US2155895A - Automatic feeding device - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1939.

G. A. GIBSON, JR

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1934 11 Sheets-Sheet l e@ e @M if w @All IApril 25, 1939. G. A. GlBsoN, JR 2,155,895

' AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June\ 50. 1934 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 i u G. A. GIBSON, JR

. AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE f Filed June zo. 1954 11 sheets-*sheet s fis V H :o

wf/Mm?? G. A. GIBSON, JR

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE- 11 sheets-sheet 4 Filed June 3o, 1934 April 25, 1939. G. A. GIBSON, JR

AUTOMTC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 50, 1934 l1-` Sheets-Shaml 5 G. A. GIBSON, JR

AUTOMATIC FEELSING DEVICE April 25, 1939.

Filed JuneO 1934 11 Sheetsf-Sheet 6 o: @n OS @2H O3 April 25, 1939. G* A. GIBSON, JR 2,155,895

` AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June so, 1954 11 sheets-sheet 7 April. 25, 1939. G. A. GlasoN, JR 2,155,395

AUTOMATIC FEDING DEVICE I Filed June 30, 1934 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 'fm-1555,- u-f 1N VEN TOR. George A. Gibson Jr'. BY

A ATTORNEYS.

11 sheets-sneef 9 I IIITIIIIL s IIL llllllllllllllll Il INVENTOR. i .George A. Gibson, dr'.

ATTORNEYS.

I.. l H l l .rlllllll G. A. GIBSON, JR

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1934 April 25, 1939.

April 25, 1939. G. A. GlsoN, JR ,Y 2,155,895

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEvIoE Filed June 30, 1934 I il Sheets-Sheet l0 y NVENTOR. George Gibson, dr. M M4/444m A A TToRNEYS.

Filed June 30, 1934 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Mimmw IN V EN TOR. George A. Gibson, dr. BY l .Raaf/M QAM A TTORNEYS..

Patented Apr. 25,- .1939 I UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE AU'IlOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE George A. Gibson, Jr., New York, N. Y.

Application June 30, 1934, Serial No. 733,257

. 19 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a. very eiiicient automatic feeding device for feeding paper, cards, envelopes, folders, bags, etc., and, while not limited thereto, it is well adapted for use with a rotary printing machine of the type known as the multigraph.

My device is of the type in which the blanks are fanned or combed and delivered by gravity or other means to a friction feeding roller the -10 separation being accomplished by a second friction member adjusted to bear against or nearly against the "friction feeding roller.

By experiment, I have foundv that when a gravity magazine such as the one I employ is loaded, the inherent qualities of the blanks being fed, such as length, stiffness,y thickness, curvature, etc., determine to `a great .extent "the angle at which the leading blank of a lift fwillnaturally be presented to the feeding roller,othermeans of controlling this angle being absent. In my invention I recognize this natural= tendency as the controlling factor, and provide means of maintaining this angle of the leading blank to a great extent against change caused by variation of other factors, such as, angle or slope of the gravity magazine, quantity in the magazine, amount of degree of fanning or combing,- factors which would in many cases require great care and constant attention on the part of the operator.

By experiment, I have also found.I that to lob- I ture for positioning with relation to the printing ual as possible particularly until this part of the Objects of my invention are, therefore, to provide means for maintaining the leading blank in its normal or natural direction according to its inherent qualities, to provide means for setting the separating member in appropriate angular relationship with this normal or natural direction, to provide means for flexing the blank gradually and uniformly, to provide means for holdoperation of withdrawing the blank from between ingand adjusting the separating member towards and from the feeding member, also, and particularly, to provide means of accomplishing these ends for'blanks. of different length, width, thickness, stiffness, curvature, etc.,'and in various lat- 6 eral positions.

A further. object is to provide an adjustable feeding belt to co-operate with the feeding roller and other adjustable Imembers to secure positive feeding. lo

A further object is to provide adjustable means for preventing the packing down of heavy or short bulky blanks against the feeding roller and feeding belt, a condition which would otherwise interfere with the positive pick-up of these feeding members.

A further object is to provide an inclined removable hopper easily adjustable, to different angles to insure proper contact ofthe blanks with the feeding members, pivoted near its upper end to cooperate with other means provided to secure proper angular relationship of the leading blank with Athe separating member, adjustable in itself for width of blanks being fed, and slidable laterally as a unit upon its supporting strucor other machine.

A further object is to provide ratchet mechanism permitting pull-out rollers to `complete the the feed roller and separating member.

v A further object is to provide convenient means for changing the effective length of the feed stroke,l this feature being of particular value in the Ifeeding of short blanks.

A further object is to provide convenient means for cutting off the feeding altogether, which is useful when the printing Aor other machine is idling for inking up, etc. V

A further object is to provide a feeding device of` simple knock-down construction, one which may be quickly set for different kinds of blanks, and for correct position and timing with reference to the printing or other machine.

A further object is to provide a blank holding and separating unit removably mounted, and a delivery or registering unit slidably and remov ably mounted upon a base frame.

A further object is to provide a base frame upon which different types of magazine and separator units may` be removably and interchangeably mounted, and upon which different types of delivery of registering units may be removably, slidably and interchangeably mounted.

' A further object is to provide a delivery or registering unit removably and slidably mounted, and adapted to be driven by and from the shaft underneath the power drive base of the multigraph.

A further object is to provide means i'ork vary` ing the speed at which blanks may be delivered to the printing or other machine. My invention lprovides means for reducing the surface speed of the pull-out and registering rollers to avoid too great impact of the blanks against the registering stops oi the printing machine when it is being operated at hig-h speed.

A further object is to provide finely adjutable means for straightening out the blank and for changing lateral position of the blank without stopping the machine. A

A further object is to provide means for changlng lateral positioning of the .blank without changing or disturbing adjustments already made `to secure accurate register.

adjusting the angle roller driving belt against the angle rollers to secure positive driving.

- A furtherobject is to provide a convenient arrangement of parts to facilitate removing and replacing of belts.

A further object is to provide a short angle 'y roller lnear the delivery end; of my conveyor adapted to register short blanks, simple means of. mounting this roller, and simple and self-adjusting means of driving this short roller.

A further object is to combine in a compact removable pull-out and registering unit, pull-out rollers,v angle rollers, meansfor driving them from a' driven pulley which is a part of this unit, adjustable means for aligning the blank being registered, means for weighting the blank, and means of adjusting the entire pull-out and registering unit laterally, said adjusting means being adapted to cofoperate withmeans upon the supporting structure provided.-

A further object of my invention is to provide a Vconvenient arrangement of guidgs.' balls, ball holders and-other auxiliary means in conjunction with the rollers to deliver the blank, speedily, positively and exactly into the desired position and to hold it there until? acted upon by the `printing or other machine.

balls ymay project so as to bear upon blank delivering means, a plurality of ball retaining pieces adapted to slide in said channel-shaped guide, and self-acting means of locking said ball retaining pieces in position over holes in the bottom of said channel-shaped guide.

A further object is to provide a'. convenient mounting for a wiping pad so that it may be easily placed inoperative position against the feeding roller or in idle position, as desired.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those'referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a clearer comprehension of the operation of this invention, it is herein shown in connection. with the multigraph and power drive commonly used with the multigraph.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of this specication, and in which I have shown merely a preferred form of embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1is a perspective view of the right side of my automatic feed as used with the multigraph, its power drive base and stand, which are shown in part. n

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the left side of the equipment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the roller conveyor or register board of my feeder removed and inverted.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of magazine and separator with some parts broken away to show construction details.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken longitudinally and vertically through the magavzine and its supporting frame.

6 is a section taken through plane 6--8 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of feeder with ball holders and guides removed and roller driving parts omitted.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken throughthe conveyor in a plane at right angles to the conveying rollers and to the right of the roller driving mechanism which is shown in this view.

Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively diagrammatic plan and elevational views illustrating arrangement of gears, belts, pulleys, etc. in the assembly of multigraph, power drive base, and motor with my feeder and conveyor. l

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation taken at II-Il of Fig. 7, on a larger scale.

' Fig. 12 is a plan view of one ofY my ball holding guides, on a larger scale than Fig.l 24.

Fig. 13 is a section taken in the vertical plane |3-i3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken in the plane lll-I4 loi Fig. 12,.,on a larger scale.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of one of the ball holding blocks shown in section in Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a transverse vertical section taken through one ofthe ball holding blocks.

Fig. 17 is a bottom view of the block shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a plan sectional view showing details of conveyor roller construction and mounting.

Fig. 19 is -a vertical section taken at ISI- I9 oi' pan Ie- Fig. 24 is a plan view of part of conveyor with blank in position as registered against stop fingers of the multi'graph.

Fig. 25 is a, sectional plan view of feeding roller shaft and ratchet mechanism.

Fig. 26 is a plan sectional detail of main driv shaft and bearing of the roller conveyor.

Figs. 27 and 28 are respectively plan and Velevational details of my conveyor showing different construction from that of previous figures, and particularly a short roller and the means I em# ploy to drive it.

Fig. 29 is a bottom view of the short roller and plate upon which it is mounted, removed from conveyor.

Figs. 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 relate to a different arrangement of parts from that shown in Fig. 11 and other previous figures, Fig. 30 being a sectional elevation taken through the frame of the feeder with conveyor removed looking towards the magazine which is not shown in this view.

Fig. 31 is a plan view of the assembly as shown in Fig. 30. Y

Figs. 32, 33, and 34 are sectional elevations viewed from the right side of the feeder showing different arrangements of parts for different kinds of blanks.

Figs. 35 and 36 are respectively right and left elevational details of a ratchet cut-off which I provide with the construction shown inFigs. 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34.

Fig. 37 is a section taken at 31-31, Fig. 8.

Fig. I38 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 36, with mounting and stroke regulating y vdevice added in section.

Fig. 39 is a transverse section of the right guide as shown in Figs. 'Tand 24.

Fig. 40 is a plan view of the stroke regulating collar.

Fig. 41 is a view taken at 4|4I of Fig. 38 showing the action of the pawl in connection with the stroke regulating collar.

Fig. 42 is an elevation taken at 42-42 of Fig. 30 showing mounting of the feed belt brackets.

Fig. 43 is a diagrammatic elevational detail showing operation of the belt tightener releasing and locking mechanism used to cut-off the conveyor.

Fig. 44 is a plan view detail of the mechanism shown in Fig. 43.

In the perspective views Figs. 1 and 2 my feeder is shown attached to the power drive base I regularly used upon the tubular stand 2' to support and drive the multigraph 3. -The arrangement of driving mechanism in the power drive base is substantially as shown in Gammeters Patent No. 1,048,305, except that, instead of having the direct gear connection with the motor as shown in Fig. 6 of that patent, the motor` is in more recent practice mounted upon the lower cross brace's of the tubular stand, and a belt 4, driven by the motor pulley drives the pulley 5 upon the shaft 6, Figs. 9 and of this application. In practice theshaft 6 is much longer than the corresponding shaft 64, Fig. 6 of the patent above referred to, so that between the'bearing lugs which support this shaft there is a distance of about 9 or 10 inches.- Upon this shaft and between these bearing lugs I place a multiple speed drive pulley 1 to drive my roller conveyor, using the crossed belt 8 and the large driven pulley 9 on the shaft I0 of the conveyor.

The multigraph 3 as shown is of a well known construction and may be considered, for example, as made in accordance with Patent No. 846,992.

In Figs. 9 and l0 the general arrangement of gears used in the ordinary multigraph and power drive base is illustrated. The belt 4 is driven by the motor pulley. It drives the large pulley 5 which is pinned to the shaft 6. On the end of this shaft lis a small gear II which drives the 4intermediate `gear I2, which in turn drives the platen gear I3, which meshes with the large gear I4 ofthe printing member. The intermediate gear I2 has mounted upon the same shaft with it a small gear I5 which drives the crank I6` by engaging the gear I1 mounted on the same shaft with the crank. lThe crank makes one revolutign with each revolution of the printing drum.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, I use the crank I6 to make the feed stroke and to time the feed stroke so that the blank will be delivered to the multigraph when its paper fingers or registering stops are in their upper position. To time the feed stroke the set screw I8 is loosened and the arm I6 is turned upon its shaft I9 to the desired position and locked by tightening the screw I8. The link is notched to fit over the shoulder screw' 2| carried bythe crank arm I6.

The supporting frame 22 of my feeder has a plate 23, Figs. 7 and 20, with holes to match the tapped holes in the power drive base I, which are provided for mounting other types of feeding devices such as the ones described in Patents Nos. 1,052,332, 1,051,726 and 1,457,158. The two screws 24, Figs. 7 and 20, aside from the belt 8 and the link 20, are the only connection my feeder has with the' power drive base. connection of my `feeder with the multigraph itself, the latter may be removed from its base for cleaning, adjusting, etc., entirely independent of the feeder.

When it is desired to disconnect the feeder entirely, all that need be done is to remove link 20, throw the belt 3 off the conveyor pulley 9 and remove the two screws 24. The conveyor itself may be removed as in Fig. 3 to admit better access to the screws 24. This convenient knockdown construction as hereinafter more fully described is an important feature of my invention.

Having thus briefly described how my feeder may b e attached to and driven by the power drive base commonly used with the multigraph, I will now describe the construction and operation of the feeder itself.

The stand ismade up of four upright members of equal length; 2 upper and 2 lower longitudinal braces 26, 2 front and 2 rear cross braces 21. lThe frame 22 rests upon the upper longitudinal braces 26, being held there by the upper ends of the uprights 25 as shown at 28, Fig. 2. The base frame 22 is made up of left and right longitudinal side-members 29, a rear cross piece 30, ,a centre cross piece 3|, and a front metal structure composed of angles 32 to which are attached by screws or other suitable means, slide members 33 and 34 and an attaching plate 23 riveted to the slide member 33. A rear slide plate 34A strengthens the frame structure. A cross rod 35 is provided, its ends being let in the side members 29. Attached to the cross member 3l, Fig, 4, is a plate 36 having tapped holes to receive T-screws 31 by means of which the base of the magazine andseparating unit is mounted upon the base frame 22.

The base of the magazine and separating unit ,is made up of a right side member 38, Fig. 4, and.

a left side memebr 39, Fig. 2, and a brace member 40, shown in section in Fig. 11, to which the side members' 38 and 39 are attached by means of 'screws 4I. The side members are provided Since there is no.

-clips 53 are forced down over the 'rod 52.

with holes to receive T-screws 31 for -mounting upon the centre cross piece. 3l of the frame 22. These screws 4l also hold left and right plates 42 in place. Near the upper ends of these plates the U-shaped frame 43 is pivoted upon the cross rod 44. The frame 43 is held rigid by the sheet metal plate 45 bent around the cross rods 46 which are riveted in place. U-shaped piece 41, having notches to fit the cross rod 35, and pivoted at 48 on the frame 43 provides a means of adjusting the magazine pan to any desired angle. Springs 49 hold the U-shaped frame firmly in place once it is set. Safety stops 50 are provided to prevent the springs 49 from being broken by accidental dropping of the magazine supporting structure.

The magazine pan is made up of 2 sheet metal pieces bent at right angles longitudinally. The

right side 5l is removablyattached to the cross rod 52 of the frame structure 43, by means of spring clips 53, which are riveted to it. By this means the magazine pan is movable sidewise by sliding along the rod 52, and it is removable by forcing up off the rod. To attach the pan the The bracket 55 bolted to the right side of the magazine pan holds the nd ofthe adjusting rod 56 which is screwed into it. A sliding bracket 51, tted with a thumb screw 58 holds the left side 54 to which it is bolted, in any desired posiiton along the rod 56. The left side 54 is narrow so that when closed up against the right side 5I a lift of narrow blanks will be accommodated. When open wide the magazine is wide enough to take a maximum width blank while there is plenty of room for lateral adjustment to suit the lateral 4position of the type of the printing form; for instance, for a blank of two-thirds maximum width to be run at the extreme left side of the printing drum, the pan may be set 'for size by closing the side 54 into correct position along 'the rod. 56,

then for correct lateral position with regard to the matter on the printing drum, by sliding the entire magazine pan to the left along the rod 52.. 'I'he blanks are fanned and loaded into the.

magazine pan as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The rubber feed roller 59 which is supported and rotated intermitently in a counter-clockwise direction by mechanism to be described, is shown in Figs'. 4 and 11 in position relative to the mag- .azine and the adjustable separator. The upper' most of the lift of blanks fed downwardly by gravity, is the first to comel in contact with the rubber feed roller 59. As the feed roller is rotated the blank is fed forward, the second blank is also-moved forward slightly by the friction of the rst against it. But the resistance which the second blank encounters when it comes against the separating rubber 60 is greater than,

to t upon the tube 62 upon which it may be moved laterally to any desired position and fixed by the thumb screw 63. 'I'he tube 62 is held in place by the rod 64 which is threaded at one end and screwed into the left plate 42; it is bent at the other end to form a convenient lever for unscrewing when it is desirable to remove the separator finger and renew the rubber 66.

To adjust the separator towards andfrom the feed roller a plate 65 pivoted at its rear edge in the plates 421s provided. The front edge of this plate 65 bears against the separator nger and is adjustable by the thumbscrew 66 with lock nut. Guides 61 rod 44.

The rubber feed roller 59 has a metal hub 68 fitted with set screw 69 so that it may be fixed tight upon the shaft 10 in any desired position. The separator finger is moved along the tube 62 and locked in position underneath the feed roller, and is adjustable to and from the feed roller, in any lateral position by the plate 65 and the screw 66.

The shaft 1l) is bored at its left end to t over the bearing pin 1|, Fig. 25 which is removably mounted vin the left side member 39. A set screw 12 holds thebearing pin 1I in place.` The right end of the shaft 10 is bored and notched to fit over the hub of and be rotated by the pawl wheel 13 through the pins 80 fixed therein. This pawl wheel is rotated intermittently by the crank I6 of the power drive base through the link 2D and its associated parts. The upper end of the link 20fis slotted and has a rack 14 mounted upon the lower side of the slot so that it meshes with` the gear 15 pinned to the'shaft 16. A collar 11 pinned to the shaft 16, and a roller 18 hold the link and rack in alignment. .The shaft 16 is journaled in the right side member 38 of the feed unit base. The screw 19 holdsthe pawl wheel 13 on the end of the shaft 16, upon which except for the pawls 82, itis free to turn. Mounted on one side of the pawl wheel 13`are pawls 82. `Springs 83 hold these pawls down against the ratchet wheel 84 which is fixed upon the shaft 16 and is turned back and forth rst in one direction and then in the other by the forward andbackward motion of the rack 14 acting upon the gear 15. The motion imparted to the feed roller through this mechanism is therefore, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 11, kan intermittent counter-clockwise rotation.

The parts of this mechanism are so propor tioned that with one revolution of the printing .drum of the multigraiph a bl'ank is fed from the magazine sufficiently far forward to be engaged by the continuously rotating pull-out rollers 85 and 86 of the conveyor. These rollers complete the operation of withdrawing the blank from y Other types of feeders such as those illustrated in Patents No. 1,052,332, 1,051,726 and 1,457,158 may be mounted upon .the crossmember 3| of my base frame 22 and operated from the crank I6 of the multigraph power drive base by using a longer link such as the one 20 used to voperate the particular type of feeder herein illusltrated and described. When so mounted and used with my conveyor these'feeders are no longer required to register the blank, and the'feed rollers of the multigraph itself are not required a to complete the operation of withdrawing the blank from the magazine. Both these functions are taken. over by my conveyor, and performed by it more accurately and at greater speeds than is possible when these feeders are mounted directly upon the base of the mutigraph as contemplated by these patents.

are removably supported by the .c It is also contemplated in this invention that means of withdrawing and registering the blanks to be fed", other than and interchangeable with,

vthe conveyor shown herein may be used.

The various parts of the roller conveyor are assembled upon a frame made up of a left side member 81 and a right side member 88, Fig. 3, held parallel and a suitable distance apart by a front tie plate 88, and a rear tie plate 80. These tie plates are attached by screws to the side members as indicated in Fig. 3. As shown in Figs. 1 and 20 the front tie plate fits in' the way formed by the slide members 33 and 34 of the base frame. A rack 8| attached to the slide member 33 is engaged by the pinion rod 82,' the upper end of which is xed in the handwheel 83. A thumb screw 84 fitted in the bracket 85A is used to' I'hese rollers carry the blank forward and against the right guide 86 formed of .a single piece of i sheet metalhaving channel shaped cross section as indicated in Fig. 39. As shown in Fig. 18, the

shaft by means of screw which may be renut locked moved when it-is necessary to take out this roller to renew the rubber |0l, which is provided to give it better grip on the blank |02 being pulled out from between the feed roller 58 and the separator rubber 60.

.The right guide 86 is notched as shown in Fig. 7 to receive the ends of the rollers 85,- and the projections I 03 are bent down so as to prevent the blank from getting under them. The guide 86 is pivoted at |04 upon the angle piece |05 to which it is attached by means of a suitable countersunk rivet or screw. The guide 86 is adjustable by means of thumb nut |06 upon screw |01. The angle piece |08 is joined by pivotal connection at |08 to the guide 86. A compression spring I I0, Fig. 3, pressing against the downwardly bent portion ||I of the angle piece |08, which has a. hole to receive the screw |01, keeps the rear end of the guide 95 as far to the right as the nut |06 on the screw |01 will permit. The

pressure of this spring also tends to keep the in place after the guide has been Set.

The rear end of the guide is partly cutaway and opened as shown at ||2, Fig. '4,' so as-to better receive the leading edge of the blank.

. The cross rod ||3 reduced at either end to fit into the slots at the top of the plates ||4 and IIS, is locked in place by means of wing nuts ||6 and II1. This cross rod I3 supports the arm |I8. The spring I|8 has one end looped over the arm at |20, the other end looped around the thumb screw I2I which is fitted through the collar |22. By this arrangement the desired pressure of the upper pull-out roller 85 against the lower roller 86 may be obtained. The upper pull-out roller turns upon the shaft |23 which is fixed at one end in the arm I I8. Theshaft |23 also supports the bracket |24 which carries a felt wiper |25 used to keep the feed roller '58 clean or for applying glycerine, etc., to the roller 58 to give it better pick-up. When desired this wiper may be tilted over away from the pick-- up roller 59. It will then rest against the arm I I8, in idle position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to keep the blank under positive control after it hasV passed between the pull-out rollers 85 and 86, I employ one or more ball containing guides |26 and a left guide |21, which will hereinafter be described in detail.

The guides |26 and |21 are clamped by means of thumb screws to the cross bar |28, slotted as at |28 at both ends so as to be removably clamped by wing nuts and screws to the brackets |30 and I 3| which are fastened by means of screws to the side members 81 and 88.

Theball containing' guides |26 are made of sheet metal ,formedas shown in Fig. 19. The guides |26 are fastened to a clamp member |32 by means of screw |33 and plate |34, the turnedin edgGSof the guide |26 being held firmly betweenclamp member |32 and plate |34, bythe screw |33. is tightened up against the under side of the cross bar |28 by means of the thumb screw |36, supporting the 'guide the proper distance above the rollers 85. The rear end of the guide |26 is partly cut away as shown at |31, the bottom part is bent up as indicated, to receive the leading edge of the fed blank.

I use steel balls, |38 to give the rollers a more positive action upon the blank being fed. These balls are heldin place bearing upon the rollers if desired or in idle storage position as at |38, Fig. 13. through which' the balls may project far enough to bear and turn freely on the rollers 85. The edges of the holes are bent up as shown at I4I to prevent the blank being fed from getting caught, as will frequently happen if the metal is i'iatl at these points. The retaining blocks I 42V I being under tension keepsthe ball |44 in the pocket |41 formed in the sideof the channel |26,

' locking 'the retaining block in correct position against displacement by vibration or by the action of the idler balls |38 as the blanks are being fed under them. While this is a very effective means of keeping the retaining blocks from creeping as the blanks are fed, it is also a very convenient arrangement, since, when desirable the retaining blocks may be easily moved by applying pressure by hand. When the retaining blocks are thus forced in either direction along the channel, as the ball |44 is forced away from the pocket |41, the spring |45 is placed under greater tension. When the retaining block is forced towards the pocket the locking ball |44 snaps into place locking the retaining block against displacement. If the ball |38 is to be placed in idle position as at |39, the pressure of the ball |44 against the iiat wall of the channel is suicient to hold the retaining block and idler ball |38 in idle position.

The holes |40 in the sheet metal channel are not large enough to permit the ball |38 to pass through entirely. The hole in the retaining block The surface |35 of the clamp |32v Holes |40 are provided in the guide |26,

is small enough at the top |48 to prevent the ball |38 from passing through. The hole in thelower part |49 is large enough to allow the ball freel movement .for its purpose.

At |50 a ball is shown projecting downwardly through a. hole placed between two rollers 95. At the point |5I the metal of the channel is bent downwardly to guide the blank under this ball.

The means used to drive the pull-out roller 86, and the angle rollers 95 is shown in Figs. 3, 8, 27, and 28. On the shaft l0, I mount in addition to the driven pulley 9, a pulley |5IA for driving the belt |52 which in turn passes over a series of small idler pulleys |53 placed as shown in Figs. 8 A

and 28 so as to cause the belt to bear against the angle rollers and rotate them. These idlers are mounted by means of shoulder screws |54 upon a plate |55; this plate is attached to the supporting member |56 by means of screws |51 which pass through slots |58 in this member.

As shown\in Fig. 3 the supporting member |56 is mounted by screws upon the tie pieces 89 and 90. Upon plate |55 I provide pivotally mounted at |59 a tightener arm |60 and a tightener pulley |6I. Tension on the belt |52 is maintained by a pull spring |62 fastened at one end to the member |56 at |63 and at the .other end to the pin |64 which is riveted in the arm |60. By the slot arrangement shown in Fig. 37 the entire pulley and plate assembly may be adjusted up or down to obtain proper bearing of the belt |52 against the rollers 95 to drive them. To provide a supporting bracket for the shaft |0 under my conveyor and at the same time a support for the cross rod H3, I use a single strip of metal bent to U-shape. The longer leg |65 of this strip is screwed to the conveyor side 81, Fig. 2. The other leg |66 is turned under at |61 and riveted to the plate |68 Which is bolted to the member |56. In Fig. 26 I show how the shaft |0 is mounted in the bracket formed by this U-shaped piece. The sides |64 and 61 of this piece are bored to receive the tubing |69 which is riveted at the ends |10 as indicated. Oilless bearings |1| are provided for the shaft I0 to rotate in.

For the long belt 8 which is driven by the multigraph base I provide a tightener pulley |12 which is free to rotate upon and position itself along the shaft |13 according to the requirements of the belt 8 which may or may not be in line with the pulleys 1 and 9. The shaft |13 is fixed in the U-shaped bracket |14. oted on the `tie rod |15, a pull spring |16 fastened to one leg of the bracket |14 being provided to maintain the tension on the belt 8 through the idler pulley |12.

The pulley |16A mounted on the end of the shaft I0 drives through the vcrossed belt |11 the pulley |18 on the shaft of pull-out roller 86. To keep this belt |11 taut-I provide an idler pulley |19 mounted upon an arm |80. This arm |80 is pivotally mounted near its lower `end upon the bracket |65. Spring |8| attached at one end to the side member 81 and at the other to the upper end of the arm maintains the tension on the crossed belt |11. The idler pulley |19 is out of line with the pulleys 16A and |18 so as to hold the belt |11 clear of itself where it crosses.

In Figures 23 and 24, as well as in Fig. 1, I show flexible members |8|A mounted on the left guide v |21. The purpose pf these members is to retain theY blank in alignment after it has been delivered against the stops.

In practice the left guide |21, is s`et slightly This bracket |14 is plv-.-

further to the right than is shown in Fig.` 24. The action of the angle rollers and balls upon the blank |82 causes the blank |82y to be brought against the guide 96 as soon as it is released from between the pull-out rollers. The. blank then j comes against the inside surface of the lower portion of the flexible members |82, bending them outward slightly. The spring tension n these pieces |8|A. is not great enough to prevent the free movement ofthe blank. However, it is sufflcient to prevent the blank from rebounding out alignment when it strikes the stops |83 of the multigraph.

|84 and l85rindicate, respectively, front and rear filler plates. These filler plates ar'e screwed, as indicated, to rightrand left side members 81 and' 88. Their edges are turned down, as indicated in section in Fig. 23. The members |'8|A Vproject below the level of the top of the angle rollers, as indicated in Fig. 23, and'screws |86 are provided so that they may be placed in different positions according to the length of the blanks being fed.

In Fig. 24 I show a blank in position against the stop' vfingers |83, a single ball |50 on the blank being between the rollers, as shown also in Fig. 13. The other balls and ball retainers v` modate the larger balls I use a retainingblock such as is shown in Figs. 16 and 17, etc., except the hole |49 is bored larger and entirely through the block one size, the upper turned in edges of the channel serving to prevent the ball from being removable through the top of the channel.

In order to mount the hand feed pan shown in Fig. 20 the cross bar |28 with the left guide |21 and ball holding guides |26 is removed by loosening the wing nuts |81 by which it is clamped to the brackets |30 and |3|, and the cross rodif |33 with upper pull-out roller, etc., is removed by loosening the wing nuts ||6 and ||1. The rod |88 is inserted in the slots of the brackets |4 and,||5 and wing nuts |89 are tightened. The

pan |90 is turned up on the right edge to form the right guide |9| and on the left edge, |92 to form a mounting for an adjusting bracket |93. It is cut out as at |94 to permit the narrow blanks over towards the left side of the multigraph. 'I'he pan |90 is pivotally attached'to the rod |88 by the countersunk screw |95. By theslot in the pan |90 and screw |96 the pan is adjustable for alignment. For lateral positioning the handwheel 93 is used the same as when feeding automatically. An adjustable left guide if formedof the sheet metal piece |91 bent up as at |98.

An adjusting rod |99 screwed into the bracket- 200 which is bolted to the left guide |98, forms, together with the bracket |93 fitted with thumb screw 20| means of adjusting the left guide towards and from the right guide |9I.v

Figs. 27, 28, 29,30, 31, -32,.33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 show different construction from previous figures with improved features added. In thisconstruction a U-shaped angle frame i 2,155,895 202 is used for mounting the magazine and coning for ,the angle \iron frame 202, permanent veyor of improved construction.

For mounting the feeding roller, separator and associated parts, I use the bracket 203 cast in one piece, forming also the rear slide 204 corresponding withrear slide member 34A, Figs. 1, $2, and 7, for the conveyor. mounted on the sides of the angle iron frame 202 as shown, by screws 205.. While in this construction a narrow feeding roller such as is shown at 59, Figs. 1 and 7, may be used, I show in Figs.\ 30, 31 and 32 a wide rubber covered feeding roller 206 grooved down to the core 'I to carry a rubber feeding belt 208. 'I'he shaft 203 upon which this feed roller 206 is mounted runs free in long bushings 2|0 and 2| I. These bushings are forced into the enlarged side portions 2|2 and 2|3 of the bracket 203. Endwise movement of the shaft 209 is prevented by the collar 2|4 on the left'end and the ratchet wheel 2 I 5, fitting tight on the right end as shown. On the inwardly extending portions of the bushings 2|0 and 2| I, the brackets 2|6 are mounted as shown in Figs. 30, 31, and 42. The metal is cut away as at 2|`| and the portions 2|8 closed so as to cause them to grip the bushings tight enough to hold in position and yet not too tight to be moved by hand pressure. The rod 2|9 mounted in the upper ends of these brackets carries the feed belt idlerpulley 220 and also the `guides 22| adjustable by the thuinb screws 222.

The separator adjusting plate 223 is pivoted on screws 224 in the sides of bracket 203. The separator and guide holding rod 225 is similarly mounted by pivot screws 226. The separator adjusting screw 221 with lock nut 228 is tted in the lug 229, cast integral with the bracket, this lug being an extension of one leg of the angle shaped portion 230 of the bracket 203 which forms a supporting rest for the guides 23|, 232, or 233 according to the set being used for the particular kind or blanks being fed. A U-shaped frame 234, shown onlyA in part in the drawings of this construction, corresponds with the frame 43 shown in Fig. 4. The frame 234 is pivotally' mounted by shoulder screws 235 on the sides of the bracket 203. The pan 236 is of construction similar to the pan detailed in Figs. 4, 5, and 11, except that in this latter mentioned design the bottom of the pan is bent down at the point 231, Fig. ll near its lower end. The pan 236 pivotally mounted in a manner similar to the mounting shown in Fig. 5, is equally well adapted to serve with any one of the three sets of guides and separator fingers shown in Figs. 32, 33, and 34. In changing from one set of guides to another the pan pivots about its upper supporting rod, corresponding with the rod 52, Fig. 5. InV

changing the angle or slope of the pan 236 it pivots substantially about its lower edge Where it rests upon the guides 23|, 232 or 233 and corresponding separator finger. a

The separator fingers 24|, 242, and 243 have reduced lower portions adapted to receive the rubber separator tubing 60. 'I'he upper edge of the separatorrubber iis ush with the surface of the finger and continuous with it, presenting no obstruction to the sliding of the blanks. The separator fingers have portions extending down below their corresponding guides to rest upon the separator adjusting plate 223 as shown in Figs. 32, 33, and 34.

The formation of the bracket 203 in one pieceV has many advantages. Among them may be mentioned, economical manufacture, rigid brac- Thi's bracket 203 is' alignment of the bearings 2|0 and 2|| once they Aare bored true. In this one piece are provided the slide 204 for the conveyor, the rest 230 for the guides 23|, 232 and 233, and amounting 225 for same, mounting for the separator linger adjusting plate 223, mounting for the adjusting bracing means for the .casting itself.' a

y As previously stated, I have found that blanks of different inherent qualities naturally" present themselves to the feeding roller at different angles when placed in a'gravity hopper such as.the one I employ. Short, stiff or bulky blanks will tend to stand up as at 238, Fig. 32. Longer, less stiff, less bulky or curled-down blanks will tend to take tile direction shown at 239, Fig. 33. Flexible, thin, flat or curled-up blanks tend to -lie down at as at 240, Fig. 34. In order to accomplish -the feedingl forward of the leading blank with minimum resistance of the separator rubber 60, I use interchangeable separator ngers 24|, 242, and 243 ofdiiferent curvature as shown, to bring the line of tangency. of the separator rubber with the feed roller as nearly as possible to correspond uwith the direction of the leading blank of the particular kind of blanks being fed. 'Ihe wide roller 206 and the guides 23|, assist materially in securing uniform flexing of stiff, bulky and irregular blanks, securing proper presentation to the pull-out rollers 244' and 245.

The feed belt 208 serves a double purpose. It is made of very live rubber and presents a longer gripping surface lengthwise of the blank. When the magazine pan is nearly empty it maintains the leading blank in proper direction against the lever and fulcrum action of the following blanks at the end of the lift. The arms 22|', adjustable about the rod 2|9 prevent too heavy packing down of the blanks against the feed roller 206 and feed belt 208.

To summarize, the hopper 236 adjustable for slope, pivotally mounted to co-operate with the interchangeable guides and separator fingers; interchangeable guides and separator fingers adapted to bring the separating rubber into appropriate angular relationship with the natural? direction of the leading blank; separator fingers of different curvature, adapted to co-op- `erate with the common adjusting means; guides adapted to co-operate with the pivotally mounted hopper, with the separator and with a narrow 0r wide feed roller to secure proper presentation of blanks to the feeding roller and uniform flexing and presentation to the pull-out rollers; a wide feeding roller grooved to carry a feeding belt adjustable towards and from the leading blank; and adjustable retarding member adapted to prevent the packing down of short heavy or bulky blanks against the feeding roller and belt;-these several members and means, shaped, mounted and adjustable substantially as described, when used in appropriate combination, constitute simple, practical and elcient means of feeding 'blanks of a wide variety of length, width, stiffness, thickness, curvature, etc. As is obvious from the description and drawings the set-up may be made in different lateral positions, within' sponds with the link 20, Figs. l and 7, being attached to the crank I6 of the multigraph. The

link 246 is bolted to the fork 241 "to which the i rack 248 is riveted. The. rack' 248 engages the lextends 'through the flanged roller 253 which runs free upon it. The hand wheel 254 fixed tight upon the further reduced end of the shaft 209 holds the assemblyin place.

The pawl 255 isv mounted on the wheel 25| by the shoulder screw 256. The pawl spring 251 strung between the pin 258 fitted in the pawl and the pin 259 fitted in the pawl wheel serves to keep the pawl in operative position to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 2|5 or to hold it in idle position as indicated by the dotted line, Figure 36. In Figs. 38, 40 and 41 I show a special shaped collar -26|! mounted upon the right end 26|, Fig. 30, of the bushing 2||. 'I'his collar has a thin partly cut away portion 262 extending over the ratchet wheel 2|5. As the arm I6 and the gear 249 are of such proportions that the pawly 255 can at most travel slightly more than one-half the circumference of the ratchet 2|5, the length of the feed stroke imparted to the feeding roller can be conveniently regulated, by turning the collar 260 about the bushing 26| and locking with the screw 263 in the desired position. As will be apparent from Fig. 41 the pawl 255 on the back stroke will be lifted away from the ratchet teeth when it comes to the edge of the portion 262 of the collar 260. On the feeding stroke it cannot engage the teeth until it has dropped off this portion.

The cut-off provided in this pawl arrangement is useful as before explained, when it is necessary to rotate the multigraph without feeding. The device just described enabling the operator to regulate thev length of the feed stroke is particularly useful in the feeding of short blanks, where the feed stroke must be just-long enough to deliver the leading edge of the blank to the pull-out rollers.

In the conveyor construction shown in Figa-27, 28, 29, 43 and 44, the left side 264, the right side 265 and the pulley supporting Imember 266 are tied together and held in position by screws through the front and rear tie plates, 261 and 268 as indicated, forming a rigid structure.' This structure is further strengthened by a cross plate corresponding with the plate |28, Fig. 24, bolted to the lugs 269 and 210 cast as part of the side members; by a tie rod corresponding with the rod I3, Fig. 7, mounted between the lugs 21| and 212 cast as part of the side members 264 and 265; by the tube 213 and rod 214 brace between the lug 215 cast as part of the side 264 and the lug 216 cast as part of the pulley supporting member 266; further strengthening is furnished by the cast rear filler plate- 211 screwed to suitable lugs on the sides 264 and 265 as shown, and by a cast front filler plate 218, its right end let in and screwed to the right side 265, its left end carrying -a lug 219 to receive the screw 28| through the left side 264, as indicated in Fig. 27. Rollers of the same design and mounting as shown in Fig. 18 are used in this construction. The small roller 282 rotates onthe shaft 283 xed in the small lugs 284 and 285 cast on the under side of the front ller plate 218, Fig. 29. The 'shaft I0 with grooved pulleys 9, |5|A and |16A xed upon it is journaled in the lugs 215 and 216.

'I'he driving of the pull-out rollers, the rollers and the adjustment of the plate 281 is substantially as shown in Figs. 7 and 37 except that in order to drive the small roller 282 the idler pulley 288 is mounted on 'an arm 289 which swivels and said linger, and continuously driven'means 75 about its opposite end upon the shoulder pin .290

xed in plate 281 as indicated in Figs. 27 and 28. The pull of the spring. |62 on the belt |52 causes the belt to be forced up against the small roller on account of the swivel point, 290 being below the center line of the pull. 'The parts are so proportioned that the belt around the pulley 288, just clears the base of the multigraph 29|. As

the roller 282 must be as near the multigraph as' 'I'he U-shaped frame |14, Figs. 43 and 44, carrying the tightenerv pulley shaft 293 swings on the tube brace 213. 'I'he spring |16 looped around the shaft 293 and in the casting 216 as indicated maintains the tension on the belt 8. When it is desired to turn the multigraph without driving the conveyor the tightener pulley |12 is lifted as in Fig. 43 by raising the handle 294 into the upper yposition indicated. Without the tightener pulley bearing down on the belt the driving pulley 41 under the multigraph slips about the belt 8 instead of driving it. The handle 294 isfixed in the arm 295 which turns about the shoulder screw 296 in the side 265. The link 291 shaped as shown at one end fits freely about the reduced part of the handle 294 and at the other ts freely y about the reduced part of the shaft 293 fitted with retaining nut and washer. As the handle is raised to its upper position it passes the centre line of shaft 293 and shoulder screw 296. The link strikes the screw 296 and is thus held in this position by the tension of the spring |16.

`Having thus shown and described my invention what I claim is: 1. In mechanism for feeding sheets to a duplieating or other machine, the combination with meansfor feeding front portions of the sheets successively from the top of an inclined supply thereof, of a sheet handling unit comprising pullout means for drawing the sheets forwardly in succession past the feeding means from said supply, conveying means for advancing each forwardly drawn sheet, means for guiding the sheets on the conveying means, and means for retaining the sheets in engagement with the conveying and guiding means; means for adjusting the sheet handling unit laterally of the feeding means, and means for driving said pull-out and conveying means continuously and providing for adjustment `of said unit as aforesaid.

2. In sheet feeding mechanism, a normally stationary finger in substantial alignment with the blanks in the front portion of the supply andan intermittently driven feed wheel or *roller frictionally cooperating therewith for feeding front portions of sheets successively from a supply thereof, one or more adjustable devices for maintaining the substantial alignment of the blanks in the front portion of the supp1y with the said finger, one or more devices for guiding the yfront portions of 'the sheets between the feed wheel or roller and the finger, inclined means for supportingthe supply and from which said portions of the sheets are fed one after another over said device or devices between the feed wheel or roller for pulling the sheets forwardly one after another through the feed wheel or roller and thefinger from said supply. i Y

3. In sheet feeding mechanism, an intermittently driven feed wheel or roller for feeding front portions of sheets successively from a supply thereof, means for vsupporting interchangeable fingers conforming with various angles of inclination of the front portion of the supply and for retaining one of said fingers frictionally en- 4. In sheet feeding mechanism, a normally stationary linger and an intermittently driven feed wheel or roller frictionally cooperating therewith for feeding front portions of sheets successively t from a supply thereof, an endless belt passing around and intermittently driven by the feed wheel or roller and cooperating with the same and the Supply may fan out progressively from a iiat position at the rear of said supply to a substantially vertical position at the front thereof, a guide for the top of the supply, a normally stationary linger and an intermittently driven feed wheel or roller moving in one direction only and frlctionally cooperating with the linger for feed- 'ing lower portions of the sheets downwardly in succession from the front of the supply, continuously driven means for pulling the sheets forwardly one after another through the feed wheel or roller and said finger from said supply, and means for guiding the downwardly fed sheets to said continuously driven pulling means.

6. In sheet feeding mechanism, a normally stationary linger pointing substantially in the direction of feeding and an intermittently driven feed wheel or roller rotating in one direction only and frictionally cooperating with the nger for feeding front portions of sheets successively from a supply thereof, inclined means for supporting the supply and from which said portions of the sheets are fed one after another from the supply between the feed wheel or roller and the finger, opposed continuously driven rollers for pulling the sheets forwardly one after another through said feed wheel or roller and said finger from said supply, a wiper for the feed wheel or roller, and

means for yieldably supporting one of said sheet pulling rollers and said wiper.

7. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for feed- Y scopic relation therewith, means for oscillating the drive shaft, and connections between the drive shaft and said driven shaft for intermittently rotating the latter and said feed' wheel or roller in one direction only.

8. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for feeding front portions of sheets successively from the top of an inclined supply thereof and comprising a drivenjshaft and a feed wheel or roller xed thereon, means for pulling the sheets forwardly one after another past the feed wheel or roller from said supply. a1 rotatable member loosely mounted on the driven shaft aforesaid, means for oscillating the rotatable member, connections between said rotatable member and said driven shaft for intermittently rotating the latter and said feed wheel or roller in one direction only and .means operable upon said connections for regulating the amount of or stopping the rotation of the driven shaft 4and feed vwheel.

9. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for feeding front portions of sheets successively from a supply thereof and comprising a driven shaft and fa feed wheel or roller fixed thereon, means for pulling the sheets forwardly one after another past the feed wheel or roller from said supply. a rotatable member loosely mounted on the driven shaft aforesaid, means for oscillating the rotatable member, connections betweensaid rotatable member and the driven shaft for intermittently rotating the latter and the feed wheel or roller in one direction only, and means operable upon i said connections for regulating the amount of rotation of said driven shaft and said feed wheel or roller.

10. In sheet feeding mechanism, a sheet conveyor comprising continuously driven rollers e'xtending diagonally of the path of travel of sheets longitudinally of said conveyor, means adjacent said rollers for guiding the sheets during travel of the same one after another along the conveyor, means for feeding th sheets successively to the conveyor and comprising opposed continuously driven rollers extending transversely of said path at right angles thereto, and means for adjusting said conveyor and said feeding means transversely as a unit.

11. In sheet feeding mechanism, opposed driven rollers for feeding sheets, a guide along which the sheets are fed one after another from said rollers, a conveyor for feeding the sheets along the guide and comprising driven rollers extending diagonally of said guide and said first named rollers, one or more supports spaced from the guide laterally thereof and mounted above the driven diagonally extending rollers longitudinally of the conveyor, and rolling weights or balls carried by said support or supports and cooperating with the driven diagonally extending rollers to maintain the sheets in engagement therewith, and means ofl adjusting transversely all these members without changing their relation to one another.

' 12. In mechanism for feeding sheets to a dupli cating orother machine,` means for feeding front portions of the sheets successively from the top of an inclined supply thereof, pull-out means for drawing the sheets one after another forwardly past the feeding means from said supply, oscillating means for driving the feeding means intermittently in one direction only, means for continuously driving said pull-out means and means operable upon said oscillating means for stopping and starting the feeding means.

13. In sheet feeding mechanism, a normally

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