Patent ID: 6830246
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: B65G,B65H

Abstract:
An apparatus for feeding porous sheets of media from a stack of such sheets, the apparatus comprisinga retaining structure that is configured to retain the stack in an aligned condition; a pick-up device that is operatively arranged with respect to the retaining structure, the pick-up device including a gas conduit that is in fluid communication with a gas supply and a nozzle arrangement that is in fluid communication with the gas conduit, the nozzle arrangement being shaped to define a pick-up surface, the pick-up device being displaceable along a feed path relative to the retaining structure, the pick-up device being positioned so that the nozzle arrangement is capable of directing a flow of gas onto a first sheet of the stack such that the gas passes partially through the first sheet and impinges on a second sheet, generating a cushion of air between the first and second sheets to separate the first and second sheets, the gas supply being reversible so that the first sheet can be drawn towards the pick-up surface and retained against the pick-up surface; and a displacement mechanism that is operatively arranged with respect to the retaining structure for displacing the pick-up device along the feed path so that the first sheet is fed from the stack along the feed path.