Set the left hand vertical (angle type) pile guide 1/4" to 1/2" closer to the center of the feeder than is the side guide on the register. The remainder of the vertical front pile guides then spaced across the width of the sheet. The stock pile, properly fanned and jogged is now placed on the feeder board and raised until the top of the pile is level with the vertical front pile guides.

The horizontal (angle type) pile guides that parallel the two top sides of the stock pile should be set in close to either side of the pile. As these are intended to trap the air in the sheets they should be set sufficiently close, but not to bind the sheets. Two small bronze castings are porvided that mount on these guides at the tail of the sheet. These prevent sheets from being blown to the rear from the top of the pile. There are additional shoes and fly rods to mount over the pile to prevent the sheets from bellying out of control. Use only as many as are required to keep the sheet fairly flat.

Mounted on the horizontal bar, next to the left hand horizontal pile guide is a small casting with two thumb screws and 5/16" round rod that extends out over the tail of the pile and to which one of two fingers can be attached. One finger, containing a red rubber tit, is used when running enamel or smooth finished stocks, the other containing a small wheel is for book and bond papers. The finger should be turned down until it rest on the stock 1/4" to 1/2" from the back edge and thumb screw tightened. If, when the folder is started, the stock rises above the front pile guide, the finger should be turned on the rod and lowered. If the pile remains too low, the finger should be raised.

This finger must also be properly balanced for the various kinds of paper. When running card stock, the finger must have sufficient weight so that the force of air separating the sheets cannot lift the sheets and the finger at the particular point on which the finger is resting. When running soft, spongy stocks, the finger must be very lightly weighted, otherwise the stock is compressed at the tail and there is the a variance in pile height between the front and the rear of the stock pile. Raise and lower the finger and the rod on which it is mounted and while doing so, look to the left outside the feeder frame and below the pile trip mechanism. There, it will be noted, is a 3/8" round and 1-3/4" long stud, slotted on the end and protruding horizontally. This is the stud on which one or the other or both counterbalances can be mounted to secure proper balance of the aforementioned pile lift control finger.

For uniform feeding it is important that the top of the stock pile remain level. It is customary to use wedges wherever necessary to level uneven stockpiles. At the front end of the feeder under the guide wires is a long blower tube containing slots, over which are mounted small circular clips. This tube can be raised or lowered by loosening the pinned bolt in the bracket that supports this unit just below the air suction valve. By loosening the two bolts that mount the bracket to the side frame the tube can also be pivoted, bringing it closer to or farther from the stock. Condition, weight, and size of the stock determines the proper position for the blower tube. When the tube is set low and the blast directed upward gives greater lift to stocks that tend to curl down on the front edge. Set high and with the blast parallel with the top of the pile gives better separation on stocks that have not been trimmed or jogged to the front edge. In summation, the blower tube must be raised, lowered, pivoted, adjusted closer to or farther from the stock or by means of the individual clips the several blasts adjusted to attain one end. Effectual and uniform separation of the top four to six sheets of the pile. The blast should be sufficiently strong to flutter the entire length of the sheet, but not so strong as to pack the sheets tightly against the fly rods. Strength of the blast is regulated by valve directly above the air storage chamber which is located next to the pump.

Suction is controlled by the valve located on the outside of the feeder frame, operating side and upper left corner. Open the lower small valve lid about 1/4", then when ready to feed, close the upper large opening. The small opening should now be closed just enough to give a steady flow of sheets. Remember that some stocks are porous, therefore the small opening should be closed no more than is necessary.

Spacing of the sheets is controlled by the speed change lever located below the suction valve and secured by a star knob. Parallel work is usually run with about a 2" separation. When more that half the sheet is being run into the first fold plate, additional spacing is required to prevent sheets from over-lapping and stumbling in the first fold plate.

Provision is made for raising the pile more or less quickly to compensate for various sizes and thicknesses of stock. At the top of the pile raising mechanism will be noted a casting, containing a pawl or dog, that is constantly moving back and forth. When the pawl engages the ratchet gear, the pile is raised. Mounted on a casting next to the pawl is a bent wire, which, when turned so that the free end is under the pawl, permits engagement of same into only one tooth of the ratchet. When the wire is turned away, the pawl engages two teeth of the ratchet. An operator may previously have bent this wire up or down, but by running the machine a short time with feeder empty or at least with pile lowered, will quickly show how the wire must be adjusted to properly perform its function. Thereafter it is necessary only to turn the wire under or away from the pawl when changing from the light to heavier weight of paper. When the smaller sizes of heavy cover stock are to be run and the pile still does not rise sufficiently fast, the pawl can be made to engage the third tooth of the ratchet by lengthening the stroke of the lift operating arm. (See beginning of this document) This arm is attached to the oscillating casting at one end and at the other end to a 36 tooth gear in which will be noted an additional threaded hole. The hold nearer the gear center strokes the arm and casting so that the pawl thereon will engage two teeth of the ratchet. The farther hole lengthens the stroke to permit the pawl to engage three teeth, thereby increasing the rise of the stock pile.

Do not have the pawl engage two or three teeth of the ratchet if one is sufficient. For the usual run of paper more uniform separation is attained by having the pile rise frequently in shorter strokes.

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