VACUUM OPERATED SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM FOR NEWSPAPER INSERTER

摘要

A feeding mechanism for single or multi-page sheets of flexible material combines a vacuum operated gripping assembly for initially gripping the lowermost sheet in an inclined stack thereof with a mechanical conveying unit for receiving the lowermost sheet from the assembly and delivering the same to a remote station therefrom. Grippers of the assembly are oscillated through an arcuate path during substantially vertical reciprocation of the carriage carrying the unit and the assembly such that a marginal portion of the sheet held by the grippers is bent away from the stack without moving the remaining portion of the sheet and introduced between opposed delivery elements of the unit for withdrawing the entire sheet from the stack. The grippers are retracted as the sheet is received between the elements, and a vacuum system associated with the assembly actuates the gripper in timed response to the reciprocation of the carriage and extension and retraction of the grippers.