US2266927A - Automatic sheet feeding apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 23, 1941. B. WALE AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 51, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l iii" m Si h.

I Bruce Wale M SLWZMD III. M

Dec. 23, 1941. B. WALE 2,266,927

AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 51, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Brace 14 2226 Dec. 23, 1941. B. WALE AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Bruce Waie MW SLZWMW Dec. 23, 1941. .B. WALE AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Bruce M2:

- Dec. 23, 1941. B. WALE 2,266,927

AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Erase M26 Paten d be. 23. 9

i OFFICI'EPV" au'rom'rio sm-zn'r mnnme arrana'rns Bruce Wale, Berkeley, Calif. Application January 31, 1940, Serial No. 816,859

8 Claims. (cum-13;.

This invention relates to sheet feeding apparetina and is more particularly concerned with apparatus for separating sheets of paper or like material from a pile and feeding them in regular order to a printing press or the like.

The invention, in its preferred embodiment to be hereinafter described, is especially adapted for continuously feeding sheets with adjacent ends'lapped to the feeder heads described and claimed in my copending applicationSerial No. 197,738, filed March 23, 1938, but may be employed in connection with any sheet printing apparatus. a

It. is a major object of the invention to provide a novel sheet feeding apparatus wherein sheets .of paper or like material are efficiently separated 'froma pile and successively fed in accurate and lapped relation toward a printing press or the like.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sheet feed apparatus having arrangements for separating sheets of paper or the like from a pile and feeding them in lapped relation wherein novel adjustable mechanism for'laterally registering the sheets during feeding is provided. Preferably this mechanism is reversible to register the sheets with either of a pair of side edge guides.

A further object of the invention is to provide v novel sheet feeding apparatus and methods wherein sheets are continuously fed in lapped relation to a printing. cylinder whose surface speed is substantially an even multiple of the feeding speed of the sheets. Preferably shorter A further object of the invention is'to provide a sheet feeding apparatus having novel automatically operable arrangements for periodically restoring the top of a pile of sheets of paper or the liketo a predetermined level during feeding operations. Preferably a manual control is also provided for the same purpose.

It is afurther object of the invention to provide novel arrangementsfor separating a sheet from the top of a pile regardless of curls or distortions in the sheet wherein the sheet is subjected to blasts of air or like fluid along one or more edges in such a manner as to provide a lubricating and ventilating fllm'between itand the next lowest sheet and thereby render it easily removable from the pile.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of Figure 2.

novel sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets continuously and in lapped relation from the top of a pile wherein a pneumatic sheet advancing device and nozzles supplying lubricating blasts -of air for floating the top sheet of the pile are arranged to cooperate in a novel manner pro-' Figure 1 is a top plan view of the rear portion of the sheet feeding apparatus of the invention. illustrating especially theplatform upon which the sheets are piled, and associated structure.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the front portion I of the sheet feeding apparatus of the invention illustrating especially the feed table and registering .apparatus.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the sheet feeding apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the sheet feeding Figure 4A is a front view of the brushing finger.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view illustrating the feed wheel drive and the platform height control mechanism.-

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 5 illustrating mainly the ratchet mechanism for controlling the platform height.

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the apparatus of Figure 5 further illustrating the ratchet mechanism.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the floating air blast nozzle.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the nozzle of Figure'8.

Figure 10 is an end view of the nozzle of Fig Platform I2 is provided witha smooth continuous fioor'made up of a series of contiguous metal plates 86 having their polished upper surfaces lying in a single plane it.

A plurality of upright fiat stakes l8 arise in a row from the inner edge of platform 82 and terminate below the adjacent edge of table H. A second row of similar fiat stakes l9 arises from the side of platform l2 opposite the operators side. Stakes l8 and i9 define the smooth sides of a right angled frame against which the front and side edges of the sheets are pushed as the operator piles them on the platform, so as to insure that the sheets are stacked in a uniform square pile.

- The piled sheets rest on the rough upper surface of a plate 26 whose lower smooth side rests on surface l1. After the sheets have been piled in alignment in the corner formed by stakes l8 and IS, the pile is centered laterally of the platform by sliding plate 2i across surface H. The rough upper surface of plate 2! prevents shifting of the pile relative to the plate during this operation.

Sprocket chains 22, 23, 24 and 25 have their lower ends secured to the four bottom corners of platform 52. Chains 22 and 23 pass upwardly and over toothed sprocket wheels 26 and 21, respectively, forwardly of the inner edge of the platform and beneath table ii. Sprocket wheels 22 and 23 are both rigid with a rotatable transverse shaft 28 supported in suitable brackets from table it.

At the side opposite the operator, shaft 28 has secured thereto a worm gear 39 meshed with a worm 3i rigid with the forward end of a longitudinal shaft 32 which extends parallel to the platform. A second worm 33 is rigid with the rear end of shaft '32 andmeshes with a worm gear 3d upon rotatable transverse shaft 35 which carries toothed sprocket wheels 36 and 31 over which the upper ends of sprocket chains 24 and 25, respectively, are passed.

A rotatable control shaft 38 having a manually operable handle 33 at the operators end is provided at inner end with a miter gear 4! meshed with'a cooperating miter gear 42 on the adjacent end of shaft 32.

Upon rotation of shaft 38 by manipulation of handle 33, shafts 28 and 35 will be simultaneously rotated to vertically displace platform 62 by reason of the sprocket and chain support above-described.

An adjustable feeler finger 43, which rests on the top sheet of the pile on platform 52, is mounted at the end of an arm 44 pivoted at 45 intermediate its ends upon an arm 46 rigid with a stationary carriage casting 41. At its rear end arm 44 has secured thereto a resistance block 48 having an inclined bottom stop edge 43. Arm 44 is weighted on the feeler finger side of its pivot so as to normally lightly urge finger 43 into contact with the top sheet regardless of the level of the pile. Finger 43 can be adjusted during operation of the apparatus to control the level of the top of the sheet pile relative to the feed and other mechanism carried by carriage 41. When finger 43 is adjusted to a lower position, arm 44 will periodically restore the top of the pile to a corresponding low level as will later appear. When finger 43 is raised, a higher level can be maintained. This adjustment takes care of the requirements of various sheet materials with regard to suction and ventilation.

Casting 41 (Figure 6) is provided with a pair of spaced depending arms and 52 formedwith bosses for rotatably supporting shaft 32.

A ratchet wheel 53 having peripheral teeth 53' is keyed to shaft 32 in the space between arms 5! and 52 and is adapted to be driven by a pawl 54 pivotally mounted upon a rocker housing 55 upon shaft 32. Housing 55 has secured thereto an upwardly projecting post 6| having an inclined stop edge 52. Cam is slidably keyed to power shaft H and rocks housing by pressure against the fiat lateral surface of post 6|. Spring 56 urges housing 55 in a counterclock wise direction (Figure 7) to follow the periphery of cam 50 and is adjustably anchored at 51. Ratchet wheel 53 is slidable along shaft 32 when carriage 41 is shifted and is adapted to be rotated to raise platform i2 to bring the top of the pile to the level set by finger 43. Operative engagement of pawl 54 with wheel 53 is controlled by arm 44 in the following manner:

Cam 50 (Figure 7) is shown in full and dotted lines, respectively, to indicate the extreme inside and outside limits of the path of its periphery. Shaft H rotates once for each sheet fed. Hence, cam 50 will likewise rotate to rock post 6|, which carries with it housing 55 and pawl 54. Rotation of cam 50 will rock post 6| to the extreme outside position (extreme left in Figure '7). As rotation progresses beyond the extreme outside position, post 5i will rock in wardly due to action of spring es.

When the top of the sheet pile is at the desired level, block 48 arrests counterclockwise rocking of post (Figure 7) and pawl 54 is prevented from slipping back far enough to engage a new tooth. Thus pawl 54 slides back and forth over the same tooth and ratchet 53 is not rotated.

when suflicient sheets have been fed from the pile to permit feeler 43 to assume a low level and rock arm 44 sufficiently, stop edge 49 will be raised enough to permit stop edge 52 to pass. The return swing on rock of post M will, therefore, continue to the lowest point of cam 50 as shown in solid lines in Figure 7. Post it having executed its maximum swing on rock, pawl 54 will move sufllciently to reach a new tooth of wheel 53. Rotation of cam 50 progressing, shaft 1| will provide the power to lower stop surface 49 into the path of stop surface 62. Hence pawl 54 again cannot reach a new tooth on wheel 53 because its return travel has been arrested and no raising of the platform 2| will occur. This cycle is repeated periodically as the sheets are fed to lower the level of the pile.

As has been stated, cam 50 rotates once for each sheet fed. By locating the sliding key II which drives cam 50 in a proper timing relation to the feed action, the abrupt stopping of post 5| will occur at the precise instant the top sheet has been fed from under feeler 43. Ann 44 will be firmly depressed on the feeler 43 end by this action and the sheets next succeeding, the top sheet will be clamped against movement or any tendency to follow the sheet being fed. By virtue of this same timing of cam 50 in relation to the feed of wheel 65, the pressure of feeler 43 on the now top sheet will be relieved by the outward swinging of post 8| at the precise instant the feed action of wheel 65 begins,

thus assuring free withdrawal of said sheet from under feeler 43.

A locking pawl 63 is pivotally supported between the lower ends of arms and 52 and-is urged by spring 64 to normally bear in the teeth of ratchet wheel 53, thereby permitting rotation of the ratchet wheel in one direction only and maintaining the wheel against reverse rotation when pawl 54 is inactive.

' A manually operable rod 60 enables the operator to lift pawl 54 when it is desired to raise-or lower platform I2 by handle 39..

Carriage 46' also carries a rotary feed wheel assembly of the suction type indicated at 65 and rotatably mounted at the outer end of a. shaft 66 supported by a rigid elongated sleeve'6I. At its inner end, shaft 66 carries a bevel gear 68 meshed with a bevel driving gear 69 slidably keyed upon an elongated drive shaft H which extends along the whole apparatus at the side opposite the operator. v

Suction wheel assembly 65 is connected to a suitable exhaust source and functions to pick up the top sheet by suction and feeds it from the top of the pile toward table 'I I.

Suction wheel assembly 65 is similar to the usual rotary type employed in sheet feeding apparatus. I

A bracket I60 is rigidly mounted on the end of sleeve 61, being fixed thereto by screw I6I. A stripper plate I62 is fixed to bracket I60 as by screws I63 toward the bottom level of wheels 65 which extend therethrough. Plate I62 serves as a surface to support sheets from above during the feeding operation of wheels 65.

Feed wheels 65 are in duplicate, having opposed axially extending, peripheral fianges I64, these flanges each having a series of radial perforations I65. A suction nozzle I66 is supported Y on plate I62 and projects between the wheels 65 and is provided between the wheels with lateral extensions I61 which fit the inner sides of the flanges I64 and have mouths with which the perforations I64 are adapted to register as the wheels 65 rotate.

The nozzle member I66 has a port I68 with which a suitable valve (not shown) cooperates. This valve is mounted on an arm I69 fixed to a short shaft IIl rotatable in bracket I60. Collars I12 locate shaft IN. A cam I13 has a high spot on its periphery and is fixed to rotate with shaft 66 and wheels 65. On rotation of cam I13, the high spot will lift arm I69 thus opening port 168 to the atmosphere and suction will not be applied to a sheet. As rotation progresses, arm I69 will sink, thus closing port I68 and suction from pipe I14 will be applied through the mouths of nozzle I66 against flanges I64, through perforations I65. The'top sheet of the pile will thus be held to the lower surfaces of wheels 65 and propelled forwardly as they rotate. Pipe I14 is held in bracket I60 and extends to the outside of the machine where it is connected to a suitable suction pump (not shown).

Emphasis is placed on the novel location of the suction wheel assembly which is above the top sheet of the pile adjacent its rear edge adjacent.

- 46' and feed wheel 65may be located at any desired position along the sheet and to accommodate for sheets of different length. This slidable adjustment of casting 41 is effected by rotation of knob 12 which carries at one end a gear 16 meshed with rack 14 rigid with the supporting frame of the apparatus.

Casting 41 carries an air blast nozzle member 15 fioatingly mounted on a pipe 16 projecting from the casting. A second nozzle member ll, employed especially for long sheets is located at the edge of th pile adjacent table II.

Nozzle members 15 and 11 are identical in construction. Each comprises a elbow 16 supported in loose threaded engagement upon the threaded terminal end of a horizontal air pressure supply pipe so as to be capable of free floating movement about the axis of the pipe. Nozzle 11 is supported on pipe 19.

The inner end ofeach nozzle member comprises an arcuate conduit 8| having a closed end and a laterally projecting nozzle 82. A spring steel fin 83 is secured upon the nozzle with its inner projecting end bent downwardly to provide a top sheet bearing portion 84 lying in the path of the air blast issuing from nozzle 82.

A balance .arm 85, provided with an adjustable weight 86, is rigid with elbow 18 for balancing and governing the floating action of the nozzle member. An adjustable stop 80, rigid with elbow 18 and adapted to engage the bottom of the horizontal pipe, limits rotation of the nozzle member in the direction of the pile of sheets.

Nozzle members 15 and 11 are located to direct blasts of air which will traverse the top surface of the top sheet of the pile on platform I2 as well as provide a film of air beneath the top sheet and the next underlying sheet.

Nozzles 82 are fioatingly carried at the pile edge by reason of support by fins 83 resting on the top sheet of the pile. Thus nozzles 82 are always in operative position to ventilate the top sheet regardless of the presence of deep valleys or curls in the material due to humidity conditions. The action of the air blast through nozzles 82 raises the top several sheets of the pile. By their free floating ability nozzles 82 will follow, thus assuring a greater degree of air lubrication for the topmost sheet than the others.

In practical operation bothvnozzles 82 are usually in horizontal alignment and both cooperate to provide a lubricating air film beneath the top sheet which enables the top sheet to be easily, separated from the one immediately beneath by the suction wheel regardless of curls or other distortion. If desired, nozzle 11 may be dispensed with except where long sheets are being fed.

The upper surface'of table II is smooth and slightly wider than the maximum width of sheet designed tov be handled by the apparatus. Table II is of suflicient length to easily accommodate a sheet of the maximum length for which the apparatus is designed and prefreably has a length at least fourtimes the circumference of the printing cylinder. Apparatus designed for handling sheets of a maximum length of 34" has a table 38" long.

Spaced parallel endless flat feed belts 81 and 88extend longitudinally of the table. Belt 81 comprises a horizontal portion 86 running substantially flush with the surface of tab-1e I I and, at opposite ends of portion 89, passes downwardly over pu1leys9l and 92 through suitable apertures in the table surface. Belt 81, beneath the table,'

is looped ov'erpulleys 93 and 94. Pulley 94 is mounted onione ,en d of an arm95 whose other end is adjustably clamped upon a. stub shaft 96. Arm 95 may be adjusted about the axis of shaft 96 to tighten belt 81.

Pulley 92 is rigid with a transverse shaft 91 which is driven from shaft H by means of meshed gears 98 and 99. The other pulleys 9|, 93 and 94 are idly mounted.

Belt 88 is supported and driven identically with belt 81, having a horizontal portion IOI running flush with the table surface and supporting pulleys I02 and I03 at opposite ends of that portion. Pulley I03 is rigid with shaft 91.

If desired, the top of table II may be provided with suitable grooves for longitudinal recessing and guiding the belts.

At the forward end of table II, a stationary transverse rod I04 spaced above the table surface has its opposite ends seated in sockets I05 and I06. A similar parallel rod I01 extends between sockets I08 and I09 at the rear'edge of the table.

An arm II I is pivotally mounted at one end on rod I01 and carries at its other end a roller II2 resting on the belt (or the intermediate sheet) above pulley 92. An elongated arm H3 is pivotally mounted on rod I01 beside arm I II and has its forward end held in a latch II4 on rod I04. Arm H3 is sufficiently springy to permit the slight lateral bending necessary to slip it under latch II4.

Midway between its ends, arm II3 carries a slidable block II5 having a releasable adjustment screw II6. A lever H1 is pivotally mounted on block H5 and carries a freely rotatable roller I20 adapted to rest on belt 81 (or the intermediate sheet).

A freely rotatable roller II8, similar to roller H2, is mounted above the belt at pulley I03 and is carried at the free end of an arm II9 pivoted on rod I01. An arm I2I, similar to arm H3, is pivotally mounted on rod I01 adjacent arm I I9 and has its forward end secured in a latch I22 on rod I04. A roller I23 is mounted at the free end of a lever I 24 pivoted upon a block I25 slidably adjustable along arm I2I.

Rollers II 2, H8, I20 and I23 all rest by gravity on the sheets passing therebeneath and provide sufiicient pressure to insure positive advance of those sheets by the feed belts bearing on the bottom surfaces of the sheets.

At opposite sides table II is provided with parallel longitudinal edge guides I26 and I21, respectively, which rest flush on the table surface. Adjacent its opposite ends, guide I26 is releasably clamped to rods I04 and I01 at I28 and I 29, respectively. Similarly the opposite ends of guide I21 are releasably clamped to rods I04 and I01 at I3I and I32, respectively. By releasing'clamps I28, I29, I3I and I32, edge guides I26 and I21 may be adjusted to any desired location laterally of the table.

Above the table, a central longitudinal brush finger drive shaft I33 extends between adjustable eccentric bearing supports I34 and I35 mounted on rods I 04 and I01, respectively. Bearing supports I34 and I35 are provided with surface formations I36- adapted to be engaged by suitable tools for rotative adjustment of the eccentric supports to displace shaft I33 toward and away from the table surface for a purpose to be later described.

A collar I31 rigid with shaft I33 prevents axial movement thereof in one direction, and socket I38 prevents axial displacement of the shaft in the other direction.

At its forward end shaft I33 passes through the recessed coupling I39 which joins the opposed sections of rod I04 and has secured thereto, beyond rod I04, a cylindrical block I. Block I4I is provided with a removable cap I42 which is secured thereto to clamp a register brush finger I43. Finger I43 is preferably made of tough rubber or some similar material which will not cut the paper and which has a high coefllcient of friction.

Block MI is secured non-rotatively to shaft I 33 by a set screw I44 which may be released to adjust the bru sh finger along the shaft.

A second cylindrical block I45 carrying a flexible brush finger I46, similar to finger I43, is nonrotatably secured to shaft I33 adjacent its rear end as by set screw I41. Screw I41 may be released to permit shifting of finger I46 along shaft I33 in accordance with the length of the sheets being fed along the table.

Shaft I33 has fixed thereto, intermediate its ends, a bevel gear I48 meshing with a similar bevel gear I49 at the inner end of a transverse shaft I 5I which is supported by a stationary frame bracket extension I 52 and whose other end carries a bevel gear I53 adapted to be meshed by either of a pair of opposed bevel gears I54 and I55 slidably but non-rotatably mounted on drive shaft 1I.

Engagement of either gear I54 and I55 with gear I53 will cause rotation of shaft I33 in opposite directions, and locking screws I56 and I51 are provided for locking gears I54 and I55, respectively, in driving or inoperative position.

Fingers I43 and I46 engage the top surfaces of the sheets passing therebeneath and brush the sheets toward edge guides I26 or I21, depending on the direction of rotation of the fingers. The bearing support adjustments at I34 and I35 may be employed to vary the degree of contact between the fingers and the sheets according to the thickness and character of the sheet material and also'vary the force with which the sheets are brushed toward the edge guides. This adjustment is of 'such small magnitude as not to interfere with the meshing of gears I48 and I49.

The above-described adjustments of fingers I43 and I46 longitudinally of shaft I33 insure that both fingers may be arranged to simultaneously engage the same sheet during feeding regardless of its length. Finger I 46 may be located on the opposite side of gear I48 from that shown in the drawings.

Shaft 1| is driven by a drive shaft I58 extending from the printing press and to which it is connected by a variable speed transmission I59 which is operable for selection of the' desired speeds for driving the sheet advancing mechanism. As shown in Figure 1, a longitudinal edge guide I6I is adjustably clamped at opposite ends on rod I01 and a transverse rod I63 rigidly supported in sockets I64 and I65 at the upper opposite rear corners of the loading platform. A short guide I62 clamped to rod I01 is disposed at the forward end of the 'platform.

Operation With platform I2 in its lowest position, the operator stacks sheets in a pile on the upper surface plate 2I, pushing the sheets into the corner formed by stakes I8 and I9 to insure that they are piled uniformly and squarely one on top of the other. The pile of sheets is then centered laterally of the platform by sliding plate 2| over surface I1 as above-described. Edge guides I6I and I62 are then adjusted to lie along opposite edges of the pile just below the top sheets. Edge guides I26 and I21 are aligned at the same time.

Ordinarily the top level of the sheet pile is slightly below the top surface of table II. This level can be preliminarily adjusted by manipulation of handle 39 to raise or lower platform I2 as above-described.

The top of the sheet pile is automatically and periodically (about every five minutes preferably but at different intervals depending on the feed speed and other factors) restored to a predetermined'level by the above-described ratchet mechanism. This insures active and proper cooperation between the feed wheel assembly at all times.

With the sheets piled on the platform at the proper level, feeler finger 43 rests on the top sheet centrally of the pile but adjacent its rear end. Rotary feeder wheel assembly 65 is-likewise supported adjacent the rear end of the pile adjacent finger 43. By rotation of knob I2, car-- riage 41 may be displaced along the rack to position the feeler finger and rotary feeder wheel in any desired longitudinal relation according to the length of the sheets to be fed.

Nozzle members I5 and "are floatingly carried by the pile due to support by fins 83 resting on Y with the trailing end of each sheet lapped over the leading end or the succeeding sheet. This has partly been due to the fact that the feed wheel and associated air nozzle arrangements of the prior art have been mainly located at thefront edge of the pile where they interfere with such lapped feeding, since each top sheet has to be completely removed from the pile before the nozzle can separate the underlying sheet in such the top of the pile and are both disposed at sub- I stantially the same level even with the top sheet of the pile and emit flat streams of air which are directed transversely of the pile. The nozzles are so located with respect to the top of the pile that several of the top sheets are ventilated by the air streams, but the top sheet is subjected to the major action of the streams which provide moving films of air above the top sheet and between it and the next underlying sheet. V

The above-described arrangement substantially floats the top sheet on a lubricating air film and enables it to be separated from the underlying sheets and fed'from the top of the pile with comparative ease and with timed accuracy.

Due to this manner of floating the top sheet and imparting and relieving pressure through feeder 43 by cam 50 and post SI, less energy is required for the feed wheel to lift itfrom the pile and feed it to table II. In my apparatus, the rotary suction feed wheel may be rotated at considerably reduced speed and yet feed sheets at the same rate as when it is used at normal high speed in other sheet feeding machines. During practical tests I have discovered that greater accuracy of timing and register is obtained at such reduced speed.

Further, by rotating the feed wheel at its normal high speed in my apparatus I may feed sheets at about four times the rate possible in other apparatus employing the same feed wheel at that speed. Ordinarily slower speed feed wheels give more accurate feed control and timing. The speed of feeding of the sheets is selected-in accordance with the Peripheral speed of the printing surface. Usually longer sheets are fed at slower speeds because such promotes accuracy of timing and register. The sheet speeds are generally even multiples of the printing surface circumferential distance. For'example, an 8 sheet is fed toward an 8%" circumference printing cylinder at a speed equal to the cylinder surface speed while a 34" sheet is fed to that cylinder at about one fourth the cylinder sidered possible or practical to automatically feed sheets by means of a suction wheel from a pile apparatus.

In my novel arrangements, location of the air nozzles along a side edge or edges of the sheet and positioning of the feed wheel above the rear of the pile combine to enable such lapped feeding.

cam 50 and post GI on arm' 44 to momentarily clamp theunderlying sheets of the pile, thereby insuring advancement of the top sheet only.

By the time the rear edge of the moving top .sheet has advanced beyond suction wheels '65,

the clamping pressure of finger 43 is released and nozzle I6 is delivering a lubricating stream of air upon the underlying sheet (to be the next top sheet). Operation of the feed wheel is timed to start advance of this underlying sheet at the moment the top and .underlying sheets have their adjacent ends in th desired lapped arrangement.

By this time advance of the underlying sheet is started, the leading end of th top sheet is being frictionally advanced by belts Bl and 88 on table II and actually the top sheet imparts a slight forward drag aiding the feed wheel in advancing the underlying sheet. Rollers H2, 8, I23 and I24 resting on the sheets insure positive feed of the sheets by belts 81 and 88.

In continuously feeding sheets havinglengths from 34" to 17" to a printing press, I have found it desirable to employ a lap about equal to the circumference of the printing cylinder (in this case about 8%). For one impression sheets about 8 /2" long, I employ a lap of about 4 7.

In printing presses having intermittent feeder heads, I increase the lap distance to compensate for the increased number of printing cylinder revolutions per sheet length. For example, in feeding 34" long sheets where the continuously rotating printing surface measures 6 /8" circumferentially and requires 5 revolutions to pull the sheet through the couple (instead of using a continuous feeder head), I employ a lap increased A, over the continuous feed lap, or about 10%".

As above-described feeler finger 43 actuate automatic mechanism for raising platform I2 to. compensate for removal of sheets from the top of the pile and maintain the top of the pile at a practically constant level so as to be subjected to the above-described feeding operations. The sheets fed successively in lapped relation onto table II are conveyed therealong toward the printing press. In apparatus designed for 34" long sheets, I preferably employ a table about 38" long. As the successive sheets ad vance along table II and come to a halt with their leading edge against stop I5 (Figure 4) their trailing edges have passed beyond rollers I20 and I23 and'they arebrushed sidewise' by fingers I43 and I46 against either of side edge guides I16 or I21 so as to insure proper register when they pass into the feeder head.

The apparatus of 'the invention above-de scribed is the only suction wheel apparatus of which I have knowledge that will automatically feed sheets from the top of a pile in accurate underlapped relation at a controlled timed rate, and advance them in proper register toward a printing press or the like.

The apparatus is adjustable and adaptable for handling sheets of widely different sizes and advancing them at practically any desiredspeed in accurate timed relation. At the same time, the sheets are handled faster and more accurately than is possible in other suction wheel sheet feeding apparatus used prior to the invention.

The invention may be embodied in other speciflc forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to-be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a sheet feeding apparatus, a platform for supporting a pile of sheets, an air blast nozzle at one edge of said pile aligned with the top sheet and directed to deliver the blast transverse- 1y of said pile, a rotary suction feed wheel positioned for feeding sheets from the top of said pile rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the direction of the flow of air under pressure and a common support for said nozzle and feed wheel.

2. In a sheet feeding apparatus, an air blast nozzle member movably supported at one end and provided with an apertured nozzle at the other end, and a supporting fin projecting from said nozzle, the aperture being elongated and extended to deliver air along both sides of the fin.

3. In a sheet feeding apparatus, an air blast nozzle member movably supported at one end and provided with an apertured nozzle at the other end and means supporting said nozzle in such a manner as to enable it to float with the top sheet of the pile as the sheet is raised by action of the air blast.

4. In a sheet feeding apparatus, a platform for supporting a pile of sheets, automatic means for vertically displacing said platform, a carriage slidably adjustably mounted at one side of said platform, an unbalanced arm controlling said automatic means resting at one end of the top sheet of said pile, an air blast nozzle aligned with the top sheet on said pile, and a rotary feed wheel positioned to feed sheets from the top of said pile, said arm, nozzle and feed wheel all being carried by said adjustable carriage.

5. In a sheet feeding apparatus, a feed table along which sheets are advanced in succession toward a printing press or the like, a longitudinal edge guide on said table and means rotatable on an axis parallel to the direction of the advance of the sheet for brushing said sheets into contact with saidedge guide when said advance along the table is completed.

6. In a sheet feeding apparatus, a feed table along which sheets are advanced toward a printing press or the like, a pair of spaced parallel edge guides on said table and reversible means rotatable on an axis parallel to the direction of advance of the sheet for urging and maintaining said sheets in register with either of said guides when said advance along the table is completed.

'7. In a sheet feeding apparatus, a feed table along which sheets are advanced toward a printing press or the like, a longitudinal edge guide on said table and a driven shaft, rotatable and a sheet engaging finger mounted on said shaft adapted to brush said sheets against said guide when said advance along the table is completed said shaft being substantially parallel to the iongitudinal edge of the guide. I

8. In the sheet feeding apparatus recited in claim 7, eccentric means for adjusting said finger toward or away from the sheet.

BRUCE WALE.

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