Sheet feed method and apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a sheet feeding method and apparatus by which sheets of material can be fed, one at a time, into a processing or finishing machine. The present disclosure includes a continuously moving feed means that is driven and moves continuously at line speed. The continuously moving feed means are provided with vacuum means to pull the sheet into engagement with the feed means. A feed plate is provided for movement between a lowered, feed position in which the feed plate is lowered to a position below the feed means and a raised, no feed position in which the feed plate is raised to a position just above the feed means to prevent a sheet from being fed. In one embodiment, the movement of the feed plate is provided and controlled via a rotating, profiled eccentric which is driven by a servo electric motor.

1 . A sheet feed apparatus for feeding sheets, one at a time, from a stack of sheets, the apparatus comprising:
 a continuously driven feed belt/roller assembly and   a driven feed plate moveable between a feed position and a no-feed position.   
   
   
       2 . The sheet feed assembly of  claim 1  wherein said belt/roller assembly is servo driven. 
   
   
       3 . The sheet feed assembly of  claim 1  including a sheet position detecting means. 
   
   
       4 . The sheet feed assembly of  claim 3  wherein said sheet position detecting means is a photo electric sensor. 
   
   
       5 . The sheet feed assembly of  claim 2  including a sheet position detecting means. 
   
   
       6 . The sheet feed assembly of  claim 5  wherein said sheet position detecting means is a photo electric sensor. 
   
   
       7 . The sheet feed assembly of  claim 1  wherein said feed plate is servo driven. 
   
   
       8 . The sheet feed assembly of  claim 3  including a servo driven nip roller. 
   
   
       9 . A method of feeding sheets one at a time from a stack of sheets comprising:
 providing feed belt/roller assembly and a feed plate moveable between a feed position and a no-feed position;   driving the feed belt/roller assembly continuously during a feed cycle; and   driving the feed plate between a feed position and a no-feed position.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said belt/roller assembly is servo driven. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  including providing a sheet position detecting means. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said sheet position detecting means is a photo electric sensor. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  including providing a sheet position detecting means. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said sheet position detecting means is a photo electric sensor. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  including providing a servo driven nip roller. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9  including driving the feed plate with a servo drive.