US1597408A - Sheet-separating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

J. T. HALE SHEEE SEPARATING MECHANISM,

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1925 .o M H v M m m T b u u hm QM, ii i, w xi III? ,1: II! :Illi um J1. m .I I u m z" @N\ Q Aug. 24 1926.

J. T. HALE SHEET SEPARATING MECHANISM 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27 Aug. 24 1926.

J. T. HALE SHEET SEPAHATING MEGHANIQSM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 27, 1925 r x a M Z g M 0 Gm v w m 3 0 mm W AW Muir 4I|||l||iI1l| dwm. v m w bk &

Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

entree stares earns-r FEZ'EQ'E JACKSON TIPTGN HALE, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR TO MILLER SAW-TRIMMER COMPANY, OF PITTSIBt'JRG-H, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SI'iEET-SEPARATING MECHANISM.

Application filed March 27, 1925. Serial No. 18,730.

This invention relates to that class of feeding machines in which sheets in a pile or stack of sheets are separated by sheet engaging devices that, operating upon the top of the pile, as combing, feather out a number of sheets and move the top sheet, while the balance are being held, to where it can be conveyed by eo-operating mechanism to the guides of another machine to be acted upon by the latter.

The primary object of my invention is to simplify the process of separating sheets from off a stack or pile and dispense with complicated and expensivedevices now in use, and, by devising new parts and an improved construction and a new arrangement and combination of parts; first to comb off sheets from the top of a pile sheet engaging devices; second, to alternately lif and lower combers or other sheet engaging devices out of and into engagement with the top sheet; third, to hold the balance of the pile secure while the top sheet is being moved off; fourth, to stiffen the front edge of a sheet, while, at the same time the sheet is weakened in the middle and caused to buck e up so as to insure a perfect separation from the sheet underneath; and, fifth, by means of friction applied to a driving wheel and a disc on a shaft to regulate and time the loweringand lifting of the sheet engaging parts of their pressure onthepile.

Other objects will appear in the specification and claims.

I attain these objects by the mechanism hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the sheet separating mechanism and such parts of sheet conveying mechanism as are necessary to prop erly explain the separating mechanism attached to the frame of, and as a part' of, a sheet feeding machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the frame and sheet separating mechanism;

F 3 shows the frame divided with the separating mechanism rolled back;

Fig. 4 is a section along the lines 4-4;

5 is a section along the lines 5 5;

6 is a section along the lines 66; and

Fig. '7 is a section along the lines 77.

This invention is designed with reference to the mechanism described in my application for patent filed December 16, 1918,

Serial Number 266,912, and is intended to take theplace of the sheet separating mechanism described in that case.

1 and 2 are upright side frame pieces constituting the main frame of a sheet feeding machine. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are plates, which, in addition to forming part of my sheet separating mechanism, function also as a part of the frame-of asheet feeding machine and as part of the sheet advancing mechanism described in my application for Patent Nunr ber 266,912 above refered to. 26 is a shaft which will be the main cam shaft of a sheet feeding machine, embodying this mechanism and other mechanisms necessary to make a complete sheet feeding machine. 28 is a re versibly rotative shaft actuated from shaft 26 and serves as well for the purposes of this invention and the sheet advancing carriage described in my application already mentioned. 37 is a support frame in a feeding machine midway between side frame plates 3 and 4 and serves other functions as well as those described herein.

In connection with the drawings my sheet separating mechanism may be briefly described and explained as follows: The parts that contact the sheets and operate to separate them from off the pile are combing devices. These are in duplicatea set on either sideboth operated from shaft 36.

It will therefore be necessary to describe herein one only, seeF gures -1 and 6.

Shaft 36 is mounted at either end in plates 3 and 4 and in the center support frame 37. Two key ways are let into shaft 36, one on either side of the machine, each key way extending practically the entire distance between supporting arms 38 and 39, which, by their forward ends, are mounted loosely on shaft 36, a pair on either side, see Figure 1.

Floating shaft 40 is loosely mounted in the backward ends of supporting arms 38 and 39, and double flanged guide wheel 41 is rotatably mounted on shaft 40. Adjustable between supporting-arms 38 and 39 are the combing devices. They consist of a-member 42 similar in shape to the capital. letter H except the end of one prong extends further forward and is formed into a counter balance weight 4-3. Member 42 straddles shafts 36 and 40, shaft 36 passing through and revolving in the forward prongs and shaft 40 passing through the backward prongs. Member 42 is made rigid on shaft by means of a hand screw 44 in one prong. Mounted on shaft 36 between the two for ward prongs of member 42 is double flanged driving wheel 50, fastened rigidly tothe side of which is disc 47. On one prong of member 42 two ears are formed, one above and the other below, see Figures 1 and 6, to which ears are loosely attached the backward ends of two fibre lined, (or other suitable material), friction clamps and 46,

which extend forward to disc 47 and then curve around it to a point near where they meet on the opposite side from where they are secured to member 42. Then they turn outward from the face of disc 47 parallel to each other. A shouldered hand screw 48 passes through this parallel portion of the upper clamp 45 and threads into the lower clamp 46 just below, for the purpose of adjusting the tension of clamps 45 and 46 on the face of disc 47 to any desired tightness. lVhen this has been accomplished handle 49 is screwed down against the top of clamp 45 and locks screw 48 in this position, preventing the adjustment from changing. Any other suitable means of adjustment may be employed. Double flanged driving wheel and guide wheel 41 and endless tractive chains 53 withcomhing rollers 51 in between the side links of chain 53 function to abolish expensive air devices, on some machines and a series of expensive and filthy gears over the sheets on others, used for separating sheets from pile. The. rounding peripheral exterior surface of driving wheel 50 and guide wheel 41 are grooved down circumferentially to a depth approximating the diameter of combing rollers 51 with walls or flanges left on either side of the groove. These flanges are cut down from the top crosswise in notches rounding at the bottom to a depth slightly less than half the diameter of combing rollers 51. These grooves accommodate chain 53 carrying combing rollers 51. Chain 53 consists of a succession of ordinary side links held together by pins 52, which serve the triple purpose of holding the links of chain 53 together, holding combing rollers 51 in chain 53 and of working in said notches in said flanges t drive chain 53 and guide wheel 41. They are made sufficiently long for the pur pose and catch and hold in the notches in driving wheel 50 and guide wheel 41. Combing rollers 51 may be made of fiber or any suitable material. They are cylindrical in form with rounded ends. They rise sufficiently above the links of chain 53 and the top of the walls, or flanges, of driving wheel 50 and guide wheel 41 so that when they are lowered on to the pile only these rollers 51 come in contact with the sheets. Driving wheel 50 and guide wheel 41 on each chain are adjustable and held in place on their respective shafts by member 42.

There are key ways in driving wheel 50 and disc 47 corresponding with the key ways.

in shaft 36 and when the key ways in wheel 50 and disc 47 are brought'in communication with that in shaft 36 a key is fitted in the combined key ways to make shaft 36 and wheel 50 and disc 47 revolve together.

The combingmechanism above described is operatively connected with shaft 28, which is actuated from shaft 26 in the following manner, see Figures 1 and 4: One end of crank 12 is fastened rigidly at the endof shaft 26 and revolves with it, a stud-13 in the other end of crank 12 pivotally connects it with connecting arm 11 and toothed rack 11 joined to the forward end of connecting arm 11. Rack 11 meshes with pinion gear 29 rigidly fastened to the end of shaft 28. Starting with crank 12 at back center the revolution of shaft 26 causes a backwardly rotation of shaft 28, and when crank-12 passes front center shaft 28 is reversed and rotates forwardly.

Shaft. 36 is operatively connected with shaft 28 in the following manner, see Figures 1 and 5 Bevel gear 30 is rigidly fastened on shaft 28 and meshes into the teeth of bevel gear 30 which is rigid on the forward end of shaft 31. Shaft 31 is mounted lengthwise the machine in bearings 32 and 33 fastened to the inner sides of frame plates 3 and 5 and is capable of lengthening and shortening by means of sleeve 31 thereon, toaccommodate the dividing of the feeding machine. Shaft 31 extends backward along the inner side of frame plates 3 and 5 from shaft 28 to shaft 36. On the backward end of shaft 31 bevel gear 34 is rigidly secured its teeth meshing into bevel gear 35 which is secured rigidly to shaft 36 near the end.

From the above description it will be seen that when a forward motion is imparted to shaft 28 shaft 36, with driving wheel 50 and disc 47 thereon turns in the opposite direction, and when shaft 28 rotates forwardly shaft 36 turns backwardly. Now, as there is a friction on the face of disc 47 caused by the pressure of friction clamps 45 and 46 being drawn together around disc 47 by hand screw 48 and because the backward ends of these friction clamps 45 and 46 are secured to member 42 the revolving of disc 47 causes the backward end of member 42 to move downward until this downward movement is arrested by combing rollers 51 coming in contact with the top of the pile. As soon as this happens combing chains-53 begin to revolve and the friction begins to slip making a pressure sufficient to cause a number of sheets to be combed forward by the continued revolving of chains 53, separating the top sheet a little more than the ones beneath until shaft 36 reverses, then the friction is reversed causing member 42 to rock upward, thus lifting shaft 40, supporting arms 38 and 39 together with guide wheel 41, chains 53 and rollers 51 to where arm 39 strikes pin 37 that extends outward from support frame 37.

Thus are the sheets combed out, one at a time over top extensions 25 of rods 24 and over sheet support fingers 14, which are mounted by their backward ends on shaft 15, which is mounted transversely across the machine loosely in brackets 20, see Figures 1, 2, 4tand 6.

Brackets 20, one on either side are fasteued at the tops of the smaller columns of main frame pieces 1 and 2. And brackets 21, one on either side, are fastened at the bottoms of said smaller columns of frames 1 and 2. Shaft 22 is supported in brackets and shaft 23 in brackets 21. Rods 2a run upright between said shafts 22 and 23 and are secured thereto by any suitable means. They act as a stop for the pile. Shafts 22 and 23 are adjustable in said brackets 20 and 21 for the purpose of regulating the length of the comb, i. e., the distance between the edges of the sheets when combed out. f, in operation, the comb were too short the pile would be pulled back and shafts 22 and 23 with the rods 24 would be brought in against the pile-and if the comb were too long shafts 22 and 23 would be moved further out in the brackets 20 and 21 and the pile moved to them. The further the pile is from the sheet stop guides 59 the longer will be the comb, see Figures 2 and 6, 7

Extensions in the form of an elbow are on each rod 2 f at the top to support the sheet between the pile and sheet support fingers 14 when the pile is moved back to make a longer comb.

A handle 17 is on one end for actuating shaft 15 to lower and raise sheet support fingers 14L. When sheet support fingers 14L are up in position pin 16 is-run through a hole in handle 17 and a corresponding hole in bracket 20 and thereby shaft 15 and fingers 1d are held up firm in position.

Referring to Figures 1 and 6, which show their general design and position sheet sup port fingers 1d are curved longitudinally from shaft 15 nearly to their forward ends. whence they are straight. Just backward from their forward ends they are shaped to receive small shaft 58 that passes crosswise the machine through a hole in each finger 14, the purpose of which will. be made clear later. Their otlice is tosupport the sheets from the pile to the point where they are taken by sheet advancing niechanisn They are adjustable on shaft 15 at appropriate intervals across the machine. They are a shade below the level of the top of the pile and on the same level as extensions 25 on the top of rods 24: which extensions 25 run in between them.

Shaft 5 f is mounted in brackets and 56 secured to side frame plates 3 and 4. Shaft 54- serves to steady and strengthen the forward ends of plates 3 and 4t as well as support center support frame 37. Sheet guard lingers 5'? are mounted by their upper ends on shaft 54, they extend backward and downward and then bend forward curving downward to the point at which the sheet supportfingers 1st are straight, They then extend forward to their ends parallelwith the top surfacesof sheet support fingers 14, leaving a very small space between guard lingers 57 and sheet support fingers 14 through which the sheet is forced by combing rollers 51. The object in having so small a space between guard fingers 57 and support fingers 14 is to stiffen thefront edge of the sheet at that point and the object of the curve in sheet support fingers '14cis to weaken the sheet and cause it to rise in the middle when its front edge is stopped and the back edge is still being forced forward by combing rollers 5f.

Adjustable on shaft 58 is a small spring 60 having one end fastened to afixed part and the other end to shaft 58. Secured to the shaft 58, and extending forward almost to the end of sheet support fingers 14L- and then turning upward at right angles, are

sheet stop guides 59, the extreme ends of which contact and lap up around sheet guard fingers 57 and close the path of the sheet between guard fingers 57 and support fingers l t. The lower end of lever arm 61 is attached to shaft 58 and its upper end has a cam roller 62 contacting with cam 63 on shai't 26. Cam 63 is so shaped that it will rock lever arm 61 and rock shaft 58 andv lower sheet stop guides 59 below the level of the top'of sheet support fingers 1 1 to' allow the sheet advancing mechanism to advance the top sheet to theprinting press guides. After the sheet has been removed the low side of cam 63 allows spring 60 to again rock shaft58 and cause guides 59 to close the passage.

For holding the under sheets on the pile asthe top sheet is moved I have designed. the following mechanism, see Figures 1, 5, 6 and 7: A cam 64: on shaft 26, near the end which revolves in plate 4, engaging cam roller 65, at the forward end. of pull arm 66, which pull arm 66 is slotted around shaft 26; the other end of pull arm 66 being loosely secured to the upper end of lever arm 61" pivoted on stud 68 extending out from plate t, the lower end of lever 67 being loosely secured to the forward end of bar 7 69, the backward end of which is loosely selever arm 70 is mounted on rocking shaft "lever arm 67 on the opposite side.

71. Companion mechanism on the other side of the machine to work with the above .parts in holding the next sheets as'the top one is moved off, is as follows: a lever arm 7 2 fastened on and extend ng backward and downward from rock shaft 71, opposite lever arm 70, a bar 73 like 69 on the opposite of which is loosely fastened to a stud 75 extending from the side of frame plate 3, lever arm 74;, matching the lower part of Shaft 76 is swung between said bars 69 and 73, by means of members 77 and 78 adjustable on said bars 69 and 73; drop rollers 79. are suspended from shaft 76 by means of members 8O adjustable on shaft 76. Shaft 71, as stated, has its bearings in side frame plates 3 and 4. It supports lever arm and rocks, with the movement of said lever arm 70, to raise and lower bar 73 in concert with 69 on the opposite side. Shaft 76 is a floating shaft for holdingdrop rollers 7 9,. By means of members 77 and 73 it is adjustable to varying sizes of sheets and the members 80 which connect droprollers 79 with shaft 76 are adjustable thereon for the same purpose.

In the revolution of' shaft 26, the high side of cam 64 will push cam roller 65 with pull arm 66 to which it is fastened forward,

and this, by the connecting parts above clescribed and shown in Figures 1, 5, 6 and 7 will raise bars 69 and 73 with shaft 76, until drop rollers 79, suspended from shaft 76, are clear above the pile. At this time the combing mechanism is lowered on to the pile and combs out a number of sheets. When in the continued revolution of shaft 26, the high side of cam 64 ceases contact with cam roller 65, the weight of the parts will bring them back to the former position with drop rollers 79 on the top of the pile just back of the top sheet and holding all but that sheet.

A brief description of the entire operation may be found helpful: The revolution of haft 26, moving crank 12 from front center to back center on the lower half of the circle, imparts a forward motion to shaft 28 by means of connecting arm 11 and rack 11; and by means of gear 30 and 30 3e and 35 and shaft 31 a backward revolution of shaft 36 is simultaneously accomplished. This backward revolution of shaft 36, owing to friction discs 47 and friction clamps 15 and 46, lowers the combers into contact with the top of the pile. Then, combing chains 53 begin to revolve and the friction slipping giving sufiicient tension to cause a number of sheets to be combed forward separating the top one more than the ones below stop guides 59 and begins to-rise back of the stiffened front edge, drop rollers 79 are lowered on to the back edge of the secondand succeeding sheets arresting their forward movement, but allowing the top sheet to continue forward against stop guides 59 and buckle up in the middle until crank 12 passes back center and causes a reversal of shafts 28, 31 and 36. The friction now lifts the same parts that it previously lowered until arms 39 strike pins 37 and the friction again slips and holds the combing mechanism suspended. Instantaneously with the lifting of the combing mechanism the high side of cam 63 contacts roller 62 and rocks lever arm 61 and shaft 58, lowering stop guides 59 as the advancing mechanism takes the sheet toconvey it to the press guides. After the sheet passes beyond the sheet separating mechanism the stop guides 59 and drop rollers 79 raise, the combing mechanism is lowered and the operation is repeated;

The susceptibility of the mechanism to be divided and the manner of its accomplish ment are described in my application number 266,912 above mentioned; but. as it is equally a part of my sheet separating mechanism I deem it proper to describe it briefly herein. For this purpose I have designed four slidable plates 3 and at and 5 and 6, which, in addition of the functions assigned them in this sheet separating mechanism and in the sheet conveying mechanism described in my application for patent above mentioned may also serve as part of the frame of a-sheet feeding machine. These plates 3 and 4t and 5 and 6 are. clearly shown in the drawings. Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, 3 and 4 are solid plates and have their top surfaces toothed for a space and are capable of sliding back and forth in ways. Shafts 26, 5 1, 36 and 71 are swung between plates 3 and 1. Plates 5 and 6 are of the same approximate size as, and fit end on with, plates 3 and 4 and take in the feed board as far as the front wing. As shown they are attachable and detachableto and from plates 3 and 4, mak ing the machine separable at that point. By means of brackets 7 and 8 plates 5 and 6 are fastened to the frame of a printing press or other machine. Plates 5 and 6 are slidable in, ways in brackets 7 and 8 and if it is desirable at any time to feed the press by hand, the screw bolts shown in Figures 2 and 3 through brackets 7 and 8 will be loosened up to admit the movement of plates and 6, which can then be easily drawn back with plates 3 and a by means of pinion shaft 9 and handle 10. They are slided into place again by a reverse of the movement by which they were pulledback. Cutting side plates 3 and 5 and f and 6 in two, and having two shorter plates to the side instead of a single long one, makes the mechanism divisible at the point where the plates are separated, i. e., at the back wing of the feed board of the printing press or other machine. When necessary or desirable these plates can be disconnected from one another and plates 3 and 4 with the mechanism they support, drawn back into the feed ing machine frame and the back wing of the feed board raised. The devices for the connection and disconnection of these side plates 3 with 5 and el with 6 may be of any suitable character. For moving them a pinion shaft 9 is mounted transversely across the machine with two pinions thereon, one at either side, meshing in the toothed surfaces of plates 3 and f to actuate them. Handle 10 is fastened on the end of shaft 9 for actuating it. i v

Variations in details of construction and arrangement of parts, within the purview and spirit of the invention herein set forth and claimed, will of course be permissible.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet separating mechanism mounted on and between slidable side plates, having a disconnectable connection with sliding side plates to accomplish the divisibility. of the feeding machine, a transmission shaft capable of being lengthened and shortened by means of a sleeve to accommodate the division of the machine and the reuniting thereof.

2. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet 7 separating mechanism having a pinion shaft mounted in the leading end of side frame plates and apinion gear rigid onsaidshaft, adapted to engage theteeth ofa rack to impart forwardly and backwardly rotation to said shaft, and a bevel gear secured to said shaft, a sleeve transmission shaft extending longitudinally along the inner side of side frame plates capable of lengtheningand shortening, bevel gears rigid on said shaft at either end, the combination and arrangement being such that said shaft andgears impart a forwardly and bELCkWilI'CllYIOtZLlJIOII from one shaft to another shaft.

A sheet separating mechanism, having a forwardly and backwardly rotating shaft acted in hearings in side frame pl .gitudinal key ways the.

bevel gears rigidly securedthereon, said shaft being operatively connected with the cam shaft of a feeding machine by a crank, a connecting arm, a rack, a pinion gear driven shaft, a transmission sleeve shaft, a bevel gear attached to said pinion driven shaft, a bevel gear attached to the forward end of said transmission shaft, a bevel gear attached to the backward end of said transmission shaft; the combina' tion and arrangement being such that when the crank revolves with'the cam shaft, a forwardly and backwardly rotary movement is imparted to t-he first mentioned shaft.

L. A sheet separating mechanism, having aforwardlv and backwardly rotating shaft mounted in bearings in side frame plates, key ways in said shaft, driving wheels and friction discs on said shaft, key ways in said wheels and discs and keys for locking wheels and discs on the shaft.

5. A sheet separating mechanism, having a forwardlyand hackwardly rotating shaft mounted in hearings in side frame plates and having longitudinal key ways therein, driving wheels with friction discs attached thereto rigid on said shaft, witl1 key ways in said wheels and friction discs, keys for locking wheels and discs on said shaft; supporting arms mounted on said shaft, floating shafts mounted in said supporting arms, counterbalance weighted pronged members straddling said shafts and combing devices on the floating shafts.

6. A sheet separating mechanism, having a forwardly and backwardly rotative shaft, supporting arms mounted on said shaft, floating shafts mounted in the backward ends of the supporting arms, counterbalance weighted pronged members, straddling said shafts, driving wheels and friction discs between the forward prongs of said members, gulde wheels between the backward prongs of sand members, endless tractive chains and combing rollers, encirclingwheels and shafts; suitably lined friction clamps engaging the faces of the discs, and means of ad ustmg' and lockingthe adjustm'ent of the clamps on the discs; the combination and arrangement being such that when a backwardly revolution of the driving wheels and discs is produced, the gripping of the friction clampson the faces of the discs will cause the combing rollers to be lowered on to a pile of sheets, and the combing chains and rollers revolving around the driving and guide wheels, and the friction producing suflicient pressure of the combers on thepile, a number of sheets will be combed andfeathered forward. 7 A sheet separating mechanism, having a forwardly and backwardly rotative shaft, supporting arms mounted on said shaft floating shafts moutsd in the backwar ends of said: supporting is, coufti'terhal ance weighted pronged members, straddling said shafts, driving wheels and friction discs between the forward prongs of said members, guide wheels between the backward prongs of said members, endless tractivechains holding combing rollers, encircling said wheels and shafts, friction clamps engaging the face of the friction discs, and

means of adjusting and locking the adjustment of the clamps on the discs; the combination and arrangement being such that when the above described'operation is reversed and a forwardly rotative movement is imparted to said shaft, the backward ends of the members, with the combing mechanism, will be lifted and held suspended above the pile.

8. A sheet separating mechanism, having a forwardly and backwardly rotative shaft, supporting arms mounted on said shaft, floating shafts mounted in the backward ends of said supporting arms; two counterbalance weighted pronged members, driving wheels and friction discs between the forward prongs of said members, guide wheels between the backward prongs of said members, endless tractive chainsholding combing rollers encircling said wheels and shafts, friction clamps engaging the face of the discs and means of adjusting and locking the adjustment of the clamps on the discs, means of making said floating shafts rigid in the backward prongs of said members, the combination and arrangement being such that when the backward ends of said members are raised or lowered, the floating shafts and supporting arms, with the combing mechanism, will follow.

9.1n a sheet separating mechanism, combing devices that alternately raise and lower with the revolution of the cam shaft, and means of determining the height to which the combers are lifted, consisting of pins extending outwardly from the center support frame across the rocking paths of supporting arms upon which the combers are mounted. i

10. A sheet separating mechanism, hav ing a triple combined meansof supporting a separated sheet, reinforcing and stiffening the front edge thereof, and weakening it in the middle, consisting of a shaft mounted in brackets attached to the frame of the sheet feeding machine, sheet supporting fingers adjustably mounted on said shaft, with their backward top surfaces curved and their forward ends straight, sheet guard-fingers above shaped and arranged to form a low path for the sheet, the combination and arrangement being such that the front edge of the sheet is confined and reinforced by the straight front ends of the sheet guard fingers and sheet support fingers, while the upward curve back of the ends of the sheet support lingers. in causing-the sheet-to rise 'said shaft, a cam roller contacting said cam,

a pull arm to which said cam roller is attached at the forward end, a lever arm attached loosely at its upward end to said pull arm and pivoted near the center on a fixed stud, a horizontal bar loosely secured at its front end to the lower end of said stud, and

its backward end loosely secured to the end of another lever arm whose upper end is fast to arock shaft, a rock shaft whose bearings are in frame plates, a lever arm secured to the rock shaft and extending backward and downward and secured loosely to the backward end of another horizontal bar, whose forward end is loosely secured to the lower end of a fourth lever arm, whose upper end is pivoted to a fixed 'stud, two sliding members attached to the horizontal bars and supporting a floating shaft, drop rollers adjustably secured to the floating shaft by supportinginemhers; the combination and arrangement being such that when the cam revolves the two horizontal bars will be lifted and lowered in concert with each other, and the floating shaft with drop rollers be lowered on to the pile of sheets'just' back of the top one as they are being separated at the proper time, and the forward movement of the sheets arrested except the top one, which continues to move forward.

12. In a sheet separating mechanism, a means of alternately arresting and releasing the front edge of the top sheet, consisting of a cam on a cam shaft, a cam roller,

a lever arm, a rockshaft, crosswise the machine, sheet stop guides adjustable on the rock shaft and extending forward and up-' ward across the path of the sheet, a coil spring on the rock shaft; the combination and arrangement being such that when the 1 low side of the cam contacts with the roller the spring will hold the stop guides up across the path of, and arrest the front edge of, the sheet as it is being pushed forward and when the high side of the cam contacts with the roller, the lever arm rocks the rock shaft and lowers the stop'guides below the path of the sheet.

13. In asheet feedingmachine, a sheet separating mechanism including endless tractive roller chains combined with means to lower said chains onto the pile, the same including a cam shaft, a crank thereon, a

-'forwardly and backwardly rotative shaft, provided with pinion and bevel gears, a

tative shaft, friction operated and controlled combing devices mounted on said shafts, a transmission shaft provided with gearing interposed between first and second mentioned rotative sheets, the combination and arrangement being such that when the crank revolves the combing devices will be lowcred, revolved, lifted and held suspended.

14. In a sheet feeding machine, sheet separating mechanism including a rotary shaft, floating shafts mounted by support ing arms on the rotating shaft, enidless travelling tractive roller chains, driving supports for said chains turning with the rotary shaft, guiding supports for said chains mounted on the floating shafts, frames mounted on the rotary shaft and floating shafts and straddling the said supports and capable of adjustment to vary the distance apart of the tractive roller chains.

15. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet separating mechanism, means to lower and hold the separating mechanism in contact with, and separate the pile of sheets, including a forwardly and backwardly rotative shaft, key ways therein, floating shafts mounted in connection with the rotary shaft, endless travelling tractive roller chains mounted on supports applied to the rotary shaft and floating shafts, friction discs applied to the driving supports and rotative shaft, frames straddling said shafts, friction clamps attached to said frames and adapted to engage the faces of the discs and adjustable thereon, the combination and arrangement being such that when the shaft revolves the combing chains will be lowered and rotated on the pile of sheets.

16. In a sheet'separating mechanism revolving friction discs looselykeyed to a rotative shaft, suitably lined friction clamps engaging said discs, said clamps having adjustable screws and locking handle in one end and attached to a counter balanced member at their other, the combination and arrangement being such that when the discs revolve forwardly and backwardly the counter balanced member will be raised and lowered accordingly.

1?. In a sheet separating mechanism a friction operated and controled combing device including friction discs keyed to a rever sibly rotative shaft, friction clamps engaging said discs and adjustable thereon, said clamps secured to a counter balance-d frame, driving wheels mounted on the rotative shaft and discs between the forward prongs, a guide wheel mounted between the backward prongs and a floating shaft passing through said backward prongs, endless tractive chains encircling said driving wheels and guide wheels, the combination and arrangement being such that when the rotative shaft rotates backwardly the tractive chains are lowered on to the pile of sheets and revolved, separating the top sheets and when the rotative shaft reverses the tractive chains are lifted out of contact with the pile of sheets and held suspended by the friction.

18. In a sheet separating mechanism, the combination with sheet support fingers, of a shaft on which they are mounted, a handle applied to said shaft for turning it to there by lower and raise the sheet support fingers, and means to hold the handle in given position.

19. In a sheet feeding machine, a reversibly rotative shaft combined with a sheet separating mechanism comprising an endless chain having tractive rollers, flanged and notched driving supports and guiding supports, and axial pins for said rollers conn cting the links of the chain and resting in the notches of the supports.

20. In a sheet feeding machine, a reversibly rotative shaft, combined witha sheet separating mechanism comprising an endless chain having tractive rollers, flanged and notched driving supports and guiding supports, and axial pins for said rollers connecting the links of the chain and resting in the notches of the supports, said supports being adj ustably mounted.

21. In a sheet feeding machine a reversibly rotative shaft, combined with a sheet separating mechanism comprising an endless chain having tractive rollers, flanged and notched driving supports and guiding supports, and axial pins for said rollers connecting the links of the chain and resting in the notches of the supports, said supports being adjustably mounted, and means to fix the adjustment of the supports.

JACKSON TIPTON HALE.

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