Feeder/Delivery Board For Printing Press

Abstract

A feeder/delivery board ( 10, 60 ) has a platform ( 11, 61 ) with an upper surface ( 13, 63 ) for supporting a stack of sheets of printing paper ( 14 ). The upper surface includes at least one movable adjustment portion ( 15, 21, 65 a - e ) for changing a vertical position of the portion of the stack supported by the adjustment portion relative to the remainder of the stack. An actuating mechanism ( 17, 72 ) in the platform selectively moves the at least one adjustment portion.

1 . A feeder/delivery board ( 10 ,  30 ,  44 ,  60 ) for supporting a stack of sheets of material ( 14 ) comprising:
 a platform ( 11 ,  61 ) having an upper surface ( 13 ,  63 ) extending in a plane for supporting the stack of sheets ( 14 );   at least one movable adjustment portion ( 15 ,  21 ,  65   a - e ) formed in said upper surface; and   an actuating mechanism ( 17 ,  72 ) for selectively moving said at least one movable adjustment portion relative to said plane whereby an area of the stack of sheets being supported by said at least one moveable adjustment portion can be moved vertically relative to a remainder of the stack of sheets.   
     
     
         2 . The board according to  claim 1  including a plurality of support assemblies ( 12 ,  62   a ,  62   b ) attached to said platform for supporting the board on a surface. 
     
     
         3 . The board according to  claim 2  wherein said plurality of support assemblies includes at least one of a wheel assembly ( 12 ,  62   b ) and a leg assembly ( 62   a ). 
     
     
         4 . The board according to  claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism includes a threaded rod ( 17 ,  72 ) connected to one of a cam ( 19 ), a pinion ( 28 ), a nut ( 48 ) and a plate ( 68 ) for moving said at least one movable adjustment portion. 
     
     
         5 . The board according to  claim 4  including a removable handle ( 18 ,  71 ) for engaging and rotating said threaded rod. 
     
     
         6 . The board according to  claim 4  including one of an electric, hydraulic and pneumatic actuator ( 54 ) connected for rotating said threaded rod. 
     
     
         7 . The board according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one movable adjustment portion is one of substantially planar ( 15 ,  21 ,  65   a - e ) and cylindrical ( 40 ). 
     
     
         8 . The board according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one movable adjustment portion has an edge hinged ( 22 ) to said platform. 
     
     
         9 . The board according to  claim 1  wherein said platform ( 61 ) has a front wall ( 61   a ) and a spaced apart rear wall ( 61   b ) joined by an opposed pair of side walls ( 61   c ,  61   d ), said at least one movable adjustment portion ( 65   a - e ) extending between said front wall and said rear wall and not extending completely between said side walls, and said actuating mechanism ( 72 ) moves said at least one moveable adjustment portion in one of a vertical direction and a rotational direction. 
     
     
         10 . The board according to  claim 1  wherein said platform ( 61 ) has a front wall ( 61   a ) and a spaced apart rear wall ( 61   b ) joined by an opposed pair of side walls ( 61   c ,  61   d ), said at least one movable adjustment portion ( 65   a - e ) extending between said front wall and said rear wall and not extending completely between said side walls, and said actuating mechanism includes a plurality of rollers ( 69 ) engaging angled slots ( 70 ) in said at least one movable adjustment portion whereby movement of said actuating mechanism relative to said rear wall moves said rollers in said slots causing said at least one movable adjustment portion to move in a vertical direction relative to said plane. 
     
     
         11 . The board according to  claim 10  wherein said actuating mechanism includes a rod ( 72 ) threadably engaging an aperture ( 73 ) formed in a plate ( 68 ) connected to said rollers ( 69 ) and one of a manual actuating means ( 71 ) and a powered actuating means ( 54 ) for rotating said rod.