Top sheet hold down for stacked sheet handling machine

A sheet block handling machine, comprising:

• a frame;
• an elevator means for receiving a stack of sheets and for progressively moving the stack of sheets elevationally to present a top sheet of the stack at a preselected elevation;
• a sheet block receiving means on a side of the frame adjacent the preselected elevation of the stack as positioned by the elevator means;
• a sheet block pusher plate moveable substantially horizontally to engage a block of sheets along one side surface of the block and to move the engaged block of sheets across the sheet stack toward the sheet block receiving means;
• hold down traction means mounted for movement with the pusher plate, said hold down traction means including a sheet engaging friction surface which engages a top surface of a prescribed sheet in the stack immediately below a block of sheets engaged by the pusher plate;
• driver link means for driving the sheet engaging friction surface independently of contact with the top surface of the prescribed sheet in a direction opposite to that in which the pusher plate is moved to hold the prescribed sheet stationary relative to the stack of sheets.