US2657048A

US2657048A - Material handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2657048A
Application number: US165297A
Authority: US
Inventors: August A Saul
Original assignee: MILLER PRINTING MACHINERY Co
Current assignee: MILLER PRINTING MACHINERY Co
Priority date: 1950-05-31
Filing date: 1950-05-31
Publication date: 1953-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 1970-10-27

Description

0a. 27, 1953 SAUL 2,657,048

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 51, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 27, 1953 A. A. SAUL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed May 31. 1950 INVENTOR Aueus'r A. SAUL FIIIL Ilulll N Mm Oct. 27, 1953 A. A. SAUL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR AUGUST A. SAUL.

Oct. 27, 1953 A. A. SAUL 2,657,048

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 51. 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR AUGUST A.SAUL

Oct. 27, 1953 SAUL 2,657,048

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 51, 1950 7 Sheets-$heet 5 INVENTOR AUGUST A. SAUL Get. 27, 1953 SAUL 2,657,048

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 51, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR AUGUST A. SAUL Oct.27, 1953 SAUL 2,657,048

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 31. 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I 31 .10; T :9? &9?

INVENTOR AUGUST A.SAUL.

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 2,657,048 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS August A. Saul,

Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to Miller Printing Machinery 00., Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Application May 31, 1950, Serial No. 165,297

53 Claims.

This invention relates to material handling apparatus. It has to do with certain structural features of material handling apparatus having advantages in. utility, economy and simplicity of operation.

In its broader aspects my invention is applicable to materialhandling apparatus generally. I have utilized the invention in the feeding of sheets to presses and in certain of its narrower aspects the invention has especial utility in presses and feeders therefor.

For purposes of explanation and illustration I shall describe the invention in. relation to its embodiment in a feeder for presses.

The particular feeder in which the invention is disclosed as being embodied is a sheet feeder for delivering sheets sequentially to a cylinder, as to the impression cylinder of a flat bed and cylinder type printing or cutting and creasing press. In such a press sheets are delivered along a feed board to the cylinder where they are taken by grippers on the cylinder, each sheet in turn being carried by the cylinder through one revolution thereof during which it is pressed against the form on the bed. The sheet is then removed from the cylinder and delivered to a pile.

The sheets being fed are supplied in a pile in the feeder. Sheets are taken one by one from the top of the pile and. delivered along the feed board to the cylinder as above described. The feeder herein disclosed is of the type in which the sheets are taken one by one from the top of the pile by suction fingers. Those suction fingers deliver each sheet to a second set of suction fingers which moves the sheet forward along the feed board to a position intermediate the ends of the feed board. When the sheet reaches the intermediate position it is released by the second set of suction fingers and held temporarily on the feed board by suction. The second set of suction fingers is then retracted to pick up the succeed ing sheet and a third set of suction fingers takes the sheet from its intermediate position on the feed board and delivers it into registry with the cylinder whence it is taken by the cylinder grippers. The two sets of. suction fingers operating on the feed board .(i. e., the second and third sets above referred to) may be mountedon a common carriage oscillatable along the feed board so that they automatically operate in synchronism when one of those sets of suction fingers is feeding a sheet from the suction fingers which. remove it from the top of the pile to the intermediate position on the feed board the other thereof is feeding the preceding sheet along the feed board from the intermediate position to the position of re istry with the cylinder. Side registering means are provided for insuring proper side registry of the sheets.

As sheets are taken from the top of the pile in the feeder that pil'e becomes shorter and to compensate for the gradual reduction in the height'of the pile the pile is moved upwardly step by step.

The upward movement of the pile must be properly regulated to insure that the top of the pile is always at the proper height. This is done by what is known in the art as a pile governor.

It is difficult or impossible to work on the form or the cylinder or, indeed, any of the mechanism located generally beneath the feed board when the latter is in operative position. Hence it is known in the art to move the feed board to inoperative or relatively out of the way position when such work is to be done. Feed boards used in feeders of the type above referred to have generally been pivoted at the end thereof remote from the cylinder. Because feed boards have been so pivoted it has generally been necessary, due to the mass of the feed board and the mechanism carried thereby and the power required to move the feed board between operative and inoperative positions, to employ mechanism providing great mechanical advantage for effecting the movement. The mechanism heretofore generally employed has included a manually operable crank turning a worm meshing with a worm wheel connected with the feed board so that when the crank is turned the feed board is swung up or down very slowly. Valuable time is wasted and unnecessary energy is expended. It may be necessary to move the feed board between operative and inoperative positions a considerable number of times in making ready a form for printing or cutting and creasing and if the feed board has to be laboriously cranked back and forth each time the working efficiency of the apparatus is greatly reduced.

Sometimes whenparticular work is to be done inside the press it is not sufiicient to simply move the feed board to inoperative position; it may be desired to move the entire feeder to out of the way position. It has heretofore been customary to connect the feeder to the press frame by a vertical pivot so that the entire feeder can be swung horizontally between opera-tive position in relation to the press and inoperative position whenthe pressand the inside of the feeder are laid wide open for access. Such mounting of the feeder has posed problems in driving the feeder carriage and the pile governor. Driving mechanism has heretofore been employed which either has been subject to disconnection when the feeder is swung out to inoperative position or has been unduly complex and expensive or both. Generally the driving mechanism for the feeder carriage and the pile governor has included separ "ble connections from the press drive which are disconnected each time the feeder is swung out to inoperative position and reconnected each time the feeder is swung back to operative position with consequent wear on the parts due to friction and impact.

The mechanism heretofore employed i erating the pile governor has been unduly complex and expensive. It has included, in addition to an individual separable driving connection sheets in the feeder and for operating the pile elevator with control means interposed between such separate means activating the pile elevator when the feeler descends a predetermined distance'. This has entailed duplication of parts. The pile elevator drive has included a ratchet and a pawl cooperating with the ratchet, the pawl being stationary except when it is activated by the feeler. Provision for activating the pawl under such circumstances has necessitated the employment of unduly complicated mechanism including an undue number of parts. Moreover, the feeler operating mechanism has been undesirably complex and has involved the continual oscillation of parts of considerable mass.

I have devised material handling apparatus which may be embodied in a feeder of the general type above referred to but which is l-arge1y new in construction and which solves certain of the above mentioned problems. Other of the above mentioned problems have been solved by Andrew Neuhart whose application Serial No. 165,146 was filed of even date with this applica tion. The Neuhart application and this appli- V cation disclose the same feeder because the improvements which I have made and those which Mr. Neuhart has made mutually cooperate with each other, but my improvements are claimed in this application while those made by Mr. Neuhart are claimed in his application.

I provide for rapid easy movement of the feed board between operative and inoperative positions. I provide greatly simplified but at the same time rugged and effective driving mechanism so that I can manufacture at greatly reduced cost a feeder accomplishing all the functions of prior feeders of the type in question and, indeed, accomplishing some of those functions in superior manner.

I preferably mount the feed board for pivotal movement about its mid-portion. In apparatus in which the impression cylinder is mounted about a horizontal axis the feed board when operative is disposed generally horizontally with the discharge end thereof adjacent the cylinder near the top thereof. I preferably provide a cross shaft extending transversely of the apparatus parallel to the cylinder shaft and I mount the feed board to turn about the axis of that shaft. As above indicated, the axis of turning of the feed board is preferably at the mid-portion of the feed board. By mid-portion I mean the portion of the feed board removed from both ends; I do not necessarily mean the longitudinal center of the feed board, indeed, the feed board is normally mounted so that when it is in operative position it has more of its mass disposed at one side or" the axis of the horizontal pivot about which it turns than at the other side. However, when the feed board is pivoted at its mid-portion it is not greatly overbalanced and may easily be turned manually between generally horizontal operative position and more nearly vertical inoperative position in which the bed and portions of the interior mechanism of the press are made available to the pressman. The result can be accomplished by tilting the feed board to an angle of in the neighborhood of 45 to the horizontal. I preferably provide means including spring means acting on the feed board assisting in raising the side thereof at which the greater mass is disposed when the feed board is 4 manually turned from operative to inoperative position. Such means also cushions the return of the feed board from inoperative to operative position. I provide means for locking the feed board in operative position and means for latching it in inoperative position. By mounting the feed board to pivot about its mid-portion and eliminating cranking and similar mechanism for moving it such as has heretofore been employed I provide for virtually instantaneous manual movement of the feed board between generally horizontal operative position and more nearly vertical inoperative position. The means for locking the feed board in operative position may be released, the feed board may in a single rapid manually effected motion be swung up and by a simple latch device the feed board may be latched in inoperative position while the form is being worked on. When the work is completed the latch may be released, the feed board may be instantaneously swung back to operative position and the feed board may be locked in place ready for operation.

As above mentioned the carriage which embodies the means for moving the sheets along the feed board is mounted on and oscillates along the feed board. It is convenient and desirable to effect oscillation of the carriage by oscillating the shaft about whose axis the feed board is pivoted. The osciilating shaft may carry suitable driving means such as pinions meshing with rack on the feed board, or a single pinion and rack drive may suflice. I provide for insuring against driving of the carriage along the feed board except when the feed board is locked in operative position. I provide an operating member for operating the lock which locks the feed board in operative position and I provide mechanism connected with and operated by that member in an unlocking movement which renders inoperative the driving means for the carriage. At the same time I preferably provide another connection from the operating member which moves into the of the carriage a stop device limiting movement of the carriage toward the feeder end of the apparatus when the feed board is tilted to inoperative position; otherwise the carriage might strike the pile of sheets. I preferably provide a generally hook-shaped stop memher which when the feed board is unlocked from operative position moves generally parallel to the direction of movement of the carriage into position to intercept the carriage if through gravity it should upon tilting of the feed board tend to move toward the feeder pile. Desirably the hook is a resilient hook which resiliently holds a portion of the carriage so that once the carriage has become engaged with the hook it is held against substantial movement in either direction until either the feed board is locked in operative position or the pressman positively moves the carriage toward the cylinder so that it is disengaged from the resilient hook.

I provide novel and simplified driving mechanism for the feeder carriage, a portion of which driving mechanism may be employed for operating the pile governor. I preferably mount upon the vertical pivot which pivotally connects the feeder to the press frame an operating member which is adapted to oscillate vertically along that pivot. Oscillation is effected by a crank device operated from the main press drive. The operating member may be in the form or" a sleeve disposed about the vertical pivot. I provide a connection between that sleeve and a driving memher in the feeder, which connection is maintained at all times regardless of whether the feeder is swung to open position about the vertical pivot and regardless of whether the feed board is swung to inoperative position about its horizontal pivot. For example, the sleeve may carry at its outer surface a transversely curved rack and a driving pinion may be mounted on the feeder which is at all times in mesh with that rack. The pinion may swing about the axis of the vertical pivot when the feeder is swung out to open position and swung back again to closed position, remaining always in mesh with the rack. For strength and simplicity I prefer to employ a circular rack so that the rack itself in effect forms the sleeve surrounding the vertical pivot. The driving pinion is preferably loosely mounted on the cross shaft about which the feed board pivots in movement between operative and inoperative positions. Means are provided for moving that pinion axially of the shaft between a position in which it turns freely on the shaft and a position in which it engages the shaft and causes the shaft to turn with it. For example, I may mount fixedly on the shaft an inside gear and move the pinion into and out of mesh with the inside gear, the inside gear and pinion forming a disconnectable posi tive drive connection. To insure proper timing of the parts I may provide a pin on the pinion or gear projecting toward the other thereof which rides around until it enters a socket, thus interengaging the pinion with the inside gear in proper timed relationship.

Preferably the shaft on which the driving pinion is disposed fixedly carries a pinion or pinions meshing with a rack or racks on the carriage which oscillates along the feed board, as above suggested. Preferably the driving pinion is resiliently urged into operative position, i. e., into mesh with the inside gear whereby to oscillate the shaft and hence oscillate the carriage on the feed board. The operating member which looks the feed board in operative poistion preferably has connected therewith means moving the driving pinion to inoperative position against the spring action when the feed board is unlocked preparatory to swinging it to its inoperative posi-- tion. When the feed board is swung baclr to operative position and locked in that position the driving pinion is released so that the spring means returns it to operative position for oscillating the carriage.

As mentioned above, side registering means are provided for insuring proper side registry of the sheets as they are presented to the cylinder grippers. Side registering means are commonly employed in sheet feeders. I provide a simplified and improved operating mechanism for the side registering or side guiding means effectively operating such means without utilization of complex mechanism heretofore employed. The side guiding means are oscillated transversely of the direction of advance of the sheets in synchronismwith the oscillation of the carriage. I preferably provide a connection from the oscillatable horizontal shaft about which the carriage is pivoted for oscillating the side, guiding means. The connec tion may include rotary cam means on the shaft. Desirably I provide a cam groove in a side face of a pinion keyed to the shaft meshing with a rack on the bottom of the carriage for oscillating thecarriage along the feed board, a cam follower operating in the cam groove and a connection from the cam follower to the side guiding means whereby the side guiding means are oscillated transversely of the direction of advance of the sheets in synchronism with the oscillation of the carriage.

other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure 1 is an elevational view from the operators side of a sheet feeder applied to a printing press, portions of the feeder and press not form ing part of the invention claimed being cut away:

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1 but viewed from the gear side of the press;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevational view of a portion of the structure Shown in Figure 2, the feed board being shown in operative position;

Figure 3a is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the feed board in inoperative position;

Figure 4. is an enlarged fragmentary detail vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1 and taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the structure;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line VIVI of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a more or less diagrammaticfragmentary elevational view showing the feed board in operative and inoperative positions;

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on the line VIE-VIII of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the structure;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 9 and Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line XI--XI of Figure 10.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown apparatus comprising a printing press designated generally by reference numeral 2 and a sheet feeder for feeding sheets one by one to the printing press, the feeder be ing designated generally by reference numeral .3. The press as shown is of the horizontal flat bed and cylinder type; the press itself may be conventional. The press frame is designated by reference numeral 4 and is mounted in stationary position. The impression cylinder is shown diagrammatically at 5. The impression cylinder turns in the counterclockwise direction viewing Figure 1 and is provided with cylinder grippers for taking one by one the sheets fed thereto by the feeder, each sheet being carried by the impression cylinder for one revolution during which it is pressed against the printing form on the oscillating bed as well known to those skilled in theart. The printed sheet is delivered from the cylinder toward the left viewing Figure 1 in well known manner. Since the present invention is concerned with material handling apparatus illustrated herein as being embodied in a sheet feeder there is no need of showing details of the press and delivery structures and such details have been omitted.

The feeder 3 comprises a frame 6 which carries all the parts of the feeder proper. The feeder frame 6 is pivoted to the press frame 4 by a vertical pivot "I, such pivoting of a feeder frame to a press frame being well known to those skilled in the art. The pivot 7 in the present case preferably comprises a cylindrical shaft disposed in vertical position and carried by the press frame, the feeder frame having trunnions 8 through which the shaft 1 passes so that the feeder frame may pivot about the shaft 1 by turning of the trunnions 8 on the shaft. The drawings show only the upper portion of the feeder and hence show only the upper trunnion 8. There is also a cooperating lower trunnion carried by the feeder frame '5 through which the shaft 1 passes near the bottom of the feeder.

The shaft 1 is disposed at one side of the press frame, the side at which it is disposed being known to those skilled in the art as the gear side. The opposite side is known as the operators side.

By reason of the pivotal mounting of the feeder upon the press the feeder can be swung laterally to inoperative position about the pivot 1 so as to provide access to the form on the press bed and to the internal portions of the press and feeder. As above indicated, the general type of mounting of the feeder on the press is well known to those skilled in the art. The feeder is maintained in proper elevation relatively to the press by reason of the fact that each of the feeder trunnions 8 bears upon a stationary portion 9 of the press frame. Thus the entire feeder may move as a unit about the axis of the pivot l and while so moving remains in fixed vertical position.

The feeder frame 6 has opposed projecting portions Iii in each of which is disposed a flanged bushing Ilia fastened to the portions H) by screws lflb passing through the bushing flanges. A cross shaft H is journaled in the bushings liia. The cross shaft ll performs an important part in the functioning of the feeder, serving together with the bushings Illa as the horizontal pivot for the feed board and also serving to drive the oscillating carriage along the feed board as will presently be described. The feed board is designated generally by reference numeral [2 and has bearing portions or hubs [2a somewhat offset downwardly, viewing Figures 1 and 6, from the general plane of the feed board through which the bushings Ida and the cross shaft i i pass whereby the feed board is pivoted to the feeder frame 6 at I the portions l thereof for turning movement about the axis of the horizontal cross shaft H.

The feed board If is pivoted to the cross shaft H at its mid-portion, i. e., at the portion of the feed board removed from both ends. The feed board is pivoted to the cross shaft near enough to the longitudinal center of the feed board so that, while it will not ordinarily be exactly balanced about the axis of the shaft Ii, it may without great physical effort be turned about the axis of the shaft by the operator or pressman. This may be done manually by taking hold of the feed board and turning it about the axis of the cross shaft. The turning is a virtually instantaneous movement whose accomplishment does not require cranking or operation of any other mechanism. In Figure 7 the feed board is shown in operative position in solid lines and in inoperative position in chain lines, In the other figures except Figure 3a it is shown in operative position; in Figure 3a it is shown in inoperative position. There are two reasons for turning the feed board to the inoperative or chain line position shown in Figure 7. One reason is to permit limited access .to the form on the press bed and to the inside of the press. The other reason is to permit dis= engagement of the feed board from the press when it is desired to swing the feeder as a whole about the vertical pivot 1 to inoperative out of the way position to permit full access to the form on the press bed and to the interior of the press and feeder. When the feed board I2 is in operative position its left-hand end viewing Figure l engages the press as will presently appear, so the feed board should be moved to the more nearly vertical inoperative position shown in chain lines in Figure 7 when the feeder is to be swung about the vertical pivot 1 to inoperative position.

The feed board when in its generally horizontal operative position has somewhat more of its mass disposed to the left of the axis of the shaft 1 viewing Figure 1 than to the right of such axis; hence the feed board is somewhat overbalanced so that its normal tendency is to turn in the counterclockwise direction about the axis of the shaft ll viewing Figure 1. The amount by which it is out of balance is not great enough to impose great difficulty in manual turning of the feed board between operative and inoperative positions. Nevertheless it is desirable to employ means acting on the feed board assisting in raising the heavier end thereof when the feed board is turned from operative to inoperative position and cushioning the return of the feed board from inoperative to operative position. Pivoted to each of the opposed downwardly projecting portions of the feed board at I227 is a rod which passes through a guiding bore lid in a stud [2e pivoted to the inside of the corresponding feeder frame portion ID as shown in Figure l. A compression coil spring [2f is disposed between the connection of each rod I20 to the feed board and the stud 12c. When the feed board is in operative position the springs [2 are compressed. When the feed board is turned about the axis of the shaft I i to inoperative position the springs 12 counteract to a desired extent the overbalance of the feed board and facilitate the turning. As the feed board approaches vertical position the overbalance diminishes as does also the effect of the springs [2f since by reason of the fact that the pivots [2b are moving generally toward the left viewing Figure 1 away from the studs [26 the springs I2 are allowed to expand. When the feed board is turned back from inoperative to operative position the springs l2 cushion its movement, becoming progressively mor and more effective as the feed board nears operative position until they attain their maximum eifectiveness when operative position is reached.

The feed board has near its end which cooperates with the impression cylinder 5 lugs [2g threadedly receiving screws iZ-h, each of which is maintained in desired adjusted position by a nut Hi. The screws 12h project from the bottoms of the lugs 12g and when the feed board settles into operative position enter sockets 29 formed to receive them in the press frame. The screws i2h thus accurately position the feed board relatively to the press frame and hence relatively to the impression cylinder and cooperate with the locking means presently to be described to maintain the feed board accurately positioned. By reason of their entry into the sockets I27 the screws prevent undesired lateral movement or skewing of the feed board.

A carriage is carried by and oscillates along the feed board to effect the feeding of sheets one by one to the impression cylinder 5. The carriage itself may be conventional. It is shown in the drawings at l3 but is not illustrated in detail because the specific mechanism of the carriage does not constitute the present invention. The carriage mounted in guides on the feed board to oscillate back and forth along the feed board generally in the plane of the feed board as known to those skilled in the art. The carriage has on its bottom two downwardly facing racks 14 each meshing with a pinion l fastened to the shaft l I. The racks M are positioned at opposite sides of and preferably substantially equidistant from the center line of the carriage. Means presently to be described are provided for oscillating the shaft 1 l and since each pinion I5 is fixed to the shaft H and must turn therewith and is at all times in mesh with the corresponding rack l4 oscillation of the shaft I l causes oscillatory movement of the carriage l3 along the feed board.

The carria e I3 is equipped with means well known to those skilled in the art for advancing sheets one by one along the feed board from the top of the pile of sheets in the feeder to the impression cylinder where each sheet is side and front registered to the impression cylinder and taken from registry by the cylinder grippers. All this is standard feeder structure and hence is not shown in detail. An effort has been made to eliminate from the drawings as many parts as possible which do not constitute the invention herein claimed. The means on the carriag for advancing the sheets one by one along the feed board may be pneumatic means. For example, there may be two sets of suckers on the carriage, one at each end of the carriage. The set of suckers at the feeder end of the carriage may take a sheet from other suckers which lift it from the top of the pile and upon movement of the carriage toward the impression cylinder feed that sheet to a position about half way along the feed board where the sheet may be released by the suckers on the carriage and retained by stationary suckers in the feed table [21c which is the sheet supporting portion of the feed board. The carriage may then move back toward the feeder end of the feed board and upon the succeeding motion toward the impression cylinder the suckers on the end of the carriage nearer the impression cylinder may take the sheet from its intermediate position on the feed table and deliver it to a point of registry at the front or cylinder end of the feed board; after the sheet is front and side registered the sheet is taken from the feed board by the cylinder grippers. This type of sheet handling in a sheet feeder is known to those skilled in the art.

A manually operated latch pin It is provided in the feeder frame 5 at the operators side to hold the feed board in uptilted or inoperative position as shown chain lines in Figure 7. The latch pin may he spring pressed inwardly so that when the feed board moves to inoperative position a cam on the feed board may depress the pin outwardly until a portion of the feed board has passed the pin. whereupon the pin may be res leased to be projected inwardly by its spring to positively hold the feed board against turning back to operative position until the latch pin is manually pulled out by the operator. Thus at the will of the operator the feed board can be latched in. inoperative position but by a simple manual operation of pulling out the latch pin the feed board can he released for turning move ment back to operative position, which turning movement, as above indicated, canbe effected in a virtually instantaneous manual operation due tothe fact that thefeed boardismountedto turn about the axis of the shaft 1 l at its mid-portion.

The press frame 4 has a portion l'l projecting toward the feeder, such portion having an underface it with which the upper end of an. adjustable screw IQ is adapted to engage, the screw t9 being maintained by a nut 20 in, adjusted posi: tion in the endof a hook-shaped arm 2! fixed to a cross shaft: 22 journaled in the feed board 12. The shaft 22. extends across the feed board from side to side of the feeder and at the operators side has fixed to it a handle 23 whereby the operator may turn the shaft 22 between a position in which the feed board is locked to the press; as shown in solid lines in Figures 1-4 and "I and. a position in which the arm 2| is turned in the counterclockwise direction from the position in which it is shown in Figure 4 so as to be out of contact with the portion I I of the press frame; such position of the arm 2| is shown in chain lines in Figure 7 and in solid lines in Figure 3a. Movement of the arm 2| to the inoperative or chain line position of Figure 7 and solid line position of Figure 3a unlocks the feed board from the press so that the feed board may be swung up to. inoperative position.

Fixed to the shaft 22 is an arm 24 to the outer end of which is pivoted at 25 a rod 2t extending towardthe feeder end of the apparatus and hav me a hook-shaped end 21. The rod 26 passes through an opening provided therefor in a guide member 28 pivoted in the side of the feed board. When the feed board is locked to the press as shown in Figure 4 the arm 24. holds the hook 21 in a position relatively close to the feeder end of the apparatus in which the hook 21 is inoperative. While the hook is disposed in the plane of the path of the carriage along the feed board it is positioned beyond the end of the path of the carriage in itsmovement toward the feeder end of the apparatus and hence can have no function. When, however, the shaft 22 is turned through approximately half a revolution from the posi: tion in which the feed board is locked to. the press. to the position indicated in chain lines in Figure 7 and in solid lines in Figure 3a in which the feed board is unlocked the arm 24 causes movement of the hook 21 to the left viewing Figure 4} so that it intercepts the carriage if the carriage moves toward the feeder end of the 8Q! paratus. When in that position the hook 21 positively prevents the carriage, when the feed board is turned up to the chain line position of Figure 7 and the solid line position of Figure M, from striking the pile of sheets in the feeder; in other words, the hook limits the extent to which the carriage can move when the feed board is turned so that gravity tends to move the carriage to ward the feeder end of the apparatus. Were it not for the hook 2'! the carriage would strike the pile of sheets in the feeder when moving the feed board to uptilted position. The hook 2'! is resilient and when the carriage moves toward the feeder end of the apparatus a transverse member 21a on the carriage is pressed into the hook, which yields slightly to permit the stud to enter it. Thereafter the hook not only positively prevents the carriage from moving toward the feeder end of the apparatus far enough to strike the pile of sheets in the feeder but also by its resilient action holds the carriage against movement toward the press. Thus the book 2! which is automatically moved to operative position when the feed board is unlocked from the press serves to hold the carriage against undesired movement due to gravity in either direction along the feed board. Nevertheless the carriage can be disengaged from the hook by the operator by simply moving the carriage toward the end of the feed board nearer the impression cylinder whereby to release the member 21a from the resilient grip of the hook thereon. When the feed board is again locked to the press the hook 21 is moved out to its inoperative position as shown in Figure i where it is disposed beyond the end of the path of the portion of the carriage which is adapted to engage with the hook when the latter is in its operative position.

Fastened to the extremity of the shaft 22 which is disposed at the gear side of the feeder is a sleeve 2% from which projects an arm 36 generally parallel to the axis of the shaft 22, the outer extremity of the arm 3 being turned inwardly at right angles to and intersecting the axis of the shaft 22 as shown at 3|. The portion has therein a slot 32 which is elongated transversely of and intersects the axis of the shaft 22. A pin in the form of a bolt 33 is disposed in the slot 32 and is adapted for movement along the slot as will presently be described. The bolt 33 also passes through a circular bore 34 in the longer arm of an L-shaped member 35 whose shorter arm is fastened at 36 to a rod 31' pivoted at 38 to an arm 39 of a bell crank lever 46 pivoted at 4! to a bracket 32 forming part of the feed board. The other arm 43 of the bell crank lever. ill carries at its extremity a hub id within which is disposed a pin which rides in a peripheral groove 46 formed in a pinion M mounted on the shaft H for both free turning movement and sliding movement along the shaft. Keyed to the shaft 5 l at 48 and also held against movement axially of the shaft is an inside gear 49 with which the pinion 4'! is adapted to mesh when moved toward the right to the position shown in Figure 6. The pinion has a bore 53 parallel to its axis but disposed at one side thereof into which a pin Ell is driven and the inside gear it has a bore 52 which guidingly receives the pin 5! when the pinion M is moved toward the inside gear 39. The pin 5! rides around the surface es of the inside gear is, which surface is intersected by the bore 52, until the pin 5! enters the bore 52 whereupon the pinion All is permitted to move into mesh with the inside gear u 49. The function of the pin 5i is to insure that when the pinion i! moves into mesh with the inside gear 49 it will do so in proper timed re-' lationship so that the carriage will be operated in proper cooperative relationship with other elements of the apparatus. shaft H is journaled in a bearing 54 disposed within a hub 55 forming a portion of the feeder frame 5, another portion of'which is shaped as a hood 5d covering the pinion All and the inside ear 49.

' Projecting from the feed board if at the gear The outer end of the the annular groove 46 of the pinion 41 maintains the pinion 41 in mesh with the inside gear 49.7 When, however, the shaft 22 is turned through approximately half a revolution to the position in which the feed board is unlocked from the press the member 23-39-23! is likewise turned through approximately half a revolution with the result that the pin 33 is moved toward the left viewing Figure 5 by engagement therewith of the end of the slot 32 nearest the portion 353. Due to such movement the rod 3? is moved toward the left viewing Figure 5 and the bell crank lever 40 is turned in the clockwise direction about the axis of the pivot 41 against the action of the spring 58 to withdraw the pinion 4? toward the left viewing Figure 6 out of mesh with the inside gear 1-39. Thus when the feed board is locked to the press the spring 53 is free to move the pinion 4'5 into mesh with the inside gear 49 and maintain it in mesh therewith while when the feed board is unlocked from the press the pinion 4'! is withdrawn from mesh with the inside gear 49. The slot 32 is elongated to prevent binding of the parts upon locking of the feed board to the press. As will presently be described, the pinion 4! partakes of constant oscillatory movement and if the slot 32 were not elongated there would be danger of damage to the parts upon turning of the shaft 22 which would force the pinion lll against the inside gear d9. Since the pinion Al can only move into mesh with the inside gear as when the pin 5! enters the bore as it is important that the force urging the pinion into mesh with the inside gear be a resilient rather than a positive force. The resilient force is supplied by the spring 53,

I the function of the member 2il-='id3l with the side of the apparatus is a pin 57 to which is fastened one end of a tension coil spring 58, the

other end of which is connected with the bottom of the pivot pin 38. The spring 58 tends at all times to turn the bell crank lever 40 in the counterclockwise direction viewing Figure 5 about the axis of the pivot M.

When the shaft 222 is in the position which it occupies when the feed board l2 is locked to the press the member 2ii3fi-3i is in the position shown in Figure 5 and the spring 58 maintains the bell crank lever dii in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6 in which the pin 45 operating in elongated slot 32 therein being to permit the spring as to move the pinion 41 toward the right viewing Figure 6 into mesh with the inside gear It is important that when the feed board is in its uptilted position as shown in chain lines in Figure 7 the pinion A! be maintained out of en- 7 gagement with the inside gear 49 even though the shaft 22 be turned to the position of Figure 5. To this end there is fastened to the feeder frame a stop member 59 which is stationarily dis-.

posed in position so that when the feed board [2 is turned up to inoperative position the arm 38 of the bell crank lever 46 will engage the stop member 59, which member will by engagement with the arm 39 positively hold the pinion 4'! out of mesh with the inside gear 39 regardless of the position to which the shaft 22 may be turned' In other words, the stop member 59 renders inoperative the spring 53 to move the pinion 4? into mesh with the inside gear 49 when the feed board is in uptilted position. When the feed board is moved back to operative position the arm 39 moves away from the stop member 59, allowing the spring 58 to become operative to urge the bell crank lever t!) to turn in the counterclockwise direction viewing rgure 5. r

The shaft 22 base radial lug 22a to which is pivoted at 22b a rod 220 passing through a slot 22:1 in a stud 22c pivotally mounted in a lug 22f integral with and projecting downwardly from the feed board I2. A compression coil spring 22g bears between the connection of the rod 220 with the lug 22a and the stud 226. Thus there is provided an overcenter holding device resiliently acting on the shaft 22 to hold it in each of its two positions as clearly shown in Figure '7.

Another stop member is threaded into the feed board at 6| and carries an adjustable stop screw 62 maintained in adjusted position by a nut 63 adapted to engage the outer end of the arm 39 of the bell crank lever 40 when the pinion 4'! has been moved into mesh with the in side gear 49 to relieve the inside gear I! of substantial axial thrust by the pinion 47. In other words. the thrust is taken by non-rotating means instead of by rotating means so that no substantial wear is occasioned thereby.

By reason of the provision of the annular groove 46 in the pinion 41 the pin 45 rides in that groove at all times regardless of the angular position of the feed board I! about the axis of the shaft l i. In other words, the operating means for the pinion 41 remains continuously in engagement in all angular positions of the feed board about the axis of the shaft H.

Disposed about the vertical shaft 1 above the upper trunnion 8 is a hollow circular rack 64. The rack 64 is in the form of a sleeve mounted on the shaft 1 for guided movement parallel to the axis of that shaft. At its lower end the rack 54 has a sleeve portion 65 having therein an outwardly facing annular groove 66. Surrounding the sleeve portion 65 is a driving member 61 through which pass bolts 68 which enter the annular groove 56. The driving member 61 has two spaced apart outwardly projecting lugs 69 to which is pivoted at 10 a link ll having its upper end disposed between the lugs 69 connected with a crank motiondriven from the press drive, the crank motion being conventional and hence not being shown in detail. Driving of the press operates the crank motion to cause the link H to oscillate the circular rack 64 up and down on the vertical shaft 1. The circular rack 64 is at all times in mesh with the pinion 41 so that during operation of the apparatus the circular rack is continuously moving up and down and the pinion 41 is continuously oscillating angularly about the axis of the shaft 1 l. The pinion 41 may while so oscillating be moved along the axis of the shaft l I as above described. Thus the connection from the press drive to thefeeder for oscillating the feeder carriage is maintained at all times, the means for movingthe pinion 4'! axially of the shaft l I being the control means determining whether or not at any particular time the feeder carriage is oscillated. As above explained, the control means remains operable when the feed board is tilted since tilting of the feed board simply moves the pin 45 around the annular slot 45.

When the feeder is swung out to inoperative position about the axisof the shaft lthe pinion 41 remains in mesh with the circular rack 34, moving bodily about the axis of the shaft 1 at the same time. Consequently even swinging of the feeder out to inoperative position does not disengage the connection from the press drive for operating the feeder carriage.

Disposed about the circular rack 64 just above the driving member 61 is a collar (2 which is constrained to move up and down with the circular rack at but, as will presently be described, turns relatively thereto when the feeder is swung out about the axis of the shaft 1 to inoperative position. A rod l3 ispivoted at to a lever and extends downwardly through an eye id in the collar 12 and thence through a guiding bore il in the feeder frame. Collars H! are fastened to the rod 13 immediately above andbelow the collar 12. Thus up and down movement of the circular rack 64 causes up and down movement of the rod 13. When the feederis swung out to inoperative position about the axis of the shaft 1 the rod 13 causes the collar 12 to turn about the circular rack 64.

The lever 15 has a hub portion 79 through which passes a shaft 80. The lever 15 is freely t'urnable upon the shaft 30. The shaft 80 is journaled in the feeder frame and has keyed thereto two worms 8| of opposite hand. Each of the worms Bl meshes with a worm wheel 82. Each worm wheel 82 is keyed to a longitudinal shaft 83, one of the shafts 83 being adjacent one side of the feeder and the other being adjacent the opposite side of the feeder. Thus turning of the shaft to turns the two shafts 83 but in opposite directions.

Keyed to each shaft 83 are two sprockets 84. An endless sprocket chain 85 is trained about and depends from each of the four sprockets 84. The pile support 86 has spaced apart downwardly projecting ribs 81 so that when it is set down on the floor the peel of a carrier truck may be projected beneath the body of the pile support to lift it and carry it about. The pile support '86 is fastened to each of the four chains 84 at the inside reach thereof. The manner of fastening of the pile support to the chains does not constitute the present invention but may be conventional and hence is not shown in detail.

Thus when the shaft 89 is turned in one direction the pile support is raised and when theshaft till is turned in the opposite direction the pile support is lowered.

Keyed to the shaft 80 is a ratchet 85..The ratchet is arranged on the shaft in such relation to the worms 8! that when the shaft 80 is turned in the clockwise direction viewing Figure 10 the pile support 86 is raised.

An integral projection 89 extends out radially from the hub 19 and has iournaled in its outer end at 99 a short shaft 9i which at one end has fixed thereto a pawl 92 disposed directly above the ratchet 88 and at the other end hasfixed thereto a follower member 93 comprising a curved neck portion 94 and an elongated operating portion 95. The operating portion 95 has a lateral projection 95 projecting from the operating portion 95 in a direction away from the pawl 92.

An integral projection 91 extends out radially from the hub '59 and has therein an elongated slot 98. The left-hand face of the projection 9! viewing Figure 10 is curved to act as a cam. A rod 95 is disposed generally horizontally and passes through the slot 98 in the projection 91. The rod 99 is adjacent .one end guided in a guide ill!) fixed to the feeder frame and is at its other end pivotally connected by a pin iii! to a pair of spaced apart, generally downwardly projecting arms I 02 fixed to a shaft llo-lvmountedfor rotation in the feeder frame. A generally horizontally extending arm Midis also fixed to the: shaft I84. Pivoted to the arm I05. at its is a downwardly projecting feeler I01 whose lower extremity is adapted to engage the top of apilc of sheets on the pile support 86. The feeler N1 is guided within a'guide we carried by the feeder frame. Thus axial oscillation of the rod 99 causes generally vertical oscillation 'ofthe feeler iil'l.

Fixed to the rod 99 is a collar I09 againstwhich bears a compression'coil spring liil, the opposite end of which bears against a washer ill which lies against the cam face of the projection 57. A pin H2 extends through therod Myand serves member 93 which permits the pawl 9'2.

' ment toward the 7 beyond the portion out of engagement with the to limit the extent to which the spring H9 may expand. A tension coil spring H3 is fastened at one end of a stud I I4 carried by the feeder frame and at the other end to a stud I93 threaded intothe pin I9| and tends to raise the feeler It? up wardly out of contact with the top of the pile of sheets on the pile support 86.

Pivoted to the feeder frame at H5 is a detent H9 having an operating portion II'I normally disposed beneath the portion 99 of the member 93 as shown in Figure 11. The detent IE9 is of generally inverted L-shape, extending upwardly and then laterally from the pivot H55. In the laterally or generally horizontally extending portion of the detent H6 is threaded a screw Hit maintained in adjusted position by a nut IE9. The screw projects downwardly from the detent.

' A cam I29 is fixed to the rod 99 and is positioned thereon so that when the rod 99 moves toward the left viewing Figure 10 a predetermined distance it will engage the bottom of the screw H and thence cam the detent lit to turn in the counterclockwise direction about the pivot H5 viewing Figure 11 until the portion Ill moves out of the path of the portion 99 of the follower to drop into engagement with the ratchet 98. The rod 99 also has fixed thereto a stop member Iii which limits movement of the rod toward the right viewing Figure 19 by engagement with the guide I99.

The operation of the pile governor will now be described. The lever I5 partakes or continuous angular oscillation during operation of the apparatus. Normally the portion II? of the detent IIB lies beneath the portion 96 of the follower member 93 so that as the lever '55 oscillates the follower member 93, being itself held up by the portion III of the detent, in turn holds the pawl 92 out of operative engagement with the ratchet 88. Viewing Figure 10, as the follower member 93 moves toward the right in clockwise angular movement about the axis of the shaft 99 the under surface of the portion 99 thereof ridesatop the portion IEI of the detent I9 which maintains the pawl 92 out of operative engagement with the ratchet 88. However, at the end of the angular oscillatory movement toward the right viewing Figure 10 of the follower member 93 the left-hand extremity of the portion 99 passes beyond the portion III of the detent and at that time the pawl '92, having passed two teeth of the ratchet, is permitted to come into engagement with the ratchet beyond the second passed tooth, but such engagement is not operative engagement as the pawl does not have any effect on the ratchet. It is, however, important that at the end of the angular oscillatory moveright viewing Figure 19 of the 93 the portion 99 thereof pass III of the detent Ilia so that upon the return movement toward the left of the follower member 93 the portion 99 will al- Ways ride upon the portion .I ll r'egardless of whether or not the portion I H has been beneath and in operative engagement with the portion 96 during the previous angular oscillation of the follower member 99 toward the right.

Thus ordinarily the pawl 92 is held out of operative engagement with the ratchet 88 and follower member simply partakes of constant oscillation about the 7 axis of the shaft 89 without performing any function. V V

The spring IIB'urges the ieeler I91 upwardly top of the pile of 16 sheets on the pile support 86. Upward movement of the feeler I91 is limited by engagement of the stop member I2I with the guide I99. When the lever I5 is at the extreme clockwise end of its angular oscillation about the axis of the shaft 89 viewing Figure 10 the projection 9'! has moved toward the right from the position in which it is shown in Figure 19 so that pressure on the spring H9 has been relieved sufficiently to permit the spring H3 to raise the feeler I91, and the rod 99 is in its extreme righthand position with the stop member I2I against the guide I99 and the right-hand end of spring H9 and the washer HI are stopped by the pin 1 It. On the succeeding counterclockwise oscillatory movement of the lever 15 the projection 91 compresses the spring H9. Compression of the spring H9 continues until the force exerted thereby against the rod 99 through the collar I99 thereon overcomes the action of the spring H3, whereupon the feeler I9"! is moved downwardly into engagement with the top of the pile. Any overtravel of the projection 97 after the feeler I99 has engaged the top of the pile is taken up by further compression of the spring H9.

When the top of the pile is within the operative height range so that raising of the pile to maintain its top within that range is not immediately necessary engagement of the feeler with the top of the pile stops movement of the rod 99 toward the left viewing Figure 19 before the cam I29 fastened to the rod 99 comes into engagement with the bottom of the screw H8.

'Thus nothing is done to remove the portion In of the detent II9-from beneath the portion 99 of the follower member 93 and the feeler I9! and the rod 99 merely oscillate without turning the shaft 80.

When enough'sheets have been removed from the pile that raising of the pile to bring its top into the operative height range is indicated the feeler I9'I moves down far enough before engaging the top of the pile that the cam I29 engages the bottom of the screw H9 and tilts the detent H6 so that the detent turns in the counterclockwise direction about the pivot H5 Vl8W- ing Figure 11. Such tilting of the detent H9 at first slightly raises the follower member 93 until the portion I ll of the detent clears the edge of the portion 96 of the follower member whereupon the follower member drops down. Since the pawl 92 is rigidly connected with the follower member by means of the short shaft 9! so as to be in effect integral therewith the pawl 92 likewise drops down (i. e., turns in the clockwise. direction about the axis of the shaft 9i viewing Figure 19) until it comes into operative engagement with the ratchet 99. This always happens when the lever I9 is at the extreme counterclockwise extremity of its angular oscil lation about the axis of the shaft 99 viewing Figure 19 since it is only at that time that the cam I29 can engage the bottom of the screw H9. As soon as the lever I5 commences the next clockwise oscillatory movement viewing Figure 10 the cam I29 immediately moves out of contact with the bottom of the screw H9 permitting the detent H9 to turn back in the clockwise direction about the pivot Iii: viewing Figure 11 until the lower right-hand corner of I the portion In viewing Figure 11 engages the 7 side of the follower member 93' which it W111 be remembered has dropped down to permit the pawl 92 to operatively engage the ratchet 88.

As clockwise movement of the lever I viewing Figure 1.0 continues the pawl 92 which is in operative engagement with the ratchet 88 turns the shaft 80 in the clockwise direction viewing Figum 10. The shaft 80 through the worms 8I and the worm wheels 82 turns the shafts 83 outwardly to raise the inner reaches of the chains 85 and hence move the pile support 8.6 upwardly through an increment of movement. As the lever I5 reaches the clockwise extremity of its angular oscillatory movement viewing Figure 10 the portion II! of the detent I I6, which has been riding with the detent in slightly tilted position along the side face of the follower member 33, passes beyond the end of the portion 96 of the follower member 93 so that upon the succeeding counterclockwise movement of the lever I5 the portion ,II'I again moves under the portion '96 and raises the follower member 93. Thus upon each counterclockwise movement of the lever I5 viewing Figure 10 the portion II! of the detent H6 is always beneath the portion 96 of the follower member 93 and holds up the follower member and the pawl 92. Turning of the detent II-6 in the clockwise direction about the pivot H5 is limited by engagement of a pin I22 in the side of the detent with the head I23 of a screw I24 in the feeder frame serving as a stop member. The screw I24 is maintained in adjusted position by a nut I25.

A hand crank I26 has a hub I21 through which the shaft 80 passes. The shaft 8!) has a pin I28 extending therethrough and projecting both upwardly and downwardly therefrom and the hub I21 has opposed lateral recesses or pockets I29 therein adapted to receive the projecting ends of the pin I28 when the crank I26 is moved toward the left viewing Figure 11 or upwardly viewing Figure 9. The crank I26 is maintained on the shaft 80 but is allowed suflicient freedom of movement axially of the shaft to be moved into and out of engagement with the pin 1 28 by .a stop pin I30. The crank I26 is used formanually raising or lowering the pile support. The pile support maybe raised by the crank I425 at any time and may be lowered by the crank I26 at any time except when the pawl 92 is in operative engagement with the ratchet 88.

The feeder is equipped with the usual side registering or side guiding means operated by the usual transversely oscillatable rod -I-3I which in turn is oscillated by the usual three-armed lever I32. Projecting from the rod I3I is a pin I33 received within a yoke I34 in theend of one arm I35 of the lever I32. The lever L32 is pivoted to the feed board at I35. Oscillation of the lever I32 about the pivot I36 oscillates the rod I.3I transversely of the feed board to side register the sheets in well knownmanner. Since the side registering means per so do not constitute the present invention such means are not shown in detail.

The lever I32 is oscillated by a link I31. When the sheets are to be registered to one side of the feed board the link I31 is pivotally connected to the second arm I38 of the three-armed lever I32 while when the sheets are to be registered to the other side of the feed board the link I3! is pivotally connected to the third arm I39 of the threearmed lever I32; this is standard feeder structure.

However, improved means are provided for oscillating the link I31. That link is pivoted at I40 to an upwardly projecting arm I4I of a bell crank lever I42 pivoted to the feed board at I43. The lower arm I44 of the bell crank lever I42 carries a follower I45 which extends through an opening I45a in the feed board I2 and operates in a cam roove I46 in the outside face of the carriage oscillating pinion I5 or if there be two such p nions the one disposed at the r side of the feeder. This provides an extremely simple and eifective means for operating the side registering or side guiding mechanism.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

Iclaim:

.1. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means carried entirely by the material supporting member mounted for movement relatively to the mate rial supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, a pivotal mounting for the material supporting member pivotally carrying the material supporting member at the mid-portion of the material supporting member whereby it is approximately balanced enabling it to be easily and quickly turned by hand about the pivotal mounting so that the material supporting member may assume different positions about the pivotal mounting and means for fastening the material supporting member in at least one of such positions.

2. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means movably mounted in its entirety on the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, a generally horizontal pivotal mounting for the material supporting member pivotally carrying the material supporting member at the mid-portion of the material supporting member whereby it is approxiately balanced enabling it to be easily and quickly turned by hand about the pivotal mounting so that the material supporting member is pivotally movable on said pivotal mounting between operative and inoperative positions and means for fastening the material supporting member in operative position.

3. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, driving means for moving the first mentioned means relatively to the material supporting member, a pivotal mounting for the materialsupporting member pivotally carrying the material supporting member at themidportion of the material supporting member so that the material supporting member is pivotally movable on said pivotal mounting between operative and inoperative positions, a control member, means connected with the control member actuated by movement of the control member in one direction for fastening the material supporting member in operative position and means connected with the control member actuated by movement of the control member in the opposite direction for rending the driving means inoperative to drive the first mentioned means.

4. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member. means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, driving means for moving the first mentioned means relatively to the material supporting member, a pivotal mounting for the material supporting member pivotally carrying the material supporting member at the mid-portion of the material supporting member so that the material supporting member is pivotally movable on said pivotal mounting between operative and inoperative positions and means connected with the mateative and inoperative positions and means connected with the material supporting member adapted to be moved into the path of the first mentioned means when the material supporting member is in inoperative position to limit movement of the first mentioned means.

6. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, driving means for moving the first mentioned means relatively to the material supporting member, a pivotal mounting for the material supporting member pivotally carrying the material supporting member at the mid-portion of the material supporting member so that the material supporting member is pivotally movable on said pivotal mounting between operative and inoperative positions, means connected. with the material supporting member maintaining the driving means inoperative to drive the first mentioned means when the material supporting member is in inoperative position and means connected with the material supporting member adapted to be moved into the path of the first mentioned means when the material supporting member is in inoperative position to limit movement of the first mentioned means.

7. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the mate- 'rial supporting member, a pivotal mounting for the material su porting member pivotally carrying the material sup-porting member at the midportion of the material supporting member so that the material supporting member is pivotally movable on said pivotal mounting between a relatively horizontal operative position and a relatively inclined inoperative position and means connected with the material supporting member adapted to be moved into the path of the first mentioned means when the material supporting 'member is in inoperative position to limit movement of the first mentioned means due to gravity.

8. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, a pivotal mounting for the material supporting member pivotally carrying the material supporting member at the mid-portion of the material supporting member so that the material supporting member is pivotally movable on said pivotal mounting between operative and inoperative positions, a control member, means connected with the control member actuated by movement of the control member in one direction for fastening the material supporting member in operative position and means connected with the control member actuated by movement of the control member in the opposite direction limiting movement of the first mentioned means.

9. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, driving means for moving the first mentioned means relatively to the material supporting member, a pivotal mounting for the material supporting member pivotally carrying the material supporting member at the midportion of the material supporting member so that the material supporting member is pivotally movable on said pivotal mounting between operative and inoperative positions, a control member, means connected with the control member actuated by movement of the control member in one direction for rendering the driving means inoperative to drive the first mentioned means and means connected with the control member actuated by movement of the control member in said direction limiting movement of the first mentioned means while the driving means is inoperative to drive the same.

10. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, a mounting for the material supporting member upon which the material supporting member is movably mounted for movement between operative and inoperative positions and means movable into the path of the first mentioned means when the material supporting member is in inoperative position to limit movement of the first mentioned means.

11. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, a mounting for the material supporting member upon which the material supporting member is movably mounted for movement between operative and inoperative positions and means disposed generally in alignment with the path of movement of the first mentioned means and movable toward the first mentioned means into position to engage the first mentioned means and limit movement thereof in one direction when the material supporting member is in inoperative position.

12. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material sup-porting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, a mounting for the material supporting member upon which the material supporting member is movably mounted for movement between operative and inoperative positions and means disposed generally in alignment with the path of movement of the first mentioned means and movable toward the first mentioned means and having a portion interengaging the first mentioned means when the material supporting member is in inoperative position to hold the first mentioned means against 21 substantial movement in either direction in its Path.

18. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting memhena mountingior themaiterial supporting member upon which the material supporting member is movably mounted v1501* movement between operative and inoperative positions and a resilient hook disposed generally :in alignment with the path or movement of the first mentioned means and movable toward the first mentioned means so as to :be adapted to resiliently rinterengage with the first mentioned means when material supporting member is in inoperative posltionto resiliently hold the first mentioned means against substantial movement ineither direction in its path.

14. Material handling apparatus comprising a pivot, a material handling portion mounted for {pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot, oscillatable material handling means carried by the material handling portion, a pinion carried by theimaterial ,hadling for oscillating the oscillatable material handling means, a rack disposed generally parallel to the axis of the pivot mounted for lengthwise oscillating movement, the pinion meshing with the rock so that lengthwise oscillation of the rack oscillates the oscillatable material handling means, the rack being of a- -transverse shape coinciding with the locus of the portion of the pinion facing'the rack as the material handling portion pivotall-y moves about the axis of the pivot whereby the pinion remains in mesh with the rack in diflerent positions of the material handling portion.

15. Material handling apparatus comprising two material handling portions, .a pivot pivotally connecting said portions together, a sleeve mounted on the pivot for movement axially oi the pivot, one of the material handling portions having material handling means oscillatable in a direction transversely of the axis of the pivot, and a driving connection between the sleeve and 5 the oscillatahle material handling means effective upon oscillation of the sleeve axially of the pivot to oscillate the oscillatable material handling means.

1 6. Material handling apparatus comprising:

two material handling port-ions, a pivot pivotally connecting said portions together, a sleeve mounted on the pivot for movement axially of the pivot, one of the material handling portions having shiftable means, oscillatable material handling means carried by said shiftable means, a driving connection between the sleeve and the oscillatable material handling means effective upon oscillation of the sleeve axially of the pivot to oscillate the oscillatable material handling means, said driving connection being adapted to beoperative in one positionof the shit-table means but inoperative in another position of the shiftable means, and means for rendering said driving connection inoperative when said shifta-ble means is in the first mentioned position :inpreparation for shifting of said shiftable means to the second mentioned position.

17. Material handling apparatus comprising a pivot, a material handling portion mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot, oscillatable material handling means carried by the material handling portion, a pinion carried by the material handling portion for oscillating the oscillatahle material handling mean and a 22 transversely convexly curved rack coaxial with the pivot oscillatable along the pivot, the'pinion meshing with the rack .so that oscillation of the rack along the pivot oscillates the osoillatable material handling means and the pinion remains always in mesh with the rack in all positions of the material handling portion.

18. Material handling apparatu oomprisinga pivot, a material handling portion mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot, a material supporting member mounted on the material handling portion for movement between operative and inoperative positions, oscillatable means tor advancing material-along the material supporting member, a sleeve mounted on. the pivot for movement axially of the pivot, a driving 001lnection between the sleeve and the oscillate-hie means efiective upon oscillation of the sleeve axlally of the pivot to oscillate the oscillatable means and "means .ior rendering said driving connection inoperative when the material supporting member is to be moved to inoperative position 19. Material handling apparatus comprisinga pivot, a material portion mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot, a material supporting member swingably-mounted on the material handling portion for swingin movement between operative and inoperative positions, oscillatable means carried by the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member when the material supporting member is in operative position, a sleeve mounted on the pivot for ment axially of the pivot, the sleeve having thereon a oonvexly curved rack coaxial with the pivot, a pinion carried by the material handling portion for oscillating theoscillatable means, the pinion being mounted to mesh with the rack in diiferent positions of the material handling portion about'thepivot, and means for disconnecting the pinion from driving connection with theiosciilatable means so that theoscillatable means will remain stationary when the material supporting member is swung to inoperative position.

20. Material handling apparatus comprising a pivot, a material handling portion mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot, a material supporting member swingably mounted on the material handling portion for swinging movement between operative and inomrative positions, oscillatable means carried by the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member when the material supporting member is inoperative position, a sleeve mounted on the pivot for movementaxiallyot the pivot, the sleeve having thereon a conveidy curved rack-coaxial with the pivot, a pinion carried by the material handling portion for oscillating the osclllatable means, the pinion being mounted to mesh with therack in diflferent of the material handling portion about the pivot, means ,for fastening the material supporting member in operative position and means for simultaneously rendering the fastening means inoperative and disconnecting the pinion from driving connection with the oscillatable means. V

21. Material apparatus comprising a pivot, a material handling portion mounted or pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot, a material supporting member .swingably mounted on the material handling portion for swinging movement between operative and inoperative positions, oscillatable means carried by the terial supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member when the material supporting member is in operative position, a sleeve mounted on the pivot for movement axially of the pivot, the sleeve having thereon a convexly curved rack coaxial with the pivot, a pinion carried by the material handling portion for oscillating the oscillatable means, 'the pinion being mounted to mesh with the rack in 'difierent positions of the material handling portion about the pivot, means for fastening the material supporting member in operative position, means for simultaneously rendering the fastening means inoperative and disconnecting the pinion from driving connection with the oscillatable means and means carried by the material handling portion positioned when the material supporting member is in inoperative position to positively block reestablishment of said driving connection.

22. Material handling apparatus comprising a generally vertical pivot, a material handling portion mounted for generally horizontal pivotal movement about the axis of said pivot, a material supporting member, a generally horizontal pivotal mounting for the material supporting member pivotally carrying the material supporting member at the mid-portion of the material supporting member so that the material supporting member is pivotally movable on said generally horizontal pivotal mounting between operative and inoperative positions, oscillatable means carried by the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member when the material supporting member is in operative position, a sleeve mounted on the generally vertical pivot for movement axially thereof, the sleeve having thereon a convexly curved rack coaxial with the generally vertical pivot, a pinion carried by the material handling portion for oscillating the oscillatable means, the pinion being mounted to mesh with the rack in different positions of the material handling portion about the generally vertical pivot, and means for disconnecting the pinion from driving connection with the oscillatable means so that the oscillatable means will remain stationary when the material supporting member is pivotally moved on said generally horizontal pivotal mounting to inoperative position.

23. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, a pivotal mounting for the material supporting member about the axis of which the material supporting member may move between operative and inoperative positions, driving means for driving the first mentioned means, a connection between the driving means and the first mentioned means, resilient means normally maintaining said connection operative, holding means normally holding the material supporting member in operative position and 'means simultaneously rendering inoperative the holding means and rendering said connection inoperative against the action of said resilient means.

' 24. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the "material supporting member, a mounting for the material supporting member upon which the material supporting member is shiftable between operative and inoperative positions, driving means for driving the first mentioned means','a connection between the driving means and the first mentioned means, resilient means normally maintaining said connection operative and means rendering said connection inoperative against the action of said resilient means so that when the material supporting member is shifted to inoperative position the first mentioned means will remain stationary.

I 25. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, a mounting for the material supporting member upon which the material supporting member is shiftable between operative and inoperative positions, driving means 'for driving the first mentioned means, a connection between the driving means and the first mentioned means, resilient means normally maintaining said connection operative and an operating device for said connection effective in one position to maintain said connection inoperative against the action of said resilient means and'in another position freeing said connection to permit said resilient means to render the same operative.

26. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, driving means for driving the first mentioned means, a connection between the driving means and the first mentioned means, resilient means normally maintaining said connection operative and an operating device for said connection effective in one position to maintain said connection inoperative against the action of said resilient means and in another position freeing said connection to permit said resilient means to render the same operative, said operating device comprising a turnable slotted member, means extending therefrom to said connection having a portion with which one end of the slot in said slotted member engages when the operating device is in the first mentioned position, said portion being free to move along the slot when the operating device is in the second mentioned position.

27. Material handling apparatus comprising material conveying means, driving means for driving the material conveying means, a connection between the driving means and the material conveying means, resilient means normally maintaining said connection operative, a turnable shaft, a member connected with the shaft to turn therewith, said member having a generally elongated slot, and means extending from said member to said connection, said means having a portion with which one end of the slot engages when said member is in one rotative position about the axis of the shaft to render said connection inoperative against the action of said resilient means, said portion being, when said member is in another rotative position about the axis of the shaft, free to move along the slot so that said resilient means may render said connection operative. I

28. Material handling apparatus comprising a material sup-porting member, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along the material supporting member, a mounting for the material supporting member upon which the material supporting member is shiftable between op.-

29. Material handling apparatus comprising a" material supportingmember, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting member for advancing material along themate rialsupporting member, amounting for the material supporting member upon which the mate= rial supporting inember'is shiftabie between oper ative and inoperative positions; driving means for driving the first mentioned means; a connec ti'oribetween the driving means and the first mentionedmeans,- an operating device for said connection effective in one position to maintain said connection operative and effetitive ailother position" to maintain said connection i'n-' operative and m'eansrehdered operative by Shifti'ligi of the ma'tei i'all sup or tmg member to 11:1 operative osition for ositively mam-taming said operating. device in the second mentioned position. i

30; Material handling apparatus comprisinga" material supportingmember; means mounted for movement relatively to the" materiat supporting member for advan'cing material along the mate rial supporting member, amounting for themfa terialsupportihg member upon which the mate-' rial supporting member is shiftabl betweenoperative and inoperative positiens, driving means for driving the mentioned means; a

connection between the driving means and the first mentioned means; an o erating devise in cluding' a bell crank lever for operating said connection' effective inone position tomaintain said connection operative and effective in another position to maintain said conneetio'n inoperative and an abutment member carriedby the material supportingmember moved into position to abut the bell cranlt'lever when the materiai sup portin member is sl iifted to inoperative position to il'naintain the operating device in the second mentioned position while the material su fu'sorting member is in inoperative position.

31-; Material handling apparatus comprising material conveying means, driving means for driving the material conveying means, a shaft connected with the material conveying means so that-rotationof the shaft causes operation of the material Conveying means, a pinion" 611' the shaft, the pinion being at all times'in mesh with the driving means, and means for shiftin the pinionalong the shaft between a position in which the pinion is" conn'ectedwith the Shaft f0 turn the same and a posit-ion in which the pinion turns freely upon the shaft without turning the shaft.

32. Matrial hafidlifig' ap aratus comprising material conveying means; driving means for driving the material conveying means, shaft connected with the material conveying means so that rotation of theshaft causes operation of" the material conveying means, an inside gear fixed to the shaft, a pinion on the shaft, the

pinion being? at all times in mesh with the driving means, and means for shifting the pin-ion along the shaft between a position in which the pinion is in mesh with the inside gear and a position in which the pinion is out of mesh with the inside gear.

33'. Material handling apparatus comprising material conveying means, a drive shaft for 34. Material handling apparatus comprising a support; material conveying means mounted upon the support and movable thereon to convey ma-' terial, a drive shaft-mounted on the support for driving the material conveying means; a pinion on the drive shaft for operating the same and a transversely convexly curved oscillatable rack at all times in mesh with the pinion, the support being turn-able generally about the rackwhile the pinion remains in mesh with the rack.

35. Material handling apparatus comprising a support, material conveying means mounted upon the support, a drive shaft for driving the material conveying means; a pinion on the drive shaft, means for shifting the pinion along the drive shaftbetween a position in which it-drives the drive shaft and a position in which it turns freely on the drive shaft and a transversely convexly curved oscillatable rack continuously in mesh with the pinion when the latter is in both of said positions and moving therebetween, the

support being turnable generally about the rack while the pinion remains in mesh with the rack.

36. Material handling apparatus comprising a support, a drive shaft carried by the support,

material conveying means mounted upon the support for tilting movement about the axis of the drive shaft, connections between the drive shaft and the material conveying means whereby the former drives the latter, a pinion on the drive shaft, the pinion being shiftable along the drive shaft between a position in which it drives the drive shaft and a position inwhich it turns freely on thedrive shaft, means for shifting the pinion to the second mentioned position when the ma terial conveying means is to be tilted and a. transversely convexly curved oscillatable rack continuously in mesh with the pinion when the latter is in both of said positions and moving therebe'tween, the support being turnable generally about the rack while the pinion remains in mesh with the rack.

37. Material handling apparatus comprising a pivot, a support mounted for turning movement about the pivot, a drive shaft carried by thesupport, material conveying means mounted upon the support for tilting movement about the axis of the drive shaft, connections between the drive shaft and the material conveying means whereby the former drives the latter, apinion on the'drive shaft, the pinion being shiftable alohg the drive shaft between a position inwhich it drives the drive'shaft and 8? position inwhich it turns-freely on' the drive shaft, means for Shifting the pinion to the second mentioned position when the mate rial conveying nieansristo be tilted and a trans;