US2106285A

US2106285A - Paper supporting and feeding apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2106285A
Application number: US102442A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oscar J Sumlstrand
Original assignee: Underwood Elliott Fisher Co
Current assignee: Underwood Elliott Fisher Co
Priority date: 1936-09-24
Filing date: 1936-09-24
Publication date: 1938-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1955-01-25

Description

- Jan. 25, 1938, o. J. SUNDSTRAND PAPER SUPPORTING AND FEEDING APPARATUS original Filed Jan; 12, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 25; 1938;

o. J. SUNDSTRAND PAPER SUPPORTING AND FEEDING APPARATUS Original F iled Jan. 12, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 cnrwmv SHEET 6.

Jali- 1938- o. .J. SUNDSTRAND 06,

PAPER SUPPORTING AND FEEDING APPARATUS Original Fi led Jan. 12, 1 931 4 Sheets-Sheqt 1 0560,?" I sunc'bsih'and/ r M z 7 (IQ/7a.

Jan. 25, 1938. o. J. SUNDSTRAND' 2,106,285

PAPER SUPPQRTING'AND FEEDING APPARATUS I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 OriginalFiled Jan. 12, 1931 any Patented Jan. 25, 1938 January 12,

This invention relates to the work-supporting devices of typewriting and bookkeeping machines. It relates particularly to means whereby two sheets, one of which may be termed a journal, tally or record sheet, the other being a ledger sheet or the like, may be independently supported and fed, and thereby the ledger sheet may be expeditiously and accurately positioned in the machine. i

A particular object of the invention is to render possible the convenient insertion of a ledger sheet in front of the platen of a machine of the type in which the platen is not movable into and out of operative position.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a paper carriage equipped with a device embodying the features of my invention, the view being broken away in the middle to shorten it.

. Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective view of a machine equipped with a carriage embodying the invention.-

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through a winding drum comprised in-the construction.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-'-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragment-a1 detail view of one of the paper-feeding tapes and a clip positioned thereon.

Fig. '7 is a section on line of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 8 is a detail view taken approximately in the plane of line 8--8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the lower end of one of the paper-feeding tapes.

Fig. 10 is a section on line ||l--|0 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a fragmental sectional view of the means for controlling the action of the pawl 22..

Fig. 12 is a view'of the means for regulating the eiiective length of the stroke of said pawl.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to the lower portion of Fig. 10, but showing the parts in another position.

Fig. 14 is a section on line |4|4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 14* is a detail view of the pawl 13 and finger 19. a

Fig. 15 is a view taken approximately in the plane of dotted line l5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is a fragmental right-hand side elevation of the machine.

This application is a continuance of an application filed by me on Jan. 12, 1931, Serial No,

508,106, for improvements in paper supporting.

and feeding apparatus.

In the particular embodiment which has been selected to illustrate the invention, the paper carriage comprises a longitudinal main frame mem- Oscar J. hridgeport, Conn assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Oontinnation'of application Serial No. 508,106,

1981. Thisapplication September 24,1936, Serial No. 102.442

' 36 Claims. (01. 191-127).

her or casting to the ends of which are secured

plates

2 and 3. The means for supporting the journal, record or tally sheet A and the carbon sheet .3 comprises a cylindrical platen 4 which is fixed to a shaft 5 that is journaled in bearings in 5 the

end plates

2 and 3. The journal sheet A and v the carbon sheet B are fed to the platen from the rear thereof, and for this purpose there is pro- 'vided an apron 6 formed of two sheet metal plates secured to the frame member I andthe end plates 10

I

2 and 3 so as to extend in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position with-the lower edge of the apron adjacent to the rear side of the platen 4.

Two guides I for the side edges of the sheets A and B are adjustably secured to the apron Means of any preferred construction may be used to hold the sheets A and B in contact with the platen 4. Herein I have shown a plurality of pairs of feed rolls 8 and. 9, each pair being mounted in a support III which is pivoted at 20 to an arm l2 that is fulcrumed on the carriage at l3. feed rollstowardthe platen. The space between the feed rolls 8 and 9 is bridged by a plate IS.

The means for rotating the platen 4 may par- 5 take of various forms. Herein I have shown a finger wheel secured to each end of the shaft of the platen 4. Means may also be provided for rapidly rotating the platen 4 to inject and eject the sheets A and B. The iorm'of ejector means herein shown comprises a pinion l8 (Fig. 1)- which is mounted upon the shaft 5 and which-is arranged to be connected thereto by means of a clutch I8 The pinion I8 meshes with a spur gear I9 (Fig. 10) which is rotatably mounted 3 upon a stud, 20 fixed upon the end plate 3. A

hand lever 2| is pivoted upon the stud 20 and carries a pivoted pawl 22 that is arranged to engage the teeth of the gear wheel I9. When the hand lever-2| is in its initial or rearward position (as shown in Fig. 10) the pawl 22 is held up out of engagementwith the gear wheel |9 by means of .a pin 23 which is secured to the pawl 22 and v extends through an opening 24 (Fig. 1) in the hand lever. buffer 23. An abutment 25 (Figs. 1 and 12) for the buffer 23 is adjustably mounted upon the end plate 3. *A tension spring 26 connected to the hand lever 2| and anchored to a pin 21 on the end plate 3 normally holds the lever 2| in its v initial position with the buffer 23' against the abutment 25. An arm 28 is pivoted on the stud 20 to turn with some friction. In the free end 0! said arm is a slot 29 into which extends a projection 30 on the pawl 22'. when the hand lever 2| A tension spring H normally pressesthe c f I On the end of said pin is a rubber 45 is pulled forward, the lagging of the arm 28 causes the pawl to swing down into engagement with the gear wheel l9, continuing movement of the hand lever causing the platen 4 to be rapidly rotated 5 to feed the sheets A and B into or out of the machine. Forward movement of is limited by a stop 30.

The ledger sheet, statement sheet or other work-piece C is fed into printing position from the handle 2| in front of the platen. The means provided for that purpose comprises a roll or winding means 3| which extends parallel with and below the platen 4. In this instance the roll 3| is shown as of approximately the same length as the platen 4. The roll 3| is fixed upon a shaft 32 which is journaled in the

end plates

2 and 3. To the roll 3| are secured a plurality of tapes 33, four such tapes being herein shown. In order that the tapes shall be adjustable lengthwise of the paper carriage in accordance with the width or location of the sheet C, the lower ends of the tapes are adjustably connected to the roll'3| by means herein shown as consisting of hooks 34 engaging the wall of a, slot 35 extending longitudinally of the roll 3|.

The tapes extend upwardly in front of a guide rod 36 which is secured to the

end'plates

2 and 3 and thence. upwardly past the platen 4. The upper end of each tape is attached to a winding drum 31 whichis mounted upon a shaft 38 by means of a connection permitting the drum tobe slid lengthwise of the shaft to correspond to the setting of the hooks 34. The winding drum is also yieldingly connected to turn with the shaft. The

form of connection herein shown comprises a V sleeve 39 (Fig. 3) slidable lengthwise of the shaft 38, but having a key 40 fitting in a keyway 4| in the shaft. The winding drum is rotatably mounted on the sleeve 39 and is yieldingly connected 40 thereto by means of a coiled torsion spring 42,

one end of the spring being fastened to the winding drum and the other being attached to a flange 43 on the'sleeve. The spring'tends to turn the drum in the direction to wind up the tape. To

45 hold the sleeve in the position to which it has been adjusted along the shaft, I'provide a collar 44 surrounding the sleeve 39 and having a peripheral groove 45. Approximately one-half of the bottom of the groove is cut away to accommodate a semicircular brake shoe 46 that lies in a semicircular recess 46 in the sleeve 39. A contractile spring 47 lying in the groove 45 presses the brake shoe against the shaft 38. The shoe is of sufficient radial thickness to extend into the groove 45 (see Fig. 3) and thus serves to hold the collar 44 against endwise movement on the sleeve 39.

.The winding drum is held between theflange 43 and the collar 44.

The shaft 38 is rotatably mounted in a rigid frame 48 consisting of two arms 49 and a tie rod 50. The arms 49 are pivoted to the

end plates

2 and 3 at 5|. Rubber-covered rolls 52 are its rearward position with the rolls 52 in contact with the roller 53 or a ledger sheet C resting 70 against said roller by means of a spring 54 (Fig.

15) which is anchored to the end plate 2 at 55, the other endof said spring being connected to a hook 56 that is pivoted on the end of the rod,

50. When a ledger sheet is to be inserted into 75 the machine, the operator pulls the frame 48 forward by taking hold of the tie rod 50. the forward movement of the frame being limited by engagement of the hook 56wlth a stud 51 on the end plate 2. i

Means is provided on the tapes 33 to form stops against which the lower edge of the ledger sheet C may be positioned by the operator. The means herein shown for this purpose consists of sheetmetal clips 58 through which the tapes 33 are threaded. The clips are slightly curved so that their upper edges diverge from the tapes sufiiciently to provide space for the reception of the lower edge of the ledger sheet (see Fig. 6).

The means for operating the tapes comprises a finger wheel 59 fixed upon the right-hand end of the shaft 32 of the roll 3|. Byrotating the finger wheel in the counter-clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. '7), the roll 3| will be rotated in the direction to wind up the tapes 33 thereon and thus feed the ledger sheet C downwardly and around the roll 3|. 60 is a curved guard plate fixed in the carriage and extending partially around the roll 3|.

The means for causing the roller 53 to rotate with the roll 3| comprises a flexible inextensible band 6| (Figs. 1, 7 and 8) the lower end of which is secured to the left-hand end of the roll 3|, and the upper end of which is secured'to a roll 62 which is fixed upon the shaft 38. Intermediate its ends the band 6| extends over a roll 63 which is rigid with the left-hand end of the rubbercovered roll 53. The course of the band 6| is best shown in Fig. 8. When the finger wheel 59 is turned to draw the tapes 33 downwardly, the

rubber-covered roll 53 is rotated in the same direction through the action of the tapes in turning the shaft 38 in the direction to wind up the band 6| on the roll 62, the friction of said band on the roll 63 causing the roll 53 to turn. When the finger wheel 59 is turned in the opposite direction, the band 6| is wound up on the roll 3| whereby the roll 53 is rotated in the direction to feed the ledger sheet upwardly, and the shaft 38 is rotated in the direction to wind up the tapes on the drums 31. The spring connection between the drums and the shaft 38 compensates for variations in the thickness of the windings on said drums as the tapes are wound up and unwound. Means may be provided for rapidly rotating the roll 3| and hence the roll 53 in either direction. a

The means herein shown for this purpose comprises a-gear .64 (Fig. 16) pivotally mounted on the end plate 2 and having a hand lever 65 fixed rigidly thereto. The gear wheel 64 meshes with an intermediate gear wheel 66 which is rotatably mounted on the end plate 2 and which in turn meshes with a pinion 61 which is arranged to be connected to the shaft of the roll 3| by means of a clutch 68. When the pinion 61 is clutched to the shaft of the roll 3 a forward pull upon the handle 65 will cause the roll 3| to be rotated in the direction to draw the ledger sheet C downward to bring the line on which entries are to be made to the printing position or approximately so. A rearward push upon the handle 65 will cause the roll 3| to be revolved in the direction to eject the ledger sheet. The rearward or initial position of the handle 65 is determined by contact of said handle with a stop 68' on the carriage the clips 58 being then directly in front of the platen. The extent of the forward movement of the handle 65 is limited by engagement of said handle with the stud 51. When the handle is against the stud 51, the top line on the ledger sheet is in position to be printed upon. When inserting a ledger sheet on which there are one or more lines of entries, the

14, the handle is shown in an intermediate position.

Means may be provided for turning the platen 4 and the roll 3| through one line-space movement in each cycle of operations of the machine. The means herein shown for this purpose comprises a universal rod 68 (Fig. 14) which is fixed at its ends to two arms which take the form of plates I and I I. The universal rod 89 and the plates I0 and II are rigidly secured to a pivot rod I2 (Fig. 7) which is mounted to turn in the

end plates

2 and 3. A pawl I3 is pivoted upon the plate I0 at I4 andis urged toward a ratchet wheel I5, fixed to the pinion 81, by means of a spring I8. II (Fig. 15) is a spring-actuated lever carrying a roller that engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel I to prevent overthrowmf the roll 3i and to locate the roll in definite angular position.

a stop lug on the plate Ii to limit the action of,

To prevent the automatic line-space mechanism from turning the roll 3| too far, I provide on the gear wheel 58 (Fig. 14) a pin I8 arranged to engage a finger I9 attached to the pawl I3. When the handle 65 is in its forward position (the ledger sheet being then in position for writing on the top line), the pin I8 is in the dotted position shown in Fig. 14. As the line-space mechanism operates to raise the ledger sheet the pin I8 travels around until, as the handle reaches its starting position, said pin engages the finger I9 and thus holds the pawl I3 away from the ratchet wheel I5. The finger I9 is shaped, as shown in Fig. i4, so that the pin 13 shall engage only the end thereof.

Onthe plate II (Fig. is pivoted at 80 a pawl 8i which is urged by a spring 82 toward a ratchet wheel 83 which is rigid with the pinion i8. 84 is the spring 82. A tension spring 85 connected to the plate ll and to the pin 21 tends to swing the universal bar 69 rearwardly, the action of said spring being limited by contact of the plate Ii with a pin 86 on the end plate 3. When the bar as is swung forward, the pawl 8i engages a tooth.

. by'means of a link 9| to a cam arm 92 which is pivoted in the machine frame at 93 The cam arm a2 is operated by a roller stud 84 carried byan arm 95 that is fixed to the main rock shaft 96 of the machine.

Means of any desired nature (none being herein disclosed) may be employed todisable the automatic line-space mechanism except at desired times, so that line-spacing normally shall not occur except at the end of a line.

A paper table 91 (Fig. -7) is pivotally mounted near its lower edge upon pivot pins 98 on the'inner side of the end plates 2 and}. Fixed to each end of the paper table 8! is a rearwardly extending arm 93 having a rubber covered stop portion I00 (Fig. 16) arranged to be normally held in contact with the forward side of the apron 5 by means of tension springs IOI connected to said arms 88 and to anchorages I02 on the endplate: 2 and 3. The

paper table 81 is provided with laterally adjustable side edge guides I03 which are secured in lesired position by means includin clamping screws I04. The paper table 91 is pivotally supported. as described, in order that it may be swung forward to give the user convenient access to the securing-means for the guides I03. Contact of said guides with the rod 50 limits forward movement of the paper table 81.

It will, of course, be understood that the invention may be employed in connection with the handling of various kinds of work-pieces. The present drawings illustrate a journal sheet A, a

carbon sheet B and a ledger sheet C, but if de-,

posed to receive imprints, and the use of carbon paper dispensed with. Assuming that the workpieces are arranged as shown in the drawings, the operation is as follows: I

The journal sheet A and the carbon sheet B are inserted in the machine in the usual manner, said sheets being fed around the platen from the rear, and the normally upper end thereof passed under the roll 53, as shown in Fig. '7. In thus inserting the sheets A and B, the platen 4 is rotated by means of the handle 2|, supplemented, if necessary by the use of the finger wheel II. The operator then takes hold of the rod and pulls the frame 88- forward' into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15, thus' winding drums 31 and the rolls 52 on the one hand and the roll 53 on the other, the lower edge of the ledger sheet coming to rest in the spaces between the clips 58 and the tapes 33. When the operator releases the rod 50 the spring.

rolls 52 in contact with the ledger sheet and hold the latter in contact with the roll 53. The operator then draws the handle forward as far as may be necessary to bring into approximate position the line on which entries are to be made, the finger wheel 59 being used to locate said line accurately with respect to the printing line on the platen 8. The operator then proceeds to enter the date, folio number, items and balances in the usual manner, the paper. carriage moving from one columnar position to the next, and automatic line-spacing occurring at the end of the line so as to feed the journal sheet A and the carbon sheet 13 into position to receive the next line of entry. Ordinarily, only one line of entries ismade on the ledger sheet, but if more than one horizontal line of imprints is to be made the line-space mechanism I3, I5 operates to linespace the sheet C, excessive line spacing being prevented by the operation ofthe pin I8 on the sheet, it is removed and another inserted, the

journal sheet and carbon sheet remaining in the machine until the journal sheet is 'filled or until a predetermined portion of the ledger posting has been done.

The roll 53 is slightly larger in diameter than the roll 63, hence the peripheral speed of the roll 53 is slightly greater than the speed of the tapes. Consequently, if the operator does not insert the .sheet with its lower edge exactly horizontal (said edge being. in .contact with only one of thesteps 58) the rotationef the roll 53 will cause 40 50 draws the frame 88 rearwardly to place the the other stop 58 to advance slightly faster until the sheet is in engagement with both stops.

If the system of bookkeeping calls for the entry of items on the customer's monthly statement at the same time that items are posted to the customers ledger sheet, the ledger sheet and the statement sheet will be inserted in front of the platen, side by side. The extent to which said sheets are inserted by the operator will be such that when the injector 65 is operated, the sheets will be fed into position for printing-upon the proper line.

The distance between the bottom edge of the ledger sheet and the line to be printed upon will usually be diflerent from the distance between the bottom edge of the statement sheet and the line to be printed on. It will therefore be understood that said sheets will ordinarily be inserted difierent distances, only one of the sheets being inserted into engagement with the stops 58.

It will .be seen that the construction herein shown facilitates the insertion of the ledger sheet in upright position in front of the platen with the face of the ledger sheet toward the operator, and that this result is attained without movement of the platen out of operative position. Since the platen is not movable transversely of its axis, it is described in some 'of the followin claims as being mounted on a fixed axis.

I claim as my invention: a

1. The combination of a platen, sheet-introducing means adapted to receive the leading edge of a sheet at the rear ofthe platen and feed the sheet around the front thereof, another sheet-introducing means for advancing a sheet downwardly from above the platen, the second said means including a guide which acts upon the leading edge of the second said sheet tending to laterally align the same and direct it down past the front of the platen in close proximity thereto.

2. The combination of a platen, sheet-introducing means adapted to receive the leading edge of a sheet at the rear of the platen and feed the sheet around the front thereof, another sheetintroducing means for advancing a sheet downwardly from above the platen, the second said means including a guide which tends to laterally align the leading edge of the sheet and direct it down past the front of the platen in close proximity thereto, and the second said means being adapted for reverse operation to eject the sheet.

3. The combination of a platen, means for feeding a sheet from the rear of said platen around the front thereof, feed rolls located above the platen for advancing a sheet at the front of the platen downwardly to cause the leading edge of the downwardly advanced sheet to move away from said rolls, and means active on said leading edge to hold it in lateral conformity as it passes the front of the platen.

4. The combination of 'a platen, a rear-sheet introducing device adapted to direct the leading edge of a sheet from the rear of the platen under the platen and around the front thereof, and a front-sheet introducing device having means for advancing another sheet downwardly from a position above the platen, said front-sheet introducing device comprising means active upon the leading edge of the sheet for directing it down past the front of the platen.

5. The combination of a platen, a. rear-sheet introducing device adapted to direct the leading edge of a sheet from the rear of the plated under the platen and around the front thereof, a frontsheet introducing device having means for advancing another sheet downwardly from a position above the platen, said front-sheet introducing device comprising means active upon the leading edge of the sheet for directing it down past the front of the platen, and means for independently line-spacing sheets introduced by both devices.

6. The combination of ,a platen, a rear-sheet introducing device adapted to direct the leading edge of a sheet from the rear of the platen under the platen and around the front thereof, a frontsheet introducing device having means for advancing another sheet downwardly from a position above the platen, said front-sheet introducing device comprising means active upon the leading edge of the sheet for directing it down past the front of the platen, and means for independently line-spacing in either direction a sheet introduced by either of said introducing devices.

7. The combination of a platen, a rear-sheet introducing device adapted to direct the leading edgeof a sheet fromthe rear of the platen under the platen and around the front thereof, and a front-sheet introducing device having friction roller means for advancing another sheet downwardly from a position above the platen, said front-sheet introducing device comprising means active upon the leading edge of the sheet for directing it down past the front of the platen.

8. In an accounting machine, the combination of a platen, a front apron, a front-sheet introducing device comprising co-operative feed rolls for downwardly advancing a sheet on said apron and guide .means for directing the leading edge of the advancing sheet toward the front of the platen to align it and cause it to pass in such of a platen, a front apron, a front-sheet introducing device comprising co-operative feed, rolls for downwardly advancing a sheet on said apron and guide means for directing the leading edge of the advancing sheet toward the front of the platen to align it and cause it to pass in such alignment down past the front of the platen, a

rear apron, and a rear-sheet introducing device comprising friction'rolls co-operative with the platen to advance a sheet from said rear apron under and around the front of said platen, a part of said front sheet introducing device being capable of reverse operation to eject the front sheet from the machine and the rear-sheet introducing device being capable of movement in either direction to move the rear sheet in either direction without affecting the position of the front sheet.

10. In anaccounting machine having a roller platen and friction feed roller means co-operative therewith for advancing a sheet from the rear around the under side and up past front of the platen, means for independently supporting and feedin'g'a sheet across the front of the -platen comprising an apron above the platen, cooperative feed rolls between .the apron and the platen for projecting the lower end of a sheet ative feed rolls continues. i

11. In equipment of the character described,

on said apron downwardly in front of the first said sheet, and means for holding the leading edge of said lower, end in substantial lateral alignment closely proximate the sheet at the front of the platen as the action of the co-opera platen, a roll located below and parallel with the platen, a, plurality of tapes attached to said roll and extending .up past the platen, a roller located above and parallel with the platen, a frame pivotally supported to swing toward and away from said roller, winding means on said frame to which the upper ends of the tapes are attached, a roll on said frame adapted to hold a work-piece against said roller, means on one of the tapes forming a stop for the work-piece, and means for rotating said first mentioned roll and said winding means to move the tapes past the platen.

12. In equipment of the character described, a platen, winding means located below the platen, a plurality of tapes attached ,to said winding means and extending up past the platen, a roller located above and parallel with the platen, a

frame pivotally supported to swing toward and away from said roller, winding means on said frame to which the upper ends of the tapes are attached, means on one of the tapes forming 'a stop for the work-piece, and means for actuating said winding means to move the tapes past the platen.

' '13. In equipment of the character described, a

platen, a roll located below and parallel with the platen, a plurality of tapes attached to said roll and extending up past the platen, a roller located above and parallel with the platen, a frame pivotally supported to swing toward and away from.

said roller, a shaft in said frame, winding means on said shaft to which the upper ends of the tapes are attached, a spring normally holding said frame toward said roller, means on one of the tapes forming a stop for the work-piece, and means for rotating said roll and said winding means to move the tapes past the platen.

14. In equipment of the character described, a platen, a roll located below and parallel with the platen, a plurality of tapes attached to said roll platen, a plurality of tapes extending transversely and extending up past the platen, a roller located above and parallel with the platen, wind- .ingmeans to which the upper ends of the tapes roller are caused to turn when one of said last mentioned three parts is turned, and means for turning one of said parts.

15. In equipment of the character described, a platen, a roll located below and parallel with the platen, a plurality of tapes attached at their lower ends to said roll and extending upwardly past the platen, winding means above the platen to which the upper ends of the tapes are secured, means on one of the tapes forming a stop for the workpiece, and means for rotating said roll and said winding means to move the tapes past the platen.

16. In equipment of the character described, a

of and in front .of the platen, winding means above theplaten to which the upper ends of the tapes are secured, means on one of the tapes forming a stop for the work-piece, means for drawing the tapes downwardly, and'means for actuating said windingmeans to draw thetapes upwardly.

. 5 17. In equipment of the character described, a platen, a roll located at one side of and parallel with the platen, a tape attached at one end to said roll and extending past the platen, winding means at the other side of the platen to which the other end of the tape is secured, means on the tape forming a stop for the work-piece, and means for rotating said roll and said winding means to move the tape past the platen.

18. In equipment of the character described, a platen, a roll located below and parallel with the platen, a plurality of tapes attached at their lower ends to said roll and extending upwardly past the platen, means above the platen to which the up per ends of the tapes are secured, means on one of the tapes forming a stop for the work-piece, and means for rotating said rollto move the tapes down past the platen.

19. In equipment of the character described, a platen, means for feeding a work-piece, lower end first, down pastthe front of the platen, said means comprising winding means below the platen, winding means above the platen, a tape at- 3 attached, and means for actuating said platen,

roll and winding means to move a work-piece up and down past the platen.

21. In equipment of the character described, a platen, a tape located forwardly of the platen for moving a work-piece into position on the platen, means on the side of the tape toward the platen to form a stop for the lower edge of the workpiece, and means for moving the tape transverse- 1y of the platen, with the work-piece lying between the tape and the platen, to move the workpiece intoor out of position, while the platen is stationary.

22. In equipment of the character described, a platen, a tape for moving a work-piece into position on the platen, means on the tape forming a stop for the work-piece, and means for moving the tape longitudinally to move the work-piece into or out of position, the tape being connected .to said moving means for edgewise adjustment of the tape. 7

23. In equipment of the character described, a platen, a tape for moving a work-piece into position on the platen, means on the tape forming a stop for the lower edge of the work-piece, against which stop the work-piece may be dropped, said stop being at the front of the platen when the tape is in initial position, and means for moving the tape to move the work-piece down he- ;zi'tween the tape and theplaten and in front of the platen, while the platen is stationary.

24. In equipment of the character described,

piece up and down in front of the platen, mechanism for imparting. line-space" movements to the platen and to said front feed means, and means for suspending operation of said mech- -a cylindrical platen, means for feeding a workanism on the-front feed means when the l-atter has moved the work-piece to a predetermined position.

25. In equipment of the character described, a platen, .means for feeding a work-piece up and down in front of the platen, mechanism including a pawl and a ratchet wheel for imparting line-space movements to said front feed means, and means for automatically suspending opration of said pawl after a predetermined extent of movement of the work-piece.

26. In equipment of the character described,

for rapidly rotating the platen, and injector means for rapidly actuating the front feed means.

28. The combination of a platen, means for directing a work-piece downwardly to the rear side of the platen, feed rolls beneath the platen for feeding said work-piece under and upwardly past the front of the platen, a paper table above the platen, and means independent of said feed rolls for introducing a work-piece resting on said table, face forward and bottom-edge down ward, down past the front of the platen, said means comprising a frame substantially as long as the platen, said frame being pivoted at its ends on an axis located below and in front of the platen, and feed rolls between which the last-mentioned work-piece passes, one of said last-mentioned feed rolls being located between the lower edge of the paper table and the platen,

and the coacting feed rolls being carried by said frame.

29. The combinationof a platen rotatable on a fixed axis, an apron behind the platen for directing-a work-piece downwardly to the rear side of the platen, feed rolls beneath the platen for feeding said work-piece under and upwardly past the front of the platen, and means independent of said feed rolls and including a pinrality of tapes for introducing another workpiece down past the front of the platen, and maintaining said last-mentioned work-piece in contact with the platen.

30. The combination of a platen rotatable on a fixed axis, an apron behind the platen for directing a work-piece downwardly to the rear side ofthe platen, means for feeding said workpiece under and upwardly past the front of the platen, and means independent of the first-mentioned feeding means for introducing another work-piece downv past the front of the platen, said independent means including a frame which is pivotedat its lower end at points forwardly of the platen and which is pivotally movable into and out of position to hold the second mentioned work-piece against the platen.

31. The combination of a platen rotatable ion a fixed axis, means for directing a work-piece downwardly to the rear side of the platen, means for feeding said work-piece under and upwardly past the front of the platen,- andmeans independent of the first-mentioned feeding means for introducing another work-piece down past the front of the platen,.the introducing means I comprising a frame pivoted to swing away from the platen into work-piece receiving position, and a plurality'of tapes to guide, and to maintain said other work-piece in contact with said platen.

32. The combination of a platen rotatable on a fixed axis, means for directing a work-piece downwardly to the rear side of the platen, feed rolls beneath the platen for feeding said work- .piece under and upwardly past the front of the platen, and means independent of said feed rolls for introducing another work-piece down past the front of the platen, the introducing means comprising a frame pivoted on an axis below and in front of the platen to swing toward and away from the platen, and feed rolls on said frame.

33. The combination of a rotary platen, means for directing a work-piece downwardly to the rear side of the platen, means for feeding said work-piece under and upwardly past the front of the platen, means independent of said feed means for introducing another work-piece,

bottom-edge foremost, down past the front of the front thereof, another sheet-introducing means for advancing a sheet downwardly in front of the platen to lie in front of a rearwardly introduced sheet, the latter said means comprising cooperative friction feeding agents bearing on opposite faces of the sheet and disposed above a horizontal plane through the platen axis and means for maintaining the leading edge of the sheet in parallel alignment 'with the front of the platen as said edge reaches the platen front in its advance from said friction feeding agents.

35. The combination of a roller platen, sheetintroducing means adapted to advance a sheet upwardly in front of the platen, apaper' table above the platen, another sheet introducing means for advancing a sheet from said paper table downwardly past the front of the platen comprising cooperative friction feeding agents presenting a bite in position to receive a sheet positioned against said table and means for maintaining the leading edge of the sheet in parallel alignment with the front of the platen as said edge reaches the platen front in its advance from said friction feeding agents.

36. The combination of a roller platen, sheet introducing means adapted to advance a sheet from the rear of the platen under and around the front thereof, another sheet-introducing means for advancing a sheet downwardly in front of the platen to lie in front of a rearwardly introduced sheet, the latter said means comprising cooperative friction feeding agents bearing on opposite faces of the sheet and disposed above a horizontal plane through the platen axis andmeans for maintaining the-leading edge of the sheet in parallel alignment with the front of the platen as said edge reaches the platen front in its advance from said friction feedin agents, the aforesaid introducing means for the sheets having provision for selectively relatively moving the sheets in either direction.

n OSCAR J. SUNDSTRAND.