Auxiliary sheet feeder

Claim 1

Sheet feed apparatus for an automatic copying machine comprising: a frame; a plurality of tray members supported by said frame in a vertical array; each said tray member adapted to support a stack of sheets of a particular characteristic; vertical transport means arranged at a delivery end of said frame to define a common exit path leading toward processing stations; sheet feed means associated with each of said stacks including drive rolls for engaging the topmost sheet of a corresponding stack in response to electrical signals; and circuit means to supply electrical signals to the appropriate sheet feed means to feed automatically a preselected number of sheets from a one of said stacks toward the common exit path for transport past copy processing stations in accordance with a desired sheet characteristic; lateral sheet guide mean arranged on said tray members to be adjustable within minimum and maximum limits to accommodate stacks of different widths and end stop means adjustably positionable along said tray members to engage and position the trailing edge of an associated sheet stack; said vertical transport means includes deflector fingers for deflecting sheets from each of said stacks into said common exit path when moved by said drive rolls, for moving said sheets into said path; and wherein said vertical transport means includes a plurality of pairs of rollers, each pair comprising a drive roller and an idler roller, for advancing said sheets along said path.