Automatic document handler having non-relative motion vacuum corrugating

Abstract

An automatic document handler having a sheet separator-feeder mechanism for separating a sheet from a stack of such sheets and for forward feeding the separated sheet without damage to an image on the sheet. The automatic document handler includes a stacking tray having a surface for supporting a stack of sheets; air knife means positioned opposite the stack of sheets for separating a sheet at an end of the stack of sheets, and a sheet separator-feeder mechanism including a bi-level support plate having vacuum ports. The sheet separator-feeder mechanism is mounted toward the downstream end of the stacking tray relative to a direction of forward sheet movement, and applies a negative air pressure through the vacuum ports in the support plate. The sheet separator-feeder mechanism importantly includes a non-relative motion sheet corrugating device comprising an endless corrugating feed belt that is mounted over the support plate and extends through at least a front end of the sheet stacking tray for acquiring, corrugating and advancing a sheet separated from the stack of sheets. The endless corrugating feed belt has a bottom surface for riding on the support plate, a top surface for contacting a sheet to be corrugated and fed, and a series of vacuum apertures formed therethrough from the bottom to the top surface. The top surface importantly includes a raised corrugating rib integrally incorporated therein for contacting, moving with, and corrugating the sheet separated from the stack of sheets, without relative motion between the corrugating rib and the sheet, thereby preventing damage to any image on a side of the sheet in contact with the endless corrugating belt.