Abstract: An infeed apparatus for a sheet material article trimmer includes a pusher element for moving a sheet material article to be trimmed on a front table of the trimmer and into engagement with a backstop of the front table. The pusher element is moved by a driver which moves the pusher element at the same speed as the front table for a period of time with the pusher element in engagement with a back edge portion of the sheet material article and the backstop in engagement with a front edge portion of the sheet material article. The period of time is at least as long as the time required for a front clamp of the sheet material article trimmer to grip the sheet material article against the front table. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for registering a sheet material article in a sheet material article handler includes sequentially engaging, using a movable backstop, a leading edge portion of a sheet material article moving in a direction of movement of the sheet material article along a path of movement of the sheet material article in the sheet material article handler so as to register the sheet material article relative to the sheet material article handler. The backstop is moved along an arcuate path in the direction of movement of the sheet material article from a first position out of the path of movement to a second position in the path of movement using a driver.