US715764A

US715764A - Automatic paper-feeding and stencil-printing apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US715764A
Application number: US6889101A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert B Dick
Original assignee: AB Dick Co
Current assignee: AB Dick Co
Priority date: 1901-07-19
Filing date: 1901-07-19
Publication date: 1902-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 1919-12-16

Description

Patented Dec. l6, I902. No. 7I5,764. A. B- DICK AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDING AND STENCIL PRINTING APPARATUS.

(Application filed July 19. 1901.)

A0 MUCH.) 5 ShBBLSr-3h88f L Inventor Attys.

No. 7l5,764. Patented Dec. |6,'I902.

A. B. DICK.

AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDING AND STENCIL PRINTING APPARATUS.

(Applicaticil filed m 19, 100m 5 Sheds-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Invehtor M M Att ys.

Witnesses 1- "cams PETERS c0. PHOTO-TM No. 7l5,764. Patented o ls, I902.

A. a. DICK. AUTOIATIC PAPER FEEDING AND STENCIL PRINTING APPARATUS.

(Application filed July 19, 1901.)

SSheets-Shoet 3. I

(No Iodel.)

Inventor Witnesses we uonms PETER! 00.. mmo-umo; WASNINOTON. n. c. f

,Patantad Dec. |6.--|9o2;

m. 7l5,764. A

' V A B. DICK.

AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDlNG.AND STENCIL PRINTING APPARATUS.

(Applicatioq filed July 19, 1901-) 5 Shan -Shoat 4.

(lo Model.)

I 0 m e m I Witnesses:

Tm: scams PETERS cc. pnofoumou \wsnmumu, n. c,

No. 75,764. 1 Patented Dec. 16,1902.

A. 8'. men v AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDING AND STENCIL PRINTING APPARATUS.

[Application filed July 19, 1901.) (No Model.) v 5 Shaeta -Sheet 5,

Win ess es: Inventor Attys.

.NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT B. DICK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. DICK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC PAPER-FEEDING AND STENCIL-PRINTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 715,764, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed -Inly 19, 1901. Serial No. 68,891. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT B. DICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Paper-Feeding and Stencil-Printing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to auto- IO matic apparatus for feeding successive sheets of paper into a stencil-printing device, and the invention is of the type which I describe in my Patent No. 657,920, dated September 18, 1900, wherein the sheets to be printed are supported in a vertical pile and are removed one at a time from the bottom thereof, the edge of the bottom sheet being first drawn back off of a supporting shelf or ledge and being then fed forward from contact with the pile.

My present invention, like that of my patent referred to, is designed especially for use in connection with a stencil-printing machine of the character employing an oscillating stencil-carrier and a'reciprocating papercarrying frame cooperating therewith, as I describe in my application for patent filed June 10, 1899, Serial No. 720,008. In an application filed on even date herewith I describe and claim certain improvements in stencil-printing apparatus of this type, and I whatever type; but they may be employed 5 alone as convenient apparatus for effecting the automatic feeding of separate sheets in other arts where such an operation is desirable.

The object of my present invention is to provide an improved automatic paper-feeding apparatus which shall be simple in construction, effective in use, and which shall be very compact in its arrangement of parts,

so that when applied, for example, to a stencilprinting machine the entire apparatus will not be unduly bulky in its make-up.

The specific form of my invention which I shall presently describe has been designed for use with the improvements in stencilprinting machines made the subject of my concurrent application, and when the two devices are thus used together they constitute an improved complete apparatus embodying novel combinations.

In order that the invention may be better understood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a stencil-printing machine of the type described, showing my improved automatic feeding device applied thereto; Fig. 2, an elevation thereof, viewed from the operating side; Fig. 3, an elevation viewed from the other side; Fig. 4, a longitudinal sectional View; and Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, detailed diagrams illustrating the position of the feeding mechanism during successive phases of its operation.

In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by the same numerals of reference.

The stencil-printing machine, as above stated, embodies the improvements which I describe and claim in my application for patent filed on even date herewith. That machine employs a base or foundation 1, side frames 2, an oscillating stencil-carrier 22, a reciprocating paper-carrying frame 17 18, a gear 15 on the shaft of the stencil-carrier meshing with a rack on the paper-carrying frame, a pinion 5 connected to said gear, a segment 6 meshing with said pinion and carried on a pivoted lever 7, a link 10 for oscillating said pivoted lever, a spur-gear 9 with which said link is connected, a pinion l1 meshing with and driving said gear, a balance-wheel 12 on the shaft of said pinion, a handle 14 for turning said balance-wheel, a bed 57 from which the sheets are fed into the machine after they are removed from the pile, limiting-fingers 62 against which the successive sheets are brought to bring them into proper alinement before being fed into the machine, and grippers 67 for gripping the sheets, carrying them through the stencil-printing machine, and releasing them at the end of the positive stroke. These grippers, as I describe in said application, are opened immediately at the end of the positive stroke and are closed on the sheet at the end of the negative stroke.

Referring now to my present improvements in automatic feeding mechanism, I mount a suitable frame 81 on the bed 57, holding the same in place by screws 82. This frame is provided with a flat supporting-bed 83 for the pile and at its extreme forward edge with a ledge or shoulder 84. At the front I arrange a vertical shoulder 85, against which the sheets will be placed in a pile 86. At the rear is an adjustable gage 87 and at the sides adjustable gages 88 for properly confining the pile, as will be understood. The pile of sheets 86 will be sustained between the

gages

87 and 88 and the shoulder 85 and be supported by the supporting-bed 83 and ledge 84, as shown. The supporting-bed 83 is preferably provided with gage-marks 89, by which the gages 88 may be adjusted to different widths of sheets. Said supportingbed is provided with longitudinal cut-away portions, forming ribs 90, to reduce the friction and to enable the sheets to be more easily drawn out at the bottom of the pile. Pressure is applied to the top of the pile by a top plate 91, having a handle 92 and which rests directly on the pile, being guided in its vertical descent as the pile diminishes by the

gages

87 and 88. At its front the top plate 91 is provided with a downwardlyspring-pressed plate 93, the tension of which is adjusted by adjusting-nuts 94. The function of the spring-pressed plate 93 is to keep the sheets pressed flatly down upon the shelf or ledge 84. The top 91 is also provided with a spring-pressed bar, rod, roller, or plate 95, which gives to the sheets a downward curvature immediately behind the feed-roller 96, whereby when the feed-roller is rotated rear- Wardly the bottom sheet will follow its natural inclination to bend downward more readily than if this element were not employed. Immediately in front of the supporting-bed 83 is a roller 97, over which the bottom sheet is drawn during the feeding operation. An inclined plate 98 is arranged directly behind the shoulder or ledge 84 and is elastically impelled upward bya spring 99, so as to always engage the bottom sheet. The purpose of this plate is to prevent the sheet after it has been withdrawn from the pile and is being fed in a forward direction from engaging with the shoulder 84 and to cause the sheet to be directed downward between the constantly-rotating feed-rollers, to be described. These constantly-rotatin g feed-rollers (which will be so referred to to distinguish them from the feed-roller 96, which is intermittently rotatable) comprise a main roller 100 and

auxiliary rollers

101 and 102, driven by friction therefrom, all of said rollers being preferably rubber-covered. The main roller 100is formed with grooves 103 in its periphery, (see Fig. 1,) and engaging in each of said grooves is the upwardly-curved forward end of astripper 104, carried by bars 105. The rear ends of the outside strippers (three in all being shown) are bent downward at 106, while the central stripper is continued horizontally, as shown, to permit the paper-feeding finger 107 to pass freely beneath the central stripper (to the position shown in Fig. 5). Extending between the smaller feed-

rollers

101 and 102 is a shield or guide 108, which compels the sheets after passing beneath theroller 101 to pass between the

rollers

100 and 102 onto the bed 57 and beneath the strippers 104. Mounted in guides 109 beneath the bed 57 is a rod 110, which carries the feedingfinger 107, the latter being adjustable with respect to said rod and being secured in any position thereon by a screw 111. The feeding-finger and the screw 111 reciprocate in a slot 112, formed in the bed 57. The rod 110 is normally returned from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that indicated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 by a spring 113, and any shock incurred by this movement is taken up by a buffer-spring 114 at its forward end. Depending from the front end of the rod is an arm 115, which cooperates with a bufier 116, carried by an arm 117, secured to the rear cross member 18 of the paper-carrying frame, whereby it will be seen that if the paper carrying frame is moved forward on its positive stroke the buffer 116 will engage the arm 115 to move the rod 110 from the position shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 to that shown in Fig. 5. As I have already stated, the roller 100 rotates continuously, and said roller is therefore mounted on a shaft carrying a pinion 118, which meshes with and is driven by the spur-gear 9. The roller 101 is carried by the horizontal arms of bell-cranks 119, the vertical arms of which are pressed rearwardly by springs 120. The roller 102 is carried. by levers 121, the rear ends of which are pressed downward by springs 122. Thus both

rollers

101 and 102 will be pressed elastically against the continuously-rotating feed-roller 100. The intermittently-rotating feed-roller 96 is preferably provided with a fluted or corrugated surface,

against which the sheets will be pressed by the weight of the top plate 91 and by the action of the buckling-rod 95. The shaft 123 of the feedroller 96 is provided with a clutch member 124, which cooperates with a pin 125 on said shaft, whereby the shaft will be caused to rotate with said clutch member. Loosely mounted on said shaft is a sleeve 126, forming the other member of the clutch, and the clutch members are adapted to be engaged together by a spring 127 normally forcing the member 124 inwardly. A lever 128 is pivoted to an arm 129 and carries two pins 130, which work in a groove in the member 124. Said lever is provided at its end with an antifriction-roller 131, which cooperates with a cam 132 on a toothed segment 133. The lever 128 is also provided with a downwardly-extending arm 134, which is engaged by a rod 135, extending across the machine and provided with a finger-piece 136 at its end. Byforcing the rod 135 inwardly the lever 128 will be tilted to disengage the clutch members 124 and 126. The segment 133 engages with a spur-gear 137 on the sleeve or clutch member 126. Mounted on the shaft 8 of the spur-gear 9 is an arm 138, carrying a pin 139, which engages with a finger 140 on an arm 141, loosely carried by said shaft. A link 142 connects the end of the arm 141 with the segment 133. In order to guide the paper sidewise in its movements on the bed 57, I employ side gages 143, which are adjustable on the bed by screws 144, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Assuming the sheets to be placed in the pile 86, resting on the supporting-bed 83 of the feeding apparatus and further supported by the roller 97, the intermittent feed-roller 96, the plate 98, and the ledge 84 being confined by the

gages

87 and 88 and the front shoulder being pressed downward by the top plate 91 and being buckled immediately behind the feed-roller 96, as shown, by the action of the buckling bar or roller 95, the operation will be as follows: As the handle 14 is rotated the pinion 11, gear 9, and link 10 will oscillate the toothed segment 6 to thereby oscillate the stencil-carrier and reciprocate the paper-carrying frame 17 18 with respect to the stencil-carrier. As the stencilcarrier reaches the end of its negative or nonprinting stroke the grippers 67 will be closed; but as no sheet will be in position in engagement with the limiting-fingers 62 the succeeding positive or printing stroke will be non-active. During this positive stroke the rotation of the shaft 8, through the pin 139 and finger 140, rotates the arm 141 to move the rack of the segment 133 downward, rotating the gear 137 rearwardly (the clutch members 124 and 126 being in engagement) and rotating the intermittently operating feed-roller 96 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5, causing the bottom sheet of the pile to be looped downward between said feedroller and the roller 97. After the arm 141 passes the center the segment 133 will be reversed, rotating the intermittently-operating feed-roller 96 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6 and straightening out the loop in the bottom sheet to feed said sheet forward. The deflecting-plate 98 will direct the bottom sheet to the gap between the feed-

rollers

100 and 101, and said sheet will be fed by said feed-rollers between the shield 108 into the gap between the feed-

rollers

100 and 102, laying the bottom sheet flatwise on the bed 57. The pinion 118 being of much smaller size than the gear 9, the feed-

rollers

100, 101, and 102 will move at a higher peripheral speed than the intermittently-operating feed-roller in Figs. 6 and 7, onto the bed 57.

96, so that as long as the sheet is engaged by the feed-

rollers

100 and 101 it will be drawn very rapidly from beneath the pile. When the segment 133 nears the end of its upward movement, the cam 132 will engage the roller 131 to swing the lever 128 outwardly and move the clutch member 124 against the tension of the spring 127, thereby disconnecting the clutch and freeing the feed-roller 96. This action takes place an instant after the front edge of the sheet has been gripped between the feed-rollers 100 and 10], so that the operation of the latter feed-rollers draws the sheet over the intermittently-operating feed-roller 96, which will be permitted to turn at the increased surface speed of the feedroller 100. The feed-roller 96 therefore exerts no feeding effect on the sheet when the feed-

rollers

100, 101, and 102 are positively operating, and after the sheet has passed clear of the feed-roller 96 (see Fig. 7) the latter roller stops. During the positive stroke the segment 133 will be again depressed, allowing the clutch members 124 and 126 to again engage, and the intermittently-operating feed-roller 96 will again perform its proper functions. After a sheet has been fed onto the bed 57 by the action of the feed-

rollers

100 and 102 and during the positive or printing stroke of the machine the butter 116 on the paper-carrying frame will engage the arm 115, moving the feeding-finger 107 in contact with the sheet and carrying the latter forward into engagement with the limiting-fingers 62, ready to be engaged by the grippers 67 at the end of the following negative stroke. Thus it will be seen that as a sheet is being drawn by the grippers 67 on the positive stroke of the paper-carrying frame a succeeding sheet is being fed by the

rollers

100, 101, and 102 in an opposite direction to said sheet, as shown It will thus be seen that the sheets will be completely reversed from the position in which they are placed in the pile to that which they take when deposited on the bed 57, so that when they are assembled in the pile they are placed face downward. By thus giving the sheets a complete reversal and depositing them on the bed directly underneath the pile I very materially shorten the length of the complete apparatus.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of means for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, means for removing the sheets successively from the bottom of the pile, reversing their direction of movement and depositing them in an inverted position beneath the pile, and means for removing the sheets successively from the latter position in a direction corresponding to that in which they were removed from the pile, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of means for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a bed beneath said pile, means for removing the sheets successively from the bottom of the pile, reversing their movement, inverting them and depositing them upon the bed, and means for reversely removing the sheets from said bed, substantially as set forth.

3. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of means for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge or shoulder for supporting the forward ends of said sheets, a bed beneath the pile, means for removing the bottom sheets successively from said ledge, means for depositing the sheets successively in an inverted position on said bed, and means for removing the sheets from said bed, substantially as set forth.

4. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of means for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, an intermittently-operating feed-roller for successively removing the sheets from the bottom of said pile, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheets successively delivered by the intermittently-operating feed-roller, for reversing the sheets and for depositing them on said bed, and means for removing the sheets from said bed, substantially as set forth.

5. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of means for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, an intermittently-operating feed-roller for successively removing the sheets from the bottom of said pile, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheets successively delivered by the intermittently-operating feed-roller, for reversing the sheets and for depositing them on said bed, and a reciprocating feeding-finger for removing the sheets from said bed, substantially as set forth.

6. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge or shoulder for supporting the forward ends of said sheets, an intermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, said feed-roller being mounted in bearings immovable with respect to the pile, means for rotating said-feed-roller first in one direction and then in the other for removing the bottom sheet from said pile, and continuouslyoperating feed-rollers for engaging the sheets thus removed by the intermittently-operating feed-roller, substantially as set forth.

7. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in. a substantially vertical pile, a ledge or shoulder for supporting the forward ends of said sheets, an intermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, means for rotating said feed-roller first in one direction and then in the other for removing the bottom sheet from said pile, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheets thus removed by the intermittently-operating feed-roller, and means for disengaging the intermittently operating feed-roller after the bottom sheet has been engaged by the continuously-operating feedrollers, substantially as set forth.

8. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge or shoulder for supporting the forward ends of said sheets, an intermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, said feed-roller being mounted in bearings immovable with respect to the pile, means for rotating said feed-roller first in one direction and then in the other for removing the bottom sheet from said pile, continuouslyoperating feed-rollers for engaging the sheets thus removed by the intermittently-operating feed-roller, and a bed beneath the supporting-bed onto which the sheets are deposited by said continuously-operating feed-rollers, substantially as set forth.

9. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge or shoulder for supporting the forward ends of said sheets, an intermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, said roller being mounted in bearings immovable With respect to the pile, means for rotating said feed-roller first in one direction and then in the other for removing the bottom sheet from said pile, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheets thus removed by the intermittently-operating feedroller, a bed beneath the supporting-bed onto which the sheets are deposited by said continuously-operating feed-rollers, and means for removing the sheets from said bed, substantially as set forth.

10. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge or shoulder for supporting the forward ends of said sheets, an intermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, said roller being mounted in bearings immovable with respect to the pile, means for rotating said feed-roller first in one direction and then in the other for removing the bottom sheet from said pile, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheets thus removed by the intermittently-operating feedroller, a bed beneath the supporting-bed onto which the sheets are deposited by said continuously-operating feed-rollers, and a feeding-finger for removing the sheets from said bed, substantially as set forth.

11. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge or shoulder for supporting the forward edges of said sheets, a spring-pressed stripping-plate engaging the bottom sheet behind said ledge or shoulder, and means for withdrawing the bottom sheet from said ledge and for then feeding it forward, substantially as set forth.

12. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge or shoulder for supporting the forward edges of said sheets, a spring-pressed stripping-plate engaging the bottom sheet behind said ledge or shoulder, means for withdrawing the bottom sheet from said ledge and for then feeding it forward, and continuouslyoperating feed-rollers for engaging the sheet thus fed forward and removing it completely from the pile, substantially as set forth.

13. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge or shoulder for supporting the forward edges of said sheets, a spring-pressed stripping-plate engaging the bottom sheet behind said ledge or shoulder, means for withdrawing the bottom sheet from said ledge and for then feeding it forward, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheet thus fed forward and removing it completely from the pile, and a bed beneath the supportingbed, onto which the sheet is deposited in an inverted position with respect to the sheets on the pile, substantially as set forth.

14. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge or shoulder for supporting the forward edges of said sheets, a spring-pressed stripping-plate engaging the bottom sheet behind said ledge or shoulder, means for withdrawing the bottom sheet from said ledge and for then feeding it forward, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheet thus fed forward and removing it completely from the pile, a bed beneath the supporting-bed, onto which the sheet is deposited in an inverted position with respect to the sheets on the pile, and means for removing the sheets from said bed, substantially as set forth.

15. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge or shoulder for supporting the forward edges of said sheets, a spring-pressed stripping-plate engaging the bottom sheet behind said ledge or shoulder, means for withdrawing the bottom sheet from said ledge and for then feeding it forward, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheet thus fed forward and removing it completely from the pile, a bed beneath the supporting-bed, onto which the sheet is deposited in an inverted position with respect to the sheets on the pile, and a feeding-finger for removing the sheets from said bed, substantially as set forth.

16. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, an intermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet for moving the bottom sheet rearwardly and for then feeding the bottom sheet in a forward direction, means engaging the top of the pile for buckling the sheets immediately behind said roller, and continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheet delivered by the intermittently operating feed -roller and for completely removing the sheet from the pile, substantially as set forth.

17. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, an intermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, for moving the bottom sheet rearwardly and for then feeding the bottom sheet in a forward direction, means for buckling the sheets immediately behind said roller, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheet delivered by the intermittently-operating feed-roller and for completely removing the sheet from the pile, and a bed beneath the supporting-bed, onto which the sheet is deposited by said continuously-operating feed-rollers in an inverted position with respect to the sheets in the pile, substantially as set forth.

18. In a paper'feeding' apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, an

intermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, for moving the bottom sheet rearwardly and for then feeding the bottom sheet in a forward direction, means for buckling the sheets immediately behind said roller, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheet-delivered by the intermittently-operating feed-roller and for completely removing the sheet from the pile, a bed beneath the supporting-bed, onto which the sheet is deposited by said continuouslyoperating feed-rollers in an inverted position with respect to the sheets in the pile, and means for removing the sheets from said bed, substantially as set forth.

19. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed for sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, an intermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet for moving the bottom sheet rearwardly and for then feeding the bottom sheet in a forward direction, and a spring-pressed bar engaging the top of the pile for buckling the sheets immediately be hind said roller, substantially as set forth.

20. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed on which the sheets are carried in an approximately vertical pile, an intermittently operating feedroller engaging the bottom sheet of said pile, a gear on the shaft of said feed-roller, a toothed segment engaging said gear, and means for oscillating said segment, whereby the roller will be rotated first in one direction and then in the other, substantially as set forth.

21. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed on which the sheets are carried in an approximately vertical pile, an intermittently-operating feedroller engaging the bottom sheet of said pile, a gear on the shaft of said feed-roller, a toothed segment engaging said gear, means for oscillating said segment, whereby the roller will be rotated first in one direction and then in the other, and means for disconnecting the gear from its shaft at the end of one of its oscillating movements, substantially as set forth.

22. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination with a supporting-bed carrying the sheets in an approximately vertical pile, a feed-roller engaging the bottom sheet of the pile, a gear on the shaft of said feed-roller, a clutch normally connecting said gear with the shaft, a toothed segment engaging said gear, means for oscillating said segment, and a cam on the segment for disconnecting the clutch members, substantially as set forth.

23. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination with a supporting-bed carrying the sheets in an approximately vertical pile, a feed-roller engaging the bottom sheet of the pile, a gear on the shaft of said feed-roller, a clutch normally connecting said gear with the shaft, a toothed segment engaging said gear, means for oscillating said segment, a cam on the segment for disconnecting the clutch members, and means for manually disconnecting the clutch members, substantially as set forth.

2%. In a stencil-printing apparatus, the

combination with a stencil-printing machine employing an oscillating stencil-carrier, a reciprocating paper-carrying frame, and a bed from which the sheets are removed by the papercarrying frame, of a supporting bed mounted above said bed and on which the sheets are carried in a substantially vertical pile, means for removing the sheets from said supporting-bed and for depositing them on the bed of the stencil-printing machine, and means for removing the sheets from said bed and directing them into engagement with the paper-carryin g frame, substantially as set forth.

25. In a stencil printing apparatus, the combination with a stencil-printing machine employing an oscillating stencil-carrier, a reciprocating paper-carrying frame, and a bed from which the sheets are removed by the paper-carrying frame, of a supporting-bed mounted above said bed and on which the sheets are carried in a substantially vertical pile, means for removing the sheets from said supporting-bed and for depositing them on the bed of the stencil-printing machine, a feeding-finger for engaging the sheets deposited on said bed, and connections between said feeding-finger and the paper-carrying frame, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 11th day of June, 1901.

ALBERT B. DICK.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. DYER, JNO. R. TAYLOR.