Sheet handling apparatus

In an apparatus to transporting a sheet of dry paper between two structures spaced from each other, the apparatus including an elongated frame, an air-pervious endless belt movably mounted on first and second pulleys positioned at each end of the frame, the belt having its upper rung travelling from the first pulley, adjacent one structure, to the second pulley, adjacent the other structure, and arranged to receive a lead strip of the sheet from the one structure, a vacuum chest having a perforated top extending longitudinally of and below the upper rung of the belt, means for evacuating air from the chest in order to apply a vacuum at the undersurface of the belt and thereby cause the lead strip to cling to the belt, the improvement comprising:

• a nose shoe disposed beyond the second pulley and spaced slightly from the second pulley to define an opening between the shoe and the second pulley where the sheet leaves the belt, an inlet into the shoe to receive a supply of air, at least one first air jet means disposed in the nose shoe adjacent the second pulley whereby a first air jet may be directed into the opening and against the sheet in a direction contrary to the rotation of the second pulley sufficient both to overcome any gripping effect of air entrained within the air-pervious belt and to lift the sheet of flexible material;
• and
• second air jet means attached to the nose shoe on that side of the shoe remote from the second pulley, and able to direct air downstream of the shoe to act as a platform for the sheet.