US2545388A - Paper feeding machine - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1951 v F. SCHWAR-ZER 2,545,388

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE Filed March 4, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fred Schwaraez; I K, J TIL/J Aztoneg March 13, 1951 F. SCHWARZER 5 9 PAPER FEEDING MACHINE Filed March 4, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fred schwar er,

March 13, 1951 F. SCHWARZER PAfER FEEDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 4, 1947 {4V 0 w e v.8 w W 7 m 0! 5 is M 5 u 8 H j n0 8 1 Z A l WW 7 m? J 1 8 W wu 41 5 9 6 1 8 7.0 94 1 8 7 n 8 m g 0 L... 1 H 1 1 fin w Z 1 Patented Mar. 13, 1951 PAPER FEEDING MACHINE Fred Schwarzer, Pottstown, A Pa., assignor to American Business Systems, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 4, 1947, Serial No. 732,212

9 Claims. (Cl. 271-18) This invention relates to a machine for feeding sheets of paper. An object of the invention is the provision of a machine for feeding sheets of paper as desired into typewriters, billing and similar machines in which the sheets of paper are discharged by the operation of a lever for moving a follower progressively toward the discharge end of a rack which carried the papers, the individual sheets being picked off a stack of papers on the supporting rack.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine for supplying individual sheets of paper from a stack on a rack in which the stack is moved progressively to a discharge end of the rack by a follower, the sheets of paper being picked off the stack by the ends of a pair of inwardly moving resilient fingers and then released as the fingers are withdrawn, the individual sheet being dropped into a slightly lowered position just before withdrawal from the stack while a succeeding sheet is held in elevated position by arms which are operated in timed relation with the inwardly moving fingers and the progressively shifting follower, the operation of the follower,

the fingers and arms being effected by a single stroke of a manually actuated lever.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for supplying sheets of paper individually to the platen by a typewriter by means of a progressively shifted follower on a rack which supports a stack of sheets of the paper, levers connected to the follower being actuated progressively by a spring-controlled shaft which in turn is rocked at angular increments by a toothed wheel through the medium of a recip rocating pawl, a second pawl retaining the wheel against reverse rotation by a spring and movable to an inoperative position for releasing the reciprocating pawl from the teeth of the wheel whereby the spring will reversely rotate the shaft and wheel and return the'follower to its initial position, means actuated by a single stroke of a manually operated lever for picking individual sheets from the stack, said lever controlling simultaneously the movement of the reciprocating pawl.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combinations of parts Figure 3 is a side view in elevation of said ma chine. V

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section of the machine taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the main operating mechanism of the machine with the cover plate for said mechanism removed.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side view showing the main operating mechanism for the sheetshifting follower.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 'i-'l of Figure 4 with the rearward levers omitted and showing the paper-picking means moved to operative position. v

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a front view in elevation of the lever and associated U-shaped member shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a view in perspective of a filler block used in connection with the rack which supports the sheets of paper.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal vertical section of ,a manually operating device, taken along the line H-ll of Figure 12.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the manually operating device shown in Figures 3 and 10 and Figure 13 is a plan view of the rockable member illustrated in Figure 8 with parts broken away.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, i5

designates a standard which is U-shaped in cross section and which rises from a base member l6 adapted to be secured in any approved manner to a desk so the paper feeding machine may be in close association with the platen of a typewriter, not shown. A post I! U-shaped in cross section, is fitted intothe standard l5 and projects upwardly above the upper end of the said standard. A block 53 is connected to the standard. A block 69 is attached between the flanges of the post H. An axle 2B is connected between the lower ends of the side flanges of said standard.

A lever 2i is pivoted at one end to a bracket '22 secured to the top of the post where a supporting block 23 is attached. Said block has a notch 24 received by the upper end of the post so that when a bolt 25 is removed said block and attachments may be removed. The lever 2| is forced upwardly by a spring 26 upon which pressure is adjusted by a bolt 21 carried by the block iii.

A link so is connected between an intermediate portion of the lever 2! and an eye 3! at the upper end of a rod 32 which extends downwardly in the standard I5 and through a stop 33 adjustably positioned on the rod by a bolt 34.

A U-shaped spring member 35 has a bight por- 3 tion received by a passage in an arm of a bell crank 36 pivoted on the axle 20. The free ends of the arms of said spring member are fastened to the stop 33.

A manually operating device 37 (Figs. 3, and 11), is in a convenient position for the typist which is usually at the front of the desk 30. A clamp Al is provided for retaining the device 31 in place and is connected to a housing 42. A lever 43 projects through a slot in the housing and has a finger piece as for manual actuation of the lever which is pivoted at 45 on the housing. A link 46 connects a free end ofthe lever 43 with a free end of a lever M pivoted at 48 on said housing. A link 49 is attached between the other free end of the lever 4! and a wire or rod 50. The link 49 passes through an opening in the housing 31 while the rod 56 passes through an opening in the lower end of the standard l5 and isattached to the lower free end of the bell crank 36 (Fig. 4).

A rack generally designated by the numeral 52 has a bottom member 52 which is attached to a -block.53 that is in turn secured to the block 23 at the upper end of the post I"! (Figures 4 and 7). The bottom is U-shaped in cross section.

" Side plates 54 and 54a are secured to the oppositeends offthebottom member in any approved manner. A brace bar 55 is bolted to inturned flanges 51 on the side plates at the rear of the machine (Fig. 2). A front longitudinal plate 58 is bolted to. outturned flanges 53 on the front edges of the side plate (Fig. l).

The follower 60 against which a stack of papers isplacedis disposed between the side plates 5d of the rack 5i. Spaced pairs of links 6! (Figures 2 and 4) have the inner ends pivoted on a U- shaped member 6l-a to the back of the follower 60 while the outer ends are pivoted to the free ends of spaced levers 62 which have a bridging portion. 62.-a secured to the shaft 63 which has bearings in brackets Ed and 64a secured to the flanges .51

The levers 62 and link 6| move the lower end of the follower toward the front end of the machine.

vLevers 65 have their free ends pivotally connected to the outer ends of links 66 with the inner ends of the links having pivotal connection and a U-shaped member t5-a secured to the back of the follower 6B. The levers 65 as shown in Figures 2 and 4 form the spaced arms 'of a U-shaped member which has a bridging .portionfil pivotally mounted on ears 68 attached to the upper flanged edge of the bar 55 (Figures 2 and 4). The links 56 are connected by a bridging member 69.

A lever Hl secured at one end to the bridging portion 6'! projects downwardly and has pivotal connections with a depending link 1 I. A lever '12 has one end rigidly attached to the shaft 63 while the other end has pivotal connections with the'lower end of the link 1| so that when the shaft E3 is rocked progressively, the follower 69 will be moved step-by-step toward the discharge .end of the rack, with both the top and bottom of the follower being shifted simultaneously the same distance. The levers 65 and 1!! in effect form abell crank while the levers 52 and '52 also of arms 78 and 19 are rigid with a shaft 88 mounted in bearings in the spaced flanges i5 intermediate the ends of the member it. The arm it extends rearwardly from the shaft 853 and has a downwardly bent free end 8! located in a slot 82 at the rear end of the member i5. A ball 83 is secured to said free end. The inner free ends of the arms i8 and 79 project beyond an upstanding lip 8 at the end of the member it. This lip has a slot 85 for a purpose which will be presently explained.

A lever 88 projecting from a rock shaft 8? is engaged by a downwardly projecting finger 58 on the arm '58. When the arm it is lowered by the weight of a sheet rested thereon, the lever 86- is lowered. It will be noted that the front ends (Figures 7 and 8) of the flanges F5 are cutaway at 89, to form a lower edge portion so that the lower end of'the sheet of paper will drop lower than the normal free edges of the flanges 15 upon which said sheet has been supported during the forward movement of the follower 6%.

The portions 59 are substantially in the same 'plane as the upper surfaces of the inner portions-of the arms 73 and it when said arms have been lowered.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, mechanism is illustrated for rotating the shaft 63 upon which a coil spring 9t is wound. One end at of said spring rests against the bracket 6d while the other end 92 is secured in a passage in a collar 93' rigid with a gear 3 3 which is attached. to the shaftGS. A small gear 35 meshes with the gear 9%. The geared and a large gear as are fixed to a shaft 9? mounted in bearings in a bar 93 and a plate 99 attached to the adjacent side plate 54 of the rack 5!. The gears 95 and Q55 and the 'shaft'fia are revolved when the gear es is re- :volved. A pawl i353 engages the teeth of the gear $5 and prevents reverse rotation of said gear by the coil spring Bil until the pawl is released by the lever Hill which is pivoted at Hi2 onthe plate. A spring E83 maintains the pawls I08 in engagement with the teeth of the gear 9 5. An oscillating pawl M l engages the teeth of Ht on the plate 99. A finger H! on the pawl I891 is adapted to engage a cam surface M2 on ,the pawl I9 3 for forcing the last mentioned pawl out of engagement with the teeth of the gear 96. A pin M3 on the plate '99 limits the movement of the pawl de l so that the pawl i536 will not be placed in a position where it will not fall by gravity into the teeth -of the gear at when released.

One end of the arm IE8 is rigidly attached to one-endof a shaft H5. The other end of said arm isconnected with one end of a rod i it. The rod .HE and shaft H5 run transversely of the front end of the machine. A link 5125 has one end ,pivotallyconnected with the rod H6 while the other end of said link is pivoted to the frcnt end ofthe lever .22! at the middle of said machine.

A curved arm 62f has the front end rigid with the other end of the shaft 5 iii. The other or rear end of said arm is pivoted on the other end of the shafthas a bearing in a projection I25 side plate 54-a. A U-shaped lever I26 has a bridging portion I21 and parallel. legs I21--a which have they lower ends thereof secured at atlases ofthe I28 to the shaft H5. The upper free end of g each leg has an inturned flange I29 from which extends a vertical finger I30.

A U-shaped member I3I (Figures '1, 8 and 9) I has a top or bridging portion I32 and depending q legs I33 which are pivoted at the lower ends on theshaft H5 at each side of the legs I2'|-a of the lever I26. The bridging member at the outer end is provided with an upstanding flange I34 I which is adjacent a vertical flange I35 on an adjustable member I36 in contact with the under surface of the member I32. A flange I31 at the inner end of the member I36 is adjacent the inner end of the bridging member I 32 and is provided with a pair of. passages I38'for apurpose which will be explained presently.

A device is provided in connection with the lever I26 and the U-shaped member I3I for the 7 positive removal of sheets of paper or folded paper from the rack. The device includes spring arms I40 of'a V-shaped member I4I, said arms being connected together by a bight portion I42. The

. r 6 member 16 (Fig. '1). In other words, the flange I31 on the slide I36 is adjusted relative to the pointed ends I43 of the spring member I4 I.

A crank I60 (Figs. 5 and 6) secured to one end of the rock shaft 81 projects through an opening I6I in the side wall 54 of the rack 5| and an ani nular opening I62 in the plate 99. Said crank is in engagement with the edge I I2 of the pawl I04. When a number of manifolds is placed on the rack 5I and said manifolds are progressively moved forwardly towards the discharge end of the rack, a manifold will be shifted onto the free ends of the arms 10 and 19 before being picked member I4I rests on the top I32 of the U-shaped member I3I with arms being received by the elongated passages I38 in the flange I31.

The free ends I43 are pointed and directed toward eachother, as shown in Figure 12.

in a predetermined position by a bolt I46 received by a passage I41 in said block and threaded into a passage in the slide I36. Said bolt is also received by an enlarged opening I32-a in the member I32 of the U'-shaped member I3I. The bottom face of the block I45 has a lug I48 which is embraced by the bight portion I42 of themember I4I while said bight portion is received by a groove I49 partially surrounding the lug I48. The passage I41 has a diameter sufliciently large to permit adjustment of the block I45 toward or away from the flange I31. A head I50 on the bolt I46 is adapted to engage the upper face of the block for securing the block in an adjusted position after the pointed ends I43 of the arms I40 have been placed the properdistance from the flange I31 for gripping paper on the rack 5I.

The block I45 is moved toward or away from off the arms by the pointed ends I43 of the spring arms I40 and the weight of the manifold will be suflicient to depress said ends of the arms and the lever 86 so that the shaft 81 will be rocked causing the crank I60 to force the pawl I04 to move in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6 and to free said pawl from the teeth of wheel 96. Thus continued operation of the lever 36 will not move the wheel 96 nor the follower 60, until the manifold has been removed from the rack by the pointed ends or picking fingers As shown in Figure 6, the wheel 96 has a blank portion I65 from which teeth have been removed so that when the retaining pawl I00 reached said portion the wheel 96 remains inoperative. At this time, the follower 60 will have shifted all of the sheets of paper or manifolds off the rack. The pawl I00 is moved away from the wheel 96 until the arm I II forces the operating pawl out of engagement with the teeth of the wheel 96 whence the spring 90 will return said wheel to its normal operating position. If the spring needs tightening the collar 93 may be released by releasing a set screw 93a. The collar may be rotated until the spring has been wound sufficiently on the shaft 63.

An apron I66 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) has depending ears I61 at the upper end, thereof with lateral pins I68 on the ears passing through perforations in the side walls 54 and 54a of the rack 5I. Nuts I69 are threaded onto the pins for adjustably positioning the apron so that the sheets of paper or manifolds will be directed properly into the typewriter.

A guide I10 L-shaped in cross section (Figures 1, 2, 3) is secured to a block "I and provided with a slot I12 receiving the lower edge of the apron I66. A set screw I13 is threaded into a passage in the block for attaching the guide in the flange I31 by a wheel I5I*which has a central bore threaded onto a screw I52 secured to the flange'l35 and to the block I45. The wheel has a portion received neatly by a passage I53 in the slide.I36 while said wheel is disposed in a slot I54 in the top or bridging portion I32 of the 'I U shaped member I3I.' The slot I54 is sufliciently wide to permit the wheel to move back I' and forth in said slot. An opening I55 in the tioning the pointed ends toward or away from the '"opening 85 in the flange 84 on the U-shaped an adjusted position along the lower edge of the apron. The free edge of one flange I14 of the guide is in engagement with the outer surface of the apron while the other flange I15 is spaced from the apron. The flanges cooperate with the apron to form a groove at one side edge of the apron for -guiding papers or manifolds into the typewriter.

Fillers I16 (Figures 1 and 10) are attached removably to the side walls 54 and 54a of the rack 5I when narrower sheets of paper or manifolds are employed. In this connection, it may be stated that the guide I10 is adjusted accordingly along the apron to take care of the sheets of less width. Each side wall has a bayonet slot I11 to receive a headed pin or bolt I18 mounted on the filler. The periphery of each filler is so designed that said filler will have a neat fit in the opposite side walls 54 and 54-a of the rack.

A cover-plate I19 houses the mechanism illustrated in Figure 6. Said plate is secured removably in place by a bolt Ithreaded into a perfo- The lever I-ZB-and-U-Shaped member I3I (Fig "8) Y are enclosed within ahousing' TBI "(Figures 1 and 3)-formed--integra1ly with the frohti'pla'tefaa and projects outwardly therefrom. A' hinged cover I82 closes the top of the housi'ng and'inay.

I be raised when it is desired to adjiist theposi- 'tion of the gripping fingers I43 (Fig. '13) "relative to the-flange I31.

Arms I65 are securedadjustably'td the upper rear face of the follower' 60"b'y"bolts I86. arms are placed normally inoverlapping relation, as shown in Figure m nt may be'ra'isedto vertical positions for supporting papers or manifolds which project too'far'above-the upper end of the follower 66 and which would'tendtobend rearwardly without silch supp'ort.

Referring more particularly to' F'ig'ures 2 and 4, it will be 'seen that the post I! is not only readily removable new" the standard "I5 but is mounted adjustablywithin said standard. "An 1 L-shaped member I99 has a flange I9I resting on the top of theiblo'ck 'I8 While the other flange I92'is' in contact with'the'rear' wallof said block.

' The flanges I9I"'and""I92 extend across the full "width of the standardl5 so that inclined edges I93 of the 'parallel'flanges on the postI'I will engagetheoppos'ite'ends of the flange I92 on the member I90. "A'win'gedbolt I94 threaded into a transverse passage: in the block with the free end of said bolt beingin engagement with the flanges I92 of the membjer I96. 'The post I! is in its lowest positro inFigure rand is held in such position'jby the'flange I92en'gaging the inclined edges -I93 of the post. Saidpost' maybe elevated andretain'ed in such positionby sc'rewing the bolt I94 inwardly for forcing t-he flange I92 against the edges I93. 7 g

The operation ofmy device is-as' follows:

The follower 66 must be'placed in the position shown in Figure 4. This is accomplished by pressing on the'lever" I ill (Figure 6)' whence the pawl I will be freed from the teeth" of the 'wheel 96 and'the finger I I I will forcethe pawl I M away from the teeth 'of' said wheel. The spring96 willreversely rotate the wheel 96 and return the follower to the position shown in Figure 4 by the rotation 'of the shaft 63 which actuates the groups of levers"65-66 and fil 62. The manifolds or sheets of paper'are'th'en placed upon the rack-with the lower edgesresting onthe upturned flanges. I5. ably positioned so that said apron will guide the manifolds into a position against the platen of the typewriter.

- It is to be borne in mind that'the rack l' will lbe filled with a'stack of papers ormanifolds which are discharged individually froni the rack for-reception by the'typewriter and the leading manifold or sheet of paper is picked 01f "the-rack at'the'discharge end'thereof when -said-manifold or paper is moved onto'the levers or arms-Hand I9 at the-"reduced portions 89 of the flange5'15.

Wherever the word paper is usedin-the description and claims, it is intended to include a manifold or a sheet of paper. *Th leading p'aper referred to above denotes that paper "onthe'rack" which faces the jaws I=i3-'(Figure l3) andwhich is in the position'where it'willbe withdrawn from 'the-"rackat'thenextioperation ofthe lever 36 (Fi ure iy It will 'be. necessary lto adjustthe-stop 93am the The Y The apron I66 is adjust- .2,54s,sss

, swinging rod 32. to a position where the throw 0f the 1Vef36iWillftfailSTh pat VI I 04 :YFigurdG) to engage successively onetooth at ea'ch'ro'c'king i of said'lever or'theadjustmentma-y cause-the pawl tofengage' successively every se'c'ond orthiid tooth. "The adjustment of 'the stop depends upon thethic'kness of the folders; manifolds, or sheets of paper. When single sheets "or paper ='are-placed in' the rack the pawl I04-'-will=revolve the wheel 96 by engaging successively -single teth-while'the thicker folders 'or' manifoldwillrequire a greater angular step-by-step rotation of the wheel.

The rack" 5| of the machine' having been *suppliedwith astack of papers (Figure '4) and the proper adjustmentof "the stop-"'33' 'having been made,' the 'machine is in conditionto supply papers as desired to the platen of the typewriter. The lever--43 (Figures -3 and 11) is manually=operatedfor actuating the levers'36 and-2 I (Figures 2 amt-4) whereby the'-shaftI-I5'will-be rocked by the CurVed'arni'I-ZI; rod H6 and link-I20. At thes'ar'ne time'thenrm 108 is also rockedso that the links I61 and' I06 will move the pawl I'Il I back andf'orth for'rotating the wheel 96 step- "lay-step.

Actuation of the wheel' 96 "causes rotation of the shaft 63' through the intervention ofthe-gears 59 '(Figi' 5).

and the projecting jaws 1-43 into the dotted'l-ine position shown inFigure '8; with said fi'angein engagement with thefiah'gef-BQ at the discharge end'of the rack. "The ja'wsi43 are projected through the passage"85 in meetings-84? However, the "jaws will not grip-theleading paper unless the lower end" of said paper has-been seated on the'reducedportions 89 "ofthe flanges 15. When said lea'dingpaper dropsronto portions 89 'of" said" flanges; the flange I31 will press-the lower end of the papenagainst the flange-84 so that "the jaws "I'43'will "move through said paper andloe clamped thereon,"'as"will' be "presently described.

Theispring" arms I46""(Figures" 8" and 13)' will resist forward"movement of thefingers I30 in E31 into a position between the members--89 so that the flange] 3T onsa'id U-shaped member will engagethe-bottom of the Ieadingpaperand the jaws I 43"'will penetr'atesaid paper. The shaft I I5, however, has not as yet'complet'ed its rocking movement so' thatduring" the finalangular rotation "of said shaft, the'ifingers I39on'the lever I26 will f'or'cethe'if way through the alined slots to grip the leading paper.

The spring'26 (Figures 2 and 4) will return'the iever' ZPar-id' associated. element to the normal inoperative positions'when the lever '43 (Figure 3) is released, so' thattherock shaft H5 and attached lever" I26 wmreturn to theiri'noperative positions. During. the 'returnof the/lever 126,

the jaws l l3'vv'ill pull the leading paper from the rack and because of the tension of the spring arms M the fingers I38 will move rearwardly in the slots I44 thereby releasing the spring arms M0 (Figure 13), while the jaws I43 are unclamped from the paper and said paper will fall and be guided by the apron I65 and the member H0 into engagement with the platen of the typewriter.

The blank space 165 on the wheel 96 (Figure 6) is so arranged that when the final paper in the rack reaches the discharge end and is withdrawn, the space I65 when it reaches the pawls I00 and H34 will stop any further step-by-step movement of the follower andthe rock shaft I I5. At this time the pawl if!!! is rocked away from the wheel 9t when the finger ill will free the pawl I04 from said wheel to permit the spring 90 to return the follower 60 to its initial position.

Iclaimz, 1. A paper feeding machine comprising a rack having a discharge end, means moving papers through the rack to the discharge end, means for picking the leading paper from the rack,

said means including a rock shaft, a U-shaped member having the legs thereof pivoted on said shaft, a lever located within the U-shaped member and secured to the shaft. a slide mounted at the under face of the bridging portion of the U-shaped member and provided with an upstandingflange facing the discharge end of the rack, said flange having spaced openings, a V-shaped paper picking element having spring arms mounted on the bridging portion with jaws on the free ends and curved toward each other, said jaws projecting through the openings to grip the paper, means securing the opposite ends of the arms to the bridging portion, means adjustably positioning the slide on t e bridging portion for varying the distance between the jaws 0n the springarms and the flange, cooperating means causing rocking of the shaft and lever for pro ecting the jaws into gripping relation with leading paper and means for causing the moving means for the papers to shift said papers to the discharge end of the rack.

2. A paper feeding machine comprising a rack having a discharge end. means moving papers through the rack to the discharge end, means for picking the leading paper from the rack, said means including a rock shaft, a U-shaped member having the legs thereof pivoted on said shaft, a lever located within the U-shaped member and I secured to the shaft, a V-shaped paper picking element having spring arms, the free ends of said arms being pointed and curved toward each other, the U-shaped member having a bridging portion upon which the bight portion of the V-shaped element is secured, a lever within the U-shaped member being secured to the shaft, said bridging portion having parallel slots therein below the spring arms, fingers on the lever projecting upwardly through the slots and in engagement with the spring arms, means rocking the shaft and lever, the spring arms acting on the fingers causing the U-shaped member to be rocked with the lever until the pointed ends of the arms pierce the leading paper, continued rocking of the lever moving the fingers along the slots and forcing the arms toward each other so that the curved pointed ends will firmly grip the paper, means returning the lever and fingers for withdrawing the paper from the rack while the spring arms return to inoperative positions for releasing the paper, and means operating the moving means for the papers simultaneously with the rocking of the lever.

3. A paper feeding machine comprising a rack having a discharge end, means moving papers through the rack to the discharge end, means for picking the leading paper from the rack, said means including a rock shaft, a U-shaped member having the legs thereof pivoted on said shaft, a lever located within the U-shaped member and secured to the shaft, the U-shaped member having a bridging portion at the upper ends of the legs, flared spring arms having the inner ends secured to the top of the bridging portion, the free ends of said arms being provided with paper gripping jaws, said bridging portion having spaced elongated slots below the arms, fingers on the lever projecting through said slots, each finger engaging a spring arm so that when the lever is rocked the fingers acting against the spring. arms will rock the U-shaped member until the jaws on the arms will grip the leading paper on the rack, continued rocking of the lever will cause the finger to move in the slots and force the arms and jaws toward each other, means for rocking the lever toward the rack, means returning the lever and fingers to inoperative positions for releasing the spring arms and the jaws from the paper, the returning U-shaped member withdrawing the leading paper from the rack, and means operating the moving means for the papers on the rack simultaneously with the rocking of the lever.

4. A paper feeding machine comprising a rack having a discharge end, means for moving paper through the rack to the discharge end, a rock shaft, a lever secured to said shaft, a rockable means pivoted 'on the shaft and movable into contact with the leading paper on the rack at the discharge end by the lever, jaws on the rockable means adapted to grip leading paper, means on the lever for causing the jaws to grip said paper, means for rocking the shaft to move the rockable means onto the paper, means returning the lever and rockable means to an inoperative position for withdrawing the leading paper from the rack, while causing the means on the lever to release the jaws from the paper and means'operating the paper-moving means in the with said rockable means and being movable m timed relation therewith.

5. In a paper feeding machine, means for moving a stack of papers through a rack comprising a follower in the 'rack and'inclined at an angle to the vertical, a shaft mounted on the rack, a bell crank secured to the shaft, a link having pivotal connections between one arm of said bellcrank and the bottom of the follower, a second bell-crank pivoted on the follower adjacent the top, a link pivotally connected between the follower and the free end of one arm of the second bell crank, a link connecting the other arms of the bell-cranks, a toothed wheel mounted on the rack, operative connections between said wheel and the shaft, an oscillating pawl engaging the wheel for causing step-by-step rotation of the wheel, a spring connected between the shaft and the rack being wound when the shaft is rotated, a pawl retaining the wheel against reverse rotation by the spring, and means for oscillating the first pawl for rotating the wheel and causing shifting of the follower'through the rack toward the discharge end.

6. In a paper feeding machine, means for moving a stack of papers through a rack comprising a follower in the rack and inclined at an angle rack, said lastmentioned means being operatively connected to the vertical, a shaft mounted. on the. rack;,ia bell crank secured to theshaftrhaving pivotal connections between one arm-pf.saidibell-crankn'and the bottom of the follower, a secondbell-crank pivoted on the follower adjacent the :top, 'a link pivotally' connected between the followerrand' the free end of one arm of the secondbell crankza link connecting the other armsiof the bell-cranks,

a toothed wheel mounted onthe rack toperative connections betweensaid wheel and the. shaftyan oscillating pawl engaging the wheel .forgcausing step-by-step rotation of the wheel, a springrconnected between theshaft and the rackl-being wound when the shaft, is rotated, a .pawrreta'ining the wheel against reverse rotation; bythe spring, means for oscillating. the first;-paw1-.for rotating the wheel and causing shifting of-the follower through'the. rack toward: the; discharge end, and a finger on the second pawladjacent otal connections.betweerr'one: arm of 'said bells crank andthe bottom of- -thefol'lower-,;a: second bell-crank pivoted on the follower" adjacent the top, a link pivotally connected between the 'fol lower and the free end of one; arm of'thersecond bell crank, a link connectingtheother-arms-oh,

the bell-cranks, a toothedwheel mounted onthe rack, operative connections between said'wheel and the shaft, an oscillating:pawl'engaging the wheel for causing step-bv-stepgrotation-ofv the wheel, a spring connected between the shaft and,

the rack being woundtwh-en;the,-shaftis rotated, a, pawl retaining the wheel against reverse rotation by the spring; an actuating lever, means manually rocking saidlever, operative-connections between the actuating: leverand the oscillate ing pawl for causing step by step rotation-of the wheel and the follower'," and means operated by the secondpawl for throwing the oscillating pawl away from the wheelso that the spring will-reversely rotate the shaft and*return; the-follower,

to its initial position;-

8. In a paper feeding machinehaving a rack for supporting a plurality of papersadaptedto bewwithd-rawn singly from ,,said rack,- meansrfor withdrawingthe papers from the rack, 1 comprising a rock shaft, a lever-secured-at one end to said shaft, a rockablenmeans .pivoted onthe shaft and operated by the, lever,,-jaws on.,;the rockablemeans adapted to grip the leading sheet on the rack, cooperating means on the lever-.and rockable means forcausing' the, jaws to grip the leadingpaper when said.,jaws are moved'into engagement with said-leading ,paper by the lever, means: causing .rocking of, the, shaft and lever, and; means, returning the leverand rockable member to an inoperative position.

9. -A-,paper,feeding machine, comprising a rack having a-ldischarge ,end; spaced. upstanding flanges on, said .rackfon supporting theelower ends ofthe papers arranged in, stack formation edgewise, the flanges at the discharge endbeing cutaway toprovide paperesupportingcdges at a lower level, .a rock arm, adjacent the cut-away portions of the. flanges and disposed normally above ,theuupperp edges ,of said cut-away portions, means for, shifting the follower and the papers in "incremental stages. toward the dischargeende so that the, leading. paper willlbe moved .onto saidrock arm, the weight of said paper depressing, said ,arm, means for picking the leadingpaper from the rack, means'oscillatable about the common, shaft for operating said ,shiftingmeans and said picking meansin timed relation to advance. the paper to said supporting edges and .to, .movethe picking means into. operative relation with the leading paper, means returningsaid pickin means to'an inoperative position while withdrawing the leading paper from said rack, and means operated by said rock arm when depressed for rendering the shifting means for the follower inoperative until the, leading paperis withdrawn from said rock arm.

FRED SCHWARZER.

REFERENCES" CITED:

The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATESPATENTS Number Name Date.

968,978 Pribil Aug.,30,i1910 0' 1,008,961 Doane et a1. Nov. 14, 1911 2,038,645 Cherry et al. Apr. 28,1936

2,361,907 Baker Nov..7,19.44

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