Abstract: A pile of sheets arranged vertically next to one another is gently urged against a rigid metal plate that can be reciprocated back and forth very rapidly so as to pull the end sheet off the pile by suction and to return to rest against the pile of sheets before they have followed this reciprocation motion to the same extent as the end sheet. Once the plate pulls rapidly away from the end of the pile, pulling the end sheet with it, this end sheet is engaged by a suction roller and pulled laterally off the pile.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device adapted for feeding sheets individually from the bottom of a stack of sheets. An air floatation stacking tray is provided to minimize sheet-to-tray and inter-sheet friction to assure positive feeding of individual sheets from the bottom of the stack irrespective of stack height.

Abstract: Apparatus for picking up a single sheet of semi-rigid material from the top of a stack of such sheets having a device overlying the back end of the stack and holding down that end of the stack, vacuum pick-up shoes to engage the back end of the topmost sheet in the stack, said shoes moving initially to slide the sheet forward from beneath the overlying device and then to lift the back end of the sheet, and a chain conveyor with hooks to engage the raised end of the sheet and feed such sheet into a conveyor for transporting the sheet away from the stack.

Abstract: A sheet separation apparatus for separating one sheet-piece from a stack of sheets by a suction nozzle, characterized in that a vibration nozzle is provided in close proximity to the suction nozzle which sucks and exhausts air in turns at high speed from and to the stacked sheets to such an extent that said suction nozzle is not prevented by said vibration nozzle from sucking the uppermost sheet-piece in order to vibrate said sheet-piece.

Abstract: Under a sheet holder in which a stack of vertically oriented sheets are accumulated in the horizontal direction, a rotary air blower is provided to apply an air blow on the lower side of the stack of sheets to separate them. The cylindrical face of the rotary air blower is provided with a number of air nozzles arranged regularly to effect periodical air blow onto the side of the stack of sheets. The sheet holder is preferably inclined so that the separated sheets may automatically be aligned.