Abstract: A method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder with positive air pressure-separator during a feed cycle wherein the vacuum and the positive pressure air are controlled by a vacuum valve and a positive air pressure valve respectively, wherein the paper is taken away by a belt which is activated when a feed clutch is energized, comprising actuating the vacuum at the start of the feed cycle and de-actuated the vacuum when the feed clutch is de-energized, and pulsing the positive air pressure separator by actuating and de-actuating the positive air pressure separator during the feed cycle.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets seriatim from a sheet supply stack. The apparatus comprises a sheet feed head assembly including a plenum, a vacuum source in flow communication with the plenum, and a mechanism, such as a feed belt, for example, associated with the plenum for urging a sheet acquired by vacuum in a sheet feeding direction away from the sheet supply stack. The sheet supply stack is supported, for example in a hopper on a support platform, so as to maintain the topmost sheet in such stack at a predetermined level in spaced relation with respect to the urging mechanism of the sheet feed head assembly. A first positive air supply directs a flow of air at the sheet supply stack to levitate the top several sheets in the supply stack to an elevation enabling the topmost sheet to be acquired by vacuum from the sheet feed head assembly plenum; and a second positive air supply directs a flow of air at an acquired sheet to assure separation of any additional sheets adhering to such topmost sheet.