Paper feeder means for printing press

Abstract

A second paper feeder for a printing press having a first paper feeder for first size papers, and first drive means to drive the first paper feeder. A vertical post is mounted on said press. First mounting means is pivotally mounted on said post for horizontal rotation. Second mounting means is pivotally mounted on said first mounting means for vertical rotation. The second paper feeder is mounted on the second mounting means. The second mounting means has drive means to drive said second paper feeder arranged so that when the second mounting means is rotated into operative position, the second drive means engages said first drive means.

Description

This invention relates to paper feeding means for printing presses and more particularly to a second paper feeder mounted on an existing printing press to provide means for feeding second size papers.

The present invention may be used to add a second size capacity to an existing printing press. For instance, the basic press may be set up to print letterheads and the second paper feeder may be set up to feed envelopes without changing the printing plate. Where only two size papers are used, there is a minimum loss of time in adjusting the paper feeder and printing press for different sizes.

The present invention provides a second paper feeder adapter for an existing press. The second paper feeder is movably mounted so that it may be moved into operative position with a minimum of effort.

The second paper feeder is mounted on a vertical post so that it can be swung out of the way when not in use. When it is desired to use the second paper feeder, it is rotated horizontally and then vertically into position so that the gear drive on the second paper feeder engages the existing gear drive on the press. The paper feeders are the oscillatory type and are cam operated. The cam is mounted slidably so that it may be adjusted to engage the second paper feeder.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved paper feeder means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved paper feeder means for printing presses.

Another object is to provide a second paper feeder adapter for an existing press to handle a second size paper so that the press can be switched between the different size papers without changing or adjusting the printing plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a second paper feeder adapted to feed sheets to a press the other side up, since some documents can be fed more readily one side up, and some the other side up.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved printing press means in a printing press. In a printing press having a first paper feeder for first size papers, and first drive means to drive said first paper feeder: a second paper feeder for second size papers, a vertical post mounted on said press, first mounting means pivotally mounted on said post for horizontal rotation, second mounting means pivotally mounted on said first mounting means for vertical rotation, said second paper feeder being mounted on said second mounting means.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specifications and drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an expanded end view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the cam drive.

FIG. 1 shows the side view of the invention, mounted on a conventional printing press. The printing press P is of the type that has a vacuum paper feeder 1 which feeds paper from a rack 2 onto a chain 3 where they are fed to conventional printing rollers, not shown. The printing press may be of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,787,214. The vacuum feeder 1 is operated by means of the cam 4 which has a groove 4'. Cam follower 5, rides in the groove 4' and operates the vacuum feeder 1 by means of the linkage comprising the rod 6 pivotally connected to arm 7 which is connected to the cam follower 5. The other end of arm 7 is pivotally mounted to the frame of the press. The other end of the rod 6 is connected to crank arm 8, of paper feeder 1. Therefore, as the cam 4 rotates the vacuum feeder will oscillate and feed papers. The vacuum feeder may be of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,458.

Everything described so far is conventional. The improvement in the present invention consists of a second paper feeder and paper rack which is adapted to be mounted on the conventional printing press so that it may be used alternatively with the first paper feeder, for instance, for feeding different sizes of papers without making any adjustment to the printing plate.

The second movable feeder assembly comprises a first mounting member 10 which is pivotally mounted on the vertical column 9 which is mounted on the base b of the printing press. Mounted on the first mounting member 10 is a second mounting 11 which is pivotally mounted on the first member by means of the shaft 19. This rotation in the vertical plane is provided so that the second mounting member 11 may be dropped down so that its gears engage a driving gear on the printing press, as will be explained.

The second mounting member 11 includes a rack 13 for holding a stack of papers or envelopes 14. A second vacuum feeder 15 is mounted on the mounting frame 11 so that it may be oscillated and feed papers from the bottom of the stack. The second paper feeder is oscillated by means of the linkage comprising the arms 16, 17, 17a and the cam follower 18 which is adapted to ride in the groove 4' of the cam 4. In order to do this, the cam 4 together with its shaft is made slidable on its axis so that it may be retracted to permit lowering the second mounting member and then pushed into the operating position shown to engage the cam follower 18 when the second paper feeder is being used, see FIG. 3. The cam is driven by the driving gear 20 which engages the gear 21 connected to the cam. When the second paper feeder assembly is in operating position the gear 22 which is mounted on the frame 11 engages the gear 21a, FIG. 2. Gear 21a is driven by the press Gear 20a, on the same shaft as Gear 20. Gear 22 drives gear 23 which is also mounted on the frame 11. The shaft 23' of gear 23 has mounted on its sprockets 24, 24', which drives via chains the sprockets 25, 25', which are mounted on free hollow shafts 25a and 25a' coaxial with the shaft of the vacuum feeder 15.

Therefore, papers 14 are separated from the bottom of the stack and fed between the belts 27, 27', mounted on the pulley 28', and the belts 26, 26', mounted on the pulley 28. The papers are then fed on these two belts past guide rollers down to the existing paper feeding chain 3. Pulleys 28 and 28' are coupled together and are driven by a sprocket chain link from shaft 23' in a conventional manner. Pulleys 28a and 28b support the lower ends of the belts.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the cam 4 drive. The cam is mounted on a slidable cam shaft 4a which is indexed into the two proper operating positions by means of the detent comprising the grooves 4b and 4c and the springloaded detent member 30. The member 30 is mounted in the block 31 which is mounted in the frame. The cam is driven by means of the gear 21 which is driven by the driven gear 20. The cam is shown in its outer position which is used when it is desired to move the second paper feeder into engagement or out of engagement with the printing press drive. The cam is then pushed in so that the upper vacuum feed cam follower 18 engages the groove 4'. When the second paper feeder is not in use the cam follower 18 will be swung away so that the cam may be pushed into the second index position so that the cam follower 5 for the lower paper feeder drive engages the groove 4'. A clamp screw 33 secures the cam shaft in position.

When the second paper feeder is not in use it is lifted and swung out of the way on the column 9. When it is desired to use the second paper feeder, the cam 4 is first retracted. The first mounting means is swung around the column until the assembly is centered over the printing press. The second mounting means 11 is then lowered so that its gear 22 meshes with gear 21a of the printing press. This provides the power for the second paper feeder. At the same time, the cam 4 is pushed back into position so that the cam follower 18 engages the groove 4' so as to operate the vacuum paper feeder 15. The assembly 11 is secured to the frame by screw 30. A suitable source of vacuum is connected to both paper feeders 1 and 15.

Using the present invention, it is possible to print the same information on two different size papers without changing or adjusting the printing plate. For instance, it is possible to print letterheads and envelopes without changing the printing plate.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a printing press having a first roller type paper feeder for first size papers, and first drive means to drive said first paper feeder:

a second roller type paper feeder for second size papers,

a vertical post mounted on said press,

first mounting means pivotally mounted on said post for horizontal rotation,

second mounting means pivotally mounted on said first mounting means for vertical rotation,

said second paper feeder being mounted on said second mounting means,

wherein said second mounting means has second drive means to drive said second paper feeder so that when second mounting means is rotated into operative position, said second drive means engages said first drive means.

2. In a printing press having a first paper feeder for first size papers, and first drive means to drive said first paper feeder:

a second paper feeder for second size papers,

a vertical post mounted on said press,

first mounting means pivotally mounted on said post for horizontal rotation,

second mounting means pivotally mounted on said first mounting means for vertical rotation,

said second paper feeder being mounted on said second mounting means,

said second mounting means having second drive means to drive said second paper feeder so that when second mounting means is rotated into operative position, said second drive means engages said first drive means,

a cam connected to operate said first paper feeder, means to slidably mount said cam along its axis so that said cam can engage said second paper feeder when said second paper feeder is in operating position, and engage said first paper feeder when said second paper feeder is swung away.