Top loading, continuous suction feeder attachment for printing apparatus

Claim 1

A top loading, sheet feeding attachment adapted to be coupled to and actuated by the drive means of a utilization device such as a multi-lith offset machine or the like that is capable of a first, normal mode of operation, said attachment being adapted to be left in place on the utilization device when said attachment is not being used without interfering with the first mode of operation of the utilization device, said attachment comprising, in combination: a. a loading section for accepting at least one stack of the sheets to be fed to the utilization device; b. a transfer section positioned downstream of and contiguously with said loading section, said transfer section including suction means for pulling downwardly the bottom sheet in the stack on said loading section and at least one pair of roller means for receiving the pulled-down sheet therebetween and for advancing the pulled-down sheet in a direction away from said suction means and away from said loading section; c. conveyor means for receiving the pulled-down sheet from said roller means and for transporting the pulled-down sheet towards the utilization device; d. aligning means for orienting the sheet on said conveyor means relative to the input of the utilization device, said aligning means including a first, longitudinally extending rail positioned parallel to one longitudinal edge of said belt and a second, laterally adjustable rail parallel to said first rail; and e. a transmission system including a drive train coupled to said conveyor means and adapted to be coupled to the drive means of the utilization device, said transmission system further comprising: 1. first actuating means for moving said suction means towards and into engagement with the bottom sheet in the stack and then in a direction away from the bottom of the stack and for moving at least one of said pair of roller means into and out of frictional driving engagement with the sheet therebetween; 2. first timing means for controlling the application of a vacuum to said suction means with respect to the movement of said first actuating means; and 3. second actuating means for operating said aligning means in timed relationship to the movement of said suction means and to the application of vacuum thereto, said second actuating means comprising a reciprocating crank arm driven by a portion of said transmission system, a cam driven by said crank arm in a direction substantially parallel to said second rail and a cam follower positioned so as to be engaged by said cam, said cam follower being secured to said second rail and limited to movement that is perpendicular to the length thereof.