Sheet feeding apparatus

Abstract

A sheet feeding apparatus with a cross-cutter in front and an arrangement, following the cross-cutter, for forming a series of underlapping sheets with lifting and holding elements in a region between two withdrawal devices driven at different feed speeds. These elements lift the rear end of each sheet to form a lead-in gap for the following sheet. The lift and holding elements are fastened, furthermore, to continually driven transport elements and are kept on a straight path in the engagement area slightly delayed relative to the following withdrawal device. The lift and holding elements are uniformly distributed across the width of the sheet, and are fastened to a strip picked up by chains located on the side. Several strips are provided spaced at sheet-to-sheet spacing. The track of the lift and holding elements descends slightly in the transport direction. The strips connected to the lateral chains are guided in lateral rails which are adjustable.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.