(19)
(11) EP 0 762 227 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
11.06.1997 Bulletin 1997/24

(43) Date of publication A2:
12.03.1997 Bulletin 1997/11

(21) Application number: 96306202.1

(22) Date of filing: 27.08.1996
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6G03G 15/00, B65H 3/08, B65H 3/48
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB

(30) Priority: 11.09.1995 US 526469

(71) Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
Rochester New York 14644 (US)

(72) Inventor:
  • Moore, Kenneth P.
    Rochester, NY 14624 (US)

(74) Representative: Phillips, Margaret Dawn 
Rank Xerox Ltd Patent Department Parkway
Marlow Buckinghamshire SL7 1YL
Marlow Buckinghamshire SL7 1YL (GB)

   


(54) Sheet feeding apparatus


(57) Described herein is a sheet feeding apparatus (70) in which a trailing vacuum plenum (84,92) moves in unison with a guide (78) which engages an edge of a stack (32) to align the sheets thereof. The trailing edge vacuum plenum (84,92) is positioned over the stack (32) to acquire a trailing portion of a sheet. The sheet feeding apparatus (70) includes a leading vacuum plenum (104,106) positioned over the stack (32) to acquire a leading portion of the sheet. A sheet transport (72) advances the sheet acquired by the leading vacuum plenum (104,106) from the stack (32). Fluffer jets (94,96) are employed to inject air between the leading portion and trailing portion of the sheet to assist the sheet transport (72).







Search report