US1820469A - Automatic paper feeding mechanism for printing presses - Google Patents

Description

C. L. LOW

Aug. 25, 1931.

AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Sept. 10, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR ATTORNEY C. L. LOW

Aug. 25, 1931.

AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Sept. 10, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Chas L.L0w wgwwc;

ATTORNEY C. L. LOW

Aug. 25, 1931.

AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Sept. 10. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 671 as 11.110 w BY @h i JJJLJZ. I

- ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1931. c. L. LOW ,8 0, 69

AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Sept. 10, 1 29 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Chas.L .Low

Aug. 25, 1931. c 1.. LOW 1,826,459

AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Sept. 10. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ChaxlbL azv Q .QJJAL ATTO R N EY 25, 193 1. c. L. LOW 7 1,820,469

AUTOMATIC *FER FEEDINC MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed s8) 10. 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEN'TOR Chas.L-Lo/Lv ATTORN EY it es means therefor,

Patented Aug. 25, 1931" canine now, or FRESNO; CALIFORNIA; 'essrcm'on TO 'msmmir rmanuracrmme COMPANY, or FRESNO,

ALIFORNIA, Aconronarronf auroivrnzrrc rnrnnrnnnme MECHANISM FOR remnants r assess Application filed September 10, 1929.- Serial Kb. 391,608.

This invention relates to printing Presses, and particularly tooneof the cylinder and flat bed'type, ilngniy Patent No.- 1,587,968, dated June 8,

a The present invention also particularly relates to the teeding 'of the'papertrom the stack or pile on the elevator to the cylinder, and represents responding mechanism shown in my Patent No. 1,615,590, dated January 25 1927,.(which mechanism was applied to the press in said first named patent) and also represents-1m.- provernents over the mechanism shown 111 "-1 my copending application for paten Serial Ne. star-337311621 March 25, 1929. e

In the structure of saidcopendingappli employed to engage, the J,

cation, suction was topmost sheet on the pile and-initially move 2 thesanie a relatively short distance onto-thesheet to.

tapes, whlch y then conveyed'the the cylinder. Such anarrangementfnecessi tated, besides ating mechanism, the tapes and driv ng and a relatively compli: cated mechanism to properly aline the paper when on the tapes and to hold the same from further movement until the cylinder had moved to a certainidefinite position to receive g the paper, as shown The principal object of the present invention is to provide a full, automatic feed structure, and one which avoids theneed of the 55 tape-feed and cooperating mechanisms by V v the mounting of the movable end ot the nozfeed devicefor the arranging a suction 7 sheet? s taken sheets so that each individual tied the delivery of the paper to the cylinde is more easily. and accurately timed, and

tie chance of tie paper becoming misalined 45 relative to the cylinder after 1t has been drawn from the pile is almost entirely eliminated. i i

A further object- Orae inanimate provide what I heheve to be. anovel form 50 of elevator structure itself,i and a relatively such as "for instance is shown such structure. and relative arrangement pr 3 improvements over the corthe suction control and open ,anism tripped orreleased by the lowering of the paperv on ztable to be consequently raised to restore the 1 level of the pile.

in said Patent No.v

Of the level ofthe pile siqaported thereon These objects I-aocornplish by ineansof parts asgwill fully appear, by a perusalpf the following specification and claims. I

In the drawings similar charactersot reference'indicnte corresponding pa. in the several views; v

Fig, lris aside elevation ofthe feed and elevator control mechanism, the operating parts or which are shown as diagrammati- 'ca1ly,connectedto the driving mechanism of the press, In th s figure the feed nozzles are .1 Sh wn-"as posltionedwvhen 111st ready to he IOWQred' to engage a sheet .on the pile.

EigyQis a similar view showing the :p'osiv tion of the feed nozzles and corresponding parts as" said nozzles are lowered to engage asheetg Q ;..J- V Fig, 3 isaside elevation, with the parts of gthe feed' structurein the same positions as rn Fig.1 1, but with. the elevator control Lniech- .75 the pile to cause the elevator Fig. 4c, is afra'gmentary enlarged cross section on the line 41-4 of Fig. 3. i

' Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the movable feed nozzle unit; I 1

Fig. 6 is a transverse section'of the same taken on the lime- 6 of Fig. 1

Fig. 7'is a fragmentary s de view showing:

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary end view showing;

the trip rod o fthe distinguisher mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary transverse view of thedistinguishemrod supporting device.

Fig. 11 is ,a-sectional elevationoftheelevator structure.

Referring now more particularly to. the characters of reference .on the drawings the nuineral 1 denotes the side "frames of-the able manner is the moving bed 2. The bed forming no part of this invention, are inclicat-ed diagrammatically only. Supported by the end bearing blocks 5 mounted on the frame is the cylinder 6 which is oscillated through a certain are with the reciprocation of the bed. This arrangement and its opera-- tion are also common to presses of this character and form no part of this invention.

A flat sheet supporting table, supported on the frames 1, extend rearwardly from the cylinder and is substantially tangent to the up per surface of the same; said table terminating at its rear end and adjacent the forward edge of the uppermost sheet of the pile of paper 8, which is supported on the elevator table 9 thereunder. The elevator table is disposed at a slight upward angle relative to the table 7 toward its rear end and has transversely spaced slide blocks 10 pivoted at one end to and under the same, and which are supported by and slide on similarly spaced longitudinally extending bars 11 supported by the frame. These bars extend at a considerable upward angle toward their forward ends, or in the opposite direction to the slope of the elevator table. The angularity of the table 9 may be altered somewhat relative to the bars and the fixed table 7 by adjustable links 12 extending vertically between said table 9 and the free end of the slide blocks.

The bars above the table terminate just below one below in the direction of the cylinder.

Since the elevator table as raised and moved up will at the same time move in a long tudinal direction toward the cylinder, the combed setting of the pile is automatically maintained with any such movement of the table. Tipping of the elevator table from a horizontal plane in the direction of the cylinder tends to cause the sheets to slide toward the cylinder and to thus cause the combing to be maintained with more certainty.

The table is thus raised by means of chains 14 or the like attached to the links 12 and extending thence parallel to the bars 11 to and over pulleys 15 fixed adjacent the upper ends of said bars to the sides of the table, from which the chains extend horizontally and rearwardly (or away from the cylinder) is engaged by a segmental gear to drums 16. These drums are fixed on a common shaft 17 journaled on top of the frames 1. This shaft at one end has a ratchet wheel 18 engaged by a pawl 19 which is arranged to prevent rotation of said shaft in a direction such as would cause the chains to be unwound from the drums, and the table to be consequently lowered. The other end. of the shaft carries a gear 20 meshing with a pinion 21 fixed on a stub shaft 2 projecting through the frame 1 on one side of the press. A ratchet wheel 23 is fixed on said shaft outwardly of the frame and is engaged by a pawl 24 mounted on a relatively radial arm 25 which is turnable on said shaft and projects horizontally therefrom. This pawl and ratchet are arranged so that depression of the outer end of the arm causes the shaft 22 to be rotated, while the chains are so disposed about the drums 16 that such rotation of said shaft causes the chains to be wound on the drums and the elevator table to be raised. A link 26 depends from the outer end of the arm 25 and is connected at its lower end to the free end of a horizontal a-rin 27 pivoted at its opposite end on the adjacent frame 1. A tension spring 28 be tween said frame and the arm 27 tends to raise the latter, its upward movement being limited by a stop 29 projecting from the frame.

Projecting laterally from the arm 2? intermediate its ends is a lug 30, adapted to he engaged by a pin 31 projecting laterally from one face of a disc 32 (see Fig. Ii ninion 33 is fixed in connection with said dis:

and This gear is oscillated through an arc suilicien't to cause the disc to be oscillated through an arc of substantially 180 with each 180 rotation the crank 3, by means of suitable lini; and gearing connections with the shaft 4-. as indicated diagrammatically at 35 in Fig. i.

A mechanism, controlled by the level of the top of the pile, is provided to hold the. arm 27 down so that the pin 31 with the rotation of the disc will not forcibly engage the lug 30 and depress the arm until the paper on the pile is depleted somewhat and its level is correspondingly lowered.

This mechanism is arranged as follows:

Positioned to engage the topmostsheet of paper towards its end furthest from the c, der is an element preferably in the form 6.5. a roller 36 which is mounted on one en of a 37 extending lengthwise of the p s and away from the cylinder. This rod is en ported by a transverse arm 38 wine pivoted intermediate its ends on a I bracket 39 fixed in connection with t of the press. The end of the arm 38 opposite the rod carries spaced connterbalimcc weight 40 so arranged that the roller will bear lightly on the paper and will tend to move down as the level of the paper is lowered, without exerting such pressure on the paper as to make it hard to pull thetoprnost tudinally extending portion 41 of a vertical rod 41a, which at its lower end is fixed in connection with'a transverse spindle 42 turnable in said frame 1. Depending from and fixed on the outer end of this spindle is another rod 43 disposed in a vertical plane intermediate the ends of the arm 27 and in a transverse plane just to one side of said arm.

The lower ,end of this rod is adapted to engage a shoulder 44 formed on andprojecting, from a block secured oniand projecting laterally from the arm 27. A weight 46 mounted in connection with the rod 48 tends to turn the sameon its spindleand move its lower end away from the shoulder and to raise the upper horizontal member 41 against thearm 38. The members 41, 41a, and 43 practically I form a single continuous unit pivoted intermediate its ends on'the frame, as will be evident. The parts above described are so arranged that if the paper is at its nor-. Tmal level and the rod 41 is bearin g snugly against the arm 38, the lower. end of the rod 43 will be so disposed vertically as to be in line with the shoulder 44. I In turn this shoulder, when the arm 27 is positioned so that the lug 30 is barely engaged by the pin 31' atthe sothat the latter will seatonsaid shoulder arm 27 I I: The various parts' of the distinguishing and control mechanism above described are tisomewhat flexible or yieldable,and as long as the I level of the paper rem ains' substantially the sameor normal, the horizontal member '41 cannot raise, andv consequently cannot swing rearwardly to clear the shoulder-44. The spring28 therefore can- *not act. to

raise the arms 27 and 25. With the lowering of the'paper on the pile, how ever, the roller 36 of coursemoves down and the Weighted end of the arm 38 is tilted up, leaving a clearance under the arm 38 for the member 41 to rise,.whieh it tends to do owing to the weight 46. The pin 310i the disc bears lightly against'the. lug 30' in an arm depres ing direction with each oscillating cycle of the disc, and 1f the above mentioned clearance exists the lower end of the rod 43 of course swings clear of the shoulder 44 whenever the holding pressure due to the spring2 8 is released bysaid light engagement of the lug wardly due to the pull of the spring 28, and

the rod'43 49 andicorrespondi" -to thetable. I I .Slidably mountedon the rod 49 and bar 50 is a block 59 from which a rigid bar60 fl io" n .I I I i...- 1-. arm'60 by a rod"6l extending lengthwise or pawl 24about the ratchet 28.- The extent of upward movement-of said arm 27 is of course limited-by thestop29. 'Withthe subsequent I or return oscillation ofthe di-sdthei pin 31 engages the lug 30anddepresses said arm to' its original position.This, causes a rotation of the ratchet wheel 23 andj parts connected thereto, causing the elevator to'beinstantly raised sufiicientto restore 7 the paper to its C "original level;

I The member 41 is therefore depressed by the lifting of theroller 36t0 its original position and the rod 43 again swings toi'position over the shoulder 44, engaging the sameandpreventing asubscquent raising of: the arm 27 when the pin 3 l-m0ves away from the lug. The parts are allthen in the positions originally described'and remain thus until the paper is again.lowered,when the cycle of operations above recited'is repeated. I i

The pap'er fee-ding mechanism itself is constructed as follows: I y f Fixed on top of tl1e" cy1inder supporting block 5, whichis on theisame" side of the'p ress. as the disc '32, is a bracket 47 on whichis pivoteda support 48, disposed outwardly of the. plane of the adjacent frame *1; lTo this support are secured" one endof a longitndi nallyextending rod49, a bar 50 thereunder,

andanotherbar 5loutwardly' ofsaid bar 50 I I butonsubstantially the same level. wThese 'end of the stroke or oscillation of thedisc 32 in one direction, will be at such. a level as to be on a level with the bottom of the rod 43 members are all parallel to each otherand aIdja centfframe The; corresponding end of the bar 51 isconnected to the support 52 ios byan archedyoke 54, II o A substantiall 'vertical' link 55 is connected at its upper endto the supportj52 and I i at its lowerendgisconnected to a horizontal 'ar1nf56 which extends adjacent and above the plan'efpf the disc 32' and is pivoted at one 'end ontothevirame 1.1 The freeend of this i farm carries a roller 57 whichrides on the periphery ofthe disc. This disc is circular and concentric with its axis throughout, except tor a depression'58 provlded at a certain pointin' its extent. an d'iwhichis adapted to I receivelthe rollerQ The len'gth of thelink V '55 is, such that ,when the' roller '57 is riding on the fc'ir cularportion of the (e,: the rod g parts impe s pp ing a vertical position if desired, as indicated in 6. Supportediro nthe outerend of the,

be parallel iig0 projects-transYfir' ely f the press overth I i-The ar-60. is pi' placed on the elevator.

to said extent is imparted to the slide by a" the press is a cross-bar 62 from which a plurality of suction nozzles, spaced transversely of the press, depend. These nozzles comprise tubular stems 63 adjustably clamped in connection with the bar 62, and

relatively flat cups or dished heads 64 on their lower ends. The upper ends of the nozzle stems are individually connected by flexible tubes 65 with suitable hand valves 66. These valves are mounted on a hollow member 67 supported by the slide 59 and disposed between said slide and the bar 51. The member 67 is connected to a flexible hose 68 depending therefrom and which leads to a source of suction (not shown). The side of the member 67 facing the bar 51 is provided with an opening 69 leading to the interior of the same, and with which the various valves 66 communicate. This opening is adapted to be covered by a flap 70 pivoted on said member for movement in. a vertical plane.

A pin 71 projects laterally from the flap below the pivot and into the path of longitudinally spaced stop blocks 7 2 and 73 mounted on the bar 51 toward its front and rear ends respectively. The purpose of this structure will be seen later.

The slide 59 and the parts connected thereto are reciprocated along the supporting bars substantially from end to end of the same or for a distance greater than the length of a sheet of paper. Also the parts of the press are proportioned so that such distance is from apoint where the nozzles are just back of the stop plate 30, as shown in Fig. 3, to a point substantially central of the cylinder 6 as indicated in Fig. 1. Also the distance from said cylinder to the plate 13 is greater than the length of any sheet of paper which may be Such movement and horizontal link 74 connected thereto and to the upper end of a substantially vertical lever 75 which depends past the disc 32 and is pivoted at its lower end below the disc on the frame 1. Intermediate its ends this lever is connected by a member 76 with a crank pin 77 on the disc.

The crank pin is so positioned on the disc relative to the depression 58 that the slide 59 will be at the rear end of its travel, with the nozzles overhanging the topmost sheet of the paper, and with the lever 75 consequently at the corresponding end of its arc of oscillation, just before the depression 58 moves under the roller 57. The disc continues to rotate in the same direction as up to the above point before i ts movement is reversed, just sufiicient to cause the roller to drop into the depression but not enough to affect the lever 75.

This is because the crank pin 77 is then adjacent its dead-center position relative to the axis of the disc and the point of connection of the member 76 with the lever, and the very few degrees of movement of the pin past The depth of the depresplate 13 and the table 7, so that there is no possibility of the sheets shifting from their position on the pile onto the table 7 of them selves.

The suction then acts through the main hose 68 and the various individual nozzle tubes to said nozzles, causing the sheet to be suctionally clamped against the nozzles. As soon as the roller 57 has been lowered into the depression it is again and immediately raised by the reversal of movement of the disc, and the slide 59 and nozzles are again raised to their original level, together with the sheet of paper engaged by the nozzles. This level is such that the nozzles and of course the sheet are above the level of the top of the plate 13 and table 7, so as to permit the sheet being drawn past the plate 13 without any interference. As soon as the nozzles are again raised to the above position the lever 75 is oscillated in the opposite di-" rection, causing the nozzle unit to travel toward the cylinder, or until the nozzles overhang the cylinder, which is the opposite dead center position of the crank pin 77.

Just before the nozzles arrive at said position the pin 71 of the flap 7 O engages the stop 7 3, causing the flap to be turned down so that the opening 69 is exposed to the atmosphere, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The suction is then of course broken be tween the hose 68 and the nozzle tubes, and the sheet of paper dropsfrom said nozzles and rests on the table in overhanging relation to the cylinder. The sheet is then grip-4 ped by and rotated with the cylinder by the f mechanism shown in my co-pencling application for patent, Serial No. 393,404 filed September 18, 1929. Upon the return stroke of the nozzle supporting slide the flap remains open until the pin 71 engages the forward stop 72 and is turned to a closed position, so that the suction again acts through the nozzles to engage the neXt sheet of paper.

To prevent the possibility of more than one sheet being taken up by the nozzles an air pressure pipe 78 is mounted just ahead of the plate 13, having a side opening which registers with a corresponding opening in the plate, as shown in Fig. 11. The air is therefore constantly blown between the sheets at the adjacent end, tending to keep the same separated. The elevator control mechanism is operated in conjunction with the nozzle operating mechanism in such relation that was nozzles reach the rear end of their stroke and ing to the width of are in position to engage a sheet.

The use of a plurality of nozzles,laterally adjustable on the press, enable sheets of varying widths to be engaged adjacent their corners, as Well as at intermediate points, simultaneously. This avoids the possibility of the sheet sagging at its corners and interfering withits free passage over the plate 13 and onto the table 7. The use of individual valves for the different nozzles enables any of them to be cutout if desired or necessary, accordpaper being printed, so that only those actually needed will be in operation, and suctional pressure is conserved. From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein. 7 7

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of'the device, still in practice such deviations from spaced such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v 1. A paper feeding mechanismfor a punting press having a supporting means for a,

pile of paper and a cylinderhorizontally spaced from the pile, including a suction nozzle to engage the topmost sheet on the pile, a suction passage member connected with the nozzle and movable therewith, means for reciprocating the member and nozzle horizontally distance sufticientto cause the edge of the sheet nearest the cylinder to be moved into overhanging relation to the latter, and means actuated automatically by and with the movement of the member to open said passage to the atmosphere as the sheet arrives at the cylinder.

ing press having a supporting means for a pile of paper and a cylinder horizontally from the pile, including a suction nozzle to overhangand engage the topmost sheet of the pile, supporting means for the nozzle, including a slide block, zontal bar extending lengthwise of the press and pivoted thereon atits end nearest the cylinder, said block being slidable along the bar, means for reciprocating the block and nozzle a distance suflicient to cause the sheet to be moved from the pile to a position over hanging the cylinder, and means connected to the bar and functioning'in conjunction with the nozzle reciprocating means to cause the bar, only when the nozzle is overhanging the pile, to be depressed sufficient to cause the nozzle to be lowered into contact with the topmost sheet of the pile, andto be raised 2. A paper feeding mechanism for a print- V a substantially hori- I ing along? the bar.

'B A-f paper r'eeding mechanism ert e Pr nti Pr s having Mummies m ns.

'ror ile of paper and a cyl nd rh rizontaltable extending from the pile to thecylinder and held innnovablewhile ,the-nozzle is movi i 7 7 l i spacedrfrom the; pile, including a fixed and being disposednon alevelhigher than i der, said block being slidable along the bar,

a lever pivoted on the press, a connection between the] lever and the block to cause the latter to be reciprocated along the block with the oscillation of the lever, a disc, means for oscillating the disc through a certain arC,a 1 driving connection between the disc and lever to oscillate the latter through an are snflicient to cause the nozzle to travel from a position overhanging the pile to one adjacentthe cylinder and vice versa,

with the oscillation of the disc through said are, a roller riding on the riphery ofthe disc, ahorizontal armpivoted on the press and on the free endof which said roller is'mounted, and a vertical link depending from'the bar to the armjthe periphery of the discbeing concentric with its axis except for a depression positioned to, receive the roller therein when the disc is'atz one end of its arm of oscillation and the nozzle lengthwise of the bar, to be maintained'parallel to the table and so that the nozzle is clear is overhanging the pile; the-disc, arm and" link being arrangedto cause the bar, when of the same, and tofcause said bar,when the"i roller is riding in the disc-depression, to be depressed at its free end suflicient to lower the nozzle into engagement with the topmost sheet of the'pile.

4. A paper feeding mechanism for a print- 7 ing press having a supporting means for a pile of paper anda cylinder horizontally spaced from the pile, including a suction nozzle to engage the topmost sheet on the pile,

a support for the nozzle including a slide block, a-substantially horizontalbar mounted lengthwise on the press and on'which the block is slidable, means for reciprocating the block along the bar a distance sufficient to cause the nozzle to be moved from over the pile to a predetermined position adjacent the ;cyl1nder, suction passage means to the nozzle including a hollow member rigid with the bloclr and having a lateral opening to communlcate wlth the atmosphere, a pivoted flap 'to cover said opening, and means acting on said flap with the movementof the block along the bar to cause theflap-to be moved pun a ll to uncover said opening just as the nozzle reaches its position nearest the cylinder, and to be moved to cover the opening just as the nozzle reaches the opposite end of its stroke and is in overhanging relation to the pile.

5. A structure as in claim 4, in which said last named means comprises a bar fixed With and parallel to said first named bar, the flap facing one side of said bar, a pin projecting from the flap in offset relation to the pivot thereof and longitudinally spaced blocks on said second bar to engage the pin and cause the flap to turn on its pivot in opposite directions respectively as the slide block reaches its limits of travel along the supporting bar. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES L. LOWV.

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