US2256244A - Printer slotter, combined pull roll, and gate control - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 16, 1941. T s FlTCHETT 2,256,244

PRINTER SLOTTER, COMBINED FULL ROLL, AND GATE CONTROL Filed Jan. 14, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l MTA/ss Sept. 16,' 1941. T. s. FlTcHETT PRINTER SLOTTER, COMBINED FULL ROLL, AND GATE CONTROL Filed Jan. 14,4 1941 4 Sheebs--Slleell 2 *j 7;/oMA6 Sept. l16, 1941. T s, FlTCHETT 2,256,244

PRINTER SLOTTER,l COMBINED l-ULL ROLL, lxND GATE CONTROL Filed Jan. 14, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 /gF/"HOMAS S. /L-/TCHETT W/TNE'S 2P' @EQ @my .www @35h15 M Sept. 16', 1941.

T. S. FITCHETT PRINTER SLOTTER, COMBINED FUEL ROLL, AND GATE CONTROL f Filed Jan. i4, 1941 4 sheets-shleet 4 gmc/nm THOMAS FTCHETT Wir/ve: s

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Patented Sept. 16, 1941 PRIWTER SLOTTER, COMBINED PULL ROLL,

AND GATE CONTROL Thomas S. Fitchett, Glen Arm, Md., assignor to F. X. Hooper Company, Glen Arm, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application January 14, 1941, Serial No. 374,338

l Claims. y (Cl. 271-40) The invention relates to printer slotters used for printing and slotting carton blanks which are usually of double face corrugated board or the like, corrugated board being most generally used for this purpose. This material comes in six different standard thicknesses, varying in actual measurement from one-eighth to three-eighths ofan inch but designated by letter, AA indicates double double, 5%; inch. On account of the use of these different thicknesses frequent adjustment' In the operation of the modern machine ofthe printer slotter type comparatively high speeds are employed and the blanks are accelerated in a space of a few inches by the reciprocating feed' and pull rollers from no speed to a speed of about one thousand feet per minute. 'Ihe initial feeding of the blanks to the pull rollers is a positive operation performed by the reciprocating feedl for the blanks and slippage at the pull rolls, due to too slight tension of the rolls Would cause interference between the successive blanks With stoppage of the machine and consequent loss of time of the machine and the attendant and Waste of material. On the other hand, too much tension between the rolls, i. e., too great compression, injures the corrugated board.

In order to limit the feed to a single blank at each reciprocation of the feed bar, the machines are provided at the rear of the feed table with a plurality of gates, spaced above the surface of the table by an interval corresponding to or slightly exceeding the thickness of the blanks being used. Thus both the gates and the pull rolls must be adjusted to each change of the blanks being fed to correspond to the change of thickness. This adjustment is in accordance with the existing practice usually performed separately as to each gate, and becauseof the high speed at which the blanks are presented and passed through the machine, it must be determined and maintained with extreme accuracy. With the types of machines in use it is necessary for the mechanic, when adjusting the gates, to see the bottom operative ends of the gates which are usually obscured by the ends of the blanks on the table,

hence such changes of adjustment must be performed When the table is clear of blanks, and, if adjustment becomes necessary when a stack of blanks is on the machine they must be removed for this purpose. On account of the Weight of the blanks, this often requires the combined efforts of two attendants and a corresponding loss of time.

Aside from the difficulties incident to obtaining access to the operative ends of the gates to determine the adjustment, separate adjustment of the pull rolls is also necessary. The adjustment of each gate in addition to the separate adjustment of one pull roll to conform to changes from one thickness of blank to another, requires a considerable amount of time and effort on the part of the mechanic skilled in this art and a corresponding expense. It is further to be noted that during this period the machine itself is necessarily idle involving a still further loss of emciency of the plant.

A further interesting condition bearing on the subject of the adjustment of these parts is that the gates under the present practice are seldom adjusted with the desired degree of uniformity as to the spacing of the respective gates from the table and the adjustment of the gates in precise conformance to the adjustment of the pull rolls is also of more unusual occurrence.

Under these circumstances, the blanks tend to become displaced, stuck and injured in various Ways resulting in a defective product and not infrequently in an extensive loss of time of the machine and the operator or in injury to the machine.

It is a matter of considerable interest that the adjustment of the grip of the pull rolls must correspond to the adjustment of the gates in changing from one thickness of corrugated board to another particularly With the comparatively thin material, but the change of adjustment of the gates as the thickness of the board increases may to considerable advantage be greater than the change of adjustment of the rolls, giving free passage of the thicker board. This is because in the gripping of the corrugated board to provide the rapid acceleration described the corrugated board is compressed and the rolls, being preferf ably resilient, are likewise compressed, and this adjustment must be accurate to give the proper grip to prevent slippage, and at the same time to avoid crushing of the board. On the other hand, the spacing of the gates from the table is determined by the condition that the gates must permit free passage of each over-lying indicator'onthe outside 0f the machine. `indicator is closely related to the handle by which the 'adjustment is operated so that the extent of "th'e adjustment can-be closely observed by the operator in moving 'the handle. Itis of import- Vancev that no observation or measurement Vby the Yoperator of the actual position of the gates or Advantages obtained by the improved coni struction which are regarded as of importance are that instead of two, three or even four adjustments, i. e., of the separate gates and of the respective ends of one pull-roll, a single adjustment is provided whereby both gates and both ends of the pull roll are moved simultaneously by a single operation and in proper proportion, the extent of the adjustment required to conform the parts adjusted to the standard thickness of corrugated board being determined by an This of the rolls is necessary or even desirable. The

importance ofthe saving thus accomplished is believed to be apparent.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illus- 'trated' so much of a printer slotter to which the invention has been applied as is necessary to a full comprehension of the nature and operation of the same.`

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, on a re1- atively large scale, of the pull rolls andgates with the adjacent portions of the printer slotter looking fromA the left side of the machine as viewed by the operator facing the infeed end, the control or adjustment feature referred' to being included.

, Figf2 is a perspective View looking at the front or infeed 'end ofthe machine and the side of the same on the operators left. f f

Fig. 3 is a perspective view lookingl from the front center of the machine outwardly and back'- wardly toward the left.

Fig.' l is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3Y looking downwardly.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the top pull roll, gates, feed table, etc., the frame being sectioned and broken away immediately above the top pull ro shaft for convenience of illustration.

Referring to the drawings by numerals each '.of which islto indicate the same or similar parts in the different gures, the machine as shown comprises side frames` I and 2, feed table 3, at

lthe front and gear housing 4 at Athe left side.

The top pull roll which is the one which, in

accordance withA the preferred form of the invention illustrated, is adjustable as hereinafter described, is indicated by reference character 5, `and the co-operating bottom pull roll by reference/'character 6. l

The pressure rolls, printing cylinders, slotting and scoring rolls back of the pull rolls may be in ,accordance with regular practice, and having no bearing on the present invention are not illustrated, `a full illustration of a printer slotter suitable to the applicationpf the invention being ,found ,in Patent'No, 2Vl9l,988 Henry B. Greenonrthe shaft I4 and secured thereto, said shaft I4 being above the shaft II and directly back of lthe shaft 5 on which the top pull roll 5 is mounted. The shaft I4 is mounted in bearing I5 shown in plan in Fig. 5. Said shaft I4 carries at its opposite end to that on which the gear I2 is mounted, i. e., at its left end, a second gear I2' which meshes with gear I6 mounted on the shaft 5 of the top pull roll 5 and secured to said shaft. Thus the gear I6 drives the top pull roll Ythe adjustment of which is to be furtherdis- 'cussed.

speed as the bottom pull roll 6.'

The shaft 5 is mounted at its opposite ends in suitable bearings in swinging arms II and I'I shownl in'brok'en lines in side elevation in Fig. 1 and in top plan in Fig. 5. The arm II is mounted to swing about the shaft I4 and the arm I1 is similarly mounted on a stud I8 seated in the side frame I and in axial .alignment with the stud shaft I4 which is seated in the side frame 2 on the opposite side of the machine. The stud ,I 8 and the stud shaft I4 Vare relatively short, as shown, to prevent interference with the'rlls. They are further so arranged as to carry the arms I'I and .I 'I' on the inside of the frame vmembers I and 2.

The stud shaft I4 and the stud I8 being in alignment the topV pull roll 5 and its driving gear I6 and the shaft 5' on which the gear and top pull roll are mounted is swung about the center of the shaft I4 and incidentally of the stud I8 to move the pull roll 5 up and down in the adjustment of said pull roll relatively to the lower pull roll 6 and hence tothe thickness of the corrugated paper blanks being operated upon. 'I'he structure described provides for said adjustment, the gears I2' and I6 remaining in normal mesh in any 'and all positions of the top pull roll 5 and its gear I 6, maintaining the operative connection of both rolls 5 and 6 to and with pulley 1.

Reference has already been made to table 3 at the front of the machinewhich is intendedv to support the stacks of corrugated box.blanks to be operated upon. This table is provided with a high speed reciprocating feed bar 2D having suitable ngers 2I for gripping the edge of the bottom blank to advance each bottom blank in turn into the grip of the pull roll. This feed motion is well known in this general type of machine, hence the mechanism for operating it is not fully illustrated.

According to the existing practice this feed bar 2Il may be reciprocated at the rate of about three hundred strokes per minute. Y

At the rear of the table the machine is provided with upper and lower transverse bars 22 and 24 extending across the machine from one side frame I to the other side frame 2. These transverse bars 22 and 24 are connected together, in the form of the invention shown, by vertical uprights 25 and 26 at the opposite sides of the machine. These uprights 25 and 26 lie at against the respective side frames I and 2, being mounted to slidein upper and lower guides 21 and 21 at the left side of the machine secured to side frame I on the inner face of the same and identical guides similarly indicated at the other side of the machine and secured to the inner face of side frames 2. The lower guide at the right side of the machine is not apparent in any of the figures, it is, however, precisely similar to guide 21.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 5, the gates 30 and 3| are mounted in slide ways 32 secured to the upper transverse bar 22 by means of brackets 33 and clamping screws 34 so that they may, if desired, be slid along the transverse bars. The lower ends of the slide ways or guides 32 rest against the lower transverse bar 24.

' I'he gates 30 and 3| are adjustable vertically by means of adjusting screws 35 swiveled in the brackets 33 and threaded into the upper ends of the gates 30, 3|.

It will also be noted that the rear hopper sides 31 and 3B best shown in Fig. 5 are mounted on the top transverse bar 22 and secured thereto by means of brackets 39 and clamping screws 4i).

It is of interest that hopper sides 31 and 38 move up and down with the adjustment of the gates as hereinafter described, the rear portion of the bottom edge at 4|, Fig. 1 being on a level with the lower end 32 of the gates 36, 3|.

As the gates must always be adjusted upwardly from the table by a distance equal to or greater than the thickness of the blanks being used, it is obvious that the bottom blank will always be free of the sides of the hopper, this gives increased freedom of feeding. As already pointed out, the cross bars 22, 24 and the Vertical slide bars 25 and 26 to which the cross bars are secured, as best shown in Fig. 3, constitute a carrier 45 on which the gates 3|), 3| are mounted and on which the rear hopper sides 31, 38 may also be mounted. The rear hopper sides 42, see Fig. 2, are mounted on the table as shown.

The carrier 45 mounted to slide up and down as best illustrated in Fig. 3, is provided at each end of said carrier immediately adjacent the corresponding side frames with follower arms in the form of upper and lower plates 46 and 41, see particularly Fig. 1, the upper plate 46 also being clearly shown in Fig. 3. In accordance with the details shown the arms 46 and 41 are secured to the top bar 22 being positioned by the upper and lower surfaces of said bar as in any suitable manner to co-operate with the eccentric to be described. These arms 46 and 41 are provided with bearing blocks 46 and 41. These arms 46 and 41 and the bearing blocks 46' and 41 are duplicated on the opposite'sides of the machine. The members 46, 41 are shown in Fig. 3 immediately adjacent the side frame the opposite side of the mahcine being a duplicate of the portion shown in Fig. 3 as to these elements.

The bearing blocks 46 and 41' at each side of the machine which are preferably horizontalengage the upper and lower tangent points of corresponding eccentrics 48, see Figs. 1 and 4, it being noted in Fig. 1 that the transverse bar 22 is cut away at 48' to accommodate -the eccentric.

The eccentrics 48 of which there are two, one on each side of the machine closely adjacent the side frames and 2 are mounted on and secured to the transverse eccentric shaft 56 which extends across the machine from side to side being best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This shaft is mounted in suitable bearings 5| in the said side frames and extends out through the gear casing 4 asbest shown in Fig. 5.

'I'he said eccentric shaft 50 is shown as of reduced diameter at 50 outside the casing 4 and has secured to its outer end an operating handle 52 shown in Fig. 5 and also shown broken away in Fig. 1. This shaft has secured to its outer portion as outside the casing, an arcuate indicator member 53, see Figs. 1 and 5, connected to the shaft by an arm 54 on a hub 54 on said shaft, and this indicator 53 slides over a stationary arcuate scale plate 55, best shown in Fig. 1, the indicator 53 being moved over the scale as the lever 52 is operated, turning the shaft 50.

1t is important to note that the indicator 53 which is rigid with the shaft 50 is locked in position relatively to the arcuate scale 55 thus locking the entire adjustment by means of a clamping block 56 as shown in Fig. 5, to which pressure is applied by means of a screw 56 operated by clamping arm 51.

The koperation of lever 52, rotating shaft 50, moves the carrier 45 up and down by the operation of the eccentrics 48 which eccentrics are in precisely uniform angular arrangement and alignment on and about shaft 5!) which is supported in fixed bearings in the opposite side frames.

The eccentrics have a very slight throw possibly not more thank three eighths to half an inch, the maximum useful motion of the carrier 45 and the gates 36, 3| being the -thickness of the thickest blank to be operated upon.

The scale 55 is graduated in fractions of an inch or other units, the respective graduations indicating the positions of the gates suitable to operation upon corrugated board of these respective thicknesses, i. e., when the gates are in desired position for operating on board of any predetermined thickness the top edge 53 of the indicator .53 is on the corresponding graduation. These graduations may be marked with the thickness dimension corresponding to the thickness of the board or with any suitable character for this purpose or the graduations may be used alone.

it may be noted at this point that the board of the res -ective thicknesses is known more generally by arbitrary symbols than by the dimensions above given which are approximate rather than precise.Y The setting of the gates above the table 3 is not usually the exact thickness of the board but a slightly higher position found to be suitable to the operation on the thickness of the board indicated.

The top pull roll 5 or more particularly the shaft 5 thereof has been described as mounted in suitable bearings in the arms |1, l1 at the opposite ends of the machine which arms are pivotally mounted on the shaft I4 and stud shaft |8 seated in the opposite side frames in axial alignment, so that these arms swing about the center of the stud shafts I4 and |8. The stud shaft |4 carries the gears l2 and l2', by which latter gear, the gear I6 on the shaft 5 of roll 5 is driven, and hence said roll 5.k

The arms |1 and |1 are provided each at its forward end with a lug 6U, see Fig. 1. These lugs are suspended from or connected by bolts 6| to the transverse bar 22 at the corresponding ends of said bar. The upper end of one said bolt is shown at 6| in Fig. 3 where it extends upwardly mounted on there vis a nut 65 tightened up against the bot.V

tom ofthe transverse bar 22 or more particularly the arm 41 secured to the bottom surface of the same. .l

It will be noted in Fig. 1 that these bolts.6| are rather loosely related to the corresponding holes in the lugs 60. It will also be noted that the lever arm from the center of shaft I4 tothe center. of shaft is considerably less than the lever arm from the center of shaft |4 to the bolts 6| and hence the Vertical motion of the top pull roll 5 is less than that of the bolt'and less than that of the carriage 45 and the top transverse bar 22 and hence less than the motion of the gates in adjusting. Y

. Itrwill be noted that the carriage 45 being moved to its lowest point before the blanks are placed on the table and before the machine is ready for operation, the gates 30, 3| may be adjusted by means lof the screws 35 downwardly against the table 3 and suitably clamped by the lock screws 35 provided for this purpose. The gates can be thus brought into exact horizontal alignment of their Alower ends with each other and in all subsequent adjustment they may be made to retain exactly the same relation.

In the operation of the machine a stack `of blanks of aV suitable thickness is placed on the table 3between the hopper sides 31, 38 and 42, 42', the front edges of the blanks bearing against the gates 30, 3|,

The relation of the pull roll 5 to the gates 30,

3| is then adjusted, usually by means of the nuts 62, nuts 64, 64', 65, 66, being used for more extensive adjustment. Springs 63 provide upward yielding of top pull.. roll 5, in response to the tightening of the nuts 62, holding the parts in adjusted position. The relation of the gates 30, 3|,Y to the top pull roll can be determined in the initial adjustment of each machine. It will be noted that the operative relation of the top pull roll 5 to the gates 30, 3| which preferably have a standard Vposition on the carriage, is determined by the adjustment of nut 62 on the tension member or bolt 6| which bolt may for long adjustments be adjusted relative to transverse bar 22, by nuts 65 and 66.

When these adjustments have been determined,

`the gates 30, 3| and their guideways 32 are preferablyprovided with mark 32 on the gate and 32', 32" on the guideways, whereby two positions of the gates may be indicated, the lower adjustment being for the regular quality of board of any thickness to which Ythe carriage 45 is adjusted and the upper adjustment for occasional use with rough or poor quality board, operating at the same adjustment of the pull rolls and carriage. The gates can be moved from one said position 32", 32' to the other and back to the original position without loss of the predetermined relation of pull roll adjustment to gate adjustment.

. The blanks of any particular weight of coi'-, 75.

rugated board or the like' as AA corrugated board which is, about three eighths of an inch thick having beenplaced on .the table 3 withtheir front edges againstrthe gates 30, 3|, as aforesaid, and their side edges bearing on the sides 31, 3,6 and 42,' 42 of the hopper which is adjustf' able. for this purpose, the Vclamping arm 51 is moved tol release the clamping yblock 56 by turning the screw56. The arm 52 is then moved to bring the upper indicating edge 53 of the indicator 53 against the 1%, mark on the scale arc 55 corresponding to thethickness of corrugated board to be used. In this way the gates 30, 3| each of them at exactly the same level are brought immediately to the proper adjustment for admitting to the pull rolls. 5 and 6, a single line of blanks of thisthickness to be fed suce cessively by the reciprocating feed bar 20 and lingers 2|. By the same motion of the arm 52 the upper roll 5 of the pull rolls 5, 6 is moved to exactly the correct position relatively to the lower roll 6 for gripping and advancing these blanks with the necessary degree of acceleration and without gripping the blanks with such great tension as to injure them. The arm 51 and `screw 56 are then operated to clamp the indicator, and the shaft 50 which controls the position of the gates and the upper pull roll.

When the quantity of blanks to be Arun of the thickness for which adjustment has been made has been passed through the machine, and blanks of another thickness `are to be run, the machine is instantaneously adjusted by releasing the gripping or clamping block 56 by way of the operating handle 51. The handle 52 is then turned to bring the indicator 53 to the adjustment indicated on the scale arc 55 as corresponding to the thickness of the board now selected to .be run. This brings instantaneously the two gates and the pull roll 5 to exactly the proper adjustment. The arm 51 is then opere ated to clamp indicator53 and the shaft 5t, the gates 35, 3| and the upper pullroll 5 in the new position of adjustment while the next set of blanks of the particular thickness for which adjustment has been made is passed through the machine.

If it is desired to operate on rough or ragged blanks the gates 3|), 3| can be moved by means of screws 35 to the upper adjustment indicated by gage marks 32" and 32, and when the better quality of smooth blanks are to be operated upon the gates can be returned to normal position by reversingthe operation of screw 35. Y It is of interest that the pull roll carriers or arms I1, |1' are directly connected to the gate carriage 45 at; both ends of the pull roll and at both sides of the machine by an adjustable ten'- sion member as indicated and that the eccentrics 48 on shaft 5U are mounted in rigidlysupported bearings at the opposite sides of the machine. These eccentrics which operate the carriage 45 are thus rigidly supported on and located adjacent the opposite side frames and each eccentric engages a bearing block rigidly secured to the carriage 45, being in the form of machine shown, supported on the upper transverse bar 22 which is rigidly connected at both ends to the uprights 25 and 26 which are mounted in twin slides 21 and 21 rigidly and directly secured tol the 010-' posite side frames.

The features described are subject to rearrangement and variation of design the important accomplishment ofthe invention being the provision of an absolutely accurate adjustment 'of the gates, .proportionate to and in exact correspondence witha :simultaneous and correspondadjustment of the pull rolls, the combined adjustment vor control of the pull roll grip and the spacing of the gates being operated by a single control and locked by a single clamping vr'ne'chanis'rn.- It is also of interest that the said adjustments are preferably proportionate rather than exactly equal. The pull roll requires arcurate adjustment to determine the tension applied to the blanks without crushing the blanks and it is of advantage to increase the spacing of the Vgates from-the table more rapidly than the spacing ofthe rolls is increased as it gives freedom of movement of the blanks of the thicker variety without danger of double feeding as more specically pointed out in the preamble.

By thus providing an instantaneous and simultaneous and extremely accurate adjustment of the'pull rolls and gates in direct correspondence leachfto and with the other. a very considerable loss of time of the mechanical attendant and a corresponding loss of time of the machine and the factory space and hence a considerable expense vformerly incident to separate adjustment of the individual elements is saved, and further various 'diiiicultiea loss of efiiciency of the machine and delays due to improper adjustment, 4displacement of and destruction .of blanks and the like are avoided because of the elimination of the various inaccuracies of the adjustment of gates and rolls which have resulted from the separate manual adjustment of these members as previously practiced.

I have thus described a single embodiment of my invention the description being speciiic and in detail in order that the manner of constructing, applying, operating and using the invention may be fully understood, however, the specic terms are used descriptively rather than in detail, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In a machine of the type described .having a feed ta-ble, gates, co-operating upper and lower pull rolls and a reciprocating feed, a carriage above the table and having the gates secured thereto, the gates having means for adjustment relatively to the carriage toward and from the table means for adjusting the carriage toward and from the table to give al corresponding adjustment of the gates, moving `carriers-for the top roll bearings and means connecting the carriers to the carriage whereby the adjustment of the gates by moving said carriage gives a corresponding and similar adjustment of the top roll providing for gripping and advancing by the rolls of the blanks of the thicknesses to which th gates are adjusted.

2. In .a printer slotter having a feed table for a stack of blanks, a reciprocating feed and a pair 'of co-operating pull' rolls for advancing and accelerating the blanks, gates spaced upwardly from the table for limiting the feed te a line of single blanks taken successively from the bottom of the stack, a carriage on which the gat-es are mounted, guiding means whereby the carriage is confined to an upright path, the upper pull roll having bearings with carriers therefor mounted to move on a predetermined approximately upright path whereby said pull roll is movable toward and from the lower pull roll to vvary the grip ofthe rolls, means adjusting :said pull roll carriers and pull roll relativelyl to said carriage whereby the pull rolls are caused to grip in operative relation the blanks of the thickness operatively passed and controlled by the gates, means for adjusting the carriage on its path moving the movable pull roll and said gates simultaneously and in correspondence with each other, giving .a plurality of positions of adjustment, in each of which the gates operatively-control and pass, and the rollsgri-p in operative relation blanks of a predetermined thickness, each said position of adjustment providing for treatment oi blanks of a different thickness.

3. In a printer slotter having a feed table for a stack of blanks,A a reciprocating feed and a pair of co-operating pull rolls for advancing and accelerating the blanks, gates spaced upwardly from the table for limiting the feed to a line of single blanks taken successively from the bottom of the stack, a carriage on which the gates `are mounted, guiding means whereby the carriage is confined to a predetermined path, one pull roll being movable and having bearings with 4carriers therefor mounted to move on a predetermined approximately upright path` whereby said pull roll is movable toward and from-'the other pull roll to vary the gripr of the rolls, means determining the relation of` said pull roll carriers and movable pull roll andof `said gates relatively to said carriage whereby the pull rolls are caused to grip in operative relation the blanks of the thickness operatively passed and controlledby the gates, means for adjusting the carriage on its path moving the movable pull roll toward and from the other pull roll in the direction of gripping by vsaid rolls, and moving ysaid. gates, toward and from the table, simultaneously and in correspondence with each other, giving a plurality of positions of adjustment' in each of which the gates operatively control kand pass, and the rolls grip in operative relation blanks of a pre-determined thickness, each said position of adjustment providing for treatment of a different known thickness of blanks anda lscale for indicating said positions olf adjustment said scale being readable in terms of the thicknessrof the blanks to which the rolls and gate are adjusted at each said position, means for changing and adjusting the relation between said movable roll and said gates, and means for clamping said adjustment and said carriage and hence said movable roll and said gates in adjusted position. y 4. In a printer slotter having a feed table for a stack of blanks, a reciprocating feed and a pair vof co-operating upper and lower pull rolls for advancing and accelerating the `blanks from said stack, gates spaced above the table for limiting the feed to a line of single blanks taken successively from the bottom of the stack by said reciprocating feed, a carriage on which the gates are mounted extending transversely above the table and having upright guides and means for adjusting said carriage along said4 guides, the upper of said rolls having carriers .in whichgits bearings are mounted, said carriers being in the form of pivotally controlled arms for guiding and supporting the upper roll on a short path which is approximately vertical, means for driving said upper pull roll in all positionsonsaid path,means for connecting said arms to said carriage to move therewith, said roll bearings being between the pivot and said connection. whereby the motion of the gates is greater rthan that of :said

.upper roll.

5. In a printer slotter having a feed table for a stack of .blanks,'a reciprocating feed and a pair ofA co-operating upper and lower pullrolls for advancing and accelerating the-blanks from saidstack, gates spaced above the table for limiting the feed to a line of single blanks taken Y successively from the bottom of the stack by said -reciprocating feed, a carriage on which 'said gates are mounted, 'said carriage extending across the machine and having vertical guides on the respective side frames, the upper pull roll having carriers in'which its bearings aremounted to move toward and from the r lower roll, means for driving the upper pull roll in allv positions on said path, ymeans forlconnecting the said carriers tosaid carriage to move therewith and with said moving means simultaneously to move the carriage along its path, moving said upper roll and said', gates simultaneously and in correspondence with each other, to each of a set of positions of adjustment, in` whichv the rolls op-v eratively 4engage and the gates operatively control the blanks, the different positions being adapted to different standard thicknesses vof blanks and clamping means for clamping said carriage and vgates and said upper roll simultaneously in each position of adjustmen-t and Vmeans for indicating said positions of adjustment. I

6. In a printer slotter having a feed table for astack of blanks, a reciprocating feed and a rpair of upper and lower co-operating pull rolls for advancing and accelerating the blanks, andV gates spacedY above the table for limitingthe feed to a line of single blanks taken successively `from-the bottom of said stackby said reciprocating feed, a carriage above the table on which said gates are mounted in predetermined rela- Vton to the table said `carriage and gates being movable on a path extending toward and from the table, one-said pull roll having movable carriersv for its bearingsrwhereby it is mounted for movement toward and from theother roll inthe direction of the gripping .action of said rolls, means for driving said movable roll in i-ts variouspositions on said path, means for adjusting the movable roll andthe gates relatively to the carriage andinto operative relation to a blank of a thickness to beoperated on by the machine, and means connecting the movable pull roll to said carriage to move in directV correspondence therewith, means for `adjusting said carriage along its said path to move` simultaneously vthe movable pull roll andgates in close correspondenceY with each other to a number of predetermined positions of adjustment for operative vengagement with blanks of a corresponding number Vof different thicknesses and means for clampingsaid carriage and roll and Ygates in each of said positions. A

7. In a machine of the type described for feeding corrugated paper blanks, a table for supporting a stack of blanks, aV reciprocating feed and pull rolls for advancing andV accelerating the blanks, gates spaced above the table for limitving the feed to aline of single' blanks ltakenfrom the bottom of the stack -by saidfeed, a'carriage above the table on whichthe gates are mounted, said 'carriage having guides secured to the opposite side frames whereby` the carriage is confined to an upright path, a drive gear for therupper pull roll pivotally mounted carriers for the bearings of said upper pull rollmounted to swing in substantially vertical direction about the aXis'oi' said gear, a cam shaft extending across the machine and having :bearings in the opposite side frames, eccentrics on saidshaft adjacent said 'side frames, and bearingmeans on said carriage at `each side of the machine engaging said eccentrics, means connectingv said carriers to said carriage at each side of the machine at a point 4on the opposite side of the bearing of said pull roll from the center of said drive gear, adjusting means whereby the rolls are caused to grip in operative relation the blanks to which the gates are adjusted and means for adjusting said carriage moving the movable roll and said gates simultaneously toward and from the other pull roll and saidV table respectively, and in correspondence, the motion of'. the gates being lin excess of that of the movable roll.

- w 8. In a machine of the type described, having a table for a stack of blanks and a reciprocating feed, a pair ofco-operating pull rollsland gates spaced above the table to ,limit the passage of blanks to a single blank advanced at each reciprocation of vthe feed, a carriage for the gates to which the gates are secured, said carriage being above the table, movable carriers for the bearings of one pull roll providingfor motion of saidroll in thedirection of. gripping toward and from-the otherroller of Vsaid pair, means for moving the carriage and the gates thereon toward and from the table and means connecting the'rcarriers to said carriage' whereby the movable roll approachesl the other of said pair as the' gates descend and is retracted from said other rollras the gates are raised providing a series o'f positionsrof adjustment of said rollsand gates to blanks of different thicknesses; j Y

` 9.'In a machine of the type described, having a table for a stack of blanks and a reciprocating feed, a pair of co-operating pull rolls, andgates spaced above the table to limit the passage of blanks to a single blank advanced at each reciprocation of the feed, a carriage for the gates to which the gates are secured, said carriage being above the table, movable carriers for the bearings of one pull roll providing for motion of said roll in the direction of gripping toward and'from rthe other roller of said' pair, means for moving the carriage Vand the gates thereon toward and from the table and means connecting the carriers Ytofsaid carriage whereby the movable roll approaches the other of said pair as the gates descend 4and is retracted from saidother roll as the gates are raised providing a series of positions of adjustment of said rolls and gates to blanks of different thicknesses and means whereby themotion of the movable roll is caused to be less than that of the carriage and gates. Y

10. In a machine of the type described, having a table for a stack of blanks and a reciprocating feed,'a pair of vco-operating pull rolls and gates spaced above the table to limit the passageof blanks to a single blank advanced at each reciprocation of the feed, a Vcarriage for the gates to which the gates are secured, said carriage being above the table, movable carriers for the bearings of one pull roll providing for motion of said roll, in the direction of gripping, toward and from the other roll of said pair, means for moving the carriage and the gates thereon toward and from the table and means connecting the carriers to said carriage whereby the movable roll approaches the other roll of said pair as the gates descend and is retracted from said other roll as the gates are raised, providing a series of positions of adjustment adapted to blanks of different thicknesses and a single clamping means for locking the carriage and gates and the movable roll in each adjusted position.

11. In a machine of the type described, having a table for a stack of blanks and a reciprocating feed, a pair of co-operating pull rolls and gates spaced above the table to limit the passage of blanks to a single blank advanced at each reciprocation of the feed, a carriage for the gates to which the gates are secured, said carriage being above the table, movable carriers for the bearings of one pull roll providing for motion of said roll in the direction of gripping toward and from the other roll of said pair, means for moving the carriage and the gates thereon toward and from the table and means connecting the carriers to said carriage to move therewith whereby the movable roll approaches the other of said pair as the gates descend and is retracted from other said roll as the gates are raised, providing a series of positions of adjustment to blanks of different thicknesses, said connection of the roll carrier to the carriage providing a motion of the roll slightly less than that of the carriage and gates whereby the gates and rolls are maintained in exact operative relation at all times to blanks of the same thickness.

12. In a machine of the type described, having a table for a stack of blanks and a reciprocating feed, a pair of co-operating pull rolls and gates spaced above the table to limit the passage of blanks to a single blank advanced at each reciprocation of the feed, a carriage for the gates to which the gates are secured, said carriage being above the table, movable carriers for the bearings of one pull roll providing for motion of said roll in the direction of gripping toward and from the other roll of said pair, means for moving the carriage and the gates thereon toward and from the table and means connecting the carriers to said carriage to move therewith whereby the movable roll approaches the other of said pair as the gates descend and is retracted from said other roll as the gates are raised providing a series of positions of adjustment to blanks of different thicknesses, said-connection of the roll carrier to the carriage providing a motion of the roll slightly less than that of the carriage and gates whereby the gates and rolls are maintained in exact operative relation at all times to blanks of the same thickness, and clamping means for locking the carriage and gates with the movable roll in each adjusted position, and indicating means for said respective adjustments.

13. In a machine of the type described having a table, pull rolls, a reciprocating feed and gates, a carriage on which the gates are mounted, pivotally mounted carriers for the top pull rolls, means for moving the carriage to adjust the gates and means connecting said carriers to the carriage at a point of greater radius about said pivot than the radius at which the pull roll is mounted whereby said latter pull roll moves with the gates but to a less extent.

14. In a machine of the type described having a table, pull rolls, gates and a reciprocating feed, a vertically adjustable carriage for said gates, hopper sides supported on said carriage and having their bottom edges normally in a horizontal plane approximately the plane of the lower ends of the gates, whereby the hopper sides are normally spaced upwardly from the table by a distance approximately equal to the spacing of the gates from the table, providing for free advance of the bottom blank of a stack on said table.

l5. In a machine of the type described having a feed table, gates spaced above the table, cooperating upper and lower pull rolls and a feed for removing blanks from the bottom of a pile on the table and advancing them beneath said gates Which limit the blanks advanced to a line of single blanks, a carriage above the table and having the gates mounted thereon, means for adjusting said carriage toward and from the table to give a corresponding adjustment of the gates, moving carriers for bearings of one pull roll and means connecting said carriers to the carriage whereby the adjustment of the gates by moving said carriage gives a corresponding and similar adjustment of said pull roll providing for gripping and advancing by the rolls of the blanks of the thicknesses to which the gates are adjusted, said carriers being mounted to swing on an approximately vertical arc, a drive gear concentric with. said arc and a drive gear on said roll meshing with said concentric gear whereby the drive of said roll is continuous and uniform in all positions of adjustment.

THOMAS S. FITCI-IETT.

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