooperating with said presser arm for raising the intermediate portion of the sheet and thereby separating it from the stack.

'10. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, means for supporting a stack of sheets, means for deflecting and separating a portion of the end sheet from said. stack, a teed-plate pro vided with a lip for entering beneath said deflected portion of saidsheet, said plate also having means cooperating with said lip for separating the rest of the sheet from the stack, means for clamping the sheet to said plate when so separated, and means for movsaid stack.

11. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, means for supporting a stack of sheets, means for separating the end sheet from said stack, a feed plate for engaging beneath and sup porting bodily said separated sheet, a clamp ing device cooperating with said plate for clamping said sheet stationary on the feed plate, transferring mechanism foreeceiving said sheet from said pl'ate, and means for automatically operating-maid clamping device as said plate reaches'its sheet-engaging position, and also as said plate reaches its sheet-delivering position. 7

In testimony whereof, Ihave signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses,

J AMES F. GOODRIDGE.

Witnesses Simmer, lVmNBEnG, FRED T. BARRY.

Images