Abstract An improved sheet feeder assembly includes a feed foot having a friction or feed wheel which is disposed in pressure engagement with a sheet to be fed. An electrical vibrator assembly moves the feed foot through forward and return strokes. During a return stroke, the friction wheel rolls along an upper surface of a sheet. During a forward or feed stroke, a one-way clutch assembly holds the friction wheel against rotation so that the sheet is moved forwardly with the friction wheel. As the friction wheel moves forwardly, it also moves toward a guide or register surface to square-up or side register a skewed sheet as it is fed forwardly. The vibrator assembly and feed foot are mounted on a four bar linkage arrangement so that the orientation of the feed foot relative to a pile of sheets is maintained constant as sheets are fed from the pile. The pressure with which the friction wheel engages a sheet is controlled by a counter-weight which is adjustable to vary the pressure between the friction wheel and a sheet.
A sheet feeder assembly for engaging a sheet of material to be fed from a pile of sheets, comprising; a feed roller with a one way clutch for enabling said feed roller to rotate about its central axis during a return stroke of said feed roller and for preventing rotation of said feed roller during a feed stroke; vibrator means for moving said feed roller through many rapid feed and return strokes to feed a sheet engaged by said feed roller; mounting means for supporting said vibrator means and feed roller for uniform downward movement thereby maintaining consistant vibration feed impulsE in relation to the top sheet as sheets are fed from the top of a pile, and; vibration dampening means for eliminating the effect of said vibrator means on said mounting means and increasing the stroke efficiency of said feed roller.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A sheet feeder assembly for engaging a sheet of material to be fed from a pile of sheets, comprising; a feed roller with a one way clutch for enabling said feed roller to rotate about its central axis during a return stroke of said feed roller and for preventing rotation of said feed roller during a feed stroke; vibrator means for moving said feed roller through many rapid feed and return strokes to feed a sheet engaged by said feed roller; mounting means for supporting said vibrator means and feed roller for uniform downward movement thereby maintaining consistant vibration feed impulsE in relation to the top sheet as sheets are fed from the top of a pile, and; vibration dampening means for eliminating the effect of said vibrator means on said mounting means and increasing the stroke efficiency of said feed roller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sheet feeder assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means supports said feed roller for uniform downward movement in such a way as to maintain said feed roller in the same orientation relative to the pile of sheets as said feed roller moves downwardly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A sheet feeder assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including side register surface means extending parallel to a desired direction of sheet feed for engaging one edge portion of the sheet to be fed to position the sheet, said mounting means including means for supporting said feed roller for movement along a path extending at an acute angle to said side register surface means during a feed stroke to enable said feed roller to urge the one edge portion of the sheet against said side register surface means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A sheet feeder assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vibration dampening means consists of a weight attached to said mounting means for causing said mounting means and said vibrator means to remain relatively unaffected by the activation and deactivation of said vibrating means thus causing the rapid vibrating of said feed roller to engage and feed a sheet of material.