Sheet-feeding device

Claim 1

IN A SHEET-FEEDING DEVICE FOR REMOVING SHEETS SUCCESSIVELY FROM A STACK OF SHEETS IN A REPETITIVE CYCLE OF OPERATIONS, A SYSTEM COMPRISING: A FLEXIBLE FLUID CONDUIT; CONTROL MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID CONDUIT ALTERNATELY TO AN EVACUATION MEANS AND TO THE ATMOSPHERE DURING A CYCLE OF OPERATION OF THE DEVICE; A FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CONDUIT AND EXTENDING THEREFROM; A SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST TUBULAR MEMBER AND THAT IS MOUNTED FOR SLIDING, TELESCOPING MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, WITH ONE OF SAID MEMBERS SLIDING WITHIN THE OTHER; A RESILIENT HOLLOW BODY THAT IS COLLAPSIBLE UPON EVACUATION THEREOF BUT THAT IS NORMALLY EXTENDED AND RESILIENTLY SELF-SUSTAINING IN ITS EXTENDED STATE, AND THAT IS FORMED WITH TWO OPPOSED OPENINGS, ONE OF WHICH IS SEALED ABOUT AN END PORTION OF ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND THE OTHER OF WHICH IS SEALED ABOUT A PORTION INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID BODY BEING DISPOSED TO HOLD SAID MEMBERS IN A PREDETERMINED, PARTLY TELESCOPED POSITION IN ITS NORMAL CONDITION; A GRIPPING HEAD HAVING AT LEAST ONE SUCTION MOUTH, AND THAT IS DISPOSED AT THE FREE END OF SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER, WITH ITS SUCTION MOUTH IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE BORE OF SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBER, FOR GRIPPING THE SURFACE OF A SHEET ON WHICH IT IS ENGAGED, UPON EVACUATION OF SAID SECOND TUBULAR MEMBERS;