Sheet transporting apparatus

Apparatus for transporting a sheet in a predetermined path of travel, the apparatus comprising:

• a. a plate having a lower surface extending parallel to and defining the path of travel, the plate including an aperture;
• b. sheet feeding means including a first pair of rollers spaced apart from one another and an endless belt looped about the first rollers, the belt having a lower belt run extending between the first rollers and beneath the plate, the feeding means including means for driving one of the first rollers for moving the lower belt run in the direction of the path of travel, the feeding means including a second pair of rollers disposed beneath the plate, a pair of bifurcated supports rotatably supporting the second pair of roller, each of the second rollers being made of a compliant material, the feeding means including means for resiliently urging the compliant rollers toward the path of travel for urging a sheet feed to the apparatus into contact with the belt and the lower surface of the plate, whereby the belt engages and feeds the sheet with a portion thereof in the path of travel when fed past the aperture, and means for interconnecting the bifurcated supports for movement thereof in unison with one another, whereby the compliant rollers move toward and away from the path of travel in unison with one another.

Apparatus for transporting a letter, the apparatus comprising:

• a. a plate having a lower surface extending parallel to and defining a predetermined path of travel, the plate including an aperture;
• b. letter feeding means including a first pair of rollers spaced apart from one another and an endless belt looped about the first rollers, the belt having a lower belt run extending between the first rollers and beneath the plate, the feeding means including means for driving one of the first rollers for moving the lower belt run in the direction of the path of travel, the feeding means including a second pair of rollers disposed beneath the plate, each of the second rollers being made of a compliant material, the feeding means including means for resiliently urging the compliant rollers toward the path of travel for urging a letter fed to the apparatus into contact with the belt and the lower surface of the plate, whereby the belt engages and feeds the sheet with a portion thereof in the path of travel when fed past the aperture, and the resilient urging means including means for connecting the compliant rollers to one another for movement in unison with one another toward and away from the plate.

Apparatus for transporting a letter, the apparatus comprising:

• a. a plate having a lower surface extending parallel to and defining a predetermined path of travel, the plate including an aperture;
• b. letter feeding means including a first pair of rollers spaced apart from one another and an endless belt looped about the first rollers, the belt having a lower belt run extending between the first rollers and beneath the plate, the feeding means including means for driving one of the first rollers for moving the lower belt run in the direction of the path of travel, the feeding means including a second pair of rollers disposed beneath the plate, a pair of bifurcated supports rotatably supporting the second pair of rollers, each of the second rollers being made of a compliant material, and the feeding means including means for resiliently urging the compliant rollers toward the path of travel for urging a letter fed to the apparatus into contact with the belt and the lower surface of the plate, whereby the belt engages and feeds the sheet with a portion thereof in the path of travel when fed past the aperture, and means for interconnecting the bifurcated supports for movement thereof in unison with one another, whereby the compliant rollers move toward and away from the path of travel in unison with one another.