Sheet feeding device

Claim 2

A sheet feeding device for feeding sheets from a stack, one at a time, to an infeed station, comprising: means for positioning said stack at an angular relationship with respect to and at a predetermined distance from said infeed station so that a line taken along the leading edge of the stack of sheets intersects a line taken along said infeed station; sheet advancing means including a roller positioned in engagement with the uppermost sheet of said stack for imparting a forward and turning motion to said sheet to transport the latter toward said infeed station; and restraining means positioned at a corner of the leading edge of said stack proximate to said sheet advancing means, for engaging said uppermost sheet as it is moved by said sheet advancing means thereby to aid in the separation of said sheet from said stack.

Claim 3

A sheet feeding device for feeding sheets from a stack, one at a time, to an infeed station, comprising: means for positioning said stack at an angular relationship with respect to and at a predetermined distance from said infeed station so that a line taken along the leading edge of the stack of sheets intersects a line taken along said infeed station, said means for positioning said stack including a feed tray comprising a baseplate and a pair of corner elements being in opposing relation to each other diagonally across said base plate; sheet advancing means positioned in engagement with the uppermost sheet of said stack for imparting a forward and turning motion to said sheet toward said infeed station; and restraining means positioned at a corner of the leading edge of said stack proximate to said sheet advancing means, for engaging said uppermost sheet as it is moved by said advancing means, thereby to aid in the separation of said sheet from the stack, said restraining means including a first one of said corner elements located at a corner of the leading edge of said stack.

Claim 4

A sheet feeding device for feeding sheets from a stack, one at a time, to an infeed station, comprising: means for positioning said stack at an angular relationship with respect to and at a predetermined distance from said infeed station so that a line taken along the leading edge of the stack of sheets intersects a line taken along said infeed station, said means for positioning said stack including a feed tray comprising a baseplate and a pair of corner elements being in opposing relation to each other diagonally across said base plate; sheet advancing means positioned in engagement with the uppermost sheet of said stack for imparting a forward and turning motion to said sheet toward said infeed station; and restraining means positioned at a corner of the leading edge of said stack proximate to said sheet advancing means, for engaging said uppermost sheet as it is moved by said advancing means, thereby to aid in the separation of said sheet from the stack, said restraining means including a first one of said corner elements located at a corner of the leading edge of said stack.

Claim 5

A sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said sheet advancing means includes a drive roller member mounted in driving engagement with the uppermost sheet of said stack, said drive roller being positioned nearer said first corner element to ensure the forward and rotational movement of said sheet from said stack.

Claim 6

A sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first corner element is of a height at least equal to that of said stack of sheets.

Claim 7

A sheet feeding device for feeding sheets from a stack, one at a time, to an infeed station including a pair of infeed rollers mounted in driving engagement with each other, comprising: means for positioning said stack at an angular relationship with respect to and at a predetermined distance from said infeed Station so that a line drawn along the leading edge of said stack intersects a line taken along the axis of said rollers; sheet advancing means positioned in engagement with the uppermost sheet of said stack for imparting a forward and turning motion to said sheet toward said infeed station; and restraining means positioned at a corner of the leading edge of said stack proximate to said sheet advancing means, for engaging said uppermost sheet as it is moved by said sheet advancing means, thereby to aid in separation of said sheet from the stack.

Claim 8

A sheet feeding device for feeding sheets from a stack, one at a time, to an infeed station including a pair of infeed rollers mounted in driving engagement with each other, comprising: means for positioning said stack at an angular relationship with respect to and at a predetermined distance from said infeed Station so that a line drawn along the leading edge of said stack intersects a line taken along the axis of said rollers; sheet advancing means positioned in engagement with the uppermost sheet of said stack for imparting a forward and turning motion to said sheet toward said infeed station; and restraining means positioned at a corner of the leading edge of said stack proximate to said sheet advancing means, for engaging said uppermost sheet as it is moved by said sheet advancing means, thereby to aid in separation of said sheet from the stack.

Claim 9

A sheet feeding device for feeding sheets from a stack, one at a time, to an infeed station, comprising: means for positioning said stack at an angular relationship with respect to and at a predetermined distance from said infeed station so that a line taken along the leading edge of the stack of sheets intersects a line taken along said infeed station; sheet advancing means positioned in engagement with the feed rollers uppermost sheet of said stack for imparting a forward and turning motion to said sheet toward said infeed station; restraining means positioned at a corner of the leading edge of said stack proximate to said sheet advancing means, for engaging said uppermost sheet as it is moved by said sheet advancing means, thereby to aid in the separation of said sheet from the stack; sheet guiding means positioned between said infeed station and said stack of sheets, for aiding in the lifting of said uppermost sheet of said stack into said infeed station.

Claim 10

A sheet feeding device for feeding sheets from a stack, one at a time, to an infeed station, comprising: means for positioning said stack at an angular relationship with respect to and at a predetermined distance from said infeed station so that a line taken along the leading edge of the stack of sheets intersects a line taken along said infeed station; sheet advancing means positioned in engagement with the feed rollers uppermost sheet of said stack for imparting a forward and turning motion to said sheet toward said infeed station; restraining means positioned at a corner of the leading edge of said stack proximate to said sheet advancing means, for engaging said uppermost sheet as it is moved by said sheet advancing means, thereby to aid in the separation of said sheet from the stack; sheet guiding means positioned between said infeed station and said stack of sheets, for aiding in the lifting of said uppermost sheet of said stack into said infeed station.

Claim 11

A sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said positioning means includes a feed tray coMprising a base plate and a pair of L-shaped corner elements mounted on and extending upwardly therefrom substantially perpendicular to the plane of said baseplate, said corner elements being in opposing relation to each other diagonally across said baseplate, wherein said restraining means includes a first one of said L-shaped corner elements located at a corner of the leading edge of said stack, and wherein said sheet advancing means includes a single roller member positioned off center with respect to the stack, said roller member being mounted in driving engagement with the uppermost sheet of said stack, whereby upon operation of said roller, a forward and turning motion is imparted to said last-mentioned sheet.

Claim 12

A sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 8 wherein at least said first one of said L-shaped corner elements has a height at least equal to that of said stack of sheets.

Claim 13

A sheet feeding device for feeding sheets from a stack, one at a time, to an infeed station comprising: means for positioning said stack at an angular relation with respect to and at a predetermined distance from said infeed station so that a line taken along the leading edge of the stack intersects a line taken along said infeed station; sheet advancing means positioned off center with respect to said stack of sheets and in engagement with the uppermost sheet of said stack for imparting forward and rotational movement to said sheet; and means mounted at the corner of the leading edge of said stack nearest said sheet advancing means for engaging said uppermost sheet as it is moved by said sheet advancing means, thereby to cause said sheet to be separated from the stack.

Claim 14

A sheet feeding device for feeding sheets from a stack, one at a time, to an infeed station comprising: means for positioning said stack at an angular relation with respect to and at a predetermined distance from said infeed station so that a line taken along the leading edge of the stack intersects a line taken along said infeed station; sheet advancing means positioned off center with respect to said stack of sheets and in engagement with the uppermost sheet of said stack for imparting forward and rotational movement to said sheet; and means mounted at the corner of the leading edge of said stack nearest said sheet advancing means for engaging said uppermost sheet as it is moved by said sheet advancing means, thereby to cause said sheet to be separated from the stack.

Claim 15

A sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for positioning said stack at an angular relation with respect to said infeed station includes guide means for engaging a side edge of said sheet being fed to ensure that the leading edge of said sheet is in parallel relation with respect to the line taken along said infeed station upon being received at said infeed station.

Claim 16

A sheet feeding device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said means mounted at the corner of the leading edge of said stack for separating said sheet from said stack includes said guide means.