US3097595A

US3097595A - Retractable sheet feeding mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3097595A
Application number: US78166A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruno B Pasquinelli
Original assignee: Miehle Goss Dexter Inc
Current assignee: Miehle Goss Dexter Inc
Priority date: 1960-12-23
Filing date: 1960-12-23
Publication date: 1963-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 1980-07-16
Also published as: GB938063A; CH377382A

Description

July 16, 1963 B. B. PASQUINELLI 3,097,595 RETRACTABLE SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BRUNO B. PASQU INELLI BY ATTORNEYS' Jul 16, 1963 B. a. PASQUINELLI- 3,097,595

' RETRACTABLE SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l8 6| I 24 I7 59 I! 46 INVENTOR.

BRUNU B. PASQUINELLI BY AT TQRNEYS July'l6, 1963 s. B. PASQUINELLI 3,

RETRACTABLE SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 23, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ill INVENTOR.

BRUNO B. PASQUINELLI ATTORNEY-'8' United States Patent 3,097,595 RETRACTABLE SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Bruno B. Pasquinelli, Evergreen Park, Ill., assignor to Miehle-Goss-Dexter, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 78,166 7 Claims. (Cl. 101-279) The invention relates to sheet feeding mechanisms for printing presses and the like sheet processing machines and has reference more particularly to an improved sheet feeder assembly which is retractable as a unit to provide access to the various mechanisms of the press.

In printing presses and particularly reciprocating fiatbed presses of the vertical type, it is desirable, if not essential, that the impression cylinder and various other mechanisms of the press be conveniently accessible for make-ready and normal maintenance. In such presses the sheet feeding mechanism normally is located immediately in front of the impression cylinder and in order to provide the necessary accessibility it has been the practice to mount the feeder assembly so that it can be swung open as a unit about a vertical axis. This has proved to be a convenient arrangement which has enabled the pressmen to move the rather massive feeder assembly without undue effort.

Such an arrangement, however, requires a rather massive and thus expensive supporting structure which must be capable of withstanding the forces exerted on the hinge mechanism when the feeder is in'the open position. It also requires rather complicated and expensive mechanisms to eifect automatic engagement and disengagement of the various actuating members associated therewith.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved sheet feeding mechanism which is particularly [adapted for use in conjunction with small, compact presses and which is retractable in a straight path substantially perpendicular to the axis of the impression cylinder so that the main press frame can be utilized to support the feeder assembly in its operating position as well as in its retracted position.

Another object is to provide a retractable sheet feeding mechanism which incorporates a relatively simple drive mechanism for actuating the respective working parts thereof and wherein the energy provided by an element of the drive mechanism is utilized to facilitate manual retraction of the assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for accurately locating the feeder assembly in its operative position relative to the impression cylinder.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the feed table is tilted in a forward direction during movement of the feeder assembly to thereby maintain the stack of sheets in precise alignment with the pile guides.

A further object is to provide a conveniently accessible and effective latch means for locking the feeder assembly in its operative position.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a printing press embodying the improvements of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view taken from the opposite side of the press and showing details of the feeder mounting means and the mechanism for actuating the feeder elements;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view taken substantially along line IIIIII of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line IV-IV of FIGURE 2 and showing the construction of the feeder element drive mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a view taken along line VI-VI of FIG- URE 2 and showing the construction of the feeder element actuating lever and its coacting control element;

FIGURE 7 is a view, partly in section, and showing the mechanism whereby the various air blast and suction elements of the feeder mechanism are releasably connected to the respective sources of air pressure and vacuum; and

FIGURES 8 and 9 are views showing details of the latch mechanism for maintaining the feeder assembly in its operative position.

Referring to the figures of the drawings it will be noted that the invention is illustrated in connection with a printing press of the vertical type having a main frame 10 and side frames 11 and 12 in which the type bed 13 is mounted for reciprocation in a vertical path. The type bed is arranged to be driven by suitable means connected to the link 14 and as the bed reciprocates, the form 16 carried thereby, coacts with the impression cylinder 17 to print on sheets of paper. The impression cylinder in turn is journallcd for rotation in the side frame members and is provided with a series of grippers 18 which carry the sheets through the impression portion of the cycle and until they are released to delivery grippers at the end of the printing stroke.

During operation of the press, ink is distributed over the form 16 after each impression by means of the inking mechanism indicated by the numeral 19 and which is located below the impression cylinder.

The sheets to be printed are fed to the grippers 18 of the impression cylinder from the top of a pile 21 on the feed table 22 by means of sucker elements 23 carried by the oscill'atable arm 24 and which deposit the sheets on a transfer table 26. The timing is such that the sheets are deposited on the transfer table when the latter is in its sheet receiving position, as indicated by the broken lines in FIGURE 1, and full lines in FIGURE 2, at which time the impression cylinder is rotating in unison with the type bed as the latter moves downward on the impression stroke.

Upon completion of the printing stroke, the cylinder is brought to rest and locked against rotation as the bed returns on its upward or non-printing stroke. During this portion of the cycle the sucker elements 23- return to their sheet engaging position over the pile 21 and the transfer table moves to the full line position of FIGURE 1 to present the leading edge of the sheet to the cylinder grippers.

In the present embodiment, two or more of the sucker elements 23 are arranged in spaced relation on a support member 27 which extends transversely across the top of the pile 21, being mounted at one end in a bracket 28, FIGURE 2, that is pivotally mounted :at 29 to the end of the oscillatable feeder arm 24. The arm 24 in turn is fixed as by a suitable key and clamp means, to the projecting end of a shaft 31, see FIGURE 4, which is rotatably journalled in the side walls of the feeder shaft 37' which is journalled for rotation in the main frame 10. It will be understood that the cam shaft is driven from the main drive mechanism to rotate in clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in FIG- URE 2, and as said cam rotates it imparts relative oscillating motion to the feeder arm 24 in precise timed relation with the movements of the type bed 13 and the impression cylinder 17.

As will be seen more clearly in FIGURE 4, the follower roller 34 is maintained against the cam 36 under constant resilient pressure by means of a torsion bar 38 which is mounted coaxially within the hollow shaft 31. The splined end 39 of said bar is inserted in a corresponding, internally splined disc 41 which is anchored to the feeder frame 32 by means such as the bolt 42 whereas the opposite splined end 43 of the bar is suitably mounted in an internally splined opening provided therefor in the reduced diameter neck portion 44 of the shaft 31. Thus the torsion bar is interconnected between the feeder frame 32 and the shaft 31 and it is to be understood that the torsion bar will be preloaded at assembly so that a predetermined force will be exerted on the lever 33 at all times and which will be adequate to move the feeder arm 24 from the sheet taking position adjacent the pile 21 to the sheet release position adjacent the transfer table 26 as the roller 34 traverses the low part of cam 36.

As previously stated the sucker elements 23 are sup ported on a bracket 23 which is pivotally mounted on the feeder arm 24 so that the suckers can be rocked about the pivot axis 29 relative to the arm 24 when in the sheet taking position as shown in FIGURE 2. Such relative pivoting motion is necessary in order that the sucker elements can effectively separate the top-most sheet from the pile and so that the leading edge of such separated sheet will be raised clear of the front pile guides 46 before the arms 24 start their feeding motion. The guides 46 are secured to the feeder frame and serve to maintain the stack of sheets in vertical alignment on the table 22.

The relative motion of the sucker elements is controlled by means of a cam 47 on the cam shaft 37 which is arranged to actuate a lever 48 rotatably mounted on the terminal end of the feeder arm supporting shaft 31 and which is provided with a cam follower roller 49. Movement of the lever 48 imparts motion to an arm 51 formed integral therewith, the upper end of which has a cam surface 52 adapted to actuate a bell crank 53 pivoted at 54 on the feeder arm 24. One arm of the bell crank is provided with a cam roller 56 having coaction with the cam surface 52 and the other arm is connected to a lever 57 on the bracket 28 by means of a connecting rod 58. The latter rod is movable relative to the feeder arm, being slideably mounted in a boss 59 on said arm, and it carries a coil spring 61 which is confined between the boss 59 and the lever 57 to exert a constant force against said lever tending to move the bracket 28 clockwise about its pivot axis 29 as seen in FIGURE 2.

The roller 49 also is maintained against its cam 47 under the resilient pressure of a spring 62 mounted on the rod 63. One end of this rod is pivotally mounted at 64 on the feeder frame and the other end is slideably inserted through a pivot block 66 on the arm 67 of lever 48. Thus the spring 62 exerts a constant pressure against block 66 tending to move the lever 48 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 2 and a nut 68 is provided on the threaded end of rod 63 to limit the movement of lever 48 when the roller 49 is displaced from the cam 47.

From the descripton thus far it will be evident that as the cam 36 rotates, oscillating motion is imparted to the feeder arm 24 whereby the sucker elements are caused to travel back and forth between the pile 21 and the register table 26. Concurrently with this oscillating motion of the sucker elements, the cam 47 will rock the cam surface 51 away from the roller 56 as the feeder arm arrives over the pile, thereby permitting the spring 61 to rock the sucker elements clockwise about the pivot axis 29 to engage the next succeeding top sheet on the pile. The contour of cam 47 is such that the high part thereof will move away from the roller 49 before the feeder arm starts its forward motion, whereupon the cam surface 52 is caused to engage the roller 56 thereby rocking the bell crank 53 clockwise. This motion in turn is transmitted through the rod 58 to the arm 57 to thereby rock the bracket 28 and the sucker element 23 counterclockwise about the pivot axis 29. This raises the leading edge of the top-most sheet above the front pile guides just prior to the movement of the arm 24 toward the register table and the contour of cam 47 is such that the sucker elements will remain in the raised position during the entire sheet transfer cycle, as indicated by the broken line illustration in FIGURE 2, and until they return to their sheet engaging position over the pile.

It also will be understood that the movement of the sucker elements as they dip down to engage a sheet on the pile is utilized to control the actuation of conventional pile raising mechanism whereby the pile table 22 is raised automatically while the press is in operation to maintain the top of the pile at a constant level. The actual mechanism for performing this operation has not been illustrated since the details thereof are well known, but it is to be understood that such mechanism is located within the feeder frame 32 and thus is movable therewith. Moreover, the vertical position of the pile table 22 may also be adjusted manually when necessary by means of the handle 69 which has cooperative association with the pile raising mechanism.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, the feeder frame 32 constitutes the main support for the entire feeder assembly and it is mounted on the main press frame in such manner that the assembly can be retracted as a unit from an operative position, as indicated by the solid line illustration in FIGURE 1, to an inoperative position which is depicted by the broken line illustration in the same FIGURE. To facilitate such retraction, the feeder frame is connected to the main frame by a pair of

rocker arms

71 and 72, one of which is arranged on each side of the relatively narrow, rearwardly projecting extension 73 of the main frame 10, see FIGURE 4. These arms are each connected to a shaft 74 mounted near the base of the extension 73, about midway of the feeder frame, and they project upwardly through slots 76 and 77 in the base of the feeder frame for pivotal connection with a cross shaft 78 which is mounted in the feeder frame adjacent the upper front corners thereof.

Projecting from the front face of the feeder frame is an arm 79 which has coaction with the

rocker arms

71, and 72 to control the unit as it moves between the operative and inoperative positions. A roller 81 is rotatably mounted on a stud 82 at the end of the arm 79, see FIGURE 5, and this roller is arranged to travel in a track assembly on the top surface of the main frame. As shown in FIGURE 5, the roller 81 is confined between the top surface 83 of the main frame and the laterally projecting flange 84 of a channel member 86 which is secured to the main frame by bolts 87 and which serves to guide the roller in a horizontal path perpendicular to the axis of the impression cylinder 17.

Accordingly, when the assembly is retracted manually by means such as the hand bar 88 in the feeder frame, the rocker arms cause the assembly to move in an arcuate path, indicated by line A, in FIGURE 1, about the axis of the rocker arm supporting shaft 74. During such movement, the roller 81 serves to guide the assembly in a straight path and, due to its travel in the horizontal track assembly as the feeder assembly moves in the arcuate path, it is effective to impart a forward tilt to the assembly while said assembly is being moved and until it comes to rest in either the operative or inoperative position. This is a definite advantage because the forward tilting of the assembly as it is moved, serves to maintain the pile of sheets 21 in proper alignment against the front guides 46 thereby reducing the possibility of their becoming displaced.

It will be noted that the length of the channel member 86 is such that the roller 81 will remain in contact therewith when the unit is fully retracted and thus will coact with said channel member to maintain the assembly in position as it rests on the end of the main frame in the retracted position.

When the feeder assembly is in its operative position, it is essential that it be located accurately with respect to the impression cylinder and that it be firmly fixed against vibration and/or relative movement with respect to the main frame. These two functions are accomplished by means of

adjustable bolts

91 and 92, FIGURES 2 and 7, which are mounted for vertical adjustment in elements of the side frames 11 and 12 respectively and which are arranged to: engage the heads of studs 93 and 94 mounted adjacent to the respective front corners of the feeder frame. The

bolts

91 and 92 are positioned slightly forward with respect to the register position of the coacting studs 93 and 94 and the respective ooacting faces of each of said members is curved or crowned as illustrated. Consequently, when the

bolts

91 and 92 are properly adjusted vertically they produce a wedging effect in conjunction with the studs 93 and 94 when the feeder frame moves to its operative position which is effective to Wedge the feeder frame tightly in position against the top surface of the main frame.

The lateral position of the assembly also is accurately maintained by similar means such as the

adjustable bolts

96 and 97, FIGURE 3, which are disposed horizontally in the side frame members 11 and 12, respectively, and which coact in a similar wedging manner with

stop members

98 and 99 on the feeder frame.

With reference once again to FIGURE 5, it will be noted that a screw 101 is also provided in the channel member 86 adjacent the operative position of the roller 81, and it too is adjustable vertically so as to engage the periphery of roller 81 to thereby maintain the latter in firm contact with the surf-ace 83 of the main frame when the assembly is in the operative position. I

. The respective coacting feeder locating members, i.e. the adjustable bolts and coacting studs, are maintained in intimate contact during operation of the feeder by means of a latch 102 which is fixed to the main frame adjacent the rear edge of the feeder frame. URES 8 and 9 the latch is pivoted on a stud 103 in the main frame and is adapted to coact with a knob 104 on the feeder frame to lock the feeder assembly securely in its operative position. The latch is provided with an arcuate slot 106 to receive the knob 104 as said latch is rotated to its locking position and this slot is preferably formed on a radius eccentric with respect to the pivot axis of the latch so that the top edge of the slot will engage and bear down on the knob as the latch is moved to the latching position as shown, to thereby lock the feeder frame tightly against the main frame.

The knob 104 is also formed eccentric with respect to its supporting stem 107 so that it can be adjusted angular-1y about the axis of said stem to thereby provide the necessary contact relation with the latch in the locked position and it can be secured against displacement in the main frame by means of the set screw 108.

A set screw 109 is also provided in the latch 102 for coaction with the end face of the knob 104, said screw being adjustable axially relative to said knob so as to compensate for any clearance between the knob and the latch member when the latter is in the lock position so that the As shown in FIG- feeder frame will be held tightly against the respective locating members when in the operative position.

As previously mentioned, vacuum or sucker elements 23 are used to separate the sheets from the pile 21 and to advance them to the transfer table 26. Furthermore, although they have not been shown, it is to be understood that conventional air blast nozzles are provided adjacent the front pile guides 46, for flufiing and preliminarily separating each succeeding top sheet on the pile before it is engaged by the sucker elements. The pump or pumps used to provide the necessary vacuum and air pressure for these elements have not been illustrated, but they are prefer-ably located at a remote position on the main frame and thus the respective lines leading thereto must be readily separable to permit movement of the feeder assembly.

Accordingly and as shown in FIGURE 7, the air pressure line 111 leading to the previously mentioned air blast nozzles is connected by a nipple 112 to a port 113 opening into the face 114 of the feeder frame. In a similar manner the vacuum line 116 is connected by a nipple 117 to a port 118 which also terminates in the face 114. The

lines

121 and 122 leading from the air pressure and vacuum pumps, respectively, are in turn connected by

nipples

123 and 124 which open into ports 1-26 and 127 in the face 128 of a bracket 129 on the side frame 12. The respective ports are coaxially aligned when the feeder assembly is in the operative position and composition or

rubber tubes

131 and 132 which are mounted in recessed seats provided in the bracket 129 are effective to make a leak-proof connection between the respective ports when the feeder frame is locked in its operative position. In the operative position the

tubes

131 and 132 are compressed between the respective faces 114 and 128 whereby an effective seal is formed and yet they are readily separable when the assembly is retracted.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the complete feeder assembly, including the sheet engaging elements and the various actuating means associated therewith, is mounted on a unitary frame member 32 and that the assembly, as a unit, is supported for movement between operative and inoperative positions with respect to the impression cylinder. It also will be evident that when theassembly is in the operative position, with the latch 102 locked, [the torsion bar 38 will exert a constant and relatively substantial force against the feeder arm actuating lever 33 whereby to maintain the roller 34 in contact with the cam 36. Since one end of the torsion bar is anchored in the frame 32, it follows that the reactive force of the torsion bar will be exerted against or absorbed by the feeder frame. Consequently when the latch 102 is released, the force of the torsion bar tends to move the feeder assembly in its arcuate path toward the inoperative or retracted position, thereby materially reducing the manual effort required to effect such movement.

Normally, the effect of this force would be lost as soon as the roller 34 moved out of contact with the cam 36. In order to retain the helpful effect of the torsion ibar, however, the arm 33 is provided with a laterally projecting flange 135, see FIGURE 6, which is arranged to engage a roller 136 moimted on the end of a shaft 137 projecting laterally from the main frame 10. Thus as the cam roller 34 leaves the cam 36 upon retraction of the feeder assembly, the flange 135 engages the roller 136 to maintain tension on the torsion bar 38. The roller 136 not only maintains the necessary tension on the torsion bar, but it also is effective to hold the arm 24 in its sheet taking position over the pile 21 when the assembly is retracted so that said arm will not interfere with the pressmans access to the impression cylinderr It also functions to maintain the roller 34 in position for bar acting in a reverse direction functions as a cushion to prevent the assembly from being jammed against the respective positioning elements with a sudden shock. This is an added safety feature whereby damage to the mechanism is avoided and it also assures that a stack of sheets in the feed table will not be jarred out of alignment.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A sheet feeder assembly for a printing press having a main frame and an impression member, said sheet feeder assembly including a feeder frame having a normally horizontal surface thereon for supporting a stack .of sheets to be printed, means mounting said feeder frame on said main frame for movement between operative and inoperative positions with respect to said impression member including a channel member fixed to the main frame, and a coacting follower attached to the feeder frame, means for moving said feeder frame between said operative and inoperative positions, and means connected between the main frame and the feeder frame and having coaction with said channel member and follower to tilt said feeder frame in a forward direction during its movement between said positions.

2. A sheet feeder assembly for a printing press having a main frame and an impression member, said sheet feeder assembly including a feeder frame having a normally horizontal surface thereon for supporting a stack of sheets to be printed, guide means at the front end of said surface for maintaining the stack of sheets in vertical alignment, means mounting said feeder frame for movement between an operative position adjacent the impression member and an inoperative position spaced from said member including a channel member on the main frame and a coacting follower attached to the feeder frame, manual means on the feeder frame for moving said frame and therewith said feeder assembly between said positions, and at least one link member pivotally connected between the main frame and the feeder frame and having coaction with said channel member and follower to tilt the feeder frame in a forward direction during its movement between said positions to thereby maintain the stack of sheets in vertical alignment against said guide means.

3. In a printing press having a main frame and an impression member, of a sheet feeder assembly for said printing press including a feeder frame mounted on the main frame for movement between an operative position adjacent said impression member and an inoperative position spaced from said member, a table on the feeder frame for supporting the sheets to be printed, a rock shaft journalled in said feeder frame, an arm fixed to said rock shaft and having sheet engaging elements at its free end, drive means for oscillating said arm and therewith said elements between a sheet taking position adjacent said table and a sheet release position adjacent said member, said bdI'lVC means including a cam on the main frame and a coacting lever fixed to said rock shaft, a torsion bar mounted coaxially within said rock shaft for maintaining said lever against said cam, said torsion bar having one end connected to the feeder frame and the opposite end connected to said shaft, means adapted to be manually actuated for effecting a retraction of said feeder frame and therewith said feeder assembly from said operative position to said inoperative position wherein said lever is spaced from said cam, and a stop member on the main frame having coaction with the lever to maintain the sheet engaging elements in their sheet taking position during movement of the assembly to its inoperative position, and whereby the force of said torsion bar is exerted against said stop member to thereby facilitate the retraction of the sheet feeder assembly.

4. In a printing press having a main frame and an impression member, of a sheet feeder assembly for said printing press including a feeder frame mounted on the main frame for movement between an operative position adjacent said impression member and an inoperative position spaced from said member, a table on the feeder frame for supporting the sheets to be printed, a rock shaft journalled in said feeder frame, an arm fixed to said rock shaft and having sheet engaging elements at its free end, drive means for oscillating said arm and therewith said elements between a sheet taking position adjacent said table and a sheet release position adjacent said member, said drive means including a cam on the main frame and a coacting lever fixed to said rock shaft, resilient spring means mounted coaxially within said rock shaft for maintaining said lever against said cam, said resilient spring means having one end connected to the feeder frame and the opposite end connected to said shaft, track means provided by the main frame for supporting and guiding the feeder frame to and from said operative and inoperative positions in directions normal to the axis of the impression cylinder, whereby said lever is spaced from said cam when the feeder frame is inoperatively positioned, and a stop member on said main frame for coaction with said lever to maintain the sheet engaging elements in their sheet taking position during movement of the feeder frame and therewith the assembly to its inoperative position, and whereby the force of said resilient spring means is exerted against said stop member to thereby facilitate the retraction of said assembly.

5. In a printing press having a main frame and an impression member, of a sheet feeder assembly for said printing press including a feeder frame mounted on the main frame for movement between an operative position adjacent the impression member and an inoperative position spaced from the impression member, a table on the feeder frame for supporting a stack of sheets, sheet engaging elements mounted on the feeder frame and having operation to convey sheets from said table to said impression member, drive means for actuating said elements including a cam mounted on the main frame and a coacting lever mounted on the feeder frame, resilient spring means connected to said lever and having normal operation to maintain said lever in intimate contact with said cam when the feeder frame is in its operative position, track means provided by the main frame for supporting and guiding the feeder frame .to and from said operative and inoperative positions in directions normal to the axis of the impression member, whereby said lever is spaced from said cam when the feeder frame is inoperatively positioned, and a stop member on the main frame for controlling the position of said lever as the lever moves away from said cam, and whereby the tension in said spring means is exerted against the feeder frame to facilitate retraction of the assembly.

6. In a printing press having a main frame and an impression member, of a sheet feeder assembly for said printing press, said sheet feeder assembly including a feeder frame mounted for movement on the main frame, a table provided by the feeder frame for supporting sheets to be printed, sheet conveying elements mounted on the feeder frame and having operation to convey sheets from the table to the impression member, interconnecting means supporting and guiding the feeder frame for said movement on the main frame to and from operative and inoperative positions in directions normal to the axis of the impression member, drive means provided by the main frame for actuating the sheet conveying elements when the feeder frame is operatively positioned, and adjustable stop means on the feeder frame and on the said main frame for locating the feeder frame accurately in its operative position.

7. In a printing press having a main frame and an impression member, of a sheet feeder assembly for said printing press including a feeder frame mounted on the main frame for movement between an operative position adjacent said impression member and an inoperative position spaced from said member, a table on the feeder 9 frame for supporting the sheets to be printed, air blast means for preliminarily separating the top sheet on said table, sheet conveying means on the feeder frame including suction elements for engaging the separated sheets and conveying them rfirom said table to the impression member, an air pump and a vacuum pump for supplying air and suction to said air blast means and suction elements respectively, said pumps being located at a remote position on the main frame, means on the main frame and feeder frame, respectively, and having interconnecting relation for supporting and guiding the feeder frame to and from said operative and inoperative positions in directions normal to the axis of the impression cylinder, and automatically separable connecting means 10 including a member on the main firame and coacting means on the feeder frame for automatically connecting and disconnecting the air eblast means and the suction elements with their respective pumps upon movement of the feeder assembly between said positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,567,362 Dudley Dec. 29, 1925 2,139,228 Hale Dec. 6, 1938 2,912,928 Edwards Nov. 17, 1959 2,991,072 Dietrich July 4, 1961

Claims

1. A SHEET FEEDER ASSEMBLY FOR A PRINTING PRESS HAVING A MAIN FRAME AND AN IMPRESSION MEMBER, SAID SHEET FEEDER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A FEEDER FRAME HAVING A NORMALLY HORIZONTAL SURFACE THEREON FOR SUPPORTING A STACK OF SHEETS TO BE PRINTED, MEANS MOUNTING SAID FEEDER FRAME ON SAID MAIN FRAME FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN OERATIVE AND INOPERATIVE POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID IMPRESSION MEMBER INCLUDING A CHANNEL MEMBER FIXED TO THE MAIN FRAME, AND A COACTING FOLLOWER ATTACHED TO THE FEEDER FRAME, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FEEDER FRAME BETWEEN SAID OPERATIVE AND INOPERATIVE POSITIONS, AND MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN THE MAIN FRAME AND THH FEEDER FRAME AND HAVING COACTION WITH SAID CHANNEL MEMBER AND FOLLOWER TO TILT SAID FEEDER FRAME IN A FORWARD DIRECTION DURING ITS MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS.