Overchute feed apparatus for rotary printing machine

Claim 1

In a duplicator-type paper printing machine which includes a rotary printing cylinder, a main paper supply, forwarding rolls for supplying paper to said printing cylinder, movable vacuum feet paper feed means for feeding paper to said forwarding rolls, and drive means for operatively driving the various components of said duplicator, an overchute feed apparatus comprising: a. tray means for a secondary paper supply disposed generally above the main paper supply stack at an angle inclined downwardly and inwardly toward said forwarding rolls, the front end of said tray means being tiltable downwardly from an inoperative position for movement into an operative position which will permit said vacuum feet feed means to move over said tray means; b. overchute actuator mechanism connected to said vacuum feet paper feed means and to said duplicator drive means so that when it is desired to feed paper from said secondary paper supply on said tray means into said duplicator said vacuum feet paper feed means are caused to move out of their normal path and pickup paper off said tray means and feed it to said forwarding rolls, said actuator mechanism including: 1. biasing means for urging said vacuum feet feed means away from said forwarding rolls, 2. catch means for holding said vacuum feet feed means in normal position opposed to said biasing means for feeding paper from said main paper supply stack, 3. release means for unlatching said catch means and permitting said vacuum feet feed means to move out of their normal path of travel into pickup position with respect to said secondary paper supply, and 4. cam-operated connector means operatively connected to said vacuum feet feed means and which in conjunction with the duplicator drive means moves said feed means through a greater path of travel than normal but within substantially the same time cycle as for normal moveMent.