Automatic feed mechanism for power brake or the like

Claim 1

A feed mechanism for a power brake or the like comprising: a frame; means for supporting a stack of sheets to be fed to said power brake; means secured to said frame for lifting a single sheet vertically from said stack and for transporting said sheet horizontally to a roller means, said lifting means comprising a trolley mounted to said frame for horizontal movement between a first position over said stack support and a second position, means for driving said trolley between said first and second positions, a cylinder mounted to said trolley for movement therewith, a piston disposed within said cylinder for vertical movement, said piston having a lower end extending out of the bottom of said cylinder, means for moving said piston within said cylinder between a lowered position and a raised position, suction cup means affixed to said piston lower end, and means for applying and removing suction from said suction cup; roller means for transporting said sheet horizontally to a lifting station, said roller means including a first roll substantially aligned with said trolley second position and affixed to said frame at a height substantially equal to the level of said suction cup when said piston is in said raised position, a plurality of additional rolls extending between said first roll and said lifting station, means for driving said rolls, a pinch roll mounted to said frame for vertical movement aligned with said first roll, means for moving said pinch roll vertically between an upward position spaced apart from said first roll and a downward position, switch means in controlling relationship with said pinch roll moving means and disposed in the path of movement of said trolley, said switch means being operative to cause said pinch roll moving means to drive said pinch roll to said downward position when said trolley is in said second position; a lifting station adjacent said power brake, said station including an elevator bed for receiving said sheet and raising said sheet from a first level equal to that of the roller means to a second level above said first level and substantially equal to that of the power brake inlet; and, means for driving said elevator bed.