Abstract: A sensor arrangement is provided for sensing the position of an edge of a fed sheet adjacent a front stop. Timing circuitry responsive to the sensor arrangement is used to time a reference time interval from the sensing of the edge. The timing circuitry is coupled to a sheet feeder and is capable of stopping the sheet feeder upon the expiration of the reference time interval. The reference time interval is selected to be sufficiently long to allow the sheet feeder when feeding a sheet to form a buckle in the sheet. The reference time interval is adjustable to provide adjustability of the height of the buckle.

Abstract: A sheet feeding and separating apparatus is provided for separating individual sheets from a stack. The apparatus includes sheet feeding means and retard means engaging the feeding means to form a nip for sheet advancement therebetween. A means is provided for adjusting the nip force between the retard means and the feeding means which is responsive to the direction in which a sheet is being advanced. A first nip force is provided when a sheet is advanced in a first direction and a second and different nip force is provided when the sheet is advanced in a different direction.

Abstract: Sheets fed from a supply in a reproducing machine are forwarded against a movable stop and buckled. A chute forming member movable with the stop provides space for buckling when the stop is blocking sheet movement and aids in flattening the buckle when the stop is not blocking sheet movement. In one embodiment the supply consists of two separate sheet stacks. Sheets fed from one of these stacks to the stop are buckled in one direction and sheets fed from the other stack are buckled in the opposite direction. Cantilevered buckle flattening elements disposed adjacent the buckle aid in flattening the buckle when the stop is moved from the sheet blocking position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for use in feeding sheets in an electrostatographic reproducing machine includes a sheet stack support drawer movable between an extended position and an operative position. A pivotally mounted belt separator and retard member move with the drawer and in the extended position are elevated relative to the bottom of the drawer. A pivotally mounted loading baffle moves to a raised position when the drawer is extended to locate the front edge of the stack and retracts when the drawer is moved to the operative position. A sensing arrangement is provided to sense both the presence of sheets on the drawer and engagement of the drive within the machine with the sheet separator when the drawer is moved to operative position. A guide arrangement is provided for flattening curled edges of sheets as they are fed along a path from the sheet feed apparatus.

Abstract: A belt type separator contacts a stack to feed a sheet to a retard nip formed between the belt and a retard member. The belt is supported by a first pulley downstream of the stack and a second pulley adjacent the stack which is pivotable relative to the first pulley. Frictional resistance encountered by the belt at the nip will cause the normal force with which the belt bears against the stack to increase. Oppositely skewed rolls are used to tension sheets fed to a sheet aligning abutment. When the separator is positioned below the stack, a pivotable lever may be used to hold the stack against the separator. The pressing effect of the lever may be overridden upon an increase of the force with which the separator engages the stack.