Sheet feeding apparatus

Claim 1

In a duplicating machine including a table movable between raised and lowered positions for advancing a stack of paper sheets into a feed zone, a feed member for engaging individual sheets, drive means for driving the feed member to feed the sheets from the feed zone into the duplicating machine, and improved means for automatically raising the table so as to maintain the top of said stack in said feed zone, the improvement comprising: (a) biasing means secured to said table for continuously urging the table toward the feed zone; (b) a pawl and ratchet mechanism, the ratchet being coupled to and moving in direct relationship with the movement of the table, said biasing means continuously urging the movement of the ratchet relative to said pawl; (c) a cradle for carrying said feed member, the cradle mounted for pivotable movement relative to said machine for maintaining engagement of the feed member with the top sheet of said stack; (d) a first lever attached for pivotable movement with said cradle; (e) a second lever having at its opposite ends a seat engageable with said first lever and a stop finger normally in locking engagement with said pawl, said first lever being adapted for engaging the seat upon pivoting of said cradle for pivoting the stop finger out of locking engagement with the pawl; and (f) clutch means for disengaging the ratchet from said table whenever the table is moved away from the feed zone.