Apparatus for loading and unloading printing machines

Claim 1

In an apparatus adapted for use with printing machines for loading, unloading and turning over a stack of paper, a wheel mounted base adapted to be moved along the floor, a support and guide rod fixedly mounted on said base and extending upwardly therefrom, a sleeve slidably mounted on said support and guide rod, a housing extending about said sleeve and secured thereto for movement therewith along said support and guide rod, a hydraulic jack mounted on said base and extending in parallel relation with respect to said support and guide rod, a drive connectiOn from said hydraulic jack to said sleeve for moving said sleeve along said support and guide rod, a rack carried by said housing and including a plate pivoted to sand housing intermediate its ends for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said base, releasable locking means for holding said plate in position relative to said housing and accommodating pivotal movement thereof, first and second pairs of spaced forks mounted on said plate for adjustable movement with respect to each other and spaced from opposite sides of said plate, the first pair of forks being fixedly mounted on said plate and the second pair of forks being releasably mounted on said plate for adjustable movement toward and from said firstmentioned pair of forks, clamping sleeves releasably clamping said second pair of forks to said plate and releasing said forks to move toward or from said first pair of forks, a stop movably mounted on said support and guide rod in position to engage said second pair of forks when they are in an upper position and upon upward movement thereof which will, when said clamping sleeves are released, compress a stack of paper between said first and second pair of forks, said second pair of forks cooperating with said first pair of forks to enable the compressed stack of paper to be turned over upon clamping said clamping sleeves to retain said forks in position, moving said stop into a retracted position, releasing said locking means and manual turning said rack to position the first pair of forks above the second pair of forks.