Sheet support for printing press
A sheet support bridging a pair of parallel longitudinally extending and transversely spaced guides has a stack of substantially identical and transversely extending support elements having transversely opposite ends slidable along the guides and a flexible connecting strand engaging all of the elements such that when stressed longitudinally the elements separate longitudinally from one another at a generally uniform spacing.
1. In combination with a pair of parallel longitudinally extending and transversely spaced guides, a sheet support comprising:
a stack of substantially identical and transversely extending support elements having transversely opposite ends slidable along the guides; and
a flexible connecting strand engaging all of the elements such that when stressed longitudinally the elements separate longitudinally from one another at a generally uniform spacing.
2. The sheet support defined in claim 1 wherein the strand is secured at generally uniform spacings along its length to the elements.
3. The sheet support defined in claim 1 wherein two such connecting strands engage all of the elements.
4. The sheet support defined in claim 1 wherein the elements are formed with longitudinally generally aligned holes through which the strand passes.
5. The sheet support defined in claim 4 wherein each element is formed with at least two such holes, the strand passing sinusoidally longitudinally through the holes.
6. The sheet support defined in claim 1 wherein each element is generally flat plate.
7. The sheet support defined in claim 6 wherein each plate is formed with a throughgoing aperture and with a projection extending through the aperture of an adjacent plate.
8. The sheet support defined in claim 7 wherein each projection is a punched-out tab and is immediately adjacent the respective aperture.
9. The sheet support defined in claim 1 , further comprising
a pair of end supports flanking the stack and in which ends of the flexible strand are anchored.
10. In combination with a pair of parallel longitudinally extending and transversely spaced guides, a sheet support comprising:
a row of substantially identical and transversely extending support plates having transversely opposite ends slidable along the guides and each formed with two spaced holes; and
a flexible connecting strand passing generally sinusoidally through one of the holes of each of the elements such that when stressed longitudinally the elements separate longitudinally from one another at a generally uniform spacing.