Patent ID: 11897716
Assignee: SUN AUTOMATION, INC.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A corrugated board or paperboard sheet feeder apparatus capable of feeding a single sheet from a stack of sheets into a host machine, comprising:
a) a sheet supporting feed table surface having a feed end and a delivery end and having feed elements for feeding a sheet through the feeder apparatus from said feed end to said delivery end;
b) said feed elements comprising a first plurality of feed elements in a first variable velocity zone and arranged in a first plurality of rows which extend transversely to a direction of travel of a sheet through said feeder apparatus;
c) a first dedicated controlled motor or serve system to drive said first plurality of feed elements in a controllable first motion profile;
d) said feed elements further comprising a second plurality of feed elements in a second velocity zone adjacent said first velocity zone and arranged in a second plurality of rows which extend transversely to the direction of travel of a sheet through said feeder apparatus;
e) a second dedicated controlled motor or servo system to drive said second plurality of feed elements in a controllable second motion profile;
f) a first vacuum powered suction section located below said supporting feed table surface and corresponding to said first initial variable velocity zone for holding a sheet against said first plurality of feed elements while being fed thereby;
g) a second vacuum powered suction section located below said supporting feed table surface and corresponding to said second velocity zone for holding a sheet against said second plurality of feed elements while being fed thereby;
h) a controller configured to receive a sheet velocity signal from a host machine and to generate (i) a first control signal for said first motor or servo system and (ii) a second control signal for said second motor or servo system in response to said velocity signal to feed said sheet through the feeder apparatus at selected velocity profiles in said first and second velocity zones;
i) airflow restrictors for said first and second vacuum powered suction sections movable to alter a respective vacuum area based on sheet size whereby each suction section has sufficient vacuum to hold sheets being fed against said feed elements;
j) horizontal control surfaces on said table surface and located above said feed elements in a rest position to prevent contact between the feed elements and a sheet being fed by said feeder apparatus; and
k) a controllable drive mechanism connected to each control surface and configured to move said control surfaces to selectively cover or uncover feed elements to contact and drive a sheet being fed in accordance with a variable drive motion profile;
wherein said controllable drive mechanisms selectively angle the respective control surfaces to sequentially conceal the respective feed elements as a sheet is fed through the sheet feeder apparatus.