Sheet selecting and dispensing apparatus

Apparatus for positioning a primary sheet having a leading edge and a leading end portion and for selecting a secondary sheet of a desired size in a store containing secondary sheets of different sizes which each having a leading edge and a leading end portion and are arranged in groups for dispensing the selected secondary sheet from the related group so that the secondary sheet is associated and aligned with the primary sheet, the secondary sheet being selected in accordance with the size of the primary sheet, characterised in that:

• stop means are provided as an abutment for the leading edges of the primary and secondary sheets;
• first sensing means are provided for sensing the size of the primary sheet and are adapted to operate so that as the primary sheet is fed into the apparatus, until its leading edge arrives at the stop means, the sensing means producing a control signal indicative of the size of the primary sheet;
• and
• dispensing means are provided for operation in response to the control signal for automatically selecting one of said groups and dispensing a secondary sheet therefrom so that the secondary sheet moves away from the group until after its leading edge arrives at the stop means, in which position the secondary sheet is associated and aligned with the primary sheet and the leading end portions of the primary and secondary sheets are in facing abutment with each other.