Abstract: A device for use in conjunction with a sheet group separator of the type having a rotating slotted disk supporting a stack, together with a depressor for the lowermost group, and a finger for separating a corner of said group from the stack. The device comprises a vertically slidable weight at said stack corner so that a constant downward pressure is exerted to prevent upward curling of the corner which might reduce the effectiveness of the finger and depressor movements. A counterweighted pressure bar is pivotally mounted at the lower end of the weight so that placing additional sheets on the stack will not interfere with the operation. The weight is reset by pulling upwardly on a handle so that the pressure bar swings away to clear the new sheets and is swung back into position by the counterweight.

Abstract: A high speed machine which successively removes unbound book pad strips from the bottom of a stack and feeds them toward a glueing machine. The feeder is adapted for different strip sizes including larger sizes and comprises stack guide device disposed above synchronized, rotating, slotted discs which support the forward edge of the stack bottom. The strips in the stack are provided with cardboard separators therebetween and a knife enters the stack bottom and lifts all except the lowermost strip to permit the leading edge of the first slotted disc to enter. The rotating discs progressively push the leading edge of the lowermost strip downwardly past a group of rollers. These rollers, which are movably mounted, are then depressed to press the lowermost strip against an endless belt. The belt carries the stack to a rotating carriage which will deposit the stack in the glueing machine.