Abstract:
An apparatus in which sheets are separated and fed, in seriatim, from a stack with a flow of pressurized fluid being directed between the stack and support thereof. The pressurized fluid produces a gap between the stack and support which is detected. The pressure of the fluid is controlled in response to the detected gap.
Abstract:
A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets from the top or bottom of a stack of sheets which includes a sheet stack supporting tray, a vacuum plenum and feed belt sheet separating and feeding assembly with at least one feed belt having a vacuum plenum disposed within the run of the belt, the vacuum plenum and the belt assembly being positioned adjacent a sheet to be fed such that a rear portion of the plenum and belt assembly lies opposite a portion of a stack of sheets to be fed and is adjacent and substantially parallel to the plane of the sheet to be fed and a front portion of the plenum and belt assembly which lies opposite the front portion of a stack of sheets to be fed and in a plane angled away from the plane of the sheet to be fed. In a preferred embodiment the feeder is a bottom feeder associated with a sheet stacking tray which has two sloping planar side wings one at each side of an opening in the base plane of the tray which are angled upward from the base plane and are angled outward from front to rear of the tray and which intersect the base plane along a line from a point at the rear of the tray in the approximate location of the rear corners of a rectangle the size of a sheet to be fed to a point at the front of the tray at the transition of the vacuum plenum and which include downward sloping transition wings at the front.
Abstract:
A vertical vacuum corrugation feeder for separating and feeding sheets from either of two stacks includes a single feed mechanism positioned between the stacks having integral dual feed heads surrounded by at least one feed belt. The dual feed heads include vacuum plenums for pulling the sheets against the feed belt for forwarding away from the stacks.
Abstract:
A bottom sheet feeding apparatus including a sheet separator and feeder and a sheet stacking tray which has a planar base portion defining a base plane, the front of the base portion having an opening within which said bottom sheet separator is positioned, the tray further including two sloping planar side wings, one at each side of said opening in the base portion. The sloping planar side wings are angled upward from the base plane and are angled outward from front to rear of the tray and intersect the base plane such that the intersection at the rear of the tray is in the approximate location of the rear corners of a rectangle the size of a sheet to be fed and the intersection of the planar wings and the base plane at the front of the tray is approximately midway between the front corners of a sheet to be fed and the centerline of a sheet to be fed. In a preferred embodiment the sheet separator feeder comprises a plurality of vacuum belts having a vacuum plenum disposed within the run of the belts.