US1291998A - Sheet-delivery mechanism for printing-presses and other machines. - Google Patents

Description

R. MIEHLE. SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES AND OTHER MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-2.19M.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H. MIEHLE.

SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES AND OTHER MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2.19! 5.

Patented Jan. 21,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN I/E N 70/? k & \\W\ M QM N E Q m I M if; r f E V. 4 m 1 E E: \m mm NM WM w M 0 1 I NR mk Q m L m6 I k mm 9 W GE 1 9 1 n-x nun: paw w. rnamumm lruunmmm o R. MIEHLE; SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM.FOR PRINTING PRESSES AND OTHER MACHINES.

APPLICATION HLED OCT. 2. I9I5.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES.-

INVENTOR ROBERT MIEI-ILE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHEET-DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-PRESSES AND OTHER MACHINES.

Application filed October 2, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, ROBERT MIEHLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi-- cago, in the county of Cook and State of-Il1inois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sheet-Delivery Mecha nism for Printing-Presses and other Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference 'being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to sheet carriers of printing presses which are employed in delivering sheets though not limited to use on printing presses alone.

In my U. S. Patent No. 1,111,667 I have disclosed a sheet delivery mechanism which embodies many elements which may be used in connection with this invention and when so used add materially to its usefulness. My former invention disclosed a sheet carrying element moving outwardly on one level during its receipt of the sheet and descending and moving inwardly during the discharge of the sheet, and which invention in its specific embodiment included an endless belt sheet supporting element and means for rolling said belt element out from under the sheet as it moved inwardly on said lower level.

In accordance with one feature of my present invention I provide sheet stops moving with the sheet supporting element, moving outwardly during its receipt of the sheet and inwardly during the discharge of the same, which sheet stops are adapted to control the sheet during the outward movement of the same, and which move to a position below the sheet to permit the discharge of the same as said sheet supporting element moves inwardly. In its preferred embodiment this feature embraces a sheet supporting element similar to that disclosed in the above mentioned patent, which it will be noted moves outwardly upon one level during its receipt of the sheet and descends and moves inwardly upon a lower level during the discharge of the sheet.

A supplemental feature resides in providing sheet stops having two sheet engaging portions one for engagement wlth the sheet as it moves outwardly and the other for engagement with the sheet at the point of discharge whereby the sheet stops may fully controlthe sheet up to the time when the sheet is discharged without complicated Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21', 1919.

Serial N 0. 53,752.

mechanism, and whereby the same mechanism, which drives the sheet supporting element, may be utilized to drive the sheet stops by a direct connection.

In accordance with other features of my invention the mechanism is rendered easily adjustable for various widths of sheets; and the mechanism is so constructed that the mechanism may be quickly disassembled and assembled to permit its being interchanged with a fly delivery of usual construction, a supplemental feature to this residing in providing guide fingers for guiding the sheet to the delivery which are so constructed and mounted to permit their being swung into inoperative position to permit the use of a fly delivery.

In accordance with another feature of my invention I provide tape deflecting pulleys engageable with the sheet supporting element of a mechanism similar to that disclosed in said above-mentioned patent which engage and deflect the tape stretches downwardly while they are on said upper level whereby the distance between the upper and the lower levels of said tape stretches is materially reduced thus enabling the device to maintain a more effective control of the sheet during its descent from said upper level to said lower level, and whereby the stretch required in the tapes is reduced,"

In accordance with another feature I provide two sheet supporting elements, one moving outwardly upon an upper level during the receipt of the sheet and descending 'to a lower level where the other supporting element receives the sheet and effects the discharge of the same. This feature permits, of the sheet receiving surface of the sheet supporting element, which receives the sheet, moving outwardly at the same rate of speed as the driving mechanism thereof and at a rate of speed nearer that of the sheet as it moves from the press, and, if sheet stops are used in conjunction therewith, at the same rate of speed as the sheet stops, whereby the frictional contact of this sheet supporting element with the sheet will be more effective in controlling the sheet as well as supporting it.

In accordance with another feature I provide a sheet supporting element moving outwardly on one level during its receipt of the sheet and descending and moving inwardly upon a lower level together with means for discharging the sheet as it moves inwardly, which means in the preferred embodlment include pusher elements engageable with the tail end of the sheet While supported in said lower level.

Certain features above referred to may be utilized to the same advantage in a different mechanism than herein disclosed, and" it should be stated that the scope of the invention is outlined in the claims, and I do not desire tolimit myself to the specifioembodiment of the invention herein described.

The invention Will be-rnore fully described by reference to the accompanying drawings showing portions of so much of the pre ferred embodiment as are necessary to an understanding of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a partial sect'ional side view of: a two revolution cylin- 161 printing press havingmy improved sheet.

delivery embodied in it; Fig. 2; is a partial top plan of the mechan sm shown in Flg. 1;;Fig. 3 isan enlarged sect onal side view ofthe delivery alone; Figs. 1, 5, and 7 are Figs}; and 9 are partials'ectionalside views of the inner end of the delivery operating under. various conditions; Figs. 10,.11 1-2 and13 are sectlonal top views ofcertam parts of-the delivery showing them in their preferred construction. Like parts are indicated by, similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

The printing press from which the sheets delivered is generally indicated by the reference character 1, and inasmuch asthe apparatus of my invention is not to be limited to :any. particular type of press or mar chine, it is not necessary to give a detail description of the pressshown as the same is well known by those skilled. in the art. The sheets are initially delivered from the press upon carrying. tapes 2. The tapes2 andmechanismoperating the same and with itare so well known as not to require description. The sheets are transferred. from tapes 2 to the sheet delivery of my inven tion over guide fingers 3.

: Asm'y invention is specifically embodied in the "structure shown by the drawings thereis present a sprocket chain 1 driven bythe sprocket chain gear 5' of the press;

and in turn driving a sprocket pinion Gupon whosegsh-aft is fixedly mounted'a spur pinion 7, said pinion '7 being in mesh with a spur gear 8 upon whose'shaft sprocketwheels 9 a-re-n'i'ounted, one upon-each side ofthe sheet carrier. An endless sprocket chain IO-isdisi posed upon each side of the sheet carrier structure? said chains being driven by the sprocket wheels 9 and in turn passing over mounted upon the yoke structure 17. An

ndless. on yer; belt; 1 .5 engages. the: roller s'tructure12 the pulley 18. and the gripping devices 1 5 .and.16 in themanner mdicatedin the drawings and fullydescribed in my U. S; Patent No-. 11,111,667, herein-before mentioned.

llhe chainslO also carry the rodstructures 1,9'mounted upon; said chains 10and positioned. in. close proximity to and following the rollers .12. as they travel in a clockwise di-' rection as indicated in the drawings. Upon the rod structures 1.9 are mounted the tape holders.20, which carry; the conveyer tapes 21. These tapes preferably alternate, with the: belts 14s in, their position in. the delivery structure asindicated; in, Fig. 2. Thetapes 2.1. are-preferablythough not necessarily'an endlesstape which; is fiXed-ly; looped over; the hooks or pins 22; of the tapeholders 20. Tapes; 21 engage. alternate pulleys 13 and pulleys 23. and; 24 mounted upon, theyoke structure 17 preferably coaxial with the gripping elements15 and16 respectively as indicated in the drawings. See F ig 1-3. There are sheet s tops' 25 formed. on the tape holders 20, which restrict the tapes; 21 betweenthem andthe rod. structures-19. Sheet guards or stop fingers 28 arealso mounted upon the rod structures 19 and cooperate with: the stops 2.53 to cont-rol the. sheets as hereinafter described. Tape deflecting pulleys 27 are mounted upon said rod structures 19 between the sheet; stops. 25 and guards 28.

Let the cycle of operation be followedfrom the position. asxshown; in Fig& 1, where the delivery; mechanism is just about tore:

,ceive the sheet. 26 positioned on the tapes w The surface speed of the sheet impelled by the tapes 2 is somewhat greater-than that of. the delivery mechanism, and as the, delivery mechanismv progressesthe sheet. 26. directed by the guide fingersfiis pushedagainst the sheet stops25, the stop fingers 28"ser ving} a to hold the leading edge of the sheet-down. The-upper stretch of; the'tapes21. isabove the upper stretch of: the beltslit by reason of the-position given them bythesheetstops 25 and the engagement of the belts 1 1; with the pulleys 27. which: defieot said upper stretch of belts 14 downward. As a. consequencethe sheetrests'upon said tapes 2.]. in itstravel outwardly. See Fig. 5-. The up per or sheet bearing. stretch of said tapes2l I travels-with therod structure 19 being fed over the pulleys 13 from the lower stretch which diminishes as the lower rod structure 19 travels inwardly on the lower stretch of chains 10. The second stretch of tapes 21 is fed over the pulleys 23 or 24 as the case might be from the third stretch as indicated in thedra-wings. The upper stretch of the belts 14 rolls over the pulleys 13 while the second stretch remains stationary being held by theigripping device 15 or 16 as the case might be and is fed from the upper stretch over the roller structure 12, which revolves in a clockwise direction as fully described in the aforementioned patent.

Thus the sheet travels until the roller structure 12 and rod structure 19 reach the sprocket 11 preparatory to returning along the'lower stretch of the chains 10. As the turn is made it will be seen (see Fig. 3) that the sheet is gradually brought to a standstill while the rod structure 19 turns over the first quarter of sprockets l1. Normally the friction of the sheet 26 against the tapes 21 would be sufficient to stop the sheet but at high speeds the stop fingers 28 serve to stop the 'sheet at the extreme outward movement of rod structure 19 at which point said fingers 28 assume a substantially vertical position as shown in Fig. 3. As rod structure 19, completes the turn over the sprockets 11 the fingers 28 which are fast to the rod structure 19 turn with it and when the turn is completed lie approximately horizontal and in a lower plane than that of the sheet. The sheet bearing stretch of tapes 21 is now below the corresponding stretch of belts 14 because the portions of the roller structures 12 which the tapes 21 engage at this position in the cycle of operation are of a smaller diameter than those portions which belts 14 engage and the rollers 23 and 24 are of a larger diameter than the gripping devices 15 and 16. See Fig. 7 which shows a partial sectional side view of the delivery mechanism. Consequently the sheet rests upon the lower sheet bearing or delivery stretch of belts 14 at this point and continues to until it is delivered.

It will be seen that the tapes 21 also serve as a sheet guard to prevent the forward end of a thin sheet from dropping in between the'roller structure 12 and rod structure 19. See Fig. 7.

The mechanism is now about to deliver the sheet. By reason of the gripping elements 15 this delivery stretch of the belts 14 is held stationary. As the mechanism advances and the delivery stretch of the tapes and belts moves inwardly the roller struc tures 12 revolve in a clockwise direction, thus winding the said belts out from under the sheet and itis delivered upon the re ceiving table 29, the rod structure 19 sliding out from under said sheet. See Fig. 5.

, Certain classes of paper do not require such an efficient construction for their satisfactory delivery. A simplified construction of the principles disclosed above may be used as is shown in Fig. 4. The belts 14 and their attachments are eliminated. The rod structures 19 engage the chains 10 as above described and carry the tape holders 20, sheet stops 25, and stop fingers 28. The sheet is initially received between the elements 25 and 28. The tapes 21 operate as above described except that during the delivery operation the sheet still rests upon the tapes 21 but is held stationary by means of sheet stops or pusher fingers which are preferably formed on the yoke structure 17. -Thus the tapes 21 and rod structure 19 with its attachments slide out from under the sheet and it is deposited in the same manner as before.

Fig. 6 shows another modification of the invention, in which the tapes 21 are dispensed with. In the operation of this form belts 14 slide under the sheet, whose speed is limited by the sheet stops 25, while the sheet is traveling outwardly, the discharge of the sheet being accomplished in the same manner as in Fig. 7.

It will be observed that while one red structure 19 is on the lower stretch of chains 10 delivering a sheet the other red structure 19 is operating on the upper stretch of the chains 10 receiving another sheet preparatory to delivering it from the lower stretch. The same is true of my invention in all its variations.

The delivery may also be operated omitting the tapes 21 as is shown in Figs. 6 and 9. In this conception of my invention rod structures 19 have only the function of supporting sheet stops. While carrying the sheet out it will be observed that the upper stretch of belts 14 travels twice as fast as the sheet and sheet stops. As a consequence in the above mentioned construction said belts 14 slide forward under the sheet. This, however, is not objectionable in delivering many classes of paper and if desired may be minimized if not entirely avoided by adjusting the delivery in relation to the time when the sheet reaches the sheet steps so that the sheet will have almost completed its outward travel before it strikes said sheet stops. l/Vhen the sheet reaches a position over the delivery table 29 and roller structure 12 and rod structure 19 turn about sprockets 11 the sheet is delivered as before, roller structure 12 revolving in a clockwise direction and rolling belts 14 out from under the sheet. Loose pulleys 27 engage the belts 14 on the upper stretch deflecting the upper stretch of said belts downwardly and disengage said stretch as rod structure 19 turns about sprockets 11 in the manner hereinbefore described and as indicated in the drawings. This reduces the distance which the sheet must drop from the upper stretch to the lower or delivery stretch of said belts 14', thus practically preventing: the sheet. bearing stretch of said belts from dropping: away from the sheet and leaving 1t sus pended in the air and uncontrolled.

Roller structures 12 are supported while traveling on the upper stretch of chains 10 by the rollers 30 which are fixedly mounted upon said roller structures and bear upon tracks 31. Tracks 31 are preferably faced on the upper stretch are supported by rollers 35 rotatably mounted upon said rod structures and bear upon the tracks 31. Onthelower stretch rod structures 19 are supported by rollers 36 rota'tably mounted upon studs 83 of chain blocks 85 hereinafter described and bear-ingupon tracks- 33. Tracks 31, 33, and 3d are mountedupon the delivery frames 37, which are pivoted to the main frame substantially co-axial with sprockets 9 and upon which said sprockets 11 are mounted. The outer ends of said frames 37 are supported by the rack bars 72, the gear teeth of which engage pinions 73 fixedlymounted upon shaft 74 which is journaled in the main frame 1. Manually operated means engage said shaft 745' to raise or lower said frames 37 and attachments to facilitate access to the inking mechanism 75' or other machinery located directly under it. A dog latch 76 pivoted on the press frame 1 engages the gear teeth of one of said rack bars 72 to securethe frames 37' in any desired position. The delivery board 29 or sheet receiving table is also pivoted on press frame 1 at its inner end and engages said rack bars 72 with the slidable bracket 77 and is. moved accordingly.

T henabove described mechanism delivers the sheets printed side up. Many times it is desirable to have the sheets delivered printed side down. This is accomplished by employing the old well known fly delivery and it is customary to equip machines with fly delivery in addition to the sheet delivery mechanism. In. brder [that this combination may be used most beneficially it is necessary that the change from one: to the other can be made quickly and easily. In the drawings the fly mechanism shown While is of the well known cam, 1'ack,zand=pii1ion type and is indicated general-lyvbythe refer-- ence character 38. The. fly. StlCkS: 39.: and;

shaft 40 are, when the fly delivery. isrnot 7 used, placed as a unit inv appropriatesockets on the press frame 1- to form sheet guards over tapes 2. See Fig. l, whiclr-a1S01indi;-' catesin dotted lines the position of saidfiy; sticks; 39. when the fly delivery isxusei.

It will be observed that: in order that; thefl-y" delivery may be used all of 'thetsheet v delivery structure which extends. acrosst-hepress in the path of the fly: must: be. re--. moved. This includes: rod structures; 1-9 and roller structure 12 and; shaft? 41:, all; of which are so constructed as: to perm-it their: quickremoval or" installation-'., A sectionof one ofthe roller structures 12 is shown in Fig.- 10. The roller proper- 792B: rotatably mounted. on bearings: 68 preferablyone at each end. Saidbearings' turn-i upona. roddQ- theends ofwhich are: squared. Bearing or chain blocks 69 of chains 10 carry studs 43 having squared recesses which receive the squared ends of rods d2; Fig; 11 illustrates a" section of one end of rodstructure. 19 which is made up of a rodtdand' a tube 45 for" purposes hereinaften described. The ends of rod- 445 ar'e squared and fit into squared recesses of studs 461 formed onchain or; bearing blocks 69 of chains 10: Roller structures 12 and rodi structures 19. areput on or takenofl thepress" by lifting one or both ofthe upper stretches of chains 10 when one of the; bearing blocks 69 is at about the middle of that stretch, until the bearingblock, 66' is above the retaining-guard rail (YT-0f frames 37"andspreading samewhilein thisipositionuntil the aforementioned? squared end" can be withdrawn or inserted into their-respective. recesses. Said bearing blocks 66 and 69 which support the chains 10' inv their elon'e' gated path when the above mentioned fly delivery is used by bear-in upon slides in the upper stretch and. 1 in the lower stretch; These slides areintegral' with frames 37. See Fig. 2. The shaft 41; which drives the sprocket 9" on the opposite side ofthe press and upon which the yoke-structure 17 is rotatably mounted is removed in the f'OllOWing manner. The ends of. this shaft are turned to fit in to collars 47",- a spline 48' being employed to fix said shaft and collar rotatably. The outer ends of said collarsv have projections fitting into recesses in the hubs ofsprockets 9fby' means of whichpower is transmitted to and from said shaft 41. Shaft 49'upon' which sprocket 9' is fixedly mounted projects, beyond" the hub of" said sprocket and fits into coll'ar47i thus supporting said shaft 41. Set screws 50 secures the collar 47in its position; along shaft 11. In removing saidshaft 41' set screws 50 are loosened and collars 47" are pushedback upon shaft 41. This allows said shaft to be lifted out. The fly shaft 40 is secured to the fly shaft studs 51 by a spliced connection 52 as indicated. The sheet guides 3 are swung down into a position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 when the fly is used. Cam 53 lifts said guides to clear roller structures 12 and rod structures 19 when the sheet delivery is 1n operation being actuated by contact with rollers 32 and 36. Said cam also prevents the guides 3 from interfering with roller structures 12 and rod structures 19 when the press is backed up.

It is at times necessary to shift the delivery tapes sidewise in order to accommodate the ed es of the different sizes of paper, the reason eing that the edges of the sheet to be delivered is in such a position in relation to one of'the tapes or belts that while overlapping said tape or belt it is not enough to support it and the edge of the sheet falls into the space between the tapes and in the course of operation interferes with the proper delivery of the sheet by striking some of the above described delivery structure. This is accomplished in the following manner. The yoke structure 17 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 41 is adjusted by shifting the thrust collars 54 se cured to said shaft by set screws 55. See Fig. 12. This is done readily as said yoke structure is shifted bodily being made up of separators 15, 16, 56, and side plates 57 assembled in the order indicated and clamped together a a unit by the rods 58 and nuts 59. Separators 15 and 16 serve as gripping devices for the above mentioned belts 14 and may have any desired outward contour to grip said belts sufliciently. Separators 56 have the loose pulleys 23 and 24 of tapes 21 mounted upon them. On roller structures 12, see Fig. 10, the enlargements 60, which engage the belts 14, are fixedly mounted upon a tube 78 which encircles the roller proper 7 9 of said roller structure 12. Said tube 7 8 is adjustable along the main roller 79 being controlled by collars 80 and set screws 81. Projections on tube 78 fitting into recesses of collars 80 fix said tube rotatably in relation to the main structure 7 9. On rod structure 19 the tube 45 upon which tape holders 20, fingers 28 and pulleys 27 are mounted encircles rod 44 and is fixed in relation to it by the clutch collars 63 and set screw 64 by the adjustment of which said tube and its attachments may be set to meet the above mentioned requirements. Recesses in said collars 63 receiving projections formed on the outermost tape holder 20 fix said tube 45 rotatably in relation with rod 44. Tape holders 20 and sheet guards or fingers 28 are secured to tube 45 by screws or pins.

It will be seen that both belts l4 and tapes 21 must be elastic to keep them taut during the whole cycle of operation. Elastic tapes or belts may be used, but in the drawings I have provided spring compensating means. Endless springs 82 are put in the belts and tapes at convenient intervals running through loops formed at the ends of the unelastic portions of said tapes and belts.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction by which the inventionis carried into effect. The invention is not, therefore, to be limited to the specific constructions herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is 1. A sheetcarrier having a sheet supporting element; and means for causing the sheet supporting surface of said element to travel in an up er level during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and for causing said surface while supporting such sheet to descend to a lower level there to discharge the carried sheet, said means including a traveling sheet stop to stop or arrest the sheet on its outward travel.

2. A sheet carrier having a sheet supporting element; and means for causing the sheet supporting surface of said element 'totravel in an upper level during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and foreausmg 'sald surface while supporting such sheet to descend to a lower level there to discharge the earned sheet,'sa1d means includvmg a travellng sheet stop positioned to'arrest the sheet during the outward travel of the sheet and moving to a position below the sheet during its discharge. f

3. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting element; and means for causing the sheet supporting surface of said element to travel in an upper level during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and for causing said surface while supporting such sheet to descend to a lower level, and a separate means for discharging the sheet from said supporting element during its travel on the lower level.

4. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting endless belt element, traveling sheet stops, and means for causing the sheet supporting surface of the endless belt element to move in the upper stretch of a closed path there to receive the sheet to be supported and to move to the lower stretch of such path while carrying the sheet there to discharge said supported sheet, said traveling sheet stops being positioned to arrest the sheet during the outward travel of said sheet.

5. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting endless belt element, traveling sheet stops, and means for causing the sheet supporting surface of the endless belt element to move in the upper stretch ofa'closed path.

there to receive .the sheet to be supported and to move to the lower stretch of such "path while -carryingthe sheet there to discharge the supported sheet, said traveling s'heet stops being positioned to arrest the sheet during the outward travel of the sheet supporting element and to :move to a position below the sheet during its discharge.

6. A sheet carrier including a belt ele- 'ment, --roller structure for said belt element, defiecting pulleys adapted to engage said belt element to deflect the same, a structure for supporting said pulleys and mea ns -aeting as a guard for the sheet positioned between the said *roller structure and the pulley structure.

a'sheet carrier, tapes -for supporting the sheet; a tape driving roller engaging sai'd tape; :and tape depressing pulleys for defleeti ng "said tape's and-moving with said first mentioned ro'ller.

8. ln a sheet carrier, tapes for supporting "the sheet, and adapted for movement outwardly inwardly, a tape driving roller engaging -sa id tapes, and tape depressing pulleys for deflecting said tapes in their outward travel and ieleasing or disengaging fromsaid tapes on their inward travel.

9. *In a sheet carrier, tapes for supporting-and delivering the sheet, a doubling or loopingdevice engaging said tapes, a mounting rod for said "looping'device, a driving means f-or said 'rod, and a detachable conneetion between said driving means and rod.

10. Ina-sheet carrier, tapes for'supporting delivering the sheet, means for engaging said tapes, and means :for effecting endwise adjustment 'o'f said tapes in groups cf twoor more.

1 1. In'a'sheet' 'carrier,'tapes for supporting and delivering the sheet, doubling or looping'devices 'for said tapes being formed in ;a "group, =-a supporting means for said looping device' gr'oup, and-means for an endwise adjustment of 1 said grouped looping device group on said supporting means.

'12. A sheet carrier includin ta'pes for supporting and delivering sheets, a "tape 'r' ol'le-r, a rod upon which said roller is mounted, chain blocks for supporting said rod and -roller 'engaging saidtapes, said rod being held non rota'tably in said chain bl'o'dks.

1 3. sheet carrier including tapes for supporting {and delivering sheets, a tubular tape roller engaging said tapes, a supportingrod,upon-whieh said roller is rotatably mounted, chains, extended chain blocks in which said supporting rod is slidably mounted, and a track for supporting said extended chain block's.

1'4. 111 a ejonvertible sheet delivery carrier "and *fiy deliveny a sheet carrier, a fly frame, and {swinging guide fingers operating betweenthe'fiy and carrien' said guide fingers being pivotally mounted and adapted to swing back to a position under the fly frame.

15. A sheet carrier including tapes for supporting and delivering sheets, a rod, sheet stops mounted on said rod, a chain, and a chain block which is of-greater width than said chain, and-a retaining means for said chain block.

16. A sheet carrier including tapes for 'supportin' and delivering sheets, a tape roller, a c ain and chain block which is of said belt element; a sheet stop forarresting the sheet during the outward travel thereof and having two sheet engaging'po'rtions, one for engaging the sheet when it is received upon the belt and the other for obstructing relative motion of the sheet with respectto the belt at the point of discharge; and mechanism for causing I the travel of the stop in the direction of movement of the sheet, for moving the stop to =pres'entthe firs't sheet engaging portion' to t'he s'heet beingreceived upon the belt element, later to present-the second sheet engaging por-tionto the sheet, and to move this latter sheet engaging portion out of the path of travel of the sheet to permit of discharge ofthe sheet from the belt element.

'19. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; a sheet receiving table upon which sheets may be deposited from said belt element; a stop structure havlng two sheet engaging portions between whlch the sheet is initially received when the sheet is being transferred to said belt element,

moving thestop structure in-the direction of travel of the sheet and for placing it below the sheet when the sheet is to be discharged from the belt element.

21, A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; a sheet receiving table upon which sheets may be deposited from said belt element; a stop structure having a sheet engaging portion for obstructing relative motion between the sheet and the belt at the point of discharge; and mechanism for presenting this sheet engaging portion to the sheet undergoing dlscharge and for thereafter removing the sheet engaging portion out of the path of travel of the sheet.

22. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; a sheet receiving table upon Which sheetsvmay be deposited from said belt element; a stop structure having a sheet engaging portion for obstructing relative motion between the sheet and the belt. at the point of discharge; and mechanism for causing the stop structure to move with the sheet for presenting this sheet engaging portion to the sheet undergoing discharge and for thereafter removing the sheet engaging portion out of the path of travel of the sheet.

23. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting element; means for causing the sheet supporting surface of said element to travel in an upper level during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and for causing said surface while supporting such sheet to de scend to a lowerlevel; an additional sheet supporting element for receiving the sheet from the aforesaid sheet supporting element; and means for effecting relative motion between these sheet supporting elements to effect the transfer of the sheet from the first to the second sheet supportingelement and for effecting the discharge of the sheet from the second sheet supporting element.

24. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; means for causing the sheet supporting surface of said belt element to travel in an upper level during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and for causing said surface while supporting such sheet to descend to a lower level; an additional sheet supporting belt element for receiving the sheet from the aforesaid sheet supporting belt element; and means for of fecting relative motion between these sheet supporting belt elements to effect the transfer of the sheet from the first to the second sheet supporting belt element and for effecting the discharge of the sheet from the second sheet supporting belt element.

25. A sheet carrier including a traveling sheet supporting belt element; means for causing the sheet supporting surface of said element to travel in an upper level during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and for causing said surface while supporting such sheet to descend to a lower level; and a separate belt element for receiving the sheet from the aforesaid belt element and eflecting the discharge of the sheet.

26. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting element adapted to receive the sheet and to carry the same to the point of dis charge; and an endless sheet supporting belt element adapted to receive the sheet from said first mentioned supporting element at the point of discharge to eifect the discharge of said sheet.

27. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting element moving outwardly and inwardly and adapted to receive a sheet during its outward movement; and an endless sheet supporting belt element moving in synchronism with said first mentioned supporting element and adapted to receive the sheet from said first mentioned supporting element to effect the discharge thereof during the inward movement of said first men tioned supporting element.

28. A sheet carrier including a moving sheet supporting element adapted to receive the sheet, and an endless sheet supporting belt element moving in synchronism with said first mentioned supporting element and adapted to receive the sheet from said first mentioned supporting element to effect the discharge of the sheet.

29. A sheet carrier including a moving sheet supporting element adapted to receive the sheet and to carry the same to the point of discharge; and an endless sheet supporting belt element moving in synchronism with said first mentioned supporting element and adapted to receive the sheet from said first mentioned supporting element to effect the discharge of the same.

30. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting tape stretch element; two supporting elements engaging the ends thereof to support the same, means for moving said supporting element in a closed path, and both substantially in a uniform direction; means engaging said tape stretch between the ends thereof to form a bight therein; and mechanism for effecting the discharge of a sheet supported on said tape stretch from said tape stretch.

31. In a sheet carrier, two spaced driving elements moving in parallel paths and having laterally disposed recesses of irregular cross section at corresponding points thereon, said recesses extending in directions toward one another and having the openings thereof facing in opposite directions, and a supporting structure extending across the space between said driving elements and having the ends thereof disposed within respective of said recesses, said ends having an irregular cross section corresponding with said recesses to prevent rotation of said supporting structure within said recesses.

32. In a sheet carrier, two spaced driving chains supported and moving in parallel paths, a chain block included in each chain, said chain blocks being disposed at corresponding points on their respective chain and having laterally disposed recesses formed therein extending in directions toward one another and having the openings thereof facing in opposite directions, a supporting structure extending across the space between said chains and having the ends thereof disposed within respective of said recesses, a laterally extending chain block in each chain disposed on the opposite side thereof relatively to the respective recessed block and adjacent thereto, and a bearer for each extended chain block facing oppositely to the opening of the recess of the recessed block of the respective chain.

33. In a sheet carrier, two spaced driving chains supported and moving in parallel paths, a chain block included in each chain, said chain blocks being disposed at corresponding points on their respective chains and having laterally disposed recesses of irregular cross section formed therein extending in directions toward one another and having the openings thereof facing in opposite directions, a supporting structure extending across the space between said chains and having the ends thereof of irregular cross section corresponding with the respective recesses disposed within respective of said recesses, a laterally extending chain block in each chain disposed on the opposite side thereof relatively to the respective recessed block and adjacent thereto, and a bearer for each extended chain block facing oppositely to the opening of the [recess of the recessed block of the respective chain.

34. In a sheet carrier, two spaced driving chains supported and moving in parallel paths, a laterally extending chain block included in each chain, said chain blocks being disposed at corresponding points on their respective chains and having laterally disposed recesses formed therein extendingin directions toward one another and having the openings thereof facing in opposite directions, a supporting structure extending across the space between said driving elements and having the ends thereof disposed within respective of said recesses, and a bearer for each chain facing oppositely to the opening of the recess of the extended chain block of the respective chain.

35. In a sheet carrier two spaced driving chains supported and moving in parallel paths, a laterally extending chain block included in each chain, said chain block being disposed at corresponding points on their respective chain and having laterally disposed recesses of irregular cross section formed therein extending in directions toward one another and having the openings thereof face while supporting such sheet to descend to a lower level, and means engageable with the sheet while said surface is disposed in said lower level for discharging the sheet therefrom.

37. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting element, means for causing said sheet supporting surface of said element to travel outwardly during the receipt of the sheet to be carried and for causing said surface to descend to a lower level while sup-, porting such sheet and to travel inwardly, and means engageable with the supported sheet, While said sheet supporting surface is in said lower level, and adapted to discharge the sheet from said surface.

38. A sheet carrier including a sheet suporting'element, means for causing said sheet supporting surface of said element to travel outwardly during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and for causing said surface to descend to a lower level while supporting such sheet and to travel inwardly, and pusher elements engageable with the supported sheet, while said sheet supporting surface is in said lower level, and engageable with the tail end of the sheet to effect the discharge of the sheet from said surface.

39. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element, a pair of spaced supporting structures engaging respective ends of said belt element to support the same and moving in an elongated closed path in a substantially uniform direction, a bight forming element engageable with said belt element between the ends thereof to form a bight therein and around which said supporting structures pass, and pusher elements formed on said bight forming elementand engageable with a sheet on said belt element to discharge the sheet therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT MIEHLE. WVitnesses:

R. IF. MIEHLE, J r., S. J. TURNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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