Apparatus for separating the bottom sheet of a stack or sheets

Apparatus for separating single sheets from a stack of sheets by removing one sheet at a time from the bottom of the stack, the apparatus comprising:

• rotating disc means, said disc means rotating in one direction, said disc means having an upper surface upon which substantially the entire surface of the lower sheet of a stack of sheets will be supported, said disc means being provided with at least a first linear aperture defined by a pair of straight substantially parallel edges, said first aperture extending radially inwardly from the periphery of said disc means, said first aperture having sufficient length and width to allow the passage therethrough of a sheet from the stack, said disc means being further provided with at least a second aperture, said second aperture having an arcuate shape and extending from said first aperture leading edge intermediate the ends of said first aperture in the direction of disc means rotation;
• stack retaining means, said stack retaining means being positioned above said upper surface of said disc means, said retaining means being stationary and positioning a stack of sheets upon said upper surface of said disc means while said disc means rotates beneath the stack, said retaining means positioning the stack upon said upper surface of said disc means so that one corner of the stack faces generally oppositely to the direction of rotation of said disc means whereby said corner will be intercepted by the straight trailing edge of said pair of first aperture defining edges;
• fluidic separator means, said separator means being located beneath said disc means, said separator means being in part movable through said second aperture to cooperate with a sheet which is at the bottom of the stack in the region of said one corner, said separator means including means for establishing a pneumatic force which causes said one corner to be deflected downwardly through said first aperture during movement of said separator means to thereby provide a space between the bottom sheet and the remainder of the stack whereby the bottom sheet will be separated from the stack by the rotational movement of said disc means and passed through said first aperture;
• separator control means, said control means moving said separator means through said second aperture, said control means synchronizing the movements of said separator means with the rotation of said disc means to prevent said separator means from contacting said disc means;
• and
• means for guiding sheets separated from the stack by said separator means, said guiding means including table means and movable clamp lever means, means for causing movements of said clamp lever means, said clamp lever means temporarily holding individual sheets against said table means, said movements of said clamp lever means being synchronized with the movements of said separator means whereby a separated sheet will be clamped to said table means for a period of time beginning prior to termination of cooperation between the separator means and the sheet.