Cut sheet feeder with suction device

A cut sheet feeder for feeding out sheets arranged in a stack separately one by one, comprising:

• sheet feeding and conveying means for contacting the obverse side of a first sheet to move the first sheet forwardly by frictional force;
• arresting means for contacting the reverse side of a second sheet to arrest forward movement of the second sheet, the frictional force applied by said sheet feeding and conveying means being larger than the frictional force applied by said arresting means;
• a first suction means operatively associated with said sheet feeding and conveying means for attracting said first sheet to increase the frictional force between said first sheet and said sheet feeding and conveying means;
• and
• a second suction means operatively associated with said arresting means for attracting said second sheet to increase the frictional force between said second sheet and said arresting means,
• wherein said sheet feeding and conveying means comprises a plurality of spaced apart feed belts running around forward and rearward feed rollers, and intermediate rollers disposed between said forward feed roller and said rearward feed roller to face the forward or discharge end of said stack of cut sheets while leaving a gap between said intermediate rollers and said discharge end, and
• wherein said intermediate rollers protrude through the space between each of said feed belts.

A cut sheet feeder for feeding cut sheets arranged in a stack separately one by one, comprising:

• sheet feeding and conveying means for contacting the obverse side of a first sheet to move the first sheet forwardly by frictional force;
• arresting means for contacting the reverse side of a second sheet to arrest forward movement of the second sheet, the frictional force applied by said sheet feeding and conveying means being larger than the frictional force applied by said arresting means;
• and
• suction means operatively associated with said arresting means for attracting said second sheet to increase the frictional force between said second sheet and said arresting means,
• wherein said sheet feeding and conveying means comprises a plurality of spaced apart feed belts running around forward and rearward feed rollers, and intermediate rollers disposed between said forward feed roller and said rearward feed roller to face the forward or discharge end of said stack of cut sheets while leaving a gap between said intermediate rollers and said discharge end, and
• wherein said intermediate rollers protrude through the space between each of said feed belts.