Continuous paper let-out apparatus

A continuous paper let-out apparatus for letting out paper in sequence beginning from a first paper of a plurality of papers accommodated under a stacked condition, comprising:

• (a) let-out rollers, rotatably disposed in contact with an end of the first paper, for letting out the first paper;
• (b) auxiliary rollers rotating in synchronism with said let-out rollers by a common drive motor and disposed at roughly a middle portion of paper and in contact with a second paper when the first paper is being let out by said let-out rollers, for letting out the second paper in partially overlapped positional relationship with respect to the first paper;
• (c) friction rollers, disposed opposingly to said let-out rollers and alternately interposed between said let-out rollers at appropriate intervals in such a way that a circumference of each let-out roller and a circumference of each friction roller are partially overlapped with each other when seen from a side whereby said partially overlapped circumference forms an overlap width which can be freely adjusted;
• (d) friction roller displacement means for supporting and moving said friction rollers in such a way that said overlap width between said let-out rollers and said friction rollers can be adjusted by said friction roller displacement means to any one of a single paper let-out width and a double paper let-out width;
• (e) guide roller means, disposed in front of said let-out rollers and rotatable at the same circumferential speed as that of said let-out rollers for guiding the let-out papers away from said let-out apparatus;
• (f) thickness detection means having thickness detection rollers means movably supported so as to be urged into pressure contact with or separated from said guide roller means, for generating a single paper detection signal and a double paper detection signal on the basis of a displacement degree of said thickness detection roller means;
• and
• (g) control means responsive to the thickness detection signal from said thickness detection means, for controlling said friction roller displacement means so that the overlap width between said let-out rollers and said friction rollers is set to a double paper let-out width in response to the single paper detection signal and to the single paper let-out width in response to the double paper detection signal.