Abstract: A mail destacker is provided that includes a destacker plate and a retractable protrusion that can move between an article erecting position and a retracted position.

Abstract: A magazine pressure control is provided with pressure control wheels that are designed to regulate pressure on carton blanks being fed to a folder/gluer in a carton forming operation. These wheels are disposed around the periphery of the carton blank to urge the edges of the cartons forward and to straighten misaligned cartons. A separately controlled motor operates each half of the magazine pressure control. Each motor is controlled by a pressure sensor assembly and regulates the progression of the carton blanks through the magazine pressure control to equalize the pressure around the periphery of the carton blanks as they are presented to the pick face of the folder/gluer.

Abstract: A media item feed tray with an exit area for media items includes a sled moveable toward and away from the feed tray exit area. A biasing surface is mounted to the tray and extends away from the feed tray exit area. A spring member is mounted on the moveable sled and is connected to the biasing surface such that when the moveable sled is moved away from the feed tray exit area energy is stored in the spring member. The biasing surface may be a shaped rail with a cam surface and the moveable member may include a cam follower which engages the shaped rail cam surface. A first cam section and a second cam section can be provided with the moveable sled urged toward the feed tray exit area when the cam follower engages the shaped rail first cam surface section and urged away from the feed tray exit area when the cam follower engages the shaped rail second cam surface section.

Abstract: A magazine pressure control is provided with pressure control wheels that are designed to regulate pressure on carton blanks being fed to a folder/gluer in a carton forming operation. These wheels are disposed around the periphery of the carton blank to urge the edges of the cartons forward and to straighten misaligned cartons. A separately controlled motor operates each half of the magazine pressure control. Each motor is controlled by a pressure sensor assembly and regulates the progression of the carton blanks through the magazine pressure control to equalize the pressure around the periphery of the carton blanks as they are presented to the pick face of the folder/gluer.

Abstract: A sheet take-out apparatus has a stacker that houses sheets in the stacked state, a take-out roller for taking out sheets by rotating in contact with a sheet at one end in the stacking direction of housed sheets, and sensors for detecting a contact pressure of the take-out roller to sheets. A controller monitors a contact pressure of the take-out roller to sheets, energizes a motor so as to adjust a contact pressure to a proper value and moves the take-out roller in the stacking direction.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding apparatus includes a feed-out device that brings the stacked sheet materials conveyed on a floor belt into contact with a pickup roller and feeds the sheet materials out in a direction crossing the conveying direction of the stacked sheet materials by rotation of the pickup roller, and an inclination correcting device provided in an upstream of the feed-out device in its sheet material feeding direction and including an upper roller located at a position higher than that of the pickup roller, that brings an upper side of the stacked sheet materials conveyed towards the feed-out device into contact with the upper roller to correct the inclination of the stacked sheet materials.

Abstract: A compact system adapted for card imaging, card laminating, or other card processing, comprises a card processor positioned on a horizontal card feed path and configured to process one or both faces of a rectangular card such as a plastic credit or debit card. A card feeder is arranged to feed cards one at a time onto the horizontal feed path upstream of the card processor, the feeder comprising a compartment for holding a stack of vertical cards each supported on a long edge and a card feed mechanism configured to successively draw a card from an end of the stack and translate it off the stack. A card re-director is configured to receive the card and to redirect it to an attitude in which it is parallel with the horizontal card feed path and positioned to be fed to the card processor along the horizontal feed path. The compartment is located above the horizontal card feed path, and the card feeder feeds cards substantially vertically downward into the card re-director.

Abstract: A system for feeding and transporting documents includes a feeder stage and a transport stage. Documents are fed singly, in order, from a stack of documents in a hopper assembly. A flag/flag block arrangement provides a force to move the documents along the hopper floor toward the feeder and to feed a document with a presentation force. The flag block includes a horizontal element for concentrating the presentation force at a desired position at the feeder. The horizontal element has sufficient depth away from the feeder such that the documents are essentially free to expand, thereby concentrating the presentation force while reducing drag forces. The flag/flag block arrangement is useful, for example, when the system is used to process envelopes.

Abstract: A system for feeding and transporting documents includes a feeder stage and a transport stage. The feeder stage includes a feeder and a hopper assembly. The hopper floor carries the document stack, and includes a flag providing a force to move the documents along the hopper floor toward the feeder and to feed a document with a presentation force. A vibration source means vibrate the hopper floor such that the hopper floor vibration is stronger at the far end and weaker at the near end to cause a dynamic weight of the document stack to be reduced through vibration, particularly at the hopper floor far end when the document stack is large so as to reduce variation in the presentation force at the feeder.

Abstract: A system for feeding and transporting documents includes a feeder stage and a transport stage. The hopper assembly includes a hopper floor that carries the document stack and a flag that provides a force to move the documents along the hopper floor toward the feeder. A fixed force means biases the flag with a fixed force while a spring means biases the flag with a variable spring force. The spring force varies with flag position to cause each document in the stack to be fed with an appropriate force due to spring force decreasing as the stack size diminishes.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system for automated loading of a side-by-side stack of thin objects to a feeder is provided. The system can include, e.g.: a) a transporter having a transport surface upon which a side-by-side stack of thin objects can be conveyed; b) a carrier, configured to carry a side-by-side stack of thin objects, over the transport surface; c) a pusher over the transport surface; d) the pusher and the carrier being movable relative to one another between a first position in which the pusher is inside the carrier behind a side-by-side stack of thin objects on the carrier and a second position in which the pusher is laterally displaced from the carrier, such that the side-by-side stack of thin objects on the carrier is laterally slid off of the carrier by the pusher.

Abstract: A high capacity document sheet processor combines significant speed and efficiency enhancing improvements in existing approaches to stack feeding particularly in the stack loading, feeding and singulating functions with novel operational arrangements adaptable to a universal paper handling and envelope inserting system.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in which after a bundle of sheets is placed in an erect posture on a sheet supporting stand, the bundle of sheets placed on the sheet supporting stand is continuously vibrated upward and downward for a predetermined time, and is moved in a sheet feeding direction by an aligning portion to be hit against a hitting portion, and the bottom edges and the side edges of the bundle of sheets are accordingly aligned.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cassette for receiving a stack of sheets, with a pressing element which bears against a first end face of the stack of sheets and is movable in the pressing direction, with a drive motor for displacing the pressing element so that a second end face the stack of sheets facing away from the pressing element can be brought to bear against extracting elements of a sheet extracting device, and with a measuring device for determining the pressing force of the stack of sheets against the extracting elements an output signal of the measuring device serving for controlling the drive motor in order to generate a predetermined pressing force. The stack of sheets and the pressing element are arranged in a slide which is accommodated in the cassette movably in the direction of displacement of the pressing element, the pressing element being displaceable with respect to the slide by the drive motor.

Abstract: A device for feeding packaging blanks (3) to a packaging machine has a magazine with two shafts (7) mounted at the bottom for supporting the blanks (3). The shafts (7) are brought to rotate at constant speed in opposite directions to each other, hence eliminating the static friction from the bottom of the magazine. An angle is formed between the shafts (7), so that a small, forwardly directed force component contributes to the movement of the blanks (3). The dynamic friction is used to move blanks (3) towards a gate (2) at the end of the magazine, and only a small, constant feeding force (A) from a pusher is necessary for the movement.

Abstract: A bill handling machine in which information of each of storing boxes installed therein is acquired and is reported to the operator includes a unit by which an amount of bills stored in each storing box set to the bill handling machine can be calculated by the storing box. The calculated amount of bills is compared with the number of bills beforehand inputted by the operator to thereby prevent an operation using a wrong number of bills.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for dividing a stack of items. The items may comprise mail pieces. The apparatus comprises at least one supporting finger which extends through an opening within a base. The base supports the items which stand thereon and further lean against a supporting wall. Where more than one supporting finger is present, the finger may further comprise a hollow opening and/or groove which accommodates the other supporting fingers therein. Accordingly, as all of the supporting fingers pass through the opening, the size of the opening is reduced. In addition, the supporting fingers may be specially sized so as to accommodate different sized items. The supporting fingers are arced so that when they are extended through the opening, they arc towards the base. The height achieved by a supporting finger is related to the height of the item being engaged by the finger.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming batches in predetermined count or length of laminar articles standing on edge for transfer from multiple supply lines/chutes to a common delivery line is disclosed. The common delivery line is located operatively below the supply lines/chutes. The axis of movement of the common delivery line is perpendicular to the axes of movement of the supply lines/chutes. The apparatus includes a horizontal platform on which the laminar articles, such as biscuits are led from the supply lines/chutes, pusher bars operating simultaneously for each of the arrays of laminar articles emanating from the supply lines/chutes on to the platform. The batch of articles displaced from the arrays are pushed towards striker plates adjacent to hatches in the platform. The batch of laminar articles strike the striker plate, align themselves and rebound from the striker plate without deformation and drop through the hatches in the platform to pockets in the common delivery line below.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for loading the input unit of a letter sorting system with letters that are stood on their edges. The device comprises of at least one stack receiving device which is located on a carriage and which can receive a stack of letters at a given location. The device comprise a stack base which can be moved beyond the carriage in the direction of the stack, horizontally, and one or two separating blades which hold the stack. The blades can be displaced along the stack base and can rotate in and out of the stack receiving device. The dimensions and the height of the stack receiving device are configured in such a way that the stack base can be moved onto the letter conveyor line with the separating blade(s) of the stack receiving device and urged to the input unit.

Abstract: The bill input/output part has a movable pusher plate and a front plate and a partition plate movable between the pusher plate and the front plate to store bills, which are to be returned or paid, between the pusher plate and the partition plate, and also includes a controller to vary the distance between the pusher plate and the partition plate according to the number of bills to be stored. Bills can be arranged upright. After the bills stored between the pusher plate and the partition plate are extracted, the distance between the partition plate and the front plate is widened. This operation makes it easy to re-enter bills in the space. When a remaining bill, such as a folded bill is detected, the space between the pusher plate and the partition plate is widened so that the user can easily be notified of a failure to extract.

Abstract: The system is designed to provide a transport system with specified sheet-like material at a requested time. The system includes insert towers that provide the requested material at the appropriate time. Each insert tower contains multiple insert hoppers aligned vertically within the tower. Due to space constraints, the vertical arrangement of the hoppers enables the system to choose from significantly more different inserts than would be available from systems without vertical insert towers. The insert hoppers are loaded vertically within the insert hoppers which creates a horizontal queue of sheet-like material. Upon a request from a system computer, specified inserts are pulled and the insert tower delivers the insert to a transport system.

Abstract: A device (1) for removing flat objects from a stack includes a magazine (2), in which flat objects are stacked on edge to be serialized, and a vertical destacking plate (6) disposed directly in front of the magazine (2) and against which the first object (O1) of the stack is pressed. The first object (O1) of the stack is ejected in a direction (E) perpendicular to the direction of advance (D) of the stack of flat objects in the magazine (2). The device (1) also includes means (14,15) for measuring the thickness of each flat object pressed against the destacking plate (6). This thickness measurement serves as a feedback control for the movement of the stack of flat objects in the magazine (2). The device (1) may be used in a postal sorting machine.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for delivering and feeding a stack of paper to a high-speed sheet feeder. A sheet handling cart is removably connectable to a docking station attached to the high-speed sheet feeder. The sheet handling cart comprises a paper trough which is liftable from the rest of the cart. The paper trough has a trough bottom which longitudinally forms an elongated opening narrower than the bottom of the paper trough, the elongated opening being dimensioned to accommodate a conveyor belt that will protrude upward through the rectangular opening, after the paper trough is lifted from the rest of the cart, in order to advance the stack of paper toward the high-speed sheet feeder.

Abstract: In a paper-leaves conveying means for conveying a plurality of paper leaves, set together in a bundle in a depositing section, toward a paper-leaves feeding position where a separating/supplying belt exists, an arm is provided which is designed to be moved toward the paper-leaves feeding position in a protruding condition into the interior of the depositing section for supporting side surfaces of the paper leaves, and further to be retreated instantaneously from the interior of the depositing section immediately before the last paper leaf existing between the arm and the separating/supplying belt is handed over to the separating/supplying belt side. Thus, the arm can support the paper leaves until immediately before they are handed over to the separating/supplying belt, which eliminates the occurrence of the falling-down of the paper leaves at the paper-leaves feeding position.

Abstract: A device for feeding packaging blanks (3) to a packaging machine has a magazine with two shafts (7) mounted at the bottom for supporting the blanks (3). The shafts (7) are brought to rotate at constant speed in opposite directions to each other, hence eliminating the static friction from the bottom of the magazine. An angle is formed between the shafts (7), so that a small, forwardly directed force component contributes to the movement of the blanks (3). The dynamic friction is used to move blanks (3) towards a gate (2) at the end of the magazine, and only a small, constant feeding force (A) from a pusher is necessary for the movement.

Abstract: A flat article hopper having a plurality of bottom rods to form a supporting surface for supporting a stack of flat articles and a paddle to push the flat articles towards a flat article feeder at the downstream end. A scrub wheel is rotatably mounted on a fixed, rotation axis on the paddle and is in contact with one of the bottom rods. The rotation axis of the scrub wheel is oriented at an angle relative to the rotation axis of the contacting rod, so that when the contacting rod rotates, it causes the scrub wheel to rotate, thereby producing a force on the paddle urging the paddle to move towards the downstream end. Preferably, the flat article hopper has a side rod on one side of the envelope stack, and the supporting surface is tilted from the horizontal surface, so that the flat articles are moved towards the side rod by gravity in order to register against the side rod. Preferably, the side rod also rotates in order to reduce the friction between the flat article stack and the side rod.

Abstract: To provide actions for stably holding, storing and discharging bills in a state, in which many sheets of bills are stored or in a state, in which bills are folded or broken due to a condition of circulation or not only Japanese Yen bills but also foreign bills having different paper qualities are handled. Also, to provide a bill receiving/dispensing box with good operability involved when a staff charges bills in a storage section. The bill receiving/dispensing box comprises a stacking/separating mechanism, a push plate drive mechanism, a device for shifting a position of a separation/stack guide interlockingly with the push plate drive mechanism, a driving force connecting/disconnecting device for the push plate and lower bill support members, a push plate locking device, and a containable-type stand capable of inclining the bill receiving/dispensing box with the stacking/separating mechanism on a lower side.

Abstract: A high capacity document sheet processor combines significant speed and efficiency enhancing improvements in existing approaches to stack feeding particularly in the stack loading, feeding and singulating functions with novel operational arrangements adaptable to a universal paper handling and envelope inserting system.

Abstract: In a device for loading a feeder rack (5) in further-processing machines such as gather-stitcher machines or gathering machines (6) for folded sheets (1), sheets, booklets or similar printed products, which has a first conveyor arrangement (15) extending in planar manner for the purpose of feeding printed products (1) standing on their edges in the form of a horizontal stack (2), a second, initially upwardly sloping conveyor arrangement (16) for drawing the printed products (1) off the stack (2) in an overlapping formation and for transferring the overlapping stream (3) to the feeder rack (5), infinitely variable drives (20, 24) associated with the two conveyor arrangements (15, 16), and a light barrier (31) arranged in the feeder rack (5), a control means (23) is provided by means of which the drives (20, 24) can be controlled in dependence on the degree of coverage (BG) of the light barrier (31), as a result of which the fill level of the feeder rack (5) remains at an at least substantially constant height

Abstract: In a device for loading further-processing machines with printed products, in particular a feeder rack (5) in gather-stitcher machines or gathering machines (6) for folded sheets (1), sheets, booklets or the like, which has a first conveyor arrangement (15) extending in planar manner for the purpose of feeding printed products (1) standing on their edges in the form of a horizontal stack (2), a second, initially upwardly sloping conveyor arrangement (16) for drawing the printed products (1) off the stack (2) in an overlapping formation and for transferring the overlapping stream (3) to the feeder rack (5), and infinitely variable drives (20, 24) associated with the two conveyor arrangements (15, 16), a control means (23) is provided which controls the two drives (20, 24) at a speed ratio to one another which is dependent on the thickness (D) of the printed products (1) to be processed.

Abstract: An arrangement for adaptively driving the flag element of a document-handling device, such as a document sorter. The rotation of a first cam exerts a first force on the flag element. The profile of the first cam is such that the first force exerted on the flag element varies in accordance with the size of the document stack of the document-handling device. Alternatively, a second cam, rotatably connected to the first cam, causes a rotation of the first cam such that the first cam exerts a second force on the flag element. The first cam is shaped such that the second force exerted on the flag element is constant.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for controlling the presentation of articles to the singulation head of a system for singulating a stack of edge-mounted articles, for example mixed mail, which mechanism senses the instantaneous pressure at which the lead article of the stack is pressed against the singulation head. A feedback control may be provided responsive to a difference between detected instantaneous pressure and a desired target pressure for controlling at least one drive member in a manner so as to reduce such difference. Where there is a pick window of instantaneous pressure at which singulation can be effectively performed, a control may also be provided to inhibit operation of the singulation head when the instantaneous pressure is outside the pick window.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for delivering generally flat articles one by one make use of first and second conveyors. The first conveyor has a top article-supporting surface operated at a first linear speed in a forward direction. In operation, a stack of generally flat articles lies on one side on this top article-supporting surface longitudinally of the first conveyor. The second conveyor is installed in series with the first conveyor, operates at a second linear speed higher than the first linear speed in the forward direction, slopes upwardly in the forward direction, and includes a plurality of generally parallel, rotative longitudinal screws having respective threads structured to engage a lower edge of the generally flat articles. According to the method, the generally flat articles are jogged and thereby separated from each other through slipping of the lower edges of these articles on the successive ridges and grooves of the threads of the rotative longitudinal screws.

Abstract: A method for controlling and adjusting nudger drive friction force. The nudger drive friction force is measured and compared with a desired nudger belt friction force term needed for reliable feeding. Cable drum motor torque is responsively adjusted to obtain a desired nudger drive friction force.

Abstract: A blank feeder includes a blank stack with blanks inclined forwardly in a magazine section and rearwardly in a discharge section so the stack has two effective top ends, one for supply and one for feeding. Blank inclination is reversed intermediate the stack ends without separating blanks in the stack during inclination reversal. Methods and apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: A sheet advance device has a transport device for transporting a stack of sheets in a first direction, a feed finger located in the path of the stack of sheets for contacting the stack of sheets, a sensor for detecting a movement of the feed finger; and an externally-located adjustment device for positioning of the feed finger.

Abstract: An envelope hopper having a plurality of bottom rods to form a supporting surface for supporting a stack of envelopes and a paddle to push the envelopes towards an envelope feeder at the downstream end. A scrub wheel is rotatably mounted on a fixed, rotation axis on the paddle and is in contact with one of the bottom rods. The rotation axis of the scrub wheel is oriented at an angle relative to the rotation axis of the contacting rod, so that when the contacting rod rotates, it causes the scrub wheel to rotate, thereby producing a force on the paddle urging the paddle to move towards the downstream end. Preferably, the envelope hopper has a side rod on one side of the envelope stack, and the supporting surface is tilted from the horizontal surface, so that the envelopes are moved towards the side rod by gravity in order to register against the side rod. Preferably, the side rod also rotates in order to reduce the friction between the envelope stack and the side rod.

Abstract: An arrangement for adaptively driving the flag element of a document handling device, such as a document sorter. The invention uses a force generating mechanism to produce torque at the periphery of a cam. A flexible connector that is wrapped around the cam is used to pull the flag element. The cam is shaped such that the force exerted on the flag element produced by constant torque varies in accordance with the size of the document stack in the hopper of the document handling device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for controlling the presentation of articles to the singulation head of a system for singulating a stack of edge-mounted articles, for example mixed mail, which mechanism senses the instantaneous pressure at which the lead article of the stack is pressed against the singulation head. A feedback control may be provided responsive to a difference between detected instantaneous pressure and a desired target pressure for controlling at least one drive member in a manner so as to reduce such difference. Where there is a pick window of instantaneous pressure at which singulation can be effectively performed, a control may also be provided to inhibit operation of the singulation head when the instantaneous pressure is outside the pick window.

Abstract: A follower mechanism is provided for use in a system for feeding flat articles, such as mixed mail, which follower mechanism includes a paddle assembly connected to a mount so as to be pivotable between a feed position and an inactive position, and mechanism for permitting the paddle mount to be freely moved in either direction when the paddle assembly is in its inactive position, but to be drivable only in the forward direction when the paddle is in its feed position. A counterbalance mechanism is provided to control downward movement to the paddle and to assist in the lifting of the paddle. A mechanism may also be provided for positively disengaging the mount for the paddle from the drive mechanism.

Abstract: Device for individually supplying flat products (P) to a processing station, including a feed attachment (2) having a wall (4) with substantially vertical orientation, against which the products are juxtaposed, and a system (16) for extracting the products to feed them one by one to the processing station.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in a general aspect, to a nudger for a mixed mail feeder and in particular to an apparatus and method for detecting high stack forces in a stack of mixed mail. The apparatus generally comprises an anti-lean sensor for detecting whether the mailpiece is positioned without improper lean and a stack force sensor for detecting high stack forces at the nudger wall. The method generally comprises the steps of sensing whether the mailpiece is positioned without improper lean and whether the stack of mailpieces is leaning on the nudger wall causing a high stack force which is detrimental to feeding the mailpieces. If high stack forces are present, the apparatus will work to straighten the stack. If the stack does not straighten, the operator is signaled to reorient the stack of mailpieces.

Abstract: A method for supplying envelopes to an inserter system, including the steps of providing an envelope supply structure having an exit point, providing at least first and second supply paths from the exit point of the envelope supply structure and providing a common path from the at least first and second supply paths. Individual envelopes are fed from the envelope supply structure to a selected one of the at least first and second supply paths wherein the envelope is conveyed to a holding area in the selected supply path and from the holding area of the selected supply path it is conveyed to the common path. The envelope then travels from the common path to an envelope insertion area wherein prearranged documents are caused to be inserted into the envelope.

Abstract: A document jogger having an adjustable bin for receiving document stacks of variable length.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a nudger for a mixed mail feeder and, in particular, to an apparatus and method of providing and detecting proper position in a stack of mixed mail. The apparatus, generally, comprises a nudger arm for detecting proper positioning of the mailpiece and a lean detection arm for detecting proper lean of the mailpiece with respect to the nudger. The method comprises generally, a determination that when the lean detection arm and the nudger arm are in a position indicating that the lead mailpiece is in the proper position, the stack of mixed mail is decelerated and fed to, for example, a separator, for further processing. The deceleration is performed at a slow rate and provides for a predetermined amount of over travel by the stack of mixed mail. This ensures proper contact of the lead mailpiece with the nudger rollers for feeding the mailpieces for further processing.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism comprising a feed belt assembly, a conveyor for feeding sheets to the feed belt assembly, the feed belt assembly having a belt driven first by a first drive roller, an idler roller assembly having an idler roller spaced from the first drive roller and driven by the first drive roller and a feed switch. The idler roller is mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from the feed switch whereby the feed switch mechanism will be activated by the idler roller assembly to permit sheets to be fed. The feed belt assembly comprises a take-up belt assembly and a delivery belt assembly and said conveyor moves sheets against the take-up assembly.

Abstract: A card hopper for receiving plastic cards that are to be fed to a card processing apparatus. The hopper includes an elongated trap member having a bottom surface and first and second side surfaces. A layer of fiber material on each of the side surfaces holds plastic cards received in the card hopper in a substantially vertical position and substantially aligned one behind another. Preferably, the fiber material has fibers extending at substantially 90 degrees from the side surfaces, with the fibers being spaced in the order of about 10/1000-inch apart and at a depth of pile in the order of about 3/16-inch.

Abstract: Information relating to the characteristics of the documents contained in a document cassette 16 is stored in a button memory 22 on the cassette housing and is read when the cassette 16 is inserted into a document feeding apparatus. The information is processed and correlated with data stored in the memory 74 of a control unit 70 to determine the optimum settings for a mechanism 10 for picking such documents. In particular, during a pick operation, a predetermined number of pulses are supplied to a stepper motor 50, so that when the friction belt 30 is moved into engagement with the documents of the cassette 16, an optimum pressure is exerted by the belt 30 on the documents in the cassette 16. A retard roller 52 is then moved to an optimum position in relation to the belt 30.

Abstract: A belt (28) is moved into contact with a sheet (70) to be fed from the stack (18) under the control of a solenoid (48), which when energized causes pivoting of a crank mechanism (42) and an pulley (26) which supports the belt (28). The belt (28) frictionally engages the sheet (70) as to separate it from the stack (18) and move it into engagement with feed rollers (56) of a transport mechanism. The belt (28) is then retracted from the sheet (70) which is moved away from the stack (18) by the feed rollers (56). After a predetermined time period, the belt (28) is moved into contact with the next sheet of the stack (18) to be fed and the process is repeated until the desired number of sheets have been fed from the stack (18). The belt (28) is driven so that it rotates continuously during the pick operation and is brought to rest on retraction of the belt (28) after the final sheet has been picked from the stack (18).

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for decollating juxtaposed flat objects (3) conveyed in form of vertical stacks is comprised of a conveyor (2) having a continuous loop traction mechanism (4) and a decollation unit (7) for removing the objects (3) individually from the front end of the stack (6) in a lateral direction, wherein the decollation unit (7) moves forward and backward, respectively, in relation to the front end of the stack (6), with the movements initiated by a transmitter (16) which is connected to the decollation unit (7) and faces the front end of the stack (6), based on the distance between the transmitter (16) and the front end of the stack (6).