US2281869A - Duplicating machine - Google Patents

Description

y 1942- E. J. BRAssEuR 2,281,869

DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 PW? I 75 67 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

y 1942- E. J. BRASSEYUR 2,281,869

DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

May 5, 1942. I E. J. BRASSEUR DUPLICAI'ING MACHINE INVENTOR Mfl/ awsew, 4 wu f Filed Jan. 8, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

y 5, 1942- E. J. BRASSEUR 2,281,869

DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 nwllllllnluu nil- ' l- INVENTOR.

- 116 ne tcffirasseur ATTORNEY.

' y 1942- E. J. BRASSEUR 2,231,359

I DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR.

diva/14 4f ATTO EY.

May 5, 1942.

IIII'IIIIIIIIIIIIII 01:11:11,

E. J. BRASSEUR DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1940 IIEIOEOJI? 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 5, 1942 DUPLICATIN G MACHINE Ernest J. Brasseur, Winnetka, Ill., assignor to A. B. Dick Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 8, 1940, Serial No. 312,849

16 Claims. (Cl. 101-419) This invention relates to duplicating machines and the like and more particularly to print-receiving and separating equipment for use with such machines. It has for its principal object to provide improved apparatus of the character designated which will expedite the collection of copies and the removal thereof from the duplicating machine, which will greatly reduce damage to and loss of copies caused by offset and smearing, and which will generally increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of separating and drying such copies.

One of the specific objects of my invention is to provide apparatus in which prints from a duplicator are delivered into a combined receiving and separating unit, which may be quickly and easily removed from the machine when full and which will serve to support the prints during drying thereof while the run is continued with other units.

Another object of my invention is to provide print-receiving apparatus which may be operated either with or without the separating units as desired, and which may be so adjusted that the prints are delivered at a substantially constant level in either case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device in which separating interleaves are successively fed to the proper level for receiving a print, and are thereafter lowered to clear the following leaves without being brought into immediate contact with the preceding leaves and prints.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device in which the first interleaf will always be fed to print-receiving position before the first print is delivered by the duplicator, and in which the movement of the receiving unit and the feeding of interleaves is stopped when the printing of copies by the duplicator is interrupted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device having means to stop the supply of impression paper to the duplicator when the printreceiving unit has been filled.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a duplicating machine of well-known construction, showing the application of my improved interleaving device thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the interleaving eating machine, the view being taken from the feed-end of said device.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of part of the interleaving device of Figs. 1 and 2, partially in section and partially broken away to more clearly show the construction.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the removable receiving and separating unit inposition.

Figs. 6 and '7 are fragmentary sectional views taken substantially on the lines 6-6 and 'l-! of Fig. 3 respectively, parts of the associated duplicator being shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views takensubstantially on the lines 9-9 and Ill-l0 of Fig. 3 respectively.

Fig. 11 is a detailed plan view showing the separating and actuating fingers.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the construction of the removable receiving and separating unit, and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing said unit removed from the device and loaded with prints in drying position.

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are detail views showing the preferred construction of a single separating member or leaf.

Referring to the drawings, at 5 in Fig. l is indicated generally a duplicating machine, mounted on any suitable support and having the usual side frame members 6. A printing cylinder 1 is rotatably supported between the members 6, and an impression roller 8, shown in Fig. 7, is rotatably mounted'in suitable bearings at the ends of arms 9 which are pivotally mounted as at H to the frame members 6. This impression roller is adapted to cooperate with the cylinder 1 to form the printing couple of the duplicator. The cylinder I is adapted to carry a stencil l2 to which ink is supplied so that impression sheets are printed in contact with the stencil when passed through the printing couple by suitable paperfeeding mechanism, a part 13 of which is indicated in Figs. 1 and 7. A pulley H is operatively connected to the cylinder 1 in driving relation thereto and is actuated through a belt l5 from any convenient source of power, not shown, which may be an electric motor. Also connected to the cylinder 12 is a sprocket I6, which is adapted to drive another sprocket I! through a connecting chain 18. This chain is sufficiently machine.

slack to permit easy removal from the sprockets and the slack is taken up by an adjustable idler sprocket l3 mounted on the side frame 6 of the As stencil duplicating machines of the type shown are well known in the art to which this invention relates, further description of the construction and operation of thi machine is unnecessary.

The interleaving device of this invention constitutes a separate unit 25], mounted on and readily detachable from the duplicator 5. As best shown in Fig. 2, it comprises a frame including side members 2! which are rigidly connected by cross-members 22 and spaced thereby to readily fit between the side frame members. 6 at the rear or delivery end of the duplicating machine. The side members 2! are formed at their rear ends with upwardly projecting portions 23 and 2 3, of which the latter are inclined toward the rear of the device. The portions 23 are adapted to be secured as by bolts 25 to the duplicator frame members 3, and one of the cross members 22 is provided with a bracket 25, shown in Fig. 4, adapted to rest on the bed of the duplicator at the front end thereof. This member 22 is also secured by bolts, not shown, to the duplicator frame whereby the interleaving unit 20' i removably positioned on and secured to said machine.

Transversely disposed between and mounted in suitable hearings on the side members 2| is a shaft 3!, on which is mounted a number of spaced print-forwarding rollers 32 adapted to engage the prints P as these are delivered in succession by the duplicating machine and advance them to the receiving device. Shaft 3|, and with it the rollers 32, is continuously driven in cooperation with spaced idler wheels 33 preferably formed with knurled rims adapted yieldably to engage the edges of the prints and to maintain them in contact with the rollers 32. For this purpose the wheels 33 are journaled on stub shafts 3A, in bell crank arms 35-, which arms are pivotally mounted as by pins 36 on bracket members 37, best shown in Figs. 9 and 10; the arms being provided with springs 38 which tend to turn on pins 36 in a direction to urgewheels 33 toward rollers 32. In order that the wheels 33 may be laterally adjusted to the size of the printed sheets, the bracket members are slidably mounted on a rod 39 of square section, removably mounted between the arm members 23, and may be clamped in adjusted position on said rod by means of thumb screws M.

The shaft 3! is provided near one end with a pinion 42 in mesh with a gear 43 journaled on a stub shaft 44 mounted on an adjacent side member 2|. Integral with the gear 43 is a pinion 46 which is in mesh with a gear 41 secured on a shaft 48 which extends transversely between and is journaled in suitable bearings carried by the side members 2|. The gear 41 is in mesh with a gear 43 on a shaft 5!, which is journaled at its inner ends in a suitable bearing mounted on a bracket 52 secured to the cross member 22. Outwardly of the gear 49 the shaft 5| is journaled in and projects through a bearing 53 in the side member 2|, and further projects through an aligned opening in the frame member 6 of the duplicating machine, and carries on its outer end the driven sprocket l1. Accordingly, the roller shaft 3! is continuously driven from the duplicating machine through the gear train 42, 43, 43, 4?, 43, the shaft 5i, the sprocket l1 and chain 13.

Delivery of the prints to the receiving unit is completed by a kicker mechanism adapted to engage the trailing edge of each print as it leaves the rollers 32. This mechanism, best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, comprises a pusher 55 formed at one end with ears 51 which are pivotally supported as at 58 on brackets 59 on the rear crossmember 22. The pusher 56 is actuated by means of a link 6| pivotally connected thereto at one end and pivotally connected at its other end to a lever 32 which in turn is pivotally mounted on a pin 63 carried by a bracket 64 on the crossmember 22. The lever 62 is provided intermediate its ends with a roller cam follower 65 adapted to be actuated by a cam 63 mounted on the cross shaft 38. The pusher operating linkage is retracted, and the cam follower maintained in contact with cam 66 by means of a spring 61 connected to the lever 62.

Thus it will be seen that my device includes a sheet-forwarding means by which prints are discharged from the printing couple of the duplicator, are received between continuously driven rollers 32 and cooperating wheels 33, and by them advanced to the print-receiving device, final delivery of each print into said receiving device being insured by action of the pusher 56 on the rear edge of said print.

The print-receiving unit H is removably supported in operative position behind the forwarding means during the operation of receiving prints, as best shown in Fig. 5. As also shown in Figs. 12 and 13, this unit comprises a bound stack or book of print-separating interleaves 12 between which leaves the successive prints P are delivered. The leaves 12' may be made of any suitable material, such as cardboard or straw board which has sufiicient strength, resilience and porosity for the purpose. Each of the leaves 12 has a butt portion of reduced width forming shoulders, as indicated at "13, and the butt portion is preferably scored or weakened so that it may be readily folded on itself to form a thickened portion M adapted to space the adjacent leaves. Each of the leaves i2 is perforated adjacent the butt portion with spaced openings 15, preferably of semi-circular contour, to receive binding strips 16 by which the stack of leaves is secured to a binding frame TI.

The frame Tl is a rectangular structure of open box-like form having side members 18 and top and bottom members 19 adapted to engage and bind the butt portions of the leaves 72 into the form of a book. The side members 18 are formed with flanges 8! adapted to engage the leaf shoulders l3, and the members 19 are provided with flanges 32 to which the ends of the strips 76 are removably secured as by the screws 83. The openings 15 are soplaced that the strips 16 which pass through them bear on the folded ends of the butt'portions ML so that the leaves are rigidly bound at their butt ends and are somewhat separated, as for example by twice the thickness of a leaf, to define a' space of material depth for reception of a print. The flanges 82 are formed with attaching members at by which the unit H is positioned on the device, and which also-serve as handles.

The leaves 12 are'also formed at their sides with notches 85', which are symmetrically alined laterally of the leaf as best shown in Fig. 13. These notches are spaced from the free end of the leaf so as to stagger the notches in successive leaves, the notches of the alternate leaves being in line, and the book H is so bound that the outside leaves are identical, for a purpose presently to be described. Preferably the outside leaves and all the alternate leaves between them have the notches 85 nearer to the end than the other leaves, as shown in Figs. 12, 14 and 15, and such leaves may be conveniently distinguished by an end thumb notch 85. It will be understood that book units ll of difierent lengths may be provided to accommodate the various standard sizes of prints. Such books differ only in the length of their leaves 12 from the shoulders 13 to the notches 85.

The unit TI is supported in printreceiving position on a table 86, mounted for vertical movement at the front of the device between the side members 2 I, and formed with a downwardly disposed end flange 81 and side flanges 88. Rigidly secured to the flanges 81 and 88 at each side of and below the table 86 are vertically disposed supports 89, on which are mounted rollers 90 adapted to roll between the flanges of vertically disposed guide channels 9I secured to one of the cross-frame members 22, and spaced at their lower ends by a cross-member 92 by which the table 86 is guided in its vertical path. The sides of the table 86 above the side flanges 88 are formed with longitudinally disposed channels 93 in which is slidably mounted an extension 94 forming a part of the table for the accommodation of longer prints, the table having suitable means such as a thumb nut 95 at one side by which the extension 94 may be clamped thereto in adjusted position. The extension 94 is provided near its end with a retractable stud 96 adapted to enter a hole 91 in the attaching portion 84 of the receiving unit H, as shown in Fig. 5.

The table extension 94 is provided with an end gate 98, having side flanges 99 by which it is hinged to the end flange, of the extension as at WI, and having a bottom web I'02 adapted to bear on the top of the table extension when the gate 98 is in its vertical position. A latch bar I03 is'pivotally mounted on the gate 98 as at I04 and projects at its lower end through a slot I05 in the extension 94, having at its end a notch I06 adapted to engage a pin I01 secured to the under-surface of the table extension in any suitable manner. The upper end of the latch bar I03 projects through a slot I08 in the upper flange of the gate 98 and is formed with an offset portion I09 adapted to pass through a notch III formed in the frame member 19 of the unit 1| and engage behind said member. The bar I03 is urged toward locking position by a spring H2 and may be provided With a handle if desired.

Thus it may be seen that having adjusted and secured the table extension 94 in the position corresponding to the particular unit 1| to be used, said unit is readily positioned on the table by placing the hole 91 over the stud 96 and then swinging the gate 99 on its hinges I0I toward a vertical position until the portion I09 of the latch bar I03 can be passed through its notch III. Pivotal movement of the bar I03 then locks the frame 11 to the gate 98, and latches the gate 98 in upright position on the extension 94, thus rigidly supporting the butt of the unit II in vertical position at the end of the table.

The table 86 is adapted to be lowered in a step by step motion in timed relation to the delivery of prints by the duplicator. To effect this a lowering device is providedcomprising an endless chain H6 passing in vertically disposed reaches over an upper sprocket H1 and a lower sprocket II8, of which the latter is journalled on a stud II9 mounted in the lower cross-member 92, while the former is secured to a shaft I2I journalled in a suitable bearing I22 in an upper cross-frame member 22. The descending reach of the chain I'I6 passes through a guide I23 secured to the flange 81 of the table 86, which guide is provided with a slot I24 through which projects the end of a dog I25 pivotally mounted on the flange 81. The dog is preferably urged into chain-engaging position by a suitable spring, not shown, and may be provided with a handle I26, projecting through a slot into the flange 81. The table may be manually raised to its uppermost p sition, the spring-pressed dog I25 sliding over the chain to permit this.

The shaft I2I, and with it the sprocket H1 and chain H6, is periodically driven in the direction to lower the table 86 in timed relation to the duplicator by means which permits the amplitude of the periodical movement to be selected. This driving means, best shown in Figs. 9 and 10, includes a worm wheel I21 fixed to the shaft I2I and in operative engagement with a worm I28 fixed on a cross-shaft I29 which is journalled in bearings carried by brackets I3I.

mounted on the front face of the cross member 22. Secured to shaft I'29 is a ratchet wheel I32 actuated by a spring-pressed pawl I33 pivotally mounted on a lever I34, which in turn is mounted for pivotal movement about the shaft I29, and which is connected by a link I3'5 to an arm I36. The lower end of arm I36 is pivotally mounted on a rock shaft I31 extending between the side frames 2| and is provided with an extension I38 to which is attached a spring I39 tending to urge the arm I36 forwardly or to the left as shown in Fig. 9. Secured to the shaft I31 adjacent the arm I36 is an arm I4I having a lug I42 adapted to engage the arm I36 and having an arm I43 provided with a spring I'44, similar to the spring I39. The upper end of the arm MI is provided with a roller cam follower I45, urged by the action of the spring I44 into operative engagement with a cam I46 mounted on and rigidly secured to the cross shaft 48. Thus it will be apparent that as the shaft 48 is driven by its gear 41, the arm I4I will be oscillated about its axis by the cam I 46 in timed relation to the duplicator, and will in turn move the arm I36, against the action of spring I39 so as to oscillate the pawl lever I34 in the same time.

The lower end of arm I36 is secured to a sleeve I41, journaled on the shaft I31, on which is mounted adjacent the side frame member 2I an upwardly disposed arm I48, which oscillates with the arm I36. To adjustably control the feed of. the pawl I33, and thereby the extent to which the table is lowered on each cycle of the machine, a latch lever I49 is pivotally mounted on the side frame 2I and projects near its lower end through a slot I5I therein and preferably terminates in a handle, not shown, which may be adjustably secured to the side frame 2| in any convenient manner. As best shown in Fig. 5, a latch dog I52 is pivoted to the lever I49 near its upper end, as at I53, and is urged by a spring I54 into a position against a stop I55 such that its lip I56 will project into the path of and limit movement of the arm I48. Such limitation of movement in turn limits the movement of the arm I36 and restricts the stroke of the pawl I33, thus lessening the extent of downward movement of the table.

Movement of the latch lever I49 into its other position of adjustment, however, shifts the latch dog I52 into a position to clear the arm I48 so that the movement of this arm and the arm I36 is not limited, the pawl I33 makes a full stroke and thetable is lowered a full step. Thus the lowering action may be readily adjusted toeither of two positions; one for feeding prints to the unit II in which case a relatively larger downward movement is required for each cycle of the machine, and the other for feeding prints directly to the table functioning as a receiving tray, in which the downward movement should be much smaller.

The print-receiving unit II is supported above the table at its bound or butt end, as previously described, and the stack of leaves 12 is also supported, intermediate its ends, in a slightly higher position so that the leaves I2 are somewhat curved upwardly from butt to tip against their own natural resilience and weight, which urge them downward toward the table. The supporting means is adapted to release the leaves in succession from the bottom of the stack in timed relation to the duplicator so that each print that is forwarded by the rollers 32 is delivered onto a leaf I2, which is then lowered to permit the next leaf to be dropped into print-receiving position.

The leaf-supporting and dropping means is in part mounted on the upwardly-inclined portions 7 29 of the side members 2i and comprises laterally disposed fingers IGI, pivotally mounted for oscillatory movement on journals I62 supported in ears I 83 formed at the upper ends of the members 29. pairs, one member of each pair being disposed on each of the members 2-9 adjacent a member of the other pair, so that the fingers I SI of each pair are oppositely disposed at the side of and above the table 95. The fingers IGI of each pair are adapted to oscillate in unison and the pairs are adapted to oscillate alternately. For this purpose each finger Iti is formed with a portion use, pivotally connected to a tension link I95, which link is urged upwardly by a spring I99 tending to depress the end of the connected finger,

The lower ends of the links I99 are provided with studs IE'I, each adapted to be engaged by the hooked end I58 of a rocker lever, a pair of such. rocker levers I 99 and another pair I?! being provided to actuate each pair of the fingers ISI. The rocker levers I69, corresponding to one of the pairs of fingers IIII, are secured to a shaft H2, journalled at its ends in the side frame 2|, while the levers Iii corresponding to the other pair of fingers are fixed to a sleeve I73 journaled on shaft I72 between the levers IE9. The shaft I'EE and the sleeve H3 are provided with arms I'M and I75 respectively, which may be extensions of the levers I99 and Eli at one side of the device, each of which carries at its end a cam follower I79 which is in operative engagement with a cam III, the two cams being mounted on and secured to the shaft #38 in a phase relation such as to provide the desired alternate operation of the pairs of fingers IfiI.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the stack of leaves is supported by that pair of fingers ItI which is out of registry with the notches 95 of the lowermost leaf. As the lowermost leaf is dropped by the depression of its supporting fingers, its notches enable it to clear the other pair of fingers which are rising to support the succeeding leaf and the remainder The fingers IGI are arranged in V of the book. The invention contemplates that the unit l'I may be placed on the table with either side up. The initial leaves are identical and" have their notches nearer the free end than the other alternate leaves, so that when the unit is first placed in position, the stack of leaves is supported by that pair of fingers I61 furthest from the duplicator. Operation of the other pair of fingers I6I is so correlated with and controlled by the operation of the duplicator, by means presently to be described, that upon the beginning of a run or upon resumption thereof after a stop, the lowermost leaf I2 is always dropped before a print is fed to the forwarding rollers 32, such correlation being effected by a connection between the dropping mechanism and the impression roller control presently to be described.

Each leaf released from the stack by the fingers Iiil is first dropped to the proper level for receiving its print, which is delivered into the space immediately above it. As soon as this is accomplished the leaf is lowered to a second position slightly below the print-receiving level, where it is retained while the following leaf is dropped. While the print is being delivered to the space above this following leaf, the preceding first-mentioned leaf is dropped to its third or final position which is below the delivery level and is determined principally by the resilence of the leaf and the weight upon it. To control the leaves as they pass through these successive positions, a double pair of leaf-intercepting fingers ml and I82 is employed.

The fingers I8I are formed at the ends of longitudinally disposed extensions I83 of a yoke I99 and are adapted to be projected rearwardly of the print-forwarding rollers 32 into the path of the leaves 12. The extensions I83 are provided with slots I99 cooperating with pins I9! whereby they are guided in an approximately horizontal path slightly below the feeding level. Secured to the yoke I86 is an upwardly projecting member I89, best shown in Fig. 4, which is pivotally connected as at I 89 to the pusher actuating lever 92, whereby the yoke, and with it the fingers I8I, is oscillated in timed relation to the machine.

The fingers I82, which are disposed beside and somewhat below the fingers I 8|, are formed on extensions I9I of a yoke I92, and are pivotally connected near their rear ends to radius links I93 pivotally supported as at I99 on suitable brackets and provided with springs I99 adapted to urge the fingers I32 toward the rear end of the machine into the path of the leaves I2, as best shown in Fig, 9.

Secured to the yoke I92 intermediate its ends is an actuating arm I9'I, the end of which is formed with an upstanding portion provided with a slot I98 of which the rear portion is wider than the forward portion, defining a notch I 99. The yoke I92 is urged in a rearward direction by a spring 29! connected, as best shown in Fig. 10, to an ear formed on the arm I91, and is retracted by a pin 292, adapted to engage thenotch I99, which pin is carried by a lever 293 pivotally mountedon a suitable bracket 294 on the frame member 22, as shown in Fig. 4. Mounted on the lever 293 is a cam follower 296 adapted to engage a cam 29? secured to the shaft 48 adjacent the cam 65, by which the lever and with it the arm I97, yoke I92 and fingers I82 are oscillated against the springs 2M and I96 in timed relation to the machine.

The pairs of fingers I8 I. and I82 do not operate in unison or have similar cycles of movement, but are separately actuated for different purposes. The fingers |8| move forwardly in synchronism with the pusher 56 and pass over the print P which is being forwarded by the pusher in time to intercept the leaf next to be dropped. While said fingers |8| are in their advanced position the fingers I82 are retracted to drop to its final position the leaf previously fed, and are returned immediately to'their advanced position 'rearwardly and slightly below the level of the fingers I8I. Upon the following retraction of said fingers |8| the leaf is transferred from the feeding level to the level of the fingers I82, where it is held until it is ready to be dropped on the next cycle.

A means is also provided whereby leaves 12 will not be dropped and the receiving table will not be lowered when the machine fails to forward prints for any reason, as for example, when the supply of impression paper is exhausted. To this end a lever 269 is secured to the rock shaft I31 so that it is oscillated with said shaft in timed relation to the duplicator by the arm MI and cam I46, as previously described. The upper end of the lever 209 is formed with a hookshaped portion 2), best shown in Fig. 7, which is oscillated by the shaft I31 in an are which extends beneath a pin 2|I on one of the oscillatory supporting arms 9 of the duplicator impression roller 8. During normal operation of the duplicator the impression roller 8 is raised by its arms 9 whenever a sheet is being fed to the printing couple, which movement enables the hook-portion 2|6 to clear the pin 2 II on its forward travel and permits the spring I44 to rock the shaft I31 as determined by the cam I46. However, in the event that no sheet is fed to the printing couple, the impression roller arm is not raised, so that the pin 2 lies 'in the path of and prevents the return movement of the portion 2), thus restricting movement of the lever 209 and the shaft I31.

The rocker lever I1I at one side of the device is provided, as shown in Fig. 6, with an extension 2 I2, the forward end of which terminates in an abutment 2| 3, disposed over the shaft I31, which normally oscillates in a generally vertical arc in response to movement of the lever. Pivotally mounted on the shaft I31 is a latch member 2I4 provided with a notch 2|6 and an extension 2|1, which extension is connected by a spring 2I8 to an arm 2| 9 fixed on the shaft I31, the extension 2|1 being urged by the spring into contact with an abutment 22| on the arm 2|9. During normal feeding operation the timing of these parts is such that the notch 2|6 is swung clear of the abutment 2| 3 on each cycle of the device, permitting movement of the extension 2|2, and accordingly, movement of the corresponding fingers I6I. When oscillation of the shaft I31 is restricted, as described, the latch 2| 4 is not retracted, the notch 2|6 engages the abutment 2 I3 on its succeeding down stroke and restrains movement of the lever I1I, which stops movement of the fingers I6| nearestthe end of the unit 1|, and prevents the dropping of leaves.

To an intermediate portion of the sleeve I13, which connects and oscillates the lever I1I, is secured, as by a suitable clamp, an upwardly disposed arm 222, which carries at its upper end a pin 223. This pin extends under and is adapted to raise the arm I91 with its slot portion I98 on each cycle of the mechanism. In normal feeding operation the arm I91 is lowered by the pin 223 under the action of the spring 2M in time for the pin 202 to engage the notch I99 and thus retract the yoke I92 and the fingers i82. When oscillation of the shaft I31 is restricted as described, the pin 223 is held in its highest position, the arm I91 is not lowered and the pin 202 does not engage in the notch, so that the yoke and the fingers are not retracted but remain in their leaf-intercepting position until normal operation is resumed.

At the same time when the shaft I31 is restrained, as described, the cam follower I45, which is mounted on the arm I4I, secured to said shaft, is held out of engagement with its cam I46, so that the associated arm I36 is not actuated, the pawl I33 does not operate the ratchet wheel I32 and the device for lowering the table 86 is not operated until normal opera tion is resumed.

Means is also provided for stopping the printing operation of the duplicator when the table 86 has reached the lower limit of its travel. For this purpose the table 86 is provided with a pin 224 which projects laterally from the support 89 below the level of the table, as shown in Fig. 8. Just before the table reaches the lower end of its travel, this pin 224 is adapted to contact and actuate a lug 225 which is secured to a vertical slide 226 mounted for limited vertical movement on brackets 221 on the guide channel 92, as by screws 228, passing through slotted holes 229 in the slide. The upper end of the slide is connected as at 23| to one arm of a bell crank lever 232, pivotally mounted as shown in Fig. 6 at 233 on the side member 2| and urged by a spring 234 in a direction tending to raise the slide. This slide 226 is also provided with a latch member 235 arranged to cooperate with the hook end 236 of a latch bar 231, which is slidably mounted in any convenient manner on the channels 92 and urged by a spring 238 into engagement with the member 235. The bar 231 is provided with a suitable handle, not shown, located in any position convenient to the operator of the machine.

Another arm of the bell crank lever 232 is provided with a pin 239, cooperating with a slot 24| formed in a link 242, the lost motion of said connection being taken up by a spring 243. The lower end of the link 242 slidably supported on the frame 2| and guided by a stud and slot connection 245. as shown in Fig. 7, is disposed adjacent to the path of a latch member 244 movably mounted as by pin and slot connection 246 on the side frame member 2|. The member 244 is urged into its highest position by a spring 241 so that its upper end is disposed in the path of any suitable part of the duplicator paper-feeding mechanism, such as is indicated at I3. It is periodically retracted or pulled down against the action of the spring 241 by means of a pin 248, projecting therefrom near its lower end and disposed in a slot 252 formed in a rocker lever 25I. The rocker lever 25| is pivotally mounted as at 253 on the frame member 2| and is oscillated in timed relation to the device against the action of a spring 254 by means of a cam extension 255 formed on the vend of the lever I69, which extension is adapted However, when the link 242 ,is moved through the intervening linkage by reason of the pin 224 striking the lug 225 at the lower end of the table travel, the lower end of said link is moved into the path of movement of the latch 244 restraining its downward movement. Its upper end then contacts and restrains movement of the duplicator'feed arm l3 so as to prevent the further feeding of paper to the printing couple of the duplicator until the table is restored to its initial position in readiness for continued operation.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description. Prints discharged in succession from the printing couple of the duplicator 5 are picked up by the forwarding rollers 32 and delivered into the printreceiving spaces between the leaves 12 of the book unit II. This unit is riflied in time with the discharge of prints from the duplicator so that each of the spaces is opened in turn to receive its print. The rifliing is actuated by releasing the lower leaves of the flexed book from the supporting fingers 16!, and the descent of such released leaf is effected in stages by means of the intercepting fingers I81, I82 so that each leaf is held in turn at the proper receiving level while the print is forwarded into the space above it. During such feeding, the book unit ii is progressively lowered to maintain the receiving level substantially constant throughout the run.

It will be observed that the leaves of the book H are spaced at their bound ends so that after a print is deposited in a given space and the next leaf is released, there is no immediate or forceful contact between such next leaf and the freshly printed surface. In eifect, the spaces between the leaves 12 form individual trays in which the prints are supported during the drying interval, and in which there is complete access of air to the printed surface. In this manher the prints may be dried with a minimum of loss from smudging and with complete freedom from offset. The apparatus may also be used Without a receiving unit, in which case the prints are fed to the table 86 which then functionsas a receiving tray, and the rate of lowso that prints will not continue to be fed onto the top ,of thebook after it is full. When the book .unit has been filled with prints, it may be quickly and easily removed from the table 86 .and placed on its butt end on any convenient support, in the upstanding position indicated in Fig. 13. In this position it functions to support theseparated prints while exposing them freely to .the air during the time necessary for them to dry. :As soon as the book unit H isremoved from the table, another unit may be placed in positionand the run ofprints resumed, and such achanging of books can be quickly and easily accomplished without appreciable loss of printing time. The prints, when dry, may be easily removed from the book by their exposed marginal edges, as will be readily understood.

It will also be evident that the device provides control means adapted to conserve the time of the operator and to obviate the necessity for continuous attention. Thus the release of leaves 12 is discontinued and downward motion of the table is stopped upon the failure of the duplicator to discharge prints, the operation of these controls being previously described. The arrangement of the notches 85 and the operation of the fingers i6l is also so correlated that the book may be placed on the table with either side up and the first leaf 12 will always be released before the first print is forwarded from the duplicator.

It will be understood that various forms of the invention other than those described above may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

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

l. A device for separating and supporting prints delivered from a duplicator or the like comprising means for forwarding successive prints at a fixed delivery level, a book of spaced leaves bound at one end, leaf-supporting means to maintain the unbound end of the book above said delivery level whereby the leaves are flexed upwardly, means actuating said leaf-supporting means to release the free end of the lowermost leaf in timed relation to the duplicator, and booksupporting means movable to position the last released leaf below said delivery level.

2. A device for separating and supporting prints delivered in succession from a duplicator or the like at a fixed delivery level comprising a book of leaves bound at one end, table means adapted to support and progressively lowersaid bound end, leaf-supporting and feeding means adapted to support the unbound end of the book above said delivery level and to successively re lease the lowermost leaf thereof, means to arrest each released leaf at a constant level to define a print-receiving interspace, and means for forwarding prints from the duplicator to successive interspaces.

3. A device for receiving and separating prints discharged from a duplicator or the like, comprising a bound book of spaced leaves, means to rigidly support the bound end of said book, means including oscillatory fingers to support the leaves of said book in elevated position, means to alternately oscillate said fingers to release the lower leaf while supporting the remainder of said leaves, intercepting members adapted to arrest movement of each released leaf in print-recciving position to define a space, and means to forward prints in succession from the duplicator to said spaces.

4. A device for receiving and separating prints discharged from a duplicator or the like, comprising a bound book of spaced leaves, pairs of pivoted fingers disposed beneath and at the sides of the book, means to alternately oscillate the fingers of each pair in unison between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially ver tical position whereby the fingers of one pair release the lowermost leaf while the fingers of the other pair support the remaining leaves, and means to feed a print from the duplicator into the space between each released leaf and the remainder of the book.

5. A device for receiving and separating prints discharged from a duplicator or the like, comprising a bound book of spaced leaves,pairs of laterally disposed fingers pivotally mounted beneath and at the sides of the book, springs connected to urge said fingers towardtheir'uppermost position, means actuated in timed relation to the duplicator to alternately depress in unison the fingers of each pair against said springs to release the lowermost leaf while the fingers of the other pair are elevated by the springs to support the remainder of the book, and means to feed a print from the duplicator into the space above each released leaf.

6. A device for receiving prints discharged from a duplicator or the like, comprising a table hav ing an end gate and adapted to operate as a receiving tray for prints, a print-separating device, means carried by said end gate to removably secure said separating device on said table, means including ratchet gearing to lower said table in periodic steps in timed relation to the duplicator, and means to adjust the amplitude of movement of said gearing.

7. In combination with a duplicator having sheet-feeding mechanism, a latch adapted to lock said mechanism out of operation, a print-receiving and separating device comprising a book of spaced leaves defining spaces adapted to receive prints, a table carrying said book, gearing to lower said table as prints are delivered in said spaces, and linkage actuated by the movement of said table near the end of its travel to operate the latch for said sheet-feeding mechanism.

8. In combination with a duplicator having a printing couple operated therefrom, a print-re- 9. A device for receiving and supporting prints and the like, comprising a bound book of spaced leaves, notches in the side edges of said leaves, the notches of alternate leaves being aligned and the notches of adjacent leaves being staggered, means to riflie said book including vertically oscillatory fingers adapted to engage the leaves adjacent said notches, and means for alternately depressing said fingers in predetermined order.

10. A device for receiving and separating prints or the like, comprising a bound book of spaced leaves, means including oscillatory fingers to support said leaves in flexed position, means including cams to alternately oscillate said fingers whereby said leaves are successively released, intercepting members adapted to arrest movement of each released leaf in printreceiving position, means including cams to actuate the intercepting members, and common means driving all of said cams whereby the fingers and intercepting members are operated in timed relation.

11. A device for receiving and separating prints discharged from a duplicator comprising a bound book of spaced leaves, pairs of depressible fingers pivotally mounted at the sides of the book, means actuated in timed relation to the duplicator to alternately depress the fingers of each pair to release the lowermost leaf while the remainder of the book is supported by the other pair, a movable table to support the book, gearing to progressively lower said table in steps, and. common means for driving said gearing and said finger operating means.

12. Device for receiving and separating prints discharged from a duplicator or the like, comprising a bound book of spaced leaves, depressible fingers operable to support the unbound end of the book and to successively release the lowermost leaf to form a print-receiving space, a movable table to support the bound end of the book, means to lower said table in successive steps, and gearing connecting and driving the fingers and the table lowering means in timed relation.

13. A device for separating and supporting prints delivered from a duplicator or the like, comprising a book of leaves, each leaf being materially spaced at one end from the adjacent leaves, a rigid binding for said book at the spaced ends of the leaves to form a stable base on which the book may rest and adapted to support the spaced leaves in vertical print-drying position, and means to also support said book in flexed position on its side, said supporting means being operable to release the flexed leaves successively in timed relation to the duplicator whereby the interleaf spaces are widely opened into print-receiving position.

14. A device for separating and supporting successively delivered prints and the like comprising a book of leaves, spacing members between the leaves adjacent their butt ends, a frame binding the butt ends of the leaves and the spacing members, and strap members passing through said leaves adjacent the spacing members adapted to secure the spaced leaves in the frame, said frame and spacing members being adapted to hold the spaced leaves in upstanding, print-supporting position.

15. A device for separating and supporting prints and the like during the drying thereof comprising a book of spaced leaves and a frame secured to and binding said leaves at one end to form a stable base for said book adapted to hold said leaves vertically in spaced parallel position to define print-drying spaces.

16. A device for receiving, separating and sup porting successively delivered prints, comprising a book of leaves having butt ends of reduced width defining shoulders, spacing means between said butt ends separating the leaves to define print-receiving spaces, a frame clamping said leaf butts and spacing means andengaging said shoulders to support the leaves in upstanding position, spaced perforations in the leaves substantially in the line of the shoulders, and straps removably secured to said frame and passing through said perforations in contact with said spacing means to retain the leaves in the frame, said straps forming end stops for the prints.

ERNEST J. BRASSEUR.

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