Abstract: A reciprocating document handler for transporting documents comprising a belt transport supported for transporting sheets in a first and a second, opposite direction. The device further includes apparatus for allowing documents moving in the first and second directions, respectively, at an exchange area on the belt to slide over one another substantially freely. The device includes a pressure member to urge the belt into engaging with transported documents and a mechanism for reducing the bearing of a pressure member proximate the exchange area to promote the substantially free sliding engagement of the documents transported in opposite directions.

Abstract: A bottom vacuum corrugated feeder (BVCF) includes a tray for supporting a stack of documents. The tray is angled downhill relative to the feeding direction of the documents such that the leading edge of the stack is urged to a common stop member. The tray also includes a single side guide for aligning one side edge of the stack. A stack height sensor sends a signal corresponding to stack height to a controller which in turn controls voltage to be applied to a DC motor controlled blower based on a predetermined ratio of air flow pressure to stack pressure. The structure enables intermixed size document feeding in a BVCF.

Abstract: A top vacuum corrugation feeder employs a vacuum feedhead working in conjunction with an air knife to feed sheets from the top of a stack. The air knife includes fluffer jets and vectored auxiliary fluffer jets in order to assist in separating and feeding downcurled sheets. To improve sheet acquisition, increase reliability and decrease minimum feed speed, a vacuum plenum is preferably equipped with a negative pressure source that is on continuously during the feed cycle, with the only criteria for sheet feeding being that the motion of the vacuum feedhead is ceased prior to the trail edge of the acquired sheet exposing all of the vacuum ports.

Abstract: A top vacuum corrugation feeder employs a vacuum feedhead working in conjunction with an air knife to feed sheets from the top of a stack. The feedhead is valveless and has a vacuum applied thereto during the entire feed cycle in order to increase reliability and decrease minimum feed speed. The top vacuum corrugation feeder includes fluffer jets and vectored auxiliary fluffer jets in order to assist the air knife in separating severely downcurled sheets for feeding.