Record separating, reading, and delivering apparatus

Claim 2

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal end of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for mounting the feed wheel members, a cam carried by the shaft and disposed between the feed wheel members, means including an electric motor for continuously driving the shaft and the second feed wheel, a follower driven by the cam for contacting the sheet at the end of the stack for alternately moving the stack into and out of cooperation with the first and second feed wheels, and means including a read head disposed between the feed wheel members for reading data on the sheet as the sheet is being fed.

Claim 3

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal end of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for mounting the feed wheel members, a cam carried by the shaft and disposed between the feed wheel members, means including an electric motor for continuously driving the shaft and the second feed wheel, a pivotally mounted lever driven by the cam, means carried by the lever and straddling the second feed wheel for contacting the sheet at the end of the stack at spaced apart locations in the plane of rotation of the second feed wheel for alternately moving the stack into and out of cooperation with the first and second feed wheels, and means including a read head disposed between the feed wheel members for reading data on the sheet as the sheet is being fed.

Claim 4

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal end of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for mounting the feed wheel members, a cam carried by the shaft and disposed between the feed wheel members, means including an electric motor for continuously driving the shaft and the second feed wheel, a pivotally mounted lever driven by the cam, means carried by the lever and straddling the second feed wheel for contacting the sheet at the end of the stack at spaced apart locations in the plane of rotation of the second feed wheel for alternately moving the stack into and out of cooperation with the first and second feed wheels, and means including a read head disposed between the feed wheel members for reading data on the sheet as the sheet is being fed.

Claim 5

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal end of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for mounting the feed wheel members, a cam carried by the shaft and disposed between the feed wheel members, means including an electric motor for continuously driving the shaft and the second feed wheel, a pivotally mounted lever having a follower roller driven by the cam, a pair of rollers carried by the lever and straddling the second feed wheel for contacting the sheet at the end of the stack in the plane of rotation of the second feed wheel for alternately moving the stack into and out of cooperation with the first and second feed wheels, and means including a read head disposed between the feed wheel members for reading data on the sheet as the sheet is being fed.

Claim 6

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal end of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for mounting the feed wheel members, a cam carried by the shaft and disposed between the feed wheel members, means including an electric motor for continuously driving the shaft and the second feed wheel, a pivotally mounted lever having a follower roller driven by the cam, a pair of rollers carried by the lever and straddling the second feed wheel for contacting the sheet at the end of the stack in the plane of rotation of the second feed wheel for alternately moving the stack into and out of cooperation with the first and second feed wheels, and means including a read head disposed between the feed wheel members for reading data on the sheet as the sheet is being fed.

Claim 7

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels cooperable with the end sheet in the hopper, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a drive shaft drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, a cam mounted by the drive shaft between the feed wheel members, a follower operable by the cam for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, means carried by the follower for contacting the end sheet at spaced-apart lOcations, the sheet contacting means including a roller, means for continuously driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, and a selectively operable solenoid coupled to the follower for moving the follower to a position in which the end sheet in the stack is held out of feeding relationship with the first and second feed wheels.

Claim 8

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels cooperable with the end sheet in the hopper, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a drive shaft drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, a cam mounted by the drive shaft between the feed wheel members, a follower operable by the cam for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, means carried by the follower for contacting the end sheet at spaced-apart lOcations, the sheet contacting means including a roller, means for continuously driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, and a selectively operable solenoid coupled to the follower for moving the follower to a position in which the end sheet in the stack is held out of feeding relationship with the first and second feed wheels.

Claim 9

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, a cam mounted by the shaft between the feed wheel members, a cam follower operated by the cam for moving the stack into and out of feeding cooperation with respect to the first and second feed wheels, the cam follower having spaced-apart means in the plane of the second feed wheel for contacting the endmost sheet in the hopper, and means disposed between the feed wheel members for reading data disposed on the sheets.

Claim 10

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, a cam mounted by the shaft between the feed wheel members, a cam follower operated by the cam for moving the stack into and out of feeding cooperation with respect to the first and second feed wheels, the cam follower having spaced-apart means in the plane of the second feed wheel for contacting the endmost sheet in the hopper, and means disposed between the feed wheel members for reading data disposed on the sheets.

Claim 11

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, a cam mounted by the shaft between the feed wheel members, a cam follower operated by the cam for moving the stack into and out of feeding cooperation with respect to the first and second feed wheels, the cam follower having spaced-apart means for contacting the endmost sheet in the hopper, means for reading data disposed on the sheets, and a second hopper disposed to cooperate directly with the first feed wheel for stacking sheets read by the reading means.

Claim 12

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, a cam mounted by the shaft between the feed wheel members, a cam follower operated by the cam for moving the stack into and out of feeding cooperation with respect to the first and second feed wheels, the cam follower having spaced-apart means for contacting the endmost sheet in the hopper, means for reading data disposed on the sheets, and a second hopper disposed to cooperate directly with the first feed wheel for stacking sheets read by the reading means.

Claim 13

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed in a plane between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, means for driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, and a pusher disposed between the feed wheel members in the plane of the second feed wheel for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels.

Claim 14

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed in a plane between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, means for driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, and a pusher disposed between the feed wheel members in the plane of the second feed wheel for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels.

Claim 15

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of thE stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed in a plane between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, means for driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, a pusher disposed between the feed wheel members for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, and a second hopper disposed to cooperate directly with the first feed wheel for stacking the sheets.

Claim 16

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of thE stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed in a plane between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, means for driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, a pusher disposed between the feed wheel members for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, and a second hopper disposed to cooperate directly with the first feed wheel for stacking the sheets.

Claim 17

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, means for driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, means disposed between the feed wheel members for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, means for reading data disposed on the sheets, and a second hopper disposed to cooperate directly with the first feed wheel for stacking sheets read by the reading means.

Claim 18

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, means for driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, means disposed between the feed wheel members for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, means for reading data disposed on the sheets, and a second hopper disposed to cooperate directly with the first feed wheel for stacking sheets read by the reading means.

Claim 19

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, a feed wheel cooperable with a sheet at the end of the stack, a cam, a drive shaft for drivingly mounting the feed wheel and the cam, means for continuously driving the drive shaft, a follower operable by the cam for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the feed wheel in response to rotation of the drive shaft, and a selectively operable solenoid coupled to the follower for moving the follower to a position in which the end sheet in the stack is held out of feeding relationship with the first and second feed wheels.

Claim 20

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a hopper for holding a stack of sheets, a feed wheel cooperable with a sheet at the end of the stack, a cam, a drive shaft for drivingly mounting the feed wheel and the cam, means for continuously driving the drive shaft, a follower operable by the cam for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the feed wheel in response to rotation of the drive shaft, and a selectively operable solenoid coupled to the follower for moving the follower to a position in which the end sheet in the stack is held out of feeding relationship with the first and second feed wheels.

Claim 21

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal end of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for mounting the feed wheel members, a cam carried by the shaft and disposed between the feed wheel members, means including an electric motor for continuously driving the shaft and the second feed wheel, a follower driven by the cam for contacting the sheet at the end of the stack for alternately moving the stack into and out of cooperation with the first and second feed wheels, means including a read head disposed between the feed wheel members for reading data on the sheet as the sheet is being fed, second and third hoppers for receiving sheets directly from the first feed wheel, and a gate movable between one position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the second hopper and another position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the third hopper.

Claim 22

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal end of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for mounting the feed wheel members, a cam carried by the shaft and disposed between the feed wheel members, means including an electric motor for continuously driving the shaft and the second feed wheel, a follower driven by the cam for contacting the sheet at the end of the stack for alternately moving the stack into and out of cooperation with the first and second feed wheels, means including a read head disposed between the feed wheel members for reading data on the sheet as the sheet is being fed, second and third hoppers for receiving sheets directly from the first feed wheel, and a gate movable between one position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the second hopper and another position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the third hopper.

Claim 23

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first And second feed wheels cooperable with the end sheet in the first hopper, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a drive shaft drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, a cam mounted by the drive shaft between the feed wheel members, a follower operable by the cam for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, means carried by the follower for contacting the end sheet at spaced-apart locations, the sheet contacting means including a roller, means for continuously driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, a selectively operable solenoid for moving the follower to a position in which the end sheet in the stack is held out of feeding relationship with the first and second feed wheels, second and third hoppers for receiving sheets directly from the first feed wheel, a gate movable between one position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the second hopper and another position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the third hopper, and means upstream of the gate for reading data on sheets fed by the feed wheels.

Claim 24

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first And second feed wheels cooperable with the end sheet in the first hopper, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a drive shaft drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, a cam mounted by the drive shaft between the feed wheel members, a follower operable by the cam for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, means carried by the follower for contacting the end sheet at spaced-apart locations, the sheet contacting means including a roller, means for continuously driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, a selectively operable solenoid for moving the follower to a position in which the end sheet in the stack is held out of feeding relationship with the first and second feed wheels, second and third hoppers for receiving sheets directly from the first feed wheel, a gate movable between one position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the second hopper and another position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the third hopper, and means upstream of the gate for reading data on sheets fed by the feed wheels.

Claim 25

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed in a plane between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, means for driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, a pusher disposed between the feed wheel members in the plane of the second feed wheel for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, second and third hoppers for receiving sheets directly from the first feed wheel, a gate movable between one position in which the feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the second hopper and another position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the third hopper, and means upstream of the gate for reading data on sheets fed by the feed wheels.

Claim 26

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed in a plane between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, means for driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, a pusher disposed between the feed wheel members in the plane of the second feed wheel for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, second and third hoppers for receiving sheets directly from the first feed wheel, a gate movable between one position in which the feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the second hopper and another position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the third hopper, and means upstream of the gate for reading data on sheets fed by the feed wheels.

Claim 27

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed in a plane between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, means for driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, a pusher disposed between the feed wheel members for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, second and third hoppers for receiving the sheets fed directly by the first feed wheel, and a gate movable between one position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the second hopper and another position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the third hopper.

Claim 28

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed in a plane between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, means for driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, a pusher disposed between the feed wheel members for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, second and third hoppers for receiving the sheets fed directly by the first feed wheel, and a gate movable between one position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the second hopper and another position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the third hopper.

Claim 29

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper fOr holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, means for driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, means disposed between the feed wheel members for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, means for reading data disposed on the sheets, second and third hoppers for receiving the sheets fed directly by the first feed wheel, and a gate movable between one position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the second hopper and another position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the third hopper.

Claim 30

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper fOr holding a stack of sheets, first and second feed wheels, the first feed wheel being disposed relative to the first hopper to cooperate with the leading marginal edge of a sheet at the end of the stack, the second feed wheel being disposed relative to the hopper to cooperate with the sheet at the end of the stack between its leading and trailing ends, the first feed wheel comprising spaced-apart feed wheel members, a shaft for drivingly mounting the feed wheel members, the second feed wheel having a substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the first feed wheel, the second feed wheel being disposed between the feed wheel members but extending beyond the peripheries of the feed wheel members, means for driving the drive shaft and the second feed wheel, means disposed between the feed wheel members for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the first and second feed wheels, means for reading data disposed on the sheets, second and third hoppers for receiving the sheets fed directly by the first feed wheel, and a gate movable between one position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the second hopper and another position in which the first feed wheel feeds the sheet directly into the third hopper.

Claim 31

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, a feed wheel cooperable with a sheet at the end of the stack, a cam, a drive shaft for drivingly mounting the feed wheel and the cam, means for continuously driving the drive shaft, a follower operable by the cam for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the feed wheel in response to rotation of the drive shaft, and a selectively operable solenoid coupled to the follower for moving the follower to a position in which the end sheet in the stack is held out of feeding relationship with the first and second feed wheels, second and third hoppers for receiving sheets directly from the feed wheel, a gate movable between one position in which the feed wheel feeds the sheet into the second hopper and another position in which the feed wheel feeds the sheet into the third hopper, and means upstream of the gate for reading data on sheets fed by the feed wheel.

Claim 32

Record reading apparatus, comprising: a first hopper for holding a stack of sheets, a feed wheel cooperable with a sheet at the end of the stack, a cam, a drive shaft for drivingly mounting the feed wheel and the cam, means for continuously driving the drive shaft, a follower operable by the cam for moving the stack into and out of feeding relationship with respect to the feed wheel in response to rotation of the drive shaft, and a selectively operable solenoid coupled to the follower for moving the follower to a position in which the end sheet in the stack is held out of feeding relationship with the first and second feed wheels, second and third hoppers for receiving sheets directly from the feed wheel, a gate movable between one position in which the feed wheel feeds the sheet into the second hopper and another position in which the feed wheel feeds the sheet into the third hopper, and means upstream of the gate for reading data on sheets fed by the feed wheel.