Sheet feeder with variable length, variable speed sheetpath

摘要

A floating feedhead having a variable sheetpath for an electrophotographic printing machine. A feeder for feeding sheets from the top of a stack to a processor for a printing machine is disclosed. The feedhead is of a standard retard feed type having either a nudger roll/feed roll or a feed belt in combination with a retard member to separate sheets. The feedhead is connected to the sheet delivery area of the machine by a variable length, variable speed sheetpath. The sheetpath has a drive member such as a drive nip in cooperation with the feedhead. When the sheetpath is at its longest the feedhead and variable drive member operate at a higher speed to deliver the sheets to the sheet intake area at a predetermined time interval. As sheets are fed and the sheetpath becomes shorter, the variable drive and feedhead slow to maintain proper sheet timing. The sheetpath may be of a telescopic baffle configuration or could alternatively be a variable speed vertical transport arrangement.