US636769A

US636769A - Paper-feeding machine.

Info

Publication number: US636769A
Application number: US68793698A
Authority: US
Inventors: Talbot C Dexter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1898-08-06
Filing date: 1898-08-06
Publication date: 1899-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1916-11-14

Description

Patented Nov. l4, I899.

T. C. DEXTER.

(Application, filed. Aug. '6, 1898.)

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(No' Model.)

I ATTORNEYS" n: "cams PETERS co wumuma. wnsmns'rou, n. c.

Patented Nov. [4, I899.-

L t e e h S s t e e h s 8 c. m m RA E 6 M. T XGM EN Dm m n 0 m TRH m A P No- 636,769. Patented Nov. l4, I899. T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filedlAug. 6, 1898.) (No odel.) 8 Sheets-$heet 3.

o WITNESSES:

W to

Q YWOZ BY ATTORN EYJ NE mums PEYERS 50.. Puma-Lune WASHINGTON a c Patented Nov. I4, I899.

8 5 mm 9 n E M. T w X Em Dom .E Di m WITNESSES ATTORNEYS No. 636,769. Patented Nov. [4, I899. T. 0. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 6, 1898.)

No. 636,769. Patented Nov.'l4, I899. T. 6. m-zxmz.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Lpplicaflon filed Aug. 6, 1898.) (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Shoat 7.

28 INVENTOR 526M 0i 7%.

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES:

No. 636,769. Pate h ted Nov. [4, I899.

' T. c. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(No Modal.) 8 Shoots-Shut 8.

I INVENTOR, $4M 0.

I BY MW ATTORNEN UNITED STAT S PATENT GEFICE.

TALBOT o. EXTER, OF PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,769, dated November 14, 1899. Application filed August 6, 1898. Serial No- 687,936. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TALBOT O. DEXTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pearl River, county of Rockland,State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Feeding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to simplify, cheapen, and improve. the structure and operation of that type of paper-feeding machine which is adapted to separate the successive sheets in an adjustably-supported pile and feed them forward to a paper-folder, rulingmachine, printingpress, or other machine which is to operate upon the sheets.

The features of importance in my present application are improvements upon the machine covered by application for patent filed by me June 24,1898,Serial N0.684,547,in which machine I employ feeding-off instruments and sheet-separating instruments mounted upon a common carriage, which is reciprocated forward and back above the pile and raised and lowered at the limit of the forward and backward movement, respectively, the pile of sheets and lower separator member being so arranged with respect tothe feeding-off and separating instru ments upon the carriage that the feeding-off and separating instruments will engage the sheet successively or alternately The reciprocating carriage is operatively mounted upon a horizontal track-bar, which is intermittently elevated and lowered by suitable mechanism to support the feeding-off and separating instruments in operative relation to the sheets during the forward movement of the carriage and out of operative relation during the backward movement of the carriage. Said machine is also provided with a single automatic tripping device actuated by the sheets fed off and adapted to arrest the forward movement of the carriage, and consequently the forward movement of the separating and feeding instruments, when the sheet reaches registered position.

The. machine covered by my present application employs feeding-off and sheet-separatinginstruments which are independently controlled by independent controlling devices arranged to be successively actuated bya pass:

ing sheet to independently and successively arrest the operation of the feeding-off and sheet-separatinginstruments; Iconsiderthis feature of the greatest importance, for reasons which will appear from the following detailed description of the structure and operation, and I claim such feature to be broadly new in my machine. -I prefer to mount the independent feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments upon a common carriage, which is elevated at the limit of the forward stroke and lowered at the limit of the backward stroke, as in the machine covered by my application, Serial No. 684,347, above referred to, and I support independent sheet-actuated tripping devices, one behind the other, from the vertically-movable track bar or frame, which supports the carriage in proper relation to independent devices mounted upon the carriage and controlling, respectively, the feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments.

In addition to the independent control of the feeding-off and separating instruments for arresting their operations successively I provide means for successively bringing said instruments into operation upon a sheet. This result is accomplished in the machine covered in my above-named application, Serial No. 684,347, by arranging the normal working level of the top of the pile lower than j the plane of the separator-beds, which arrangement is also found in my present machine; but I do not employ such arrangement to effect the successive engagement of the feeding-off and separating instruments With the sheet, because it is objectionable to have .the upper separator member lowered into its working plane before it reaches the lower separator member on account of the extreme wear to which the forward edge of upper member and rear edge of lower member are subjected by such an arrangement. In my present machine I provide means for first lowering the carriage part way and supporting it during the first part of its forward movement with the feeding-off instrument only in operative position (the upper separator member being held above its working plane) and then loweringzit farther and supporting it in the lower plane during the remainder of its forward movement with the separating instrument in operative position. The second drop or downward movement of the carriage is so timed with respect to the forward movement that the upper separator member will be dropped into engagement with the sheet upon the lower separator, at which moment (under the preferred adjustment of the parts) the feedingoff instruments will have been tripped and moved out of engagement with the sheet.

The independent controlling devices may be of any approved construction capable of independently arresting the operation of the feeding-off and separating instruments; but I prefer to employtwo independent rack-bars longitudinally movable upon the carriage and controlling, respectively, the operation of the feeding-off and separating instruments and independent pawls controlled by trip-fingers actuated by the passing sheets, the pawls being adapted to engage the rack-bars for moving them upon the carriage. In the preferred form of machine shown in the accompanying drawings the feeding-off instruments are actuated by springs for throwing them into engagement with the sheet, (when the carriage is lowered into its initial feeding plane,) and their operation upon the sheet is arrested by the automatic rack-bar, which elevates them out of engagement with the sheet. The upperseparator member is practically rigid with the carriage, and its operation upon the sheet is arrested by the action of the automatically controlled rack bar, which disengages the operating-arm from the carriage and stops the forward movement of the carriage.

Like the machine covered by my application Serial No. 684:,347, my present machine may be used either with the separator instru ments in combination with the feeding-oif instruments or with the feeding-off instruments alone as a simple automatically-controlled push-finger machine, the separator instruments being removable for this purpose. The upper separator members are also adjustable, as in said machine. I employ two sets of feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments arranged transversely of the machine, as in the old forms of my machines, one feeding-off instrument and one sheet-separating instrument being mounted upon each of the two longitudinally-reciprocating carriages. By this arrangement the sheets are accurately squared and registered at their forward edge before being fed away from the machine by the delivery mechanism.

My machine consists of other features of novelty,which will hereinafter be pointed out, together with the above-enumerated main features, with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then specified with regard to their patentable novelty in the annexed claims.

In said drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are longitudinal vertical sectional elevations of a paper-feeding machine embodying my improvements and showing three positions of the essential parts. Figs. l, 5, and 6 are enlarged detail perspective views of the main parts of said machine. Fig.7 is a rear elevation, partly in transverse section, of parts of the same mechanism. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing parts of the carriage, the supporting frame or track, and controlling devices of the advancing and separating means. Figs!) and 10 are perspective views of the lower separator member, Fig. .0 also showing the independent sheet-actuated trips and sheet-con fining shoe or guide.

In the drawings I have shown only the essential parts of the improvements claimed as novel in my present application; but it must be understood that the structures illustrated and described are employed in combination with the essential elements of a paper-feeding machine which is adapted to separate the successive sheets from a pile and feed them from the machine to the folder, printing-press, or other machine which is to act upon the sheets. Such a machine is illustrated in my Patent No. 623,769, dated April 25, 1899, and reference may be made to said patent for the details of a complete machine to which my present improvements may be applied.

The machine-frame may be of any suitable construction to properly support the mechanisms hereinafter described. I have shown only parts of the frame in the accompanying drawings, of which parts, 1 represents one of the side frames; 44, are brackets; (5, the transversely-extending air-pipe rigidly secured in the side frames, and 7 one of a pair of brackets rigidly clamped upon and supported by the air-pipe. The brackets '7are adjustable upon the air-pipe 6 transversely of the machine and support the feeder-carriages and operating mechanisms, as hereinafter set forth.

15 represents an adj ustably-supported pile of sheets, a: being the normal Working height of the top of the pile. The supporting-table for the pile (not shown) may be of any known construction, provided with automatic elevating mechanism for retaining the top of the pile at the proper level.

The upper face of each of the brackets is formed with a socket 20, in which is removably supported the lower rubber retardingblock 23 of the separator. The lower sheetretarding member 23 comprises, preferably, two outer oblong strips or pieces of soft rubber 23 and a central oblong strip or piece 23 of a harder rubber, said strips or pieces being arranged parallel with each other longitudinally of the machine. This lower separator orsheetretarding member is an improvement upon and works on the same principle as the sheet-separating device covered broadly in the patent of James J. Parker, No. 615,889, granted December 13, 1898, for sheet-separator for paper-feeding machines, in which the lower separator or sheet-retarding member is 'provided with lines or strips of material of an inferior frictional quality extending over or through its surface parallel to the direction of feed. The object of this improved structure of lower separator is to utilize the fine frictional capacity of soft rubber to hold back the chance under sheet-or sheets from the top sheet (which is moving under the action of the upper separator member) and at the same time render the friction of the lower separator member sufficiently inferior to that of the upper movable separator member to avoid interference with the feed of the sheet from the machine under the action of the upper separator member. The central piece or strip of harder rubber also serves as a slide or guide upon which the top sheet slides in passing out of the machine, and it prevents the forward edge of the top sheet from adhering to the side pieces or strips of soft rubber of the lower separator, thus avoiding tearing or rumpling of the sheet. As before stated, the lower separator members are supported with their upper working faces in a plane slightlyhigher than the normal working plane of the pile of sheets, as shown in the drawings.

25 represents one of a series of milled or knurled wheels or rollers keyed to a constant-ly-driven shaft (not shown) and supported thereby at the forward edge of the pile of sheets. The peripheries of the milled or knurled wheels or rollers are a little to the rear of the rear edge of the lowerseparator members and serve to elevate the forward edges of the sheets as they are pushed forward by the feeding-off devices to cause the sheets to pass to the separator pads or beds.

27 are small air-jet pipes having flattened outlets and supported at the rear edges of the separator-beds to assist the sheets in passing freely to the separator-beds and preventing the forward edges of the sheets being jammed against the separator-beds. The j et-pipes 27 are connected with the main air-pipe 6 through a suitable rubber-hose connection, which is not shown.

30 is the main operating-shaft of the machine,'journaled in suitable bearings in the side frames and extending transversely across the machine above the feeding and separating devices. Each of the brackets 7, which are adj ustably mounted upon the air-pipe 6, has formed integral with it an upwardly-extending guide-frame 31, which embraces the main shaft 30 and is provided with a bearing 32, through which the shaft 30 extends. One face of the guide-frame 31 is formed with a Vertical channel, in which is supported the Vertically-reciprocating slide-bar 35, formed with an elongated slot, through which the shaft 30 passes.

35 is a lug formed at the upper end of the slide 35.

35 is a vertical channel or groove cut in the inner face of slide 35, (adjacent to the face of guide-frame 31,) and 36 is a plate or block fitting in said channel or groove and adj ustable vertically therein.

36 is a pin or bolt riveted in the block 36 and projecting therefrom through an elongated slot 35 of the slide 35 and supporting a journal sleeve or collar 39, upon which is freely j ournaled an antifriction-roller 38, confined between a flange of the sleeve and the face of slide 35. A clamping-nut 40 is screwed upon the outer threaded end of pin or bolt 36, engaging the sleeve or collar 37 and clamping it against the face of slide 35 and the block 36 against the inner face of the groove or channel 35 of slide 35. Extending from upper end of plate 36 is a right-angled lug 36 having a slotted or forked end, in which engages the screw or bolt 37, which is threaded into an opening formed in lug 35 The screw or bolt 37 has an integral collar 37 adjacent to its head, the forked end of lug 36 fitting between the head and collar of the bolt.

41 is a cam secured to the shaft 30 by setscrew 42. The cam 41 is located in close proximity to the face of the slide 35 and is in constant engagement with the antifriction-roller 38 for the purpose of raising and lowering the slide 35. By loosening the nut 40 the screw 37 can be screwed to the right or left to adjust plate 36 and supported roller 38 up or down upon slide 35. When theadjustment has been accomplished, nut 40 is again tightened to clamp plate 36 in place. With this adjustment the operative position of the carriage with relation to the pile can be regulated, as will be clearly understood, the carriage being allowed to descend into a lower working plane by moving plate 36 upon slide 35 and being supported in a higher working plane when the plate 36 is moved down on slide 35. This adjustment is necessary to accommodate upper separator members of different thicknesses, and it enables the operator to maintain the machine in first-class working order, as the carriage can be lowered slightly as the separator members become worn.

The cam 41 is of peculiar shape and construction, as will now be explained. Nearly one-half of the working periphery of the cam constitutes the high portion 41*, which supports the frame (upon which the carriage reciprocates) in its highest position when the roll 38 is in engagement with it. 41 is the lowest portion of the cam, which allows the carriage-supporting frame to rest in its lowest position during the latter part of the forward feeding stroke of the carriage, and 41 is the intermediate portion of the cam, which supports the frame in its intermediate position during the first part of the forward feeding movement of the carriage. 43 is an adjustable segment-plate concentric with and forming part of the intermediate portion 41 ofthe cam. 44 is a curved slot cut through

cam

41, and 43 is a bolt passing through and working in slot 44 and threaded into an opening in segment-plate 43 and adapted to clamp the segment-plate in any desired adjusted position upon the cam for the purpose of lengthening or shortening the intermediate part 41 of the cam, and thereby regulating the time of the second drop of the carriage with relation to the forward feeding motion. The ne- IIO cessity of such an adj ustable'cam will be clear from the description of the operation of the machine hereinafter given.

is a horizontal track-bar secured to the lower end of the vertically-reciprocating slide 35 by means of bolts a6. The horizontal trackbar 45 is of dovetailed cross-section and is formed in one face with a channel 47, in which fits a longitudinally-adjustable bracket 48, secured by means of a set-screw or bolt 49, passing through a longitudinal slot of the bracket and threaded into a suitable opening in the track-bar. The bracket 48 supports the tripping fingers and pawls of the automatic tripping devices, as hereinafter explained. The horizontal track-bar 45 has secured to its rear end a stop-plate 45, which is adapted to engage the rear end of the lower rack-bar, hereinafter referred to, at the limit of the backward stroke of the carriage for shifting said rack-bar into normal position to allow the sheet-ad van cing means to move into operative position in readiness for the next forward feeding operation. This will be clearer from the description of the arrangement and operation of the advancing means.

is one of a pair of longitudinally-reciprocating and vertically-moving feeder-carriages, which comprises a plate or bar formed on one face with horizontal flanges 56'and 57, arranged to constitute a dovetailed groove, in which the horizontal track-bar 45 engages for supporting the carriage in its horizontal reciprocation. The carriage can be adjusted vertically with relation to the pile of sheets by means of the screw 36, above referred to.

58 is a wear strip or shim inserted between the track-bar 45 and the upper flange 57 of the carriage, said wear strip or shim being confined by the screw-bolts 59 and nuts 59. At the lower edge of a downwardly-projecting arm 55 of the carriage is formed a horizontal plate or flange 60, having a vertical slit 60 out centrally in it to divide it from the bottom part way up to the point of attachment of the arm 55 to the carriage.

61 is a dovetailed groove formed in the lower slitted face of flange 60 of the arm of the carriage.

62 is the oblong body or soft-rubber block secured to the backing-plate 63, which is formed with a dovetailed tongue or rib 63, adapted to engage and slide longitudinally in the groove 61 of the divided flange or plate 60. The soft-rubber body or block 62 upon its metal backing constitutes the upper movable member of the sheet-separating device.

64: is a threaded bolt passing through a suitable threaded opening in the divided portions of the depending arm of the carriage for clamping the split or divided plate 63 upon the backing of the separator-block to secure it in any desired longitudinally-adjusted position.

65 is a bracket-arm secured to and extending rearwardly from the carriage 55. The bracket-arm 65 is formed at its forward end with a vertical slot 65, through which passes a tap-bolt 66, which is seated in a suitable threaded opening in one face of the carriage 55. By reason of the said bolt 66 and slot 65 it will'be observed that the bracket-arm 65 (carrying the feeding-01f instruments) may be vertically adjusted with relation to the feeder-carriage and separator carried thereby, the bracket-arm 65 forming practically a con tinuation of the carriage.

70 and 71- are feeding-off instruments or fingers, each of which carries in its forward bifurcated end a rigidly-clamped block or roll 72 of soft rubber and is formed with a journal-sleeve 73, journaled upon aboltor pin 74, projecting from one face of the bracketarm 65. Extending upwardly from each of the journal-sleeves 73 is a heel 75, which is engaged by a lug 76, extending from asleeve 77, adjustably clamped upon the end of a longitudinally-movable rod 78, supported in bracket-arms 79, extending from one face of the bracket-arm 65.

is a yoke adjustably clamped upon the rod 78 and provided with a pin 81, which projects through a longitudinal slot 82,formed in the bracket-arm 65.

84 is a longitudinally-extending rod journaled at its rear end upon the pin 81 and at its forward end to the downwardly-extending arm 85 of the bell-crank lever 85 86, which is jonrnaled at 87 upon one face of the reciprocating carriage.

88 is an antifriction-roller journaled in the end of arm 86.

135 is a longitudinally-moving rack-bar supported upon the flange 136, projecting from one face of the reciprocating carriage 55, the rack-bar being formed with a longitudinal channel 135, in which a flanged plate 137 engages, the plate 137 being secured to the flange 136 of the carriage by means of screws 138. The rack-bar 135 is formed upon its upper edge adjacent to its rear end with a curved recess or depression 135, in which the antifriction-roller 88 is adapted to engage to allow the feed-fingers 70 and 71 to be moved downwardly by their springs into engagement with the top of the pile of sheets when the carriage is in itsinitial intermediate lowered position. The position of the rack-bar in the carriage is automatically controlled by a sheet-actuated cont-rolling device hereinafter described.

Each of the feeding-01f fingers is given a spring tendency to move into engagement with the top of the pile of sheets by means of a spiral spring 100, mounted upon the bolt or pin 74 and one end engaging the journalsleeve of the feed-finger, while the other end engages an adjustable collar 101, mounted upon the end of the bolt 74. The arrangement of the spring-pressed feed-fingers and their controlling rack-bar just described is similar to the structure of the same devices covered by an application filed by me December 14, 1807, Serial No. 661,818, for improvements in paper-feeding machines, and I do not claim this structure except in certain novel combinations not shown in said application.

is a rock-shaft journaled in suitable bearings in the side frames of the machine and extending across the machine. The rockshaft 90 receives a rocking motion from the main rotating shaft through any suitable means. (Not shown.)

Depending from and keyed to the rockshaft 90 is a long carriage-operatin g rock-arm 95, having journaled to its lower end an arm 96, formed with a heel 97, engaged by the spiral spring 98, which is connected at its other end to a pin 99, projecting from one face of rock-arm 95. The spring 98 keeps the forward end of the pivoted arm 96 pressed downwardly into engagement with a notch or recess formed in the upper edge of the carriage 55. The walls of the recess 100 form the forward shoulder 100 and the rear shoulder 100, with which an antifriction-roll 100 engages for moving the carriage forward and back. The roll 100 which is shown particularly in Figs. 5, 6, and 8, is elongated for the purpose which will presently appear. The roll 100 is journaled freely upon a pin 102, mounted in the forward end of the springactuated operating-arm 96, the spring 98 holding the roll 100 normallyin engagement with the notch 100*.

is a rack-bar formed with elongated slots 106, through which pass screws 107 for confining the rack-bar in position upon one face of the carriage 55.

108 is a flange formed integral with one face of the carriage 55 for assisting in sup: porting the rack-bar 105. The rack-bar 105 is adapted to move longitudinally upon the carriage within certain limits for the purpose presently to be explained. The upper serrated or toothed edge of the rack-bar105 is approximately on a level with the upper edge of the carriage 55. The rear end of the rack bar is formed with an incline or cam 105*, which rests normally just below the antifriction-roll 100 of the operating-arm 96. The rack-bar forms one of the essential elements of the automatic tripping devices which control the feeding operation of the carriage.

I will now proceed to describe the other parts of this automatic controlling mechanism.

As above stated, the bracket 48 is secured to the track-bar 45, so as to be adjustable thereon longitudinally of the machine. The bracket 48 is formed with arms a, b, and c. Journaled upon the arm Ct is a pawl 140, sup ported normally in position to engage the longitudinally-movable rack-bar 105. Journaled upon the arm I) is a pawl 141, supported normally in position to engage the rack-bar 135. Journaled upon the arm e and the horizontal extension 0 of said arm are the sheet-actuated tripping-fingers 142 and 143, which are journaled at 142 and 143, one behind the other, with their lower ends resting in the longitudinal groove or slot 4, formed in the casting which supports the .lower sheet-retarder or separator member and in position to be engaged and tripped successively by a passing sheet. Each of the tripping-fingers 142 and 143 is preferably provided with a small weight 142 and 143, as shown in Fig. 9, and each is formed with a rearwardly-projecting heel 142 or 143. Pivoted to the heel 142 of finger 142 is an upwardly-extending rod 144, which is pivoted at its upper end to a pin 145, extending from one face of the pawl 140. A stop-pin 146 upon arm 0 of bracket 48 engages the heel of tripping-finger 142 for limiting the movement of the finger and connected pawl. By this arrangement it will be observed that when finger 142 is raised by a passing sheet the pawl 140 will be lowered to engage rack-bar 105, said rack-bar moving forward under the pawl with the feedercarriage. Pivoted to the heel 143 of finger 143 is a rod 147, which projects upwardly through an ear or lug 148, extending from one face of pawl 141. The rod 147 is provided with a nut or collar 147, which engages the ear or lug 148 and normally supports the pawl 141 in raised position. Supported upon the upper end of rod 147 is a small spiral spring 149, which is confined against the ear or lug 148 by means of an adjustable nut or collar '150. By this arrangement it will be observed that the tripping-finger 143 supports pawl 141 normally out of engagement with rack-bar 135, but that the pawl will be moved'into engagement with the rack-bar when the tripping-finger is raised by a sheet of paper.

By adjusting the bracket 48 longitudinally upon the track-bar 45 it will be observed that the automatic controlling mechanisms can be -tripped sooner or later by the sheet passing This adjustment is necfrom the machine. essary in regulating the relative operation of the several devices in the machine.

As above stated, my improvements are preferably employed as parts of the machine which is illustrated and described in one of my above-named applications, in which two sets of feeding-01f devices and two sets of separating devices are arranged transversely of the machine. I have described but one set of each of these devices; but it will be clear that both sets are substantial duplicates, and from the above description, taken in connection with the applications above referred to, the structure and arrangement of my improved machine will be fully understood. It will of course be clear that two rock-arms 95, which operate arms 96, must be provided, one for each feeder-carriage, and two slides 35, carrying track-bars 45, with their operating rotary cams upon the main shaft 30. The other mechanisms described are also duplicated,

suitable means serving to impart the rocking 0 and adapted to confine the sheets against too great an upward movement when acted upon by the upward air-blasts.

I will now describe the operation of my improved machine.

The carriages supporting the upper separating members and feeding-off instruments are reciprocated forward and back above the pile by the engagement of antifriction-rolls 101 of operating-arms 96 with the

shoulders

100 and 100 of the feeder-carriages. During the backward movement of the carriages the track-bars 45 are supported in their highest plane by reason of engagement of antifriction-roll 38 with high portion 41 of cam 41, and the feeding-off and separating instruments will be supported out of engagement with thepile. Atthebeginningofthe forwardfeeding motion of the carriages the trackbars are dropped to their intermediate plane by engagement of roll 38 with intermediate portion 41 of cam 41, and during the latter portion of the forward-feeding motion the track-bars are sn pported in their lowest planes by reason of engagement of roll 38 with low portion 41 of cam 41. Fig. 1 represents one of the track-bars in its intermediate plane, at which moment the carriage is starting forward with the feeding-off instruments in engagement with the sheet and the upper separator member above the plane and in rear of the lower separator member. With the parts in this position the sheet is fed forward from the pile to the lower separator-beds, the knurled or milled wheels 25 and air-blast pipes 27 serving to elevate the forward edge of the sheet. As soon as the forward edge of the sheet reaches the separator-bed the tripping-fingers 143 will be engaged and tripped and the pawls 141 will be lowered into engagement with rack: bars 135 to hold said rack-bars against further forward movement. The carriages continue forward, causing relative movement between them and rack-bars 135, the result of which is the elevation of the feed-fingers from the sheet in a manner easily understood. If the sheet started forward unevenly from any cause, the feeding-off fingers upon the different carriages will not be tripped at the same moment, but will be thrown out of operation successively by the independent trips as the points of the front edge of the sheet in front of them reach the trip-fingers. This results in the first squaring and registering of the sheet before the separators have come into operation. lVhen the feeding-off fingers upon both carriages have been tripped, the upper separator members will be in position above theseparator-beds. Atthismomentthetrackbars will be lowered to their lowest plane of operation, dropping the upperseparator members upon the sheet on the lower separatorbeds. The carriages continue forward and the upper separator members move the top sheet forward (the separator-beds holding back any chance underlying sheets) till the front edge of the sheet reaches and trips the forward tripping-fingers 142, which allows pawls 140 to drop into engagement with the rack-bars 105 for holding said rack-bars against further forward movement. The carriages continue on foramoment,when the operating-arms 96 will be disengaged from the carriages and the forward movement of the carriages and upper separating members will bearrested. Theoperating-armsfifiaredisengaged from the carriage by the cam ends 105 of rackbars 105 being forced into engagement with the antifriction-rollers of operating-arms 96 and lifting them out of engagement with the notch formed in the carriage. It will of course be clearthat the transverselyarranged separator-controlling tripping-fingers 142 are independent and will be tripped by the forward edge of the sheet at different moments if the sheet is still a little uneven. This throws the separators out of operation separately and effects a second squaring and registering of the sheet. Fig. 2 shows the position of the parts when the separators are tripped. The operating-arms continue forward to the end of their stroke, the rollers 100 rolling upon the upper faces or edges of the carriages. A moment after the sheetseparating devices have been arrested with the forward movement of the carriages the track-bars are elevated by the high portion 41 of cam 41 coming into engagement with the roll 38. The elevation of the track-bars also elevates the carriages, feeding-off and upper separating members, the tripping devices, and sheet-guide 155, leaving the separated sheet in registered position in readiness to be fed from the machine by suitable sheet delivery mechanism (not shown) such, for instance, as the well-known droproller mechanism. The operating-arms 96 after reaching the limit of their forward stroke move backward till they again engage recesses 100 of the carriages, when their springs 98 force rolls 100 down into engagement with recesses 100 against the incline or cam ends 105 of the rack-bars 105,the springpressure being sufficient to cause the rackbars 105 to move forward slightly to their normal position, the pawls 140 having been elevated from engagement with the rack-bars by the downward movement of tripping-fingers 142 when they were elevated out of engagement with the sheet. Fig. 3 shows this position of the parts. As soon as rolls 100 are in engagement with recesses 100 the carriages will be moved back with the rock-arms to their rearmost position,when the rear ends of rack-bars 135 will be brought into engagement with stops 45 and shifted forwardly on the carriages, bringing the recesses 135 into engagement with friction-rollers 88 of bellcranks S5 86 to allow the springs of feedingoff instruments to move the instruments downward into operative position upon the carriages. The track-bars 45 are then lowered to their intermediate plane and another feeding operation takes place, the parts starting in the positien shown in Fig. 1, as already explained.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, feeding-01f and sheet-separating instruments opcrating upon the pile, and independent automatically-controlled devices actuated by the sheet fed off and adapted to independently arrest the operation of the feeding-off and separating devices, substantially as set forth.

2. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for'a pile of sheets, a reciprocating feeding-carriage, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means supported by said carriage, an automatic sheetactuated tripping device arresting the operation of the advancing means, and an independent automatic sheet-actuated tripping device arresting the operation of the sheetseparating means, substantially as set forth.

3. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with suitable feeding-off instruments, means for simultaneously moving the feeding-off and separating instruments forward and back over the pile, and independent automatic controlling devices actuated by the sheet fed off to independently arrest the operation of the feeding-off and separating devices, substantially as set forth.

4. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments operating upon the pile, means for bringing the feeding-off and separating instruments into operation upon a sheet successively or alternately, and independent automatically-controlled devices actuated by the sheet fed off and adapted to independently arrest the operation of the feeding-oif and separating devices, substantially as set forth.

5. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments operating upon the pile, means for raising the feeding-off and separating instruments at the limit of their forward stroke, and lowering said instruments at the limit of their backward stroke, and independent automaticallycontrolled devices actuated by the sheet fed oif and adapted to independently arrest the operation of the feeding-off and separating devices, substantially as set forth.

6. In a papenfeeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a reciprocating feeding-carriage, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means supported by said carriage, an automatic sheetactuated tripping device arresting the operation of the advancing means, and an independent automatic sheet-actuatedtripping device arresting the operation of the sheet-separating means and one of said automatic trip ping devices arresting the forward movement of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

7. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a reciprocating feeding-carriage, sheet-advanc-' ing means and sheet-separating means supported by said carriage, an automatic sheetactuated tripping device arresting the operation of the advancing means, and an independent automatic sheet-actuated' tripping device arresting the operation of the sheetseparating means and stopping the forward movement of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

8. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments operating upon the pile, and independent automatically-controlled devices actuated by the sheet fed off and adapted to independently arrest the operation of the feeding-off and separating devices, one of said tripping devices raising the sheet-moving instrument out of engagement With the pile, substantially as set forth.

9-. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a reciprocatingfeeding-carriage,sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means supported by said carriage, an automatic sheet-actuated tripping device adapted to elevate the sheetadvancing means out of engagement with the sheet, and an independent automatic sheetactuated tripping device adapted to arrest the forward movement of the carriage to thereby arrest the operation of the separating means, substantially as set forth.

10. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a reciprocatingfeeding-carriage,sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means supported by said carriage, an automatic sheet-actuated tripping device adapted to elevate the sheetadvancing means out of engagement with the sheet, and an independent automatic sheetactuated tripping device adapted to arrest the forward movement of the carriage to thereby arrest the operation of the separating means, and means for raising and lowering the carriage, substantially as set forth.

11. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments operating upon the pile, and independent automatically-controlled devices actuated by the sheet fed off and adapted to independently arrest the operation of the feeding-off and separating devices, said independent devices being arranged to be successively tripped by a passing sheet, substantially as set forth.

12. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments operating upon the pile, and independent automatically-controlled devices actuated by the sheet fed off and adapted to independently arrest the operation of the feeding-elf and separating devices, said independent devices being arranged one behind the other longitudinally of the machine to be successively tripped by a passing sheet, substantially as set forth.

13. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, two sets of independently-controlled feeding-off and sheet-separating devices arranged transversely of the pile, and two sets of independent sheet-actuated controlling; devices also arranged transversely of the pile, each controlling device of each set being adapted to independently arrest the operation of one of the feeding-off or separating devices, substantially as set forth.

14. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means supported upon said carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage above the pile, and means for elevating the carriage at the limitofits forward movement, lowering it part way at the limit of its backward movement, supporting it in partly-lowered position during first part of its forward movement, and then lowering it to its lowest position and supporting it in said lowest position during remainderof its forward stroke, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a feeder-carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage forward and backward, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means mounted upon said carriage and so arranged that the advancing means will operate when the carriage is moving forward in a relatively high plane while the sheet-separating means will operate only when the carriage is in a lower plane, and means for elevating and lowering the carriage arranged to first lower the carriage part way and support it during the first part of its forward movement with the advancing means only in operation, then lower it farther and support it in its lower plane during the remainder of its forward movement with the sheet-separating means in operation, and finally elevate it and support it in elevated position during'the backward movement of the carriage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

16. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a feeder-carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage forward and backward, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means mounted upon said carriage and so arranged that the advancing means will operate when the carriage is moving forward in a relatively high plane while the sheet-separating means will operate only when the carriage is in a lower plane, means for elevating and lowering the carriage arranged to first lower the carriage part way and support it during the first part of its forward movement with the advancing means only in operation, then lower it farther and support it in its lower plane during the remainder of its forward movement with the sheet-separating means in operation, and finally elevate it and support it in elevated position during the back ward movement of the carriage and means for arresting the operation of the sheet-advancing means before the sheet-separating means start to operate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

1?. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means supported upon said carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage above the pile, independent controlling devices adapted to independently arrest the operation of the sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means, and means for elevating the carriage at the limit of its forward movement, lowering it part way at the limit of its backward movement, supporting it in partly-lowered position during first part of its forward movement, and then lowering it to its lowest position and supporting it in said lowest position during remainder of its forward stroke, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

18. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a lower separator or sheet-retarding bed arranged in a horizontal plane slightly higher than the normal working plane of the top of the pile of sheets, a feeder-carriage, means for reciprocating the feeder-carriage, sheetadvancing means and sheet-separating means mounted upon said carriage, and means for elevating and lowering the carriage arranged to firstlower the carriage part way and sup port it during the first part of its forward movement with the advancing means only in operative relation to a sheet, then lower it farther and support it in its lower plane during the remainder of its forward movement with the sheetseparating means in operation, and finally elevate it and support it in elevated position during the backward movement of the carriage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

19. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support fora pile of sheets, atrackbar, a carriage supported upon said trackbar, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means mounted upon the carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage upon the track-bar, a slide supporting the track-bar, and a cam engaging the slide and formed with a high portion, a low portion and an intermediate portion, substantially as aud for the purpose set forth.

20. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a trackbar, a carriage supported upon said trackbar, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means mounted upon the carriage,

means for reciprocating the carriage upon the track-bar, and independent sheet-actuated controlling devices adapted to independently arrest the operation of the advancing means and separating means, a slide supporting the track-bar, and a cam engaging the slide and formed with a high portion, a low portion and an intermediate portion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

21. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a feeder-carriage supporting feeding instruments, a Vertically-movable frame supporting said carriage, a cam, and means of engagement between the frame and cam, said engaging means being adjustably mounted upon the vertically-movable frame for regulating the operative position of the carriage supported thereby, substantially as set forth.

22. In a paper-feedin g machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a feeder-carriage supporting feeding instruments, a vertically-movable frame supporting said carriage, a cam, a support adjustably mounted upon the vertically-movable frame, an antifriction-roller mounted upon said support, and means for adjusting the support and antifriction-roller upon the vertically-movable frame, substantially as set forth. 2

23. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a track bar or frame, a carriage supported upon said track bar or frame, suitable sheet-feeding instruments mounted upon the carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage, a vertically-movable slide supporting the track bar or frame, aplate adjustable upon the slide and supporting an antifriction-roller, means for adjusting the plate vertically upon the slide, means for clamping the plate in adjusted position, and a cam operating upon the antifriction-roller, substantially as set forth.

24:. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a reciprocating feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means mounted upon the carriage, operating means detachably engaging the carriage for reciprocating it, a rack-bar longitudinally movable upon the carriage adapted to disengage the operating means therefrom, a second independent rack-bar longitudinally movable upon the carriage adapted to disengage the advancing means from the sheet, two independent pawls mounted upon a support stationary with relation to the carriage, and independent tripping devices supported in the path of the sheets and connected respectively with the independent pawls, substantially as set forth.

25. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a reciprocating feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means mounted upon the carriage, operating means detachably engaging the carriage for reciprocating it, a rack-bar longitudinally movable upon the carriage adapted to disengage the operatin g means therefrom, a second independent rack-bar longitudinally movable upon the carriage adapted to disengage the advancing means from the sheet, a vertically-movable frame upon which the carriage reciprocates, and independent sheet-actuated tripping devices supported upon said vertically-movable frame and controlling the rack-bars, as set forth.

26. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a re*' ciprocating feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means mounted upon the carriage, operating means detachably engaging the carriage for reciprocating it, a rack-bar longitudinally movable upon the carriage adapted to disengage the operatin g means therefrom, a second independent rack-bar longitudinally movable upon the carriage adapted to disengage the advancing means from the sheet, a vertically-movable frame upon which said carriage reciprocates, a frame or bracket mounted upon said vertically-movable frame and adjustable thereon longitudinally of the machine, and independent sheet-actuated tripping devices mounted upon said longitudinally-adjustable frame or bracket and independently controlling the rack-bars, substantially as set forth.

27 In a paper-feedin g machine, the co mbination of a support for a pile of sheets, a reciprocating feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means mounted upon the carriage, operating means detachably engaging the carriage for reciprocating it, a rack-bar longitudinally movable upon the carriage adapted to disengage the operating means therefrom, a second independent rack-bar longitudinally movable upon the carriage adapted to disengage the advancing means from the sheet, a vertically-movable frame upon which the carriage reciprocates, independent sheet-actuated devices controlling the rack-bars, and a stop upon said frame adapted to engage the rack-bar of the advancing means when the carriage reaches the limit of its rearward movement to shift said rack-bar into normal position and allow the advancing means to move into operative position, substantially as set forth.

28. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support, for a pile of sheets, a reciprocating feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means mounted upon the carriage, independent automatically-controlled devices actuated by the sheets fed off and adapted to independently arrest the operation of the sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means, a vertically-movable frame supporting the carriage and automatic controlling devices, and a sheet-confining shoe or guide also mounted upon said vertically-movable frame, substantially as set forth.

29. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, avertically-movable frame, a carriage mounted upon said frame, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means supported upon said carriage and arranged to successively engage a sheet, and a cam controlling the rise and fall of said frame and comprisinga cam proper having a high portion, a low portion and an intermediate portion, and a segment-plate concentric with the intermediate portion of the cam and adjustable upon the cam to regulate the second drop of the frame, substantially as set forth.

30. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a lower separating member, with an upper separating member comprising a movable split or partially-divided support or arm having a socket for the reception of the separating-pad, a separating and feeding pad adjustably mounted in the socket of said support or arm and means for clamping said split support or arm upon the feeding and separating pad, as set forth.

31. In a paper-feeding machine, a frictional separator comprising an upper movable rubber-faced feeding-pad, and a lower stationary separator-bed formed of longitudinally-arranged pieces of hard and soft rubber, as set forth.