Material feeding apparatus

A material feeding apparatus for conveying a material having a relatively large width into a working machine intermittently, said apparatus including a pair of gripper feeds which are provided on both the right and left sides of a material introducing portion of the working machine and actuated synchronously,

• said gripper feeds each comprising:
• first gripper means fixed along the associated right or left side of the material introducing portion and including a stationary gripper and a movable gripper which can clamp and release the material generally along the edge of the material at the associated side;
• second gripper means located along the associated right or left side of the material introducing portion and supported for reciprocating movement along a direction of material conveyance towards and away from said first gripper means, said second gripper means having a stationary gripper and a movable gripper which can clamp and release the material generally along the edge of the material at the associated side;
• and
• a pair of cam means each operatively associated with one of said first and second gripper means for repeating such operations that, when said second gripper means clamp the material at a conveyance start position, said first gripper means release the material, and when said second gripper means move to a conveyance finish position, said first gripper means clamp the material while the second gripper means release the material and return to the conveyance start position,
• said gripper feeds including reciprocating means operable for moving said second gripper means towards and away from said first gripper means, said reciprocating means comprising separately operable structures located on the right and left sides of the material introducing portion of the working machine whereby the area between said gripper feeds at the material introducing portion is generally open.