US1315739A - milmoe - Google Patents

Description

M. l. MILMGE.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION min ocnzs. me.

1,315,739. Patented Sept. 9,1919.

f uam/3 UNITEI);STATE Simi OFFICE.

MICHAEL J. MILMOE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO F. B. REDINGTON COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

HEE'LFEEDING unex-:mman

Original application led January 18, 1915, Serial No. 2,887.

Specication of Letters Patent.

1916. Serial No. 127,618.`

To all wlw/n, 'it may concern lle itv known that l. MicnauL J. MILMOE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of ('ook and Stat/c of Illinols. have invented certain uew. and uset'ul Improvements in Shetet-ltetaling Mechanism. of which the following isla specification.

This application is a division of my eopending application for patent. on automatic labeling machines. Serial No. 2,887, filed January 18. 1915.

This invention relates to mechanism for feeding thin sheets of material such as paper. and is illustrated in connection with the labeling` machine described and claimed in the application referred to above. The 0bject ot' the invention is to provide a device of the character named. which shall be of improved construction and operation. The invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts s'howu in the accompanying drawings. and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings- Figure l is a fragmentary seetionalview ot' a portion of an autmuatie labeling machine showing a part 4et a feeding mechanism embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view ot' a portion ot' the feeding mechanism showing the sla-et-carrier in the not of removing a sheet 4from the. magazine.

Figs. Il and 4 are vertical .sectional views taken on planes at right angles to one another ot' the suction-head comprising a part. ot' the invention; and,

Figs. (i and 7 are details of the construction of the sheet-holding magazine.

In the drawings. the numeral 1 designates' the top of a table-like frame-work carried by supporting members 2. Secured to the upper surface of the table top. by lag screws. is a magazine. bracket. 4, which has integrally fastened thereto. the bottom member 5 of the sheet-holdiug magazine. Extending upwardly from the front. edge of the bottom luelnber is a wall (i, which consti tutes the front wall of the magazine. The rear wall 7 of the magazine is pivotally connected to the base member 5 to swing outwardly about a pivotal een-ter H. The pivotal movement, of the wall 7 is limited by a stop' 9, and the wall is resiliently held inwardly by a spring l0.l Secured to the npright edges of the walls 6 and 7. are side. plates 12 and 13 respectively, which form guards for preventing lateral movement of the sheets of paper 14,-01 other material, held within the magazine. Projecting inwardly at the upper edges of the wallsI 6 and 7, are ledges 15 and 16 respectively. The ledge 16 preferably extends .across the entire width of the wall 7, while the ledge 15 is preferably merely a comparatively narrow finger extending inwardly from the upper edge of thc wall 6 at, the central portion thereof.

The bottom member 5 is provided with a central opening. through which an upright rod or bar 17 extends, the bar 17 carrying a plate 18 at its upper end, which forms the supporting plate for the sheets 14 within the magazine. The Ibar 17 is free to move ni and down through the opening in the. pate 5, and is normally pressed upwardly by a coil spring 19 which surrounds the bar, and which is supported at its lower end on a bracket member 20 secured to the machine-frame. The upper end of the spring 19 bears against a collar 21, adjustably fastened on the bar 17. A catch 2Q. is ivoted to the member 5, and is resiliently he d in place by aA spring 23. The pivoted catch 22 is arranged to coperate with a fixed catch 24 on the )late 18, to hold the plate and bar 17 in t eir lowermost position, when desired. It will be seen that the ring 1t) normally presses the stack of a icets 14 upwardly, so that the edges of the uppermost sheets in the stack are held against the overhangin ledge 16. The projection 15 is spaced slightly above the upper surface of the Sheets.

For the purpose of lifting the sheets 14 one at a time from the magazine, and for transferring these Sheets to any mechanism to which they are to be fed, a Suction-head or carrier designated generally by the nnmeral 25 is provided. The construction of this suction-head willbest be. understood by reference to Figs. 2. 3 and 4. A hollow easting 26 is prov1ded at its lower end with a Haring portion 27, to the lower surface of which a plate 28 is secured by screws 2S). The outer surface of the plate 28 is eovered by a layer of yielding frictonal material 30. The covering 30 is preferably of rubber, or similar material, while the plate 28 is preferably made of metal. A series of perforations 31 extend through the plate 28 and the contact covering 36. The outer ends of the erforations 31 located at the front side d the suction-head, as shown in Fig. 4, are provided with connecting grooves 32 cut in the surface of the contact member 30.

The upper end of the suction-head, as shown in Fig. 4, has a pair of threaded openings 33 and 34 arranged to be connected with pipes 35 and 36 respectively, (Fig. 2). The pipes 35 and 36 are connected respecu tively with pneumatic suction and compres sion devices by any suitable means, not shown in the drawings, and the interior of the suction-head 25 may be selectively oon-- nected with either of these devices by means of a cone-shaped valve 37, held in its seat lo a spring 38. The valve 37 is provided wit a rocker arm 39, which carries a cam roller 46, and which is normally held in position to connect the suction-head with the suction pipe 35 by means of a spring 41. Below the valve 37, and extending laterally from the suction-head 25, is a hollow cylindrical projection 42 which connects with the inten rior of the sucton-head, and in which a piston 43 is mounted to slide. The piston` 43 is normally pressed outwardly by a spring 44, and it carries a cam roller 45 at itsouter end. The end of the rojection 42 is covered by a plate 46, which oes not make airtight connection with the sliding extension which carries the roller 45. The piston 43 does however make air-ti ht connection with the interior of the cylin rical projection 42.

Extending around the suction-head, near the lower portion thereof, is a ditch or groove 47 for the purpose of intercepting,r oil.J or other liquid, which may run downwardly over the surface of the suction-head, thus prevent-ing the oil from coming into contact with the sheets that are lifted by the head. The groove 47 communicates with collection receptacles 48 which receive the oil intercepted by the groove. The receptacles 48 may be provided with waste, or similar material, for absorbing the oil. In order that oil may not drain downward] on the inside of the suction-head, a threa ed plug 49 is secured Within the head, which carries a hollow housing 50, provided with openings 51, through which air may pass, but .which are so located that oil running down from above will not enter them. Passages 52, ro vided with ball valves 53 are arrang to permit the oil to drain from the interior of the suction-head 4into the receptacles 48.

The suction-head is moved by an arm 54, which is pivotally supported in any suitable manner, not shown in the drawings, and which carries a guide 56 secured thereto.,

matinee through which the pi es 35 and 36 are free to move longitudinal y. A collar 57 is secured to the pipes 35 and 36 to move therewith, and carries a projecting stud 58 arranged to rest on a cam surface 59, secured to a pivoted arm 60. A link 61 is )ivotally secured to the guide 56, and togct er with the arm 60, it imparts the necessary move ments to the suction-head Any suitable mechanism, not shown, may be provided for moving the arm 60 and the link 61, the arm 60 being arranged to impart up and down motion to the suctionfhead, while the link 61 swings the suction-head laterally. By combination of these two movements, any desired motion may be imparted to the suction-head.

The mechanism as described is all driven by a main drive shaft 62, which is provided with the requisite cams and connections for imparting the movements to the suctionhead. In addition to the cams which operate the head, the shaft 62 is provided with a cam 63, which operates a bell crank lever 64, having a cam roller 65 at one end, which bears a ainst the cam 63, and having a pawl .66 at t e opposite end thereof. The point of the pawl 66 is normally held outwardly by a coil spring 67, and a second coil sprin 68 holds the cam roller 65 in contact wit the surface of the cam 63. A bar 69 is secured to the rod 17, and extends parallel therewith. The bar 69 is provided with a series of ratchet teeth 70 in position to be engaged by the pawl 66, when the bell crank lever 64 is oscillated by the cam 63. It will be seen that when the cam roller 65 is swung outwardly by the cam 63, the pawl 66 will engageone of the notches in the bar 69, and force the rod i7 downwardly against the action of the spring 19. The shape of the cam 63 is such that for each revolution of the shaft 62, the 'bar 17 will be moved downwardly, and then vibrated up and down a number of times before it is returned to its uppermost position.

As shown in Fig. 5, the plate 18 is curved upwardly at its lateral edges, giving the upper surface of the plate a somewhat concave ferm. The object of this is to assist the suction-l1ead 25 to lift but a single sheet at a time from the top of the stack. 1When the suction-head is brought into Contact. with the upper sheet of lthe stack, this upper sheet will touch the suction-head only at its edges. and hence to be lifted from the stack, it must be drawn upward] in the central portion. Since the sheet is held in a curved formation, it will resist to a certain extent this action of the suction-head, and only the sheets subjected directly to the action of the head will be thus lifted, the curve in the other sheets forming a kind of an arch to resist upward movement, and thus be separa-ted from the top sheet. This separation of the top sheet from those beneath it is further assisted by a pair of spring pressed blades 71, which have knife edges 72 arranged to bear against the edges of the sheets 14, as shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7. 0bviously the surface of the plate 18 may be curved eitherl laterally or longitudinally the eiiect being the same in either case. f the curvature extends longitudinally, the ledge 16 will bear against the uppermost sheet cntirely across the end thereof, but if the curvature is in the other direction, it will bear on'lIy at the outer edges.

l he operation of the device is as fol owsz The sheets to be fed, are placed in theV position in the magazine. As the shaft 62 is rotated, the suction-head will be swung backwardly to a position over the magazine,

and then be lowered until it rests upon the upper sheet in the ma azine. It will be seen from Fig. 2,L that t e lower surface of the lifter does not rest squarely upon the u )per sheet, but touches it only at its rear ge. When the lifter is in this position, a portion of the top sheet will be drawn by suction into contact with the frictional surface formin the lower portion of the suction-hea and the weight of the head will force the stack downwardly a sui.-

cient amount to release the pressure between the suction-head is slid forwar l the uppermost sheet and the ledge 16. The' suction-head is then given a s ht'move ment forwardly, and will carry with it, the rear edge of the uppermost sheet, drawing the edge from beneath the ledge 16. The fact that the contact surface is covered with frictional material, such as rubber, assists in this sliding movement of the sheet, and prevents the suction-head from sliding over the surface of the sheet itself. During this for ward movement, the sheet buckles slightly, as shown in Fig. 2, the front edge of the sheet remaining beneath the led e 15. As on the surface of the stack and carries t e upper sheet with it, there is a tendency for the lower sheets to move with the up r one. They are held in place however by t e knife edges 72 which cut slightly into the edges of the sheets, and prevent forward movement of all of the sheets, except the uppermost one, which because of its close connection with the suction-head, and because of the frictional contact surface, is carried forwardly in spite of the knife edges 72, the edges of the sheet being slightly mutilated. W en the rear edge of the uppermost sheet is moved from beneath the overhanging ledge 16, the suction-head is carried upwardly b the arm 60, pullin the forward edge of t e sheet from beneat the shoulder 15. This tums the edge of the sheet and separates it from those below in a manner similar to that in which a single card may be flipped 'from a pack by ones thumb. During this u ward movement, there is a tendency to strip the sheet from the suctionhead, this tendency being greatest of course, at the front portion of the head. To overcome this tendency, the grooves 32, leading` to the openings 31, are provided as previousfl1 explained. These grooves increase the e ective areaof the suction device, and thus cause the sheet to' adhere more firmly at its front portion. Thegrooves also form a suction surface, which is substantially continuous in the direction to which the grooves extend. If this were not true, as soon as the sheet 14 was disconnected from'one row of holes, it would have no support between that row and the next succeeding row, and would tend to fall away from the'surface between the two rows, thus making it easier to strip the sheet from the entire surface. When the sheet has been lifted clear of the magazine, the head is movedto carry the sheet upwardly and forwardly to rform any operation that may be desirede In the device shown in the co-pending ap. plication referred to, the sheet is covered with mucila e and deposited upon an article to be labeleti'; the valve 37 being operated to admit compressed air into the suction-head to discharge the sheet when desired, and the piston 43 acting under the influence of the pressure in the suction-head to position the cam roller 45 to control the suction-head relative to the Vglue roller. These features are described more fully in the application 1referred to.

While the suction-head is being moved to carry the sheet to the position where it is to be discharged, the bell crank lever 64 is oscillated by the cam 63, and the pawl 66 is thus forced into en gement with one of the notches 70, and theiiir 17 thus forced downwardly against the tension of the spring 19. This moves the stack of sheets 14 so that the uppermost sheet is moved out of engagement with the ledgs 15 and 16, and any sheets which may ave been deranged by the suction-head during the last operation, are permitted to drop back into their proper position in the magazine. To assist in the positioning of the eranged sheets, the cam 63 is shaped so that the plate 18, with the stack of sheets thereon, is oscillatcd up and down a slight amount, while the stack is held in its depressed position, thus causing the sheets to be adjusted proper between the walls and the magazine. fore the suction-head is returned to ick up the next sheet, the rod 17 and the p ate 18 are freed from the action of the pawl 66, so that the stack of sheets are returned to their pm er position for.the next operation of the ueu tion-head.

I claim: y

l. In sheet feeding mechanism, a carrier ha ving an extended substantially continuous surface composed of frictional material with spaced perforations therethrou the mouths of said perforetions being istribated over said continuous surface and opening at the level of said surface so that substantially the entire surface of said frictional material intermediate said mouths will engage a sheet held against said surface, mechanism for drawing a sheet against said surface, and means for moving said fric tional surface in the direction of the plane of a sheet to be fed and in contact therewith.

2. In sheet feeding mechanism, a suction head having an extended substantially continuous lifting surface composed of frictional material with spaced perforations therethrough, the mouth of said perforations being distributed overA said surface and opening therethrou h in the plane thereof so that substantial y the entire surface of said frictional material intermediate said mouths will engage a sheet held against said surface, and means for moving said lifting surface in the direction of the plane of a sheet to be fed and in contacttherewith.

3. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for holding a stack of sheets to be fed, a carrier for removing sheets from said stack, said carrier having an `extended substantially continuous lifting surface composed of frictional material with spaced perforations therethrough, the mouths of said perform tions opening in alinement with the said continuous surface of said frictional mate rial so that said surface intermediate said mouths will engage a sheet held against said surface, and means for moving said lifting surface parallel with the sheets in said, stach.

4. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for holding a plurality of sheets to be fed in stack formation, a suction head havin an extended substantially continuous litin surface composed of frictional material wit spaced perforations therethrough, the mouths of said perforations being distributed over said continuous surface and openin in alinement therewith so that substantially the entire surface of said frictional material intermediate said mouths Will engage a sheet held against said surface, and means for moving said lifting surface into contact with the uppermost sheet in said stach and for movin said surface parallel with said sheet wb' e in contact therewith.

usiamo l. In sheet-feeding` mechanism, a ma eine for holding sheets to be fed, means or removing sheets from the top of a pile in said magazine and means for ,lowering the sheets within said magazine and relatire thereto after a removlngoperation to adjust said sheets in said magazine.

ti. In sheet-:feeding mechanism, a holding device, means for removin sheets from the top of a pile in said ho ing device, and means for lowering and raising the sheets remaining in said holding device a plurality of times after a removing operation and prior to a subsequent removin operation to adjust the position of said sieets in said holding device.

7. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a magaaine having side members for holding a nlurality of sheets in stack formation, means for removingr the uppermost sheets from said stach, one at a time, and means for lowering the sheets remaining in said magazine rclative to said side members after a removing i operation to readjust the sheets in said magasine.

8e In sheet-feeding mechanism means for holding a plurality of sheets in stuck formation including a support for said sheets, means for removing said sheets. one at a time, from the top of said stack, means for vibrating the support for said stack after each removing operation, and means for disconnecting said lowering means from said support to permit return of said stack to its uppermost position.

9. A sheet-holdin,` device comprising a stationary bottom member, stationary side members, and a pivoted side member resiliently held in closed position and arranged to bear against the edges of the sheets in said holder at one side of thel stack to hold said sheets in proper alinement in said stack.

lil. A sheet-holding magazine comprising a stationary bottom member, a stationary side member, a movable side member pivoted to said stationary bottom member and arranged to bear against the edges of the stack of sheets in said magazine, resilient means for holding; said movable side member in closed position against the edges of said sheets, a movable bottom member, resilient means for pressing` said bottom member upwardly, and means for contacting the sheets held in said magazine for limiting the upward movement of said bot-tom member.

l1. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for holdin?l a supply of sheets, means for removing t e sheets one at a time from said supplly, means for feeding the sheets for- Ward y, and means for retracting and advancing said feeding means a plurality of times after the removal of a sheet from said supply and prior to the removal of a subsequent sheet therefrom to rei-adjust said remaining sheets in seid sheet holding means.

12. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a lioldiiiir device. means for removing sheets from said holding device, one at a time, means for retracting the sheets remainin in said holding device after each operation of the removing means and for vibrating said sheets while in retracted position to re-adjust any sheets displaced by the removing operation.

18. In shect-feeding mechanism, means comprising stationary side walls for holding a plurality of sheets in stack formation, means for removingr the sheets, one at a time, from t-lie top of the stack, and means for retract-ing and advancing the stack within said side walls after the removal of a sheet from said stack and rior to the removal of a subsequent sheet t ierefrom.

1l. In a device of the character described, means for holding a plurality of sheets in stack formation, means for contacting withtlie upper sheet of the stack near two 0f the edges thereof, a paper lifting device for sliding one edge of said upper sheet from under its contactimer n'ieans and then raising said sheet from said stack to remove the other edge of said sheet from its contacting means.

15. In sheet-feeding mechanism, means for holding a plurality of sheetsI in stack formation, means for contacting with the uppermost sheet of said stack near one edge thereof, and a paper lifter arranged to slide said sheet from beneath said contacting means and then lift said sheet bodily from said stack.

16. In a machine of the character described. a sheetholding magazine, a paper lifter for removing sheets, one at a time,

from said magazine and means for operating said lifter Vto cause it to first slide one edge of the sheet to be removed while the other edge is held stationary and then lift* ing the sheet bodily.

17. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a magazine for holding a? plurality of sheets in stack formation, a movable bottom for said magazine, means for resiliently ressing said bottom upwardly to lift saidp sheets, means for limiting the upward movement of said bottom, a suction-head for removing the top sheets, one at a time, from said mazine, said head being arranged to engage t e uppermost sheet in said magazine with its lifting face at an angle to said sheet, and means for moving said head to impart a preliminary sliding movement to the sheet to be removed before it is lifted from said magazine.

18. In sheet feeding mechanism, means` said stack of sheets near the edge thereof remaining portion of the suction head is raised slightly from said sheets, there being suction openings in said head adjacent said contacting portion and other openings in said raised portion, and means oi' moving said suction head toward said abutment member while so positioned to cause a sheet to buckle toward said last-mentioned openings.

19. In sheet-feeding mechanism, means for holding a stack of sheets, a suctiondiead for removing the sheets, one at a time, from said holding means, means for moving one edge of said suction-head into Contact with said stack of sheets, While the remaining portion of said suction-head is raised from said stack, means for sliding said suction-head laterally along the surface of said stack while in this osition, and means for lifting said siiction-liead bodily away from said stack.

20. In sheet-feeding mechanism, means for holding a stark of sheets, means arranged to overlie said sheets at two of the edges thereof and a lifting device arranged to contact with a sheet near one of said overlying means and move in the direction of the plane of said sheet to slide said sheet from under said over-lying means and then lift it bodily, drawing it from under the other over-lying means.

21. In a machine of the class described, a device for holding a plurality of flattened articles in stack formation, means for separating the articles from others in said stack, one at a time, by sliding motion, and spring pressed knife edges contacting with the edges of said articles to prevent more than one article to be slid by said removing means.

22. A device for feeding flattened articles, one at a time, from a stack comprising means for separating the articles 'from others in said stack. a. sharpened .spring pressed blade arranged to contact wit the edges of said articles and mechanism for movin said separating means transversely of sai( blade during a separating operation.

23. A device for feeding flattened articles. one at a time, from a stack comprising means for removingr said articles from the stack by sliding the upper article, and a spring pressed knife edge adjacent one side of said stack and arranged to bear against the edge of the other articles of the stack to prevent sliding motion of the latter mentioned articles.

24. A device for feeding flattened articles comprising mea s for holding `a stack of articles, a siicti nliead adapted to` contact with the upper articles of the stack near one edge thereof and slide said edge of said articles forwardly on `said stack, and a knife said surface being provided with a greater effective suction aiea than the other portion thereof.

26. In combination, means for holdin flattened articles to be lifted, a suction-hea for lifting said articles, means for movin said suction-head into contact with sai articles at one side of said suction-head, said suction-head being provided with a greater effective suction area ,at the side of said head awa from the contacting portion than on the si e near the contacting portion` 27. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a suctionhead comprising a member rovided with a lifting surface and a plura ity of opening therethrough, and means for producing a greater effective suction area at one side of said lifting surface than at. the other.

28. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a suction head comprising a member having a lifting surface, and means for producing a greater effective suction area at one side of said sur face than at. the other.

29. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a suctionhead comprising a member havinga lifting surface, and a plurality of openings therethrough, the openings at one side of said member being enlarged at the lifting surface while the openings at the other side of said member present a smaller suction area than said enlarged o enings.

30. In sheet-'teeding mechanism, a lifting head, a groove surrounding said head for the purpose of catching liquid. and a reseri oir in said head connected with said groore for retaining said liquid.

31. In sheet-feedingmechanisn'i, u hollow lifting head, a plug secured within said head having an opening therethrough, and en upstanding flange surrounding said opening, in position to intercept liquid flowing downwardly in. said head to exclude said liquid from said o ening.

In sheebfee ing mechanism, a lfiollowk lifting head, a member for closing the opening in said head, said member having a, pasage therethrough, an opstanding flange surrounding said passage, a cover resting on the topI of said upstanding flange. and openings t rough said opstanding flange.

3d. In sheet-feeding mechanism, u hollow lifting head, means for preventing the dow of liquid from the upper to the lower portion of the interior of said head, an opening through the wall of said head to conduct liquid from the interior to the exterior oit said head, and means for preventing the 55 tlow of air to the interior of said head.

34. In sheetfeeding mechanism, a lifting head, means for stopping the iiow of liquid downwardly on the exterior surface of said head, means for stopping the flow of liquid downwardly on the interior surface of said head, and means for accommodating the liquid intercepted by said stopping means.

35. A sheet-feeding mechanism, a'inagaeine having stationary side members for holding a supply of sheets, means for removing the sheets one at a time from the top of the supply' in said magazine, and means for readjusting the sheets in said supply after each removing operation while lowering the supply between said walls and relative thereto.

36. In sheet-feeding mechanism, means iior holding a supply of sheets, a bottom plate for said holding means having its supporting surface concave for bending said sheets upwardly at opposite edges, abutments for the upwardly bentedges, and a suction head arranged to act directly on the low portion of the uppermost sheet of said supply above the low portion of said concave surface to lift said sheet from said surrly- 37. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a plate for supporting sheets having the supporting surface thereof concave to bend opposite edges of said sheets upwardly, abutment members for the upwardly bent edges of said sheets, and a suction head arranged to operate on the uppermost sheet of a stack held by said plate at the central downwardly bent portion of said sheet and while said sheet is held in bent position by said plate and abutment members.

38.- In sheet-feeding mechanism, means for supporting a suppl);v of sheets, means for holding said sheets in bowed condition, and a suction lift for removing said sheets. one at a time, from said supporting means, said suction lift being arranged to operate along substantially the entire length of a curve formed by a sheet to be lifted.

B9. In sheet-feeding mechanism, means .for supporting a supply of sheets with the surface thereof bowed, and suction means for removing the sheets from said supply, said means being arranged to exert lifting force over substantially the entirearea of a sheet to be lifted.

di). In sheetfeeding mechanism, means tor supporting a supply of sheets with the central portions thereof bowed downwardly, and e suction device arranged to exert a lifting force on said downwardly bent portion for liftingr said sheets, one at a time, from the to of said supply.

dll. ln sheet-feeding mechanism, means for holding a stach of sheets, a suction-head for removing said sheets, one at a time, from said holding means, means for moving one edge of said S\u'tion-hcad into contact with said stack of sheets, while the remaining portion of said suction-head is raised from said stack. means for sliding said suction-head laterally along the surface of said stack. and means for separating said suction-head and stack.

42.111 shect-feedng mechanism, means for holding a stack of shectsra suction-head for removing sheets, one at. a time, from said holding means, means for moving said suction-head to hringone edve thereof into contact with said sheets wiile the other edge is spaced therefrom, means for sliding said suctiondiead parallel with the surface of said sheets wlule in cont-act therewith, to cause said sheet to buckle upwardly into engagement with other portions of the lift ing surface of said head, and means for separating said suction-head and stack.

43. A device for feeding flattened articles. one at a time. from a stack comprising means for removing the articles from the st-ack by sliding them along the surface thereof. and a sharpened blade for contact ing during such sliding movement with the edges of the articles parallel with the direction of sliding movement and for cutting into said articles at the edges thereof to resist said sliding movement.

44. A device for feeding flattened articles. one at a time, from a staf-lt compris ing a suction-head. means for moving said suction-heini parallel with the surface of the stack and in contact therewith. and sharpened blades for contacting with said flattened articles at the edges thereof parallel with the direction of movement of said suction-head while said articles remain in stack formation.

45. A device for feeding flattened articles comprising means for holding a stack of articles, a suction-head arranged to contact with the upper article of the stack near one edge thereof and slide said edge forwardly upon said stack. and sharpened blades extending transversely of the lateral edges of said articles and arranged to contact with a lateral face of said stack to pre vent the sliding of other articles upon the stack.

46. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a suction-head comprising a member having a flat lifting surface, a plurality of openings through said surface, and grooves in said surface communicating with said openin the ends of said grooves being terminated Walls to form a pocket beneath the lev l of the lifting surface 0f said suction hea 47. A device for feeding attened arti cles, one at a time, from a stack comprising a suction-head, having ,a fiat lifting surface arranged to contact along one edge. thereof with said stack and having openings through said surface. and pockets in said surface communicating with said openings and surrounded by walls the outer edges of which are Hush with Said surface.

48.1n sheet-feeding mechanism, a suction-head for lifting flattened articles from a stack. means for moving one edge of said suction head into contact with said stack while the other edge is out. of contact therewith, said suction-head having a plurality of openings through the contacting surface thereof and having grooves in said surface extending through said openings in a direction substantially at right angles to said contacting edge.

49. In sheet-feeding mechanism, means for holding a plurality of sheets in stack formation, a retainer arranged to engage one edge of the outermost sheet of said stack, resilient means for pressing said stack toward said retainer to hold said outermost sheet in engagement therewith, a lifter for said sheets` and means for moving said lifter into contact with said outermost sheet to cause said lifter to ex'ert pressure thereon to relieve the pressure between said sheet and said retainer and for subsequently shifting said lifter to move said sheet away from said retainer.

50. In' sheet-feeding mechanism, means for holding a plurality of sheets in stack formation. a suction head having an extended sheet engaging surface with a plurality of suction openings extending therethrough and distributed over said surface for removing the .sheets one at a time from said holding means. and mechanism for causing said suction head to contact with the uppermost sheet of .said stack near one edge of said slieet-cngaging surface while the remaining portion of said sheet engaging surface is raised slightly from said sheet and for moving said head in a direction parallel with the plane of said sheet while thus positioned.

51. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for holding a plurality of sheets in stack formation. retaining devices extending inwardly a slight distance over opposite edges of the uppermost. sheet of said stack. a suction head for lifting the uppermost sheet from said stack, and mechanism for causing said suction head to contact with said sheet adjacent one of said retaining devices and for moving said suction head in the direction of the, plane of said sheet to slide the edge of said sheet from beneath said retaining device. said mechanism heing arranged to move said suction head upwardly and to lift said sheet bodily after said sliding movement to draw the opposite edge of said sheet from beneath the other retaining device.

52. In sheet feeding mechanism. means for holding a plurality of sheets in stack formation, a suction head for lifting sheets from said stack, mechanism for moving said suction head into and out of engagement with said stack, said suction head having a groove extending around the periphery thereof for intercepting oil or other liquid flowing downwardly on the outer portion of said suction head, and a partition Within said suction head for intercepting oil or other liquid fiowing downwardly on the interior of said suction head.

53. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for holding a plurality of sheets in stack formation, a suction head for liftin sheets from said stack, mechanism for moving said suction head into and out of engagement with said stack, movin parts within said suction head for contro lin'g the passage of air therethrough, said suction head being provided with a channel on the outer periphery thereof for intercepting oil or other liquid flowing downwardly on the outer surface of said suction head from said operating mechanism, and a partition 'Within said suction head `for intercepting oil dowing downwardly from said moving parte on nain,

the interior of said head, said partition hav-` ing openings therethrough to permit passage of air through said suction head.

5l. In sheet feeding mechanism, a suction head for lifting sheets to be fed, said suction head having an extended fiat sheet engaging member with a plurality of open ings therethough, a portion of said openings hein enlarged at their outer ends to form poc ets at the mouth of said openings toinorease the effective suction area of said openings.

55. In sheet feeding mechanism, a suction head for lifting sheets to be fed, said suction head having a rubber covered plate forming a fiat lifting surface for en aging the sheets, said plate being provide with a plurality of openings extending therethrough, the outer ends of some of said openings being enlarged to increase the efective suction-area of the portion of said plate in which said openings with enlarged mouths are located;

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s )ecification on this 20th day of @ct/ober, A.. il), 1916.

MCHAEL .l MILMOE.

Witnesses:

Fern G. Bacone, G, d., Boonen..

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