Abstract: A sheet transfer apparatus is for a sheet counting apparatus in which paper sheets stored in a hopper in a stacked state are fed by a payout roll from the hopper to a stacker at the downstream side of the payout roll. A guide assembly is disposed opposite to the periphery of the payout roll and is adapted to separately guide the paper sheets from the hopper toward the stacker in cooperation with the payout roll. According to the invention, the guide assembly, which has a frame member carrying a separating roll, a pinch roll and a guide plate, is pivotally mounted so as to be movable between a closed position in which it is close to the periphery of the feed-out roll and an opened position in which it is farther away from such roll. The position of the frame member is controlled by a pivotable opening/closing device engageable with the frame member for selectively holding the frame member in the closed position or the opened position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for isolating, separating, and removing a single ply of material from a stack of plies including pickup fingers for lifting a peripheral edge of the topmost ply in the stack with adhesive tape, a spin off assembly for removing clinging plies from the lifted edge of the topmost ply, grasping fingers for engaging and hold the isolated ply, and a separator assembly for positively separating the topmost ply by indexing a separator rod into the gap between the uplifted peripheral edge of the topmost ply and the remaining plies and along the stack. The isolated topmost ply is removed by withdrawing the grasping fingers away from the stack. There is also disclosed an alignment apparatus including a plurality of alignment fingers which define a relatively wide ply-receiving portion and an edge stop which prevents climbing of the edge of the ply.

Abstract: An improved paper feeder, of the type including separator and presser belts, has an arm plate of elastomeric material, the arm plate being arranged in pressure contact with the feed roller. The arm plate is an aid to restrain the gravity caused pressure on said stacked sheets, for enabling the feeder to deal with a much heavier stack of sheets of paper than the weight of stacks which previous forms of feeders could accommodate.

Abstract: A device for feeding envelopes from a hopper to an envelope processing station. Driving and driven rollers feed the envelopes one at a time from the hopper. The rollers define a nip through which the envelopes are fed. A unique "U" shaped spring forces the driven roller to contact the driving roller causing the driven roller to oscillate when no envelopes are fed. The oscillation helps envelope feeding by pulling and separating the lead envelope from the stack.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeding apparatus (20) for feeding sheets in a forward direction to a scanner device (22) or the like is disclosed. Sheet feeding apparatus (20) includes a frame including side plates (34, 36) a hopper table (40) pivotally mounted at a back edge, and transversely extending frame members (38). A lift mechanism (44) is interconnected to the hopper table (40) for raising the same. A pick roller (26) is utilized to advance the uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets (28) toward the scanner device (22). In addition, the pick roller (26) is operatively interconnected to the lift mechanism (44) to activate the lift mechanism (44) upon being lowered below a predetermined height such that the hopper table (40) is raised by the lift mechanism (44). Sheet separator rollers (30, 32) are positioned forwardly of the pick roller (26) for separating the uppermost sheet from any of the sheets inadvertently moved forwardly therewith.

Abstract: A retard feeder and separator apparatus includes a sensor located at a retard nip downstream from a portion of a feed belt that applies a normal force to a stack of sheets and forwards sheets individually from the stack. The sensor detects the lead edge of a sheet fed from the stack and simultaneously causes relief of the normal force against the stack in order to reduce multifeeds and sheet damage. Alternatively, if the sensor does not sense a sheet within a predetermined time the normal force against the stack will be increased to reduce misfeeding.

Abstract: In apparatus for counting the number of the paper sheets in which paper sheets are fed-out from the inside of the hopper by a feed-out roll assembly and are extracted from the feed-out roll assembly by extracting rolls operating at a speed faster than the speed of the feed-out assembly, the feed-out roll assembly comprises a pair of first payout rolls having a frictional surface and a slippery surface on their peripheries and a second payout roll intermediate the first payout rolls which has a frictional surface on its entire periphery. The rolls are mounted on a driving shaft, and at least the second payout roll is connected to the driving shaft through an overrunning clutch. When the trailing end of the paper sheet being removed from the hopper is in contact with the slippery surfaces of the first payout rolls, the sheet is extracted by the extracting rolls at a constant speed equal to the speed of the extracting rolls and thus, without being affected by the peripheral speed of the feed-out roll assembly.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including feeding rollers arranged above a sheet table on which sheets are stacked, and contactable with the top of the sheets, and a pressing member arranged below the sheet table to project above through the sheet table and intermittently press the sheets on the sheet table to contact the top of the stacked sheets with the feeding rollers. The top sheet of the stack can be reliably fed by the pressing member and the feeding rollers to conveying rollers and then conveyed by the conveying rollers. The sheets stacked on the sheet table can be reliably fed one by one from the top of the stacked sheets.

Abstract: To separate sheets from a stack, for example being fed upwardly, two separating stages are provided: one separating stage is formed by a driven third feed roller (28) located immediately above a fixed separating element (30), for example a rubber block. If, by chance, two sheets should be fed, the sheets are then fed to a second separating stage which includes a driven second roller (16) which, for example, may drive the third roller, and a first roller (20) therebeneath which can freely rotate in feeding direction. It is secured to a shaft by a one-way clutch, preventing reverse rotation. To impart limited reverse rotation to the first roller (20), the shaft thereof is rocked backwardly by an eccenter (50, 52) coupled to the shaft (18) which drives the entire apparatus.

Abstract: A microfiche feeder 10 conveys isolated sheets of microfiche from a stack 30 to a collator 12, sorter, or other processing apparatus. The stack of microfiche is placed in a receiver. A drive wheel 34 contacts the lowest sheet of the stack 30 to increment the sheet forward by suction as the wheel revolves. Spaced separator rolls 44 and 46 adjacent the drive wheel 34 ensure that a single sheet of microfiche is incremented forward to drive rolls 52 and 54, which convey the sheet to other processing apparatus.

Abstract: Sheets being advanced on a driven conveyor with one sheet at least partially overlapped by another are separated in the transport path, so that only one sheet is fed at a time, by the action of a friction member such as a roller which is mounted for swinging movement relative to a line of contact with the sheets for pressing the sheets against the conveyor and is biased by a spring and/or its own weight in the direction opposite to the transport direction. The axis of swinging movement is parallel to the line of contact and so located that a plane through the swing axis and the plane of the transport path at that line, as viewed in the transport direction, forms an angle of between about 70.degree. and 90.degree.. The friction member preferably is a roller which is rotated at a relatively low speed so as to move its peripheral surface in the direction opposite to the transport direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets one by one from a group of at least partially overlapping sheets, in which a conveyor belt in contact with the lowermost sheet is driven to feed that sheet in the desired transport direction while a sheet separating roller forming a nip with the belt is driven so as to move the surface of the roller through the nip in the opposite direction, thus holding back of the nip sheets lying on the lowermost sheet, is provided with a displaceable member, for example a flat end portion of a leaf spring wound into a spiral, which has a smooth underside to receive under this member and press on the sheets approaching the nip and has a forward end edge slidably engaged with the surface of the roller immediately adjacent to the location where the sheets contact the roller. The displaceable member prevents the sheets from curling up or buckling in the vicinity of the roller, irrespective of the number of sheets and irrespective of variations of the position of the separating roller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism whereby individual sheets are fed from a cassette that carries a pile of paper sheets. The mechanism comprises a paper feed member which is mounted over the front portion of a feed bed whereon a cassette is removably installed and which is movable orbitally to feed sheets forward, and a retarding member engaged under upward bias against the feed member to prevent forward feed of sheets below one that is directly engaged with the feed member. The retarding member is so arranged as to be in its operative position when a cassette is fully installed on the feed bed but to move rearwardly and away from the feed member as the cassette is rearwardly removed from the feed bed, to thus release unfed but jammed sheets for removal with the cassette.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding sheet shaped blanks to an article. The blanks are extracted from a magazine by a blank conveyor at a first point, and, occasionally, more than one blank is erroneously extracted. To ensure that only one blank is conveyed to the article, all but one blank are removed at a second point. In the preferred embodiment, the blank or blanks is or are in such a fashion so as to permit a suction conveyor belt to detach all but one blank from the blank conveyor. Once detached, the erroneously extracted blanks are removed via air suction, and the remaining blank is conveyed to the article at a third point.

Abstract: A stacking and feeding device of document-handling equipment for documents moving along one of their edges, includes a transporting conveyor belt system that forces the documents against a stop where they begin to stack up in the horizontal direction in the order in which they arrive. A feeder rides on the outermost document of the stack and slides along guide shafts as the size of the stack changes. The feeder is selectively actuated to remove the documents from the stack one at a time in the order in which they entered the stack. A swing arm is pivotally and extensibly connected between the feeder and the following stationary part of the equipment so that the documents can be delivered thereto, regardless of the position of the feeder.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transporting sheets from a stack advance each top sheet from the stack in turn to a first location and reject any adjacent sheet moving along with such top sheet from the stack. The advancing top sheet is driven at the first location away from the stack at a predetermined speed, which is preferably higher than the speed at which each sheet is advanced to the first location, whereby a delay may be realized between the time a given sheet leaves the first location and the time at which the next succeeding sheet is advanced at the first location. Each advanced top sheet is also engaged at a second location while such top sheet is still being driven at the first location until such top sheet has been driven past the first location.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a first feed roller for feeding the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets in contact therewith, a second feed roller positioned toward the sheet feeding direction from the first feed roller and rotatable in the feeding direction, a separating roller rotatable in the same direction as the second feed roller in contact therewith, and means for driving one of the second feed roller and the separating roller at opposite ends of its shaft and for pressing these rollers into contact with each other. The sheets are fed individually by being forwarded by the first feed roller and thereafter separated off singly at the nip of the second feed roller and the separating roller.

Abstract: A document separation device for separating documents in a stack employs counter-rotating feed drum and friction belt members to strip away and hold back more than a single document trying to pass between them. The structure employs a pair of stripper idlers mounted for free-wheeling rotation adjacent the feed drum. The stripper idlers are constructed and arranged so as to be controlled by the documents passing between them and the adjacent feed drum so as to automatically speed up or slow down when required. The stripper idlers are designed to maintain the proper force against the drum or a document passing therebetween to feed the documents in the desired path through the apparatus and to straighten out severely curled leading edges of the documents to avoid jamming, tearing or skewing of the documents. In addition, the idler strippers serve to fan out the documents to hold them in a desirable condition for ease of separation.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeding apparatus for use in a copying machine and the like having a sheet separating members. The separating members include a sheet feeding rotatable member, a separating rotatable member and a follower rotatable member, with the feeding rotatable member in contact with both the separating member and the follower rotatable member. The feeding rotatable member has a peripheral surface which is harder than that of the separating rotatable member. The follower rotatable member has its peripheral surface of a material having a coefficient of friction smaller than that of the other members. The width of the contact area between the separating rotatable member and feeding rotatable member is larger than that between the follower rotatable member and the feeding rotatable member.

Abstract: The device has a feed roller with a high friction rubber segment which picks notes one at a time for each roller revolution or cycle. A counter-rotating separator roller normally prevents picking doubles. A cooperative doubles detector detects doubles when picked and returns the doubles to the note supply stack. The picker mechanism has a biasing lever which holds the note stack out of contact with the feed roller against stack pressure until the friction segment is in note separating and picking position.

Abstract: Automatic terminal machines for banking transactions utilize a document dispenser for delivering bank notes to a customer. The document dispenser moves the bank notes from a storage bin by means of a picker mechanism that moves along a path profile established by the configuration of a pair of cam tracks and associated cam followers. The picker mechanism includes vacuum cups for lifting the first document from a stack in the storage bin for delivery into a document transport. Connected to the vacuum cups is a vacuum/pressure supply that includes a multiple chamber cylinder that provides both vacuum and pressure synchronized with operation of the picker mechanism. The piston is pivotally mounted to enable swivel action when driving the interconnected pistons in respective chambers. When provided, the document dispenser includes a cassette having a loading door and an unloading door, each separately equipped with a locking device.

Abstract: An improved document feeder employs sets of rollers between which it feeds documents of different lengths to generate and maintain gaps of equal length between the documents while transporting them at a constant speed. A first group of rollers separate stacked documents and start the documents moving at a low speed along the track. A second group of rollers, operated at a higher speed, receive documents from the first group of rollers and increase the speed of the first document relative to a second document, still in contact with the first group of rollers, thereby providing an initial gap which continues to lengthen until the second document reaches the second group of rollers. A third group of rollers receives the documents after they leave the second group, imparting a constant system transport speed to them.

Abstract: A sheet feeding system wherein, when a start signal for starting sheet feeding is given, a sheet tray is brought into contact with a first feed roller and at the same time the first feed roller is driven to rotate. When a first detection mechanism has detected the leading end of a sheet having reached between a second feed roller and a parting roller, the sheet tray is separated from the first feed roller and when the sheet is detected by the second detection mechanism, the second feed roller is stopped after a delay time that the leading end of the sheet contacts a stopper closing a sheet threading path for the sheet to be slightly looped, and the sheet threading path is opened upon the lapse of a predetermined time and the parting roller is then disengaged from the second feed roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeder comprises a support adapted to hold a stack of sheets, and a straight guide rail extending from the stack parallel to a transport direction and defining a transport path extending in this direction. A generally cylindrical sheet-lifting roller is provided above the support and is vertically engageable with the topmost sheet of the stack, this lifting roller being centered on and rotatable about an axis inclined to the transport direction and rail. This lifting roller can be rotated about the respective axis while in contact with the topmost sheet of the stack for displacing the topmost sheet in the transport direction and toward the rail. Feed rollers downstream of the lift roller are rotated to advance a sheet engaged thereby along the transport path in the transport direction.

Abstract: A document feeder for advancing original documents to the exposure platen of an electrophotographic copier which is capable of operating in either a semiautomatic or fully automatic mode. In the semiautomatic mode, an original to be copied is manually inserted face up into an inlet where it is engaged by the semiautomatic transport assembly inverted and advances to a proper position for copying. After exposure the document is again inverted and guided into a receiving tray overlying the platen. In the automatic mode of operation, a second tray normally maintained in an inoperative position is swung down to a position at which its feed end is adjacent the feeder inlet. Documents to be copied are placed face up as a stack in the second tray, and feed rollers carried by the tray are actuated to advance documents individually from the stack to the inlet.

Abstract: A document separation device for separating documents in a stack employs counter-rotating drum and friction belt members to strip away and hold back more than a single document trying to pass between them. The structure employs a pair of friction drums and a free-wheeling pulley between them of slightly smaller diameter but on the same axis. Counter-rotating friction stripper belt is supported between two pulleys one of which is driven and is wrapped over the pulley between the friction drum members. A third rotatable pulley between the two supporting the friction belt is located opposite the free-wheeling pulley and has flanges which bear upon the friction drum surfaces such that the friction belt will normally not contact the third pulley when the friction belt is in direct contact with the idler between the friction drums. The friction belt is slightly slack.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing documents from a storage location to a discharge area includes structure for transporting the documents from the storage location along a transport path to an escrow or collection station. The leading and trailing edges of the document are positioned in a holding position removed from the transport path at the collection station so that successive documents may be loaded into the collection station. The apparatus includes a double detector for separating two documents removed at the same time from the storage location and for returning all but one of the simultaneously removed documents to the storage location. When the proper number of documents have been collected in the collection station, they are moved along the transport path and deflected to the discharge area by a divert gate positioned in the path of the collection of documents.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding individual substrates from the top of a stack of substrates upon demand includes a first paddle wheel mounted above the substrate stack and adapted to forward a substrate from the stack in a predetermined direction and a second paddle wheel downstream from the first paddle wheel that is adapted to continue movement of the substrate in the predetermined direction. A friction retard roller is positioned opposite to and forms a nip with the second paddle wheel in order to inhibit multi-feeding of substrates. A second embodiment includes a single paddle wheel that acts in combination with a high friction surfaced guide member to feed substrates individually from a stack.

Abstract: Apparatus for individually feeding sheets in which a friction feed roller positively driven in the direction of feed opposes a friction retarding roller biased in the reverse direction with a predetermined torque and urged against the feed roller with a predetermined force. The reverse bias torque is regulated by means of a spring and a controllable clutch which is disengaged in response to a predetermined strain in the spring. The spring and controllable clutch may comprise a helical spring clutch. In another aspect of the disclosure, the retarding roller is carried by an arm for rotation about a pivot center located such that the normal force urging the two rollers together is automatically suitably adjusted in response to changes in the biasing torque.

Abstract: Single sheets are separated from a stack of sheets arranged in a housing having one open end in which at least one pair of separating rollers is disposed with the lower end of the stack resting in the nip thereof. One roller of each pair has a surface with a greater coefficient of friction relative to the sheet surface than that of the other roller and is rotated in a direction relative to the stack opposite to the other roller so that an outermost sheet is caused to slide from the remainder of the stack by frictional engagement of the one roller while the stack remainder is held from the oppositely rotating roller. Separation is greatly facilitated by the provision of hooks which support the lower edge of the remainder of the stack during separation and positively assist withdrawal of the stack remainder.

Abstract: A copier capable of producing simplex and duplex copies includes a tri-roll inverter that employs a spring loaded ball on roll return force applicator located downstream from the tri-roll input/output members. The input nip of the inverter includes the combination of a smooth roll and a foam roll. This combination corrugates lightweight papers for penetrating the ball on roll nip. A sheet driven by the input nip into the inverter penetrates the ball on roll return force applicator nip. When the last portion of the sheet leaves the input nip, the friction return force of the applicator nip will cause the sheet to buckle into an output nip formed by the foam rolls of the tri-roll members for outward movement.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating and extracting stacked sheets one by one, in which the top sheet is driven by a friction roller only forward in the extraction direction and is passed between two rollers 6, 9 which have suitable profiles to curve it transversely at least once. Roller 6 rotates with the friction roller, while roller 9 is permitted only a few degrees of rotation in the forward direction and is then spring-returned, preferably to slightly beyond its initial position; so that the roller 9 indexes slightly in the counterfeed direction with each dispensing cycle, thereby evenly distributing wear around its periphery.The invention applies in particular to bank-note extractors.

Abstract: A document feed mechanism for feeding original documents to a copier imaging station. A bottom feed shingler wheel generates a shingled stack of original documents in a tray having a crowned shape, the tray crest being located forward of the shingler wheel. The shingled stack is supplied to a nip formed by an intermittently operated feed roll and a restraint roll which is rearwardly biased via a magnetic hysteresis slip clutch. The normal force on a sheet in the nip and the rearward bias force of the restraint roll are specifically controlled. The feed and restraint rolls intermittently supply single sheets to an imaging station feed mechanism.

Abstract: The disclosure is of apparatus for supporting a stack of documents and feeding the documents, one at a time, from the bottom of the stack to an operating position in a document processing machine.

Abstract: A separating unit for flat sheet material has a rotating separating drum with suction openings on its outer face. The material to be separated is run tangentially between the separating drum and a suction drum. The separating drum has suction holes ahead of the suction openings that initiate the evacuation of air between the sheet and drum by a pulling effect lower than that of the suction openings.

Abstract: In a paper delivery roller system, frictional surfaces of a pair of rollers are composed of the same material and the length of frictional surfaces of the feed roller is longer than the length of the frictional surface of the return roller.

Abstract: Documents in a stack are loaded into a bin from which an endmost document is fed by some means to a generally cylindrical drum having a high friction surface which is rotationally driven about its cylindrical axis. A plurality of resilient continuous stretchable friction belts of lower friction than the high friction drum surface are arranged parallel to one another around pulley supports positioned such that non-friction circumferential areas around cylindrical drum surface stretch the path of the continuous belts between adjacent pulleys. The continuous belts are driven in the opposite direction from the high friction cylindrical surface of the drum. The opposed moving surfaces separate adjacent sheets while the belts apply a normal pressure to a document on the high friction surface so that it draws the endmost document from the stack and carries the separated single document through the mechanism by itself.

Abstract: A sheet feeding assembly for separating and feeding sheet material one by one by means of a reversely rotatable separation roller or a stationary friction separation roller. There is further provided a sheet protective roller of which the dimension is substantially equal to that of the separation roller. The protective roller is rotatable freely from the separation roller so that the relative movement of the protective roller may remain unchanged with respect to the feed roller when in use.

Abstract: A multifeed detection system is disclosed that includes a drag roll which is in contact with and loaded against a driven feed belt. A slip clutch applies a torque to the drag roll. The drag roll is in synchronism with a constant speed motor that drives the feed belt. A double sheet entering the nip between the drag roll and the feed belt will cause the drag roll to hesitate with the hesitation being detected by a sensor that activates shut-down of the feeding system.

Abstract: A copy reproduction machine having an automatic document handler adapted for top feeding or botton feeding documents from the document supply tray. An inverter is also provided so that, depending on the machine operating mode selected, i.e. simplex (one sided) document to simplex copy, simplex document to duplex (two sided) copy, duplex document to simplex copy and duplex document to duplex copy; the documents are returned to the stacking tray in the proper page order.

Abstract: Bank notes are accurately delivered to a customer in a preselected amount at an exit throat from a storage bin. Delivery of the bank notes from the storage bin is on an individual basis to an escrow station where the number of bills of currency representing the preselected amount is collected for delivery to the customer at the exit throat. In the transport path from the storage bin to the escrow station multiple bank notes and trailing bank notes are detected to control the operation of the banking machine to deliver the notes at the escrow station either to the customer or divert a miscount of the bank notes to a divert bin. Initially, the process for transporting bills from the storage bin to the escrow station actuates a main drive motor of a transport system. Bank notes are fed from the storage bin to the transport system and if more than one bill is fed to the transport system all but one are returned to the storage bin.

Abstract: An apparatus for singly conveying sheets of paper, especially currency, from a supply stack to an outlet, including a counter-rotating roller and a braking roller for separating two or more sheets which adhere to one another. Control elements delay new sheet take-up whenever adhering sheets are separated from one another, thus creating necessary space in the conveyance path.

Abstract: A feeder device having a supply magazine for record carriers and an associated separating device. The magazine is pivoted to bring a top sheet into contact with a feed roller, and the pivot motion is used to control the separating device so that more reliable separation is obtained.

Abstract: A document handling and counting device in which documents arranged in a stack within an infeed tray are bottom-fed through a document stripping and separating means so as to be fed at spaced intervals and in a one-at-a-time fashion through a document processing stage whereupon the documents are then restacked in their original order. Document stripping and separating is performed by cooperating stripper means and feed means imparting counteracting forces upon documents fed therebetween.

Abstract: A paper feeder comprises a controllably drivable resilient body in frictional contact with a feed roller. A preliminary feeder is provided for supplying a sheet of paper towards an area of the frictional contact from a stack of paper. The roller is driven in a first sense of rotation to feed the supplied paper away from the preliminary feeder. The resilient body is usually driven in a second sense towards the preliminary feeder at the frictional contact area and selectively set free on feeding a thin or flexible sheet. The resilient body may further be driven in the first sense on feeding either a thin or flexible sheet or a ground sheet on which another sheet of paper is attached.

Abstract: A paper feeder comprising a roller-belt feeder unit for feeding sheets of paper or the like one by one from a stack thereof to a utilization device and further comprising an auxiliary belt in contact with the feed roller of the feeder unit on its upper half circumferential surface for pressing the leading edge of the lowermost sheet of paper down to the feed roller. The auxiliary belt is substantially parallel at the area of contact to the main belt comprised by the feeder unit to feed the superposed sheet back to the stack and forms at the area of contact with the lowermost sheet an acute angle smaller than another angle similarly formed by the main belt with the lowermost sheet. The coefficient of friction is the greatest for the roller and smallest for the auxiliary belt. The auxiliary belt may be kept still, passively driven by the roller, or positively driven either in the same or in the reversed sense as the main belt.

Abstract: Sheet separating apparatus to pass sheets one at a time, comprising a nip formed by a positively driven separator roll and a retard roll. Pulleys are located on the shafts of the two rolls and a continuous garter spring is placed around the pulleys. When one sheet is in the nip, slippage occurs between the garter spring and the pulleys; when multiple sheets are in the nip, slippage occurs between the sheets and the retard roll is driven by the garter spring.

Abstract: A sheet feeder apparatus having a feed roller, a reverse roller, a movable sheet support platform for furnishing sheets from a stack to the feed roller, and a pivotable arm with pickup roller for engaging the stack of sheets on the support platform. The sheet support platform is spring driven and equipped with a brake mechanism operable responsive to movement of the pivotable arm which is caused by feeding of sheets from the stack, thereby to permit the spring to drive the sheet support mechanism into further feeding disposition. The nip between the feed roller and reverse roller of the apparatus may be selectively controlled to accommodate sheets of various thicknesses by means of a pivot shaft connected to the reverse roller, which shaft has a levered end engaging a manually operated adjustment cam and release lever mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing sheets from a stack of sheets and feeding the sheets one at a time to an output flow-path, said apparatus comprising a feeding nip formed by a frictional drive adapted to engage and propel a sheet in a forward direction in combination with a pressure member adapted to press a sheet against the drive means, a stripper adapted to restrain plural sheets from being fed along the flow-path and a traction nip comprising a roller disposed downstream of the feeding nip, the roller being biased to obstruct said flow-path but being movable by the passage of a sheet and adapted, upon such movement, to open the feeding nip.

Abstract: An endless conveyor belt having a series of perforations is positioned between a vacuum outlet and a carrier having a stack of substantially flat documents. The vacuum is operated only when the perforations in the belt are positioned in front of the vacuum outlet to reduce drag on the belt. When the vacuum is operational, the belt will attract one of the documents from the stack and deliver it to a subsequent processing station. Means are provided for maintaining the documents in spaced relation from the belt when the vacuum is inoperative to preclude premature removal of a document from the stack by frictional contact of the document and the belt. A deflectable roller is also located adjacent the belt which rotates counter to the direction of travel of the belt to preclude the feeding of more than one document at a time by the belt to the subsequent processing station.