Sheet-feeding device

Claim 1

A SHEET-FEEDING DEVICE COMPRISING A STATIONARY SUPPORT FOR A STACK OF SHEETS TO BE FED INDIVIDUALLY TO A RECEIVER THEREFOR; A VERTICALLY MOVABLE CARRIER ABOVE SAID SUPPORT; FEELER MEANS ON SAID CARRIER ADAPTED TOI BE LOWERED UPON THE TOP SHEET OF A STACK POSITIONED ON SAID SUPPORT; SUCTIN MEANS ON SAID CARRIER DISPOSED AT A FIXED DISTANCE ABOVE AND FORWARDLY OF SAID FEELER MEANS FOR LIFTING A FRONT EDGE OF SAID TOP SHEET OFF THE REMAINDER FO THE STACK; DRIVE MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID CARRIER RELATIVELY TO SAID SUPPORT, SAID DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING A RECISPROCABLE ELEMENT WITH A VERTICAL STROKE LENGTH SUFFICIENT DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF SAID STACK, DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF SAID STACK, SAID ELEMENT BEING POSITIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CARRIER DURING A WORKING STROKE OF SAID DRIVE MEANS FOR LIFTING SAID FEELER MEANS OFF SAID STACK AND DISENGAGEABLE THEREFROM FOR LETTING SAID FEELER MEANS COME TO REST ON SAID STACK UPON A SUBSEQUENT RETURN STROKE; AND OPERATING MEANS SYNCHRONIZED WITH SAID DRIVE MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID SUCTION MEANS DURING SAID WORKING STROKE WHEREBY SAID TOP SHEET IS PULLED OFF THE STACK.