Sheet feeder
OwnerJames Kaipinginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sheet feeder having a stack hopper for holding a stack of sheets, and feed belts for advancing the bottom-most sheet from the stack, is constructed to move at least one of the feed belts laterally toward and away from another of the feed belts while the belts are being driven. Preferably, side guides extend substantially to the end of the feeder, and extend both above and below the upper surface of belts to which they are adjacent. The belts extend between and around shafts of uniform diameter through the reach of lateral movement of the belts. The shafts are journaled in bearings mounted in such a way that they can be lifted out to change belts quickly and easily.
Claims20
A sheet feeder comprising a stack hopper for holding a stack of sheets, feed belts for advancing the bottom-most sheet from said stack, and means for moving at least one of said feed belts laterally toward and away from another of said feed belts while the belts are being driven.
A sheet feeder comprising a stack hopper for holding a stack of sheets, two marginal feed belts adapted to be positioned along side margins of said sheets for advancing the bottom-most sheet from said stack, and means for moving both said feed belts toward and away from one another.
A sheet feeder comprising a stack hopper for holding a stack of sheets, and feed belts for advancing the bottom-most sheet from said stack, said feed belts being mounted on rotating shafts, said shafts being journaled in bearings slidably, removably mounted in an open-topped channel closed by a removable cover cap to permit easy access to said bearings for installation, removal and replacement of said belts.
A sheet feeder comprising a stack hopper for holding a stack of sheets, and feed belts for advancing the bottom-most sheet from said stack, said feed belts being spaced laterally from one another, and sheet separators mounted on a bridge forward of said stack but closely adjacent thereto, said separators being positioned to project into spaces between said belts, and projecting a short distance below the upper surface of said belts, whereby said sheet being conveyed by said belts is buckled to facilitate separation of said bottom sheet from the rest of the stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.