Horizontal feed table and method

A method of converting a non-continuous high-capacity top-sheet feeder having a top-sheet pick-up device into a continuous high-capacity top-sheet feeder, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a high-capacity top-sheet feeder in which sheets are normally stacked on a vertically movable horizontal table and wherein said stacked sheets are brought into contact with a top-sheet pick-up device by incrementally raising said table;
• (b) lowering said table of said high-capacity top-sheet feeder;
• (c) making said table unable to rise;
• (d) placing a horizontal conveyor above said table and at least under said top-sheet pick-up device;
• (e) providing a first stack of sheet material onto said conveyor;
• (f) conveying said first stack of sheets in a direction towards said top-sheet pick-up device;
• (g) detecting when the uppermost sheets of said first stack of sheets are positioned under said top-sheet pick-up device;
• (h) separating up said upper-most sheet from said first stack of sheets using said top-sheet pick-up device;
• and
• (i) continuously using said horizontal conveyor to move additional sheets into position under said sheet top-sheet pick-up device when no sheet is detected under said top-sheet pick-up device.

A horizontal feed table, comprising:

• (a) vertically disposed legs;
• (b) a horizontal conveyor table supported by said legs and having front and rear ends;
• (c) a conveyor spanning the length of said conveyor table;
• (d) a conveyor drive for driving said conveyor;
• (e) means disposed at said front end of said conveyor table for registering and shingling a stack of sheet material disposed on said conveyor table;
• (f) stop members positioned immediately in front of said registering and shingling means on a side thereof opposite from said conveyor table;
• and
• (g) sensors positioned next to said stops, said sensors in communication with said conveyor drive.