Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
Sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a. a support; b. gate means mounted on said support and bounding a receptacle space in a predetermined direction, said space being adapted to hold a stack of sheets; c. a continuous, perforated, elongated belt; d. guide means on said support guiding said belt in a closed, longitudinal loop, 1. said belt in a portion of said loop bounding said receptacle space transversely to said direction for supporting said stack and having a front part adjacent said gate means and a rear part remote from said gate means, 2. said guide means including shifting means for shifting said rear part back and forth between an operative position in which said rear part is aligned with said front part in the direction of elongation of said belt, and an idling position spaced from said operative position outward of said receptacle space, e. drive means for continuously moving said belt in said loop in a direction from said rear part toward said front part; f. suction means for drawing air from said receptacle space through the perforations of said front part; and g. control means operatively connected to said suction means and to said shifting means for operating the same in timed sequence, said suction means being actuated by said control means when said rear part is in said operative positions, and said perforations in said front part being vented to the atmosphere by said control means when said rear part is in said idling position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
Sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a. a support; b. gate means mounted on said support and bounding a receptacle space in a predetermined direction, said space being adapted to hold a stack of sheets; c. a continuous, perforated, elongated belt; d. guide means on said support guiding said belt in a closed, longitudinal loop, 1. said belt in a portion of said loop bounding said receptacle space transversely to said direction for supporting said stack and having a front part adjacent said gate means and a rear part remote from said gate means, 2. said guide means including shifting means for shifting said rear part back and forth between an operative position in which said rear part is aligned with said front part in the direction of elongation of said belt, and an idling position spaced from said operative position outward of said receptacle space, e. drive means for continuously moving said belt in said loop in a direction from said rear part toward said front part; f. suction means for drawing air from said receptacle space through the perforations of said front part; and g. control means operatively connected to said suction means and to said shifting means for operating the same in timed sequence, said suction means being actuated by said control means when said rear part is in said operative positions, and said perforations in said front part being vented to the atmosphere by said control means when said rear part is in said idling position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide means include a plurality of pulleys, said belt being trained over said pulleys, and said suction means include a suction box open toward said front part and formed with a port, one of said guide pulleys being spaced from said suction box in a direction away from said gate means, and said shifting means shifting said one guide pulley inward and outward of said receptacle space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said suction means further include a suction hose and a coupling element connected to said hose, said control means including means for moving said coupling element toward and away from said port and for thereby alternatingly connecting said port to said suction hose and venting said port to the atmosphere.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means for moving said coupling element include a cam member, means for rotating said cam member on said support, and cam follower means interposed between said cam member and said coupling element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further comprising linking means linking said shifting means to said cam follower means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said front part defines a plane extending in said direction, the apparatus further comprising means for moving said gate means toward and away from said plane and for thereby varying the width of a gap between said gate means and said plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said suction means include a first suction box having a side open toward said receptacle space, and said guide means include a plurality of guide pulleys for guiding said front part over the open side of said suction box, said suction means further including means for alternatingly withdrawing air from said suction box and for venting said suction box to the atmosphere, the apparatus further comprising a second suction box offset from said gate means outward of said receptacle space, said second suction box having an open side aligned with the open side of said first suction box, and engaged by said belt, and means for maintaining a continuous vacuum in said second suction box while air is being withdrawn from said first suction box and while said first suction box is being vented.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said suction means include a suction box having a side open toward said receptacle space, and said guide means guiding said front part over the open side of said suction box, said suction means further including coupling means for alternatingly withdrawing air from said suction box and for admitting ambient air to said suction box, while said front part covers said open side, the apparatus further comprising manually operable means for lifting said stack from said front part and for thereby admitting said ambient air to said suction box through the perforations of said front part while air is being withdrawn from said suction box by said coupling means.