US2225007A - Pile elevator for sheet feeding machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec; 17, 1940. M. s. GUDGER ETAL FILE ELEVATOR FOR SHEET FEEDING MACHINES 5 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29, 1939 lllll...

Dec. 17, 1940. M. s. GUDGER ETAL 9 PILE ELEVATOR FOR SHEET FEEDING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 "Ill/III! V/// IIIIIIIIA 11 1 w 'IIIIIII. m 7,111];

543 ,eoer 04]?- Dec. 17, 1940. M. s; GUDGER Erin. 2225,0071

FILE ELEVATOR FOR SHEET FEEDING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 17, 1940. M. s. GUDGER ETAL FILE ELEVATOR FOR SHEET FEEDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 29, 1939 jnucnfwas Dec. 17, 1940.

M. s. GUDGER HAL 2 9 FILE ELEVATOR FOR SHEET FEEDING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet s Patented Dec. 1 7, 1940 PATENT OFFICE PILE ELEVATOR FOR SHEET FEEDING MACHINES Morris S. Gudger, New York, N. Y., and Frederick W. Seybold, Elizabeth,

N. J assignors to American Type Founders, Inc., Elizabeth, N. .L, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 29, 1

- 13 Claims.

This invention relates to feeding sheets and more particularly to mechanism for elevating piles of sheets to the proper point for separating and forwarding them, and to controlling means i for said mechanism.

The general object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved pile elevator for sheet feeders which may be either manually or power operated, and which is. provided with certain automatic controls for regulating the height of the pile during the feeding operation, and for preventing movement of the elevator beyond permissible limits in either direction of movement. Q

Although the principles of the invention may be applied to many different types of sheet feeding devices, the illustrative embodiment is adapt ed to a feeding mechanism similar in all respects to the one which forms the subject of our copending application, Serial No. 281,989,

filed of even date herewith, to which reference may be had for further details which are not strictly essential to a proper disclosure of the present invention.

In the preferred embodiment, the invention contemplates the provision of supporting frames upon which the platforms carrying the piles of sheets rest and which are adapted to be raised and lowered by means of endless chain hoists operatively connected to the main frame of the feeder. The chains are provided at intervals with lugs with which hooks on .the frames are adapted to engage, and the arrangement is such that one platform may be loaded with sheets while the last of the sheets on a previously loaded platform are being fed, and when the previous pile is depleted, the platform may be readily removed from the hoist so that the new pile may be brought into position for feeding.

The raising and lowering of the pile to feeding position may' be accomplished manually or by power operated means, a clutch'being provided for changing over the driving connections.

Novel means are provided for automatically raising the pile by very small increments while the sheets 'are being fed therefrom, in order to maintain the successive top sheets of the diminishing pile in proper relation to the separating and forwarding elements; and novel stop mechanism is also providedfor limiting the extreme upward or downward movement of the pile hoisting mechanism to prevent damage to the machine which would occur if the platforms, with or without a pile of sheets, were carried beyond the stop devices into contact with the feeding 939, Serial No. 281,990

members at the top or with the floor at the bottom of the machine.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the drawings in which one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings.

Figure 1 is a view in rear elevation of a machine embodying the principles of the invention, certain portions being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a. top plan view of the machine;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the drive shaft for the pile elevating mechanism;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of the clutch operating shaft;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figurefi is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the device, taken on line 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of'certain of the parts shown in Figure 6, but in shifted position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the pile elevator controlling feeler and associated mechanism, certain parts being shown in longitudinal vertical. section;

Figure 9 is a. view in rear elevation of the same elements, portions being shown in transverse vertical section;

Figure 10 is a view of a portion of the same Figure 14 .is a diagram of the electrical connections involved in the control of the pile elevator motor.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the frame of the novel feeding device is very clearly shown and will be seen to comprise the upper frame casting III which is supported upon the four legs ll, each of the legs preferably formed of channel members; The legs rest upon the floor I2 adjacent a pit or depression l3 into which the platform supporting cross bars |5 are adapted to be disposed so that the platforms |6 which support the pile of sheets S may be more readily placed upon and removed from the bars l5.

The bars l5 are preferably employed in pairs and each is provided at its opposite ends with bifurcated hooks |8 which are adapted to straddle the chains l9 and engage pairs of oppositely projecting lugs 28. These lugs are secured at equal intervals along the hoisting chain l9, preferably at intervals equal to one-third the length of the chain, depending upon the distance of the feeding mechanism from the floor. The chain hoists are duplicated upon each side of the apparatus as clearly shown in Figure 1 and pass around sprocket wheels 22 carried upon the shafts 23 which extend between the lower portions of the legs upon each side of the frame, and the upper portions of the chains are trained around the sprockets 24 which are secured upon the shafts 25 which are provided with bearings in the upper frame casting In.

An elevator drive shaft 21 is rotatably mounted in horizontal position upon the top of the frame l6 and is provided adjacent its ends with the worms 28 which mesh with the worm wheels 29 which are keyed to the shafts 25 at points intermediate the lengths thereof. The worms 28 are covered by the casings 36. Various means for continuously and intermittently actuating the pile elevators through the drive shaft 21 are provided and will be described presently.

The pile of sheets S is raised by means of the chains from the loading position shown in dotv ted lines in Figure 1 to the feeding position shown in full lines, wherein the sheets are successively separated and forwarded from the pile S toward the feed rolls 32 which are furnished with the drop rolls 33 supported by means of brackets 34 carried upon the shaft 35. The feed rolls 32 are carried by the shaft 36 which is provided with a sprocket 31 connected by a chain 38 with the sprocket 39 upon .the transverse shaft 46. This shaft is connected by means of the bevel gearing 4| with the forwardly extending shaft 42 which is adapted to be driven from the processing machine to which the sheets are ultimately fed, so that .the feeding cycle will be synchronized with the cycle of operation of the processing machine.

The separating and feeding of the sheets from the pile S is accomplished by means of the forward suction gripper feeders 45 which are mounted for oscillation in a vertical plane, and the rear suction gripper separators 46, which are adjustably secured .to the forwardly and rearwardly adjustable transverse shaft 48, all as clearly disclosed in our copending application, Serial No. 281,989.

In order to maintain the top of the pile at the proper elevation for access by the feeding members, the pile elevator is moved upwardly by small increments effected by the intermittent actuation of the drive shaft 21 through the ratchet wheel 58 which is keyed to the shaft 21. A bell crank lever 5| is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 21 adjacent the ratchet wheel 50 and one of its arms is provided with a pivoted pawl 52, a tooth of which is adapted to engage the ratchet. The longer arm of the bell crank 5| is pivotally connected as at 54 with the depending link 55 which extends through an opening in the top of the frame casting l0 and is connected at its lower end with the end of a lever 56 which is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 58. The lever 56 is caused to oscillate by means of the eccentric cam 68 carried upon the cam shaft 6| and contacting the roller 62 carried by the end of the arm 63 which is rigid with the lever arm 56. A third arm 64 extending from this compound lever has a rod 65 pivoted thereto, and this rod extends through an opening in the stud 66. A coil spring 61 is compressed between the stud 66 and a shoulder 68 on the rod 65, and serves to maintain the cam roller 62 in engagement with the cam 60.

Upon the outer end of the cam shaft 6| there is fixed a sprocket 10 which is connected by means of the chains II with the sprocket 72 on the end of the feed roller shaft 36. Upon the inner end of the cam shaft there is provided a sprocket 75 which carries a chain 16 for driving the rotary valve mechanism which controls the suction gripper devices, all as fully described in the copending application to which reference has been made.

Obviously, upon rotation of the cam shaft 6| the lever 56 will be oscillated in a vertical plane so as to drive the ratchet 50 and rotate the elevator drive shaft 21. In order to control the rate of elevation in accordance with the removal of the sheets by means of the suction grippers, certain mechanism is provided which is shown in Figures 1 and 6 of the drawings and illustrated in detail in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive. A vertical post 8!] depends from the top of the frame casting l0 substantially centrally of the pile S.

In the same vertical longitudinal plane with the post there is disposed a bracket 8| which is secured to the transverse shaft 48 which also serves to support the rear suction grippers 46. The bracket 8| is provided with spaced forwardly extending ears B2 and 83 through which is slidably positioned the substantially cylindrical casing 84. Received within the lower end of this casing is the plunger 85 which carries the contact roller 86 upon its lower end. A pin 8'! projects from the plunger 85 and is guided within the slot 88 formed in the wall of the casing 84 in order to maintain the roller 86 in the longi tudinal position. Projecting from the upper end of the plunger 85 and guided through an opening in the upper wall of the casing 84 is the rod 89. A collar 90 is adjustably secured to the rod 89 in order to limit the downward movement of the rod and the plunger through the casing. The plunger and roller 86 are urged in a downward direction by means of the coil spring 9| which is adapted to be compressed between the upper wall of the casing 84 and the top of the plunger 85. The free upward movement of the casing 84 in the bracket is limited by abutment of the collar 84 with the arm 82, any abnormal further movement being resiliently resisted by the compression of the spring 9|.

Intermediate its length the casing 84 is provided with flat surfaces which are milled thereon for the reception of the ends of the bifurcated lever 92. This lever is secured to the cylindrical end portion 93 of .the generally squared rock 6 cured to the shaft 99 upon the outer end of which is carried the stop member I00. The shaft 99 is carried by the bracket IOI secured to the underside of the top ofthe frame I0.

* 94 and the linkage which operates the stop ele-- The stop member I00 is adapted to be moved into and out of a position directly above the abutment I02 formed on the ratchet operating lever 56. Thus, as the pile of sheets rises through the step by step operation of the pile elevator by means of the ratchet device, the feeler roller 86, plunger 85, and casing 84 will be moved upwardly and the rock shaft 94 rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 9, this causing the stop member I00 to be moved to the left in Figure 6 and thus block'the operation of the ratchet lever until enough sheets have been fed from the pile to lower the upper level thereof sufficiently to permit the feeler roller-86 to drop and withdraw the stop member I00 from above the abutment I02. I

There is secured upon the shaft 99 a substantially triangular abutment element I04, the legs I05 of which are adapted to strike against the lower face I06 of a stationary portion of the frame I0 and thus to limit the extent of oscillation of the stop member I00 to prevent warping or twisting of the operating linkage 96, 91, 98, which, it will be observed, operates in two different planes.

As already noted, the rear suction grippers which serve to separate the sheets from the pile at their rear edges are carried by the transverse shaft 48 and are adjustable forwardly and rearwardly in accordance with the length of the sheets being fed. This adjustment is readily eflected by means of the clamping brackets I08 (Figure 1) which may be positioned at any point along the side rods I09, carried upon either side of the supporting frame I0. Thus it will be seen that not only are the rear grippers 46 adjustable in this manner, but the feeler control device for the pile elevator is similarly adjustable, since this device is carried upon the same shaft 48. By means of the extensible connection between the rock shaft ment I00, a permanent operative connection is maintained regardless of the adjusted position of the feeler device.

For the purpose of raising the pile of sheets to feeding position or lowering the platform to load ing position, optionally usable manual or power devices are employed. If it is desired to raise the elevator by manual means/a hand wheel IIO carried upon the left-hand end of the drive shaft 21, as seen in Figure .1, is rotated. This means is generally employed when the elevator is to be moved through short distances as for purposes of adjustment.

In order to raise the pile by power means, there is provided the electric motor II5 whose shaft H6 is connected by means of the chain II1 to the sprocket IIB fixed to the tubular countershaft I20 which surrounds the drive shaft 21 at its central portion and is provided with bearings I2I mounted upon the frame I0. A clutch indicated generally by the reference numeral I25 is provided for connecting the countershaft I20 to the drive shaft 21. A clutch element I26 is keyed by means of the set screw I21 to the countershaft I20 and a slilable clutch element I28 is splined as at I29 to the shaft 21. The movable clutch element I28 is provided with the grooved extension E30 with which the yoke I3I is adapted to cooperate. The operating yoke I 3I is rotatably mounted with respect to the control rod I35 and is prevented from sliding relatively thereto by means of the sleeves I36. The rod I35 is slidably and rotatably carried in the bearing I38 and in the spaced bearing members I40 carried by the frame. A bifurcated actuating lever I42 is pivoted to a bracket I43 at one end of the frame and surrounds the end of the shaft or rod I35 between the two sleeves I44. It will be seen that by operating the lever I42 the rod I35 is shifted longitudinally and will effectively clutch or disconnect the motor driven countershaft I20 and the elevator drive shaft 21.

However, it is important that the automatic ratchet drive of the shaft 21, actuated in accordance with the sheet feed, be disconnected when power is applied to the shaft 21. This is effected by means of the cam plate I50 which is provided with a curved surface I5I adapted to contact with the pin I52 on the ratchet pawl 52 and displace the pawl from engagement with the ratchet wheel 50. This cam I50 is connected by means of the link I54 with the arm I55 which is keyed as at I 56 to the rod I35, as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. By rotation of the rod I35 by means of the hand crank I58, the cam may be thrown so as to disengage the ratchet during the operation of the motor drive. In order to insure that the clutch I25 cannot be actuated to connect the motor to the shaft 21 until the ratchet has been disconnected, a keyway I60 is provided in one of the bearing brackets I40, the keyway being disposed in such angular position that the key I56 carried by the shaft I 35 cannot enter it until the shaft is rotated sufiiciently to disengage the ratchet pawl. When this is accomplished, then the shaft I35 can be moved longitudinally to actuate the clutch I 25.

A vacuum pump I62 is connected by means of the sprocket gearing I63 with the countershaft I20 for operation by the motor I I5. This vacuum pump provides the necessary suction for the pneumatically operated feeding grippers.

In order to limit the extreme upward or downward movement of the pile elevating mechanism, there is provided a cam operated electrical trip or limit switch indicated generally by the refer I13 to a portion of the frame casting I0 adjacent.

the point where the legs II are secured thereto. This bracket supports the actual switch mechanism concealed in the housing I14 and actuated by contact with the projecting plunger or button 115. Pivoted upon the pintle I16 carried by the bracket I12 is a switch actuating cam member I18, this member being provided with an upper curved portion I19 adapted to' contact the button I15. A rod I is pivotally connected to the cam member I18 as at I 8| and the lowerend of the rod passes through an opening in the curved arm I82 which projects from the movable blade or actuator I83. Adjustable nuts I84 are threaded upon the end of the rod I80 and a spring I85 extends between the arm I82 and the shoulder I86 on the rod I80 in order to hold the cam I18 and the actuator I83 in the normal position shown in solid lines in Figure 8.

This limit switch arrangement is disposed adjacent the outside of the chain loop and is adapted to be actuated when the hoisting mechanism wardly within the throat formed between the stationary guide member I88 and the curved cam surface I89 of the movable cam or actuator mem ber I03. As the lug moves the member I83 outwardly to its dotted line position, the cam member I18, by means of the rod I80, i moved upwardly so as to contact and move the plunger or trip button I15 and open the limit switch in the casing I14. This immediately stops the motor and prevents further elevation of the device. Of course, in preventing the lowering of the platforms beyond the set limit, the lug will enter the arrangement from the bottom and move past the inclined surface I90 of the cam actuator I83 to effect the opening of the switch.

After the motor circuit has been broken by means of this trip arrangement, it can be restored by pulling out the knob I92 which is connected by means of the shank I93 to the cam member I18 as at I94, which action will compress the spring I85 so as to allow the cam mem ber I18 to move downwardly and release the contact button I15. While holding this knob outwardly, the motor may be started in either direction by manipulating one of the main motor switches.

The function of this stop mechanism is to prevent damage to the pile hoist devices which would occur if the pile carrying bars were carried beyond the stops so as to interfere with the feeding mechanism at the top of the machine, or to prevent the collision of descending lugs 20 on the chain with bars I5 lying in the pit I3.

In Figure 10 of the drawings, there is shown a diagram which fully explains the positively operated and emergency connections for energizing and de-energizing the motor. The motor is indicated diagrammatically at M, and the threewire main line is indicated at L. Solenoids N and N are connected by the shaft 200 to which the switch arms 20I, 202, 203, 204, and 205 are connected. The arms 20I, 202, and 203 are connected with the three terminals of the motor M and are adapted to be alternatively placed in contact with the switch points which are connected to the outside wires of the three-wire circuit L in order to operate the motor in forward and reverse directions. When the push button A is pressed, the solenoid N is actuated to move .the switch rod 200 toward the right in Figure 10 and will energize the motor in the forward direction to elevate the pile. The solenoid N is adapted to be energized by operation of the push button B to effect the lowering of the pile. By means of the switch arms 204 and 205, the down circuit and the up circuit are broken by the corresponding operation of the up and down solenoids.

The push button C is a stop switch which serves to disconnect the motor circuit no matter in which direction it is then operated. The limit switch which is contained in the housing I14 is indicated at D in the diagram of Figure 10, and is disposed in the same stop circuit as the button C.

There is inserted in the up circuit connected with the solenoid N a mercury switch F which is contained in the box 2I0 carried upon the outer end of lever 2II, which is fulcrumed at 2I2 on the brackets 2I3 secured to the post' 80 at an intermediate point. The inner end of the lever 2II is pivotally connected to the vertical links 2I4, which are pivoted at their lower ends to the forwardly projecting end of the angular lever arm 2I5. This arm 2I5 is fulcrumed upon the lower end of the post 80 at 2I6 and carries the roller 220 upon its rear bifurcated end.

This roller is adapted to be contacted by the top sheet of the pile, either when being lifted and forwarded in the normal way or when the pile carrying platform is being raised by power. The raising of the roller 220 beyond a certain point will cause the mercury switch F in the box 2I0 to open, breaking the motor circuit and preventing the moving of the pile of sheets, by power, into interference with the height gauge mechanism. When this contact is broken, the motor may still be operated, but in a downward direction only.

By means of the present invention there has been provided novel and efficient means for automatically or positively actuating the pile elevator mechanism of the sheet feeder and there are also provided various safety devices for preventing accidental damage to the machine or the operator.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sheet feeder of the class described, or the like, having means for successively feeding sheets from a pile, the combination of a supporting frame, a pile elevator, a driving shaft for said pile elevator, a ratchet and pawl device adapted to rotate said shaft to gradually raise said pile elevator during feeding, a motor and transmission driven thereby, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said transmission with respect to said shaft, and a manually operable rotatable and reciprocable control rod disposed adjacent said driving shaft and operatively connected with both said clutch and said ratchet and pawl device.

2. In a sheet feeder of the class described, or the like, having means for successively feeding sheets from a pile, the combination of a supporting frame, a pile elevator, a driving shaft for said pile elevator, a ratchet and pawl device adapted to rotate said shaft to gradually raise said pile elevator during feeding, a motor and transmission driven thereby, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said transmission with respect to said shaft, a manually operable control rod disposed adjacent said driving shaft and operatively connected with both said clutch and said ratchet and pawl device, and means for preventing the actuation of said rod to connect said clutch until said ratchet and pawl device is locked out of operation, and for preventing the unlocking of said ratchet and pawl device until said clutch is disconnected.

3. In a sheet feeder of the class described, or the like, having means for successively feeding sheets from a pile, the combination of a supporting frame, a pile elevator, a driving shaft for said pile elevator, a ratchet and pawl device adapted to rotate said shaft to gradually raise said pile elevator during feeding, a motor and transmission driven thereby, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said transmission with respect to said shaft, a manually operable control rod disposed adjacent said driving shaft and operatively connected with both said clutch and said ratchet and pawl device, whereby rotation of said rod in opposite directions serves to respectively block and free said ratchet and pawl device, and reciprocation of said rod in opposite directions serves to respectively connect and disconnect said clutch, and spline means for preventing reciprocation of said rod while being rotated to free said ratchet and pawl device and for preventing rotation of said rod while being reciprocated to engage said clutch.

4. In a sheet feeder of the class described, or the like, having means for successively feeding sheets from a pile, the combination of a supporting frame, a pile elevator, a driving shaft for said pile elevator, a ratchet and pawl device adapted to rotate said shaft to gradually raise said pile elevator during feeding, a motor and transmission driven thereby, said transmission including a tubular shaft surrounding said driving shaft, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said tubular shaft with respect to said shaft, and a manually operable control rod disposed parallel with said driving shaft and operatively connected with both said clutch and said ratchet and pawl device.

5. In a sheet feeder of the class described, or-

the like, a supporting frame, a pile elevator, a driving shaft for said pile elevator, a tubular shaft surrounding said driving-shaft and rotatable relatively thereto, a motor operatively connected with said tubular shaft for rotating the same, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the two shafts, an air pump associated with said sheet feeder, and operative connections between said pump and said tubular shaft for driving said pump.

6. In a sheet feeder of the class described, having mechanism at the upper portion of said frame for separating and feeding the sheets from a pile, the combination of a supporting frame, a pile elevator, said elevator comprising a pile supporting platform and chains for lifting the same, power means for raising and lowering said elevator, a safety cut-out device carried by the frame adjacent one of the chains, and an actuating element carried by said chain for tripping said cut-out device and thus rendering said power means ineffective at a predetermined point in the travel of the chain.

7. In a sheet feeder of the class described, having mechanism at the upper portion of said frame for separating and feeding the sheets from a pile, the combination of a supporting frame, a pile elevator, said elevator comprising a pile supporting platform and chains for lifting the same, power means for raising and lowering said elevator, a safety cut-out device carried by the frame adjacent one of the chains, an actuating element carried by said ,chain for tripping said cut-out device and thus rendering said power means ineffective at a predetermined point in the travel of the chain, and manually operated means for nullifying the effect of the cut-out device.

8. In a sheet feeder of the class described, having mechanism at the upper portion of said frame for separating and feeding the sheets from a pile,

the combination of a supporting frame, a pile elevator, said elevator comprising a pile supporting platform and chains for lifting the same, an electric motor for raising and lowering said elevator, a source of electriccurrent, starting and stopping circuits connecting said motor with said source of current, manually actuated starting and stopping switches in said respective circuits, a safety cut-out switch in said stopping circuit, a trip for actuating said safety switch, said trip carried by said frame adjacent a portion of the elevator mechanism and adapted to be actuated thereby at a predetermined point during its travel, and manual means for nullifying the effect of said trip and reversing the actuation of said 5 switch, while said starting switch is actuated to move the, elevator further.

9. In a sheet feeder of the class described, having mechanism at the upper portion of said frame for separating and feeding the sheets from a pile, the combination of a supporting frame, a. pile elevator, means for raising said pile elevator step by step as the sheets are removed from the pile, feeler mechanism for controlling the operation of said raising means, said mechanism comprising a movable stop element for alternatively blocking and freeing the movement of said raising means, said element disposed at a relatively fixed point on the frame, a vertically movable feeler element adapted to be lifted by the pile at a predeter mined point in its upward movement, said element being adjustable longitudinally of the frame for piles of sheets of different lengths, and an extensible operative connection between said feeler element and said stop element.

10. In a sheet feeder of the class described, having mechanism at the upper portion of said frame for separating and feeding the sheets from a pile, the combination of a supporting frame, a pile elevator, means for raising said pile elevator step by step as the sheets are removed from the pile, feeler mechanism for controlling the operation of said raising means, said mechanism comprising a movable stop element for alternatively blocking and freeing the movement of said raising means, said element disposed at a relatively fixed point on the frame, a vertically movable feeler element adapted to be lifted by'the pile at a predetermined point in its upward movement, said element being adjustable longitudinallyof the frame for piles of sheets of different lengths, and an extensible operative connection between said feeler element and said stop element, a transverse shaft adjustably supportedby said frame above the pile and means for support- 45 ing one of the sheet handling elements of said separating and forwarding mechanism upon said shaft, and means for supporting said feeler element from said same shaft for simultaneous ad justment. .50

11. In a sheet feeder of the class described, 4 having mechanism at the upper portion of said frame for separating and feeding, the sheets from a pile, the combination of a supporting frame,

a pile elevator, means for raisingsaid pile ele- 55 vator step by step as the sheets are removed from the pile, feeler mechanism for controlling the operation of said raising means, said mechanism comprising a movable stop element for alterna tively blocking and freeing the movement of said 60 raising means, said element disposed at a relatively fixed point on the frame, a fixed post depending vertically from the. top of said frame substantially above the center of the pile, a supporting bracket positioned rearwardly of said post and adjustable longitudinally of-the frame and of the pile, a vertically reciprocable feeler ele-- ment carried by said bracket, a crank arm operatively connected with said feeler element, a .rock shaft carried by said bracket and adapted to be rotated by said crank arm, said rock shaft being rotatably and reciprocably supported by said post, whereby the feeler element may be adjusted longitudinally relatively to said post, and levers and linkage carried by said post and frame for opera- 75 tively connecting said rock shaft with said stop element.

12. A pile elevator for sheet feeders or the like, comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a pair of parallel endless chains trained about sprockets rotatably mounted at the upper and lower parts of said frame on horizontal axes, horizontal lugs on said chains extending from both sides thereof at spaced intervals, an elongated horizontally disposed bar having bifurcated hooks on the ends thereof adapted to straddle the chains and engage the lugs thereon, a pile supporting platform resting on said bar, a movable actuating element disposed in the path of certain of said lugs for displacement thereby to control said elevator, said lugs thus functioning as supporting elements for the pile and as means for tripping said actuating means.

13. In a sheet feeder of the class described, having mechanism at the upper portion of said frame for separating and feeding the sheets from a pile, the combination of a supporting frame, a pile elevator, means for raising said pile elevator step by step as the sheets are removed from the pile, feeler mechanism for controlling the operation of said raising means, said mechanism comprising a movable stop element mounted for swinging movement for alternatively blocking and freeing the movement of said raising means, said element disposed at a relatively fixed point on the frame, a fixed post depending vertically from the top of said frame above the pile, a supporting bracket positioned rearwardly of, said post and adjustable longitudinally of the frame and of the pile, a vertically reciprocable feeler element carried by said bracket, a crank arm operatively connected with said feeler element, a rock shaft carried by said bracket and adapted to be rotated by said crank arm, said rock shaft being rotatably and reciprocably supported by said post, whereby the feeler element may be adjusted longitudinally relatively to said post, and levers and linkage carried by said post and frame for operatively connecting said rock shaft with said stop element, and means for limiting the swinging movement of said stop element in both directions to prevent excessive strain on the connecting linkage and levers.

MORRIS S. GUDGER. FREDERICK W. SEYBOLD.

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