US2654603A - Pile elevator - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1953 c. WILLIAMS ET AL 2,654,603

' PILE ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1953 Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS o6 MAM 6041a CZ. 6m

ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1953 c. WILLIAMS ET AL 2,654,603

FILE ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1953 c. WILLIAMS ET AL 2,654,603

FILE ELEVATOR I Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet e 1 III 284- v INVENTORS n 2 V Di $./Mm

2 BY Woman/n54 l e/Zn a 64.64%

ATTO-RNEY 1953 c. WILLIAMS ETAL 2,654,603

FILE ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS 4 7 06;! 5. ll/jlla'a/nua BY Wow/mm #4 W ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PILE ELEVATOR tion of New York Application October 12, 1946, Serial No. 703,006

28 Claims.

This invention relates generally to sheet feeding apparatus and more particularly to sheet feeders of the type wherein the sheets are fed one after another from the top of an elevated pile thereof.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel method of maintaining a continuous supply of sheets in a sheet feeder of the pile elevator type to enable the latter to feed sheets at high speed continuously in succession to the machine being fed without interruption for reloading purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a sheet feeder of the pile type a novel method of replenishing a pile of sheets thereon vertically from below while the sheets are being fed one after another at high speed from the top of the pile.

Another object is to provide in a sheet feeder of the pile type novel apparatus for automatically maintaining a continuous supply of sheets thereon.

Another object is to provide novel cooperating automatically controlled main and. auxiliary pile elevators for maintaining a continuous supply of sheets on a sheet feeder.

A further object is to provide in a sheet feeder main and auxiliary pile elevators of novel construction, arrangement and operation for maintaining a continuous pile of sheets on said feeder so that sheets can be fed continuously in succession from the top of the pile without having to stop the feeder to reload it.

A still further object is to provide novel cooperating main and auxiliary pile elevators which are dependent on each other in the operations thereof to maintain a continuous supply of sheets on a sheet feeder.

Another object is to provide in a sheet feeder novel cooperating hydraulically operated main and auxiliary pile elevators for maintaining a continuous supply of sheets thereon.

Another object is to provide novel hydraulically operated main and auxiliary pile elevators which are electrically controlled and dependent upon each other in the operations thereof to maintain a continuous supply of sheets on a sheet feeder.

Still another object is to maintain a continuous supply of sheets on a sheet feeder through the provision of novel cooperating main and auxiliary pile elevators and pileloading means.

A still further object is to maintain a continuous supply of sheets on a sheet feeder through the provision of novel cooperating main and auxiliary pile elevators which are dependent upon each other in the operations thereof, in combination with a novel pile loading conveyor which is associated with the auxiliary pile elevator and dependent upon the latter in its operation, thus requiring no attention on the part of the operator and relieving the latter for performance of other duties.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the invention, reference for this latter purpose being had primarily to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer, to like parts throughout the several views,

Figs. 1 and 1a are complementary side elevations of a sheet feeder embodying the present invention, with the near side frame of said feeder removed and portions of certain parts broken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

Figs. 2 and 2a are complementary vertical longitudinal sectional views of said feeder, said views being taken substantially on the lines 22 and 2a-2a of Figs. 3 and 3a, respectively;

Figs. 3 and 3a are complementary top plan views of the feeder, with the piles of sheets omitted and portions of the main pile elevator broken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end View, partly in section and looking from the right of Figs. 1a and 2a, showing the complete control valve assembly for the hydraulically operated main and auxiliary pile elevators;

Figs. 5 and 5a are vertical longitudinal central sections of certain of the valve units shown in Fig. 4 for controlling the rapid raising and lowering movements of the main and auxiliary pile elevators, respectively, the valves proper of said units being shown in the positions they occupy when the main and auxiliary pile elevators are in the full line positions shown in Figs. 1a and 2a, and said views being combined for purposes of clearer illustration;

Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical longitudinal and transverse central sections, respectively, of the pile controlled valve unit shown in Fig. 4 for controlling the intermittent or step by step elevation of the main and auxiliary pile elevators, the valve proper of said unit being shown in the position it occupies when the top of the pile from which the sheets are fed is at the proper feedin level as shown in Figs. 1a and 2a;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the present invention is shown as embodied in a sheet feeder having plate-like side frame members l and on which are mounted the sheet separating, forwarding and conveying devices (not shown) of the feeder. These devices which may be of any known design form no part of the present invention and it is therefore unnecessary to illustrate and describe the same in detail. Suffice to say that the sheet separating devices act to separate the sheets, which may be sheets of paper, cardboard, tin, or other material, or folded sheets known as signatures, one after another from the top and at the rear of a pile thereof on said feeder, and the sheet forwarding devices act to forward each separated sheet from the front or rear thereof to the sheet conveying devices which, in turn, advance the separated and forwarded sheets in succession to the machine to be fed. The side frame members l5, iii are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a base plate 11, and are connected together at the front thereof by two vertically spaced cross bars l8 and I9 suit- 1- ably secured thereto, and at the rear thereof by a cross shaft suitably secured thereto (Figs. 2 and 2a).

The main drive of the feeder preferably comprises a chain 2| around a sprocket 22 and driven from any suitable source of power, such as, the machine to which the sheets are fed, to continuously rotate said sprocket at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Sprocket 22 is fixed on and drives a shaft 23 which extends transversely of the feeder and is journalled at opposite ends thereof in suitable bearings in brackets 24 that are bolted to the inner surfaces of the side frame members !5, l3. Shaft 23 is utilized to operate the various parts of the feeder hereinafter described.

In accordance with the present invention the feeder is provided with novel double pile elevators and novel pile loading means which cooperate in a novel manner to maintain a continuous pile of sheets on the feeder and thus enable the latter to feed sheets continuously and at high speed from the top of the pile without having to stop the feeder to reload the same, thereby obtaining a high output of fed sheets. As will appear hereafter, the double elevators which, for the sake of description, may be termed main and auxiliary elevators, and the pile loading means are completely automatic in operation and are dependent upon each other in the operations thereof to continuously maintain an adequate pile of sheets on the feeder by automatically adding new loads or piles of sheets at intervals under a preceding diminished load or pile to replenish the latter while sheets are being fed from the top thereof. In this manner the replenishment of a preceding diminished pile of sheets with a new pile of sheets within a prescribed time is positively assured to maintain the continuous uninterrupted feed of the sheets, and requires no attention on the part of the operator thus relieving the latter for performance of other duties.

Referring now to Figs. 1a, 2a, and 3a, the novel (Figs. 1, 2, and 8) passing main pile elevator indicated generally at 25 comprises a plurality of transversely spaced, forwardly extending fingers 26 adapted to receive thereon and support a pile of sheets 27 which may be termed the first pile. It is important to note that the relatively close spacing of the fingers 26 affords a substantially continuous pile supporting surface and, hence, the pile of sheets can rest directly on and will be properly supported by said fingers, and no pile board or other platform is required between the same and said pile. Fingers 26 are loosely mounted for upward pivotal movement on a transversely extending shaft 28 for a purpose to appear hereafter, and are formed with portions 29 that extend rearwardly beyond said shaft under and into engagement with a second transversely extending shaft 3!). Engagement of the portions 29 of fingers 26 with shaft 30 holds said fingers in horizontal pile supporting position and against downward pivotal movement beyond said position to sustain the pile of sheets thereon. Fingers 26 are held in their respective positions on shaft 28 and against axial relative displacement by two collars 31 disposed on opposite sides of each finger and secured to said shaft.

Shafts 23 and 30 have bolted or otherwise suitably secured to opposite ends thereof horizontally disposed rack bars 32 and 33 which extend forwardly beyond shaft 28 adjacent the endmost pile supporting fingers 26 and for a major portion of the length of the latter (Figs. 1a, 2a, and 3a). Each of the rack bars 32, 33 has journalled thereon coaxially with shafts 23, 30 conical anti-friction rollers 34, 34 which project laterally from said bars into horizontal, rearwardly extending channel track members 35, 35. It will thus appear that the rack bars 32, 33, together with the shafts 23, 30, form a carriage which is supported and guided by the rollers 33 and track members 35 for straight line horizontal movement so that the pile supporting fingers 26 thereon may be moved horizontally out of and into pile supporting position for purposes hereinafter described. When the carriage is moved rearwardly or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2a, by mechanism to be hereinafter described, corresponding movement will be imparted to the pile supporting fingers 26, thus retracting said fingers from normal pile supporting position. When the carriage is thereafter moved forwardly, the pile supporting fingers 26 will be advanced from retracted position and returned to pile supporting position.

As shown in Figs. 1a, 2a, and 3a, the track members 35, 35 are bolted adjacent their forward ends to brackets 36 and 3'! which, in turn, are bolted to the vertical side bars 38 and 33, respectively, of an upright, transversely extending, rectangular frame including upper and lower cross bars 30 and ll, respectively, said side bars and cross bars being bolted or otherwise suitably secured together at their ends to form said frame. The track members 35, 35 extend to the front surfaces of the side bars 38, 39, and are fitted into grooves 42 (Figs. 1a and 2a) milled in the inner surfaces of said bars to further rigidly support said track members.

The main pile elevator 25 comprising the upright frame, the track members 35, 35, the car riage, and the pile supporting fingers 26, is supported by the upper projecting end of a hydraulically operated piston 43 (Figs. la and 2a), and is secured to the latter in a suitable manner, as by bolts 44 which pass through suitable openings in the lower cross bar 4| of said frame and are threaded into said piston. The piston 43 extends into a vertically disposed hydraulic cylinder 45 which is located centrally between the side frame members i5, i6 and is bolted to the base plate ll. Cylinder 45 is provided with a suitable packing gland 46 which is adjustably secured to the upper end thereof. It will thus appear that when the piston 43 is raised, as here inafter described, corresponding upward move ment will be imparted to the main pile elevator 25, and when said piston is lowered, said elevator will likewise be lowered.

The main pile elevator 25 is guided for straight line vertical movement by vertically spaced, conical anti-friction rollers 41, all which are journalled at 48, 48 on each of the side bars 38, 39 of the upright rectangular frame and project laterally therefrom into vertically extending channel track members -39, 49 that are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the adjacent side frame members l5, l6 0f the feeder. It will be apparent that with the construction hereinbefore described, the pile supporting fingers 26 are not only raised and lowered, but are also capable of straight line horizontal retracting and advancing movements.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the pile supporting fingers 26 are automatically retracted from and advanced into pile supporting position, the retracting movement of said fingers occurring at one level in the upward movement of the main elevator 25 and the pile of sheets thereon, and the advancing movement of said fingers occurring at another level in the downward movement of said elevator with said fingers in retracted position. As herein shown, this automatic operation of the pile supporting fingers 2B is accomplished by mechanism preferably constructed, mounted, operated, and controlled as follows.

Secured to or formed integrally with the driven sprocket 22 on the feeder drive shaft 23 is a small sprocket 50 (Figs. 2 and 8) around which passes a chain 5i that extends downwardly therefrom, then rearwardly under a sprocket 52 to rotate the latter continuously in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) for a purpose hereinafter described, and then around a sprocket 53 to rotate the latter continuously in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2). One reach of chain 5! also passes around an idler chain tightening sprocket 54 which is rotatably mounted on and adjustably secured to a bracket 55 bolted to the base plate I 1. Sprockets 52 and 53 are of the same size but larger than the sprocket 53 for speed reduction purposes. Sprocket 52 is fixed on a transversely extending short shaft 53 which is journalled at opposite ends thereof in suitable bearings provided by brackets 57 and 58 bolted to the base plate 11. Sprocket 53 is fixed on a transversely extending shaft 53 which is journalled at opposite ends thereof in suitable bearings provided by brackets 30 and 6| bolted to the base plate ll (Fig. 8).

Mounted on shaft 59 adjacent bracket 60 is a friction slip-clutch 52 (Fig. 8) of a well-known design and comprising a cup-shaped member 63 that is loosely mounted on said shaft. Disposed within clutch member 63 and suitably connected with shaft 59 for rotation thereby and axial movement relative thereto is a series of metal disks 64 which, through the medium of axially movable leather disks 65, frictionally drive similar axially movable metal disks 66 that are suit- 6. ably connected with said clutch member. The leather disks, 6,5 are disposed between the metal disks 64 and 66, and all said disks are retained in frictional driving contact with each other bya coil compression spring 61 surrounding shaft 59 and having one end engaging a collar 68 on said shaft, and the opposite end engaging the outermost driving disk- 64. Secured to. or formed integrally with clutch member 63 is a spur pinion 69 which meshes with a spur gear 10 to rotate the latter in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 1. For a purpose to be presently described, the pinion 69 and gear I0 are so pro portioned to have a ratio of 2:1, 1. e. one revo1ution of gear 19 to two revolutions of pinion 6.9, or one-half of a revolution of gear 10 toone revolution of pinion, 69.

Gear 10 is fixed on a short transversely extending shaft ll (Figs. 1 and 8) which is j0urnalled in suitable bearings provided on the. bracket 51 and projects beyond the latter toward the feeder side frame l5. Fixed, on the projecting end of shaft H is a crank disk 12, the crank pin 13 of which is pivotally connected with. one end of a link 14. The opposite end of link. 14 is pivotally connected at 15 (Fig. 1m) with one end of a rack bar 16 that is supported and guided for straight line horizontal reciprocating movement in a bracket 11 bolted to the base plate I1 (Figs. 1a and 4). Meshing with the rack bar 76 is a spur pinion 18 secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 19 which is located adjacent the feeder side frame member I5 and is journalled in suitable bearings provided on the bracket El and by a bracket 80 that is bolted to said frame member and projects inwardly therefrom to receive said shaft. Shaft l9v ex tends upwardly through and beyond a bearing 8| that is formed on and projects laterally from the bracket 36 which supports one of the track members 35 of the main elevator 25. Axial move ment of shaft 19 is prevented in one direction by the pinion l8 and in the opposite direction by a collar 82 which is secured to said shaft and engages the underside of the bearing therefor on bracket 11.

Disposed above the bearing 8! on bracket 36 and keyed to shaft 19 for sliding movement therealong is a bevel gear 83 (Figs. 1a and 3a.) which meshes with a similar gear 84. This gear 84 is fixed on one end of a transversely extending shaft 85 which is journalled in suitable bearings provided by brackets 86, 86 that are bolted to the upper cross bar 49 of the upright rectangular frame of main elevator 25 (Figs. 2a and 3a). are two spur gears 8'! and 88 which mesh with the rack bars 32 and 33, respectively, of the main elevator carriage carrying the pile supporting fingers 26. It will be noted that the bevel gears 83, 84, shaft 85, and spur gears 81, 88, due to the described mounting therefor, are capable of vertical movement along with the main elevator 25,. When the rack bar H5 is moved toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1a, through rotation of the crank disk 72 one-half of a revolution in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1) by the described connections therefor with the continuously ro tating shaft 53, the rack bars 32, 33 will be moved rapidly toward the left Fig. 1a) through clockwise rotation of spur gears 87, 88 by the spur pinion i8, shaft 79 and bevel gears 83, 84, resulting in like rapid movement of the pile support-- ing fingers 23 toward the left (Fig. la) and complete withdrawal of said fingers from pile sup- Secured to and rotated by shaft 85- porting position. When the rack bar 16 is thereafter moved toward the right, the pile supporting fingers 26 will be rapidly advanced from retracted position and completely returned to pile supporting position through counterclockwise rotation of gears 81, 88 by the described connections therefor with said rack bar. With the construction thus far described, it is apparent that crank disk 12 will be continuously rotated and, hence, the pile supporting fingers 26 will be moved continuously out of and into pile supporting position upon each complete revolution of said crank disk. Mechanism is, therefore, provided to normally hold the crank disk 12 against rotation with the pile supporting fingers 26 normally disposed in pile supporting position, and to release the crank disk for rotation one-half of a revolution only at different intervals, whereby said fingers will be retracted from pile supporting position at one level in the upward movement of elevator 25, and advanced into pile supporting position at another level in the downward movement of said elevator. As herein shown, said mechanism is preferably constructed, mounted, and operated as follows:

Secured to pinion 69 is a disk 89 (Figs. 1 and 8) which is formed on its periphery with a single tooth 90 that is normally engaged by the upper hooked end of a vertical latch 8!. The latter is pivotally mounted at 92 on a bracket 93 bolted to the base plate l'i. Latch 8| is biased towards disk 89 by a spring-pressed plunger 94 disposed within a container 95 secured to bracket 93. Plunger 96 projects from container through a suitable opening in bracket 93 into engagement with latch 9i. The spring for plunger as is indicated at 96 and surrounds said plunger between a flange 97 thereon and container 95.

It will thus appear that engagement of the latch 9| with the tooth 9) on disk 89 normally holds pinion 59, gear G and crank disk '52 against rotation by shaft 59, at which time the crank pin 73 on crank disk '42 is disposed in its extreme forward position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and the pile supporting fingers 26 are disposed in normal pile supporting position, as shown in Fig. la. This holding of pinion 69 against rotation will not, however, afiect the operation of shafts 23, 56, and 59 due to the slip clutch concction 62 between the latter shaft and said pinion. When latch 91 is disengaged from tooth $30, as hereinafter described, the pinion 69 will be released for rotation by shaft 59 one revolution only, whereupon crank disk 12 will be rotated in the direction of the arrow (Fig. l) one-half of a revolution to move the crank pin '53 from its full-line forward position, to its broken-line rearward position, shown in Fig. 1, and thereby effect complete retraction of fingers 26 from pile supporting position, at which time said crank disk is again stopped through engagement of latch 9| with the tooth 9Q on disk 89. Fingers 26 will then be held in retracted position until latch 9| is again actuated, whereupon crank disk 12 will be further rotated in the same direction one-half of a revolution only to move crank pin 13 from its broken-line rearward position to its full-line forward position and thereby return said fingers into pile supporting position.

The first operation of latch 8! to cause retraction of the pile supporting fingers 26 from pile supporting position, as hereinbefore described, is effected automatically under the control of the pile of sheets on the second or auxiliary elevator to be hereinafter described, and while various ways and means may be employed for this purpose, said operation, as herein shown, is preferably effected electrically and by means comprising a solenoid 93 which is bolted to bracket 93 (Figs. 1 and 8). Pivotally connected at 99 with the movable core tilt; of solenoid 98 is one end of a link Hi! the opposite end of which is pivotally connected at N32 with latch 9i. W'hen solenoid 98 is energized, as hereinafter described, core l as will be drawn rearwardly or toward the left (Fig. l) and, hence, latch 9! through the described connections therefor with said core will be swung about its pivot 92 out of engagement with the tooth 90 on disk =89, whereupon the latter and pinion 59 will be released for rotation by shaft 59, as and for the purposes hereinbefore described. When solenoid 98 is deenergized, core I96 and latch 91 will be returned to their original positions by the spring-pressed plunger 9 so that said latch will be disposed in the path of rotation of the tooth 58 on disk 89 to again engage said tooth and stop said disk and the pinion after one complete revolution thereof.

Pivotally mounted on shaft .25 of main elevator 25 is a control member in the form of an elongated arm 53 (Figs. 2a and 3a) which extends forwardly from said shaft in the space between two of the piie supporting fingers 25, and downwardly at an angle so that the forward free end thereof will normally be disposed beneath and in spaced relation with said fingers for engagement by the top of the pile of sheets on the second or auxiliary elevator upon upward movement thereof, as hereinafter described. Arm N33 is formed with an upwardly projecting short arm which engages the plunger N5 of a normally open micro-switch W6 that is secured to a plate it? which, in turn, is secured to shaft 30. Micro-switch M36 is of well-known design and is of the general type disclosed in the United States Patent No. 1,956,020, granted May 22, 1934, to P. R. McGall, therefore needing no detail description herein. Switch H36 and solenoid 98 have connected therewith lead wires H38 and H19, respectively, which are connected with a suitable source of electrical current, and said switch and said solenoid are connected together by a lead wire i it). It will be noted that by virtue of the described mounting of control member 563, Hid, and switch I35 on the shafts 28 and 30, respectively, said member and switch will be moved along with the pile supporting fingers 26 when the latter are retracted from and advanced into pile supporting position.

It will thus appear that when the arm N3 of control member IE3, it is raised by the pile of sheets on the auxiliary elevator, as hereinafter described, the arm 404 will actuate plunger H15, whereupon the contacts of switch 106 will be closed and the electrical circuit to solenoid 96 will be completed through lead wire HG. Solencid 88 will then be energized to efiect disengagement of latch 9! from the tooth 99 on disk 88 and rotation of crank disk i2 one-half of a revolution resulting in retraction of the pile supporting fingers 25 from pile supporting position, and corresponding movement of control arm 1533 out of contact with the top of the pile of sheets on the auxiliary elevator. Control arm I03 will then drop by gravity, whereupon the pressure of arm H34 on plunger Hi5 will be relieved and the contacts of switch 166 will automatically open to break the electrical circuit to solenoid 98. Solenoid 98 will then be de-energized to enable latch 9| to re-engage the tooth 99 on disk '89 upon one complete revolution thereof and stop rotation of the crank disk '52, as hereinbefore described. The length of time switch I06 is closed varies with the length of the sheets handled in the feeder, but at no time is said switch held closed long enough to permit more than one complete revolution of pinion G9. Downward pivotal movement of control arm I 03 is limited through engagement of arm I with the upper cross bar 40 of the upright frame of main elevator '25. It is known that micro-switch I96 is so constructed that the plunger I05 thereof may be moved a reasonable amount beyond contact closing position. Hence, this overtravel of plunger i515 provides for additional upward movement of control arm I93 beyond contact closing position without damaging switch I-ilt or breaking said arm.

The second operation of latch BI to cause return movement of the pile supportin fingers 26 from retracted position into pile supporting position is also effected automatically but under the control of main elevator 25. For this purpose, main elevator 25 is provided with a second control member in the form of an arm III (Figs. a and 3a) which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a stud II2 that is secured in the side bar 39 of the vertically movable rectangular frame adjacent the lower end thereof. Arm I'I-I projects forwardly beyond the front surface of side bar 39, and is formed at the rear end thereof with a weight H3 to overbalance said arm and normally hold the latter in engagement with the upper shoulder I I i of a wide recess II5 milled in the outer surface of said side bar. Shoulder H4 is bevelled, as indicated at -I I6, and recess I I 5 is of a width sufficient to permit pivotal movement of arm 'I'II in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2a, relative to side bar 33.

Disposed in the path of vertical movement of control arm II I with main elevtor 25 is one arm I H of a bell crank trip lever I I8 (Figs. 2a and 3a) which is pivotally mounted at H9 on the feeder side frame member I6. The other arm I of bell crank I I8 extends downwardly and has its lower end weighted and normally engaged with the plunger 'I2I of anormally open micro-switch I22 which is bolted to the side frame member 1-6. A pin I23 is secured in side frame member I6 and projects inwardly therefrom across the rear "of bell-crank arm I20 to limit pivotal'movement'o'f bell crank H8 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2a, under the weight of said arm so that the .free rear end of arm I I! will be located in proper position for engagement by the free forward end of control arm II I. Switch I22 is electrically connected with solenoid 98 by a lead wire I24, and said switch and said solenoid are electrically "connected with a suitable source of electrical current by lead wires I25 and I26, respectively.

It will thus appear than when the main elevator 25, with the pile supporting fingers '26 in retracted position, is lowered to its lowermost position determined through engagement of the lower end of piston 43 with the "bottom of the well therefor in "cylinder 45, the control arm III will engage bell-crank arm II! for a short interval, swing 'bl-l crank H8 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2a, and then release isaid bell crank just before piston "43 engages the bottom of cylinder m5. :Under these conditions, the plunger :I2iI will be actuated by 10 bell-crank arm I 20 to close the contacts of switch I22, and then released to permit said contacts to open automatically and return said plunger to its original position. When the contacts --of switch I22 are closed, the circuit to solenoid 98 will be completed through iead wire T24 and, hence, said solenoid will be energized long enough to effect disengagement of the latch 91 from the tooth on disk --89 and release gear '69 for rotation by shaft 59, and then de-energized through opening of said contacts to permit said latch to return to its original position and re-engage said tooth after one complete revolution of said disk. Thus, as the main elevator 25 approaches its lowermost position and just before piston 43 contacts the bottom of cylinder 45, the crank disk I2 is further rotated one-half of a revolution in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1) to move the crank pin 13 from its herein-before described rearmost broken-line position to its foremost full-line position, shown in Fig. 1, and thereby fully advance the pile supporting fingers 26 from retracted position into pile supporting position, and return control member I03, I04 to operative position, substantially at the lowermost position of the main elevator.

Delivery of fluid under pressure into cylinder 45 to raise piston 43 and the main pile elevator 25 intermittently or rapidly and continuously, and the release of said fluid from said cylinder to rapidly lower said piston and said elevator, effected and controlled by mechanism which is also utilized to eifect and control the same operations with respect to the second or auxiliary pile elevator.

Accordingly, the "construction and arrangement of the auxiliary pile elevator will first be described so that a clear and complete understandingof the operations of said-fluid control mechanism will be obtained.

Referring now to Figs. 1a, 2a, and 3a, the novel auxiliary pile elevator indicated generally .at 121 is normally arranged beneath the main pile .elevator '25 for cooperation therewith and is inthe form of an angle casting comprising a vertical transversely extending bar I28 which is spaced forwardly of the track members "49, 49 for elevator 25 a distance substantially equal to the length of the pile supporting fingers 2'6, .and a plurality of transversely spaced fingers 129 which extend rearwardly from said bar at the top thereof substantially to the track members 49, 49 and are adapted to receive thereon and support a second pile of sheets I30 which may be termed the new pile. The pilesupporting fingers I 29 of auxiliary elevator 1'2! are located in vertical alignment with the spaces between the :pile supporting fingers 26 of mainelevator25, and, like the fingers 2B, the fingers I29 will properly support a pile of sheets thereon without employing the usual pile board or other platform between said pile and said lingers. The ends of the pile supporting fingers I29 are slightly curved downwardly to facilitate loading of the pile of sheets I30 and subsequent new loads or piles of sheets thereon, as hereinafter described.

"The auxiliary elevator 12'! is 'guidedfor straight line vertical movement by vertically spaced, conical anti-friction rollers I3I, 'I3I (Figs. 112,211., and 3a) which are ,journa'lled on the elevator bar I 28 at opposite ends thereof and project laterally from said bar into vertically extending channel track members 132, 132 that arebolted or otherwise suitably secured to the side frame members 15, (It6 of the feeder.

Auxiliary elevator 12.1 is supported by the upper projecting end of a hydraulically operated piston I33, and is secured to the latter in a suitable manner, as by bolts I34 which pass through suitable Openings in a flange I35 and are threaded into the elevator bar I28, said flange being secured to or formed integrally with said piston. The piston I33 extends into a vertically disposed hydraulic cylinder I36 which is centrally located between the feeder side frame members l5, I6 and is bolted to the base plate I1. Cylinder I36 is provided with a suitable packing gland I31 which is adjustably secured to the upper end thereof. It will thus appear that when piston I33 is raised, as hereinafter described, corresponding upward movement will be imparted to the auxiliary pile elevator I21 and the new pile of sheets thereon, and when said piston is lowered, said elevator will likewise be lowered.

Located in close proximity to the forward ends of the pile supporting fingers 26 of main elevator 25 and extending downwardly between and beyond the pile supporting fingers I29 of auxiliary elevator I21 is a plurality of vertically extending, transversely spaced pile guides I38 against which the front edges of the sheets of the piles on said elevators bear during elevation of the same, said pile guides also serving to locate the piles of sheets of different lengths capable of being handled in the feeder, in proper forward positions on said pile supporting fingers. guides I36 are bolted at the upper and lower ends thereof to the tie bars I8 and I9 through the medium of horizontal, forwardly extending portions I39, I39.

Delivery of fluid under pressure into the hydraulic cylinders 45 and I36 to raise the respective pistons 43 and I33 and the main and auxiliary elevators 25 and I21, respectively, and the release of said fluid from cylinders to lower said elevators, is effected and controlled in a novel manner by mechanism preferably constructed, mounted, and operated as follows.

Secured in any suitable manner to the base plate I1 at the front thereof is a tank I 40 adapted to contain a supply of oil, Water, or other suitable motive fluid (Figs. 1a and 2a). Tank I40 is closed at the top thereof by a cover I4I bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto. Extending into tank I40 through cover MI is one end of a conduit I42 the opposite end of which is connected, as by a fitting I 43, with the inlet side of a rotary fluid pump I44 that is bolted to cover I4I. Pump I44 is of the constant displacement, low pressure type and is driven continuously and at constant speed by an electric motor (not shown) which is bolted to cover MI and is coupled with the shaft I45 of said pump.

Upon rotation of pump I44 fluid is drawn from tank I40 through conduit I42 and fitting I43 and forced out through a conduit I46 having one end connected with the exhaust side of said pump. The opposite end of conduit I46 is connected with the inlet side of a pressure relief valve I41 which is supported by and connected with a bypass conduit I48 that is secured to cover MI and extends therethrough into tank I40, This pressure relief valve I41 is of well-known design needing no detail description herein, except to say that its purpose is to open and permit the fluid to flow from pump I44 back to tank I40 through conduit I48 when the fluid pressure, for any reason, exceeds a predetermined amount, thus preventing damage to the hydraulic system.

Under normal operating conditions, the fluid drawn from tank I40 by pump I44 flows through The pile relief valve I41 and is directed, in a manner to be hereinafter described, to a pile controlled valve unit indicated generally at I49, and to two other valve units indicated generally at I50 and I5I (Figs. 1a, and 4 to 7). The pile controlled valve unit I49 is utilized to control the intermittent or step by step elevation of the main and auxiliary pile elevators 25 and I21, respectively, and the valve units I50 and I5I are utilized to control the rapid and continuous raising and lowering movements of the main pile elevator 25 and of the auxiliary pile elevator I21, respectively. The valve units I49, I50, and I5I are supported by a vertically disposed plate I52 which is bolted to a bracket I53 and projects upwardly and downwardly from said bracket. This bracket I53 is bolted to and extends across the top of a transversely extending U-shaped bracket I54 which is located at the front and to one side of the feeder between the hydraulic cylinders 45 and I36, and is bolted to the base plate I1.

As shown in Figs. 1a, 2a, 4, 6, and 7, the pile controlled valve unit I49 comprises a body I55 which is bolted to the front surface of plate I52 at one side and adjacent the lower end thereof.

Body I55 is provided centrally thereof with a cylindrical bore I56 (Figs. 6 and '1) which extends vertically therethrough and is in communication with two axially spaced ports or passages I51 and I58 that are formed in said body and open outwardly through the front and one side, respectively, thereof. Body I55 is further provided with an axially extending passage I59 which opens outwardly through the upper and lower ends thereof and communicates with the lower end of the bore I56 therein through a restricted port I60. Associated with the restricted port I60 is an adjustable needle valve I6I for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Valve I6I is threaded in an adapter I62 secured in a suitable manner to body I55, and projects through the wall of said body, through the passage I59, and into cooperation with the adjacent end of the restricted port I60.

The lower end of bore I56 in body I55 is closed by a plug I63 (Figs. 6 and 7) which is threaded into said body and is provided with a central open ended port I64 communicating with said bore. Port I64 is normally closed by an upwardly opening check valve in the form of a ball I65 loosely retained by plug I63. Bolted to the lower end of body I55 is a cap I66 provided with an annular well I61 which is in communication with the passage I59 in said body and with the port I64 in plug I63. Well I61 is normally filled with fluid and is maintained full of fluid in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Slidably mounted in the bore I56 of body I55 is a valve I68 (Figs. 6 and 7) which is formed with a reduced portion I69 for establishing communication at certain intervals between the ports I51 and I58 in said body. Valve I60 has secured thereto or formed integrally therewith a stem I10 which projects upwardly beyond the body I55 through a guide cap I1I that is bolted to the upper end of said body and is provided with a suitable packing gland I12 bolted thereto and surrounding said stem. Cap I1I is further provided with a passage I13 which connects the upper end of the bore I56 with the upper end of the passage I59 in body I55 to provide a drain for any leakage of fluid around the valve I68 which will be directed by passage I59 into the well I61 in cap I 66 and thereby serve to maintain a sufficient supply of fluid in said well.

"Threaded into body I55 aria ebmmiiificaung with the port I51 therein is a T-fitting I14 '(Figs. 1a, 2a, 4, and 7 having connected therewith one end of a conduit I the opposite end of which is connected with the pressure relief valve I41 to direct the fiuid under pressure drawn from tank I40 by pump I44 to said body. Threaded into body I55 and communicating with the passage I59 therein is a T-fitti ng' 15 (Figs. 1iz; '2a, 4-,

and 6) having connected therewith one end of a conduit 1 the opposite end of which extends through the cover I4I of tank I40 and into the latter to return the excess fluid leaking froin around the valve I69 and in said passage to said tank. Connected with body I55, as by a. fitting I18 (Figs. 5 and 6); and commurfic ating with the port I50 therein is one end of a conduit I19 which extends upwardly along one end at plate I52 and then laterally across the rear surface of said plate. The opposite end of this conduit I19 is connected, as by a fitting I80 (Fig. 2a); with the body ISI of a directional fluid control valve unitindicated generally at I82 (Figs. 2a and 4) which is bolted to the rear surface of plate I52 adjacent the upper end thereof, This valve unit I82 iscomrnon to both the main pile elevator and the auxiliary pile elevator I21, and is utilized to autornatically control the delivery of fluid under pressure from the pile controlled 'valve unit-J49 to the hydraulic cylinder 45 to effect raising of elevator 2 5, or to the hydraulic cylinder I to effect raising of elevator I21.

V Asshown in Fig. 2a, the body I8! of valve unit I2i-s provided centrally thereof with a vertically extending cylindrical bore IB3 which is in comrnunication with the conduit I19 through a port 104 formed in said body. Bore I83 also com- Inunicates with two axial-lyspaced ports I85 and 'IBB th-at are termed in body I81 and open outwardly through the front side thereof, the port I05 being located at a level above the port I84 and the port I86 beinglocated 'at a level below the port I84. Threaded into body 'I8I through a suitable elongated openingl81 in plate I52 '(Fig. 4) and communicating with the port I85 in said body is a T-fitting I88. Connected with fitting I89 is one end of a conduit I99 the-opposite end of which is connected, as by a fitting 190, with the hydraulic cylinder 45 and coin"- rnunicates with the lower end of the piston well in said cylinder through a port I9'I and an axially extending passage I92 communicating with said port and terminating in apassage I93 opening upwardly throughthe lower wall of said well. Threaded intobody I-8I through the "opening I81in plate I52 and communicating with the port I86 in said body is afitting I94 having connected therewith one end of a conduit I95 the opposite end of which is connected with a T- fittirig I96. Connected with fitting I96 is one end of aconduit I91 the opposite end of which is connected, as by a fitting I98, with the hydr'aul ic cylinder I and cornrnunicates with the lower end of the piston well in said cylinder by a port and passages (not shown) similar to the port I9I and passages I92, I93 in cylinder 45.

Slidably mounted in the bore 183 of body I8I is a valve I99 (Fig. 2a) which is formed with a reduced portion 200 and with a stem 20I that projects downwardly through and beyond asuitable packing land 2-02 adjustablysecured to-said body at the lower end thereof. The projecting end of valve stein 20I engages the upper end of a push rod 203 (Figs. Za'and 4) which is fitted for reciprocation in the-bracket I53 and projects 14 above and below the latter. Jenna-lied the lower projecting end of rod 203 is a earn roller 204 which engages a normally stationary cam 205 that is fixed on a transversely extending shaft 206 journalled at opposite ends thereof in suitable bearings in the vertical arins of the U-' shaped bracket I54. Cain 205 is provided concentric high and low portions 201 and 208; re= speetively, which are so proportioned that upon rotation of said earn in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2a) one-half of a revolution the push rod 203 and Valve I99 will be lowered and will remain in lowered position, and upon subsequent r'ota tion of the cam in the same direction one half of a revolution said hush rod and said valve will be raised and will reiitain in raised position. Valve I 99 and push rod 203 are yieldin'gly urged down-- wardly by a coil compression spring 209 to maimtain the stern 20! of said valve in contact with said push rod and the roller 204 on the latter in contact with cam 205. Spring 209 is disposed Within ahollo'w flanged cap 2I0 bolted to the upper end of body I 8I, and has one end engaging against the upper wall of said cap and the op= posite end engaging against the upper end of valve I99. Rotation of push rod 203 relative to cam 205 is prevented by suitable means, such as by a screw 2| I which is threaded into bracket 1-53 and has a reduced end that projects into an axially extending groove 'or keywa'y 212 formed in said push rod.

It Will thus appear that when 'carn 205 is disposed in its normal full line position shown in Fig. 2a, the roller 204 on push rod 203 is engaged by the high part 201 of said ca-in and valve I99 is raised to the full line position shown in said figure. In this position of valve I99 it will be noted that the fluid outlet port I86 in body -I-8I is closed by said valve, and that the fluid --in-1et port I84 is in communication with the fluid cute let port I through the reduced portion 200 of the valve. Under these conditions fluid under pressure forced -into body I81 under the control of the pile controlled valve I68 'of valve unit I49 can 'only enter the conduit I89 resulting in actuation of the piston 43 in hydraulic cylinder 45 and raising of rn'ain elevator 25 and the pile of sheets thereon When cam 205 is rotated o'ne' 'half er 'a revolution in the direction "of the arrow from the fullline positi'ion shown n Fig. 2a, by mechanism to be hereinafter described, roller 204 on push rod 263 will ride on the high part 2010fsaid'cam and into the low part 208 thereof and "consequently push rod 203 'and valve I99 will be lowered by the expanding action of spring 209. Valve I99 and cam 205 will then be "disposed in the broken line positions shown in Fig. 2a. In this broken line position of valve I99 it will be noted that the 'fiuid'outlet port I35 in body IB I is closed by said valve, and that the fluid inlet port I'll-4 is in communication with the fluid outlet port 1'86 through the reduced "Dortion 200 of the valve. Under these conditions "fiuid under pressure forced nto body I'B I under the control of'the pi le controlled valve "I93 of unit I49 "can only enter the conduit T j-resultin'g in actuation or piste-n I3'3 in Cylinder I 36 and raising or auxiliary elevator "I21 and the pile of sheets thereon.

During operation of the feeder the main e'le vato'r 25 and au'xiliaryele'vat'or I21 cooperate to continuously maintain and support an adequate pile of sheets-in feedingposition, and when the top of said pile is at the proper 'feeding level, the valve I68 of the pilecontrolled valve unit I49 will be positioned as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 wherein it will be noted that the fluid inlet port I51 (Fig. '7) in body I55 is closed by said valve. Under these conditions fluid under pressure forced into body I55 by pump I45 cannot pass through said body and, hence, no fluid will be delivered to the directional control valve unit i82 to effect raising of the main elevator 25 or the auxiliary elevator I21, as hereinbefore described. Closing of port I51 by valve I68 will not affect the operation of pump I44 since the relief valve I41 will open and return the fluid to tank I55 through conduit I48 when the pressure of said fluid exceeds a predetermined amount.

However, as sheets are fed off the top of the pile by the sheet separating and forwarding devices, the height of the pile decreases and it becomes necessary to actuate the valve I58 and thereby effect raising of the elevator supporting said pile in order to keep the top of the latter at a predetermined level for the operation of said devices. This actuation of valve I68 and resultant raising of the main elevator 25 or the auxiliary elevator I27, as the case may be, may be controlled in various ways and by various well-known means for this purpose, but as herein shown, is controlled electrically and by mechanism preferably constructed, mounted, and operated as follows.

Extending transversely of the feeder at the top thereof is a U-shaped bar 2I3 (Figs. 1a, 2a, and 3a) which is slidably mounted on brackets 2H3, 2 I 4 for adjustment longitudinally of the feeder in accordance with the different lengths of sheets handled in the feeder. bolted to the side frame members I5, Id, and bar 2 I3 is secured to said brackets in all positions of longitudinal adjustment thereof as by bolts 2I5, 2I'5 which extend through slots H6, 216 in said bar and are threaded into said brackets. Bolted to bar 2I3 substantially at the center thereof is a bracket 2 I1 provided with a shelf 2 I 8 and a forwardly extending arm 219 (Figs. 2a and 3a). Pivotally mounted at 229 on arm 2I8 is a pile height governed bell crank lever 22! having a rearwardly and downwardly extending arm 222 and an upwardly extending arm 223. J ournalled on the free end of bell-crank arm 222 is a pile height testing member or roller 224 which rests on the top of the pile of sheets being fed at the rear and substantially in the center thereof. Bell-crank arm 223 is adapted to engage the plunger 225 of a normally open micro-switch 225 which is bolted to the shelf 2 I8.

Bolted to plate I52 at the top thereof and disposed directly above the pile controlled valve unit I49 is a solenoid 221 (Figs. la, 2a, and 4) having a core 228 with which is pivotally connected the upper end of the stem I18 of valve I68. Solenoid 221 is electrically connected with micro-switch 226 by a lead wire 229, and said solenoid and said switch are, in turn, connected with a suitable source of electrical current by lead wires 235 and 23I, respectively. Valve IE3 is yieldingly urged downwardly to the normal position shown in Figs. 6 and '7 by a light compression spring 232 surrounding the stem I15 of said valve and having one end engaging against an abutment on said stem and the opposite end engaging against a bracket 233 which is bolted to plate I52 and is provided with a suitable opening to permit stem I15 to project therethrough.

As long as the top of the pile from which the sheets are being fed is at the proper feeding level, the bell crank lever 22I through engagement of Brackets 2H3, 2M are roller 224 with said pile will be prevented from moving downwardly to enable arm 223 to engage and actuate plunger 225 of switch 226. Accordingly, the contacts of switch 226 will remain open and no upward movement will be imparted to the elevator supporting said pile because valve I58 will remain in its lowermost position shown in Fig. '1 closing the fluid inlet port 151 in body I55 and preventing delivery of fluid under pressure to the directional control valve unit I 82.

As sheets are fed one after another from the top of the pile, however, and with the roller 224 engaged therewith, the bell crank lever 22I will lower by gravity and continue to do so until arm 223 has actuated the plunger 225 to close the contacts of switch 226 and thereby complete the electrical circuit to solenoid 221 through lead wire 229. Solenoid 221 will then be energized, whereupon core 228 is drawn upwardly and raises valve I68 relative to body I55 to a position such that the fluid inlet port I51 is in communication with the fluid outlet port I53 through the reduced portion I59 of said valve. Under these conditions fluid under pressure forced into body 555 by pump I4 2 will flow through said body, through conduit I19, into and through body I8I of valve unit I82, and then into the hydraulic cylinder d5 of main elevator 25 through conduit I89, or into the hydraulic cylinder I35 of auxiliary elevator I21 through conduits 195, I91 depending on the position of valve I99 of valve unit I82. In the normal full-line position of valve I95. shown in Fig. 2a, the fluid will flow into hydraulic cylinder -55 resulting in actuation of piston 43 and raising of main elevator 25 and the pile of sheets thereon, but when said valve is moved to the broken-line position which occurs after a new pile of sheets has been added by auxiliary elevator I21 to and under a preceding diminished pile on main elevator 25 at which time the new pile and the diminished pile will be supported by said auxiliary elevator, as will appear hereafter, the fluid under pressure will then flow from body I8! of valve unit H82 into hydraulic cylinder I35 resulting in actuation of piston I33 and raising of auxiliary elevator I21 with the new and diminished piles of sheets thereon.

As the pile of sheets on main elevator 25 or auxiliary elevator I21, as the case may be, thus raises, the bell-crank lever 22!, through engagement of roller 224 with the pile, also raises, whereupon the pressure of arm 223 on plunger 225 is relieved and the contacts of switch 226 automatically open and return said plunger to its original position. Opening of the contacts of switch 225 de-energizes solenoid 221 whereupon valve 158 is lowered to its original position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 by spring 232, thus again closing the fluid inlet port 51 in body 555 and interrupting the flow of fluid under pressure to valve unit I52 to stop further upward movement of main elevator 25 or auxiliary elevator I 21 and the pile of sheets thereon until it again becomes necessary to raise said pile at which time the abovedescribed operations of valve I58 are repeated.

Lowering of valve I58 as aforesaid to stop further upward movement of elevator 25 or elevator I21 and the pile of sheets thereon is delayed or retarded so that, upon opening of the contacts of switch 225 following a slight upward movement of the pile, the elevator will not be directly stopped but, on the contrary, will continue to raise and thereby bring the top of the pile beyond switch opening position and an amount sufflcient to enable feeding of a number of sheets therefrom beaccaecs fore .raising of the elevator'and said pile is again necessary. .In this manner the pile is raised to the normal feeding .level upon a single operation of switch '225, whereas theswitch would otherwise operate .for each .sheet particularly if they are relatively thick, thus eliminating frequent operations of .said switch and solenoid 221, preventing rapidsand excessive wear-of the same and frequent repairs or replacements thereto. As herein shown, this delayed action 'of valve [-68 is -accomplishedras'follows.

When valve I68 is raised, as hereinbefore described, to effect raising of the main elevator 25 or the auxiliary elevator I27, and the :pile of sheets thereon, this raising of valve I68 creates vacuum in the lower end of bore I56 in body I55 whereupon the fluid in well I 6'I of cap r56 :raises the 'ball check valve I65 and flows into said bore throughthe-port I64 -in plug 163. When the contacts of switch 226 are opened and the valve I68 begins to drop under "the action of spring232, as hereinbefore described, the ball check valve I65 drops and again closes the port I64 in plug I63, whereupon the iluid previously admitted into bore I56 is trapped therein and must be forced therefrom by'valve I68 through the restricted port It!) into passage I59 before said valve can drop to its lowermost position shown in Figs. 6 and '7, thus materially retarding or delaying the lowering movement of valve I68 and closing of the fluid inlet port I51 thereby. "The flow of fluid from the bore II5 through port I50 and, hence, the

speed atwhich valve I 68 descends and the duration of upward movement of main elevator '25 or auxiliary elevator I21 .and the pile of sheets thereon upon each operation of said valve, may be regulated, 'as desired, by adjusting the needle valve I6I with respect to said port. .It will be understood thatyarious other ways and means may be employed in connection with the pile controlled means .to delay or retard the operation of any part thereof whereby delay in the lowering movement of valve I68 .is effected. It will further be understoodthat'the;arm.223 of bell crank lever 221 may be provided with an adjustable screw 'orthe like for contacting and operating the plunger '225 of switch 226, or the latter may be mounted for adjustment toward and away from said arm whereby the feeding level of the pile maybe varied, as well understood-in the art.

The Valve unit I58 '(Figs. 1a, 4, and 5) which is utilized to control the rapid and continuous lowering and raising movements of main elevator 25 comprisesa body 234 that .is bolted to the rear surface -of :plate I52 in spaced relation with the directional fluid control valve unit 5-82. 'Body 234 is provided centrally thereof with a vertically extending cylindrical bore 235 -(Fig. 5) which communicates with two axially spaced ports 236 and 231 that are formed in :said body and-open outwardly through the front side there- 'of. .Bore .235 also communicates with :a port 233 which is.formed;in.body;234 at a point'belowthe port 231 and opens outwardly through :the :rear side of saidrbody.

Threaded into body 234 through a suitable elongated opening 239 in plate I52 and communicating with the port 236 in said body is a fitting 240 having connected therewith one end of a conduit 241 (Figs. la, 4, and 5). The opposite end of this conduit 24I is connected with a T- iitting 242 having connected therewith one end of 'a conduit 243 the opposite end of which is connected with the 'T-fitting FM on body I55 of 18 valve unit M9. .The fluid under pressure drawn from tank I40 by gpu-mp I44 and entering fitting H4 will.thusibeldirected to body .234 through conduit 2'43, fitting 242., conduit 24], and fitting 240.

Threaded .into body 234 through opening 239 is :plate 1.52 and communicating with the port 23-! in ,said body is a fitting .244 .having connected therewith one end of a conduit .245 (Figs. .4 and 5-)- The opposite end .of this conduit 245 is connected with the T-wfill'ting .188 on body I-8I of valve .unit 182 whereby the fluid under pressure forced into .body 234 will be :directed from said body .to the hydraulic cylinder 45 through said conduit, said fitting :and conduit I89. Threaded into .body 23 and communicating with the port 23 8 therein .is :a fitting 24.6 (Figs. 1a and 5) having connected therewith one .end of a conduit 24.7. The opposite .end of this conduit 24-7 is connected with a T-fitting {248 (-Fig. 5a) having connected therewith one end :of .a conduit 2,49. The opposite .end of this conduit 249 is connected with the T-jfitting .ITI6 on body I of valve-unit I ia .(Figsla, 2a,, and 4) wherebythe returnfiow of fluid from hydraulic cylinder 45 will .be directed to the fluid supply tank-l 45 through fitting 256, conduit 25 i, fitting 248, conduit 249,.fittin I and conduit .I 71..

.Slidably mounted in the bore 235 .of body 23.4 is a valve .258 (Fig. 5) .Which is formed with a reduced portion .254 and with a stem 252 that projects downwardly through and beyond a suitable packing gland 253 adjustably securedstorsaid body .at the lower .end :thereof. The projecting endof valvestem 252 engages the :upper end of a push .rod 2 54 .(Figs. .4.- .and 25.) which is fitted for reciprocation in the bracket I53 and projects above and below the :latter. Journalledon a pin 255 which is secured in and projects laterally from push :rodz254 is a cam :roller 256 which is adapted to engage :a normally stationary oam 257 that is fixednn shaft .206. Cami25'l is formed to provide an abbreviated high part .258, an abbreviated low .part 259, and .a concentric intermediate low part 260 wherebyavalve 256 will "o'ccupy three axial positions with respect to body v2 54 upon rotation of saidlcam.

Valve'250 and-push rod 254rare=yieldingly urged downwardly :by a :coil .compression spring 26i .(Fig. 5) which is zdisposedWithina hollow'flanged cap 2 62 :bolted to the .upper end of body 2 34, one end of :said spring engaging against the upper wall .of said cap and the opposite end engaging against the .upper .end of said valve. Rotation of push rod 254 relative to cam 25"! is prevented by a :screw 253 which is threaded into bracket I58 and "base. reduced-end that projects into an axially extending groove (not shown) formed in said push rod.

.Pivotally mounted at "254 on bracket I55 and associated with push rod 254 :a bell crank latch consisting of a rearwardly extending arm 1265 and a downwardly-extending:armi266 provided at one edge and adjacent the lower end thereof with .a notch 25"! '(Figs. 4 and 5'). .As shown in .Fig. 5;, latch arm 266 normally rests adjacent its lower end against the projectingend of cam roller pin 255. "When push rod 254 is raised through rotation of cam '25? and engagement of the high part 2-58 thereof with roller 256, the pin .255 will register with the notch 267 in latch arm 2.6.5,, whereupon the latter will swing under its own weight .in a clockwise direction, as viewed .in Fig. ,5, and receive said pin in said notch, thus hold- "ing valve "250 and push rod 254 in their raised uppermost positions and preventing said push 19 rod from immediately lowering and following the low parts 260 and 259 of cam 251.

Cam 251 is shown in full lines in Figs. 1a and 5 in the position it normally occupies, i.e. when the sheets are being fed from the pile on main elevator 25, and intermittent raising of said elevator and pile is effected under the control of the pile controlled valve unit I49. In this position of cam 251 it will be noted that the roller 256 on push rod 254 is engaged with the intermediate low part 268 of said cam at a point adjacent the high part 258 and diametrically opposite the low part 259 thereof. Under these conditions, valve 255 is disposed in its intermediate position shown in Fig. 5 wherein it will be noted that the port 231 in body 234 is closed to the ports 236 and 238 by said valve. Thus, no fluid under pressure can enter hydraulic cylinder through port 231 and conduits 245, I89 to raise main elevator and the pile of sheets thereon, and the fluid previously admitted into said cylinder is trapped therein and cannot flow therefrom through said conduits and said port thereby holding main elevator 25 and the pile of sheets thereon in raised position and against dropping.

When cam 251 is rotated one-half of a revolution in the direction of the arrow from the full line position to the broken line position shown in Fig. 5, push rod 254 will immediately be raised by the high part 258 of said cam and consequently valve 255 will be raised by said push rod to its uppermost position and held in said position through engagement of latch arm 255 with pin 255, as hereinbefore described, and the low part 259 of said cam will be disposed directly beneath the raised and latched push rod 254. In this raised position of valve 250 the fluid inlet port 235 will be closed to the port 231 by said valve, but said latter port and the port 238 will be in communication through bore 235 and valve stem 252. Under these conditions, the fluid previously admitted into the lower end of hydraulic cylinder 25 will be released, whereupon main elevator 25, due to its own weight, will drop rapidly and force piston 43 downwardly until the lower end of the latter contacts the bottom of the well in said cylinder. As piston 43 thus descends, the fluid in cylinder 45 will be forced therefrom by said piston back into the fluid supply tank I45 through passage I93, I92, port I9I, conduits I89, 245, port 231, bore 235 and port 238 in valve body 234, and conduits 241, 259, and I11, the resistance created by the fluid in so passing through said passage, ports, bore and conduits controlling the rapidity of the downward movement of main elevator 25.

When latch arm 266 releases push rod 254, as hereinafter described, and with the low part. 259 of cam 251 disposed directly beneath said push rod, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 5, valve 250 and push rod 254 will be lowered by spring ZBI until roller 255 drops into the low part 259 of cam 251. Valve 259 will then be disposed in its lowermost position wherein the port 238 in body 234 will be closed by said valve, and the fluid inlet port 236 will communicate with the port 231 through bore 235 in said body and the reduced portion 25I of valve 250. Under these conditions, the fluid under pressure forced into body 235 by pump I44 will flow continuously from said body through port 231 and into the lower end of hydraulic cylinder 45 through conduits 245, I89, port I9I and p a The fluid under pressure so forced into cylinder 45 acts on the lower end of piston 43 and rapidly raises said piston, whereupon main elevator 25 is rapidly raised thereby. This rapid raising of elevator 25 continues until valve 250 is again shifted to its intermediate position shown in Fig. 5 upon subsequent rotation of cam 251 one-half of a revolution from the broken line position to the full line position shown in said figure and engagement of the intermediate low part 260 thereof with roller 256. Thereupon valve 255 not only interrupts the flow of fluid under pressure into cylinder 45 to stop further upward movement of piston 43 and main elevator 25, but also prevents return flow of fluid from said cylinder and dropping of said elevator, as hereinbefore described.

The valve unit I5I (Figs. 4 and 5a) which is utilized to control the rapid and continuous raising and lowering movements of auxiliary elevator I21 comprises a body 258 that is bolted to the rear surface of plate I52 between the valve units I50 and I82. Body 258 is provided centrally thereof with a vertically extending cylindrical bore 259 (Fig. 5a) which communicates with two axially spaced ports 21!] and 21I that are formed in said body and open outwardly through the front side thereof. Bore 269 also communicates with a port 212 which is formed in body 288 at a point below port 21I and opens outwardly through the rear side of said body.

The T-fitting 252 (Fig. 5a) is threaded into body 258 through a suitable elongated opening 213 in plate I52 and communicates with the port 215 in said body whereby the fluid under pressure drawn from tank MI by pump I24 and entering fitting I12 will also be supplied to body 258 through conduit 243. Threaded into body 255 through opening 213 in plate I52 and communicating with the port 21! in said body is a fitting 214 having connected therewith one end of a conduit 215. The opposite end of this conduit 215 is connected with the T-fitting I96 (Figs. 1a and 2a) whereby the fluid under pressure forced into body 268 will be directed from said body to the hydraulic cylinder I35 for auxiliary elevator I21 through said conduit, .said fitting and conduit I91. The T-fitting 248 (Fig. 5a) is threaded into body 268 and communicates with the port 212 in said body whereby the return flow of fluid from hydraulic cylinder I35 will be directed to the fluid supply tank I40 through said fitting, conduit 249, fitt ng I16, and conduit I11.

Slidably mounted in the bore 269 of body 268 is a valve 215 (Fig. 5a) which is formed with a reduced portion 211 and with a stem 218 that projects downwardly through and beyond a suitable packing gland 219 adustably secured to said body at the lower end thereof. The projecting end of valve stem 218 engages the upper end of a push rod 286 (Figs. 4 and 5a) which is fitted for v reciprocation in the bracket I53 and projects above and below the latter. J ournalled on a pin 28I which is secured in and projects laterally from push rod 280 at the lower end thereof is a cam roller 282 adapted to engage a normally stationary earn 283 that is fixed on shaft 205. Cam 283 is formed to provide an abbreviated high part 284, an abbreviated low part 285, and a concentric intermediate low part 285 whereby valve 215 will occupy three axial positions with respect to body 258 upon rotation of said cam.

Valve 216 and push rod 280 are yieldingly urged downwardly by a coil compression spring 281 (Fig. 5a) which is disposed within a hollow flanged cap 288 bolted to the upper end of body 268, one end of said spring engaging against the upper wall of said cap and the opposite end engaging against the upper end of said valve. Push rod 280 is held against rotation relative to cam 283 by a screw 289 which is threaded into bracket I58 and has a reduced end that projects into an axially extending groove formed :in said push rod.

'Pivotally mounted at 264 :on ibracket I53 (Fig. a) and associated with push .rod 280 :is a bell crank latch consisting of a rearwardly extending arm 2% and a downwardly extending arm 29! provided at one edge and adjacent the lower end thereof with a notch 292. Notch 92 is adapted to receive therein the cam roller pin 28l when push rod 286 is raised through rotation of cam 283 and engagement of the high part 28 thereof with roller 282 and thus hold valve 216 in its raised uppermost position, and prevent said push rod from immediately lowering and following the low parts 285 andi286 of said cam.

In Figs. la and 2a, the auxiliary elevator 12'! is shown in full lines in its normal lowermost :plle loading position determined through engagement of the lower end of piston I33 with the bottom of the well therefor 'inhydraulic cylinder 135. Accordingly, valve H5 at this time is disposed in its raised uppermost position and :held in said position by latch 29!, as shown in Fig. 5a, and cam 283 is positioned, as shown in vfull lines :in said figure, wherein it will be noted that 'theil'ow part 2% thereof is disposed directly beneath the raised and latched push rod 28%, and that the high part 233 of said cam is located .less than 180 in advance of said low part. In this .normal raised position of -valve 21.6 it 'will be noted that the fluid inlet part 2118 in body 258 is closed to the port 2H by said valve, and that the latter port is in communication with the port :212 through the bore 26.? in said bodyand valve stem 278. Hence, fluid under pressure forced into body 268 by pump Hi4 through port 2'?!) cannot enter conduit .2l5 to effect actuation of .piston I33 in hydraulic cylinder l-36,and'the fluidpr eviously admitted into said cylinder is permittedt'o flow therefrom back to the fluid supply tank I40 through conduits .l9l, 2T5, body "268, and conduits 2&9, ill to enable lowering of auxiliary elevator I21 to .1oading'position.

When push rod 2% "is released by latch :arm 29!, 'as hereinafter described, and with the vlow part 285 of cam2283 disposed directly beneath said pushirod, as shown iniull lines in Fig. 5a, valve 27E and push rod .286 will be lowered by spring 28? until roller 282 drops into the low part 285 of cam 283. Valve 2'55 will then 'be disposed in its lowermost position wherein the port 212 in body 2% will be closed by said valve, and :the fluid inlet port 27% will communicate with the port 2' through bore 269 and the reduced portion 27! of valve 216. Under these conditions, the fluid under pressure forced into body 258 by pump Mt through port fi'lil'will flow-continuously from said'body through port 2-11 and into hydraulic cylinder let through conduit 1215, .fitting 196, and conduit 197. The fluid under pressure so forced into cylinder I35 acts'on the .lowerend of piston I33 and rapidly raises :said piston, whereupon auxiliary elevator Hi and the new :pile of sheets thereon are rapidly raised thereby.

Raising of the auxiliary elevator i2] with the new pile of sheets thereon, as aforesaid, -.continues until cam :233 is rotated one-half .of a revolution in the direction of the arrow from the full line position to the broken line position shown in Fig. 5a, at which time roller 282 .on push rod 2% will immediately ride out of the low part .285 of cam 283 and onto the intermediate low part 2% thereof. Push rod 280 will then be actuated to raise valve "216 to its intermediate position wherein the port 2H in body 268 will be closed by said valve. Thereupon, the flow of fluid under pressure into hydraulic cylinder [36 through conduits 2515,, I191 will be interrupted to step further upward movement of piston lBS-and-auXiliary elevator IZL'and the fluid admitted into said cylinder will be trapped therein and cannot flow therefrom through said conduits, thus holding auxiliary elevator [2? with the new pile of sheets thereon in elevated position and against dropping. It will be noted that since the :high part 284 of cam 283 is located less than 180 in advance -iof the low part 255 thereof, said high part will not engage roller 282 on push rod 283 when said cam is rotated one-half of a revolution :in the direction of the arrow from the full line position to the broken line position shown in Fig. 5a, but will be disposed :in close proximity to said roller, as shown in broken lines in said figure.

Accordingly, upon subsequent rotation of cam 2-83 one-half of a revolution in the direction :of the arrow from the broken line position to the full line position shown in le' ig. :5a, the high part 2'84 of said cam will immediately engage roller 282 and actuate push rod 283 "and then move beyond said roller and push iro'd, whereupon valve Zlfi will be raised to its uppermost position and push rod 2% will be engaged by latch arm 29!, as shown in Fig. 5a, to :hold said valve in said position and prevent 'said push rod from immediately lowering and following the low parts 283 and 28 5of-cam 2-83. Communication will then be established between ports 21! and 212 to release the fiuid previously admitted into cylinder i 33, whereupon auxiliary elevator I27, due to its own wei ht, will rapidly drop by gravity and force piston I'Zdiownwardlyuntil the lower end of the latter contacts the bottom of the well therefor in said cylinder. As piston 133 thus descends, the fluid in cylinder its will be forced therefrom by said piston back into the fluid supply tank l it through conduit till, fitting T25, conduit 2-?5, body 258, fitting E58, conduit 2&9, fitting i l-t, and conduit ll-l, the resistance created by the fluid in so passing through said fittings, conduits antibody controlling the rapidity of the downward movement of auxiliary e'levator 1'21.

The here'inb'efore described operations of valves 199, 25B, and 216, and the rotation of control cams "2GB, 25?, and 283 at certain intervals is e'fie'cted "automatically and controlled by mechanism preferably constructed, mounted, and operated as follows. Bolted or otherwise suitably secured "to the inner surface of the feeder side frame member [-5 is a bracket 3'99 (Figs. la and 3a) "provided with a boss at! having -a suitable opening therein to -slid'ablytreceivetthe upper end of a 'rod 692. The lower end of red .3112 :is sli'dablymounted in "aibracket 3% (Figs. 1a and .4) which is bolted to the inner surface of the side frame member i5. Fixed on red 1392 adjacent the llower end thereof is an arm .364 which extends inwardly and downwardly at an :angle from said rod and is adapted i engage the rearwardly projecting :arms $2.65 and L296 of :the bell .crank :latches :associated wtih the push Erods '25'4 and 280, respectively. Arm 39 i is held against rotation relative to latch arms 265, 299 by a bifurcated arm 335 (Fig. 4) which is formed integrally with bracket 333 and extends upwardly and inwardly therefrom to receive arm 3%. Rod 332 and arm 33d thereon are yieldingly urged upwardly by suitable resilient means, such as a coil compression spring 333 surrounding said rod and having one end engaging against said arm and the opposite end engaging against bracket 393. Upward movement of rod 332 and arm 334 by spring 396 is limited by a stop collar 39'! adjustably secured to the lower projecting end of said rod.

Pivotally mounted at 308 on bracket 399 is a bell crank trip lever 309 having a forwardly extending arm 3!!! and an upwardly and rearwardly curved arm 3 (Figs. 1a and 3a). Trip arm 3H! has journalled thereon a roller 3l2 engaged with the upper projecting end of rod 332, and trip arm 3! I has journalled thereon a roller 313 adapted to be engaged by one arm 3M of a bell crank control lever 315 carried by the main elevator 25 for vertical movement therewith, the other arm of said lever being indicated at 3H5. Control lever 3l3 is disposed adjacent the inner surface of the vertical bar 38 of the upright rectangular frame of main elevator 25, and is pivotally mounted at 351 on said bar. Arms 3 I l, 3 i 6 of control lever 3l5 are so proportioned that when said lever is in the normal full line position shown in Fig. la, arm 3M will project beyond the front edge of bar 38, and when said lever is swung to the broken line position shown in said figure, arm 316 will project beyond the rear edge of said bar for a purpose to appear hereafter. Arm 3H3 of control lever 315 normally rests against the lower shoulder 3H3 of a relatively wide recess 3l9 milled in the inner surface of bar 33. Arm 3H5 is yieldingly held in engagement with shoulder M8 by a light pull spring 329 having one end connected with said arm and the opposite end connected with bar 33 at a point rearwardly of the pivot 3 i 1.

Control lever 3&5 is so located on bar 33 that the arm 3M thereof, through step by step up- Ward movement of main elevator 25, will engage the roller 3i3 on trip lever 399 and swing the latter in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. la, before the pile of sheets on the fingers 26 of said elevator is completely exhausted through feeding of the sheets one after another from the top thereof, as will be hereinafter explained more in detail in connection with the description of the operations of main and auxiliary elevators 25 and I27, respectively. It might be mentioned at this time that this actuation of lever 399 forces rod 332 and arm 3B5 thereon downwardly and, hence, causes said arm to release latch 29! from push rod 289 and effect rapid raising of auxiliary elevator i2! and the new pile of sheets thereon, as hereinbefore described.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured at 32! to the outer surface of rack bar 32 of the carriage supporting the fingers 26 of main elevator 25 is a control member in the form of a block 322 (Figs. 1a and 3a). This control block 322 is also adapted to engage the roller 3I3 on trip lever 399 and swing the latter in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1a, to again actuate rod 302 at a time when the pile supporting fingers 25 of main elevator 25 are advanced from retracted position into pile supporting position at the lowermost position of said elevator, as also will be hereinafter explained more in detail in connection with the description of the operations of the main and auxiliary elevators 25 and I21, respectively. It might be mentioned at this time that this actuation of rod 302 causes the arm 33!; thereon to release latch 233 from push rod 253 and effect rapid raising of main elevator 25, as hereinbefore described.

The operations of rod 392 by trip lever 309 under the control of the main elevator 25 and the control members 3l5 and 322 thereon having been described, the mechanism for effecting and controlling the rotation of cam shaft 206 and cams 295, 251, and 233 thereon at certain intervals will now be described.

Fixed on cam shaft 289 is a sprocket 323 (Figs. 1a, 2a, and 4) around which passes a chain 324 that extends towards the rear of the feeder and passes around a smaller sprocket 325 (Fig. 8). The lower reach of chain 324 passes over an idler chain tightening sprocket 326 (Figs. la and 2a) journalled on an arm 32W which is adjustably secured on a pin 328. i he latter is fixed in a bracket 329 bolted to base plate ll. Sprockets 323 and 325 are so proportioned to have a ratio of 2:1, 1. e., one revolution of sprocket 323 to two revolutions of sprocket 325, or one-half of a revolution of sprocket 323 to one revolution of sprocket 325.

Sprocket 325 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a disk 339 (Figs. 2 and 8) which is provided on its periphery with a single tooth 33!. Disk 339 forms a part of a friction slip-clutch 332 that is mounted on the shaft 56 which, as hereinbefore described, is rotated continuously in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) by the chain 5! and sprocket 52. Clutch 332 is the same in construction as the clutch 62 on shaft 59, and comprises a cup-shaped member 333 loosely mounted on shaft 56 and having the disk 339 secured thereto or formed as an integral part thereof. Disposed within clutch member 333 and suitably connected with shaft 56 for rotation thereby and axial movement relative thereto is a series of metal disks 333 which, through the medium of axially movable leather disks 335, frictionally drive similar axially movable metal disks 333 that are suitably connected with said clutch member. Disks 334, 335, and 333 are retained in frictional driving contact with each other by a coil compression spring 331 surrounding shaft 55 and having one end engaging a collar 338 secured to said shaft and the opposite end engaging the outermost driving disk 334. A collar 339 secured to shaft 56 between the sprockets 32 and 325 holds clutch member 333 against axial displacement on said shaft. It will thus appear that cam shaft 293 is rotated by the continuously driven shaft 56 through the gezcribed connections including the slip-clutch The tooth 33! on disk 339 is normally engaged by the upper hooked end of a latch 348 (Figs. 2 and 8) to normally hold cam shaft 235 stationary with the cams 2E5, 251, and 283 thereon in their normal full line positions shown in Figs. 2a, 3, and 5a. Engagement of latch 349 with disk 339 holds sprocket 325 against rotation by shaft 56, but this does not affect the operation of shafts 23, 53, and 59 due to the slip-clutch connection 332 between said sprocket and shaft 56. Latch 340 is pivotally mounted at 3M on a bracket 342 bolted to base plate H, and is yieldingly urged towards disk 330 by a spring-pressed plunger 343 disposed within a container 3454 secured to said bracket. Plunger 343 projects from container 34-!- through a suitable opening, in bracket 34.2 intoengagement with latch 340. The spring for plunger 343 is indicated at 34.5. and surrounds said plunger between a flange thereon and; container 344. Bracket 34:2 has portions thereof removed to provide clearance for the lower reach of chain 324-.

Pivotally: connected at 3&5 with latch 540 is one end of a link 3d? the: opposite end, of which is pivotally connected at 348 with the movable core 34% of a solenoid 3.59 (Figs. 2 and 8).. When solenoid 359; is energized, as. hereinafter described, core 3% will be drawn forwardly or toward the right (Fig. 2) and, hence, latch, 349 through the described connections therefor with said. core will be,- swung about its. pivot 34.! out of engagement with the tooth 33.! on disk 330 whereupon the latter and sprocket 325 will be released to. efiect rotation of, cam shaft 295 in the direction of the arrow indicated in. Fig. 2a, When solenoid see isde-energized which occurs immediately after disk 3-33 is released, as. aforesaid, core 349 and latch 3st will be returned to their original positions. by plunge-r 343 so. that said; latch will be disposed in the path of rotation of the tooth 33:! on disk 3-30 to engage said tooth and stop said disk and sprocket 325 after onecomplete revolution thereof resulting in stopping of the cam shaft. 20%;. after itv has. made one-half of a revolution.

Bolted to the base plate I? in close proximity to crank diskv 12 is a normally open electrical switch 35! (Figs. 1 and 8) of a well-known design and comprising a box 352 provided therein with a pair of laterally spaced stationary con.- tacts. 3513, one only being shown, and a movable contact 354 which bridges or closes the circuit between. said pair of. spaced contacts. The movable contact 35 is carried by a pin 355 which is iournalled inv box 552- and projects outwardly therefrom. Secured to the outwardly projecting end of pin- 355- is anoverbalanced arm 356 having: journalled thereon a roller 351 which rides against the periphery of crank disk '52. Arm 355 tends to swing in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in- Eig. 1, under the weight thereof and thus maintains roller 351 in engagement with the periphery of crank disk i2, and holds contact 354 out of engagement with contacts 353. One of the stationary contacts 353 and solenoid 359 have connected therewith lead wires 558 and, 559, respectively, which are connected with a suitable source of electrical current. The other stationary contact 353- and solenoid tea are connected together by a lead wire 335 so that when contact iii iv is loweredv into engagement with both of the spaced stationary contacts the electrical circuit tosolenoid 359 will: be completed.

Crank disk '52 is provided on its periphery with an abbreviated cam {idl which may be formed integrally with said disk but, as herein shown, is: in, the form of a block bolted orotherwise suitaoly secured thereto. Cam 361- is adapted to engage roller; 357i and operate switch arm 355 upon rotation of crank disk 12 in the direction of the; arrow indicated in Fig. 1, said cam being so located on saiddisk in advance of the. crank pin it that said, operation. of switch arm 355. will occur just prior to completion of one-half of a revolution of crank disk 72'.

It will thus appear that; when crank. disk '52 is rotated one-half of a revolution in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1-) to move crank. pin '33 from, the full line position to. the broken line position thereof, shown in said. figure and there.- by efiect retraction of the pile supporting fingers 2.6- of main elevator 25. from pile supporting position, as hereinbefore described, cam 35! will engage roller 35?, for a short interval and move switch arm 355.. downwardly, and then move slightly beyond said roller and release the latter and. arm 356' just before the crank disk 12 is stopped and the fingers 26. are fully retracted. Under these conditions, the switch contact 354 is lowered by arm 355. into engagement with the stationary contacts 3.5.3 to complete the electrical circuit to solenoid 35!} through lead wire 368, and then raised by said arm, out of engagement with said stationary contacts to break the electrical circuit to said; solenoid. Hence, so.- lenoid 350; will. be. energized long enough to effect disengagement of latch 34.0 from the tooth 33! on disk. 33!] and release sprocket 325, for rotation by shaft 56, and then ole-energized to permit said latch to ret rn to its original position and re-engage said tooth after one complete revolution of disk 33.0. v

Thus, as. the pile supporting fingers 2.6 approach their rearmost retracted position, switch 35!- is closed by cam 35!, whereupon cam shaft 265 is rotated one-half of a. revolution in the direction of the arrow, indicated in Figs. 2a, 5, and 5a, to move cams. 20.5., 251, and 283. from their full line. positions to their broken line positionsshown. in said figures and thereby effect lowering of main elevator 25 with the fingers 26 thereof in retracted position, holding of auxiliary elevator I21 with. thenew pile of sheets thereon, together with the, remainder of a preceding pile, in, raised position, and transfer of the intermittent or step by step operation under the control of the pile governor 224 from the main. elevator 25, to. the auxiliary elevator I21, as hereinbefore described and will be further explained, hereinafter in connection with, the description of the operations of main elevator and auxiliary elevator 25 and I21, respectively.

It will be understood. that other ways and mean may be employed in connection with the retractible pile supporting fingers 26 or any part ofthe operating; mechanism therefor for effecting disengagement of latch 34!) from disk 339 and rotation. of cam shaft 286 upon retraction of said fingers.

Carried by and movable with auxiliary elevator 121. is, a double-armed trip lever 562, one arm 36,3, of which is inclined downwardly and rearwardly, and the other arm, 364 of which is inclined upwardly and rearwardly and also. offset laterally from arm 363. (Figs. 1a and 3a.)... Lever 55.2 is pivotally mounted on a. stud 355 which projects through; a vertical slot 3% formed in the vertical bar H28 of auxiliary elevator !2!.- at the end thereof facing the feeder side frame. member !-5. Slot 356 provides for vertical adjustment of lever 352 relative to elevator bar I28, said lever being secured in adjusted positions; on said bar by a nut 357 threaded. on stud 355. Arms 353., 3540f lever 3&2 are of the same length and inclination and each have journalled thereon. at the free ends. thereof rollers 3,686 and 359 respectively. Threaded into elevator bar L25 is an adjustable screw or stop member 3,"!!! which is engaged by lever 352 and: holds the latter against pivotal downward movement about stud- 565 and in; a position. such that the rollers 3.53, 3.59: are. normally disposed in. the same vertical plane, as shown in Fig. 1a.

Roller 368 on. trip. arm 363 is engaged with

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