US2565295A - Paper feeding mechanism for accounting machines - Google Patents

Description

Allg- 1951 A. BOOTEN 2,565,295

\ PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed June 5, 194'? '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I ARTHUR L. BOOTEN /BY I ATTORN EY Aug. 21, 1951 A. BOOTEN 2,565,295

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed June 5, 1947 '7 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR ARTHUR L. BOOTE N BY MM;

ATTORNEY A. L. BOOTEN Aug. 21, 1951 PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed June 5, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 V ii! INVENTOR ARTHUR 1; BOOTEN Q. H4Qi;

A'I TORNEY A. L. BOOTEN 2,565,295

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 21, 1951 Filed June 5, 1947 a7 a? I A 63 52 5 I 38 4] I 4a 3a 54 55 x 4/ is 46 j I l 4.5 A 42 w" M k q I INVENTOR ARTHUR L. BOOTEN ATTORNEY A. L. BOOTEN PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Aug. 21, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 194'? INVENTOR ARTHUR L. BUOTE/V BY 47%.;

ATTORNEY A. 1-. BOOTEN 2,565,295

ma MACHINES Aug. 21, 1951 PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUN 7 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 5, 194'? INVENTOR ARTHUR L. BOOTEN BY 7 f4 3:

ATTORNEY v ---:-H H V 3 r .L i S E A. L. BOOTEN Aug. 21,1951

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed June 5, 1947 BILL No.72

JOURNAL XXXX XXXX

JOURNAL XXXX XXXX

JOURNAL XXXX XXXX

)(XXXX BILL No.73

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XXXX

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XXXXX INVENTOR ARTHUR L. BOOTEN BY 4 A:I'TORNEY Patented Aug. 2T,- 1951 PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Arthur Leon Booten, Brussels, Belgium, assignor to Underwood Corporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application June 5, 1947, Serial No. 752,589 In Belgium July 14, 1943 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires July 14, 1963 Claims.

This invention relates to accounting machines, and more particularly to a continuous form feeding apparatus therefor.

Business establishments such as public utilities companies frequently print their consumers bills on a continuous form having tear lines between each bill to facilitate their detachment, one from the other, for distribution to the respective consumers. Generally, space is provided on the bills to accommodate several lines of the data to be printed, the number of lines to be used on a particular consumers bill varying in accordance with the character of the particular utility companys commodity and also in accordance with the consumption of that commodity by the consumer.

In printing the data on these bills, it is ordinarily desirable to have a carbon copy of the printing on a journal sheet, and to have the journal sheet and the continuous bill form advance together for line spacing.

It is further desirable to have the first line of the next succeeding bill advanced to printing position automatically.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a continuous form feed mechanism that will automatically advance the forms to present the first line of the next succeeding form at the printing position, irrespective of the number of lines printed on the preceding form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paper feeding apparatus of this character which provides simultaneous uniform line spacing of a continuous bill form and a carbon form about a single platen, and which also permits automatic non-uniform advancement of the forms.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive magazine for the continuous forms that will cooperate with the carriage and the paper feeding apparatus in supplying and receiving the bill forms, to and from the carriage.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims, and a preferred embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the entire machine embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carriage taken from the left front corner,

Figure 3 is a right side elevation of the line spacing mechanism,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a right side sectional elevation of the carriage showing the path of the forms in the carriage,

Figure 6 is a detail left side elevation of the friction clutch used in conjunction with mechanism for advancing the continuous forms,

Figure '7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 7'l of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a detail left side elevation taken on the lin 8--8 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a fragmental top plan view of certain of the parts used for advancing the continuous forms,

Figure 10 is a rear elevation thereof,

Figure 11 is a detail perspective of a hook shown in Figures 9 and 10, and 7 Figures 12, 13 and 14 are diagrams illustrating the relative advance of th continuous forms and the carbon journal sheet, and illustrating the printing of the items thereon.

The present mechanism is shown applied to a key set, motor actuated accounting machine having a traveling paper carriage equipped with suitable control lugs to control various operations of the machine as the carriage tabulates from column to column. The present mechanism is shown as applied to a machine of the type fully disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,194,270, of Oscar J. Sundstrand, and U. S. Patent No. 2,226,960 of Walter A. Anderson.

INDEX OF TOPICS 1. The machine sections and general operating mechanisms Referring to Figure l, the machine generally indicated at I, is mounted upon a stand 2. A magazine 4, from and into which are fed the continuous forms 5, is pivoted at 3 on stand 2. A laterally movable paper carriage indicated generally at 6 is mounted on a rail 1 on antifriction rollers 8 (Figure 3). It is moved from right to left (Figure 2) in its working stroke,

and is stopped in its several columnar positions by suitable tabulating mechanism, such as that described in the above mentioned patents. A suitable carriage return mechanism, which may also be similar to that described in the above mentioned patents, returns the carriage to its right hand position after it has completed its working stroke. While the carriage rests in each of the several columnar positions, the machine is operated to perform the necessary accounting functions, and to print the proper entries upon the continuous forms 5.

As before stated, the supporting magazine t is pivoted at its lower end at 3, and is connected by a suitable universal connection to a rearward extension of the carriage, so that as the carriage moves back and forth, magazine 4 rocks on pivot 3. Magazine 4 has a partition l I (Figure 1) to the left of which are placed the supply of continuous forms, and to the right of which are stacked the completed forms after they have passed through the carriage.

To perform the printing and computing operations, the machine is provided with a main actuating shaft (not shown) which is oscillated first counter-clockwise and then clockwise to its home position, as disclosed in the above mentioned patents. Through suitable connections between this actuating shaft and a link l2 (Figure 3), oscillation of the shaft raises and lowers the link during each machine cycle.

2. Line space mechanism for journal sheet The conventional line space mechanism similar to that disclosed in the afore-mentioned patents is provided on this machine for advancing the journal sheet and its accompanying carbon sheet. This mechanism includes a bell crank it (Figure 3) pivoted at [4 and connected at I5 to the upper end of link 12. The movement imparted to link 12 first oscillates bell crank it clockwise to the position shown in dotted lines, and then counter-clockwise to its normal position. A roller It on the upper arm of bell crank l3 receives a corresponding movement.

A cradle comprised of rods H and i8, and end plates I9 and 25 (see also Figure 2), is pivoted in the carriage frame on rod H, and is tensioned clockwise as viewed in Figure 3 by a spring 22 fastened to the forward end of plate [9. Clockwise movement of the cradle is limited by roller IS. A line spacing finger 23 is pivoted at 24 to plate l9 and has its forward end tensioned upwardly by a spring 25 attached to the rear end of the finger and to a lever 25 also pivoted on plate 19 at 2?. For the purpose of the present disclosure, lever 28 may be considered only as an anchor for spring 25. Plate 19 has a flange 28 overlying the finger 23 to limit the amount of movement of the finger about pivot 24 under the tension of spring 25. A toothed ratchet wheel 30 is secured to the right end of a shaft 3i upon which is mounted a platen 32, the shaft being journaled at its opposite ends in the carriage side walls 33 and 35 (Figure 2).

By the above described parts, the initial clockwise oscillation of bell crank I3 (Figure 3) moves roller It to the rear, allowing spring 22 to rock the cradle to the rear and thereby move also the forward pointed end of finger 23 to the rear. During this movement, finger 23 rises under the tension of spring 25 until it strikes wheel 38, and then moves rearwardly past one tooth. As it leaves this tooth, it rises until it strikes a pin 35 of an adjustable line space regulating arm 35 pivoted at 3? on the right carriage side wall 3G. This holds finger 23 away from wheel 30 for the remainder of the clockwise oscillation. of the bell crank. During the ensuing counterclockwise movement of bell crank 53, finger 23 engages the tooth it just passed, and rotates wheel 39 a distance sufiicient to impart a single line space to the paper. When the line space i'novement is just completed, flange 28 strikes the upper edge of finger 23, moving it out of engagement with wheel 38.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5, the journal sheet 38 together with a carbon ii i inserted downwardly over a paper table 42 extending between the carriage side walls, then under the platen 32, between pressure rolls i3 and the platen. From there it passes upwardly in front of the platen and then rearwardly under a bail i l pivoted at as in the carriage side walls. Rotation of the ratchet wheel 30, as above described, rotates the platen, which, through the cooperation of pressure rolls 33, advances the journal and carbon sheets.

3. Supporting and line spacing mechanism for continuous bill forms A supply of continuous bill forms is supported in the magazine (Figure l) to the left of partion 5!. From there they extend upwardly over a guide rod 25 (Figure 5), downwardly behind paper table 452, under pressure rolls d3, upwardly past platen 32, over a feed roll 4?, rearwardly over rods d8 (Figure 2), downwardly between parallel edge guides 5! (Figure l) and into magazine 5 to the right of partition I i.

For line spacing the continuous bill forms, the following structure is provided. A pressure roll 52 is journaled at its opposite ends in arms 53 (Figur 2) pivoted at 5 1 to upwardly extending brackets 55 secured on the carriage side Walls. Roll 52 is tensioned toward feed roll 4? by springs 55, so that when the feed roll 4 is rotated, the continuous forms 5 are advanced.

A means is provided to move pressure roll 52 away from feed roll 47 to facilitate introduction of the continuous forms. This means includes a ball 5? having side arms 58 pivoted at 6!. Arms 58 each have rearwardly extending projections such as 52 (Figure 5). The shaft which supports pressure roll 52 rests on the upper edges of these projections 62 under the tension of springs 55. Upon swinging bail 5': counterclockwise (Fi ure 5) about pivot ti, projections 5?. cam the feed roll shaft upwardly about pivot 5 1, against the tension of springs 55, until the shaft rests in recesses 53 in the projections 52. This holds pressure roll 52 out of feeding relation with feed roll fl and permits suificient clearance for the easy introduction of the leading end of a new strip of continuous forms. A clockwise rocking of bail 5? by th operator will then allow springs 53 to move pressure roll 52 into feeding relation with the paper.

Feed roll 3? is line spaced together withplaten 32 through the following parts. A vertically disposed rod t l (Figure 3) is pivoted at its lower end in an arm of a bracket 55 fixed on the outer end of rods i? and iii of the line space cradle. Th upper end of rod Ell passes through an opening in a stud 55 fixed on an arm 57 of a plate 68 (see also Figure 4) of a friction clutch generally indicated at H. A spring 72 normally tensions arm 5i and plate 88 counter-clockwise. A spring '53, encirclin rod M between stud 56 and nuts I5 threaded on the upper end of the rod, holds plate 68 in the position shown in Figure 3 against the tension of spring I2 when bell crank I3 is in its normal position shown in Figure 3. Plate 68 is connected by screws I6 (Figure 4) to a clutch disk 11 mounted on a bushing I8 secured in right hand bracket 55. Bushing I8 also acts as a support for a shaft BI that supports feed roll 41.

A series of balls 82 rest in suitable recesses in disk 11, and each is sprin urged into contact with the inner periphery of a cup 83, the hub 84 of which is secured to the outer end of shaft 8|. When the line space cradle swings bracket 65 clockwise, rod 94 is raised, and as the cradle swings the bracket counter-clockwise, rod 64 is lowered. As rod 64 rises, plate 68 and disk 11 are rotated counter-clockwise until the upper end of arm 61 strikes a stop screw 85. During this movement balls 82 are urged toward the wide end of the recesses, so that no movement is imparted to cup 83 and feed roll 41. However, when rod 64 is lowered, disk TI is rotated clock- Wise, causing balls 82 to move toward the narrow end of their recesses, their respective springs assisting them in this movement. This causes the balls to act as a wedge between the disk 11 and the inner periphery of cup 83, to permit rotation of the disk to rotate the cup and feed roll 41 a distance sufficient to advance the bill form one line space. The advancing movement is limited by a pin 86 that lies in the path of arm 61.

Stop screw 85 may be adjusted to vary the extent of movement imparted to the bill form. By such an adjustment, the line spacing movements of the bill form may be made equal to or diiferent from the line spacing movements of the journal sheet, as desired.

By the above described mechanism, line spacing movements of the journal sheet are accompanied by line spacing movements of the bill form upwardly past the front of the platen.

4. Mechanism for difierentially advancing the continuous form As before stated, it is desirable that following a printing of the last line upon one of the continous forms 5, the first line of the next succeeding form be brought into printing position, irrespective of the number of lines printed upon the preceding form. This is accomplished in the present structure during the return stroke of the carriage, i. e., as the carriage moves from left to right, and is performed by the following parts.

A finger 87 (Figures 6 and 7) is secured on the left end of feed roll shaft 8I that extends through a bushing 88 mounted in the left bracket 55. Finger 81 lies in front of a pin 9| fixed in a disk 92 of a clutch generally indicated at 93. This clutch is similar to the clutch II, except that the ball retaining disk is the driven element in this clutch, whereas it is the driving element in clutch II. Disk 92 is freely rotatable upon the reduced left end of bushing 88, and carries a series of balls 94 in suitable recesses therein. The balls engage the inner periphery of a cup 95 having a hub 96 rotatably mounted on bushing 88. A cup 91 is secured to the outer end of the cup to completely encase the parts. A spring 98 (see also Figure 8) encircles the hub 96, and has one of its ends connected thereto at WI, The opposite end of the spring is connected at I02 to a plate I03. The spring and plate I03 lie within a housing I05, the plate and housing being secured to the left bracket 55 by screws I04.

A drum I06 encircles housing I05, and is seecured to cup by screws ml, for rotation with the cup. Spring 98 normally tends to rotate cup 95 and drum I06 clockwise (Figures 2 and 6) about bushing 88, to cause a tape I08 (Figure '7) connected to the drum at I I I, to be wound thereon. Tape I08 passes from the drum (Figure 2) over pulleys H2 and H3 supported on the carriage, and is connected at II5 to a block II6 secured on a horizontally disposed rod II8 (see also Figures 9 and 10). Rod I I8 is provided with an eye I2I arranged to engage a hook I22 pivoted at I23 (Figures 9, 10 and 11) to the under side of an extension I24 fixed on the left end of carriage rail (Figure 2). The upper end of the hook extends through an aperture I25 in plate I24 and is normally held in effective position by a spring I26.

The operation of the above parts is as follows. When, during the working stroke of the carriage, it reaches the last position to the left (the one shown in Figure 2), eye I2I engages hook I22. At this time, the carriage return mechanism becomes operative, and moves the carriage to its right hand position. Since eye I2I is at this time held stationary by hook I22, the return movement of the carriage unwinds tape I08 from drum I06, against the tension of spring 98. Unwinding of the tape causes drum I06 to rotate cup 95 counter-clockwise (Figure 6), and since balls 94 become effective when it is rotated in this direction, disk 92 is rotated therewith, causing pin 9| of the disk to make one complete revolution. During this revolution, the pin picks up finger 81 and rotates feed roll 41 counter-clockwise a sufficient extent to bring the first line of the next form 5 into printing position.

This movement of feed roll 41 by the return movement of the carriage is always just sufficient to bring the first line of the next form into printing position, irrespective of the distance the form was previously advanced by the line spacing movements of rod 64. This is because finger 81 moves ahead of pin 9I an amount corresponding to the number of line space operations given by rod 64, so that the amount of movement imparted to the finger by the driven disk 92 is only the difference between the amount given by the rod 64, and the amount necessary to advance one bill form its entire length.

As the carriage completes its return movement, a screw I21 (Figures 2, 9 and 10) secured in the left carriage side plate 33 strikes a block I28 fixed on a rod I3I suitably guided on carriage rail 1. The right end of rod I3I (Figures 9 and 10) passes downwardly through a slot I30 in plate I24, and is pivoted at I32 to a lever I33. The opposite end of lever I33 is pivoted at I34 to the under side of extension I 24. A spring I 35 normally tensions lever I33 and rod I3I toward the right as viewed in Figures 9, 10 and 11, but upon screw I 21 striking block I28, lever I33 is pulled toward the left, causing a cam surface I33 (Figure 11) thereon to cam hook I22 downwardly out of engagement with eye I2I, to allow spring 98 t rewind tape I08 upon drum I06. During thi rewinding action, the driving cup 95 slips idly over the balls, imparting no rotation to feed roll 41.

When the carriage starts its next working stroke, screw I21 moves away from block I28, allowing springs I35 and I26 to restore lever I33 and hook I22 to their normal positions shown in Figur s 9, 10 and 11.

The inner end of rod II8 extends through carriage side wall 33 and carries a piston I36 sliding within a cylinder I31, suitably mounted by clamps such as I38 on carriage rail 1. The left end of cylinder I3! has a needle valve MI that controls passage of air from the cylinder. This construction provides a cushion for the rewinding action of spring 98. The rewinding action is stopped by block I I6 striking the forked end of a bracket I I4 secured to the carriage side wall 33.

Block I28 may be adjusted along rod I31 to advance or retard the disconnection of hook I22 from rod I I8. This will vary the amount of feed imparted to the bill forms by the feeding mechanism operated by the carriage return mechanism, to exactly suit the length of the forms.

When spring 98 rewinds tape I 33 on drum I06, the accompanying rotation of cup 95 has a tendency to rotate disk 92 clockwise, due to the tension of the small springs associated with the balls in the disk. This, however, is of no importance, since the movement is very slight, and will be substantially the same in every operation.

5. Operation Let it be assumed that the bill forms 5, the carbon M and journal sheet 38 have been threaded in the carriage as described above. Referring now to Figure 12 (the journal sheet 38 is shown off to one side for the purpose of illustration only), after the printing in the left column of bill No. '73, the platen is moved to the left to print in the right hand column of the bill. At the end of this printing operation the platen is line spaced by the mechanism illustrated in Figur 8, under the control of the carriage, in the manner described in Patent No. 2,194,270. This line spacing operation advances finger Bl from pin 9| one step, as shown in Figure 12.

At the end of this cycle, the carriage tabulates to the left a short distance, in the manner described in the above mentioned patent, en aging the carriage return mechanism, and at the same time engaging eye I2I (Figure 9) with hook 22. The ensuing return movement of the carriage to the right causes tape I58 to be unwound from drum I06, and thereby rotates disk 92 counterclockwise a fixed amount, which, in the present instance, has been described as one revolution. During this rotation of disk 92, pin 9I picks up finger 8i, and from that point on it rotates the feed roll 41 to advance the bill forms 5. As bill No. 74 comes to the proper position for printing, hook I22 is disengaged from eye I2 i, arresting the feeding of the bill and allowing spring 93 to rewind tape Iiifi, disk d2 remaining stationary during this reverse rotation f drum I36.

Referring to Figure 13, to print the first item in the left column of bill No. '14, the operator presses a special key which will prevent the machine from tabulatlng to the right hand column at the end of this operation, and which will also cause the line spacing mechanism of Figure 3 to operate. This control is designated the Non- Tab Key in the above mentioned patent.

In printing the second item in this column the special key is not operated, allowing the carriage to tabulate to the left and print in the right hand column, as in bill No. 73. At the end of this printing operation the line spacing mechanism is again operated, as described in connection with bill No. 73, and the carriage again moves the short distance to the left, engaging the carriage return mechanism and engaging eye IZI with hook I22. This time, however, since the line spacing mechanism of Figure 3 has operated twice, instead of once as in connection with bill No. '73, finger 8? has moved two steps away from pin 9|. Therefore, upon the subsequent rotation of disk 92, pin 9| picks up finger 81 at a later time in the operation, resulting in less movement of feed roll 41. The difference between the amount of movements of the feed roll 4! for bills No. '7 3 and No. 74 compensates for the additional line space movement given to bill No. 74.

In Figure 14, bill No. '75 shows a similar multiple line printing, three lines in this instance being shown. In connection with Figure 14, it will be noted that finger 87 is advanced a third step away from pin 9I due to three line space movements being given by the line spacing mechanism of Figure 3 during the printing on this bill.

The printing in the left column on the journal sheet appears on successive line spaces since the journal sheet is not advanced by rotation of roll 41.

If bill forms of greater or less length are to be used, the feeding movement of feed roll 41 would be changed accordingly. For instance, if the bill forms to be used are longer than the ones illustrated, block I28 (Figure 9) would be moved to the left to allow the return movement of the carriage to unwind more tape from drum E06 and thereby rotate roll i? farther before screw I21 on the carriage frame strikes block I28 to release eye I2 I. This would cause the return movement of th carriage to always rotate disk 92 more than the one revolution described above. This change would of course be accompanied by corresponding change in the position of the well known carriage return dogs shown in Patent No. 2,194,270.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein described, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a traveling paper-supporting carriage movable oppositely through working and return strokes on a frame, a mechanism on the carriage for advancing continuous forms from the rear of the carriage, past a printing station, means operative during the return stroke of the carriage to cause advance of said continuous forms by said mechanism, a supply magazine at the rear of and below the carriage, from which said continuous forms are drawn and supplied, means to support said magazine swingably in the direction of carriage movement about an axis that is below the carriage and stationary with reference to the machine frame, and means comprising a motiontransmitting connection between said carriage and. said supply magazine, above the said axis, to cause said magazine to swing concomitantly as the carriage is returned and the continuous forms are advanced and drawn upwardly from the magazine.

2. In a machine of the class described, a continuous form feeding apparatus comprising a carriage movable in one direction on a working stroke and in an opposite direction on a return stroke, a platen, a feed roll, mechanism for line spacing the platen and feed roll together as an incident to machine operations during the working stroke, and means automatically operable during the return stroke for augmenting the line space rotation of the feed roll, independently of the platen, an amount sufiicient to present the first line of a succeeding form in printing alignment with the platen irrespective of the number of line spaces used on the preceding form.

3. In a machine of the class described, a bed, a traveling carriage reciprocably movable along the bed in working and return strokes, a platen mounted on the carriage, a continuous form feeding r011 rotatably mounted on the carriage, line space mechanism operable as an incident to operation of the machine during a working stroke of the carriage for imparting line space rotation to the feed roll, an element fixed on the feed roll for line space advancement therewith, and means for advancing the feed roll to bring the first line of the succeeding form into printing alignment with the platen, said means including a clutch having a driven element, a means for imparting rotation to said driven element during the return stroke of the carriage, and a pin fixed on the driven element and cooperating with the fixed element on the feed roll to rotate the latter.

4. In a machine of the class described, a traveling paper carriage, mechanism for moving the carriage through working and return strokes, a line space mechanism and a sweep feed means on the carriage for feeding continuous strip forms step by step and from any position on one form to a predetermined position on the next form, the sweep feed means acting to feed the forms when it is operated from a normal to an advanced position, means for coupling the sweep feed means to a stationary part of the machine, whereby return movement of the carriage will operate the sweep feed means, means for uncoupling the sweep feed means from the stationary part of the machine as soon as the forms have been fed to said predetermined position, and means for returning the sweep feed means to its normal position preparatory to the next feeding operation.

5. In a machine of the class described, a traveling paper carriage, mechanism for moving the carriage through its working and return strokes, a line space mechanism and a sweep feed means on the carriage for feeding continuous strip forms step by step and from any position on one form to a predetermined position on the next form, said sweep feed means acting to feed the forms when it is operated from a normal to an advanced position, means for coupling the sweep feed means to a stationary part of the machine when the carriage completes its working stroke, whereby return movement of the carriage will operate the sweep feed means, an element on the carriage, variably positionable means operated by said element on the carriage for uncoupling the sweep feed means from the stationary part of the machine as soon as the forms have been fed to said predetermined position, and means for returning the sweep feed means to its normal position preparatory to the next feeding operation.

ARTHUR LEON BOOTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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