Detecting and removing apparatus for skew fed sheets

Claim 1

In an automatic sheet handling system including a moving belt for conveying sheets, apparatus for removing skew fed sheets from said belt comprising a first microswitch and a second microswitch, said microswitches being positioned along a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of said belt such that the leading edge of a sheet traveling along said belt passing each of said microswitches causes the operation of said each of said microswitches, the contacts of said microswitches being connected to pass a signal during the time that only one, but not both, of said microswitches is operated, first timing means connected to said microswitches and responsive to the time duration of said signal for providing an enabling signal when said time duration is greater than a predetermined amount, second timing means, a rotary solenoid, relay means enabled responsive to said enabling signal for energizing said solenoid, said second timing means, and providing a self locking path for said relay means, and a plurality of fingers operatively coupled to said solenoid and initially positioned adjacent said belt, said plurality of fingers responsive to the energization of said solenoid for pivoting and separating a passing sheet from said belt, said second timing means including disabling means opening said self locking path of said relay means after a predetermined interval to disable said relay means, whereby said solenoid is de-energized and said plurality of fingers are returned to their intitial position.