US2655374A - Automatioc sheet feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 13, 1953 TQWNSLEY 2,655,374

AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed March 24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l J52 1/e 72 for: flaZco/m Q. jzwnsley MZMJW,

Oct. 13, 1953 M. G. TOWNSLEY AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24 1950 MW JUH 1 fialcolm 6'. .Tbwnsle y W 1953 M. G. TOWNSLEY AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 24, 1950 Patented Oct. 13, 1953 AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING 'MECHANISM Malcolm G. Townsley, Park Ridge, 111., .assignor to Bell Howell Company, Chicago, 111., a cor- .poration of Illinois Application March 24, 1950, Serial No. 151,751

'17 Claims. 1

My invention relates particularly to automatic :sheet reading mechanism for use on a :microfilm recorder embodying sheet handling or feeding mechanism provided with :a horizontal driven rotatab'ie sheet "feed drum to which sheets are sedueiitially Ted, "although not limited to this use alone, and particularly concerns a feeder of the type described and claimed in U. S. applications for Letters Patent of Elmer L. Johnson, Serial No. 53,646, filed October 9, 1948, now Patent No. 2,652,248, and "Serial No. 147,498, filed March 3, 1950, how 'Paten't No. 2,626,148, both for improvement in Automatic Sheet Feeding Mecha- -nism, 'on which this "inventionmay "be considered an iinproveme'nt,

Q'h jects of the invention resides in the provision of a "simple and efie'ctiv'e automatic sheet feeding mechanism for sequentially feeding 'sheets'i'rom a stack thereof, which is well adapted for the above use, which provides for the driving of the feed roll or feed device thereof from the feed drum of the sheet :handling mechanism in a positive manner, which *is conveniently portable,

which is readily installed on and *removediirom a sheet 'handling machine, which provides for des'irably *closely s'pacing the "sheets as they "are fed, which includes means for preventing, at least to a large extent, the undesired feeding -of superposed sheets instead of single sheets, and which means is Simple and compact and well adapted for-feeders of the above-type.

The invention will 'be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and in which- Figure '1 is a front elevation of an automatic s'he'et feeding mechanism embodying my invention and showing it in mounted association "with parts of a microfilm recorder, parts being broken 'awayand shown in section;

Figure '2 is -a side elevation of said feeding mechanism "and also showing it in mounted association with parts of a microfilm recorder;

Figure3 is a partial bottom plan view of said "feeding mechanism;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially Oh the line d l of Figure 3;

Figure '5 'is a sectional view of said feeding mechanism, taken similarly to Figure '2 and showing the feeding mechanism in mounted as- 'sociation with parts of a microfilm recor'de'r;

Figure B is a partial sectional view taken subsfialn'fially on the line 5 6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a "partial sectional view taken sub- 's'taritia lly on the line 1- of Figure 2; and

Figures '8 and 9 are partial sectional views 2 taken similarly to Figure 15 and showing different conditions of operation.

Referring to the drawing andparticularly Figures l, 2 and 5, the sheet handling machine on which :my automatic sheet feeding mechanism isshown to be used, is a microfilm recorder which includes a horizontal rotatable sheet feed drum l which is driven ina clockwise direction in Figures 2 and 5, a generally horizontal stationary hand sheet feed plate or chute 2 inclined downwardly toward the upper portion of the feed drum in tangential sheet feeding relation there with for the sequential hand feeding :of sheets to the feed drum which innooperati-on with pressure rollers, not shown, deeds the sheets downwardly for the photographing of the sheets by the recorder, and a driving gear 13 secured at one end of the feed drum for rotationtherewith and disposed in concentric relation with and having its pitch diameter the same as the diameter of the feed'drum.

My automatic sheet feeding mechanism comprises asfollows:

A rectangular support plate 4 is provided with upwardly extending projections 5 at opposite sides of the front end thereof, these projections being bearing brackets secured downwardly on the support plate by screws 6 as shown in Figure '7. A rotatable shaft I :is arranged transversely of and above the support plate at said end thereof, see Figure 1, and extends through and is journaled inthe bearing brackets as designated at 8 in Figures 1 and .7. Two rotatable drum engaging rollers 9, respectively disposedat the sides of the support plate and at :the outsider; of the -bearing brackets 5, are .rotatably mounted onopposite ends of the shaft 1 in coaxial relation herewith "and for rotation independently thereof as respectively designated at III and H, these rollers being of relatively large diameter and projecting below the support plate for roll- 'i-ng engagement downwardly on thefeed drum l Two support legs I 2, see Figures 1,2, and 5, are spaced transversely of theisupport plate 4 andare "formed integrally therewith and extend down- 'wardly therefrom :in the region of the rear end thereof, and the lower .end portions l3 of the legs llarereduced, seeF'igure 1, and form shoalders l4. Thezportion.of=the'hand sheet feed plate '2 remote ,from-ithetfeed drum l is provided with transversely spaced-apertures l5 downwardly in- "to which the reduced end portion 13 of the legs loosely engage with the shoulders M engaged downwardly .on the rieed plate 2 for positioning the support aplate :14 above thefeed plate 2 and inclined downwardly toward the upper portion of the feed drum l in tangential sheet feeding relation therewith and with the drum engaging rollers 9 in rolling engagement downwardly on the feed drum. See Figures 1 and 5.

The drum engaging roller 9 corresponding with the end of the feed drum I at which the driving gear 3 is disposed, is provided at the outer side thereof with a driven gear l3 which is fixed with this roller for rotation therewith and is disposed concentric thereto and has its pitch diameter the same as the diameter of the drum engaging rollers, see Figures 1 and 7, so that when the rollers 9 are engaged downwardly on the feed drum the driven gear I6 is downwardly engaged in proper mesh with the feed drum drive gear 3 for driving the driven gear and its roller from the drive gear and feed drum in a positive manner.

The support plate 4 forms the base of the automatic feeding mechanism and carries the mechanism thereof including the drum engaging rollers 3, the driven gear l6 and the shaft 1 as a unit, so that the automatic feeding mechanism is conveniently portable and is readily installed on and removed from the sheet handling machine by engaging and disengaging the legs [2 with the apertures P with vertical movement of the feeding mechanism.

The loose engagement of the reduced end portions E3 of the legs l2 in the apertures (5 in co operation with engagement of the shoulders l3 downwardly on the feed plate 2 provides pivotal engagement of the legs I 2 downwardly on the feed plate 2 in a region horizontally and radially remote from the end of the support plate 3 at which the drum engaging rollers 9 and driven gear it are disposed to permit vertical movement of the feeding mechanism whereby weight of the feeding mechanism presses the drum engaging rollers 9 downwardly on the drum I for maintaining the drive and driven gears 3 and IS in mesh for driving the driven gear and its drum engaging roller.

Two axially spaced bored friction feed rolls [1, see particularly Figures 1 and 5, are rotatably mounted on the shaft 1 between the bearing brackets 5, they being of smaller diameter than the drum engaging rollers 3 and arranged in coaxial relation therewith and being arranged above the support plate 4 in approximately tangential relation with the upper or sheet supporting surface iii of the support plate. These feed rolls comprise bored hubs l9 having their bores engaged for rotation on the shaft 1, and bored rolls 23 of friction material such as soft rubber, secured to the hubs for rotation therewith and through the bores of which the hubs extend, and are connected with the shaft 1 to be driven therefrom in the direction to feed sheets by means of automatic overrunning clutches, generally designated at 2!, which serve a purpose hereinafter appearing.

A speed increasing spur gear transmission serves to drive the shaft 1 and consequently the feed rolls i! from the driven gear 13 and its roller 9 and comprises, see Figure 7, relatively large and small spur gears 22 and 23 disposed coaxially of the shaft 1 and respectively secured with the driven gear [6 and its roller 9 and with the shaft 1, and a counter gear member 24 rotatably mounted in parallelism with the shaft 1 on a stud 25 secured on the adjacent bearing bracket 5 and provided with relatively small and large spur gears 23 and 21 respectively meshing with the gears 22 and 23. This speed increasing transmission serves to drive the feed rolls 11 at a greater peripheral speed than that corresponding with the necessarily relatively large diameter of the driven gear [5 and the rollers 9 and at a peripheral speed slightly less than that of the feed drum for a purpose hereinafter appearing.

The support plate 4 is adapted to support, on the upper or sheet supporting surface l8 thereof, a stack of sheets 23 on edge and. a pusher 29 is mounted on the support plate for movement longitudinally thereof, in a manner unnecessary to be described, and is yieldably urged by gravity, because of the inclination of the support plate, to advance the stack of sheets faoewise against the feed rolls 51. A positioning device, generally designated at 33, is carried on a rod 3| extending between and secured to the bearing brackets 5 above the feed rolls I1, and extends upwardly from this rod for forward engagement of the front of the sheet stack thereagainst as the pusher 29 advances the stack against the feed rolls [1.

The feed drum I and drive gear 3 rotate clockwise in Figures 2, 5, 8 and 9 and the drive gear drives the driven gear l6 and feed rolls [1 counterclockwise in these figures, and the feed rolls grip and sequentially feed the sheets at the front of the stack edgewise and over the forward portion of the support plate to the feed drum on which they are gripped by pressure rollers, not shown, and their feeding is thereby continued.

The speed increasing transmission between the driven gear l3 and the feed rolls I1 serves to increase the speed of the feed roll to a peripheral speed slightly less than that of the feed drum 5 and as a result the sheets are desirably closely spaced as they are fed over the feed drum, because as a sheet is gripped on the feed drum'its speed is slightly increased and it is advanced a short distance away from the succeeding sheet to provide the close spacing therebetween, the overrunning clutches 2! permitting the sheets to momentarily increase the speed of the feed rolls and preventing undesirable slippage between the feed rolls and sheets.

A relatively wide arm 32, see Figures 3, l, 5 and 6, is formed of sheet metal and is of U-shape providing spaced parallel arm portions 33 which are provided intermediately thereof with channel portions 34 extending longitudinally thereof and facing in the same direction normal to the plane of the arm. The arm 32 is arranged below the support plate 4 in correspondence therewith and has the end thereof forming the base of its U- shape disposed rearwardly and pivotally mounted on the support plate on an axis disposed in parallelism with and horizontally spaced rearwardly from the feed rolls !1 by means of apertured ears 35 formed on the support plate and spaced transversely thereof and extending downwardly therefrom and between which the arm 32 is engaged, a shaft 35 extending between these ears and engaged in the apertures thereof, bearing slots 31 on corresponding ends of the arm portions 33 and disposed normal to the arm or vertically and slidably and pivotally engaged on the shaft, an upwardly extending bearing tongue 38 on the base of the U-shape of the arm in the region of the slots 31 and intermediate the arm portions 33 and engageable upwardly against the support plate 4, and two torsion springs 39 engaged about the shaft 36 and disposed adjacent respective of the arm portions 33 and having terminal arms cassava "40 engaging upwardly against the support plate "4 and opposite terminal arms :42! aenga'ging 'wardly against respectiveiof the :arm portions :33 ef thearm32 to :maintain the ipiXCIiiIZI'mOUIItiHg of "the arm -'on the :support plate sand to :urge rthe *Iorward ends of the :arm portions E33 upwardly, the forward ends of these arm portions being disposed below the feed irolls ;IJ. 'II'he engagementof the tongue 38 upwardly against athersup- *port zplate 'forms the pivot of the rthe engagement of the 5101:5131 sonztheisha'ft ,36 positions the arm forwardly :rearwardly, and :the engagement of thezarm between the "ears 535 positions the arm laterally.

"Two axially spaced :rotartahle zirietion retard rolls 42, see Eigures13, 4 and J5, are disposed in parallelism and :opposing relation with and helow respective of LtheLfeedirciIIs at! .for the feeding of sheets Eb'etween zthezfeed and retard rolls, the pivotal axis of ithe arm 32 being :thns clisposed in parallelism with and horizontallyzspaeed from the retard rolls. These retard :rolls zcomprise bored (flanged hubs A3 and bored arolls 4.4 01 friction materi'al,.- such as soit'rubber, ren-gaged onzthe hubs between thelflanges .of theQhubs secured therewiith. .A shaft &5 extends between and is mounted for rotationlon the :forward lends ofthe arm portions 33 of the arm which are disposed 'belowthefeedrolls ilfl bytmeans of flanged hearing bushings fli securedinsbores through'the arm portions "and in which .the shaft is .rotatably engaged, andassso mounted thisxshaftais-disposed in parallelism with and :below the feed rolls H and tin parallelism with and horizontally spaced from the pivotal axis ofmhearm 32.

"The retard rolls 42 are mounted can the shaft '45 adjacent and on the :insides of the :arm :portions 33 by means .of the bores of the retard r011 hubs 43' being loosely engaged on 11311118 shaft for movement longitudinally thereof, and the retard rolls are preferably rotatably secured on this shaft, to :rotatab'ly secure'the retard rolls Etogeth'er, "by means of .keys 4?! i011 this :shaft and slidably engaged in keyWays-AB inuthe bores :of :the retard xroll hubs 43,, see Eigures I3 and :8. The retard rolls :are oppositely rrrrovable :axially away from each other on the shaft 45 to engage the outer flanges of the retard roller hubs 43 against the flanges of respective of the bearing bushings 4'5, and two friction washers- A9 of suitable friction material are loosely :engaged on the shaft 45 on the insides of the retard rollers and are oppositely movable axially of the :retard rollers away from each "other to frictionally-enga'ge the 'inner flanges of respective of the retard roller hubs 33. Two apertured brake members are loosely engaged on the shaft 45 on the insidesof -the friction washers 83 and are oppositely movable axially of the retardrollers away'fromeeach other to frictionally engage the inner races of respective of the friction washers 49, and are providedwith radial arms :51 which "serve to prevent rotation of the brake members as hereinafter described.

The brake members 50, the friction washers 49, the retard roll hubs-43 and the bearing bushings 45 constitute two yieldable friction flarakes carri d with the arm 32 and arranged adjacent respective of the retard rolls forresistingirotalti'on of respective of the same, :the brake members 50 being oppositely movable (away from :each :other to effect engagement of irrespective of :the brakes.

To arms 52 are formed of sheet metal and are of U-shaped cross section throughout the .cnajnr portions thereof, to form longitudinally exitend- :ingchannels-53vwithinwhichthezarmsjl oflthe :brake :menihers 50 are engaged :to prevent Irota- -tion thereof :and these arms extend .iin :eorresnondence with :and :are spaced transversely of the arm vit! and rare movably engaged in respectivte of the :channel portions 34 :ofzthe arm The arms :52 are :pivotally :mounted intermediately thereof on the arm 32 intermediate the retard .rolls '42 "and the pivotal :axis of the arm 32 on respective :of pivotal Taxes spaced longituitdinally .of the pivotal axis ':of this :arm as desigmated at 54. .The retard troll adjacent ends 55 :of the arms J52 are respectively oppositely "operadive .on "the brake vmern'b ers to effect engagement of the brakes with opposite .movement of these arms, and :an adjustable spring connection :is provided between the other ends of these :arms ffor :maintaining :the brakes in engagement and adjusting .the :fridtion thereof, .this connection, see Figure 3, comprising a helica1 tension spring 55 having cone end :thereof connected with one of the arms 52, a screw 51 havin'g :one end there- .of connected with the other end. of the spring and passing :through an aperture in the other of the arms '52, and :a :nut :59 screwthreadedon the :screw '51 and engaging the last mentioned arm. :52 in opposition to-the spring.

The retard rolls 42 being'mounted on the forward ends of the "arm portions 33 ofthe arm 32, the torsion springs 39 yieldably urge the :retard rolls upwardly toward the feed rolls 11 for the passage of sheets under pressure therebetween, and the support plate '4 is provided with openrings 55 through which the retard rolls :project to engagesheets fed over the sheet supporting surface IB ofxthe support plate.

For the-purpose ofmaintainingthe driving and driven gears 3 and 16 :in mesh "-in case theweight of the support plate '4 and the mechanismearried thereby is insufiicient to maintain the driven gear "I 3 in math withithe drivegear 3, see Figures 1 and "2, a vertically extending idetent spring 60 is provided with an intermediate forwardly 'projecting vertically extending cam detent portion 61 and has its upper end secured by a screw 52 on the bearing bracket -5 which is adjacent the driven gear l6 and has its lower end mounted on this bracket for vertical movement by a vertical slot =63 through the spring "and slidably engaged on a screw 64, anda lrearwardly projecting cam detent'BE, see Figure 2, is secured on the micro- .fllm recorder or other mechanism on which the :feedingimechanism :istinstalled. The cam detent portion 6! of the detent spring engages under the cam :detent 455 when the feeding mechanism 'is installed to insure maintenance of the mesh act the driving and driven gears 3 and l B, and the detent springs 6D is sufiiciently yieldable to team over the cam detent 65 during installation and removal of thefeeding mechanism.

Recalling that the feed drum rotates clock- Wise and the feed rolls I! rotate counterclockwise in Figures 2, 5, 8 and 9, the feed rolls I i normally vgripiand feed each foremost sheet 66 of the sheet stack 28 and .feed it downwardly and-about the :feed rolls and over thecorresponding end of the support plate 4 and between the feed rolls and the retard :rolls '42, and thus sequentially feed. the sheets :from the sheet stack to'the feed drum '1 on which they are gripped by pressure rollers, not .shownyfor the further .feeding thereof, the sheets rheing under pressure between the feed and retard rolls byreason of thessprings 39 urging the retard El'DllS :toward the feed rolls. As single sheets are :fed "under pressure between the feed and retard rolls, the retard rolls are rotated clockwise, see Figure 8, because while the yieldable friction brakes, above described, resist rotation of the retard rolls, their resistance is overcome by the friction between the feed rolls and a single sheet and between the sheet and the retard rolls, thus promoting the uniform feeding of single sheets even though they are of random thicknesses. However, the yieldable friction brakes resist rotation of the retard rolls to an extent sufficient to cause slippage between superposed sheets til and 6?, see Figure 9, between the feed and retard rolls by stoppage of the retard rolls and consequent temporary stoppage of the sheet 6? contacting the retard rolls while the foremost sheet 66 contacting the feed roll is fed. After the foremost sheet Gii is fed from between the feed and retard rolls, the sheet ti is fed, after which the feed rolls grip the then foremost sheet of the stack and fee the same.

The bearing tongue being disposed. inter mediate the arm portions 33, is thus disposed intermediate the retard rolls d2 longitudinally of the axis thereof so that the arm 32 and the retard rolls are pivotally movable on an axis disposed in parallelism with and horizontally spaced from the retard rolls and are rockably movable transversely of the feed and retard rolls H and 42 in the common axial plane thereof, the slots 3'! permitting this pivotal and rocking movement. The torsion springs 39, being disposed adjacent respective of the arm portions 33, are spaced respectively on opposite sides of the bearing tongue longitudinally of the pivotal axis of the arm 32, so that the retard rolls are urged upwardly toward the feed rolls in pressure equalized relation longitudinally thereof and thus act correspondingly on the sheets fed between the feed and retard rolls to'minimize any tendency of the sheets to skew.

While I have thus described my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details described, as changes may be readily made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

i. In an automatic sheet feeding mechanism for sequentially feeding sheets edgewise, the combination of a rotatable driven friction feed roll, a 5

constantly rotatable friction retard roll disposed similarly to and in opposing relation with said feed roll for the feeding of sheets under pressure between said rolls, and a yieldable friction brake device connected with said retard roll for resisting rotation thereof to an extent sufficient to cause slippage between superposed sheets between said rolls by stoppage of said retard roll and consequent temporary stoppage of the sheet contacting said retard roll while the sheet contacting said feed roll is fed and permitting rotation of said retard roll when a single sheet is being fed between said rolls.

2. In an automatic sheet feeding mechanism for sequentially feeding sheets edgcwise, the combination of a rotatable driven friction feed roll, a constantly rotatable friction retard roll disposed similarly to and in opposing relation with said feed roll for the feeding of sheets between said rolls and said rolls being mounted for relative movement toward and away from each other, yieldable means urging said rolls toward each other, and a yieldable friction brake device connected with said retard roll for resisting rotation thereof to an extent suificient to cause slippage between superposed sheets between said rolls by stoppage of said retard roll and consequently temporary stoppage of the sheet contacting said retard roll while the sheet contacting said feed roll is fed and permitting rotation of said retard roll when a single sheet is being fed between said rolls.

3. In an automatic sheet feeding mechanism for sequentially feeding sheets edgewise, the combination of a rotatable driven friction feed roll, a constantly rotatable friction retard roll disposed similarly to and in opposing relation with said feed. roll for the feeding of sheets between said rolls, a pivoted arm carrying said retard roll for movement toward and away from said feed roll, a spring connected with said arm for yieldable urging said retard roll toward said feed roll, and a yieldable friction brake carried with said arm and said retard roll and connected with said retard roll for resisting rotation thereof to an extent sufficient to cause slippage between superposed sheets between said rolls by stoppage of said retard roll and consequent temporary stop= page of the sheet contacting said retard roll While the sheet contacting said feed roll is fed and permitting rotation of said retard roll when a single sheet is being fed between said rolls.

4. In an automatic sheet feeding mechanism for sequentially feeding sheets edgewise, the combination of a rotatable driven friction feed roll, a constantly rotatable friction retard roll disposed similarly to and in opposing relation with said feed roll for the feeding of sheets between said rolls, a pivoted arm carrying said retard roll for movement toward and away from said feed roll, a spring connected with said arm for yieldably urging said retard roll toward said feed roll, a yieldable friction brake carried with said arm and connected with said retard roll for resisting rotation thereof and comprising a friction brake member movable axially of said retard roll to effect engagement of said brake, a second arm pivotally mounted on said first mentioned arm and operative on said brake member to effect engagement of said brake, and adjustable means connected with said second arm for maintaining said brake engagement and adjusting the friction thereof.

5. In an automatic sheet feeding mechanism for sequentially feeding sheets edgewise, the combination of a rotatable driven friction feed roll, a constantly rotatable friction retard roll disposed similarly to and in opposing relation with said feed roll for the feeding of sheets between said 1 rolls, an arm pivotally mounted on an axis par allel to that of said retard roll and carrying said retard roll for movement toward and away from said feed roll, a spring connected with said arm for yieldably urging said retard roll towardtsaid feed roll, a yieldable friction brake carried with said arm and connected with said retard roll for resisting rotation thereof and comprising a friction brake member movable axially of said retard roll to effect engagement of said brake, a second arm extending in correspondence with and pivotally mounted intermcdiately thereof on said first mentioned arm intermediate said retard rolls and the pivotal axis of said first mentioned arm and having the retard roll adjacent end thereof operative on said brake member to effect engagement of said brake, and adjustable spring means operative on the'other end of said second arm for maintaining said brake engagement and adjusting the friction thereof.

6. In an automatic sheet feeding mechanism for were sequentially feedingsheets: edgewise, thecom bin-ation of" a: rotatable driven friction feedfi roll, two: axially spaced constantly rotatable friction: retard rollsdisposed similarly to and in: opposing relation with said feed rollfor the feeding of sheets between said feed roll and retard rolls. and mounted for movement toward; and away" from. said feed roll and yieldablyurged toward the: same; two. yield'able friction: brakesconnected with respective of said retard: rolls: for" resistingrotation thereof and spaced longitudinally of? said retard rolls and comprising friction brake members movable to" effect engagement of rem spective .of said brakes, and a connection between. said brake membersfor maintaining-said brakes. in engagement.

7; In an automatic sheetfeeding: mechanism. for sequentially feeding sheets edgewise, the coma bination of' a rotatabledriven friction feed-t roll; two axially spaced constantly rotatablefriction. retard rolls disposed similarly toand in oppose. ing'relationwith said feed" roll for th'B-i feeding of sheets between said feecl roll and retardi rolls, a pivoted'arm-carrying said'retard rolls for movo menia -toward and: awayfrom said feed roll, spring. 5

means for yield-ably: urging saidnetard rollsto, ward said feed roll; two yieldable friction. brakes carried with said arm and: connected with respeca tiveofsaid rolls for resisting rotation thereof and.

spaced longitudinally: thereof and comprisingfriction brake members movable longitudinally of" said retardrolls toeffect" engagement of respective of said brakes,- two additional arms pivotally: mountedon saidi first mentioned arm: for movement independently of each other and respective-ly operative on said brake members toeffect engagement of said brakes, and a connectionbetween said arms formaintaining said brake engagement.

8; In an automatic sheet feeding: mechanism. for sequentially feeding sheets-edgewise, the-com binationof a: rotatable driven friction feed roll, two axially spaced constantly: rotatable friction retard rolls disposed similarly to: and in: opposing relation with said feed roll forthe feeding of sheets between said feed roll and retard rolls, an arm pivotallymounted in axial parallelism: with said retard rolls: and carrying said retard rolls formovementtoward and away from said feed roll; a spring connected withsaid arm foryieldabl'y urging said retard rolls toward said. feed roll; twoyielriable friction brakes: carried. with said arm andconnected with respective of said retard rollsfor resisting rotation thereof-end spacedlongitudinally and arranged adj acentlre spective thereof and comprising friction: brake members oppositelymovable longitudinally: of said retard rolls-to effect engagement offrespective of said brakes, two additional arms extend-- ing in correspondence with-and pivotallymounted intermediately thereof on said first mentioned armintermediate said retard". rolls and the piv otal axis of said first mentioned arm: and having the retardlroll adjaoent'ends thereof respectively oppositelyoperative on said brake; members: to. effect engagement" of said brakes with opposite movement of said second arms; andlan adjustable. spring connection between theiother ends: of said second arms for maintaining said brakes in en gagement and adjusting the friction thereof;

9. In. an. automatiic sheet feedingmechanism, the combination of 'stacle supporting and; advanc in'gmeans .forsupporting and advancing a. stack of sheets: and: comprising: a staclc support fon supporting a stack of: sheets oniedge; alrot'atablei in opposing relatiom with. said feedl roll for the; feeding of; sheets from. the. stack: under pressure:

between: saidi rolls, and. a yieldablei brake. device; connectedwith: said retandtrollifor resisting". rota:- 7 tion' thereof to an extentzsufli'cient to; cause. slip;-

pagebetween. superposed: sheets between. said;

rolls bystoppage of: said retard: roll. and; conse:-- quent temporary stoppage: of! the; sheet. contact+- I ing= said: retard: roll. while. the? sheet. contacting:

saidz feeds roll is; fed-c and: permitting rotation; of.

said? retard. rolli whom a single sheet is; heingz fed.

between saidi rolls.

m. In an automatic. sheet feeding; mechanism;

the combination;of:staclnsupponting andzadvanc ingmeans .forsupportina and: adilancingsa. stack. of sheets and. comprising? a, stacls. support: plate":

for supporting a stack: of; sheets; edge; av rotate able driven: frictioni feed-s roll; arranged: trans? versely of and above and in approximately. tan,-

gential: relationi with the: sheet; supporting surface of said. support: plateandiagainstzwhich the;

sheet. stack: faCQWiSE advanced, a; constantly rotatablefriotion netardnoll disposedtbelow and; similarly. to and in opposingrelaiion; with said; f'eeda roll for: the. feeding: ofi sheetsfromthelstaclr. between. said:,rolls,. am am; arranged below: said.

support. plate and pivotally'mduntedathereon. and. carnying' said.- retard: roll for certicai; movement;

1. tOWBI-di and away fronu said; feed. 1011;. spring;

means. operative between. saidl support, plate: and. arm. for: urging: said retard-rod upwardly; toward. said feed; roll,. and. a. yieldahlellirictiorr brake; de vice operativabetweenzsaidiamniand retard roller 40 and. connected with saidiretard: roll for resisteing. rotation thereofi to; an; extent. suiii'cicntx to; cause slippage: between; superposed; sheets; be.- tween. said. rolls: by; stoppage: of; said, retard roll;- and consequeniitemnoraryi stoppage; of. thesheetp contacting said" retard. roll; while the. sheet. con.- tactingn saidfeedmolr is fair and; permitting, rota.- tion; of said netardirolls when a: single sheet is, being. fed: between said rolls;.

1 1.. Inan. automatic; sheet: feeding: mechanism,

the combination;of.:stack;supportina.and. advancing meansfon supporting: and; advancing a; stack of. sheetsand. cnmprising: at stack support platefor. supporting: a; stack; of. sheetsz on; edge, two axiallyv spared;- rotatable;drivenafriction feed rolls arranged. transversely oil: andabove and in. approximately" tangential: relation; with. the sheet supporting surfaca. of: said support. plate. and against which the sheet. stack: is iacewise: advanced; two axially spa-cede const'antlyi rotatablefriction retard rolls disposedtsimilarly to; and in opposing: relation, with. and: below; respective: of said; feed rollsgfonthe feedingiof sheetafrom the stack: between said feed: andretard rolls, an. arm arranged below said;s.upp or.t plateiand pivots-11y mounted: thereon on: an. axis: disposed. in. par-ale lelismv with: and horizontally spaced fromsaid retard rolls; and. carrying. the, same; forvertical mornement toward: and; away; from said feed. rolls, spring; means. operative between said support plate andarm for urgin isaid retard: rolls toward said: feed; rolls;. yielclahle; fiIiClJiOll. brake means. carriedawith said;armrandioperative;betweensaid arm and; retardnrolla ion-resisting rotation. of said retard rolls; and; adjustable spring means; carried;

withssaid arm fonmaintaining-said brake; means 1 l in engagement and adjusting the friction thereof.

12. In an automatic sheet feeding mechanism for sequentially feeding sheets edgewise, the combination of a rotatable driven friction feed roll, a constantly rotatable friction retard roll disposed similarly to and in opposing relation with said feed roll for the feeding of sheets between said feed and retard rolls, a mounting carrying said retard roll for movement toward and away from said feed roll and for rocking movement of said retard roll transversely of said feed and retard rolls in the common axial plane thereof, spring means yieldably urging said retard roll toward said feed roll in pressure equalized relation longitudinally thereof, and yieldable brake means connected with said retard roll for resisting rotation therefor to an extent sufficient to cause slippage between superposed sheets between said feed and retard rolls by stoppage of said retard roll and consequent temporary stoppage of the sheet contacting said retard roll while the sheet contacting said feed roll is fed and permitting rotation of said retard roll when a single sheet is being fed between said feed and retard rolls.

13. In an automatic sheet feeding inehanism, the combination of stack supporting and advancing means for supporting and advancing a stack of sheets and comprising a stack support plate for supporting a stack of sheets on edge, a rotatable driven friction feed roll arranged transversely of and above and in approximately tangential relation with the sheet supporting surface of said support plate and against which the sheet stack is facewise advanced, a constantly rotatable friction retard roll disposed similarly to and in opposing relation with and below said feed roll for the feeding of sheets from the stack between said feed and retard rolls, an arm arranged below said support plate and mounted thereon for pivotal movement on an axis disposed in parallelism with and horizontally spaced from said retard roll and for rocking movement transversely of said feed and retard rolls in the common axial plane thereof and carrying said retard roll for vertical movement toward and away from said feed roll and for said rocking movement, spring means operative on said arm for yieldably urging said retard roll toward said feed roll in pressure equalized relation longitudinally thereof, and yieldable brake means connected with said retard roll for resisting rotation thereof to an extent sufiicient to cause slippage between superposed sheets between said feed and retard rolls by stoppage of said retard roll and consequent temporary stoppage of the sheet contacting said retard roll while the sheet contacting said feed roll is fed and permitting rotation of said retard roll when a single sheet is being fed between said feed and retard rolls.

14. In an automatic sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of stack supporting and advancing means for supporting and advancing a stack of sheets and comprising a stack support plate for supporting a stack of sheets on edge, two axially spaced rotatable driven friction feed rolls arranged transversely of and above and in approximately tangential relation with the sheet supporting surface of said support plate and against which the sheet stack is facewise advanced, two axially spaced constantly rotatable friction retard rolls disposed similarly to and in opposing relation with and below respective of said feed rolls for the feeding of sheets from the stack between said feed and retard rolls, a shaft below said support plate and mounted thereon and disposed in parallelism with and horizontally spaced from said retard rolls, an arm arranged below said support plate and carrying said retard rolls and provided with a vertical slot formation horizontally spaced from said retard rolls and movably engaging said shaft and confining said arm horizontally and permitting vertical movement of said arm and said arm being provided with a bearing element horizontally spaced from said retard rolls and disposed in the region of said slot formation and intermediate said retard rolls longitudinally of the axis thereof and upwardly engageable against said support plate to provide a bearing whereby said arm and retard rolls are pivotally movable on an axis disposed in parallelism with and horizontally spaced from said retard rolls and whereby said arm and retard rolls are rockably movable transversely of said feed and retard rolls in the common axial plane thereof, two torsion springs spaced respectively on opposite sides of said bearing element longitudinally of the pivotal axis of said arm and engaged about said shaft and having their opposite terminal portions engaged upwardly against said support plate and upwardly against said arm to maintain engagement of said bearing element upwardly against said support plate and to urge said retard rolls upwardly toward said feed rolls in pressure equalized relation longitudinally thereof, and yieldable brake means carried with said arm and connected with said retard rolls for resisting rotation thereof to an extent sufficient to cause slippage between superposed sheets between said feed and retard rolls by stoppage of said retard rolls and consequent temporary stoppage of the sheet contacting said retard rolls while the sheet contacting said feed rolls is fed and permitting rotation of said retard rolls when a single sheet is being fed between said feed and retard rolls,

15. In an automatic sheet feeding mechanism for use on a sheet handling machine provided with a horizontal driven rotatable sheet feed drum and a rotatable driving gear disposed similarly to said drum, the combination of sheet stack supporting and advancing means comprising a support plate for supporting a stack of sheets on edge, a rotatable feed roll carried with and arranged transversely of and above said support plate on an axis inwardly adjacent one end of said support plate and against which said sheet stack is facewise advanced, a rotatable drum engaging roller carried with said support plate on an axis above and inwardly adjacentsaid end thereof and projecting below said support plate for rolling engagement downwardly on said feed drum with said support plate positioned with said end thereof in adjacent tangential sheet feeding relation with the upper portion of said feed drum, a rotatable driven gear carried with said support plate on an axis above and inwardly adjacent said end thereof and connected with said feed roll for driving the same and projecting below said support plate for downward engagement in proper mesh with said driving gear when said drum engaging roller is engaged with said drum and said support plate is positioned as aforesaid, and positioning means for positioning said support plate as aforesaid on said sheet handling machine with said drum engaging roller engaged downwardly on said feed drum and with said driven gear downwardly engaged in mesh with said driving gear and adapted to permit vertical movement of said support plate whereby weight of said support plate and the mechanism carried therewith presses said drum engaging roller downwardly on said drum.

16. In an automatic sheet feeding mechanism for use on a sheet handling machine provided with a horizontal rotatable sheet feed drum and a rotatable driving gear disposed concentric to said drum, the combination of sheet stack supporting and advancing means comprising a support plate for supporting a stack of sheets on edge, a rotatable feed roll carried with and arranged transversely of and above said support plate on an axis inwardly adjacent one end of said support plate and against which said sheet stack is facewise advanced, a rotatable drum engaging roller carried with said support plate and disposed concentric to said feed roll and having a greater diameter than that of said feed roll and projecting below said support plate for rolling engagement downwardly on said feed drum with said support plate positioned with said end thereof in adjacent tangential sheet feeding relation with the upper portion of said feed drum, a rotatable driven gear carried with said support plate and disposed concentric with said feed roll and connected therewith for driving the same and having a greater diameter than that of said feed roll and projecting below said support plate for downward engagement in proper mesh with said driving gear when said drum engaging roller is engaged with said drum and said support plate is positioned as aforesaid, and positioning means for positioning said support plate as aforesaid on said sheet handling machine and comprising a pivot disposed horizontally and radially remote from said driven gear and drum engaging roller and permitting vertical movement of said support plate whereby weight of said support plate and the mechanism carried therewith presses said drum engaging roller downwardly on said drum.

17. In an automatic sheet feeding mechanism for use on a sheet handling machine provided with a horizontal rotatable sheet feed drum and a rotatable driving gear adjacent and disposed concentric ltO said drum and fixed therewith and having its pitch diameter the same as the diameter of said drum, the combination of sheet stack supporting and advancing means comprising a 14 support plate for supporting a stack of sheets on edge, a rotatable feed roll carried with and arranged transversely of and above said support plate on an axis inwardly adjacent one end of said support plate and against which said sheet stack is facewise advanced, a rotatable drum engaging roller carried with said support plate and disposed concentric to said feed roll and having a greater diameter than that of said feed roll and projecting below said support plate for rolling engagement downwardly on said feed drum with said support plate positioned with said end thereof in adjacent tangential sheet feeding relation with the upper portion of said feed drum, a rotatable driven gear carried with said support plate and disposed concentric with said feed roll and connected therewith for driving the same and having its pitch diameter the same as the diameter of said drum engaging roll and disposed adjacent thereto and projecting below said support plate for downward engagement in proper mesh with said driving gear when said drum engaging roller is engaged with said drum and said support plate is positioned as aforesaid, and positioning means for positioning said support plate as aforesaid on said sheet handling machine and comprising a pivot disposed horizontally and radially remote from said driven gear and drum engaging roller and permitting vertical movement of said support plate whereby weight of said support and the mechanism carried therewith presses said drum engaging roller downwardly on said drum.

MALCOLM G. TOWNSLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS:

Number Name Date 584,073 Dexter June 8, 1897 2,089,946 Davidson 'Aug. 17, 1937 2,214,752 Pierce Sept. 17, 1940 2,224,137 Breman et a1 Dec. 10, 1940 2,224,138 Trydal Dec, 10, 1940 2,351,854 Hall June 20, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 380,443 Germany Sept. 7, 1923

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