Abstract: A paper feeder includes a conveyor for conveying a single paper fed from the upstream side to the downstream side along a transport path while sucking the paper. A suction mechanism faces the conveyor for holding another paper fed together with the above paper by suction. A moving device moves the suction mechanism in a direction perpendicular to a direction of paper conveyance. The paper feeder is capable of accurately feeding various kinds of papers without regard to their thickness or size and delivering even a paper fed together with another paper to a transport path without discharging it to the outside.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking up a plurality of papers stacked in an upright position one by one is disclosed. A pick-up mechanism is angularly movable about a single point between a position for sucking the outermost paper and a position for conveying it. While an sending mechanism sends air toward the bottom of a stack of papers positioned on a tray, the pick-up mechanism sucks the outermost paper and moves away from the other papers at a low speed. After the pick-up mechanism has conveyed the above paper, it moves toward she next paper for sucking it at a high speed. Air being sent from the above mechanism insures the separation of the consecutive papers. Because the pickup mechanism retaining the outermost sheet by suction moves slowly away from the other papers, the outermost paper is easily spaced from the other papers and therefore more surely separated from the other papers. This obviates a shearing force otherwise acting on and damaging, e.g., letters and magazines of delicate quality.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking up a plurality of papers stacked in an upright position one by one is disclosed. A pick-up mechanism is angularly movable about a single point between a position for sucking the outermost paper and a position for conveying it. While an sending mechanism sends air toward the bottom of a stack of papers positioned on a tray, the pick-up mechanism sucks the outermost paper and moves away from the other papers at a low speed. After the pickup mechanism has conveyed the above paper, it moves toward the next paper for sucking it at a high speed. Air being sent from the above mechanism insures the separation of the consecutive papers. Because the pick-up mechanism retaining the outermost sheet by suction moves slowly away from the other papers, the outermost paper is easily spaced from the other papers and therefore more surely separated from the other papers. This obviates a shearing force otherwise acting on and damaging, e.g., letters and magazines of delicate quality.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a carrier portion, a suction belt, a servo motor, a blower, a solenoid valve, a pressure sensor, a position sensor, a belt hole sensor, and a controller. The carrier portion feeds a plurality of sheets of different sizes in a direction of their thickness in an upright state. The suction belt has a belt hole for drawing each sheet fed from the carrier portion by suction, so as to feed out each sheet drawn by suction with the belt hole. The servo motor drives the suction belt. The blower generates a pressure for drawing the sheet by suction in the belt hole. The solenoid valve enables/disconnects supply of the negative pressure from the blower to the belt hole. The pressure sensor measures a pressure in the belt hole. The position sensor detects the sheet fed out by the suction belt. The belt hole sensor detects the belt hole after the sheet is fed out.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for feeding mails includes a mounting table having a slanted top surface for mounting thereon a plurality of sheets in a substantially upright posture thereof, a transfer belt for transferring the sheets in the slanted posture in the direction perpendicular to the surfaces of the sheets, and a take-out section for taking out the sheets in the horizontal direction parallel to the surfaces of the sheets. A mail having an envelope and a belt wrapper covering the envelope can be taken out as it is, without pulling-off of the belt wrapper from the envelope.