Remote sheet advance device and method

A method for advancing sheets on a transport device comprising the steps of:

• moving a stack of sheets on the transport device against a feed finger so as to move the feed finger in a first direction;
• sensing the movement of the feed finger so as to generate a stop signal;
• stopping the transport device as a function of the stop signal;
• removing individual sheets from the stack of sheets so as to reduce the stack in a direction opposite the first direction and move the feed finger opposite the first direction;
• moving the transport device in the first direction after the removing step;
• and
• adjusting a position of the feed finger through an externally-located adjustment device.

A sheet advance device comprising:

• a frame;
• a feed finger for contacting a stack of sheets;
• a first slideway supported on the frame for moving the feed finger in a first direction with respect to the frame;
• a second slideway supported on the frame for moving the feed finger in a direction different from the first direction;
• and
• an adjustment device located on or outside of the frame for moving the first and second slideways.