US1132034A - Sheet feeding and delivering device for automatically-operated type-writing machines. - Google Patents

Description

L'. R. ROBERTS & 0. L. DAVIS. SHEET FEEDING AND DELIVERING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED TYPE WRITING MAOHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1908.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

s SHEETSSHEET '14 L. R. ROBERTS & 0. L. DAVIS. SHEET FEEDING AND DELIVERING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1908.

mszmma PatentedMar. 16, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. R. ROBERTS & G. L. DAVIS. SHEET FEEDING AND DELIVERING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED TYPE WRITING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1908.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

L. R. ROBERTS & G. L] DAVIS.

LIVERING DEV IGE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

SHEET FEEDING AND DE APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1908. 1 1 SQQMO Patented Mar.16,1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Whammy: g; WW

dv (aw L. R. ROBERTS & 0. L. DAVIS. ,SHEBT FEEDING AND DELIVERING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED TYPE WRITING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1908.

1,1 82,034. Patented Mair. 1A, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

sures PATENT ora ion.-

LYMAit 1a. Runners Am) cnnmlns DAVIS, or henom, MICHIGAN, nssrenons T unnnawoon rmwm'rna comramr, or new NEW JERSEY.

YORK, 31'; 21, A CORPORATION OF mm mama mm tmwama niivi'cn' rot-it- Ammamemamam W1 1iwarrme nacnmns;

maaoae.

Specification of Letters Patent. pafimmf fl M i- 16; 1915 A lication nee s' tmir 22, was. seal iii. 454,135;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EYMAN R. ROBERTS and CHARLES L; Davis, both citizens'of the United States of America, and both residing in Detroit, in thecounty of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet Feeding and Delivering Devices for Automatically-Operated Type-Writing Machines, &c., of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates principally to machines for operating typewriting machines,

' such for instance as the kind set forth in our United States application No. 128,050, Patent 1,109,597, Sept. 1, 1914:, in which, by means of a perforated web of paper, certain pneumatic hammers are caused to operate the keys of the typewriter," and the sheet written on is caused to advance for linespaeing and also to return to begin a new line of writing. 7

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to avoid the necessity for the attendant to insert a fresh sheet in the typewriting machine after the writing of-each sheet is completed. To this end, there is provided upon the typewriter carriage a sheet support or feed board to receive a pile of sheets, and means are provided to operate at another conclusion of the writing of each sheet to lift the sheet from the pile and introduce it between the rolls of the typewriting machine. As soon as each sheet is written, it is delivered and deposited automatically upon its predecessors, forming a delivery pile. It is thus only necessary for the operator to place a pile of sheets upon the feed board, whereupon the machine will operate until the pile is exhausted, and deliver the Written sheets into a receptacle.

The operation of feeding a sheet from a pile of blank sheets into the typewriting machine is controlled by means of a suitable perforation made, at the proper point in the master sheet, whereby pneumatic devices are called into operation to feed the sheet. These devices include suction cups which drop upon the sheet, and are then exhausted and rise with the sheet from the pile. At the proper moment the vacuum in the cups is relieved, and the sheet drops into the bite of the usual platen and pressure rolls.

' facilitate separating the It is then fed around the late-n line by line as the Wr t ng proceeds; ts'leadin edge is guided '11 to a pair of feed rollsaiovethc platen. he's'e rolls are geared to the platen, and serve tocarry the sheet into a re'ce tacle provided on the delivery, side 'of t e platen; ine a'ns bein' provided to tease the bottom edge of the gheet to ride'over one of the rolls and drop into the receptacle.

The pile of blank sheets stands on edge at the rear of the platen, resting back upon a feed board, which is slightly tilted to the rear, and downupon a foot or stop. To U top sheet from an under sheet which may accidentally cling thereto, saidstop is set at an acute angle to the feed board, and the suction cup is caused to move in a direction about parallel with the inclination of the stop. Moreover. the edge'sof the stop conver' e toward each other, to cause the b'ottom e ge of the sheet to scrape along said edges for a considerable port on of the width of the sheet, thereby tending to detach any under sheet; while at the front of the stop are provided hooks or rlfiles, ust beneath or in register with the cups, which are effective in finally separatmg thetop sheet from any under sheet that may lift with it. The cups are mounted upon a frame which vibrates to lift and drop them, the vibration being effected durmg the return movements of the paper carrlage to begin a new line of Writing. A cam isfixed upon the typewriting machine to engage a part of said vibrating frame to cause the movements of the cups; the cam being adjustable along the run of the carriage, to cause such movements to take place at any desired point.

This invention is shown applied to an Underwood typewriting machine, in which it is customary to use the line-space lever for the purpose of returning the carriage to begin a new line; said lever being operated automatically in the present instance in the manner illustrated in said United States application No. 428,050 Patent No. 1,109,597, Sept. 1, 1914 In order to prevent the cups from resting upon and retarding the sheet at the line-spacing operation, a second cam is provided upon the machine frame to engage the suction clip frame,

andlift the cups during the lineacing operation;. this second cam being li ewise adjustable along the run of the carnage.

inafter appear.

In the accompanym drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective front e evation of a carriage and connections of an Underwood typewriting machine connected to a typewriter operator, such'as already referred to. Fig. -2 is a sectional side elevation of .the same, showing the suction cups in fulllines resting upon the pile of sheets and n dotted lines in sheet-feeding position. Fig. 3 1s a detail of the sheet-feeding mechanism, showing a sheet lifted by the cups from the pile,

and an undersheetheld back by the hooks or riflles. Fig. 4 is a perspective front'view of the cams fixed upon the frame of the typewriting machine for controlling the movements of the paper-feeding suction cups.- Fig. 5 is a perspective view 'of the hollow frame or bail which carries the suction cups. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of the lower part of the feed board and the foot or stop on which the sheets rest. .Fig. 7 1s a sectional side elevation showing the manner of delivering a sheet into the receptacle for the delivery sheets. Fig. 8 is a rear view of said receptacle. Fig. 9 is a sectlonal elevation of the first and second primary pneumatics connected to the sheet-feeding mechanism, and controlled by the perforated master sheet. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic I perspective of the perforated master sheet and tracker board.

In using the apparatus set forth in sald application, types 1 are caused to strike against the front side of a cylindrical platen 2 by means of pneumatic devices controlled by a perforated master sheet or loop 3, the latter running over rolls 4, 5 and an intermediate tracker board 6. As usual in the Underwood machine, the platen 2 is journaled by means of an axle 7 in the ends 8 of a platen frame, which includes a paper shelf 9, which inclines downwardl beneath and curves forwardly up around t e platen,

and coiiperates with pressure rolls 10, 11 to a carriage 14, which moves step by step to the left for letter-feeding, and is returned to the right to begin each new line.

The sheets to be fed into the typewriter.

are arranged in a pile 15, which stands on edge over the platen frame and back of the platen, or in other words at the introductory side of the machine. The supporting means 7 for said pile comprises a backwardly tilted feed board 16, having at its bottom a foot rest or stop 17 The sheets stand u on the latter, as shown, and rest against t e feed sides of-the feed board 16. Other features and advantages will here-' the sheet. The cups, of which two are 16; The sides of the pile may becon fined bya pair of plates or ages'18'at the he receptacle is supported by one or more brackets 19 upont e .carriage 14.0fthe tvpewrit'ing machine, being secured by screws 20. -,1 a

The sheets are picked off the pile by means of suction cups 21, whichare formed of soft "rubber and have very thin and highly flexible lips or flangesto "restupon shown in the present instance, fit upon nip-' ples 22 projecting rearwardly from a rod 23, which is bent ackwardly and upwardly A at its endsto form a pair vof arms 24, the

latter being bentinwardly at 25. parallel with the bar "23, and the whole. forming a rectangular frame or bail; the portion 25 being ournaled in a pair of. ears 26 projecting rearwardly from the back of the feed table 16, so that the frame with the cups may swing, upwardly and forwardly from the full line position to the dotted line position at Fig. 2. Said suction cup frame is hollow, and the ends of the part 25 are connected by a hollow coupling 27 the latter having a nipple 28 upon which is secured the end of a flexible rubber suction tube 29. The tube is of such length as to permit it to travel freely with the paper carriage 14. It will be understood that when said'tube 29 is exhausted, air will also be drawn out from said hollow or tubular frame 23, 24, 25, and from the suction cups 21, to cause the latter to pick up the top sheet from the pile 15. The other end of the flexible suction tube 29 is fitted upon a nipple 30 extending from a second primary 31, the latter being connected by a tube 32 to a first primary 33, and this in turn being connected by a tube 34 to a nipple 35 having an opening 36 in said tracker board 6.

Thus the pneumatic devices, including the tube 34, first primary 33, second primary 31, tube 29, frame 23, 24, 25, and cups 21, extend from the tracker board to the carriage and'communicate with the pile of sheets 15, so that the feeding of the sheets may be controlled by the master sheet runnm over the tracker board. Said opening 36 1s nor- 'mally covered by the master sheet 3 during the operation of the typewriting machine;

but when a perforation 37 in the traveling I sheet 3 registers with the opening 36 in the tracker board, air is admitted into the pneu-' matic devices, and the suction cups caused to rip the top sheet of the pile 15.

he pneumatic devices may be of any suitable'character; but for the sake of illustration the drawingsshow the same pneumatic apparatus as is disclosed in said application. Said rimaries 33 and 31 are secured upon an alr chamber 37, which is being constantl exhausted by any suitable means throng the pipe 38.. :When the per utmost foration 86 in the tracker board is opened by the sheet 3, air enters through'the tube 84 into a bottom chamber- 39 of the primary 33, and lifts a flexible diaphragm 40. Upon the latter rests a stem t1, which lifts a valve 42 against a seat 43 in the primary case 38, and also lifts an outside valve 44 from the top of the casing 33, andadmits air from the atmosphere through an opening 45 in said top. Such atmospheric air am from the first primary through tube-32 to the entrance chamber 46 of' the mondiprirnary a1, and lifts a diaphragm 4 6, upon which rests a valve stem 48. This stem lifts a valve 49 from an opening 50 in a horieontal partition 51 formed in theseeond primary '81; and at the same time a valve 52 onthe stem 48 closes a normallyopen aperture fih inthe top of the casing 31. Thus the exhaust chamber-37 is put into communication with the main chamber of the second primary 31, and air is exhausted through the nipple 30 from the flenible carriage tube 29, and the cups are caused togrip the top sheet on the pile l5. lit will be seen that the exhaust chamber 37 in the pneumatic device may communicate with the main chambers of the first and second primaries by the means described.

When the perforation 87 in the master sheet passes by the hole 36 in the tracker board, and said hole is consequently closed by the body of the sheet, air is exhausted from/the tube 34 and the entrance chamber 39 through a small'hole fi l'usually provided, in pneumatic devices of this character, in the middle of the diaphragm 40, so that the diaphragm and the valve stem 41 may drop in the usual manner, thus causing the parts in the second primary 81 to resume normal positions, and relievln the vacuum from the suction cups, the am entering from the diaphragm through the opening 58 into the second primary 3]. and passing into the suction tube 29. This admission of air to the tube 29 does not need to occur during the return stroke of the carriage, but may occur during the writing of the succeeding line on the prior sheet. The perforation 37* may be in the same line on the master sheet with the perforation which causes the carriagc to return to begin a new line, so that air remains exhausted from the cups 21 during this entire return movement of the carriage, While the master sheet remains stationary. At the completion of said return of the carriage, the master sheet is again started in operation, as set forth in said application; and the perforation 37 in the master sheet passes beyond the perforation 36 in the trackerboard, and air is hence admitted into the tube 29 and into the suction cups 21, so that the work-sheet is dropped into the bite of .'the platen and rolls. In-

order to accomplish this result, it is only necessary to have the perforations on the master sheet in the proper relation to one another, as will be understood by thos'awho producesuch sheets. The sheet seen at Fig. 10 may be regarded as merely a diagram, for the purpose of showing that suction may be caused in the cups 21 by the passage of a master sheetover-a tracker hoard.

While the suction cups are exhausted, the suotionnup frame swings from the full line position at Fig. 2 to the position at Fig. 3, thereby lifting a sheet 55 from the top of the pile. This movement is produced by the paper carriage 14, and occurs during the last portion of the return movement of said carriage to begin a new line. For this purpose, an arm or crank 56 is secured upon the ournaled portion 25 of the suction cup frame-and carries at its lower end an anti friction roll 57 to engage a fixed cam or beveled plate 58. The latter it will be seen is in the path of said roll, so that the latter is swung from the full line to the dotted line position at Fig. 2, during the movement of the carriage to the right. While the rocking frame is in the Fig. 3 position, the air is admitted to the tube 29 through the pneumatic devices just described, and the sheet 55 is then dropped into the bite of the rolls of the typewriting machine, as at 59. Preferably this occurs at such a point as to permit the sheet 55 to be overlapped by the bottom of the preceding sheet 60, so that the latter, as it is fed around by the platen and the rolls 10, 11, helps to draw the sheet 55 into the typewriting machine.

In order to facilitate separation of the sheets one from another, several expedients are adopted. One of these consists in disposing the foot or stop 17 at an acute angle with the feed board 16, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the sheets are slightly fanned out, the plane of the lower edge of the pile being at an acute angle to the plane of the feed board.

The suction cup frame is hinged in rear of the feed board, the latter being embraced by the arms 24, and the direction taken by the suction cups is upwardly and forwardly,

about in the same direction as that taken by the angular stop 17. The movement of the cup in this direction is of assistance in separating the top sheet from the one under it. Again, the opposite sides of the stop 17 converge toward each other, as seen at 61, Fig. 6, so that the bottom edges of the sheets tend to scrape along these converging edges for a considerable portion of the Width of the sheet, whereby the movement of the under sheet or sheets is retarded at the side edges thereof. At the terminations of said converging sides 61 are formed hooks or riffies 62, turned up from the stop 17 just beneath or in register with the two suction cups 21. The suction of the cups is strong to cat'ch and hold back any under sheetwhich may have clung to thetop sheet up to; this point, as seen at 63, Fig. The cups may beof sufficient diameter, and the suc tion of sufficient force, to cause the sheet to buckle a little into the cups, thus aiding. to disengage it from the under sheet, if any.

' It will also be understood that the'constant' =platen, so that the rolls 83, 84, which run vibration of the pile of sheets, due to the repeated starting and stopplng of the paper carriage, tends to separate all the sheets one from another.

I the paper is effected by a handle or lever 64,

mounted upon the platen frame and havingan arm'65 to drive a slide 66, which carries a pawl 67 in engagement with a ratchet wheel 68, which is fixed to the platen. The handle 64 also serves to return the carriage to begln a new line; pressure of the handle to the right at Fig. 1 causing it to perform this double function. In said applicationa part 2569, controlled by the pneumatic devices of the typewriter. operator, is caused automatically to effect the line-spacing and carriage return movements of the lever 64.

In order to prevent the suction cups 21 from resting on the sheet 55 during the linespacing movement effected by sa d lever 64, there is provided a fixed cam 70 m the path of the arm 56, to be engaged thereby when the carriage is at or near the completion of the line of writing, to lift the cups 21 oif from the sheet 55, and hold them off while the line-spacing lever 64 turns upon its pivot to rotate the platen. Said cam 70 and the cam 58 are adjustably held by screws and washers 71 upon a horizontal bar 72, which is supported by legs 7 3 upon the machine frame, being secured by screws 74. The

screws 71 pass through a long slot 75, and.

are tapped into the cam plates 58 and 70 46 respectively.

around the front side of the platen in the usual manner by the curved guide 76, which forms a continuation of the paper shelf 9; and above the printing point, it passes under a pair of feed rolls 7 7 which run upon the platen. If desired, a guideroll 7 8, usually provided upon a spring arm 79 upon the Underwood machine, Fig. 1, may be emvloyed to direct the sheet under the rolls 77. he rolls 77 project inwardly from a pair of arms 80, which extend forwardly from a rod 81 usually provided in the Underwood .machine, and extending from one end of the platenframe to the other.-

Directly back of the rolls 77 1s'a deflector plate 82, erected on edge over the platen and preferabl concaved to direct the leading edge of t e sheet up between a pair of feed rolls 83,84. The deflector plate 82 may be The rotation of the platen 2 .to line feed The. advancmg sheet 60 is guided up swiveled by means of ears as upon-the 'a'rward ends'of-arms 86 projecting forwardly from the rod 81*- the swiveling enabling the plate 82 tobemdjustedto the right angle to "direct the:'-sh( ,ets between the rolls 83, 84. Said rolls 83, 84 are mounted by means of axles 87, 88 in brackets 89, 90 erected upon the: ends of the platen frame. The shaft 87 carries a pinion 91,wh.ich' isconnected by a gear 92 to a gear 93'fixed to'one end of the in contact,.are positively driven with the platen. The sheet 60, upon emerging fromthe rolls 83, 84, passes upwardly and forwardly into a box-like 'receptacle 94, arranged on edge above the front of the platen and supportedlupon the typewriter carriage I 14 by-means of a bracket 9'5, the latter se- 'cured by means of a screw'96 and clamp 97'- upon the front bar of the carriage. A cover 98, provided 'upon' the receptacle 94, is curved rearwardly at99 to form'a' deflector 'for guiding the. leading edge of the-sheet 60 up into the box. 'U npass u throu h the bite of the rolls 8 3, 84, tliii bo trtom ed ge of the sheet is caught b a pair of toothed wheels lQO fixed upon'the ends of the for ward roll axle 88, and carried bodily forwardly over the roll 84 and dropped into the receptacle 94, as seen at 101, Fig. 7; the bottom 102 of the latter inclining downwardly and forwardly sufl'iciently to cause the sheets to settle and pack against the base of the box 94. The teeth of the wheels are preferably of ratchet form, pointed in a direction to catch under and lift the bottom edges of the sheets; and the diameter of each wheel is preferably greater than the diameter of the roll 84. The teethpress back the side edges of the sheet to an unobjectionableextent, although they roject sufficiently beyond the periphery'of t e roll to insure catching under the bottom andcarrying the sheet over the top of the roll.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1 O

1. In a machine of the character described, a sheet-feeding apparatus comprising means for supporting a pile of sheets on edge above the introductory side of the machine to which the sheetsare to be fed, said supporting means comprising aback rest and a foot rest which is inclinedlupwardl 1 and forwardly at an acute angle to the bac rest to form a retarding surface acting against the removal of the sheets, and a suc-- tion cup mechanism to ick the sheets 05125 from the'pile and drop t em into said machine; the suction cup being mounted to" move upwardly and forwardly in a direction at an acute angle to said back rest.-

2. In a machine of the character de '0 edge above the introductory side of the machine to which the sheets are to be fed, and

a suction cup mechanism to pick the sheets off from the pile and drop them into said machine, said supporting means comprising a rearwardly tilted back rest and a foot rest inclined upwardly and forwardly at an acute angle to the back rest acting to hold the sheets in the supporting means against accidental removal, said foot rest provided with an upwardly projecting hook or riflle to catch and hold back any under sheet which may adhere to the sheet being picked off by the cup mechanism; said suction-cup mechanism constructed to drag the bottom edge of the sheet upon-said hook or rifile. V

3. In a machine of the character described, a sheet-feeding apparatus comprising means for supporting a pile of sheets on edge above the introductory side of the machine to which the sheets are to be fed, and a hinged bail provided with vibrating means, said bail hinged in rear of said supporting means and embracing the same and inclined downwardly and-forwardly from its hinge and carrying suction cups to lift the sheets from the supporting means and drop them into said machine.

4. The combination with a letter-spacing platen carriage of a typewriting machine, of means for supporting upon-said carriage a pile of sheets on edge. above the platen, a suction cup to rest upon the pile, and means dependent upon the movement of the carriage to lift said suction cup from the pile.

5. The combination with a letter-spacing platen carriage of a typewriting machine, of means for supporting upon said carriage a pile of sheets on edge above the platen, a suction cup to rest upon the pile, means dependent upon the movement of the carriage to lift said suction cup from the'pile, and means to exhaust the suction cup at such movement, and then to admit air into the cup to cause it to drop the sheet to the platen.

6. The combination with a platen and a letter spacing carriage, of means for supporting upon said carriage a ile of sheets on edge above the platen, a ame hinged upon said carriage and carrying a suction cup device to rest upon the pile, and a cam mounted upon the framework of the machine to engage a part of said frame to swing said suction cup away from the pile.

i". The combination with a platen and a letter spacing carriage, of means for supporting upon said carriage a ile of sheets on edge above the platen, a l rame'hinged upon said carriage and carrying a suction cup device to rest upon the pile, and a cam mounted upon the framework of the machine to engage a part of said frame to swing said suction cup .away from the pile;

said cam being adjustable in the direction of letter-spacing movement of the carriage.

8. The combination with a rotatable platen and a letter spacing carriage, of means for supporting upon said carriage a pile of sheets on edge above the platen, a frame hinged upon said carriage ,and carrying a suction cup device to rest upon the pile, a cam mounted upon the framework of the machineto engage apart of-said hinged frame toswingsa'i'd suction cup away from the pile, and means independent of the rotation of the platen for exhausting air from andadmitting'air to said cup.

9. The combination with a platen, carriage of a typewriting machine, of means for supporting uponsaid carriage a pile of sheets upon edge above the platen, a bail hinged upon said carriage in rear of said supporting means and carrying a suction cup torest upon said pile, an operatin arm upon said bail, and a camupon the ame- .-work of the machine to be engaged by said arm to swing the bail away from the pile of sheets.

10. The combination with a platen carriage .of a typewriting machine, of means for supporting upon said carriage a pile of sheets upon edge above the platen, a bail hinged upon said carriage in rear of said supporting means and carrying a suction cup to rest upon said .pile, upon said bail, and a cam upon the framework of the machine to be engaged by said arm to-swin the bail away from the ile of sheets; said bail of tubular construction, and a flexible conduit-connected to said bail to travel therewith and leading to means to control the exhaust and admission of air to the cup.

11. The combination with a platen carriage of a typewriting machine, of means for supporting upon said carriage a pileof sheets upon edge above the platen, a bail hinged upon said carriage in rear of said an operating arm supporting means and carrying a suction.

cup to rest upon said pile, an operating'arm upon said bail, and a cam upon the framework of the machine to be engaged by said arm to swing the bail away from the pile of sheets; said bail of tubular construction, and a flexible conduit connected to to travel therewith and leading to means to control the exhaust and admission of air to the cup; said controlling means including a tracker board and a perforated sheet moving thereover.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, of a sheetdelivering apparatus comprising a pair of feed rolls above the platen, one of said rolls connected by gearing to the platen, an upstanding paper receptacle ad'acent to said feed rolls, a pair of toothe wheels consaid bail I nected to the ends of one of said rolls to engage the bottom edge of the risin sheet to carry said edge over said roll an drop the sheet into said receptacle.

I 13. In a typewritmg machine, the combi-' nation with a revoluble platen, of a sheet delivering apparatus comprising a air of feed rolls above the platen, one of sald rolls connected by gearing to the platen, an up- U guidingl-sthe sheets up from the platen to" said ro t 14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revolub e platen, of a sheetdelivering apparatus comprising a pair of feed rolls above the platen, one of said rolls connected by gearing tothe platen, an upstandin paper receptaclead'acentito said feedro s, a pair of toothe wheels connected to the ends ofone of said rolls to engage the bottom edge of the risin sheet guiding the sheets u tocarry said edge over said roll an 'drop the sheet into said receptacle, and means for from the platen to said rolls; said gui' 'ng means including "rolls to run on the upper front side of theplaten, and a deflector leading from the top of, the platen up to the bite of said firstmentioned rolls.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, of a sheetdelivering apparatus comprising a-'-pair of feed rolls above theplaten, one of saldrolls I connected by gearing to the platen, an upstanding paper receptacle ad acent to said feed rolls, a pair of toothed wheels connectedto the ends of, one of said rolls to engage the bottom edge of the rising sheet to carry said edge over said roll and dro the sheet into said receptacle, and a de ector {leading from said rolls upwardly over said paper receptacle to guide the leading edges of the sheets thereinto.

' v 16. A sheet-feeding apparatus comprising a back rest or table or the ile of sheets, a foot rest or stop for the lea ing edge of the pile, and a suction-cup mechanism to pick the sheets upfrom the pile; the side edges of the stop convergin toward each other,

1 whereby when the lea ing. edge of a sheet .scrapes along said converging edges of the stop as the sheets are lifted from the pile, said converging edges tend to retard any under sheet which may adhere. to the sheet ,beingpicked ofl".

r 17. A sheet-feeding apparatus comprising a back rest or-table or the pile of sheets, a foot rest or stop for the leading edge of the pile, and a suction-cup mechanism to.

.pick thesheetsup from the pile;- the side edges of the stop convergin toward each other, whereby when the lea ing edge of a sheet scrapes along said converging edges of the stop as the sheets are lifted from the pile, said converging edges tend to retard any under sheet which may adhere to the sheet being picked OE, and hooks or rifiles projecting upwardly from the front or top of said stop between'said converging edges. 18. A sheet-feedin apparatus comprising a back rest or table or the pile of sheets, a foot rest or stop for the leading edge of the 'pile, and asuction-cup mechanism to pick the sheets up from the pile; the side edges of the stop converging toward each other, whereby when the leading edge of a sheet scrapes along said converging edges of the stop as the-sheets are lifted from the pile,

said converging edges tend to retard any under sheetswhich may adhere to the sheet being picked oil, and hooks or riflles projecting upwardly from the front or top of said step between said converging edges; said 'stop being inclined upwardly at an acute angle to said back rest.

19. A sheet-feeding apparatus, comprising a back rest or table for the pile of sheets, a foot rest or stop for the leading edgeof the pile, and a suction-cup mechanism to pick the sheets up from the pile; the side edges of the stop convergingtoward eachother, wherebywhenthe leading edge of a sheet scrapes-.along said converging edges of the stop as the sheetsare lifted 'froxnlthe pile, said convergin edges tend to retard any under sheet which may adhere to the sheet being picked ofi,-and hooks or rifiies profoot rest or stop for the leading edge of the pile, and a suction-cup mechanism to pick the sheets up from-the pile; the side edges of the stop converging toward each other,

and said st'op beinf inclined upwardly at an 'acute angle to ,sai back rest.

21. A shbet-feeding apparatus comprising a back rest or table for the pileof sheets, a foot rest,- or stop for the leading edge of the pile,'and a suction-cup mechanism to pick ,the sheets up from the pile; -the side edges .of the stop. converging toward each other, and said stop being inclined upwardly at an acute angle to said back rest, and the suction cup being mounted to move in a direction approximately parallel to the direction in which said step projects.

22. The combination ,with a rotatable platen ,and' a letter spacing carriage, of

pile, a handle whereby said carriage is re- I turned to begin a new'line, said handle hav ing means to rotate the platen for line-spac hold said suction cup device away from-the pile during the operation of the line-spacing devices. 23. The combination with a rotatable platen anda letter spacing carriage, of means for supporting upon said carriage a pile of sheets on edge above the platen, a frame hinged upon said carriage and carrying a suction cup device to rest upon the pile, a cam mounted upon the framework oi the machine to engage a part of said frame'to 7 swing said suction cup away fromthe pile,

a handle whereby said carriage is returned to begin a new line, said handle having means to rotate the platen for line-spacing, and a second camor guard to swing or hold said suction cup device away from the pile during the operation of the line-spacing devices; said cam or guard being adjustable in the direction of letter-spacing movement of the carriage.

24. In a typewritin machine, the combination with a revolulile platen and a carriage therefor, of asheet-delivering apparatus comprising 'an upstanding paper receptacle arranged on the carriage over the platen, and means to'carry the sheets up from the platen and deposit them in said receptacle; said carrying and depositing means including a wheel to catch the bottom edge of the sheet and carry said edge over the top of the wheel and drop the sheet into the receptacle.

25. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and a carriage therefor, of a sheet-delivering apparatus comprising an upstanding paper receptacle arranged on the carriage over the platen, and means to carry the sheets up from the platen and deposit them in said receptacle; said carrying and depositing means including a wheel to catch the bottom edge of the sheet and carry said edge over the top of the wheel and drop the sheet into the receptacle; sheet-feeding rolls being mounted in proximity to said carrying wheel, and the latter constructed to normally bend the paper slightly out of line with said rolls to insure the bottom edge of the sheet being caught upon said wheel.

26. In a typewriting machine, the combination with aplaten, of a sheet-delivering apparatus comprising a pair of feed rolls, anupstanding paper receptacle adjacent to to earry' said edge.

said feed rolls, and apair of toothed wheels adjacent to the ends of one of said rolls to engagethe bottom edge of the rising sheet to carry said edge over the top of said whiaels and dr p the sheet into saidreceptac e.

I 27. "In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a sheet-delivering apparatus comprising a pair of feed rolls,

an upstanding paper receptacle adjacent to ing, and a second cam or guard to swing or said feed rolls, and a pairof toothed wheels adjacent to the ends of. ori'e'of said rolls to engage the bottom edge'of the rising sheet over the top of said wheels and drop the sheet into said receptacle, the teeth of said wheels projecting beyond the line of contact of said rolls to insure the bottom edge of the sheet being caught by said teeth.

28. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, of a sheetdelivering; apparatus comprising a pair of feed rolls above the platen, one of said rolls connected by gearing to the platen, an upstanding paper receptacle adjacent to said feed rolls, and a toothed wheel connected to one of said rolls to engage the bottom edge of the rising sheet to carry said edge over said roll and drop the sheet into said receptacle.

29. In a ty-p iting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, of a sheetdelivering apparatus comprising a pair of feed rolls above the platen, one of said rolls connected by gearing to the platen, an upstanding paper receptacle adjacent to said feed rolls, a toothed wheel connected to one of said rolls to engage the bottom edge of the rising sheet to carry said edge over said roll and dro thesheet into said receptacle, and means or guiding the sheets up from the platen to said rolls; said guiding means including a deflector leading from the top of the; platenup to the bite of said rolls; said deflector mounted for adjustment forwardly and backwardly to direct the leading edge of the sheet properly between the rolls.

30. The combination with a typewriting machine having sheetguiding and linespacing devices, of means for supporting a pile of sheets; and an operator for feeding the sheets, said operator having a tracker boardEJ-for a master sheet, and also having pneumatic devices controlled by a master sheet through said tracker board and communicating with the pile of sheets to feed them to said sheet-guiding and line-spacing devices.

31.. The combination with a typewriting machine having sheet-guiding and linespacmatic devices controlled by a sheet through said tracker-board andcommumcatin with the 'pile of sheets to feed them to said sheet-guiding and hne-spacingdevices, said pneumatic devices including an exhaust chamber communicating with said trackerboard,-' a suction cup in-commumcation with said exhaust chamber, and means to enable amaster sheet running over the tracker-board to control the action of said suction: cup. 7 v a 32. The-combination with a typewritmg machine having sheet-guiding and linespacing devices, of means for sup ort ng a pile of sheets, and an operator for eedmg the sheets, said operator having a trackerboard fora master sheet, and also having pneumatic devices controlled by a master sheet through said tracker-board and communicating'with the pile of sheets to feed them to said sheet-guiding and line-s acmg devices, said pneumatic devices inclu ing an.

exhaust chamber communicating with said tracker-board, a suction cup in communication with said exhaust chamber, means to enable a master sheet runnin over the tracker-board to control the action of said suction cup, and means to effect bodily movements of the suction cup to and from the pile of sheets.

33. The combination with a typewriting machine having a carriage provided with sheet-guiding and line-spacing devices, of means upon said carriage for supporting a pile of sheets, and an operator for feeding the sheets, said operator having 1' trackerboard for a master sheet, and also having pneumatic devices controlled b a master sheet on said tracker-board an extendin to said carriage to feed the sheets to sai sheet-guiding and linespacing. devices; said pneumatic devices including an exhaust chamber communicating with said trackerboard, a suction cup in communication with said exhaust chamber, means to enable a master sheet running over the tracker-board ,to control the action of said suction cup,

and means dependent upon the movement of the carriage, to effect bodily movements of the suction cup to and from the pile of sheets.

. 34. The combination with a letter-spacing platen-carriage of a typewriting machine, of means for supporting upon said carriage a pile of sheets, a suction cup to rest upon the pile, means dependentupon the movement of the carriage to lift said suction cup from the pile and lift a sheet, an exhaust chamber, a tracker-board in communication with said exhaust-chamber, and means controlled by 'a master sheet running overthe tracker-board to putsaid suction cupinto communication with; said exhaust chamber before the suction cup is lifted from the pile, and when the cup is lifted to cause to be admitted into the cup to cause it to controlled by a master sheet through said tracker-board to put said suction cup into open communication with said exhaust chamber and thereby enable the said cup to engage and lift off and away the top sheet of the pile, and means to permit admission of air to the cup after the latter has reached drops from the cup where the latter is in its ofi-and-away position.

36. The combination with a typewriting machine having a carriage provided with sheet-guiding and line-spacing devices, of means upon said carriage for supporting a pile of sheets, and an operatorfor said typewriting machine, said operator having a tracker-board for a master sheet, and also having pneumatic devices controlled by a master sheet through said tracker-board and extending to said carriage to feed the sheets to said sheet-guiding and line-spacing devices, said pnenmatic devices including a suction cup to lift the top sheet from the-- pile, and connections between said suction cup and said tracker board, certain of said connections bein flexible to accommodate the movements 0 the carriage. v

37. The combination with a typewriting .itszoif-and-away position, whereby the sheet I machine having sheet-guiding anddinespacin devices, of means for sufportmg 'a pile 0 sheets, and an operator or feeding the sheets, said operator having a trackerboard for a master sheet, and also having pneumatic devices controlled by a master sheet through said tracker-board andiextending to the pile of sheets to feed them to said sheet-guidingand line-s acing devices, said pneumatic devices 'incliiding an exhaust chamber communicating with said tracker-board and a suction cup in commu nication with said exhaust chamber, means to move said cup to and from the pile, and means controlled by a master sheet running over the'tracker-board to exhaust said on and cause the top sheet to rise from the p' e together with the cup, and then to admit air to. said cup and release the lifted sheet before'the cup is returned to the pile.

38. The combination with a t peatedly feed sheets from a pile into the writing machine, of a pneumatic sheetceding de-' machine at predetermined eriods inthe 01peration of the machine as etermined by -t e perforations in the master sheet, and means to deliver said sheets and-automatically deposit-them one upon another.

'89. A sheet-feeding apparatus comprising means for supporting a pile of sheets on edge above theintroduotory side'of the machine tOWhiGhtll'GSliQBtS are to be fed, said supporting means comprising a back rest and a foot rest which is inclined upwardly and forwardly at an acute angle to the back rest so as to form -a retarding surface gently opposing the removal of sheets therefrom, a suction device, and means for causing sa1d suction device to move to the pile and to clear the top sheet from the pile and to carry the sheet; to-such a position that when it is released from said suction device it Will drop edgewise, bottom foremost, into said machine, and for causing said-suction device to release'the sheet when in said position.

40. In a"'typewriting machine, the combination with a iletter-feeding carriage and paper-feeding devices thereon, of means on said carriage for supporting a pile of-sheets on edge above said paper-feeding devices, said supporting means comprising a back rest inclined 'upwardly and rearwardly and a foot-rest inclined upwardly and forwardly at-an acute angle to-said back rest, so that the sheets may gravitate against both rests, andso =that -=the intermittent feeding movements-of the carriage may tend to jar the sheets apart and cause their bottom-edges to lie in slightly overlapping relation on said foot rest, anda pneumatic device for lifting the top sheet from the pile and dropping it into the control of said paper-feeding devices.

41. The combination with a typewriting machine having paper-controlling devices, of means for supporting a pile of sheets, a sheet'feeder, a tracker-board, and a master sheet adaptedto control the operation of the sheet feeder.

4-2. The combination with a typewriting machine, a carriage thereon-having papercontrolling devices thereon, means on said carriage for supporting a pile of sheets, a feeder for feeding said sheets to said paper controlling devices, a tracker board, and a master sheet adapted to control the operation of said feeder.

43. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising supporting means for holding a pile of sheets adjacent to a machine to which said sheets are to be fed, a tracker board, a master sheet and a suction cup sheet lifting mechanism, the operation of which is controlled by said master sheet.

44. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising supporting means for supporting a pile of sheets, a tracker board, a master sheet and pneumatic mechanism adapted to pick sheets olfla pile and feed them-to a machine, the -operation of said pneumatic ,mechanism being controlled by said master sheet.

45. A sheet ct'eeding ,apparatus comprisingmeans forsupporting a pile of sheets on edge, an obstruction on said supporting means arranged in front of said sheets, a

tracker board, .a master sheet and a lifter adaptedto :lift said sheets and scrape them past said obstruction, for feeding the operation, said lifter :being controlled :by =said master .sheet.

46. A. sheet feeding apparatus comprising-supporting means for holding a pile of sheets continually adjacent to the part of the machine to which the sheets are to be fed, a tracker-boardand a master sheet and a master sheet controlled pneumatic mechanism operating to suck a-sheet and move tit off said pile.

47. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising means for supporting a pile-of sheets=on edge above the introductoryside of the -machine to which thesheets are to be fed, said supporting means comprising a rearwardly tilted back-rest and-a 'foot rest inclined upwardly and forwardly at an acute angle-to the back rest so as :to form an obstructing surface tending-to retard'the withdrawal of a sheet, a tracker board, a -master sheet and a master sheet controlled suction cup mechanismto-pick up the-top sheet-off from the pile and drop it in said -machine,-said suction cup mechanism being mounted to move upwardlyand forwardly, so as to lift the sheets clear of the front edge-of said inclined foot rest.

48. The combination .with aplaten, of a sheet delivering apparatus for removin a sheet from said platen including aplurafity of rolls, and toothed wheels for engaging the sheets fed by said rolls to give them a further-movement on leaving said rolls.

49. The combination with typewriting mechanism including a platen, of a pair of rollsfor feeding the-sheets from said platen, toothed .wheelsconnected to one of said rolls and provided with means to give a further movement to the sheet fed from said platen so-that it will clearthe rolls, and means for drivin said rolls.

50. The combination with a typewriting machine, of a sheet holder, a pneumatic feeding means for feeding sheets from said holder to said machine, a tracker-board, a master-sheet and master-sheet controlled means connected with the tracker-board for controlling the pneumatic pressure in said feeder.

51. The combination with a carriage, of a sheet feeder for delivering sheets to a certain position on said carriage, and means for controlling the action of said sheet feeder at a predetermined point inthe' travel of said carriage, said means being ad ustable to vary the position of said predetermmed point.

52. A sheet-feeding apparatus comprising a back rest for the pile of sheets, a foot rest or stop for the leading edge of the pile, a suction cup mechanism for lifting the sheets singly from the pile, the side edges of the stop converging toward each other, whereby when the leading edge of asheet scrapes along said converging edges of the stop as the sheets are lifted from the pile, said converging edges tend to retard any under sheet which may adhere to the sheet being picked off, and hooks or rifiles projecting upwardly from the front of said stop between said converging edges, said hooks or riflles being substantially in register with the suction cups, one upon each end of the stop, said suction cup mechanism having a cup sym metrically located with respect to the face of the pile of sheets to draw the sheets off evenly in a vertical position.

53. The combination with a platen, of a sheet-delivering apparatus for removing a sheet from said platen including a plurality of rolls, and means for giving a final movement to the sheet as it leaves the rolls and thereby cause it to clear the rolls. 54. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage, a cam on said carriage, a sheet-feeder for feeding sheets to said carriage, a pneumatic device for operating said sheet feeder, and means controlled by said cam for determining the feeding position of the sheet feeder.

55. The combination with a typewriting mechanism including a platen, of a pair of rolls for feeding a work member from said platen after it has been typewritten upon, toothed wheels coiiperating with one of said rolls and arranged to give a further movement to the work member fed from said platen, and means for driving said rolls and said wheels.

56. The combination with a typewriting mechanism including a platen, of a pair of rolls for feeding a work piece from said platen after it has been typewritten upon, toothed wheels coiiperating with said rolls to give a further movement to the work piece fed from the platen, so as to prevent the work piece falling back between said rolls, means for driving said rolls and said wheels,

and a receptacle for receiving the work piece from said rolls.

57. In a typewriting machine having a carriage, the combination with a sheetfeeder, of a tracker-board, a master sheet,

means on the carriage controlling the efi'ecfor supplying work pieces to said platen,

controlling mechanism for determining the positioning of said feeder, and a master sheet and tracker-board cooperating with said carriage to control the action of said feeder in supplying work pieces to said platen.

59. The combination in a typewriter car riage having a platen thereon, of a feeder for supplying work sheets to said platen, means for removing work sheets from said platen, connections for supplying worksheets to said platen by said feeder, and connections for actuating said work-sheetremoving means from said platen.

60. The combination with a typewriting mechanism, of a pneumatic feeder for supplying work-sheets to said typewriting mechanism, a tracker, connections between said tracker and said feeder, and a master sheet for controlling the action of said feeder, said master sheet having a perforation therein admitting of the passage of air through said tracker to control, through the intermediary of said connections, the action of the air in said pneumatic feeder.

61. In combination, a sheet holding table, a sheet picking up member movable toward and away from said table, means for creating a suction through said member to hold a sheet thereto, a valve reciprocally movable to open and close said suction means, and a pneumatic having a movable-part to engage with said valve said pneumatic being automatically operable at predetermined intervals to open communication between said member and the suction means.

LYMAN R. ROBERTS. GHARLESL. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

B. C. STICKNEY, JOHN O. SEIFERT.

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