Abstract: A method for removing a sheet of paper from a substrate includes providing an air exhaust stream from an outlet of an air amplifier to the sheet of paper on the substrate to perturb the sheet of paper and lifting the perturbed sheet of paper from the substrate using a sub-atmospheric intake of the air amplifier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus separating a media combination from a stack of interleaved slip-sheets and printing plates and relates to image recording systems such as, for example, computer-to-plate (CTP) systems. Image recording systems include imaging systems that image an image recordable material in response to imaging information. Image recordable materials can include, for example, printing plates. Image recording systems can include integrated systems that additionally process the image forming materials. Additional processing can include, but is not limited to materials punching, materials bending, exposure to non-imaging radiation, chemical development and materials drying. The present invention relates to a materials handling system that separates a media combination from a media stack that includes image recordable materials. A slip-sheet separates each of the image recordable materials from one another in the media stack.

Abstract: Various methods and apparatuses are disclosed for handling a sheet, wherein at least one projection extends across a stack of sheets such that corners of the sheet are bent when being lifted from the stack.

Abstract: A sheet feeding unit includes a side warm-air mechanism that blows air toward a side surface of a sheet stack S from a warm-air outlet. The sheet feeding unit controls the lift mechanism so as to perform a sheet separating operation every time a predetermined number of sheets P are fed during a continuous sheet feeding operation.

Abstract: A method for moving a first combination of media from a media stack including one or more combinations of media. The first combination of media is an uppermost combination of media in the media stack. The method includes gripping the first combination of media and bending along a first axis by moving a first portion away from the media stack. The first combination of media is bent along a second axis by moving a flexing member while in contact with a second portion of the first combination of media, wherein the second axis is not parallel to the first axis. The first combination of media is repeatedly bent along the second axis while pausing movement of the first combination of media between the first bending along the second axis and the second bending along the second axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus separating a media combination from a stack of interleaved slip-sheets and printing plates and relates to image recording systems such as, for example, computer-to-plate (CTP) systems. Image recording systems include imaging systems that image an image recordable material in response to imaging information. Image recordable materials can include, for example, printing plates. Image recording systems can include integrated systems that additionally process the image forming materials. Additional processing can include, but is not limited to materials punching, materials bending, exposure to non-imaging radiation, chemical development and materials drying. The present invention relates to a materials handling system that separates a media combination from a media stack that includes image recordable materials. A slip-sheet separates each of the image recordable materials from one another in the media stack.

Abstract: A method which is capable of completely separating a plate member with a large area without using a peeling member and eliminating a possibility of permanent deformation on the plate member. A plurality of suction pads are suckingly disposed on a surface of a topmost plate member in a substantially lattice shape. Then, while the topmost plate member is held by the suction pads disposed in a zigzag shape among the suction pads disposed in the substantially lattice shape, the topmost plate member is lifted by the remaining suction pads. Finally, the suction pads holding the topmost plate member are lifted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for separation and application of thin objects of a non-porous material or of a material of low porosity on a surface. The invention also relates to a package for the thin objects. With the aid of a pick up and lay down head on an application means a vacuum is applied on a part, preferably the middle, of the uppermost object in a stack of thin objects being in a recess of a package. The recess of the package for receiving the objects is at least areawise somewhat smaller than the exterior dimensions of the objects. With the aid of vacuum in the pick up and lay down head the uppermost object is lifted out of the package. The underlying objects in the stack remain in the package by the friction and scrape effects towards the interior walls of the package. Then the pick up and lay down head of the application means is lowered down so that the object is brought into contact with the surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for separating a media combination from a stack of interleaved slip-sheets and printing plates. A media combination is separated from a media stack, including image recordable materials and a slip-sheet, is separated. The media combination is gripped and flexed in a direction, and then flexed in a second direction.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a sheet of material at a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to measure a property of the sheet. The method also includes stabilizing the sheet with respect to the sensor using a guide roller. Stabilizing the sheet includes using the guide roller to remove at least a portion of a first boundary layer of air moving towards the guide roller and to reform at least a portion of a second boundary layer of air moving away from the guide roller. For example, the guide roller could include a plurality of grooves or openings in a surface of the guide roller, or the guide roller could include a plurality of rings spaced apart from one another. Air could move from one side of the guide roller to another side of the guide roller through the grooves, through the openings, or between the rings.

Abstract: A sheet supply device includes a sheet storing section on which sheets are stacked and are stored; a sheet feed unit controlled by a controller that feeds the sheets stored in the sheet storing section to a next process; and an air blower controlled by the controller that blows air to the sheets stored in the sheet storing section, the air blower has an air nozzle and a shutter that can adjust an area of the air nozzle, and the shutter increases or decreases the air flow rate of the air being blown to the sheets, wherein a force provided by the air blower to push up the sheets is exerted on the sheets, such that a less force is exerted when the sheets are being fed compared to when the sheets are not being fed.

Abstract: A media pickup system suitable for use with an imaging apparatus including a pickup assembly including at least one pickup bar having a concave channel a curved surface, and an actuator configured to move the pickup bar between a first position and a second position, wherein the pickup assembly, when the pickup bar is in the second position, is configured to selectively engage and draw a portion of a first sheet of a stack of sheets of imaging media into the concave channel to bend the first sheet to create and air channel between and to separate the first sheet from a remaining portion of the stack of sheets of imaging media.

Abstract: A sheet take-out apparatus is disclosed that includes a sheet-feeding member on which sheets are placed. The apparatus includes an air spout unit to spout out air towards a right or left side of a front portion of the sheets with respect to a take-out direction of the sheets. A take-out unit takes out one sheet from in a predetermined take-out direction. A depression member depresses the sheets against the sheet-feeding member on a rear portion of the sheets. In addition, a method is disclosed for taking-out sheets by means of a sheet take-out apparatus. The sheet take-out apparatus and method are capable of taking out one necessary sheet at a time, regardless of surface conditions of the sheet.

Abstract: A method and a device for separating flat, sheet-like elements from a stack of such elements, in particular, from a stack of unexposed printing plates that will be automatically loaded into a printing plate recorder. When the upper or front element in the stack is being separated from the stack, an edge area of this element is curved up in some way.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing slip sheets from printing plates has two concentric cylinders that are mutually rotatable about a common axis. Suction exerted via two elongated slots separates a deformable sheet from a relatively rigid object to which it is adhered. The deformable sheet is drawn into a recess presented by the two aligned slots. The concentric cylinders are then rotated to grip the deformable sheet between opposing edges of the slots.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet feeding roller that comes in contact with stacked sheets and feeds sheets one by one from the top, wherein an air outlet is provided so that air can be blown onto the upper part of the stacked sheets from the lateral side in the sheet feeding direction, and a floatation suppression member for suppressing floatation of the sheets is provided between the air outlet and the sheet feeding roller and spaced apart from the uppermost surface of the stacked sheets.

Abstract: Blank feeding apparatus, particularly in a hinged-lid cigarette packing machine, includes rotary blank pick-up means (36-42), and support means (44-50), rotatable with the pick-up means, for engaging and supporting the base of a blank stack in a magazine (2) between each pick-up operation. The pick-up means (36-42) may each comprise a pivotable arm (20-24), movable as it rotates by means of a pivoted follower member (60,62) engaging a fixed cam track (54). The blanks may be retained in the stack in the magazine (2) by pivotally-mounted support fingers (4,6) which are successively retracted to release a blank as the pick-up means (36-42) passes.

Abstract: A sheet material supplying apparatus having a low-cost sucker adsorbing unit of a simple structure is provided for the carrying of sheet materials that are used under a high-humidity environment or that include humidity, to ensure a proper separation of each sheet material. Sheet materials accommodated in a tray are being sandwiched between a push-up panel and an engagement claw. At the time of taking out the sheet materials from the tray, the push-up panel is pressed down by a cam to cancel the state of sandwiching between the engagement claw and the push-up panel. Accordingly, only the top layer sheet material is taken out from the tray, with the rest of the lower layer sheet materials being dropped by their self-weight. Further, the sheet materials are carried by the sucker adsorbing unit.

Abstract: A suction device for feeding sheets of material comprises a housing (38) connectable by a pipe (40) to a vacuum device and having apertures (54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 58) through which a suction effect can be created. An eccentric roller (46) imparts a corrugation to the attracted sheet. The apertures are shaped and located so that there is a boost in the suction exerted on the sheet at the time that it is distorted. Continuous and pulsed air flows are used as well as aids to separate sheets individually from a stack.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing book blocks from various printed sheets composed of a plurality of quarto sheets which are inserted into one another, wherein the printed sheets are successively pulled fold first along a conveying path from a stack of printed sheets by a gripping unit of a feeder and are subsequently gathered with their flat sides placed against each other into book blocks. The gripping unit which grasps the printed sheets approximately at the fold thereof produces a deformation or injury which extends at least partially through the quarto sheets, so that the respective quarto sheets are secured relative to each other and displacements relative to each other are prevented.

Abstract: The apparatus has, along with a magazine in which flat, flexible objects such as cords are stored in a stack, a retaining device for holding the stack in the magazine. Symmetrically disposed retaining elements aligned parallel to the surface of the objects are provided in the retaining device. The form of the retaining elements is selected such that an object of the stack can be singled by being arched past the retaining elements and an object can also be stacked in the magazine by being arched past the retaining elements. A gripping device is provided for moving the objects.

Abstract: A paper feed system suitable for use with a portion control machine to provide paper sheets for separating portions, including a paper hopper mountable to a portion control machine and adapted to receive and temporarily retain a stack of paper sheets. The paper hopper has an open end having a front edge spaced opposite from a back edge and defining a ready position where a paper sheet lies in a first plane to be dispensed. The paper feed system further includes a paper support having a length to width ratio of 10 to 1 or greater. The paper support is mounted adjacent the open end of the paper hopper blocking the free exit of paper sheets therefrom, with the support extending from a central location on the back edge partially to a central location on the front edge. An upper surface of the support is substantially parallel with the first plane and is adjacent the first plane for retention of a paper sheet in the ready position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism for separating a sheet one by one from stacked sheets, wherein a sucker is rotatably supported so that the sucker is moved up and down, back and forth. When the sucker is retracted in a state where the sheet is being sucked, the sucker is caused to be rotatively driven and to change the direction of suction surface, so that a front end portion of sucked sheet is lifted up, and one sheet can be separated reliably one by one.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet feeder for a sheet-fed press which allows an optimum separation state of printing sheets 27 to be established readily and certainly. Air is jetted out from an injection nozzle 6 toward the upper part of a bundle 2 of printing sheets to thereby float up printing sheets 27. A top printing sheet 27 thus floated is absorbed by an absorption foot 8 and conveyed to a printing process. The number of floating printing sheets 27 is detected using photoelectric sensors 21 and 22, and in order to establish the optimum separation state, is adjusted by varying the injection air quantity from the injection nozzle 6 or by moving the paper pressure bar 4 in directions of arrows 93 and 94. Further, by equalizing outputs G1 and G2 from detection areas M1 and M2, it is possible to place the top printing sheet 27 in parallel with the absorption surface 8Q of the absorption foot 8 and realize secure absorption. A fuzzy inference system may be used for adjustment.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding flexible sheets singly from the top of a stack of sheets comprises a pick-up device which includes a gas deflector and gas supplying holes for directing a stream of gas at the topmost sheet on the stack to cause the sheet to separate from the stack. One of the gas supplying holes also directs a further gas stream at the gas deflector, with this further gas stream attaching itself to the gas deflector by the Coanda effect and entraining the topmost sheet into contact with the gas deflector.

Abstract: In order to facilitate adjustment of the height of impaling pins, a signature supply station includes a pair of generally parallel side frame members each of which supports a rotatable impaling pin adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly includes supporting structure for a pair of impaling pins whereby the pins are supported between the side frame members for guided movement in generally vertically upward and downward directions, and it also includes an adjusting screw rotatable in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. With the signature supply station supporting signatures generally vertically, the adjustment assembly further includes interconnection structure or guided generally vertically upward and downward movement of the impaling pins responsive to clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of the adjusting screw.

Abstract: An sheet handling apparatus includes suckers for sucking up a sheet from a sheet storing unit and two sensors which are disposed on the suckers. One of the sensors detects whether the suckers come into contact with the topmost sheet of a sheet stack in the sheet storing unit, and the other sensor detects whether there is a sheet in the sheet storing unit. After the suckers were operated to suck up a sheet, these sensors detect whether the suckers catch the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism for attracting and feeding stacked sheet-like members such as photographic films, one by one from a magazine, has a suction cup for developing a vacuum to attract the sheet-like members under suction. The suction cup comprises a base body including a panel member having an opening extending from one surface to another surface thereof, the opening being adapted to be connected to a vacuum source. The base body further includes a peripheral wall, joined to the other surface of the panel member and having wavy edges. The suction cup has a flexible suction skirt attached to and extending from the wavy edges of the peripheral wall, the flexible suction skirt being pressable against a sheet-like member.

Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism feeds stimulable phosphor sheets, one by one, from a magazine to an image reading unit in an image reading apparatus. The sheet feed mechanism includes a suction mechanism having a plurality of suction cups for attracting a stimulable phosphor sheet in the magazine. The suction mechanism is movable toward and away from the magazine which stores a stack of stimulable phosphor sheets. A grip roller pair grips and guides a stimulable phosphor sheet, which has been taken out of the magazine by the suction cups, in a predetermined direction. One of the suction cups is supported on an angle which is angularly movable in response to engagement of the stimulable phosphor sheet attracted by the suction cups with the grip roller pair. Another angle, when engaged by the grip roller pair, guides a stimulable phosphor sheet, which has undesirably taken out of the magazine, back into the magazine.

Abstract: Sheets such as photographic films are fed one by one by suction cups in an image recording system. A resilient sheet separator is brought into abutment against an uppermost one of stacked sheets, and then the suction cups are moved toward the uppermost sheet. Before the suction cups reach the uppermost sheet, they are activated to attract the uppermost sheet under suction. The sheet separator pushes the uppermost sheet in one direction and the suction cups draw the uppermost sheet in the opposite direction, so that the attracted uppermost sheet is greatly flexed fully out of contact with the next sheet of the sheet stack. Thereafter, the suction cups and the sheet separator are displaced away from the sheet stack, separating the uppermost sheet from the sheet stack. Air may be forcibly be introduced between the uppermost and next sheets, so that the remaining sheets can reliably be separated from the attracted uppermost sheet.

Abstract: A cash dispenser unit includes note transport means (74, 78, 86) driven by an electric motor and including first (74) and second (78) sets of rolls which are arranged to grip therebetween a note (18'), partly withdrawn from a currency cassette (14) by associated pick arms (36), for the purpose of removing the note (18') from the cassette (14). The first (74) and second (78) sets of rolls are respectively mounted on first (76) and second (80) shafts, the first shaft (76) being mounted so that one end thereof is movable away from the second shaft (80). For the purpose of protecting the transport means (74, 78, 86) from damage in the event of the occurrence of a gulp feed of notes, said one end of the first shaft (76) is operatively associated with a microswitch, whereby movement of said one end away from the second shaft (80) by more than a predetermined amount operates the microswitch so as to deenergize the motor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet feeder comprising a magazine in which sheets are stacked, a sucker for sucking a sheet stacked in the magazine, a stepping motor for raising the sucker, and a sheet separation click which is so disposed that an edge of the sheet sucked by the sucker comes into contact with the click when the sucker is raised to a specified position. The sucker is raised at a small pitch when the edge of the sucked sheet comes into contact with the sheet separation click, whereby sheets which have been adhering to the sucked topmost sheet separate therefrom and fall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for picking up sheets of paper, cardboard or similar, especially porous material, one at a time from a pile of sheets for onward transfer, using a gripping apparatus fitted with gripping means and a sheet support disk, and a gripping apparatus for effecting the method. According to the invention when the gripping apparatus is brought to the pile of sheets it achieves the following steps:a. the pile of sheets is pressed on its top in the central region thereof,b. the gripping means is moved and presses the top of the pile on both sides of said central region,c. the top sheet on the pile is distorted preferably from both sides of the central region of the pile by making use of movement of the gripping means towards the central region of the pile so that said top sheet bends partly clear from the sheet under it,d.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing the uppermost article from a stack of alternating first and second articles. The apparatus includes a plurality of pins and a plurality of suction devices, the pins and suction devices being supported from the lower side of a support structure. The support structure, with the suction devices and pins, comprise a head or end effector for sequentially removing the alternating articles from the stack. Means are provided for moving the head from the stack to two respective locations for receiving the first and second articles in respective piles of the articles. The stack of alternating articles, and the respective piles of the articles after they are removed from the stack, are preferably held in an inclined cassette that aligns the articles and maintains the articles in alignment.

Abstract: A sheet feeding system for feeding single sheets from a magazine containing plural sheets arranged in a stack. A vacuum type sheet pick-up mechanism picks up and deforms one end of the top most sheet to facilitate that sheets separation from the stack. Static and movable separators then act on the top most sheet to complete its separation from the stack and elevate the leading edge to bring it into contact with a friction drive mechanism. The friction drive mechanism is then activated by an external device to cause the sheet to be driven from the magazine. A programmed logic control system sequentially controls the cycling of the mechanism.

Abstract: A bottom vacuum corrugation feeder includes a vacuum chamber with a bi-level support surface that support a plurality of apertured belts. The bi-level support surface has a series of raised members on a portion of its surface that corrugate the bottom sheet of a stack of sheets that are supported on a stacking tray. The stacking tray inclues raised members on its stack support surface that allow the venting of air from an air knife positioned in front of the sheet stack for separating the bottom sheet in the stack from the remainder of the stack. Recesses are included in the stack support surface of the stacking tray in order to reduce vacuum leak around the front edge of the sheet stack.

Abstract: Processes for removing the top ply from a stack of plies, such as layers of fabric, in which an element engages the stack and moves relative to the ply to be removed along the face of said ply while pressure is inserted by the element on the stack in such a way that this is locally dented. The element used to engage the ply is provided with a smooth surface. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method having a single hollow element which is provided with suction openings or blow openings and can be moved perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A loader for box-type feeders of packaging machines, bookbinding machines and the like, in which the products are loaded into a feed channel with an inclined base formed by a conveyor belt, to be brought into contact with a counteracting plate. Sucker arms cyclically withdraw one product at a time and transfer it to wheels provided with grippers which insert the product between pairs of belts by means of which the product is transferred until it discharges into the feeder box. Feeler elements cyclically determine the thrust of the products in the feed channel and enable the conveyor belt to advance through one step when the thrust is smaller than a predetermined value, whereas they prevent said advancement when the thrust is greater than said value.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring sheets from a relatively wide or relatively narrow stack of sheets into a transporting device has a pair of suction cups which engage the leader of the topmost sheet in the stack and turn it through 90.degree. so that the leader becomes separated from the leader of the sheet therebelow. The suction cups are thereupon raised to the level of the nips of driven advancing rolls in the transporting device to move the leader into a plane which includes the nips and is parallel to the planes of sheets in the stack, and such leader is introduced into the nips so that the advancing rolls engage the leader while the latter becomes detached from the suction cups.

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.

Abstract: A mechanism for transporting and positioning printing plates in a processing unit comprising a plate holder for storing printing plates which are to be transported to an exposure table, said plate holder being pivotable between a horizontal position and a vertical position and abutting a pair of roller guides when it is in its vertical position, a horizontally displaceable suction means for grasping the foremost printing plate of a supply of plates in the plate holder by its uncoated reverse side, and for transporting the printing plate to a position above a gripping device, and opposed positioning means arranged above this gripping device, at least one of these positioning means being displaceable toward the other to position and maintain a printing plate in a predetermined desired position.

Abstract: A new and improved vacuum document feeder provides a vacuum cup support mechanism which follows a somewhat crescent-shaped coupler curve that eliminates the vacuum cup wear-producing disadvantages of the prior art; improves separation of documents, and provides for increased feeding rates. A four-bar system moves a table over the somewhat crescent-shaped coupler curve, while at all times holding an edge of the table parallel to the documents. Two vacuum cups are individually pivotally mounted on the table, to sweep over an angle which accommodates leaning documents. Cams on a drive pulley associated with the transport system coordinates the table movement with both the pivoting and vacuumizing of the cups. The cups move in a manner to cause the document to buckle thereby improving separation between documents and eliminating double feeding.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for feeding and transferring the top sheet from a stack of sheets. The apparatus includes a frame; a first member mounted on said frame for controlled movement in a vertical direction from a predetermined substantially horizontal first position; and a stationary second member mounted on the frame at a predetermined elevation above the first member when at the first position. The first member subtends and supports a stack of sheets. The second member is provided with an opening which is in vertical alignment with the supported stack of sheets. Opposed first perimetric segments of the opening are provided with upwardly convergent surfaces which frictionally engage corresponding peripheral portions of the top and adjacent sheets of the stack, when the first member has moved the stack upwardly a predetermined amount. The frictional engagement causes the top sheet to be upwardly distorted within the opening.

Abstract: A case (1) comprises a pile of bank notes (2). An air supply circuit (13, 14, 15) forms a jet of air (16) in the vicinity of an edge of the first note (2a).In order to separate the note (2a) from its pile (2) in a simple manner, a succession of states of pressure and of reduced pressure is created downstream of the edge (d) of the opening (17). The interruption in profile creates a reduced pressure over the face of the note (2a) in the vicinity of this opening (17). The edge of the note is then raised and enters the jet of air (16). A change of state occurs and a pressure applies the note (2a) against the moving rollers (5) while holding the following note applied against the pile (2).

Abstract: Picker mechanism for picking notes from a note supply stack in a note dispenser of an automatic banking or teller machine (ATM) which withdraws notes from the supply stack through an access opening in a note supply container laterally of the opening. The access opening has one dimension smaller than the length of the note being laterally withdrawn. The picker mechanism engages the note being withdrawn with a picker cup by combined frictional pressure and suction. The picker cup during note withdrawal moves in multi-directions toward and away from the note stack through the access opening as well as back and forth in directions generally parallel to the length of the note being withdrawn.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for separating sheets at the bottom of a stack comprising two contrarotating suction drum assemblies (14,15:17) and a suction pipe (18) extending between the two assemblies. In order to ensure that the edges of the lowermost sheet are fully separated from the sheet above before the sheet is extracted from the bottom of the stack, one assembly has a central suction drum (14) having suction outlets (25) and the other assembly (17) has suction outlets (29) to draw the edges of the lowermost sheet in their central regions downwardly from the sheet above. Two pairs of contrarotating double ended fingers (32) are mounted on either side of the drum assemblies to enter the stack above the lowermost sheet where the central region has been drawn downwardly and to move along the edges of the stack towards the ends of the stack to separate the edges of the lowermost sheet from the sheet above.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for separating and feeding the bottom sheet in a stack, a biased corrugating ramp being provided to provide a large corrugation in light weight papers for maximum feeder reliability. The corrugating ramp is adapted to be depressed by heavy weight, stiff sheets to allow the sheets to more closely approach the vacuum feed belts and assure adequate acquisition thereby.

Abstract: An automatic document handler adapted to receive a stack of a stack of documents to be copied for feeding the documents seriatim to the platen of a copy machine and returning the copied documents to the stack. A combination vacuum-document separator in conjunction with an air knife and a document tray having a "U" shaped pocket with ramps formed on both sides thereof is provided to assure positive feeding of various sized documents without misfeeds or multifeeds.

Abstract: An automatic document handler adapted to receive a stack of documents to be copied for feeding the documents seriatim to the platen of a copy machine and returning the copied documents to the stack. A combination vacuum-belt document separator in conjunction with a multiple orifice air knife and a document tray having a "U" shaped pocket is provided to assure positive feeding of documents without misfeeds or multifeeds.

Abstract: An automatic document handler adapted to receive a stack of documents to be copied for feeding the documents seriatim to the platen of a copy machine and returning the copied documents to the stack. A combination vacuum-document separator in conjunction with a precisely located air knife in relation to the vacuum belts and a document tray having a "U" shaped pocket therein is provided to assure positive feeding of each document to the platen without misfeeds or multifeeds.