Magazine apparatus and method for loading documents

摘要

An in-feed apparatus (10) includes a magazine feed ramp (16) having one or more conveyor belts (30) engaging the bottom (34) of the documents (36) and configured to effect forward movement of the documents (36) toward a shingler device (302). A backing plate (320) is disposed proximal the conveyor belts (30). Upper and lower sensors (350, 352) are provided to sense contact with the front of the document stack while a controller (60) coupled to the sensors (350, 352) determines when the front of the stack is parallel to the backing plate (320). A jogger (354) is coupled to the controller (60) to reciprocally displace a portion of the stack approaching the backing plate (320) to urge the stack toward a parallel orientation relative the backing plate (320). Two parallel paddles (72, 74) are provided and independently driven for maintaining the documents (36) in a vertical oriented array to allow an operator to load additional documents (36) onto the conveyor belts (30) while supporting a forward portion (140) of the stack.