US1929766A

US1929766A - Paper-feeding machine

Info

Publication number: US1929766A
Application number: US413023A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred W Barkley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1929-12-10
Filing date: 1929-12-10
Publication date: 1933-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1950-10-10

Description

Oct. 10, 1933. F. w. BARKLEY 1,929,766

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A M mu,

Oct. 10, 1933. F. w. BARKLEY PAPER FEEDING MACHINE 2 wm m ma om m. 3. m u 5-- .Q m

H 6G aw z m M m m W 3 B m m i .d mm )3. w

5 om J w 3 Y m, m 5 d .nlll m d H F. W. BARKLEY PAPER FEEDING MACHINE Oct. 10, 1933.

26. .BmYAeu M may 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I n E V III-NI Filed Dec.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE Oct. 10, 1933.

Oct. 10, 1933. w EY 1,929,766

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 10.1933

Fred W. Barkley, Winthrop, Mass.

Application member 10, 1929 v Serial No. 413,023

37 Claims. (Cl. 27128) The present invention relates to paper feeding machines which separate individual sheets from a .pile and deliver them in succession to a mechanism or machine for operating thereon.

The object of the invention isto produce asheet separating and deliveringmachine which,

will operate at high speed in a reliable and certain manner to separate sheets from a pile and deliver them in regular succession to a folder" or other machine for operating upon the sheets. To the accomplishment of this object, and such others as mayhereinafter appear, the features of the invention relate to certain methods, devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and then set forth broadly and in detail in the appended claims which possess advantages readily apparent to those skilled in the art. I r v I i The various features of the present invention will be readily understoodfrom an inspection of the accompanying drawings illustrating the best form of the invention at present known to the inventor, in which,

Figure 1 is a detail view in left-side elevation of a sheetfeeding machine, the delivery or front end of the machine being at the right; Y

I Figure 2 is a detail View in rear elevation illustrating particularly the platform for the 'pile of sheets and the mechanism for maintaining the uppermost sheet in the pile substantially in the same horizontal plane during its depletion;

Figure 3 is a detailview in longitudinal sectional elevation;

Figure 4 is a detail View the transmission gearing connecting the separating roll and delivery drumshafts;

Figure 5 is a plan View;

Figure 6 is a detail View, partly in section, of

the separatin roll and the parts associated there-' with;

Figure '7 is a view in front sectional elevation on the line '7-!, Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view' showing a diagram of the magnet and resistance coil circuits;

Figure 9 is a detail view in' left-side sectional elevation of the' oscillating tube for winding the rear edges of the uppermost sheets in the pile;

Figure 10 is a detail view in 1eft-side elevation showing the delivering drum and its relationship to the pile of sheets and the hold-down. c

Figure ll is a detail View in rear sectional elevation'on the line 11-l1, Figure 10, and f Figure 12 is a detail perspective View of the hold-down and the automatic mechanism con- ,trolled thereby for elevating the platform for the in front elevation of pile of sheets to maintain the uppermost sheet of the depleted pile substantially in the same plane.

. Referring first to Figure 3 for a preliminary general description of the machine and the work performed thereby the sheets are stacked in a pile upon'a vertically movable platform. The pile is staked by ahold-down engaged'with' the uppermost sheet. in the-pile adjacent its leading edge. The rear and side faces of the pile are winded to cause the rear portion of the uppermost sheet to float on an air cushion upwardly into the field of operation of a suction roll rotating constantly about a fixed axisin a clockwise'direction. This roll engages the 6X posed face of the uppermost sheet adjacent its trailing edge and withdraws it entirely by suction from beneath the hold-down. As'the sheet is drawn from beneath the hold-down the trailing' edge of the sheet engages fingers which are moved to operate an electric circuit containing, a magnet to open the conduit, through which air is drawn from'the roll, to the atmosphere thus to reduce the suctional eifect of the roll on the sheet.

Under reduced suction the roll tends to hold the so trailing edge of the sheet in contact with the fingers without moving the sheet; When the leading edge of'the sheet is withdrawn from beneath the hold-down the blasts of air from the winding devices cause the leading edge portion of the sheet to float upwardly into position for the operation of a suction drum which rotates constantly about a fixed axis in a'contra-clockwise direction. This drum snatches the separated sheet from the-roll and delivers it entirely by suction from the machine; Automatic mechanism is provided, under thecontrol of the holddown, for elevating the pile platform to maintain the uppermost sheet in the depleted pile substantially in the same plane.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the sheets to be'delivered by the machine are stacked and then mounted in a pile 13 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) upon a'platform 14. The platform 14 is carried by a table 15 provided upon its opposite 1 0 sides with slides 16 and 17 (Figures 1 and 3). The slides 16 and 1'7 partially embrace vertical slide-ways l8 and-19, respectively, (Figures 1 and 3) which in turn are carried, respectively, by side-frames ZO-and 21 provided with legs 22 to 5 support them from a floor. The side-frames are suitably tied together to form a rigid frame for the machine.

The table 15 is supported for vertical reciprocation on the slide-

ways

18 and 19 by a pair of 110 chains 23 and 24 (Figures 1 and 3). The opposite ends of the chain 23 (Figure 1) are connected, respectively, to the table and to a depending weight. Intermediate its connections with the table 15 and the weight the chain 23 passes over a sprocket 25 secured to a shaft 26 journaled at its opposite ends in

brackets

27 and 28 carried, respectively, by the side-

frames

20 and 21. The opposite ends of the chain 24 (Figure 3) are connected, respectively, to the table 15 and to a weight 29. Intermediate its ends the chain 24 passes over a sprocket 30 on the shaft 26.

In order to reciprocate the table 15 vertically by hand the shaft 26 is provided with a gear 31 (Figures 1 and 5) which meshes with a gear 32 on a stub-shaft 320 journaled in the bracket 27. The gear 32 meshes with a similar gear 33 on a stub-shaft 34 one end of which is journaled in the side-frame 20 and the other end of which is journaled in a yoked-bracket 340 secured to the side-frame 26. The shaft 34 supports a wormwheel 35 which meshes with a worm 36 secured to a horizontal shaft 3'7 journaled in

arms

38 and 39 projecting upwardly from the side-frame 20. On its rear end the shaft 37 is provided with a hand-wheel 40 so that the table 15 may be reciprocated vertically by hand through the connections described. With this construction the worm-wheel 35 acts as an irreversible mechanism 3 to maintain the table 15 in the position to which it has been placed through manipulation of the hand-wheel 4O notwithstanding theweight of the pile 13. I

g The position of the uppermost sheet in the pile with relation to the sheet separating and sheet delivering mechanism of the machine is determined by a hold-down 41 (Figures 1, 2, 3, 10 and 11) which overhangs the leading edge of the uppermost sheet inthe pile. The leading edge of the sheet is the one nearer the delivery end of the machine. The trailing edge of the sheet isthe one opposite the leading edge. The holddown 41'stakes the pile at a point nearer its center than its sides. The hold-down 41 is formed upon the end of a shank 42 which is bent,

as shown particularly in Figure 12, to clear the pile. The shank 42 is connected to a sleeve 43 which is adjustablysecured by a screw 44 to one end of a horizontal shaft 45. The shaft 45 is journaled to rock in

arms

46 and 47 extending inwardly from the side-frame 20. While the holddown 41 is mounted to move downwardly under the influence of gravity as the pile diminishes in height its weight and the weight of the connections described are partially counterbalanced by a weight 48 adjustably mounted upon a small rod 49 projecting from a sleeve 50 secured to the shaft 45.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the hold-down 41, through automatic mechanism to be described, maintains the uppermost sheet in the depleted pile susbtantially in the same plane during the operation of the devices for Withdrawing the sheets one at a time from the pile 13 and delivering them from the machine.

These devices for withdrawing the sheets one at a time from the pile comprise a rotary suction roll or drum 51 (Figure 3) and a rotary suction roll or drum 52. For convenience merely hereinafter, the

devices

51 and 52 are called, respectively, a roll and a drum. The roll 51 withdraws the uppermost sheet in the pile from beneath the holddown 41 to separate the sheet from the pile and is therefore called a separating device. The drum 52 acts upon the sheet separated from the pile devices are relatively movable toward and from each other to accommodate their operation to sheets of widely varying length.

Referring to Figure 3 the hold-down 41 limits.

the height of the pile 13 and locates the uppermost sheet in the pile in a plane spaced from the separating and delivering devices. In order to elevate the rear portion of the uppermost sheet in the pile into the field of operation of the roll 51 while the front portion of the uppermost sheet is held down on the pileby the hold-down The drum 52 is therefore call d a 41 the rear and side edges of .the uppermost,

sheets in the pile are winded by air blown through nozzles presently to be described. The air blown against the rear and side edges of the uppermost sheets inthe pile forms a cushion between them. The trailing edge and the margin of the exposed face of the uppermost sheet adjacent thereto floats upon this air cushion intothe field oi operation of the separating device 51. This device, which isa suction roll'rotating about a fixed axis in a clockwise direction viewing Figure 3, engages the floating sheet and draws it from beneath the hold-down 41 thus to separate the uppermost sheet from the pile. As soon as the leading edge of the uppermost sheet passes from beneath the hold-down it floats upwardly into the field of operation of the delivering device 52. This device, which is a suction drum rotating about a fixed axis in a contra-clockwisedirection viewe ing Figure 3, draws the separated sheet away from the separating roll 51 and delivers the separated sheet from the machine.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7 the separating device 51 comprises a cylindrical roll which is keyed to a horizontal shaft 53 journaled in the opposed arms of a yoke 54. The yoke 54 is carried upon the lower end of a vertical plate 55 which is connected (Figure 6) to the vertical arm 56 of a bent bracket 57 the horizontal arm 58 of which is supported from a pair of spaced flat rails 59. At the rear of the machine the rails 59 are carried. by distance pieces 65 (Figure 8) which depend from a horizontal tie-plate 61 the opposite ends of which are supported by

uprightv arms

62 and 63 carried, respectively, by the sideframes 20 and 21. Centrally of the machine the rails 59 are carried by distance pieces 54 which depend from a horizontal tic-plate 65 the opposite ends of which are supported, respectively, by the

brackets

27 and 28. l

In order to adjust the position of the roll'51 vertically the arm 56 is provided-with slot 66 (Figure 7) which embraces loosely the hank of a bolt 67 having a head 68 engaged with the rear face of the arm 56, a portion of the shank passing through the ribbed portion of the plate 55. Interposed, between the rib on the plate 55 and a nut 69 on the end of the shank of the bolt 67, 'is a washer 70. With this construction the plate 5.5 may be moved on the arm 56 within the limits of the slot 66. The desired position of adjustment is. maintained by tightening the nut 69.

zontalshaft 80 (Figure 5). One end of the shaft 'cates with the passage 100 and thus cause the To facilitate the adjustment of the plate 55 on the arm 56, the arm 58 is. provided with an extension 71 between the rails 59. The extension 7.1 carries a finger-piece 72 secured to a shank 73 which is mounted to rotate in the extension 71 while held from longitudinal movement. .The lower end of the shank 73 is threaded into a boss 74 formed on the plate 55. I

q In order'to permitlmovement of the'roll 51 towards and from the drum 52 to accommodate the roll and drum tosheets widely varying in length, the arm 58 (Figure 6) carries a threaded shank 75 which extends upward between the rails 59. Threaded upon the end of the shank 75 is a nut 76. Interposed between the rails 59 and the nut 76 is a rectangular block 77 which straddles therails. With'this construction the horizontal position of the roll 51 relatively to thedrum 52 may be varied by sliding the arm .58 along the rails 59 .and the desired position of adjustment may be. maintained by tightening the nut 76 to cause it to wedge the block 77 against the rails 59.

The shaft 53 for the roll 51 is driven by a bevel gear 78 (Figure 7) which meshes with a similar gear'79 having a spline connection with a hori- 80 is journaled in a hanger 81 supported by the shaft 53 between the yoke 54 andthe'bevel gear 78. The other end of the shaft 80 is journaled in j a bracket 82 depending from'a casting 83 forming a sleeve for a horizontal shaft 84 the opposite. ends of which are journaled in the

sideframes

20 and 21, respectively. Near its front end the shaft 80 is provided with a bevel gear 85 (Figures 4 and 5) which meshes with a similar gear 86 on one end of a stub-shaft 87 journaled in a sleeve hanger 88 depending from the sleeve 83. The shaft 87 carries a gear 89 which meshes with a similar gear 90 on the shaft 84. Outside the side-frame 20 the shaft 84 is provided with a sprocket 91 (Figure 1) which is driven by a chain 92 from the machine to which the sheets are delivered. V I

' Referring again to Figures 6 and 7, the cylindrical separating roll 51 is provided with a peripheral series of aligned rows of openings 93. The

openings in each row communicate with a blind passage 94 each one of which terminates in an opening 95 on the left-side face of the roll 51.

:The opposite face of the roll 51 is provided with a chamber 96.

Coiled about the shaft 53 and interposed between the bottom of the chamber 96 and a washer97 on the adjacent arm of the yoke 54 is aspring 98. 'This spring forces the left-side face of the roll 51 into air-tight engagement with a stationary fibre disk 99 secured to a circular face formed on the adjacent arm ofthe yoke 54. This arm of the yoke 54 and the fibre disk 99 carried thereby are provided with a horizontal passage 100 arranged to register successively with each of the openings 9.5 as the roll 51' is rotated in a clockwise direction viewing Figured In order to draw atmospheric air through the roll 51 when one of the openings 95 communi- -100 is connected by a conduit 101 to some suitable air exhauster (not shown). To this end the conduit 101 is connected through a T 102 (Figure 3) to a fitting 103 connected by a tube 104.

to the air exhauster. Intermediate its ends the eonduit 101 is connected to a valve casing 105 carried by a bracket 106 on the side of the plate 55. The conduit is maintained normally closed to the atmosphere by a valve comprising a leather disk 107 adapted to close a circular opening 108 in the valve casing 105. The leather disk 107 is secured to a cap 109 which is pinned to a guide stem 110 mounted to slide in a fibre bushing 111 which lines a small opening 112 in the valve casing.

In order .to operate. the valve 107 to open the conduit 101to the atmosphere, the cap 109 is connected -by a link 113 to an armature 114 forming part of a magnet and resistance coil unit 115. The magnet part of the unit comprises a coil 116 inserted through an opening formed centrally through a series of flat plates 117 (Figure 7), the construction being such that a portion of each of the plates1l7 passes through the. central opening in the coil 116. The fiat plates 117 are bound together by two fiat metallicrplates 118 (Figure 5) each having a pair of outstanding ears 119 through which screws 120 pass to secure the unit to the short face of a bent plate 121 (Figure 5) the long face of which is secured to the plate 55. The bracket 106 is secured to the long face of the plate 121 by the screws 122. Interposed between the ears 119 and the short face of the plate 1211s an insulating plate 123. By means of the leather valve 107, the fibre bushing 111, and the insulating plate 128 the magnet unit is insulated electrically and magnetically from the machine.

ports a switch 131 to which a terminal 182 is.

connected. The switch 131 is insulated from the machine by the insulating material of which the lever 130' is constructed. The horizontal arm on the bell-crank lever 130 carries a plate 133 which is formed at its front end int-o three fingers 134 which extend forwardly into grooves 135 (Figure 7) inv the separating roll51. The forward ends of the fingers 134 extend into the path of movementof the trailing edge of the uppermost sheet in the stack during its movement from beneath the hold-down 41 under the action of the roll 51.

Normally the armature 114, which is pivoted to the unit 115, is held in the position of Figure 6 by a spring 136 one end of which is connected to the armature 114 and the other end of which is connected to the valve body 105. Normally the fingers 134 are held in the position of Figure 6, with the switch 131 engaged with the terminal 126, by a spring 137 connected to two pins 138 and 1380, one on the arm 125 and the other on the ball-crank lever 130.

As shown by the diagram in Figure 8 the resistance coil 124 and the magnet 116 are connectedin series to the transmission lines independent of the switch 131. When the switch 131 contacts with the terminal 126 the magnet 116 is short-circuited and practically'de-energized to release the armature 114 to the influence of the spring 186. When the switch 131 contacts with the terminal 127 the resistance coil is shortcircuited and practically deene rgized. This increases the energization of the magnet which re.- tracts its armature 114 against the tension of the spring 136. With this construction the magnet is energized normally, sub-normally and abnormally. When energized normally the magnet keeps its armature home. This normal energy is not suiiicient, however, to operate the magnet to retract its armature when the valve 107' is closed by the spring 136. The provision of a metallic circuit which is energized independently of the switch 131 eliminates arcing between the switch and the

terminals

126 and 127 when switch contact is broken. The inductive discharge goes through the closed metallic circuit instead of jumping across the gap which has just been opened between the switch and one of the terminals.

In the position illustrated in Figure 3 the magnet 116 is short-circuited or de-energized and the armature 114 is free to move under the influence of the spring 136 to close the valve 107. Thus, the conduit 101-is maintained closed to the atmosphere normally. When the roll 51 engages the uppermost sheet in the pile and withdraws it from beneath the hold-down 41 to separate the sheet from the pile the trailing edge of the separated sheet enages the fingers 134 thereby swinging the bell-crank lever 125 'to withdraw the switch 131 from the terminal 1 6 and to engage the switch 131 with the terminal 127. As shown in Figure 6 the construction is such that the switch 131 is operated by an extremely slight movement of the fingers 134 under the influence of the trailing edge of the separated sheet.

When the switch 131 contacts with the terminal127 the resistance coil 124 is short-circuitsd thus increasing the energization of the magnet 116 sufficient to retract the armature 114 against the tension of the spring 136 to operate the valve 107' and open the conduit 101 to the atmosphere. Opening the conduit to the atmosphere does not break entirely the suctional engagement of the roll 51 with the separated sheet as the size of the opening 108 and the movement of the valve 107 are correlated to the aggregate sizes of the openings 93 in the roll 51 in communication at the time with the conduit 101 so that the amount of suctional engagement of the roll 51 with the separated sheet is reduced rather than destroyed. With this construction after the conduit 101 is open to the atmosphere the suction roll 51 continues to engage the separated sheet during the continued rotation of the roll with a force tending to hold the trailing edge of the separated sheet firmly against the fingers 113 thus to maintain the magnet 116 fully energized. Vibration of the fingers 134 under the influence of uneven pressure exerted by the trailing edge of the separated sheet against them results neither in a fluttering or" the valve 107 nor in arcing between the terminals and the switch 131 to which the vibrations of the fingers are transmitted. The normal flow of current through the circuit keeps the armature home after it has been retracted and provides an energized metallic circuit through which inductive'discharges flow instead of jumping across the gaps formed between the vibrating switch 131 and the terminal 127. It will, however, be understood by those skilled in theart that the period in which the separated sheet is held stationary against the fingers 134 before the separated sheet is snatched away from the roll 51 by the drum 52 is very small.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11 the drum52 is provided with a series of aligned peripheral open-' ings 139, each of the series comprising two. Each of the openings 139 in a series. communi cates with ablind passage 140 each having an opening 141 on the left-side face of the'drum 52. The'drum52v is keyed to the shaft 84 and therefore rotates about a fixed axis. From Fig ure 5 it is apparent that the roll 51 and drum 52- rotate in opposite directions.

In order to draw atmospheric air through the drum 52 its. face, provided with the openings 141, is engaged by a fibre disk 142 which is carried upon one end of a sleeve 143 supported in one branch of a yoke 144. The yoke 144 is formed on one end of an arm 145 (Figure 10) which is so.- cured to a rock-shaft 146 (Figure 5) mounted to rock in the side-

frames

20 and 21. The sleeve 143 is provided witha shoulder 147 (Figure 11) and. a cylindrical shank 148 which slides in the secand branch of the yoke 144 (Figure 5). The disk. 142 is held in air-tight engagement with the drum 52 by a spring 149 coiled around the shank. 148 and interposed between the shoulder 1.47 and the second branch of the yoke 144. The disk. 142 and sleeve 143 are provided with a passage 150 which communi ates through a flexible tube 151 with the T 102 (Figure. 5) of the air exhausting system.

- As shown in Figures 10 and 11 the passage 150. does not normally register with the adjacent opening 141. In order to elevate the arm. 1.45 to cause the passage 150 to register" with the openings 141 duringthe rotation of the drum 52 the shaft 146 (Figure 3) outside the side-frame 21 is provided witht a depending arm 152 the lower end of which is connected by a link 153 with an arm 154 pivoted at 155 on the fitting 103. The front face of the, arm 154 is held, by a springpressed plunger 156 on the fitting 103, against a earn 157 formed on a sleeve 158 (Figure 5) mounted to rotate on a stud 159' carried by the. side-fran1e 21. The sleeve 158 is rotated by a gear 160 thereon which is driven by a similar gear 161 on the end of the shaft 84.

hen the arm 145 is elevated by the cam 157 the passage 150 is brought into register with the lowermost one of the openings 141. The separated; sheet, which has been with-drawn from beneath the hoid-down 41 and which is being held by the roll 51 under reduced suction against the nngers 134, is then picked up by the drum 52 and delivered to the rolls at the right of Figure 3.

It will be apparent that the drum 52 operates in timed relation with the-machine to which the drum delivers the sheets. By changing the cam 157 the drum may operate continuously or pe-' riodically' in accordance with the requirements of the particular machine to which the sheets are delivered. It will also be apparent that the roll 51 operates in untimed relation to the drum 52; The roll 51 has nodefinite cycle of operation like the drum 52 when operating periodically. The cycle of operation of the roll 51 is controlled by the trailing edge of each sheet separated by it.

in order to wind the trailing edges of the uppermost sheets in the pile, the plate 55 carries a horizontal tube 162 (Figures 5, 7 and 9) provided with an aligned series of openings 163. To support the tube 162 the plate 55 carries a stud 164" (Figure 6') to whichare secured a pair of depending arms'165. The lower ends of these arms form journals in which the tube 162 may rock and'thus blow air in a curvilinear'path up and down the lateral edgesoi the'uppermost sheets in-the pile. The tube 162 is provided with an arm 1630 which is connected by a bent link 1640 to a' crank 1650 on one end of the shaft 53. In order to flatten'or spread the air blown through the tube 162 in the plane of the sheets thetube is provided with deflectors 166 (Figure 9).

The tube 162 is connected by a flexible tube 167 to a distributor 168 (Figure 3) suitably connected to a blower (not shown) for blowing air into the distributor. The distributor 168 is connected by two

tubes

169 and 170 to blowing nozzles 171 arranged on opposite sides of the rear portion of the pile. These nozzles 171 are shaped to flatten or spread the air blown from them in a horizontal plane. Each nozzle 171 is mounted for vertical adjustment in a clamp 172 which in turn is mounted for lateral adjustment on a horizontal The rods 173 (Figure 3) project inwardly, respectively, from the side-

frames

20 and 21 in order to allow clearance for the travel of the separating roll head along the rails 59. The distributor 168 is also connected by two tubes 174 and 175 to blowing nozzles 176 arranged on opposite sides of the front portion of the pile. These nozzles are constructed similar to the nozzles 171 and are supported for vertical and lateral 'adrod 173.

justment from a horizontal bar'17-7 connected to the side-

frames

20 and 21.

In order'to maintain automatically the uppermost sheet in the pile substantially in the same plane'notwithstanding the continued removal of sheets from the pile the shaft 84 is provided,

outside the frame 20 with a crank 178 (Figure 1) I which through an arm 179 oscillates a lever 180 mounted for pivotal movement from the sideframe 29. The lever 180 is pivoted to one end of a link 181 the upper end of whichis provided with a slot 182 (Figure 12). The slot 182 loosely embraces a pin 183 carried by the yoked end of an arm 184 loosely mounted on the shaft 37. The other end of the arm 184 carries a weight 185 tending to transfer the pin 183 to the upper end of the slot 182. The'arm 184 carries a pivoted pawl 186 adapted to engage a ratchet 187 on the shaft 87.

With the parts positioned as shown in Figure 12 the constantly vibrating link 181 does not move the arm 184 as the weight 185 is prevented frommoving the pin 183 into the upper end of the slot 182 by a finger 188 engaged beneath the arm 184. The arm 188 is rigidly secured to a rockshaft 189 mounted to rock in the

arms

46 and 47. One end of the rock-shaft 189 is provided with an arm 190 having a lateral pin 191 which rides in an open-ended slot 192 formed on one end of an arm I 193 projecting from the rock-shaft 45. When the "sheets are removed from the pile the hold-down 41 moves downwardly thus rocking the

shafts

45 and 189. When this occurs the position of the finger 188 is changed to allow theweight 185 to move downwardly and thus move the pin 183 upfwardly in the slot 182 so that the vibrating link 181 may engage it and impart the correct feeding stroketo the pawl 186 and rotatethe shaft 26 through the ratchet 187 to elevate the table 15.

In addition to the automatic means for varying the suctional pull of the roll 51 on the sheet during its rotation the valve casing 105 is provided with a pet-cock 194 so that the operative may bleed the air exhausting system to reduce the amount of air drawn through the roll 51. The

' fitting 1081s also provided with a valve 195 but this valve controls a large opening in the fitting so that when it is uncovered by the valve 195 substantially all the atmospheric air drawn into the air-exhausing system enters through said opening. The valve 195 may be used as a starting and stopping mechanism independent of'the power drive as the roll and drum rotate without effect upon the sheet when the valve 195 is moved to open the fitting 103 to the atmosphere.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art,

taking into consideration the different sizes,

successively in opposite directions without the use of the hold-down, the automatic means for opening the conduit, connected to the separating roll, t'othe atmosphere, or the winding devices. By the use of suction devices, specifically a roll and a drum, operating successively to separate and deliver the same sheet an important advance in sheet feeding has been made. If through static, unfavorable atmospheric conditions or badly severed sheets a plurality ofsheetsare' separated from the pile by the suction separating device, when the suctiondelivering device operates to drag them away from the suction separating device to deliver them to the delivery rolls the two sheets will fan enough toallow the separating device to exert suction on the narrow lap of the "underlying second sheet and prevent the delivering device from delivering more than one sheet at a time to the delivery rolls.

While in the illustrated embodiment of the in-' vention the front end of the machine supports the usual delivery roll 196 (Figures 3 and 5) the usual delivery press rolls 197 and 198, and one end of the usual registry board 199 it will be understood by those skilled in the art that this manner of supporting said devices is immaterial-so far as the features of the present invention are concerned andthatfor purposesof protection and disclosure the delivering device 52 may be considered the device which delivers the separated sheet from the machine.

plication to use in connection with the particular 1 apparatus or the particularmode of operation or both selected for purposes of illustration and explanation. While the particulars of construction I herein set forth are well'suited to one mechanical form of the invention, it is not limited to these details of construction, nor to the conjoint use of all its featuresnor is it to be understood that these particulars are essential since they may be without departing from the true'scope of the actual invention, characterizing features of which are set forth in the following claims by the invariously modified within the skill of the artisan tentional use of generic terms and expressions in- 1 2. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with an operatively, axially stationary suction device for separating a sheet in a pile by engagement with the exposed face of the sheet and a device for delivering the separated sheet by engagement with said exposed face, of means for operating said devices to move the sheet bodily successively in opposite directions.

3. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with an operatively, axially stationary device for separating bodily a sheet in a pile by engagement with the exposed face of the sheet adjacent the trailing edge thereof, and a device for delivering the separated sheet by initial engagement with said exposed face adjacent the leading edge thereof, of means for operating said devices to perform the separating and delivering operations successively. v

4. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with an operatively, axially stationarydevice for separating a sheet in a pile by engagement with the exposed face of the sheet adjacent the trailing edge thereof, and a device for delivering the separated sheet by initial engagement with said exposed face adjacent the leading edge thereof, of means for operating said devices to move the sheet bodily successively iii-opposite directions.

' 5.'In a sheet feeding machine the combination with a rotary suction sheet separating device and a rotary suction sheet delivering device, of means for'rotating said devices in opposite directions to move the sheet bodily successively in opposite di rections. I

6. In a sheet feeding machine the combination ,with a rotary device for separating a sheet in a pile by engagement with the exposed face of the sheet adjacent its trailing edge and a rotary device for delivering the separated sheet by initial engagement with said-exposed face adjacent its leading edge, of means for operating said devices to move the sheet successively in opposite directions.

7. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with a sheet separating device rotating constantly about a fixed axis to move a sheet bodily in one direction, of a sheet delivering device rotating constantly about a fixed axis in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the separating device to move the separated sheet in an opposite direction to the sheet separating movement substantially in the same plane thereof.

8. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with a suction device for separating a sheet in a pile by engagement with the exposed face of the sheet adjacent its trailing edge and a suction device for delivering the separated sheet by initial en agement with. said exposed face adjacut, its leading edge, of automatic means for reducing the suctional pull of the separating device to allow the delivering device to snatch the separated sheet therefrom.

9. In a sheet feeding machine'the combination with a suction device for separating a sheet in a,

pile by'engagement with the exposed face of the sheet adjacent its trailing edge and. a suction devicefor delivering the separated sheet by initial engagement with said exposed face adjacent its leading edge, of automatic means for reducing the suctional pull-of the separating device to allow thedeiivering device to snatch the separated sheet therefrom, and automatic means for restoring the suctional pull of the separating device to cause it to retain the sheet directly under the separated sheet while it is being delivered by the delivering device;

10. A sheet feeding machine having, in combination, a hold-down for staking a pile of sheets adjacent their leading edges, an operatively, axially fixed suction device engaging the exposed face of the uppermost sheet for moving it bodily to withdraw the leading edge from beneath thehold-down, and a suction device engaging said exposed face for delivering the separated sheet over the hold-down.

11. 'A sheet feeding machine having, in comof means for varying the operation of the sepa rating device in ing device.

' 13. In a sheet feedingmachine the combination with a suction device for delivering sheets one at a time from a pile, and a suction device for separating from the pile the uppermost sheet thereof prior to its delivery, of automatic means for relatively varying the suctional effect of said devices upon the same sheet.

l4.-A sheet feeding machine having, in combination, a hold-down for staking a pile of sheets adjacent their leading edges, means for operating upon a sheet first to withdraw it from beneath the hold-down and then to deliver the withdrawn sheet over the hold-down, and means for winding the sheet to elevate" the trailing and leading edges of the sheet successively. V p

15. A sheet feeding machine having, in com bination, a hold-down for staking a pile of sheets adjacent their leading edges, a device for withdrawing a sheet from beneath the hold-down, a device for delivering the withdrawn sheet, and means for winding the staked sheet to elevate the trailing edge thereof into the field of operation of the first named device. I

16. A sheet feeding machine having, in comuntimed relation to the deliverbination, a hold-down for staking a pile of sheets drawing a sheet from beneath the hold-down, a device for delivering the withdrawn sheet, andmeans for winding the staked sheet to elevate the trailing edge-thereof into the field of operation of the first named device, said means oper ating to elevate the, leading edge of the sheet into the field of operation of the second named device after the sheet has been withdrawnfrom beneath the hold-down. y

17. A sheet feeding machine having, incombination, a hold-down for staking a pile of sheets adjacent their leading edges, a suction device for withdrawing a sheet from beneath the holddown, a suction device for delivering the withdrawn sheet, and means for windingthe staked sheet to elevate its trailing edge into the field of operation. of the first named suction device.

18. A sheet feeding machine having, in combination, a hold-down for staking a pile of sheets means operating to elevate the leading edge of the sheet into the field. of operation of the second named suction device after the sheet has been withdrawn from beneath the hold-down.

19. In, a sheet feeding machine the combination with an operatively, axially fixed device havinga definite cycle of operations for delivering sheets one at a time from a pile and a device for separating from the. pile the uppermost sheet thereof prior to its delivery, of means controlled by the trailing edge of each sheet for varying the operation of the separating device. in untimed relation to the delivering device.

20. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with a rotary sheet separating device, a rotary sheet delivering device and means for rotating said devices in opposite directions about fixed axes, respectively, of means for relatively moving said devices towards and from each other.

21. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with an operatively, axially fixed device for separating a sheet from a pile preliminary to its delivery by engagement with the exposed face of the sheet, of means controlled by the sheet'for limiting the separating stroke of said device.

trolled by the sheet for varying, while continuously maintaining, the suctional pull of the device on the sheet.

23. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with a suction roll for separating a sheet from a pile, preliminary to its delivery, by engagement with the exposed face of the sheet, of means controlled by the sheet for varying, while continuously maintaining, the suctional pull of the roll on the sheet.

24. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with an operatively, axially fixed device for separating a sheet from a pile, preliminary to delivery, by engagement with the exposed face of the sheet, of means controlled by the trailing edge of the sheet for limiting the separating movement of the sheet.

25. In a sheet feeding machine the combina-' tion with a suction roll for separating a sheet from a pile, preliminary to delivery, by engagement with the exposed face of the sheet, a conduit connected to the roll for drawing air therefrom, and a valve in the conduit, of means controlled by the trailing edge of the sheetfor opmeans into operation.

27. In a sheet feeding machine the combinationwith a suction roll for separating a sheet from a pile, preliminary to delivery, by engagement with the exposed face of the sheet, a conduit connected to the roll for drawing air therefrom, a valve in the conduit and means normally maintaining the conduit closed to the atmosphere, of means controlled by the trailing edge of the sheet for operating the valve to open the conduit to the atmosphere.

machine the combinaforseparating a sheet '28. In a sheet feeding tion with asuctionroll from a pile, preliminary ment with the exposed face of the sheet, a conduit connected to the roll for drawing air therefrom, a valve in' the conduit, magnet circuit including an armature operatively connected to the valve, and means for maintaining the magnet deenergized and the conduit closed to the atmosphere, of means controlled by the trailing edge of the sheet for energizing the magnet and operating the valve to open the conduit to the atmos phere.

29. In a sheet feeding tion with a suction roll from a pile, preliminary to delivery, by engagemachine the combina to delivery, by engagefor separating a sheet ment with the exposed face of the sheet, a conduit connected to the roll for drawing air there-f from, a valve in the conduit, a magnet circuit including an'armature operatively connected to the the exposed face of the sheet, a conduit connected to the roll for drawing air therefrom, a valve in the conduit, a magnet circuit including an armature operatively connected to the'valve, a resistance coil circuit, said resistance coil and magnet being connected in series, a bell-crank lever having a switch on one arm thereof for alternately short-circuiting the magnet and resistance coii, and means engaged with the bell-crank lever for operating the switch to maintain the resistance coil energized and the magnet de-energized, of fingers carried by the bell-crank lever and interposed in the path of the trailing edge of. the sheet in its movement of separation for swinging the bell-crank lever to short-circuit the resistance coil and energize the magnet.

31. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with a suction drum rotating about a fixed axis for delivering a sheet from a pile having a circu-' lar series of passages on one end face open to the periphery of the drum, and a conduit for withdrawing air from the drum, of means for periodically operating the conduit to register it with at least one of the passages in the circular series.

32. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with a suction drum rotating about a fixed axis for delivering a s set from a pile having a circular series of passages on one end face open to the periphery of the drum, a facing having a passage therein, means for pressing the facing against the said end face of the drum, and a conduit communicating with the passage in the facing for withdrawing air from the drum, of means for periodically operating the facing to register it with at least one of the passages in the circular cries.

33. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with means for separating individual sheets from a pile and delivering them in succession from the machine, of means for winding at least one vertical face of the pile comprising an oscillating blowing nozzle provided with deflectors for. flattening or spreading the air in a plane.

34. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with means for separating individual sheets from a pile and delivering them in succession from the machine, and means for winding at least one vertical face of the pile comprising a blowing nozzle provided with deflectors for flattening or spreading the air in a plane, of means for operating the nozzle to blow the air in a vertical path across the edges of the uppermost sheets in the pile.

85. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with means for separating individual sheets from a pile and delivering them in succession from the machine, and means for winding at least one ver-' 'tical face of the pile comprising a blowing nozzle,

of means for oscillating the nozzle about a horizontal axis.

36. In a; sheet feeding machine the combination with means for separating individual sheets from a pile and delivering them in succession from the machine, and means for Winding at least one vertical face of the pile comprising a blowing nozzle provided with deflectors for flattening or spread ing theair in a plane, or" means for oscillating the nozzle about a horizontal axis.

37. In a sheet feeding machine the combination with means for separating individual sheets from a pile and delivering them in succession from the, machine, and means for Winding at least one side-