US2545387A - Paper feeding device - Google Patents

Description

arch 191 F. SCHWARZER 2,5,3?

PAPER FEEDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 13, 1953 SQHWARZER Z,545,37 I

PAPER FEEDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l ked Jzhwaver F. SCHWARZER PAPER FEEDING DEVICE arch 13,1951

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 19, 1946 3 wcmf yv Fred Schwur erg Mamh 1951 F. scHwARzER PAPER FEEDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 19, 1946 Fred Saki/wager,

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i 'Ar'Eii FEEDING DEVICE Fred ohwarzeg', iqttstown, Pa., assignor to Ameriean Business Systems, Philadelphia, Pa.

Aspiration September 19, 1946', SefiaiNo 698;001

This invention roses to a timer feeding de= Vice and it eensists the constructions; arran e men-ts and piiiiifiilidtidiSiS' herein deseribee and claimed; It is an important obj-setor invention to previde a paper feeding in som jurienen with typewriters billing an similar nialiineswnien mamoeianon or a single lever effects: delivery or as individual sheet or paper, manifold form or the use to"- the platen er the typing machine.

it is a still further otieet or? the invention to provide a never eesstrutiefi of sheet or manifold form gripping iiiai is, ins-u extraetiofi of silt a; single sheet or form for deposit the typing machine. I

It is a Still further ans imsertant es eet 6f the invention to provide novel Ce'iiist'iiitidii or set portin rack for sheets of pa er or man-i id forms in which a follower deviee is auteinatieau y advanced to bring the sheets or forms into a di= charge sessitio'fi upon actuation of a material ripping lever, Well as to rovide a: simple yet quickly operable means for returning the forlower to itsinitial retracted position for refilling purposes. 7

Additional ob eets, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from following description, consideredeoiij rietier1 with the eee mpan in (ii-swings,

23 Claims; (01. 2v1' 1s-) tiaily atright angles thereto and intermediate the length of said blo'ok respectivearcuate shaped arms ii are pivotally connected as at It, The

' arm's l5 are spacedapart the Width of the block upright, as may be required to properly adjust rigors i is a sidee1evatioii of the devise em ployed in eonjurictien with at twee/ nter;

Figure 2 is from; eleventh of feeding device. I r

Figure e arear elevation thereof.

Figure 4' a vertical seat-ion oii the line he of Figure 2. u 1,

Figures is a view sers gsestive illustratin the sheet gripping means, the eover being re moved to illustrate interior parts thereof, m

Fi ure 61s a:-

side- (iteration or the fa/tfihef release to per it forwars rearward movement or the follower,

Figure 7 is s vrtiesi session on the use l -=1 of Figure 6.

Ihere' is inn-str ated a paperfeeder generally indicated by the referents eiiaraeter m,- tempers mg a suitable footor support hiss-es H for mountin of an: up'r'igl-"lt F3 at suitable height so as to dispose reed-er Hi at a proper position above the' olatri (if a typing rose-nine Hind-i eated in dotted lines in- F'igiinwe L Upon the? ui'ipei" end 6f the upright $2 a 150 bi-iiedniouhting and follower guide blok Hi is hingedly connected as at H" itet idd substain the device with respect to 'atyping maohine.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 4 a pair of rods 20' are mounted in the block W extending. transversely therefrom;- the outer ends of the rods being ofreduce'd diameter and threaded; Re-

spective side plates?! are suitably apertured to receive the reduced ends of the rods, the plates being held in rigid spaced relation by means of nuts 32 engaged upon the threaded ends of the rods. An additional rod 23 is secured between upper portions of the side plates and similarly secured by nuts 2 these rods; also swingably mounting respective arms 25 for a purpose presently to be explained. The arms 25 extend downw'ardly beside respective plates 2 l, the lower ends being provided with aligned apertures for swing ably mounting a paper holding means 26. The paper holding means 26 consists of an upper horizontal bar 21- pivotally connected in the apertures of the arms 25 and alower horizontal bar 28. The bars 21 and 28 are connected by vertical rods 29 spaced apart so as to provide clear vision of material to be placed inthe feeder device, as Well as to provide weight so as to maintain the material in proper position, which is further assured by reason of the location of the rod 27 above the vertical center of the holding means. As may be seen in Figure 4, the lower bar 28' will always be urged by gravity toward the rear of the feeder device; thus holding the material in neat stacked formation as will be required. Above the bar 21 aloop 30 is formed which functions as a hand grip for elevating and swinging the holding means 26* to a position rear of the device, the swinging movement oeoliring about the shaft 23'.-

Between the sideplates 21 a pair of rods 3! and 32 are oscillatably mounted, the rod 3| bein located at a low point of the plates" while the rod 32 is positionedat a point above the medial poi: tiofi of the plates. Securely fixed to the rod 3!, equally spaces from th vertical axis; or the devieeise Figures 3' 4) there are a pair of are oa-te snapedievers 33,- was ever hating a slot 2|, as at 45.

34 for the major portion of their lengths. Upon the rod 32 an arcuate-shaped lever is secured, positioned medially of the rod 32. The levers 33 and 35 mount a follower plate 35 as will now be described, attention being invited to Figures 3 and 4.

Upon the rear face of the follower plate 36 a horizontally disposed loop 37 is fixed, positioned medially thereof and through which the lever 35 is disposed, the arcuate face of the, lever 35 resting against the plate. The vertical edges of the follower plate 35 are provided with inwardly turned tongues 38 disposed in respectiveslots 34 of the levers 33, the arcuate face of these levers likewise contacting the rear face of the follower plate 36.

The follower plate 35 is provided at its lower horizontal edge with a supporting roller 39 adapted to traverse the upper face of the guide block l4.

In order to effect a synchronized movement of the rods 3! and 32 to provide movement of the follower plate, each rod is provided with a rearwardly offset arm 40 connected by a link ll.

The shaft 31 effects movement of the follower plate 36 and outwardly of the right hand side plate 21 as viewed from the front, a ratchet gear 42 is keyed or otherwise secured, actuated in a counterclockwise direction through a pawl 43. The pawl 43 is swingably mounted upon the lower end of a lever 44, the latter being pivotally mounted intermediate its length on the side wall The upper end of the lever as is formed with a threaded sleeve 56 through which there is engaged an adjusting screw having an operating head 38 and an impact receiving head 49.

A short distance above the pivot 45 cf the lever 44, the latter is formed with an arm extended forwardly and substantially at right angles to the lever and terminating in an eye for securement of one end of a helical spring 5!. The other end of the'spring 5| is anchored to a lever 52 oscillatably mounted on the shaft 3!. The spring 5| is held under a slight tension b means of a stop 53, anchored to the side Wall and having an extension overlying the lever 52,'while a detent 54 anchored to the side wall holds the lever 4 against forward swinging movement.

A holding pawl 55 is pivotally mounted on the wall 2|, spring pressed as at 56, so as to engage the teeth of the ratchet gear 42.

A substantially U-shaped'lever 5'! for actuating the pawl 44 is employed, respective side arms 5858' being pivotally connected to respective side plates 2|, as at 59. Each of the arms 58 and 58' are held in forward elevated positions by means of a spring 60. The arm 58 has a rearwardly directed lug 6! aligned with and adapted to impact the head 49 associated with the lever 2% upon inward swinging movement of the lever It will be understood that as the lever 57 is moved inwardly beyond the side plates 2!, the lug 6| will engage the head 49 efiecting a rearward movement of the upper end of the lever 44 with a consequent forward movement of the lower end of the lever. The pawl 43 being mounted on the lower end of h the lever 44 counterclockwise movement will be given the gear s2 and the shaft 3|. Upon rotation of the shaft 3| it will be seen that the arcuate levers 33 and 35 will be moved so as to advance the follower plate 36 toward the front of the device and any papers or manifolds supported thereby will be correspondingly advanced for discharge to the platenof a typing machine, as will be described hereinafter.

With the adjusting screw 41 set as shown in Figure l, actuation of the pawl 44 will advance the gear 42 one tooth. However, by retracting the screw, thus increasing the stroke of the lever 51, the gear may be advanced two or more teeth. Obviously, this adjustment is necessary to accommodate sheets of paper or manifolds which will vary as to thickness.

Repeated manipulation of the lever 5! will ad- Vance the follower to its full forward movement and it is then necessary to release the pawls 43 and 55 in order that the follower plate 35 may be returned to its rearward position for deposit of additional paper sheets, manifolds or the like. This is accomplished by the lever 52, attention now being invited particularly to Figures 6 and '7, for an understanding thereof. The lever 52 has an integral extension BZ'carrying an arcuate plate 63 concentric with the periphery of the gear 42. The plate 63 normally occupies a position shown in Figure 1 rearwardly of the pawl 43. When it is desired to release the pawls 43 and 55, the lever 52 is moved toward the rear advancing the plate adjacent the ends for adjustably mounting paper or manuscript guides 61. The guides 6'! are in the form of channel members of a width to receive the plate 64 therebetween, each channel member having abolt 68 slidable in respective slots 66 and a thumb nut for securing the guides in an adjusted position. The guides 61 also include a right angular plate 69 apertured at the ends to slide upon rods 20 and 23. The plates 69 may thus be adjusted toward or away from the vertical centerof the device to accommodate different width of paper or manifolds.

A sheet or manifold directing means 10 is rockably mounted between the walls 2| consisting of a rod having a plurality of depending fingers 1| movable to vary the throat opening between guide plates 12 and 13 which are adjustably mounted on the device. It will be seen that the means l9 and the plates 12 and 13 may be adjusted so as to properly direct material to the platen of a typing machine. As shown, a bolt and thumb nut 14 is employed to maintain the guide plates in an adjusted position. I

From the descrption thus far given it will be seen that by manipulating the lever 5'! the follower plate 36 will be advanced toward the front of the'machine and in order that a single sheet or manifold may be removed from the advancing pack, a sheet-manifold gripping mechanism 15 is employed actuated by inward swinging movement of the lever 51.

As best seen in Figure 5, the bight portion 15 of the U-shaped lever has mounted medially thereof an elongated body Tl, the upper face of which is provided with a channel 18 adjacent the rear part of the body, the forward portion of the channel being longitudinally divided by a block 19 of a width such as to define a pair of parallel grooves 85, the latter opening upon the rear end of' the body 16. The inner end of the block I9 is preferably rounded corresponding to the bight portion 5 8| of a sheet gripping means 82, now to be: described.

The sheet gripping means is iormed irom a strand of steel wire--oi suitable length inter mediately thereof to form the loigh tportion 81, thus providing a pair of -parallel legsfi83 The wire is of a diameter considerably less thanre'spec ve grooves 8'0, and the liegsar-e of a length stopping short outwardly of the open ends ofsaid grooves, where the wire forming the legs "is bent-outwardly'at an angle as indicated atll l'. The wire is continued substantially parallel relation for a distance and finally given a slight arcuate shape, as at 85, the terminal ends of the wire: pointed at 86 for the purpose of gripping a sheet of paper, manifold or thelike. It will be noted that the curve of the arcuate portions 3-5 are arranged in opposed relation, thus presenting the pointed ends 85 toward the medial longitudinal axis of the body. The terminal ends of thewire may be properly termed gripping fingers.

Within the channel l8 forwardly of the bi'ght St, a. shaft 81 is mounted. to which there rockably secured a small: bell crank lever so, one leg 98 of which. extends downwardly in the path of the big-ht portion at. The other leg 91 is apertured for pivotal connection with a lug 5.2 of: a resetting lever 93, now to: be described.

A cover plate 94 is employed to close and. secure the gripping means 82 within the channel and grooves of the body member'and as shown, this is accomplished by machine screws 95.. The cover plate is. slotted as at 95,. permitting swinging movement oi thahig 32 and leg 9:! and beside the: longitudinal edgesof the slota pair of up- I standing. api-zrtured ears 9?! are formed for pivotal'ly mounting the: lever 93.

The lever 93 extends medially and longitudinally of the cover and is approximately the same l'smgth, a portion 93' of which. rests upon the cover. The lever is upwardly offset and. the end thereof. is provided, with an upstanding. bill; 98 which normally engages a catch 599 secured to the: rod 78 of the machine as may be' seen in Fig,- ures 1 and 4. The bill 98 and catch. 99' are held in engagement due to action of springs 69 associated with arms 58 and 58'..

Upon the cover 94 an upright lug 1 9i is secured of a height so as to engage the bar l to eliect inward swinging movement of the depending fingers it, these fingers acting to guidea sheet of paper, manifold or the like: to the opening be tween the guides i2 and 13-.

An operating handle it! is secured to the forward portion of the bod-y l and is substantially broad and suitably curved. to present. an ample surface whereby pressure of. an operators hand will. impart swinging movement to the lever 51.

In order that the: spacing of. the. gripping fingers 86 may be varied to eilficctively grip paper and manifolds of different thicknesses, there is provided a cam Hi2 disposed between the legs 33 substantially at the angle portions 84. The cam is mounted. upon one end or thescrew=- threaded rod H33 extended through a threaded bore of the body extending longitudinally and medially thereof, the other and terminating at. a convenient pointadjacent the handle l -Bl and having a knurled operating; head l-M. It will be apparent that by retracting. the cam M2; the

fingers 86 may move: toward each. other and properly spaced: for: gripping thin sheeta. while advancing the earn the fingers will be moved away from each other providing, a proper spacinag, for gripping heavier sheets or manifolds.-

llO

It is essential that a suitalile backing means is provided for a sheet or the like, at the time that the gripping fingers i86- function, and as "clearly shown in Figure the block M an anvil 1 at its forward end. The anvil its is at a lower level than the block I l aiibrding a shoulder Hi6 against which a or manifold ma rest at the time that the $5 engage the sheet or manifold.

The operation or the gripping mechanism 15 substantially as follows-2 the. apparatus being properly positioned to the rear" a machinewith gripping fingers 8'5 adiusted to the thickness or the material to be transferred the typing The material is placed in the machine sea-s res-t against the follower plate 35, as shown Figure The operator now merely axerts inward. pressure upon "the handle 1 M tliusv moving the arms 58 and 5B inwardly beside the plates 2|. The gripping mechanism being carried by said arms, the fingers do will be carried forwardly the direction of the shoulders 51% of the anvil, and since a sheet of material. was advanced to a position front of the should-en; the pointed ends of the fingers 8% will slightly penetrate the, ma- 'terial. At, the time. of contact with the material the fingers Eli will. move baokwardly into the grooves 89. bringing the-angledporti'ohs 3d: of the legs into the grooves. Thus the ends of the fingers 35 move toward each other and compress that portion of the material therebetween. the fingers move b'a'clswardly through the grooves the bi-ght 8i strikes the leg 9d of the bell crank,

eflecting swinging movement of the; log N and imparting an upward swinging movement or the lever 93 so to be in position to engage the lug 98 and catch 98. on return movement of the lever 51.. When pressure on the handle; ld-lis released, the springs 69 urge the lever 51 back to its normal raised position; At the time of engagement between the lug $38 and. catch 99 the bell crank will likewise. be returned to normal position, the leg 89 acting, onthe bightS-l to force the fingers 86' to their forwardpositionsefiecti-ng release of the material engaged thereby When the gripping mechanism was moved forwardly the upright lug. Mid engaged the bar 5 9 and partially rotated it to present the fiin-gers 'l-l I into the path of material to be: released from. the

gripping fingers, thus guiding the material into the throat. of the guide.- plate i2 and: I3- io-r discharge onto the platen of the typing machine. The fingers ll will be moved to: normal position by reason of the inter-engagement. between the lug 98 and the catch 99.

It will be understood. that upon each actuation of the lever 5?, the: follower plate 56' will headvanced through actuation of the ratchet 52 and pawl. 43- as previously explained, soasto advance material to the operative point of the gripper fingers. When the supply of material is" exhausted, and it is desired to replenish the machine it is only necessary to: a backward pressure on lever 52- soas' to release the" pawls 43 and. 55, when the lever dd is. actuated to rotate the shaft CH in the proper direction to retract the follower plate.

While I have shown and described a preieired embodiment of my invention this is by way illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modifications in construction as fairly fall With-in the scope oi the append-ed claims;

I claim:

A sheet feeding: device 'ciomprisiii-g an upright frame, sheet guiding means at the front of the frame, an upright follower plate within said frame and movable in the direction of said sheet guiding means, a lever swingably mounted on said frame, said lever having a sheet gripping and releasing means for discharge into said sheet guiding means, and means operatively associated with said follower plate and engageable by said swinging lever for advancing said follower plate forwardly in incremental stages when said lever is swung forwardly to engage said follower plate advancing means. l

2. A sheet feeding device comprising an upright support, an upright frame adjustably mounted on said support, a pair of sheet guiding means at the front of the frame, said sheet guiding means opening downwardly and being adjustable. toward each other, an upright follower plate within said frame and movable in the direction of said sheet guiding means, a lever swingably mounted on said frame, said lever having a sheet gripping and releasing means for discharge into said sheet guiding means upon swinging movement of the lever in one direction, and means operatively associated with said follower plate and engageable by said swinging lever for advancing said follower plate forwardly in incremental stages when said lever is swung forwardly to engage said follower plate advancing means.

3. A sheet feeding device comprising an upright support, an upright frame adjustably mounted on said support, a pair of sheet guiding means opening downwardly and being adjustable toward each other, an upright follower plate within said frame and'movable in the direction of said sheet guiding means, a lever swingably mounted on said frame, said lever having a sheet gripping and releasing means for discharge into said sheet guiding means upon swinging movement of the lever in one direction, a pair of shafts carried by the frame extended transversely behind said follower plate, arcuate shaped levers carried by said shafts and operatively connected I to said follower plate, a ratchet carried by one of said shafts, a pawl and'lever mounted on said frame, said pawl being in operative engagement with the ratchet gear, a second pawl on the frame and in engagement with the ratchet to hold the latter against rotation in one direction, lever means connected between said shafts for imparting simultaneous oscillation of the shafts, and means on said first named lever for effecting movement of said second named lever and said ratchet gear.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which the shaft having the gear further includes a lever fixed to the shaft for manual oscillation thereof and a freely movable lever, the latter having an extension transversely of said ratchet and concentric therewith and movable beneath each of said pawls for release of said ratchet gear, and spring means for holding the freely movable lever in inoperative position.

5. A sheet feeding means comprising an upright support, an upright frame adjustably mounted on said support, a pair of sheet guiding means at the front of the frame, said sheet guiding means opening downwardly and being adjustable toward each other, an upright follower plate within said frame and movable in the direction of said sheet guiding means, sheet holding means pivotally mounted on said frame including a bar member movable under action of gravity toward said follower plate, a lever swingably mounted on said frame, said lever having a sheet gripping and releasing means for discharge into said sheet guiding means upon swinging movement of the lever in one direction, an anvil on said frame in the path of said sheet gripping and releasing means, and'cooperable therewith to effect gripping of a single sheet advanced by said follower plate, a pair of shafts carried by the frame extended transversely behind said follower plate, arcuate shaped levers carried by said shafts and operatively connected to said follower plate, a ratchet gear fixed on one of said shafts, a pawl and lever mounted on said frame, said pawl being in operative engagement with the ratchet gear, a second pawl on the frame and in engagement with the ratchet gear to hold the latter against rotation in one direction, lever means connected between said shafts for imparting simultaneous oscillation of the shafts, and means on said first named lever for effecting movement of said second named lever and said ratchet gear.

6. A sheet feeding device comprising an upright support, a support and guide block adjustably mounted upon said support, said block hav ing a downwardly offset front end forming a sheet rest and anvil, an upright frame carried by said block, a pair of sheet guiding means at the front of the frame, said sheet guiding means opening downwardly and being adjustable toward each other, an upright follower plate within the frame and movable in the direction of said sheet guiding means, sheet'holding means pivotally mounted on said frame including a bar member movable under action of gravity toward said follower plate, a pair of oscillatable shafts mounted in the frame extending transversely behind said follower plate, arcuate shaped levers carried by the shafts and operatively connected to said follower plate, a ratchet gear fixed on one of said shafts, a pawl and lever mounted on said frame, said pawl being in operative engagement with the ratchet gear and said lever being under spring tension and having an adjustable impact head, a spring tensioned pawl on the frame and in engagement with the ratchet gear to hold the latter against rotation in one direction, lever means connected between said shafts for imparting simultaneous oscillation of the shafts, means on the gear-carried shaft for releasing both of said pawls, a manually actuated lever on said shaft for oscillating the same and a spring-tensioned U-shaped leverhaving arms pivotally mounted upon respective sides of the frame, one of said arms having a rearwardly projecting lug for contacting said impact head upon inward swinging movement of the U-shaped lever, and a sheet gripping means on the U-shaped lever consisting of spring fingers adapted to penetrate a sheet or the like positioned in advance of said anvil.

7. A sheet gripping device for use with a paper feeding device wherein upright sheets are advanced forwardly within a supporting frame, a spring tensioned U-shaped lever pivotally mounted upon the sides of the frame, an elongated body member positioned medially of the bight portion of the u shaped lever, said body having a pairof retractable spring gripping fingers adapted to penetrate and compress the pap-er between the ends of said fingers upon contacting engagement with paper in advance of an anvil on the frame, and means for projecting said fingers upon outward swinging movement of the U-shaped levers.

8. The structure of claim 7 in which the means for projecting said fingers consists of lever means the beer, in. t ti en a e-twat with ZEBQFPQ W32 mol ng a said an de 99? 22?. d

in ,eziafa d. e 9 n he 'mai mam "Q si se ta e tar m .i re all se d 1 and se the -Q the bear a n disp sed ea h r e a d RQi=i3 th a ting at Q dine ame tit; rabid fingers whereby page; in advan i s a will be penetrated b said fingers and compressed under closing movement of said fingers, lever means within theichamel w ;(Jn .t ting relation wit he gcmeqtie met at id fin er?! swinging lever exteriorly of the operatively U 7 connected to said lever means, said swinging lever having a n upstanding lug and a catch on the frame adapted to engage said lug upon up: W E @WBLii g EQPYEE FZE 941 PR??? ifif and. impart iqrement e saidler an said i zi nies n ers. @9- Tbs structure .9? da e. ii ch. devi e presented mete sa neere a i r B EWQQQF threaded shaft associated with the cam for adthe figgdl d: nhififi P sQIQQQ manta vancing and retracting the same to vary the space 40 means effective when the member has apbetween the ends of said fingers. proached the limit of its movement away from 11. The structure of claim 9 in which a paper the stack to enable said gripping fingers to reguide means is oscillatably mounted in said turn to their initial spaced position.

7 frame in advance of the anvil, and said body 18. In a sheet feeding device wherein a pluralmember having an upstanding lug adapted to ity of sheets is positioned therein in stack formaengage said paper guide means to advance the tion edgewise, a follower plate bearing against latter under inward swinging movement of said the rearmost of said sheets, means connected to U-shaped lever, said paper guide means being said follower plate for advancing said follower retracted under outward swinging movement of plate forwardly in incremental stages, and sheet the U-shaped lever due to engagement between engaging means including a pair of gripping finthe lug of the swinging lever and said catch. gers adapted'to penetrate the foremost of said 12. A sheet feeding device comprising an upsheets and compress the same between the ends right frame adapted to contain a plurality of of said fingers upon contacting engagement with sheets positioned therein in stack formation said sheet, said sheet engaging means actuating edgewise, sheet guiding means at the front of the said follower plate advancing means in timed frame, anupright follower plate bearing against relation therewith when said sheet engaging the rearmost of said sheets and movable toward means is moved toward said sheets. the front of the frame, means at the front of the a 19. A sheet feeding device comprising a frame frame capable of movement to operative position adapted to contain a plurality of sheets posifor engaging the foremost sheet of the stack and tioned therein in stack formation edgewise, sheet discharging the same' in said sheet guiding guiding means at the front of the frame, a folmeans, pawl and ratchet means connected to said lower plate bearing against the'rearmost of said follower plate for moving said follower plate forsheets and movable toward the front of the wardly in incremental stages, said paw1 and frame, pawl and ratchet means operatively assoratchet means being operated by engagement 5 ciated with said follower plate for moving said with said sheet engaging means when said sheet follower plate forwardly in incremental stages, engaging means is moved toward said sheets. and sheet engagin means including a pair of 13. In a sheet feeding device of the character normally spread gripping fingers and a finger described, sheet engaging means arranged to encontracting member, said gripping fingers being gage the foremost of a plurality of sheets posislidable in said member to reduce the distance tioned in stack formation edgewise, a follower between said fingers when the fingers are moved plate bearing against the rearmost of said stack in one direction relative to said member, said of sheets, pawl and ratchet means connected to sheet engaging means being adapted to engage said follower plate for moving said follower plate said pawl and ratchet means when said sheet forwardlyin incremental stages, said sheet enengaging means is moved toward said sheets whereby said follower plate is' advanced for-' wardly in timed relation therewith.

20. In a sheet feeding device wherein a plurality of sheets is positioned therein in stack formation edgewise, sheet engaging means including a channeled body member and a spring member slidable in said body member, said spring member having a pair of fingers at one end and a pair of inwardly curved shoulders rearwardly of said fingers, said shoulders and said body member beingadapted to cooperatively cause the distance between said fingers to be reduced when said spring'member is moved in one direction relafive to said body member.

.21. In a sheet feeding device wherein a plurality of sheets is positioned therein in stack forination edgewise, sheet engaging means including a channeled body member and a spring member slidable in said body member, said spring member having a pair of fingers at one end and a pair of inwardly curved shoulders rearwardly of said fingers, said shoulders and said body member being adapted to cooperatively cause the distance between said fingers to be reduced when said spring member is moved in one direction relative to said body member, and means to initially increase or permit a reduction of the distance between said fingers.

22. In a sheet feeding device, the combination of a frame adapted to contain a stackof sheets positioned therein in edgewise formation, a follower plate bearing against the rearmost of said sheets and movable toward the front of said frame, means to move said follower plate forwardly in incremental stages, and sheet engagmg" means adapted to remove sheets'from said stack and being engageable with said follower plate moving means whereby motion of said sheet engaging means toward said stack actuates said follower plate moving means in timed relation therewith, said sheet engaging means comprising a pair of spring fingers having their free ends turned inwardly toward each other todefine jaws and channeled means to moversaid jaws toward each other when said fingers are moved in one direction relative to said channel member.

23. In a sheet feeding device, the combination of a frame adapted to contain a stack of sheets positioned'therein in edgewise formation, a follower plate bearing against the rearmost of said sheets and movable toward the front of said frame, means to move said follower plate forwardly in incremental stages, and sheet engaging means adapted to remove sheets from said stack and being engageable with said follower plate moving means whereby motion of said sheet en- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,290,509 Chandler Jan. 7, 1919 1,375,042 Feddersen et a1. Apr. 19, 1921 1,612,260 Bullock Dec. 28, 1926 1,641,841 Fernandez Sept. 6, 1927 2,119,585 Knowlton June '7, 1938

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