Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carrying part that carries media, a supply part that forwards the media to the carrying part piece by piece, wherein when a preceding medium is detected to have been fed to the carrying part, a succeeding medium is next fed to the carrying part, and a carrying controller that stops the preceding medium at a stop position of the media before the preceding medium is carried to the image forming process. The carrying controller obtains a medium length of the preceding medium in the carrying path, and changes the stop position of the preceding medium based on the medium length such that the trailing edge of the preceding medium is maintained distant from the leading edge of the succeeding medium while the preceding medium stops at the stop position.

Abstract: An accessory receives sheets from an inkjet printer.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a separation sheet feeding mechanism having a paper feeding belt and a separation roller; and an adjustment mechanism that changes contact state of the paper feeding belt to the separation roller by changing relative position of the paper feeding belt and the separation roller, and changes and adjusts separation performance of the separation roller for the subsequent sheet, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a cam follower member changing the relative position of the feeding belt and the separation roller, the cam member includes a first cam face and a second cam face which are formed at each rotation radius position in accordance with the rotation angle position, and are spaced apart in the rotation radius direction, and the cam follower member has a contact unit guided by the first cam face and the second cam face.

Abstract: A sheet transport device and an image forming apparatus using the sheet transport device are disclosed. The sheet transport device includes a transport belt rotating around rollers that transports a sheet by attaching the sheet to the transport belt by an electrostatic force, and charging unit that is unitized by including a charging member for charging the transport belt. The charging unit includes a unit case containing springs for pushing the charging member onto the transport belt. An Ac bias voltage is applied to the transport belt via the charging member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming member and a belt conveying device. The image forming member is configured to form an image on a sheet. The belt conveying device is configured to convey the sheet. The belt conveying device includes first and second rollers, a conveying belt, a platen guide, a support, and an adjuster. The conveying belt has an endless belt-like shape and is looped over at least the first and second rollers. The platen guide is provided between the first and second rollers in a sheet conveyance direction and is configured to guide the conveying belt in a manner that the conveying belt forms a flat plane surface. The support is configured to support at least one end of the second roller in an axial direction of the second roller. The adjuster is configured to adjust a position of the support.

Abstract: A transporting cylinder (54) for a flat substrate, including a cylindrical base body (70) that has a cylindrical base body surface (74) having a first material and that has openings (82) leading out onto the cylindrical surface. The transporting cylinder (54) includes a sleeve (72) arranged on the cylindrical surface (74), the covering element having a plurality of through-holes (92) aligned with at least some of the openings (82). The sleeve (72) has an outer covering surface (88) made from a second material. The outer surface (88) has a surface energy lower than the surface energy of the first material.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device, that can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes a first conveying unit to convey a sheet in a first sheet conveying direction, a second conveying unit to convey the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit in a second sheet conveying direction that is different from the first sheet conveying direction, a first sheet conveying path provided between the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit, a belt-type sheet conveying unit to the holding section of the second conveying unit, and a positioning control mechanism to move and position the first supporting member and the second supporting member in respective directions different from each other. The belt-type sheet conveying unit includes a belt, a first rotary belt holding member, a second rotary belt holding member, a first supporting member, and a second supporting member.

Abstract: In a standby state wherein a document is set in a document tray and can be supplied when needed, when a start signal is not inputted (S21: NO), a controller determines whether a document regulating plate has been operated or not based on a detection output of a document size detector for detecting a position of the document regulating plate (S31), and when the document regulating plate was operated (S31: YES), the controller lowers the document tray by a predetermined amount and stops it (S32). A lowered amount of the document tray can be arbitrarily set by a user through an operator control panel. With a sheet feeding apparatus, an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus constituted as described above, even in a state in which the document is set in the document tray, the set state can be easily canceled by operating the document regulating plate.

Abstract: A tape transport system for printed products includes a tape having a tape width, a pulley, and a lever arm supporting the pulley, the lever arm having a first side and a second side. The pulley has a first section disposed on the first side of the lever arm and a second section disposed on the second side of the lever arm, the first and second sections supporting the tape so that the lever arm is within the tape width.

Abstract: A web or fleece of synthetic resin strand collected on a sieve belt is discharged from the sieve belt into further processing equipment over a rerouting roller at the discharge end of the sieve belt. The rerouting roller is perforated and air or another fluid medium is passed through the belt at the rerouting roller to reduce adhesion forces between the belt and the web and lift the web from the belt without damage to the belt.

Abstract: A printer includes a print media loading mechanism that includes a pair of opposed endless belts to pick up print media for printing. The belts ride upon opposed pairs of rollers which are held in slides to limit the rollers' movement to motion towards and away from each other. Worm screws are located parallel to, and on either side of, the belts. Traverser blocks are mounted on the worm screws adjacent each end of the opposed rollers. Scissor members connect the traverser blocks to the ends of adjacent rollers. A motor is arranged to rotate the worm screws thereby causing the traverser blocks to move towards or away from the opposed rollers in order to move the opposed rollers away from each other or towards each other to pick up print media.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes a user interface (12) including an opening (20) for users to deliver and receive individual sheets and stacks of sheets to and from the machine. The machine includes a sheet handling mechanism therein including a first transport path (46) and a second transport path (42). Various devices for dispensing and receiving sheets (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40) are positioned adjacent to the second transport path and dispense and/or receive sheets therefrom. The second transport path meets the first transport path at an intersection (60). The machine includes control circuitry (44) which controls the dispensing and movement of sheets along the sheet paths in response to inputs by customers. A sheet directing apparatus (110) is positioned adjacent to the intersection (60). The sheet directing apparatus (110) is selectively operative as a stack of sheets moves through the intersection to either add a sheet to the stack or to separate a sheet from the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically closing and/or opening of the envelope closing flap for any sized envelope when stacked together. This device makes use of a vacuum transfer device using suction cups along with a drive roller and camming device for selectively gripping and moving individual envelopes through the system. The envelopes, if open, will be stacked upright in a feed tray and, if closed, will be stacked inverted in the feed tray and will be passed to two main drive rollers as a burst of air is emitted from a wedge to change the orientation of the closing flap from a first position to a second position. This can be used for opening or closing of such flaps. The device also includes a housing with multiple rollers powered therein along with a connecting rod assembly and cam member for selectively supplying vacuum to the pivotally movable suction powered vacuum transfer device.

Abstract: An automatic document conveyer comprising a moving frame turnably mounted on a machine housing via a hinge mechanism and a conveyer belt mechanism mounted on the moving frame. The conveyer belt mechanism includes a support frame, a drive roller and a driven roller arranged in the support frame, and a conveyer belt wrapped round the drive roller and the driven roller. The support frame of the conveyer belt mechanism is so supported as to be moved by a predetermined amount toward the side opposite to the hinge mechanism while the end of the conveyer belt on the side of the hinge mechanism reaches to the closed position after having come in contact with the transparent plate at the time when the moving frame is turned toward the closed position.

Abstract: A conveying belt mechanism for an automatic document feeder, for conveying a document placed on a document bearing plate to a document exposure position on a transparent platen. The conveying belt mechanism includes a driving roller and a driven roller disposed above the transparent platen, with a predetermined spacing provided between the two rollers in a document feeding direction, an endless conveying belt looped over the driving roller and the driven roller, pressing rollers disposed between the driving roller and the driven roller for pressing the endless conveying belt against the transparent platen, and belt guides mounted at both ends of the driven roller.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for use with an image forming apparatus, for conveying a document on a platen of the apparatus, includes a rotating conveyance belt for pressing the document to the platen thereby conveying the document along the platen; a pressing roller for applying pressure to the rotating conveyance belt and subsequently onto the document. The pressing roller includes a plurality of rows of rollers in a conveying direction of the document, and each of the plurality of rows is provided with a plurality of the pressing rollers. Tracks in an axis direction of the plurality of pressing rollers followed by at least two rows are different from each other, so that the tracks pass over different portions of the conveyance belt with respect to the conveying direction.

Abstract: A belt supporting device includes a first support member for supporting a belt pulley, the member having a smaller width than that of the outer peripheral surface of the pulley, an endless belt wound on the pulley, a second support member for forming between the endless belt wound on the pulley and the second support member a space for extracting the endless belt in the axial direction of the pulley, and a positioning member located movably in and out of the space to maintain the space by entering the space and to thereby position the first and second support members.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transport mechanism, and method, for transporting plastic cards, such as credit cards, identification cards, and the like, past a printing apparatus within a printer. The transport mechanism includes a lifting and rotating station for displacing the card from a first level to a second level, as well as rotating the card. The second level is located above the top of the printing apparatus. A card translating station is disposed at the second level, generally above the printing apparatus, and has a receiving end disposed adjacent the lifting and rotating station for receiving the card therefrom, as well as an output end. The translating station includes means for moving the card from the receiving end to the output end thereof along a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the lifting and rotating station.

Abstract: In a rotation transfer device, a paper feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus, transfer projections are disposed on coupling members provided on the ends of a driving shaft and a driven shaft, so that the movement of one transfer projection in the peripheral direction can be constrained by the other transfer projection and a positioning member. Thus, rotation irregularity caused by reverse rotation torque applied by a function from the side of paper can be prevented.

Abstract: A photographic printing apparatus includes a sorting apparatus comprising a plurality of receptacles for receiving negative films and prints which circulate in a closed loop path between a film loading station in close proximity to an exposure apparatus and a print loading station where prints, cut from a continuous web of photographic paper, are delivered. The receptacles are driven such that each receptacle related to a receptacle loaded with a specific negative film at the film loading station is positioned in the print loading station in time before a cluster of prints made from the specific negative film is delivered from the photographic printing apparatus.

Abstract: An arrangement for charging successive pockets on a conveyor path of an insetting machine with inset products with a given edge first. A sheet feeder disposed to convey the inset products approximately perpendicular to a conveying direction of the insetting machine is provided. Above the pockets a conveyor segment ends that is disposed downstream of the sheet feeder. The conveyor segment is formed by two endless adjacent flat belts and conveys the inset products from the sheet feeder to the pockets of the insetting machine. The inset products are grasped between respective conveying surfaces of the flat belts. Deflector rollers circulate the flat belts.

Abstract: A paper slip transport and stack unit is provided for separating received slips of paper into individual slips for transporting and stacking up them in an orderly manner in a stack section while counting the slips of paper by a count mechanism. The transport and stack unit includes a separation mechanism which always operates in one direction, a transport mechanism operating intermittently in one direction, and a paper slip lift mechanism in the stack section intermittently operating exclusively against the transport mechanism. The separation transport and paper slip lift mechanisms in the stack section are driven by a single drive source.

Abstract: Sheet stacking apparatus comprises a sheet feed system formed by a belt (9) movable past a sheet stacking hopper (1) in a sheet accept direction to feed sheets to the hopper. At least one pusher member (23) is movable in the sheet accept direction through the hopper to push successive portions of a stack (24) in the hopper (1) out of the path of an incoming sheet so as to permit unrestricted entry of a sheet into the hopper.

Abstract: A photographic processing apparatus adapted to put photographic prints and their corresponding index print together in ejecting these two types of prints made in different processes. The apparatus includes: an printing-development mechanism for photographic print; an index print making mechanism which reads the images of the developed film, arranges the images sequentially to display the same on at least one index print and ejects the index print through an index print outlet; and a print sorting device which sorts out the photographic prints and the index print corresponding thereto together. Time and labor for collation between the index print and the corresponding photographic prints can be dispensed with.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving and dispensing flat articles, particularly folded boxes in a packaging machine including a conveyor system extending substantially in the horizontal plane, and a vertical dispensing chute. To increase the supply of folded boxes, in order to achieve longer reloading intervals between reloading operations, three storage apparatus are disposed above the conveyor system. Each of the storage apparatus has one support that can be lowered into the plane of the conveyor system, and a selection from among these storage apparatus is made by a control device, from signals from fill level sensors and feed sensors.

Abstract: A sheet transfer method for carrying a predetermined number of sheets from a destacking position to a restacking position by a vertically and horizontally movable transfer unit incorporating an entry-conveyor, a mid-conveyor, and an exit-conveyor. In this method, at the time of destacking a pile from the remaining stack, the advance of the transfer unit from one end to the other end of the stack, and the rotation of the pair of the entry-conveyor and mid-conveyors are concurrently effected substantially at the same speed, but in directions opposite to each other until the pile is progressively supported on the mid-conveyor. After the arrival of the transfer unit at the restacking position, the retraction of the transfer unit toward the destacking position, and the actuation of the pair of the mid-conveyor and exit-conveyor are concurrently effected substantially at the same speed, but in directions opposite to each other until the pile is clear of the transfer unit.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder installed on a copying machine. This document feeder is constructed such that one reversible motor provides the drive power for all of drive parts of the document feeder, that is, a document feeding part, a document conveying part and a document recovering part, thus substantially reducing the manufacturing cost of the feeder. The document conveyor belt, on which a document to be copied is closely laid, moves in the forward and reversed direction, thereby causing the document to be exactly set on a reference copying position of a contact glass of the copying machine and, in this respect, improving the operational efficiency of the automatic document feeder. The present invention also provides a control circuit for automatically controlling such an automatic document feeder.

Abstract: In a film loading device, a plurality of supply magazines of different sizes are arranged horizontally one above the other. The removal sides of the supply magazines are staggered such that the largest supply magazine is arranged at the top of the device and each following, smaller supply magazine is staggered backwardly below. An endless conveyor belt with projections is arranged opposite to the removal sides of the supply magazines, said belt being in an inclined position corresponding to the inclination of the staggered arrangement of the magazines. The conveyor belt extends from the upper most supply magazine down to a cassette unloading and reloading station disposed below the supply magazines. At the side of the conveyor belt which faces away from the supply magazines, a drive and control device of the film-loading device is positioned.

Abstract: A drive unit for a document feeding machine having: a paper feeding module having a pair of support railings; and a modular drive unit. The drive unit includes: a shaft journaled in the support railings; a conveying belt mounted on the shaft for conveying documents from an upstream position to a downstream position, the upper reach of said belt defining a feed path; a cross bar extending between and removably secured to the pair of support railings; a drive unit support plate secured to the cross bar; and a motor for driving the conveying belt secured to the support plate. When the cross bar is detached from the pair of support railings, the drive unit support plate, the motor and one end of the conveying belt drop below the feed path to facilitate repair of the modular drive unit.

Abstract: A machine for sorting graphic and/or printing products in which the products are fed one after the other, comprising a framework, a conveyor for receiving individual products one after the other sensors for identifying each of the individual products on the receiving conveyor a central computer, a control console for the entry of predetermined data, selectively actuated elements for unloading the products from the receiving conveyor and at least one conveyor for discharging the unloaded products, wherein the receiving conveyor consists of a sliding surface and is disposed on the framework inclined at an angle of between 10.degree. and 90.degree.

Abstract: An automatic document feeding method for a recycling automatic document feeder (RADF) for use with a copier or similar image recording apparatus. The last document to be returned and the document immediately preceding it are discharged in succession. The discharge of the last document occurs on the elapse of a predetermined period of time after the discharge of the immediately preceding document.

Abstract: An automatic document feeding apparatus in which a plurality of documents are sequentially fed to an image exposure section. Before the completion of the exposure of a foregoing document, the feeding of a following document is started to place the document on a given position before the image exposure section and stopped thereon temporarily for stand-by. The position of the temporary stop of the following document can be varied in accordance with document size detecting signals from a document size detector or selected in such a manner that the distance between the trailing end of the foregoing document and the leading end of the following document becomes constant substantially irrespective of the size of the document.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically inverting workpieces of limp sheet material, such as fabric sheet material, including an endless primary conveyor having a forward-traveling reach for conveying workpieces in a forward direction, each workpiece having a leading edge and a trailing edge. A gripper engages a portion of the workpiece generally adjacent its leading edge as the workpiece travels on the primary conveyor and holds the leading edge portion stationary. The primary conveyor includes a series of flights spaced at intervals therealong with openings between the flights. The trailing edge of the workpiece and the adjacent trailing edge portion drop through an opening between a leading flight and a trailing flight after the gripper engages and holds stationary the leading edge portion. A pushing mechanism acts on the trailing edge portion of the workpiece for pushing the trailing edge portion forardly to invert the trailing edge portion as the leading edge portion is held stationary by the gripper.

Abstract: An envelope feeder which can be used on virtually all existing printing machines without the need to synchronize the latter comprises a low-pressure chamber (3), a perforated conveyor belt (4) and an adjustable barrier (6). An overlap with a very small overlap length (5) is thereby achieved. The envelope feeder can therefore be used not only for small envelopes (1), but also for those with very narrow flaps (2).

Abstract: An automatic document conveying device for an image processor having a transparent plate disposed on the upper surface of a housing for placement of a document to be processed thereon. The automatic document conveying device comprises a document introduction portion, a main portion and a document delivery portion. The document introduction portion includes an introduction portion frame member, a document table extending upstream from the introduction portion frame member, a document introduction passage extending from the document table to the transparent plate inside the introduction frame member, a document sender for sending the document into the document introduction passage from the document table, and a document introducer for introducing the document onto the transparent plate from the document introduction passage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering cards or like paper stock fed singly from a stack of the cards to a demand location for dispensing in sequence, in which each card fed from the stack is advanced through a plurality of stages of a conveyor, each stage being independently operable, each stage and all preceding stages and the stack feeder being actuable when no card is present at that stage, the leading stage being also operable to deliver a card on demand, the cards being feed at a higher rate than the dispensing rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a document includes a platen where a document is subjected to copy operation; a feeding device for feeding a document onto the platen; a delivering device for delivering a document from the platen; a conveying device for conveying a document on the platen to the delivering device; the delivering device driven independently of the conveying device; and a control device for controlling operation timings of the feeding device, the conveying device and the delivery device, wherein the control device stops the conveying device when the trailing end of a document being delivered by the delivering device has been located between the conveying device and the delivering device.

Abstract: An improved recirculating document feeder for presenting sheets from a document sheet stack individually to a station of the reproduction apparatus for reproducing of information contained on such sheets. The improved recirculating document feeder comprises a housing containing a support for a document sheet stack. A feed path extends away from and then back to the document stack support, for directing sheets from the support into association with the reproducing station and then back to the stack. Document sheets are selectively fed from the stack seriatim about the feed path. The feed for the document sheets includes a transport assembly overlying at least a portion of the reproduction apparatus station.

Abstract: A currency note dispenser especially adapted for under-the counter use in which a conveyor carries notes removed from the bottom of a supply stack to a delivery tray at an access location above the supply. In response to a malfunction of the dispenser, an energizable element moves the tray to an inoperative position at which notes previously delivered thereto fall to an escrow area in the dispenser cabinet and hold the tray in that position until all notes received by the conveyor have passed to the escrow area. Before moving the tray, the energizable element releases a mechanical lock which prevents movement of the tray to its inoperative position in the absence of energization of the energizable element.

Abstract: A mechanism for shuttering of vacuum ports of a vacuum platen transport (VPT) plenum in correspondence with the size of the documents being transported from the document tray of a recirculating document handler. The shuttering mechanism is coupled to a movable side guide of the document tray and includes a flexible coiled tape mounted with respect to the vacuum plenum of the VPT and movable side guide of the document tray such that movement of the side causes the tape to seal off vacuum slots within the plenum that are not located beneath documents.

Abstract: High speed sheet feeders receive blocks or bricks of paper sheets, cards or folders stacked edgewise on a downsloping supply ramp, and singulate these for edgewise feeding in rapid succession. The frontmost sheets ready for feeding are buckled and fanned at their upper edges, and their lower edges are arched forward to form a dimple or ridge-shaped pocket by an underlying central traction singulator. A pair of ganged or synchronized feed belts engage the frontmost sheet and propel it rapidly downward edgewise, and a slanting discharge belt receives and diverts the sheet at even higher speed between the discharge belt and a tractive pinch roller. A transfer assembly beneath the discharge belt may receive sheets from an adjacent feeder and interleave them upon command with sheets delivered by the discharge belt.

Abstract: A sheet feeder has a supply station wherein signatures fresh from the printing press are stacked. The stack is supported such that the signatures are in an arched, non-planar configuration. A sheet stripper extracts signatures successively from the stack and feeds them in a constant stream to a transfer conveyor. The stripper grips the sheets with a suction device which applies a constant but locally intermittent vacuum. The transfer conveyor carries the signatures to a delivery station. The delivery station includes fingers which arch the signatures. Arching the signatures in the supply and delivery stations prevents rolling of the signatures.

Abstract: A circulation-type bill receiving and dispensing machine reuses received bills for dispensing. It has a bill receiving and dispensing port and operating section at both sides of the machine. The bill receiving and dispensing machine includes separate bill discriminating sections each of which is arranged on each received-bill transferring route of the bill receiving and dispensing ports of the two sides for the exclusive use of that port. Thus the bill receiving and dispensing machine of the present invention can be operated at the same time from both sides. Accordingly, a customer can deposit bills at any time even if the machine is being operated in the bill receiving mode by the teller.

Abstract: A device for unstacking relatively flat objects such as letters or postal packets of various different lengths, widths, and thicknesses. The device includes: a conveyor for conveying stacks of objects as well as an object separating and grasping mechanism for separating and grasping the objects one-by-one, and a transport conveyor for transporting the objects one after another.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for automatic printers has a single cassette sheet feeder in which the printer rests. The printer supports an over-the-top feed apparatus which receives sheets from the cassette and transports sheets to the platen of the printer and from the platen to a receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking a plurality of folded box blanks such that alternating groups of a predetermined number of folded blanks are superimposed in opposite orientations. The apparatus includes a lower rail device having a stacking position, a second rail device above the first rail device and terminating at a position above an intermediate portion of the lower rail device, an inverting and transferring device for inverting alternating stacks of a predetermined number of folded blanks stacks at the stacking position onto the second rail device, a stopper device for allowing alternating stacks to move along the lower rail device, and a conveying device for conveying both the stacks on the lower rail device and the upper rail device simultaneously so that each stack on the upper rail device falls onto a stack on the lower rail device at the end of the upper rail device, whereby the desired combined stack is formed on the lower rail device.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and reading a radiation image comprises an image recording section provided with a first stacker for stacking stimulable phosphor sheets carrying no radiation image stored therein and a second stacker for stacking stimulable phosphor sheets carrying a radiation image stored therein, an image read-out section provided with a third stacker for stacking the stimulable phosphor sheets conveyed from the second stacker and a sheet feeder for feeding the stimulable phosphor sheets carrying no radiation image stored therein to the first stacker, a light-tight connector for rotatably connecting the image recording section with the image read-out section, and a drive unit for rotating the image recording section. The stimulable phosphor sheets are transferred via the light-tight connector between the sheet feeded and the first stacker, and between the second stacker and the third stacker.

Abstract: A controller controlling the dispensing of paper currency including a microprocessor for controlling motors which feed a predetermined mix of paper currency from each dispensing device to a common acceleration device which advances bills to an output stacker. Each individual dispensing device dispenses the proper number of bills to the acceleration device. Apparatus multiplexes the control signals to the stepper motor. After the bills have been dispensed, the stepper motor is halted, and a home positioning sensor determines if the stepper motor has been halted in the proper position. Sensors provided at spaced intervals along the common acceleration device determine if bills have reached the acceleration device. The dispensing operation is repeated if bills do not reach the sensor. The sensors perform the dual function of sensing advancement of a bill and detecting overlapping or multiple fed bills. The adaptive technique compensates for changes in the sensor such as component aging and dust accumulation.

Abstract: An infrared dryer is provided for a printing press which uses a series of carriers, each comprising one or more gripper bars, on a conveyor to respectively carry printed sheets past the dryer. The sensor produces different binary signals in response to the presence or absence of material, viz, a gripper bar structure or carried sheets in the path, each carrier producing a predetermined number of transitions between the presence and absence signals, the only change between an empty carrier and one carrying a sheet being the duration of the presence and absence signals. A microprocessor is programmed to cyclically count from zero to the predetermined number of transitions, with each count cycle representing the passage of a carrier. The microprocessor also measures and compares the total durations of the presence and absence signals during each count cycle. If the presence signal duration exceeds the absence signal duration, then the heater is actuated to a preselected operating intensity.

Abstract: High speed sheet feeders receive blocks or bricks of paper sheets, cards or folders stacked edgewise on a downsloping supply ramp, and singulate these for edgewise feeding in rapid succession. The frontmost sheets ready for feeding are buckled and fanned at their upper edges, and their lower edges are arched forward to form a dimple or ridge-shaped pocket by an underlying central traction singulator. A pair of ganged or synchronized feed belts engage the frontmost sheet and propel it rapidly downward edgewise, and a slanting discharge belt receives and diverts the sheet at even higher speed between the discharge belt and a tractive pinch roller. A transfer assembly beneath the discharge belt may receive sheets from an adjacent feeder and interleave them upon command with sheets delivered by the discharge belt.